The final quarter of 2021 is on its way and theres so much positivity about the rapid growth of the... HOHHOT, Oct. 26 -- The Jilu Fortress, an important military construction on a section of the Great Wall built during the Han dynasty (206 BC to 220 AD), has undergone two years of restoration in north China's Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region. The name of the fortress has appeared in a large number of literary work written by famous Chinese poets through history and literally translates to English as "chicken and deer". "Who stirred up fighting at Jilu Fortress, as fire beacons were sent from the frontier ceaselessly," wrote famous Chinese Tang dynasty (618-907) poet Li Shangyin. The ruins of the rock fortress cover 4,700 square meters in the shape of a square. There are defense walls surrounding the interior city, while beacon towers can be seen in the distance from the north and southwest directions of the ancient city. Wang Weiqing, cultural chief in Dengkou County, said the restoration began in 2016 with 10.12 million yuan (1.45 million U.S. dollars) of funds earmarked by the State Administration of Cultural Heritage. The repair aimed to use traditional building techniques to restore the fortress back to its original look, he said. Along with the restoration, the region's cultural relic institute carried out archeological research on the ruins, which further assisted the restoration work in line with the original layout, said Wang. The Great Wall was built over centuries as a defense by the imperial court against northern tribes. The oldest sections of the Great Wall date back to around 200 B.C., when the first emperor of Qin required a fortress to be built. The line announced free or reduced rates for youth 17 and under in Alaska next summer as well as savings on pre- and post-cruise land packages. 17 departures, from seven to 12 nights Regent is offering 17 Alaska voyages from May 16 through Sept. 30, ranging from seven to 12 nights. Seven Seas Mariner will sail the Inside and Outside Passage, visiting ports like Seward, Icy Strait (Hoonah), Juneau, Ketchikan, Sitka, Skagway and Wrangell, with scenic cruising of Hubbard Glacier. 'Luxury travelers are increasingly interested in visiting Alaska and a cruise is truly the best way to see all of the beauty the destination offers,' Regent president and CEO Jason Montague said. He added: 'No camera lens, Facebook post nor tweet can truly capture the beauty and sheer awe of what it feels like to sail up close to a glacier or see an eagle soar overhead.' 2019 Alaska voyages will feature guest lecturer Terry Breen, a renowned, published Alaska specialist who has been sailing the Inside Passage for more than 20 years. Some of the excursions that are included in Regent's pricing are 'Mendenhall Glacier River Float,' 'Tongass Rainforest Nature Hike,' 'Ocean Raft Adventures' (at speeds up to 50 mph), 'Spasski River Valley Wildlife And Bear Search' and 'Craft Beer And Spirits Tasting Adventure.' New 'Ultimate Rocky Mountaineer Land Program' A new 2019 add-on, 'Ultimate Rocky Mountaineer Land Program,' is a five- to six-night experience that takes travelers on a train ride through iconic towns and cities of the Pacific Northwest, along the spectacular Canadian Rockies from the comfort of custom-built, glass-domed carriages, complete with award-winning service and five-star dining. Available on 15 voyages next year, a promotion gives savings up to $6,000 off the combined package fare when travelers book a cruise with the Ultimate Rocky Mountaineer Land Program by Dec. 15, 2018. Savings for families Youth 17 and under can sail free on select 10- and 11-night Alaska voyages, and for $499 on select seven-night voyages. Regents Club Mariner Youth Program, offered on all the Alaska cruises, gives 5- to 17-year-olds the chance to participate in a range of activities related Alaskan culture, wildlife and nature, and includes games and movie nights. To be held under the patronage of H.H. Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai, the event will feature nearly 300 exhibiting companies from across the international maritime community with an expected total of more than 8,000 attendees across the three-day show. Topics to be discussed during the conference sessions at SMME will include autonomous shipping and automation; fuels of the future; digital and cyber technologies; and environmental challenges within the shipping industry. Join the Smart Shipping debate at Seatrade Maritime Middle East On the eve of SMMEs opening the 15th edition of the Seatrade Maritime Awards for the Middles East, Indian Subcontinent and Africa the longest-running maritime awards scheme for the region - will take place at Atlantis, The Palm, Dubai on 28 October. Read all the coverage from Seatrade Maritime Middle East 2018 with Seatrade Maritime News reporting live on the ground Lacson: Incoming BOC Chief Has Big Boots to Fill More at: https://pinglacson.net/2018/10/26/incoming-boc-chief-has-big-boots-to-fill/ Newly appointed Bureau of Customs Commissioner Leonardo Rey Guerrero will have big boots to fill as he replaces the newly "promoted" Isidro Lapena, Sen. Panfilo M. Lacson said Friday. But Lacson also noted that while Lapena was promoted in rank and position, his transfer to a new post may well be a demotion in trust and confidence. "It may well be a promotion in rank and position, but definitely a demotion in trust and confidence. It's a pity because save for the big shabu shipment that got away, apparently due to collusion between the drug syndicate and some low level Customs officials, former Commissioner Lapena was doing a good job proven by consistently exceeding the Bureau's target collections," Lacson said. "Having said that, the President has once again shown zero tolerance as far as his war on drugs is concerned," he added. On Thursday, President Rodrigo Duterte announced the removal of Lapena from the BOC and his replacement by Guerrero, a former chief of staff of the Armed Forces of the Philippines. Guerrero had been heading the Maritime Industry Authority (MARINA) before he was named to head the BOC. Lapena was "promoted" to a Cabinet position as head of the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA). "I hope retired Gen. Guerrero can fill in the big boots left by Lapena but not suffer the same fate as he did," Lacson said. Villanueva keynotes 40th anniversary of Jesus Is Lord Senator Joel Villanueva joined nearly a million Christian believers at the 40th anniversary celebration of Jesus Is Lord (JIL) Church Worldwide on Saturday at the Quirino Grandstand in Manila. In his speech, Villanueva called on the JIL people to remain faithful to God and be a blessing to others. "We remind the JIL People of our strong faith in God and how blessed each one of us and the JIL ministry as a whole. Our faith is powerful because it activates God's power and mercy--this is the reason why we are so blessed," said Villanueva, chairman of Kristiyanong Kabataan para sa Bayan (KKB) Movement. "Let's not just stay in the four corners of the Church but transform our nation to become a blessed nation of the Lord," Villanueva added. This year's JIL anniversary celebration with the theme: "Grand Homecoming" gathered Church members from Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao and followers from JIL Church spread in more than 60 countries across the globe. Among those who graced the event were JIL founder Bro. Eddie Villanueva, Gary Valenciano, Sen. Sonny Angara, Sen. JV Ejercito, and Sen. Cynthia Villar. The membership of JIL has boomed to more than 6 million since it began as a Bible study for 15 students at the Polytechnic University of the Philippines in 1978. Press Release October 28, 2018 Duterte family role model of political dynasty - De Lima Opposition Senator Leila M. de Lima has deplored the prevalence of political dynasties in the country whose primary model is no less than the Duterte family which is fielding all three children as candidates for elective offices in Davao in the 2019 polls. De Lima lamented that dynastic succession to political office, or dominance of political families in both national and local offices, has been more pronounced than ever under the present Duterte administration. "The prevalence of impunity and lack of accountability enabled by Duterte has further engendered the culture on which political dynasties thrive, including the thirst for monopoly of power and dominance in patronage politics," she said in her recent Dispatch from Crame No. 413. "It is therefore no wonder why other political families would follow suit in this showcase of avarice for political power," she added. Mr. Duterte's three children are running in Davao City in the 2019 elections. Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio is seeking re-election, with her younger brother Sebastian as her running-mate as vice mayor, while their eldest Paolo is seeking a congressional seat for Davao's first district representative. The situation, obviously, ran contrary to Duterte's earlier pronouncement of his support to the anti-political dynasty bill which has failed to be passed in the Congress. De Lima pointed out that there is no doubt that Duterte and his family treat Davao as their kingdom, saying that "it takes a special kind of lack of delicadeza for a family to surmise that public office is a birthright and a personal entitlement." The Senator from Bicol maintained that with the presidential family as role model, the extent of dynastic domination of politics is pushed further than ever before. "So now, we see spouses running for different congressional districts and siblings offering the voters of the country's premier city no other choice but themselves," she said. "Power corrupts, and absolute power corrupts absolutely. There is no clearer manifestation of this phenomenon than in the Philippines' political dynasties spread over every region and every province," she added. De Lima has found it unfortunate that the Filipino people who voted for Mr. Duterte as President in hopes that he can put an end to the corruption of entrenched dynasties ended up being manipulated by another power-hungry political family. Press Release October 28, 2018 Senate panel recommends 'criminalization' of premature campaigning The Senate Committee on Electoral Reforms and People's Participation has recommended the "criminalization" of premature campaigning of election candidates. In its Committee Report No. 492 filed last Oct. 18, the panel effectively seeks to restore the provision found in the Omnibus Election Code of the Philippines, which prohibits premature campaigning long before the election period had set in. The said report on Senate Bill No. 2064 also redefines the term "candidate." The bill was authored by Senators Leila de Lima, Richard Gordon and Aquilino "Koko" Pimentel III. "A person shall be considered a candidate the moment he files his certificate of candidacy (COC) within the period provided by the Commission on Elections," the report said. This means that any form of partisan political activity by a candidate prior to his filing of COC or way before the start of the official campaign period will be considered "premature campaigning" and therefore unlawful. Under the existing law, RA 9369, a person seeking elective position is considered a candidate only during the entire campaign period. The said law in effect, decriminalized "premature campaigning." "The unfair repercussions of this rule are far and wide. It propagates political inequality as it unduly favors rich or popular candidates over poor or less popular candidates. It also negates transparency and accountability as it shamelessly excludes such premature campaigning from the regulation of campaign finance and the limitations on election campaign and expenditures," Gordon said. Premature campaigning is an election offense punishable by imprisonment of not less than one year but not more than six years, as well as disqualification to hold public office and deprivation of the right of suffrage under Sec. 80 and Section 264 of the Omnibus Election Code of the Philippines. "The barrage of political advertisements on TV and radio and the obvious electioneering or campaigning by many candidates way before the start of the official campaign period in the last elections were too much to be ignored," Gordon said. Pimentel, chair of the Senate Committee on Electoral Reforms and People's Participation, will sponsor the approval of bill upon the resumption of the regular sessions in November. Those who signed the report, aside from Pimentel, were Senators Francis "Kiko" Pangilinan, Gordon, Grace Poe, Loren Legarda, Emmanuel "Manny" Pacquiao, Francis "Chiz" Escudero, Nancy Binay, Win Gatchalian, Risa Hontiveros, Majority Leader Juan Miguel "Migz" Zubiri and Minority Leader Franklin Drilon. Wang Yang, a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and chairman of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) National Committee, presides over the 11th chairman and vice chairpersons' meeting of the 13th CPPCC National Committee in Beijing, capital of China, Oct. 26, 2018. The meeting was also the third group study of the chairman and vice chairpersons' meeting. (Xinhua/Shen Hong) BEIJING, Oct. 26 -- China's top political advisor Wang Yang on Friday called on political advisors to continue theoretical study and play a better role in promoting law-based governance. Wang, a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and chairman of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) National Committee, presided over the 11th chairman and vice chairpersons' meeting of the 13th CPPCC National Committee. Wang ordered the CPPCC National Committee to strengthen theoretical and practical explorations and promote innovations in and development of the CPPCC's work. At a group study on law-based governance, which was part of the meeting's agenda, Wang said that the CPPCC National Committee should always uphold the Party's leadership and perform its duties within the boundaries of the Constitution and law. "Political advisors should help ensure the process of legislation is scientific and democratic, and through this advance the modernization of the state governance system and capacity," he said. Working reports of several committees of the CPPCC National Committee were heard at the meeting, while a scheme to improve the study and work of the CPPCC National Committee members and a revised plan to improve the research work of the CPPCC National Committee were deliberated and approved in principle. A decision was also approved to dismiss Meng Hongwei from the CPPCC National Committee, and will be submitted to the fourth session of the Standing Committee of the CPPCC National Committee for final confirmation. According to sources, US authorities conveyed Trump's decision in a letter to NSA Ajit Doval recently. The US president's "domestic commitments", including his State of the Union address, around that time seems to have been the reason for declining the invitation. In the letter, Trump is said to have regretted for not being able to accept the invitation. US President Donald Trump has turned down India's invitation to be the chief guest during Republic Day parade next year. India was confident that the US President will attend the function. Now,they will have to look elsewhere to find a chief guest for the R-Day parade. This comes at a time when relations between the countries are not in its best.The US had recently issued warning against India if it goes ahead with signing the S-400 missile system deal with Russia. India signed the deal for five such systems when Russian President Vladimir Putin visited India earlier this month. Besides this, the Trump administration has been threatening India with sanctions if it continues to procure oil from Iran. India continues to import oil from Iran. The reason cited is that the President Trump has other important engagement on the same day. Trump reportedly has to deliver the State of The Union (SOTU) address and it clashes with the Republic Day celebrations. However, in 2015, when the then US President Barack Obama visited India for Republic Day, the date of the SOTU address was postponed. HONG KONG, Oct. 26 -- The Education Bureau of China's Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) government announced Friday that the launch of a Belt and Road Scholarship for students from Myanmar. The scholarship was launched with a view to attracting outstanding students from Myanmar to pursue undergraduate studies in Hong Kong from the 2019/2020 academic year, according to the Education Bureau. Under the scholarship scheme, up to 10 scholarships will be offered annually to students from Myanmar who are enrolled in first-year undergraduate programs of publicly funded institutions in Hong Kong. All awardees will receive scholarships to cover the full tuition fees of relevant programs annually. The Education Bureau also signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on Friday with the Ministry of Education of Myanmar on education cooperation to enhance education collaboration between the two places. The MoU, which provides a framework to facilitate strategic collaboration between the education communities of Hong Kong and Myanmar, covers initiatives including provision of scholarships for students, exchange of expertise and experience. "Signing the MOU with Myanmar and launching a new Belt and Road Scholarship can further internationalize the Hong Kong's higher education sector and enrich our pool of talents with international perspectives, with a view to contributing to the future development of Hong Kong," said Choi Yuk-lin, the HKSAR government's under secretary for education who signed the MOU with Deputy Minister of Education of Myanmar Win Maw Tun. To internationalize and diversify Hong Kong's higher education sector and groom talents with global vision and an international network to enhance human capital, the Education Bureau launched the Belt and Road Scholarship for Indonesia in the 2016/2017 academic year and expanded it to cover Malaysia and Thailand in the 2017/2018 academic year. The scholarship awardees can act as ambassadors to strengthen exchange and people-to-people bonds between Hong Kong and these places, the bureau said. BEIJING, Oct. 26 -- China's top legislature on Friday passed a resolution to introduce "default judgment" in criminal trials to prosecute suspects who stay overseas and are involved in offenses of corruption, severely endangering state security or terrorist activities. To qualify a trial involving "default judgment" of the latter two types of crimes, there should be a time-sensitive urgency in handling the case and an approval from the Supreme People's Procuratorate, according to the revised Criminal Procedure Law. In the meantime, the revision also imposes stringent rules, requiring the courts to examine whether a case is applicable to a "default judgment." If a court decides to proceed with a trial in the absence of the defendant, a subpoena and indictment papers should be delivered through relevant channels, the revision says. It also gives the defendant the right to an attorney, who could also be entrusted by the defendant's relatives, or assigned by legal aid agencies. After the judgement is issued, the defendant and the relatives could also appeal to the court of the next higher level, the revised law says. Czech PM calls US threat to drop nuclear treaty 'bad news' Prague, Oct 28 (AFP) Oct 28, 2018 Czech Prime Minister Andrej Babis on Sunday expressed surprise at a US threat to withdraw from a Cold War-era nuclear treaty with Russia, calling the development "bad news". "For us it's a completely new matter and it's definitely a bad news if that is the case," Babis told reporters at a joint news conference with US Defence Secretary Jim Mattis in Prague on Sunday. An ex-communist state, the Czech Republic became a US NATO ally when it joined the Western defence alliance in 1999. "We are getting back somehow into Cold War times," Babis added, echoing concerns expressed by NATO chief Jens Stoltenberg that the move could lead to a new arms race. President Donald Trump said Monday the United States was ready to build up its nuclear arsenal after announcing it was abandoning a Cold War-era nuclear treaty, as Russia warned the withdrawal could cripple global security. Trump sparked concern globally last weekend by saying he wanted to jettison the three-decade-old Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty (INF) signed former US president Ronald Reagan and Mikhail Gorbachev, the last Soviet leader. Explaining his decision, Trump told reporters in Washington that Russia had "not adhered to the spirit of that agreement or to the agreement itself." "Until people come to their senses, we will build it up," he said, referring to America's nuclear stockpile. "This should have been done years ago." Russia has warned that abandoning the agreement would be a major blow to global security. Signed in 1987, the INF resolved a crisis over Soviet nuclear-tipped ballistic missiles targeting Western capitals. Trump's announcement has raised global concerns, with the European Commission urging the United States and Russia to pursue talks to preserve the treaty and China calling on Washington to "think twice." 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Privacy Statement Chinese Consul General in Houston Li Qiangmin delivers a speech at the 12th annual friendship ambassador award gala by the U.S.-China Peoples Friendship Association (USCPFA) Houston Chapter in Houston, Texas, the United States, Oct. 26, 2018. China and the United States should work together to ensure the sustained and healthy development of bilateral relations, Chinese Consul General in Houston Li Qiangmin said Friday night. (Xinhua/Liu Liwei) HOUSTON, Oct. 27 -- China and the United States should work together to ensure the sustained and healthy development of bilateral relations, Chinese Consul General in Houston Li Qiangmin said Friday night. Delivering a speech at the 12th annual friendship ambassador award gala by the U.S.-China Peoples Friendship Association (USCPFA) Houston Chapter, Li said the sound and steady development of China-U.S. relations serves the fundamental interest of the two peoples and meets the expectation of the international community. Next year marks the 40th anniversary of the establishment of China-U.S. diplomatic relations. Looking back into history, Li said the normalization of bilateral relationship made China integrate into the international community and China's development also delivered tangible benefits to the United States. Referring to the recent trade disputes between the two countries, Li said, "It is natural for China and the U.S. to have differences. The key is how we should address them." He emphasized that the two sides should build a relationship featuring "non-conflict, non-confrontation, mutual respect and win-win cooperation." This year's friendship ambassador award was presented to Ed Gonzalez, the Harris county sheriff in Texas. Founded in 1974, the USCPFA is a non-profit educational organization with the goal of developing and strengthening friendship and understanding between the peoples of the United States and China. Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi discussed on Saturday in Cairo with the chairman of the Bundestag's Committee on Economic Cooperation and Development Peter Ramsauer ways to boost trade, and economic and energy cooperation, a statement by presidential spokesman Bassam Rady read. Saturday's meeting was attended by a delegation from Germany's Bundestag, Egypt's foreign minister Sameh Shoukry, Minister of Trade and Investement Amr Nassar, and the German Ambassador to Cairo. Officials highlighted the strong ties between both countries and that Egypt is the third largest trading partner in the Middle East. During the meeting, El-Sisi stressed Egypt's desire to "enhance the level of cooperation between the two countries in various fields in order to continue the process of distinguished relations on the basis of partnership and mutual interests." Meanwhile, Ramsauer stressed the parliament's keenness on boosting bilateral cooperation in the fields of education, health, and empowerment of youth. Illegal migration was also among the issues covered during the meeting. El-Sisi emphasized that Egypt exerts strenuous efforts to face the problem of illegal migration through tightening security along its borders He is expected to travel to Germany on Sunday for a four-day official to discuss cooperation in combating terrorism and illegal migration. Search Keywords: Short link: Unfortunately, our website is currently unavailable in your country. We are engaged on the issue and committed to looking at options that support our full range of digital offerings to your market. We continue to identify technical compliance solutions that will provide all readers with our award-winning journalism. Egypt's President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi traveled on Sunday to Berlin on a four-day visit to participate in the G20 Compact with Africa summit at an invitation from German Chancellor Angela Merkel. El-Sisi is expected to hold summits with African leaders and heads of state that are members of the G20 Partnership with Africa. The Egyptian President is also scheduled to have bilateral talks with Merkel, German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier and the Bundestag's president Wolfgang Schauble, presidential spokesman Bassam Radi said earlier in the day. He will also convene with other German top officials and businessmen to review regional and international issues of mutual concern as well as bilateral ties, said Radi Search Keywords: Short link: Those who seek a fine dining experience on the Costa del Sol have plenty of top notch restaurants from which to choose. However, those who enjoy their order being taken by a sabre-toothed tart with a braying laugh, or being served by an incompetent waiter and insulted by the owner can now reserve the ultimate dinner date. SHOWS Mijas. Friday 2 November, 7pm, Club La Costa World. Tickets, which include three-course meal with wine and pre-dinner drinks, cost 39.50 euros. restaurant.booking@clcworld.com Gibraltar. Saturday 3 (7.30pm) and Sunday 4 November (1pm). Tickets 50 pounds. bookings@sunborngibraltar.com Faulty Towers: The Dining Experience is based on the BBC series, Fawlty Towers, written by John Cleese and Connie Booth, and stars former Costa resident Oliver Harrison, who plays verbally and physically abused Manuel. The popular interactive show is now heading to the Costa del Sol and Gibraltar and it promises to serve up first-class food in hilariously chaotic surroundings. The original television scripts are not used, but the main characters are employed to full capacity. As one would expect, Basil is rude, Manuel confused, and Sybil, aside from doing as little as possible, asserts the authority. The mayhem will take place during a three-course dinner, where pandemonium reigns from the first course to the coffee. Expect the unexpected, because, although the show is based on a theatrical script, most of it will be improvised. "Every show really is unique as it is completely reliant on the audience's interaction, therefore most shows are memorable. Certainly when taking the show abroad lots of unpredictable moments occur," Oliver Harrison explained to SUR in English. With over 21 years of critical and audience acclaim, this is one of the most successful interactive comedy shows of its kind. Admired by one million people worldwide, Oliver is exited about bringing the show to the coast. Performing on home turf "I have wanted to perform on home turf with this show for a long time now and am really pleased it is finally happening. I feel like the Costa has the right audience for our show. Also for me there is a sense of going full circle, as my acting career began here in my teens and I am returning having made a career for myself," the actor said. Having trained at the Italia Conti Academy of Theatre Arts, Oliver developed a passion for theatre that defies convention. He grew up in Estepona during the 90s and went to The English International College (EIC) in Marbella. "I went to college in Marbella and they had a really strong drama department. When I left school I did a couple of plays at the Salon Varietes in Fuengirola. I also did some supper theatre along the coast, which consisted of doing a play while people had their dinner, similar in some ways to what we are doing with Faulty Towers: The Dining Experience, but also very different," Oliver points out. He went on to specialise in slapstick and "physically expert stupidity" in solo and collaborative theatre. Oliver also has his own one-man show, Signor Baffo, which has been described as the "Monty Python for kids". Serving up mayhem The Faulty Towers dining experience, labelled by the UK press as "a two-hour eat, drink and laugh sensation", is presented by Interactive Theatre International. Along with Oliver, the cast features two other British stage and screen actors: Donna Gray (Sybil) and Hayden Wood (Basil). "Expect to be served up some mayhem by Basil, Sybil and Manuel. Basil may be rude to you, Sybil may chew your ear off, and Manuel may not have a clue what you are asking of him, but he will do his very best to get it right," Oliver promises. One of my happiest moments, one that really makes my day, is when I can get out of a parking spot without the parking attendant [the sayes, plural soyas] noticing me. Though it is only LE5 or LE10 which I save, it makes me as happy as if I had made it through a robbery, Ahmed Samir, a Cairo resident, told Al-Ahram Weekly. Samir, a 38-year-old accountant, said he worked in the jam-packed Mohandessin district of Cairo in which he has to deal with a sayes on a daily basis. My work doesnt have parking spaces, and so I pay around LE150 to LE200 per month to the sayes to take care of things for me, but frankly it is not his right to take the money. He doesnt deserve it because he does nothing, and anyway it isnt really a job its more a form of blackmail, Samir said. Few Cairo drivers have not been psychologically or financially abused by a sayes, who in the best of cases directs them to a good parking spot or assists them in getting out of a parking spot in a crowded street, or in the worst of cases just stands there implying that he owns the street through his frantic hand gestures. Though the sayes phenomenon has become a normal one in many of Cairos bustling neighbourhoods, the fees he asks for are not the same from one district to another or sometimes according to the car the sayes takes charge of. In some cases, they can exceed LE30. Islam Essam, a 35-year-old salesperson, deals with a sayes every day when he drives his car. I was once with my wife and her sister on a stroll in the Al-Hussein area of Cairo where one rarely finds a parking spot. And out of nowhere a sayes appeared and asked me to leave the car keys and pay LE30 in advance for his services. I refused to leave the keys and parked the car myself and told him I would pay when I came back, Essam said. Later, when he came back, the sayes began to show some roughness, probably wanting to make me fear his bullying especially because I was accompanied by two women, Essam said. I told him I would only pay LE10, which he didnt accept and began to bang violently on the windshield of the car. I got out of the car and started a fight with him and my wife rushed to call a nearby policeman who let me go without paying a pound, Essam added. They [the parking attendants] claim to be working, but in fact they are unfairly taking our money. Some of them are little better than thugs, he said. Noha Ismail, 40, says she hardly ever finds a parking spot in Cairo without seeing a sayes standing next to it. They are proliferating, and their number increases every day. They have become one of the most annoying features of Cairos streets. For me, they are not providing a service but only making me feel tense when parking my car. Their voices disturb me even if they are supposed to be giving me instructions to help me park, Ismail said. Marwa Fouad, 27, said she only pays the sayes to avoid his harassing her. He [the sayes] is useless, Fouad said. He not only distracts me when I am trying to park the car, but he also frightens me. I refuse to leave my car keys with an unknown sayes, and I would only do so to valets in certain parking areas. I only pay parking fees when I meet a sayes to avoid harassment and intimidation, she said. The disruption of the sayes is not a problem for Mustafa Imam, 29, however, who said he can ignore such annoying guidance. My problem is when I park my car myself with no sayes, and then he appears from nowhere in front of the car when I am driving, saying Happy New Year, which has no meaning but is only an indication that he is asking for some money, Imam said. He added that he paid nothing and just said Happy New Year to you too. As a result of complaints about the growing phenomenon of the sayes in the streets of the capital, the Ministry of Interior has recently launched an initiative asking people to report any they see and not to pay a single pound. It has urged people to call a hotline at 136 to report such incidents and simply to walk away from them. Although dealing with a sayes can be mentally and financially exhausting for almost all drivers, some believe they are useful. Sally, a 21-year-old university student, said that a sayes could be useful for new drivers. I just got my driving licence, and I depend on a sayes to park the car, Sally said. I know that he is annoying to some, but in my case he is useful and he deserves the money he asks for, she said. Amany Abdel-Halim, a 45-year-old employee, agreed about the usefulness of her sayes. I leave my car for eight hours every day during my work, and thanks to the sayes it is kept safe. Sometimes I arrive at work just on time, and I have no time to search for a parking spot so I leave the car and the key with him to let him park it, Abdel-Halim said. Mohamed Yassin also said he thought a sayes could sometimes be useful because he makes a parking spot exist from nowhere, pushing and pulling other parked cars. This could be extremely useful, especially in rush hours, Yassin said. A SPREADING PHENOMENON In a country where the number of vehicles reached almost 10 million 2.5 million in Cairo by the end of 2017, according to the Central Agency for Public Mobilisation and Statistics (CAPMAS), finding a parking spot has become a daily struggle for many. This could be part of the story behind the spread of the sayes, according to specialists, though there are also social and economic reasons behind the phenomenon. Samia Khedr, a sociology professor at Ain Shams University in Cairo, said that one reason behind the phenomenon was that there is chaos in Egypts streets. One of the characteristics of this chaos was when the administration of each governorate allowed landowners to demolish villas and small residential buildings and construct residential towers instead without enough parking spaces to accommodate such a number of flats or people, she said. The street may have been hosting four cars related to the villa, but that number becomes at least 40 for a residential tower, Khedr told the Weekly. There is no concern for harmony and planning when the governorate allows commercial activities to open in such residential towers, like shops, banks and cafes with no parking areas dedicated to them. From here comes congestion, with the increasing number of cars leading naturally to the emergence of someone who helps drivers to park. The latter then become compelled to deal with him [the sayes] to guard the car or protect them from traffic fines as a result of parking in prohibited spots, she said. Egypts unemployment rate is currently 9.9 per cent and illiteracy was around 25 per cent in 2017, according to CAPMAS. Rural illiteracy rates stand at around 32.2 per cent, whereas in urban areas they are 17.7 per cent. Khedr said that increased migration from rural areas to the cities had aggravated the problem. Residents of Upper Egypt and rural areas migrate to Cairo in search of work. Given that they are unemployed and the majority of them are uneducated, they can find no better job than working as a sayes, she said, adding that this could explain the increase in numbers. Mahmoud, 56, has been working as a sayes for 25 years in downtown Cairo. I have no other daily income. I have four handicapped children. I dont work to increase my other income because this is my only source of income, Mahmoud told the Weekly. Regarding complaints by drivers about dealing with a sayes, with some describing them as thugs, Mahmoud replied that they [the drivers] could be right. A large percentage are rude and greedy. They are not satisfied with LE5 and often ask for more. I once was parking my motorcycle in the Attaba district, and the sayes there asked me to pay LE10, Mahmoud said, adding that he had refused to pay. Amr Mohamed, 28, has been working as a sayes since he was 16 years old. I inherited this profession from my father. I have three children, and I pay for my mothers medical treatment because she has no pension due to my fathers job. I am uneducated, and this is the only work I can do, Mohamed said. He frowned when faced by drivers complaints, saying that I provide parking spots and parking guidance, and I protect cars. In return, I request a little money for my services, he said. How could I be a thug when I am protecting their cars? Moreover, the police know exactly who we are and have our IDs with them, he added. Mohamed, who works four or five hours and earns LE50 to LE60 per day, said that I would agree to work at any other job, if one was available. Ismail, a 50-year-old sayes who works in Mohandessin, said that fees could be imposed for parking or even acts of sabotage in case of the refusal of a driver. Such individual acts have made some drivers describe us as thugs, but this does not represent us all, Ismail said. Said, 40, is from the Upper Egyptian governorate of Qena and originally migrated to Cairo with his family to work in a security post but instead became a sayes in the Dokki district. Because I am responsible for a family of four, I had to look for work following the security companys rejecting me. I first worked as a doorman in one of the Dokki residential buildings and then gradually began to wash the cars in front of the building and organise parking. Then I began to sling a yellow towel over my shoulder and put a whistle round my neck to become a sayes for half of the buildings in the street, Said said, adding that he earned around LE80 per day. Elsewhere in the Nasr City district, Gamal, 46, works as a sayes at night and a security guard in the morning in one of the nearby companies. In the light of the poor economic conditions and the high cost of living, I had to search for additional jobs to increase my LE1,800 salary as I have two children, Gamal said. In response to questions about how he chose the location and who determines prices, Gamal said that on my way to work every day I noticed a place where a lot of cars were parked, and from there I got the idea, as nowadays there is a sayes in every corner. Simply because I felt as if I had no other choices, I didnt hesitate to be a sayes, Gamal said. As for prices, each street in each neighbourhood has its own sayes who controls it, and he determines the price of each parking spot. In order to avoid being reported to the police, I first used to accept any amount of money, even it was just LE1 or LE2, but now I dont accept less than LE5, he said. LEGISLATIVE SOLUTIONS Due to the increase in the number of people working as sayes with no law regulating the profession, MPs have begun to address the phenomenon to put an end to any bullying. In April, MP Mamdouh Maklad submitted a draft law regulating the work of the sayes, with this then being approved by parliaments Local Administration Committee. Maklad said that the draft law aimed at organising parking lots in order to put an end to acts of bullying in the streets. This harmed the image of Egypt, he said, and as a result the law had had to step in. Over recent years, the sayes has become a pest that harms the Egyptian state as well as citizens and tourists, especially because the sayes works outside state control. He may even carry out acts of thuggery, and therefore the new law has become a necessity, Maklad told the Weekly. The draft law was submitted earlier this year, and the Local Administration Committee approved it in April. Now it is pending final approval. Following the approval of the committee the draft was supposed to be discussed by the General Committee of the parliament, but because there were more urgent laws it was postponed to the new parliamentary session that starts in October, Maklad said. The new law obliges the state to regulate parking spaces and the timing and pricing of fees. Maklad said it would require the issuance of working licences through tenders for private security companies operating in each neighbourhood. It will lead to a win-win situation. The state will financially benefit from the tenders. The citizen will benefit from the new organisation of parking spots and avoiding the bullying of the sayes because his work will now be supervised. And finally the sayes himself will benefit from the legalisation of his work, and he will also enjoy a stable income and social insurance, Maklad said. The law establishes a committee in each governorate to regulate the profession of the sayes and parking areas. A sayes must not be younger than 21 years of age, must know how to read and write, and must have a valid drivers licence in order to enter the profession. In addition, he must have a health certificate issued by the forensic or central laboratories of the Ministry of Health, stating that he has not been using narcotic drugs, and he must have a clean criminal record. The draft law is a ray of hope for the sayes, almost all of whom have welcomed the draft as it will let them work in a safer atmosphere. I agree to work under the law provided that it will not let others work in my parking area, Mohamed, a sayes in downtown Cairo, said. My source of income is threatened because I dont work with a licence. The law will provide me with a legal identity, Gamal said. However, Khedr believes that the law alone will not solve the phenomenon. It is a complex problem with many reasons behind it, and relying on the law alone will address the effects of the problem not its causes. We must rely on more than one solution, the sociology professor said. We should focus on greater urban planning and harmony. The local administrations should not give building licences for residential towers without enough parking spaces, and the same should be the case for shops, banks and cafes in residential neighbourhoods. There should be more efforts made to find practical solutions to reduce the unemployment rates in other governorates and consequently reduce migration rates. There should also be a greater awareness of the problems of population growth, Khedr said. *A version of this article appears in print in the 25 October, 2018 edition of Al-Ahram Weekly under the headline: Avoiding dictators of the streets Search Keywords: Short link: Welcome, DISH customer! Please note that we cannot save your viewing history due to an arrangement with DISH. Watchlist and resume progress features have been disabled. ACCEPT Egypt's Minister of Social Solidarity Ghada Wali said on Sunday that the ministry has created a database of 25 million low-income citizens to better implement social programmes and alleviate economic burdens on low-income families. She added that the database, created in cooperation with NGOs and the private sector, is the largest database of poor families in Egypt. The minister also noted that parliament has approved a law prepared by the ministry that protects people with special needs, noting that about 1 million citizens with disabilities received financial aid in 2018. The minister's comments were made at the Narrative PR forum, which was held to discuss challenges facing the government in achieving security, economic reform, and social protection. During the forum, which is organised by a PR company, the minister said that her ministry mainly focuses on providing a social safety network and development. The Narrative PR forum Egypt's first international public relations forum is titled 'Voice of Egypt... the State Speaks.' The forum convened on Sunday in Cairo under the auspices of Egyptian Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly. Lamia Kamel, the executive director of the PR company that organised the forum, said that the US Embassy, banks, and ministers are participating in the conference. During the conference, Wali pointed out that the ministry uses information technology to provide low income families with 17 different types of monetary support. Minister Wali explained that the ministry's Takaful and Karama programme, which was established in 2015 to supplement pensions for low-income families by providing conditional monetary subsidies, has already reached 5,630 villages and hamlets in all 27 governorates. The programme's benefits have reached 2 million families so far, Wali said. The ministry, in cooperation with a number of NGOs, is also currently implementing a programme that aims to build 300,000 housing units, the minister said. According to the last report issued by CAPMAS, Egypt's poverty rate rose to 27.8 percent in 2015, compared to 25.2 percent in 2010. The economic reform programme and austerity measures Egypt has adopted since 2016 have put a strain on many Egyptians who live under the poverty line. Those under the poverty line earn EGP 482 ($27) or less per month, while the under the extreme poverty line earn EGP 322 (18) or less, according to the latest figures. Search Keywords: Short link: Egypt's Al-Azhar condemned on Sunday the terrorist attack that targeted a Pittsburgh synagogue killing 11 people, saying that any attack against a human or a place of worship is, terrorism, Ahram Arabic website reported "Whoever commits such condemned terrorism should be punished regardless of his motives or religious and ideological background, and regardless of the victims' ideologies or religion or beliefs, the statement said. The country's most influential and oldest Sunni Islamic institution asserted its rejection of any racist discourse or acts, adding that there is a necessity to adopt more moderate discourses and to support the values of peaceful co-exitence between the followers of the different religions. On Saturday, 11 people, mostly elders, were killed while 6 others were injured by a gunman in a synagogue during a Shabbat religious service in Pittsburgh in what was described as the deadliest attack against the Jewish community in US history. The suspected gunman, 46-years-old Robert Bowers of Pittsburg is currently detained and is being investigated by the US authorities. Search Keywords: Short link: The Islamic State (IS) militant group has ousted a US-backed coalition of Kurdish and Arab forces from its holdout in eastern Syria, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights monitor said Sunday. A Syrian Democratic Forces commander, asking not to be named, confirmed the SDF retreat from Hajin on the Iraqi border around seven weeks after it launched an anti-IS offensive backed by the US-led coalition. Search Keywords: Short link: Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Ni Nyoman Wira (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Sun, October 28, 2018 17:05 1118 882ab4bc56dbda08a069b30877993a55 1 People Indonesian-language,Ivan-Lanin,language Free Back in May 2016, linguist Ivan Lanin conducted a poll on his Twitter account, asking netizens: Why do you make mistakes when speaking Indonesian? The three response options were: Did not know the rule, was not careful enough and did not care. The results showed that 50 percent of 651 voters stated they did not care, meanwhile 31 percent admitted they did not know the rule and the rest were not careful enough. Ivan said Indonesians carelessness in speaking their national language was rooted in their mindset. He also connects it with the late anthropologist Koentjaraningrats six negative characteristics of Indonesian citizens, which includes underestimating quality. I see those six characteristics in how Indonesians speak their language in the present day, said Ivan during a discussion titled "Indonesian Language and the Current Generation" on Oct. 17 at Salihara Community in South Jakarta. Many people believe its okay to make mistakes when speaking as long as other people understand thats underestimating quality. The man of Minangkabau descent suggested ways to practice proper and correct Indonesian without making it sound too formal, especially to the young generation: Politeness Based on Leechs Principles of Pragmatics, Ivan believed that kesantunan (politeness) is an aspect that is often disregarded when using the language. Perhaps some people view it as basa-basi [small talk], but its necessary to make a conversation flowing, Ivan said. Six maxims of politeness in language are kerendahanhatian (modesty) or the act of being moderate in showing yourself off, kebijaksanaan (tact), which means minimizing loss for the other speakers, kedermawanan (generosity), which means maximizing the benefit for the other speakers, kesetujuan (agreement), which shows similarity in opinion, and simpati (sympathy), which shows equality in feeling. Diction Your choice of diction will enrich your communication process. Being selective with diction does not mean someone has to remember all the contents of the Great Dictionary of the Indonesian Language. All you need to do is read, especially Indonesian literature and news. Ivan Lanin during 'Indonesian Language and Current Generation' discussion on Wednesday, Oct. 17, 2018, at Salihara Community in South Jakarta. (Komunitas Salihara/File) Read also: 'Language is my ultimate weapon': Ivan Lanin Exclamation usage Indonesian language has many exclamations that can be utilized to make a conversation less formal, for example: dong, -deh and sih that give different meanings to a sentence. Structure of the sentence We learned about the s-p-o-k structure of the sentence at school, which stands for subject (s), verb (predikat, or p), object (o) and explanation (keterangan, or k). But people can change it into other structures, such as s-p or s-p-o, to reduce its formality. Intonation The way people maintain their intonation when speaking to other people will determine the atmosphere of the conversation. Emoticons Thanks to technology, people now have various elements to end their sentence aside from using periods, question marks and exclamation points. Mindfulness When we use the language, we should be mindful about what will come out of our mouth because its determined in our brain, Ivan said. Think carefully first before speaking. Back then I had to force myself to construct [the words] in my mind before speaking. The wikipediawan (volunteer editor of Wikipedia) also encouraged millennials to avoid feeling inferior. Were equal to other people from other nations. One thing we have to conquer is our mentality, Ivan said. (kes) Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin News Desk (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Sun, October 28, 2018 11:09 1118 882ab4bc56dbda08a069b30877987266 1 Entertainment Martin-Scorsese,Leonardo-DiCaprio,Movie,adaptation,Flower-Moon Free For the sixth time, Oscar-winning director Martin Scorsese is set to collaborate with Oscar-winning actor Leonardo DiCaprio in the adaptation of David Granns bestselling true-crime thriller Killers of the Flower Moon: The Osage Murders and the Birth of the FBI. When I read David Granns book, I immediately started seeing it -- the people, the settings, the action -- and I knew that I had to make it into a movie, Scorsese said as reported by consequenceofsound.net. The Flower Moon feature film will be set in 1920s Oklahoma and revolve around the murders of a group of people, known as the Osage Nation, who became rich overnight after oil was discovered under their land, said to be one of the most chilling American conspiracies in history. Read also: Brad Pitt joins Leonardo DiCaprio for a Quentin Tarantino movie Im so excited to be working with [screenwriter] Eric Roth and reuniting with Leo DiCaprio to bring this truly unsettling American story to the screen," added Scorsese. Dante Ferretti, who is Scorseses longtime production designer, told Variety that the director was hoping to begin shooting production next Spring. (acr/kes) Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Sebastian Partogi and I Wayan Juniarta (The Jakarta Post) Ubud, Bali Sun, October 28, 2018 23:32 1117 882ab4bc56dbda08a069b30877999323 1 Books UWRF-2018,leila-chudori,Nyoman-Nuarta,YennyWahid,Ubud,literary-festival,gender-equality,Diversity Free The 15th Ubud Writers and Readers Festival ended on a high note on Sunday night with founder and director Janet DeNeefe thanking patrons, writers and readers for their continuous support for the countrys longest-running international literary gathering. Without your support, we wouldnt be able to stand where we are now. Thank you, she said. Held at the spacious and manicured lawn of the Blanco Renaissance Museum, the closing party was a jubilant affair highlighted with energetic musical performances from Celtic Room, Filastin & Nova and Sup K as well as a breathtaking video-mapping show. Gaya Gaye, an Aceh-based music and dance group, performed a contemporary version of the famous traditional dance of Samna to a thunderous applause from the audience. Earlier in the afternoon, in one of the last panels of the festival, DeNeefe and general manager Kaden Purnima talked about the challenges the festival had to overcome throughout the years, ranging from a lack of funding to the shifting demographic of literary lovers. They also reiterated the festivals commitment to serve as a platform that would allow the countrys emerging writers to gain international recognition. Since 2008, the festival has flown in to Ubud more than 150 emerging writers from across the archipelago to speak alongside their more established international counterparts as well as translate and publish their works into an annual bilingual anthology. So far, the festival has published 11 anthologies. I believe the festival will keep growing in the future and it will not be solely a literary festival, but also a human rights and arts festival, DeNeefe said. Multidisciplinary event Panel discussions and performances on Saturday and Sunday had shown that the festival has gradually transformed into a multidisciplinary art event. In one such performance, Indian writer and dancer Tishani Doshi mesmerized spectators at the Betel Nut restaurant and art hub. She moved her body gracefully while displaying a mournful face to the audience while a recording of her recitation of her poem Girls Are Coming Out of the Woods was broadcasted through loudspeakers. Dashi danced along to the poem, which is dedicated to her friend and Indian perfumer Monika Ghurde, who was raped and murdered in 2016. The piece protests against gender-based violence. The dance climaxed with Dashi covering her face as if being in despair but ended with a more uplifting tone as she displayed a warrior pose at the end of her dance as the final line of her poem was read: "girls are coming out of the woods, they are coming, they are coming". The urgency for women and other marginalized groups to fight for their rights through literature and the arts was a salient theme on the final day of the festival. Australian writer Clementine Ford discussed her book Boys Will be Boys: Power, Patriarchy and the Toxic Bonds of Mateship, which addresses how gender socialization turns men into emotionally numb individuals who have to resort to violence to express their masculinity. She pointed out that many men who claimed to be feminists actually had blind spots when it came to admitting their own sexist biases. She urged for women to take a primary role in the fight against patriarchy. "People used to say, Oh, we need men as our allies. But we actually don't! In the suffragette movement in the West, did they ask the men to help them? No! These women even died while fighting for their right [to vote] and were successful in the end. Even today, many women still die every day fighting for their rights," Ford said passionately. She urged men to let go of their defensiveness, pick up her book and discuss its content. "Even if they don't agree with what I say, they should form book clubs on it. How many men actually form book clubs and start talking about issues openly?" she said. Separately, Emmanuela Shinta, an environmentalist and writer from Kalimantan, talked about how she used documentary films to engage indigenous community youngsters in the fight against big companies that were destroying their land and livelihoods through slash-and-burn practices. Concerns on 'Islamic radicalism' Freedom for artists and writers, however, had recently been threatened by the rise of Islamic radicalism, some of the speakers said. Balinese sculptor Nyoman Nuarta recounted in one session moderated by senior writer and journalist Leila S. Chudori how Muslim vigilantes demolished his statue in Bekasi, West Java. "We already explained [to the statue protesters] what that statue symbolized in terms of the environment, but they refused to try to understand. We could not open up any discussions with them," Nyoman explained. Leila also pointed out how, recently, vigilante groups dispersed literary and film discussions focusing on lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) and 1965 communist purge issues, as the police stood idly by. "We have to change how the [Police Law No. 28/1997] defines the task of the police. Currently, they define it as merely maintaining order, which they interpret as clamping down on the minority groups [to appease the vigilantes]. Instead, the law should define the police's task as defending the civil rights of every human in this country," Muslim activist Yenny Wahid said. I Wayan Juniarta is a founding member of Mudra Swari Saraswati Foundation, which organizes UWRF. The Israeli army accused the Syrian government on Saturday of ordering Palestinian militants in Gaza supported by Iran to fire dozens of rockets into southern Israel, and threatened to retaliate wherever it chose. The barrage of rockets, which began late Friday and continued into Saturday, triggered extensive retaliatory strikes by Israeli aircraft against Gaza that risked escalating into a wider conflict. The new flare-up came hours after six Palestinians died in renewed clashes on the Gaza-Israel border even as the territory's Islamist rulers Hamas said Egypt was seeking to negotiate a return to calm. "The rockets that were launched against Israel... we know that the orders, incentives were given from Damascus with the clear involvement of the Iranian Revolutionary Guards' Quds Force," army spokesman Lieutenant Colonel Jonathan Conricus said, referring to the Guards' foreign operations unit. At least 39 rockets have been fired at southern Israel by the Islamic Jihad group since late Friday, with 17 of them intercepted by air defences and the rest hitting open ground, the army said. Israeli aircraft carried out extensive retaliatory strikes, targeting approximately 90 sites belonging to the territory's Islamist rulers Hamas. Conricus said that Israel held Hamas responsible for the fire, even though it was carried out by Islamic Jihad at the behest of Syria and its ally Iran. "We hold Hamas responsible for everything coming from Gaza," he said. Conricus said Israel would also retaliate against the Syrian government and Iran's Quds Force, and would choose where. "Part of the address by which we will deal with this fire is also in Damascus and the Quds Force," he said. "Our response is not limited geographically." The biggest rocket barrage from Gaza in months came despite talk of progress towards an Egyptian-brokered deal to end months of often violent protests along the border in return for an easing of Israel's crippling 11-year blockade. On Sunday, Israel reopened the people and goods border crossings with Gaza and on Wednesday renewed the flow of Qatar-funded fuel to the Palestinian enclave, in an indication of its confidence that Hamas would rein in violence. The Friday border marches however drew 16,000 protesters, some of them clashing with Israeli soldiers. Five Palestinians were shot dead by Israeli fire in separate incidents along the border fence, the Gaza health ministry said. A sixth died when a hand grenade he was holding exploded accidentally, witnesses said. -'Expanding the response'- There were no reports of casualties in Gaza as a result of the Israeli air strikes, which began late Friday and continued on Saturday. In Gaza City, a four-storey building was completely destroyed in a strike, AFP correspondents reported. The Israeli army said it was a major headquarters of Hamas. Israel launched three military offensives against Gaza since 2008, and Egypt and the United Nations have been leading diplomatic efforts to avert a fourth. The armed wing of Islamic Jihad, the second largest militant group in Gaza, threatened to continue the rocket fire on Saturday. The "resistance is considering expanding the response in number and type, if the enemy continues its aggression against our people," it said. Israel has struck Syria dozens of times in recent years, saying it is preventing Iran from supplying advanced weapons to its enemies. US President Donald Trump's peace envoy Jason Greenblatt condemned the rocket fire. "More rockets from Gaza into Israel. Another night where parents are ushering terrified children to cover. Violence will not build futures for anyone," he said on Twitter. Palestinians have gathered for protests along the border at least weekly since March 30. At least 213 Palestinians have been killed by Israeli fire in Gaza since the protests began, according to figures collated by AFP. The majority have died during protests, while smaller numbers have been killed by air strikes or tank fire. One Israeli soldier was shot dead by a Palestinian sniper over the same period. The protesters are calling to be allowed to return to lands their families fled or were expelled from in the 1948 war that accompanied Israel's creation. They are also protesting over Israel's crippling blockade. Reports Friday suggested a deal had been reached that would see the protests end in exchange for an easing of the blockade. Hamas officials denied any had been reached but confirmed to AFP that progress was being made. Israel says its blockade is necessary to isolate Hamas, while critics say it amounts to collective punishment of Gaza's two million residents. *This story was edited by Ahram Online. Search Keywords: Short link: Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Zhang Yen (China Daily) Mon, October 29, 2018 03:04 1117 882ab4bc56dbda08a069b3087799ae9b 2 Art & Culture Gustav-Klimt,art,Painter,painting,Austria Free "Whoever wants to know something about me," Austrian painter Gustav Klimt once said, "ought to look carefully at my pictures and try to see in them what I am and what I want to do." And what a lot that was. Klimt lived in a late 19th-and early-20th-century Vienna that was intensely bohemian, awash with wild decadence and artistic experimentation-an avant-garde collective of artists and intellectuals that comprised architect Otto Wagner, composers Gustav Mahler and Arnold Schonberg and the psychoanalyst, Sigmund Freud. From such heady cultural company emerged Klimt. Born in 1862 in Vienna to a father who was a gilder, Klimt grew up with the luster of gold and silver around him, and was highly entrepreneurial. By the age of 14, he enrolled in Vienna's School of Applied Arts, where he studied fresco painting. His trademark was copying iconic paintings like Isabelle d'Este by Titian. Klimt sold portraits he painted from photographs and made technical drawings for an ear specialist-hence, his interest in, and mastery of the human form. Klimt founded a workshop that executed mural paintings for museums and theaters in the historical tradition of the Vienna School, and in 1897, became the founding member and president of the Viennese Secession, a breakaway art movement, in the spirit of art nouveau. He was given many fresco commissions; simultaneously, he drew and painted almost exclusively erotic themes celebrating the seductiveness of women, which began with Judith Iand Detail de la Frise Beethoven in 1901, and continued with Danae, The Kiss, and most famously Adele Bloch-Bauer I, all created in 1907. Adele Bloch-Bauer was the Viennese wife of sugar baron Ferdinand Bloch-Bauer and the only woman whose portrait Klimt painted twice. American showbiz icon Oprah Winfrey owned the second portrait and sold it to a Chinese collector in 2016 for $150 million. She had previously bought the painting from Christie's in 2006 for $87.9 million. The painting was one of five Klimt canvases seized by the Nazis from Bloch-Bauer's husband during World War II, and became the subject of a 2015 film Woman in Gold, starring Helen Mirren. But it's not Klimt's most expensive work; that accolade goes to 1904 canvas Water Serpents II (pictured), which was sold privately by Russian billionaire Dmitry Rybolovlev in November 2015 for $170 million, also to an Asian buyer. Klimt's work blazed a disparate art trail; sixth-century Byzantine mosaics from Ravenna he found of "unprecedented splendor", and they influenced his Woman In Gold canvas along with others; there was also Victorian repression and its palette, along with its opposite, a newfound freedom of expression and sexual liberation in his subject matter through lush, symbolic canvases. Klimt's female subjects were seen as depicting a new counter-conventional woman. From decorative to theatrical to portrait, his work evolved as his stature and financial independence grew, emboldening him more. The eccentric artist wore a caftan when he painted and kept a pet cat. He was no slacker in the bedroom, either-Klimt sired 14 children and was never married. Read also: How Paul Allen built one of the greatest private art collections As such, Klimt was a divisive force. Admirers saw in his friezes magnificent stylized illustrations of the duality of Eros and Thanatos, of Love and Death. Detractors saw only pornography and misogyny, the latter a more recent reaction to Klimt's work. Stylistically, something pioneering happens with a Klimt canvas, whereby the anatomy of the models becomes ornamentation, and the ornamentation becomes anatomy; like a more fashion-motivated Matisse. During Klimt's golden period, the clothing on the models become tapestries of abstract shapes rendered in rich golds, reds, blues and greens. And even when Klimt painted with no human figures, his flowerscapes or landscapes were filled with organic forms, as though fields of flora had become flowing trains of costume. In this way, Klimt foreshadowed just about everything in 20th-century art. He was both art nouveau and art deco, pre-cubism, pre-Bauhaus and even pre-Russian constructivism. He was the sensorially advanced aristocrat of art, a technician with a wild mind and disciplined eye, whose voluptuous irradiations lit the luxurious way ahead for all the art that followed. See this intoxication of color at Atelier des Lumieres in Paris, which presents an immersive exhibition devoted to the leading figures of the Viennese art scene, of which Klimt was the icon. To mark the 100th anniversary of the painter's death and that of his mentee, Egon Schiele, their works have been brought to life to the sound of music on the former foundry's vast projection surface in the City of Light's 11th arrondisement on Rue Saint-Maur. Klimt's canvases are stunning, gilt-edged moments to behold. The fine layers of gold leaf lend his work a timeless quality, and the absence of perspective and shadow made his subjects resemble religious icons. Few artists have produced output of such high order-and dazzling high style-as Klimt. Topics : This article appeared on the China Daily newspaper website, which is a member of Asia News Network and a media partner of The Jakarta Post Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Marie Wolfrom (Agence France-Presse) Paris Sun, October 28, 2018 11:15 1118 882ab4bc56dbda08a069b30877987dfd 2 People Rudyard-Kipling,Nobel,war,British,Europe,fatherhood,parents Free The British poet and writer Rudyard Kipling, an ardent supporter of his country's entry into World War I, did everything he could to make sure his only son would join the fight. Yet just a few weeks after John Kipling touched French soil on the day of his 18th birthday, he was reported missing during the devastating Battle of Loos on September 27, 1915. His father and mother Carrie would spend the next several years desperately searching for him, hoping against all odds that he might have survived. It was not until 1919 that Kipling publicly acknowledged his son was probably dead, one of the 1.1 million soldiers lost by the British Empire in the war. The author of "The Jungle Book", the first Briton to be awarded the Nobel Prize for literature, fiercely defended the war as a patriotic duty for all able-bodied men. He threw himself into the government's propaganda efforts, and is believed to have popularised the slur "Hun" in reference to the German foe. But John, who hoped to enlist in the Royal Navy, was rejected because of poor eyesight. "As his wife said: How could their son not go to war when all the other sons were?" said David A. Richards, who has published a bibliography of the author's work and letters. It was only thanks to his father's connections as one of the country's most popular writers that he finally got a commission in the Irish Guards, and shipped out to France in August 1915. War Office telegram Shortly afterwards came the Battle of Loos, which proved a disaster for Britain as waves of soldiers were cut down by German machine guns or choked on their own poison gas being blown back into their lines. An estimated 15,000 British soldiers were killed and 35,000 wounded in a matter of days. It was John's first combat experience, and he disappeared after "going over the top", leaving the trenches to attack enemy lines. "A telegram from the War Office to say John is 'missing'", reads an entry in Carrie's diary from October 2, 1915. From that day on, Kipling moved heaven and earth to find out what happened to his son. Hoping he might just be wounded or captured, Kipling spent months tracking down members of his regiment to try to learn where John was last seen. He even managed to have leaflets dropped over enemy lines asking for news of his son. "He begged the War Office not to declare the boy dead, only missing, to spare his wife's feelings," Richards said. Kipling would return repeatedly to the French battlefields hoping to learn his son's fate until his death in 1936. But it was only in 1992 that John's grave was finally identified thanks to archival research, at St Mary's cemetery in Haisnes, near the battlefield where he disappeared. His name has since replaced the inscription "Known unto God", a phrase suggested by Kipling himself to the Imperial War Graves Commission, which he joined after his son's disappearance. "After the war, Kipling's writing took on a generally more serious tone, including several stories about soldiers suffering from what we would now call post-traumatic stress disorder," according to Mike Kipling, one of the author's descendants and chairman of the Kipling Society. In 1916 he would write the haunting lines of "My Boy Jack": "Have you news of my boy... What comfort can I find?" Whether a sign of his own regrets or criticism of those responsible for the carnage, Kipling would later write in his "Epitaphs of the War": "If any question why we died, Tell them, because our fathers lied." Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin News Desk (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Sun, October 28, 2018 14:25 1118 882ab4bc56dbda08a069b30877990eb2 1 National National-Mandate-Party,PAN,house-of-representatives,Taufik-Kurniawan,Banggar,Budget-Committee,KPK,Immigration-Office Free The Immigration and Customs Directorate General has received a letter from the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) requesting them to stop National Mandate Party (PAN) deputy chairman Taufik Kurniawan from leaving the country. Taufik is one of the deputy speakers in the House of Representatives, in charge of Commission XI on economy and finance. He is also on the budget committee (Banggar), which is responsible for discussing the state budget allocation with the government, including allocations for regions, among others. "We received the letter on Oct. 26," immigration office spokesman Theodorus Simarmata confirmed on Sunday. The KPK has yet to confirm the reason behind the request. Taufik had previously been seen visiting the KPKs headquarters in Kuningan, South Jakarta, in September. At the time, he said he was there to explain the mechanisms of state budget deliberations in the House. Taufik's name has also been mentioned in a graft case pertaining to special allocation funds (DAK). Former Kebumen regent and graft suspect Yahya Fuad said during his trial that he had promised to pay Taufik a 5 percent fee if his regency was allocated Rp 100 billion in DAK. (kmt) Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin News Desk (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Sun, October 28, 2018 17:14 1118 882ab4bc56dbda08a069b3087799444a 4 World Gaza,Gaza-strip,Indonesian-hospital-in-Gaza,MER-C,Israel-Palestine-conflict,Palestine,Israel Free President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo condemned on Sunday Israeli attacks that damaged the Indonesian hospital in Gaza the previous day. "Yes, I know, the hospital was damaged and Indonesia strongly condemns the Israeli attacks on Oct. 27," he said in Sidoarjo, East Java, on Sunday. He pointed out that the assault had also destroyed civilian houses in the area. "Indonesia is still and will always be behind the Palestinians in fighting for their independence. There is no turning back," he said as quoted by tempo.co. A volunteer reported that the hospital in the Gaza strip had been hit by several Israeli military missiles on Saturday, damaging several facilities. Tremors from Israeli missile attacks in the area caused damages to an Indonesian hospital in Gaza. (Courtesy of MER-C/mer-c.org) Reza Aldilla Kurniawan, a Medical Emergency Rescue Committee (MER-C) volunteer who was near the hospital during the strike, said that at least five missiles hit the area surrounding the building. "There was a big tremor and dust fell from the ceiling. I immediately went out of the guest house and saw that the Indonesian hospital was damaged," he said as quoted by Antara. One of MER-C Indonesia's presidium members, Sarbini Abdul Murad, asked for prayers for the safety of the hospital. "May God protect the Indonesian hospital building as well as all the medical personnel inside, and our volunteers who are still there," he said on Sunday as quoted by Antara. "A few of the rooms in the hospital were damaged, but not too badly, including the administrative offices, toilets, the intensive care unit [ICU] and a few others. He added that patients had been moved to the hallways in anticipation of further missile strikes. The Indonesian hospital was officially opened in January 2016 and was initiated by an Indonesian humanitarian mission that brought medicinal supplies to Gaza in 2008. (kmt) Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Ruslan Sangadji (The Jakarta Post) Palu Sun, October 28, 2018 21:21 1118 882ab4bc56dbda08a069b30877996c3f 1 National HTI,flag-incident,Banser-flag-incident,GP-Ansor,central-sulawesi,Central-Sulawesi-earthquake Free The Central Sulawesi Police are investigating a recent attack against the Palu secretariat office of GP Ansor, the youth wing of the countrys largest Muslim organization Nahdlatul Ulama (NU), as well as a suspected raising of the Hizbut Tahrir Indonesia (HTI) flag in Poso. The two incidents were allegedly connected to a recent brouhaha surrounding the burning of an HTI flag in Garut, West Java, by members of NUs paramilitary group, Banser. Read also: Suspected HTI flag burning sparks controversy among Muslims The police have been questioning witnesses and suspected perpetrators in both cases, a senior police officer has confirmed. They are also looking into the motive behind the flag-raising on Friday in Poso. Central Sulawesi Police spokesman Adj. Sr. Comr. Hery Murwono confirmed that the flag that was hoisted at the Poso Regency Council was that of HTI, an organization that has been banned by the government. He added that the flag had been raised by supporters of the hardline group Islam Defenders Front (FPI). They were FPI supporters, but they brought an HTI flag instead, Hery said on Saturday. An angry mob attacked the secretariat office of GP Ansor on Jl. Lasoso in Palu on Friday afternoon, injuring several people. At the time, members of GP Ansors Central Sulawesi chapter and Banser were packing aid for survivors of a recent earthquake and tsunami in Palu, Donggala and Sigi. The attackers were reportedly driving a pick-up truck. [The attackers] barged in and verbally attacked us, aiming to destroy the office. Members of GP Ansor and Banser fought back, so they clashed, said Adha Nadjamuddin, chairman of GP Ansors Central Sulawesi chapter. The police have deployed officers to safeguard the secretariat office. On Thursday, the chairman of the Muslim People Forums (FUI) Central Sulawesi chapter, Hartono, condemned the burning of what was perceived as a tauhid flag by Banser members. Tauhid is the core of the Islamic faith and the declaration of belief that Allah is the one and only God. The tauhid sentences are the core of the Islamic faith [...] Its a matter of life and death for a Muslim, he said. Those who deny and threaten [the teaching] are infidels. Also on Friday, a group of people reportedly took down the Indonesian flag at the Poso Council and substituted it with a tauhid flag. (swd) Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Noviar Andayani and Hollie Booth (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Mon, October 29 2018 This week, the Indonesian government hosts the fifth Our Ocean Conference in Bali (OOC18). This meeting gathers leaders in government, conservation and industry from across the globe to generate commitments and actions to maintain the sustainability of our oceans. This years theme Our Oceans, Our Legacy recognizes our inextricable relationship with ocean ecosystems: in our past, in the present and for our future. Sharks form an integral part of our ocean ecosystems and the ties that bind us to our marine environment. Humans evolved from the ocean, and the common evolutionary link for all jawed vertebrates on Earth resembled a shark. In that sense, sharks are our ancestors. Today, sharks play an important role in maintaining functional and productive ocean ecosystems even as they provide a source of income and food security for millions of people across the world. In Indonesia, the annual export value of the shark industry is approximately US$125 million. A recent study by the Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS) found that shark dive tourism accounted for approximately $200 million per year. In the future, Indonesia will depend on healthy shark populations to deliver ecological and socio-economic benefits to its people and the ocean. If populations are well managed, shark tourism could bring more than $500 million per year into the Indonesian economy by 2027, and shark fishing could continue to provide income and a source of animal protein to coastal communities. Recognizing the important and diverse roles of sharks and their relatives for our oceans and our legacy, there is a need to effectively protect and sustainably manage these species. To do so, we must acknowledge the diversity of values associated with sharks and the diversity of approaches required to conserve them. Indonesia has lately shown a strong commitment to shark protection. New regulations have been implemented to safeguard shark species and reduce shark exploitation in particular to achieve policy targets under multilateral agreements, including the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Flora and Fauna (CITES), the Convention on Migratory Species and the Convention on Biological Diversity. In recent years, Indonesia has seen several important shark and ray conservation successes in Indonesia. The Marine Affairs and Fisheries Ministry has developed key policies relating to shark protection and management. In particular, charismatic shark species of high tourism value, including manta rays and whale sharks, have received full protection. These species protections have been implemented through effective enforcement. More than 500 law enforcement officers in have been trained in techniques for preventing, detecting and investigating marine wildlife crimes. Since 2014, authorities have sentenced 30 illegal shark traders to a total of 64 months of jail time and fined them more than $30,000. Shark tourism could bring more than $500 million per year into the Indonesian economy. Collection of comprehensive fisheries and socioeconomic data now inform the development of practical and ethical regulations that balance conservation objectives with the needs of local fishing communities. These data have helped to develop local- and national-level management measures, including protection of 130,000 hectares of hammerhead shark and wedgefish critical habitat in Aceh and West Nusa Tenggara (NTB) provinces. The government has likewise declared shark sanctuaries across Komodo National Park and the Raja Ampat regency. NGO partners like WCS and the Misool Foundation have engaged more than 130 fisher households in two major shark-fishing communities in NTB and East Nusa Tenggara to promote sustainable fisheries and livelihoods. Over the long term, improved shark management will also support delivery of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) and promote long-term growth for Indonesias economy. The WCS Indonesia Program has been supporting the government in these efforts, taking an integrated top-down/bottom-up approach, which encompasses applied research, policy development, community engagement and sustainable livelihoods and law enforcement. Through these efforts, WCSs goal is to support the government to protect the most vulnerable shark species, improve the sustainability of shark fisheries and control trade in shark products. At OOC18, WCS will launch a new $25 million initiative to deliver 10 examples of comprehensive, science-based shark management reforms across the globe over the next 10 years. As part of this 10 x 10 commitment, WCSs shark program will continue to invest in saving sharks in Indonesia and highlight Indonesia as a model for building nine similar comprehensive regimes in other priority countries. In preventing shark declines and species extinctions, we can maintain the sustainability of our oceans resources and preserve our oceans health as our heritage and legacy for future generations. __________________ 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 and Marguerite Afra Sapiie (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Mon, October 29 2018 President Joko Jokowi Widodo has strongly condemned Israels recent air strikes on the Gaza Strip, which laid waste to an area in the regions north, damaging a hospital built by Indonesia. Late on Friday and continuing into Saturday, Palestinian militants fired dozens of rockets into southern Israel, which responded with extensive air strikes. The violence came to an end after Islamic Jihad, the Palestinian militant group that launched the rockets, said it had agreed to an Egyptian-brokered truce. 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 Yohannes Sulaiman (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Mon, October 29 2018 Earlier this month, Indonesia successfully hosted the International Monetary Fund-World Bank Group Annual Meetings against the backdrop of worsening global economic woes, thanks to United States President Donald Trumps decision to play hardball against its trade partners. China is the especial target of US ire, with the US pursuing aggressive economic policies against China. Trumps aggressive stance toward China has occurred at an inopportune moment for the Asian giant, as it tries to tackle its overcapacity problem. Over the past few years, China has produced too much steel, cement, coal, plate glass and other materials as a result of cheap credit and local governments offering economic incentives to attract factories to their regions. As the Chinese economy has slowed, demand for these products has fallen, saddling factories with a stockpile of goods that produce no income and no return on their investment. In order to fight the trade war and tackle its overcapacity problem, China has been forced to pump more cash into its economy to stimulate growth, which is essentially a reversal of its credit tightening policy. The Chinese economys overcapacity problem thus means that there are few places in that country where that money will get good returns, since all the low-hanging fruits have been picked. While it is likely that China will withstand this economic warfare at least in the short term because of the size of its economy, it is likely that the trade war will have long-term impacts. Already the IMF has warned that Chinas economic growth for the year will decline from the expected 6.6 percent to 6.2 percent due to the trade war, and that global economic growth will decline from the expected 3.9 percent to 3.7 percent due to uncertainties from the trade war. Unfortunately, Indonesia has become collateral damage in this clash of the titans. After the trade war began, the rupiah tumbled to its weakest level against the US dollar since 1998, forcing President Joko Jokowi Widodo to postpone some of his infrastructure projects. Not to mention that bad news from Europe has spooked investors such as the Italian governments intransigent economic policy causing them to run for the safe haven of the US dollar, which further strengthened the dollar and inadvertently perpetuated the rupiahs misery. In this uncertain economic condition, expanding cooperation between China and Indonesia would be one of the best solutions. China needs a country big enough to invest in to alleviate its dual problems of overcapacity and extra cash in its system, while Indonesia needs foreign investment to prop up its ailing rupiah and to build much-needed infrastructure. It is a win-win solution that will benefit both countries. Expanding cooperation between China and Indonesia would be one of the best solutions. 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 News Desk (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Sun, October 28, 2018 08:10 1118 882ab4bc56dbda08a069b30877985a80 1 News breast-cancer,breast-cancer-awareness,prostate-cancer,Qantas Free Australian flag carrier Qantas Airways has announced that its annual FlyPink campaign this year will collaborate with the Movember Foundation, running from Oct. 15 to Nov. 15, with the aim of raising AU$100,000 (US$71,078) for breast and prostate cancer research. Throughout the campaign period, Qantas employees will wear pink ribbons, which is iconic to the breast cancer awareness campaign, as well as a mustache for the Movember Foundation, a multinational charity that focuses on raising awareness and money for men's health. Taking place between October and November, this year's FlyPink campaign coincides with breast cancer awareness month, as well as prostate cancer awareness month celebrated by Movember. "This year's FlyPink collaboration reminds us all about the great things we can achieve when we work together. Therefore, we are very grateful for the opportunity to raise the health issues of men and women in this same initiative," Movember Foundation country director Rachel Carr said in a statement. Read also: October: Month to show support for breast cancer fighters, survivors Qantas will also serve food boxes with nuances of FlyPink to increase awareness and support. The airline will also make a donation by matching the money donated to the National Breast Cancer Foundation (NBCF) and the Movember Foundation. "Cancer can touch anyone's life, so it is a great honor when FlyPink can unite various differences for good," QantasLink captain Susan McHaffie said. McHaffie started the FlyPink initiative after one of her relatives was diagnosed with breast cancer and survived. At the time, she aimed to raise AU$20,000. Since then, she has raised AU$500,000 for the NBCF and other affiliated charities. McHaffie continues to commit to running FlyPink in her spare time by designing various FlyPink attributes and selling them to flight crews from around the world. Through the movement, McHaffie has successfully invited pilots in 30 countries that work for 135 different operators to participate in the campaign. "We are very grateful for Qantas's support through the FlyPink initiative, which has now entered its fourth year. Together, and with the support of FlyPink, we can continue to finance the latest research to reduce the number of deaths from breast cancer," NBCF chief executive officer Sarah Hosking said. (liz/wng) U.S. Defense Secretary Jim Mattis said on Sunday that he had met Saudi Arabia's foreign minister and called for a transparent investigation into the killing of journalist Jamal Khashoggi. Mattis said he met Saudi Foreign Minister Adel al-Jubeir during a conference in Bahrain on Saturday and discussed the killing. "We discussed it. You know the same thing we talked about, the need for transparency, full and complete investigation," Mattis told a small group of reporters travelling to Prague with him. "(There was) full agreement from foreign minister Jubeir, no reservations at all, he said we need to know what happened and it was very collaborative, in agreement," Mattis added. Washington Post columnist Khashoggi's murder has escalated into a crisis for the worlds top oil exporter as Saudi Arabia's allies have reacted with outrage. Search Keywords: Short link: MBABANE The ugly warfare that preceded the contractual negotiations for CEO Gideon Mhlongo has ended in pain for four councillors. The quartet are former Mayor Sikhatsi Dlamini of Ward Four who is fresh from serving a two months suspension, Ward Three Councillor Mbutfo Nhlengetfwa, Deputy Mayor Simangaliso Gama of Ward 12 and Musa Dlamini of Ward Two. The cause of their suspensions developed from a recent audio clip where it was alleged to have admitted to being bribed. This was in relation to a lobbying meeting convened at Ezulwini with a couple of legislators from the recently dissolved 10th Parliament. The members were served with their letters of suspension last week, but still pitched up for council business where the issues on the agenda included discussing next years budget and the discussion of the organisations five-year plan. The biggest casualty of the four was former Mayor Sikhatsi Dlamini who, according to the charges was cited as the main convenor of the lobbying meeting in Ezulwini. PARTICIPATING IN MEETING He was also charged for defying the council by participating in a meeting at Msunduza without being authorised to do so. He had also been charged for a newspaper article dated October 15 in one of the countrys daily publications where he was he was quoted saying that Mayor Zephaniah Nkambule had no right to suspend him, in the process embarrassing and undermining the council. He was found guilty on all four charges and is facing four months suspension or a fine of E900 that is payable within 30 calendar days upon receiving the verdict. The Mayor opted to let charges one, two and three run concurrently where Dlamini had an option of paying E400 fine. The penalty for charge four will be effective soon after the completion of the sentence for charges one, two and three. Ward Four Councillor Sikhatsi Dlamini confirmed the suspension, but he was quick to state that he was preparing to file an appeal as soon as possible. I went to a council meeting and I was told that I was not supposed to be there because of the suspension. I have since consulted and the resolution has been to appeal to the decision, he said. When pressed further to elaborate on the charges and the sentencing thereof, he said the truth of the matter was that the mayor had no legal backing to suspend elected councillors. The mayor knows that he had no right to charge on such issues. What makes it worse is that I was suspended without trial. I was only told to come and mitigate after I have been found guilty in absentia when I had reported that I was unable to come for the hearing for reasons I had communicated to them. I couldnt then mitigate, but as I have said before, I am still weighing my options to appeal, he said. Meanwhile, Councillor Simangaliso Gama was slapped with a two months suspension for having participated in the meeting with legislators where the main subject was to oppose the ministerial directive issued by erstwhile Minister of Housing and Urban Development Phiwayinkhosi Mendi Mabuza, compelling the council to renew the contract of CEO Gideon Mhlongo. Councillor Gama said he has appealed despite the fact that the verdict itself did not make such provisions. He went on to state that he was puzzled by the fact that his sentencing on similar charges to the rest of his colleagues did not give him room for a fine. I have taken my chances to appeal the sentencing. The basis of my appeal has been to seek for an option of a fine. To me it sounds unfair to be slapped with a two-month suspension without being given the chance to pay a fine, he said. Councillor Musa Dlamini said he was a free man and when pressed on the charges he said he did not want to elaborate. SUSPENSIONS Mbabane Mayor Zephaniah Nkambule confirmed the suspensions of the councillors, but was quick to state that the process was still ongoing, adding that some have exercised their right to appeal. It is an internal issue that we are still working on. The councillors have started appealing their sentences. The suspensions have been there, but will wait for the period of appeal to expire before we could determine if they have all eventually appealed, he said. However, Mbabane resident and former Mayor Zeblon Bhembe said the situation between the councillors and the mayor was disturbing. He said while the mayor had the responsibility to maintain order among councillors, suspending people who were elected into office would not help the situation. There are circumstances where as a mayor you may take disciplinary action against councillors who you view to be wayward. However, even then, there is an appropriate way of doing it. You allow one councillor to raise a motion calling for action to be taken against those councillors. What the mayor does then is to appoint a committee to investigate and bring a report. You can only act upon the recommendations of the report, and that is done to provide leeway for the councillors to appeal to you in the event they have been found guilty, he said. He said at the moment, Mayor Nkambule should strive to unite the council than to divide it with suspensions. He said what made the suspensions controversial was that they bordered around lobbying which he said was the essence of a councillors duty. You cannot divorce lobbying from politics and it is strange therefore to learn that the mayor has suspended councillors for lobbying and or for attending community meetings, he said. MBABANE Has His Majesty King Mswati III finally opened a door for the Prime Minister to come from the elected MPs? On Wednesday, when addressing over 5 000 emaSwati who attended a much anticipated Sibaya gathering at the Ludzidzini gigantic national Cattle Byre, the King appeared to have opened a window of hope for a change. The nation had come anticipating the pronouncement of the new prime minister, only to be told that the process had been deferred to yesterday. In between that period, the King gave the nation a rare opportunity to lobby for the candidacy of the new prime minister. Section 67 of the countrys Constitution vests the powers to appoint the PM with the King acting on the recommendation of his Advisory Council. The article is specific in stating that the candidate for the position of the premier should come from the House, which is the Assembly that is dominated by elected legislators from the 59 constituencies. According to the clause, the King has a minimum pool of 68 candidates from which to choose the PM, the figure excludes the other candidates that are currently not members of the House of Assembly, who could be considered to fill the void left by Prince Hlangabeza who was moved to Senate. This clause of the Constitution has not been fully utilised when appointing the prime minister, because while the candidate has come from the House of Assembly, all of the previous candidates have come from the 10 appointed MPs. In some instances, there had to be switching of candidates from the House of Assembly to the Senate to give way to an appointed PM. Prince Hlangabeza switching The same has occurred this year following the switching of Prince Hlangabeza from the original 10 Kings appointees to Senate to leave space for the PM who was announced yesterday afternoon at the Sibaya. And the procedure since 1967 has always been that the prime minister would be a Dlamini male. There has been no explanation on the rationale to confine the candidature of prime ministers to the above. The first four PMs were princes. Prince Makhosini was appointed the first PM by His Majesty King Sobhuza II and was succeeded by Prince Maphevu in 1976, who was followed by Prince Mabandla and then Prince Bhekimphi, who ushered in the kingdom to the coronation of His Majesty King Mswati III in April 25, 1986. The subsequent two PMs were Sotsha Dlamini and Obed Mfanyana Dlamini, who are both late. Prince Mbilini, who is also late succeeded them before his three-year reign was cut short by the appointment of the late Sibusiso Barnabas Dlamini, who had the longest reign in the position in his two spells in 1996-2003 and 2008-2018. In between those stints was a five year reign for incumbent Tibiyo TakaNgwane Managing Director Absalom Themba Dlamini in 2003-2008. When addressing the nation on Wednesday at Sibaya, His Majesty King Mswati III opted to seek the assistance of the citizenry in choosing the right candidate for the position of Prime Minister. He could not be faulted given that the country was submerged in serious economic challenges that have triggered some industrial ripples with teachers and civil servants demanding their Cost-of-Living-Adjustment (CoLA) no matter what. MBABANE His Majesty King Mswati III has appointed a true leader in the new Prime Minister, Ambrose Mandvulo Dlamini. This was the observation of Chairman of the MTN Eswatini Board of Directors David Dlamini soon after the formers appointment at the Ludzidzini National Cattle Byre. We wish him all the best and we will continue to pray for him to execute his new task well, Dlamini said. He said what he learnt about the new premier, from their working relationship at the mobile phone company, was that he has all the qualities needed in a leader. He has his own ideas as an individual that could take an organisation forward. In short, one would safely say that His Majesty has appointed a true leader who will be relevant to the task, he said. The towering new premier emerged from a list of other speculated candidates for the position which gained momentum in the past four days when the King commissioned a three-day Peoples Parliament. The idea behind the Peoples Parliament was to give emaSwati a rare opportunity of assisting the appointing authority on the calibre of the next prime minister of the country. The submissions made at Sibaya during the Peoples Parliament, speaker after speaker, stressed on the need for a candidate who would be God-fearing and receptive to advice from the people. The speakers said the next PM should be one who would trigger a massive economic recovery strategy. And when his Majesty King Mswati III announced that the 10th premier would be Mandvulo, it appeared that all the boxes were ticked given the warm reception the pronouncement received from the about 3 000 eagerly awaiting emaSwati. He was quickly pulled out from the crowd of people who were listening to the King as he delivered his speech by senior police officer William Dlamini and ushered towards the upper front of the cattle byre, about five metres from where His Majesty King Mswati III was seated. He has Biblical calling Appointed Senator Themba Nhlanganiso Masuku has described the newly-appointed Prime Minister Ambrose Dlamini in the same breath as the Biblical Nehemiah. The latter was the Jewish leader who bravely heeded Gods call to return from exile in Babylon to Jerusalem to rebuild the fallen walls of the glorious city. Masuku likened Dlaminis calling in his task to that of Nehemiah and said for him personally, it was the fulfillment of his wish he made at Sibaya for God to guide His Majesty towards an individual who would emulate Nehemiah. His appointment has been truly sanctioned from above. The King has done it for the country and ours is to support him fulfill his mandate, he said. He said the new PM was an independent thinker who is familiar with all emaSwati. He said what set him apart was that he was not selfish. Just like Nehemiah, he faces a mammoth task of reviving the economy and that is why when I presented yesterday, my prayer was for God to assist the King to appoint a Nehemiah-like leader. Just like Nehemiah, the new premier needs every stakeholder to form a shield around him to execute his duties without fear, free from lurking enemies, he said. Piggs Peak MP Jabulani Buy Cash Mabuza said when the lion had roared, it was incumbent for every liSwati to rally behind the new prime minister. We hail the King for honouring the finger of God on the next PM. We need to work together with the new candidate to achieve the countrys goal of recovering the economy. He said Dlamini was a relevant candidate for the task at hand and that he has all the qualities that the nation wanted from the next PM. He said to cap it all, he was God fearing and would get all the support. LUDZIDZINI Ladies and gentlemen, the new Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Eswatini is Ambrose Mandvulo Dlamini. The MTN Eswatini chief executive officer (CEO) is the man that the nation, for the first time in history, helped His Majesty King Mswati III identify as the most appropriate candidate for the position. Before announcing the appointment yesterday at the Ludzidzini Cattle Byre during the last day of Sibaya the highest policy and advisory council of the nation His Majesty acknowledged the role played by the nation in identifying the new PM. The King said this was a good thing because it was unusual yet in the past, the King appointed someone without the nation knowing what the individual was capable of. I believe that everyone here rated the speakers who made presentations and gave them marks according to what they said. This has helped the King ensure that the person he appoints has the nations approval. Again, the country knows and heard what the person has to offer instead of that individual being seen as the Kings man who is beyond reproach. We need a kings man who is approachable and open to advise where necessary, the King said. His Majesty said the nation was constructive in its questioning of the candidates and praised everyone for being sophisticated by being quick in realising what was needed of them considering that there was no civic education conducted to equip them. As he whetted the peoples appetite, the King said the person he was going to appoint must fear God, respect the nation, tackle the countrys challenges and give him peace of mind. Further, the King said that person should be ready to work at lightning speed with the Cabinet team that is yet to be appointed. This is a time for lightning speed because other countries are also positioning themselves to be the best in the region, noted His Majesty. The King said all the PM candidates who spoke during the Sibaya gave sterling presentations, which left him with a tough decision to make. As he neared the moment of truth, the King said the nations prayers had helped him come to the correct decision. The heavens told me that the person I will appoint should have your support and cooperation. You should cooperate with him so that tomorrow you dont turn around and say the King gave you someone who knows nothing. Therefore, the individual you are being blessed with today is Mandvulo Dlamini, the King said to resounding shouts of Bayethe! whos mandvulo? But this seemed to leave many in confusion because they were not familiar with the name Mandvulo. However, those in the know began to shout its Ambrose, the MTN man. For a moment, it appeared no one was aware where Mandvulo was seated and His Majesty the King was seen asking those seated next to him where the newly-appointed PM was. Related Jordan reopens main border post with Syria after 3 years Jordanians are flocking to the Syrian capital Damascus for the first time in years for tourism and trade after the reopening of a border crossing that had been closed through years of war. The border opened to people and goods on Oct. 15, restoring a route that had carried billions of dollars in trade for the region. "The first day that Syria opened up, I came. This is my second time since then," said Mahmoud Nassar, 62, a flight engineer from Jordan's northern city of Ramtha. "This is a visit of tourism and of yearning for (Damascus)," said Nassar, who drove in with his father and son. "The road is safe and there were no problems." Syrian government forces retook the border region with Jordan from rebels in July during its recent offensive. The crossing had been closed since rebels captured it in 2015, though many are making the trip for the first time since 2011, when the Syrian conflict first erupted. The Jordanian side of the frontier was jammed with vehicles waiting to cross on Friday. "What we see is the situation is good, things are fine," said Razzan al-Hattab, a Jordanian waiting to cross. "I love Sham (Damascus), so I wanted to be one of the first to try going in a tourist group." "I Will Visit Every Week" The closure of the border has hit both the Syrian and Jordanian economies. "Before the border closed, our work was great," said Jawad al-Zoubi, waiting to cross. But for "the last seven years, we've not been able to pay school fees", he said. Bahjat Rizik, in Damascus with his wife and son, said the last time he made the three-hour drive from Amman was before the war began. He used to bring office furniture to sell in Syria and owned a gallery in the Yarmouk district near Damascus. "I will visit every week," said Rizik, carrying bags of children's clothes and spices with his family. "God willing, we can get back to work." Bilal Bashi, who runs a company selling abayas in Damascus, said he had seen more Jordanian tourists and shoppers since the crossing opened. "No doubt there will be an economic (boost). It will have a positive effect," he said at the historic Souk al-Hamidieh market in the Old City of Damascus. Still, Raed Maseh, another Syrian trader, said the increase in Jordanian visitors had not had a real impact yet and hoped more people would come. Intisar Murshid, the head of a Damascus hotel, said she received some 14 Jordanian guests on the first day the crossing opened. They came to shop, work, or visit relatives. "For eight years we did not see Jordanians, very rarely." *This report was edited by Ahram Online Search Keywords: Short link: Three AHEPA chapters in the Athens area united to send a holiday message to their brothers and sisters in the Ahepa family in the United States, and to all Greek-Americans Apropos of the Oxi that was declared not only by Greek Premier Ioannis Metaxas that fateful October 28 but by the entire Greek nation that rose in unity to fight for its freedom and against the Axis powers, three AHEPA chapters in the Athens area united to send a holiday message to their brothers and sisters in the Ahepa family in the United States, and to all Greek-Americans. The message begins: 28th of October 1940 isnt only the first day of Hellenic Glory with respect to the Hellenic role in WWII. It is something more. Greeks through the ages have demonstrated that some events in history generate legends that reverberate in time and also shape the future. In the Greek language we call it Athlos. Hellas spread such legends on numerous occasions and today they are echoes from its ancient history. Greece repeated the defiant Molon Lave, once hurled at the Persians atthe Italian demand that it open its borders to Italian troops. It was the 28th day of October of 1940. Being Free means that we are ready to pay the greatest price to protect liberty from tyranny, civilization from barbarism, democracy from chaos, the light from darkness. A legend has always its accompanying virtues. The story of the 28th of October constitutes a hymn for Unity because United we stand. Unity is a substantial principle for AHEPA family.Today, AHEPA Solon HJ-04, AHEPA Alexander the Great HJ-03 & AHEPA Argonauts Magnesia HJ-13 (D-25 AHEPA HELLAS) are celebrating with our brothers and sisters in the USA who raise the Greek flag in a country that hosts our Greek valueswith love and respect. Many happy returns to our brothers and sisters and to all Greek- Americans. 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 Solidarity Group Holding, one of the largest Takaful groups in the world recently organised a training session which focused on aspects of Corporate Governance & Risk Management in the Insurance sector highlighting the latest global developments affecting the industry. The session was delivered, in cooperation with The Bahrain Institute of Banking and Finance (BIBF), to Solidarity Group Holding, Solidarity Bahrain and Solidarity Saudis Board members. The session aimed at acquainting Board members with a thorough understanding of roles and responsibilities and equipping them with necessary skills to ensure effective governance and oversight. Ashraf Bseisu Solidarity Group chief executive, said: We thank BIBF for shedding light on such an important topic. We strongly believe that this training has offered tangible benefits for the members of respective board of directors. He added, We consider BIBF as a key educational partner to the insurance and financial services sectors in the Kingdom of Bahrain. The session was delivered at Solidarity Bahrains premises in Seef by Dr Tarek Saif, the principle lecturer at the Center for Insurance at the BIBF, and covered topics such as insurance corporate governance, risk appetite in the context of insurance management, lesson learned and case studies. TradeArabia News Service Emirates Islamic, one of the leading Islamic financial institutions in the UAE, has contributed Dh8 million ($2.17 million) to Dubai Autism Centre, the largest non-profit in the UAE serving children with Autism Spectrum Disorders. The contribution, provided through Emirates Islamics Charity Fund, will be used to fund the development of the Centres new facilities built on an area of 91,000 sq ft. Awatif Al Harmoodi, general manager, Operational Governance, Emirates Islamic, said: Charity is a cornerstone of Sharia and as one of the countrys leading Islamic banks, Emirates Islamic is committed to supporting charitable and humanitarian causes via the Emirates Islamic Charity Fund. It is our privilege to be given this noble opportunity to contribute towards the rehabilitation of children with autism, through Dubai Autism Centre. We hope that our contribution will help in providing the required intervention and care to more children through the new centre. Mohammad Amin Al-Emadi, director general of Dubai Autism Center said: We would like to express our thanks and sincere appreciation to Emirates Islamic for their support to expand the Centers services and develop its facilities with the latest equipment and rehabilitation methods for children with autism. We also commend Emirates Islamic for its efforts in the field of social responsibility and longstanding commitment to charitable humanitarian causes in the UAE. TradeArabia News Service Brand Dubai, the creative arm of Dubai Media Office (GDMO), and the Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) have launched the Dubai Metro Murals Project, the first project under a partnership for city beautification. The Dubai Metro Murals Project aims to transform Dubai into an open-air museum that celebrates art, creativity and aesthetic excellence. Under the project, two international artists, Peruvian Daniel Cortez and Dominican-born, Miami-based artist Evoca1, also known as Elio Mercado, will paint murals on pillars of the Dubai Metro on Sheikh Zayed Road between the Dubai International Financial Centre and Emirates Towers stations. The themes of the murals have been chosen to inspire creativity and spread happiness while also reflecting Dubais character, vision and future aspirations. Mattar Al Tayer, director general and chairman of RTA said: We are very happy to partner with Brand Dubai to execute this truly unique mural project in Dubai. Many of RTAs projects have incorporated a strong aesthetic dimension and we are now working closely with Brand Dubai to enhance the experience that Dubai offers. The project will not only transform the urban ambience along Sheikh Zayed Road but also bring art closer to the community. In cooperation with Brand Dubai, we are seeking to implement a series of projects like this that will make public spaces more appealing and create a distinct visual identity that fosters a sense of belonging and pride within the community. Director general of the Government of Dubai Media Office Mona Al Marri said: We thank RTA for partnering with us to implement the Dubai Metro Murals Project. This project is part of our effort to create public artworks across the city to support the vision of Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum to transform Dubai into an open-air museum. This project is also aligned with our mission of launching art projects that capture Dubais unique character, not only as a leading global city, but also a culturally vibrant city that promotes diversity and innovation. The project aims to create beautiful artwork that makes public spaces in Dubai more exciting and infuse them with a sense of creative dynamism. The murals being created will enhance the way both residents and visitors relate to the city. By revitalising the urban atmosphere, projects like these will help sustain stronger and more close-knit communities, she added. The Dubai Metro Murals Project is one among a series of initiatives that will form part of our partnership with RTA. These initiatives aim to further enhance the artistic and cultural environment of Dubai, Al Marri said. GDMO, represented by its creative arm, Brand Dubai, recently signed an MoU with the RTA to undertake beautification projects across the city over the next three years. Under the agreement, the two organisations will establish strategic cooperation to implement public art projects aimed at enhancing the citys aesthetic environment. The beautification projects will cover bridges, tunnels, walking tracks, bus stops and other public facilities and areas throughout Dubai. Accomplished artists from the UAE, the region and across the world will be invited to create public artworks in the city. TradeArabia News Service Swiss-based engineering group ABB has announced a major, new $150 million investment in Shanghai, China to build the worlds most advanced, automated and flexible robotics factory - a cutting-edge centre where robots make robots. The new Kangqiao manufacturing centre, near ABBs expansive China robotics campus, will combine the companys connected digital technologies, including ABB Ability solutions, state-of-the-art collaborative robotics and innovative artificial intelligence research to create the most sophisticated and environmentally sustainable factory of the future. It is expected to begin operating by the end of 2020. In 2017, one of every three robots sold in the world went to China, which purchased nearly 138,000 units. Today, ABB employs approximately 5,000 people in Shanghai, and the companys robotics businesses in China employ more than 2,000 engineers, technology experts and operational leaders in 20 locations across the country. ABB has invested more than $2.4 billion in China since 1992, with over 18,000 employees in total. ABB and the Shanghai municipal government today also signed a comprehensive strategic cooperation agreement focused on supporting industry, energy, transport and infrastructure in the region, and to support the Made in Shanghai manufacturing initiative. The agreement was signed by Shanghai Mayor Ying Yong and ABB CEO Ulrich Spiesshofer. Chinas commitment to transform its manufacturing is a torchlight for the rest of the world, said Spiesshofer. Its strategic embrace of the latest technologies for artificial intelligence, advanced robotics and cloud-based computing present a playbook for every country that wishes to have a globally competitive manufacturing base. Shanghai has become a vital centre for advanced technology leadership for ABB and the world. We look forward to working with Shanghai Mayor Ying Yong, other community leaders and our customers as we launch this major expansion of ABBs substantial presence in China, building on our journey to become Chinas leading Robotics manufacturer that started in Shanghai over two decades ago. The new Shanghai factory will feature a number of machine learning, digital and collaborative solutions to make it the most advanced, automated and flexible factory in the robotics industry, and an onsite R&D centre will help accelerate innovations in artificial intelligence. Using a new, global design approach that ABB announced earlier this year, the factory will be able to dramatically increase both the breadth (type of robots) and depth (variants of each type) of robots that can be made onsite, allowing greater and faster customization to meet the needs of customers. ABB will also be able to combine this expanded portfolio of robotics into an almost limitless number of tailored solutions. The concept behind this factory is the same advice we give our customers every day: invest in automation solutions that provide flexibility and agility to grow in whichever direction the market goes, said Sami Atiya, President of ABBs Robotics and Motion division. ABB is proud to help our customers in China and around the world with solutions that take full advantage of the latest technologies to meet the challenges of mass customization, faster cycles and constant change which have become the new normal even in our own factories. The entire Shanghai factory will be modelled as a digital twin, which will provide intuitively tailored dashboards for management, engineers, operators and maintenance experts to make the best decisions. This includes gathering and analyzing intelligence through ABB Ability Connected Services on the health and performance of ABB robots in the factory to ensure early identification of potential anomalies. In addition to avoiding costly downtime, ABB Ability offers advanced digital solutions that can improve performance, reliability and energy usage, as well as providing access to the worlds best platforms, such as the Microsoft Azure enterprise cloud, which is the first international public cloud service operated in China. The new factory will have an innovative, flexible floorplan based on interlinked islands of automation rather than fixed assembly lines. ABB logistics automation solutions will be used throughout the plant, including automatic guided vehicles that can autonomously follow robots as they move through production, supplying them with parts from localized stations. This will allow production to adapt and scale efficiently to changes in Chinas robot market without additional capacity expansions. Per Vegard Nerseth, managing director of ABBs Robotics business, said: Theres a large shift away from looking at factory size and CAPEX investments as the way to meet future demand. The concept behind our new factory is to make the smartest and most flexible use of every meter of production. That comes from combining agile automation solutions with the great capabilities of our people. To aid the move to mass customization in manufacturing and to ensure the highest levels of productivity and flexibility, the new Shanghai factory will make extensive use of ABBs SafeMove2 software, which allows people and robots to work safely in close proximity. In addition, ABBs YuMi robots will allow close collaboration on many of the small parts assembly tasks needed to manufacture an ABB robot. ABB was an early entrant in the China robotics market and the first global robot supplier in the country to have a complete local value chain, including R&D, manufacturing, system integration and service. Through close customer collaboration, ABB has helped introduce many firsts to local manufacturing including: Chinas first automotive press, welding and painting lines; the first assembly line for mobile phones; and the first automated press line for white goods. 2018 marks the 40th anniversary of China's reform and opening-up policy, said Dr. Chunyuan Gu, chairman of ABB China and president, AMEA region. ABB was an early arriver in China and we now have a fully localized value chain, supported by Chinas remarkable economic and social development. As the market leader in Chinas robotics industry, we are glad to build on this success and continue our investment momentum. TradeArabia News Service A total of 300 prominent agri-investors including 100 hosted buyers from all over the world will participate in the second edition of Agriscape, an international exhibition dedicated to agricultural investments abroad, which will open tomorrow (October 28), in Abu Dhabi, UAE. The two-day event will conclude on October 30, and is being held under the patronage of HH Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Presidential Affairs. The exclusive, by-invitation-only event will convene 53 exhibitors associated with agri-land and other agri-assets in more than 50 countries, said a statement. Agriscape 2018 will feature 12 country pavilions, up from four pavilions in 2017, to highlight the key investment opportunities related to agricultural investment and food security across the globe, it said. Mariam bint Hareb Al Muhairy, UAEs Minister of State for Food Security, said: The UAE leadership is committed to encouraging investment and enhancing food production systems to support sustainable development and bridging the nutritional gap given their far-reaching implications for the well-being of society. As food security is a pressing resource security challenge for the UAE, we have a keen interest in increasing agricultural efficiency through the adoption of new methods and diversifying the pattern of agricultural investment abroad, she said. The event will further solidify the UAEs position as a leading player in global food security through facilitating investment in agriculture and making the country a global agro-food hub, she added. Al Muhairy added: With agricultural production expected to grow to meet the increasing nutritional requirements of a growing world population over the next decade, the UAE, in collaboration with its international partners, is leading the way in encouraging agricultural investment by creating and nurturing partnerships between decision makers and businesses. This will ensure sustainability of food resources in all circumstances and at all times through effective stakeholder coordination and public-private initiatives, she said. Khalifa Al Ali, chief executive officer of the Food Security Center Abu Dhabi (FSCAD), which is the strategic partner of the event, said: With food security at the heart of sustainable development, the event demonstrates Abu Dhabis priority in promoting enhanced food security through agricultural investment. The event has already staked out a position as a world-class platform that will do much to drive innovation and investment to benefit our region and beyond. In line with our mission to strengthen our countrys food security resilience, we are delighted to use this occasion to identify investment priorities with international decision makers and investors, he said. Al Ali added: Investment in agriculture to boost food security is one of the key themes of this years exhibition. The event provides a platform for policy makers and agricultural industry leaders to discuss the challenges facing the food industry and potential solutions for improving production. Khdeim Al Derhi, deputy chairman of Aldahra, the Headline Sponsor of the event, said: We are proud to be associated with an event that offers an excellent forum for business leads to interact and identify the most promising investment opportunities going forward. At our company, we are seeking to boost additional investment in agriculture as a key pillar of sustainable development across countries in the Middle East, Asia and elsewhere, Al Derhi said. Saudi Arabia will record an unprecedented outing at Agriscape, with leading Saudi companies operating in the farmland and agri-food investment domains, including Saudi Agricultural and Livestock Investment Company (Salic). Khaled Mohammed Al Aboodi, CEO of Salic, said: Our operations are focused on countries that offer a competitive advantage in producing specialised food products and ensuring their availability for export to our markets. We are delighted to participate in the expo as a globally recognised forum for encouraging investment in this vital sector. The event will host four ministers from the UAE, Uganda, Brazil, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). The Minister of Agriculture in Brazil and the Minister of Industry in DRC will lead the workshops of their respective countries during the exhibition. The agenda will include the signing of two memoranda of understanding (MoUs) related to food security between the UAE and Uganda, and between the UAE Ministry of Food Security and Al Dahra Agriculture, headline sponsor of the event as part of the ministrys efforts to implement national programmes aimed at enhancing food security within the five strategic directions outlined within the agreement. The exhibition is hosting many of leading global and regional businesses in the agricultural sector. As the third largest agri-business in the world, Olam International is one of the worlds largest suppliers of cocoa beans and products, coffee, cotton and rice, and operates from seed to shelf in 70 countries, supplying food and industrial raw materials to over 23,000 customers worldwide. Ravi Pokhriyal, president and regional head for West Africa and MENA, Olam International, said: As one of the worlds largest agri-businesses, Olam has a significant presence in the Middle East and Africa with farming, procurement, processing and distribution operations. Our success has been built on creating strong partnerships with numerous private and public organisations, as well as a commitment to re-imagine global agriculture for the better. We look forward to exploring new opportunities to support the regions food security at the expo, he added. Agriscape, which has already established an eminent reputation in addressing the critically important food security issue, will focus on the many opportunities available across the full range of agricultural investment while emphasising the crucial role of effective stakeholder coordination, it stated. TradeArabia News Service The Bahrain Economic Development Board (EDB) has won the United Nations Investment Promotion Award for excellence in boosting investment into sectors that will help meet the UNs Sustainable Development Goals. The award acknowledges EDBs work with Amazon Web Services that is set to launch its first Middle East Region in Bahrain in 2019, said a statement. The award is yet more recognition of Bahrains success in transforming into a digital economy, with the AWS investment a central pillar of efforts to support long-term economic growth and the creation of high quality jobs. The increased availability of cloud computing will help Bahrain and other countries in the region develop emerging sectors, enhance productivity, and support the growth of start-ups. Receiving the award at the World Investment Forum in Geneva, Switzerland, Zayed R Alzayani, Minister of Industry, Commerce and Tourism, and EDB Board Member, said: In line with Vision 2030 the government of Bahrain has launched initiatives in human capital development placing the kingdom on the right track for growth. Bahrain has become a hub for dozens of value-added projects following long term plans to attract investments for infrastructure projects, the development of legislative frameworks and easing the process for investment in various sectors, he said. Bahrain is honoured with the recognition of this international award, which is also an addition to our continuous successes that are a result of the vision of HM King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa, HRH Prime Minister Prince Khalifa bin Salman Al Khalifa and HRH Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, the Crown Prince, Deputy Supreme Commander, and First Deputy Prime Minister, he added. Khalid Al Rumaihi, chief executive of the EDB, said: Working across the public and private sectors to attract investment is at the heart of our Team Bahrain approach and was crucial in securing AWS significant investment. This award is testament to that, and we are immensely proud to have the UNs Investment Promotion Award recognise many years of hard work by the EDB team, he added. The collaborative approach to addressing the needs of overseas investors is illustrated by recent regulatory reforms to enable a conducive commercial environment for all sectors, but most notably in technology. For example, improvements have been made to the regulatory environment including updating the bankruptcy law; introducing a data protection law; and the reduction of minimum capital requirements for starting businesses. All important elements for producing a thriving digital economy. Innovative approaches to encouraging growth is a key focus of the UNs Sustainability Goals and is illustrated by a number of other initiatives in Bahrain that were highlighted by the awards judges. These include the adoption of a Government-wide Cloud First policy; and the C5 Cloud Scalerator; a long-term partnership between AWS, the EDB and Tamkeen, Bahrains public body for enhancing labour force productivity; which is the regions only accelerator for start-ups wanting to develop a cloud based commercial strategy. An additional focus of the UNs Sustainability Goals is the promotion of high quality education, a factor that runs throughout Bahrains efforts to build an economy fit for the future. As part of its investment, AWS has launched its Training and Certification Programme in Bahrain and has received unprecedented levels of response. Over 2,300 young Bahrainis have signed up in the schemes first few months, a sign-up rate exceeding both China and India, it stated. TradeArabia News Service More than 200 Russian tourists arrived on the first chartered flight from Moscow to Bahrain. The flight, which is being operated by the world's leading travel and tourism company, Coral Travel, arrived on Friday, October 26. The tourists were welcomed by the chief executive officer of BTEA, Shaikh Khaled bin Humood Al Khalifa and the chief executive officer of Bahrain Airport Company, Mohammed Al Binfalah. The visitors were welcomed with a traditional live performance, giving them a glimpse of Bahrain's long history and the hospitality of its people. The chartered flight from Russia is the first within a charter program operated by Coral Travel. The flights, scheduled twice a week, carries 220 passengers who will be staying in 30 different hotels in Bahrain and is expected to contribute $18 million to the kingdoms economy. It gives us great pleasure to receive Coral Travel's first chartered flight from Moscow and we hope the visitors enjoy their stay in the kingdom," said Shaikh Khalid. "The BTEAs collaboration with Coral Travel comes in line with its strategy which aims to promote the kingdom's tourist attractions and introduce tourists to the rich history of Bahrain as well as showcase the tourism facilities that the Kingdom has to offer, further developing the kingdoms tourism sector and increasing its contribution to the national economy, he said. - TradeArabia News Service Protesters rallied in Australia's two largest cities, Sydney and Melbourne, on Saturday calling for an end to the country's controversial South Pacific detention centres which house refugees who try to reach Australia by boat. Particular focus was directed towards the wellbeing of children on the tiny island nation of Nauru, though refugee advocates said all refugees should be out of detention. "It's kids off, everyone off and bring them here," Ian Rintoul, from the Refugee Action Coalition told Reuters on Saturday. More than 1,400 people are being held on the Australian-run detention centres on Nauru and Papua New Guinea, some for years. The rally organisers said thousands attended the protests in each city, but local media had smaller estimates. There was no estimate from police. Australia refuses to allow asylum seekers arriving by boat to reach the country. It says the policy deters people smugglers in Asia from plying their trade and saves lives by stopping people sailing in unseaworthy boats from Indonesia to Australia. Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison is under increased pressure to immediately resettle children on Nauru, after aid agencies and doctors raising concerns of a health crisis. Worsening mental health has left some of the children on Nauru in a "semi-comatose state", unable to eat, drink or talk, says humanitarian group Medecins Sans Frontieres (MSF), which was ejected from Nauru by the island's government. Morrisons government is on the verge of losing its majority after a devastating by-election on October 20, and key independents have warned their support hinges on him freeing children on Nauru. On Monday, 11 child migrants were evacuated from Nauru for medical treatment. Australia first introduced offshore processing of refugees between 2001 and 2008 and started it again in 2012. In 2013 it significantly toughened the policy, ruling that even if people were found to be refugees they would never be resettled in Australia. Search Keywords: Short link: National carrier Oman Air resumed its service between Muscat and Male in the Maldives on Sunday (October 28), with the route operated by the new B737 MAX 8 aircraft. Oman Air flights from Muscat to Maldives will operate on Thursday, Saturday and Sunday and the flights from Maldives to Muscat will operate on Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday and Sunday. With a flight time of four hours, the first flight WY 383 departed Muscat at 08:50 on October 28 and arrived in Maldives International Airport at 13:30 local time. The first Oman Air flight from Maldives WY 384 will depart at 1850 on October 28 and arrive in Muscat International Airport at 0035 on October 29. This new route will be serviced by Boeing 737 MAX 8 aircraft which has been designed to offer exceptional performance, flexibility and efficiency. Configured with 162 seats in a two-class configuration: 12 in business and 150 in economy, with significant enhancements across both cabins, the MAX aircraft is an example of Oman Airs commitment to continually upgrading its products and services to deliver guests satisfaction. The Maldives is a beautiful chain of 26 ring atolls, made up of more than 1,000 coral islands, located only four hours away from Oman. Well known for its beaches, blue lagoons and extensive reefs, the Maldives is an incredibly popular tourist destination with an increasing number of international visitors arriving year on year. The resumption of the Maldives service comes at an exciting time, as Oman Air recently started flights to Istanbul in June, Casablanca in July and Moscow, set for October 30. Oman Air continues to be recognised for its award-winning onboard experience; winning an array of industry awards to add to its growing collection. - TradeArabia News Service United Nations, Oct 26 (UNI) The top United Nations human rights official has called on Burundi to immediately retract its threat to try and prosecute members of a UN Commission of Inquiry into rights abuses in the central African nation. High Commissioner for Human Rights, Michelle Bachelet, said on Thursday that comments made by Burundis UN ambassador the previous day, were deeply regrettable in both tone and substance,United News reported. Burundis belligerent and defamatory response to the findings of the Commission of Inquiry, and its repeated and wholly unsupported assertions that the commission was the puppet of mysterious external forces [] are reprehensible, said Ms Bachelet, in a statement. Founding member of the Emirati Thumbay Group Thumbay Moideen says he aims to establish in Egypt a branch of the UAEs Gulf Medical University with investments worth EGP 5 billion ($279 million), a statement by Egyptian investment ministry said. Thumbay Group, founded in 1998, is the largest healthcare provider in the UAE. Moideens announcement came during a meeting with Egyptian Minister of Investment and International Cooperation Sahar Nasr, Executive Vice President of the Investment Authority Mohamed Abdel-Wahab, and head of the Gulf Medical University Hossam Hamdy. The medical university is expected to be a part of an integrated medical city to be established by the group in Egypt, according to Moideen. The project aims to enhance medical cooperation between the UAE and Egypt and create job opportunities and medical training for the youth. Moideen highlighted that the Gulf medical school uses the most up-to-date technologies, training dummies, and medical equipment. Founded in 1998, the Gulf Medical University in Ajman is one of the first private medical universities in the Middle East. It is owned and run by the Thumbay Group. The Gulf Medical University focuses on medical education, healthcare and research. The university has infrastructure and facilities that are on par with international standards. During the meeting, Moideen hailed the Egyptian governments efforts in attracting foreign investments. Search Keywords: Short link: Trips to the library could bring additional perks for Richmond Township residents if voters approve a millage request at the polls Nov. 6. The ballot proposal asks voters to approve a new library millage of .3 mills per year for five years to fund a library contract with Lois Wagner Memorial Library in Richmond to provide library services to Richmond Township residents. If approved, the owner of a home valued at $150,000 would pay $22.50 per year. The citys library is a member of the Suburban Library Cooperative. Richmond Township residents would receive full library privileges to the member libraries of the Suburban Library Cooperative. The collection for the first calendar year of the millage is estimated at $51,942. Lois Wagner Memorial Library Director Julianne Kammer said residents from Casco, Columbus and Richmond townships are currently considered courtesy patrons, which means they can use the local library services for free, but services offered through the Suburban Library Cooperative. The library cooperative includes more than 20 libraries in Macomb County, one in Harper Woods and another in Troy. The cooperative provides the extensive sharing of materials, which also includes eBooks and audio books. The Lois Wagner Memorial Library has 700 Richmond Township residents as registered users. If the millage passes, they would all become eligible for the library cooperativr and all of the benefits that come with the status. In addition to having their local library able to order any items requested from locations across the county, patrons would also be allowed to visit and checkout items in person at any library in the cooperative. Richmond Township Supervisor Cynthia Greenia said officials have been considering putting the issue on the ballot for a few years now. After speaking with a librarian in Armada who expressed concerns about library patrons not getting full use of the services offered via the cooperative, Greenia brought the issue to the Richmond Township Board of Trustees. We wanted to see if it should be put on the ballot, Greenia said. We invited both Richmond City Manager Jon Moore and Kammer to a board meeting to discuss this. They gave a presentation to us, as well as the audience members that were there. Greenia said there were about 30 supporters present at the meeting. After getting questions answered, the board felt comfortable having it placed on the ballot for November. At the same time, Greenia said a couple of residents who attend township meetings on a regular basis have indicated they are not in favor of the millage. Our township is very small and our taxes are the second or third lowest in the entire county, and I believe that when people move into the township, they are well aware of that, Greenia said. The new full privilege card would allow residents to rent movies, get books from anywhere in the county library system, get music and many other services for about $40, Greenia said. There seems to be quite a bit to offer for our township residents should Richmond Township become a member of the Macomb County Library Cooperative, she added. Richmond City Manager Jon Moore said the city has received complaints in the past from Richmond Township residents because they are not getting full library services, so putting it on the ballot will address the issue. A flyer was designed to explain what a full privilege card will provide to Richmond Township residents. I think the flyer gives a very good view of the full range of items offered through the co-op, Moore said. Barb Pert Templeton is a freelance reporter. She can be contacted at barbperttempleton.reporter@yahoo.com. President of the Republic of Turkey H.E. Recep Tayyip Erdogan, President of the French Republic H.E. Emmanuel Macron, President of the Russian Federation H.E. Vladimir Putin, and Chancellor of the Federal Republic of Germany H.E. Angela Merkel gathered in Istanbul on 27 October 2018 for a Quadrilateral Summit on Syria. The Presidents and the Chancellor, Reviewed the recent developments regarding the conflict in Syria and expressed their shared concern on the risks and threats emanating from the conflict for regional as well as global security and stability; Reaffirmed their strong commitment to the sovereignty, independence, unity and territorial integrity of the Syrian Arab Republic, and to the purposes and principles of the Charter of the United Nations; Underlined their firm conviction that there could be no military solution to the ongoing conflict and that the conflict could be resolved only through a negotiated political process in line with UN Security Council Resolution 2254, and emphasized, in this regard, the importance of increased coordination among all international initiatives which aim at contributing to a credible and sustainable solution to the Syrian conflict; Reaffirmed their determination to fight against terrorism in Syria in order to ultimately eliminate DAESH/ISIL, Al-Nusra Front and all other individuals, groups, undertakings, and entities associated with Al Qaeda or DAESH/ISIL, and other terrorist groups, as designated by the UN Security Council; Expressed their determination to reject separatist agendas aimed at undermining the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Syria as well as the national security of neighboring countries; Welcomed the Memorandum on Stabilization of the Situation in the Idlib De-escalation Area, signed by the Republic of Turkey and the Russian Federation in Sochi on 17 September 2018; Commended the progress in terms of withdrawal of heavy weapons as well as radical groups from the demilitarized zone established pursuant to the Memorandum; Stressed the importance of a lasting ceasefire, while underlining the necessity to continue fight against terrorism, through the full implementation of the effective measures as foreseen in the Memorandum and of the compliance of all relevant parties with its provisions; Reaffirmed their strongest opposition to the use of chemical weapons by any party in Syria and called for strict compliance by all parties with the Convention on the Prohibition of the Development, Production, Stockpiling and Use of Chemical Weapons and on their Destruction; Expressed their support for an inclusive, Syrian-led and Syrian-owned political process that is facilitated by the United Nations and called for active participation in it of the Syrian parties; Called for establishing and early convening, considering the circumstances, by the end of the year of the Constitutional Committee in Geneva that would achieve the constitutional reform, paving the way for free and fair elections under the UN supervision and in compliance with the highest international standards of transparency and accountability, with all Syrians, including members of the diaspora, eligible to participate; Emphasized the importance of implementing confidence-building measures to contribute to the viability of the political process and a lasting ceasefire, and expressed their support for the release of detainees/abductees and handover of the bodies as well as the identification of the missing persons, as undertaken by the respective Working Group with the participation of the UN and ICRC experts; Underscored the need to ensure humanitarian organizations rapid, safe and unhindered access throughout Syria and immediate humanitarian assistance to reach all people in need in order to alleviate the suffering of the Syrian people, and, in this regard, called upon the international community, particularly the UN and its humanitarian agencies to increase their assistance to Syria; Reaffirmed their solidarity with the host countries, in particular Turkey, Lebanon and Jordan, and recalled that they remain committed to the safe and voluntary return of refugees to Syria on conditions consistent with the international law; Highlighted the need to create conditions throughout the country for the safe and voluntary return of refugees and internally displaced persons to their original places of residence in Syria, underlined that the returnees need security from armed conflict, political persecution or arbitrary arrests as well as humanitarian infrastructure, including water, electricity, health and social services, and emphasized the necessity of coordination among all relevant parties, including the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) and other specialized international agencies; Expressed their commitment to working together in order to create conditions for peace and stability in Syria, encourage a political solution and strengthen international consensus in that regard. The Presidents of the French Republic and the Russian Federation, and the Chancellor of the Federal Republic of Germany expressed their sincere gratitude to the President of the Republic of Turkey H.E. Recep Tayyip Erdogan for hosting the Quadrilateral Summit in Istanbul. Advertisement By West Kentucky Star Staff Oct. 27, 2018 | PADUCAH By West Kentucky Star Staff Oct. 27, 2018 | 10:29 PM | PADUCAH A Paducah man was arrested Saturday afternoon on multiple charges after a woman reported her credit cards were stolen. According to the McCracken County Sheriff's Department, deputies learned about 3:30 pm that a woman had two credit cards taken earlier in the day. She reported that the cards were used a Subway on New Holt Road about 11 am and Range America on Old Husband Road about 3:30 pm. When deputies went to Range America, they were told that the suspect had gone to Four Rivers Harley-Davidson, just down the road. When deputies went there, they found 35-year-old Justin Combs outside the business and he was allegedly under the influence. Deputies say he had the stolen credit cards, and had signed the victim's signature during the two sales transactions. Combs was arrested, and deputies say he also had Xanax pills that were not in the proper container. He was taken to McCracken County Jail, and faces charges of public intoxication by a controlled substance, prescription controlled substance not in proper container, theft of identity, fraudulent use of a credit card for less than $500, and theft or receipt of stolen credit cards. By West Kentucky Star Staff Oct. 25, 2018 | 08:59 AM | PADUCAH "The Wall That Heals" has drawn thousands to Carson Park in Paducah since it arrived on Tuesday, and will be open around-the-clock until today (Sunday) at 2:30 pm.The wall is a three-quarters scale version of the memorial in Washington, D.C.. It is 375 feet long and 7.5 feet high at its tallest point. Visitors are able to experience the wall rising above them as they walk towards the apex, a key feature of the design of the actual memorial in Washington D.C.The opening ceremony and "Welcome Home," event was held Thursday evening, and a wreath laying ceremony was held on Friday. A brief closing ceremony by American Legion Post 26 of Mayfied will close the wall's visit to the area this afternoon.For the first time, visitors of the replica are able to do name rubbings of individual service members names on the wall. This newer, fully engraved replica is relatively new, and this is its first stop anywhere in Kentucky.The Wall That Heals also comes equipped with a mobile education center that will be utilized by area schools for field trips. It contains photo displays of Hometown Heroes - service members whose names are on The Wall whose homes are within a certain radius of Paducah; and photo displays of Vietnam veterans from the local area honored through VVMFs In Memory program. It honors veterans who returned home from Vietnam and later died as a result of their service.Video displays will teach about the history and impact of the memorial itself, and of the collection of items left at The Wall in Washington D.C. Other educational exhibits include a map of Vietnam and a chronological overview of the war.On Friday, the city of Paducah released a video produced by the crew at the City of Paducah's Government Channel 11. You may view it below: On the Net: By West Kentucky Star Staff Oct. 25, 2018 | 08:51 AM | WESTERN KENTUCKY Kentucky State Police has announced they are accepting applications for a Law Enforcement Accelerated Program (LEAP) class designed for current law enforcement officers aspiring to become state police troopers. A unique aspect of this LEAP class is that graduates will be guaranteed to work in their home post area upon completion of academy training. KSP's fifth LEAP Class is scheduled to begin August of 2019 and will include a 12-week training academy. Applicants must have two (2) years of service in Kentucky, completed their DOCJT training and graduated no later than May 1, 2017. All application materials must be completed and returned to the KSP Recruitment Branch by November 16, 2018. Applications must include a recommendation from a state police trooper and a KSP post commander. More information about salary, benefits, etc. can be found on the agency website at http://kentuckystatepolice.org/recruitment/leap/ or call the Recruitment Branch at 502.782.1861. Egypt's trade volume from January to September 2018 hit $67.63 billion, up from $59.82 billion during the same period the previous year; a rise of 13 percent, according to a report released on Sunday by the General Organization for Import and Export Control (GOEIC). The report said that Egypt's non-petroleum exports during the first nine months of the year reached $15.514 million, compared to $16.605 million during the same period the previous year; a rise of 11 percent. The report said that exports during September 2018 rose by 20 percent to hit $1.933 billion compared to $1.613 billion during the same month last year. Imports recorded a drop of 13 percent to register $4.206 billion compared to $4.860 billion in September 2017. The report added that the countries of the League of Arab States take the lead when it comes to imports from Egypt at $6.735 billion from January to September 2018, followed by the EU countries at $5.528 billion. Egypt exported to the United States in the same period what is equal to $1.185 billion, while to non-Arab African countries $1.123 billion. When it comes to the most important markets Egypt sent exports to in the past nine months, the report says that UAE came on the top at $1.576 billion, followed by Turkey at $1.49 billion, while the United States came in third at $1.185 billion. Italy came in fourth place with exports equal to $1.17 billion, followed by Saudi Arabia at $1.05 billion. The fertiliser and chemical industry exports in Egypt led the way with a 25.8 percent increase compared to the same period last year. The fertilisers and chemical industries sector exported at $3.998 billion in the first nine months of 2018 compared to $3.179 billion in the same period in 2017. Exports of handicrafts also increased by 10 percent at $158 million in 2018 compared to $144 million in 2017. Ready-made garment exports recorded a 9.2 percent increase to reach $1.174 billion in 2018 up from $1.075 billion in the same period last year, the report said. Search Keywords: Short link: Advertisement By The Associated Press Oct. 27, 2018 | NICHOLASVILLE By The Associated Press Oct. 27, 2018 | 09:35 PM | NICHOLASVILLE When Abraham Lincoln signed the Emancipation Proclamations to free slaves during the Civil War, it did not apply to Kentucky, one of the few slave states that did not join the Confederacy. But Elijah P. Marrs did not want to wait. He escaped slavery in September 1864 to join the Union Army in Louisville and told some of his fellow slaves, "We might as well go." "If we staid at home we would be murdered," he wrote in his autobiography. "If we joined the army and were slain in battle, we would at least die fighting for principle and freedom." Marrs was one of about 10,000 African-Americans who eventually came to Camp Nelson in central Kentucky, a Union Army depot during the Civil War that became a recruiting center for black soldiers and a refugee camp for their families. Saturday, the camp became the country's latest national monument, the first area to gain the designation under Republican President Donald Trump. "The Park Service tells story. The story here is a story about fighting for freedom in a slave, Union state," U.S. Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke said. "We don't hide from history. We learn from history. This history is an important part of the American history and story." Camp Nelson was once 4,000 acres, used to train and supply the Army of the Ohio. Today, 525 acres have been preserved to include a museum and reconstructed buildings. Saturday's ceremony took place in a replica barracks, where two soldiers squeezed into bunks atop of straw mattresses. One of those soldiers was Jesse Comasuell Toll, according to his great grandson, Robert P. Gates Sr. Gates attended Saturday's ceremony and opened it with prayer. He said his great-grandfather, who was born a free man but lived under the threat of slavery, lived at the camp and attended a church. Gates now pastors that church, the Historic First Baptist Church of Camp Nelson. "They came here because it was closer to freedom than it was to go to Canada," he said. Kentucky has a complicated Civil War history. It never officially joined the Confederacy, but it allowed slavery and was filled with Confederate sympathizers who attempted to set up a shadow government in the western party of the state. Confederate soldiers briefly occupied the state capital of Frankfort before Union forces took it back. Local officials have been trying to get Camp Nelson federal recognition for years. It's a long process, requiring the land to be transferred to the federal government and various other legal requirements. "At a time in our country when there are divisions, this is the real story of America," Republican U.S. Rep. Andy Barr said. The timing of Saturday's ceremony was fortunate for Barr, who in just 10 days will be on the ballot for re-election in a competitive district. He faces a serious challenge from Democrat Amy McGrath, a retired Marine fighter pilot who has raised more money than he has. Zinke, a former Congressman from Montana before Trump appointed him to lead the U.S. Department of Interior, told reporters the designation was not purposefully timed to give Barr a boost heading into the election. He noted he has worked with Barr on this issue back when he was in Congress. "This is the right place, and it is above politics," Zinke said. "This is red, white and blue." Zinke said Camp Nelson's status as a national monument will add it to the National Park Service, elevating its profile. The camp will have its own unique stamp for visitors to collect in their quest to visit all of the national monuments and parks. And it will get a professional superintendent and staff to manage the property. That was good news for Peggy McClintock, a tour administrator at the camp who gave Zinke and other dignitaries a tour of the facility before the ceremony. She wore purple sneakers to mark the occasion. "I had to wear flat shoes today so I can tap dance," she said. 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 Amid his short visit to Egypt, China's Vice-President Wang Qishan witnessed the signing, along with Egypt's Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly, of the first Memorandum of Understanding between the Ministry of Antiquities and the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences in the archaeological field. Minister of Antiquities Khaled El-Enany signed the MoU with Chen Xingcan, director of the Institute of Archaeology at the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, in order to strengthen cooperation in the archaeological field, the training of archeologists and museologists, as well as increasing archaeological awareness among both Egyptian and Chinese citizens. Starting November, the first Chinese archaeological mission will start work in an archaeological site in Egypt, including conducting an archaeological survey, excavation, and restoration and documentation works. Accompained with El-Enany, Qishan also embarked on tours at Luxor and the Giza Plateau where he admired the beauty of the ancient Egyptian civilisation. In Luxor, he visited Luxor and Karnak Temples as well as the tomb of King Tutankhamun in the Valley of the Kings. At the Giza Plateau, he visited King Khufus pyramid and the Sphinx. Minister of Antiquities El-Enany accompanied the China vice-president at both sites. Search Keywords: Short link: Phoenix project fires up Wrexham students This article is old - Published: Sunday, Oct 28th, 2018 Local youngsters from a Wrexham secondary school recently took part in North Wales Fire and Rescue Services innovative Phoenix courses. The Phoenix project is a course designed to assist in redirecting the energy of young people towards productive and worthwhile activities that will assist in the integration of the individuals with their peers and their communities. Students at Ysgol Clywedog and Ysgol Bro Idris, Dolgellau took part in the courses this month. Last weeks course was held at Dolgellau Fire Station and the previous weeks was held at Chirk Fire Station. Pam Roberts, Phoenix coordinator, said: The Fire and Rescue Service has a powerful draw for young people, which gives us the opportunity to try and influence behaviour. The Phoenix project offers a unique experience to build on qualities we as a Service work towards such as respect, communication and trust. The week involves a blend of classroom learning where the youngsters were taught consequences of actions, then drill yard activity where we promote working together as a team, assessing risk and adhering to instructions. Skills learnt during the week are demonstrated at a ceremony of achievement with attendance of a Principal Officer, Fire Authority members, parents, guardians and staff from the school. The aim of the course is to assist the youngsters in becoming more motivated and positive about themselves, which in turn has the effect of making them better citizens. We are hoping that these young people will feel that they have gained something positive from the Phoenix project and feel that it will be of benefit to them in the future. Picture: North Wales Fire and Rescue Service Unique shot of St Giles wins first prize in local photography competition This article is old - Published: Sunday, Oct 28th, 2018 A Wrexham man has beaten hundreds of entries to win the top prize of a local photography competition. Paul Wynn won the Europe Direct #culturevulture18 photography competition with his shot of Wrexham Parish Church. Europe Direct, Wrexham, launched the competition on social media in July this year inviting people to enter photographs that they felt captured the heritage of Wrexham. The Parish Church was photographed many times for the competition, but this internal shot was really different. It is taken from an unusual point in the church and reflects the links that the church has with several sections of the local community including the armed forces. Paul received his prize from Lynn Partington at Europe Direct, who presented him with his 50 shopping voucher and a goody bag full of Europe Direct items such as a pen, pencil, water bottle and phone charger. In what amounts to a political coup, Sri Lankan President Maithripala Sirisena sacked Ranil Wickremesinghe as prime minister on Friday evening and appointed former president Mahinda Rajapakse to replace him. In doing so, Sirisena ended the unity government between his faction of the Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP) and Wickremesinghes United National Party (UNP), which has ruled the country since 2015. The 19th Amendment to the Sri Lankan constitution, enacted in April 2015, prunes back the considerable powers of the executive president, including his right to unilaterally decide to remove a prime minister. Sirisena and Rajapakse kept their unconstitutional move strictly secret from all but their closest associates right up until the last minute. The coup is an expression of the huge political crisis confronting the Sri Lankan ruling class amid a profound economic crisis, rising geo-political tensions and a resurgence of class struggle by workers and the poor. The new regime is tightening its grip on power. Pro-Rajapakse thugs drove out staff believed to be sympathetic to Wickremesinghe from state-owned television. Sirisena immediately took control of these TV channels and the state-owned newspaper house, Lake House. Wickremesinghe branded Sirisenas move as unconstitutional, declared that he was still prime minister and called for the convening of parliament to prove his majority. Sirisena responded by issuing two gazettes, firstly to validate his decision to remove Wickremesinghe, and secondly, to prorogue or suspend parliament for three weeks until November 16. He plans to swear in Rajapakses new cabinet tomorrow. The UNP-led coalition has 106 members in the 225-seat parliament, while Sirisena and Rajapakse combined have 95 MPs. Wickremesinghe is counting on the support of the Tamil National Alliance (TNA) which has 16 MPs. The Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP) has announced it will support neither grouping. Addressing a joint group of MPs from the SLFP and its allies yesterday, Sirisena declared he was unable to continue to work with Wickremesinghe because the government was mired in financial corruption. He has also cited unsubstantiated claims of a plot to kill him. In September, Namal Kumara, an ex-soldier and police informant said he knew of a plot to kill Sirisena and also former defence secretary Gotabhaya Rajapakse by Deputy Inspector General of Police, Nalaka de Silva. Sirisenas allegations are nothing more than threadbare pretexts to justify his anti-democratic actions. None of the factions of the Sri Lankan political establishment, whether headed by Sirisena, Rajapakse or Wickremesinghe has anything but contempt for basic democratic rights and constitutional norms. The National Unity government was installed after the 2015 presidential election in Sri Lanka that ousted Rajapakse. Sirisena, a senior minister of Rajapakses government, defected in November 2014 in a conspiracy orchestrated by Wickremesinghe and former president Chandrika Kumaratunga, in collusion with Washington and New Delhi. Sirisena exploited the widespread opposition among workers and the poor to the Rajapakse governments attacks on democratic rights and living conditions, as well as the militarys atrocities in the war against the separatist Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE). The US was not concerned about the human rights abuses and war crimes of the Rajapakse government. Rather it was hostile to the administrations close relations with China. The Sirisena-Wickremesinghe government immediately shifted its foreign policy towards Washington, deepening its ties with the US and Indian militaries. Now, however, facing a rapidly worsening financial crisis, the government has been compelled to turn to China for aid and assistance, provoking heavy criticism from Washington. At the same time, it has been forced to take an IMF bailout loan and to implement its austerity demands, including for the slashing of social spending and price subsidies. These attacks have fuelled opposition among workers, students and youth. In recent months, workers in the railways, public transport, health and the water board, as well as non-academic university employees, teachers and pensioners have engaged in strikes and protests. These have temporarily been suppressed by the trade unions, backed by the pseudo-left organisations. Over the past few weeks, hundreds of thousands of plantation workers have started protests demanding a 100 percent wage hike. Last Wednesday, 5,000 young workers united across ethnic lines, to hold a major rally in Colombo in support of the plantation workers. Unrest in the north is deepening among Tamil working people against the continued military occupation and deteriorating living conditions. The extent of the opposition to the government was shown in the local council elections last February. The SLFP faction led by Rajapakse contested the election as the Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) and won control of a majority of councils. The Sirisena faction came a distant third after the UNP, intensifying the crisis of the unity government. Sirisena has hypocritically tried to distance himself from the governments austerity measures by blaming the UNPs alleged corruption for the countrys economic crisis. Sirisena has also sought to appease the Sinhala-Buddhist chauvinist constituency and the military. He has opposed any hunt of military officers for war crimes and has ordered the police not to provide information to the courts in such cases. The president has recently opposed government plans to transform the eastern terminal of Colombo harbour into a joint venture with India. This is in line with the anti-Indian xenophobia being promoted by Sinhala chauvinist groups. The Sri Lankan ruling elite is increasingly alarmed at the rising tide of strikes and protests. The installation of Rajapakse has nothing to do with concerns about corruption, but is aimed at dividing and suppressing the working class. Rajapakse is notorious for prosecuting the ruthless war on Tamils and for using police state methods to suppress any opposition. He told the Sunday Times after being sworn in that he has taken over a new challenge to help the people of Sri Lanka who are suffering from untold hardships due to the worsening economic situation. The rupee is depreciating against the US dollar and the cost of living is rising leaps and bounds. This is Orwellian double-speak. Speaking to the Hindu last month, Rajapakse declared that the lack of a stable government was turning away investors. A government must be strong and speak in one voice, he said. His son Namal Rajapakse, speaking to the New York Times yesterday, bluntly declared: But now you will have stability with the new government. People can oppose us, but at the end of the day, we will achieve a solution for the economic and social instability. Sirisenas coup will only heighten geo-political rivalries, along with political intrigues in Colombo. The US State Department declared that it was following events in Sri Lanka closely and appealed for all parties to act in accordance with the Constitution, refrain from violence and follow due process. The US will not tolerate a new Sri Lankan government leaning towards China. Vice President Mike Pence earlier this month criticised Chinas debt trap diplomacy and cited Sri Lanka as an example. He claimed that by leasing Hambantota Port to Beijing it would soon become a forward military base for Chinas growing blue-water navy. While the Indian government has not issued any statement the media is warning that Indias rival China will benefit. Times of India columnist Indrani Bagchi wrote: India has strong security interests in Sri Lanka and the Modi government would be loath to see a greater Chinese presence in the island nation, particularly given the difficulties posed by the Maldives and its own China-leaning outgoing president. The diplomatic line-up was evident yesterday. Wickremesinghe met with foreign diplomats in Colombo from the US, the UK, the EU, Japan and India, while the Chinese ambassador to Colombo, Cheng Xueyuan, met Rajapakse to convey the best wishes of President Xi Jinping. The working class cannot have any illusions in either faction of the ruling elite, both of which have a long history of attacks on the democratic and social rights of workers and the rural masses. Whoever finally forms the next government will seek to impose the burden of the economic crisis on workers and use police state measures to suppress opposition. MARIANNA , Fla. (WTXL) - A Texas man who traveled to Marianna to assist with Hurricane Michael recovery efforts was arrested after officers found him in possession of various drugs. According to a press release, on Friday at 6:30 p.m. officers with the Marianna and Davie Police departments were investigating a suspicious vehicle on Kelson Avenue. Officers searched and spoke with the suspect, Christopher Minhinnett, 36. Documents say Minihinnett took a glass container from his pocket and threw it across the parking lot. The glass container shattered, and officers found a small amount of methamphetamine inside. When officers searched the vehicle, they found a glass meth smoking pipe and less than 20 grams of marijuana. Minhinnett told officers he had traveled from Texas to assist in the aftermath of Hurricane Michael. Based on the evidence, Minhinnett was arrested on various drug charges and booked into the Jackson County Correction Facility. Chief Baggett urges the citizens of Marianna to report suspicious behavior and activities to the Marianna Police Department at 850-526-3125. TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (WTXL) - A Tallahassee synagogue is opening its doors to the community Monday night in light of the mass shooting at a synagogue near Pittsburgh Saturday. Temple Israel (2215 Mahan Drive) will hold a special service Monday night at 6:30 p.m. Rabbi Jack Romberg shared this message on Facebook Saturday night: To all members of the Jewish community as well as the Tallahassee community in general. Today's tragedy in Pittsburgh is the most violent, awful action ever taken against the Jewish people in the history of the United States. Temple Israel will be having a special service to honor the memories of the victims, to stand together against all bigotry, and prayer for our Jewish brothers and sisters." At least 11 people were killed, and at least six more were injured, including four police officers. The shooting at Tree of Life Or L'Simcha happened during a service at the synagogue. TALLAHASSEE, FL (WTXL) -- Dry air will continue to funnel into the area for the rest of the weekend as a high pressure builds in the Gulf of Mexico. This dry air will give us mainly sunny skies on Sunday. Tonight, expected mostly clear conditions with overnight lows in the upper 40s to low 50s. Winds will be light from the west northwest at about 5 mph. Sunday will start off cool, but highs are expected to heat near 77 degrees. Ample sun is expected with a light wind from the west northwest. Sunday night will be seasonal with lows in the mid 50s and clear skies. Rain is not in the forecast on Sunday. Source: Xinhua| 2018-10-28 02:46:01|Editor: yan Video Player Close BEIRUT, Oct. 27 (Xinhua) -- Refaat Abou Saba, head of Mieh Mieh Municipality, urged Lebanese officials Saturday to interfere and end the clashes in Mieh Mieh camp, local media reported. "We urge politicians to interfere quickly in a bid to put an end to clashes in Mieh Mieh camp," he was quoted by Lebanon 24, a local news agency, as saying. Abou Saba said that clashes have led to the displacement of families from this area as some of the rockets targeted houses and cars. Clashes between Fatah and Ansar Allah in Mieh Mieh started on Oct. 15, leading to the injury of 15 people belonging to the two groups. Rockets firing in the camp caused panic among citizens in Sidon in southern Lebanon, who called for the halt of clashes. Mieh Mieh camp is a Palestinian refugee camp in Lebanon, located on the outskirts of Mieh Mieh village four km east of Sidon city. The camp has witnessed tensions among its refugees in the past years. Some 450,000 refugees are registered with the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in Lebanon, with many living in the country's 12 refugee camps. Palestinian refugees represent an estimated 10 percent of the population of Lebanon. Source: Xinhua| 2018-10-28 03:11:06|Editor: yan Video Player Close MOGADISHU, Oct. 27 (Xinhua) -- Armed men shot dead a radio journalist outside Mogadishu on Saturday evening, police and the journalist union confirmed. A police officer who requested not to be named confirmed the killing to Xinhua but noted that details regarding the shooting were still scanty. "We have the information that a journalist was killed at Elasha Biyaha. We are trying to gather more information about the incident," the officer said. The National Union of Somali Journalists (NUSOJ) condemning the attack. "NUSOJ condemns the killing of Abdullahi Mire Hashi, 26, a journalist and director of Darul Sunna FM, a private radio which mainly broadcasts religious issues," NUSOJ said. "He was shot dead by unidentified gunmen on Saturday outside Mogadishu." Mohamed Deeq, a resident, told Xinhua by phone the gunmen fled the scene after the killing. "Gunmen brandishing pistols shot dead the man whom we were told is a journalist. They fled the scene immediately after gunning him down," Deeq said. There was no immediate claim of responsibility. There are seven pillars to Egyptian identity, each bearing witness to a different strand in the countrys history and its record of successive civilisations The Seven Pillars of Egyptian Identity, a book by the late Coptic intellectual Milad Hanna, will be a main reference at the World Youth Forum held in Sharm El-Sheikh from 3 to 6 November. The organisers want to study the main characteristics of Egyptian identity, because of its effective role in many civilisations. The book by Hanna stresses the importance of the unity of society and its seven pillars. During the Greater Bairam prayers held on 24 September 2015 at the Hussein Tantawi Mosque in Cairo attended by President Abdel-Fattah Al-Sisi, Sheikh Osama Al-Azhari selected Egypts status in Islam as the topic of his sermon. Throughout the ages, God had blessed Egypt with security, Al-Azhari said, referring to the Quran verse 99 from the Surat Youssef, Enter Egypt, God willing, safe and secure. Al-Azhari said that foreign conspiracies had sometimes targeted Egypts capabilities, but that these had been foiled by the Egyptian army that had managed to stop all aggressors. This was because Egyptians themselves had great willpower, he said, never losing hope or getting disappointed. In addition, the Egyptians had the ability to rebuild themselves following crises and become much stronger. Al-Azhari said that the Egyptian man was a leader who knew how to evaluate his capabilities and who loved his homeland and realised its position among other countries. Hannas name was also mentioned, as though he passed away in 2012 he left us an important book in his The Seven Pillars of Egyptian Identity that emphasises the unity between Muslims and Copts. Hanna was an engineer by profession and a member of various international organisations. He was interested in Sudanese affairs and Nile and water-security issues. He thought there should be a separation between politics and religion, and as a Coptic intellectual he wanted to see the Egyptian Coptic Orthodox Church play its role as a religious institution and not have any political role. Hanna won several European prizes, as well as the Egyptian State Appreciation Prize for Social Sciences in 1999. Among his books are Copts but Egyptians, Studies and Working Papers on Housing Issues in Egypt he was also a housing expert September Memoirs (about his detention during the Sadat period), The Clash of Cultures, The Human Alternative, and Politicians and Monks Behind Bars. When Hanna was asked about the title of his book on Egyptian identity, why the number seven, for example, his answer was simply why not? Some tried to link the title with a verse in the Biblical Book of Proverbs: Wisdom has built her house; She has hewn her seven pillars. The main idea of the book is that place and time leave a deep impact upon every one of us, regardless of culture or education or whether one is a university professor or a simple farmer. Every Egyptian from the Pharaonic era until today, and passing through the Graeco-Roman period, the Coptic period and then Islam, is deeply influenced by the place he lives in, Hanna feels. He is an Arab because Egypt lies in the heart of the Arab nation, a Mediterranean man because his country borders the great basin around which many world cultures were formed, and an African because of his belonging to Africa, in which Egypt lies in the north. So long as all of us have these seven pillars to our personalities, it is natural to find one group of people preferring the pharaonic belonging, while another group rejects it, considering the Arab and Islamic pillars to be alternatives, Hanna says. Although such pillars or belongings exist inside all of us, they are not equal in length or strength. The degree of each will differ from one person to another, in accordance with the human or personal structure of each. Moreover, with the passage of time interest in a certain pillar may change. During youth, the primary belonging may be to the homeland, religion, or Arab nationalism. However, as he gets older a mans experience will mean other forms of belonging may grow inside him, and he will start to view things in less black-and-white terms. Not Politics: The Seven Pillars of Egyptian Identity is not a book about politics, with Hanna asking in the end, what is politics? Isnt it a just a stance, an ideology, and an attempt that makes man happier and helps him discover his ambitions for the sake of a better future? It is not exactly a book about sociology either. Man is by nature a sociable creature, who interacts with others. It is not a book on psychology. Psychology looks into the psyche of individuals and groups and helps man discover himself and thus reach happiness. It is not a book on philosophy, though its author would perhaps have liked to be a lover of wisdom and a student of philosophy, a subject that goes beyond politics and everyday reality. It is not a book on human rights, which in the West means protecting individual freedoms. In the Arab world, the focus should be on the rights of groups and those with different belongings. Hannas book serves democracy, arguing that people should aim to understand themselves, their colleagues and their neighbours before conducting dialogue with them. This will help them accept their opinions even if they differ from their own. In fact, this is the core of democracy, meaning he acceptance of difference. He concludes the book by emphasising national unity in Egypt. The main idea is that Egypt is rich with an accumulation of experience gained from the effects of time and place. Of the Pharaonic pillar of Egyptian identity, Hanna says that all Egyptians are proud of their belonging to such a great civilisation. They are proud of the ancestors who built the first state and the first central government in history. The Early Dynastic period (3100- 2778 BC) starts with king Menes, the unifier of Egypt and founder of the First Dynasty, he notes. Then comes the Second Dynasty and the era that witnessed the construction of the Pyramids (2778-2263 BC). Since this date, the Egyptian character, cherished by all Egyptians regardless of their religious belonging, has been crystalised. It is one of the secrets behind Egypts unity throughout the ages. The writer moves on to 332 BC, the year when Alexander the Great advanced on Egypt and saved its people from Persian rule. The Greek pillar of Egyptian identity started with Ptolemaic rule and lasted for 300 years until queen Cleopatra came to the throne. It ended in 31 BC, when Octavius invaded Egypt, making it a province of the Roman Empire for many centuries. The Roman pillar then mixed with the Coptic Christian one, leaving a deep impact on Egypts history. Hanna then discusses the Islamic pillar that followed the Coptic one in Egypts history. Although some historians say the Coptic era ended in 641 CE, the year the Arabs gained control over Egypt, Hanna views this as inaccurate since many Egyptians did not abandon Christianity for several centuries. The Coptic language continued as the common language of Egypt throughout the seventh and eighth centuries CE. During the ninth and 10th centuries, it was still part of daily life, together with the Arabic language. A wave of conversions to Islam began in 969, the year heralding Fatimid rule in Egypt. By the 12th century, the Coptic language was only preserved in Christian monasteries. With the advent of the Islamic era, Egypt started to play a key role in Islamic jurisprudence and civilisation, exactly as it did in Coptic thought. At the beginning of Fatimid rule, the first and largest Islamic institution in history, the Al-Azhar Mosque, was founded in Egypt. Today, the Islamic religion in Egypt is distinguished by the unique cultural characteristics felt in peoples daily lives. The authors overall aim in the book is to review the geographical and historical belongings of Egyptians and to analyse the countrys cultural structure in the modern age. In his chapter entitled Egypt Will Not Turn into Another Lebanon, Hanna argues that sectarian storms cannot reach Egypt, of the type that led to a ferocious civil war from 1975 until 1992 in Lebanon. Al-Azhari, in his sermon, returned to Hannas themes and reminded me of Hannas words that the Egyptian personality blends together ancient Egyptian, Coptic, and Muslim aspects. As we rebuild Egypt after the 25 January Revolution, the Ministry of Education should take the initiative of setting this book for study in the countrys secondary schools. * A version of this article appears in print in the 25 October, 2018 edition of Al-Ahram Weekly under the headline: The pillars of Egyptian identity Search Keywords: Short link: Source: Xinhua| 2018-10-28 03:41:09|Editor: Liangyu Video Player Close BERLIN, Oct. 27 (Xinhua) -- German Chancellor Angela Merkel is bracing for another hit as polls have shown a severe setback for her on Sunday's state election in Hesse. The regional vote could push German government into a fresh crisis, since the political coalition at the federal level, joined by Merkel's Christian Democratic Union (CDU), its Bavarian sister party Christian Social Union (CSU), and the Social Democratic Party (SPD), is already shaky. In the most recent poll on Hessian voter preference made by Infratest Dimap, the CDU snagged 26 percent, a sharp decline from the 38.3 percent five years ago, and the SPD at 21 percent, also downed from 30.7 percent. The centrist Greens is projected at 20 percent and the populist Alternative for Germany (AfD) is at 12 percent. If the polls were accurate, CDU will have to draw another party to the current CDU and Green alliance state government in order to secure a majority. The result means that the CDU's influence will be further diluted and the CDU's state premier Volker Bouffier, seen as a close ally of Merkel, will possibly be toppled. It is not the only blow to Germany's governing parties suffered this month. About two weeks ago, the CSU lost its absolute majority in the Bavarian state election, and the SPD was reduced to single digit securing only 9.7 percent of the vote. Although not every regional election can be stylized into a national election, some German analysts however saw the setbacks as a national trend. The general situation is that CDU/CSU as well as SPD is gradually losing confidence among the voters and the Greens has been filling up the vacuum they left, said Prof. Dr. Xuewu Gu, director of the Center for Global Studies at University of Bonn. Many blamed the low voter support on the CDU and CSU's in-fighting at the federal parliament Bundestag, where the CSU shifted greatly to the right, taking a hard line on migration issues, after the Merkel's open-door policy in 2015, aiming to counter the growth of anti-immigration AfD. The attempt did not succeed and even Merkel herself had to call on her political union to "stop argument," because the voters "don't appreciate it." The problem lied within SPD is however decade long. Since 2005, the SPD has served as junior partner to the CDU at the federal level for three times. The left-leaning party has shared responsibility for unpopular decisions, including austerity measures and refugee policy, but failed to left its own impression on public. The political alliance with CDU has blurred the SPD's identity, and many voters thought that the SPD is no longer a policy-changing force in Germany's political map, Xuewu said. The governing coalition parties, after the Hesse election, will probably be forced to make a shake-up in their personnel. Since the Bavarian election, there has been already an atmosphere within these parties in search for who should be responsible for these setbacks, according to public-service broadcaster ARD. It was believed that Merkel is gradually losing grip of her political union. One example is her right-hand man Volker Kauder was ousted as head of her union's parliamentary group in an inner-party ballot. The unexpected result is seen as a coup and also a warning to Merkel, who may not surely be reappointed as CDU party leader at the party congress set in the coming December. As for SPD, the storm is more violent, as many leftists and youths in the party, even before the Hesse election, already urged SPD to design a roadmap to quit the coalition government and rebuild its party image. If this were to happen, Merkel would be left with a minority government, or she could renegotiate with the Greens and Free Democrats to form a new government, otherwise there would be an earlier federal parliament election. The political changes in Germany are usually not happening rapidly but through thorough "brewing process", and as some local media have dubbed it, after the Hesse election Merkel might say "a slow goodbye." Source: Xinhua| 2018-10-28 04:36:23|Editor: yan Video Player Close ABUJA, Oct. 27 (Xinhua) -- Unidentified gunmen killed at least six persons, including a police corporal, in Nigeria's northwestern state of Zamfara, local police said on Saturday. Three others were severely wounded by the attackers who stormed Gurbin Bore, a village in the state's Zurmi area, late Friday, the police said. About 100 militants attacked the village. Zamfara police spokesman Mohammed Shehu told Xinhua that 11 vehicles, including a police van, were set on fire by the attackers. Three motorcycles owned by local residents were also burned. Shehu said an investigation has been launched to apprehend the attackers. He said the police suspected that the attackers came from Dumburum forest, where a bandits' camp is believed to be located. A local government official told reporters that 13 shops were also razed by the attackers. Source: Xinhua| 2018-10-28 06:06:43|Editor: yan Video Player Close RABAT, Oct. 27 (Xinhua) -- The Moroccan navy has rescued 308 migrants in the Mediterranean sea, the Moroccan army said on Saturday. While patrolling the Moroccan territorial waters, units of the navy assisted 16 inflatable boats carrying 308 illegal immigrants, including 187 sub-Saharan Africans, the same source pointed out. Sailing on the Mediterranean and the Atlantic, the boats were facing difficulties due to engine failure and bad weather, the source said. The migrants were brought safely to the nearest Moroccan ports, it added. One of the boats sank right after the rescue operation, it noted. In recent months, Morocco has been witnessing a significant hike in illegal immigration attempts. The Moroccan government said its security services have thwarted at least 54,000 attempts to smuggle illegal immigrants into Europe in the first eight months of 2018, compared with 39,000 attempts a year earlier. Police block a road near the Tree of Life Synagogue, after a gunman opened fire inside at Squirrel Hill, Pennsylvania on October 27, 2018. (Xinhua/AFP) WASHINGTON, Oct. 27 (Xinhua) -- At least 11 people were killed and six others were injured after a gunman opened fire Saturday morning inside a synagogue in Pittsburgh, U.S. state of Pennsylvania, a city official said. No children were among the fatalities and the six injured include four police officers but do not include the suspect, Wendell Hissrich, Pittsburgh's public safety director, told a press conference. The initial call to 911 was made around 9:54 a.m. local time and officers were dispatched to the scene within a minute, Hissrich said. The shooting occurred at the Tree of Life Congregation in Pittsburgh's Squirrel Hill neighborhood. Police said the gunman, a heavy-set white male with a beard, surrendered and is in custody. The shooting occurred during a baby-naming ceremony at the synagogue, according to reports. Attorney for Pennsylvania's Western District Scott Brady confirmed the suspect is Robert Bowers, reportedly a 46-year-old man from Pittsburgh. Bowers' social media posts were reportedly rife with anti-Semitic content. Brady said Bowers' actions "represent the worst of humanity" and criminal charges against him could be filed as early as Saturday. Police sources told local CBS affiliate KDKA that the gunman opened fire while yelling "all Jews must die." The suspect was armed with what appeared to be an assault rifle and at least three handguns. Investigators believe the gunman was acting alone but his full motive still isn't known, said Bob Jones, the special agent in charge of the FBI's office in Pittsburgh. Jones said the scene of Saturday's shooting at the synagogue was "the most horrific crime scene" he has seen" in 22 years with the FBI. The shooting will be prosecuted as a hate crime and the FBI will be leading the investigation, Hissrich said earlier in the day. The synagogue is located at the intersection of Wilkins and Shady avenues. The neighborhood of Squirrel Hill, about 10 minutes of drive from downtown Pittsburgh, is the hub of the city's Jewish community. The synagogue offers members a "traditional Conservative service with a modern sense of family" and shabbat service on 9:45 a.m. Saturdays, according to the Tree of Life's website. Between 50 and 60 worshippers would be there on an average Saturday morning, according to a spokesman for the Jewish community in Pittsburgh. U.S. President Donald Trump told a rally in Indianapolis, state of Indiana, on Saturday that "there must be no tolerance for anti-Semitism." "This was an anti-Semitic act," Trump said. "This wicked act of mass murder is pure evil, hard to believe, and, frankly, something that is unimaginable." UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Saturday strongly condemned the shooting at the synagogue in Pittsburgh, said his spokesman. Guterres was shocked at the bloody shooting that killed 11 people. He expressed his deepest condolences to the families of the victims, said Stephane Dujarric, the spokesman, in a statement. "The shooting in Pittsburgh is a painful reminder of continuing anti-Semitism. Jews across the world continue to be attacked for no other reason than their identity. Anti-Semitism is a menace to democratic values and peace, and should have no place in the 21st century," said the statement. Source: Xinhua| 2018-10-28 09:37:10|Editor: mmm Video Player Close BEIJING, Oct. 28 (Xinhua) -- The Chinese education authority has ordered a nationwide inspection of indoor air quality in newly-built schools and student dormitories, especially for levels of formaldehyde. The move comes after some students across the country began suffering from dizziness and nosebleeds, as facilities in their newly-built schools were found to have excessive levels of formaldehyde, according to a statement issued by the education supervision committee under the State Council. Local authorities should conduct a thorough inspection of indoor air quality in new schools, including dormitories and equipment that were put into use this year. Students' parents and the public should be informed of the inspection results via school bulletin boards or online platforms, the statement said. The statement also urged schools with unacceptable indoor air quality to rectify the issue in a timely fashion, adding that school buildings cannot be put into use until air quality reaches the standard, it said. Source: Xinhua| 2018-10-28 09:47:11|Editor: Shi Yinglun Video Player Close YANGON, Oct. 28 (Xinhua) -- The European Union (EU)'s probable withdrawal of its Generalized Scheme of Preference (GSP) will not impact the foreign investment flow in Myanmar, the official Global New Light of Myanmar quoted an investment administration official as saying Sunday. This will be due to the fact that EU countries have never been leading investors in Myanmar's investment sector, said U Than Aung Kyaw, deputy director general of the Directorate of Investment and Company Administration (DICA). EU has granted the GSP since 2013. However, EU Trade Commissioner announced on Oct. 5 that they will send commission to Myanmar to observe for consideration to revoke GSP out of Rakhine issue. There are some European investors in Myanmar but their investment mainly go to oil and gas sector, according to DICA. U Than Aung Kyaw said the government is deliberating to work out a policy if EU revokes the GSP. Statistics show that foreign investment in Myanmar reached 77.285 billion U.S. dollars as of the end of August 2018 since late 1988 when the country opened to the investment, in which China topped with 20.097 billion U.S. dollars, followed by Singapore with 19.644 billion U.S. dollars, Thailand with 11.092 billion U.S. dollars and China's Hong Kong with 7.867 billion U.S. dollars. Britain stood as the fifth largest investor with 4.382 billion U.S. dollars, representing the top investor among the EU countries, followed by the Netherlands with 1.528 billion U.S. dollars at the ninth position. Source: Xinhua| 2018-10-28 10:47:19|Editor: Shi Yinglun Video Player Close UNITED NATIONS, Oct. 27 (Xinhua) -- The Security Council on Saturday condemned attacks against UN peacekeepers in Mali that left two soldiers dead and several others wounded. An attack on a UN camp outside of Timbuktu killed two peacekeepers from Burkina Faso and injured 11 others, and four peacekeepers from Togo were injured in a convoy attack near Konna, a town in Mopti region, UN spokesman Stephane Dujarric said earlier Saturday. Members of the Security Council in a press statement expressed their deepest condolences and sympathy to victims' families, as well as to the government of Burkina Faso and to the UN mission known by its French acronym as MINUSMA. They further expressed solidarity to the government of Togo. The members called on the Malian government to swiftly investigate the attacks and bring perpetrators to justice. Attacks targeting peacekeepers may constitute war crimes under international law, said the members, stressing that involvement in planning, directing, sponsoring or conducting attacks against MINUSMA peacekeepers constitutes, pursuant to Security Council resolutions, a basis for sanctions designations. The members expressed their concern about security situation in Mali and transnational terrorist threat in Sahel region, urging Malian parties to fully implement the Agreement on Peace and Reconciliation ("the Agreement") in Mali without further delay. The Malian government in 2015 signed the Agreement with pro-government militias and some rebel groups in a bid to end hostilities and launch development programs in the troubled northern Mali, as well as to restore peace and stability to the country. Members of the Security Council stressed that these heinous acts will not undermine their determination to support the peace and reconciliation process in Mali. Source: Xinhua| 2018-10-28 13:27:40|Editor: Shi Yinglun Video Player Close WASHINGTON, Oct. 27 (Xinhua) -- A Pennsylvania gunman alleged to have killed 11 people at a synagogue in Pittsburgh Saturday has been charged with 29 counts of violence and firearms offenses, according to U.S. federal prosecutors. The charges against Robert Bowers, 46, include 11 counts of using a firearm to commit murder and multiple counts of two hate crimes: obstruction of exercise of religious beliefs resulting in death and obstruction of exercise of religious beliefs resulting in bodily injury to a public safety officer. "The crimes of violence are based upon the federal civil rights laws prohibiting hate crimes," the U.S. Attorney's Office of the Western District of Pennsylvania said in a statement. It is unknown yet if Bowers has an attorney. The FBI in Pittsburgh is leading the investigation, the statement added. U.S. Attorney General Jeff Sessions said in a statement Saturday afternoon that the Department of Justice would "file hate crimes and other criminal charges against the defendant, including charges that could lead the death penalty." Besides the 11 fatalities, authorities said six people, including two police officers and two SWAT officers, were also injured during Saturday's shooting. The suspect suffered multiple gunshot wounds and is in fair condition. The initial call to the police was made around 9:54 local time (1354 GMT) and officers were dispatched to the scene within a minute, authorities said. Police sources told local CBS affiliate KDKA that the gunman, armed with what appeared to be an assault rifle and at least three handguns, yelled "all Jews must die" before opening fire. Bowers' social media posts were reportedly rife with anti-Semitic content. The synagogue is located at the intersection of Wilkins and Shady avenues. The neighborhood of Squirrel Hill, about 10 minutes of drive from downtown Pittsburgh, is the hub of the city's Jewish community. The synagogue offers members a "traditional Conservative service with a modern sense of family" and shabbat service on 9:45 a.m. Saturdays, according to the Tree of Life's website. U.S. President Donald Trump has ordered flags at federal buildings throughout the country to be flown at half-staff in "solemn respect" for the victims. Earlier in the day, the president told reporters he would travel to Pittsburgh, but offered no details. Source: Xinhua| 2018-10-28 13:32:41|Editor: Shi Yinglun Video Player Close KUNDUZ, Afghanistan, Oct. 28 (Xinhua) -- At least three militants were killed and five others injured as clash erupted in Dasht-e-Archi district of the northern Kunduz province on Saturday, army spokesman in the northern region Mohammad Hanif Rezai said Sunday. The clash, according to the official, broke out in Bandar area of Dasht-e-Archi district Saturday evening after the government forces struck the Taliban hideouts from the ground and air, forcing the insurgents to flee the area. Two hideouts of the insurgent group have been utterly destroyed, the official said. He also noted that the government forces would continue to target the militants elsewhere in the restive district. Taliban militants have yet to make comments. Source: Xinhua| 2018-10-28 13:42:42|Editor: xuxin Video Player Close Chinese tourists wait to fly back home in Saipan, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (CNMI), Oct. 28, 2018. Some 1,500 Chinese tourists trapped in Saipan by Super Typhoon Yutu started to fly back home on Sunday. (Xinhua) LOS ANGELES, Oct. 27 (Xinhua) -- Some 1,500 Chinese tourists trapped by Super Typhoon Yutu in Saipan started to fly back home on Sunday. A charter flight of Sichuan Airlines arrived in Saipan on Sunday morning, which was the first Chinese flight inbound after local airport resumed from damage. Yutu, which hit the island territories overnight on Wednesday, caused extensive damage to critical infrastructure on Saipan and Tinian islands, and displaced many families. Local airport and port were shut down due to the damage. The airport reopened to civil airplanes on Sunday morning, but only allows six flights to pass through on Sunday due to infrastructure limitations. There were five flights of foreign airlines inbound on Sunday, according to airport schedule. Besides the flight from Sichuan Airlines, another three Chinese flights also arrived at Saipan International Airport to evacuate Chinese tourists, which were from China Eastern Airlines, Beijing Capital Airlines and Hong Kong Airlines. Chinese tourists were very excited when they heard the news last night they could fly back home on Sunday, said Tom Liu, president of Saipan Travel Inc.. "The evacuation went very well," said Liu. "Sichuan Airlines and other Chinese airline companies made good preparations for sending flights to Saipan. As soon as local airport resumed, Chinese flights flew inbound immediately." With sustained winds of over 270 km per hour, the powerful storm caused one death and several injuries, tearing up roofs and pulling down trees and power lines in the Marianas. Source: Xinhua| 2018-10-28 13:47:43|Editor: mym Video Player Close RIO DE JANEIRO , Oct. 27 (Xinhua) -- Colombian striker Marlos Moreno struck his first goal in more than two years as Flamengo earned a 1-1 draw with Palmeiras in a battle between Brazil's Serie A leaders on Saturday. Dudu opened the scoring at the Maracana stadium by deftly controlling a long diagonal pass from Antonio Carlos and then firing a 20-yard shot into the bottom left corner of Weverton's goal. Moreno sent the home fans into a frenzy shortly after his 68th-minute introduction by dribbling into the penalty box and unleashing a shot that rebounded in off the post. It was Moreno's first goal in 78 matches, a drought that dated back to March 8, 2016. "I'm happy because I hadn't scored in a long time," Moreno said after the match. "But I would have been happy for the drought to continue if it meant that we'd won." The result maintained Palmeiras' four-point lead over Flamengo at the top of the 20-team standings with seven matches remaining. In other fixtures on Saturday, Santos routed Fluminense 3-0 and Corinthians beat Bahia 2-1. Source: Xinhua| 2018-10-28 13:52:45|Editor: mmm Video Player Close Chinese artists from Henan art troupe perform during the Chinese Cultural Week in Bucharest, capital of Romania, on Oct. 27, 2018. The Chinese Cultural Week started here on Saturday. (Xinhua/Cristian Cristel) BUCHAREST, Oct. 28 (Xinhua) -- The Chinese Cultural Week kicks off here Saturday with a brilliant, spectacular show performed by the Chinese artists from Henan art troupe. Organized by the Confucius Institute in collaboration with the Chinese Cultural Center in Bucharest, capital of Romania, the initial performance held in the Aula Magna of the Law School enchanted the public and was a great success. "Everything was extraordinary. I didn't see so much professionalism in a long time," Irina Cajal, Undersecretary of Romania's Ministry of Culture, told Xinhua. "My only regret is that it's the only performance in Bucharest, it should have been seen by more people. We have to strengthen a long-lasting friendship and to have more cultural exchanges," she added. Indeed, the experience was unique for the Romanian public, as teachers and students, officials and representatives of Chinese companies crowded here and enjoyed the Chinese dances, traditional folk music and Shaolin monk's thrilling demonstrations of kung fu art with applause. Besides, the public was touched by two Romanian songs performed by the Henan ensemble, "Ciocarlia (The skylark)," a folk tune, and "At the mirror," composed on Romanian famous poet George Cosbuc's lyrics, which were specifically prepared for the event. "It was a wonderful evening, a splendid experience to understand the vibrant culture of the Chinese people. I was extremely moved when the artists performed two beautiful Romanian songs," said Vasile Marta, a school teacher. "In that moments, I recalled what a great, warm friendship our nations cherished and a friendship I hope we will pursue." The nearly two hours' show were marked by the friendly atmosphere between the Romanian and the Chinese people. Source: Xinhua| 2018-10-28 14:12:50|Editor: Shi Yinglun Video Player Close QUITO, Oct. 27 (Xinhua) -- Ecuadorian disabled children and youth who are part of the Sinamune Orchestra provide a strong demonstration that disability is not a barrier. The orchestra, created nearly 25 years ago, aims to provide therapy for people with physical and mental disabilities through the use of visual arts, dance, song, chorus, record production, audiovisual and art. Renowned local musicologist Edgar Palacios said that this music system founded in 1993, "which is about inclusion at its highest levels," has been crystalized. "We have young people who are learning and practicing different skills, so they can incorporate into the society, including work. And music has given them an incredible self-esteem that allows them to become happy persons," Palacios said. The young artists are an example of effort, perseverance and dedication to overcome life's difficulties. Cristian Tapia, 26, is blind and a member of the orchestra. He told Xinhua that he is happy being part of this group of special musicians who have become the ambassadors of national music to the international community. The orchestra's national and international tours have been positively received by the public. "My experience has been very nice, incredible. We've been to Spain and Colombia," Tapia said. The orchestra has also performed in Cuba and Peru and with each performance, it shows the audiences the barriers that can be broken and that anything is possible. In order to operate, the orchestra needs an annual budget of 250,000 U.S. dollars, of which, the Ministry of Education provides 100,000 dollars. To make up the remaining balance, the orchestra relies on the money it makes from its presentations and the support of like-minded organizations. At Sinamune, the children learn to play percussion, keyboard, clarinet, saxophone and flute, among other instruments. And after several classes, it is determined for which they are skilled. After developing their artistic potential, the children become part of the orchestra. They practice every day in preparation for concerts and presentations. They also take dance, orchestral training and workshops in various art forms which are taught by some 30 professors and volunteers. Geared specifically toward children with Down Syndrome, autism and cerebral palsy, the program also provides classes such as math, language and English. These activities help the children improve their self-esteem and develop their creativity and imagination. It also helps them to express their emotions and feelings freely. According to the data from the Ecuadorian government, there are an estimated 598,000 people in the country with some type of disability. Created as a comprehensive school operating in the Carcelen neighborhood at the very north Quito, Sinamune Orchestra is part of the National Music System for Special Needs Children (Sinamune). Source: Xinhua| 2018-10-28 14:47:59|Editor: Yamei Video Player Close NEW DELHI, Oct. 28 (Xinhua) -- U.S. President Donald Trump had turned down India's invitation to be the chief guest at next year's Republic Day parade, local television news channel News18 reported on Sunday. The television channel quoting sources said the U.S. authorities conveyed Trump's decision in a letter to Indian Prime Minister's National Security Advisor (NSA) Ajit Doval recently. "The U.S. president's domestic commitments, including his State of the Union address, around that time seems to have been the reason for declining the invitation. In the letter, Trump is said to have regretted his inability to accept the invitation," News18 said. India officially sent the Republic Day invitation to the U.S. president in April this year. Ties between New Delhi and Washington have recently been under a lot of strain in view of India's defence purchases from Russia and the oil imports from Iran. Source: Xinhua| 2018-10-28 15:03:03|Editor: Li Xia Video Player Close People ride rickshaws during a transport strike in Dhaka, Bangladesh, on Oct. 28, 2018. A 48-hour strike by transport workers demanding amendments to the recently passed "Road Transport Act 2018" threw normal life out of gear across Bangladesh on Sunday. (Xinhua) DHAKA, Oct. 28 (Xinhua) -- A 48-hour strike by transport workers demanding amendments to the recently passed "Road Transport Act 2018" threw normal life out of gear across Bangladesh on Sunday. No buses were in the streets in capital city Dhaka, leaving hundreds of thousands of travelers, especially commuters, patients and students stranded. Man-peddled rickshaws, auto-rickshaws and private cars were seen to dominate the urban streets. Tens of thousands of people in Dhaka's major bus terminals suffered immensely as workers suddenly on Saturday night announced to suspend transport operations totally for two days from Sunday morning. Almost all long-distance buses also reportedly stayed indoors. Transport owners and workers demand amendments to the recently enacted "Road Transport Act 2018". Relevant government authorities are reportedly negotiating with the representatives of the owners and workers who are demanding amendment of the Road Transport Act 2018 that was passed in parliament last month with provisions for stringent punishment to the traffic offenders. The act, which now awaits presidential approval before it officially becomes law, stipulates that the traffic offenders will risk being sentenced up to five years in non-bailable jail or a fine of 500,000 taka (5,913 U.S. dollars) or both. According to the act, if it is proved that a driver has intentionally killed anyone, it said the incident will fall under either section 302 (murder) or section 304 (culpable homicide) of the penal code. The country's existing transport law entitled the maximum penalty of three years behind bars with the provision of bail. The move came in the wake of the countrywide student protests that erupted after two students died on the spot, while other nine were injured after they were run over by a bus in a reckless driving incident in July. No untoward incidents owing to the strike have so far been reported. Source: Xinhua| 2018-10-28 15:38:09|Editor: xuxin Video Player Close MANAMA, Oct. 28 (Xinhua) -- Saudi Foreign Minister Adel Al Jubeir said on Saturday that the 18 suspects arrested over the killing of the Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi will be prosecuted in the kingdom, state-run Bahrain News Agency reported. Jubeil made the announcement at a regional security summit in Bahrain, a day after Turkish prosecutors demanded the extradition of the 18 suspects to Turkey for trial. "On the issue of extradition, the individuals are Saudi nationals. They're detained in Saudi Arabia, and the investigation is in Saudi Arabia, and they will be prosecuted in Saudi Arabia," he said. The Saudi minister vowed that the government will bring those responsible for the murder to justice. "We will hold people to account and those responsible will be punished, and we will put in place mechanism to make sure that it won't happen again," Jubeil noted. Khashoggi, a columnist for U.S. newspaper the Washington Post and a critic of the Saudi government, has been missing since his entry into the Saudi consulate in Turkey's Istanbul on Oct. 2. On Oct,20, Saudi Arabia said Khashoggi died in a "brawl" in the consulate, without explaining the cause of his death. Saudi King Salman later ordered the re-organization of the intelligence authorities and sacked senior intelligence officials. Source: Xinhua| 2018-10-28 16:18:15|Editor: Liangyu Video Player Close Photo taken on Oct. 28, 2018 shows rescuers working at the accident site in Wanzhou District, southwest China's Chongqing. One person has died following the collision of a private car and bus which then plunged into the Yangtze River, police said Sunday, adding they have put the driver of the private car under police watch. The body of one of the bus passengers was retrieved from the river by rescuers. The number of passengers on the bus is not yet known. (Xinhua/Wang Quanchao) CHONGQING, Oct. 28 (Xinhua) -- One person has died following the collision of a private car and bus which then plunged into the Yangtze River, police said Sunday, adding they have put the driver of the private car under police watch. The body of one of the bus passengers was retrieved from the river by rescuers. The number of passengers on the bus is not yet known. According to the local traffic police, the bus and private car crashed into each other, causing the former to break through road fencing and drive off a bridge into the Chongqing section of the Yangtze River, China's longest waterway, at around 10:08 a.m. Sunday in Wanzhou district. The driver of the private car is under police control and is being treated in hospital. Rescue work and the investigation into the cause of the accident are ongoing. Source: Xinhua| 2018-10-28 16:33:19|Editor: xuxin Video Player Close FAIZABAD, Afghanistan, Oct. 28 (Xinhua) -- Government forces had rebuffed a spate of Taliban's attacks, leaving at least four fighters and two government troopers dead and seven others including two security forces personnel wounded in Afghanistan's northern Badakhshan province in an overnight fighting, an official said Sunday. Taliban offensive, on one of the army bases, in Mushatel village of Darayem district, were repulsed by government forces on Saturday night, and militants dispersed after leaving four fighters dead bodies behind and five others injured, Nik Mohammad Nazari, the provincial governor's spokesperson, told Xinhua. Some heavy and light arms and ammunition of the militants were also been seized, according to Nazari who also confirmed the death of two security forces and injury of two others in the overnight conflict which lasted for a few hours. The security forces would spare no efforts to ensure lasting peace in the troubled district and adjoining areas, Nazari added. Taliban militants have yet to make comments on the report. Source: Xinhua| 2018-10-28 16:33:20|Editor: xuxin Video Player Close A Yemeni man receives oral vaccine drops against cholera in Aden city, Yemen, Oct. 27, 2018. (Xinhua/Murad Abdu) by Murad Abdu ADEN, Yemen, Oct. 28 (Xinhua) -- A large oral vaccination campaign against cholera was launched on Saturday by Yemeni authorities in cooperation with the World Health Organization (WHO) in the southern port city of Aden, in an attempt to fight the recent comeback of the epidemic. The second phase of the anti-cholera campaign targeted five districts in Aden Province where the Yemeni government is temporarily based. "The health authorities received more than four tons of oral cholera vaccines shipped directly on the airlines from Denmark's Copenhagen to Aden," Ali Waleedi, undersecretary of Health Ministry, told Xinhua. The WHO financially supported local medical teams in their door-to-door vaccination for one-year-olds and above, Waleedi explained. The Yemeni health official assured citizens in Aden of the safety of the anti-cholera vaccine and appealed for coordination between health workers and local authorities in administering the campaign. "The vaccine is not harmful and will play a very vital role in reducing cholera cases in Aden," he said. "Enhancing hygiene and sanitation in citizens' homes is necessary to avoid cholera and severe diarrhea diseases." This month, Yemen's Ministry of Public Health and Population reported 13,403 suspected cases and 26 associated deaths during the epidemiological week of Oct. 1-7 only. According to a WHO statement, the suspected cholera cases from April 27, 2017 to Oct. 7, 2018 amounted to 1,236,028 with 2,556 associated deaths. Jamal Khadabish, head of Health Department in Aden, told Xinhua that a number of specialized medical teams were adequately trained during the past days for the anti-cholera campaign. "Many specialized doctors and health employees attended educational programs on how to raise awareness among citizens and fight cholera outbreak," Khadabish said. "The field teams will teach people and school students how to take necessary preventive measures to avoid the spread of cholera and other diseases," he added. Meanwhile, citizens in southern Yemen urged the United Nations organizations to provide local medical centers with necessary equipment and medicines. "A number of children died because of lack of medical care and medicines in local government hospitals last year," said Ahmed Ban Hamdi, an Aden-based citizen. The citizens were unable to save the children "because they couldn't afford the high cost of medicines in private hospitals," Hamdi lamented. Yemen has been locked into a civil war since Iran-backed Shiite Houthi rebels overran much of the country militarily and seized all northern provinces, including the capital Sanaa, in 2014. Saudi Arabia, along with several other Arab countries, intervened militarily and began pounding the Houthi-controlled Sanaa in March 2015 in response to an official request from Yemeni President Abd-Rabbu Mansour Hadi to protect his country. The internal military conflict between Iran-backed 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. Three quarters of the Yemeni population, or more than 22 million people, including 8.4 million who struggle to find their next meal, urgently need humanitarian assistance. A Yemeni boy receives cholera vaccine drops in Aden City, Yemen, on Oct. 27, 2018. (Xinhua/Murad Abdu) ADEN, Yemen, Oct. 28 (Xinhua) -- A large oral vaccination campaign against cholera was launched on Saturday by Yemeni authorities in cooperation with the World Health Organization (WHO) in the southern port city of Aden, in an attempt to fight the recent comeback of the epidemic. The second phase of the anti-cholera campaign targeted five districts in Aden Province where the Yemeni government is temporarily based. "The health authorities received more than four tons of oral cholera vaccines shipped directly on the airlines from Denmark's Copenhagen to Aden," Ali Waleedi, undersecretary of Health Ministry, told Xinhua. The WHO financially supported local medical teams in their door-to-door vaccination for one-year-olds and above, Waleedi explained. A poster on raising public awareness about how to avoid the outbreak of cholera in Aden City, Yemen, shot on Oct. 27, 2018. (Xinhua/Murad Abdu) The Yemeni health official assured citizens in Aden of the safety of the anti-cholera vaccine and appealed for coordination between health workers and local authorities in administering the campaign. "The vaccine is not harmful and will play a very vital role in reducing cholera cases in Aden," he said. "Enhancing hygiene and sanitation in citizens' homes is necessary to avoid cholera and severe diarrhea diseases." This month, Yemen's Ministry of Public Health and Population reported 13,403 suspected cases and 26 associated deaths during the epidemiological week of Oct. 1-7 only. According to a WHO statement, the suspected cholera cases from April 27, 2017 to Oct. 7, 2018 amounted to 1,236,028 with 2,556 associated deaths. Jamal Khadabish, head of Health Department in Aden, told Xinhua that a number of specialized medical teams were adequately trained during the past days for the anti-cholera campaign. "Many specialized doctors and health employees attended educational programs on how to raise awareness among citizens and fight cholera outbreak," Khadabish said. "The field teams will teach people and school students how to take necessary preventive measures to avoid the spread of cholera and other diseases," he added. A Yemeni citizen receives oral vaccine drops against cholera in Aden City, Yemen, on Oct. 27, 2018. (Xinhua/Murad Abdu) Meanwhile, citizens in southern Yemen urged the United Nations organizations to provide local medical centers with necessary equipment and medicines. "A number of children died because of lack of medical care and medicines in local government hospitals last year," said Ahmed Ban Hamdi, an Aden-based citizen. The citizens were unable to save the children "because they couldn't afford the high cost of medicines in private hospitals," Hamdi lamented. Yemen has been locked into a civil war since Iran-backed Shiite Houthi rebels overran much of the country militarily and seized all northern provinces, including the capital Sanaa, in 2014. Saudi Arabia, along with several other Arab countries, intervened militarily and began pounding the Houthi-controlled Sanaa in March 2015 in response to an official request from Yemeni President Abd-Rabbu Mansour Hadi to protect his country. The internal military conflict between Iran-backed 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. Three quarters of the Yemeni population, or more than 22 million people, including 8.4 million who struggle to find their next meal, urgently need humanitarian assistance. Source: Xinhua| 2018-10-28 17:03:28|Editor: zh Video Player Close DHAKA, Oct. 28 (Xinhua) -- The Bangladeshi government on Sunday signed a financing agreement with the World Bank to improve the transparency and efficiency of its major cash transfer programs. Mahmuda Begum, an additional secretary of Economic Relations Division of Bangladesh, and Qimiao Fan, World Bank country director for Bangladesh, Bhutan and Nepal, signed the agreement of 300 million U.S. dollars on behalf of their respective sides in Dhaka. In a statement, the Washington-based lender said the "Cash Transfer Modernization Project" "will help the Department of Social Services (DSS) modernize the country's four major social protection programs using cash transfers by improving beneficiary targeting, program administration, and benefit payments." The programs are: the Old Age Allowance; Allowances for the Widow, Deserted and Destitute Women; Allowances for the Financially Insolvent Disabled; and Stipends for Disabled Students, it said and added these programs collectively reach about six and half million of the country's poorest people. In fiscal year 2018, according to the World Bank statement, Bangladesh spent about 5.8 billion dollars on social protection or about 2 percent of its Gross Domestic Product and improving the efficiency of these programs will help Bangladesh to use public resources more effectively. Source: Xinhua| 2018-10-28 17:03:30|Editor: zh Video Player Close CHANGCHUN, Oct. 28 (Xinhua) -- Archaeologists said Sunday that they have unearthed the remains of ancient houses and ash pits, together with animal bones, bronze ware and stone tools in northeast China's Jilin Province. The Bronze Age finds were discovered on a sand dune near Dajinshan Village in the city of Shuangliao, according to the School of Archaeology affiliated with the Jilin University. Fang Qi, the archaeologist who headed the excavation, said researchers speculate that the ruins might serve as evidence of a living and fishing place for ancient people near the Eastern Liaohe River based on large quantities of unearthed life utensils, animal bones, fishbones, mussels and shellfish. The ruins are around 150 meters long and 100 meters wide. Jointly launched by researchers from countries including China, France and the U.S., the ongoing excavation started in July and is covering around 1,000 square meters. After the excavation is completed, the archaeologists will send 20 carbon samples to the University of Oxford for more precise age testing. "The new discovery will shed some light on the living and working conditions of ancient people along the Eastern Liaohe River basin, and enrich people's understanding of ancient life in the region," Fang said. Source: Xinhua| 2018-10-28 18:03:39|Editor: zh Video Player Close KAMPALA, Oct. 28 (Xinhua) -- Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni on Sunday explained the heavy deployment of troops in the capital Kampala and its suburbs. Museveni in a State House statement said the military was deployed as a temporary measure as the government weeds out bad elements from the police force. He said although the country's image internationally has been damaged because of the military's presence on the streets, the main intention of the deployment was to restore law and order. "I commend them because the main aims of the government were achieved: to protect the lives of Ugandans and their property," Museveni said. "The image of the country was somewhat affected. That, however, will be repaired. What is crucial is the country to be stable and not just to appear stable," he added. In the recent past, there have been several operations by the military in the city, leading to the arrest of several senior police officers including former police chief Kale Kayihura. They are now facing several charges in courts of law. Source: Xinhua| 2018-10-28 18:12:39|Editor: xuxin Video Player Close Decorated pumpkins are seen on display at the Halloween Pumpkin Festival held on Heroes' Square in downtown Budapest, Hungary on Oct. 27, 2018. Halloween Pumpkin Festival is a charity event organised every year, gathering people in a public square to make them enjoy the beauty of hand-made decorations and celebrate the popular festival. Participants also donate long lasting food products to support the charity of Child Feeding Foundation that aims to help children and families in need. (Xinhua/Attila Volgyi) Source: Xinhua| 2018-10-28 18:13:43|Editor: zh Video Player Close KAMPALA, Oct. 28 (Xinhua) -- Laboratory results for a suspected deadly Ebola case in western Uganda has tested negative, a ministry of health spokesperson said here Sunday. Vivian Nakaliika, ministry of health spokesperson, told Xinhua by telephone that the samples taken from a 26-year-old male who died suddenly on Friday at Bwindi hospital in Kanungu district have tested negative of the Viral Hemorrhagic Fever. The deceased died after presenting Ebola-like symptoms of high fever, bleeding and vomiting blood, causing fears in the east African country. "The blood sample obtained from the 26-year-old male has tested negative of both Ebola Virus Disease and Marburg at Uganda Virus Research Institute, Entebbe," said Nakaliika. Uganda is currently on an alert of the Ebola Hemorrhagic Fever from the neighboring Democratic Republic of Congo that reported Ebola cases, according to the ministry of health. Ebola and Marburg virus last broke out in the east African nation in 2012. Ebola left over 20 people dead while Marburg killed at least nine people. Ebola is a highly infectious disease spread through body contact with an infected person. It presents symptoms including high fever, bleeding, diarrhea and red eyes, among others. Mortality rates of Ebola fever, according to the World Health Organization, are extremely high, with the human case fatality rate ranging from 50 percent to 89 percent, depending on viral subtype. Source: Xinhua| 2018-10-28 18:58:50|Editor: Liangyu Video Player Close BEIJING, Oct. 28 (Xinhua) -- The Industrial Bank (IB) had seen its outstanding loans of green finance reach over 800 billion yuan (about 115 billion U.S. dollars) by the end of September. More than 16,000 enterprises had received over 1.6 trillion yuan of green finance from the bank by the end of last month, said IB's president Tao Yiping. Tao said the bank aims to have over 10,000 clients of green finance services by 2020, with outstanding loans exceeding one trillion yuan. Founded in 1988, the joint-stock commercial bank is a pioneer in the development of green finance in China. Over the past 10 years, IB has formed a green product and service system with a complete product line of green finance and risk management. Green finance is designed to encourage more private capital to enter green sectors and stop investment that might pollute the environment. China announced in 2016 that it will establish a national green finance mechanism, the first of its kind in the world. Photo taken on Oct. 12, 2017 shows an Ethiopian Airlines plane at the Bole International Airport in Addis Ababa, capital of Ethiopia. (Xinhua/Michael Tewelde) ADDIS ABABA, Oct. 28 (Xinhua) -- Ethiopia is to issue visa on arrival to all Africans starting Nov. 9, said Fitsum Arega, chief of staff at the Ethiopian Prime Minister Office, on Friday. In a press statement, Arega said the visa-on-arrival policy for fellow African visitors is in line with Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed's vision of a closer and full integration in the continent. "Consistent with Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed's vision of a closer and full regional integration in Africa, where minds are open to ideas and markets are open to trade, Ethiopia will start on arrival visa to all Africans starting from Nov. 9, 2018," Arega said. Ethiopia hopes the visa-on-arrival initiative would facilitate the economic integration of Africa by pushing tourist flow to a higher level and help advance conference tourism. The east African country, which hosts the headquarters of the continental body, the African Union (AU), also hopes that the move will assist the AU's initiative on the free movement of people. The AU urged all African countries to issue visa on arrival as of 2023. Source: Xinhua| 2018-10-28 19:44:01|Editor: Liangyu Video Player Close TOKYO, Oct. 28 (Xinhua) - During Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's three-day China visit concluded on Saturday, the two countries reached a series of consensus on politics, economy, security and cultural exchanges. Experts in Japan said that the results of the visit mark a new phase of coordination and cooperation in bilateral relations. PRACTICAL COOPERATION During Abe's visit, the two sides have signed over 10 inter-governmental cooperation documents involving areas such as politics, innovation, finance, customs and sports. Experts acclaimed these agreements on pragmatic cooperation, saying that such cooperation serves as "ballast" and a "thruster" for the development of China-Japan relations. Takashi Suzuki, associate professor at Aichi Prefectural University, said that Japanese enterprises will play a more active role in China's reform and opening-up. Japanese enterprises could provide technology and experiences in the areas such as transportation, environmental protection, elderly care, and medical care in cooperation with Chinese enterprises and meanwhile meanwhile achieve revenue from such cooperation, he said. Akio Takahara, professor at the University of Tokyo, said that Chinese market is very attractive to Japanese enterprises, and "it's only natural" that China and Japan would cooperate in fields. At a forum on third-party market cooperation held Friday in Beijing, 50 plus cooperation agreements worth more than 18 billion U.S. dollars were signed by the two sides. Jin Jianmin, a senior fellow at Fujitsu Research Institute in Tokyo, said that the agreements on third-country market cooperation between the two sides in a wide range of areas sent a positive signal to the world and showed support for China-proposed Belt and Road Initiative. Masahiro Kohara, former diplomat and professor at the University of Tokyo, said that Asia has a huge need for infrastructure, and Japan-China cooperation to meet such needs would help promoting regional stability and prosperity. Suzuki said that both countries could benefit from creating a new mode of cooperation to promote the development of third nations, which will also contribute to regional stability and prosperity. FREE TRADE During Abe's visit, China and Japan have agreed to uphold free trade and oppose protectionism, to accelerate negotiations on a free trade zone among China, Japan and the Republic of Korea, and safeguard the regional economic integration process in the Asia-Pacific region. Goro Takahashi, professor at Aichi University, said that promoting free trade is in the interests of both countries as well as the region, and that the two sides should uphold the free trade system by cooperating with other countries in the region and set a good example for the world. Kohara said that as it's significant that China and Japan, the world's second and third largest economies respectively, work together to safeguard the global free trade system to contribute to world stability and sustainable development. Jun Konno, associate professor at Gakushuin Women's College, said that against the backdrop of rising anti-globalization and unilateralism, it's significant for China and Japan to jointly explore third-party markets and promote multilateral economic cooperation and globalization through concrete actions. NEW PHASE OF DEVELOPMENT During his visit, Abe said he was glad to pay an official visit to China on the occasion of the 40th anniversary of the signing of the China-Japan Treaty of Peace and Friendship, and that he hopes the two sides will open up a new era of bilateral ties featuring a shift "from competition to coordination." Kohara said that steady development of bilateral ties is in the interests of both countries as well as the region. "Japan and China building new relations featuring a shift from competition to collaboration would help promote mutual understanding and trust, and this kind of new relations is needed by both countries and conforms with the common aspiration of Asia," he said. In the past four decades since China and Japan signed the Treaty of Peace and Friendship, the bilateral relations have undergone various frictions and problems, said Suzuki. What's been achieved by the two sides during Abe's visit showed that the bilateral relationship has entered a new phase, in which both sides will work together to make new contribution to regional and even global peace and stability, said Suzuki. Source: Xinhua| 2018-10-28 19:49:03|Editor: xuxin Video Player Close CANBERRA, Oct. 28 (Xinhua) -- The Australian government could be pressured to establish a federal anti-corruption commission to stave off an early election. Members of the crossbench in the House of Representatives, the lower house of Australia's Parliament, have joined forces to push for the commission, saying that "nobody should be above the law." The crossbench is made up of Members of Parliament (MPs) who do not belong to the governing Liberal-National Party Coalition (LNP) or Opposition Australian Labor Party (ALP). The six crossbenchers currently in Parliament hold the balance of power after the LNP lost its majority in October's Wentworh by-election, which was won by independent Kerryn Phelps. If the six joined forces with the ALP to pass a motion of no confidence in the government both houses of Parliament would be dissolved and an election would be called. Rebekha Sharkie, a South Australian MP for the Centre Alliance party, on Sunday said that the crossbench had been pushing for an anti-corruption commission for "the best part of a year," saying Australians needed to have confidence that their representatives were acting "with integrity." "Nobody should be above the law, whether it happened back in 2004 or whether it happened this year, whether you are a politician, or whether you are a senior public servant," she said. "And it's just astonishing that we would not have (an anti-corruption body) given that we have that in every state," she said. The ALP in January announced it would establish the body if victorious at the next general election, which is due to take place in May 2019 unless there is a successful motion of no confidence. Attorney-General Christian Porter on Saturday gave the first indication that he could support the idea having previously said there was no "persuasive evidence" that current anti-corruption measures were not working. "I would be very pleased to meet with any crossbenchers interested in the issue to discuss their views and the work conducted in this area by the government in considering ways to improve present integrity arrangements," he told Fairfax Media. "It is important that changes in this area improve upon the current system, rather than adding complexity and confusion." Source: Xinhua| 2018-10-28 20:54:13|Editor: xuxin Video Player Close COLOMBO, Oct. 28 (Xinhua) -- Three people were injured when firing took place inside the state-owned Petroleum Corporation in Dematagoda, in Sri Lanka's capital Colombo on Sunday, Police said. Police Spokesperson, SP Ruwan Gunasekara, told Xinhua that a tense situation occurred when former Petroleum Minister Arjuna Ranatunga visited the Ceylon Petroleum Corporation office, with several Ceylon Petroleum Corporation workers resorting to a protest. Gunasekara said the reason for the protest was still unclear but a security official from the minister's security team had opened fire, injuring 3 individuals. The three injured were rushed to hospital while special security forces and additional police had been deployed inside the premises. Police are conducting investigations, and the security official who opened fire has been arrested. Sri Lanka is facing a political crisis after President Maithripala Sirisena sacked the Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe on Friday, and appointed former President Mahinda Rajapakse as new PM. A new caretaker government is expected to be sworn in on Monday. Source: Xinhua| 2018-10-28 20:59:16|Editor: xuxin Video Player Close BAGHDAD, Oct. 28 (Xinhua) -- Iraqi Prime Minister Adel Abdul Mahdi on Sunday confirmed the necessity of taking precautionary measures to secure the borderline with neighboring Syria. Mahdi made the remarks during a visit to the Joint Operations Command in Baghdad, where he held a meeting with Iraqi military commanders, according to a statement by his office. During the meeting, he listened to a review of security plans to ensure the Iraqi-Syrian border, as well as security plans for a major Shiite ritual of Arbaeen in the holy Shiite province of Karbala, the statement said. Mahdi, also the Commander-in-Chief of the Iraqi forces, "emphasizes the importance of continuing precautionary efforts and keep tracking of the terrorist groups to secure the border with Syria," it added. Earlier, a paramilitary Hashd Shaabi leader said reinforcements had been dispatched to the border with Syria after the Islamic State (IS) militant group seized positions of Syrian Democratic Forces on the Syrian side near the border. The Iraqi forces, backed by Hashd Shaabi forces, have been deployed in the desert area for months to secure the Iraqi side of the border and prevent infiltration of IS militants from Syria to Iraq. On Oct. 24, Mahdi was sworn in as the new prime minister of Iraq after the parliament passed 14 out of his 22 cabinet members. The parliament also approved Mahdi's government program, which included strengthening of internal and external security through law enforcement, anti-terrorism and efforts to fight corruption. Mahdi is also the temporary acting minister for the security ministries of defense and interior. Source: Xinhua| 2018-10-28 21:09:17|Editor: xuxin Video Player Close ADEN, Yemen, Oct. 28 (Xinhua) -- Unidentified gunmen assassinated the commander of the anti-drug security forces in the southern port city of Aden on Sunday, a government official told Xinhua. Three masked gunmen ambushed Fadhel Sael while he was heading to his workplace, a local official said on condition of anonymity. "The gunmen rained Fadhel's car with a barrage of gunshots from different directions, killing him along with two of his bodyguards in Aden," the source said. The assassinated official was the commander of an elite security unit and conducted anti-drug operations in Aden in the past years, according to the source. An anonymous officer of the anti-drug security unit told Xinhua that the assassination is "an obvious ... revenge for what happened" just four days ago, in which "a number of suspected drugs traffickers were killed in an exchange of fire with the security soldiers." No group has yet claimed responsibility for the assassination. Security forces, backed by the United Arab Emirates, later launched an investigation and raided locations held by suspected gunmen in Aden. Government officials, including high-ranking security commanders and intelligence officers, have been the prime targets in kidnapping incidents as well as armed attacks launched by unknown gunmen in recent days. The impoverished Arab country has been locked into a civil war since the Iran-backed Shiite Houthi rebels overran much of the country militarily and seized all northern provinces, including the capital Sanaa, in 2014. Saudi Arabia leads an Arab military coalition that intervened in Yemen in 2015 to support the government of President Abd-Rabbu Mansour Hadi after Houthi rebels forced him into exile. Source: Xinhua| 2018-10-28 21:19:20|Editor: xuxin Video Player Close PHNOM PENH, Oct. 28 (Xinhua) -- The China-funded Lancang-Mekong Vocational Education Training Center, along with the Cambodia Luban Workshop, was inaugurated here on Sunday. The center was established under the cooperation between the National Polytechnic Institute of Cambodia (NPIC) and China's Tianjin Sino-German University of Applied Sciences. It is located in the compound of the NPIC in the northwestern outskirts of Phnom Penh. Ith Samheng, Cambodian Minister of Labor and Vocational Training, and Li Hongzhong, a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China (CPC)'s Central Committee and Secretary of the CPC Tianjin Municipal Committee, jointly unveiled the center. Samheng said the project came online following an initiative made by Chinese Premier Li Keqiang in 2016 to set up vocational education training centers in the Lancang-Mekong countries. "I believe that the center will play an important role in providing quality education and training and in transferring the latest technological development to our youth," he said. The minister said that the center would recruit not only Cambodian students, but also those of the Lancang-Mekong countries. He added that the center would serve as a pillar for strengthening regional friendship, harmonizing regional cooperation, and promoting socio-economic development towards a community of shared destiny. Zhao Haishan, deputy mayor of Tianjin Municipality, said the Luban workshop was the first project of international cooperation on vocational training supported by the Tianjin Municipality. "From now on, the CPC Tianjin Municipal Committee and the Municipal Hall will strongly lend support to the development of this center and workshop," he said. NPIC president Bun Phearin said among the Luban workshops in the Lancang-Mekong countries, the workshop in Cambodia is the biggest of all. He added that the Tianjin Sino-German University of Applied Sciences has also sent professors to teach at the center and the workshop. The Lancang-Mekong countries consist of China, Cambodia, Myanmar, Laos, Thailand, and Vietnam. Source: Xinhua| 2018-10-28 21:24:21|Editor: xuxin Video Player Close JERUSALEM, Oct. 28 (Xinhua) -- Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Sunday that his one-day visit to Oman was part of a wider effort to forge ties with Arab countries. The Israeli government first announced the rare trip on Friday, in an apparent sign of warming relations with the Gulf state, despite no formal diplomatic ties between the two countries. "On Friday, my wife and I returned from a historic diplomatic visit," Netanyahu said, referring to the first official Israeli visit to Oman in 22 years. "I met with the leader of Oman, Sultan Qaboos bin Said, a very experienced and impressive man," Netanyahu told his weekly cabinet meeting, according to a statement released by his office. "We discussed in detail the challenges facing the Middle East ... There will be more," he said. Israel and Saudi Arabia reportedly held talks recently in secret channels arranged by their mutual ally, the United States. Israel currently has no formal ties with Muslim countries in the Middle East except Egypt and Jordan. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu attends the weekly cabinet meeting at his office in Jerusalem, on Oct. 28, 2018. (AFP photo) JERUSALEM, Oct. 28 (Xinhua) -- Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Sunday called for the international fight against anti-Semitism in the wake of the deadly shooting at a synagogue in Pittsburgh, the United States. On Saturday morning, a Pennsylvania gunman killed 11 people at the synagogue in the community of Squirrel Hill, about 10 minutes' drive from downtown Pittsburgh, the hub of the city's Jewish community. "I call upon the whole world to unite in the fight against anti-Semitism everywhere," Netanyahu said at the start of the weekly cabinet meeting. The shooting attack was "the largest anti-Semitic crime" in American history, he noted. "On all these fronts we must stand up and fight back against this brutal fanaticism. It starts with the Jews, but never ends with the Jews," the prime minister warned. He also sent condolences on behalf of the Israeli government and the people of Israel to the families who lost their loved ones in the tragic. U.S. President Donald Trump has ordered flags at federal buildings throughout the country to be flown at half-mast in "solemn respect" for the victims. Source: Xinhua| 2018-10-28 22:39:36|Editor: Mu Xuequan Video Player Close Chinese Vice President Wang Qishan (L) meets with Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah al-Sisi in Cairo, Egypt, Oct. 27, 2018. Wang visited Egypt at the invitation of Egyptian Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly. (Xinhua/Pang Xinglei) CAIRO, Oct. 28 (Xinhua) -- Chinese Vice President Wang Qishan agreed with Egyptian leaders to further boost the development cooperation during a two-day visit to the North African country from Friday to Saturday. Egyptian Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly received Wang at the airport with a welcome ceremony for the Chinese vice president, who made the visit at the invitation of Madbouly. During his two-day visit, Wang met with Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah al-Sisi and Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly. In his meeting with President Sisi, Wang said that China and Egypt, both ancient civilizations, share extensive interests and great cooperation potential. He said that China is ready to enhance mutual understanding, coordinate the development strategies and strengthen cooperation with Egypt in the fields of economy and trade, production capacity and cultural exchanges within the framework of the Belt and Road Initiative. China is willing to encourage more Chinese companies to invest in Egypt and continue to encourage Chinese tourists to travel to Egypt, Wang said. The Chinese vice president said that China is willing to work together with Egypt, an important country in the Middle East and North Africa, to safeguard the regional peace and stability. Sisi said that Egypt and China, both civilizations with a long history, have enjoyed close ties and in-depth cooperation. He expressed admiration for China's development achievements and said Egypt is keen to boost exchanges in governance with China in addition to the dialogue between the two civilizations. Egypt takes it as a priority in its diplomatic affairs to further develop the comprehensive strategic partnership between Egypt and China and is willing to coordinate Egypt's dream of national rejuvenation with the Chinese Dream and seek joint development, said Sisi. Egypt was one of the first countries to give support to the Belt and Road Initiative proposed by China as it believes the initiative will inject fresh and strong vigour in the bilateral cooperation, he said. The Egyptian president said his country is willing to explore possible cooperation involving Egypt, China and other parties in Africa as it assumes the rotating presidency of the African Union in 2019. In the meeting with Prime Minister Madbouly, Wang said that Egypt had been one of the first countries in the Middle East and Africa to establish diplomatic relations with the People's Republic of China and that the bilateral relations had progressed steadily and healthily over more than 60 years. China attaches great importance to the Suez Canal Corridor Development Project proposed by President Sisi and is willing to boost the cooperation with the Egyptian side in this regard, Wang said. China adheres to its strategy of reform and opening-up and the upcoming first China International Import Expo in Shanghai is one of the measures to expand the country's efforts in line with this strategy, Wang said. Egypt can make full use of this opportunity by taking its good enterprises and quality products there and expand its export to China, Wang said, calling for joint efforts to implement the important consensus achieved by the leaders of the two countries and further boost the bilateral cooperation. Madbouly hailed the growth of bilateral cooperation since the establishment of the comprehensive strategic partnership, saying that it has brought substantial benefits to the people of the two countries. Egypt thinks highly of and actively participates in the Belt and Road Initiative and is willing to boost the efforts to coordinate the development strategies of the two sides and boost the pragmatic cooperation, the Egyptian prime minister said. Egypt would like to tap the development experience of China and welcomes Chinese enterprises to participate in Egypt's development, he said. The Egyptian prime minister thanked China for inviting Egypt to participate in the first China International Import Expo as a guest of honor. Egypt will seize the opportunity to facilitate the bilateral economic and trade cooperation and try to achieve substantial results, he said. Wang and Madbouly witnessed the signing of cooperation documents in fields such as agriculture, education and culture. Source: Xinhua| 2018-10-28 22:49:37|Editor: Mu Xuequan Video Player Close RAMALLAH, Oct. 28 (Xinhua) -- The meetings of the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) Central Council started on Sunday in the West Bank city of Ramallah at the presidential headquarters. The two-day meetings started with the quorum check and approving the agenda, said a report of the official Palestinian news agency WAFA. Officials said that the meetings will focus on implementation of mechanisms for its previous decisions, including limiting the relations with Israel. In the last central council meeting in January, it mandated the PLO executive committee to suspend its recognition of Israel until the latter recognizes Palestine as a state on the borders of 1967, revokes its decision to annex East Jerusalem and stops settlement activity. The council also decided to stop the security coordination in line with its previous decision taken in 2015 and suspend the Paris economic protocol. The Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine, the Democratic Front for the Liberation of Palestine, the National Initiative party (Al-Mubadara) in addition to Islamic Hamas party and Islamic Jihad have boycotted the meetings. Source: Xinhua| 2018-10-28 22:54:38|Editor: Li Xia Video Player Close Greek students march to celebrate the "Ohi Day" (No Day) in central Athens, Greece, on Oct. 28, 2018, The national "Ohi" holiday commemorates Oct. 28, 1940, when the then Greek government rejected Italy's ultimatum to allow Italian forces to invade Greece. (Xinhua/Marios Lolos) ATHENS, Oct. 28 (Xinhua) -- Greece celebrated on Sunday the national holiday of the "Ochi Day" (No Day) with military and pupils' parades across the country, sending a strong message against the revival of fascism. "Ochi" is the response given on Oct. 28, 1940 by the then head of government to Italy's ultimatum to surrender the country to the Axis forces. It marked Greece's entrance in World War II. For the first time, Italian President Sergio Mattarella joined Greek President Prokopis Pavlopoulos in the northern city of Thessaloniki on Sunday to observe the military parade. Later the two leaders are scheduled to visit the island of Cephalonia in the Ionian Sea in western Greece to pay tribute to the Italian soldiers executed in 1943 by German troops on the island, and to the Greeks who died during resistance. The 'No' of the Greek people on Oct. 28, 1940 was and still remains a great 'Yes' to freedom and democracy and inspires the struggle to defend the European edifice against racist populism, Pavlopoulos said in his message for the day, according to an e-mailed press statement from his office. The presence of the Italian president in Thessaloniki symbolized the common struggle to defend Europe, the Greek leader explained. Greece and Italy have left behind what divided them in the past and have learned from the bitter experience of fascism, he stressed. "Today we honor the 'No' against fascism and Nazism... We also assume our historic role to fight at the frontline against racism... so that we will never again see in Europe the revival of fascism," Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras said in his e-mailed message for the day. Meanwhile, thousands of young students nationwide marched as crowds waved Greek flags, singing the Greek national anthem. Source: Xinhua| 2018-10-28 23:34:47|Editor: Lu Hui Video Player Close TOKYO, Oct. 28 (Xinhua) -- Against the backdrop of rising trade protectionism in the world, it's important that China and Japan enhance economic cooperation, including third-party market cooperation to promote regional development and free trade, experts here said. During Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's three-day visit to China that wrapped up on Saturday, 50 plus cooperation agreements worth more than 18 billion U.S. dollars were signed by the two sides at a forum on third-party market cooperation. Experts here said that a stronger third-part market cooperation between China and Japan is not only in the interest of both countries, but also conductive to regional prosperity. Kiyoyuki Seguchi, research director of the Canon Institute for Global Studies in Tokyo, said that Chinese and Japanese companies have great potential for cooperation in this regard as they are complementary to each other in many aspects. Chinese companies often have "strong marketing skills, global strategic capabilities and application innovation capabilities, while Japanese companies are strong in the field of fundamental innovation, and the two sides could learn from each other and complement each other, said Seguchi. Hidetoshi Tashiro, chief economist at Sigma Capital Ltd., said that it is practical for Japan and China to boost cooperation in the region along the Belt and Road. "Japanese companies are cautious, good at teamwork, and Chinese companies are vigorous and good at making bold decisions. They could make a strong team together," he said. In his opinion, medical care and finance are two of the areas that are most promising for cooperation between Chinese and Japanese companies in the region along the Belt and Road. Japan has rich experience in coping with population aging, and could, through cooperation with China, provide know-how and references for the Belt and Road region, so as to promote healthy and sustainable development in the region, he said. Meanwhile, China and Japan could also enhance financial cooperation in third-party markets, as both Japan and China have huge savings and could, through bilateral financial cooperation, provide more fund for the development of the region, said Tashiro. Li Bo, a visiting fellow at Aichi University, said that the two sides have agreed to enhance financial cooperation through means including currency swaps. Li said that the RMB Qualified Foreign Institutional Investors (RQFII) program is very attractive to Japanese financial companies, and some Japanese companies have announced plans to set up joint funds with Chinese investment institutions to support enterprises to develop third-party markets. Nippon Express Co.,Ltd., meanwhile, is bullish about the prospect of cooperation between logistic companies between China and Japan, and has started to use the China Railway Express for transportation between Japan and Europe. "The China Railway Express trains pass through a lot of Belt and Road countries, and could provide support for Japanese companies to enter into the market in Central Asia," said Yasushi Hirota, an official from the Chinese branch of Nippon Express. "Meanwhile, Japanese-invested enterprises in China could also make use of this logistic means to provide products and services to countries along the Belt and Road," he said. Source: Xinhua| 2018-10-28 23:44:49|Editor: Mu Xuequan Video Player Close German Chancellor Angela Merkel, Russian President Vladimir Putin, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and French President Emmanuel Macron (from L to R) attend a joint press conference following the four-way summit on Syria in Istanbul, Turkey, on Oct. 27, 2018. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Saturday said the four-way summit ended with a call for a full-scale cease-fire to halt the bloodshed in Syria. (Xinhua/Anadolu Agency) by Xinhua writer Zhang Xu, Zeynep Cermen CAIRO, Oct. 28 (Xinhua) -- A four-party summit held in Istanbul of Turkey on Saturday seemingly paved a promising path for Syria, with Syria itself absent from the discussion. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Saturday said the four-way summit, which also saw the presence of Russian President Vladimir Putin, German Chancellor Angela Merkel, and French President Emmanuel Macron, ended with a call for a full-scale cease-fire to halt the bloodshed in Syria. Speaking at a joint press conference following the quadrilateral summit in Istanbul, Erdogan said that the summit had "a fruitful and sincere consultation", called for the completion of the constitution committee's process in Syria as soon as possible, reaffirmed its strongest opposition to the use of chemical weapons by any party in Syria, among others. The United States, which has heavyweight influence in Syria, was also absent from the gathering where leaders of Turkey, Russia, Germany and France, each bearing own agenda and pursuing own interests in the region, mulled the fate of Syria. Analysts, experts and former officials in the region shared their views about the summit held at the Ottoman-era Vahdettin Pavillion in Istanbul, and highlighted the power wrestling or political chases surrounding a solution of the Syria issue. Cahit Armagan Dilek, head of the Ankara-based 21st Century Turkey Institute, told Xinhua that the region is in a period of defining "new balances, new alliances, and even new borders." "All the four countries in the summit are one way or another at the battle zone in Syria and it is obvious that each of them has different agendas and interests in the region," he added. In Dilek's view, neither Syria nor the Middle East will return to their pre-war times, and the region will continue to be a location of power wrestling by global powers. "Turkey and Russia are actually on the Eurasia bloc while France and Germany represent the Western side at the summit," he said, describing Russia's hand in the field as "very strong." "Russia has prevented the fall of the Syrian regime, ensuring the dominance of Damascus throughout the country, in exchange for establishing two long-standing permanent military bases," Dilek explained. In addition, he said, Moscow also has a large naval base that strengthens Russia's hand in showing a constant presence in the eastern Mediterranean Sea, controlling Syria's exit to the world through the sea. "By deploying S-300 and S-400 missile systems, Russia has also got the advantage of generating wide-range impacts," he added. However, France and Germany have no significant presence in the field. France occupies a military presence in the east of the Euphrates in the U.S.-controlled area while Germany has a limited unit of special forces with little economic support for the region. Turkey has long been stuck in Syria due to the U.S. support for the outlawed Kurdish Workers' Party and its affiliates in Syria. Furthermore, establishing close ties with Russia damaged Ankara's relations with Washington. "Turkey always wants to give a message that it is cooperating with both sides. But Washington has been forcing its ally for a final decision," he said. Dilek believed that Russia aimed to cause some cracks within the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) and succeeded to some extent. Analysts agreed that Ankara has been playing an important role in shaping the developments in the region and it is "as strong as Russia" in the field. Enes Bayrakli, European Studies Director for think tank foundation SETA, said the cooperation between Turkey and Russia produced several achievements not only for the two countries but also for the European bloc as well. "For example, Turkey's cross-border military operations removed the pressure of terror threat from the shoulders of the European countries," Bayrakli told Xinhua. He also said the European countries, mainly Germany and France, might feel "compelled" to involve in such a summit on Syria and take action as the United States started to shun. "The U.S. was the least affected country by the developments in Syria. It was not subjected to any terror attack originated from Syria and hasn't received any refugee," Bayrakli said. Some analysts in Syria expressed cautious optimism on the summit results, particularly due to the participation of Germany and France, which are outspoken critics of the administration of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad. Meanwhile, forming a commission to create Syria's post-war constitution, seen as an important step in staging elections in the war-torn country, was another focus of the summit. The UN envoy to Syria Staffan de Mistura also attended the summit and discussed the matter of forming a constitutional committee. "I believe it is necessary for this committee to consist only of Syrian nationals with no foreign members, for it will be a pure national Syrian issue and there should be no foreign interference in drafting Syria's constitution," said Hani Khallaf, a political expert and Egypt's former assistant foreign minister for Arab affairs. Khallaf also stressed the importance of keeping Idlib stable and secure, noting maintaining cease-fire was key to stop the bloodshed in Syria. Ankara and Moscow agreed in September at a bilateral meeting held in Russia's coastal city of Sochi to establish a demilitarized zone in Syria's northwestern province of Idlib, the last rebel stronghold in Syria, urging rebel groups to evacuate. Under the deal, Russia and Turkey decided to carry out joint patrols in the area to prevent further fighting. Emad Salem, a political expert, said Turkey may have to "shuffle the cards" especially after failing to push the radical rebels out of the demilitarized zone as it pledged. The ultra-radical rebels were supposed to withdraw from the zone by Oct. 15, but this didn't happen with the al-Qaida-linked ones refusing to abide by the deal. The Syrian government previously welcomed the Turkish-Russian deal, but with a few reported breaches by the rebels and their reluctance to leave, Damascus made it clear that its patience has limits. Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras (R) and Prime Minister of the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (FYROM) Zoran Zaev (L) attend a signing ceremony about bilateral name row, at Psarades, in the Prespes lake region of Greece, June 17, 2018. Greece and FYROM sealed a historic agreement on Sunday, putting an end to the dispute which started in 1991 over the use of the name Macedonia. By Maria Spiliopoulou ATHENS, Oct. 28 (Xinhua) -- Most Greeks still rejected the peace agreement which Greece struck with the Skopje government over the Macedonia name row, according to an opinion poll published in Sunday's local "Proto Thema" (Top Story) newspaper. The survey, carried out by MARC polling firm, revealed that 64.5 percent of Greeks did not want to see the Greek parliament ratifying the deal. Athens and Skopje reached the deal this June to resolve the long-standing dispute between the two neighboring countries over the use of the name Macedonia. Under the agreement which was ratified by the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (FYROM) and needs to be also approved by the Greek parliament in coming months, the small Balkan state will be renamed "Republic of North Macedonia". The row started in 1991 when FYROM declared independence from Yugoslavia, choosing the name Macedonia, which is also the name of a northern Greek province. Many Greeks are still worried that the use of the same name by the neighboring state could lead to territorial claims. The poll also showed that Greece's main opposition conservative New Democracy (ND) party leads over the ruling Radical Left SYRIZA party. Should national elections were held on Sunday, ND would win the 31.2 percent of votes, while SYRIZA would garner 20 percent. The center-Left Movement for Change (KINAL) would rank 3rd by garnering 7.1 percent of votes, followed by the far-Right "Chryssi Avghi" (Golden Dawn) party with 6.5 percent and the Greek Communist Party KKE with 6.2 percent of votes. According to the same poll, the 72.2 percent of respondents said that they would prefer snap elections in case Panos Kammenos, the Defense Minister and leader of the Right-wing Independent Greeks, the junior partner in the coalition government, leaves the government. Kammenos has repeatedly voiced publicly in recent months his objection to the deal between Athens and Skopje. Kammenos has said his party will vote against the agreement and government ministers have implied that SYRIZA may seek to stay in power as a minority government. The government's term in office expires in September 2019. Source: Xinhua| 2018-10-29 00:14:59|Editor: Mu Xuequan Video Player Close BUDAPEST, Oct. 28 (Xinhua) -- The Hungarian government will double the financial support for people entering the business sector from the Public Work Scheme (PWS), Mihaly Varga, the Minister of Finance said here on Sunday. "The government will double its employment benefits for public employees of the PWS who are successful in entering the business sector from November 1," Varga said. Public Work Scheme (PWS) was set up in 2011 with an aim to activate long term unemployed people and to prevent permanent job seekers from getting out of the working life. The scheme offers work mainly to working-age people with little education and no professional skills, who are difficult to find a job. Varga said the allowance -- above the normal salary -- rises to 45,600 forints (162 U.S. dollars) per month, in order to further motivate public employees to find a higher-paid job in the labor market. The program entitled "from PWS to the Business Sector" is designed to ensure that people with the right motivation, qualifications, readiness to work do not stay in the PWS, but rather find work in the business sector, thereby helping to achieve full employment, according to Varga. According to latest official figures, Hungary's unemployment rate decreased by 0.5 percentage to 3.7 percent in the period of June-August 2018. Source: Xinhua| 2018-10-29 00:25:02|Editor: Mu Xuequan Video Player Close ARUSHA, Tanzania, Oct. 28 (Xinhua) -- Tanzania has sacked 46 education officer who were allegedly involved in the recent Standard Seven national examinations cheating scandal, a senior official said on Sunday. Tixson Nzunda, Deputy Permanent Secretary in the President's Office Regional Administration and Local Government, said that those who have been fired include education officials from four districts of Dodoma, Kondoa, Rorya and Chemba. "All the suspects have been relieved off duties and they will later be taken to the Teachers Service Commission for further investigation," Nzunda said in an interview with Xinhua. Early this month, the National Examinations Council of Tanzania nullified results for 110 primary schools over cheating and other irregularities. The schools include all those in Chemba district, Dodoma region. And the impacted schools also include Hazina and New Hazina primary schools in Dar es Salaam, Alliance, New Alliance and Kisiwani schools in Mwanza. The school managements are alleged to have colluded with district authorities to reveal the exam papers to pupils prior to the day of the exam. Source: Xinhua| 2018-10-29 00:25:03|Editor: Mu Xuequan Video Player Close CAPE TOWN, Oct. 28 (Xinhua) -- South African President Cyril Ramaphosa left South Africa on Sunday, emarking on a mission to woo investment. The president will attend the G20 Africa Conference scheduled for October 29-30 in Berlin, Germany, his office said. The G20 Africa Conference will discuss progress made with the G20 Partnership with Africa and the Compact with Africa (CwA), which was initiated last year under the German G20 Presidency to promote private investment in Africa, including in infrastructure. So far, 11 African countries have joined the initiative. The conference will also focus on ways in which the G20, African countries and development banks can cooperate to promote private investment and economic participation in Africa, while reflecting on the achievements and gains made since the Hamburg Summit of 2017. Ramaphosa is also expected to deliver a keynote address, in his capacity as Co-Chair of the G20 Africa Advisory Group, at the conference, presidential spokesperson Khusela Diko said. The conference brings together German businesses and CwA countries to further explore investment opportunities under the framework of the G20 Partnership with Africa. During the summit, German investors are expected to present flagship projects currently undertaken in the CwA countries, Diko said. As part of his working visit, Ramaphosa will have a bilateral meeting with German Chacellor Angela Merkel, according to Diko. Germany is South Africa's third largest trading partner. German Chancellor Angela Merkel, Russian President Vladimir Putin, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and French President Emmanuel Macron (from L to R) attend a joint press conference following a four-way summit between Turkey, Russia, Germany and France in Istanbul, Turkey, on Oct. 27, 2018. (Xinhua/Anadolu Agency) CAIRO, Oct. 28 (Xinhua) -- A four-party summit held in Istanbul of Turkey on Saturday seemingly paved a promising path for Syria, with Syria itself absent from the discussion. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Saturday said the four-way summit, which also saw the presence of Russian President Vladimir Putin, German Chancellor Angela Merkel, and French President Emmanuel Macron, ended with a call for a full-scale cease-fire to halt the bloodshed in Syria. Speaking at a joint press conference following the quadrilateral summit in Istanbul, Erdogan said that the summit had "a fruitful and sincere consultation", called for the completion of the constitution committee's process in Syria as soon as possible, reaffirmed its strongest opposition to the use of chemical weapons by any party in Syria, among others. The United States, which has heavyweight influence in Syria, was also absent from the gathering where leaders of Turkey, Russia, Germany and France, each bearing own agenda and pursuing own interests in the region, mulled the fate of Syria. Analysts, experts and former officials in the region shared their views about the summit held at the Ottoman-era Vahdettin Pavillion in Istanbul, and highlighted the power wrestling or political chases surrounding a solution of the Syria issue. Cahit Armagan Dilek, head of the Ankara-based 21st Century Turkey Institute, told Xinhua that the region is in a period of defining "new balances, new alliances, and even new borders." "All the four countries in the summit are one way or another at the battle zone in Syria and it is obvious that each of them has different agendas and interests in the region," he added. In Dilek's view, neither Syria nor the Middle East will return to their pre-war times, and the region will continue to be a location of power wrestling by global powers. "Turkey and Russia are actually on the Eurasia bloc while France and Germany represent the Western side at the summit," he said, describing Russia's hand in the field as "very strong." "Russia has prevented the fall of the Syrian regime, ensuring the dominance of Damascus throughout the country, in exchange for establishing two long-standing permanent military bases," Dilek explained. In addition, he said, Moscow also has a large naval base that strengthens Russia's hand in showing a constant presence in the eastern Mediterranean Sea, controlling Syria's exit to the world through the sea. "By deploying S-300 and S-400 missile systems, Russia has also got the advantage of generating wide-range impacts," he added. However, France and Germany have no significant presence in the field. France occupies a military presence in the east of the Euphrates in the U.S.-controlled area while Germany has a limited unit of special forces with little economic support for the region. Turkey has long been stuck in Syria due to the U.S. support for the outlawed Kurdish Workers' Party and its affiliates in Syria. Furthermore, establishing close ties with Russia damaged Ankara's relations with Washington. "Turkey always wants to give a message that it is cooperating with both sides. But Washington has been forcing its ally for a final decision," he said. Dilek believed that Russia aimed to cause some cracks within the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) and succeeded to some extent. Analysts agreed that Ankara has been playing an important role in shaping the developments in the region and it is "as strong as Russia" in the field. Enes Bayrakli, European Studies Director for think tank foundation SETA, said the cooperation between Turkey and Russia produced several achievements not only for the two countries but also for the European bloc as well. "For example, Turkey's cross-border military operations removed the pressure of terror threat from the shoulders of the European countries," Bayrakli told Xinhua. He also said the European countries, mainly Germany and France, might feel "compelled" to involve in such a summit on Syria and take action as the United States started to shun. "The U.S. was the least affected country by the developments in Syria. It was not subjected to any terror attack originated from Syria and hasn't received any refugee," Bayrakli said. Some analysts in Syria expressed cautious optimism on the summit results, particularly due to the participation of Germany and France, which are outspoken critics of the administration of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad. Meanwhile, forming a commission to create Syria's post-war constitution, seen as an important step in staging elections in the war-torn country, was another focus of the summit. The UN envoy to Syria Staffan de Mistura also attended the summit and discussed the matter of forming a constitutional committee. "I believe it is necessary for this committee to consist only of Syrian nationals with no foreign members, for it will be a pure national Syrian issue and there should be no foreign interference in drafting Syria's constitution," said Hani Khallaf, a political expert and Egypt's former assistant foreign minister for Arab affairs. Khallaf also stressed the importance of keeping Idlib stable and secure, noting maintaining cease-fire was key to stop the bloodshed in Syria. Ankara and Moscow agreed in September at a bilateral meeting held in Russia's coastal city of Sochi to establish a demilitarized zone in Syria's northwestern province of Idlib, the last rebel stronghold in Syria, urging rebel groups to evacuate. Under the deal, Russia and Turkey decided to carry out joint patrols in the area to prevent further fighting. Emad Salem, a political expert, said Turkey may have to "shuffle the cards" especially after failing to push the radical rebels out of the demilitarized zone as it pledged. The ultra-radical rebels were supposed to withdraw from the zone by Oct. 15, but this didn't happen with the al-Qaida-linked ones refusing to abide by the deal. The Syrian government previously welcomed the Turkish-Russian deal, but with a few reported breaches by the rebels and their reluctance to leave, Damascus made it clear that its patience has limits. Source: Xinhua| 2018-10-29 02:10:15|Editor: Mu Xuequan Video Player Close Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi (R) and Philippine Foreign Affairs Secretary Teodoro Locsin attend the opening ceremony of China's consulate general in Davao, the Philippines, Oct. 28, 2018. China on Sunday officially opened its consulate general in the southern Philippine city of Davao. (Xinhua/Rouelle Umali) DAVAO, the Philippines, Oct. 28 (Xinhua) -- China on Sunday officially opened its consulate general in the southern Philippine city of Davao, with foreign ministers of the two countries gracing the occasion by attending the opening ceremony. Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi, who is on a two-day visit to the Philippines, said in his opening speech that setting up a consulate general in Davao reflects the deepening friendship between China and the Philippines, and serves the all-round growth of cooperation between the two countries. The decision of the Chinese government to set up this consulate general in Davao speaks of our full confidence in the city's future, Wang said, adding that with this consulate general opened, China is ready to broaden cooperation with Davao and the southern Philippines. Wang said that well-governed by President Rodrigo Duterte for years, Davao city had enjoyed political stability, social harmony and prosperity, and had become one of the most tranquil cities in the Philippines. The current mayor has also worked with strong determination and a pioneering spirit, and the city has therefore reached many new highs on the track to an even brighter future, he added. We are not just opening the consulate general, but also demonstrating our strong resolve for close cooperation between China and the Philippines, Wang said. Philippine Foreign Affairs Secretary Teodoro Locsin welcomed the formal opening of the Chinese consulate general in Davao, saying its inauguration underscores the growing cooperation between Manila and Beijing. The inauguration of the Chinese consulate general here in Davao is an auspicious sign of the city's promise and the bright prospects for our engagement with China, Locsin said in his remarks. May this be a continued testament to an immemorial friendship, to a robust and interconnected relationship, and to sustained interactions between the Philippines and China as we promote our common goals to the mutual benefit of both our great nations, he added. Davao is renowned for its strategic location and connectivity, a gateway to the rich resources and culture of Mindanao in the southern Philippines. It also accounts for around 40 percent of Chinese tropical fruit imports from the Philippines. Source: Xinhua| 2018-10-29 02:35:19|Editor: Mu Xuequan Video Player Close CHICAGO, Oct. 28 (Xinhua) -- Chicago Board of Trade (CBOT) wheat and soybean futures closed more than 1 percent lower in the past week, mainly due to weaker export sales and accelerated harvests. In the trading week which ended October 26, the most active contract for December wheat delivery went down 9.5 cents, or 1.85 percent, to 5.1475 dollars per bushel. November soybeans suffered a 11.75-cent decline, or 1.37 percent, to 8.45 dollars per bushel. Only December corn rose slightly week on week, posting a 0.75-cent gain, or 0.2 percent, to 3.67 dollars per bushel. CBOT futures were under pressure of drier weather conditions, which enabled U.S. Midwest farmers to speed up harvest of corn and soybean crops delayed by long lasting rainfall. On Thursday, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) released its weekly export sales data, showing weaker performance for the period of October 12-18. U.S. exporters reported a total sale of 212,700 metric tons of soybeans, versus the trade's expectations of between 300,000 and 700,000 metric tons. Export sales of corn was at 349,500 metric tons, compared to the trade's expectations of between 400,000 and 750,000 metric tons. Although U.S. exporters sell 442,600 metric tons of wheat, falling within the trade's expectations of between 250,000 and 500,000 metric tons, the sales were still down 7 percent from the previous week and below the prior 4-week average. This was the second bearish weekly export report in a row, which immediately sent the CBOT prices to new lows. On the last day of this trading week, bargain hunting and short covering significantly pushed up the prices, but most of the futures still settled in the negative territory week on week, except the corn which managed to close slightly up, less than one cent. AgResource, a Chicago-based agricultural research firm, said as harvest of soybeans has advanced well across the Midwest, it expects that 64-68 percent of the U.S. crop will have been collected by Sunday evening. As there is no breakthrough in trade negotiations between the United States and China, tariffs on soybeans are likely to stay in place for the foreseeable future. With world ending stocks and U.S. stocks projected to come in at all-time highs, the soybean futures will remain under heavy pressure, said market watchers. CBOT wheat prices, which had dropped more than 2 percent on Thursday, rebounded back above the 5 dollar per bushel threshold over the news that U.S. company Cargill on Friday offered Egypt two cargoes of U.S. soft red winter wheat at 219 dollars/metric ton, the cheapest of all wheat offered to Egypt. Although Egypt might in the end buy Russian or eastern European wheat based on cheaper freight, Cargill's offer is noteworthy because it shows that American wheat is still competitive in international market, said analysts. Source: Xinhua| 2018-10-29 03:40:30|Editor: Mu Xuequan Video Player Close TRIPOLI, Oct. 28 (Xinhua) -- The International Organization for Migration (IOM) on Sunday said that it voluntarily deported more than 1330 illegal migrants from Libya to their countries of origin in October. "IOM helps migrants stranded in Libya to reach their homes. This month only, over 1,330 migrants of different nationalities returned home safely," IOM said. IOM carries out the voluntary return program in cooperation with Libyan authorities, with an aim to arrange the return of illegal migrants stranded in Libya to their home countries. Migrant shelters in Libya are crowded with thousands of migrants who have been rescued at sea or arrested by the Libyan security services. Libya has become a preferred departure point for illegal migrants hoping to cross the Mediterranean Sea into Europe because of insecurity and chaos in the North African country following the 2011 uprising that toppled former leader Muammar Gaddafi. Source: Xinhua| 2018-10-29 05:35:46|Editor: Mu Xuequan Video Player Close UNITED NATIONS, Oct. 28 (Xinhua) -- UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Sunday expressed concern over the deepening political crisis in Sri Lanka and called for restraint from all parties in the island country. Guterres is following the latest developments in Sri Lanka with great concern, said his spokesman Stephane Dujarric in a statement, referring to Sunday's shooting by a bodyguard of a former minister at a crowd. The shooting, which resulted in one death and two injuries, was a violent turn of the pollical crisis in the country following President Maithripala Sirisena's dissolution of the cabinet on Saturday and the swearing in of a former strongman as prime minister. Guterres called on the Sri Lankan government to respect democratic values and constitutional provisions and process, uphold the rule of law and ensure the safety and security of all Sri Lankans, said the statement. The UN chief urged all parties to exercise restraint and address the unfolding situation in a peaceful manner, it said. Source: Xinhua| 2018-10-29 05:40:48|Editor: Mu Xuequan Video Player Close Brazilian President Michel Temer registers to cast his vote during the second round of Brazilian general elections in Sao Paulo, Brazil, on Oct. 28, 2018. The second round of Brazilian general elections started on Sunday morning, with voters across the country heading to the polls to choose a new president and 14 state governors. (Xinhua/Brazil's Presidency/Cesar Itibere) RIO DE JANEIRO, Oct. 28 (Xinhua) -- The second round of Brazilian general elections started on Sunday morning, with voters across the country heading to the polls to choose a new president and 14 state governors. The presidential election will be a contest between right-wing candidate Jair Bolsonaro and left-leaning Workers' Party's candidate Fernando Haddad. Bolsonaro had a wide lead in the first round of the elections held on Oct. 7, winning 46 percent of valid votes, while Haddad had 29 percent. Both candidates have already voted in this second round of elections on Sunday morning. Bolsonaro voted in Rio de Janeiro, where he made his political career as a federal representative. The school where the candidate voted had reinforced security, as Bolsonaro was the victim of an attack in early September, before the first round elections, in which he was stabbed in the abdomen. One hour before the beginning of the voting session, the entire area was submitted to a security inspection, with sniffer dogs and electronic equipment to search for explosives. Bolsonaro expressed his expectation for a victory. He has been leading the race in all polls, but with a continuously diminishing gap from his opponent. "For what I have seen in these past months, it will be a victory," he said. Haddad also voted in the morning in his home state Sao Paulo, where he served as mayor of state capital Sao Paulo for four years. Before that, he served as Education Minister for almost seven years. Haddad, who has been working to turn around votes in this second round, said he expects peaceful elections. "We have great expectations for a day of peace and tranquility, without any acts of violence," he said. Brazil's President Michel Temer voted on Sunday in Sao Paulo to choose his successor. Temer voted early in a school in Sao Paulo, his home state. He was accompanied by Science, Technology, Innovation and Communications Minister Gilberto Kassab, and talked to reporters on his way out. According to the president, the transition to the new government starts on Monday and will be "very calm." "We will start the transition tomorrow, promptly," he said. "It is practically all organized in relation to all government sectors and transition topics, so the elected president's team will receive practically all data from the current government, what was done and what needs to be done." Temer, who did not declare his vote for president or governor of Sao Paulo state, said he expects voting to be tranquil this Sunday and "absolute peace and harmony from tomorrow on." "We are sure that Brazil and the Brazilian people, who are very connected to solidarity, friendship, fraternity, will gather together from today on," he said. Voting in the closely-watched presidential runoff on Sunday was progressing fairly smoothly despite the highly polarized race, according to the Brazilian Superior Electoral Court (TSE). The president of TSE, Rosa Weber, said that she has a feeling of accomplishment at the end of the general elections period. Judge Weber voted in the afternoon in Brazil's capital city Brasilia. The judge, who is also a member of the Supreme Federal Court (STF), praised the work of the Electoral Courts, election workers and the press. Public Security Minister Raul Jungmann said on Sunday afternoon and highlighted that there were no grave incidents in the election day so far. According to him, the second round of elections is being calm. "The first observation to make is that there is a tranquility scenario all over the country," he said in a press conference, "We have no grave conflicts." Some 1,956 electronic voting machines, or 0.43 percent of the 454,493 installed around the country, had to be replaced due to malfunction, the TSE said. So far, no voting stations have had to resort to paper ballots. The TSE also reported that 132 people were arrested for campaigning on election day, which is forbidden and other violations. In one incident, a voter tried to videotape himself voting with his mobile, which is also forbidden, and attacked an election official who tried to stop him. According to the voter, a supporter of Bolsonaro, when he typed in the candidate's number, the option for a null vote came up. It was later discovered that he had been typing the right number on the wrong ballot, one for state governor. A second round of governor elections will also be held in 13 Brazilian states and the Federal District, including the three most populated states in Brazil such as Sao Paulo, Minas Gerais and Rio de Janeiro. The results of the elections are expected to be out before midnight as the election system in the country is now completely electronic. Source: Xinhua| 2018-10-29 06:40:56|Editor: Yurou Video Player Close LONDON, Oct. 28 (Xinhua) -- English Premier League club Leicester City confirmed on Sunday night that their Thai Chairman Vichai Srivaddhanaprabha, along with other four people, had been killed in a helicopter crash. "It is with the deepest regret and a collective broken heart that we confirm our Chairman, Vichai Srivaddhanaprabha, was among those to have tragically lost their lives on Saturday evening when a helicopter carrying him and four other people crashed outside King Power Stadium. None of the five people on-board survived," the club announced in a statement. "The primary thoughts of everyone at the club are with the Srivaddhanaprabha family and the families of all those on-board at this time of unspeakable loss," it said. "Leicester City was a family under his leadership. It is as a family that we will grieve his passing and maintain the pursuit of a vision for the club that is now his legacy." According to the statement, a book of condolence, which will be shared with the Srivaddhanaprabha family, will be opened at King Power Stadium from 8 a.m. on Tuesday for supporters wishing to pay their respects. Both Tuesday's First Team fixture against Southampton in the EFL Cup and the Development Squad fixture against Feyenoord in the Premier League International Cup have been postponed, it said. A crowd gathers at the intersection of Murray Ave. and Forbes Ave. in the Squirrel Hill section of Pittsburgh during a memorial vigil for the victims of the synagogue shooting. Read more "I can't express the sadness that all Pennsylvanians feel for what happened today. My heart breaks for the members of the Jewish community. Any attack on one community of faith in Pennsylvania is an attack on every community of faith in Pennsylvania. We must take action to prevent these tragedies in the future. We simply cannot accept this violence as a normal part of American life. These senseless acts of violence are not who we are as Pennsylvanians. They're not who we are as Americans." Gov. Wolf "Tracy and I offer our condolences to the families of the victims whose lives were lost today in Squirrel Hill. This type of violence is sickening and has no place in our society. We salute the bravery and swift response of local law enforcement in containing the suspect and we will suspend campaign activity today so we can continue to monitor the situation and provide whatever assistance is necessary." Scott Wagner, Republican candidate for governor, on Twitter "Today, our Commonwealth and country stand in solidarity with the Jewish community of Pittsburgh. We mourn the loss of 11 lives at Tree of Life Synagogue in Squirrel Hill and pray for their families. We are also thankful for the work being done by federal, state, and local law enforcement who also responded and are assisting in the investigation. People across our nation are praying for the officers who were injured today. We stand with the victims and their families in this time of tragedy. Those of us in public office have an obligation to take actions that can reduce the likelihood of mass shootings. We must come together as a nation and meet this challenge." U.S. Sen. Bob Casey, (D., Pa.), on Twitter "My prayers are with everyone in Squirrel Hill and the first responders on scene. Initial reports are sickening. Please heed advice of law enforcement and stay safe. Awful." Lou Barletta, Pennsylvania Republican candidate for U.S. Senate, on Twitter "Synagogues and other places of worship are safe havens where communities come together to celebrate, pray, and reflect. What happened today at the Tree of Life Synagogue was a cowardly act of violence fueled by hate and anti-Semitism. My prayers are with the victims, their families and friends, the members of the Tree of Life Synagogue, and the city of Pittsburgh. I greatly appreciate the actions of the first responders who tended to the wounded and apprehended the shooter." U.S. Sen. Pat Toomey, (R., Pa.), on Twitter "When any one community is targeted with violence, intimidation, or discrimination it threatens all of us and must be condemned. That this attack took place in a house of worship where congregants seek safety and peace is particularly perverse and is an attempt to intimidate people of faith. That attempt will never succeed. I'm proud to stand with the brave men and women in law enforcement who put their lives at risk to save others today. I am profoundly grateful to them for their bravery." Pa. Attorney General Josh Shapiro "We condemn, in the strongest possible terms, this despicable act of violence perpetrated by a gutless coward. And we stand with all members of the Jewish community and all Pennsylvanians at this terrible time. Our whole family has attended services at various synagogues throughout our lives, just as these victims did today. We should not and cannot accept a society where innocent people feel that they put their lives at risk by attending a worship service." Jeff Bartos, Republican candidate for lieutenant governor "I'm devastated, heartbroken, and angry. I will leave the politics aside and just say, it's unacceptable that we've yet again lost lives today to dangerous weapons; it's unacceptable that this happened to people in their place of worship; it's unacceptable that we do nothing about it. As Gisele and I drive back from Philly in the wake of all this, all I can say is, I'm coming home." John Fetterman, Democratic candidate for lieutenant governor Skilled immigration is good. The U.S. economy depends on it. But the nation's system for admitting educated workers needs major improvements. That is the central message of The Gift of Global Talent: How Migration Shapes Business, Economy & Society, a new book by Harvard Business School professor William Kerr. In this terse but readable volume, Kerr who has spent much of his career researching skilled immigration and the technology industry methodically explains all the benefits that the U.S. reaps by bringing in smart, talented foreigners, and counters almost all the objections. As the U.S. immigration debate heats up, and President Trump takes actions to deter skilled workers from coming, Kerr's book should be a must-read for every policy maker. The basic reason skilled immigrants are good for the economy is because they produce a lot of economic output they write the software, design the products, and start the businesses that make the U.S. technology industry the best in the world. As of 2016, Kerr calculates, 29 percent of college-educated STEM workers were foreign-born, and about a quarter of all patents were filed by immigrants. Even more important, skilled immigrants complement both skilled native-born workers and each other by exchanging ideas. They also create a deeper market for companies seeking employees and venture capitalists looking for entrepreneurs to fund, helping keep both employers and financial backers in the U.S. These effects all depend on skilled workers being physically close to one another. Without a constant influx of the best and the brightest, Silicon Valley and other American world-beating technology clusters could easily lose their lead to rival cities in other countries. This clustering effect is probably why skilled immigration doesn't hurt native-born American workers. Some researchers find that when a company hires more skilled workers, it hires fewer natives. Others, including Kerr, find the opposite. At the level of a city, however, the positive effect seems unambiguous more workers with H-1B visas means higher wages and more jobs for college-educated native-born workers. This suggests that the positive effect of the local networks that skilled immigrants create outweigh any competitive pressure they create, meaning everyone benefits. Everyone in the U.S., that is. But what about the countries that send their talented people abroad? Don't they suffer from brain drain? Kerr cites evidence that the U.S.'s gain doesn't necessarily translate to other countries' loss. Skilled immigrants send technology and investment back to their home countries, helping to build cross-border networks of innovation. What's more, the possibility of getting a job in the U.S. motivates lots of people in foreign countries to get more education, which often actually increases the stock of local talent. For a small country, brain drain could be a drawback, but for giant countries such as China or India which happen to be the two biggest sources of skilled immigration to the U.S. it's not a problem. Beyond the wage and employment boost they create for native-born Americans, skilled immigrants contribute plenty to government coffers. Skilled immigrants aren't just invigorating the economies of the U.S. technology industry and cities such as San Francisco they're paying for elderly Americans' retirement and health care, for maintenance of roads and sewers and electrical grids, for police and firefighters. Given all of these benefits, you'd think the U.S. would be stumbling over itself to open the door to more skilled foreigners. But even before Trump started trying to close the gates, the U.S. system was badly in need of upgrading. For one thing, too many H-1B visas go to low-paid workers in companies focused on cheap, low-value contract work. These workers aren't the highly productive type, and they're crowding more qualified foreign employees out of line. Kerr suggests allocating H-1Bs not by lottery as they are now, but by salary the more that a company is willing to pay for a foreign worker, the quicker the person can get a visa. That change would also ease Americans' fears about wage competition. A second change would be to allow H-1B workers to apply for permanent residency green cards on their own, without having to be sponsored by their employers. Now, during the green-card application process, H-1B holders are essentially required to stay at the company sponsoring them. Breaking that tether would give them the chance to move around the country, spread ideas and technology, and seek higher wages, which in turn would relieve pressure on native-born workers who feel like they have to compete with indentured colleagues. These are Kerr's preferred solutions to the inefficiencies of the H-1B system. But there are also a number of other important measures that could allow the U.S. to make better use of global talent. Letting states and cities sponsor immigrants would direct highly productive, tax-paying newcomers to struggling regions, such as the Rust Belt. A Canada-style points system for green cards would create a parallel pathway for skilled immigrants. And removing country caps for employer-based green cards would allow the U.S. to get more of its skilled workers from China and India, meaning small countries wouldn't lose their most talented workers. In an age in which most sources of rapid growth are drying up, skilled immigration is one of the last free lunches that the U.S. has. Even after Trump's election, many talented foreigners want to live and work in America. The U.S. needs a better system for letting them come and contribute to the country's greatness. A crowd holds candles on the lawn of the Sixth Presbyterian Church at the intersection of Murray Ave. and Forbes Ave. in the Squirrel Hill section of Pittsburgh during a memorial vigil for the victims of the shooting at the Tree of Life Synagogue where a shooter opened fire on Saturday. Read more Beginning in 1880 before the words "Give me your tired, your poor/Your huddled masses yearning to breathe free" were stamped on the Statue of Liberty dedicated on this very date 132 years ago Jewish refugees fleeing violent pogroms in Europe were often met in New York Harbor by volunteers from the city's teeming immigrant community. "Jewish people going down to the docks, meeting the boats coming from Ellis Island, providing kosher meals, helping people reunite with their family members and get jobs" is how Melanie Nezer described the early years of what started as the Hebrew Immigrant Aid Society and is today simply known as HIAS. "That's what we do today the only thing that's changed is that the people that we're helping aren't necessarily Jewish." In 2018, the world has more refugees than any time in its history, and wherever people are fleeing misery and seeking safe harbor from war-torn Syria to America's southern border, where a wave of migrants are trying to escape murder and deprivation HIAS is probably there, offering legal aid, temporary shelter, or advocating for the plight of the displaced. The truth is that not too many Americans were paying much attention to the good work HIAS is doing. And one of the few who did was a 46-year-old loner in his Pittsburgh apartment the kind of man who said very little to his actual neighbors but had quite a lot to say in a cyber world of rank racial and religious hatred and white male supremacy that has been hiding in plain site. The man who would become the alleged perpetrator of the deadliest attack specifically targeting Jews in the 242-year history of the United States had clearly harbored irrational anti-Semitic rage for some time. His hatred seems to precede the recent despicable downturn in America's political discourse. The future gunman in keeping with the long-standing practice of this column, I won't glorify him by using his name had a beef with President Trump, but it was that Trump was somehow too moderate, a tool of a bogus international Jewish conspiracy that he fantasized was everywhere. Even so, the Pittsburgher's online postings made it clear his warped mind was being taken to new, dangerous places by the rhetoric coming from right-wing national media and the highest levels of the Republican Party, including a president who has called a caravan of Honduran refugees "an assault on our country" and has taken to outbursts against "globalists," long a buzzword of anti-Semitic conspiracy theorists. As reports surged especially on Fox News and right-wing outlets about the migrant caravan wending its way across Guatemala and Mexico, the alleged gunman's posts on a hate-filled site called Gab grew more frenetic. He posted a picture of refugees entering a truck with a Star of David emblem right around the same time that both Fox and GOP officials were promoting unfounded theories that liberal billionaire George Soros, who is Jewish, was financing the caravan. Although HIAS which has provided lawyers and other support for asylum-seekers on the U.S. southern border has nothing to do with the caravan, the angry Pittsburgher blamed them nonetheless. Earlier this month, he directed an angry post toward HIAS asking, "Do you like to bring in hostile invaders to dwell among us?" On Saturday morning, he wrote this: "I can't sit by and watch my people get slaughtered. Screw your optics, I'm going in." At 9:45 a.m., police say, he burst into the Tree of Life synagogue with an AR-15 assault rifle the weapon of choice for America's mass shooters as well as a Glock and two handguns. Within moments, 11 worshippers lay dead and several more people were wounded, including police who raced toward the bullets and prevented an even more unimaginable catastrophe on a dreary Saturday. One of the dead was a 97-year-old woman old enough to be alive during the Holocaust only to be murdered amid the hatreds of 21st-century America. The synagogue shooting put an exclamation point on one of the worst weeks any of us can remember. It knocked out of the headlines several days of breathless news reports about the 56-year-old "lost soul" in South Florida who found a purpose and arguably a father figure in Donald Trump, and then terrorized Trump's enemies in the media and in Democratic politics, including Soros, with (thankfully, ineffective) pipe bombs. Forgotten almost completely was the tale of an unhinged Kentucky man who reportedly tried to shoot up an African American church in Louisville and thwarted by a locked door went to Kroger and murdered the first two black shoppers he saw. The last time Americans felt such despair bordering on hopelessness came exactly 50 years ago, when 1968 was shattered by the gunshots that killed Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and Robert F. Kennedy and the riots in the streets. This time feels the same and yet the circumstances are also very different the dead are innocent everyday Americans who were merely trying to pray or buy groceries, the killers are avatars of a lost generation of middle-aged white men, and they are enabled by hateful rhetoric that comes from the very top, including a "nationalist" president who thinks he can win an election by frightening and dividing the nation he was elected to lead. Where to find hope? Many were quick to point out that Saturday's synagogue shooting occurred just three blocks from the long-time home of one of Pittsburgh's most famous residents, the late children's TV icon Fred Rogers. "What changes the world?" Mr. Rogers asked once. "The only thing that ever really changes the world is when somebody gets the idea that love can abound and be shared." It was also Rogers who told children that, in times of trouble, look for the helpers. In Pittsburgh, one very bad man was consumed by his hatreds but the helpers were everywhere. It starts with the remarkable courage of the police officers from a department that still bears the scars from a 2009 incident when a right-wing zealot named Richard Poplawski gunned down three cops who heard the gunfire and raced toward it. But it also includes the thousands who took to the streets of Squirrel Hill to demonstrate the power of love. "People should not have to live in fear," a 49-year-old woman named Renee Shissler told my Inquirer colleague Chris Palmer on Saturday night in Squirrel Hill. But you don't have to live in Pittsburgh to take a stand against the warped brand of hatred that fueled the synagogue shooting. This is the right time to take notice of the unsung compassion and humanity of groups like HIAS that help the world's most desperate people and to support what they do. Nezer, the HIAS executive, told me on Sunday morning that workers there are still in a state of shock over Saturday's events. "It was a lot to process," she said of the dual shocks that hit when some of its people were still at their own local Shabbat services first that a mass shooting had targeted Jews, and then the reports that he was driven by rage toward HIAS. As the refugee-aid group has expanded around the globe, HIAS has encountered increasing controversy over its work in charged conflict zones like Syria, which has come under fire from a few Jewish groups. But Nezer said the group is still perplexed that the work it does helping refugees get food, shelter and legal services, and advocating for more humane intervention for people like Myanmar's displaced Rohingya is raising hackles in the United States. "This is a group that stands up for welcoming people for justice and fairness," Nezer told me, adding later, "This is basic humanity for some reason that's become controversial." But times have changed, and these days the fish is rotting from the head. Masha Gessen, the New Yorker writer and Vladimir Putin critic who herself was aided in her flights to safety by HIAS, wrote this weekend that HIAS suddenly is "the perfect target for all hatreds" and that, aided by Trump's rhetoric, "terrorists equal refugees equal HIAS equals all Jews." One of the many emails that poured into HIAS on Saturday night, Nezer said, carried the subject line: "What he hated was the best in us." Indeed. The only known antidote to hate is love. The only real way to fight back against Saturday's insanity in Mr. Rogers' neighborhood is to look for the helpers and give them our support. One way to make sure that violence does not utterly destroy what's left of our democracy is to follow the words that were chanted by vigil attendees on Saturday night: "Vote, vote, vote!" But if you have a few dollars to spare, please consider making a contribution to HIAS in the name of the Tree of Life victims. Here is a link to their donation page. By supporting the work of HIAS and other groups that work tirelessly on behalf of refugees, we'll be taking one small step back toward where America stood on this date in 1886, when helping people yearning to breathe free was still our basic humanity. On October 27, 2018 Philadelphia Contemporary hosted Philadelphia's festival for autonomous sensory meridian response (ASMR). Nicolette Waltzer did an ASMR performance at the festival. Waltzer is known for her Instagram account Glitter Slimes which has over two million followers. Read more The baked goods on the table came in many varieties. An artist had pulled out doughy buns and crusty loaves from High Street Market bags. She selected a soft, log-shaped loaf and set it so it would stand straight between the two microphones in front of her. And then she smashed her face into it. When the loaf was nothing more than a lowly mash, she lifted her head and munched a little. Bread pieces stuck on her cheeks. The artist, Bread Face, has more than 200,000 followers on Instagram. The arts organization Philadelphia Contemporary invited her to appear at its Oddly Satisfying Film Festival. This was her first performance in real life. After that loaf, she proceeded to head-crush a muffin, then croissants. The festival is the first in the city to focus fully on ASMR, or autonomous sensory meridian response. Philadelphia Contemporary organized the two-day celebration as part of its larger event series, Festival for the People. ASMR is a phenomenon where people experience sensations from specific triggers. The acronym may refer to getting those feelings, but it's also used as a label for the subculture of videos crafted to induce them. Festival organizers welcomed teens to submit their own videos, which they're screening at Cherry Street Pier through Sunday. The feeling of ASMR, according to a 2015 Swansea University survey, might start toward the back of one's head, then tingle its way down the spine if it's strong. Many people with ASMR say that the experience lifts moods and relieves stress. Hushed voices, light clinks, and "personal attention" were popular triggers among respondents to the Swansea study, but some survey takers also reported triggers like laughter and the hum of a vacuum. Bread Face, who is famously private so would not give her real name, likes "dry, crackling sounds" and told the audience she fell into ASMR by accident. "I don't really have an explanation for what I do," she whispered into a microphone. "I just enjoy it." ASMR didn't have a name until the internet. Research reveals that a 2007 health forum thread titled "weird sensation feels good" planted the seeds for more discussion. An online community began to form. Jennifer Allen, a cybersecurity specialist involved in the community, invented the term autonomous sensory meridian response in 2010. Her terminology was strategically scientific-sounding. "Tingleheads" began making trigger videos. Whisper videos caught on early. There is a wide range of triggers captured now. Videos that show fingers slowly playing with marbles, or tapping a thick, unwrapped chocolate bar, or pressing down on honeycombs then pulling pieces to chew. In one of the submissions, a 17-year-old performer moved his hands around the camera as if to touch the viewer's face, a highly popular subtype. He whispered warmly to the camera that ASMR had changed his life for the better. "Especially now that I'm a senior, I have a lot, a lot, a lot of tests and essays and homework," the teen said in the video. "It's just all very stressful, and ASMR helps with that." But the neuroscience on ASMR isn't easy to sort out. A big hurdle is the noise that an MRI emits. "To get a scan done, you'll typically have ear plugs and things to muffle the sound," Emma Barratt, coauthor of the Swansea study, said in an email. "If we were designing an experiment aiming to look at just ASMR triggers alone, that sound would likely interfere. That said, I have heard from at least one person that MRI sounds trigger their ASMR. Perhaps we'll get lucky and find a couple of people like that some day." Some studies suggest that the experience may help with insomnia, anxiety, or depression, even drawing comparisons to mindfulness. And the videos may have a relaxing effect on those who don't get the full-blown euphoric rush. "There is a spectrum of responses," said Craig Richard, a biopharmaceutical scientist based at Shenandoah University who both experiences and studies ASMR. Some viewers won't be swayed while watching, he said, while others may have negative responses, like feeling irritated. While ASMR erotica exists, many people in the ASMR community insist that the experience itself isn't sexual. Richard, who runs the online resource ASMR University would place it under an umbrella of relaxation techniques alongside meditation or yoga. Glitter Slimes, an ASMRtist with more than two million followers on Instagram, expressed concerns that the microphone might not be picking up the pops of air bubbles as she manipulated toy ooze on stage. Fellow artists Lily Whispers and Julia McNamee also had concerns about sound from their presentations. McNamee, the sole presenter based in Philadelphia, noted she captures sounds precisely at home, but live that changes. Lily Whispers and McNamee started to address the audience of 70 or so with whispers, but then raised their voices to a slightly louder but still soft tone. Modulations aside, both were pleased. Lily Whispers would like to bring a similar event to Pittsburgh, where she lives. Part of the draw of ASMR videos is that often, Richard measures, the look resembles the way a parent comforts an infant. Consider the whispered words and soft, careful touches. Many videos are shot closely around a performer's face that reminds him of a baby's view. "It's almost like we're born to be able to respond to stimuli from caring individuals," said Richard. "And that tells us that this person cares for us and we can trust this person. And physiologically, what happens is we relax." Richard has noticed that the form has been popular with teens, which, he said, could be because online videos are still the primary medium. For Philadelphia Contemporary artistic director Nato Thompson, it makes sense that within the busy nature of the internet, teens might connect to extended videos designed to elicit calm. The arts organization received roughly 10 submissions, Thompson said, which is around what they expected. The ASMRtists selected three winners, but only one was present. Anouk Ghosh-Poulshock grinned as she accepted her star-shaped trophy. Her mother, Sunanda Ghosh, works for the arts organization. Ghosh-Poulshock has been into ASMR for roughly a year and a half, she said. At 12, she manages both an ASMR Instagram account and an Etsy boutique, Philly Slime Shop, where she sells her own slimes. "It seemed really easy to make, so I thought, 'Why not try?' " Ghosh-Poulshock said of her videos. "I feel happy that slime is going somewhere and not just on Instagram." Hazzan Jeffrey Myers, the Rabbi of Tree of Life in PIttsburgh, holds his head as he's escorted by police out of the Tree of Life Congregation synagogue where multiple people were killed Saturday, Oct. 27, 2018, in the Squirrel Hill section of Pittsburgh. (Alexandra Wimley/Pittsburgh Post-Gazette via AP) Read more VENTNOR The rabbi's wife, Ellie Kremer, held open the door that would soon lock to greet the children arriving at Shirat Hayam for Sunday school. Some parents cautioned their children on the way in that not every other child would know all the details of the Pittsburgh synagogue shooting. Inside the lobby, Rabbi Jonathan Kremer and school leader Andrea Zakheim-Poetsch prepared their morning prayer with drums and a guitar as the circle filled in with their little charges. It was a gentle morning ritual at this Jersey Shore synagogue, one where the horror of the previous day carried, if even possible, more of a personal jolt than what hit most Jews worldwide. The Tree of Life rabbi, seen in photos leaving the synagogue with his prayer shawl draped around his neck like an elegant scarf, his hand clutching his kippah to his head, police nearby, was their former cantor, Hazzan Jeffrey Myers. The uncertainty over Myers' safety did not last long for most congregants and colleagues on Saturday; his son quickly posted on Facebook that the family was safe, and the photo of Myers being escorted from the synagogue traveled far and wide. But hearts were heavy over the unimaginable burden now faced by their former cantor, a man of deep intellect and unassuming collegiality, a realist who developed a 60-minute truncated service to encourage attendance, a cantor who studied to be ordained as a rabbi toward the end of his seven-year tenure in Ventnor and then accepted the rabbinical post in Pittsburgh in 2017. A rabbi who in July wrote about the need for gun and mental-health legislation in the wake of the Parkland school shooting in an essay he called "We Deserve Better." "The devastation of knowing how hard it is for him to now be there for his congregation" was what next hit congregant Leigh Turner, thinking about the enormity of the burden thrust upon Hazzan Myers, who was the cantor at both her daughters' bat mitzvahs. "The strength he'll have to show." "He has a quiet strength," she added. "He's not a loud leader. That quiet strength will be a beacon for the congregation." Jaime Epstein, another congregant, said of Myers: "I imagine him being very tall and distinguished and tending to the needs of his congregation." The photo of him leaving the synagogue wrapped in his prayer shawl exactly communicated the dedicated hazzan she knew. Sheila Friedman, a past president of Shirat Hayam, which was known as Beth Judah before the congregation, like the Tree of Life, invited another congregation to take up residence, said she was angry. "I can't imagine anything more horrendous than having the spirit of Shabbat rest and prayer shattered by shots and blood and killing," Friedman said. "The rise of anti-Semitism and the license for violent acts of hatred in this country cannot be tolerated for another day." As Myers did in his posting, Friedman called on the country's leaders to "change the national discourse." "I am so sad today," she said. "My heart and soul are with all the families going through this unimaginable trauma and loss of innocent lives because they are Jews. Of course our community is relieved by the safety of Hazzan Myers and wish him the strength and wisdom to heal his broken congregation." Ellie Kremer said the door to the synagogue would be "locked for today" as a temporary measure. As parents lingered longer than usual, she gathered them up to keep them around to make a minyan, the minimum of 10 people that would be required for the daily morning prayers. The Kremers overlapped with Hazzan Myers for three years in Ventnor. "Any Jew in any part of the country is going to feel the same," said Ellie Kremer. "But it feels personal." Rabbi Kremer led the minyan and added in a "v'Etz Chaim b'Pittsburgh" "and Tree of Life in Pittsburgh to the regular Mi Sheberach, the prayer for healing. A community-wide prayer vigil of solidarity was planned for later in the evening. Rabbi Kremer lingered over Psalm 147, which speaks of how God "heals the brokenhearted, binds up their wounds." "The message is scars are there forever and God is there to help those who survive live with those scars," he told the nine congregants gathered before him in the small chapel. After, he reflected on the enormity of the aftermath of such a tragedy, in which 11 people were killed on Shabbat morning, most of them elderly congregants. "On a personal level, I wish him the strength to support all the people who will need his support," Kremer said. "From a distance, it's hard to know what to do." People watch as first responders move through the Squirrel Hill neighborhood of Pittsburgh where a shooter opened fire during services at the Tree of Life Synagogue on Saturday, Oct. 27, 2018. Read more David M. Shribman is executive editor of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette and lives in the Squirrel Hill community, just three blocks from the Tree of Life Congregation. PITTSBURGH We knew it could happen here any here, anywhere when we learned that nine people were killed three years ago in the historic Mother Emanuel AME Church in Charleston, S.C. We knew it could happen here any here, anywhere when we learned that six were killed in the Islamic Cultural Centre of Quebec City last year. Now we know it can happen here, and that here is anywhere. Here, this weekend, is Squirrel Hill, home of a dozen synagogues and for more than a century and a half not only the spiritual center of Pittsburgh Judaism but also a vital landmark in the history of Jews in America, along with New York's Lower East Side and Boston's Blue Hill Avenue, one of the vital centers of Jewish identity since the beginning of the Industrial Revolution. And here amid the kosher grocery and the kosher restaurant and the kosher-style deli, and where the knotted fringes of tzitzit are familiar features at the corners of the garments of the Orthodox who walk through the area just before sundown Friday evenings it didn't require social media for the news of the shooting at the Tree of Life to spread. The news was in the air, along with the shock and the sadness, the grief and the gruesome details, the worst of which were confirmed within hours. You could hear it in the sirens that broke the stillness of the morning and shattered the serenity of the Saturday routines at the cleaners, at the shoe store, at the hotcake house. No need, of course, in a place like this to identify the name of the cleaners, the shoe store, the hotcake house. Everyone knows them, just as they know the names of almost everyone along Forbes Avenue at any time of the day. And precisely because everyone knows everyone around here the one immutable Squirrel Hill truth that is at once irritating and comforting what was on the street as noon approached Saturday was the dread that dared not speak its name. Dread that someone you knew was in morning prayers. Dread that the police officers who sped to the scene truly there were scores of them, almost as if it were a police funeral, for it was clear that soon there could be one were in danger. Dread, too, that our country, our city, our neighborhood, our lives have come to this, and that this has come home. Before long the whole tragic scene was on television, and there was David Johnson, the WPXI anchor, on the sidewalk. He lives here, mere blocks away. On the screen, too, was Ken Rice, the KDKA anchor. He and his wife, Lauren, took their pre-marriage lessons just down the street. Then there also was the Downtown businessman, a Squirrel Hill resident since he was 3 days old everyone knows his name, too, though he won't permit it to be used in the paper who was in the Five Points Bakery, hard by the synagogue. He was there to buy a morning muffin for his wife. But the line was too long so he headed back home, down Wilkins Avenue and toward Fifth, and this is what he saw: "There were four, maybe six officers, and they rushed into the synagogue with guns. Then I saw the officers start to fire and back out and I saw what looked like gunfire from the synagogue. And I saw an officer holding his arm being escorted out. And the next thing I knew there were cops all over the place." And the very next thing he did was call the executive editor of the Post-Gazette, because he knew I lived only three blocks away from the synagogue and he knew this was news, of the worst but of most important kind. And soon Rabbi James A. Gibson of Temple Sinai, the Reform synagogue that is nearly a neighbor of Tree of Life, was on the phone. "We're stunned that the peace of Shabbat was destroyed by murderous intent and act," he said, the words spilling forth in a Niagara of disbelief unusual for a man of devout belief. "We cannot comprehend what happened. It's a tragedy for us all, and especially for those who are victims." This was, to be sure, a 21st-century event. Gunfire in a house of worship. Text messages flying at the speed of bullets. (Mine came from Saskatchewan and Alberta and Ontario, from a nephew at Yeshiva University in New York, and brothers and my sister from Boston's North Shore and from neighbors the next street over.) And of course: Confusion, and then clarity, over how many dead, how many wounded. And confusion, but no clarity, about what this means, and whether the toxic political and cultural environment caused this, or merely reflected it. But one thing had clarity. At a time of peril, in a period of media disruption, people turned to the much-maligned mainstream press to find out what happened, when they needed the news most, when it counted the most, when it didn't matter whether you voted for Donald Trump or Hillary Rodham Clinton or what your definition of nationalism was. Changes in demographics, increased intermarriage, and the growth of the suburbs have diluted the Jewish identity of Squirrel Hill somewhat, but it remains true, as Steven R. Weisman, author of Chosen Wars, the most recent history of Judaism in America, put it in a phone conversation only hours after the shooting, that "the fabric of American Judaism is woven into Squirrel Hill." Because this was our neighborhood, caught in the crossfire of the strains of the global village, and for once sadly, so very sadly the hurt was ours, and the victims were ours, and the need to heal is ours. For now it has happened here, and though we are the it-can-happen anywhere for millions across this wounded nation, we now know what it means when anywhere is right here. And in our grief shared across all faiths we might reflect on the passage from Proverbs that lent its name to this place of tragedy, a reference to the metaphor describing Judaism's most sacred text, the Torah, as a tree of life, or, in transliterated Hebrew, Etz hayyim: It is a tree of life to all who hold fast to it; its ways are ways of pleasantness, and all its paths are peace. Holding candles, a group of girls wait for the start of a memorial vigil at the intersection of Murray Ave. and Forbes Ave. in the Squirrel Hill section of Pittsburgh, for the victims of the shooting at the Tree of Life Synagogue where a shooter opened fire, killing multiple people and wounding others, including sevearl police officers, Saturday, Oct. 27, 2018. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar) Read more This morning is one of recovery and grief following a mass shooting at a Pittsburgh synagogue Saturday that left 11 dead and six others wounded. We have updates for you on what we know so far, as well as a dispatch from the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette on the suspect in custody. Take care of yourselves today. Reading this online? Sign up here to get this newsletter delivered to your inbox every morning. Tauhid Chappell, Ray Boyd (morningnewsletter@philly.com) The week ahead This weeks most popular stories Behind the story with Aubrey Whelan Each week we go behind the scenes with one of our reporters to learn how they reported their latest story and the challenges they faced along the way. This week, we spoke with reporter Aubrey Whelan to discuss how fentanyl, a deadly synthetic opioid, has made Philadelphia's battle against the opioid crisis even more difficult. What is fentanyl? How is it different from heroin? Fentanyl is a powerful synthetic opioid, significantly stronger than heroin, that has legitimate use as a drug to treat intense pain like that in cancer patients. But the fentanyl that's made its way into most of Philly's heroin is a powder largely illicitly produced in China and trafficked into the region from Mexico. At first, it was usually added to low-quality heroin to boost its potency; now, according to the Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA), it's largely replaced the city's heroin supply. Fentanyl is a particular problem on the East Coast, where the heroin tends to be of the powder variety and is easily combined with fentanyl. The West Coast hasn't really seen the kind of fentanyl explosion we have because the heroin out there is largely black tar, which has a sticky consistency and isn't easily combined with fentanyl. How has fentanyl impacted the opioid crisis in Philly and across the region? Fentanyl is now behind most overdose deaths in Philly, and more than half of overdose deaths across the state. It's now very hard to find pure heroin in Philadelphia. There used to be a brand of heroin sold in Kensington that was purported to be some of the last pure heroin in the neighborhood. Then, this summer, that brand ended up getting contaminated with fentanyl and a synthetic cannabinoid and caused a huge overdose spike. Is there anything that Philadelphia officials are doing to try to reverse the spread of fentanyl in the city's drug supply? The DEA, Customs and Border Protection, and the Philadelphia police's narcotics unit have made some large-scale drug busts this year including a seizure of more than 100 pounds of fentanyl at the airport a few months ago. And earlier this year, a foreign national trying to move metric tons of the chemicals required to produce fentanyl was arrested in Philly, a DEA spokesman told me. But the city's drug market is resilient. The city has flooded Kensington with the overdose-reversal drug Narcan, and that seems to be helping some. Anecdotally, advocates have told me fewer people are dying of overdoses, but they're reversing more. Are people in heroin addiction aware of the dangers of fentanyl? What are their attitudes toward it? Fentanyl isn't something that people in heroin addiction, at least at first, were seeking out: the high doesn't last as long, sending you into withdrawal sooner than heroin would and forcing you to buy more to avoid that intense pain. And withdrawal symptoms, drug users have told me, are worse on fentanyl. But because it's more addictive than heroin, many people have become dependent on it. Lots of people living on the street in Kensington, understandably, don't want to talk to reporters. There are not many people who like to be interviewed during the lowest points of their lives, and I'm always grateful when someone does speak to me. But I was struck by how many people did want to talk when I started asking them about fentanyl: so many thought it was important to get the message out. They wanted to talk about how it's killing them, and about how much they hate it but they don't feel like there's any other option. It's a terrifying situation to be in, and drug users do what they can to protect themselves: They can test their drugs for fentanyl, although at this point it's more convenient to assume that fentanyl is in whatever you're using. They can inject drugs more slowly, and stop if they feel something's wrong. They can opt to use with someone else, and make sure they have Narcan on hand. And yet people are still fatally overdosing; the average on a given weekend this summer was 10 deaths. Contact Aubrey Whelan at awhelan@phillynews.com or on Twitter at @aubreyjwhelan. Through Your Eyes | #OurPhilly How can you not fall for Philly this time of year? Tag your Instagram posts or tweets with #OurPhilly and we'll pick our favorite each day to feature in this newsletter and give you a shout out! #CuriousPhilly: Have a question about your community? Ask us! Have you submitted a question to Curious Philly yet? Try us. We're listening to our readers and doing our best to find answers to the things you're curious about. Our readers' latest question: I wonder about traffic lights! How is their programming determined? Why are some lights seemingly red forever? Why aren't they timed to get you through many blocks faster? They also seem to break a lot at major intersections. What is the process and timeline for repair? The answer: Does it feel like you never catch multiple green lights in a row when driving around Philly? It's not your imagination. Reporter Michaelle Bond has found there are many factors at the city and state level that combine to make traffic signals a pain. What were Comment of the week I remember going to Spataro's in the late 60's as a student attending Community College of Philadelphia, and watching Dom's father making sandwiches rapid-fire. It's a wonderful place, and I'm glad that the tradition will continue with Alex. RIP Dom. Guitarman shares a memory of Domenic M. Spataro, . Guitarman shares a memory of Domenic M. Spataro, a beloved Reading Terminal Market shopkeeper who died earlier this month. Your Daily Dose of | Innovation This year, lucky students at 10 Chester County schools will get to hop aboard the Mobile Innovation Lab, a magic school bus of sorts, and conduct state-of-the-art experiments in science, technology, engineering, art and math. London: Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan`s former wife and British-Pakistani journalist Reham Khan on Saturday asserted that there is no democracy in the country at the moment and it is more of martial law that is governing the nation. "The way we are being told that dams will be built. Then they say they have brought money. What type of democracy is this where without asking people, without taking their suggestion, without taking parliament in confidence, the decisions are being made. This is not democracy; I think they should accept that there is naked martial law in Pakistan, she said. Criticising her ex-husband for allegedly talking about Pakistan`s poverty at an international platform, she said, "It is a very unfortunate situation in Pakistan nowadays. Prime Minister going to Saudi Arabia and openly telling about Pakistan`s situation and saying that there is no money in the country. I believe no one who does a business or is an investor, insults their own country or venture at an international platform. Reham further demanded that there should be a discussion in parliament regarding the same. "The way we have received these funds through begging and on what terms we have got it must be discussed in parliament. If Nawaz Sharif would have done so and have not discussed it with parliament, the situation would have been different, the 45-year-old journalist said. During a public address on Wednesday, Prime Minister Imran Khan had thanked Saudi Arabia for easing the pressure on Pakistan by extending financial help to the cash-strapped nation. PATNA: In a shocking development, a college professor was shot dead by some unidentified assailants in Bihar's Nalanda district earlier on Sunday. The victim was a professor at the PMS Colege in Nalanda district. "Arvind Kumar, a professor at the PMS College, was shot dead near Elite hotel in Bhagan Bigha area by unidentified assailants when he was on a morning walk," a district police official said. His body had been sent for post-mortem, he said. The motive behind the professor's murder is yet to be established. Meanwhile, the Bihar Police have registered a case in this regard and launched an investigation into the murder. No arrests have been made so far. New Delhi: Lok Janshakti Party leader Chirag Paswan said Sunday that the BJP-led NDA would remain intact in Bihar as he expressed confidence that his party would get to contest "respectable number" of seats in the state. Paswan, son of LJP president Ram Vilas Paswan and the party's parliamentary board chief, had met Amit Shah on Thursday, a day before the BJP president's meeting with JD(U) chief Nitish Kumar, in which they made the announcement that the two parties will fight on an equal number of seats. National Democratic Alliance (NDA) sources told PTI that Shah has spoken to allies including Chirag Paswan and RLSP's Upendra Kushwaha as he works to announce a seat-sharing arrangement among the four partners -- including Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar's JD(U) -- in a few days. The BJP chief spoke to Kushwaha as he stirred the political scene by meeting Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) leader Tejashwi Yadav on Friday. The LJP has reconciled to the prospect of fighting less than seven seats that it had contested in 2014, with a top party leader pointing out that the saffron party is itself making a sacrifice to accommodate the JD(U), which was not an NDA member in the last Lok Sabha polls. The sources said the LJP may contest five seats. Declining to comment on the number of seats his party may contest, Chirag Paswan said, "Talks are going on in a positive direction. I am confident that we will fight on the respectable number of seats." The NDA, he asserted, will remain intact in Bihar. The party has six MPs in the lower house. The RLSP had contested three seats in 2014 and won all of them. The BJP is unlikely to agree to give it more than two seats. With contours of seat-sharing arrangement still evolving as BJP general secretary and its Bihar in-charge Bhupendra Yadav holds talks with allies, the sources said the BJP, JD(U), LJP and RLSP may contest 16, 16, five and two seats respectively. Bihar has 40 Lok Sabha seats and one Independent may be accommodated in either Muzaffarpur or Jehanabad. Following a meeting with Kumar, Shah had announced on Friday that the BJP and the JD(U) would contest an equal number of Lok Sabha seats in the state in 2019. The BJP had contested 30 of the state's 40 seats in the 2014 general elections and won 22. Shah had said that all parties will get to fight less number of seats than last time to accommodate Kumar. New Delhi: Former Chhattisgarh chief minister Ajit Jogi has said though he will fight the Congress tooth and nail in the upcoming state Assembly polls, he will not speak against the Gandhi family, with whom he shared warm relations during his long tenure in the grand old party. The real contest in next month's state Assembly polls would be between his party, the Janta Congress Chhattisgarh (J), which has formed an alliance with the Mayawati-led Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP), and the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), Jogi said. "I have left the Congress and will campaign against the party in the Assembly election, but will not speak against the Gandhi family, which has always loved me," he said. Jogi was the first chief minister of Chhattisgarh after the state was carved out of Madhya Pradesh. He was then with the Congress. Jogi left the Congress in 2016 and floated his own party. Asked about the allegations against United Progressive Alliance (UPA) chairperson Sonia Gandhi's son-in-law Robert Vadra, the veteran leader said, "I will not speak anything against any member of the Gandhi family even during elections. I have shared warm relations with the family for decades." The four members of the Jogi family belong to three political parties. While Jogi and his son are in the JCC (J), Jogi's wife and daughter-in-law are in the Congress and the BSP respectively. Hitting out at the Congress, Jogi said it was a spent force which was nowhere in the contest in Chhattisgarh. "The Congress neither has any face nor any organisation in the state. It has no leader and has become useless," he said, while asserting that the fight in the upcoming polls was between his party and the BJP. "It is a one-on-one contest between the JCC(J)-BSP alliance and the ruling BJP and we will definitely win the election," Jogi said. He maintained that he was the chief ministerial face of the alliance, but added that he had still not decided whether to contest the Assembly polls or not. "We are fighting the Congress and the BJP tooth and nail and our alliance will severely harm the poll prospects of both parties," Jogi said. The former chief minister belongs to the Satnami sect, which has a decent presence in the state. The Chhattisgarh Assembly polls will be held in two phases -- on November 12 and 20 -- and the results will be announced on December 11. The BJP has been in power in the state since 2003. The Border Security Force (BSF) personnel on Sunday nabbed two Pakistani nationals in Punjab's Ferozepur. The Pakistani nationals were approaching to the Indian side at around 6.30 pm, BSF sources confirmed. Some cash, two IDs of Pakistan Army, one Pakistani SIM card, four photographs and two mobile phones were seized from their possession. The arrested have been identified as Siraj Ahmed (31) and Mumtaz Khan (38) who were caught from an area near the Border Out Post (BOP) in Ferozepur sector, BSF sources confirmed. At around 6.30 pm, the jawans deputed near a border pillar in the area observed some suspicious movement from the Pakistani side, they said. Later, the troops spotted the two Pakistani nationals approaching towards the Indian territory and both were apprehended. The sources added that the real identity of the duo and the purpose behind their attempt to venture into the Indian territory was being ascertained. (With Agency Inputs) COLOMBO: The government on Sunday said that it is closely monitoring the fast-paced developments in neighbouring Sri Lanka and expressed hope that the democratic values and constitutional process will be respected in the tiny Island nation. ''India is closely following recent political developments in Sri Lanka. As a democracy and a close friendly neighbour, we hope that democratic values and constitutional process will be respected,'' the Ministry of External Affairs said in a release. ''We'll continue to extend our developmental assistance to friendly people of Sri Lanka,'' the Foreign Ministry said. India is closely following recent political developments in Sri Lanka. As a democracy & a close friendly neighbour, we hope that democratic values & constitutional process will be respected. We'll continue to extend our developmental assistance to friendly people of Sri Lanka:MEA ANI (@ANI) October 28, 2018 The statement from the MEA came hours after Sri Lankan President Maithripala Sirisena suspended the Parliament till November 16 amid the constitutional crisis in the nation. According to the Colombo Page, the President's Secretariat issued the relevant Extraordinary Gazette notification. "The President has prorogued the Parliament with effect from 12 noon on Saturday," said Cabinet spokesman Rajitha Senaratne, as quoted by Al Jazeera. This comes after the now-ousted Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe requested the Speaker to call an emergency Parliament session on Monday so that he could prove his majority in the house. Sirisena sacked Wickremesinghe on Friday night replacing him with his predecessor Mahinda Rajapaksa following the collapse of the governing coalition between Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP) and United National Party (UNP). Terming his ouster "unconstitutional", Wickremesinghe asserted that he still holds the Prime Minister`s office and is ready to prove that he retains the majority. Several Cabinet members had also expressed outrage against this move and called it "illegal and unconstitutional." In April, the ousted Prime Minister, Wickremesinghe also survived a no-confidence motion in the country`s Parliament that was brought by the supporters of Rajapaksa. Rajapaksha, who served as Lanka`s President for a period of ten years, from 2005 to 2015 is a fierce political opponent of the current President Sirisena. Sirisena had defeated Rajapaksha in the Presidential election of 2015. The Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) on Sunday seized 6.9 kg gold worth almost Rs 2,25,000 from two people at Chennai airport. The duo had arrived from different flights, news agency ANI reported. The police arrested the duo and further investigation is underway. Earlier on October 27, DRI had seized over 100 kg gold in 48 hours during a multi-city raid. DRI officials seized 55 kg of gold bars (55 bars of 1 kg each) smuggled from neighbouring countries into India through land border. The smuggled gold was seized from two persons travelling by a vehicle near West Bengal's Siliguri on October 26 evening, the statement issued by the DRI said. The gold bars, all of them of 99.99 per cent purity, have distinct Chinese and Australian foreign origin markings, it said. The gold bars were supposed to be delivered by the accused to a recipient at Siliguri for its onward transportation, the DRI said. Both the apprehended persons have been arrested, it said. In another operation conducted Saturday here, three persons, carrying 34 kg of smuggled gold (34 bars of one kg each), were intercepted by the DRI at the New Delhi Railway station. "This consignment is also suspected to have been smuggled into India through the land border with the neighbouring countries. In this operation, one foreign national was also arrested. The smuggled gold was found to be of Chinese and Swiss origin," the release said. In four other operations across the country in 48 hours, the DRI seized another 13 kg gold smuggled into India on flights arriving at Chennai, Bengaluru, Madurai and Indore airports from Colombo and Singapore, it said. In three out of these four cases, the gold was concealed under the life jacket pouch and hollow pipe under the aircraft seats, the DRI said. In all these cases, over 100 kg gold valued at Rs 32 crore was seized and seven persons, including a Bhutanese national, have been arrested. There have been a series of major seizures in the past few weeks by the DRI, including seizures of gold smuggled into India across land borders, with China, Myanmar, Bhutan and on flights arriving from Dubai and Bangkok. This has been accompanied with a series of seizures of high-value foreign currency being smuggled out of the country. "Gold and foreign currency smuggling seems to be peaking due to the forthcoming festive season resulting in high demand for gold in India," the DRI said. (With Agency Inputs) CHANDIGARH: Government employees across Haryana will go on a two-day strike starting October 30 to express solidarity with Haryana Roadways employees and oppose the state's decision to run 700 private buses, leaders of various employees' unions said Sunday. Hundreds of state government employees had gone on mass casual leave on Friday to extend support to the Roadways employees on strike since October 16. On Sunday, the Sarv Karamchari Sangh's coordination committee, in a meeting here, announced that various employees' unions have lent their support to the protesting Roadways employees. "Government employees from various departments, boards, corporations, municipalities and panchayati raj institutions will go on a two-day strike on October 30," Subhash Lamba, general secretary of the Sarv Karamchari Sangh, Haryana, said. He alleged that the Haryana government was bent on privatising Roadways and asserted that the trade unions would not allow privatisation in any state government department. "The state government has not taken back its decision to run 700 odd private buses. Now, even after the two-day strike from October 30, if the government does not roll back its decision and withdraw cases under the Essential Services Maintenance Act registered against the striking transport workers, we will start a 'Pol Khol' campaign against the government before the people," he said. Lamba said if the state government was facing dearth of funds to buy 700 odd buses for Haryana Roadways, government employees from all departments were ready to contribute and meet these expenses from their salaries. The Haryana Roadways employees had Thursday decided to further their strike till October 29 as a fresh round of talks with the government failed to make any headway. Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar had earlier said Roadways employees should put forward the issues concerning them and not "interfere" in policy matters of the government, justifying that the decision to run 700 private buses was for the public's convenience. The employees are on strike since October 16 against the government's decision. The government, on its part, has made alternate arrangements, including making fresh recruitment of drivers and conductors to run the Roadways buses, besides hiring buses from other sources. There are about 19,000 employees in Haryana Roadways. The department, having a fleet of 4,100 buses, cater to about 12 lakh passengers daily. A man succumbed to injuries after terrorists fired upon him in Jammu and Kashmir's Srinagar on Sunday. The incident took place in Srinagar's Hyderpora and the man has been identified as Muhammad Amin Dar, news agency ANI reported. Dar, a resident of Gangbugh, was shifted to a hospital after he was shot. A case has been registered investigations by Jammu and Kashmir police are underway. Earlier on Sunday, a sub-inspector of Jammu and Kashmir Police was shot dead by some unidentified terrorists in the Pulwama district in South Kashmir. The deceased has been identified as Imtiyaz Ahmad Mir. As per reports, Imtiaz was travelling in his car when he was attacked. The bullet-ridden body of Mir, who was posted with the CID in Srinagar's Sheergadi, was recovered from the Chewa Kalan area of the district, the officials said. The police have registered a case and investigating the matter, the officials said. (With Agency Inputs) BSP president Mayawati on Sunday condemned BJP chief Amit Shah's remarks on the Sabarimala verdict, saying the court should take cognisance of the "irresponsible and provocative statement". Amit Shah on Saturday had listed the court verdicts which have not been implemented and added that "impractical" directions should not be given by courts. Mayawati said that, "the statement of the ruling party president is condemnable and irresponsible. Court should take cognisance. It shows the democracy of the country is in danger. Autonomous institutions such as CBI, CVC, ED and RBI are facing crisis due to wrong perspective of the government and ego." In a statement here, the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) supremo said that Shah's remarks showed "the democracy of the country is in danger". Amit Shah's statement came after thousand of BJP and RSS workers were arrested for protesting in Kerala on the Sabarimala Temple issue. "On this serious matter of Sabarimala temple, BJP leader's speech is provocative and an attempt to take political mileage in Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh and Rajasthan polls," Mayawati said, terming it "unconstitutional and unparliamentary". "If the BJP is not satisfied with the SC decision allowing women's entry into the temple, they should approach the court and not create chaos on roads or threaten to dismiss elected government," Mayawati said. Mayawati is not the first one to react on Amit Shah's statement. On Saturday, Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan reacted to Shah's comment over protestor's arrests. Vijayan said that Shah's comment are against the constitution and law of the land. In the gathering at Kannur, Shah said, "today in Kerala, there is a struggle going on between religious beliefs and the state government's cruelty. More than 2,000 activists and workers from BJP, RSS and other organisations have been arrested. Left government be warned, BJP is standing like a rock with devotees." Shah also warned Vijayan to stop the politics over Sabarimala arrests else his (Vijayan's) government won't last long. Shah added that the BJP workers would give befitting replies if the schemes don't stop. Vijayan responded that Amit Shah's statement is a clear intention that BJP's agenda is to not guarantee fundamental rights, comparing it to the agenda of the RSS and Sangh parivar. Vijayan added his government came to power with people's mandate and not at the mercy of BJP, news agency ANI reported. "Amit Shah who threatened to topple our government should remember that this government came to power, not at the mercy of BJP, but the peoples mandate," Vijayan said. "His (Amit Shah) message is to sabotage the peoples mandate," Kerala chief minister added. On September 28, the Supreme Court paved the way for the entry of women of all ages into the Ayyappa temple at Sabarimala in Kerala. A five-judge constitution bench headed by Chief Justice Dipak Misra, in its 4:1 verdict, said that banning the entry of women of menstrual age into the shrine is gender discrimination and the practice violates rights of Hindu women. (With PTI inputs) NEW DELHI: Congress MP Shashi Tharoor's use of an old metaphor for Prime Minister Narendra Modi has left the Bhartiya Janata Party (BJP) fuming. Soon after Tharoor took the reference of an old quote by calling "Modi like a scorpion sitting on a Shivling", the BJP has asked for an apology from Congress president Rahul Gandhi. The BJP said that Tharoor has abused the sanctity of Shivling and Lord Shiva and Rahul should apologise for the same. "While Rahul Gandhi claims himself to be a Shiv bhakt, one of his small leaders has almost abused the sanctity of Shiv Linga and Lord Mahadev by referring to chappal attack through named sources," Union Minsiter Ravi Shankar Prasad said. "Rahul Gandhi you claim yourself be to a Shiv Bhakt please reply to this very horrific denunciation of Lord Mahadev by giving apology to what Tharoor has done," the Union Minister added. Speaking at Bengaluru Literature Festival, Congress MP Shashi Tharoor recalled an old quote mentioned in a story published in 2012 where an unnamed Rashtriya Swayamsewak Sangh (RSS) member had used a metaphor to criticise Prime Minister Narendra Modi. "There's an extraordinarily striking metaphor expressed by an unnamed RSS source to a journalist, - Modi is like a scorpion sitting on a Shivling, you can't remove him with your hand and you cannot hit it with a chappal either," Tharoor said. Tharoor was referring to a quote by an RSS member mentioned in a story on Narendra Modi in 2012 in the Caravan magazine. The 7-page story titled The Emperor Uncrowned ended with this quote from a local RSS leader. Tharoor has recently published his book "The Paradoxical Prime Minister" which is critical of the dispensation under Narendra Modi. Tharoor said that that with more mob lynchings, proliferation of gau rakshaks, ghar-wapsi, love-jihad and a dramatic rise in communal violence, "the elephant in the room" could no longer be ignored. PULWAMA: A sub-inspector of Jammu and Kashmir Police was shot dead by some unidentified terrorists in the Pulwama district in South Kashmir on Sunday The deceased has been identified as Imtiyaz Ahmad Mir. As per reports, Imtiaz was travelling in his car when he was attacked. Mir's bullet-ridden body was found in Chewa-Kalan area of Pulwama in Jammu and Kashmir on Sunday. The bullet-ridden body of Mir, who was posted with the CID in Srinagar's Sheergadi, was recovered from the Chewa Kalan area of the district, the officials said. The police have registered a case and investigating the matter, the officials said. The incident comes close on heels after a Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) officer was killed in a terrorist attack in Budgam district of Jammu and Kashmir on Saturday. "In the intervening night, a standoff fire by terrorists took place at the grid Station Wagoora in Budgam district in which one ASI of CISF sustained serious bullet injuries," a police spokesman said. "The injured ASI Rajendra Prasad was evacuated to the hospital for medical attention but succumbed to his injuries at the hospital," the spokesman said. (With Agency Inputs) SRINAGAR: Terrorists have shot and critically injured a police officer in Jammu and Kashmir's Badgam on Saturday night. This is the latest incident of Kashmiri police and security personnel being targeted by terrorists. The incident happened in Charar-e-Sharif. "The injured SPO Muhammad Hafiz was shifted to Srinagar for specialised treatment," police sources were quoted as saying by news agency ANI. There has been an uptick in targeted violence by terrorists against Kashmiris who serve in the police, paramilitary forces or the Army. In September, the bodies of three police personnel were found bullet-ridden in South Kashmir's Shopian. A civilian, whose brother serves in the police, had been kidnapped along with the three policemen and had been released earlier. In August, nine people, all family members of police and Army personnel were kidnapped by terrorists from Shopian, Kulgam, Anantnag and Awantipora. Terrorists belonging to Pakistan-backed Hizb ul Mujahideen had released a 12-minute video demanding that the relatives of terrorists who are in police custody should be released. This had come just days after police arrested the son of globally designated terrorist Syed Salahuddin on charges of funnelling funds for terrorist activities. The targeting of Kashmiri security personnel and their families is the latest trend in the trend of youth turning to terrorism in Kashmir that has picked up steam since 2013. This wave of the militancy, unlike the one in the late 1980s and 1990s, has seen a number of educated youth choosing the gun. Needless to say, many of these terrorist groups have the tacit support, along with financial and material backing of the Pakistani security establishment. (With inputs from agencies) Trivandrum: Former Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) chairman Madhavan Nair joined the Bharatiya Janata Party in Trivandrum. Nair was given the formal membership of the saffron party by BJP president Amit Shah on Saturday. #Kerala: Former ISRO Chief Madhavan Nair joined Bharatiya Janata Party in the presence of party President Amit Shah, in Trivandrum yesterday. pic.twitter.com/W7KsZp75re ANI (@ANI) October 28, 2018 According to media reports, four others, including former Travancore Devaswom Board (TDB) president G Raman Nair, were also inducted into the saffron party. Nair took the decision to join the BJP since he is a firm believer in PM Modis ''philosophy of developing India, a party source said. Nair, an eminent space scientist, had been working with the party for quite some time. During his day-long visit to Kerala, Shah extended full support to those opposing the Sabarimala verdict and also condemned the arrest of over 2,000 devotees, including RSS and Sangh Parivar activists in connection with the protests. ''In Sabarimala, the nation has seen a fight between dharma, belief and bhakti on the one side and an oppressive Kerala government on the other. The LDF is using its power to suppress belief of Ayyappa devotees. But Vijayan,I want to remind you that BJP stands firmly with the Ayyappa devotees,'' he tweeted. ''There is an emergency like situation in Kerala. The women of Kerala themselves support the age-old tradition of restricted entry to the Sabarimala, but CM Vijayan, instead of providing relief to the flood-hit people, is spending all his energy in tackling peaceful devotees of Lord Ayyappa,'' Shah said. SHOLAPUR: Former Union Home Minister and Congress veteran Sushilkumar Shinde's daughter Praniti has now referred to Prime Minister Narendra Modi as a ''dengue mosquito'' and urged the people to oust him and his party BJP from power in the upcoming general elections. Praniti Shinde is the Congress MLA from Solapur in Maharashtra. Praniti reportedly made these insulting remarks against the PM while addressing a public rally in Sholapur during which she said that ''there is a new dengue mosquito in the country whose name is Modi baba that is causing everyone to fall ill.'' The Congress MLA went on urge the voters to ensure that PM Modi is ousted from power in the elections due next year. The Congress MLA also targetted BJP MP Sharad Bansode during her speech and called him a ''drunkard.'' Praniti Shinde's use of derogatory words for PM Modi comes days after independent Vadgam MLA and Dalit leader Jignesh Mevani labelled the PM as a 'namak haram' Mevani, while highlighting the plight of migrant workers from Bihar and Uttar Pradesh in Gujarat, had called the Prime Minister ''namak haram'' (someone who betrays trust). Mevani made these remarks while speaking at a rally in Patna during which he also questioned the silence of PM Modi over the recent incidents of violence against migrant workers in his home state of Gujarat. "Shame on you, Narendra Modi, shame on you," Mevani said. NCP MP Majeed Memon, while speaking to a TV news channel, had condemned the use of derogatory words for the PM. Chennai: The Madras High Court has acquitted a man who was sentenced to ten years imprisonment by a lower court on charges of abetting his wife's suicide. The woman had ended her life in 2003 by jumping into a well along with her 18-month-old daughter as she was upset over her husband's extra-marital affair. In a recent order, Justice S Vaidyanathan said the illicit relationship per se would not come under the ambit of cruelty under IPC section 498 A (husband or relative of husband of a woman subjecting her to cruelty). The judge, referring to IPC section 306, (abetment of suicide), said, "To constitute an offence under section 306, the prosecution has to establish beyond reasonable doubt that the deceased committed suicide and the accused abetted the commission of suicide." "But, for the alleged extra-marital relationship, nothing has been brought out by the prosecution to show that the accused had provoked, incited or induced the wife to commit suicide," the judge noted. Acquitting the accused, the judge further said even if the alleged illicit affair between the accused and his paramour is proved, there is no other acceptable evidence on record to establish such high degree of mental cruelty, which has driven the wife to commit suicide. Justice Vaidyanathan made the observations on an appeal by Manickam challenging the order of a mahila court convicting him of abetting his wife's suicide. Newly appointed Prime Minister of Sri Lanka Mahinda Rajapaksa on Sunday issued a statement stating that the UNP-UPFA government came to an end as the result of the UPFA leaving the coalition. In a media statement, Rajapaksa said that he was invited by President Maithripala Sirisena to become the prime minister, which he accepted to form a new government and get rid of the politics of hate. Rajapaksa was appointed the prime minister of Sri Lanka amid the ongoing political crisis in the country. Following his appointment, Ranil Wickremesinghe was removed from the post of prime minister. Sirisena also suspended parliament till November 16 after Wickremesinghe, who had termed his sacking as illegal and unconstitutional, sought an emergency session to prove his majority. The president also withdrew Wickremesinghe's personal security and vehicles in order to accord them to his 72-year-old successor, who staged a dramatic political comeback. In his first address to the nation after sacking Wickremesinghe, Sirisena said his former ally's political conduct since the victory in 2015 elections was unbecoming. "He appeared to treat Sri Lanka's future as a joy ride for a coterie of people around him who had no sense of the common man's thinking," he said. "He completely destroyed the concept of good governance while corruption and waste became rampant. He was making arrogant arbitrary decisions making a mockery of collective responsibility," Sirisena charged. "There was a huge gap in policy agreement between the two of us. I believe the cultural and policy differences between us contributed to this political and economic crisis," he said. Sirisena also accused the United National Party (UNP) leader of treating very lightly the alleged plot to assassinate him. The president last week accused his unity government partner of Wickremesinghe's UNP of going slow on the investigations after a man named Namal Kumara in mid-September disclosed the alleged plot to assassinate him and former defence minister Gotabhaya Rajapaksa. "Having taken into consideration all crisis, the political and economic as well as the assassination plot on me, I was only left with one alternative which was to appoint former President Mahinda Rajapaksa as the prime minister," Sirisena said. Rejecting Wickremesinghe's allegation that his sacking was unconstitutional and illegal, he said, "I must make it very clear that the new appointment (of Rajapaksa) was made on expert legal advice in strict accordance with the Constitution." Sirisena's remarks came after the Speaker urged him to restore Wickremesinghe's privileges as the leader of the government who has "obtained a mandate to secure democracy and good governance." Jayasuriya said a prorogation of parliament should be one in consultation with the Speaker. Sirisena's decision to suspend the Parliament until November 16 was seen as an effort to coerce legislators into supporting Rajapaksa. Wickremesinghe has refused to vacate the prime minister's official residence-cum-office of Temple Trees. The political crisis in the island nation on Sunday triggered violence as one person was killed and two others injured as the bodyguards of Petroleum Minister Arjuna Ranatunga, a Wickremesinghe loyalist, fired live rounds when supporters of Rajapaksa threatened the cabinet member. The political developments, which has thrown the country into a constitutional crisis, unfolded after Sirisena's broader political front United People's Freedom Alliance (UPFA) announced that it has decided to quit the unity government with Wickremesinghe's UNP. Sirisena and Wickremesinghe had joined to form a government of national unity in 2015 to bring in constitutional and governance reforms including a new Constitution to address the long-standing issues of the Tamil minority. Sri Lanka nearly faced economic sanctions from the West over Rajapaksa' brutal military crackdown on the banned LTTE. The LTTE sought a separate Tamil homeland in the northern and eastern provinces of the island nation for nearly 30 years before its collapse in 2009 after the Sri Lankan Army killed its supreme leader Velupillai Prabhakaran. (With PTI Inputs) TOKYO: Hoping to add 'new vigour to the strong friendship' between India and Japan, Prime Minister Narendra Modi will be meeting his Japanese counterpart Shinzo Abe on Sunday. PM Modi is on a two-day trip to Japan to attend the 13th India-Japan annual summit. "Landed in Tokyo. I am confident this visit will add new vigour to the strong friendship between India and Japan," Modi said in a tweet on Sunday. Japan: Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Japan Prime Minister Shinzo Abe at hotel Mount Fuji in Yamanashi pic.twitter.com/5MX8g9oebR ANI (@ANI) October 28, 2018 The summit which begins on Sunday seeks to review the progress in ties and deepen strategic dimension of the bilateral relationship between the two countries. The two world leaders will also engage on a range of issues including defence and regional security. "PM Narendra Modi arrives in Tokyo to a warm welcome for his 5th Annual Summit with Abe Shinzo. Japan is one of the few countries that India has this mechanism of annual summits, reflecting the extraordinary depth of our engagement," External Affairs Ministry Spokesperson Raveesh Kumar tweeted. Yamanashi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi meets Japan Prime Minister Shinzo Abe. PM Modi is on a two-day visit to Japan & will attend the 13th India-Japan Annual Summit. pic.twitter.com/kcHwtrXkFe ANI (@ANI) October 28, 2018 Before leaving for Japan, Modi had in a statement described India and Japan as a "winning combination" and said the island nation was New Delhi's most trusted partner in its economic and technological modernisation. Besides bilateral issues, PM Modi and his Japanese counterpart are likely to deliberate on a range of regional and global issues including the situation in the Indo-Pacific region. It is said the PM's visit will reaffirm the traditional bonds of friendship between the two countries and strengthen their multi-faceted cooperation in diverse fields. India is also hoping to have some kind of synergy or integration between Modi's Ayushman Bharat scheme, which is the largest medicare programme of its kind globally, and the Japanese programme which is called Asia Health and Wellbeing Initiative. Prime Minister in his statement said projects such as Mumbai-Ahmedabad High Speed Rail and Dedicated Freight Corridors reflected the high level and "strength of our economic engagement". "Japan is also at the forefront of engaging in our national initiatives, such as 'Make in India', 'Skill India', 'Digital India', 'Start Up India'... Japanese investors have faith in India's economic future, which is marked with myriad opportunities," Modi said. This will be his 12th meeting with Abe since he first visited Japan as Prime Minister in September 2014. Abe will host Modi at his holiday home in the picturesque Yamanashi prefecture for a private dinner on Sunday following which both the leaders will travel to Tokyo by train. Yamanashi, at a distance of around 110 kilometres from Tokyo, is surrounded by several mountains including Mount Fuji - the country's tallest peak at around 3,776 metres. On Sunday afternoon, Prime Minister Modi will join his Japanese counterpart for an informal lunch at a hotel. The two leaders will then visit a company which is a leading manufacturer of factory automation. Modi will also address the Indian community function in Tokyo and will attend a series of business events and address the business forum. (With PTI inputs) A political crisis in Sri Lanka took a deadly turn on Sunday, with one person killed when a sacked cabinet minister tried to re-enter his office, days after the president removed the prime minister and installed a powerful ally of China in his place. Sri Lanka has been plunged into crisis since Friday, when President Maithripala Sirisena abruptly sacked Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe and swore in ex-president Mahinda Rajapaksa as the new prime minister to replace him. Sirisena said the move was motivated by a plot to kill him, and by economic collapse. Wickremesinghe says it was illegal and he is still prime minister. In a statement released late on Sunday, Rajapaksa, who ruled as president from 2005-2015, said he would "eschew the politics of hate and set up an interim government that will protect the human rights of all citizens, that will protect the independence of the judiciary and establish law and order." He called on lawmakers to support his new government. On Saturday, Sirisena suspended parliament until Nov. 16, a move the ousted prime minister`s supporters say was intended to prevent lawmakers from demonstrating their continued support for Wickremesinghe. The standoff has important geopolitical implications in a country long influenced by its neighbour India, but which became massively indebted to China to finance huge infrastructure projects during Rajapaksa`s decade as president. Most of Sri Lanka`s foreign allies including India, the European Union and the United States, have urged Sirisena to abide by the constitution. But China, long seen as a supporter of Rajapaksa, congratulated him on becoming prime minister, drawing accusations from Wickremesinghe`s supporters that Beijing was behind the attempt to change the government. Chinese officials deny interfering in Sri Lanka`s affairs. Since Rajapaksa was sworn in, trade unions allied to him have blocked government buildings to prevent members of the former cabinet from reaching their offices. Sunday`s violence took place at the headquarters of state oil company Ceylon Petroleum Corp, where Arjuna Ranatunga, petroleum minister in the ousted cabinet, tried to re-enter his office. Police said one of Ranatunga`s security guards opened fire. One person was killed and two wounded. The guard had been arrested and an investigation launched, police spokesman Ruwan Gunasekera said. Ranatunga was safe and the security guard`s motive was not immediately clear, he added. Local media said Ranatunga had briefly been held hostage in the office. Reuters was not immediately able to confirm details of the incident. So far, a majority of lawmakers has not endorsed the change in government. In a letter sent on Sunday, parliament speaker Karu Jayasuriya urged the president to protect Wickremesinghe`s rights and privileges "until any other person emerges from within the Parliament as having secure confidence of the Parliament". In an address to the nation, Sirisena said his action to change the government was "totally in accordance with the constitution and on the advice of legal experts". The Rajapaksa faction has sought to win over lawmakers to back it in parliament. Two Wickremesinghe loyalists have pledged support to Rajapaksa and sources close to Rajapaksa have said there will be more cross-overs. Ranjan Ramanayake, a legislator from Wickremesinghe`s United National Party (UNP), said some lawmakers had been offered up to 800 million rupees ($4.6 million) each to switch sides and support Rajapaksa. Reuters was unable to confirm this. "This is an international conspiracy," Ramanayake told reporters at Wickremesinghe`s official residence, accusing China of "spending money to buy over members". A Chinese embassy official in Colombo denied the allegation and said Beijing maintained good relations with all Sri Lankan parties, including the UNP. "China never interferes in other countries` internal affairs," the official told Reuters. "We`re against all this interference from any foreign country." Cheng Xueyuan, China`s envoy to Sri Lanka, met Rajapaksa with a congratulatory message on Saturday. The embassy official said the ambassador had also met Wickremesinghe and speaker Jayasuriya. India and Western countries have concerns about Rajapaksa`s ties to China, after he ushered in billions of dollars of investment from Beijing to rebuild the country following the end of a 26-year war against Tamil separatists in 2009. That investment has since put the tiny nation deep in debt and forced it to hand over control of a strategic port to China. "As a democracy and a close friendly neighbour, we hope that democratic values and the constitutional process will be respected," said Raveesh Kumar, spokesman for India`s Ministry of External Affairs. "We will continue to extend our developmental assistance to the friendly people of Sri Lanka." COLOMBO: Amid the current political crisis in Sri Lanka, three people were injured in Colombo after a security guard of parliamentarian Arjuna Ranatunga opened fire at a crowd. President Maithripala Sirisena on Saturday declared that the cabinet has been dissolved after Mahinda Rajapaksa was appointed as the new prime minister of Sri Lanka. When Arjuna Ranatunga tried to enter his office at the state-run Ceylon Petroleum Corporation, his official security guard shot and injured three people, Reuters quoted police spokesman Ruwan Gunasekera. The guard has been arrested by the police and further investigations are underway. The tiny South Asian country off the southern tip of India plunged into political turmoil late on Friday after President Maithripala Sirisena sacked Wickremesinghe and swore in former President Mahinda Rajapaksa as his replacement. On Saturday, Sirisena ordered to suspend parliament until Nov. 16, in a move widely seen as an attempt to stop Wickremesinghe from trying to prove he maintains a parliamentary majority. Security has been tightened around key government institutions as trade unions linked to Rajapaksa`s political party have blocked access to some Wickremesinghe-party ministers entering their respective ministries. (With Agency Inputs) October 28 is the day when the modern territory of Ukraine was completely liberated from the troops of Nazi Germany during World War II World War II took the lives of 8-10 million Ukrainians, destroyed 700 cities and 2800 villages, 33,000 schools, and 18,000 hospitals. Since January 1, 1941, till January 1, 1945, the population of Ukraine reduced from 40,9 million to 27 million including those, who were evacuated or who left with Germans. Moreover, the historians say Ukraine sustained more losses within this horrible period than Great Britain, the U.S., Canada, and France combined. Ukraine commemorates the Liberation Day annually on October 28 the day, when the modern territory of Ukraine was completely liberated from the troops of Nazi Germany during World War II. The idea to create the national holiday was presented by the then Minister of Economy of Ukraine Serhiy Tigipko on October 15, 2009. Later, the then President of Ukraine Viktor Yushchenko signed a decree establishing the holiday. The liberation began during the Battle of Stalingrad (November 1942 - February 1943), which was the momentum the Soviet Union was about to win the war. In December 1942, first Ukrainian settlements in Donbas were liberated. And mass liberation took place during the Battle of Kursk. Soviet troops liberated Kharkiv on August 23. Uzhgorod was retaken from the Germans and Soviet troops came to that is now the western border of our state. Open source Kyiv, the capital of Ukraine, was liberated in 1943, after the Second Battle of Kyiv also known as the Battle of the Dnipro River, which became one of the largest and bloodiest military operations in history. In 1944, western Ukrainians cities Lutsk and Rivne were liberated from the Nazis. The military port in Sevastopol was liberated after a fight on Sapun Hill (southeast of Sevastopol, Crimea). Ukraine made a major contribution to the victory over Nazi Germany and its allies in World War II. Not only the Nazi occupants were our enemies, but also Stalins totalitarian regime made it even harder for the Ukrainian soldiers to defend the Soviet Union and Ukraine, in particular, as some troops wanted to restore Ukraines independence. On this day, the country commemorates the liberation of its territories from Nazi occupants, who brought so much pain and destruction to our land, and commemorates those who deceased so that Ukraine can prosper today. The mother of the deceased is sick, she is in the unit of Kitsman Territorial Centre Soldier Dmytro Kuzmich Dariy died in the Joint Forces Operation (JFO) zone in the direction of Luhansk region today, October 28. Vilne Zhyttia newspaper reported. Sad news from the east has stirred up Kitsman city Soldier Dmytro Kuzmich Dariy (born 25.10.1971) native of Sukhoverkhiv village died today, October 28, at about 2 a.m. in Luhansk region, the outlet reported. Related: OSCE drone lost in occupied Donbas The man was conscripted to the Armed Forces of Ukraine yet in the first waves of the mobilization in 2014 and took part in Anti-terrorist operation (liberating the temporarily occupied territory of Ukraine). He signed a contract with Ukrainian Armed Forces on September 21, 2018. The mother of the deceased is sick, she is in the unit of Kitsman Territorial Centre. D.K. Dariy had no children, reads the message. Related: Four attacks on Ukrainian positions in Donbas, - military press office Chernivtsi military enlistment office stated to ACC agency that the fighter died from the bullet of a sniper in the area of Krymske settlement. Reportedly, the JFO HQ reported in the morning that over the last day, October 27, one Ukrainian serviceman died in the hostilities zone in the east of Ukraine. On October 26, the militants shelled the Ukrainian forces' positions eight times, due to which two Ukrainian servicemen were injured. The press office of the Joint Forces Operation reported this on Facebook. The enemy conducted shelling of our positions in the areas of Krymske, Avdiivka, Taramchuk, Krasnohorivka, Pavlopol, Vodyane and Hnutove. The enemy used grenade launchers of different systems, heavy machine guns, and small arms. The enemy shelled the position of the Joint Forces near Avdiivka two times. Related: Russia sends 82nd 'humanitarian convoy' to Donbas Two servicemen of the Joint Forces got injured durign the hostiities, reads the message. According to the reconnaissance, one militant was killed, and seven more were injured. From the beginning of the day, the enemy hasnt performed any shelling. Related: One attack performed in Donbas combat zone Reportedly, on October 25, the militants shelled the positions of the Armed Forces of Ukraine in Donbas 17 times. One of the Ukrainian servicemen sustained injuries during the hostilities. Today, the Ministry of Defense claimed that the injured soldier is provided with a necessary medical aid in the military hospital. In response, two militants were destroyed and two more were injured Over the previous day, October 27, one Ukrainian serviceman died in the hostilities zone in Donbas. The press office of Ukraine's Joint Forces Operation (JFO) reported on Facebook. The occupants opened fire at the positions of the Armed Forces of Ukraine 15 times, yet, five of them were performed with the weapons prohibited by the Minsk Agreements. Related: OSCE drone lost in occupied Donbas The enemy conducted shelling of the Ukrainian positions in the area of Krymske, Luhanske, Svitlodarsk, Opytne, Pisky, Pavlopil, Hnutove, Vodiane, and Lebedyske. The enemy used 120mm mortars in the area of Luhanske settlement, and 82mm mortars near Svitlodarsk, Pisky, and Vodiane. Also, the enemy used grenade launchers of different systems, heavy machine guns, and small arms near Luhanske and Pisky. From the beginning of the current day, October 28, the enemy opened fire near Avdiivka once. According to Ukrainian reconnaissance, the two members of the bandit formations in Donbas were eliminated and two more were injured. Presidential Administration press office On November 1, German Chancellor Angela Merkel will meet with President of Ukraine Petro Poroshenko, Prime Minister Volodymyr Groysman, and will talk to the leaders of parliamentary factions and students. This was reported by the deputy official representative of the German government Ulrike Demmer, reports Deutsche Welle. President Petro Poroshenko will meet Angela Merkel with military honors. During the meeting, they will discuss relations between countries, as well as the conflict in the east of Ukraine, and the implementation of the Minsk agreements. After the talks, the leaders of the countries will give a joint press conference. After this Angela Merkel will talk with Volodymyr Groysman. They are expected to negotiate mainly about trade and economic relations between the two countries and international problems. In addition, the program of the visit of Angela Merkel includes talks with the parliamentary factions leaders and a discussion with Ukrainian students. Earlier, President Poroshenko, together with a delegation of the State Secretaries of the German Federal Ministries, noted the importance of the visit of Chancellor Angela Merkel to Ukraine. Related: Former head of Catalonia Puigdemont forms his new political party "Well, if I were (Ukrainian foreign minister, - ed.) Pavlo Klimkin, I would expel this consul the next day, and would not wait for two weeks trying to change the position of (Hungarian Foreign Minister) Szijjarto ," the deputy minister added In his opinion, the reaction of Ukraine's Ministry of Foreign Affairs to this incident was "adequate." Everything is absolutely clear in this situation. No one should expect any discussions, especially when Hungarian leadership takes a pro-Russian position. It was a special operation, said Tuka. The scandalous video with the Ukrainians, who get the Hungarian passports in Berehove, was published by the current officer of the Border Guard Service of Ukraine. Hennady Moskal, Governor of Zakarpattia region claimed this as 112 Ukraine reported. "By the way, a person who published this video is the current border guard officer who took an oath and recorded it. The Border Guard Service and the service of its internal security should deal with the aim of his action," Moskal claimed. Moskal did not exclude that the author of the video was kind of an "agent." "However, the Vienna Convention points out that the places, where the embassies and consulates located, are the territories of this state. In other words, it is a territory of Hungary," he added. "I proceed only from the legal framework that the state knew about this for a long time and did nothing: any ambassador was ever called, any note was sent. Even after all loud statements of (Ukraine's Foreign Minister - Ed.) Klimkin, the ambassador of Hungary was not called, and he did not get any note of the protest," the official said. Earlier, Ukrinfrom published a video where a few Ukrainians are receiving Hungarian passports and owe allegiance to Hungry in the Consulate in Berehove. The Hungarian diplomat recommended not to inform the Ukrainian authorities about receiving the new documents. PAP Polish President Andrzej Duda said that Germany must pay reparations to Poland for the damage caused by World War II. He stated about it in an interview to Bild am Sonntag. As far as I understand it, the topic of reparations is not yet closed, the president said. He mentioned the expert findings of the ex-President of Poland Lech Kaczynski, from which it follows that the losses inflicted on Poland were not compensated. In particular, we are talking about losses incurred by Warsaw. "The interim results of the work of the parliamentary expert group also confirm that our damage was not compensated. Therefore, this is a question of truth and responsibility," said Duda. Earlier, Arkadiusz Mularczyk, head of the parliamentary committee on reparations, a deputy from the Polish "Law and Justice" party, said that Poland has the right to demand compensation in the amount of $ 850 billion from Germany for property destroyed and people killed during World War II. Germany rejected the Polish demand for new negotiations on the payment of additional reparations for the damage caused to the country during World War II, noting that this problem was already resolved in 1953. Related: Former head of Catalonia Puigdemont forms his new political party The leaders of the four countries discussed the war in Syria and the post-war structure of the country Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Russian President Vladimir Putin, German Chancellor Angela Merkel, and French President Emmanuel Macron took part in the four-way summit for Syria held in Istanbul. Based on the results of the talks, the leaders issued a joint statement, which reads about the support of the political process in Syria assisted by the UN. The corresponding statement was published on the website of the Kremlin. We considered the last developments connected with the conflict in Syria and expressed general concern over the threats and risks emanating from it for both regional and global security and stability; Related: Poroshenko to visit Turkey on official trip on November 3, - media Reaffirmed their strong attachment to the sovereignty, independence, unity and territorial integrity of the Syrian Arab Republic, as well as the purposes and principles of the UN Charter; We stressed our firm belief that the Syrian conflict does not have a political decision and can be resolved during the negotiation politic process in accordance with the UN Security Council resolution 2254, reads the message. Related: Ukraine checks information on Russian exports of coal from occupied Donbas to Turkey Russia, Turkey, Germany, and France affirmed their determination to fight the terrorism in Syria until the complete elimination of ISIL, Al-Nusra Front, and all other individuals, groups, enterprises, and organizations linked to Al-Qaeda or ISIL, and other terrorist groups recognized as such by the UN Security Council. In addition, the participants of the negotiations stated on nonacceptance of separatist plans aimed at undermining the sovereignty and the territorial integrity of Syria, as well as the national security of the neighbor countries. Related: Merkel to meet with Poroshenko on November 1 Moscow, Ankara, Berlin and Paris stated on their support of the political process facilitated by the UN and urged the conflict sides to actively participate in it. The sides pointed out the need for holding a constitutional reform, setting the stage for free and fair elections under the supervision of the UN. Also, they expressed support to the efforts on the release of detainees/hostage; the return of the bodies of the dead and search for missing persons; stressed the need to provide humanitarian organizations with fast, safe and unhindered access throughout Syria. 112 Agency 112 Agency The "Cannabis March", or "Freedom March" took place in Kyiv on Saturday. About a hundred participants in the event stand for decriminalizing the storage of cannabis without the purpose of marketing. The UNN news agency reported that on Saturday evening. The march began at about noon near the building of the Cabinet of Ministers. Some 30 policemen maintained the public security. According to the source, no conflicts and violations of public order were reported. In addition, participants in the event required medical research of cannabis, Hromadske.org reported. Member of the 'Cannabis March' Taras Ratushnyi said that the purpose of the march is the implementation of the state strategy on drugs, the newspaper reports. He insisted on the research of cannabinoids as drugs and the decriminalization of minor offenses. 'In fact, our legislation, regulatory documents lead to the fact that the number of sentences for minor offences increases statistically. You can be convicted for just a few grams of cannabis in your pocket, and there are more than 6,000 such cases across Ukraine,' he said. Related: Naftogaz-Ukraine chairman receives award from Patriarch Filaret According to assessment, noises occurred because of jamming shortly before connection loss with the equipment Open source Yesterday, October 27, OSCE SMM drone disappeared during the flight over the occupied territories of Donetsk region, according to the report of the mission. It is reported that the drone discovered a 9K33 Osa surface-to-air missile system in 72 km from Donetsk at 1:18 a.m. near Kalynove settlement. After, the vehicle was sent towards Saurivka. At 1:36 a.m., the drone detected a convoy of seven trucks on a dirt road near the border with the Russian Federation, with no entry-exit checkpoint nearby. The convoy headed to the southwest in the direction of Manych settlement (uncontrolled by the government, 76 km from Donetsk to east). After, the UAV was sent to the south in the direction of Nyzhnokrynske to continue watching the convoy. The SMM completely lost signal with the UAV at 1:53, when it was at an altitude about 7000 feet above the area of the southeast of Nyzhnokrynske, reads the report. The monitors stated on noises recorded during the flight over the areas Saurivka and Nyzhnokrynske, according to the assessment they were caused by jamming. Earlier, the observers of the OSCE SMM has spotted the air defense missile system 9K33 Osa in 70 km from Donetsk at the territory uncontrolled by Ukraine. Undeclared medicines amounting to $8.8 thousand were tried to be imported from Poland to Ukraine through Yahodyn checkpoint, reports the press office of the State Border Guard Service of Ukraine. Yesterday, at the Yahodyn-auto checkpoint, the border officers, together with the members of the State Fiscal Service of Ukraine, found 368 packs of different medicines in the Warsaw Kyiv bus. It was found out that the medicines were undeclared, and their preliminary price was 250 thousand hryvnias, reads the message. Related: Russia sends 82nd 'humanitarian convoy' to Donbas The medicine packs were revealed in the sleeping area, the trunk and the fridge of the shuttle bus. Reportedly, medicines in the amount of $212 thousand were seized in Lviv region one year ago. The illegal production was organized by the Candidate of Biological Sciences and his assistant. WASHINGTON, Oct. 25 (Xinhua) -- Belgium will purchase 34 U.S.-made F-35 fighter planes, a decision that was welcomed by Washington and will strengthen transatlantic defense ties, said the U.S. State Department on Thursday. Belgium's new purchase was expected to continue the "modern transatlantic defense partnership" following its buying F-16 jets years ago, said the State Department spokeswoman Heather Nauert in a statement. Heather described Belgium's purchase of F-16s as a "cornerstone" for their partnership. Belgian government announced on Thursday that it chose American company Lockheed Martin's F-35 jets over the Eurofighter Typhoon to replace its aging F-16s due to the price concerns, according to media reports. The total price of the deal, including the planes, personnel training and others, was around 4 billion euros (4.55 billion U.S. dollars). The decision will also make Belgium in line with several NATO members, including Britain, the Netherlands, Italy and Turkey, which have chosen to upgrade their air forces with F-35s. MOSCOW, Oct. 25 (Xinhua) -- The Russian Foreign Ministry on Thursday denied U.S. allegations that Washington was abandoning the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces (INF) Treaty due to violations by Moscow. "We reiterate that Russia is strictly observing the clauses of the treaty," Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said at a briefing. She said that the United States is trying to make it look like its recent statement about a withdrawal from the treaty was provoked by Russia's violations, which is "absolutely unacceptable" as Washington did not produce any evidence to substantiate their claims. On Saturday, U.S. President Donald Trump said that Washington would pull out of the INF treaty on account of Russia's alleged breach of the agreement. Zakharova said that Russia had been seeing in the last few years violations of the treaty by the United States itself and has been warning Washington about it. Long before announcing its intention to withdraw from the treaty, Washington launched concrete military programs under an absolutely false pretext, which if continued, would contradict not only the INF treaty, Zakharova said. And the number of Washington's such projects keeps growing, she added. "An impression is being formed that the United States desperately attempts to restrain historical processes which are not under its control and tries to secure dominant positions for itself in various spheres including military," she said. The destruction of the INF treaty would be a very dangerous step that would most negatively affect the situation in the field of international security and strategic stability and is fraught with the risk of drawing entire regions into a new arms race, Zakharova said. Russia is ready to work together with the United States to maintain the viability of the treaty, but so far it seems Washington's move to pull out from the INF treaty is largely determined by the reluctance of certain U.S. forces to work with Russia on an equal basis and their desire to secure a military advantage, Zakharova said. "Now we have to warn Washington in a most serious manner: if the U.S. side destroys the treaty, Russia will have to react," she said. On Tuesday, U.S. national security adviser John Bolton said in Moscow that the United States would file a formal notice of its withdrawal from the INF treaty "in due course." AllAfrica publishes around 700 reports a day from more than 100 news organizations and over 500 other institutions and individuals, representing a diversity of positions on every topic. We publish news and views ranging from vigorous opponents of governments to government publications and spokespersons. Publishers named above each report are responsible for their own content, which AllAfrica does not have the legal right to edit or correct. Articles and commentaries that identify allAfrica.com as the publisher are produced or commissioned by AllAfrica. To address comments or complaints, please Contact us. >> AnnArborObserver.com >> City Guide >> Community Services >> Food, Housing, and Assistance City Guide Food, Housing, and Assistance View our map of Food, Housing, and Assistance organizations in Ann Arbor >> Ann Arbor Community Center: Emergency Food Pantry Call to schedule a pick-up time. aaccceo1@gmail.com 625 N. Main [ map ] (734) 662-3128 Ann Arbor Meals on Wheels /patient-visitor-guide /aameals-on-wheels /home Provides fresh, healthy, home-delivered meals and safety/wellness checks for homebound residents. Western, Asian, gluten-free, vegetarian and liquid meal options available. Currently delivering Tuesdays/Thursdays/Saturdays but will return to Monday-Saturday deliveries in mid-September. Partially funded by Michigan Medicine; donations welcome. To volunteer and for more information, visit website. aamealsonwheels@umich.edu 2025 Traverwood, # F [ map ] (734) 998-6686 Avalon Housing Builds healthy, safe and inclusive supportive housing communities as a long-term solution to homelessness. Develops, owns and manages rental units in over 20 properties in Washtenaw County. Managers work with service teams to help residents maintain housing stability. Also provides support services to tenants and to individuals and families living in public housing and in units owned by private landlords, including case management, help with basic needs, primary health care, advocacy, youth development, and community building. Serves over 750 people, including 200 children. info@avalonhousing,org; avalonhousing.org 1327 Jones, #102 [ map ] (734) 663-5858 Back Door Food Pantry (St. Clare Episcopal Church, Temple Beth Emeth, Muslim Community) Nonperishable and perishable food available Thurs. 4-7 p.m. No proof of need required. info@backdoorfoodpantry.org 2309 Packard [ map ] (734) 662-2449 (St. Clare Episcopal Church) Breakfast at St. Andrew's Since 1982. Free breakfast daily 7:30-8:30 a.m. breakfastatstandrews.org 306 N. Division (St. Andrew's Episcopal Church) [ map ] (734) 663-0518 ext. 206 Bryant Market (Community Action Network) Perishable and nonperishable foods for low-income residents of Washtenaw County. Bring government-issued ID and proof of residence. Eligible households may come twice a month. Open . Open Mon.-Thurs. 10 a.m.-3 p.m., Fri. 10 a.m.-2 p.m. fnabilsi@canwashtneaw.org 3 W. Eden [ map ] (734) 447-0292 Community Assistance (Jewish Family Services) Crisis and case management, resource information, and referrals for persons in need. Specialty food pantry - kosher, halal, gluten-free, low sodium - open Tues. & Thurs. 11 a.m.-4 p.m. info@jfsannarbor.org 2245 S. State [ map ] (734) 769-0209 Crisis Needs and Advocacy Programs (Peace Neighborhood Center) Cash assistance, referrals, and advocacy for medical, legal, and housing problems related to basic needs like food, shelter, and clothing. Budgeting and planning assistance to help prevent families from returning to the same situation that led to the crisis. info@peaceneighborhoodcenter.org 1111 N. Maple [ map ] (734) 662-3564 Emergency Food Program (Catholic Social Services) Distributes groceries and personal care items to low-income families and individuals on a monthly and/or emergency basis. Also provides assistance on how to apply for food benefits and provides referrals to outside agencies for other critical services. Tues. 2-5:30 p.m., Thurs. 10 a.m.-2:30 p.m., 2nd & 4th Sat. 10-12:30 p.m. csswashtenaw.org /food-pantry 815 Taylor (Northside Community Center) [ map ] (734) 662-4462 Food Gatherers Community Kitchen Provides hot meals to anyone in need Mon.-Fri. lunch and dinner, and Sat. & Sun. mid-afternoon meal. See website or call for other food resources and SNAP application assistance. info@foodgatherers.org 312 W. Huron [ map ] (734) 761-2796 Friends In Deed Assists low-income Washtenaw County residents with emergency needs.. Accepts donations of furniture and used cars to be passed on to families in need. Helps families with car repairs, utility bills to prevent shutoff, and other needs critical to health and well-being. New program, Circles, helps families lift themselves out of poverty. No walk-ins. Mon.-Fri. 9:30 a.m.-noon. office@friendsindeedmi.org 1196 Ecorse, Ypsilanti 48198 [ map ] Helpline: (734) 484-4357, Furniture line: (734) 484-7607 Habitat for Humanity of Huron Valley Builds and renovates homes in partnership with qualifying low-income county families. Also runs Habitat for Humanity ReStore (see listing under Donations) . Office hours: Mon.-Thurs. 9 a.m.-5 p.m., Fri. 9 a.m.-1 p.m. h4h.org 2805 S. Industrial Hwy, #100 [ map ] (734) 677-1558 Hope Clinic Provides free care for the whole person with no-cost medical, dental, food, and care. Mission based on Christian values. Primary care and dental services available to the uninsured through onsite clinics. Free groceries available for pick up, or community members may 'shop' in the Hope Pantry with an appointment. Hot meals available six nights a week at 5 p.m. Basic needs such as free laundry, emergency infant formula and diapers. Social work services such as client advocacy, application support, and limited financial assistance available. info@thehopeclinic.org 518 Harriet, Ypsilanti 48197 [ map ] (734) 484-2989 House By the Side of the Road Provides clothing, small household items, bedding, and toys at no cost to those in need. Clients served and donations accepted Mon.- Fri. 10 a.m.-2 p.m. housebyroad@gmail.com 2051 S. State [ map ] (734) 769-4085 Housing Access for Washtenaw County (HAWC) Single point of entry for all county shelters. Washtenaw County residents who face eviction, owe back rent, are experiencing homelessness, or have no ongoing place to stay, should call for an initial screening. Mon.-Fri. 8:30 a.m.-5 p.m. HAWC_Washtenaw@usc.salvationarmy.org (734) 961-1999 Interfaith Hospitality Network of Washtenaw County at Alpha House Temporary shelter, rapid rehousing, food, and support services for children and their families experiencing homelessness. info@alphahouse-ihn.org 4290 Jackson [ map ] Office: (734) 822-0220. For emergency shelter access call (734) 961-1999 Jimmy Hill House (Purple House) /jimmy-hill-house.html Provides food, clothing, camping supplies, day warming shelter, friendship, guidance, laundry, showers, and large group meetings for the homeless community. Tues.-Fri. 10 a.m.-5 p.m., Sun. noon-8 p.m. Free meal Sun. 5:45 p.m. ask.missiona2@gmail.com 3501 Stone School [ map ] (734) 249-4198 MSU Extension: Nutrition and Physical Activity Education programs Provides nutrition programs for community groups, pre-K to older adult. Most programs are free to qualifying residents. Topics include food groups, food safety, menu planning, and preparation. Contact the MSU Extension office for more information on scheduling a program or to find a class. msue.anr.msu.edu 705 N. Zeeb [ map ] (734) 997-1678 MSU Extension: Housing (Washtenaw Homebuyer Education Program -WHEP) and financial management Programs Programs and education in home ownership counseling and education and financial management education. washtenaw.org /homeownership 705 N. Zeeb [ map ] (734) 997-1678 Michigan Department of Health and Human Services-Washtenaw County Financial and health services to income-eligible families, including food assistance and emergency services. Mon.-Fri. 8 a.m.-5 p.m. michigan.gov /mdhhs , or online applications at michigan.gov /mibridges 22 Center, Ypsilanti 48198 [ map ] (734) 481-2000 Ozone House Services for youth ages 10-20 (and their families) experiencing crisis or conflict, including those who are runaways, homeless, abused, or neglected. Youth and family counseling; emergency housing for ages 10-17; transitional housing for ages 17-20; and life skills training. Also, the102 N. Hamilton, (734) 485-2222 (4-8 p.m. weekdays), a safe place for youth ages 13-20, provides housing, employment, and education support; crisis intervention; counseling; and meals. ozonehouse.org 1600 N. Huron River, Ypsilanti [ map ] Business line: (734) 662-2265. Crisis phone/text line 24 hours: (734) 662-2222. Or chat with a crisis counselor online. Resettlement Services (Jewish Family Services) Pre-arrival processing, reception, placement, and post arrival services for refugees and SIV holders arriving to the Washtenaw County area who are referred by the U.S. State Department. Services include employment assessment, basic needs support, and referrals. Includes services for victims of human trafficking. Mon.-Fri. 9 a.m.-noon, Mon.-Thurs. 1-3 p.m. jfsannarbor.org 2245 S. State [ map ] (734) 769-0209 Safe House Center Provides safety, support, advocacy and resources for survivors of sexual assault and domestic violence and their children. All services are free and confidential. info@safehousecenter.org 4100 Clark [ map ] (734) 995-5444, (24 hrs. with interpreter), If in danger dial 911 SOS Community Services /food-pantry. All services are free to county residents. info@soscs.org, soscs.orgU, V 114 N. River, Ypsilanti 48198 [ map ] Salvation Army All locations offer family shelter, transitional housing for veterans, utility assistance. Mon.-Fri. 8:30 a.m.-4 p.m. Some services require an appointment, so call ahead. salvationarmyusa.org 3660 PACKARD [ map ] Staples Family Center, (734-761-7750) 809 HENRY [ map ] Haven of Hope transitional housing (734) 668-8353 Shelter Association of Washtenaw County Emergency shelter and resource center. All shelters in Washtenaw County are filled through Housing Access, (734) 961-1999. Fifty-bed temporary residence, meals, housing placement assistance, health care, Packard Health Medical Clinic on site, job-seeking assistance, mental health advocacy, support groups, literacy support, resource referrals, and other services for adults experiencing homelessness. Food Gatherers Community Kitchen, (see listing above), serves lunch Mon.-Fri. noon-1 p.m.; dinner served Mon.-Fri. 5:30-6:30 p.m., Sat. & Sun. & all holidays: One meal only 3-4 p.m. Services free. shelterassociation@ewashtenaw.org, annarborshelter.org V 312 W. Huron (Robert J. Delonis Center) [ map ] Specialty Food Pantry (Jewish Family Services) Offering kosher, halal, liquid nutrition and items for medical diets. Delivery to home-bound clients and appointments beyond open access hours are available. info@jfsannarbor.org, jfsannarbor.org 2245 S. State [ map ] (734) 769-0209 Staples Family Center (Salvation Army) Emergency shelter program with emphasis on transition to permanent housing. centralusa.salvationarmy.org /washtenaw /provide-housing V 3660 Packard [ map ] Housing Access: (734) 961-1999 Office: (734) 761-7750 Vespers Dinner (First Baptist Church) Free dinner every Tues. 5:30-6:30 p.m. During Covid-19: On hold. Targeting October 2021 to start back up. office@fbca2.org, fbca2.org 517 E. Washington [ map ] (734) 663-9376 Veteran's Haven of Hope House (Salvation Army) Two-year transitional housing program for veterans. Individualized case work services and weekly meetings with caseworkers. centralusa.salvationarmy.org /emi /shelters S, V 809 Henry [ map ] Housing Access: (734) 961-1999 Office: (734) 668-8353 Weatherization Program (Washtenaw County Office of Community and Economic Development) Free housing weatherization services for income-eligible county residents. Services include energy audit, insulation, air sealing, and replacements for refrigerators, furnaces, and water heaters. cudneym@washtenaw.org, washtenaw.org /weatherization 415 W. Michigan, #2200, Ypsilanti [ map ] (734) 544-3008 Walk-in services include transportation and utility assistance, MI Bridges navigation, and referrals to community resources. Food pantry by walk-in or appointment: Tues. 1-6:30 p.m. & Wed. 9 a.m.-1 p.m. For appointment, visit soscs.org YEREVAN, OCTOBER 28, ARMENPRESS. Acting Prime Minister of Armenia Nikol Pashinyan extended condolences to US President Donald Trump on the mass shooting that took place in a synagogue in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. It was with deep pain that we learnt about the attack that claimed the lives of more than ten innocent people in a Pittsburgh synagogue, Pashinyan said in a condolence cable. We condemn in the strongest terms this despicable manifestation of violence and intolerance and we express our solidarity to the calls for a common struggle against xenophobia in the world. On behalf of the Armenian people, I express my deepest condolences to you and the entire American people. Please convey words of comfort and resilience to the families of the victims and those wounded, Pashinyan in part said in the letter, as reported by his office. The October 27 mass shooting in the Pittsburgh synagogue killed 11 people and wounded 6 others. The gunman surrendered to police. Edited and translated by Stepan Kocharyan Mr Crook said the Library would take the necessary preservation action to keep PNG Attitude accessible down the years even with hardware and software changes over time, adding that its national database is shared by over 1,000 Australian libraries. It is [also] committed to preserving electronic publications of lasting research or cultural value. Since [1996] we have been identifying online publications and archiving those that we consider have national significance. The Library aims to build a comprehensive collection of Australian publications to ensure Australians have access to their documentary heritage now and in the future, said senior librarian, Edgar Crook at the time. Well that was 10 years ago and, nowadays, each 15 October, the National Library takes a snapshot of the blog to ensure all the articles and comments it contains will live on into the future. So lets take a look at these snapshots with a short extract from each. While what I reproduce here are random selections, I think the 10 stories effectively represent the kind of content that will be familiar to readers as the heart of PNG Attitude. 2009 A story with the power to keep on giving (Keith Jackson) A boychild was born in Goroka Hospital in the Eastern Highlands just five minutes after a visiting dignitary happened by in March 2008. So impressed were the parents, Esau and Lina Kitgi from isolated Degi village, they named the baby in honour of the visitor Australian prime minister, Kevin Rudd. And from time to time since, with the help of AAP correspondent Ilya Gridneff, we have kept track of Baby Kevins progress. Well hes reached another milestone in his short life first words have been uttered. Hes growing up so quickly, talking now too, says proud Dad, Esau. Well, sort of. The 18-month old has managed mum and dad but, as Gridneff points out, he struggles with his namesakes favourite phrase programmatic specificity. 2010 Seeking goal compatibility in a risky climate (Dexter Bland) I don't believe that passing laws and winning court battles will reduce investment risk in PNG over the long term, and large scale mines are long life assets. Governments can change, laws can be challenged in court. In extreme cases (e.g., Bougainville) there is the possibility of violent revolt. The only way for resource companies to feel secure for the longer term is to win hearts and minds by demonstrating that they can provide a lasting benefit to local communities, as well as the broader population, with minimal cost to the environment. People like Ross Garnaut, and the new management at Ok Tedi Mining, have been leading the way in these areas and I was baffled by the recent attacks on Garnaut. As for Ramu, I think its importance is symbolic. Others here have described it as a defining moment - I hope it can be. I hope the result is a clearer understanding by all sides of the others' point of view, and a rewritten "pact" between all parties, government, miners and landowners. There is certainly room for miners to lift their game, to contribute more, and to reduce their environmental impact. And there is room for the government to monitor, tax and police miners more effectively on behalf of their citizens. In exchange the miners want more security for their investments. These goals aren't incompatible. 2011 Safeguarding heritage: guardians of the river (Keith Jackson) In 2005 A report by the World Wide Fund for Nature and the Alliance of Religions and Conservation, entitled Beyond Belief, reached a critical conclusion. Sacred sites, it said, are the oldest method of habitat protection on the planet. Yet these biological and cultural treasures were then and are still under assault as are the people who have been safeguarding them for millennia. Hence the Sacred Land Film Project is producing a four-part film series, Losing Sacred Ground, which exposes environmental assaults on indigenous sacred landscapes and promotes strategies to protect the integrity of these endangered places. 2012 Cheap shot: curbing the destructive male egos of PNG (Martyn Namorong) Some guy gets beaten up and won't stop acting like a bitch in order to recover lost pride. And because society seems too polite to tell them to put their tail between their legs and retreat, they give them their 15 minutes of notoriety and hot air. So the consolation for a broken ego is that one is allowed to wake up the neighbourhood at 1 am and declare to everyone that you would have beaten the other guy's butt but for the 'cheap shot' he gave you. Of course the entire neighbourhood knows your butt got whopped, but they'll be silent and enjoy hearing you hang yourself. Eventually the alcohol wears off or the drunkard becomes satisfied that the rather large wound in his ego has been treated and he stops bitch'n. This sort of behaviour by a vast majority of men in PNG, whether under the influence of liquor or not, has significant developmental implications. 2013 Will you help the brave man on the mobile phone (Keith Jackson) Its a tough gig. Just imagine. Just imagine yourself in this situation. Youre lying on your back in hospital. Youve been confined to bed for over a year now. The old wheelchair with the sagging seat rests against a wall. Your bedsores have put paid to the small pleasure of using it to propel around the wards. Youre realistic about your life situation. The accident in 1999 was so long ago youve adjusted to the reality youre a paraplegic, never to walk again; the promising career of economist and senior banker a distant dream. Your personal calculus tells you that youre fortunate to be alive and amongst your own people; resident in a hospital where your wisdom is beneficial and your calm presence valued and youre treated with care. Furthermore, you are a respected figure in a wider community. For a start, you are writer of books in a country of few authors. Youre an award-winning essayist and storyteller. You compose your telling words lying flat on your back and punching the tiny keys of a mobile phone. 2014 Kombani blong me, Joseph Miulge (Mathias Kin) An extremely good-natured, stocky old feller Joseph - used to come down from the high slopes of Mt Wilhelm every now and then to stay with his daughter, Dorin Bas, at the DPI compound near Kundiawa, where I also resided in 2004. Joseph called me kombani blong mi and I called him the same. After I learned his age and who he was, my esteem for the bloke increased greatly. I was amazed that, at his advanced stage in life, he exhibited the stamina and charisma of a 30 year old. Many times we shared a beer at our local Kaugras Club. He smokes Cambridge brand cigarettes and even chuckled about the opposite sex. Since I had been indulging in the history of Simbu, I couldnt let this fellow out of my sight every time I had the opportunity to talk with him. And what a historian he was. 2015 The wolves are devouring us in broad daylight (Busa Jeremiah Wenogo) The phrase Papua New Guinea has gone to the dogs is no longer relevant in describing the extent of corruption in our country. It does not go nearly far enough. We all stand astonished at the magnitude and pace at which corruption has accelerated in PNG in the last decade or so. The state of service delivery in most parts of PNG is at a pitiful state even when we are in the middle of a boom - the boom was supposed to usher in a new era in our nations history where we could look forward to a more equitable and fairer society. Yet in the 40 years of its nationhood, PNG has gone from a progressive nation to one of the most backward developing nations on earth. The irony is that, all this time, we have been rated as one of the most resource rich nations. Thanks largely to PNG LNG we have witnessed unprecedented growth in our economy in the last decade yet I cant help wondering what we were raving about when the reality is that this project was not as transformational as it was predicted to be. 2016 The new generation of sons: May they be strong & good (Marlene Dee Gray Potoura) Christian schools in PNG are no better than other schools when it comes to caring for students innermost needs. Schools run privately are all about money. It is a business and students are simply the wares in which they deal. Believe it or not, that is a fact. Is this a cause of the lost generation? The time when our first national leaders like Paulias Matane matured was not an era of a lost generation. This was a success generation. Is there a more recent and more serious problem in the way our schools are developing students? If students are neglected in their homes, should Christian schools step in? A man who treats his wife like a Princess is raised by a Queen. Is this saying true? How about, A man who treats his wife like Trash is raised by a Hag. What do you think? Is the male in-between lost generation era the fault of women? Did we neglect children who turned out to be losers and brutes? Can we, as women change this generation of modern readers, iPad fanatics, video gamers and internet nerds into better men? Are we as strong as our good men of that earlier era? 2017 -We came seeking your help; you denied our liberty & tortured us (Abdul Aziz Adam) We have been held in your country against our wishes and have been denied our Liberty and have been tortured in your country. We came to Australia for seeking Asylum. Australia has signed the 1951 UN refugee convention, however they deliberately broke it and have not offered us Asylum. The UN, UNHCR, Amnesty International, Save the Children, HRW and many other organisations have rebuked Australia's treatment of us here in Manus detention centre. Please do not go along with this mistreatment of humans. We do not want to move into the new centres in Manus town. We do not feel safe there or anywhere in PNG. We cannot work or provide for our families. We cannot be respected by people in society here. We don't want to settle in PNG. We came to Australia. Australia should offer us Asylum. Give us to a safe country like New Zealand. New Zealand has already offered to take us. We will happily start a new lives there. Your own constitution says that we are held illegally here.PNG High Court said last year that Lombrum detention is illegal and now in the end of October, Australian government said we are closing it. But they have built another three centres in town, where they will dump us in there for years. How is this not illegal also? What words and phrases have been changed to make it not illegal? 2018 K38 million Maserati purchase made through Sri Lanka backyard firm, Bryan Kramer slams ONeill govt & demands it come clean (Keith Jackson) Prominent Papua New Guinea Opposition MP and Member for Madang Bryan Kramer has slammed APEC Minister Justin Tkatchenko for the purchase of 40 luxury Maserati sedans, which he says would retail in PNG for at least $400,000 (K950,000) each taking into account excise duty, clearance and freight. And he's in possession of what he says is a leaked invoice (right) to back him up. The cars will be used to ferry world leaders attending the APEC leaders summit that PNG will be hosting in Port Moresby next month. While the country faces a polio outbreak, failing health and education systems, systemic corruption, and escalating law and order issues, prime minister ONeill appears to be more concerned about impressing world leaders, Kramer said in a statement. The bottom line is, we cannot afford to be this extravagant. Our country is broke and the ONeill government continues to be irresponsible and reckless. It is the first time the former Australian colony has hosted the event and with Xi attending and expected to host a meeting on the sidelines with leaders of Beijing-friendly Pacific nations, all eyes have been on whether prime minister Peter ONeills government would be able to pull off the event without a hitch. World leaders had contended that holding the summit on 18 November in Port Moresby with the help of extensive grants would enable one of Asias least developed nations to bask in the international limelight as it seeks foreign direct investment. HONG KONG - With weeks to go before the annual Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit this year in Papua New Guinea - the Pacific nation is putting the final touches on its preparations to host the likes of Chinese president Xi Jinping and United States vice-president Mike Pence. Interior of the new International Convention Centre in Port Moresby, built by a Chinese contractor with Beijing money While for the most part it has, the bad press it attracted last week was clearly not part of the plan. On Friday, public anger at the governments management of funds that were meant for the summit escalated dramatically as tens of thousands of government workers staged a one-day strike. Their main gripe? Port Moresbys decision to buy 40 luxury Maserati cars, valued at around US$300,000 each, and later three Bentleys, to ferry around the likes of Xi and Pence who will be deputising for President Donald Trump. The government said the cars were justified and would be sold after the summit. But critics have scoffed. They say the country is wasting precious resources as it rebuilds after a devastating earthquake in February and an ongoing polio outbreak. Two things coincidentally happened that sparked the protest, said Martyn Namorong, a well-known critic of ONeills government and one of the protest organisers. First, our teachers havent been paid their salaries and we dont have drugs in our clinics and hospitals, even in our national capital. All of these things are happening and we are seeing the government splurging on luxury cars, people are really upset about government priorities, Namorong said. The episode even had some observers wondering whether hosting the summit of the 21-nation bloc will be a net benefit for PNG. Port Moresby agreed to host the summit in 2013 ahead of what it thought would be a boom in natural gas revenue that would accompany the set-up of ExxonMobils US$19 billion liquid nitrogen operation in the country. Energy prices, however, have slid dramatically in recent years. We will see some benefits flowing from APEC, but whether it is worth the cost, you will have to look at the huge effect on the government budget, and the allocation of development resources to Port Moresby rather than other areas that need it more, said Rohan Fox, a PNG researcher at the Australian National University. Terence Wood, another expert on the Pacific nation from the same university, concurred. The economic activity around the summit and associated events, as well as the impetus to improve the infrastructure in Port Moresby, will bring some gains, he said. However, the summit itself will impede other ongoing business in PNG, and this will bring costs. Beyond gripes over domestic governance and corruption, the likes of Namorong say the summit will offer a glimpse into another difficult question for the country: its foreign policy alignment. Long neglected by major powers because of its far-flung location and dependency on former colonial ruler Australia for aid, the country is finding its geostrategic importance as the US-China rivalry intensifies. China in recent years has stepped up its interest in PNG, and the summit itself has seen heavy Chinese involvement. The main convention centre that will host the event was built by a Chinese contractor with a Beijing grant, while six-lane boulevards leading up to it were constructed with cheap Chinese financing. The Pacific nation in June signed up to Beijings trillion-dollar Belt and Road Initiative that seeks to enhance sea and land trade routes between the Middle Kingdom and Eurasia. At the same time, ties with Australia have turned a little testy. While Port Moresby benefits from over US$350 million in aid from Canberra annually, the relationship has seen some strain because of the controversial, now-closed detention centre run by Australia on the remote Manus Island owned by PNG. Activists such as Namorong worry that the government could turn away from its stalwart and closest ally Australia and towards the likes of China because of the financial benefits. I think PNG really needs to redefine foreign policy. At the moment the national leadership is going for whoever has the bag of money to throw at this country and thats unfortunate, said Namorong. But the big-power play could yet be of benefit, according to Shane McLeod, project director of the Australia-Papua New Guinea Network at the Lowy Institute in Sydney. Said McLeod: The increased interest by China in the region can be a positive, particularly when it comes to development assistance. The key for Pacific countries is to make sure they get value for money and the best possible results from projects and financial resources. If the activities of China are a catalyst for countries like Australia developing a more sophisticated approach to the region, then that should be a net positive, he added. Various issues from sociocultural, political and economic spheres have been featured on the front pages of major Nepali and English broadsheet dailies published from Kathmandu on Sunday. The death of a cyclist after he fell into an open manhole in Kirtipur of Kathmandu has been covered on the front page of almost every newspaper today. Likewise, they also have given significant priority to the death of three persons in a road accident in Kavre, near Kathmandu, yesterday. Discussions held among leaders during the tea party hosted by the Nepal Communist Party has also made it to the front pages today. Recently surfaced political crisis in Sri Lanka has also been published on the front pages of major newspapers. Important Cyclist falls into manhole to death in Kathmandu Annapurna Post, Kantipur, Nagarik, The Kathmandu Post, The Himalayan Times and Republica have published reports about the death of Shyam Sundar Shrestha, a local of Chagal in Kathmandu, after he fell into an open manhole in Kirtipur. The reports have blamed Kathmandu Upatyaka Khanepani Limited that distributes drinking water across the country, for opening the manhole time and again for repairs without putting up any warning sign. Three killed in Kavre jeep accident Kantipur has connected the cyclists death with the death of three other persons in a jeep accident in Churedhumka, Mandan Deupur of Kavre district. The victims include Nepal Police DIG Sushil Kumar Bhandari, journalist Jeevan Parajuli and Nepali Congress trade union leader Binod Karki, according to the reports. Meanwhile, three persons have sustained injuries in the accident and are undergoing treatment, the reports inform. Nepal, China military sign cooperation drill Gorkhapatra, Naya Patrika and The Kathmandu Post report on their front pages that Nepal and China have signed a military cooperation drill in Beijing. The agreement was signed on the occasion of China visit of Nepals Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Defence Ishwar Pokharel. According to the agreement, China will provide a support worth Rs 2.5 billion to the Nepal Army within next five years. Ignored Whats wrong with Oli? Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli could not attend the tea party hosted by his own party in Kathmandu on Saturday due to his ill health. Republica says doctors have admised the Prime Minister to take bed rest for next few days after the leader caught common cold and cough due to chest infection. Meanwhile, Gorkhapatra reports that Olis condition is already normal. Nepali Congress treasurer objects to haphazard spending Naya Patrika reports in its lead story for that day that Nepali Congress treasurer Sita Devi Yadav has objected to the party officials involvement in spending the party budget without proper justification. Yadav has accused the partys General Secretary Shashanka Koirala of leading the haphazard spending without proper documentation of reasons. Govt prepares for directive to let provinces form police bodies In a bid to settle the its growing tension with Province 2 government, the federal government is preparing to issue a directive letting the provincial governments enact laws on provincial police organisations, according to Kantipur lead story. The Ministry of Home Affairs has already drafted the directive, but it is yet to be submitted to the Cabinet for the final decision, the report adds. Election Commission wants to study overseas voting possibility Following a Supreme Court order to make sure Nepalis living abroad can also get an opportunity to vote, the Election Commission is in mood to launch a study on how it can be implemented. However, the constitutional body does not have money to fund the research and it has sought the government support, The Himalayan Times reports in a two column story. Non-filers to get removed off taxpayers list Karobar reports in a three column story that the government is preparing to remove 30,000 taxpayers from the list of value added taxpayers as they failed to file taxes regularly and went incommunicado. The task will begin after mid-January next year as announced by Finance Minister Yubaraj Khatiwada during the last budget speech. Interesting Zero cost likely in Nepalis recruitment in Qatar Qatar, one of the most favourite labour destinations for Nepalis, has offered to recruit Nepali workers at zero cost, reports The Kathmandu Post in a four column story. The developments come as another relief for Nepali workers who face a number of hassles before departing for the job destination and while working in a foreign country, the report comments. On Wednesday, Consumer Reports released its annual list of the 10 most reliable cars. The publication created the list by analysing survey responses on more than 500,000 vehicles, and used the responses to predict which cars will create the fewest problems for their owners. Toyota placed seven vehicles on the list, more than any other automaker, and took the top spot with its Lexus GX SUV. No cars from American automakers made the list, as the other three spots were taken by Mazda, Kia, and Honda. On Wednesday, Consumer Reports released its annual list of the 10 most reliable cars. The publication created the list by analysing survey responses on more than 500,000 vehicles, and used the responses to predict which cars will create the fewest problems for their owners. Toyota placed seven vehicles on the list, more than any other automaker, and took the top spot with its Lexus GX SUV. Consumer Reports said the GX was fast and quiet for an SUV, offering a smooth ride and a comfortable cabin. Toyota and Lexus were also the top two brands on Consumer Reports' list of the most reliable car brands for the sixth consecutive year. Lexus took the top spot with an average reliability score of 78 out of 100, and Toyota ranked second with a reliability score of 76. "Lexus is an excellent example of how technologically advanced luxury vehicles can also be very reliable," Consumer Reports said. No vehicles from American automakers made the most reliable cars list, as the other three spots were taken by Mazda, Kia, and Honda. American automakers took six of the 10 spots on Consumer Reports' list of the least reliable cars, reflecting the poor performance of American automakers on the publication's list of the most reliable brands. American automakers accounted for nine of the 10 least reliable brands, and none placed in the top 15. These are the 10 most reliable cars, according to Consumer Reports. 10. Toyota Highlander Story continues 9. Kia Sedona 8. Honda Fit 7. Toyota Prius 6. Lexus NX 5. Toyota Corolla 4. Mazda MX-5 Miata 3. Toyota Prius Prime 2. Toyota Prius C 1. Lexus GX There's a keyboard shortcut that can transform how you'll browse the the web - and it's hiding in plain sight. What is it? The spacebar. Try it. Press it now. I'll wait. That's right: Pressing the space bar by itself when viewing a website automatically scrolls down one page. It's an incredibly useful way to navigate the web as you scroll through articles and social media feeds - one I comfortably use hundreds of times a day. If, like me, you're a regular user, you're probably now wondering how on earth anybody doesn't already realise this is a thing. But a surprising number of people have no clue that it exists. This came to light earlier this week, when British journalist and consultant Martin Bryant tweeted about his shock upon discovering it was a thing: "How have I used web browsers for 22 years without realising that the space bar scrolls the page down?" https://twitter.com/MartinSFP/status/1054468599555993601?ref_src=twsrc^tfw The replies to his tweet were full of other users expressing their amazement about the trick. "MY MIND IS BLOWN," wrote PR exec and former tech journalist Drew Olanoff. https://twitter.com/yoda/status/1054812968658092032?ref_src=twsrc^tfw Music consultant Lee Thompson agreed: "Good grief, neither did I..." https://twitter.com/leethommo/status/1055030755720609792?ref_src=twsrc^tfw "This just bent my head," another Twitter user added. https://twitter.com/stonemanthology/status/1055031163419549696?ref_src=twsrc^tfw https://twitter.com/sarahintampa/status/1054813999446085632?ref_src=twsrc^tfw https://twitter.com/SmartRich/status/1055043302209323009?ref_src=twsrc^tfw And Ben Rooney, the former Wall Street Journal tech editor in Europe, had an additional tip: If you press shift and the space bar at the same time, it scrolls up a page. https://twitter.com/benjrooney/status/1054476625524482053?ref_src=twsrc^tfw Modern computers are full of wild and hidden keyboard shortcuts, but this isn't one of them. And that's the point. It's a single click, with no memorization or combination key presses required, that can transform how you browse the web. No fiddly mouse wheels or slow arrow keys required! You're welcome. Bonus is a chain of discount grocery stores based in Iceland. I took a trip to the land of the ice and snow last month and needed to grab a few incidentals here and there. The Icelanders that I spoke to all recommended shopping at Bonus for its low prices. Visiting an Icelandic chain of discount grocery stores wasn't on my vacation itinerary. But learning about Bonus ended up being, well, a huge bonus during my visit to Reykjavik last month. My friend and I weren't initially planning on hitting up a grocery store during our Labour Day weekend trip, but we needed to pick up a few items since her bag hadn't made our flight from JFK. That's how we ended up visiting Bonus. Founded in 1989, the company now employs 1,000 people, according to the grocery chain's website. There are 20 Bonus stores in Iceland, and 12 in the Faroe Islands. The store might not boast an international presence, but it's still managed to attract attention from visitors to Iceland thanks to its thrifty prices and its plump, pink piggy bank logo. Here's a look inside Bonus: My friend and I first heard about Bonus on the taxi ride from the airport to our hotel. The cab driver pointed out a store with a jolly piggy bank on its sign as we drove into Reykjavik. He told us that Bonus was the least expensive grocery chain in town, and recommended shopping there. Reykjavik is brutally expensive, so we decided to heed the taxi driver's advice and give Bonus a shot. We didn't need to grab any food just replace a few sundries that had been in my friend's mislaid bag. While we were there, though, I decided to wander around and check out some of the products. I noticed a ton of store-branded items like these ciders ... ... this toilet paper ... ... and this orange juice. I also saw that Bonus isn't exactly a 24-hour operation. It certainly doesn't cater to early-morning or late-night shoppers. One of the stores we visited had a sign saying it was open from 11 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. Monday through Thursday. Story continues On Friday, the shop opens its doors at 10 a.m. and shuts them at 7:30 p.m. And then, during the weekend, shoppers can visit Bonus from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Saturday and from noon to 6 p.m. on Sunday. We ended up visiting two different Bonuses during our trip. The stores we stopped by were well-lit, no-frills, and neat. Both times we visited the store, the place was pretty quiet. Not abandoned, but far from crowded. We didn't shop at other grocery stores while in Iceland, so we didn't get to compare any prices. But a tour guide also recommended Bonus later during the trip, and cited its reasonable prices. And we weren't the only ones who got a tip about Bonus. The store frequently pops up on Reddit threads that offer tips on visiting Iceland. Source: Reddit One traveller described buying "noodles, frozen pizza, sandwiches, beans, tea, fresh fruit, cheeses, and dairy" for a two-week trek in the island nation. Source: Reddit Another shopper wrote that they "stocked up at Bonus... to avoid the crazy eating-out costs," and called the store "reasonably-priced" and comparable to Aldi, price-wise. Source: Reddit, Reddit A different visitor said that Bonus "had the biggest food selection I've seen since I've been here." Source: Reddit, Reddit One poster described Bonus as one of the "supermarkets that locals shop at." Another gushed that their Bonus tote bag was the "best souvenir from our trip." Source: Reddit But all this online love for Bonus has seemingly confused some native Icelanders. Source: Reddit, Reddit In a thread where a poster discussed snagging Bonus-branded t-shirts, another poster asked if it was "normal for foreigners to want a t-shirt with a big money pig on it?" Source: Reddit, Reddit Another poster added, "Man, you tourists are weird!" Source: Reddit, Reddit Weird or not, my friend and I embraced the enthusiasm for the discount chain. She even picked up a few Bonus shopping bags which display the brand's cute, squinting mascot to take back to the States. Algeria's frail President Abdelaziz Bouteflika, in power since 1999, will stand for a fifth term at elections next year, the head of his party said Sunday. National Liberation Front chief Djamel Ould Abbes said Bouteflika, who suffered a stroke in 2013, would be the party's candidate at the vote set for April 2019, state news agency APS reported. "Bouteflika... is the candidate of the FLN for the presidential election," Ould Abbes was quoted as saying at a meeting with lawmakers from the party. "His candidacy has been demanded by all the FLN cadres and activists across the country," he said. The FLN central committee will meet soon to formalise the candidacy, Ould Abbes' chief of staff Nadir Boulegroune told AFP. Bouteflika, 81, has yet to announce his candidacy officially. The veteran leader has been weak since suffering the 2013 stroke, which diminished his mobility and forced him to work from his residence in Zeralda, west of the capital Algiers. He has since travelled abroad several times to undergo medical treatment in France and Switzerland. The president only makes rare public appearances, during which he is usually seen sitting in a wheelchair. Rumours often swirl in Algeria about the state of the president's health. But ahead of next year's presidential poll, Bouteflika's camp has for months been preparing the ground for him to claim a fresh term. Algerian President Abdelaziz Bouteflika is seen heading to vote at a polling station in Algiers on November 23, 2017 as Algeria goes to the polls for local elections Pope Francis has vowed to end clerical sexual abuse, but bishops from Asia and Africa have shown a mixed response to a scandal some have termed a "Western problem". Church leaders from around the world attended the closing mass Sunday of a month-long meeting, or synod, which many had hoped would take the global struggle against paedophile priests up a notch. As the talks began, Francis warned again that abuse and cover ups would not be tolerated. But as US Cardinal Blase Joseph Cupich told the press, priestly sexual abuse was "not on the front burner of all countries". "The resistance of some bishops" to discuss a crisis which has hit countries from Germany to America and Chile limited talk time at the synod, US Archbishop of Philadelphia Charles Chaput told the Catholic News Service agency. "Some say that (sex abuse) really is an issue of the Western world," he said, adding that he wished that "we had spent more time not only talking about (the crisis), but apologizing to people for it". - 'In denial' - Eamon Martin, the President of the Irish Episcopal Conference, said some churches were "in denial" and had not given the anti-paedophilia campaign "its proper place". He said hopes now lay in an exceptional meeting convened in late February by the pope at which the heads of bishop conferences from around the world are to discuss the protection of minors. Martin said he prayed the meeting "will help to ensure that more countries will take this issue seriously". The Vatican has already warned that in some countries the church is dragging its feet because of cultural difference over what constitutes child abuse. The problem was particularly serious in Asia, Archbishop Charles Scicluna -- a former top prosecutor on paedophile priest cases -- said in 2012 on the sidelines of an international conference on the crisis at the religious Gregorian University. Scicluna, who recently carried out an abuse probe in Chile, said earlier this month that church leaders must realize this is not "a problem linked to any culture or geographic part of the world. "That is a myth that has to be dispelled," he said. - 'Urgent situation' - Cardinal Reinhard Marx, head of the German bishops' conference, agreed that "the subject is present all over the whole world". "It's an urgent situation. It's a matter of survival for the church, at least in its current form," he warned. Germany's Catholic church apologised last month to thousands of victims of sexual assault by clergy, with Marx insisting that perpetrators must be brought to justice. Apologies, he said on the sidelines of the synod, were not enough: the Roman Catholic Church must also "fundamentally change the system" with the help of new prevention mechanisms. He called for "a new canon law in all aspects", given that the current version dates back to 1983. Marx said there were too few staff in the Vatican -- around 10 people -- to examine reports of cleric abuse from all around the world. Hans Zollner, head of the Vatican's Child Protection Centre, said meanwhile that the definition of child abuse was too vague. Pope Francis has vowed to end clerical sexual abuse, but bishops from Asia and Africa have shown less interest in a scandal some see as a "Western problem" Updated factfile on major sex abuse allegations relating to the Catholic Church. Cardinal Reinhard Marx says that resolving the sex abuse scandal is "a matter of survival for the church, at least in its current form" WARNING DISTRESSING CONTENT: The moment a killer whale appears to tease an unlucky seal by pushing him around a stretch of water before finally eating him for dinner has been caught on camera. The seven-metre killer whale managed to catch the seal by surprise as he charged into a reef and chased him into open water at Cowichan Bay on Canadas Vancouver Island. The predator then seized his prey and toyed with the seal, dragging it beneath the water and repeatedly surfacing, before killing it. The images show the whale pursuing the seal before dragging it under water. Source: Australscope The photographs were taken by whale researcher Gary Sutton, who is able to identify each killer whale in the area by their natural markings and their dorsal fin. I took these pictures during an amazing evening, the 33-year-old said. We had gone up into the Strait of Georgia, which separates Vancouver and Vancouver Island, to see this family of killer whales. The whale ended up devouring the seal. Source: Australscope Mr Sutton said the whale, identified as T065A2, managed to get close enough to the reef to force the seal into open water. He almost seemed to be toying with it as he had its lower half in his mouth and was pushing it along like you can see in the photos, he said. He dragged the seal down multiple times and then brought it back to the surface only to play and torment with it a bit more before the rest of the family came in to share the meal. Mr Sutton said while the images were distressing, the whales actions was merely part of the food chain. Source: Australscope Mr Sutton said he feels very privileged to be able to catch a glimpse of the oceans top predator on a regular basis. Having said that, you cant help but feel a bit bad for the seal being pulled around by this massive whale, he admitted. Its all part of the food chain though and it keeps this beautiful ecosystem in harmony. In April, stunned tourists were horrified as a pack of orcas devoured a beak whale off the coast of Western Australia. Australscope The Duchess of Sussex, 37, gave a powerful speech after the Royal couple touched down in New Zealand for the final leg of their 16-day tour. Meghan and Harry joined Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern and Governor Dame Patsy Reddy at Government House in Wellington for a welcoming reception, and to celebrate New Zealands 125th anniversary of womens suffrage. We are proud to be able to join you tonight in celebrating the 125th anniversary of womens suffrage in your country, Meghan began her speech while standing in front of a portrait of Queen Elizabeth. She opened her speech with a formal Maori greeting, which was received by the audience with rapturous applause. Meghan accessorised her black Gabriela Hearst dress with a necklace with a traditional Maori design. The achievements of the women of New Zealand who campaigned for their right to vote, and were the first in the world to achieve it, are universally admired, she said. In looking forward to this very special occasion, I reflected on the importance of this achievement, but also the larger impact of what this symbolises. Harry and Meghan will travel to Abel Tasman National Park today and then to Rotorua, where they will wrap up their epic 16 day tour of the Pacific. Watch the speech above. A constitutional crisis gripping Sri Lanka since the president's shock dismissal of Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe erupted into violence Sunday, with a man shot dead and two others injured in Colombo. Police said bodyguards for a Sri Lankan cabinet minister allied to Wickremesinghe opened fire inside a government ministry as a mob loyal to President Maithripala Sirisena besieged the minister's office. Three people were injured but a 34-year-old man died shortly after. It was the first fatality since Sirisena sacked Wickremesinghe on Friday and installed a former strongman as prime minister, triggering political chaos in the Indian Ocean nation. Wickremesinghe has refused to vacate the prime minister's official residence, barricading himself inside as over 1,000 supporters, including chanting Buddhist monks, rallied outside. The 69-year-old says his sacking is illegal, and wants an emergency session of parliament held to prove he still commands a majority. Sirisena shut parliament for nearly three weeks to forestall any challenge to his appointment of Mahinda Rajapakse, a former president accused of wartime abuses. Rajapakse sought blessings at a prominent Buddhist temple Sunday as he jostled to consolidate his claim to the prime ministership. But Wickremesinghe got a boost as Sri Lanka's parliamentary speaker refused to endorse his sacking. Speaker Karu Jayasuriya backed Wickremesinghe's request to retain his privileges and security until another candidate could prove a majority in parliament, saying it was "democratic and fair". He also warned the president that shuttering parliament risked "serious and undesirable consequences for the country". Opposition leader Rajavarothiam Sampanthan urged Jayasuriya to summon parliament immediately. "I hereby call upon yourself to uphold the rule of law by summoning parliament... to perform its legitimate functions," said Sampanthan, who represents Sri Lanka's minority Tamil community. Officials loyal to Rajapakse said police will now seek a court order to evict Wickremesinghe from the residence, threatening to escalate the standoff. Soldiers had been stationed near the residence, although Wickremesinghe's security and official cars were withdrawn Saturday. Tensions were high across Colombo, with police leave cancelled amid warnings street violence could break out if the president did not immediately summon parliament to end the impasse. "Don't try to create a civil war in this country," party legislator Karunarathna Paranawithana told reporters at the prime minister's residence. Regional neighbours and Western nations have urged all sides to exercise restraint and respect the constitution. - Shooting - But violence broke out inside the petroleum ministry as police guarding Minister Arjuna Ranatunga fired on a mob surrounded his office. Witnesses saw Ranatunga, 54, also a former World Cup winning cricket captain, rushed from the scene in a tactical helmet and body armour by police commandos. In his first televised address to the nation since the crisis began, Sirisena said Sunday he sacked Wickremesinghe over personal and political disputes. "Apart from our ideological differences, we also had serious cultural differences," Sirisena said, referring to Wickremesinghe's liberal background and his own rural conservative upbringing. He said he had no choice but to appoint Rajapakse, and urged parliament to support him. Loyalists of Rajapakse -- whose controversial decade-long rule was marked by grave allegations of rights abuses, the crushing of the Tamil Tiger uprising, and growing authoritarianism -- were appointed Sunday to run the country's two state-run television channels and a newspaper. Plans to appoint some cabinet members had been delayed until Monday, aides said. Rajapakse is yet to make a formal statement since being elevated to the new post. The strongman is seen as being closer to China than Wickremesinghe, who had sought to re-establish stronger ties with traditional ally and regional power India. New Delhi said it was "closely following" events in Colombo. The United States and European Union ambassadors have called on the Sri Lankan rivals to follow the constitution and avoid violence. - 'Constitutional coup' - Privately-run newspapers on Sunday described Sirisena's move as a "constitutional coup". However, Rajapakse loyalist and former foreign minister G. L. Peiris said there was nothing illegal about Wickremesinghe's dismissal. The falling-out between Wickremesinghe and Sirisena has come to a head since the president this year backed a no-confidence motion against the man he had handpicked to lead the government. The two allied against Rajapakse in the 2015 election, but their relationship steadily soured. Sirisena initially said he would be a one-term president but has since indicated he will seek re-election next year -- pitting himself against Wickremesinghe who also has presidential ambitions. This is the second time that a president has ousted Wickremesinghe from office. In 2004, the then head of state sacked him and called snap elections. After winning the premiership in August 2015, Wickremesinghe amended the constitution to remove the president's power to sack prime ministers to prevent a repeat of his earlier ouster. Sunday marked the first fatality since the ouster of Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe and the installation of a former strongman as premier Sri Lanka's new prime minister Mahinda Rajapakse went to the Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic Sunday to seek blessings Rajapakse's decade-long rule was marked by grave allegations of rights abuses and growing authoritarianism Presidential elections in Georgia, seen as a crucial test for the increasingly unpopular ruling party, have gone to a run-off, preliminary results showed on Monday. With tallies from nearly all precincts counted, ruling-party backed candidate, ex-French ambassador Salome Zurabishvili, narrowly led with 38.66 percent of the vote, compared with 37.7 percent for opposition leader Grigol Vashadze, the central election commission said. A candidate needs to win 50 percent plus one vote to be elected in the first round, so a run-off will be held by December 1, the commission said. Official turnout was nearly 47 percent at 2000 local time (1600 GMT) on Sunday, when the polls closed, the commission added. The presidential campaign saw the ruling party and the opposition cross arms in a prelude to their decisive stand-off during parliamentary polls scheduled for 2020. If elected, Vashadze has promised to mount a campaign for a snap parliamentary vote. - Rival diplomats - Zurabishvili, a stylish 66-year-old independent MP, is the daughter of refugees who fled Georgia in 1921 for Paris after the country's annexation by the Red Army. Her career in France's foreign service culminated in a posting to Tbilisi. Then president Mikheil Saakashvili appointed her foreign minister -- with the approval of France's president at the time Jacques Chirac. But Zurabishvili quickly made enemies among the parliamentary majority, with MPs and some senior diplomats publicly accusing her of arrogance and impulsiveness. She was sacked after a year in the job, though thousands took to the streets of the capital to protest her dismissal. She then joined the opposition and became one of Saakashvili's fiercest critics. Her main rival Vashadze -- backed by exiled Saakashvili's United National Movement (UNM) and 10 other groups -- has been boosted by growing popular discontent over the government's failure to tackle poverty. He is a respected career diplomat who served in the Soviet foreign ministry where he helped craft the Soviet-US treaty on the reduction and limitation of strategic weapons. He was Saakashvili's foreign minister from 2008-2012. Vashadze, 60, is married to the celebrated prima ballerina Nina Ananiashvili. - Last direct ballot - Both candidates have promised to lead Georgia closer to full membership in the European Union and NATO. The tiny Black Sea nation has knocked on NATO's doors for more than a decade but the bloc has not yet put Tbilisi on a path to formal membership, despite a pledge in 2008 that it would at some point be admitted. During a fraught campaign, Vashadze criticised the "informal oligarch rule" of Bidzina Ivanishvili, Georgian Dream's billionaire leader. Georgia's richest man, Ivanishvili stepped down as premier in 2013 after just a year in office, but he is widely believed to still be the country's de facto ruler. On the campaign trail, Zurabishvili and Georgian Dream slammed the UNM for alleged human rights abuses during its previous term in power. The vote is to be Georgia's last direct presidential poll as it transitions to a parliamentary regime. The new head of state will be a largely ceremonial figure, and their successor is to be elected in 2024 by a 300-member electoral college. More than 3.5 million people were eligible to vote in the election, which was monitored by international observers from the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe. The hotly contested race pits ex-French ambassador and former Georgian foreign minister Salome Zurabishvili against opposition leader Grigol Vashadze Grigol Vashadze is a respected career diplomat who served in the Soviet foreign ministry, where he helped craft the Soviet-US treaty on the reduction and limitation of strategic weapons The presidential campaign is seen by the ruling party and opposition groups as a prelude to crucial parliamentary polls scheduled for 2020 Kathmandu, October 28 Traders have planned to import marigold flowers and garlands worth Rs 3 million for upcoming Tihar festival. Kathmandu needs around 1 million garlands for the festival. Whereas the domestic production covers around 60 per cent of the supply, around 400,000 garlands will be imported from India, according to the traders. Annually, around 90 per cent share of the market is covered by the domestic production. However, the ratio changes as the demand swells during the festival. Nepal, however, has become independent in globe amaranth and chrysanthemum flowers and garlands for the festive season and no import will be made, according to the traders. Besides major cities such as Kathmandu and Pokhara, most parts of the country, however, produce flowers to meet Tihar demands on their own. Lewis Hamilton said Saturday he is wary of any possible contact with Sebastian Vettel at the start of Sunday's Mexican Grand Prix after the pair qualified together on the second row of the grid. The 33-year-old Briton, who will win his fifth drivers' title if he outscores the German by five points, or if Vettel fails to win, said he wants to avoid a repeat of their collision on last year's opening lap. "Well, you saw what happened last year with the red car behind," he said, responding to a question about his thinking for the start. He qualified third and Vettel fourth behind the Red Bulls led by Daniel Ricciardo on pole. "So, I don't know ?- it really depends how we get away, but third place is a nice place to start because you get a good tow from the guys ahead. "So, naturally, I'm going to be fighting to at least try and gain a position, but, of course, I'm aware of the Bulls ahead." Hamilton knows that both he and Vettel will share in seeking to avoid hitting each other at the start of the race ?- Vettel because he can only keep his title challenge alive by winning for Ferrari. But Hamilton said he and his Mercedes team will be racing to try and win the race with no thoughts of settling for an easy drive to glory. "Big changes and improvements were made overnight and to come back in today and put us in contention all of a sudden was amazing," he said. "We didn't think yesterday with that performance that we would be able to qualify on an ultra-soft (tyre) so that would have been a massive disadvantage for us. "But I knew straightaway that the car felt much better and we could be in a stronger place to fight for position. It was pretty good for me." Lewis Hamilton only needs to finish seventh to be sure of winning the Formula One title A group of around 300 migrants left the El Salvador capital on foot on Sunday heading for the border with Guatemala in the hope of eventually realizing the "American dream" and reaching the United States. The group, made up mostly of men, has been inspired by the much larger Honduran caravan already in Mexico and striving to reach the US. "We're a little more than 300 people, but as we walk we hope more compatriots will join us," Hernan Quinteros, a 48-year-old retired army sergeant, told AFP. The new caravan ignored warnings from El Salvador's government on Friday not to put their lives in danger. It's more than two weeks since a caravan of Honduran migrants set off in search of a better life, passing through Guatemala and now into Mexico, with its numbers swelling up to 7,000 according to UN estimates. US President Donald Trump has threatened to deploy the military to halt them at the border with Mexico. But while Quinteros, who took part in El Salvador's 1980-92 civil war, said it was "painful" to leave his three children behind, he said the United States is "the country of opportunities." "A young person spends a year hoping to find work that never arrives and that's why I'm going after the American dream," said 24-year-old Pablo Figueroa. Figueroa lives off the tips he earns singing in restaurants but says he wants to find permanent employment that would allow him to "build a project for life." Among the few women in the group is 38-year-old single mother Lorena Cruz, who left behind children aged 16, 12 and 10. "The caravan is presenting an opportunity for me (to emigrate)," said Cruz, who confessed that it would cost a lot to pay people smugglers to get her into the US. As it left San Salvador, the group was accompanied by police who would "guarantee safety" all the way to the Guatemala border, one officer told AFP. Around 2.5 million Salvadorans live in the US and last year sent home more than $5 billion in remittances, making up almost 16 percent of the Central American country's gross domestic product. Hundreds of Salvadorans are on the march in the hope of emulating the much larger Honduran caravan already in Mexico and US-bound Salvadoran migrants would have to travel through Guatemala and Mexico before reaching their goal and the United States A man has been filmed dancing with his friendly pet deer, which was rescued from the wild. Quentin Brears, from New Zealand, shared footage to his Facebook page on Sunday of himself playing with the deer, named Judo. The animal became the pet of his friend, John Ham, after her mother was shot by hunters two years ago. A man has been filmed dancing with his friendly pet deer,. Photo: Facebook/ Quentin Brears Mr Brears said Mr Ham took Judo home, where she bonded with his family and eventually became so comfortable around people that she started to dance and perform tricks. She basically started walking herself. When you back up and hunch down she automatically jumps on like she would another deer. So when I start slowly walking away she follows on two legs, Mr Brears told NZ Herald. Brears said Judo was gentle, loving and great around kids. Saudi Arabia has promised a "full" investigation into the killing of journalist Jamal Khashoggi, US Defence Secretary Jim Mattis said Sunday following talks with Saudi Foreign Minister Adel al-Jubeir in Bahrain. "We discussed it... the need of transparency, full and complete investigation. Full agreement from FM Jubeir, no reservations at all," Mattis told reporters following the talks, during which he warned the Saudi kingdom that the murder attributed to the Saudi authorities risked destabilising the region. "No reservations at all. He (Jubeir) said we need to know what happened and it was very collaborative, in agreement," the Pentagon chief told reporters on a flight from Manama to Prague where he will mark the centenary of Czechoslovakia. Speaking later on Sunday at a joint press conference in Prague with Czech Prime Minister Andrej Babis, Mattis gave a nod to Turkey's probe into the murder. "Certainly Turkey with the evidence that they have compiled will ensure that there is more than one review of what is going on there and I am certain the investigation will include the evidence that Turkey has put forward so far," Mattis said. Saudi journalist Khashoggi, 59, who had criticised the kingdom's powerful Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, had lived in self-imposed exile in the United States since 2017. He was murdered after entering his country's Istanbul consulate on October 2 to obtain paperwork to marry his Turkish fiancee. Gruesome reports have alleged that the Washington Post columnist was killed and dismembered by a team sent from Saudi Arabia to silence him. After weeks of denials, Riyadh has sought to draw a line under the crisis with an investigation. - 'Premeditated' - Prince Mohammed, heir to the oil-rich nation's throne, publicly denounced the murder as "repulsive", while the Saudi prosecutor acknowledged for the first time this week that based on the evidence of a Turkish investigation the killing had been "premeditated". But Riyadh on Saturday dismissed Ankara's calls to extradite 18 Saudis being held over Khashoggi's murder, as Washington warned the crisis risked destabilising the Middle East. Addressing a forum in Manama on Saturday, Mattis warned that "the murder of Jamal Khashoggi in a diplomatic facility must concern us all greatly". "Failure of any nation to adhere to international norms and the rule of law undermines regional stability at a time when it is needed most," he stressed. The murder, which has tarnished the image of Crown Prince Mohammed, has sparked a wave of international criticism and affected Washington's relations with the kingdom. The United States relies heavily on Saudi Arabia to counter Iran's influence in the region and to defend the security of Israel. Mattis did not have a formal bilateral meeting with Jubeir on the sidelines of the Manama forum, where he met with several Arab and European leaders. The two men spoke at a dinner gathering all the ministers. US Defence Secretary Jim Mattis spoke with Saudi Foreign Minister Adel al-Jubeir on the sidelines of a regional defence forum in Manama Mourners held an emotional vigil Sunday for victims of a fatal shooting at a Pittsburgh synagogue, an assault that saw a gunman who said he "wanted all Jews to die" open fire on a mostly elderly group. Americans had earlier learned the identities of the 11 people killed in the brutal assault at the Tree of Life synagogue, including 97-year-old Rose Mallinger and couple Sylvan and Bernice Simon, both in their 80s. Nine of the victims were 65 or older. The auditorium of downtown Pittsburgh's Soldiers and Sailors Memorial Hall and Museum was packed for the 90-minute vigil, which began with music from an African-American choir. Speakers said thousands more had gathered in the cold rain outside, listening in via loudspeaker. A female cleric led an a capella rendition of the national anthem and a male cantor read the Hatikvah -- a Jewish poem and Israel's national anthem. "Words of hate are unwelcome in Pittsburgh," said Rabbi Jeffrey Myers to a standing ovation, which he followed with a message to political leaders. "Ladies and gentlemen, it has to start with you, our leaders," he said. "My words are not intended as political fodder." "Stop the words of hate." The rabbi, who had helped pull people out of the synagogue after the attack, chanted a memorial prayer in Hebrew, wiping his eyes with a handkerchief. Similar events took place nationwide, with words of solace pouring in from the US Jewish community -- the largest outside Israel -- as well as the pope and European leaders. Federal officials said Sunday that 46-year-old suspect Robert Bowers -- arrested at the synagogue after a firefight with police -- faces 29 federal charges, many carrying the death penalty. He has been hospitalized with multiple gunshot wounds but will appear before a federal magistrate Monday. - 'Heartbroken' - The assault on the 150-year-old congregation was the deadliest anti-Semitic attack in recent US history. Squirrel Hill, the close-knit neighborhood and heart of Pittsburgh's Jewish community where the shooting occurred, was in shock. "Heartbroken," said Aylia Paulding, 37, her voice breaking as she summed up the mood. Authorities said the gunman burst into the building early Saturday and opened fire with an AR-15 rifle and Glock handguns in a 20-minute rampage. Four police officers or SWAT team members were injured, one critically. E. Joseph Charny, 90, was worshipping in a room with a half-dozen people when he saw a man appear in the doorway and heard shots ring out, he told The Washington Post. "I looked up and there were all these dead bodies," said Charny, a retired psychiatrist who has attended services at Tree of Life since 1955. - 'Fake news to blame' - Donald Trump on Saturday denounced the attack, saying, "the scourge of anti-Semitism cannot be ignored, cannot be tolerated and cannot be allowed to continue." But on Sunday he blamed the media for stoking tensions: "The Fake News is doing everything in their power to blame Republicans, Conservatives and me for the division and hatred that has been going on for so long in our Country." "Actually, it is their Fake & Dishonest reporting which is causing problems far greater than they understand!" he said. He earlier said one answer to apparent hate crimes was to provide guards at places of worship, not to tighten gun laws. However, Pittsburgh Mayor Bill Peduto told journalists: "The approach that we need to be looking at is how we take the guns, which is the common denominator of every mass shooting in America, out of the hands of those that are looking to express hatred through murder." Trump said he would travel to Pittsburgh to express his condolences. But some victims' families reportedly have little desire to see a president blamed by many for fanning hatred, and a group of Jewish leaders from the city released an open letter Sunday telling Trump he bears responsibility for the shooting. "For the past three years your words and your policies have emboldened a growing white nationalist movement. You yourself called the murderer evil, but yesterday's violence is the direct culmination of your influence," the letter said. Jonathan Greenblatt, director of the Anti-Defamation League, said he was encouraged by Trump's words after the shooting but also sounded a note of caution. "It isn't what you say after the tragedy that only matters," Greenblatt said. "It's the environment that you create with your rhetoric." Anti-Semitic acts in the United States have risen sharply in recent years, ADL figures show. Saturday's attack came a day after a Trump supporter from Florida was arrested for mailing explosive devices to Democrats and liberals, setting the country on edge ahead of close-fought elections on November 6. Bowers lived in the Baldwin Borough suburb of Pittsburgh, less than half an hour's drive south of Tree of Life. He reportedly worked as a trucker, and has been linked to a rash of anti-Semitic online posts, notably on Gab.com, a site frequented by white nationalists. According to a criminal complaint filed Saturday, he told police he "wanted all Jews to die and that they (Jews) were committing genocide to his people." Rabbi Hazzan Jeffrey Myers, who helped pull people out of the sanctuary after shots rang out, fought back tears as he addressed the vigil The assault on the 150-year-old congregation was the deadliest anti-Semitic attack in recent US history Hundreds of people packed a massive Pittsburgh auditorium for a vigil remembering the victims of a synagogue shooting Words of solace have poured in from the US Jewish community -- the largest outside Israel -- as well as from around the world Children hold thank-you notes to authorities outside the Tree of Life Synagogue after the shooting, which left 11 people dead in the Squirrel Hill neighborhood of Pittsburgh Map of Pittsburgh locating the Tree of Life Synogogue where a man opened fire on people attending a baby naming ceremony on Saturday. Turkey's military on Sunday fired artillery shells at a Kurdish militia in Syria that is backed by the United States but deemed a terrorist group by Ankara, the state-run Anadolu news agency reported. The shelling targeted YPG positions on the eastern bank of the Euphrates River in northern Syria, Anadolu said. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has repeatedly threatened to launch a new offensive in Syria east of the Euphrates, and on Friday said he was giving the YPG a "final warning". Anadolu reported that the strikes, which hit a hill near the Zur Maghar village across the Euphrates from the city of Jarablus in the Aleppo province, were in response to fire from the area. The shelling comes a day after Erdogan hosted a summit in Istanbul on the Syrian conflict with the leaders of Russia, France and Germany. The YPG, which holds swathes of northern and northeastern Syria, forms the backbone of the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), the Kurdish-Arab alliance that has received extensive American support in the fight against the Islamic State group in the war-torn country. However Ankara is bitterly opposed to the YPG, regarding it as an extension of the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK), which has waged a deadly insurgency in Turkey since 1984. The PKK is designated as a terror group by Turkey and its Western allies. Washington's support of the YPG remains a major point of contention between the US and Turkey, and a large-scale offensive east of the Euphrates could aggravate already tense relations between the NATO allies. Turkey has also repeatedly threatened an attack on the YPG-controlled Syrian city of Manbij, where US troops are deployed. To ease tensions, Washington and Ankara agreed to have troops conduct coordinated patrols around the city, and such a patrol went ahead on Sunday, Turkish armed forces said. Earlier this year, Turkey launched operation "Olive Branch" in Syria west of the Euphrates, successfully ousting YPG forces from their enclave in Afrin. Ankara has long opposed the YPG controlling a continuous stretch of territory on its border up to Iraq, fearing the creation of an autonomous region or even independent entity that could embolden Turkey's own Kurds. Turkey's military fired artillery shells at a Kurdish militia in Syria that is backed by the United States but deemed a terrorist group by Ankara, the state-run Anadolu news agency reported The murder of Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi has triggered a diplomatic and public relations crisis for Saudi Arabia, but little may change for the victims of the Yemen war. On Wednesday, at least 24 civilians were killed in strikes on Yemen's Hodeida province, the Red Sea district at the heart of a fight between a regional military alliance led by Saudi Arabia and Yemen's Iran-backed Huthi rebels. Among the locations hit was a facility where labourers were packing vegetables, the United Nations said. But the bombings went largely unnoticed by statesmen around the world. Saudi Arabia and its allies are mired in the conflict in Yemen, which has struggled to garner international attention even as 14 million of its citizens face imminent famine. In September alone, the country was hit by at least 154 air raids, according to the Yemen Data Project. Children have been killed in air strikes, while blockades and corruption leave entire cities unable to find food and clean water. Saudi Arabia is now under nearly unprecedented scrutiny following the murder this month of Khashoggi, the former royal court insider-turned-critic who wrote a column for the Washington Post. But analysts say it is unlikely the Khashoggi killing will turn the spotlight on Saudi Arabia's broader policies -- leaving Yemenis fighting to survive war, famine and a failed economy that may prove as fatal as the violence. - Killing, maiming children - "Saudi Arabia has been called out on the murder of Jamal Khashoggi more than they have been over the past years of the Yemen war," said Farea al-Muslimi, associate fellow at Chatham House. "For a government, it's an easy public relations play -- even if you yourself have been involved for years in Yemen," Muslimi said. Under the order of Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman -- now heir to the Saudi throne, then his country's defence minister -- Saudi Arabia led a regional coalition into Yemen in 2015 to aid the government in its fight against the Huthis. While both sides stand accused of acts that could amount to war crimes, Riyadh and its allies have been blacklisted by the UN for the killing and maiming of children. The Saudi-led alliance also controls Yemen's airspace and has imposed a blockade, fluctuating in severity, on the country's ports, a measure they say is aimed at curbing the smuggling of Iranian arms to the Huthis. But it is unlikely the crown prince -- whose country is also the world's top donor to Yemen -- will be called out for his role in the war there, analysts say. "Jamal's murder is a clear-cut scenario... Western states had no immediate role in this," Muslimi told AFP. "Yemen, however, is complex. There's no black and white. It requires thinking." Since the Saudi-led coalition intervened in the conflict, nearly 10,000 civilians have been killed, according to the World Health Organization. Other rights groups estimate the toll could be as high as 50,000. - Each victim 'worthy' - Europe and the United States supply over 98 per cent of weapons imported by Saudi Arabia, according to the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute. While Germany last week said it had suspended its arms sales to Saudi Arabia over the Khashoggi murder, French President Emmanuel Macron initially dismissed the idea as populist. Macron later said he backed a "coordinated European position" on potential sanctions. Washington has likewise refused to let go of Saudi Arabia as a trade partner which had, according to President Donald Trump, bought "$110 billion" in arms from the United States. In August, reports emerged that US firm Lockheed Martin had manufactured the laser-guided Mk 82 bomb that hit a bus in rebel-held northern Yemen, killing 40 children. Under Trump's predecessor Barack Obama the US military expanded its operations in Yemen, home to Al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula. And since Saudi Arabia and its allies intervened in Yemen in 2015, US armed forces have provided aerial targeting assistance, intelligence sharing, and mid-flight aerial refuelling to the Saudi-led coalition. Khashoggi's role writing for one of the US' most high-profile newspapers gave his murder global prominence. But rights groups fear those trapped in a war in which Saudi Arabia plays a central role will remain relegated to the margins. "Each victim of an unlawful Saudi coalition strike in Yemen is as worthy of concern as a Washington Post columnist," said Kristine Beckerle, Yemen researcher for Human Rights Watch. "A groom and his wedding party. A child locked in jail. Villagers digging a well. Crowds shopping at a market. All killed or wounded in bombings by the Saudi-led coalition," she said. "None of these apparent war crimes in Yemen were able to provoke the type of international outrage that the murder of Khashoggi has these past few weeks." The conflict in Yemen has struggled to garner international attention even as 14 million of its citizens face imminent famine Saudi Arabia is under nearly unprecedented scrutiny following the murder this month of journalist Jamal Khashoggi Yemenis form a human chain to pass food aid, supplied by the UAE Red Crescent, to mountainous towns on the outskirts of the city of Taiz on October 16, 2018 Europe and the United States supply over 98 per cent of weapons imported by Saudi Arabia, according to the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute A Yemeni boy at a hospital after he was wounded in an air strike in Saada province on August 9, 2018, which killed 40 children India's Zika outbreak is spreading, with officials saying Sunday that the mosquito-borne virus has been detected in the western state of Gujarat after nearly 150 cases were reported this year in neighbouring Rajasthan. Health authorities in Gujarat said a woman tested positive for Zika and was treated at a state hospital in the capital Ahmedabad, the first confirmed case outside Rajasthan this year. "Only one case has been found so far. We are taking all precautions," Gujarat Commissioner of Health, Jayanti Ravi, told AFP on Sunday. The state health department has rallied hundreds of doctors and medical personnel to perform emergency screenings for Zika, including more than 250 pregnant women with fevers. Gujarat, which borders Rajasthan to the south, has been fumigating public areas in an effort to kill the mosquitos that carry the diseases. Health authorities in Rajasthan have detected 147 cases of Zika since September, officials say. Almost 440,000 people were under surveillance in Rajasthan's capital Jaipur last month. The Aedes aegypti mosquito, which carries Zika and other viruses like dengue fever, is widely prevalent in India. The country of 1.25 billion reported its first Zika cases in January 2017 in Gujarat but the latest case is the first in the state this year. Since Zika erupted on a large scale in 2015, more than 1.5 million people in more than 70 countries have been infected, with most in South America. In rare cases, if pregnant women contract the virus their babies can develop brain defects. Zika was also detected in the southern Indian state of Tamil Nadu in July 2017. The World Health Organization has said no vaccine is likely to be available until 2020. Gujarat has been fumigating public areas in an effort to kill the mosquitos that carry the diseases As Onondaga County comptroller, Bob Antonacci speaks glowingly about the job. On Election Day, Nov. 6, voters will consider him for a new post: New York state senator. Antonacci, a Republican, is running to succeed retiring state Sen. John DeFrancisco in the 50th district, which covers a large swath of Onondaga County, most of Auburn and the Cayuga County towns of Brutus, Cato, Ira and Sennett. DeFrancisco, R-DeWitt, announced earlier this year that he wouldn't seek another term in the Senate. He has held the seat since winning the 1992 election. DeFrancisco has endorsed Antonacci in the 50th district race. In a recent television commercial, the outgoing senator called his potential successor "the champion we need" in the state Senate. Antonacci's Democratic opponent is John Mannion, a science teacher at West Genesee High School in Camillus. A lifelong central New Yorker, Antonacci earned a bachelor's degree in accounting at Le Moyne College and is a Syracuse University School of Law graduate. He started his career in the private sector, first as a certified public accountant and later as an attorney. In 2003, he was the Democratic candidate for Onondaga County comptroller. He lost that race, but returned four years later to run for county comptroller as a Republican. He won, and he was re-elected to serve as the county's top fiscal officer in 2011 and 2015. "I love what I do as the county comptroller," he said in an interview before the Cayuga Community College debate Thursday. "I've done it for 11 years. It's probably the best job I've ever had." With DeFrancisco's retirement, Antonacci is ready for a new challenge. State policies, he explained, affect businesses and local governments. Fire departments and water agencies, for example, are impacted by what's decided in Albany. While Antonacci loves his job as county comptroller, he views the possibility of becoming a state senator as an opportunity to make change. "We can really change the direction of New York state," he said. Throughout his campaign, Antonacci has said he wants to address affordability and opportunity if elected to the state Senate. He supports making the property tax cap permanent. The cap, which was signed into law in 2011, aims to limit property tax hikes. He believes his experience as a county comptroller and CPA will better position him to review the state budget, which is approaching $170 billion. Issues of regional importance are on his agenda. He emphasized the need to address water quality concerns. The state has allocated $65 million for the development and execution of plans to combat harmful algal blooms on lakes across New York. Antonacci supports that effort, but believes more should be done to ensure drinking water sources remain safe. For the Interstate 81 viaduct, he supports a hybrid option combining the community grid, which would make use of the existing street network, with a tunnel. That's his personal preference, but as state senator he would seek to build consensus in the district. Antonacci wants to revamp the state's economic development programs. Instead of awarding grants and other incentives before a project is completed, he said the programs should reward companies after a project is finished and they can show that the jobs they proposed have been created. He supports the Procurement Integrity Act, which would restore the state comptroller's oversight over State University of New York-led economic development projects. The bill was carried in the state Legislature by DeFrancisco. To crack down on corruption in state government, he supports term limits and campaign finance reform. Unlike many Republicans, he wants public financing of elections. When he ran for state comptroller in 2014, he participated in a pilot program that allowed him to receive public funds to match small-dollar donations he collected. Unfunded mandates are also a top target. He supports the state taking over the local share of Medicaid costs. An Empire Center for Public Policy report released earlier this year revealed that local governments cover 12 percent of the state's Medicaid costs nearly $8 billion annually, according to the think tank. Antonacci touts his experience in the private sector and his nearly 11 years as an elected official. His opponent, Mannion, is a longtime schoolteacher who is a first-time candidate. Experience is what Antonacci believes set him apart. He acknowledges that he's known Mannion a long time their daughters are in classes together at school and they do agree on some issues. But on most issues, there are significant differences. Antonacci views himself as a change candidate. If you're a voter who thinks the state is headed in the right direction, he said he's "not your guy." "But if you think we need to change the way we're doing business and that we have a better opportunity ahead of us with some new policy, some fixes of existing policies, then I think I'm the guy to go down there and ruffle those feathers and change the way we do business," he said. Online producer Robert Harding can be reached at (315) 282-2220 or robert.harding@lee.net. Follow him on Twitter @robertharding. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 John Mannion could be moving from the friendly confines of his classroom at West Genesee High School in Camillus to the halls of the state Capitol in Albany. Mannion is the Democratic nominee in the 50th Senate District race. He is vying to succeed retiring state Sen. John DeFrancisco, a Republican who opted not to seek re-election after more than 25 years of service. This is Mannion's first run for political office. He has been politically active, though, as president of the West Genesee Teachers' Association and as a member of New York State United Teachers. As a candidate, he has knocked on several doors as he attempts to convince voters he's the best choice in the 50th district race. (His opponent is Bob Antonacci, a Republican.) Door-knocking isn't new to him. Last year, he canvassed neighborhoods in opposition to the constitutional convention question on the statewide ballot. The ballot question was rejected by voters. Mannion grew up on Syracuse's Tipperary Hill. He has spent his entire professional career as an educator, most recently as an Advanced Placement biology teacher at West Genesee High School. He is on leave from his job as he campaigns for the state Senate seat. Education will be one of Mannion's top priorities if he's elected to the Senate. He has spoken about the need to revamp the state's foundation aid formula for school districts and wants to reform how teacher evaluations are administered. Reducing property taxes is another idea on his to-do list. There are quality schools and municipalities provide quality services in upstate New York, he said in an interview. But New York's status as a high tax state drives businesses away. To lower taxes, he thinks school districts should look at ways to share services and wants to examine waste in government to ensure that taxpayer funds aren't being squandered. He supports maintaining the property tax cap to prevent massive increases in the tax levy. But a friendlier business climate could help reduce property taxes, too. "We obviously have to give our businesses continued opportunity to grow, and with that comes tax revenue," he said. "It can lessen the burden on the rest of us." Mannion views harmful algal blooms that continue to emerge on Owasco and Skaneateles as a "crisis situation." Throughout the campaign, he has called for more state action to address algal blooms and other threats to water quality. He supports a comprehensive plan that would consider land use issues, what impact farms may have on nutrients being introduced to the lake and additional resources for municipalities. Until the root cause of the blooms is addressed, he said it's going to continue to be a problem. "We're going to have algal blooms back in Owasco Lake and Skaneateles Lake next year," he said. He added that because so much of the response is driven by volunteers, there should be more coordination from the state level to assist them. His stance on the Interstate 81 project puts him at odds with Antonacci one of several issues they've disagreed on in the race. He has said "give the grid a chance" a reference to the community grid, a proposal that calls for tearing down the viaduct in downtown Syracuse and replacing it with the existing street network. Last month, Mannion released a five-point ethics reform plan. To combat corruption in state government, he supports banning outside income for state lawmakers, 14-year term limits for members of the Assembly and Senate, true independent redistricting, greater oversight of economic development projects and campaign finance reform. Following the release of his ethics reform agenda, he unveiled a five-point jobs plan more than a week ago. The plan includes support for incubators to boost small businesses, investments in infrastructure and expanding workforce development programs. While Mannion lives in Onondaga County, he is familiar with the Cayuga County share of the district. He has worked with Auburn teachers on issues in the past, he said at a recent town hall meeting. The district includes most of Auburn and the towns of Brutus, Cato, Ira and Sennett in Cayuga County. If elected, Mannion said his family will be his main motivator. Providing a high quality of life for his children and future grandchildren, he said, will drive his decision-making processes. "Keeping in mind that I represent approximately 300,000 people and the legislation that I advance or vote on, I will always keep in mind that I represent those people first and also the people that did not vote for me," he said. Online producer Robert Harding can be reached at (315) 282-2220 or robert.harding@lee.net. Follow him on Twitter @robertharding. Love 2 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 Kathmandu, October 18 Malaysias Minister for Human Resources M Kulasegaran is scheduled to arrive in Kathmandu today a day ahead of a ceremony to sign a new labour agreement with Nepal. Kulagegaran and his Nepali counterpart Gokarna Bista are to ink the deal amid a special in Kathmandu on Monday. Nepal and Malaysia are yet to sign an official labour agreement despite labour relations for more than 15 years. A Nepali delegation visited Malaysia last month to give touches to the agreement. A MoU was agreed between the two countries in Putrajaya of Malaysia on September 28. Malaysia is one of the biggest destinations for Nepali workers, with around 500,000 currently working there. The new labour pact is expected to benefit workers who are already in Malaysia and prospective ones also. RSS Its that time of the year again: The yard signs are out and the volunteers are asking. Maybe the first thought that comes to your mind is, well, the elections are just right around the corner. Nope thats not what were talking about today. Rather, its the annual campaign season for the United Way of Cayuga County. Your United Way works tirelessly to improve lives and community conditions by bringing people and resources together to focus on the local issues that matter most. In Cayuga County, our impact areas focus on education, financial stability, health and safety net needs. These are the basic building blocks everyone needs for a quality life and a strong, vibrant community. While there are hundreds of United Ways across the county, each is somewhat different and reflects its communitys assets and challenges. Locally, a volunteer board of directors governs your United Way, and skilled volunteers make all funding decisions. We operate by the philosophy that together, united, we accomplish far more than any individual or single agency could achieve alone. How? Your United Way taps into the collective power of personal giving, corporate generosity, expertise in the delivery of human services (our funded partners), the passion of hundreds of volunteers and the work of like-minded organizations to find solutions and make lasting change happen. Michelle Barber, 2018 campaign chair, talks about the United Way as being a warm blanket that surrounds you and tells you, Everything is going to be OK, were here to help and you are not alone." While the United Way tends to be most visible during its annual fundraising season, it is active all year. Annually, we operate the CA$H program: Creating Assets, Savings and Hope. This is a free income tax preparation program for low to moderate-income individuals and families. The United Way also makes MyFreeTaxes, an online tax preparation program, available. Between these two programs, more than $500,000 is returned to Cayuga County every year. United passions: Trio leads United Way of Cayuga County campaign AUBURN Monika Salvage recalls staring at a map of Auburn with saucer eyes around 10 years There is also the 2-1-1 program that provides information and referral services 24/7, 365 days a year. People can use this for both crisis and non-emergency situations. So when youre looking for information or need assistance, dial 2-1-1. Donations from last years campaign are currently supporting 23 different human service agencies and 34 distinct programs that help and support more than 49,000 Cayuga County residents each year, through every stage of life. This years campaign video highlights the fact that Mercedes relies on the SCAT Van for her independence and socialization. ARISE is helping Jerry manage his life so that he stays clean and sober. Aurora of Central New York is ensuring that those with visual or hearing impairments such as Nancy, Susan and Donna are able to work and live full lives. Through the aid of Literacy Volunteers, Luccia is improving her English speaking, writing and comprehension skills each week. Childhood literacy, preschool care and kindergarten readiness programs, as well as after-school programs, all receive funding. Adult literacy, English as a second language and tutoring are in the mix. Scouting programs and outpatient clinics for mental health and recovering addicts are funded, as well as homeless shelters and case management services for those seeking employment. Emergency services, crisis counseling for victims of domestic violence, hospice services and transportation for the elderly receive financial support, along with other important human services programming. This years funded partners include ABC Cayuga, American Red Cross, Arc of Seneca Cayuga, ARISE, Auburn Public Theater, Auburn Rescue Mission, Aurora of CNY, Booker T. Washington Community Center, Boy Scouts of America, Camp Caspar Gregory, Catholic Charities, Cato-Meridian Community Recreation Center, Cayuga Counseling Services, CHAD (Confidential Help for Alcohol and Drugs), Chapel House, E. John Gavras Center, Girl Scouts of NYPENN Pathways, Human Services Coalition, Hospice of the Finger Lakes, Literacy Volunteers, Salvation Army, SCAT Van and the YMCA. Michelle hopes that everyone will at least consider making a gift to the United Way campaign this year. Its not the size of the gift, but the fact that all of us are coming together that makes the United Way successful, unique and meaningful. To view this years campaign video or for more information, visit unitedwayofcayugacounty.org or call (315) 253-9741. Karen A. Macier, of Auburn, is the executive director of the United Way of Cayuga County. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 The Onondaga County Health Department on Saturday issued a boil water order for residents and businesses in the Village of Jordan and parts of the Town of Elbridge after results from routine sampling confirmed the presence of coliform bacteria. As a precaution, water should not be consumed without first being boiled for one minute and then cooled. Bottled water certified for sale by the New York State Department of Health is also safe to drink. Boiled or bottled water should be used for drinking, making ice, brushing teeth, washing dishes, and food preparation until further notice, the county said. Boiling kills most bacteria and other organisms in the water. The boil order will be in effect and sampling will continue in the affected areas until tests confirm there is no more coliform in the water supply. The health department said the affected areas in Elbridge include Hamilton Road and west Route 5, Wheeler Road and Chamberlain Road. Additional reminders for residents in this area include: If you use bottled water, be sure it comes from a safe source. If you do not know the source, boil or treat the water before you use it. Use only bottled, boiled, or treated water until your water supply is tested and found to be safe. Boiling water when practical is the preferred way to get rid of harmful bacterial and parasites. Bringing water to a boil for one minute will kill most organisms. While drinking water contaminated with coliform bacteria does not always cause illness, residents in the affected areas that experience gastrointestinal upset, abdominal cramps, and diarrhea should contact their health care provider. Residents seeking more information about the order may call the Onondaga County Health Department at (315) 435-6600. Love 2 Funny 1 Wow 1 Sad 3 Angry 12 Watch an adorable baby sloth crawl and cuddle after it was born in a hurry at the London Zoo, archeologists have unearthed a 'slaves' room' ne This responds to the Oct. 16 letter titled Batman will fight for clean water submitted by Clair Robinson Howard on behalf of Keith Batmans candidacy for state Assembly. She expressed the view that our present assemblyman, Gary Finch, has a poor record on environmental matters. He was said to have let others do the heavy lifting on the algal bloom issue, and to have remained on the sidelines regarding the proposed trash incinerator in Seneca County. Clair is a bright, sincere and conscientious woman, and Keith has a commendable history of public service in Cayuga County, but I feel it fair to shed light on Mr. Finchs record on environmental matters in general, and on Clairs concerns, in particular. Assemblyman Finch has successfully secured funding grants for a host of projects, including the Wells College water treatment plant enhancement, the Auburn water treatment plants anti-algae upgrade, the Dutch Hollow remediation project, the allocation of funds for septic system upgrades along Cayuga, Owasco and Skaneateles Lakes, and, in coordination with Sen. Pamela Helming, is striving to secure funds to facilitate OLWAs plan to place water-quality monitoring buoys at the mouths of Owasco Lakes five main tributaries. The list goes on and on to include action on the proposed trash incinerator in Seneca County. Rochester firm Circle EnerG LLC awaits its special use permit to construct and operate a waste-to-energy facility at the historic U.S. Army Seneca Depot in the town of Romulus. The project would accept the enormous daily rate of 2,640 tons of waste much of it from New York City. Its exhaust stack would emit far above the 180-foot tallest building, upwind of Aurora across Cayuga Lake, and the estimated daily traffic would include 117 45,000-pound tractor-trailer loads in and out of the plant six days per week. Might anyone imagine that such a plants operation could pose a negative impact on Finger Lakes tourism, farm and business vehicle safety and convenience, weekend visits to our wineries, commuting or plain daily living? Well, Mr. Finch did. He appealed to public service commissioner Burnan to oppose Circle EnerGs application, and cosponsored bipartisan Assembly Bill 11214, complementing Sen. Pamela Helmings S-8109 bill, to create the Finger Lakes Community Act of 2018, to ban construction of any such facility in the Finger Lakes region. Gov. Cuomo consequently requested the PSC to block the Romulus project. All hats should be off to Assemblyman Finch for his diligence in guarding local environmental health and constituent interests. David G. Palmer Union Springs Love 1 Funny 1 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 Keith Batman believes in public service. As a college professor, as a private citizen on nonprofit boards, as a county legislator representing a rural area, he stood up for cooperation and coordination of services. He understands politics. He works across the aisle." We need people like this to represent us in Albany. New York has one of the most corrupt legislatures in the United States. Hard to believe, isn't it? Yet, it is true. Only the presence of proactive, honest, creative individuals will ever change it. Keith Batman will try. He knows the system. He was exceptionally effective as chair of the Cayuga County Legislature. I say, give him the chance to change Albany. Kathmandu, October 28 Nepal Airlines is yet to put its two new wide-body aircraft to optimum use, four months after the state-owned company welcomed its first A330. The company had said that the new aircraft would be used to launch direct flights to Korea, Japan and the UAE. However, the two new jets have not received permission to fly to any of those destinations. NAC is flying the jets to destinations such as New Delhi, Doha and Bangalore, suitable for narrow-body aircraft. When the NAC approached the Korean and Japanese governments before the aircraft were procured, they did not believe that the company could procure the two aircraft and refused to start the registration process, said a government source. Now that the planes have arrived, the company needs to start negotiations from scratch, the source said. The underutlisation of the two wide-body aircraft costs the NAC pretty penny. According to sources, the company is losing upto Rs 250 a month because its wide-body jets cannot fly far. The company would have earned up to Rs 300 million if it could fly the aircraft for 16 hours a day. However, the A330s are only flying upto eight hours a day. NACs growing list of rejection The state-owned company tried to seek permission to fly to Incheon and Henada Airport in Japan, but both Korean and Japanese authorties are skeptical about Nepals air security record. South Korea has said it would monitor air safety in Nepal, but has not sent at team to Nepal. The NAC also approached Guangzhou Airport for permission, but Chinese officials rejected the proposal saying they were short on slots. The company is now looking at Shanghai. Meanwhile, NACs spokesperson Ashok Sigdel says the wide-body aircraft are in operation, regardless the distance they cover. The aircraft are in operation and as long as this continues, we are not losing money. CAIRO - Calls for banning the full-face veil known as the niqab have moved from Algeria to Egypt, where lawmakers are calling for outlawing the wearing of the garment, especially in state and educational institutions. Those making the calls, liberal-minded lawmakers and activists, point to security concerns in wearing the full-face veil, particularly given that Egypt is fighting terrorism in the country. Some of the terrorist attacks that happened in the past were carried out by people wearing the niqab, said Mohamed Abu Hamed, a lawmaker leading the drive for banning the niqab in Egypt. Some men even wear them to escape police and commit crimes. While most Muslim women in Egypt wear the headscarf known as the hijab, many, particularly Salafists, wear the niqab. Demands for banning the niqab at state and educational institutions follow a decision by Algeria to ban civil servants from wearing the full-face veil at the workplace. However, a recent UN ruling that Frances ban on the garment violates human rights could pose a problem. There is no official estimate of the number of women who adopt the niqab in Egypt. Lawmakers are seeking to link a ban to security concerns, not wider political or social issues. The Egyptian government has strongly clamped down on political Islam following the ouster of Islamist President Muhammad Morsi in 2013. While the Muslim Brotherhood, with which Morsi was affiliated, has been banned, Salafist political groups continue to operate in Egypt but are greatly diminished. Abu Hamed, a member of the Solidarity and Family Committee in parliament, said he intends to propose a bill banning the niqab on security concerns. When women cover their faces, this prevents policemen from identifying them. Terrorists can also easily hide behind these full-face veils to stage attacks, he said. It is no surprise that liberals, such as Abu Hamed, would like to see the niqab banned in Egypt. Abu Hamed is a former vice-chairman of the liberal Free Egyptians Party and took part in the 2011 Egyptian revolution that ousted long-time Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak. Egypts liberals and secularists were at the forefront of opposition to political control by the Muslim Brotherhood after 2011, with many backing Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah al-Sisis bid to reform religious discourse in the country. What is striking, however, is that scholars at al-Azhar, the highest seat of Sunni authority in Egypt, back banning the niqab. While al-Azhar supports the hijab, it said the full-face veil is a step too far. One of the most outspoken critics of the niqab is Amina Nasir, a member of parliament and a professor of philosophy at al-Azhar University. She described the full-face veil as a threat to national security. The full-face veils have nothing to do with the Islamic religion at all, Nasir said. It even contradicts some of the verses of the Holy Quran. Nasir said that the full-face veil is more a cultural remnant than a religious requirement. When Islam appeared, she said, it did not impose the full-face veil on women. Ahmed Karima, a professor of Islamic jurisprudence at al-Azhar University, agreed. He said that the fact that Muslim women perform the haj ritual without fully covering their faces proves that the niqab is not a religious requirement. This is why I say the authorities have to act to ban these veils, Karima said. Women who want to fully cover their faces can do this at home. The increasing calls for banning the niqab sets up a tense confrontation with Egypts ultra-orthodox Salafists who consider the garment a red line. High school seniors could apply to any community college, nearly all private colleges, and six of the 10 public universities in North Carolina for free last week (October 15-19) as part of the annual NC Countdown to College . Coincidentally, it has been 30 years since former Secretary of Education William Bennett first suggested that federal student aid increases the cost of higher education . Since then, outstanding student loan debt has climbed to $1.5 trillion Policy proposals include student loan forgiveness, crackdowns on schools that leave students unable to repay their loans, and even larger government subsidies to make college free. Meanwhile, new and existing institutions are filling the gap in innovative ways. More schools are offering online degree programs; platforms such as Codecademy, Coursera, and EdX are crafting more limited certifications; and apprenticeship programs like Praxis offers students the option to earn more through their work than they spend on their education.We made a startling discovery of just how much had changed when our son began the college application process during his junior year of high school. If your child can get into the school, out-of-state and private colleges and universities may be less expensive for lower-income families than schools in the UNC System. Many promise that students can graduate without a dime of student loan debt and will provide funds to make unpaid internships possible. The University of Chicago even waives the application fee.Many of our friends insisted on UNC System schools because of their perceived value. UNC-Chapel Hill is the only public school in North Carolina that promises to meet 100 percent of demonstrated need-with loans. Western Carolina UNC-Pembroke , and Elizabeth City State offer students $500 tuition per semester for in-state students and $2,500 per semester for out-of-state students thanks to the NC Promise tuition plan. Despite the lower tuition, the cost of insurance, technology, room and board, and other fees can bring the total cost of attendance to $6,000 or more per semester. A family earning $55,000 would spend more than a fifth of its annual income on a year's schooling for one child before other forms of aid.Fortunately, each school provides a net price calculator to help prospective families gauge what college will actually cost. According to Harvard's net price calculator , that same family with an income of $55,000 could send a child to Harvard for $4,600 paid with student work during the school year and over the summer.In addition to need-based assistance, UNC-Chapel Hill, NC State, Davidson, and Duke are among the schools in North Carolina that have provided need-blind full scholarships based on merit. These merit scholarships are extremely competitive, with multiple rounds of interviews to determine the student's commitment to excellence in and out of the classroom.Even professional and graduate schools are cutting tuition. New York University, with a gift from Home Depot founder Ken Langone, announced it would no longer charge tuition for medical school . NYU's law school already had a tuition-free option for those going into public service Article IX of the state constitution states,andIt is appropriate for legislators and the UNC Board of Governors to regularly question how best to manage the public university system and how much its benefits can be made free of expense to North Carolinians. Whatever they decide, no solution will be permanent, nor will one ever provide high school seniors the ability to get a full eight hours' sleep. Fortunately, they are young and resilient. Sen. Elizabeth Warren, who claimed to be Native American when a DNA study showed she has as little as .09% Indian blood, is still trying to explain away her assertion.Warren, a Massachusetts Democrat running for re-election who President Trump has dubbed "Pocahontas" for her claim, released the results of the DNA test on Sunday with about three weeks to go before Election Day in an attempt toThe move turned out to be a PR disaster. While the mainstream media happily went along with the notion that 1/1,024 heritage actually makes someone Native American, many mocked Warren for the bizarre claim. Trump himself joined in, writing on Twitter:And Warren now says she regrets how she rolled out the DNA report - but stopped well short of apologizing.Asked whether she made a mistake when she began identifying herself as Native American 30 years ago, Warren once again said she's not really claiming to be part of any Indian group.Warren said.Her wish to have been more "mindful" came after the Cherokee Nation condemned for implying that she was among their nearly 300,000 members. Warren is not eligible to join the Nation because her relatives are not listed on a document called the Dawes Rolls, which are hundred-year-old government documents listing Cherokee members.The Cherokee Nation's secretary of state, Chuck Hoskin Jr., released a scathing statement on Monday, sayingHoskin wrote.Then on Tuesday, a direct descendant of Pocahontas, the famed 17th-century Powhatan princess, called on Warren to apologize for wrongly claiming to be Native American - just for political gain.Debbie White Dove Porreco said on "Tucker Carlson Tonight."Porreco said, adding that Native AmericansWarren listed herself as Native in the Association of American Law School Directory, and according to The Boston Globe, sheSome critics say she got the Harvard slot by claiming to be American Indian.CNN reported last November.A 1997 Fordham Law Review article identified the Democrat as Harvard Law'sWarren even submitted recipes to an American Indian cookbook called "Pow Wow Chow," which was released in 1984 by the Five Civilized Tribes Museum in Muskogee, Oklahoma. She signed her entriesShe wasn't so "mindful" back then. Kathmandu, October 28 The four-day official visit of President Bidya Devi Bhandari to Qatar, which begins on Monday, will focus on strengthening bilateral ties. President Bhandari is embarking on the visit upon an invitation from Sheikh Tamim Bin Hamad Al Thani, the Emir of Qatar. Minister for Foreign Minister Pradeep Kumar Gyawali said that although the Head of the States visit is focused on strengthening bilateral relations, other issues will also figure. Minister Gyawali said, Discussions will be held regarding security and concerns of Nepali migrant workers in Qatar as well as areas of trade expansion between Nepal and Qatar. He further said that serious discussion will be held regarding bringing in investment and technology to Nepal from Qatar in agriculture and infrastructure development sectors. Some agreements will be signed in this regard, he said. The Foreign Minister said discussion regarding exporting Himalayan water to Qatar will also take place. Discussion on visa-free entry for diplomatic passport holders is also on the agenda. Foreign Minister Gyawali, expert at the Office of the President Madhav Sharma, Foreign Secretary Shanker Das Bairagi, Secretary at the Office of the President Binod KC, Chief Executive Officer of Investment Board, Nepal Maha Prasad Adhikari, Chief Personal Secretary of the President Dr Bheshraj Adhikari, media persons and industrialists will accompany President Bhandari. Kathmandu, October 28 The Oli government has failed to find the right candidate to send to New Delhi as its envoy, three months after it backtracked on its decision to nominate a former Chief Election Commissioner to the post. According to sources, the government wants to send envoys to four important diplomatic posts, including New Delhi, at the earliest. Foreign Minister Pradeep Gyawali and Prime Minister KP Oli have held several rounds of discussion on the matter. In July, the government had proposed former Chief Election Commissioner Nilkantha Uprety as its ambassador to India. However, following controversy over the political appointment of a former constitutional body chief, the government had to suspend its decision. Senior officials have been on the lookout for a candidate for the post, which fell vacant after then ambassador Deep Kumar Upadhyay quit to contest elections last year. Another source said former foreign minister Mahendra Bahadur Pandey is a front-runner for the post in India. Pandey was earlier nominated to lead Nepals mission in Beijing, but after the then KP Oli government fell after the Maoists withdrew support, his nomination was cancelled. There are others who believe that Oli is in the mood to appoint Uprety, considered close to the Ram Madhav-led India Foundation, a think tank of Indias ruling BJP. Former foreign minister Ramesh Nath Pandeys son Nischal Nath Pandey is also lobbying for the post. Names for three other vacant posts in Malaysia, the UN, and the UAE are also being discussed. The ruling party is in favour of NCP leader Uday Raj Pandey for Malaysia. Foreign Ministry Joint Secretary Krishna Prasad Dhakal is likely to be posted in the UAE. Ministry spokesperson Bharat Raj Paudel is the front-runner for the UN assignment. Meanwhile, the government is also preparing to recall ambassadors nominated by the Congress government. Ambassadors based in Israel, Spain, Japan, Bangladesh, South Korea and Qatar are likely to be recalled. However, the envoy to Sri Lanka Bishwambher Pyakuryal and the ambassador to Oman Sharmila Parajuly will not be recalled as they have already cemented their positions thanks to their close ties with Baluwatar. One of the most controversial elements of the EU's new Copyright Directive is Article 11, the "link tax," which requires paid licenses for links to news stories that contain "excerpts" (more than a single word from the story or its headline, depending on which draft you're reading). But link taxes go even farther than merely requiring paid licenses: the accompanying "Recital 32" suggests that copyright owners won't be allowed to waive this right, and will have to negotiate a separate license for every platform that wants to link to them. The thing is, some of the largest and best news organisations in the world already permit free excerpting, linking and republishing, by choosing Creative Commons licenses and other open access licenses for their work. These organisations like ProPublica, Global Voices and others want their news spread far and wide, partially because they want their investigative work to be part of the global conversation and partly because they rely on charitable donations from readers to support their work and offering open access is a powerful way to convince donors that their gifts support the public good. The Copyright Directive is mostly composed of some reasonable, broadly supported technical updates to EU copyright rules, but at the last minute, a German MEP called Axel Voss crammed a pair of incoherent, controversial and extreme clauses into the draft that was to be voted on by Parliament. Now, months later, the whole directive is in danger of going down in flames, and if it does, it will be because of outrageous garbage like this. Article 11's trampling of Creative Commons and open access isn't an accident: before link taxes rose to the EU level, some EU countries tried their own national versions. When Germany, tried it the major newspapers simply granted Google a free license to use their works, because they couldn't afford to be boycotted by the search giant. When Spain passed its own link tax, the government tried to prevent newspapers from following the same path by forcing all news to have its own separate, unwaivable commercial right. Spanish publishers promptly lost 14% of their traffic and 10,000,000/year. All of this is good reason to scrap Article 11 altogether. The idea that creators can be "protected" by banning them from sharing their works is perverse. If copyright is supposed to protect creators' interests, it should protect all interests, including the interests of people who want their materials shared as widely as possible. The EU's Link Tax Will Kill Open Access and Creative Commons News [Cory Doctorow/EFF Deeplinks] - After the investment conference, the amount to be invested in South Africa by a number of big companies stands at R135 billion - This brings President Ramaphosa closer to his aim of $100bn invested in South Africa in the next 5 years - Companies like Mercedes Benz, Anglo America and Vedanta Resources plan to invest heavily in South Africa PAY ATTENTION: Click See First under the Following tab to see Briefly.co.za News on your News Feed! Many South Africans felt that President Ramaphosa's aim to get $100 billion (more than R140 billion) invested in the country over the next 5 years was way too ambitious. However, after a recent conference, more people are convinced that perhaps Ramaphosa could reach his goal after all. The inaugural investment conference took place on Friday and a number of companies announced their investment into the country's economy. BusinessLIVE reports that in total, R134.1 billion in new investments were announced at the conference. PAY ATTENTION: Save mobile data with FreeBasics: Briefly is now available on the app Briefly.co.za gathered the related information and made a quick list of the companies that plan to invest, and how much they're investing. Mercedes Benz Mercedes Benz committed an investment of R10 billion to expand a plant in East London in preparation for the next generation of C-class model. The focus will be on local suppliers and local production. Rain The new data network has promised to invest R1 billion in the form of 5 000 stations over the next 5 years. Rain plans a 5G network. Anglo America This heavy-weight will invest more than R70 billion in SA over the next 5 years. It will extend mining operations and 72 000 jobs will be preserved. Bushveld Minerals Bushveld Minerals produce vanadium - something the world is in shortage of - and will invest R2.5 billion. Vedanta Resources The mineral company Vedanta Zinc invested in 2 zinc deposits of R5 billion each and Vedanta Resources will invest more than R21 billion in total. READ ALSO: Ramaphosa suspends NPA's Jiba and Mrwebi pending outcome of inquiry Sappi The paper company plans to invest R7.7 billion in South Africa's economy. Ivanplats Platinum mine Ivanplats will invest R4.5 billion in South Africa in developing its mines in the country. Naspers Naspers announced that it will invest R6 billion in Naspers Foundry which in turn will invest in SA entrepreneurs and tech start-ups. Mara Corporation The first smartphone to be made on the African continent will be made in South Africa by the Mara Corporation and it will invest R5.1 billion in the country. Mondi Mondi will invest about R8 billion in SA via export commitments. With these companies committed to investing, the economy is set to look better by 2023. Do you have a story to share with us? Inbox us on our Facebook page and we could feature your story. Watch this hilarious animated video and head over to Briefly South Africas YouTube channel for more great videos. To stay up to date with the latest news, download our news app on Google Play or iTunes today. Source: Briefly.co.za - Home Affairs Minister Malusi Gigaba revealed he and his wife made a private video and it has been stolen from his phone - The thief has been blackmailing the minister but he has not given in to the demands - An investigation into the matter is ongoing PAY ATTENTION: Click See First under the Following tab to see Briefly.co.za News on your News Feed! South Africa's Minister of Home Affairs Malusi Gigaba made it public that he is the victim of blackmail. Gigaba took to social media to reveal that a video of sexual nature of him and his wife is being shared in political circles. He added that he has been targeted for blackmail because of this video. PAY ATTENTION: Save mobile data with FreeBasics: Briefly is now available on the app A report by News24 confirms that Gigaba said the video was stolen from him and that he learned of this just before he became Finance Minister early in 2017. Gigaba has since reported the blackmail to the police and has refused to give in to the blackmailer's attempts at extortion. The Minister went on to apologise to South Africa and his family for any embarrassment and pain the video could cause. READ ALSO: Mkhwebane: DA politically motivated in Estina Dairy application Gigaba appointed a public relations company to handle this delicate matter on behalf of his family. An investigation into the identity of the blackmailer is ongoing. Do you have a really good (or bad) story to share with us? Message us on our Facebook page and we could share your story. Watch the hilarious animated video and head over to Briefly South Africas YouTube channel for more great videos. To stay up to date with the latest news, download our news app on Google Play or iTunes today. Source: Briefly.co.za South Africans are torn between being angry and being amused after a police pilot landed a chopper at a KFC to allegedly buy himself lunch in Queenstown, Eastern Cape. The police is looking into the matter. PAY ATTENTION: Click See First under the Following tab to see Briefly.co.za News on your News Feed! The SAPS is looking into a report that one of its pilots made an emergency landing at a KFC restaurant to buy lunch. The pilot allegedly landed in the parking lot of the fast food chain in Queenstown and bought himself a meal. Photos of this alleged incident was started on social media and has since gone viral as South Africans are outraged as well as amused by this behaviour. PAY ATTENTION: Save mobile data with FreeBasics: Briefly is now available on the app News24 reports that Brigadier Vishnu Naidoo stated that it is not clear why the helicopter was landed at that specific time or place. The pilot was patrolling in the Eastern Cape at the time of the alleged lunch break. The identity of the pilot is still unknown. According to Naidoo, the police is looking into the matter. READ ALSO: Juju on VBS claims against his cousin: 'You do the calculations' Here's what people had to say: Burgert Adriaan Potgieter - has anyone registered the helicopter Nr.? Enough photos of the Pilot. He SHALL LOSE HIS PILOT LICENCE after this FB posting.!!!! Ebrahim Mia - Could be acting on some instructions from his superiors ?? Shandre Voight - It was his lunch break omw Ushir Shah - We don't have all the facts to make a judgement... Chris Swiegers - One ass trying to blow this incident completely out of perpotion exaggerating.No toilet in the helicopter. Janeen Theresa Schubach - He wears a body he must eat too. He's not causing any danger and there is plenty space to land. I find it very entertaining and amusing. Do you have a funny or scandalous story to share with us? Inbox us on our Facebook page and we could feature your story. Watch this silly animated video and head over to Briefly South Africas YouTube channel for more funny videos. To stay up to date with the latest news, download our news app on Google Play or iTunes today. Source: Briefly.co.za Kathmandu, October 28 President Bidya Devi Bhandari has congratulated State President of the Socialist Republic of Viet Nam Nguyen Phu Trong on his assumption of Office as the President of Viet Nam. In a message today, President Bhandari expressed belief that the existing relations between Nepal and Viet Nam will be further strengthened in the days ahead in the larger interest of two countries. President Bhandari stated that she was looking forward to work closely with the State President of Viet Nam to further develop mutual friendship and cooperation between Nepal and Viet Nam, extending best wishes for a successful tenure. - The ANC is accused of also profiting from the looting of the now bankrupt VBS Mutual Bank - According to reports, the ANC received a R2 million donation from the bank in 2016 - The ANC says it will pay back the money if the allegations are proven to be true PAY ATTENTION: Click See First under the Following tab to see Briefly.co.za News on your News Feed! Two years ago, the African National Congress received a cool R2 million 'donation' from the VBS Mutual Bank - the very bank that was looted to bankruptcy. This generous 'donation' was made during the ANC's local election campaign. A report by TimesLIVE indicates that the former ANC treasurer-general Zweli Mkhize asked for the donation. PAY ATTENTION: Save mobile data with FreeBasics: Briefly is now available on the app This comes at a time when the ruling party is doing its best to distance itself from the scandalous looting of the bank. Pule Mabe, spokesperson for the ANC, stated that there is no record of the donation but a probe into the allegations has been launched. The ANC has undertaken to pay back the R250 000 paid by the bank for a table the party's gala dinner on the 8th of January. It will also pay back the R2 million if the allegations are proven to be true. READ ALSO: Gigaba admits being blackmailed over kinky tape of him and his wife Mkhize admitted that he was invited to the bank's offices to meet with executives but denies any deals being made or donations being discussed. If other funds were exchanged with VBS in the name of the ANC while I was still the treasurer-general of the organisation, I am quite keen for this to be disclosed in full so we can expose such scams publicly. This accusation comes after the ANC so loudly chanted "Pay back the money" at the EFF during the National Assembly on the 23rd of October. Briefly.co.za reported that when Floyd Shivambu took to the podium during the assembly, he was treated to a familiar chant as MPs chanted "Pay back the money" much as the EFF did back when Zuma was still around. Do you have an interesting story to share with us? Inbox us on our Facebook page and we could feature your story. Check out the hilarious Animated Joke: Why Do Men Lie? and head over to Briefly South Africa's YouTube channel for more awesome videos To stay up to date with the latest news, download our news app on Google Play or iTunes today. Source: Briefly.co.za Khaya Mthethwa, ordained pastor and musician, has decided to speak out about religion in South Africa. This comes at the same time that Nigerian pastor Timothy Omotoso stands accused of many sexual assault charges. PAY ATTENTION: Click See First under the Following tab to see Briefly.co.za News on your News Feed! As a pastor, Khaya Mthethwa felt the need to talk about church now that it has come to light that a trusted man abused his position. Nigerian pastor Omotoso is accused of a number of charges that include sexual assault and human trafficking. Accused along with him are two women, Zukiswa Sitho and Lusanda Sulani. This has put men of God that abuse their positions and scam innocent people under a microscope. Khaya feels deep sympathy for the victims and asks that South Africans do not lose sight of God. My heart goes out to the victims in the case. As congregants, let us not lose sight of what we are at church for. We are not there for the pastor, we are there for God. If you have that perspective you can form your own relationship with God. PAY ATTENTION: Save mobile data with FreeBasics: Briefly is now available on the app TimesLIVE reports that Khaya added that pastors are flawed humans too and sometimes make mistakes but wants to call on them to not abuse their positions. READ ALSO: Videos surface online, showing Zimbabweans queuing kilometres for petrol Khaya says he has never experienced any negativity as a man of God. Do you have a story to share with us? Inbox us on our Facebook page and we could feature your story. Check out the hilarious Animated Joke: Why Do Men Lie? and head over to Briefly South Africa's YouTube channel for more awesome videos To stay up to date with the latest news, download our news app on Google Play or iTunes today. Source: Briefly.co.za News / National by Newzimbabwe.com INDIAN Vice President Venkaiah Naidu is due in Zimbabwe early next month in the first such high level visit in more than two decades.Naidu will be in Zimbabwe between November 2 and 4 as part of an African tour that will also see him visit Botswana and Malawi.According to Secretary Economic Relations T S Tirumurti, this will be the first high level Indian visit to Zimbabwe since then prime minister H D Deve Gowda visited the country in 1996.An eight-member delegation from the Indian electoral commission was also in Zimbabwe for the country's July 30 elections.Vice president Naidu will hold talks with President Emmerson Mnangagwa followed by delegation talks.According to secretary Tirumurti, Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs), including in the areas of mining, culture, information and communication technology and power are expected to be signed during the visit.India will also undertake upgrade of Hwange thermal power station through a US$310 million Line of Credit, he said. News / National by newzimbabwe.com THE inauguration of opposition MDC leader Nelson Chamisa as the People's President' did not take place as threatened Saturday as the party celebrated its 19th anniversary in the capital.Gwanzura stadium was a sea of red all day as thousands of opposition supporters from all over the country thronged the arena for the opposition's second major rally after the bitterly disputed July 30 elections.During the first post-election rally in St Mary's Chamisa revealed that the party leadership was considering his inauguration as the People's President' during the anniversary celebrations.Government immediately warned that the opposition leader risked arrest if the party conducted the mock inauguration.Saturday's celebrations saw a heavy riot police presence around the stadium as well as around the nearby Machipisa Shopping Centre.Addressing his supporters, Chamisa reiterated his rejection of Mnangagwa's election victory which was upheld by the Constitutional Court."Our 19 years mean that we won the (July 30) election and we were rigged," he said."We need to remove the one who cheated us promising great change but, instead, bringing darkness to our economy."The MDC leader continued; "I heard him boasting that I am calling for a GNU (coalition government). I do not need a GNU from someone who stole an election."There is no moving forward as long as the issue of legitimacy has not been resolved. We are going to set a stage for change in this country.Chamisa also vowed to stage protests against the Mnangagwa government, telling his supports that; "We should be prepared to take back what Mnangagwa stole from us"."This year we will not get to 2019 before we realize change. We will communicate to all wards and constituencies our plan which is still a secret to us as party leadership," he said.The MDC leader also hit out at the commission of inquiry set up by Mnangagwa to probe post-election violence which left six people dead in Harare.Former South Africa president Kgalema Motlanthe leads the inquiry."We have said the Motlanthe commission has nothing to do with us," said Chamisa."It is a waste of time; it is a shame. We know those who killed people were seen and are on pictures, go and investigate that. Now they (Zanu-PF government) want to blame the opposition."Chamisa said there was no need for a commission of inquiry when those responsible for the killings were known.He charged; "How can you set up a commission when you know and saw who killed people?"If they want to know what happened, they must invite the international journalists; they were there and saw the people who killed our Zimbabweans. Is this not true?"Emmerson Mnangagwa wants to discredit Motlante; he (former South Africa president) runs the risk of losing all credibility. How can you be led into such a shameful commission?"How can you be led to Bulawayo when people were shot in Harare? Now he was almost attacked in Bulawayo on Friday. What for?"Now they want to accuse MDC, they are saying our deputy chairman Tendai Biti was seen with Jim Kunaka (Zanu-PF political activist)."Biti has never met Jim Kunaka and he does not even know him. But they want to accuse him. We will not accept their commission's outcome because the government is responsible for the killings. We will not accept; that we will not accept!" News / National by Thabani Mpofu Dear Sir,Your publication of today claims that I appeared before the Motlante Commission as the Prosecutor whereat I ignored the desperate pleas of a citizen who had been assailed by law enforcement officials. Your story is false. I have never been anywhere near that Commission and would certainly never lead evidence on its behalf. I also notice that you made use of a Facebook post by one Fuzwayo. That post is false and has since been corrected.I am quite sure you did not mean to cause me any harm and would upon sight of this e-mail take the false story down.You may need to get hold of me on my WhatsApp number.Thank you in advance for your understanding. I do not believe there will be need for me to address this issue beyond this email.Thabani Mpofu News / National by Staff reporter Retailers and manufacturers who increase prices of goods and services without justification will face heavy Government fines under a new consumer protection law that fosters fair business practices.Cabinet recently approved principles of the Consumer Protection Bill, which will be tabled before Parliament soon.The proposed law, which has been in the works for some time, coincides with a recent bout of arbitrary price increases by retailers.The new law will give bite to the Consumer Council of Zimbabwe, which has largely been viewed as a toothless bulldog.The law criminalises the practice of retailers and manufacturers forcing consumers to buy extra goods in order to purchase a single item.Not displaying prices on shop shelves will also become an offence.Furthermore, the law seeks to prohibit tele-marketing of goods and services by retailers and manufacturers without consumers' permission.Breaching the law will attract deterrent penalties that range from fines to withdrawal of trading licences.Industry and Commerce Deputy Minister Mr Raji Modi told The Sunday Mail last week that Government would fast-track the law as it was overdue.He said, "Everything is now in order. The Bill is ready and now awaits to go to Parliament. The Bill has been on hold for quite some time now; thus, Government is going to work with speed so that it becomes law."We want to create a law for consumer protection like most countries have done, a law that will give teeth to the Consumer Council (of Zimbabwe) to make sure there are no unfair business practices and unjustified price increases."Through the new law, it will become possible, Deputy Minister Modi said, to rein in businesses that profiteer at consumers' expense."The law will be able to take certain action where appropriate. For example, at the moment, when there are unwarranted price (increases), there is nothing much that can be done, the best they can do is just complain about that and it ends there."All along we have been working on this Bill and it now awaits the process of being tabled in Parliament," he said.CCZ executive director Ms Rosemary Siyachitema said the law would protect consumers."This will be a national law that will have a body which will have powers to prosecute and incarcerate perpetrators of such crimes," she said."Now consumers have a law to fall back on as all along we used moral suasion. We now have a law to fall on. We are glad that as CCZ, we have been part of making the law."Some retailers have been demanding payment in US dollars only.To cushion consumers and restore sanity in the market, Government last week introduced a price monitoring system along the production value chain from manufacturers to retailers. News / National by Staff reporter Government will take advantage of the visit by India's Vice-President Venkaiah Naidu, who is expected in Zimbabwe this week, to explore mutually beneficial partnerships that could help rehabilitate the country's once-vibrant pharmaceutical sector.Government plans to guarantee adequate supply of essential drugs in the country.In his weekly column in The Sunday Mail, President Emmerson Mnangagwa said his administration was aggressively pursuing ways of cushioning the public from medicine shortages.He said the visit by India's VP presented an opportunity to tap into the Asian emerging economic giant's globally recognised achievements in pharmaceuticals.India has the world's third-largest pharmaceutical industry in terms of volume."This week we will host the Vice-President of India. India is a key drug supplier to us. Government hopes to take full advantage of this fraternal visit to explore possibilities on pharmaceutical supplies on the back of government-to-government arrangements."Likewise, we will engage other governments with supply capacity at good value for money. Our scope of engagement with friendly governments will go beyond drug imports."We will explore ways to reboot our capacity for the local production of essential drugs as before," said President Mnangagwa.Zimbabwe's drug supply situation, he added, was being hampered by a $27 million legacy debt owed by private importers to foreign suppliers.Foreign currency disbursements for the health sector by the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe, as a result, have largely been ineffective as they have been channelled to servicing debts rather than bringing in supplies of drugs.President Mnangagwa's administration will use NatPharm, which procures and supplies drugs on behalf of Government, to begin purchasing medicines as it not as financially encumbered as private sector players.This is also envisaged to lower prices of live-saving drugs as happened when the National Aids Council started procuring antiretroviral drugs, forcing private suppliers to lower their medicine prices.Government will inject $60 million into NatPharm to stabilise drugs supply, while funds are being mobilised to retire the legacy debt and enable the private sector to play its role."In the immediate and interim, we must use our national drug store facility, NatPharm, which is the least encumbered, as our vehicle for placing fresh orders for medicines, while we tackle the legacy debt."Where foreign drug suppliers have local agents who may be incapacitated to import for reasons already cited, some arrangements may have to be reached with NatPharm so we move speedily to plug the import gap," he said.Zimbabwe, the President noted, once manufactured more than 80 percent of the country's drugs through vibrant pharmaceutical manufacturers and enterprises such as CAPS, Datlabs, Pharmanova and Varichem.Plans are underway to revamp CAPS as talks with a prospective partner are being finalised.Government also intends to direct more resources to fight non-communicable diseases, as donor support is mainly concentrated in communicable diseases and at primary healthcare level. News / National by Staff reporter #TakeThePain This $500,000 (before duty) 2018 Rolls Royce Phantom landed at the Robert Gabriel Mugabe International Airport in Harare today. Airport sources telling us its registered to Kudakwashe Tagwirei, the Sakunda boss pic.twitter.com/Cl83fmKDbq ZimLive (@zimlive) October 26, 2018 Zanu-PF benefactor Kudakwashe Tagwirei is believed to have imported a $500,000 (before duty) 2018 Rolls Royce Phantom.Tagwirei, who owns Sakunda and has several controversial deals with the government, was thrust into the vortex of the infighting last week after Zanu-PF apologist William Mutumanje, aka Acie Lumumba, claimed he was at the centre of a fuel cartel that included top Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe (RBZ) officials.President Emmerson Mnangagwa's advisor Christopher Mutsvangwa yesterday launched an astonishing attack against Tagwirei, claiming that he is now a source of divisions in the presidium. Mutsvangwa also revealed that Tagwirei was being given preferential treatment in the allocation of foreign currency for the importation of fuel, which he said had created a monopoly in the fuel industry.The war veterans' leader and one of the president's top allies' outbursts come amid reports that relations between Mnangagwa and Chiwenga have become sour.A tweet on ZimLive revealed Tagwirei's new wheels, Said ZimLive, " #TakeThePain This $500,000 (before duty) 2018 Rolls Royce Phantom landed at the Robert Gabriel Mugabe International Airport in Harare today. Airport sources telling us its registered to Kudakwashe Tagwirei, the Sakunda boss." News / National by Stephen Jakes Former MDC legislator Norman Mpofu has said President Emmerson Mnangagwa is failing the nation as the economic crisis rocked the nation.He said the man lacks authority . Business people are defying him."Greens Wholesalers and Greens Super Market Plumtree are conditionally selling commodities despite directives by the government. Today on 27 10 18 to buy a cartoon of Pepsi one had to buy a grocery worthy $16. at their Whole sale. While at their Super Market for one to buy a 2l cooking oil one had to buy a grocery of $10," he said."This violation of the law and our consumer right is done openly. Why is Plumtree ZRP turning a blind eye to this. Does it mean the government is lying to us. Why will a citizen be forced to buy things which are not budgeted for. Greens is becoming a serious opportunist . He has made a lot of money from us. If Mnangangws, his MPs and the Police are failing to protect us from these criminals I think its high time we protect our selves from these economic vultures."He said Greens must close his shops. He must not take advantage of them."Its high time we organise our selves into a vigilante group to protect our selves. Right now cement is sold in rands and USD only. What is that? Among us we have civil servants who are paid in bonds. Why discriminate against them. Our constitution is against all forms of discrimination," he said."From today I am working on forming a group to deal with this kind of abuse by institutions. I propose a Plumtree Siyabangena Action Group. Let us form it . Skhathele." News / National by Simbarashe Sithole Zanu-PF Mashonaland Central youths reportedly stormed Limbeck farm in Glendale in a bid to grab 354 hectares away from ZAOGA Forward In Faith (FIF) recently an official has said.The youths who are desperately in need of land allege the plot was dubiously allocated to the church by former First lady Grace Mugabe during her era to support the church's women."A number of rowdy youths stormed Limbeck plot and illegally settled there saying the ZAOGA does not have an offer letter after Grace allocated them on political grounds since her late mother was a member of the church .Youth are also claiming that it is not fair for the church to have more than one estate in the same province when there is scarcity of land for everyone," said the source who spoke in confidentiality.The church was also given vast land in Bindura by Robert Mugabe in 2016 when he officially opened the Zimbabwe Ezekiel Guti University (ZEGU).In an interview with Bulawayo24.com, some of the youths allege that they are angered with the gross mismanagement of the farm by the church, "We are very disgruntled with the vandalisation of property by the women who ever since they took control of the farm have never been productive." The church cut and sold all the gum trees, vandalised property to a farm which has the capacity of creating employment opportunities for the majority of the people, it is this maladministration by the church which is infuriating us hence our decision to take over for the good of the nation," said Limbeck resident Mr Reason Joseph.The youths have also expressed disappointment over lack of concern over the inaction by Mazowe South legislator Fortune Chasi, " Chasi has never been there for us, his previous term he was saying the G40 are hindering his smooth development operations but even now we have not seen him attending to the numerous issues affecting us as a constituency," said Joseph.Chasi could not be reached for comment as his mobile phone was power off.Meanwhile, the Lands Committee chaired by Minister of State Senator Monica Mavhunga and the party provincial leadership are reported to have made a U-turn on the matter ordering the youths to vacate the plot while they plan to down size the land.Several Mnangagwa's loyalist in the province are alleged to be targeting farm lands that were allocated to former First family sympathizers with Mazowe District Lands Officer Fortune Chambishi alleged to be the hand behind the shaddy land deals. #KORUS FTA S. Korea, U.S. agree upon new dialogue channels on supply chains South Korea and the United States on Friday agreed to establish new dialogue channels to enhance cooperation on supply chains and other trade issues of mutual concern, the two side... #Netflix Netflix raises subscription fees in S. Korea amid controversies over network usage Netflix has raised its monthly subscription fees in South Korea as a vice parliamentary speaker proposed a bill to keep the U.S. streaming giant from getting a free ride on network... Opinion / Interviews The Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe has been under scrutiny following the suspension of four directors - Messrs Mirirai Chiremba (financial intelligence), Norman Mataruka (bank supervision), Gresham Muradzikwa (security) and Azvinandawa Saburi (financial markets) - on allegations of corruption and abuse of office. The central bank has also been accused of being complicit in parallel market activities. Last week, The Sunday Mail's Chief Reporter Kuda Bwititi spoke to Deputy RBZ Governor Dr Khupukile Mlambo on this and other issues. Below are excerpts.***Q: The public would like to know who is conducting the investigations of the four suspended directors and how the probe is being conducted.A: In general, you might have seen what happened at (the Zimbabwe Revenue Authority) when the general manager was suspended. It is always the board that investigates when senior managers are under probe. I am sure that the board will make an announcement soon. This is an issue that is at a higher level than us, the management.At this stage, we are not saying the four directors are corrupt: it is just alleged that they are corrupt.All I can say is that our board is meeting to have a discussion on this issue and they will let the public know. It is a board issue that I am not fully qualified to talk about.Q: Why did it take a social media post from Mr William Mutumanje (Acie Lumumba) to suspend four senior directors? Does this not imply the RBZ was all along sleeping on duty?A: Corporate governance requires that once something has been mentioned and people named, you cannot ignore it and you have to take action.Particular names were mentioned in a public space, so it is difficult for you if you are the central bank, if you want to maintain integrity within the system not to take any action.We are not saying they are guilty, but we are saying if they were named by that official who at the time had a strategic post at the ministry. We have to investigate it.We, thus, had to say let's put them on suspension until we investigate the matters at hand. It is important that we protect the integrity of the institution.Q: Globally there are standards for tracking financial transactions. Why is it that the RBZ never acted when people were moving millions of dollars that were traded on the black market?A: We do have the suspicious transactions policy. We actually spelt it out in one of our recent Monetary Policy Statements.We are saying that banks must report any such suspicious financial transactions before they take place. We have a department that deals with that at the RBZ and that is the Financial Intelligence Unit.In this particular situation, it's difficult for us to divulge much more information because the director of this unit is one of the people who has been suspended. So we need to dig into that.Ordinarily, and as far as I know, all suspicious transactions have always been reported.My suspicion is that a lot of these things are done in cash, I am talking about cash barons on the black market. These are people who do not use bank accounts but they have no access to cash.Q: It appears you are shifting blame from the RBZ. At what point does the RBZ lose track of such transactions?A: The limit from the central bank has always been that you can't withdraw more than $10 000 for corporates and you cannot withdraw more than $1 000 per day as an individual.As far as we know at the RBZ, those limits were respected.Of course individuals were withdrawing less because of the cash flows at the banks, but in general, people respected those limits. What should be understood is that the money on the black market is hard to follow-up in terms of allowing and not allowing it to be supplied onto the parallel market.Q: Does this mean that it is the banks that are responsible?A: No, I am not shifting the blame to the banks: the banks followed the regulations that we gave them.I do not think the money on the black market comes directly from the bank. I say so because banks make reports to the RBZ on the movements that take place in different accounts. So if there is one that is suspicious, they have to notify the RBZ; we are not saying the banks were in the parallel market.Q: How do you explain to the public that we have freshly minted notes that flood the black market, especially in light of a widely held perception that the RBZ uses these bond notes to buy US dollars?A: People need to understand that it is not only the RBZ which has the fresh money. For example, small-scale miners receive fresh money almost directly from the RBZ because they are paid in cash by Fidelity Printers, which is one of our subsidiaries. So that can also be one explanation.As the Governor has already said, we have no policy to supply the black market.Q: With the operation to clampdown on money changers underway, what plans do you have to encourage opening more money bureaux de change and dissuade people from going to the black market?A: Now that you have a separation of the accounts, it is likely that the bureau de change business will work.The policy to encourage them has been there, but it has not been effective because there was lack of clear separation between RTGS and nostro accounts.This meant that if people got foreign currency into their banks, it would go into the same system with RTGS if they did not use it in two weeks. But now what we are saying is that if you have your money in your own nostro, you will have access to it all the time. This will be different from RTGS accounts, where people find it difficult to access their cash.We have actually made it cheaper for people to set up money transfer agencies. We put the licence at $500, which when we announced it, we did not specify whether its RTGS or US dollars.What we need is a proper exchange bureau and the challenge that was there back then was that people found it easy to be on the black market and be on the streets. What we need to do now as RBZ is go back to the public through various platforms to promote this idea.Q: What is the latest on separation of FCA accounts and RTGS accounts?A: The monetary policy statement said this would begin on November 1. Banks have been working on it to ensure that they start separating the accounts by that date.If you earn your forex, it will get into your forex accounts. So what it means, in other words, is that banks are working on the individual accounts to separating the RTGS and forex accounts for each customer.Some banks were already doing it. What is important about this policy is that we want those with foreign currency to have easy access to their money when they want it.Q: How much RTGS money has the RBZ mopped up through the statutory reserve requirement?A: We have now mopped up $1,5 billion, which is through the seven percent savings bond.Q: There have been reports of some companies diverting foreign currency which has been allocated for critical imports to the black market. What is your response?A: I saw that on social media when one Member of Parliament posted it. But he never laid any charge against a particular culprit.If he comes to us and says that this is happening, then we will take action. We do not know who he is talking about. I am not dismissing it and we do welcome such ideas. If he has proof, it is okay if he comes with it so that he can investigate it.The allegations may also lead us to other organisations that have been accused of being part of the swindle.Q: There are suspicions of fake bond notes circulating. Do you have information on that?A: I have also heard about it from the grapevine, but if it's there, it's not on large-scale.Q: Confidence is key in all that you are trying to do. Some people have lost confidence in the RBZ. What are your doing to restore public confidence?A: Confidence appears at many levels.The immediate challenge that we are facing is that of our directors. We have to be as transparent as possible and this is why we have asked them to go home while we take this action.The Governor has said that the public will be kept informed, so the central bank will not hide anything.The second issue is about how we manage the monetary system. It's about ensuring whether there is financial stability in the system. That is why we came with the idea to have separate foreign currency accounts so that those with forex can have access to their money without any hassles.So if we can maintain this stability, people will begin to have trust. ARRIAGA, Mexico (AP) Hundreds of Mexican federal officers carrying plastic shields blocked a Central American caravan from advancing toward the United States on Saturday, after a group of several thousand migrants turned down the chance to apply for refugee status and obtain a Mexican offer of benefits. Mexican President Enrique Pena Nieto has announced what he called the "You are at home" plan, offering shelter, medical attention, schooling and jobs to Central Americans in Chiapas and Oaxaca states if migrants apply, calling it a first step toward permanent refugee status. Authorities said more than 1,700 had already applied for refugee status. But a standoff unfolded as federal police officers blocked the highway, saying there was an operation underway to stop the caravan. Thousands of migrants waited to advance, vowing to continue their long trek toward the U.S. border. At a meeting brokered by Mexico's National Human Rights Commission, police said they would reopen the highway and only wanted an opportunity for federal authorities to explain the proposal to migrants who had rejected it the previous evening. Migrants countered that the middle of a highway was no place to negotiate and said they wanted to at least arrive safely to Mexico City to discuss the topic with authorities and Mexican lawmakers. They agreed to relay information back to their respective sides and said they would reconvene. Orbelina Orellana, a migrant from San Pedro Sula, Honduras, said she and her husband left three children behind and had decided to continue north one way or another. "Our destiny is to get to the border," Orellana said. She was suspicious of the government's proposal and said that some Hondurans who had applied for legal status had already been sent back. Her claims could not be verified, but migrants' representatives in the talks asked the Mexican government to provide a list of anyone who had been forced to return. Story continues The standoff comes after one of the caravan's longest days of walking and hanging from passing trucks on a 60-mile (100 kilometer) journey to the city of Arriaga. The bulk of the migrants were boisterous Friday evening in their refusal to accept anything less than safe passage to the U.S. border. "Thank you!" they yelled as they voted to reject the offer in a show of hands. They then added: "No, we're heading north!" Sitting at the edge of the edge of the town square, 58-year-old Oscar Sosa of San Pedro Sula, Honduras concurred. "Our goal is not to remain in Mexico," Sosa said. "Our goal is to make it to the (U.S). We want passage, that's all." Still 1,000 miles (1,600 kilometers) from the nearest U.S. border crossing at McAllen, Texas, the journey could be twice as long if the group of some 4,000 migrants heads for the Tijuana-San Diego frontier, as another caravan did earlier this year. Only about 200 in that group made it to the border. While such migrant caravans have taken place regularly over the years, passing largely unnoticed, they have received widespread attention this year after fierce opposition from U.S. President Donald Trump. On Friday, the Pentagon approved a request for additional troops at the southern border, likely to total several hundred, to help the U.S. Border Patrol as Trump seeks to transform concerns about immigration and the caravan into electoral gains in the Nov. 6 midterms. Defense Secretary Jim Mattis signed off on the request for help from the Department of Homeland Security and authorized the military staff to work out details such as the size, composition and estimated cost of the deployments, according to a U.S. official who spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss planning that has not yet been publicly announced. Stoking fears about the caravan and illegal immigration to rally his Republican base, the president insinuated that gang members and "Middle Easterners" are mixed in with the group, though he later acknowledged there was no proof of that. At a church in Arriaga that opened its grounds to women and children Friday, Ana Griselda Hernandez, 44, of Mapala, Honduras, said she and two friends traveling with children had decided to pay for a bus ride from Pijijiapan, because the 4-year-old and 5-year-old would have never covered the 60-mile distance. "It's difficult because they walk very slowly," she said. She pointed out scabbed-over blisters on her feet, a testament to the fact they had walked or hitched rides since leaving their country. The caravan is now trying to strike out for Tapanatepec, about 29 miles (46 kilometers) away. Up until now, Mexico's government has allowed the migrants to make their way on foot, but has not provided them with food, shelter or bathrooms, reserving any aid for those who turn themselves in. Police have also been ejecting paid migrant passengers off buses, enforcing an obscure road insurance regulation to make it tougher for them to travel that way. On Friday, authorities were cracking down on smaller groups trying to catch up with the main caravan, detaining about 300 Hondurans and Guatemalans who crossed the Mexico border illegally, said an official with the national immigration authority. Migrants, who enter Mexico illegally every day, usually ride in smugglers' trucks or buses, or walk at night to avoid detection. The fact that the group of about 300 stragglers was walking in broad daylight suggests they were adopting the tactics of the main caravan, which is large enough to be out in the open without fear of mass detention. However, it now appears such smaller groups will be picked off by immigration authorities, keeping them from swelling the caravan's ranks. On Friday evening, Irineo Mujica, whose organization People without Borders is supporting the caravan, accused Mexican immigration agents of harassment and urged migrants to travel closely together. "They are terrorizing us," he said. ___ Associated Press writers Mark Stevenson and Peter Orsi in Mexico City contributed to this report. A reality TV show filmed in Yukon has been renewed for a second season in the U.S. Greg McHale's Wild Yukon is now airing on the Sportsman Channel, only available in the U.S. The network says it reaches more than 36 million homes. The show follows McHale, a Yukon-based adventurer, on hunting journeys into some of the territory's most remote and scenic places. It's assembled by a team of only three people who aim to give it a very "cinematic" look, McHale says. "We are trying to produce a more cinematic style, where it's not so much about the harvest as it is about these wild places and the places where we have the access to hunt," he says. The Journal of Mountain Hunting recently called the series "an incredibly well-produced show," and fans on Facebook have peppered McHale with questions about gear. Yukon's Outer Edge Productions So far, ten episodes have aired. The renewal with the Sportsman Channel means another ten episodes will be produced. Light and mobile: A show made by three people McHale travels with cinematographers David Brabec and Karl Blattman, who handle shooting and editing. It's a small crew, McHale says. McHale is a licenced pilot and even flies a float plane himself to reach locations. But the show often focuses on travel which includes kayaking, pack rafting and long hikes up mountain ranges. One challenge is keeping the camera lenses clean as the show tracks McHale through mud and snow. Yukon's Outer Edge Productions "It's really a show about being in these wild spaces," he says. "The pulling of the trigger is one small part of the whole experience and we're trying to portray that." McHale and his crew assembled a pilot episode on their own before signing a distribution deal with the Sportsman Channel. The show joins other reality TV programs filmed in Yukon which have found an international audience, including Dr. Oakley, Yukon Vet, and mining programs like Gold Rush and Yukon Gold. Because of its distribution deal, McHale's show is not available to watch in Canada not even online. He hopes the show will create more interest in Yukon tourism and outfitting, and that the images will appeal not only to hunters, but to photographers and anyone interested in back country travel. : , Berget will be the second member of his family to be executed. His older brother, Roger, was convicted of killing a man to steal his car and spent 13 years on Oklahoma's death row until his execution in 2000 at age 39. When South Dakota executes an inmate Monday for killing a prison guard during a 2011 escape attempt, it will be the state's fourth execution since it reinstituted the death penalty in the late 1970s. Rodney Berget, 56, admitted his role in the slaying of Ronald "R.J." Johnson, who was beaten with a pipe and his head covered in plastic wrap. Johnson, a veteran guard of nearly 24 years, died on his 63rd birthday. Some background on the case: DEADLY ESCAPE ATTEMPT On the morning of April 12, 2011, Berget and inmate Eric Robert attacked Johnson in a part of the South Dakota State Penitentiary in Sioux Falls known as Pheasantland Industries. It's where inmates work on upholstery, signs, furniture and other projects. After beating Johnson and leaving his body, Robert put on Johnson's pants, hat and jacket and pushed a cart loaded with two boxes, one with Berget inside, toward the exits. They made it outside one gate but were stopped by another guard before they could complete their escape through a second gate. In a statement to a judge, Berget acknowledged he deserved to die. "I knew what I was doing, and I continued to do it," Berget said. "I destroyed a family. I took away a father, a husband, a grandpa." GIVING UP Robert was executed on Oct. 15, 2012. He hastened his own death by attempting to waive the state's review of death penalty cases and then told a judge that if allowed to live, he would kill again. Berget's mental status and death penalty eligibility have played a key role in court delays. Berget in 2016 appealed his death sentence, but later asked to withdraw the appeal against the advice of his lawyers. Berget wrote to a judge asking to proceed to execution. He said he was worried the death penalty would be overturned and said he couldn't imagine spending "another 30 years in a cage." Attorney General Marty Jackley said Friday that there have been two filings seeking to stop the execution. The South Dakota Supreme Court denied one challenging the state's method of execution, but a second arguing that Berget lacks the intellectual capacity to receive capital punishment is pending, Jackley said. SOUTH DAKOTA'S METHOD South Dakota uses lethal injection and has not had issues with obtaining the drugs it needs, as some other states have. One reason may be that the state shrouds some details in secrecy. That includes the supplier of the drug it will use. Lawmakers in 2013 approved hiding the identities of its suppliers. The Department of Corrections has said it plans to use a "one-drug protocol" in the execution, and policy calls for either sodium thiopental or pentobarbital. Pentobarbital was used in its last two executions. State law also allows the Department of Corrections to withhold a public announcement of the time of the execution until 48 hours beforehand. The state announced the week of Berget's execution in August. Johnson's family plans to be there. Berget will be executed at 1:30 p.m., rather than the typical 10 p.m. time, to keep a balance between those involved and the need to maintain orderly operations of the institution. Afterward, witnesses and others will meet with media at the Ronald "RJ" Johnson Training Academy on the prison grounds. It was dedicated in Johnson's memory on the one-year anniversary of his death. 'HE WAS SO KIND' Johnson's widow, Lynette Johnson, says her husband didn't deserve to die. She told the Sioux Falls Argus Leader that her husband was "so kind" and "didn't have a bad word to say about anybody." Johnson sized down R.J.'s wedding ring and now wears it next to her own; she keeps his watch its hands frozen at the time he was attacked in a clear case next to photos above her fireplace. Lynette Johnson told the Argus Leader she appreciates letters she has gotten from inmates who knew and respected her husband. She said she is nervous about Monday's execution, worried that Berget might try to escape. She said his death may bring a sense of security. Johnson didn't return a phone message from the Associated Press. BERGET FAMILY HISTORY Berget will be the second member of his family to be executed. His older brother, Roger, was convicted of killing a man to steal his car and spent 13 years on Oklahoma's death row until his execution in 2000 at age 39. Roger Berget was sentenced to death in March 1987. Less than three months later, Rodney Berget, then 25 and serving time for grand theft and escape, joined five other inmates in breaking out of the South Dakota prison. Rodney Berget was released in 2002 but didn't stay on the outside for long. A year later he was sentenced to life in prison for attempted murder and kidnapping. READY TO DIE Dennis Davis, director of South Dakotans for Alternatives to the Death Penalty, has been visiting Berget regularly on death row. Davis said Berget is tired of being locked in a cell 23 hours a day and is ready to die. "He doesn't want to be tortured anymore in solitary confinement," Davis said. "Obviously he has some fears as any human being would." Davis said Berget's family has not been in contact with him for many years and only one relative, a niece, has supported him. It's not clear if she will attend the execution. Davis, a Catholic deacon from Burbank, plans to walk with Berget from death row to the gurney. | 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 Japanese PM Shinzo Abe will host PM Modi at his holiday home in the picturesque Yamanashi prefecture for a private dinner on Sunday. (Photo: ANI) Tokyo/New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday said his meeting with Japanese counterpart Shinzo Abe will add new vigour to the strong friendship between the two countries as he arrived in Tokyo to attend the 13th India-Japan annual summit. The two-day summit beginning on Sunday seeks to review the progress in ties and deepen strategic dimension of the bilateral relationship. "PM Narendra Modi arrives in Tokyo to a warm welcome for his 5th Annual Summit with Abe Shinzo. Japan is one of the few countries that India has this mechanism of annual summits, reflecting the extraordinary depth of our engagement," External Affairs Ministry Spokesperson Raveesh Kumar tweeted. "Landed in Tokyo. I am confident this visit will add new vigour to the strong friendship between India and Japan," PM Modi said in a tweet. In a statement on Friday, before leaving for Japan, the Prime Minister described India and Japan as a "winning combination" and said the island nation was New Delhi's most trusted partner in its economic and technological modernisation. PM Modi said it will be his 12th meeting with Abe since he first visited Japan as prime minister in September 2014. During the summit, Prime Minister Narendra Modi will engage with Abe on a range of issues including defence and regional security. Abe will host PM Modi at his holiday home in the picturesque Yamanashi prefecture for a private dinner on Sunday following which both the leaders will travel to Tokyo by train. Yamanashi, at a distance of around 110 kilometres from Tokyo, is surrounded by several mountains including Mount Fuji - the country's tallest peak at around 3,776 metres. On Sunday afternoon, the Prime Minister will join his Japanese counterpart for an informal lunch at a hotel. The two leaders will then visit a company which is a leading manufacturer of factory automation. Besides bilateral issues, the two leaders are expected to deliberate on a range of regional and global issues including the situation in the Indo-Pacific region. It is said the Prime Minister's visit will reaffirm the traditional bonds of friendship between the two countries and strengthen their multi-faceted cooperation in diverse fields. India is also hoping to have some kind of synergy or integration between PM Modi's Ayushman Bharat scheme, which is the largest medicare programme of its kind globally, and the Japanese programme which is called Asia Health and Wellbeing Initiative. Prime Minister in his statement said projects such as Mumbai-Ahmedabad High Speed Rail and Dedicated Freight Corridors reflected the high level and "strength of our economic engagement". "Japan is also at the forefront of engaging in our national initiatives, such as 'Make in India', 'Skill India', 'Digital India', 'Start Up India'... Japanese investors have faith in India's economic future, which is marked with myriad opportunities," PM Modi said. PM Modi will also address the Indian community function in Tokyo and will attend a series of business events and address the business forum. Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who is in Japan to attend 13th India-Japan annual summit, has said that his meeting with Abe will add new vigour to strong friendship between two countries. (Photo: Twitter | @PMOIndia) Yamanashi/New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi met his Japanese counterpart Shinzo Abe in Yamanashi on Sunday as the two leaders seek to add new vigour to the strong friendship between the two countries. "Prime Ministers @narendramodi and @AbeShinzo meet at Yamanashi. They would be holding talks through the day on deepening India-Japan ties," Prime Minister Modi's office tweeted. PM Modi, who arrived in Japan last evening to attend the 13th India-Japan annual summit, has said that his meeting with Abe will add new vigour to the strong friendship between the two countries. The two-day summit beginning Sunday will seek to review the progress in ties and deepen strategic dimension of the bilateral relationship. Abe will host a luncheon for Modi at a scenic resort by Mount Fuji. After luncheon, they would visit a factory of industrial robot manufacturer Fanuc Corp. before moving on to the Japanese premier's vacation home nearby. Abe will host the Indian Prime Minister at his holiday home in the picturesque Yamanashi prefecture, west of Tokyo, for a private dinner Sunday following which both the leaders will travel to Tokyo by train. Yamanashi, at a distance of around 110 kilometres from Tokyo, is surrounded by several mountains including Mount Fuji - the country's tallest peak at around 3,776 metres. The two leaders will hold a formal summit on Monday in Tokyo, during which strengthening bilateral security and economic cooperation is expected to be high on the agenda. Ahead of his departure from New Delhi, PM Modi described India and Japan as a "winning combination" and said the island nation was New Delhi's most trusted partner in its economic and technological modernisation. PM Modi said it will be his 12th meeting with Abe since he first visited Japan as prime minister in September 2014. During the summit, Prime Minister Narendra Modi will engage with Abe on a range of issues including defence and regional security. Besides bilateral issues, the two leaders are expected to deliberate on a range of regional and global issues including the situation in the Indo-Pacific region. It is said the Prime Minister's visit will reaffirm the traditional bonds of friendship between the two countries and strengthen their multi-faceted cooperation in diverse fields. India is also hoping to have some kind of synergy or integration between Modi's Ayushman Bharat scheme, which is the largest medicare programme of its kind globally, and the Japanese programme which is called Asia Health and Wellbeing Initiative. Prime Minister Modi has said projects such as Mumbai-Ahmedabad High Speed Rail and Dedicated Freight Corridors reflected the high level and "strength of our economic engagement". "Japan is also at the forefront of engaging in our national initiatives, such as 'Make in India', 'Skill India', 'Digital India', 'Start Up India'... Japanese investors have faith in India's economic future, which is marked with myriad opportunities," PM Modi said. The Prime Minister will also address the Indian community function in Tokyo and will attend a series of business events and address the business forum. Hyderabad: Over Rs 31.41 crore in cash and liquor worth `1 crore has been seized by the officials in Telangana state since the announcement of the State Assembly election schedule early this month. Chief electoral officer Rajat Kumar on Saturday said that the Election Commission has been taking strict measures to check the illegal flow of money and liquor ahead of elections. He said that the commission had sought a report from the DGP over the alleged phone tapping complaints lodged by Opposition parties against the TRS. Mr Rajat Kumar said that the commission had also sought a report from the Andhra Pradesh DGP over the alleged deployment of Andhra Pradesh police and intelligence staff in various Assembly constituencies in Telangana. Referring to complaints on TS Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao misusing his official camp office cum residence Pragathi Bhavan by holding TRS party meetings and other such complaints on the ministers, he said the commission will seriously examine them and necessary action will be taken as this issue attracts election code of conduct. Mr Rajat Kumar said voters can enrol till November 9 and urged people to utilise the opportunity, if their names are not found in the voters list. We have laid more focus on preventing illegal flow of money and liquor before the polls. We are holding discussions with officials of neighbouring states bordering Telangana to check this menace, he stated. He said 22 companies of central forces have already arrived in the state to ensure smooth conduct of polls. We have seized six unlicensed arms, 7,411 licensed arms were deposited, 8,622 PD cases were booked, 43,101 bindover cases were filed and 3,765 warrants were issued, he said. The police also detained 16 suspects, who were involved in offences earlier and took them into custody to verify their involvement in the recent cases. (Representional Image) Hyderabad: Around 45 suspects were detained and 111 vehicles were seized by the Hyderabad and Cyberabad police during cordon and search operations at Santoshnagar, Rajendranagar and Pet Basheerabad limits late Saturday night. In Pet Basheerabad, around 150 police personnel, including armed force, cordoned Vajpainagar area and checked the residential colonies. The police found 49 bikes, three auto-rickshaws and a car in the possession of residents without any documents in support of the claims of their ownership. The police also detained 16 suspects, who were involved in offences earlier and took them into custody to verify their involvement in the recent cases. Balanagar DCP P.V. Padmaja said, The public has expressed utmost satisfaction over the search operation and extended their support, asking for more such operations in the neighbouring areas. In the operation at Suleman Nagar in Rajendranagar, around 200 policemen cordoned off the area and searched the houses. The operation that started at 10.30 pm lasted for three hours with the seizure of 22 bikes and five auto-rickshaws from the claimants. The police also took custody of 20 suspects, including two history-sheeters, to verify their antecedents. Meanwhile, another search operation was conducted by the South zone police of Hyderabad at Rakshapuram Colony in Santoshnagar, where around 250 policemen participated in the operation and detained nine suspects who were in contact with previous offenders. The police also seized 46 vehicles from the claimants for not having relevant documents in support of their claims. Vijayawada/New Delhi: Andhra Pradesh State Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu was in New Delhi to expose the cheating by the BJP led Union government and explain about the attack on YSR Congress President and opposition leader, Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy. He held a meeting with Telugu Desam MPs and asked them to expose the conspiracies of the BJP at the national level. Mr. Naidu met Loktantrik Janata Dal founder Sharad Yadav and explained how the BJP was using the IT department to conduct raids in AP. He also discussed the non fulfillment of bifurcation assurances and the absence of development funds for the residuary AP state. Mr Naidu met Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal and CPI leader Suravaram Sudhakar Reddy over lunch. Along with ministers Kala Venkat Rao and Yanamala Ramarkrishnudu, he explained how the BJP cheated AP, the interference by the Governor in the Jagan attack case and non-cooperation by the BJP-led Union government. He alleged that recently the BJP government had sanctioned funds for the development of nine backward districts in Telangana and seven in AP but had taken back the funds sanctioned for AP, thus showing bias. He also met with BSP President Ms. Mayawati and discussed the negative attitude of the Central government towards the states. Mr. Naidu met National Conference President Farooq Abdullah and discussed about the protection of the country from anti national forces. He also explained in detail about the BJP deceiving AP and the interference by the Governor. He met former Union Minister Yaswanth Sinha and other leaders and brought the BJPs anti AP bias to their notice. Mr Naidu said he would tour the country and bring the BJPs cheating to the notice of all leaders and the masses. During the TD MPs meeting, Vijayawada MP Kesineni Srinivas alleged that the YSRC was playing a big drama about the attack on Jagan and termed it Jagannatakam. On Friday, October 26, 2018, the Supreme Court issued interim directions trying to bring about a quietus to the civil war that has gutted the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) and firebombed the other law enforcement and intelligence structures. However, a fundamental issue has still not been addressed: Is the CBI a legal organisation with a constitutionally kosher legal architecture or is it an illegal and unconstitutional entity? To answer that question you need to start right at the beginning. The CBI was created by an executive order on April 1, 1963. However, it was really born 22 years earlier as a Special Police Establishment in the department of war in 1941. In 1943, it was constituted by an ordinance into an independent entity, namely the Special Police Establishment (War Department), in exercise of the Emergency powers conferred upon the then Viceroy and governor general of India Lord Linlithgow by the India and Burma (Emergency Provisions) Act, 1940 passed on June 27, 1940 by the British Parliament. The Emergency Provisions Act interminably extended the validity of ordinances promulgated by the governor general invoking the powers available to him under Section 72 of the Ninth Schedule of the Government of India Act, 1935 which otherwise mandated that the maximum validity of an ordinance could be six months only. With the Second World War coming to a close in 1945 the said act stood repealed by His Majestys Order in Council, namely the India and Burma (Termination of Emergency) Order, 1946, which declared the end of emergency with effect from April 1, 1946. The emergency had occasioned the passage of the Emergency Provisions Act in the first instance. Fearing that all acts done under the Emergency Powers Act, 1920 would either lapse with effect from October 1, 1946 or get extinguished as the validity period of an ordinance stood revived to six months as envisaged in Section 72 of the Ninth Schedule of the Government of India Act, 1935 with effect from April 1, 1946. The government of the day promulgated another ordinance on September 25, 1946 called the Special Police Establishment (War Department) Ordinance. On October 1, 1946 in exercise of powers conferred by the said ordinance dated September 25, 1946 the then federal government mutated the Special Police Estab-lishment (War Depart-ment) into the Delhi Special Police Establish-ment. The Delhi Special Police Establishment Act that came into force in November 1946 subsequently repealed the ordinance of September 25, 1946 even though the 1946 ordinance was valid till March 1947. In the discharge of its legal duties, the CBI still functions as the Delhi Special Police Establishment ostensibly constituted before Independence on October 1, 1946. It is not quite clear as to whether a subsequent notification reconstituting the Delhi Special Police Establishment under the said act was ever issued as the 1946 ordinance only midwifed and morphed the Special Police Establishment (War Department) into the Delhi Special Police Establishment. The critical question therefore is whether the Delhi Special Police Establishment, and that is what the CBI is in legal parlance even today, was ever officially constituted through a proper notification. Before you get lost in a legal jungle let me demystify the legalese. The CBI has no independent standing in law. It is a piece of legal fiction whose underpinnings in law are tenuous to say the least. It still draws all its powers of investigation and arrest from the antiquated 1946 Act which essentially being a local act provides that each state through an executive order under Section 6 of the said Act has to give the Special Police Establishment, what is colloquially called the CBI, permission to investigate particular offences in that state. In other words, the CBI can investigate a case only if requested by the concerned state government or directed by the high court or Supreme Court, except if it is a matter that pertains to the Central government. It is also questionable whether the constitutional scheme provides for a central investigative agency. Entry 1 and 2 of the State List seventh schedule makes police a state subject. My interest in the legality of the CBI commenced in 1994 when a special leave petition filed in the Supreme Court in 1986, Bajrang Lal Kedia vs Union of India, landed in the law chambers of P.R. Kumaramangalam former law minister of India for final arguments. The said SLP challenged the legality and vires of the CBI. I was then working with Kumaramangalam. Along with two colleagues Vipin Gogia and Pawan Kumar, I prepared the final arguments. Sushil Kumar Jain was the advocate on record. On August 30, 1994, Kumaramangalam argued the matter at length in the Supreme Court before a division bench of Justices K. Ramaswamy and N. Venkatachala. After hearing the Union of India and us, the court dismissed the matter in limine leaving all the substantive questions of law open for future adjudication. That is where the matter lay till I raised it in the Lok Sabha on July 22, 2009 through a starred question. It pertained to the very legality of the CBI. On not getting a satisfactory answer I researched the subject extensively and wrote an exhaustive policy brief for the Observer Research Foundation (ORF) entitled Legally Empowering the Sentinels of the Nation. I followed it up by tabling a Private Members Bill in the Lok Sabha on August 13, 2010 entitled The Central Bureau of Investigation Bill 2010 to give the CBI a proper statutory underpinning. http://www.prsindia.org/mptrack/15loksabha/manishtewari My apprehensions about the ambiguous legal basis of the CBI came true on November 6, 2013 when a division bench of the Gauhati high court quashed the resolution constituting the CBI. Justices I.A. Ansari and Indira Shah held while we decline to hold and declare that the DSPE Act, 1946, is not a valid piece of legislation, we do hold that the CBI is neither an organ nor a part of the DSPE and the CBI cannot be treated as a police force constituted under the DSPE Act, 1946. We hereby also set aside and quash the impugned resolution, dated 01.04.1963, whereby CBI has been constituted Though on November 9, 2013, the then Chief Justice of India, P. Sathasivam, and Justice Ranjana Desai, in an urgent hearing held at the residence of the CJI stayed the said judgment but that is where the matter rests since then. The CBIs existence hangs by the thread of a stay. Islamabad: Pakistan President Dr Arif Alvi Sunday said that Pakistan will never establish any ties with Israel. Speaking to reporters here before leaving for Turkey, he termed reports of landing of an Israeli aircraft in Pakistan baseless and unfounded. Pakistan is not going to establish any ties with Israel, he added. The President said Turkey was an important friend of Pakistan, which has always supported us on all issues, including Kashmir. He said besides Saudi Arabia, we will also invite other friendly countries to invest in the country. Pursuing the governments austerity drive, the President opted to travel through commercial flight. He got his luggage security screened and went through the immigration process. The State Bank of Vietnam must review a recent fine on a southern man for exchanging $100 in a local gold shop. Photo by Shutterstock/ElenaR The legality of a $3,855 fine imposed for exchanging $100 in a gold shop should be reviewed, Deputy Prime Minister Truong Hoa Binh says. Binh said Saturday that the central bank, the State Bank of Vietnam (SBV), should look into the legality and appropriateness of such a heavy fine being imposed on a man in southern Can Tho City. SBV Governor Le Minh Hung had said Friday that the director of central banks southern branch was working with the Can Thos Peoples Committee to investigate the matter further. On Tuesday, 38-year-old electrician Nguyen Ca Re was fined VND90 million ($3,855) by Can Tho authorities for exchanging a $100 note in a gold shop. The VND2.3 million ($98.48) that Re received from the shop was also confiscated. A heavy fine of VND295 million ($12,630) was also slapped on the gold shop and the $100 note confiscated. Re said that he had been given the $100 by a relative and had been exchanging dollar notes at gold shops before without any trouble. He also said that with his monthly salary of VND4 million ($171), he doesnt know how to get the money to pay the VND90 million fine. The fine was a reflection of weak governance, said National Assembly delegate and Vice Chairman of the Vietnam Bar Federation Nguyen Chien said Saturday. Many illegal currency exchange points still exist [in Vietnam], and the government is responsible for that first-hand, he added. The government needs to deal with those illegal currency exchange points instead of punishing people like Re, Chien said. While current regulations ban the unauthorized buying and selling of foreign currencies, gold shops have for long been used by the public for this purpose, a HCMC-based economist who requested anonymity noted. He said this has happened because authorized money exchange points are very few. Such illegal transactions are also difficult to manage, he added. In contrast, the deputy head of the State Banks HCMC branch, Nguyen Hoang Minh, told VnExpress that the 70 legal exchange points in the city were enough to meet public demand. Apart from commercial banks, Vietnam has 580 legal exchange points, according to the State Bank. Vietnam's agriculture sector has been reaping significant hi-tech returns of late, Minister Nguyen Xuan Cuong has informed the parliament. Cuong, Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, highlighted the sectors achievements at a National Assembly (NA) discussion on socioeconomic development Friday. He said Vietnam's agricultural growth this year had reached 3.65 percent year-on-year as of the end of September, the highest in many years. "This is a significant achievement considering that the world has been greatly affected by natural disasters," Cuong said. He said the ongoing restructuring of the sector has been proceeding in the right direction over the past five years, as evidenced by strong growth in production during this time. "Currently Vietnam's agricultural products are being exported to 180 countries, earning $200 billion in the past five years and achieving a surplus value of $50 billion," the minister noted. He said that hi-tech advances in line with their scale have been made in the three main categories of agricultural products: national products with export values of at least $1 billion; provincial products; and local specialties. As a result, the price of Vietnamese rice, which used to be very low five years ago, is now higher than those of Thailand and India, Cuong said, without elaborating. Vietnam's rice exports this year have also achieved its highest ever volume and value, he added. Rice exports from Vietnam in January-September were estimated to rise 7.6 percent from a year ago to 4.93 million tons. Revenue from rice exports in the period was estimated to grow 22.1 percent year-on-year to $2.48 billion. Highlighting rural development achievements, the minister also reported that over 40 percent of communes have met the criteria for recognition as new rural areas, exceeding the target set by the parliament. By next year 50 percent of communes are expected to achieve this, meaning the scheme's target would be "basically reached" a year ahead of its deadline, he said. National profile needs boost Minister Cuong also acknowledged that the development of new rural areas needed more focus in some core areas including production promotion and environmental protection. Several NA deputies also expressed concern that the focus on increasing the sectors value was happening without resolving the issue of creating brand value for Vietnam's agriculture sector as a whole. While Vietnam exports many agricultural products, most of those are raw produce exported under companies' brand names, not really adding value to the "made in Vietnam" brand, they said. Truong Anh Tuan, an NA member from the northern province of Nam Dinh, said Vietnam needs to build a strong brand for its agricultural products. Using rice as an example, he said Vietnam currently has over 200 types of rice, with each locality claiming its rice as a delicious specialty, but such claims have never been verified. There has never been a "delicious rice competition," he noted. On the other hand, Vietnamese rice has received recognition in the global market with the ST 24 variety making into the top 3 most delicious rice varieties in the world at an event in Macau last November, behind Thailand and Cambodia. "The reality is that there are beauty contests for dairy cows, but for rice, which has been part of the Vietnamese people for thousands of years, there is still no contest to decide which variety is most delicious," Tuan said. He expressed hope that the agriculture sector would soon bring greater recognition to Vietnamese rice, and thereby build a strong brand, helping farmers grow high value, sustainable produce. NA deputies were in general agreement that strengthening Vietnamese agricultural sectors brand would help increase the export value of its products. With a strong brand, the value of Vietnam's agricultural product exports would not stop at the current $30 billion, but go on to reach $50 billion or even $60 billion, they said. Launched with much fanfare, Hanois double-decker buses have failed to attract enough passengers, a new report says. The municipal Department of Transport has reported to the Hanoi Party Committee that the citys first batch of double-decker buses, launched in May, managed to attract just 6.9 passengers per ride in July. One VND6 billion ($258,600) bus has a maximum capacity of 80 passengers. The department said more time was needed to boost the popularity of Hanois double-decker buses. It said the small number of buses, long wait time and high ticket prices have contributed to the lackluster performance. The first line has just three buses, so the waiting time is approximately 30 minutes. The agency responsible for launching the service was inexperienced in tourism and required the assistance of other businesses to promote and operate the bus line, resulting in high costs, the department said, explaining the high ticket prices. Currently, the prices are VND650,000 ($29) for 48 hours, VND450,000 ($19) for 24 hours, VND300,000 ($13) for four hours and VND196,000 ($8.36) for two hours. The first double-decker bus route has 13 stops and goes through 25 streets, taking tourists to 30 attractions in the city, including the St. Joseph Cathedral on Nha Chung Street, the Vietnamese Womens Museum on Ly Thuong Kiet Street and the Hoa Lo Prison on Hoa Lo Street. The buses are equipped with a narration system on all attractions that can be listened to in several languages. The city has also green lighted a second line to be launched this month. The new route will be 14.8 kilometers long, and start every 30 minutes from 9 a.m. to half past five in the afternoon. It will have 10 stops, starting on Ngo Quyen Street. It will share several stops with the first route. Take a look at Hanoi's first ever double-decker buses. Many parliamentarians say national leaders bio-data and information on land should not be classified as state secrets. In recent discussions at the ongoing National Assembly (NA) session, they expressed their unease over the inclusion of information about high-level leaders and land in a bill on protection of state secrets. Under article 7 of the bill, personal information about Party leadership, information about national defense, land, geology, sea, industry, trade and other subjects can be classified as confidential information. NA deputies said this was too broad based, with several subjects not related to the state. Truong Trong Nghia, a deputy from Ho Chi Minh City, said it will do more harm than good when domestic and foreign policies, which should be disseminated publicly along with a lot of information not related to the state, are now deemed confidential information. The government should disseminate and popularize the family background and leadership career of national leaders so that people can learn from them. Additionally, database of the financial and banking sector need to be public information in many instances, but this bill classifies all of this, Nghia said. He proposed that the definition of confidential information and state secrets be clarified first. "If this bill is passed, it could prove contentious and have unexpected and negative consequences," he said. The HCMC delegate supported his argument with his own experience in searching for information about Vietnam. Because Vietnam restricts access to some data that are classified as state secrets, he was forced to look it up on foreign sites, he said. "If such a stringent regulation becomes a law, I am deeply concerned. The business community in Vietnam would be reluctant to have dialogues, negotiations, and share documents and information." He expressed concerns that the regulation would hinder communication, information flow and in turn hinder socioeconomic growth. Deputy Pham Nhu Hiep of the central Thua Thien Hue Province also wanted clarification on which information in the personal database about national and Party leaders would be classified, and how it would affect cases where there is a need to refer to personal information about them. Hiep also commented that the health status of state officials should not be included as confidential information in the bill, as the Law on Health and Treatment already has a clause on the protection of patients information. Deputy Tran Thi Quoc Khanh of Hanoi said the scope of this law was also in conflict with the Law on Access to Information that came into effect early August. Adopting a business perspective, she said that while enterprises in other countries have access to the content of trade agreement that their country was negotiating and on the process of signing and building business strategies, Vietnam deems this information confidential. "Already inexperienced Vietnamese enterprises will face even more challenges due to difficulties in accessing information and developing international business integration plans," she said. She noted that in the environmental resources section, land information is listed as a state secret, while 70 percent of complaints in Vietnam are related to it. Khanh said the drafting committee should specify which land segments should be stamped secret or public, rather than making it a general stipulation. Responding to the criticism of many delegates that the state secrets protection bill was abstract and too general, Vo Trong Viet, chairman of the National Defense Security Committee, said that the scope of state secrets is crucial information that has not yet been publicized. If revealed, it will have a negative impact on the nation and people, Viet said. He said the bill lays down 15 general issues that the central government should complement with more details. The drafting team will review these to ensure the principle of state secrecy will not affect other activities, he added. Deputy Chairman of the National Assembly Do Ba Ty said that the bill stipulating 15 areas to determine state secrets was appropriate. However, he suggested that the drafting committee reviews the bills provisions to ensure its strictness and consistency with the right to access information. The NA is expected to vote on the draft of the Law on Protection of State Secrets at the end of the month-long session, which will wrap up on November 21. Killing and eating dogs is banned in Taiwan. Photo by AFP/ Murat Kula Taiwan will prosecute two Vietnamese immigrant workers for killing and cooking dogs in breach of its Animal Protection Act. A Thursday midnight raid by police and animal protection officers found a group of 17 Vietnamese workers from a water treatment plant in Taichungs Fongyuan District eating dog meat in a dormitory, the Taipei Times reports. The police also found the head of a dog in a plastic bag in the dormitorys kitchen and several pots of meat stew, which they assume was made with the meat of the slaughtered dog. The police also rescued three other dogs that had been caught to be slaughtered for food. The incident has sparked anger among animal rights advocates and pet owners, whove demanded severe punishment be meted out for the killing and eating of dogs or cats. A forensic team was dispatched to the scene for testing the 17 Vietnamese workers to determine whod killed the dog. Blood traces were found on a 36-year-old Vietnamese woman surnamed Nguyen who confessed to cooking the dog meat, but she identified a 52-year-old male worker surnamed Giap as the butcher. Based on the evidence found in the dormitory, prosecutors said both Nguyen and Giap would be charged for killing the dogs. The Animal Protection Act passed in Taiwan last year expressly forbids the killing dogs and cats for food. The consumption of dog meat is popular in several Asian countries including China, South Korea, the Philippines and Vietnam. Under the Animal Protection Act, the killing of dogs or cats is punishable by up to two years in prison and a maximum fine of NT$2 million ($64,504); while those eating dog or cat meat can be fined up to NT$250,000 ($8,068). The consumption of dog meat has become controversial in Vietnam, too, with Hanoi Peoples Committee calling on residents to stop eating dog and cat meat because their slaughter was undermining the capital citys civilized image. The request aroused controversy and debate, with many residents criticizing it as an imposition of foreign values on Vietnamese citizens. President Maithripala Sirisena temporarily suspended parliament a day after sacking the prime minister and replacing him with a former leader seen as being close to China. Sirisena fired Ranil Wickremesinghe and swore in former President Mahinda Rajapaksa as his replacement late on Friday in a move cheered by Rajapaksa supporters but described as a coup by opponents. The presidents order to suspend parliament until Nov. 16 was widely seen as an attempt to stop Wickremesinghe from trying to prove he maintains a parliamentary majority even after Sirisena pulled his party out of the ruling coalition. Wickremesinghe says he is still prime minister, and shortly before the suspension was announced he had urged the speaker to convene a session to show that he had a majority. I have the majority in the parliament, convene the parliament to resolve this, Wickremesinghe told a news conference in Colombo on Saturday, flanked by all his coalition partners except Sirisenas party. Cheng Xueyuan, Chinas envoy to Sri Lanka, sent Rajapaksa a customary congratulatory message but also paid a courtesy call on Wickremesinghe and said China would not interfere in the political crisis, sources close to the embassy told Reuters. Sirisena ordered the police chief to withdraw the security detail provided to Wickremesinghe as prime minister. The president also appointed an acting head for the governments information department, which in a statement said that the cabinet had been dissolved with the appointment of a new prime minister. An opposition legislator told local media that Sirisena will address the nation on Sunday and appoint a new cabinet on Monday. At least one lawmaker from Wickremesinghes party said he would now back Rajapaksa and told reporters at least another 20 legislators also planned to change sides. Under the constitution, the president can appoint a new prime minister if the current premier loses control of parliament. An opposition leader and Rajapaksa ally G.L. Peiris said, however, that parliaments suspension was aimed at facilitating the establishment of a new government. The parliament has to allocate new seats ... we cant arrange all these in one or two days. We need time, he said. An opposition legislator told local media that Sirisena would address the nation on Sunday and appoint a new cabinet on Monday. The shutdown means the countrys national budget will not be released as scheduled on Nov. 5 and Peiris said the new administration would work with a temporary budget for now. Celebrations, protest Firecrackers were set off in celebration in Colombo late on Friday as Sirisena administered the oath of office to Rajapaksa, while Wickremesinghe was off touring the countrys south. Under Sri Lankas constitution, the president has executive powers while the prime minister heads parliament. Hundreds of angry Wickremesinghe supporters turned to his official residence to express their solidarity to their leader, a four-time prime minister. Sirisena is a traitor. He let our leader down despite us bringing him to power, one of the supporters told Reuters. Media and Finance Minister Mangala Samaraweera called Wickremesinghes ouster an anti-democratic coup. Wickremesinghes party has called on its supporters to hold a protest in the capital Colombo on Monday. The crisis comes against a backdrop of weakening economic growth and follows months of infighting in the ruling coalition, and analysts say the heightened uncertainty could roil markets. Relations between Wickremesinghes United National Party (UNP) and Sirisenas United Peoples Freedom Alliance (UPFA) became strained after Sirisena criticised Wickremesinghe for not adequately investigating an assassination plot targeting the president. The UPFA had threatened to quit the ruling coalition. Sirisena accused Indian intelligence services of involvement in the plot, a claim denied by New Delhi and Colombo. India, which has long seen Sri Lanka, located just off its southern tip, as part of its area of influence, has not yet commented about the crisis. The Foreign Ministry did not respond to a request seeking comment on Rajapaksas appointment. India has been concerned about Rajapaksas ties to China. As president, he ushered in billions of dollars of investment from Beijing to help rebuild the country following the end of a 26-year-long civil war against Tamil separatists in 2009. That investment has since put the island nation deep in debt and forced it to hand over control of a strategic southern port to China, drawing criticism from India and the United States. Ryanair launches flights from Kyiv's Boryspil airport to another six cities in Europe The airline further announced the number of its destinations from Ukraine would grow to 18. If you see a spelling error on our site, select it and press Ctrl+Enter Ukraine's government allocates US$1.95 bln in budget subsidies for households in 2019 All social services have been instructed to address people's problems as efficiently as possible. If you see a spelling error on our site, select it and press Ctrl+Enter The Chairman of the Society of Seminary Teachers of Qom has lambasted a Grand Ayatollah for meeting with a handful of pro-reform political figures, including former President Mohammad Khatami. In an open letter, 87-year old Ayatollah Mohammad Yazdi has harshly criticized 90-year old Grand Ayatollah Moussa Shobeiri Zanjani for meeting with the pro-reform politicians during a visit to the Iranian capital Tehran. Iranians on social media, including younger clerics attacked Yazdi for his inappropriate language and one high-ranking cleric, Ayatollah Mohammad Andalib Hamadani, resigned from the society of seminary teachers in protest to Yazdi's action. Earlier, images had been circulated showing Grand Ayatollah Shobeiri Zanjani meeting with his former students who later became high-level government officials. They included mid-ranking clergy and former President Khatami (1997-2005), former Attorney-General of Iran and the mentor of the "students" who stormed the U.S. Embassy in 1979 and taking 52 American diplomats hostage, Mohammad Mousavi Khoeiniha, former Minister of Interior, Abdollah Nouri and former the former Minister of Culture, Abdolmajid Moadikhah (1981-82), as well as former Qom seminary student and Mayor of Tehran, Gholamhossein Karbaschi (1990-98). Yazdi, who leads the influential Society of Seminary Teachers of Qom described the former officials as "troublesome individuals". The society led by Yazdi and fully supported by the Islamic Republic's Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, is a college of the so-called ultraconservative senior clergy who solidly back the Supreme Leaders positions on all issues, especially his tough line even against those within the regime who might have a different opinion. In his open letter, Mohammad Yazdi has argued that since he had not received any "convincing response" to his previous correspondence, he decided to publicly circulate his latest letter. "Your high position and status relies on having respect for the Islamic establishment, its leader and the dignity of the position of the [Shi'ites] source of emulation," Yazdi has reiterated, warning, "Therefore, you should necessarily respect the position and the requirements of a source of emulation; and take relevant measures to avoid such incidents (receiving "troublesome" political figures). Yazdi is known for his bad temper that has been repeatedly criticized by the people and state officials such as former President Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani who said sarcastically in response to his insults against other clerics that "He is not feeling well, but would get better, I'm sure." Yazdi has lost most of his positions including that of Tehran's Friday prayers leader during the past years because of his bad temper and bad language. The head of Society of Seminary Teachers of Qom is appointed by the Supreme Leader of the Islamic Republic. The body dominates the Supreme Council of Qom seminaries, and proposes judges to the judiciary. It has also demoted dozens of clergy over the last four decades, including pro-reform Ayatollah Yousef Sane'ei for his solidarity with the Iranian Green Movement, whose leaders have been under house arrest since 2011. The conservative body demoted Sane'ei's from the position of marja' to hojatoleslam (lower ranking Shi'ite clergy). While all "officially recognized" Ayatollahs and Grand Ayatollahs strictly follow the guidelines of the Society, the majority of the "popularly recognized" high-ranking clergy and sources of emulation have always done their best to remain apolitical since the advent of the Islamic Republic in 1978. A member of Majles (Iranian parliament) has accused President Hassan Rouhani's government of placing high positions at the Ministry of Cooperatives, Labor and Social Welfare under the hammer. During the parliament session to discuss a cabinet reshuffle on Saturday, October 27, Oramanat representative, Shehab Naderi dismissed the qualification of Rouhani's nominee for the ministry, Mohammad Shariatmadari, insisting that a number of high positions at the Ministry, including General Manager are sold up to five trillion rials (roughly $120,000)." Lambasting Shariatmadari for a weak speech in parliament, Naderi maintained, "Even membership of the board of directors at the Ministry of Cooperatives, Labor and Social Welfare has its own price. The nominee was expected to clarify such problems." Responding to the criticism, Shariatmadari promised that if the MP's comments proved authentic, he would ask the judiciary to prosecute those responsible for the violation. Former Minister of Industry, Mines and Trade, Shariatmadari, was nominated to replace Ali Rabiei as the Minster of Labor at a time when more than eighty MPs had called for his impeachment. However, parliament approved all Rouhani nominees for the ministries of "Industry, Mines and Trade", "Finance and Economic Affairs", "Roads and Urban Development" and "Cooperatives, Labor and Social Welfare" on Saturday, October 27. Iran's parliament approved four new ministers on October 27, all endorsed by President Hassan Rohani who urged them to help "resist" and "fight" the United States as it reinstates sanctions against the Islamic republic. Rohani's comments came as lawmakers were discussing the vote for candidates vying for the ministries of labor, finance, industry, and transportation. Parliament speaker Ali Larijani said on October 27 that 200 out of 265 lawmakers voted for Farhad Dejpasand to be the next minister of economy. The chamber has 290 seats. The former industry minister, Mohammad Shariatmadari, got 196 votes to become the new labor minister, and Reza Rahmani was approved by 203 votes as minister of industry. Mohammad Eslami became the transportation minister with 151 votes. The United States has steadily restored sanctions on Iran following President Donald Trump's withdrawal from the 2015 Iran nuclear accord in May. Next month, the United States plans to impose sanctions on Iran's oil and gas industry. Iran is already in the grip of an economic crisis and has seen sporadic protests in recent months. "We have problems that we must solve with each other's help," Rohani told lawmakers. Based on reporting by AFP, Reuters, and AP The Iranian government continues stands accused of sending members of its Afghan minority to Syria as part of the countrys military operations. As a result, the United States has announced a wave of new sanctions targeting businesses which provide financial support to these paramilitary structures. In what was described as part of the economic campaign against Irans malign influence in the Middle East, the US Treasury specifically targeted 20 corporations and institutions connected to the funding of the Basij Resistance Force, the volunteer paramilitary wing of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps. The Basij Resistance Force has been accused of recruiting child soldiers for the war in Syria. This vast network provides financial infrastructure to the Basij's efforts to recruit, train, and indoctrinate child soldiers who are coerced into combat under the IRGC's direction, Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin said. According to the Human Rights Watch, the Basij frequently targets children of Afghan migrants in Iran, with some reports claiming the recruitment of 14 year old teenage boys. Up to 2 million undocumented Afghans are said to live in Iran, in addition to another 1 million Afghans with refugee status, although this is currently subject to change as some Afghans leave Iran due to the prevailing economic crisis. Mostly coming from undocumented families, these young soldiers are often recruited under the threat of deportation to Afghanistan. Others join voluntarily due to the promise of gaining residence status in Iran. However, there is little doubt that the problematic legal status of the recruits is an important motivation in their decision. Similarly, owing to the economic hardship in Iran, many join the Basij with the promise of a stable wage of 800 dollars a month. It is believed that up to four thousand Afghans are assigned to the Liwa Fatemiyoun, an Afghan Shia brigade, which is part of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps forces in Syria. Described as a war in defence of the Shia faith and its holy sites, the IRGC utilises the devotion of many soldiers to its advantage. The religious dimension of propaganda used by the Iranian government is exemplified by the public military-style funerals held for the Liwa Fatemiyoun, which are frequently attended by Iranian officials. In this sense, the Iranian government combines the fear of deportation with the promise of gaining residence and a respected position to entice the Afghans. In fact Irans involvement in Syria is much more than defending a few holy places. Iran entered the war to save Bashar al-Assads regime in an all-out effort. As a result, the lives of the Liwa Fatemiyoun fighters are often strategically misused. Planned by the Quds Force, Irans extra-territorial special forces, the Liwa Fatemiyoun are often deployed with little regard to potential casualties. While only Iranian nationals can be conscripted by the Iranian armed forces, the Liwa Fatemiyoun continue to be used as first-wave infantry who are sent to the most difficult battles. According to one of the members of the Liwa Fatemiyoun known as Hamid Ali, who was interviewed by the Human Rights Watch, the Quds Force makes the decisions about the deployment of Afghan soldiers. One deployment on the Iraqi border involved a unit of 400 Afghan soldiers, which was given little support. They did not give us heavy artillery or anything other than our AK-47s. 200 soldiers were killed within days from their deployment. The Iranian government claims that these brigades are formed on a purely voluntary basis. However, while some Afghans may indeed be motivated by their faith and the regimes description of the conflict as a war to defend Shia holy sites, many seek to escape the ranks of the Fatemiyoun by seeking refuge in Europe. Indeed, the BBC has reported cases of ex-Fatemiyoun Afghan refugees in Lesbos and other refugee centres who still hold to their dog tags as evidence of their often coerced service. Nevertheless, knowing that the Iranian involvement in the Syrian civil war is set to continue, there is little doubt that the deployment of child soldiers and other members of the Afghan minority will also continue. Baku, Azerbaijan, Oct. 28 Trend: Azerbaijans President Ilham Aliyev has congratulated Turkish counterpart Recep Tayyip Erdogan. "On behalf of the people of Azerbaijan and on my own behalf, I extend my heartfelt congratulations to you and through you to all the people of your country on the occasion of the 95th anniversary of the founding of the Republic of Turkey. With its comprehensive and dynamic development, the brotherly Turkey is today among the most advanced countries across the globe. Reforms and large-scale infrastructure projects implemented under your leadership contribute to a constant increase of the countrys economic strength. Turkey also demonstrates a resolute stance by playing an active role in ongoing processes across the world and in the region. I am confident that Azerbaijan-Turkey friendship and brotherhood, and our alliance and strategic partnership that forms the basis of our bilateral relations will remain a key factor conditioning all our achievements. On this remarkable day, I wish you the best of health, happiness, success in your endeavors, and the brotherly people of Turkey everlasting peace and prosperity" reads the letter. Baku, Azerbaijan, Oct. 28 Trend: The Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry has expressed condolences in connection with the attack on the synagogue in Pittsburgh, Azerbaijans Foreign Ministry spokesperson Leyla Abdullayeva wrote on Twitter. "Were saddened by atrocious crime in the synagogue in Pittsburg. We express our sincere condolences to the families of the dead and injured," she wrote. The attack on the synagogue occurred on Saturday morning, when parishioners gathered there. According to media reports, the shooter entered the building and shouting anti-Semitic slogans, began to shoot. When the police arrived at the scene, a shootout ensued. As a result of the shooting, eleven people were killed, six more, including four policemen, were injured. The attacker surrendered to law enforcement. He he was 48-year-old Rob Bower, who was hospitalized with wounds. Baku, Azerbaijan, Oct. 28 Trend: President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev and first lady Mehriban Aliyeva have attended the inauguration of Gakh Agropark owned by "Ulu Aqro" LLC. Chairman of Irrigation and Water Management Open Joint Stock Company Ahmad Ahmadzade informed the head of state of irrigative measures put in place in the agropark as well as the plan of the Eyrichay water reservoirs canals. President Ilham Aliyev met with members of the district`s general public. The head of state made a speech at the meeting. President Ilham Aliyev then launched the irrigation system of the agropark and viewed a cultivated area. Baku, Azerbaijan, Oct. 28 Trend: President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev and first lady Mehriban Aliyeva have attended the inauguration of Yurd Hotel owned by "Ulu Yurd" LLC in Gakh. The head of state cut the ribbon symbolizing the opening of the hotel. Head of "Ulu Yurd" LLC Juma Ahmadzade highlighted the works carried out in the 100-bed hotel. Located in Ilisu village 8.5km from the city of Gakh, the three-storey hotel features 48 suits, including 45 standard and three family suits. Baku, Azerbaijan, Oct. 28 Trend: Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Azerbaijan Elmar Mammadyarov left for working visit to the Republic of Turkey, the Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry said in a message on Oct. 28. "During the visit Minister Elmar Mammadyarov will take part at the 7th trilateral meeting of the Ministers of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Turkey, Georgia and Republic of Azerbaijan, as well as the 6th trilateral meeting of the Ministers of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Turkey, Republic of Azerbaijan and Islamic Republic of Iran to be held in Istanbul," said the message. Baku, Azerbaijan, Oct.28 By Leman Zeynalova Trend: Denmark welcomes collaboration with Azerbaijan in ports industry, Danish Ambassador to Azerbaijan Svend Olling told Trend. He pointed out that the ports industry in Denmark is well renowned and known for its high level of innovative solutions. "Danish engineering companies can provide a wide array of competences in coastal engineering, port planning and design and their consultancy is of high quality. This has most recently resulted in the Ramboll Group signing of a billion dollar contract in Algeria," said the envoy. The diplomat said that the task is to extend the biggest harbour in the country with the expertise from Danish engineers. "This is of course something we want to promote worldwide to countries that have an interest in development of ports and ports industry. Of course, we welcome it, should there be an interest from Azerbaijan in this sphere," he added. Further, Olling noted that Denmark is happy about the possibilities provided by the establishment of the Baku-Tbilisi-Kars railway in terms of its ability to connect countries and increase the trade and investments across borders. As for the possibility of Denmarks participation in BTK, the diplomat said it is still too early to say how Denmark can take part in the project, as it is still in its early phase no Danish stakeholders have expressed interest so far. "However, maybe we will see interesting developments in the future," he added. The cargo transshipment potential of the new Baku International Sea Trade Port, which opened on May 14, 2018, is 15 million tons in the first phase, including 100,000 containers per year. Seven berths of 12 existing ones serve dry cargo vessels, two berths serve ferries, and other two berths serve vessels of Ro-Ro and Ro-Pax type. Another berth is used for the maintenance of the fleet of the port. The official opening ceremony of the BTK railway was held in Baku Oct. 30 last year. The BTK railway was constructed on the basis a Georgian-Azerbaijani-Turkish intergovernmental agreement. The railways peak capacity will be 17 million tons of cargo per year. At an initial stage, this figure will be one million passengers and 6.5 million tons of cargo. --- Follow the author on Twitter: @Lyaman_Zeyn Baku, Azerbaijan, Oct. 28 By Taleh Mursagulov - Trend: A significant weakening of the US dollar can paralyze global trade, Zhannur Ashigali, Associate Director of Sovereign Ratings and Forecasting Group of ACRA, told Trend. Ashigali noted that the weakening of the US dollar could introduce considerable uncertainty in the stock exchanges. "It is essential to recall that a number of national economies [Zimbabwe, Timor, Ecuador and El Salvador] have currency regimes linked to the US dollar, or even use the US dollar as a domestic currency, that is, they are officially 'dollarizable'," he said. Commenting on the possibility of a double appreciation of the euro against the US dollar, Ashigali noted that such a scenario is not real in the short and medium terms. "Even the most pessimistic scenarios for the US economy do not imply such a significant depreciation of the US currency against the euro," he said. Ashigali said the significant strengthening of the US dollar, of course, creates additional risks for the economies of developing countries, but does not bear risks for the entire global economy. Russias Analytical Credit Rating Agency (ACRA) was established on November 20, 2015. The shareholders of ACRA are the 27 largest Russian companies and financial institutions. Tehran, Iran, Oct.28 Trend: Despite the US sanctions against Iran the volume of trade between Iran and Italy has grown by 10-12 percent in recent months, to almost $1.8 billion, the chairman of the Italy-Iran chamber of commerce Ahmad Pourfallah told Trend. Referring to the impact of US sanctions on Iran-Italy relations, he said that the sanctions have a various range of consequences in different countries, but the fluctuations in relationship with EU is less than the other countries. Experience has also shown that Italy has different attitude towards Iran as the first Iranian trading partner in the European Union. "Iran recorded a positive trade balance with Italy, which means that Italy's import from us are more than Irans import from Italy, he said. Italy has always tried to maintain its economic and political ties with Iran, but sanctions may put an end to the presence of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and cut the ties between the multinational companies which are working with the dollar, he said. Nonetheless, the exchange level will be reduced insignificantly. Referring to the volume of bilateral exchanges, he said that in recent months, there has been a 10-12 percent increase in trade volumes. Pointing to the Chamber`s effort to facilitate the transfer of money transactions he noted that many talks were held in Tehran and Rome with bankers and Italian counterparts to encourage the small and medium sized banks with fewer dollar connections to facilitate bilateral transaction. But this way is good for small exchanges and cannot provide huge exchanges. However, these banks are also awaiting the decision of the Society for Worldwide Interbank Financial Telecommunication (SWIFT) on Iran, said PourFallah. Of course, this low level relationship between Iran and Italy is not appropriate, and we hope that the with the help of SWIFT and The Financial Action Task Force (FATF), the problems will be resolved, so that the necessary interactions can be made, he said. Referring to the items exchanged between the two countries he said that Iran's most important exports to Italy are raw materials. Most of these items include precious stones, leather, dried fruits, oil and petrochemicals. Italy tops the list of Iran's biggest export destinations in the EU and has never cut its purchases in recent years, as most Italian refineries are designed for Iranian oil, which is difficult to replace, he said. Italian exports also include diverse products widely used in the infrastructure of industries such as steel, textile, petroleum and petrochemicals. Most of these items include machinery, spare parts, chemicals, seed oils and clothing. Baku, Azerbaijan, Oct. 28 By Elnur Baghishov Trend: The Plan and Budget Organization of Iran has announced that 2.220 trillion rials (about $52,857,142) have been allocated to the East Azerbaijan province for the implementation of the Urmia lake restoration projects, IRNA cited Nasser Hazrati, head of the budget and planning commitee of West Azerbaijan province, as saying. He said that this figure is part of the funds approved by the Cabinet of Ministers. Besides the West Azerbaijan province, the funds are also allocated to the Iranian Ministry of Agriculture, the Ministry of Energy, the Environmental Protection Organization, the Forest, Rangeland and Watershed Organization, as well as the East Azerbaijan and Kurdistan provinces for the restoration of Lake Urmia, Hazrati added. He added that the projects on cleaning of rivers, installation of equipment for water level measurement, supply of drainage water through filters, drawing up of land cadastral maps and other projects are underway. The project on water supply from the southern province of East Azerbaijan to Lake Urmia is one of the most important projects related to the restoration of the lake. So far, 10 trillion rials (about $238,95,238 million) have been allocated for the implementation of this project. The Iranian Foreign Ministry on Saturday denied that its diplomats are currently holding talks with the United States on the existing issues between Tehran and Washington, Xinhua reports. The recent claims by an Iranian lawmaker concerning Iran's talks with the United States in a neighboring country is "wrong and baseless," the ministry's website said in a statement. Iran's Foreign Ministry adheres to the guidelines by the Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, to avoid interaction with the United States and would never disobey this principle, it said. The Iranian officials will protect the interests of the country by following the leader's advice, it stressed. On Friday, the Iranian lawmaker, Javad Karimi Qoddousi, said that the Iranian diplomats are currently in talks with the U.S. partners in Oman over the mutual issues. On Oct. 1, Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif said Iran would not sit for talks with the United States over the existing issues as the conditions were not ripe. "I'm not ruling out the prospect of talks (with Washington) provided the necessary conditions for talks, and that is reliability," Zarif said. "Reliability is that when you sign something you are bound by it. Otherwise, everything will fall apart," he said, adding that "we are waiting for some sense of realism." Iranian Supreme Leader stressed that Tehran will not sit for negotiations with "cheating" Washington. Following U.S. President Donald Trump's decision to quit the historic Iran nuclear deal on May 8, the United States vowed to reimpose sanctions lifted under the accord against Iran and inflict punishments like secondary sanctions on nations that have business links with Iran. Washington's withdrawal from the landmark Iran nuclear deal was criticized across the world. Some of its major European allies have been working to prevent the 2015 deal from falling apart. Trump's administration has called for renegotiation of the Iranian 2015 nuclear deal as well as Tehran's developing missile program. Iranian President Hassan Rouhani appointed four new ministers, including a Minister of Economic and Finance Affairs, a Minister of Cooperatives, Labor and Social Welfare, a Minister of Roads and Urban Development and a Minister of Industry, Mines and Trade, Sputnik reports. Rouhani made his announcement before the beginning of a parliamentary session Saturday, as the Parliament of the Islamic Republic gathered to discuss the four ministerial candidates. Rouhani nominated Farhad Dejpasand as Minister of Economic and Finance Affairs, Mohammad Shariatmadari as Minister of Cooperatives, Labor and Social Welfare, Mohammad Eslami as Minister of Roads and Urban Development and Reza Rahmani as Minister of Industry, Mines and Trade, according to a report by PressTV. The Tehran parliament, known as the Islamic Consultative Assembly, will have the final say in the ministerial appointments, according to Iranian law. Speaking before lawmakers, Rouhani said that Tehran has recently scored a "decisive and unprecedented victory against US plots," referring to the global reaction to Washington's unilateral withdrawal from the 2015 Joint Cooperative Plan of Action (JCPOA) nuclear deal with Iran. "In the past weeks and months, we witnessed the decisive and unprecedented victory of the Iranian nation against US plots," Rouhani said. "It does not happen often that the US makes an important decision in the world against a big country and traditional allies of the US turn their back on it," ne noted. In his speech, Rouhani observed that a year ago no one would have believed that Europe would stand against the US against Iran. "Our nation has today the upper hand at least in the political and legal arenas. The world public opinion recognizes Iran as a country that adheres to its commitments and the US as a country that does not live up to its promises and violates international regulations," he said. The US announced its withdrawal from multilateral JCPOA agreement in May, and imposed new sanctions on Iran. Other signatories to the landmark treaty Russia, China, the UK, Germany, France and the EU vowed that they would stick to the historic peace treaty and offered initiatives to mitigate or circumvent US sanctions. Speaking about the sanctions, the Iranian president noted that US sanctions target banks that facilitate the import of medicine and food, saying that the US has thus become not only the enemy of the government in Tehran, but the enemy of all Iranians. "We have many friends. Russia, China, India, the European Union and some African and Latin American countries are our friends. We have to work with them to attract investment," the Iranian president said, expressing confidence that his nation will survive US intrigues, PressTV reported. Two former foreign ministers are the frontrunners when Georgians vote for president on Sunday, including a former French career diplomat who would be the first female leader of an ex-Soviet state outside the Baltics, Reuters reports. The ruling Georgian Dream party is backing Salome Zurabishvili, 66, who was born to Georgian emigre parents in France and who served as French ambassador to Georgia before becoming Georgias foreign minister from 2004-2005. Supporters say she would bring international stature to the presidency; opponents criticize her for statements that appeared to blame Georgia for war with Russia in 2008, remarks about minorities that some saw as xenophobic, and unsteady command of the Georgian language, which she speaks with an accent. Her main opponent, Grigol Vashadze, 60, is running on behalf of a new platform of 11 opposition parties led by former president Mikheil Saakashvilis United National Movement (UNM). He held the post of foreign minister from 2008-2012. Georgian Dream says it believes Zurabishvili can secure more than 50 percent of the vote in the first round to be elected without a run-off. Other polls suggest a closer race likely to require a second round. Constitutional changes have weakened the power of Georgias presidency, putting most authority in the office of prime minister. But the post is still seen as important for the image abroad of a country strongly oriented toward the West and fearful of Russia, which invaded a decade ago and backs separatists in two breakaway regions. Sundays election will also be the last in which the president is selected by popular vote; after that, presidents will be picked by an electoral college of 300 lawmakers and regional officials. Zurabishvili was invited into Georgian politics by Saakishvili, who gave her Georgian citizenship to take up the foreign ministry post but sacked her after a year. She then set up her own opposition political party, Georgias Way, which she led until 2010 before temporarily quitting politics and returning to France. She was elected to Georgias parliament in 2016 with the backing of Georgian Dream, a party controlled by Bidzina Ivanishvili, the countrys richest man, whose critics say he rules it from behind the scenes. The country of 3.7 million people is Washingtons strategic ally in the Caucasus region between the Black Sea and Caspian Sea, and hopes eventually to join the EU and NATO. Pipelines carrying Caspian oil and gas to Europe run across its territory. The two frontrunners are followed by David Bakradze, a former parliamentary speaker, who has been nominated by the opposition European Georgia Party, which split from the UNM in 2017. Twenty-two other candidates lag far behind the leading three. Saudi Arabia's Prosecutor-General Saud al-Mojeb is expected to arrive in Turkey on Sunday to hold talks with Turkish authorities investigating the death of Khashoggi, Sputnik reported. Washington Post columnist Jamal Khashoggi was last seen entering the Saudi Consulate in Istanbul on October 2. Following weeks of denial, Riyadh admitted on October 19 that the journalist had been killed in a brawl inside the Saudi consulate, stating, however, that it had been a rogue operation carried out by agents who had exceeded their authority. On Thursday, the Saudi prosecutor-general announced that, according to the interrogated suspects, Khashoggi's murder had been premeditated. The chances of Brazils leftist presidential candidate Fernando Haddad narrowing the lead of right-wing front-runner Jair Bolsonaro took a hit when he failed to win a crucial endorsement on Saturday, a day before the two face off in a runoff election, Reuters reports. Former center-left candidate Ciro Gomes said in a video on social media that he would not take sides in the election campaign, withholding support for Haddad of the Workers Party (PT). Gomes, a former governor of Ceara state in the northeast, is influential in Brazils poorest region. His endorsement could have given Haddad a big lift in the South American countrys most polarized election in a generation. Haddad narrowed Bolsonaros lead to 12 percentage points in the latest opinion poll on Thursday and hoped to add another 4 points to gain enough momentum to catch Bolsonaro. Final voter surveys will be released later on Saturday. Haddad failed to get Gomes to endorse him, but he won the backing on Saturday of Brazils most popular YouTube host, Felipe Neto, who has 27.7 million followers on his channel. A popular anti-corruption judge, Joaquim Barbosa, who jailed several top PT leaders for corruption, also came out for Haddad. Gomes finished third in the Oct. 7 first round vote with 12 percent of the vote, behind Bolsonaros 46 percent and Haddads 29 percent. Gomes had hoped to be the standard bearer of the left but was outmaneuvered by jailed PT leader Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, who is serving a 12-year prison sentence for corruption and anointed Haddad as his stand-in. Bolsonaro, a former Army captain, is poised to become Brazils first far-right president since the end of the 1964-1985 military dictatorship. The 63-year-old seven-term congressman has promised to crack down on crime and corruption, pitching himself as the anti-establishment candidate for voters fed up with political graft and violent crime. Bolsonaros sudden rise comes as Brazil finds itself in its worst recession and embroiled in its biggest corruption scandal after the leftist PT ran the government for 13 of the last 15 years. Until his presidential run, Bolsonaro was best known for defending the former military regime and its use of torture. He has faced charges for misogynist, racist and homophobic rants. The Supreme Court rejected the racism charge, but has not ruled on a charge of inciting to rape in a case in which he told a fellow lawmaker she was not pretty enough to rape. He called the case political persecution. A week ago, Bolsonaro vowed to run all the red leftists out of Brazil or put them in jail, harsh words that probably contributed to the narrowing of his lead. YouTuber Neto said he had been neutral until that point. Everything changed when (Bolsonaro) said he will sweep opponents out of the country or into jail. In 16 years of PT I have been robbed, but never threatened, Neto said by Twitter. In the final two days of campaigning, Bolsonaro has sounded more moderate in his statements, backing down on a plan to follow U.S. President Donald Trumps example and pull Brazil out of the Paris climate change accord. On Friday he told Xingu tribes people they had a right to charge royalties for mining and hydro electric power generation on their reservations, a proposal welcomed by some natives but rejected by anthropologists and environmentalists who see the tribes as the last guardians of the Amazon rainforest and its biodiversity. You are as Brazilian as any of us, he said in a video posted on social media. I want you to have the right to use your land and exploit its biodiversity and mineral riches. In his final hours of campaigning in Sao Paulo, Haddad accused the Bolsonaro camp of sweetening their candidate to make him appear what he is not. He is a truculent and dangerous person, and thats how he should be presented to the nation, he said. Britains Local Authority Pension Fund Forum (LAPFF), which represents funds that own a combined 1 percent of Ryanair, on Sunday said it planned to file resolutions at the companys next annual general meeting to replace Chairman David Bonderman, according to Reuters. The group, which opposed Bondermans re-election at last months AGM, said it would lobby fellow shareholders to join it to secure the 3 percent of shares required to file a shareholder resolution at the next meeting, due in September 2019. The group also plans to file a resolution demanding that succession plans for Chief Executive Michael OLeary be set out. On the day of Ryanairs first-half results (Oct. 22) Mr OLeary said Mr Bonderman intends to remain in place for one or two more years and that the company would set out succession plans for Mr OLeary in the next two or three years, the LAPFF said in a statement. Shareholders have made it clear they expect action quicker than this. The group said it believed recent staffing and industrial relations issues at Ryanair might have been handled better with a more independent board. It said its concerns had been heightened by a profit warning on Oct. 1. when Ryanair cut its forecast for full-year profit by 12 percent citing damage to bookings from strikes. The LAPFF was one of several shareholders to voice concerns at Ryanairs AGM in September, when Bonderman, was re-elected with 70.5 percent of votes, a significant fall from the 89 percent he received the previous year. Ryanair shareholders recently passed all AGM resolutions by a large majority, including the nomination of directors and chairman, a Ryanair spokesman said when asked to comment on the LAPFFs plan. They appreciate how fortunate we are to have an outstanding Chairman like David Bonderman guide the board and the airline. Bonderman, the founder of private equity firm TPG Capital who has chaired Ryanair since 1996, resigned from the board of Uber in 2017 after an ill-judged joke that more women on the board means more talking. The Turkish military on Sunday targeted the terrorist People's Protection Units (YPG) positions east of the Euphrates river in Syria with artillery shells, Daily Sabah reported. The bombardment targeted the Zor Magar area to the west of northern Syria's Ayn al-Arab region and was aimed at preventing "terrorist activities," including construction of trenches and barricades by the YPG terrorists. US president Donald Trump has reportedly declined India's invitation to be the chief guest at the Republic Day celebrations, NDTV reported. In early August, White House press secretary Sarah Sanders had confirmed Mr Trump received an invite to visit India. "I know that the invitation has been extended, but I do not believe that a final decision has been made," Ms Sanders told reporters then. The foreign ministry has not given a statement. The American embassy in Delhi said only the White House can comment on the president's travel plans. For the last few weeks, US officials have been indicating that Mr Trump would not fly to India in January as the State of the Union address is scheduled in the winter month. However, former US president Barack Obama came to India twice and also attended the Republic Day celebrations in 2015 on his second visit, despite the State of the Union address falling in January every year. Mr Trump turning down the invitation could be seen as a low point in India-US ties, despite the good rapport PM Modi and he appear to have in public. Normally, formal invites to leaders for Republic Day are sent after the leader has already confirmed his or her attendance. Former diplomats have criticised the government for leaking the invitation letter to Mr Trump before a confirmation. Mr Trump declining India's invitation to be the chief guest at the Republic Day celebrations comes weeks after India and the US have had a rough time over a range of geopolitical issues. India's insistence on buying oil from Iran despite US sanctions on the oil-producing nation was not taken well by the Trump administration. India and the US also had to navigate a complex issue of possible US sanctions after the Prime Minister Narendra Modi government decided to buy the Russian S-400 long-range missile system, which the US considers is within the scope of the Countering America's Adversaries Through Sanctions Act. The S-400 missile system is arguably the world's deadliest surface-to-air missile and the US believes the weapon can bring imbalance on the battlefield if it falls into the wrong hands. Russia's deployment of the missile system in Syria is seen as a threat to the West. KYODO NEWS - Oct 28, 2018 - 18:50 | All, World Prime Minister Shinzo Abe invited his Indian counterpart Narendra Modi to his holiday home for dinner in a scenic resort by Mt. Fuji on Sunday as a token of gratitude for accommodating him in the Indian leader's home state last year. Modi became the first foreign leader to visit Abe's holiday home in Yamanashi Prefecture, west of Tokyo, at his invitation as the Japanese prime minister apparently sought to demonstrate their close relationship. At the entrance of a hotel at the foot of Mt. Fuji, Abe greeted and shook hands with Modi before a luncheon earlier in the day. The two leaders discussed regional issues including North Korea and agreed to cooperate in achieving the denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula, Japan's Foreign Ministry said. Abe and Modi then visited a factory of industrial robot manufacturer Fanuc Corp. in Yamanashi before moving on to the prime minister's holiday home in the nearby village of Narusawa. Since 2005, Japanese and Indian prime ministers have held summit talks almost annually. Abe and Modi have held bilateral talks 11 times to date. [Photo courtesy of Cabinet Public Relations Office] In September last year, Abe paid a visit to Ahmedabad in Modi's home state of Gujarat in western India and attended a ceremony to mark the beginning of construction of a new high-speed railway employing Japanese bullet train technology to link the city and Mumbai. Modi's latest visit to Japan began a day after Abe held talks with Chinese President Xi Jinping and Premier Li Keqiang. During the first official visit to Beijing by a Japanese political leader in nearly seven years, Abe and the Chinese leaders agreed on the principle of moving from "competition to cooperation" in a new era of relations between Asia's two biggest economies. Abe and Modi will hold a formal summit Monday in Tokyo, during which strengthening bilateral security and economic cooperation are expected to be high on the agenda. China is a strategic and economic rival of India. New Delhi has been apprehensive about Beijing's "One Belt, One Road" initiative to build ports and other infrastructure around the Indian Ocean linking Asia with other parts of the world and its naval expansion in regional waters. Abe and Modi will likely confirm their cooperation to realize a "free and open" Indo-Pacific, a concept aimed at developing high-quality infrastructure from Asia to Africa, while promoting principles such as freedom of navigation and the rule of law. Abe is also likely to pledge the provision of low-interest loans worth more than 300 billion yen ($2.68 billion), including ones to help India's 500-kilometer high-speed railway project, Japanese government sources said. In an interview with Kyodo News on Friday in New Delhi, Modi said his two days of discussions with Abe "will be an opportunity to review our ongoing cooperation and discuss ways for expanding our relationship for promoting peace, progress and prosperity throughout the Indo-Pacific region and beyond." Japan and India, together with the United States, have been boosting defense cooperation to counter China's growing influence in the region, with the three countries conducting naval exercises regularly in the Indian Ocean. "The India-Japan partnership has been fundamentally transformed and it has been strengthened as a 'special strategic and global partnership'," Modi said. "There are no negatives but only opportunities in this relationship which are waiting to be seized." KYODO NEWS - Oct 28, 2018 - 15:59 | All, Japan Japanese housing manufacturers have been strengthening their overseas businesses, tapping into potential growth in China and other Asian countries as demand for new construction declines in the shrinking domestic market. Property developers such as Panasonic Homes Co. and Daiwa House Industry Co. have been trying to meet a variety of overseas needs, from single homes to condominiums and prefabricated apartments for construction workers. (Multi-complex combining commercial facilities and condominiums in Australia)[Photo courtesy of Sekisui House] "We want to improve the severe housing environment for construction laborers in China, which has also become a social issue," Daizo Ito, managing executive officer of Panasonic Corp., said when he visited a construction site in China's Xian in mid-September. In a departure from makeshift apartments, notorious for poor air and sanitary conditions, Panasonic set up prefabricated housing for construction workers, with glassed-in outer walls and well-lit, heat-proof rooms, pitching comfort for long-term lodgers. The buildings are also equipped with solar panels and heat-insulating materials, helping local general contractors reduce costs. The Osaka-based electronics manufacturer sees its housing business as a new growth sector after its home electric appliances sector began losing out to Chinese and South Korean rivals. It made PanaHome Corp. into a wholly owned subsidiary in October last year and renamed it Panasonic Homes in April. Panasonic hopes to capitalize on the growing demand for housing amid a construction boom in China. The company is well known in the world's second-largest market, as it was the first foreign company to establish a factory in Beijing after World War II in 1987. Daiwa House Industry Co., which has built condominiums in the United States and China, kicked off a large-scale residential and commercial complex project this summer with 5,000 rooms in Jakarta's southeastern area of Cipayung. The major property developer has been expanding its business by meeting local needs such as installing ceiling fans inside homes in Malaysia to improve ventilation. Sekisui House Ltd. has been involved in building multi-complexes combining commercial facilities and condominiums in Australia and other countries. In China, where air pollution is severe, Sekisui House sells condominiums using materials that contain a reduced amount of chemical substances in consideration of the environment. The domestic market in Japan, meanwhile, is shrinking fast due to its falling population. The number of new housing starts decreased to 950,000 in fiscal 2017 from its peak of 1.29 million in fiscal 2006. Nomura Research Institute estimates that the number will fall to 550,000 by fiscal 2030. Panasonic and Toyota Housing Corp., which have previously focused on their mainstay steel-frame housing, said earlier this year they would newly build lower-priced, wooden housing aimed at expanding their target range of customers. But there is no guarantee they will succeed due to a limited market share for vying companies. "We are forced to fight a severe battle," a major housing company official said. "In Japan, it has become more difficult to make profits in the housing business as people who can spend money (on housing) are decreasing," said Masahiro Mochizuki, an analyst at Credit Suisse. "Because of political risks and issues with regulations, the ratio of overseas operations is still small among Japanese housing companies, but from the long-term perspective, they have no choice but to expand into foreign markets," he said. The government can adopt two methods for repealing the farm laws: by an ordinance, or through an amendment bill. Vietnams businesses still not tapping AEC market VietNamNet Bridge - Vietnam is a member of the ASEAN Economic Community (AEC), which was established three years ago. However, its businesses are not exploiting the 600 million consumer market. Vietnam is a member of AEC While Vietnamese businessmen are slow paced in approaching the vast market, other ASEAN countries have been fully exploiting the market in Vietnam. The products from ASEAN, especially Thailand, have been flooding Vietnam, according to Nguyen Thi Tue Anh, deputy head of the Central Institute Economic Management (CIEM). Anh said the committed tariff cuts within AEC framework are the sharpest, while the time to implement the tariff cuts is the shortest. To date, Vietnam has completed the tariff cut process with tax barriers in all business fields removed. In 2015-2017, exports from HCMC to ASEAN increased year after year with the export turnover surging from $1.1 billion in 2016 to $3.5 billion in 2017. This means that Vietnam has bigger opportunities to export advantageous products and expand markets, while it can import products at lower prices. However, only few Vietnams enterprises have exploited the AEC market. Anh cited figures to prove that Vietnams exports to ASEAN countries are the lowest in the region. Only 9.8 percent of Vietnams total exports went to ASEAN markets in 2016, while 90 percent went to other markets. Meanwhile, the average level of other ASEAN countries was 24 percent. The imports from ASEAN to Vietnam were also the lowest, just equal to 13.7 percent compared with other markets. In 2017, the proportion of goods exported within ASEAN countries was 11.7 percent, a slight increase compared with 2016. The labor force, quality and capability of enterprises in Vietnam remain low. In 2017, Vietnam gained 3.39 out of 10 scores in these indicators, while Malaysia got 5.59 and Thailand 4.9. If Vietnam lacks institutional capability and business capacity to take full advantage of the opportunity brought by global integration, the theoretical potential will not turn into reality, Anh said. According to Pham Thanh Kien, director of the HCMC Industry and Trade Department, in 2015-2017, exports from HCMC to ASEAN increased year after year with the export turnover surging from $1.1 billion in 2016 to $3.5 billion in 2017. The export growth rates were 13 percent in 2016 compared with 2015 and 4 percent in 2017 compared with 2016. However, the figures did not increase sharply after the establishment of AEC. Meanwhile, imports from ASEAN to Vietnam are worryingly high as commented by analysts. The import turnover was $7.2 billion in 2016 and surged to $8.2 billion in 2017, up by 13 percent and 2.6 times higher than export turnover. The director of the HCMC Investment & Trade Promotion Center, Pham Thiet Hoa, commented that Vietnams goods are not diverse, the prices are not competitive, and the distribution network is weak. Manufacturers do not cooperate well with diplomatic and business promotion agencies to exploit foreign markets. RELATED NEWS AEC a catalyst for reform in Vietnam VN firms yet to get the hang of AEC Thanh Lich New Orleans (October 27, 2018)--Researchers will gather today to discuss the potential for hibernation and the related process, torpor, to aid human health in spaceflight at the American Physiological Society's (APS) Comparative Physiology: Complexity and Integration conference in New Orleans. To survive times when food is scarce and temperatures are low, some animals enter hibernation--a physiological process that reduces their normal metabolism to low levels for days or weeks at a time. These periods of low metabolism, known as torpor, allow the animal's body temperature to fall to just above the surrounding air temperature, thus conserving energy. Humans do not naturally undergo torpor, but scientists are interested in the idea of producing states of "synthetic" torpor in certain situations, including spaceflight, explained symposium co-chair Hannah Carey, PhD, from the University of Wisconsin School of Veterinary Medicine. "Harnessing naturally evolved torpor to benefit human spaceflight." "Synthetic torpor could protect astronauts from space-related health hazards and simultaneously reduce demands on spacecraft mass, volume and power capacities," said Matthew Regan, PhD, also from the University of Wisconsin School of Veterinary Medicine and symposium co-chair. The symposium will explore how synthetic torpor might be induced by the brain, its similarities and differences to sleep, and how it could benefit astronauts. Speakers will include Carey; Matteo Cerri, MD, PhD, from the University of Bologna in Italy; Vladyslav Vyazovskiy, PhD, from the University of Oxford in the U.K.; and astronaut Jessica Meir, PhD, from NASA. Studying hibernation in mammals--how they are able to safely lower their body temperature and metabolism for extended periods of time--may also aid treatment of people experiencing traumatic medical events, such as stroke, cardiac arrest and severe blood loss. Animals that use torpor have a natural resistance to various injuries that can happen due to lack of blood flow. They are also resistant to radiation injury--such a resistance would be especially beneficial to humans in deep space. Carey will discuss why use of synthetic torpor based on the biology of natural hibernators is preferable to current medical practices that use hypothermia-based methods to treat trauma patients. She will also discuss how hibernation research can identify how to create synthetic torpor for space travel. How the nervous system reduces metabolic activity during torpor is unknown. However, many of the organs that regulate metabolism are controlled by nerve cells (neurons) located in the raphe pallidus, an area of the brainstem that controls the production of heat in mammals. "For an animal to enter torpor, the neurons within the raphe pallidus have to be inhibited," Cerri explained. If function in these cells is not suppressed, "their activity would counteract the hypothermia induced by torpor," he said. Cerri will present preliminary results identifying neurons projecting to the raphe pallidus and involved in torpor-related activity. Defining the relationship between sleep and torpor has been fraught with controversy, but the two states appear to be intimately linked because of the neuronal connections they share. Research suggests that lack of available food sources may cause mammals to conserve energy and lower their body temperature, two hallmark characteristics of torpor. However, "less is known about the specific fasting-related signals which initiate entry into torpor," Vyazovskiy said. He will discuss the connection between sleep and torpor and why more research is needed to determine how torpor affects brain function in animals. Some of the physiological adaptations that animals exhibit--such as the low-oxygen environments that seals and penguins experience with deep diving or that birds experience on a high-altitude flight--are impossible for humans. Understanding how animals adapt in extreme conditions may play a positive role in human medical science, especially in the "extreme environment of space," Meir said. The increasingly real possibility of traveling to Mars--once just a science fiction story--emphasizes the need to resolve factors that have hampered the feasibility of long-duration spaceflight, including having an ample supply of food, water and breathable air. Finding a way to induce torpor in humans could help eliminate limiting factors as well as protect astronauts from harmful radiation. Meir's talk will provide insight from her unique perspective and experience as an astronaut, discussing the architecture for NASA's current and future human spaceflight missions. ### The symposium "Harnessing naturally evolved torpor to benefit human spaceflight" will be held on Saturday, October 27, at the Astor Crowne Plaza-New Orleans French Quarter. NOTE TO JOURNALISTS: The Comparative Physiology: Complexity and Integration conference will be held October 25-28 in New Orleans. To schedule an interview with a member of the research team, please contact the APS Communications Office or 301-634-7314. Find more research highlights in the APS Press Room. Physiology is the study of how molecules, cells, tissues and organs function in health and disease. Established in 1887, the American Physiological Society (APS) was the first U.S. society in the biomedical sciences field. The Society represents more than 10,000 members and publishes 15 peer-reviewed journals with a worldwide readership. New Orleans (October 26, 2018)--Natural variation may help decide which rainbow trout strains are likely to survive worldwide global warming, according to a new study. The findings will be presented today at the American Physiological Society's (APS) Comparative Physiology: Complexity and Integration conference in New Orleans. The increasing temperatures and resulting lower underwater oxygen levels linked to climate change will likely affect the habitats of cold-water fish such as rainbow trout. The resilience of this species to changes in its environment will ultimately help it survive the significant warming of its home tributaries. Researchers from the University of British Columbia studied three strains of rainbow trout, one that originated in California and two native to Canada. They found that young fish (called "fry") from California were able to tolerate higher water temperatures and low-oxygen environments better than fry from Canada. There was no noticeable difference in tolerance levels as a whole among adult fish of the same strains. However, individual adult fish from all strains had varying heat and oxygen tolerance levels, with some individuals being hardier and others more vulnerable to climate stressors. "These differences represent naturally occurring variation," said Nicholas Strowbridge, first author of the study. The hardier fish "are just a bit more able to handle high temperatures and low oxygen," Strowbridge explained. Taking advantage of the natural variation in individual rainbow trout constitution can serve two beneficial purposes. Singling out the stronger fish in hatcheries may help preserve rainbow trout species and also support the global recreational fishing industry as warming trends continue. ### Nicholas Strowbridge, of University of British Columbia, will present "Intraspecific variation in thermal, hypoxia and acute high pH tolerance in rainbow trout" in a poster session on Friday, October 26, at the Astor Crowne Plaza-New Orleans French Quarter. NOTE TO JOURNALISTS: The Comparative Physiology: Complexity and Integration conference will be held October 25-28 in New Orleans. To schedule an interview with a member of the research team, please contact the communications@the-aps.org APS Communications Office or 301-634-7314. Find more research highlights in the APS Press Room. Physiology is the study of how molecules, cells, tissues and organs function in health and disease. Established in 1887, the American Physiological Society (APS) was the first U.S. society in the biomedical sciences field. The Society represents more than 10,000 members and publishes 15 peer-reviewed journals with a worldwide readership. A team of evolutionary biologists from the University of Konstanz, headed by Prof. Dr. Axel Meyer, discovers the genetic basis for the repeated evolution of colour patterns. The findings about the stripes of the especially diverse species of East-African cichlid fishes explain how evolution can repeat itself at record speed. The study is published in Science magazine on 26 October. Why does evolution repeat itself? What happens genetically during these repetitions? Do the same or other genes and mechanisms produce organisms that look similar? Professor Axel Meyer and his team from Konstanz University have come closer to answering this question that is as old as it is important. The answer is quite astonishing. They studied a special colour pattern that is omnipresent among all kinds of animals: horizontal stripes. The researchers were able to identify the basis of the repeated evolution of these stripes with modern methods in genomics and molecular biology and verified them with a CRISPR-Cas mutant fish that added a stripe. More than 1200 types of colourful cichlid can be found in the large African lakes Malawi, Victoria and Tanganjika. Not only are they very diverse in colours, they also have numerous colour patterns such as horizontal or vertical stripes. "But that's not all" explains Axel Meyer, "cichlids are prime examples of evolution. They are extremely diverse in terms of social behaviour, body shape, colour pattern and many other biological aspects, but at the same time certain features repeatedly evolved independently in the different lakes". This principle of repeated evolution - biologists term it convergent evolution - makes cichlids the perfect target to study the genetic basis of this phenomenon. If similar colours and body shapes have emerged in several evolutionary lines independently from each other this means that evolution reacted to similar environmental conditions in the same way. The question now is: When evolution repeats itself, how does this work genetically? Which gene and which genetic mechanism are responsible for the cichlids' stripes to come and go has now been reconstructed in the laboratory through genome analyses, breeding and experiments, including CRISPR-Cas as "gene scissors". Dr Claudius Kratochwil, early career researcher in Professor Meyers team and first author of the study in Science, explains: "In breeding experiments we can exactly determine on which of the 22 chromosomes, even on which area of the chromosome of the fish, the genetic instruction for stripes is located". The relevant gene on this chromosome part is called agrp2. This "stripe gene", its origin and distribution in other African lakes was described in comparative molecular studies. From an evolutionary point of view, the cichlids' stripes are rather unstable. Over the course of a few million years, they have been lost and re-emerged in the African lakes many times over. As these species (with and without stripes) are so young, they can be interbred in aquaria. Breeding and examining the cichlids with and without stripes in the laboratory shows that all cichlids carry the "stripes gene", but the switches (regulatory elements) of this gene differ. "This genetic switch causes the gene in species without stripes to be more activated. As a result, a lot of protein is produced. The "stripes gene" agrp2 works as a "stripes inhibitor": if gene production is high, stripes will be suppressed, if production is low, they will remain. The researchers were able to demonstrate this by using modern genetic methods. "If we use CRISPR-Cas to remove the gene from the genome of a species without stripes", Kratochwil explains, "then even a "stripeless" fish will suddenly develop stripes, as we showed with a CRISPR-Cas mutant fish. This proves that the stripes gene is the decisive genetic factor". The latest findings on this genetic mechanism, the activation or deactivation of stripes by the "stripes gene", were published in the current issue of Science magazine. Interestingly, the cichlid's agrp2 gene is a copy of the agouti gene in mammals, which is responsible for the different coat colours of cats, dogs, horses and striped baby birds. "The world of animals might be much less colourful without the agouti gene family", reflects Claudius Kratochwil. The mechanism of the "stripes gene" in cichlids clearly makes repeated evolution possible within the briefest of times, relatively speaking. If characteristics are lost during evolution, usually this loss is forever, as the Belgian palaeontologist Louis Dollo already realized exactly 125 years ago, and wrote up his conclusions in "Dolls Law" in 1893. The special aspect of the stripes gene agrp2 is that it makes repeated evolution of a characteristic possible in a simple way. If a cichlid loses its stripes that does not mean they will never return or vice versa. These molecular-biological studies also show that palaeontological rules and evolutionary rules have to be questioned once again. Key facts: Professor Axel Meyer and his team of evolutionary biologists from the University of Konstanz discover the genetic basis for the absence of stripes in several species of cichlids in African lakes. The genetic control mechanism in convergent evolution is the reason for the independent evolution of the same characteristics. Like in this case, where stripes have emerged and been lost again several dozen times over a period of only a few thousand years. The gene agrp2 is responsible for the absence of stripes in cichlids. Professor Axel Meyer and Dr Claudius Kratochwil were able to demonstrate in the laboratory that high production of this gene inhibits stripes. The mechanism for activating or deactivating stripes is the same in different, distantly related species of cichlids and can thus explain "convergence", the parallel evolution of similar features in species that are evolutionary only distantly related. The new findings about the significance of absent stripes and the gene agrp2 were published in the current issue of Science magazine. ### Original publication: Agouti-related peptide 2 facilitates convergent evolution of stripe patterns across cichlid fish radiations Manuscript Number: science.aao6809 Further links: https://www.evolutionsbiologie-uni-konstanz.com Note to editors: You can download photos here: https://cms.uni-konstanz.de/fileadmin/pi/fileserver/2018/Bilder/Buntbarsch_Evolution_vorhersagbar/Kratochwil_Evolution_wiederholt_sich_doch/Presse_Abbildung_01.jpg Caption: Colourful cichlids with horizontal stripes living in the large African lakes Malawi, Victoria and Tanganjika illustrate the repeating (convergent) process of evolution. Copyright: Claudius Kratochwil https://cms.uni-konstanz.de/fileadmin/pi/fileserver/2018/Bilder/Buntbarsch_Evolution_vorhersagbar/Kratochwil_Evolution_wiederholt_sich_doch/Presse_Abbildung_02.jpg Caption: A Pundamilia nyererei fish from Lake Victoria that has been altered using CRISPR-Cas as "gene scissors". The fish demonstrates horizontal stripes on its flank as a result of the genetic alteration. Copyright: Claudius Kratochwil https://cms.uni-konstanz.de/fileadmin/pi/fileserver/2018/Bilder/Buntbarsch_Evolution_vorhersagbar/Kratochwil_Evolution_wiederholt_sich_doch/Presse_Abbildung_03.jpg Caption: The especially colourful Haplochromis chilotes fish from Lake Victoria exhibits both horizontal and vertical stripes. Copyright: Claudius Kratochwil https://cms.uni-konstanz.de/fileadmin/pi/fileserver/2018/Bilder/Buntbarsch_Evolution_vorhersagbar/Kratochwil_Evolution_wiederholt_sich_doch/Presse_Abbildung_04.jpg Caption: Two surprisingly similar fish with their characteristic horizontal stripes. They are only distantly related to each other and thus provide a good example of repeating (convergent) evolution: Julidochromis ornatus (Lake Tanganjika, left) and Melanochromis auratus (Lake Malawi, right). Copyright: Claudius Kratochwil Contact University of Konstanz Communications and Marketing Phone: + 49 7531 88-3603 E-Mail: kum@uni-konstanz.de Professor Axel Meyer, Ph.D. Laboratory for Zoology and Evolutionary Biology Department of Biology Phone: + 49 7531 88-3069 E-Mail: axel.meyer@uni-konstanz.de Dr Claudius Kratochwil Phone: +49 7531 88-4583 E-Mail: claudius.kratochwil@uni-konstanz.de University of Oklahoma professors, Karl D. Hambright and Lee R. Krumholz, will lead a global research team to study one of the most common environmental problems--freshwater toxic cyanobacteria (bluegreen algae) blooms, which threaten freshwater lakes and pose substantial health risks to humans, pets, livestock and wildlife. The group will address the fundamental interactions between cyanobacteria and other bacteria co-occurring with the blooms. "By testing the hypothesis that cyanobacteria are supported through a mutually-beneficial relationship with a mixture of other species of bacteria, we hope to discover new avenues of bloom mitigation," said Hambright, professor in the Department of Biology, and director of Environmental Studies; and Krumholz, professor in the Department of Microbiology and Plant Biology. Both departments are part of the OU College of Arts and Sciences. Hambright and Krumholz will address the harmful outbreaks of toxic cyanobacteria that have reached new levels in water bodies around the world with team members: Hans W. Paerl, the University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill; Alan E. Wilson, Auburn University; and Morgan M. Steffen Wurch, James Madison University. Researchers from Australia, Canada, China, France, Germany, Hungary, Israel and New Zealand will assist in developing an enhanced understanding of interactions between cyanobacteria and associated bacteria. The team will focus on a concept based idea that these blooms constitute complex interactions of cyanobacteria and associated bacteria that co-evolve to form a community of synergistic species, each with a unique metabolic capability critical to the growth, maintenance and demise of the bloom. The team will use: (1) a global genomic survey of cyanobacterial blooms throughout all phases of the bloom; (2) a targeted series of metagenomic and metatranscriptomic surveys; and (3) experimental work focused on interactome species comparison and gene expression in the lab and field sites in China and North America. The team also will explore the roles of nutrient inputs, nutrient ratios and various forms of nitrogen on the function and species composition of the bloom. This research aims to understand the unique roles of specific bacterial species on metabolic processes within the bloom and to identify potential new approaches for mitigating harmful cyanobacterial blooms by using a realistic approach based on ecology and evolutionary biology. The $2 million, five-year project, "Cyanobacterial Bloom Microbial Interactome as a Model for Understanding Biogeographical and Seasonal Patterns in Functional Biodiversity," is supported by the National Science Foundation. ### For more information, contact Dave Hambright at dhambright@ou.edu or Lee R. Krumholz at krumholz@ou.edu. (Photo by Chris Roussakis / AFP) Michael Eymer, the founder of Colorado-based tourism company Cannabis Tours, was eagerly eyeing expansion plans to Canada as soon as he found out that recreational cannabis would become legal across the country. Cannabis Tours has already expanded from Denver, Colo. to several cities across the United States, including Los Angeles, San Francisco, Washington, D.C., Portland and Boston. Expanding to Vancouver, B.C. seemed like a natural next step for the company, Eymer said in an interview with Yahoo Finance. But what he says are strict rules about consumption have put potential Canadian expansion plans on hold. The regulations are going to be tough, Eymer said. It seems like commercial public consumption is being banned in a good amount of areas It was a real let down for me. I was hoping to offer something near the same tours and events we have here, but I think well have to wait and see. While many have touted the potential of a cannabis tourism boom in Canada, there are still questions surrounding the rules and regulations around marijuana tourism that may see some entrepreneurs stay on the sidelines until there is more clarity. Longtime marijuana advocate Neev Tapiero launched his Toronto-based company Canadian Kush Tours several months before recreational marijuana was legalized last week. Neev Tapeiro, who launched his Toronto-based company Canadian Kush Tours several months before recreational marijuana was legalized last week, said while there has been some interest from tourists particularly from the United States he expects increased adoption and popularity in the tourism industry will take some time. The tourism and hotel industry is fairly conservative by nature, so I think they are mostly taking a wait-and-see approach, said Tapeiro, who found finding accommodations for his cannabis tours an uphill battle. I think theyre still figuring out how to explore this new industry without offending their existing clientele or testing to the limits of regulations, he said. Recreational cannabis was officially legalized last Wednesday, but regulations vary province-by-province. In B.C., for example, people will not be able to smoke cannabis in public parks, on public patios, in vehicles, or within six metres of doorways, windows, or air intakes of public buildings, bus stops or bus shelters. Some of these rules make tourism opportunities more difficult, Eymer says. Cannabis Tours most popular activity in Colorado is a bus tour where people can smoke in the vehicle, but based on B.C.s rules, he wouldnt be able to offer that tour in Vancouver. Canada is of huge interest for us, but what we need to see is reasonable social consumption laws constructed, he said. Story continues A spokesperson for the Tourism Industry Association of Canada (TIAC) declined an interview request from Yahoo Finance, saying the organization had no comment on cannabis tourism at this time. In August, TIAC president Charlotte Bell told the Canadian Press that there was a lack of clarity from federal, provincial and municipal governments regarding cannabis rules in the months leading up to legalization. Marijuana tourism will be discussed at a November meeting for the organization, whose members include concert halls, convention centres, festivals, restaurants, arenas, transportation and travel services. In Colorado, marijuana tourism saw a boost once recreational cannabis was legalized. According to a 2017 report prepared for the Colorado Department of Revenue analyzing the marijuana market, Colorado welcomed 17 million out-of-state day visitors and 26.7 million out-of-state overnight visitors in 2016. Based on the data, approximately 6.5 million out-of-state visitors had 17.9 million marijuana use days in 2016, the report said. The report also estimated that in 2017 there were 984,534 Colorado residents that were adult marijuana users, compared to 6.4 million visitors. Eymer founded Cannabis Tours in January 2014, a year before recreational marijuana became legal in Colorado, which turned out to be a lucrative business decision. In a 2017 interview with Yahoo Finance, Eymer said he earned $1.8 million in sales in 2016 alone, with sales increasing by 66 per cent in the first few months of 2017. His business has since expanded, not just to different locations, but in terms of event offerings. Classes and activities, such as a Puff, Pass and Paint class, have become increasingly popular, he says, particularly among locals. Tapeiro hopes to see the same kind of opportunity in Canada. Hes currently in the midst of forming the Cannabis Tourism Association of Canada for the few tourism groups that are operating in Canada. Cannabis tours represents a really small portion of the industry, he says, but Im hoping it will grow. Download the Yahoo Finance app, available for Apple and Android. SAO PAULO (AP) Jair Bolsonaro, a brash far-right congressman who has waxed nostalgic for Brazil's old military dictatorship, won the presidency of Latin America's largest nation Sunday as voters looked past warnings that he would erode democracy and embraced a chance for radical change after years of turmoil. The former army captain, who cast himself as a political outsider despite a 27-year career in Congress, became the latest world leader to rise to power by mixing tough, often violent talk with hard-right positions. His victory reflected widespread anger at the political class after years of corruption, an economy that has struggled to recover after a punishing recession and a surge in violence. "I feel in my heart that things will change," Sandra Coccato, a 68-year-old small business owner, said after she voted for Bolsonaro in Sao Paulo. "Lots of bad people are leaving, and lots of new, good people are entering. There's a light at the end of the tunnel." In Rio de Janeiro, thousands of Bolsonaro supporters gathered on iconic Copacabana Beach, where fireworks went off. In Sao Paulo, Brazil's largest city, car horns could be heard honking and crowds celebrated as the results came in. There were also reports of clashes between his backers and opponents in Sao Paulo. Speaking to supporters from his home in Rio, Bolsonaro recounted how he was stabbed while campaigning last month and almost died. "I was never alone. I always felt the presence of God and the force of the Brazilian people," he said. Bolsonaro, who ran on promises to clean up Brazil and bring back "traditional values," said he would respect the constitution and personal liberty. "That is a promise, not of a party, not the vain word of a man. It's a promise to God," he said, standing next to his wife and many cheering supporters. Later, he said in a Facebook Live transmission that he had received a call from some world leaders, including U.S. President Donald Trump who wished him good luck. Story continues Addressing supporters in Sao Paulo, his rival, Fernando Haddad of the Workers' Party, did not concede or even mention Bolsonaro by name. Instead, his speech was a promise to resist. "We have the responsibility to mount an opposition, putting national interests, the interests of the entire Brazilian people, above everything," Haddad said. "Brazil has never needed the exercise of citizenship more than right now." He later added: "Don't be afraid. We are here. We are together!" Brazil's top electoral court said Bolsonaro won with just over 55 percent of the vote, compared with just under 45 percent for Haddad. Bolsonaro went into Sunday the clear front-runner after getting 46 percent of the vote to Haddad's 29 percent in the first round of voting on Oct. 7, when 13 contenders were on the ballot. Opinion polls in recent weeks had him leading by as much as 18 percentage points, but the race tightened in the last few days. Several Brazilian heavyweights came out against him, arguing that he was a direct risk to the world's fourth-largest democracy. His rise was powered by disgust with the political system. In particular, many Brazilians were furious with the Workers' Party for its role in the mammoth graft scheme uncovered by the "Operation Car Wash" investigation. Haddad struggled to build momentum with his promises of a return to the boom times by investing in health and education and reducing poverty. Along the way, Bolsonaro's candidacy also raised serious concerns that he would roll back civil rights and weaken institutions in what remains a young democracy. He frequently disparaged women, gays and blacks, and said he would name military men to his Cabinet. Minutes after he was elected, several international human rights groups put out statements demanding that Bolsonaro respect Brazil's democracy. In a highly unusual moment earlier Sunday, the chief justice of the Supreme Court, Jose Dias Toffoli, read out part of the Constitution to reporters after he voted. "The future president must respect institutions, must respect democracy, the rule of law, the judiciary branch, the national Congress and the legislative branch," Toffoli said in remarks many took to be a rebuke of Bolsonaro and his more extreme positions. As late as Sunday morning, Haddad was still holding out hope that he could win after receiving several key endorsements late Saturday. Among them was a popular former Supreme Court justice, Joaquim Barbosa, who tweeted support for Haddad, saying Bolsonaro's candidacy scared him. Likewise, former Attorney General Rodrigo Janot, one of the biggest crusaders against corruption in the Workers' Party in recent years, also endorsed Haddad. One of the most important endorsements, particularly for young people, came from YouTube personality Felipe Neto, whose channel has nearly 27 million followers. Neto said he was troubled by Bolsonaro's comments a week ago that "red" leftists would be run out of Brazil. "In 16 years of the (Workers' Party), I have been robbed, but never threatened," Neto said on Twitter. The past few years in Brazil have been exceptionally turbulent. In 2016, then-President Dilma Rousseff of the Workers' Party was impeached and removed from office on charges that many on the left felt were politically motivated. The economy suffered a two-year recession and is only beginning to emerge, with growth stagnant and unemployment high. Scores of politicians and executives have been jailed in the Car Wash corruption investigation, which uncovered a multibillion-dollar scheme to trade public contracts and official favors for bribes and kickbacks. That instability unleashed sharp anger against the political class but also revealed deep divisions in Brazilian society, and the campaign was the most polarized in decades. There were numerous reports of politically motivated violence, especially directed at gay people. Many observers predicted that a newcomer would emerge to harness the anti-establishment anger. Instead, support coalesced around Bolsonaro, who at the margins in Congress painted himself as just the strong man Brazil needed to dismantle a failing system. Bolsonaro's campaign first gained traction with his promises to go after violent crime in a country that leads the world in homicides and where many Brazilians live in daily fear of muggings or burglaries. But his vows to loosen gun laws and give police a freer hand to use force have also raised concerns that his presidency could lead to a bloody crackdown and an erosion of civil rights. The campaign gained momentum by winning over much of the business community with promises of enacting market-friendly reforms that would reduce the size of the Brazilian state, including cutting ministries and privatizing state companies. "I hope that with these elections we're not signing a blank check again, and that we don't close our eyes to everything that has happened," said Jose Nobrega, a 53-year-old waiter in Mare, one of Rio's most violent neighborhoods. ___ Associated Press writers Sarah DiLorenzo and Mauricio Savarese reported this story in Sao Paulo and AP writer Peter Prengaman reported from Rio de Janeiro. AP writers Stan Lehman in Sao Paulo and Marcelo Silva de Sousa and Beatrice Christofaro in Rio de Janeiro contributed to this report. MIRAMAR, Fla., Oct. 27, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Spirit Airlines (SAVE) is partnering with Honor Flight South Florida to serve as the organizations official airline in 2019. In the next year, Spirit will charter four Honor Flights to Washington, D.C. Approximately 340 total veterans will visit the memorials honoring their service and sacrifice to their country, all at no charge to those revered veterans. Honor Flight South Florida helps transport our nations oldest veterans, who served in WWII, as well as the conflicts in Korea and Vietnam. These heroes are given a chance to visit their memorials and feel the gratitude of their country. During the trips, the veterans meet members of Congress, veteran officials and take special trips to Arlington National Cemetery, WWII Memorial, Korean War Veterans Memorial, Vietnam Veterans Memorial and the Marine Corps War Memorial. Spirit has long supported the nations military and veterans while keeping their fares as low as possible. Spirit offers free bags for active duty military service members and has partnered with Honor Flight South Florida for several flights in the past. Each year, the airline also provides hundreds of free flights to wounded warriors and their families. We are proud to work with Honor Flight South Florida to support these dedicated veterans trips, said Ted Christie, Spirit Airlines President. They have done so much for our country and deserve the opportunity to visit the memorials and experience the impact their sacrifices still have on the lives of all Americans. This new partnership with Spirit will permit Honor Flight South Florida to reach out to far more of South Floridas oldest veterans to give them what many refer to as one of the best days of their lives, said HFSF Chairman Rick Asper. The generous support of Spirit Airlines, South Floridas own hometown air carrier, is unique in the nation for the Honor Flight family. On behalf of these veteran heroes we thank Spirit. Story continues About Honor Flight South Florida: Honor Flight South Florida, Inc., is an all-volunteer 501(c)(3) charity, dedicated to honoring our nations veterans, oldest first, from Boca Raton to Key West, for what they did for all of us 50 to 75 years ago. BAGHDAD, Oct 26 (Reuters) - Iraq will stop trucking crude oil from its northern Kirkuk oil field to Iran in November in order to comply with sanctions imposed on its neighbour by the United States, two sources familiar with Iraqi oil export operations said on Friday. Currently, Iraq is exporting less than 30,000 barrels per day (bpd) to Iran via trucks, the sources told Reuters. The former Iraqi federal government agreed a deal in mid-October with the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) to resume exporting crude to Turkey's Ceyhan port via the KRG, the sources said. The deal is subject to final approval from the newly-appointed Iraqi prime minister and oil minister, they added. (Reporting by Ahmed Rasheed; Writing by Ahmed Aboulenein; Editing by John Davison) MANAMA, Oct 27 (Reuters) - U.S. Defense Secretary Jim Mattis said on Saturday that the United States was in close contact with allies in Europe about the INF treaty and its implications for the region. "We are in close collaboration with our European allies... and we will continue to collaborate very closely with the treaty and its implications for European security," Mattis said in a speech in Bahrain. "Eventually we have to look reality in the eye, that is not to mean that we are walking away from arms control. But arms control must be more than words on a paper, it must be actions," Mattis added. U.S. President Donald Trump said on Oct. 20 that Washington planned to quit the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces (INF) treaty which Mikhail Gorbachev, the last Soviet leader, and Ronald Reagan had signed in 1987. The pact eliminated all short- and intermediate-range land-based nuclear and conventional missiles held by both countries in Europe. Washington has cited Russia's alleged violation of the treaty as its reason for leaving it, a charge Moscow denies. Russia in turn accuses Washington of breaking the pact. Gorbachev has denounced the U.S. decision to leave the INF that helped end the Cold War, saying it would heralded a new arms race which increased the risk of nuclear conflict. (Reporting by Idrees Ali; Editing by Michael Perry) Bank of Canada Digital Currency An experiment conducted by Canadas central bank in conjunction with the countrys payments system, a stock exchange operator, a distributed ledger technology (DLT) firm and a global consulting and professional services firm has demonstrated that it is possible to clear and settle securities efficiently and cost-effectively using blockchain technology. In the trial, the Bank of Canada in partnership with payments system organization Payments Canada, stock exchange operator TMX Group, global consulting firm Accenture and blockchain firm R3 demonstrated the feasibility of an integrated DLT-based securities and payment settlement platform. https://twitter.com/inside_r3/status/1054787035674877952 Proof of Concept The experiment, which was conducted during the third phase of Project Jasper, involved exploring how the settlement of securities and payment interacted on a private blockchain. This required developing and testing a Proof of Concept (POC) system which was linked to the market infrastructures that already exist. The POC intended to bring together securities and cash ledgers for CDSX [Canadas clearing and settlement system for securities] and participants in Payments Canadas Large Value Transfer System (LVTS) to facilitate daily consolidated cash reporting and Canadian-dollar settlement of CDSX obligations, noted the five organizations in a report titled Jasper Phase III: Securities Settlement Using Distributed Ledger Technology. Jasper Phase IIIs PoC solution was developed on distributed ledger technology of Corda specifically version 2.0. Cash and securities were brought on the ledger by issuing digital depository receipts with the Bank of Canada being responsible for the former and the Canadian Depository for Securities catering for the latter. Reduction of Expenses and Enhancement of Efficiency This allowed participants in the proof of concept test to settle the simulated securities against the simulated central bank funds on the blockchain. Equity, as well as cash, could be redeemed following their transfer since settlements enjoyed irrevocability. Story continues From the PoC it was observed that not only was it possible to reduce counterparty risk but that collateral could be freed up without sacrificing the privacy of the participants as well as their transactions. However, more comprehensive studies will be required in order to more reliably determine the efficiency gains and cost savings accruing from using DLT. DLT is a promising technology that has the potential to reduce costs for participants and open new opportunities, said Bank of Canadas Director, Scott Hendry, in a statement. Phase III of Project Jasper gave us the opportunity to test the technology further, and work remains to be done to determine how it can be set up to maximize the benefits for the whole financial system. Featured image from Shutterstock. The post Stocks Cleared and Settled Successfully in Bank of Canada Blockchain Trial appeared first on CCN. By Alexandria Sage and Arjun Panchadar SAN FRANCISCO (Reuters) - Tesla Inc (TSLA.O) has not received a U.S. subpoena related to its Model 3 production forecasts, the electric carmaker said on Friday, following a report that it faced a deepening criminal probe about the projections. The company has cooperated in responding to what it called a "voluntary request" for documents from the Department of Justice in September, a Tesla spokesperson said. The agency has the ability to press criminal charges. "We have not received a subpoena, a request for testimony, or any other formal process, and there have been no additional document requests about this from the Department of Justice for months," the spokesperson said in an email. The Federal Bureau of Investigation is examining whether Tesla misstated information about the production of its Model 3 sedans and misled investors about its business going back to early 2017, the Wall Street Journal reported, citing sources. In recent weeks, FBI agents have contacted former Tesla employees to seek testimony in the criminal case, according to the report. The ex-employees received subpoenas earlier in the probe, and FBI agents recently have sought to interview a number of them, the sources said. Any focus on Tesla's past statements about Model 3 production targets would broaden the probe by the agency, which Tesla said last month was looking at statements made by Chief Executive Elon Musk about a go-private deal that was later called off. Tesla first disclosed in September that the DoJ was investigating Musk's tweets about having "funding secured" for a deal to take Tesla private, saying the agency had asked for documents about such statements. Any expansion of the FBI's probe comes as Musk faces pressure to deliver consistent production of the Model 3 at a profit. The company on Wednesday posted a profit and positive cash flow, making good on pledges made by Musk earlier this year, as the company ramps up volume of its new sedan. Story continues MODEL 3 CHALLENGES Tesla and Musk already face a proposed class action shareholder lawsuit claiming that the company and its top executives made false statements about the readiness of the Model 3 for volume production. The car, which the money-losing company is banking on to turn a profit, was introduced to the public in early 2016 to great fanfare, with repeated promises throughout 2017 that Tesla was "on track" to build 5,000 Model 3s per week by the end of that year at its factory in Fremont, California. Such statements were fraudulent, according to the lawsuit, given that the automated assembly lines to build the car in such volume were behind schedule. Tesla has denied the claims in the lawsuit, saying it disclosed production bottlenecks once they were identified, and citing Musk's public statements that the company was undergoing a period of "production hell" in 2017. Tesla only reached a goal to build 5,000 Model 3s per week in June, although current production has fallen short of that. Musk and Tesla only recently settled with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission over Musk's Aug. 7 tweets. The SEC sued him for fraud, calling his claims "false and misleading," before reaching a settlement. Both Tesla and Musk must pay a $20 million fine, and Musk must give up his chairman role for three years as the company appoints an independent chair. Shares of Tesla rose 4.5 to $329, extending their rally following bullish results on Wednesday. (Reporting by Arjun Panchadar in Bengaluru; Editing by Shounak Dasgupta, Sai Sachin Ravikumar and Richard Chang) Texas Senate Race May Become the Most Expensive in History The Texas senatorial race between Republican incumbent Ted Cruz and Democratic challenger Beto ORourke is set to be the most expensive in U.S. history, with over $100 million raised, the Houston Chronicle reports. Prior to this, the most expensive general election for the senate was for the Massachusetts seat in 2012, when the incumbent, Republican Scott Brown, and eventual winner, Democrat Elizabeth Warren, spent more than $77 million combined. ORourke has raised nearly $61 million as of Oct. 1, Axios reports, compared to Cruzs $40 million. This does not include the funding from super PACs, which will likely number millions more. According to the Center for Responsive Politics, however, the two have only spent a combined $62 million as of Sept. 30, although theyre likely to spend much more in the final weeks leading up to election day. While ORourke leads Cruz in fundraising and spending, the polls give Cruz a nearly 7-point lead on average. ORourke has led a social mediadriven campaign and visited each of the 254 counties in Texas, the Houston Chronicle reports, including predominately red areas. Cruz has the backing of President Donald Trump, who nicknamed the senator Beautiful Ted after rescinding his former title, Lyin Ted. ISTANBUL, Oct 26 (Reuters) - Turkey has prepared an extradition request for suspects in the killing of Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi because it is better equipped to "serve the cause of justice" in the case, a senior Turkish official said on Friday. Earlier, Turkey's justice ministry had said that the Istanbul prosecutor's office prepared a request for the extradition from Saudi Arabia of 18 suspects in Khashoggi's murder. It also said they were accused of murder by "premeditation, monstrous intent or by torture". (Writing by Ali Kucukgocmen; Editing by Daren Butler) Here are answers to questions we sent to all four major- and minor-party governor candidates in Novembers election. Bill Hammons, Unity Party Lt. Gov. running mate: Eric Bodenstab What makes you a better choice than your opponents? Im the best choice for the simple reason that Im truly something new under the sun (for once). I founded (with my father) the now-38-state Unity Party of America the day after the 2004 Election, and founded the Unity Party of Colorado by personally gathering well over 1,000 valid voter signatures in multiple statewide races, placing myself as a Unity Party candidate on the General Election ballot. Those 1,000 signatures put the Unity Party on the voter registration form as the Unity option, and the 1,000 voters who subsequently affiliated with Unity put UP into official party status in Colorado. Rank in priority the top three issues you want to work on, and explain your first choice. Colorado can and should lead the way as a state example in fighting climate change, in providing all citizens (through Medicare-inspired means) with the health care they need and deserve, and in growing and developing a sustainable economy. Climate change and its effects are real, are man-made, are a real threat, and can be fought. We need to move our states taxation system away from punishing workers for feeding their families, and towards discouraging destructive behavior of all kinds. Such a system would be a more efficient and constructive model for the national sales tax long advocated by many conservatives. The Taxpayers Bill of Rights, or TABOR, gets a lot of criticism. Does it need fixing? TABOR doesnt need fixing; it needs replacing with laws that better respect and acknowledge the intelligence of voters. Telling local governments what they can and cannot do with their own revenues is inappropriate (note that I oppose some forms of local taxation on principle, but to effectively tell local voters how much they choose to legally tax themselves is like outlawing exercise). The approval of TABOR implies that the lawmakers representing the two-party duopoly (and not representing their constituents) cannot be trusted to productively spend money, and I wholeheartedly agree; its time to finally outlaw gerrymandering at all legislative levels. Scott Helker, Libertarian Party Lt. Gov. running mate: Michele Poague What makes you a better choice than your opponents? The biggest difference is that I do not think of government as having the only solutions. Because I do not put myself in a box where only 10 percent the solutions are, I am free to explore the other 90 percent of the solutions that are available. Rank in priority the top three issues you want to work on, and explain your first choice. My three issues begin with water. The solutions put forward by both Mr. Stapleton and Mr. Polis will not increase the volume of water in the Colorado river basins or refill the aquifers in Colorado and by default the aquifers in the surrounding states. The Taxpayers Bill of Rights, or TABOR, gets a lot of criticism. Does it need fixing? TABOR does not need fixing! Not because there is unjustified criticism of TABOR, but because what choice do we have? Puerto Rico has already declared bankruptcy. In the next decade Illinois, California and New York must follow. Worse, how long before we must pay off the 21 trillion dollars of Federal debt, and how? Until we can elect legislators to the State Assembly and Senate who are fiscally responsible, TABOR will need to stay in place as is! In fact, I would encourage the other 49 states and the Federal Government to pass TABOR-like amendments so that their economies could be as strong as Colorados, and they would not need to file bankruptcy. Jared Polis, Democrat Lt. Gov. running mate: Dianne Primavera What makes you a better choice than your opponents? Ive started businesses, created hundreds of jobs, and built schools for at-risk youth. Im especially proud to have helped launch Patriot Boot Camp, a mentorship program that has helped veterans and military families launch their own small businesses. My 100-day health care plan will reduce premiums, stop prescription price gouging, and expand access to quality care across Colorado. Walker Stapleton has said he will roll back the Medicaid expansion and get rid of Colorados health exchange throwing hundreds of thousands of Coloradans off their insurance and driving up costs for the rest of us. Rank in priority the top three issues you want to work on, and explain your first choice. 1) Tackling the rising cost of living so Coloradans can afford to live and raise their families here 2) Building a world-class public education system 3) Expanding access to high-quality affordable health care Far too many Coloradans today feel like they cant get ahead despite our booming economy. Paychecks have barely budged, but between housing, health care, school, and daycare, the cost of living has gotten out of control. We need to build a Colorado economy where people can not just get by, but thrive whether its the farmer whose livelihood is in danger due to drought, the young professional whose income isnt keeping up with the rent, or the parents struggling to pay their health premium on top of the staggering cost of preschool. The Taxpayers Bill of Rights, or TABOR, gets a lot of criticism. Does it need fixing? Any reforms to TABOR will have to be done in a bipartisan way. I would oppose changing the provision in TABOR that gives voters a say over new taxes. As governor, I will convene Republicans, Democrats and the business community to fix the growth formula and provide more flexibility so that we can invest in important priorities like public schools and transportation. Walker Stapleton, Republican Lt. Gov. running mate: Lang Sias What makes you a better choice than your opponents? I believe my track record of working in a bipartisan way to defend the taxpayers of Colorado puts me in the best position to serve as our next governor. Just two years ago, former Democratic Governor Bill Ritter and I were co-chairs of the effort to defeat Amendment 69. This disastrous plan for a government-run, single-payer health care scheme was defeated with nearly 80 percent of the population joining us and voting no. My opponent has embraced this policy for rationed, low-quality health care. His plan for single-payer health care, along with his plan for 100 percent renewable energy are simply too expensive and too radical for Colorado. Rank in priority the top three issues you want to work on, and explain your first choice. My top priorities are: health care, transportation, and attainable housing. All of these issues boil down to a single concern; managing our growth. Colorado is in the midst of an economic boom, but this boom has come with negative side effects that impact everyone in our state. With the hundreds of thousands of new residents have come deteriorating roads and skyrocketing price increases for housing and health care. These factors are detracting from our quality of life and eating into the economic gains that we have seen from our growth. We must solve our transportation woes without raising taxes. The Taxpayers Bill of Rights, or TABOR, gets a lot of criticism. Does it need fixing? I believe that TABOR has been a critical component to our states economic growth since it became part of Colorados Constitution. Every household must balance their own budget and I think it is critical that our state government does the same. Giving voters a voice in how much of their hard-earned dollars government can take and spend is a safeguard against out-of-control tax and spend policies that have overrun states across the country. This amendment has created a government that is more accountable and responsive to the will of taxpayers. Just more than a week before the election, polls show Democrat Jared Polis with a lead over Republican Walker Stapleton in the race to be Colo You have permission to edit this article. Edit Close Defense Secretary Jim Mattis says steps will be taken by the U.S. over Jamal Khashoggis killing. World War II veteran Oscar Fitzhenry wanted Air Force Academy cadets to learn a lesson he picked up during 64 combat missions aboard a four-engine B-24 Liberator bomber. War and life, the retired lieutenant colonel said, are a team sport. Its better to resolve those decisions between two or three people than just one. Cadets will have that lesson reinforced with a painting donated by Fitzhenry that shows a formation of Liberators, used on some of the longest bombing missions, and highlights how the 10-man crews worked together to survive. The Raid by artist David Teuling shows the bombers over the Solomon Islands in the Pacific, where Fitzhenry served as a 21-year-old pilot. While unveiling the work at the academy last week, Fitzhenry, who traveled to Colorado Springs from South Carolina, told cadets he wants them to think about the costs of war and the team of supporters they have back at home. Remember the families and those men who gave their lives, Fitzhenry said. And the families are the ones who gave me comfort with PTSD. The painting, completed in 2001, will be on display inside the academys Arnold Hall for generations of cadets to view. The highly detailed work will keep those cadets busy spotting the drama within the painting, from traditional nose art to gunners braced to repel enemy fighters. The nephew of the artist, Ben Faltinowski of Monument, attended the unveiling ceremony and said the painting breathes life into an era too easily forgotten. The fact that it heralds back to an era of war, Faltinowski said. Events like this help bring us back to what these guys did. Faltinowski spoke of the freezing conditions the airmen experienced in aircraft back then that lacked pressurized cabins. The painting shows the heavily clad airmen in sheepskin clothing. We might as well send people to the top of Pikes Peak in the middle of December for five or six hours, he said. Contact the writer: 636-4809 @leslie_m_james Desperation Mona, as historic Colorado Springs investor Spencer Penrose and others have called her, always appears at the same time dusk and in the same place mile marker 13 on the Pikes Peak Highway, which Penrose built in 1916. The site is where, in 1932, Wynona Mona Roberts car went off the edge of the road and plunged 150 feet down the mountain. While the crash didnt kill her or her new husband, Mona died after she got out of the hospital three weeks later. She expired in a bathtub in the California couples honeymoon cottage in Manitou Springs. The beautiful, young brunette had succumbed to a brain hemorrhage, doctors surmised. But her husband later confessed to bashing her in the head with a hammer, before he was executed for the murder of his five previous wives. Since then, storyteller Sebrena Forrest said Friday during a ghost story presentation at the Ute Pass Library, there have been many police reports of people seeing a naked woman with long, stringy dark hair on Pikes Peak making gestures of desperation. In 1973, a man who had worked on Pikes Peak for 33 years stopped his motorcycle at Glen Cove one June night after work to have a cigarette and take a leak, when he spotted the woman. He said he threw his leather jacket over her shoulders and gave her a ride to the toll booth down the hill. He remembered her hands around him were clammy, and her breath on his neck was freezing, icy cold, Forrest said. But when he stopped the bike, the woman got off, took off his jacket and ran back up the mountain. When he goes home, he looks for his cigarette lighter in his jacket and pulls out a receipt from what was then the Glen Cove Gift Shop, Forrest said. It was dated Sept. 21, 1932. The next day, he went to the gift shop and learned that the nude woman who had hopped on the back of his motorcycle was a ghost. People, including Spencer Penrose, had known about her for years and had named her Desperation Mona. Such ghost stories from the Pikes Peak region are interesting, Forrest said, because these are documented cases from responsible people who have experienced encounters. Its not just one person making something up. And the accounts happen over a long period of years, from people who have not known the stories, she said. But the Pikes Peak region is no more or less haunted than other communities, said Forrest, a Cascade resident and member of the Mohawk Nation who is best known for preserving Native American culture and was named 2017 Elder of the Year by the Native American Womens Association. At the request of the Pikes Peak Library District, she dug up unexplained events and documented ghost encounters from the area, based on the library districts Special Collections section of archived materials and personal interviews. Desperation Mona is known as a crisis apparition because she died in a crisis, so she materializes in her naked, drowned state, Forrest said. Hauntings can be at a place youre stuck or where something happened or you had a fond memory of, she said. Up in Woodland Park, employees of the Ute Inn, an historic bar and restaurant, have reported glasses zooming through the air and exploding, Forrest said. Its not like a big truck goes by and knocks one off from the vibration, she said. Its like a whole bunch flying off the shelves. When the old Homestead House in Colorado Springs was a bed-and-breakfast, no one wanted to go in one upstairs room because furniture would rearrange itself, and noises could be heard coming from the empty room, Forrest said. The Egg Man of Manitou Springs has been known to follow people, attack them and beat them with his cane. Victims can hear the short man with whiskers and a hat dragging something like a leg or a cane, Forrest said, and the sulfurous smell of rotten eggs emanates from the ghost. In 1988, a man named Gail Bailey ended up in the hospital from an Egg Man beating, Forrest said. Its been going on for a long time, she said, and is thought to be linked to a man who carried a basket of eggs to eat at a local bar and one day committed suicide at the pub. Another tale of the unexplained comes from Simla, about 50 miles northeast of Colorado Springs. In the late 1950s, ranchers named the Lemleys, who ran about 50 head of cattle, would see bright spotlights at night across their prairie land that would mess up their television, but they couldnt pinpoint the source. It was a mystery, Forrest said. All the ranchers were talking about it. One night, the husband found his wife, Louise, crouched in the kitchen, naked and trembling. But she had no memory of what had happened. Their son was found in his Jeep in the long driveway, where he had been all night, after seeing bright lights and not remembering anything else. And then, the family could not find some of their cattle. They located 10 cows laid in a circle dead, with a tree and sand in the middle. There were no footprints, no tire tracks, Forrest said. The cows genitals and eyes had been removed. But they were not torn up; it was a neat scene. And, No predators would go near those dead cattle. Law enforcement and Air Force officials responded, and told the family if anybody asks, it was predators. Just because I cant see something doesnt mean it doesnt exist, Forrest said. One of the creepiest stories that made national news concerns Old Jackknife Tom. A mean Irishman with red hair and buck teeth who in the 1850s, Tom kept a knife in his boot and cut off peoples ears or fingers if he lost too much money in the gambling halls in Old Colorado City. One day, a guy killed Jackknife Tom by shooting him in the head. Dr. Isaac Davis, Manitou Springs pharmacist, town coroner, doctor, mayor, chief of police and judge, collected specimens such as severed limbs and fetuses and kept them in pickle jars in his laboratory. When nobody claimed Jackknife Toms body after three days, the doctor/coroner removed the organs and mummified the body. Hed prop the body up in the sun to dry in front of his pharmacy on Canon Avenue, Forrest said. Hed prop him up in the barber shop and put whipped cream on his face. He dressed him as a woman. He took him to the bar. It was in all the papers. After the doctor died, Toms mummified body ended up in Kansas City and toured the country in an exhibit called The Petrified Indian of the Manitou Caverns. Nobody knows where it is now, Forrest said. More Information Also released today on all major streaming platforms is Nathaniel Czajkowski's final hip-hop album under stage name "Nate Winters." It's a collection of five of his previously-released singles as well as a few other tracks never before heard. All royalties from "Remedies" will go to Nates family. In this Friday, Nov. 27, 2015 photograph, jars of different type of marijuana sit on counter during a sale at the Denver Kush Club in north Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski) If you are looking for legal advice this week, local attorneys will be available to answer your questions. Its all part of Legal Resource Day Glenn McClain is Superintendent of Schools for the Platte Valley School District in Kersey. He has been superintendent for 20 years and participated in a variety of school finance efforts over his career including teaching school finance for the University of Northern Colorado. He is married to Shawna, they have three children and have lived in Kersey since 1991. Measuring more than five feet tall and ten feet long, the Javan rhinoceros is often called the rarest large mammal on earth. None exist in zoos. Like the Indian rhino, the Javan has only one horn; African and Sumatran rhinos have two. While the Javan rhino habitat once extended across southern Asia, now there are fewer than one hundred of the animals in Indonesia and under a dozen in Vietnam. Very little is known about Javan rhinos because they lead secretive and solitary lives in remote jungles. Until recently, scientists debated whether females even have horns, and most scientific work has had to rely on DNA garnered from dung. The near extinction of the Javan rhino is the direct result of human actions. For centuries, farmers, who favored the same habitat, viewed them as crop eating pests and shot them on sight. During the colonial period, hunters slaughtered thousands. Now, human efforts to save them may well prove futile. The Vietnamese herd is probably doomed, as too few remain to maintain the necessary genetic variation. Rhinos from Java cannot supplement the Vietnamese numbers because in the millions of years since Indonesia separated from the mainland, the two groups have evolved into separate sub-species. In Indonesia, the rhinos are protected on the Ujung Kulon peninsula, which is unsettled by humans, and still have sufficient genetic diversity to have a chance at survival. Ironically, however, the lack of human disturbance allows mature forests to replace the shrubby vegetation the animals prefer. Thus, human benevolence may prove little better for these rhinos than past human maltreatment. One of the MOST endangered? Incorrect CORRECT. Scientists don't have much information. They perform analysis from "dung" for a particular theory. No such information given Most animals is a generalisation. This passage is about Javan rhinos Most important? Exaggerated Show Spoiler B Not at all optismistic Yes its "futile" but not sad Not at all idealistic Yes both problematic and ironical - " Ironically, however, the lack of human disturbance allows mature forests to replace the shrubby vegetation the animals prefer. Thus, human benevolence may prove little better for these rhinos than past human maltreatment " Not at all heroic Show Spoiler D No such contrast mentioned. Its just plain simple information No evolution is demonstrated CORRECT. The author is simply saying that like indian rhinos, Javan rhinos have 1 horn. He further states that african rhinos have 2 horn. There is contrast, no seperate theory. Its simple straightforward No contrast Show Spoiler D Absolutely not. Passage is just about Javan rhinos No, its not the central point of first para CORRECT. Author simply states facts about javan rhino No LOL Show Spoiler C CORRECT. Straight from the passage Are you kidding me? ROFL So what? We dont know about rhinos in vietnam LOL Show Spoiler A " I DONT AGREE WITH THE OA GIVEN FOR THIS OPTION ." This is just an example No This is just an example No Yes its the human activities. Maybe for centuries farmers killed a million of rhinos. And later with much more advanced weaponry the poachers killed a 999,999 (that is still thousands). No concrete reason is given for any particular activity to become the winner Show Spoiler A 1. Which of the following can be inferred from the passage?A. Javan rhinos are one of the most endangered animals on the planet. -B. More is known about the genetics of the Javan rhino than is known about its mating patterns. -C. Hunters killed more Javan rhinos in Vietnam than in Indonesia.-D. Most animal extinctions are the result of human actions. -E. Genetic diversity is the most important factor for the survival of a species. -2. The authors attitude toward current human efforts to save the Javan rhino can best be described asA. optimistic and worthwhile -B. pointless and doomed -C. idealistic but profitable -D. problematic and ironic -E. confused but heroic -3. The author mentions that the Javan rhino has only one horn in order to do which of the following?A. explain why it is closer to extinction than the African rhino -No comparison for extinctionB. contrast it to the number of horns that the Indian rhino has -C. demonstrate its evolution into a separate sub-species -D. describe the features of the animal -E. contrast it to the number of horns that females have -4. The purpose of the first paragraph is toA. discuss the different types of rhinoceroses that populate the world -B. describe the ways in which human actions have brought the Javan rhino close to extinction -C. outline the few known facts about the Javan rhino -D. discuss the steps taken to save the Javan rhino -E. highlight the differences between the sub-species of Javan rhinos in Vietnam and Indonesia -5. According to the passage, which of the following best explains why the number of Javan rhinos in Vietnam cannot be increased by additions from those in the Ujung Kulon peninsula?A. The Indonesian Javan rhinos constitute a separate sub-species.B. The Javan rhinos cannot swim to Vietnam and have no land route available. -C. Neither Vietnam nor Indonesia has the funds for such a project. -D. Javan rhinos in the Ujung Kulon peninsula are almost impossible to capture.E. Terrorist activity in Indonesia has made such a project too dangerous to attempt. -6. The author states that which of the following was most responsible for the near extinction of the Javan rhino?A. farmers shooting them on sight -B. the separation of Indonesia from the mainland -C. hunters slaughtering thousands -D. current human efforts to save them -E. the cumulative effect of many past human activities - Re: The first political passengers on modern railroad cars were a presiden [ #permalink 2 Kudos 1 Bookmarks Grand Old Partisan salutes John Sarber, born in Pittsburgh this day of 1837. Along with his abolitionist father and siblings, he moved to Kansas in 1855, when that territory was Bleeding from fighting between settlers who were for and against slavery. He took part in formation of the state's Republican Party. During the Civil War, this patriot enlisted in the 2nd U.S. Kansas Infantry and later the 15th U.S. Cavalry. The end of war found Sarber in Arkansas, where he decided to remain. He studied law and was delegate to the 1868 state constitutional convention. That year, he won election to the state senate. It was he who introduced the bill establishing the Arkansas public school system. Sarber also introduced the bill establishing the University of Arkansas and served on its board of trustees. A grateful legislature named a county for him, but when Democrats took control of the state they re-named the county for a slave owner. In 1873, President Ulysses Grant appointed him U.S Marshal for both western Arkansas and Oklahoma Territory. Throughout the region, Sarber was known as "Mr. Republican". Here is a Video Version of this article on YouTube: https://youtu.be/K_IJfG3jWhw Michael Zak is author of Back to Basics for the Republican Party, a history of GOP civil rights achievement. Each day, his Grand Old Partisan blog celebrates more than sixteen decades of Republican heritage. And, see Speech Raves for audience feedback from his presentations in thirty-one states so far. Clarence Thomas cited Back to Basics for the Republican Party in a Supreme Court decision. Buy the book at Amazon See www.youtube.com/q?v=IzxKCiXc5Qc for a brief video of a Texas Republican praising Back to Basics for the Republican Party. "This is the most amazing book about politics that I have ever read. The Overview should be required reading for anyone with even a minor interest in government. The remainder is an enthralling history lesson that I will never forget. For years, we have all been misled about the true nature of the GOP. This is the real deal! Read it and be proud!" "Michael Zak wrote the definitive history of the GOP." "Back to Basics for the Republican Party is the most significant contribution to the Republican Party in the last twenty years apart from Ronald Reagan." "Back to Basics for the Republican Party is more important to our party now than ever before." and "one of the best books I ever read" Haifa is on the "front line" in any action in the north but this blog looks at life in the shadow of danger to all of Israel 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 IceViking strongly condemns physical attacks and harassment directed towards them. They are also often victims of the Islamic idea. This is true when it comes to the cruel and tragic treatment of Muslim women and children when it is in accord with the Koran, the example of Mohammed and Islamic law, Sharia, which may be applied regardless of where a Muslim male may find himself in the world, whether in a Muslim or non-Muslim country. However, in no way, shape or form should one judge all Muslim men because of what is in Islamic scripture and what constitutes the Islamic law, Sharia. "Race", ethnicity or basically anything that you are "merely" born with should never be a basis for bigotry and discrimination. Apostates from Islam have been executed for 1400 years in accord with the Koran and the words and actions of the Islamic prophet Mohammed and Islamic law, Sharia. They should be lovingly helped. Furthermore, approximately as many as 11,000,000 Muslims may have been killed by other Muslims since 1948. To quote the website The Religion of Peace (TROP), edited by Glen Roberts: While it may be safe to say that a true Muslim would not intentionally kill another true Muslim ( 4:92-93 ), the Quran places no such value on the life of a Muslim who is not true. Consider verse 9:73 : Strive hard against the disbelievers and the hypocrites, and be harsh against them, their abode is Hell. The Arabic for strive hard uses the same root as Jihad - and the context in this sura is holy war (see v. 86 and 91). Thus, there are two distinct classes of people that a true Muslim is to target with harshness: disbelievers and hypocrites. A disbeliever obviously refers to a non-Muslim, so a "hypocrite" must be a Muslim of some sort. In fact, hypocrites are those who say they believe, but do not act as they should. In other words, they are "Muslims", but not true Muslims. They will go to hell just as unbelievers do, and so, according to the verse, their lives matter for naught. The same sura says that a hypocrite can be recognized not just by lack of piety (reluctance to follow Sharia), but by fear of death ( 9:56 ), reluctance to fight ( 9:44-45 ) and even friendliness toward non-believers ( 9:67 ). A true Muslim would thus be a pious person who relishes martyrdom, is eager to fight, and shuns non-believers. Even the Quranic passage that warns against killing "believers" ( 4:88-94 ) is more complicated than it first appears. It never says that a true Muslim is incapable of killing another Muslim, just that it should not be done. In fact, it makes exceptions for the unintentional killing of "believers" in war and mandates the killing of "hypocrites." Verse 17:33 says, "Do not kill anyone which Allah has forbidden, except for a just cause" . The greatest cause of all is that Islam be superior ( 9:33 ), which is exactly what Islamic terrorists say is their goal. Thus believing Muslims are allowed to be collateral damage in the war on unbelievers. There is sadly a phenomena that I`ve noticed in Sweden and elsewhere of people using true facts about Islamic doctrine and history as a cover for all sorts of irrational targeting of Muslims, ranging from xenophobia and racism to verbal abuse and physical attacks. This is strongly condemned by this website and does not in any way serve serious criticism of orthodox Islam and other important work. It`s also important that one tries to express oneself in a civilized way. Words matter. In this bloggers humble opinion the root cause of the problem is the ancient doctrine of orthodox Islam. In simple terms a non-Muslim is a Kafir. " The Koran defines the kafir and kafir is not a neutral word. A kafir is not merely someone who does not agree with Islam, but a kafir is evil, disgusting, the lowest form of life." An exact quote, as stated in the writings of Dr. Bill Warner in the article "Kafir" at http://www.politicalislam.com/kafir . In the perfect Koran (Allah`s direct and literal word as revealed to Mohammed through the angel Jibril), Muslims are told 89 times to emulate Mohammed in all ways (see Koran 33:21 for instance). Mohammed`s example, the Sunna, is found in the Hadith (stories of what Mohammed said and did) and the Sira (biographies of Mohammed). Islamic law, Sharia , is directly derived from these unchanging scriptures. It is based on the Koran`s numerous commands to obey Allah and obey the Messenger, that is Mohammed (see Koran 4:59 for instance). Islam is Sharia. Sharia is Islam. It is a capital crime for Muslims to deny Sharia in any way. A Muslim is someone who submits to Islam and submitting to Islam means obeying the Sharia of Allah. Sharia law includes pronouncements for both Muslims and non-Muslims (Kafirs). Islam is a "complete way of life", a "complete code of life", a "complete system of life". Islam is not just a religion but also a comprehensive ideology. Islam is a supremacist ideology. Islam is a totalitarian and imperialistic ideology akin to Communism and Nazism. Islam is a civilization. Islamic law, Sharia, is a manual for a civilization. Islamic law, Sharia, governs every aspect of life. It has a say about every conceivable human act . Non-Muslims are morally and legally inferior in Islam. Women are morally and legally inferior in Islam. The History of Jihad: From Muhammad to ISIS by Robert Spencer is the first one-volume history of jihad in the English language and a great book on the topic. Allah guarantees Paradise to those who "kill and are killed" for him (Koran 9:111). A hadith depicts a Muslim asking Muhammad: "Instruct me as to such a deed as equals Jihad (in reward)." Muhammad replied, "I do not find such a deed." (Bukhari 4.52.44) Muhammad himself said: I have been commanded to fight against people so long as they do not declare that there is no god but Allah, and he who professed it was guaranteed the protection of his property and life on my behalf except for the right affairs rest with Allah. (Sahih Muslim 30) Freedom of speech, human rights, democracy, science and human lives are all at stake in the fight against the Islamic Jihad. As of August 26th, 2021 Yahoo India will no longer be publishing content. Your Yahoo Account Mail and Search experiences will not be affected in any way and will operate as usual. We thank you for your support and readership. For more information on Yahoo India, please visit the FAQ The most difficult items to obtain, however, are European visas. Many Iranians want to leave the country and be free from the pressure of sanctions. People stand in lines that wrap around the block at European embassies in Tehran. No official statistics are available, but a government adviser and economist put the figure of those trying to emigrate at 1.5 million, calling it a scary number. Student Kouroush Jahani said, I went to the German embassy two months ago, and I also checked their website. I realized the closest date for an appointment is late 2019 and early 2020. This is ridiculous. Another student who is trying to apply for a German visa, Sahar Mostofi, said she had already started talking to professors in Germany, but then she was also told that the earliest she could apply is next year. Their answer was shocking for me as if someone had thrown a bucket of cold water on me, she said. Farshad Hasani, a student who wants to study in Italy, was told to register on the embassys website, which said appointments could be made during certain hours. But when I entered those few times, no appointment was available, he said. A new industry has emerged, comprised of visa middle men and companies that bridge the gap between supply and demand. These companies promise to shortcut formalities, and secure appointments at an embassy of choice for roughly $1000 the equivalent of three months of rent. They even promise visas, and specialize in different visas. One claims it can get Italian visas. Another advertises opportunities to help customers obtain visas to the US. One company representative is reported to have claimed, It is impossible for you to get an appointment time and visa soon if you want to apply all by yourself. We can get you a visa for $1,000. Mostofi, the student who hoped to go to Germany, said she has also seen individuals offering these kinds of services outside of embassies. They are middle men working on their own and arent related to the tourism companies. I asked one of them, and he surprisingly told me, I would get you an appointment time for the next month and the fee is 2,500 euros ($2,907). Iranian students recently staged a protest at the Italian embassy, criticizing low staffing numbers and slow response times to their applications. Please do not deprive us of education, said one banner. We are about 200 eligible students who provided all the required documents, said another. Hasani, who wanted to go to Italy, said, Im really angry with the dishonest behavior of the embassies and tourism companies. They are swindling us. Im a student and why should I pay $3,000 to a tourism company? This situation is frustrating everyone. The longest waits seem to be at the German embassy. On its website, applicants for student visas are told that there is more than a 12 month waiting period for their visa. The Berlin prosecutors office announced earlier this year that it was investigating bribery allegations in Germanys embassies in Tehran and Beirut. A spokesperson for the prosecutor told journalists that Iranians had paid between 5,000 and 10,000 euros ($5,756 $11,531) in bribes for visas. The German foreign office acknowledged that it is aware of the prosecutors investigation, but had no information about allegations against employees at the German embassy in Tehran. A spokesperson from the German embassy in Tehran said, The embassy has no information about an alleged sale of visas to students. Should a company offer to sell a visa, such a visa could only be fake. Our appointment system follows strict quality criteria. The Italian embassy in Tehran and the Italian foreign affairs ministry in Rome did not comment. Iranian foreign minister spokesperson Bahram Qassemi recently said, We have received reports from the Iranian citizens about the actions of the Italian and Germany embassies. We are currently studying this issue. He added, Our advice to the foreign embassies in Tehran is to protect the rights of Iranian citizens and present them with the proper and comprehensive consulate assistance. Still unable to get an appointment with the German embassy, Jahani, the student who was told he must wait until 2019 or 2020 said, Im not completely disappointed. I was admitted to university, but my plan is torn apart now. I have to wait for several months. During this period, I will also focus on some other countries. I will do my utmost efforts to get a visa. Still, he allowed, If I find a good job in the next few months with a satisfactory salary, I will stay in my country. Iranian President Rouhanis advisor in water, agriculture, and environmental affairs told the state-run website Aftab News in July 2017, that 70 percent of Iranian people almost 50 million people must migrate to save their lives if the water crisis continued. Without potable water, or water for irrigation, people must abandon the drylands for other places, leaving deserted villages behind. They are moving from the southern and central regions toward the green lands of Mazandaran province in northern Iran. More than 5.5 million people migrated internally in Iran between 2006 and 2011, according to official reports by the Presidential Deputy in Strategic Planning and Control. The report also indicates that 78 percent of those migrated to cities, while 22 percent chose to live in villages. The majority of migrating people are from provinces of Kermanshah, western Iran, Khuzestan, Lorestan in the south-west, Bluchestan in the south-east, and Fars in southern Iran. They are moving to Northern provinces of Tehran, Alborz, Isfahan, Gilan, and Mazandaran. The policies of, and mismanagement by, Irans dictatorship has pushed Iran to a crisis villages are being deserted and the agriculture is ruined. Migration to western and eastern cities near borders is causing overpopulation of cities. Migration has hit Khuzestan province in southwest Iran the hardest. Member of Irans Parliament, Parvaneh Salahshoor, revealed that 400,000 people have left Khuzestan for northern provinces. The state-run news agency IRNA quoted her as saying, 10 percent of Khuzestanis have left the province. Of the 8,000 villages of Fars, southern Iran, 4,000 are deserted due to the water crisis, according to the rural affairs directorate. Reports indicate that the green lands of Mazandaran province are now experiencing a lack of water. In fact, the Secretary of the Waste and Environment Working Group of Mazandaran declared that 100 percent of underground waters and 70 percent of surface waters of Mazandaran are being exploited. He warned that millions of people would migrate to the province in the near future. The managing director of Mazandaran water also said that the province is heading toward a crisis in providing water, as 80 percent of Mazandarans water sources are now being used for irrigation. The regime has announced no plans for managing the crisis. Instead, it spends billions of dollars on expanding terrorism and proxy wars. No budget is allocated to the basic needs of the Iranian people. The water crisis, which is known as the massacre of the environment, is the most dangerous environmental threat to the Iranian people. The irregular dam construction and unlimited drillings contracts have brought long-term damage to Irans environment. Since early this year, Irans uprisings and unrests continue to escalate. Protesters raise their voices against the regimes policies on the water crisis. The Iranian people believe that water crisis and lack of freedom in Iran are connected, and are calling for regime change in Iran. Each year, millions of people visit the 4,570-meter-high Baishui Glacier in southern China. Scientists say it is one of the worlds fastest-melting glaciers. The huge body of ice is in the southeastern edge of a Central Asian region called the Third Pole. It is about 4.5 million square kilometers in area and holds the worlds third largest collection of ice after Antarctica and Greenland. Third Pole glaciers are critical to billions of people from Vietnam to Afghanistan. Seasonal glacier melts feed Asias 10 largest rivers, including the Yangtze, Yellow, Mekong, and Ganges. Ashley Johnson is an energy, trade and economics expert at the National Bureau of Asian Research, based in the United States. She says the Third Pole is one of the worlds largest sources of fresh drinking water. She says an increase in melting from climate change may put that at risk. Johnson said, Depending on how it melts, a lot of the freshwater will be leaving the region for the ocean, which will have severe impacts on water and food security." Earth is one degree Centigrade hotter than in pre-industrial times. The United Nations Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change recently reported that that rise is enough to melt 28 to 44 percent of glaciers worldwide. And temperatures are expected to keep rising. Baishui is about as close to the equator as Tampa, Florida. And the effects from climate change are already extreme. A report this year in the Journal of Geophysical Research showed that the glacier has lost 60 percent of its mass. Since 1982, it has shrunk by 250 meters. In 2015, scientists found that 82 percent of glaciers studied in China had decreased in size. They warned that the effects of glacier melting on water resources are becoming increasingly serious for China. Jonna Nyman is an energy security expert at the University of Sheffield in England. She said, China has always had a freshwater supply problem with 20 percent of the worlds population but only 7 percent of its freshwater. Thats heightened by the impact of climate change, she added. For years, scientists have observed global warming change Jade Dragon Snow Mountain in the Chinese province of Yunnan. One research team has recorded Baishuis decrease at about 27 meters per year over the last 10 years. Wang Shijin is a glacier expert and director of the Yulong Snow Mountain Glacial and Environmental Observation Research Station. The station is part of a group of stations run by the Chinese Academy of Sciences. Wang notes that flowers have rooted and grow in the area once covered with ice. The research station that houses Wang and his team is outside Lijiang, a city of about 1.2 million people. The team uses special equipment to collect data on temperature, wind speed and rainfall. Other devices measure water flow in streams fed by melted ice. Cold temperatures, heavy rain, falling rocks, strong winds and glacier movement can damage the equipment. One recent morning the team had to replace a broken weather research station. However, the difficult weather conditions will ensure Yunnan has plenty of freshwater. In other areas, glacier loss creates serious risk of a dry period across the Third Pole, Wang said. The next day, the team had to wear special ice climbing footwear while repairing other research devices on the glacier. Wang spoke of how the area had changed. He said, Where were at right now was back in 2008 all covered with ice. From here to there at the side, the glacier shrank about 20 to 30 meters. The team crossed streams and jumped across deep, narrow divides in the glacier. They were looking for some measuring equipment they had placed in the ice earlier. The equipment shows how much the glacier has moved and the amount it dropped in height over the summer. One team member launched a camera drone over the Third Pole. The images it captured help tell a story of extreme loss: 25 percent of its ice and four of its 19 glaciers have disappeared since 1957. Wang said such changes to the Baishui glacier provide the chance to educate visitors about global warming. Last year, Yulong Snow Mountain park officials reported that 2.6 million visitors came to the mountain. On a recent windy day, hundreds of visitors climbed wooden stairs to take pictures in front of the glacier. One visitor named Hou Yugang said he was not too concerned about climate change and Baishuis melting. I dont think about it now because it still has a long way to go, he said. To protect the glacier, officials have limited the number of visitors to 10,000 a day and have banned hiking on the ice. China plans to create snow there and block streams to increase the amount of water in the air, which slows melting. Security guard Yang Shaofeng is a member of the local Naxi minority community. It considers Jade Dragon Snow Mountain to be sacred. Yang says he remembers being able to see the glaciers lowest edge from his home village. But that time has passed. Only when we climb up can we see it, he said sadly. Im Ashley Thompson. And Im Caty Weaver. Pete Musto adapted this story for VOA Learning English. Caty Weaver was the editor. We want to hear from you. How concerned are you about climate change? What impact do you think melting glaciers will have on the world? Write to us in the Comments Section or on our Facebook page. ________________________________________________________________ Quiz Quiz - China's Melting Glacier Brings Visitors, Adds to Climate Concerns Start the Quiz to find out Start Quiz _________________________________________________________________ Words in This Story glacier n. a very large area of ice that moves slowly down a slope or valley or over a wide area of land region n. a part of a country, of the world, etc., that is different or separate from other parts in some way impact n. a powerful or major influence or effect province n. any one of the large parts that some countries are divided into stream n. a natural flow of water that is smaller than a river hike v. to walk a long distance especially for pleasure or exercise: to go on a hike The European Union (EU) and Italy are disputing which side has control over the countrys budget. Recently, the EU ordered Italy to change its proposed budget for 2019. The EU wants the Italian government to produce a new budget proposal in three weeks. The EU said the Italian governments proposal breaks earlier promises the country made to lower its public debt. Italys debt is the second-highest in Europe, after Greece. EU officials worry that if Italy fails to reduce its debt, Europe could face financial problems like those that followed Greeces financial crisis. The Italian government says the large increase in spending is needed to help start growth in the countrys stagnant economy. However, EU Commission Vice President Valdis Dombrovskis said, Werequest the Italian government to revise itsbudgetary plan. Italian Deputy Prime Minister Matteo Salvini has answered, No one will take one euro from this budget. Europes common money can be a problem The conflict shows an important problem within the EU. Nineteen member-states share the same money, the euro. However, each of those countrys governments makes its own budget. And the EU has been unwilling to demand that some countries reduce spending. The EU learned that its whole economic group is threatened when just one country has serious financial problems. That is what happened with Greece about 10 years ago. The Greek economy still has not fully recovered. Italy's economy, however, is far bigger. The EU said it had to demand a new budget after Italy proposed a budget deficit of 2.4 percent. That means the deficit for the year would be 2.4 of the countrys GDP, or gross domestic product. A countrys GDP is the value of all goods and services produced within its border in one year. With its current proposal, Italy would not keep its promise to lower its total debt. Italian public debt is over 130% of its GDP. That is more than twice as high as the EU permits its member-nations. EU Financial Affairs Commissioner Pierre Moscovici said Italys budget would hurt its own people by forcing young people to pay back its debt in the future. The cost of paying Italian public debt is already equal to the countrys education spending of 65 billion euros a year. Italy must continue its effort to lower its debt because it is the enemy of the economy, he said. Italy argues that spending increases growth. The extra money was promised in the last election to nearly 400,000 older Italians whose retirements were pushed back. It also is meant to help the unemployed. We wont let you downwe will not give up, Deputy Premier Luigi Di Maio wrote on Facebook. Di Maio and Salvini have taken a strong position against the EU demands hoping for strong popular support. Other officials, including the countrys economy minister, have said they are willing to have talks with the EU commission. Im Susan Shand. The Associate Press reported this story. Susan Shand adapted this story for Learning English. Mario Ritter was the editor. ________________________________________________________________ Words in This Story stagnant - adj. not moving forward, still revise v. to change or redo deficit n. an amount of money that is less than is needed The man who has been named to be Iraqs Prime Minister Adel Abdul-Mahdi is trying to find a way to reduce corruption in government. To build his government, he opened a website where anyone can apply to run one of Iraqs 22 ministries. These jobs have long been linked to patronage and other forms of corruption. Local media reported that, within days, his office received more than 15,000 applications. He will have meetings with 601 candidates. It is unclear if Abdul-Mahdi can change how Iraqs government is run. Many political parties have their own militias and threaten to create problems for Iraq if they do not get their members in the ministries they desire. Others are asking whether it is wise to give government jobs to those with little experience. Hisham al-Dahabi is a social worker and philanthropist. He said, Im fifty-fifty, meaning that he half supports the plan and half does not. He said he applied to be the minister of labor and social affairs. That position organizes services and pensions for veterans and their families. Al-Dahabi said he does not believe Iraqs political parties will give up their hold on ministry jobs. Recently, he spoke to reporters and hosted a delegation from a European embassy at the orphanage he operates in Baghdad. Children cried for his attention and called him Baba, Arabic for Dad. He had not told them that he had applied to be a minister, and he thought he probably would not get the job. It was a campaign by friends and supporters, he said, that led him to apply. One week later, al-Dahabi met the prime minister-designate. He said only that they had discussed ways to improve the lives of Iraqi children. Abdul-Mahdi has remained quiet about his cabinet appointments. His office refused a request to speak to reporters. By law, he has until November 2 to appoint his ministers. Then, parliament must approve them before they are sworn in. Iraqs official newspaper, Al-Sabah, said Monday that 15 appointments could come this week. The others, the newspaper said, would be named later. Many people think it is unlikely Abdul-Mahdi will be able to make big changes at the ministries. But the website may help his image as a political reformer. Many Iraqis are angry with party politics. In parliamentary elections in May, only 44 percent of those who could vote completed ballots. That is the lowest number since elections started. Iraqis gave the most votes to a list of candidates chosen by cleric Muqtada al-Sadr. Al-Sadr had promised to provide a government of technocrats. Abdul-Mahdi is an economist. He has worked as oil minister, finance minister and vice president since returning from exile in 2003. Many Iraqis consider him a political independent. He is Iraqs first prime minister in 12 years who is not from the Dawa Party. The party is blamed for many of the countrys problems, such as the growth of militias and poor government services. Alaa Khudair is a retired government worker. Khudair said the website was a good way to take power away from the parties that have failed to speak for Iraqis. But political activist Yahya al-Hafiz warned that, if any of the applicants are appointed ministers, they will be put in a difficult political environment. The political parties are refusing to go alongThis is a government that works on favors and deals. Its impossible to think theyre going to give that up, he said. But Al-Dahabi said he and other experts are not afraid. At least we have some experience, he said. Im Susan Shand. The Associated Press reported this story. Susan Shand adapted this story for Learning English. Mario Ritter was the editor. _________________________________________________________________ Words in This Story apply v. to ask formally for something patronage n. the power to give jobs or provide other help to people as a reward for their support philanthropist n. a wealthy person who gives money and time to help make life better for other people pension n. an amount of money that a company or the government pays to a person who is old or sick and no longer work orphanage n. a place for children without parents technocrat n. a scientist or technical expert who has a lot of power in politics or industry designate - v. to officially give someone or something a particular role or purpose favor - n. a kind or helpful act that you do for someone Generations of people in the United States have seen higher education as the best path towards a well-paying and satisfying job. But the cost of attending colleges and universities in the country has increased greatly over the last 30 years. And there is no guarantee that earning a degree will lead to a job that pays a person enough to support a family. So some people turn to other forms of education and training. These include programs that lead to certifications and other documentation that prove a persons abilities in a given field, from construction to healthcare. These kinds of programs often cost less than traditional degree programs. And they usually take less time to complete. Employers may still choose traditional degree-holders for top positions. But there are still many well-paying jobs that require a specialized kind of knowledge that certification programs provide. New research, however, suggests that these programs are not helping women as much as they are helping men. In 2016, the U.S. Department of Education began collecting data on work-experience and non-degree credential programs. The department released the final results of its research earlier this year. It found that about 27 percent of adults in the country hold at least one of these credentials. Adults who had one of these non-degree credentials made more money and were more likely to be employed than those who did not. Yet the public policy research group New America found some troubling information within that data. Experts there found that men and women earn these credentials at about the same rate. But men who have the same credentials as women are more likely to be employed. They also make more money. For example, 74 percent of men with a certificate but no four-year college degree were employed. By comparison, 67 percent of women with a certificate but no four-year degree were employed. In terms of pay, 46 percent of women with a credential but no four-year degree made less than $30,000 a year. The same was true for 25 percent of men, New America found. Seventeen percent of men with only a non-degree credential earned more than $75,000. Just five percent of women with similar credentials earned that much. New America released its report in September. Lul Tesfai is a leading policy expert at New Americas Center on Education and Skills, and she helped write the groups report. She argues that these differences in employment levels and pay are due, in part, to existing gender divisions in some industries. The report found that some industries are either male- or female- dominated, meaning 70 percent or more of the workers are of one gender. For example, engineering and computer security are male-dominated fields. Office support jobs are female-dominated. The report also found that non-degree credential holders in male-dominated fields earn more money. Tesfai suggests that women are more likely to enter fields that are lower paying because of cultural influences. She says young men are often pushed into careers that value independence, leadership skills or even physical strength. She says society tells young women they are responsible for supporting others instead of working towards their own goals. Tesfai told VOA, Its no coincidence that some of the female-dominated occupations are care occupations like healthcare and education. Karen Dove is the executive director of Apprenticeship and Nontraditional Employment for Women. Her nonprofit organization trains and supports women entering construction, repair and other building trades. Dove says that in some of the better-paying, male-dominated industries, women face a workplace culture that is not very welcoming. She says that on many construction sites, for example, male workers share a tradition of offensive humor and sometimes disrespectful behavior. Sexual harassment is common. And in several cases, male workers have sexually assaulted the female workers. These are things that are still happening on these construction sites, said Dove. Even if women enter the construction industry, theyre more likely to drop out because of this type of culture that exists. Ben Williams is chief executive officer of the National Alliance for Partnerships in Equity. The organization supports equality in education and employment. He says New Americas findings present serious problems. Experts and educators often push these non-degree programs as alternatives to college, he explains. He says that experts may tell women that credential programs offer them a chance to pay less and possibly earn more in the future. But, if women in general are not getting the same results as men, they need to be told that, too, Williams says. Otherwise they may not be making the best or most informed decisions for their financial future by choosing these programs. A lot of these jobs that were talking about lead to family-sustaining wages, Williams said And so if women are not accessing those occupations that lead to family-sustaining wages, it not only affects themIt affects their family. Williams and Tesfai agree that the first step to making sure the outcomes of these credential programs are more equal is messaging. Educators need to send messages to women and girls that any occupation is open to them, not just ones where they serve the needs of others. Dove says the efforts cannot stop there. Both she and Williams note that employers must also do their part. Williams argues that businesses must take note of how they may unfairly consider the abilities of men and women when filling positions. Dove adds that if offensive behavior is taking place on a job site, employers need to break with tradition and remove those involved. Im Pete Musto. And Im Dorothy Gundy. Pete Musto reported this story for VOA Learning English. Ashley Thompson was the editor. We want to hear from you. What kinds of non-degree credential programs are available in your country? Do they help all people equally? Write to us in the Comments Section or on our Facebook page. _________________________________________________________________ Quiz Quiz - Nondegree Educational Programs May Not Serve Men and Women Equally Start the Quiz to find out Start Quiz ________________________________________________________________ Words in This Story degree n. an official document and title that is given to someone who has successfully completed a series of classes at a college or university certification(s) n. official approval to do something professionally or legally construction n. the business of building things, such as houses or roads credential n. a document which shows that a person has the necessary skills, experience, or knowledge to do a particular job gender n. the state of being male or female coincidence n. a situation in which events happen at the same time in a way that is not planned or expected occupation(s) n. a person's job or profession harassment n. the act of causing someone to feel troubled, worried, or concerned in a constant or repeated way drop out p.v. to stop being part of a group alternative(s) n. something that can be chosen instead of something else sustain(ing) v. to provide what is needed for something or someone to exist or continue access(ing) v. to be able to use, enter, or get near something 2 First responders are seen at the Tree of Life Synagogue where a shooter opened fire, In Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, Oct. 27, 2018, causing multiple casualties. The Kenyatta National Hospital is east Africas biggest medical institution, home to more than a dozen donor-funded projects with international partners a Center of Excellence, says the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The hospitals website proudly proclaims its motto We Listen We Care along with photos of smiling doctors, a vaccination campaign and staffers holding aloft a gold trophy at an awards ceremony. But there are no pictures of Robert Wanyonyi, shot and paralyzed in a robbery more than a year ago. Kenyatta will not allow him to leave the hospital because he cannot pay his bill of nearly 4 million Kenyan shillings ($39,570). He is trapped in his fourth-floor bed, unable to go to India, where he believes doctors might help him The hospitals often illegally detain patients long after they should be medically discharged, using armed guards, locked doors and even chains to hold those who have not settled their accounts. Mothers and babies are sometimes separated. Even death does not guarantee release: Kenyan hospitals and morgues are holding hundreds of bodies until families can pay their loved ones bills, government officials say. Dozens of doctors, nurses, health experts, patients and administrators told The Associated Press of imprisonments in hospitals in at least 30 other countries, including Nigeria and the Democratic Republic of the Congo, China and Thailand, Lithuania and Bulgaria, and others in Latin America and the Middle East. What is ME/CFS? At Stanford, we believe that a subset of cases of Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (ME/CFS) may be related to infection. The nature of the association is still unknown, but we use two possible hypotheses in our research. One hypothesis is that the symptoms of ME/CFS could be triggered by the persistent activity of a pathogen (for example, a bacteria or virus) in the patient. However, the second hypothesis is that the symptoms of ME/CFS may be caused not by the pathogen itself, but rather by the bodys immune response to the pathogen. More Clinical, scientific and epidemiological observations made by several research groups, including our own, have led to the development of these hypotheses. From an epidemiological perspective, it has been known for many years that the onset of CFS is often acute and preceded by a viral or infection-like illness. Work led by Andrew Lloyd in Dubbo, Australia confirmed that the onset of CFS in some patients is marked by acute infection. Lloyd and his research team looked at acute infections of Epstein-Barr virus (glandular fever), Coxiella burnetii (Q fever), or Ross River virus (epidemic polyarthritis) in 253 patients. They found that six months after the acute infection, 11% of the patients developed CFS.1 This study demonstrates that in Australia, a number of patients developed CFS following an acute infection. From the basic sciences point of view, it has been observed that many of the infectious agents that may be associated with ME/CFS remain in the body for the patients entire life (i.e, there is a latent infection). These infectious agents are usually obligate intracellular pathogens, meaning they can only survive by infecting a host cell. It is thus possible that the acute infection marking the onset of ME/CFS could become chronic and, in this manner, it could be biologically plausible that the infection could be responsible for a chronic illness. It has also been observed that many infectious pathogens implicated in ME/CFS can affect the central nervous system. Cognitive impairment is a common feature of ME/CFS. It is possible that a chronic infection or inflammation in the brain may result in diminished cognitive capacity in these patients. John Chia, MD, infectious disease specialist, has reported numerous findings that suggest an association between ME/CFS and infection with enteroviruses. It has been observed that ME/CFS patients commonly suffer from gastrointestinal complaints, and that between 35-92% of ME/CFS patients have irritable bowel syndrome2. Chia has observed, 80-90% of our 1400 ME/CFS patients have recurring gastrointestinal symptoms of varying severity compared to only 3/100 controls.3 In a recent study, Chias group found enterovirus VP1 protein in 82% of stomach biopsy samples of CFS patients, which seems to correlate with the high percentage of CFS patients with GI complaints. Additionally, enteroviral protein was detected in the initial stomach biopsy specimens of six patients who developed GI infection before the onset of CFS, and also in biopsy specimens taken years later when the patients had persistent GI symptoms and fatigue.3 This finding suggests that enterovirus infection initiated GI symptoms and CFS, and the persistence of the virus years later likely was responsible for the patients symptoms.3Chias clinical observations and research thus suggest a strong association between enteroviral persistence/infection and CFS. Additionally, A. Martin Lerner, MD, president of the Treatment Center for ME/CFS, has reported in several publications that long-term antiviral treatment of a subgroup of CFS patients identified by different markers for herpesviruses have resulted in significant clinical improvement of their CFS related symptoms.4 In summary, it is plausible that the persistent activity of intracellular pathogens or the immune response against them could lead to the complex and chronic dysfunction observed in patients with ME/CFS. Furthermore, it is possible that if the infectious trigger is appropriately identified, significant clinical benefit can be observed with appropriate long-term antimicrobial therapy. CITATIONS: 1 Hickie et al. Post-infective and chronic fatigue syndromes precipitated by viral and non-viral pathogens: prospective cohort study. BMJ. 2006 Sep 16;333(7568):575. Epub 2006 Sep 1. 2 Frissora CL, Koch KL. Symptom overlap and comorbidity of irritable bowel syndrome with other conditions. Curr Gastroenterol Rep. 2005 Aug;7(4):264-71. 3 Chia JK, Chia AY. Chronic fatigue syndrome is associated with chronic enterovirus infection of the stomach.J Clin Pathol. 2008 Jan;61(1):43-8. Epub 2007 Sep 13. 4 Lerner AM et al. Subset-directed antiviral treatment of 142 herpesvirus patients with chronic fatigue syndrome. Virus Adaptation and Treatment May 2010:2 47-57 Less (HealthDay)A single point-of-care troponin concentration measured on arrival to the emergency department (ED) with 15-minute turnaround time can accurately rule out acute myocardial infarction (AMI), according to a study published online Oct. 17 in JAMA Cardiology. John W. Pickering, Ph.D., from the University of Otago in Christchurch, New Zealand, and colleagues conducted an observational study involving adults presenting acutely from the community to the ED with symptoms suggestive of AMI. On ED arrival, troponin concentrations were measured with both a novel point-of-care assay (i-STAT TnI-Nx) and a high-sensitivity troponin I assay (hs-cTnI). The researchers found that 16.1 percent of 354 patients experienced an AMI. Overall, 24 percent of patients presented to the ED less than three hours after onset of symptoms. There was no significant difference in the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve between the TnI-Nx assay and the hs-cTnI assay (0.975 versus 0.970). Two hundred one patients (56.7 percent) were identified as low-risk with a TnI-Nx assay result of less than 11 ng/L, with sensitivity and a negative predictive value of 100 percent; in comparison, 43.5 percent of patients were identified as low-risk by an hs-cTnI assay result of less than 3 ng/L, with sensitivity and a negative predictive value of 100 percent. "It may be possible to safely rule out AMI within 15 minutes of blood draw in the ED for a substantial proportion of patients," the authors write. Several authors disclosed ties to pharmaceutical companies, including Abbott, which partially funded the study. Explore further Serial hsTnT level IDs risk of 30-day adverse cardiac event Copyright 2018 HealthDay. All rights reserved. . . , , . , . - ,... 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... The SA Wind Energy Association (Sawea) has labelled the new draft Integrated Resource Plan (IRP) wrong in almost every crucial respect, the City Press reported. The new draft IRP was released two months ago and outlines South Africas plan for future energy investments. While the plan does not include any plans for nuclear power and places increased emphasis on renewable energy, Sawea said the document makes unrealistic assumptions about the ability of Eskom and the South African economy. The entire draft IRP is premised on a revenue plan for the industry (mostly Eskom) that is unachievable and therefore not credible, Sawea said. Pursuing the plan in its current form will simply increase the probability and magnitude of a financial crisis at Eskom, the Sovereign, and the economy. The cost of coal power is also understated in the IRP and the cost to improve Eskoms infrastructure is excluded, Sawea said. This follows Eskoms recent request for a 15% tariff increase per year for a three-year period. The state-owned power utility argued that this price increase is necessary to place it on a sustainable path. Now read: See how much money Eskom and SAA lose every second Political class must sacrifice in the ... "The best thing of its kind since 'Dracula' " declared James Hilton, author of "Lost Horizon," after finishing Dennis Wheatley's "The Devil Rides Out." Even now this 1934 thriller - about a black-magic cult in Britain and the small band of friends that seeks to thwart its evil designs - remains wonderfully kitschy fun, as well as a perfect book for Halloween. In its glorious excess, Wheatley's novel recalls the weird-menace adventures that flourished in 1930s pulp magazines. Related in breathless prose, these shuddery tales often featured mad scientists, Fu Manchu-like supervillains or nefarious diabolists. Beautiful young blondes were invariably needed for grotesque experiments or Satanic rites, while square-jawed heroes would rescue these lightly clad damsels at the very last moment. Wheatley develops all these tropes to melodramatic, sensationalist perfection. Little wonder that "The Devil Rides Out" became one of the best of the Hammer horror films. Its star, Christopher Lee, maintained that it was the favorite of all his movies. The novel opens when the burly young American Rex Van Ryn visits his rich, aristocratic friend the Duke de Richleau. On the first page we learn that some years earlier Rex had landed in a Soviet prison and "the elderly French exile had put aside his peaceful existence as art connoisseur and dilettante to search for him in Russia." Together, the pair learned the dangerous secret of "The Forbidden Territory" but finally escaped alive with the help of Richard Eaton; his future bride, the Princess Marie Lou; and a third companion, one with a "subtle brain and shy, nervous courage," Simon Aron. The life-and-death perils faced by these five created a bond of friendship that nothing could ever break. Or could it? Simon has recently been spending all his time with a mysterious Mr. Mocata. Even though Rex has only just arrived in London, the American instantly insists on driving to Simon's new and strangely secluded house to find out what's going on. When he and the duke arrive, they discover some kind of party or celebration in progress. There are 13 guests, of differing nationalities, many of them slightly grotesque or misshapen, though that's hardly true of the lovely Tanith, to whom Rex is quickly attracted. However, when the duke notices a "five-pointed star enclosed within two circles between which numerous mystic characters in Greek and Hebrew had been drawn," he realizes that Simon is in grave and immediate danger. As is usual with aristocratic dilettantes, De Richleau once studied "esoteric doctrines" during a sojourn in the East, so he is able to recognize the dread symbols of the Left-Hand Path: "Despite our electricity, our aeroplanes, our modern skepticism, the power of Darkness is still a living force, worshipped by depraved human beings for their unholy ends in the great cities of Europe and America to this very day." Mocata's ends are unholy indeed. He needs Simon to locate the Talisman of Set, with which he can then release the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse, War, Plague, Famine and Death. As the novel proceeds, the Indiana Jones-like action never slows, except when our heroes take a short break to sip a glass of Imperial Tokay or enjoy an expensive cigar, usually while discussing occult practices. As it is, Wheatley doesn't miss a trick from the Penny Dreadful playbook: hypnotism, crystal-gazing, an entity from another dimension, the Tarot, a cackling Gypsy, palm-reading, the Philosophers' Stone, an orgiastic sabbat on May Day's Eve, the Kaballah, Stonehenge, the Undead and, not least, a threat to the very soul of our bedeviled heroine, the lovely Tanith. Can she be rescued from a fate worse than death? I'll stop there except to add that the tireless Wheatley went on to produce many other Grand Guignol thrillers, including the shivery and lubriciously suggestive, "To the Devil a Daughter"! Still, enough diabolism. Halloween is also a time for ghost stories, and this fall brings several wonderful collections, starting with the British Library's magnificent paperback series "Tales of the Weird." Recent volumes include: "Mortal Echoes: Encounters With the End," edited by Greg Buzwell; "Haunted Houses: Two Novels by Charlotte Riddell," edited by Andrew Smith (the novels are the hard-to-find "Fairy Water" and "The Uninhabited House"), "From the Depths and Other Strange Tales of the Sea," edited by Mike Ashley and "Glimpses of the Unknown: Lost Ghost Stories," also edited by Ashley, perhaps our most redoubtable scholar of early genre literature. In fact, Ashley's "lost ghost stories" are true rediscoveries, as are those in the equally welcome "A Suggestion of Ghosts: Supernatural Fiction by Women 1854-1900," gleaned from contemporary periodicals by J.A. Mains (Black Shuck Books). Similarly, "The Valancourt Book of Horror Stories, Volume 3," compiled by James D. Jenkins and Ryan Cagle, reprints uncanny tales that are still too little appreciated. For "The Folio Book of Horror Stories" (Folio Society), British horrormeister Ramsey Campbell surveys the genre beginning with Poe and advancing to Shirley Jackson ("The Bus") and Reggie Oliver ("Flowers of the Sea"). To sample the very latest in weird storytelling, seek out "Uncertainties: Volume 3," edited by Lynda E. Rucker (Swan River Press). If you prefer spending dark evenings with a single author, consider three recent collections: Rosalie Parker's "Sparks From the Fire" (Swan River Press), which collects 19 stories, some set against the brooding Yorkshire landscape; "Figures Unseen: Selected Stories" by the prolific World Fantasy Award winner Steve Rasnic Tem (Valancourt); and "Nothing Is Everything" (Undertow) by Canada's master of Northern chills, Simon Strantzas. Last, if you haven't been too frightened by "The Devil Rides Out," you will be by Scott G. Bruce's "The Penguin Book of Hell," in which writers from antiquity to the 20th century describe the eternal, infernal hereafter. Abandon all hope, ye who enter here, but in the meantime, Happy Halloween! When my mother moved to a smaller residence, she gave me three LARGE boxes of family photographs, documents and letters. It took more than 3 years to identify all the people and their connections. Among the documents was a letter from 1954. The envelope was addressed to my great-grandfather John Stephenson. The salutation was to Cousin John and the signature was Cousin Margaret. It was mailed from Kansas; I had no Stephenson connections in Kansas that I knew about and I had no idea who this cousin was. There was a return address in Kansas but no name. I have many wonderful memories of my Grandfather John. As children my brother and I spent every spare minute at the farm and when he retired we shared many afternoons with him. He moved his rocking chair out to the front yard, under the maple trees, and he would sit there smoking his pipe. The smell of Prince Albert Cherry-blend tobacco still takes me back to my childhood. He was one of the few adults who had time to sit and talk to us little kids. I remember so many of his stories. One that I will never forget is about the time he bought his first Model A Ford. It was only the second automobile in the county. And since most of the roads were simply farm trails through the countryside, it could be a challenge to get anywhere. One day he came to a stand-off with the other Ford when they met bumper to bumper and neither driver could get into reverse. He would always chuckle when he told that tale. Grandfather Johns current dog, Shep, followed him everywhere and would lay beside his chair. He always had a dog and even though it was not the same dog, it was always named Shep short for Shepard. He said it was easier to remember one name. He said that Shep had one job: to bring the cows in from the pasture in the evening. And when Grandfather retired so did Shep. Of the stories he told, they were sometimes about family members but seldom about family connections. So after I found that letter I was intrigued and began to search for Cousin Margaret in earnest. There were some clues in the letter. She wrote about her niece visiting the family home in England (although the pictures she referred to were not there) she did mention the family home was still standing in the community of Skidbrook near Saltfleet in Louth County. I wonder if it is still there today because my Grandfather Johns father, David Stephenson, immigrated to America in 1856 just days after marrying; so in 1954 the house was at least 100 years old. Through further research I have discovered the connection between Margaret and John. Johns mother was Helen Dawson who married David Stephenson in 1856. Margarets father was Mark Dawson, the brother of Helen. They all emigrated from the same town in England but David Stephenson ended up in Michigan and Mark Dawson ended up in Kansas even though he spent some time in Michigan. A portion of her letter reads: Wouldnt your parents and mine and Aunt Rebecca and Uncle Frank have gotten a thrill out of the sight of the old home. Which I imagine is very little changed from their time . . . There were many Dawson relatives left behind in England when our grandfather had nerve enough to start out for himself in a new country. And with that paragraph I had two other names to add to the growing family tree. There are other letters and documents which indicate that the Kansas families often visited in Michigan. There are photographs of picnics and other gatherings. Even today I continue to find new information and the family story gets more detailed. Margaret married Ephraim Haines in 1900. They had no children but there were many nieces and nephews through the years. Margaret was the only child of Mark Dawson and his wife Teresa Dean. She died in 1955, and although we never met in person, I feel as though I knew her. And I have learned even more about Grandfather John. (Since this research, I have located David Stephensons house near the cemetery bearing his name. This house was built only a few years after he arrived in the United States about 1859 and is still standing although it needs restoration.) If you are interested in genealogical research, stop by the Napa Valley Genealogical Societys library, 1701 Menlo Ave. Friendly library volunteers are available to help you begin your search for your roots. Check www.napavalleygenealogy.org or call 252-2252 for library hours. Napa is preparing to write a new guidebook to the citys growth and development for the next 20 years with help from a team of advisers to be selected Tuesday afternoon. In a special meeting, the City Council will choose the members of an advisory committee that will work with city officials to share ideas and criticism for a new general plan that will guide development through about 2040. The document, which will replace an existing plan drafted in 1998, will lay out the patterns of growth and development in various parts of the city of 79,000 residents. Twenty-three candidates drawn from 66 applicants are scheduled to be interviewed by council members, who are expected to choose 10 to 15 people for the committee. In a recruiting effort that ran from August to September, Napa sought residents, business owners, members of neighborhood groups and others with stakes in the city. On Tuesday, each interview session between a candidate and a council will last up to six minutes, and council members will score applicants on a 1-to-5 scale before voting on their selections, according to City Clerk Dorothy Roberts. Those who are chosen as advisers will be asked to meet about once every two months for the next two years, to fulfill a city goal of passing its new general plan in 2020. City Council member Doris Gentry said Friday, however, that she may press her fellow council members to revisit the entire list of finalists for the committee. The list, selected by a two-member council subcommittee, does not include a broad enough spectrum of city residents and stakeholders, including business owners, she said. Partnering with Napa in the general plans creation is Dyett & Bhatia, an urban planning firm based in Oakland. The process began with two public conversation starter forums in May and June to share new developments in technology and urban planning. Also Tuesday, council members will decide whether to send a letter opposing a U.S. Senate bill intended to streamline the permitting of small-cell wireless transmitters a step some cities and state argue will strip them of any local oversight or ability to recover costs. If approved, the letter would be sent to Californias two senators, Dianne Feinstein and Kamala Harris. Introduced in June, Senate Bill 3157 would impose a shot clock of between 60 and 150 days for states and cities to approve or deny cell transmitter applications, and declare them deemed granted if no decision is made by the deadline. Application fees also would be limited to the actual and direct costs of reviewing and processing inquiries, as well as maintenance costs. 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. The Romanovs celebrated their dynasty's tricentennial in 1913 - just five years before communists gunned down Nicholas II and his family in the basement of a house in Yekaterinburg. Under Romanov rule, which began in 1613 with Mikhail Romanov, Russia grew to become the biggest land empire in the world. These czars' talents and foibles have long fascinated historians, the public and artists; a new Amazon series tells eight fictionalized stories of people who believe they are Romanov descendants. But some of what people think they know about the dynasty doesn't stand up to historical scrutiny. Myth No. 1: The last of the tsars, Nicholas II, was a decent man. The blockbuster biography "Nicholas and Alexandra," by Robert K. Massie highlights the czar's "personal charm, gentleness, deep religious faith and strong Russian patriotism." He was canonized by the Russian Orthodox Church, which cited his "humbleness, patience, and meekness," in 2000. And it's true that Czar Nicholas was a pious man devoted to his wife and children. Before his forced abdication in March 1917, he allowed a few reforms and even permitted the establishment of a parliament. After his death, as Russia plunged into dictatorship and terror under the communists, the tendency to romanticize him grew. But his reforms were too little, too late, and they had been extracted from him like teeth by a dentist. Nicholas grimaced with regret whenever he contemplated how he had agreed to make concessions to political critics by limiting his autocratic powers. He dubbed elections a "senseless dream." Worst of all, he was an incorrigible anti-Semite, blaming Jewish people for all the woes that preceded and followed his abdication: "One thing is clear: it is that as long as the Yids are in charge everything will get worse," he wrote to his mother in 1917. In captivity, he read aloud to his family the book that in the West we know as "The Protocols of the Elders of Zion." His belief in a world Jewish conspiracy, combined with his contempt for democracy, made him a fascist before the word was coined. Myth No. 2: Catherine the Great was an out-of-control hedonist. Drawing on her reputation for sexual conquests, Lord Byron imagined Czarina Catherine II "just now in juicy vigour" making love to Don Juan. A French visitor to the Russian court wrote that she had "two passions, which never left her but with her last breath: the love of man, which degenerated into licentiousness, and the love of glory, which sunk into vanity."Most infamously, anti-monarchist French revolutionaries started an outlandish rumor that she died while attempting intercourse with a horse, a story that somehow remains in circulation. Yes, Catherine II had a generous appetite for men. She came to the throne after her husband, Tsar Peter III, was killed by military officers acting with her connivance; once in power, she had several lovers, to whom she wrote letters in French. Yet she was also one of Russia's most disciplined rulers. Born a German princess, she brought a European imagination to her adopted country and pushed as hard as she could to eliminate what she considered its barbarities. Working against reactionary upper social classes, Catherine proceeded by gradual measures to expand urban self-governance, book publishing, theater and science throughout the empire. Not for nothing does Angela Merkel keep a portrait of her on her office wall. Myth No. 3: Peter the Great was an exemplary modernizer. Peter the Great was "a visionary modernizer, builder, and diplomat," according to an article in the online publication the Diplomat, discussing what Vladimir Putin has learned from Peter. That's the standard view: Even Stalin, no admirer of czarism, put a positive gloss on Peter's reign. A impetuous young Romanov ruler, Peter was determined that Russia should benefit from the advances made in Western Europe. In 1697-98 he took the huge risk of touring the Netherlands and England to learn about the newest methods of shipbuilding and public administration. But Peter modernized the empire only superficially and only at the highest social levels. He built a new capital at St. Petersburg, on the Gulf of Finland, to confront the imperial Swedes and have a "window on the West." But he achieved this only by dragooning hundreds of thousands of peasants into working on the project - and reduced many of them to serfdom; he constructed beautiful palaces on the bones of his poorest people. He punished dissent mercilessly, including by excruciating torture. (His son and heir Alexei perished after physical torments that Peter ordered.) Peter the Great took the bits of modernity that he fancied but mostly he preferred to use what he could find in the traditional rag bag of Ivan the Terrible. Myth No. 4: One or more Romanovs escaped the Yekaterinburg cellar. When the communist squad shot Nicholas and his family in July 1918, the communists, to dampen public outrage, announced that they had killed only Nicholas. This gave rise to speculation that some family members had managed to get out of the cellar alive. Through the 1920s, individuals turned up in Russian villages claiming to be Alexei. But it was a woman in a Berlin mental asylum known as Anna Anderson who attracted the most attention abroad by claiming to be Anastasia, Nicholas's youngest daughter. "Anastasia Romanov" married an American history professor and died in Charlottesville in 1984. A pair of British journalists with the BBC, Anthony Summers and Tom Mangold, also claimed - in their 1976 book, "File on the Tsar" (revised in 2002) - to have found written evidence that one or more members of the royal family had been spirited away to Perm, in the Ural Mountains, which gave fresh life to the myth. I have reviewed the "file"; it says anything but what they claim. Most former servants of the Romanov family denied Anna's story, which a DNA test of her and a true Romanov relative disproved. All of the immediate Romanov family members were killed. Myth No. 5: Nicholas II was a puppet of the 'mad monk' Rasputin. Rasputin - who was not, in fact, a monk but a wandering "holy man" - "gained great influence through his apparent ability to treat the hemophilia of Alexei, the heir to the throne," according to one account on the BBC website, which follows the familiar line. But although Romanovs - particularly Alexandra - were deeply grateful to Rasputin for his apparent ability to quiet Alexei's pain, his influence over Nicholas's policymaking and diplomacy was quite limited - and exaggerated by enemies of the Romanov administration. Rasputin, for example, wrote to the czar's confidante, Anna Vyrubova, in July 1914, urging Nicholas to avoid war at all costs. The czar replied that Rasputin should stay out of politics. "Great will be the ruin, grief without end," Rasputin repeated. In July 1914, Nicholas called for a general mobilization against Germany. Still, the idea that Rasputin had great sway was sufficient to invite the attention of aristocratic assassins, who shot him in December 1916. Robert Service, the author of The Last of the Tsars, is an emeritus professor of Russian history at Oxford and a Hoover Institution senior fellow. He wrote this for The Washington Post. It is me the "Sangry" lady. Im back again and sangry about a number of things. Remember sangry is a combination of sad and angry. I am sad for the fiance, family and friends of journalist Jamal Khashoggi who was apparently murdered in the Saudi Consulate. I am angry that our president is accepting an obviously false suggestion about what occurred and so far, has refused to levy sanctions of any sort, admittedly on an important ally. I am sad that the credible voices of victims of sexual assault are still not being heard long after the confirmation hearing for Justice Clarence Thomas involving Anita Hill. I am angry that the FBI was not given free reign to conduct a meaningful investigation in the case of Dr. Ford and that she was basically called a liar by a man who subscribes to the notion if you lie boldly, people will believe you. I am sad that the Republican Party has given up on many of its former values in support of this president. I am angry that their giveaway tax cut for the rich is now a convenient excuse for cutting safety nets for those who are less well-off which is something they have wanted to do for a long time. I am sad that still some children have not been reunited with their parents as a result of the child separation policy earlier this year. Call that child separation 1.0. I am angry that those reunited and here seeking asylum may soon face a rumored child separation policy Ill call 2.0 or live in detention with their parents for years until their case can be heard in court because it can take that long. I am sad that some people feel the need to flee their homeland because their sons are being recruited by gangs that kill people or their daughters are in fear of abduction to sexually service gang members. I am angry that Attorney General Sessions in overturning immigration court rulings and has eliminated domestic and gang violence in their home country as reasons for granting asylum. I am sad that so many live in fear due the presence of a single undocumented person in their family or the possible loss of their Temporary Protective Status (TPS). I am angry that much of that fear and anxiety is borne by their citizen children. I am sad that this administration has not taken the role that humans play in climate change seriously. I am angry that more actions havent been taken to curb green house gases for the sake of future generations. I am sad that our president speaks disparagingly about allies and our democratic institutions. I am angry that he does this while fawning over dictators and not standing up for democratic values abroad. If any of the above or other things make you "Sangry" and offend your sense of justice, remember to vote this November. If there was ever a time to vote your values, this is it. Dorothy Northey Yountville Kaustav B Arya, a Class IX student of Assam Jatiya Vidyalaya in Guwahati, who was recently invited to participate in the 31st Material Science Conference: Advancement and Innovations held in Finland and the World Magnetic Material Summit held in Italy, has been appreciated by Congress president Rahul Gandhi. Kaustav was selected to participate in the two international conferences for his research works in Naval Vest and Theory of Direction. While the conference in Finland began on October 15, the conference in Italy began from October 21. Also read: Sonowals best wishes for Assams young scientist Kaustav The Assam Pradesh Congress Committee (PCC) Outreach Team including Assam Pradesh Congress Committee (APCC) senior spokesperson Bobbeeta Sharma, delivered the letter of appreciation from Congress President Rahul Gandhi to Kaustav B Arya on being selected to the international science meets in Finland and Italy for his research works. In his letter of appreciation to child scientist Kaustav, All India Congress Committee (AICC) president Rahul Gandhi stated: Dear Kaustav, I write to congratulate you for being invited to the 31st Material Science Conference in Finland, and the World Magnetic Material Summit in Italy for your research works in Naval Vest and Theory of Direction. The AICC president stated: Pandit Nehru was a strong advocate of scientific temper in the Indian society. He set up numerous scientific institutes of research and national laboratories of importance to provide an impetus to the countrys quest for adopting a scientific attitude. Rahul Gandhi also quoted Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru as saying: It is science alone that can solve the problems of hunger and poverty, of in-sanitation and illiteracy, of superstition and deadening custom and tradition, of vast resources running to waste, of a rich country inhabited by starving people. Congress president Rahul Gandhi, while referring to Kaustavs earlier invention Horn for the Deaf: A Sensitive Gadget, stated that the device for the hearing impaired was also a commendable initiative. I believe that citizens like you are instrumental in fulfilling Pandit Nehrus vision of India. I wish you success for all your future endeavours and hope to hear from you about the conferences you attended in Finland and Italy. Lavrov, Cavusoglu discuss bilateral ties and regional issues Karabakh: Azerbaijani side, in Shushi, transfers bodies of 3 Armenian soldiers killed on Nov. 16 NEWS.am daily digest: 19.11.21 Armenian Embassy in Russia: Armenia citizens - mother and child - evacuated from Afghanistan Georgia refuses to be a part of '3+3' format with regard to South Caucasus The occupied Hadrut of our days (PHOTOS) Arabologist: Photo of map of Turkic world shown by Erdogan and Bahceli is simply a gift for Armenian diplomacy Opposition With Honor legislature faction MP: No one knows if Armenia petitioned to Russia for military assistance Armenia opposition MP: There is a threat that Baku will always get what it wants through use of force Lavrov is certain that the Russia-Armenia-Azerbaijan summit will take place Ann Linde: OSCE working very closely with Russia to resolve Karabakh conflict Karabakh FM congratulates newly appointed Abkhazia counterpart Dollar relatively stable in Armenia Armenia parliament majority members do not deny possibility of exchange of territories with Azerbaijan Armenia ruling party MP: Public and competent authorities need to know circumstances behind captures of soldiers Armenia ruling party MP assures that situation on the border is currently stable Armenia ruling party MP: Confidentiality of process of preparing for demarcation is strictly necessary Armenia PM: Citizens of EEU countries will be able to receive loans in all territories of member states Armenian serviceman, 19, dies in Georgia's Akhalkalaki Armenia legislature majority faction lawmaker: Russia military intervention is not end in itself High commissioner: Diaspora is considering ways to help hundreds of Ethiopia Armenians Opposition With Honor parliament faction: Armenia authorities trying to push territorial losses issue to backburner Legislature majority faction MP: Armenia authorities do not make any demands on Russia Opposition Armenia Faction in parliament: Authorities are unable to distinguish between priority and secondary issues 3 more die of coronavirus in Artsakh Bruno Retailleau: France must support Armenia more firmly against aggressions by Azerbaijan Armenia parliament majority faction: Border delimitation preparation process will start from point zero PM: Armenia exports to other EEU countries increased by 27.8% Armenias Pashinyan: Azerbaijan provocations are aimed at disrupting arrangements reached by trilateral statements California Armenian couple accused of fraud flee leaving their 3 children behind 799 new cases of COVID-19 confirmed in Armenia Katherine Clark: Azerbaijan must acknowledge and respect Armenian sovereignty Eurasian Intergovernmental Council enlarged meeting underway in Yerevan Russia peacekeepers patrol along Karabakh border delimitation line MOD: According to current data Armenia has 6 military casualties as result of Tuesdays attack by Azerbaijan Turkish Islamic preachers organization denies reports of his death Newspaper: What happened to missing Armenia soldiers during recent hostilities? Armenia MOD dismisses reports about not allowing officers with higher rank than major to go up to combat positions US virtually completes development of new tactical nuclear gravity bomb B61-12 Newspaper: Officers with higher rank than major not allowed to combat positions during recent hostilities in Syunik Opposition MP: Granting corridor to Azerbaijan through Syunik Province will be gravest crime against Armenia US Department of State representative says why Azerbaijan is not invited to Summit for Democracy Armenian human rights activists to submit letters to ECHR regarding soldiers captured and considered missing Armenia FM stresses importance of addressable response to Azerbaijan's actions during talk with Greek counterpart Ex-ruling party official: Armenia authorities found reason for MOD's resignation after his visit to Karabakh Republican Party of Armenia spokesperson: Nikol Pashinyan gave a confessional testimony in parliament yesterday Armenia President talks about states' collective responsibility at Bloomberg New Economy Forum Turkish website reports poisoning of Fetullah Gulen Armenia FM holds phone talks with Cypriot counterpart, presents situation created after Azerbaijani attack Mirzoyan, Zas discuss CSTO's possible actions to stabilize situation on Armenia-Azerbaijan border, if necessary Mothers of deceased servicemen demand Armenia PM's resignation Azerbaijani Armed Forces open fire at tractor in Armenia's Verin Shorzha village Putin: Events unfolding on Armenia-Azerbaijan border attest to fact that situation has not calmed down in the region Lithuania supports Armenia's territorial integrity NEWS.am daily digest: 18.11.21 Ex-ruling party official: Incumbent authorities created deliberately organized chaos in Armenia Armenia Prosecutor General's Office to examine news about 6 Azeri servicemen captured and then secretly returned Dollar goes up in Armenia Armenia MOD planning training camps for reservists Sergey Lavrov, OSCE Chairperson-in-Office to discuss assistance to resolve situation in Karabakh High-tech industry minister receives Chinese recipient of Armenia State Prize for global contributions to IT sector Eurasian Intergovernmental Council's narrow-format session kicks off in Yerevan Pashinyan views Eurasian integration as one of Armenia's priorities Two Armenian citizens found in Afghanistan Armenian health ministry gets $ 2.5 million to fight COVID-19 OSCE Chairperson-in-Office has telephone conversation with Jeyhun Bayramov Deceased Armenian soldier Taron Sahakyan's brother refutes news that he was captured and tortured to death Armenia seeks to develop cooperation in food safety within EEU Armenia Ombudsman, UNICEF Representative discuss problems with right of children of borderline villages to education Armenia allocates AMD 462 mln for 4 subvention programs ahead of local self-government elections Major incidents not recorded in Armenia's border zones as of 2 p.m., operative situation is under army's control Armenia parliament approves several legislative amendments PMs discuss prospects for development of Armenia-Kyrgyzstan collaboration Turkish Nationalist Movement Party gifts Erdogan a map of Turkic World, with a part of Russia 'seized' Man, 49, found dead inside truck near Armenia village sand mine Armenia emergency ministry uses off-road vehicles to provide for needs of Syunik Province border villages, says minister There is investment activeness in Syunik Province, says Armenia economy minister Russia PM arrives in Yerevan Minister on Armenia economic growth: We are from optimistic realist to optimist Armenia President, Singapore deputy PM discuss avenues for expanding bilateral cooperation Ombudsman: Armenophobia, propaganda of enmity have reached extremist fascism in Azerbaijan (VIDEO) Russia peacekeepers carry out round-the-clock monitoring of ceasefire in Karabakh 1 more person dies of coronavirus in Artsakh Armenia premier: There is no Syunik Province settlement that is under blockade Office of Armenia commissioner for diaspora, SADA Global Delivery Center sign memorandum of cooperation Armenia government approves 2021-2026 action plan Armenia PM: Russia MOD made proposals on preparatory phase of border delimitation with Azerbaijan 1,019 new cases of COVID-19 confirmed in Armenia Senator calls for end to US military aid to Azerbaijan Armenia is elected to UNESCO Executive Board Whose body is brought from Baku to Yerevan by Russian Southern Military District deputy commander? Armenia MOD: Azerbaijan opened random fire at some directions of Tavush Province late Wednesday evening World oil prices still dropping Newspaper: Armenia has set task to change its foreign policy vector, Russia analysts say Newspaper: Coronavirus death statistics in Armenia are incomplete Armenian immigrant couple in California sentenced to prison for $20M fraud EEU countries PMs to arrive in Yerevan for intergovernmental council meeting Armenian army commander: Azerbaijan wants corridor, leader of Armenia gave consent to that, but refused later Armenia FM holds phone conversations with Russian counterpart, Karen Donfried and OSCE Chairperson-in-Office MTS launches inspection of its 'daughter' operations in Armenia upon request of U.S. Dear Newsie Readers, Newsie has now permanently ceased it's services as of Friday 20th December 2019. Newsie has been an owner-funded operation since day one. Coming up to three years old, while we still firmly believe Newsie has a place in the New Zealand media landscape, the cost in both time and money has become too burdensome for the owners to continue alongside other ventures. With the current government looking to restructure public broadcasting, and seemingly supporting NZME buying a ring-fenced Stuff, the time seems right to call it a day. Should it happen, the combination of NZME and Stuff will ensure New Zealands national media will die a death by a thousand opinion-based articles. Newsie has always tried to stick to balanced news, to inform readers of the facts of a situation, amid being largely ignored by government. Hopefully, one day someone else will take up the challenge to fight the good fight. The good news, however, is that there were no job losses as a result of Newsie closing. Thanks to careful structuring, everyone involved in Newsie will retain their current positions. We hope you all have a happy Christmas and new year. Stay safe, and stay out of the news. The team at Newsie Dealing with the filth: Yemen executes three convicted pedophiles If theres one thing the Muslim world knows how to do right, its how to properly deal with criminals who commit heinous crimes against innocent human beings. As covered by Gabor Zolna at his Brighteon.com channel, three convicted pedophiles in Yemen were recently executed for brutally raping, then murdering, a 10-year-old boy, which under Sharia Law requires strict capital punishment. Graphic photos published by Express.co.uk show the three men in blue overalls, handcuffed and lying face down on the ground with guns pointed at their bodies. After each being shot, execution style, five times in the heart, their bodies were then hanged publicly from a crane. The purpose of this display was to warn those passing underneath the corpses that pedophilia will not be tolerated in Yemen, a country that not only embraces capital punishment, but that also has one of the highest execution rates per capita in the world. Capital crimes include violent acts like murder, rape or terrorism or in cases of Hudud offences under Sharia law such as adultery, sexual misconduct, sodomy, prostitution, blasphemy and apostasy, writes Latifa Yedroudj for Express.co.uk. Kidnapping, violent robbery, drug trafficking and treason can also possibly carry a death sentence depending on the circumstances. Sodomy is similarly punished with execution in Yemen Not everything is punished justly in Yemen, however. Back in 2013, a man named Mohammed Hazaa was put to death by the Yemeni government simply for defending himself from a home invader. Though judges ruled that the incident was merely self-defense, not to mention the fact that Hazaa was a minor at the time, the young man was eventually sentenced to death by firing squad. They put them on the ground, they cover them with the blanket and then a doctor comes and points around the heart from the back side, says George Abu Al-Zulof, a child protection specialist from UNICEF, about the typical procedure in Yemen for executing convicted criminals. Then they shoot three to four bullets [into] the heart. Nearby Saudi Arabia, a strategic ally of the United States, has similarly aggressive capital punishment laws on the books. Just a few days ago, the countrys leaders actually crucified a man who reportedly stabbed a woman to death. Elias Abulkalaam Jamaleddeen is said to have entered the home of a woman living in Myanmar. He was carrying a gun, but authorities say he used a knife to murder the woman, for which he was later sentenced to beheading. With the full support of Saudi King Salman, as well as the Saudi supreme court, Jamaleddeens headless corpse was afterwards put in a cross and publicly displayed in Mecca, also as a warning to would-be murderers to think twice before taking another human life. The Saudi government doesnt just execute people for committing actual crimes like this, its important to note. According to UNICEF Middle East Research Director, Lynn Maalouf, speaking out against the Saudi government can bring about similar consequences. The Saudi authorities have been using the death penalty as a tool to crush dissent and rein in minorities with callous disregard for human life, shes quoted as saying. Zolna doesnt think very highly of Saudi Arabia, either. You know what I think about Saudi Arabia, dont you? They want the return of the Ottoman Empire. They are the leaders of Sharia Law. Be sure to watch his full video report at Brighteon.com. Sources for this article include: Brighteon.com Express.co.uk NaturalNews.com North Korea Bitcoin Cybersecurity company Recorded Future has released a lengthy expose claiming that North Korea uses cryptocurrency to skirt U.S.-imposed economic sanctions alongside a shady network of collaborators and enablers in Singapore. The company claims that in addition to mining coins like bitcoin and monero, North Korean leaders have also been involved in promoting cryptocurrency scams that have bilked investors around the world of millions of dollars. North Koreas Technology-Backed Evasion of Sanctions North Koreas use of cutting edge technology to get around the effects of economic sanctions imposed on Kim Jong Uns regime is well documented. In September, CCN reported that Washington-based financial experts Lourdes Miranda and Ross Delston accused North Korea of using crypto mining and coin scams as means of generating revenue. Earlier this month, CCN also reported that a notorious North Korean hacker group called Lazarus is responsible for the theft of more than $571 million in cryptocurrency. The Recorded Future report claims that North Korean leaders mine bitcoin and monero at a relatively small scale, with the bulk of their efforts in the cryptocurrency space from the first quarter of 2018 to date now focused on exploiting growing worldwide crypto awareness for the purpose of launching investment scams. Two coins in particular are identified as North Korean scam projects, namely HOLD coin and Marine Chain. HOLD Coin, also previously known as Interstellar, HUZU and Stellar (not to be confused with XLM) used a fraudulent staking scheme to collect investor money, having been variously listed and delisted across a number of exchanges before disappearing with all funds. Marine Chain on the other hand, was part of a more sophisticated scam that runs right to the heart of the North Korean governments ability to consistently diminish the effectiveness of UN-imposed economic sanctions that would ordinarily cripple the regime. Billed as a tokenisation framework for maritime vessels, an investigation by Recorded Future into Marine Chain revealed a complex network linked to Singapore with potentially far-reaching implications for cybersecurity in Southeast Asia. Story continues The Singaporean Connection According to information gleaned from LinkedIn, an advisor called HyoMong Choi and the CEO of Marine Chain, Captain Jonathan Foong Kah Keong are the key figres in Marince Chains fradulent activities. Capt. Foong reportedly has connections to Singaporean companies that facilitate North Korean activities designed to circumvent U.N. sanctions. Activities these companies have been involved in include manipulating flag registries for three countries to give prohibited North Korean vessels the ability to sail under flags of convenience. This means that more than just being a run-of-the-mill cryptocurrency scammer, Capt. Foong is actually part of the key strategy employed by the North Korean regime to skirt sanctions that should ordinarily make it the most isolated regime on earth, and keep itself in power. The appearance of Capt. Foong in the context of North Korean crypto scams is significant of a wider pivot in the regimes criminal activities as it looks to harness the possibilities presented by a new wave of technology including blockchain technology. Featured image from Shutterstock. The post North Korea Enablers in Singapore Operated Crypto Scams to Fund Regime: Report appeared first on CCN. PERTH, Western Australia, Oct. 28, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Perseus Mining Limited (Perseus or the Company) (TSX & ASX: PRU) wishes to update estimates of the Mineral Resources, Mineral Reserves and Life-of-Mine Plan for its Sissingue Gold Mine in Cote dIvoire. An executive summary is provided below. Full details of the resource, reserve and LOMP updates are included in the Companys market release dated October 29, 2018 which is available for download from www.perseusmining.com, www.asx.com.au and www.sedar.com. KEY POINTS Life of mine Mineral Reserves as at August 31, 2018 total 380,000 ounces of gold, a 9% increase compared to Reserves as at June 30, 2018 Life of mine production averaging 78,000 ounces per annum for remaining 4.6 years of mine life including 86,000 ounces per annum for the next three years Life of mine after tax cash flows from July 1, 2018 of US$165 million (A$234 million) at gold price of US$1,200 per ounce, approximately A$0.23 per share US$32.1 million (A$46 million) cash or 30% of development costs, generated in first six months of commercial production Forecast life of mine All in Sustaining Costs (AISC) of US$756 per ounce, reflecting actual operating costs and forecast sustaining capital requirements Sissingue updated Resource estimate reconciles to within 2% of actual mine production to date Exploration drilling results at Sissingue and nearby Fimbiasso have the potential to increase the remaining mine life beyond 4.6 years Managing Director Jeff Quartermaine Comments: The upgraded Mineral Resources and Mineral Reserve statements that we have released today indicate that our recent exploration programs have not only replaced the ore that has been processed since the mine was commissioned earlier this year but has also modestly increased the inventory. Going forward we expect that this pattern will be repeated with incremental increases in Mineral Resources and Mineral Reserves being achieved through the drill out of satellite deposits resulting in an extension of Sissingues mine life well beyond the originally envisaged 5 year period. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY Mineral Resources for the Sissingue Gold Deposit have been independently estimated by MPR Geological Consultants Pty Ltd and reported outside the August 31, 2018 mining surface. Resources and Reserves for neighbouring deposits, Fimbiasso East and West, have not been updated; Measured and Indicated Mineral Resources for the Sissingue Gold Deposit total 7.7 million tonnes, grading 1.7 g/t gold and containing 423,000 ounces of gold at a cut-off grade of 0.6 g/t gold; Inferred Resources total 0.1 million tonnes, grading 0.9 g/t gold and containing 3,000 ounces of gold at a cut-off grade of 0.6 g/t gold; Mineral Resources have been estimated using Multiple Indicator Kriging (MIK) and are contained within optimal pit shells generated at a gold price of US$1,800 per ounce; Including the Fimbiasso East and West deposits, estimated Measured and Indicated Mineral Resources total 9.6 million tonnes, grading 1.8 g/t gold and containing 538,000 ounces of gold and Inferred Mineral Resources total 0.4 million tonnes grading 1.7 g/t gold and containing 20,000 ounces of gold; The Mineral Resources include Mineral Reserves totalling 5.8 million tonnes of ore, grading 2.1 g/t gold and containing 380,000 ounces of gold; The LOMP for Sissingue has been updated using the re-estimated Mineral Resources and Mineral Reserves; Sissingues estimated life of mine gold production from July 1, 2018 totals 357,000 ounces including approximately 86,000 ounces per annum for the first three years of production and approximately 78,000 ounces per annum over the current 4.6 year life of mine; Forecast average weighted AISC, including all direct production costs, royalties, waste stripping costs and sustaining capital expenditure, are estimated at approximately US$739 per ounce in the first three years of production and approximately US$756 per ounce over the current life of mine; The total sustaining capital cost estimate is US$21 million is included in the estimated AISC; The LOMP forecasts strong positive after tax cash flow totalling approximately US$165 million (or approximately A$0.23 per share at an A$:US$ exchange rate of 0.706), assuming a flat spot gold price of US$1,200 per ounce for unhedged ounces over the life of the mine starting from July 1, 2018 and assuming existing designated hedges for 64,000 ounces at a weighted average price of US$1,300 per ounce; and Recent exploration drilling on both the Sissingue Mining Lease and the nearby Fimbiasso Exploration Licence, all within trucking distance of the Sissingue processing facility, have the potential to further increases the mine life. To discuss any aspect of this announcement, please contact: Managing Director: Jeff Quartermaine at telephone +61 8 6144 1700 or email jeff.quartermaine@perseusmining.com General Manager BD & IR: Andrew Grove at telephone +61 8 6144 1700 or email andrew.grove@perseusmining.com Media Relations: Nathan Ryan at telephone +61 4 20 582 887 or email nathan.ryan@nwrcommunications.com.au (Melbourne) Competent Person Statement: All production targets for Sissingue referred to in this report are underpinned by estimated Ore Reserves which have been prepared by competent persons in accordance with the requirements of the JORC Code. Mr Nicolas Johnson, MAIG, has updated estimates of Mineral Resources at Sissingue Gold Mine. Mr Johnson is an employee of MPR Geological Consultants Pty Ltd. Mr Johnson has sufficient experience, which is relevant to the style of mineralisation and type of deposit under consideration and to the activity that he has undertaken to qualify as a Competent Person as defined in the JORC Code2012 and a Qualified Person as defined in NI43-101. Mr Johnson has no economic, financial or pecuniary interest in the company and consents to the inclusion in this report of the matters based on this information in the form and context in which it appears and has approved the inclusion of technical and scientific information in this report. Mr Gary Brabham, FAusIMM, MAIG, has provided the drill hole data and geological interpretations pursuant to estimation of Mineral Resources at Sissingue Gold Mine. Mr Brabham has also compiled and reviewed the consolidated information in this report concerning the Mineral Resources of the Sissingue Gold Mine. Mr Brabham is the Group Geologist for Perseus Mining Limited and has sufficient experience which is relevant to the style of mineralisation and type of deposit under consideration and to the activity undertaken to qualify as a Competent Person as defined in the JORC Code 2012 and a Qualified Person as defined in NI43-101. Mr Brabham consents to the inclusion in this report of the matters based on this information in the form and context in which it appears and has approved the inclusion of technical and scientific information in this report. Mr Paul Thompson, who is a Fellow of the Australasian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy and is an employee of Perseus Mining Limited has compiled and reviewed the consolidated information on the Ore Reserves of the Sissingue Gold Mine in this report. Mr Thompson has sufficient experience, which is relevant to the style of mineralisation and type of deposit under consideration and to the activity which he has undertaken to qualify as a Competent Person as defined in the JORC Code 2012 and a Qualified Person as defined in NI43-101 and consents to the inclusion in this report of the matters based on this information in the form and context in which it appears and has approved the inclusion of technical and scientific information in this report. The JORC Table 1 contained in Appendix 1 refers to the Sissingue Mineral Resource and Ore Reserves only. In respect of the Fimbiasso East and West deposits, previously Bele East and West respectively, the Company confirms that material assumptions underpinning the estimates of Mineral Resources and Ore Reserves described in market announcements dated February 20, 2017 and March 31, 2017 respectively continue to apply with the exception that the reported resources are now constrained to a US$1,800/oz pit shell as advised in a market announcement dated August 29, 2018. Caution Regarding Forward Looking Information: This report contains forward-looking information which is based on the assumptions, estimates, analysis and opinions of management made in light of its experience and its perception of trends, current conditions and expected developments, as well as other factors that management of the Company believes to be relevant and reasonable in the circumstances at the date that such statements are made, but which may prove to be incorrect. Assumptions have been made by the Company regarding, among other things: the price of gold, continuing commercial production at the Edikan Gold Mine and the Sissingue Gold Mine without any major disruption, development of a mine at Yaoure, the receipt of required governmental approvals, the accuracy of capital and operating cost estimates, the ability of the Company to operate in a safe, efficient and effective manner and the ability of the Company to obtain financing as and when required and on reasonable terms. Readers are cautioned that the foregoing list is not exhaustive of all factors and assumptions which may have been used by the Company. Although management believes that the assumptions made by the Company and the expectations represented by such information are reasonable, there can be no assurance that the forward-looking information will prove to be accurate. Forward-looking information involves known and unknown risks, uncertainties, and other factors which may cause the actual results, performance or achievements of the Company to be materially different from any anticipated future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking information. Such factors include, among others, the actual market price of gold, the actual results of current exploration, the actual results of future exploration, changes in project parameters as plans continue to be evaluated, as well as those factors disclosed in the Company's publicly filed documents. The Company believes that the assumptions and expectations reflected in the forward-looking information are reasonable. Assumptions have been made regarding, among other things, the Companys ability to carry on its exploration and development activities, the timely receipt of required approvals, the price of gold, the ability of the Company to operate in a safe, efficient and effective manner and the ability of the Company to obtain financing as and when required and on reasonable terms. Readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking information. Perseus does not undertake to update any forward-looking information, except in accordance with applicable securities laws. Libya is one of the most unreliable oil producers in OPEC and outside it. Production outages are a frequent occurrence as various armed groups vie for power over the countrys oil riches. Yet despite continued political instability and a deep economic crisis, Libyas National Oil Corporation has ambitious goals: by the end of 2019, its chairman Mustafa Sanalla told Bloomberg recently, NOC plans to pump 1.6 million bpd of crude, the level of production from the times before the 2011 civil war. And thats not all. Further down the road, Sanalla has said earlier, plans are to boost production to 2 million bpd by 2022 and even more later. As doubtful as this may seem at first glance, NOC may have good reason to make these plans. Earlier this year some of Libyas largest fields suffered outages resulting from militant attacks, pipeline blockades, and even excessive heat in late May. These outages caused the expected slumps in daily production to some 660,000 by the summer, but since July, the rate reached at the end of last year (around 1 million bpd) has been restored. The latest sign yet that things in Libya may be on the mend was the announcement by BP and Eni that they will start drilling at a field they share in early 2019. BP won two exploration licenses in Libya back in 2007, but the 2011 civil war interrupted its plans for the country. Eni agreed to buy a 42.5-percent interest in BPs exploration and production sharing agreement with NOC earlier this month, and they are now ready to start drilling in the offshore block. Of course, challengesand pretty serious onesremain, turning Libya into an important swing producer as far as global supply is concerned. Parliamentary elections are scheduled for December, but the situation remains so tense that the UN envoy to Libya, Ghassan Salame, said earlier this month that the vote might not take place. Related: Chinas Oil Addiction Is Its Main Weakness As A Superpower What this comment amounts to is a warning that Libya is still a powder keg ready to explode at any moment. Yet it seems there is now some insulation around this keg. Despite their squabbles, all the political and military factions in the Northern African state that has the largest oil reserves on the continent seem to realize jeopardizing oil revenues is counterproductive for everyone. This was demonstrated most clearly earlier this year after a prolonged fight for the Oil Crescent terminals between the LNA, which has controlled them since 2016, and militant groups eager to challenge the LNAs dominant position. Once again the LNA won, but this time, unlike last, it handed control to the terminals to the non-recognized NOC, affiliated with the eastern government, equally unrecognized by the UN. This surprising move pushed prices up immediately, but soon after, the LNA and the official NOC settled their differences; after all, held-up cargos for export yield no revenues. So, it looks like the National Oil Corporation is getting better at dealing with production outages and challenges to its control of the countrys oil industry. While December could bring more price volatility if those in charge of the elections decide to go through with them, possibly sparking more conflicts, this might be short-lived as all those benefiting from oil exports get used to the fact that they all need these exports. By Irina Slav for Oilprice.com More Top Reads From Oilprice.com: Is the oil market tightening too much or is a glut on the verge of making a comeback? There were a series of mixed messages from both OPEC and the IEA in recent days, offering a muddy outlook for the oil market. First was the TASS interview with Saudi oil minister Khalid al-Falih. His main message was that Saudi Arabia has enough spare capacity to cover for any shortfall related to Iran, although he noted that any further unexpected outages from, say, Venezuela, Libya or Nigeria would test the cartels abilities. Libya appears to be doing its part for now. Mustafa Sanalla, the head of Libyas National Oil Corp., said that Libya is aiming to increase production to 1.6 million barrels per day by the end of 2019, which would mark the highest level since the Arab Spring and civil war began in 2011. Al-Falih remains confident that the market is well-supplied. But separately, he said that OPEC is in produce as much as you can mode. Meanwhile, a technical committee working within OPEC suggested that it would prepare options for 2019, which could include a production cut in order to prevent a supply glut from re-emerging. OPEC+ announced plans to increase production by 1 million barrels per day in June, but the deterioration of the global economy in recent weeks may require changing course, the committee said. Related: Will Big Oil Ever Win Back Investors Trust? Despite his confidence in the TASS interview, al-Falih sounded a bit more concerned about too much supply when he spoke to Saudi media, admitting that he was worried about rising inventories. We (have) entered the stage of worrying about this increase, Al-Falih said. Indeed, the U.S. has seen a sharp increase in inventories lately. Crude stocks are up more than 28 million barrels since mid-September. At the same time, the International Energy Agency is concerned about not having enough supply on hand. The head of the agency urged OPEC to increase production in December when the group meets. Global oil markets are going through a very sensitive period -- global economic growth as well, IEA Executive Director Fatih Birol said in a Bloomberg interview in London Thursday. If the oil producers care about the health of the growth of the global economy, which I believe they do, they should take the steps to further comfort the market. Birol said that without more supply, the global economy will enter a red zone. Birol conceded to al-Falihs point that the oil market might be well-supplied right now, however the next few months might be difficult if the producers dont increase production or give the signal for it, he said. Related: Russias Oil Output Wont Go Much Higher Meanwhile, the head of the IEAs oil division, Neil Atkinson, warned on twitter that supply outages are still a concern. Producers have already done a lot to ensure the market is well supplied but further likely falls in supply from Venezuela and Iran and ongoing uncertainty about Libya mean that more will be needed if we are to avoid damage to the global economy. https://t.co/QR8EVC9fq1 Neil Atkinson (@NeilAtkinson58) October 25, 2018 The oil market seems to be at a confusing juncture, with supply outages and limited spare capacity threatening to send prices up, which in turn, would endanger the global economy. The flip side is that the market seems well-supplied, at least for now. Rising inventories and a slowdown in demand might even amount to leading indicators of a returning supply surplus. Perhaps the Saudi oil ministers shift in tone was strategic, coming in response to the recent fall in oil prices. Hinting at a supply glut, and possible OPEC action in response, could jolt oil prices back up. After all, Iran sanctions are about to take effect, which means supply is set to tighten in the next few weeks. Thus the words of Saudi representatives can be interpreted as a signal that the country regards a price level of approx. $80 per barrel as comfortable, and would target this price level, Commerzbank said in a note. This makes the oil price a political issue once again, and as such can hardly be explained by fundamental developments alone. More pronounced price reactions to the daily news and increased volatility are therefore probable. Whether or not the oil market is out of balance either because of too much supply or because of too little is a matter of perspective. To some degree, that is always the case, but with so many mixed signals floating around the market, the outlook seems especially perplexing right now. By Nick Cunningham of Oilprice.com More Top Reads From Oilprice.com: U.S. West Texas Intermediate Crude Oil futures are set to finish lower for the third straight week. What began as a simple pullback in a prolonged uptrend is rapidly becoming a sell-off controlled by factors outside the realm of the traditional fundamentals. Oil traders usually have the tools to control specific risk or diversifiable risk. This is the type of uncertainty that arises with the commodity you invest in. This unsystematic risk is usually reduced through diversification. When unsystematic risk arises for typical crude oil investors, they have several choices including taking profits, moving stops to protect profits, or spreading their positions with other futures contracts. There is no panic and usually the process is orderly. In the case of crude oil, investors started to book profits when uncertainty developed over whether there would be a supply shortage. Crude oil prices rallied over $13 per barrel from late August to early October on the thought that the sanctions against Iran, which start on November 4, would cause a global supply shortage. As of October 3, some analysts were calling for $100 crude oil. The case for this occurring began to weaken in early October when Saudi Arabia and Russia pledged to offset any shortfall in supply. This fueled the initial stages of the pullback, which was a normal move in any bull market until systematic risk, also known as market risk or un-diversifiable risk hit the market. Systematic risk started to become a factor in the crude oil market on October 10 11 when concerns over rapidly rising U.S. Treasury yields fueled a steep drop in U.S. equity markets. This sent volatility to heightened levels which spread across all markets including currencies and commodities. Other factors contributing to the increase in volatility including lingering concerns over the U.S.-China trade dispute, simmering tensions between the European Union and the Italian government over budgetary issues and Saudi Arabias involvement in the death of journalist Jamal Khashoggi. All of these factors make great headlines, but the real reason for the sell-off in my opinion was the liquidation by the hedge funds. Government data showed the hedge funds were net long as we approached the October highs. Data since then shows the hedge funds have reduced their long positions and increased their short positions. What may have started as simple profit-taking because of a gradual change in the fundamentals regarding a potential oil shortage (unsystematic risk) blossomed into aggressive liquidation due to the unexpected stock market volatility (systematic risk). The surprise drop in equity markets led to margin calls which may have forced the hedge funds to dump profitable crude oil positions in order to raise much needed cash. This changed what was a normal correction on the longer-term charts into a change in trend on the shorter-term charts. Once the volatility settles, crude oil traders will be faced with another dilemma. On Friday, the narrative shifted to concerns about the market being oversupplied soon while losses in the global equity markets steepened, increasing worries about demand. Some analysts maintain the fundamentals in oil remain broadly bullish because of the U.S. sanctions against Irans oil exports. However, no one can ignore that U.S. crude oil stockpiles rose last week for the fifth consecutive week, while gasoline and distillate inventories fell, according to the Energy Information Administration. Related: Whats Behind The Latest Oil Price Plunge? These assessments show up on the charts with the main trends up on the monthly and weekly charts and down on the daily charts. Looking at the charts of various time periods, it looks like the crude oil sell-off is likely to continue until the crude oil market finds value. This is not likely to occur until the stock market volatility slows and investors can return to focusing on the traditional fundamentals. What I would really like to see is a divergence between the stock market and crude oil. At this time, they seem to be moving in lock-step. Perhaps well see this start taking shape as we approach the start of the sanctions on November 4. Technical Analysis One way to deal with the volatility is to strip it out of the charts by looking at the longer-term charts then working down to the daily charts. You have to remember when dealing with charts is that they represent past data. The charts identify points that can provide information on the trend as well as support and resistance levels. However, the turns in the market are controlled by the buying volume and selling volume. So it is suggested that you watch the price action and read the order flow at each key support or resistance level in order to determine if the buyers or sellers are in control. If you cant do it day-to-day then read the CFTCs Commitment of Traders Report. This will tell you to some degree the positions of the large speculators or hedge funds. They tend to operate on The Herd Theory so when one decides to buy, theyll all start buying. Monthly Technical Analysis Monthly Nearby WTI Crude Oil (Click to enlarge) The main trend is up. The last major bottom occurred in June 2017 at $41.34. However, momentum is shifting to the downside with the formation of a technical chart pattern called a closing price reversal top. This chart pattern does not mean the trend is changing. It indicates the selling is greater than the buying at current price levels. It does, however, often lead to 2 to 3 month corrections. If you look at the 16-month rally from $41.34, youll see that it consists of a series of higher-highs and higher-lows, which is essentially the definition of an uptrend. Throughout the 16-month rally, there have been three, one-month pullbacks. They have created minor bottoms at $63.57, $61.62 and $56.40. If these bottoms are violated, the minor trend will change to down. This will represent a change in the 16-month pattern. The short-term range is $41.34 to $76.85. If the minor trend changes to down then its 50% to 61.8% retracement zone at $59.10 to $54.90 will become the best downside target or value zone. Since the main trend is up, this zone will likely attract buyers. Related: The Quiet Swing Producers: Iraq, Libya, Nigeria The main range is $125.77 to $38.27. Its retracement zone at $82.02 to $92.35 is our primary upside target. In summary, momentum is shifting to down on the monthly chart. However, the main trend remains intact. Traders using this chart are interested in the long-term trend and will be looking for value on the pullback. Weekly Technical Analysis Weekly Nearby WTI Crude Oil (Click to enlarge) Converting the monthly chart to the weekly chart shows a similar chart pattern except the minor bottoms on the monthly chart are now main bottoms on the weekly chart. The main trend is also up on the weekly chart. The main trend will change to down when sellers take out the last swing bottom at $63.57. This is followed closely by the next main bottom at $61.62. The major downside target and value zone for longer-term traders remains the retracement zone at $59.10 to $54.90. The short-term range is $63.57 to $76.85. Its 50% to 61.8% retracement zone is $70.21 to $68.64. This zone is new resistance. It is controlling the near-term direction of the market. Trading below is giving the market a downside bias. Up until this week, crude oil was going through a normal 50% to 61.8% correction. The previous week, the market finished inside $70.21 to $68.64. Breaking through the $68.64 level is what triggered the steep decline this week and the shift in momentum. This was likely fueled by sell stops. Daily Technical Analysis Daily Nearby WTI Crude Oil (Click to enlarge) Nearby WTI Crude Oil on the daily chart is in a downtrend. The trend turned down this week when sellers took out a pair of bottoms at $67.66 and $66.58. Prior to that, the market was correcting normally into a series of retracement levels at $70.21, $69.24, $68.04 and $67.44. These levels are new resistance. Therefore, any rally is likely to be labored until buyers can clear out $70.21. The interesting part of the daily chart is highlighted by the red arrows. Buyers have tried to consolidate prices for as many as three sessions before getting hit with a wave of selling pressure. The selling pressure came on days of extreme volatility in the stock market. (Click to enlarge) So as you can see during this correction, the market could handle normal unsystematic risk by exiting positions. It was the systematic risk fueled by stock market volatility that has been driving prices sharply lower. It may well be that the fundamentals remain bullish, but until the systematic risk is eliminated, buyers are going to have a hard time maintaining bullish positions. If the hedge funds can protect themselves from the volatility in the stock market then they wont be forced to sell crude oil positions in order to raise cash for margin calls. Once they stabilize the situation then they may once again explore the long side of the crude oil market. By Jim Hyerczyk for Oilprice.com More Top Reads From Oilprice.com: Photographs taken at the height of the Cultural Revolution and subsequently hidden away for decades brought Li Zhengsheng international acclaim when he was finally able to publish them. But the award-winning photographer will almost certainly never see his album Red-Colour News Soldier: Li Zhensheng on sale in his homeland. It was only in July this year that the first Chinese-language edition of the award-winning collection, which has already been printed in six languages was published in Hong Kong. The 78-year-old still hopes his work will reach more Chinese people, but for now it has to be smuggled onto the mainland. It is impossible Any book about the Cultural Revolution and important historical incidents has to be submitted [to the authorities] for approval. You can submit it, but they will not approve it, he told the South China Morning Post during a recent visit to Hong Kong. Li occasionally receives messages from readers who tried to take the Chinese edition they bought in Hong Kong through customs, but said: I have personally received messages from two to three readers that the book had been confiscated during random searches at customs. But Li still hopes that one day most his readers will be Chinese. The Cultural Revolution took place in China, but research into the Cultural Revolution flourishes in other countries and it has little impact on China. I really cannot accept this. My photos were taken in China and most of my readers should be in mainland China, whether or not they have experienced the Cultural Revolution. He said the pictures would resonate with those who experienced the Cultural Revolution first-hand, while the younger generations should know about the journey their grandparents or parents had taken. Many people who have seen the photos would say could this be possible? How could there be such photos? Only when people feel the resonance can there be contemplation, and only deep contemplation can lead to reflection. Only with that reflection can there be changes in peoples ethics. Story continues He warned that the soil of the Cultural Revolution still exists although it would take a different form if it manifested itself. He highlighted the so-called red song campaign launched by the now disgraced Chongqing party boss Bo Xilai and the Maoist website Utopia, recently closed by the authorities, as examples. Li said he found it strange that Chinese high schools only dedicated one lesson to the history of the Cultural Revolution, while some American universities such as Harvard offered specialised three-year courses on the subject. Now they [the Chinese authorities] have even changed the topic of the lesson from what is called 10 years of disasters to a difficult exploration, he said. Ten years of disaster means it is a mistake. But difficult exploration means [the Cultural Revolution] was like touching the stones to cross the river. Who would use the livelihood of hundreds of millions people for this kind of exploration? Li was working as a photojournalist for Heilongjiang Daily in the northeast of the country at the start of the Cultural Revolution and the title Red-Colour News Soldier refers to the writing on the armband he wore at the time. He secretly took tens of thousands of photographs presenting the dark side of the Cultural Revolution, developed them in the office at night, hid them in secret compartments in his desk, before moving them back home and storing them under the wooden floor of his home. He ended up hiding 20,000 negatives taken between 1966 and 1968 when the public humiliations, attacks and denunciations were at their most ruthless. At the time the propaganda machine would only allow useful photos that showed the happy lives of the proletariat and the greatness of Chairman Mao Zedong to be published. The photos were first made known to the world in 1988 when Li entered 20 of them into a national photography exhibition and won the grand prize. He said it was only possible to show them because of the loose political climate at the time, referring to the freest period in Chinese politics when reformist Premier Zhao Ziyang was in power. Zhao was ousted the following year amid the Tiananmen Square protests. The national award did little to help Lis photos get published in mainland China. It was only when Li was invited to Harvard University as a visiting scholar in 1996 that he was finally able to show them to the wider world. From then on he brought the negatives, already hidden for over four decades, bit by bit to the United States during numerous trips before emigrating to America for good. With the help of Robert Pledge, co-founder of Contact Press Images, about 300 photos from his collection were published in 2003. His photos have won him many international awards, including a Lucie Award for Outstanding Achievement in Documentary Photography in 2013. The album contains both banned photos and those accepted by the authorities. Those photos showing struggle sessions when people were shaved, wearing tall hats [of humiliation], have their homes searched, and executed [as shown in the album] were banned by the authorities, he said. The only exception was the picture showing Ren Zhongyi, the former party chief in Harbin city, wearing a dunces hat and being publicly humiliated. Ren, who later became a reformist party secretary in Guangdong, gave his permission for the image to be shown, even adding his signature to it. Since Lis rise to fame, there have been attempts to publish some of the photos in the mainland. However, the images were only allowed to be published in an autobiography, where the Cultural Revolution formed only one of the sections. He has also been interviewed by the state broadcaster CCTV several times, but said, only photos acceptable to the authorities are shown. This article Still taboo in mainland China: the Cultural Revolution as seen through the lens of Li Zhensheng first appeared on South China Morning Post For the latest news from the South China Morning Post download our mobile app. Copyright 2018. Culture Bollywood superstar Preity Zinta and husband welcome twins through surrogacy "We are very excited about this new phase in our lives. A heartfelt thank you to the doctors, nurses and to our surrogate for being a part of this inc... 48 minutes ago Protections for western bird will get new look under Biden BILLINGS, Mont. (AP) The Biden administration on Friday said it will consider new measures to protect greater sage grouse, a bird species once found across much of the U.S. West that has suffered drastic Read Article Buyers arent calling the shots anymore in the luxury, private plane market. Today, its all about sellers for the first time in quite a while, as demand outpaces supply as companies benefiting from tax cuts and a strong economy go on flying sprees, Bloomberg reports. Its a phenomenon thats making itself felt most strongly in the U.S., which has scooped up some 70 percent of these private planes thanks to a line-up of incentives, including the corporate tax slash that has left a lot more corporate cash hanging around and the allowance of capital investment depreciation. According to Jetcrafts 4th annual Business Aviation Market Forecast, the next 10 years should see over 8,700 private jets delivered for a total of $271 billion in revenues, with North America leading the pack, accounting to 60 percent of the wing load, followed by Europe with an expected 18 percent and Asia-Pacific with 13 percent. Cited by Bloomberg, Honeywell foresees the delivery of 7,700 planes over the next decade, with those numbers based on a survey of some 1,500 aircraft operators. But theres another factor that may be adding to the trend: According to the latest wealth report by Knight Frank, there were more than 2.5 million air departures last year, up 5 percent from 2016, and only around half of those were on private jets that were wholly owned by an individual or business. Todays aviation options are much more varied than they used to be, and high-net-worth flyers are now either owning, partially owning or chartering jets, or even using pre-paid jet cards. Warren Buffetts Berkshire Hathaway is all over this rising trend through its subsidiary, Columbus, Ohio-based NetJets, which offers fractional shares, leases and jet cards, while its Executive Jet Management offers charters and aircraft management. Related: Is Trump Right About The Federal Reserve? On 17 October, Boeing Business Jets delivered its first BBJ MAX airplane to a customer, and a total of 20 orders are already in for the new business jet. (Click to enlarge) Source: Travel News Brazilian Embraer also brought two new private jets public in mid-October, the Praetor 500 (Click to enlarge) and the Praetor 600: (Click to enlarge) They labelled both disruptive aircraft for the entrepreneur, for the pioneer, for the innovator. Related: Stock Market Plunge Fails To Impact Gold Prices The question now is whether this is a sustainable reversal, or just a blip on the private jet radar. More to the point, the question is whether the strong economy is going to last for long enough to justify and uptick in production of private jets. Some will argue that the effect of the tax cuts are about to wear off at the same time as the trade war intensifies, and that new investment will dwindle, along with growth. Private jet producers might want to cool their engines a bit before launching into a major production swell that could quickly turn into another glut if were on the edge of a slowdown in growth. But for today, things are good in the air. By Tom Kool for Safehaven.com More Top Reads From Safehaven.com: Thank you for reading! Please log in, or sign up for a new account and purchase a subscription to continue reading. Letters to the Editor: Debunking question of 'ethics' and Measure Y; Measure Y helps us all; Just treats for our pets; Mail ballot misdirection; Measure U needed to continue services; Gloria Soto for District 3 City Council; Simplifying the complex; Cleaning up roadside mess; Vote Larry Lahr for Hancock trustee Interesting new report on impact of Prop 47 on drug arrests in California | Main | Great political and practical "state of reform" reviews via Jacobin January 10, 2017 Charleston Church shooter Dylann Roof sentencing to death by federal jury As reported in this local article, only "a few hours after he told a crowded courtroom 'I still feel like I had to do it,' a federal jury sentenced Dylann Roof to death for carrying out a cold, calculated massacre inside Charleston's Emanuel AME Church in a bid to spark a race war." Here is more about an unsurprising verdict: The 12-member panel three white jurors, nine black deliberated for a little less than three hours before unanimously deciding that the 22-year-old white supremacist should die for his crimes rather than spend his life in prison without the possibility of parole. It will be up to the presiding judge to formally impose that sentence, but he is bound by law to follow the jurys decision. U.S. District Judge Richard Gergel has scheduled the formal sentencing hearing for 9:30 a.m. Wednesday. Roof, who sat stone-faced and silent through most of his hate crimes trial, betrayed no emotion as the jurys verdict was read. During his closing argument earlier in the day, he passed on the chance to argue for his life, saying Im not sure what good that will do anyway. After the jury announced its verdict, Roof stood and asked the judge if he would appoint him new lawyers to help him file a request for a new trial. Gergel told Roof a significant amount has been spent on the current legal team that Roof sidelined for the trial's penalty phase, a team led by noted capital defense lawyer David Bruck. The judge said he would be "strongly disinclined" to bring in new lawyers at this point, but he will listen to any motions Roof wants to make during Wednesday's proceedings. Earlier in the day, Roof told the jury that prosecutors don't understand him or the meaning of hate in their quest to put him to death for the June 2015 church massacre. Anyone, including the prosecution, who thinks I am filled with hate has no idea what real hate is, Roof said, speaking to jurors from a podium about eight feet away from the jury box. They dont know anything about hate." After Assistant U.S. Attorney Jay Richardson delivered a two-hour closing statement, Roof walked to the podium with a single sheet of yellow notebook paper. He appeared to read from it, pausing at times to glance down. His remarks lasted less than five minutes. January 10, 2017 at 05:19 PM | Permalink Comments Suicide by jury. Posted by: My friend , Docile (now in OR) | Jan 10, 2017 7:00:50 PM Meanwhile, the state trial was postpone by a state judge indefinitely: http://www.abccolumbia.com/2017/01/05/dylann-roofs-state-trial-delayed-indefinitely-as-federal-trial-continues/ It is rather backward in my mind for the federal case to come first. The murders are more blatantly a state crime, murder against the citizens of South Carolina, than a matter for the federal government. I thought the state should handle it alone, at the very least in regard to the death penalty. Now, I'm unclear on the need to go thru this all again, especially if they have to deal with Roof trying to be his own lawyer again. Posted by: Joe | Jan 11, 2017 12:28:10 PM I don't think there is any inherent priority in which jurisdiction should go first. With the appropriate caveats for murder being different, at one level, it's like a person committing robbery in two adjoining counties. Which jurisdiction gets to go first is based on who is ready to go first. As far as why the state prosecutor may choose to proceed, it's simply an insurance policy. Just because the jury has returned a death sentence does not mean that the death sentence will survive appeal and collateral review. Getting a second death sentence would mean that Roof would need to get both cases overturned. In my much younger days, I worked on a case involving a multi-state murder spree. My county got to go first and got the death sentence, but the other counties in the other states still tried their cases and sought death just in case our sentence got overturned. Posted by: tmm | Jan 11, 2017 1:30:30 PM "it's like a person committing robbery in two adjoining counties" The state and federal government seems a bit different from "two adjoining counties." But, the comment basically skips over my (surely debatable) argument really, one arguing that the issue (and murder isn't necessarily different here on principle) is more of the concern of the state. "On another level," it just might not be the same. I concur as to some value of the insurance policy (I recall noting this in the past in respect to punishments that added up to more than the years likely in one's life) though how much of one net it will be is unclear to me. Posted by: Joe | Jan 11, 2017 2:22:51 PM Joe, I just see whether this case is primarily a state offense as going to whether the feds should have filed in the first place. I don't think that one sovereign (or a separate political subdivision of the same sovereign) has to wait on another sovereign as long as there isn't an issue about obtaining physical custody of the defendant. Once the additional jurisdiction has enough of an interest to file, I think the controlling factor in who goes first should be who is ready to go first, particular in light of the defendant's, the victims' and the public's interest in a speedy trial. Posted by: tmm | Jan 11, 2017 3:31:38 PM I tend to agree that they should try to avoid federalizing murder charges except narrow circumstances (where the Interstate Commerce Clause rarely applies). Of course, I don't think a South Carolina jury would have come up with a different result under the circumstances. Posted by: Erik M | Jan 11, 2017 4:02:08 PM Who cares about the federal/state issues in this particular case? This isn't the case to flyspeck. There are nine corpses in the ground--let's make it a tenth soon. Posted by: federalist | Jan 11, 2017 4:05:29 PM Enjoy the execution, Doc. Posted by: anon | Jan 11, 2017 8:22:34 PM "Who cares about the federal/state issues in this particular case?" Says a person who goes by the moniker "federalist". Posted by: irony | Jan 12, 2017 11:06:12 AM "I just see whether this case is primarily a state offense as going to whether the feds should have filed in the first place." Yes. Since I think this is a concern, the "neighboring county" or whatever example to me didn't really address my argument. We are not just talking equal sovereigns here -- like two counties or two states either. State and federal is a more complicated case. I think there can be various degrees here too. Thus, yes, the filing first (which affects the second prosecution in various ways; imagine in a closer case where the first resulted in life imprisonment or even an acquittal or some other complication) question would in a lesser degree matter too. At least on policy grounds. I have an idea btw that at least somewhat it might be harder to execute someone in federal custody [going by execution numbers in the last 50 years alone] though less so with the upcoming administration. A second trial could also if anything add more complications and delays. Posted by: Joe | Jan 12, 2017 1:25:49 PM Second trial shouldn't add more complications and delays. The direct appeal on the federal case can proceed while the State is getting holding its trial. Nothing that happens in the state trial would be relevant to issue of whether federal court erred in making rulings based on the facts and evidence as presented in the federal trial. Things get a little more complicated after the state trial -- but the primary complication in coordinating further proceedings in both cases is where Roof is housed. If the federal government and the state agree that Roof stays in South Carolina until his state collateral review is finished, that potential complication is eliminated. The federal 2255 should be able to proceed while Roof's direct appeal proceeds in state court. The only other potential complication is if information comes to light in the State trial that would demonstrate a Brady violation or ineffective assistance by counsel. (Given the restrictions placed by Roof on counsel, I am having trouble seeing how Roof wins a 2255 on a claim of ineffective assistance.) I am not sure which will have trouble executing Roof when the case gets past collateral review. Obviously feds have the advantage of only one round of collateral review (as opposed to having to get through both state and federal court on state conviction). And it's been five years since the last execution in South Carolina even though South Carolina does have thirty-eight people on death row. South Carolina currently lacks the ability to carry out an execution. Posted by: tmm | Jan 12, 2017 2:40:48 PM Post a comment Attorney General Sessions indicates pipe bomb suspect Cesar Sayoc charged with five federal crimes and facing "only" 48 years in prison | Main | Guest post series on Chicago "stash-house sting" litigation: Part 2 on "Legal Victories" October 27, 2018 Following the Charleston script, will federal authorities take the lead in capital prosecution of anti-Semitic mass murderer Robert Bowers? Shortly after Dylann Roof expressed horrid hatred by slaughtering nine people at house of worship in Charleston in June 2015, I wondered in this post whether the state or feds should be in charge of capitally prosecuting a crime that reflected what Nikki Haley then called the "worst hate that [she has] seen and that the country has seen in a long time." Though it took federal authorities nearly a year to decide to move forward with a capital prosecution in May 2016, not too long thereafter a federal jury returned a death sentence in January 2017. Sadly, if measured in terms of numbers killed, Dylann Roof's crime has now been passed repeatedly. Around this time just one year ago, Devin Kelley murdered 26 worshipers at church in Texas before being killed. And now, as this Fox News report details, another gunman filled with hate "opened fire in a Pittsburgh synagogue on Saturday morning, killing 11 people and injuring six others, including four police officers, before being taken into custody." Here is more: Multiple law enforcement officials identified the suspect in the shooting as Robert Bowers, 48. Police Chief Scott Schubert said that two police officers were hit during initial contact with the shooter and that two SWAT team members were also struck during an engagement inside the building. He confirmed that all four law enforcement officials are in stable condition.... As officials searched for a motive for the brazen attack, which took place on Shabbat, the Jewish Sabbath, distubing details emerged. Earlier, Hissrich said the episode fell under the category of a hate crime, and would receive a federal investigation. Indeed, the gunman is said to have shouted that "all Jews must die" as he sprayed bullets indiscriminantly, according to KDKA-TV. Josh Shapiro, the attorney general of Pennsylvania, said the "shooter claimed innocent lives" at a baby naming ceremony on Shabbat, what is trqaditionally the busiest of days for synagogues. With other media reporting that Robert Bowers had a social media presence filled with anti-Semitic comments, this horrible case strike me as remarkably parallel to the Charleston church shooting in terms of the offense and the offenders (though the ages of the offenders are distinct). Especially with the current Trump Administration claiming to be even more supportive of the death penalty than the past Obama Administration, I would expect to see the federal capital prosecution script to be followed here as it was in the Roof case. And having the feds take the lead may make even more sense because the death penalty in Pennsylvania, though on the books, has been moribund for decades. UPDATE : Not long after I published this post, I saw this new statement from Attorney General Jeff Sessions, which included these points: These alleged crimes are reprehensible and utterly repugnant to the values of this nation. Accordingly, the Department of Justice will file hate crimes and other criminal charges against the defendant, including charges that could lead to the death penalty.... The Department of Justice will continue to support our state and local partners and we will continue to bring the full force of the law against anyone who would violate the civil rights of the American people. October 27, 2018 at 06:06 PM | Permalink Comments Doug, in the wake of the horrendous shooting in Pittsburgh, President Trump yesterday told reporters that the shooting has little to do with gun control, but we should "stiffen up" and "speed up" the use of the death penalty. I suspect that between now and the midterm elections, the death penalty will become a partisan issue. In Republican Party of Minnesota v White, 122 S.Ct. 2528, Justice Ginsburg, joined by Souter, Stevens and Breyer, wrote "Recognizing that political parties is incompatible with the judge's role, for example. Minnesota has designated all judicial elections be nonpartisan." O'Connor expressed similar concerns in her opinion. Ever since now Justice Kavanaugh expressed the opinion that his opposition was coming from "Clinton revenge" and a "left wing conspiracy," I wonder if he has made himself vulnerable to a recusal motion in any case involving the death penalty. Sadly, the North Carolina legislature has made all judicial elections partisan, from the N C Supreme Court down to the traffic court level. I voted early this past week and it made me cringe to see all the Rep. and Dem labels beside every candidate's name. Bruce Posted by: bruce cunningham | Oct 28, 2018 5:43:08 AM Since both the Feds and Pennsylvania are prosecuting this killer, under the concept of Dual Sovereignty, which sovereign has primary custody? I suspect that the local authorities arrested and charged him first, so they get first trial and first shot at convicting him. Posted by: Jim Gormley | Oct 28, 2018 10:33:52 AM "(CNN)Consider the past week in America. Wednesday, a white man with a history of violence shot and killed two African-Americans, seemingly at random, at a Kentucky Kroger store following a failed attempt to barge into a black church. After mail bombs were being sent to people who'd been criticized by the President, a suspect was arrested Friday -- a man who had railed against Democrats and minorities with hate-filled messages online. And Saturday morning, a man shouting anti-Semitic slurs opened fire at a Pittsburgh synagogue, killing 11 people attending Jewish services. Those three incidents in 72 hours shared one thing: hate." After reading the above I was reminded of the admonition in the Talmud: "Pray for the welfare of the government, for without the fear of it, the people would swallow each other alive." Posted by: Michael R. Levine | Oct 28, 2018 11:35:13 AM Jim, I doubt dual sovereignty will be an issue after Gamble is decided. bruce Posted by: bruce cunningham | Oct 28, 2018 2:43:54 PM Post a comment Following the Charleston script, will federal authorities take the lead in capital prosecution of anti-Semitic mass murderer Robert Bowers? | Main | "Mass incarceration isnt always the issue. Uneven incarceration is." In this prior post, I explained that Alison Siegler, Clinical Professor of Law and Director of the University of Chicago Law School's Federal Criminal Justice Clinic, sent me an extraordinary update on the extraordinary litigation her clinic has done in response to so-called "stash house stings" in which federal agents lure defendants into seeking to rob a (non-existent) drug stash-house. (In this post last year, I highlighted this lengthy Chicago Tribune article, headlined "ATF sting operation accused of using racial bias in finding targets, with majority being minorities," providing an overview on this topic.) As explained in the prior post, Alison's update is so detailed and interesting, I have divided into three posts all she has to report. The first post covered "Sentencing Victories," and this one covers "Legal Victories": Legal Victories The FCJCs stash house litigation has also changed the law in a way that makes racially selective enforcement challenges easier to litigate going forward, which in turn will result in better outcomes and lower sentences for clients around the country. Last week, the Ninth Circuit built on the framework created in a stash house case litigated by the FCJC and became the third federal court of appeals to institute a lower standard for defendants seeking discovery regarding racially selective law enforcement. In United States v. Davis, 793 F.3d 712 (7th Cir. 2015), a stash house case that was litigated and argued by the FCJC on appeal, the en banc Seventh Circuit became the first court of appeals in the country to relax the legal standard for defendants seeking discovery to support a race discrimination claim against law enforcement officers. Davis eroded the onerous standard for obtaining discovery regarding racially discriminatory practices set by the Supreme Court in United States v. Armstrong, 527 U.S. 456 (1996). Davis went to great lengths to distinguish racially selective law enforcement claims from the racially selective prosecution claim in Armstrong, holding, [T]he sorts of considerations that led to the outcome in Armstrong do not apply to a contention that agents of the FBI or ATF engaged in racial discrimination when selecting targets for sting operations. Davis, 793 F.3d at 721. Davis represented a sea change in the law for the previous 20 years, courts had routinely denied the claims of defendants seeking discovery in support of selective prosecution and selective law enforcement claims alike. Last year, the Third Circuit joined the Seventh Circuit in drawing a distinction between the two types of claims. See United States v. Washington, 869 F.3d 193, 216 (3d Cir. 2017). But the Third Circuit took this distinction even further, definitively eliminating two requirements that had made it virtually impossible for defendants to obtain discovery in the twenty years since Armstrong. Specifically, Washington jettisoned both (1) the requirement under the discriminatory effect prong that defendants provide some evidence that similarly situated persons of a different race or equal protection classification were not arrested or investigated by law enforcement, and (2) the requirement that defendants provide some evidence of discriminatory intent . Id. at 221. The Third Circuits elimination of these onerous standards represented an enormous development in the law of discovery for selective enforcement cases. Chinas top diplomat will arrive in the Philippines on Sunday for talks with its top officials, as analysts said the two countries could be close to a deal on joint energy exploration in the disputed South China Sea. During his two-day trip, Foreign Minister Wang Yi will meet Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte and Foreign Secretary Teodoro Locsin Jnr in Davao City, according to a media advisory issued by the Philippines Department of Foreign Affairs on Friday. He will also sit down with other government officials to discuss the Southeast Asian nations infrastructure plan, known as Build, Build, Build, and several bilateral documents will be signed, the advisory said, without elaborating. Chinese analysts said the two countries were eager to reach a deal on joint energy exploration, but that problems remained with regards to their, and other nations, competing claims in the disputed waterway. Joint exploration with the Philippines will set a good example in the South China Sea, said Xu Liping, a professor at the Institute of Asia-Pacific Studies under the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences. It will strengthen Chinas interests in the area and also decrease the chances of countries from outside the region interfering. But any such cooperation would have to comply with the Philippines constitution and laws, while working out how to distribute the profits from any ventures would be a challenge to overcome, he said. Xu said the visit by Wang, who is a member of the State Council, Chinas cabinet, could also pave the way for President Xi Jinping to travel to Manila in the coming weeks. The Philippines former foreign secretary Alan Peter Cayetano said in August, while still in office, that the two countries were making plans for such a trip before the end of the year. Cayetano said also that the start of the joint exploration project was quite near and contingent on China agreeing to a legal framework for the process. The two sides set up a panel to discuss the technical details of the venture in February. Story continues Cayetano said earlier that the Philippines was open to a proposal in which it took 60 per cent of the profits and China 40 per cent. He also mentioned that Reed Bank, which sits within the Philippines exclusive economic zone, was a possible site for exploration. Su Hao, director of the Asia-Pacific Research Centre at China Foreign Affairs University in Beijing, said the two countries would have to formulate a plan that served not only their interests, but also those of other claimants in the region. They would also have to be wary of a possible backlash from groups within the Philippines, including members of the political elite, that have traditionally favoured cooperation with the US, as opposed to Dutertes current policy of building closer ties to China. Vietnam, Malaysia, Brunei and Taiwan also hold territorial claims to the South China Sea, through which some US$3.4 trillion worth of trade passes every year. This article Chinas foreign minister heads to Philippines as sides near deal on South China Sea exploration first appeared on South China Morning Post For the latest news from the South China Morning Post download our mobile app. Copyright 2018. There was no drone performance at the Hong Kong Wine & Dine Festival again on Sunday after some of the machines crashed into Victoria Harbour the previous night. Organisers blamed GPS interference for Saturdays incident, which saw about 40 of the 100 machines involved in the display damaged. Tourism Board executive director Anthony Lau said an initial police investigation ruled out the possibility that the machines had been hacked. They [the police] were here all night working with us, and our vendor, and looking into all sorts of possibilities, and have come to the conclusion that it is not computer hacking, Lau explained. It is because someone jammed the GPS signal. He said the decision to cancel Sundays show was taken because the machines were too damaged to use, and because police were still investigating. For Lau, the worst part was disappointing visitors to the festival, and the potential damage done to the citys reputation. The worst thing is to disappoint the public and our tourists Anthony Lau, Tourism Board Other than having all the work that we have put in over the past six months go down the drain, the worst thing is to disappoint the public and our tourists, he said. I think it has had some negative impact on the image of Hong Kong. We are really angry. As far as any financial loss was concerned, Lau said it was something he would discuss with the vendor once the festival was over. It was not, he said, a priority right now. The cancellation of Sundays display upset at least one first-time visitor. We are disappointed, Australian Pearl Li said, attending with American Scarlett Vogle. Hong Kong is known for its fireworks, but a drone show, this is something different and also more environmentally friendly. Anthony Lai Cheuk-tung, a computer security researcher, said it was possible the drones had interfered with each other if they used the same channel. If someone jammed the signal on purpose, why were only 40 drones affected rather than all of them? he said, adding that other factors could also affect the signal including temperature and environment. Story continues A drone photographer surnamed Chan said the signal near Victoria Harbour was poor. Meanwhile, other visitors did not know the show had been part of the festival, and were more focused on the food and drinks on offer. Actually, we didnt know the show was going on, but we really like to join the wine-tasting classes, and its great because the festival has become bigger and bigger, said Hongkonger Eva Ng, a regular festival attendee. Since the four-day event began on Thursday, a seven-minute performance featuring the drones had taken place at 7pm each evening over the Central harbourfront site. Two displays were expected to take place on Saturday, at 6pm, and 7.30pm. However, organisers cancelled both shows after experiencing glitches with the drones soon after the first performance began. As the festival organiser, the Tourism Board apologised to visitors, and said an issue with the GPS signal caused by external parties had led to the cancellation. I must say the festival has already been a lot of fun, Lau said. But we are very disappointed with what happened, and we sincerely apologise to everyone for what happened, both those coming to the venue as well as some of the public waiting to watch the show last night and planned to come to the show this evening. Lau said the festival had already seen 120,000 visitors over the past three days, 20 per cent more than the same period last year. The Tourism Board expected the total number to reach 140,000. The drones were supposed to light up the night sky with an array of LED colours, in an aerial choreography of animated patterns over the harbour. They had been expected to form the number 10 to mark the 10th anniversary of the festival as well as simulate the shape of a birthday cake. This article Drone display at Hong Kong Wine & Dine Festival cancelled after 40 machines damaged by external parties jamming GPS signal first appeared on South China Morning Post For the latest news from the South China Morning Post download our mobile app. Copyright 2018. Is China in the midst of a sperm crisis? New statistics strengthen a growing belief that Chinese men are joining the developed world in producing less sperm in their semen, a trend that raises questions about their fertility in a country that is trying to boost its birth rate. At Shanghai-based Fudan Universitys sperm bank, which opened in June, just 10 per cent of semen collected from over 100 donors aged under 35 met the banks quality standards, local media reported. The quality drop was in evident at the 15-year-old Shanghai Human Sperm Bank at Renji Hospital, where 25 per cent of the semen taken from donors last year was acceptable, down from more than 40 per cent in 2013. And the sperm bank at Peking University Third Hospital in Beijing had fewer than 20 per cent of samples collected from September 2015 to May 2016 make the grade. Whats happening in China seems to be in line with what researchers have found in the developed world. Last year, a study suggesting that sperm counts of men in Western countries had dropped by 50 per cent within nearly 40 years provoked heated global discussion. A meta-analysis of more than 180 research papers published from 1973 to 2011 indicated a 52 per cent decrease in sperm concentration and a 59 per cent decline in total sperm count among men in North America, Europe, New Zealand and Australia. The statistics come as China faces huge challenges with its new births in decline and a quarter of the population expected to be aged over 60 by 2030. Its rapidly ageing population pushed Beijing to end the notorious one-child policy introduced in 1979 to control population growth in 2016, and couples can now have two children. But despite the new policy, just 17.6 million babies were born in mainland China last year, compared to the 241 million people aged over 60, Xinhua reported in June, citing National Health Commission figures. Story continues Falling sperm count is an indisputable fact globally, said Qi Guangchong, an andrologist from Shanghais Yueyang Hospital of Integrated Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine. Based on an international examination of the semen of men whose partners had conceived within 12 months of first trying, the World Health Organisation has suggested that normal human semen today contains at least 15 million sperm per millilitre, and boasts at least a 40 per cent rate of motility (the ability of organisms and fluid to move or get around). Nearly 40 years ago, when the WHOs first edition of its laboratory manual for the examination and processing of human semen was published, the lower limit of output of sperm per millilitre in its member states was 60 million and the motility rate 70 per cent. The publication has been updated four times since then, and each time the standards by which WHO judges the acceptability of sperm have been lowered. By contrast, sperm banks in China today follow health ministry guidelines that are similar to those set by the WHO four decades ago, setting the bar for sperm count at 60 million sperm per millilitre and for motility at 60 per cent. Although declining sperm output was a real issue in China, the statistical drop in sperm quality partly reflected Chinas stricter quality standards compared with much of the world, Qi said. Because the cost of getting a sperm donation [in China] is quite high, [owing to] the physical and psychological check-ups, the compensation for donors, et cetera, the sperm banks need to make the most out of each sample, Qi said. They need much better quality semen than what is normally required to get a woman pregnant. Then what might have damaged mens swimmers? Studies by researchers across the world have identified more than a dozen possible culprits. Professor Wang Guomin, an expert on the male reproductive system at Zhongshan Hospital in Shanghai, said chemicals, ionising radiation, heat, smoking and drinking are among the usual suspects. Amid rapid industrialisation, we are exposed to a great amount of chemicals in our daily life via the consumption of medicine, food, cosmetics and so on, he said. These chemicals can disrupt the endocrine system pertaining to the glands which secrete hormones or other products directly into the blood or create a genetic shift. Other possible sperm-killing pollutants come from the burning of waste, the widespread use of pesticide and the emission of industrial production factors that have been linked to the onset of cancer, he said. Infertility, a hardship experienced by both men and women, is increasingly arousing concern in China. The official infertility rate for married couples in the country ranges from 10 per cent to 15 per cent now, compared with three per cent more than 20 years ago, according to studies by the Chinese Population Association. By contrast, the Centres for Disease Control and Prevention in the United States has suggested infertility rates in the country may have declined between 1982 and 2010. The national public health institute found infertility affected 2.4 million women in 1982, compared with 1.53 million in 2010. But Wang Wenjun, the deputy head of the reproductive centre of Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hospital in Guangzhou, said those figures did not accurately measure infertility growth in China. Two decades ago, we had far fewer medical resources and people didnt go fix their infertility problems, she said. But in general we are seeing a growing infertility. Still, some experts criticise the validity of existing studies and falling sperm counts that suggest male infertility is increasing. Wang Guomin, the Zhongshan Hospital male reproductive expert, said the widely quoted meta-analysis published a year ago in the journal Human Reproduction Update was based on old studies from different regions. The research likely contained either unmeasured variables or confounding factors that could have influenced the results, he said. To look at the issue more accurately, we should do new experiments specifically designed to test mens semen for, say, 20 years, preferably on both sperm donors and men who have conceived within six months of trying, he said. Wang Wenjun, the Guangzhou reproductive expert, said even though the results may truly represent the health status of the general public, sperm counts in those studies were still well within the normal range, or sufficiently adequate to get a woman pregnant. Therefore, a decrease in sperm counts isnt equal to a decline in male fertility, she said. This article Falling sperm counts in China may hurt effort to boost birth rate, statistics suggest first appeared on South China Morning Post For the latest news from the South China Morning Post download our mobile app. Copyright 2018. A major rescue operation was under way in southwest China on Sunday after a bus plunged off a bridge into the deep waters of the Yangtze River following a head-on collision with a car. Two bodies were pulled from the water that afternoon, state media reported, as rescue operations continued. Chongqing police said more than a dozen people had been on board at the time of the accident. Divers had located the wreckage of the bus 65 metres (215ft) below the river surface, news portal Thepaper.cn reported. The Ministry of Emergency Management said the local fire service had deployed 50 firefighters, five fire engines and two rescue boats to the scene. A floating crane with a maximum 60-tonne capacity was also being used to help retrieve the bus, Sichuan Daily reported. The No 22 bus is thought to have collided head-on with a car on Yangtze River No 2 Bridge in the citys Wanzhou district about 10am on Sunday and then crashed through the barriers. Chongqing police said in a late afternoon statement that an initial investigation suggested the bus had suddenly veered into the opposite lane and hit the car. Based on interviews with witnesses and surveillance camera recordings, the police said more than a dozen people were on board at the time of the crash. The investigation is still ongoing, and state media reported that a bus of a similar size had been brought onto the bridge to recreate the course of events. Earlier, a witness told Chongqing Youth Daily that a red car had been travelling on the wrong side of the road at the time of the accident and the Thepaper.cn reported the driver had been detained, but police later said the car was driving normally. Video footage taken at the scene by local residents show that a section of the barrier had been smashed. There was no sign of any wreckage from the bus, just oil on the surface of the water. This article Fears for missing passengers after Chinese bus plunges off bridge into Yangtze River first appeared on South China Morning Post For the latest news from the South China Morning Post download our mobile app. Copyright 2018. Can Hong Kong embrace a new way to fight cancer? Try the multidisciplinary approach, experts say Angel Wong Yeuk-sze, 48, was on the phone with her doctor when she froze mid-conversation as news of her diagnosis hit her it was cancer. I was silent for so long that he thought Id hung up on him, recalls the project manager, who about one year ago, was told she had stage one breast cancer. Although her condition was in its early stages, her cancer was HER2-positive, said to be the most aggressive form of breast cancer. This meant unlike many early-stage breast cancer victims, who may only need a few rounds of treatment, Wong had to go through multiple procedures, including having her tumour surgically removed. She received chemotherapy, electrotherapy, targeted therapy and hormone therapy. Various health care professionals, from surgeons to doctors and breast care nurses, were involved in her treatment. Some stages in Wongs fight came under a multidisciplinary approach which is uncommon in Hong Kong and it was through experiencing part of this that she realised how the whole process could have been even more holistic. A typical breast cancer multidisciplinary team (MDT) includes oncologists, a breast surgeon, pathologist, radiologist, breast care nurse, medical social worker and physiotherapist. The medical experts will meet to discuss and review treatment plans for every patient, while the nurse and social worker sit in on these talks to help evaluate the psychological and financial impact of the treatments on patients. Wong did not start out with an MDT in her gruelling journey to battle cancer. For her, surgery was the easy part, but then came chemotherapy, which took its toll on her. I went to five oncologists who all had different opinions on how many cycles of chemotherapy I needed, Wong says. I settled for the average: six. From there, it was a roller-coaster ride: the following five months saw Wong losing her appetite, her hair, and sleep. Story continues I was so bloated, I couldnt sleep, she says. Chemotherapy can sometimes cause the premature onset of menopause and related symptoms, such as hot flushes. This was what happened to Wong, who broke out in sweat every night. She also experienced skin allergies as a reaction to chemotherapy. Her skin problems were exacerbated by electrotherapy she experienced peeling and itching skin in the area of treatment. Wong says her religion, Catholicism, had a large part to play in helping her overcome her ordeal. She also found comfort in her breast care nurses, whom she calls angels. They helped me deal with hair loss, manage pain, soothe skin irritations, boost my energy and immunity, and connect with other women whove been through the same thing, Wong says. Im so grateful for their advice and encouragement. Wongs breast surgeon, Dr Marcus Ying Wai-leung, a specialist in general surgery at Chiron Healthcare, says his patients often turn to the breast care nurses on his team for counselling and support. Breast care nurses are here to offer help every step of the way in a patients cancer journey, Ying explains. From bra-fitting, nutritional advice, relief for side effects, tips on where to get wigs, to following up on tests and scans, theyre always there for the patient. As doctors, we cant be too emotionally attached as we have to remain objective, but nurses can, adds Ying, likening the nurses role to that of customer relations specialists, and surgeons to that of technical support. As doctors, we cant be too emotionally attached as we have to remain objective, but nurses can Dr Marcus Ying, surgeon The collaboration between a breast surgeon and a breast care nurse is one example of how medical experts can work together if they are part of an MDT. Dr Janice Tsang Wing-hang, a specialist in medical oncology, says despite the obvious benefits to patients, the concept of an MDT is relatively new in Hong Kong. Patients can enjoy equal input from all specialists, and feel more secure about their options because theyve been reviewed by experts in the field, Tsang explains. Consultations will also be more efficient because doctors wont have to ask around for a patients latest update. This could help prevent situations like the one Wong faced, in which she had to consult five different oncologists before arriving at the best chemotherapy treatment plan. Tsang believes being in an MDT will also provide inexperienced doctors with guidance, and keep experienced ones up to speed with the latest medical advances when the team meets to discuss patient cases. She says MDTs are more cost-effective as they allow patients to obtain advice from all the experts working on their case at one go, instead of going from doctor to doctor. Tsang notes, however, that there may not be enough doctors in Hong Kong to form successful MDTs. Many doctors here are just too busy with their own patients to take time out to work on an MDT, Tsang says. When youre part of such a team, you have to do a lot of preparatory work ahead of each meeting. It takes compassion, and dedication. In the meantime, to help prevent breast cancer, Tsang advises people to exercise five days a week for 45 minutes at a time, and go to bed before 11pm. She believes stress reduction is also important. A recent study by the Hong Kong Breast Cancer Foundation found that women who reported feeling high levels of stress were 2.4 times more likely to develop breast cancer. Pretty much every time I ask a breast-cancer patient if shed experienced any form of stress over the past 12 to 18 months, I get a yes, Tsang says. Wong was no exception. Six months before being diagnosed with cancer, she developed anxiety disorder, partly as a result of work-related stress. I used to be very particular about everything, and I was a worrier, she says. Now that Ive been given a second life, I make sure to live every day to the fullest and not to sweat the small stuff. This article Can Hong Kong embrace a new way to fight cancer? Try the multidisciplinary approach, experts say first appeared on South China Morning Post For the latest news from the South China Morning Post download our mobile app. Copyright 2018. The Islamic State group has killed at least 68 US-backed fighters battling to oust the jihadists from their eastern Syria holdout of Hajin, a war monitor said Saturday. IS late Friday dispatched suicide bombers as part of a counter-attack against the Syrian Democratic Forces, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said, raising the death toll from an earlier figure of 41. The SDF fighters, who are backed by US-led coalition air strikes, were killed overnight, the Britain-based Observatory said. "The death toll has increased due to the discovery of new victims on the front line and the existence of 100 wounded," said Observatory head Rami Abdel Rahman. A spokesman for the US-led coalition said "at this time, numbers cannot be confirmed as both sides are taking casualties as this difficult fight... continues". A "sandstorm allowed an ISIS counterattack, which was surprising given the conditions, but now the air is clear, the coalition will continue to increase air and fire support to assist our partners," spokesman Sean Ryan said, using an alternative acronym for IS. In a statement on the Telegram messaging app, IS said it had attacked the village of Sousa late Friday and detonated a car bomb near the village of Al-Baghuza further south, down the Euphrates river. The SDF last month launched an offensive against the jihadists in the Hajin pocket on the eastern banks of the Euphrates, in Deir Ezzor province. IS has staged a bloody fightback. Since September 10, 270 SDF fighters and 496 IS jihadists have been killed in the offensive, the Observatory says. The coalition estimates that 2,000 IS fighters remain in the Hajin area. Last week the Observatory said coalition air strikes had killed 41 civilians in Sousa, 10 of them children, on October 18 and 19. But the coalition said it had targeted an IS command post on October 18, and denied carrying out any strikes in the area the following day. IS overran large swathes of Syria and neighbouring Iraq in 2014, proclaiming a "caliphate" across land it controlled. But the jihadist group has since lost most of that territory to various offensives in both countries. In Syria, its presence has been reduced to parts of the vast Badia desert and the Hajin pocket near the border with Iraq. More than 360,000 people have been killed since Syria's war erupted in 2011 with the brutal repression of anti-government protests. China and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations held their first joint naval exercises this week, as Beijing hoped to build stronger regional military ties to offset a growing rivalry with the United States in the disputed South China Sea. The China-Asean Maritime Exercise got under way in Zhanjiang in southern Chinas Guangdong province on Monday and over the course of six days included personnel from all 11 nations. Six of them China, Singapore, Brunei, Thailand, Vietnam and the Philippines also sent warships to take part in the drills: China Guangzhou The multi-missile destroyer Guangzhou has a displacement of 6,000 tonnes. Commissioned in 2004, it incorporates a hull form and superstructure designed to reduce the ships radar profile. It was the first destroyer from Chinas home-grown series Type 052B, built for air defence. Its anti-aircraft capabilities include the short-range (20 nautical miles) Russian SA-N-12 surface-to-air missile and a rotating 3D radar for primary air-search radar. To guard against submarines, it is equipped with two triple-tube torpedo launchers, and short-range (1,000 metre) rockets. The ship also has a helicopter deck. However, according to Chinas Evolving Surface Fleet, a report by the US Naval War College last year, Guangzhous war-fighting capabilities were outdated the day it was commissioned. Huangshan China has also deployed Huangshan, one of its largest and most modern multi-mission frigates. The type 054A-class frigate was derived from the Type 054 (identified by Nato as the Jiangkai-II Class). It has a length of 134 meters (440 feet) and beam of 16 meters, with a displacement of 4,000 tonnes and a maximum speed of 27 knots. The stealth frigate was locally built and has been in service since March 2008. China once offered to sell three Type 054A frigates to Thailand in 2013, but lost out to South Korea, which offered its modified Gwanggaeto the Great-class destroyers. In 2015, the cost of building and fitting out a Type 054A was estimated at US$348 million a vessel, according to an analysis in The Diplomat by Gabe Collins, a research fellow in the US Naval War Colleges Maritime Studies Institute. Story continues Junshanhu The replenishment ship Junshanhu type 961 joined the Chinese navy in July 2015. According to the Shanghai-based online news outlet Thepaper.cn, it has a displacement of more than 10,000 tonnes, and runs at 22 knots. It was identified as a comprehensive supply ship. It has five supply stations, but lacks a helicopter deck. Singapore Singapore has sent its RSS Stalwart equipped with anti-air, anti-surface and anti-submarine warfare capabilities. Designed by the French shipbuilder DCN, it is a modernised version of the French navys La Fayette-class frigate. Singapores contract with DCN included a technology transfer programme: the first frigate was constructed in France, then the subsequent five, including the Stalwart, were built locally in Singapore. With a displacement of 3,200 tonnes, the frigate is armed with a main gun Oto Melara 76mm / 62 Super Rapid gun which fires 6kg (13lb) shells to a range of 16km (10 miles) at a firing rate of up to 120 rounds a minute. The Harpoon surface-to-surface anti-ship missile on the vehicle also has a range of 130km and uses active radar guidance. In anti-missile mode the Aster 15 has a range of 15km. Aster also provides protection against manned and unmanned aircraft to a range of 30km, according to Indian Defence Review. Brunei Daruttaqwa OPV-09 Bruneis most modern armed vessel is an offshore patrol boat, the fourth Darussalam-class vessel to join the relatively small Royal Brunei Navy. All four Darussalam-class vessels were built in Germany by Lurssen Werft in Bremen-Vegesack. The OPV-09 was commissioned in August 2014. With a length of 80 meters and a beam of 13 meters, it has a displacement of 1,625 tonnes. It also features two 20mm (0.8 inch) Oerlikon guns while carrying four Exocet MM40 Block 3 anti-ship missiles. Thailand The frigate HTMS Taksin (FFG 422) is a product of the China State Shipbuilding Corporation in Shanghai. After an upgrade in 2016, it now has a displacement of 2,980 tonnes, and is armed with 127mm gun turret. Other equipment includes a Mark 41 Vertical Launching System that provides a rapid-fire launch capability against hostile threats. The frigate just finished a cooperative deployment in the East China Sea with the US guided-missile cruiser USS Antietam (CG 54) and Royal Thai Navy ships HTMS Krabi (OPV 551) earlier this month. Vietnam The 015 Tran Hung Dao, a Gepard 3.9 class frigate, is among the Vietnamese navys most advanced warships and only launched in February. It was named after General Tran Hung Dao, revered in Vietnamese history for his role in the victory over Mongol invaders in the 13th century. Built in Russia, the frigate has a displacement of 2,100 tonnes and a length of 102 metres. It is equipped with four 533mm torpedo tubes and two SS-N-25 anti-submarine rocket launchers. Before this exercise, the warship also made port calls in Japan and South Korea as part of a 9,300km journey beginning last month. The voyage was the longest that any Vietnamese naval has undertaken. The Philippines Logistics support vessel BRP Dagupan City (LC-551) was commissioned in the 1990s and built in the US. It is 83 meters long and has a displacement of 4,265 tonnes at full load, with a draft of 3.7 metres and a top speed of 12 knots. The Philippine navy spokesman Commander Jonathan Zata told the Philippine News Agency that the vessel was well suited and well tested to serve this drills mission requirement of humanitarian support and disaster relief. This article A look at some ships involved in the joint China-Asean naval exercises first appeared on South China Morning Post For the latest news from the South China Morning Post download our mobile app. Copyright 2018. Many in Hong Kong have been belatedly celebrating the September 2017 inclusion of Hong Kong English expression add oil! in the Oxford English Dictionary. The most recent update, released this month, includes 1,400 entries that hold novel lessons, exemplified by the Philippine English words. The etymologies of these words span several languages, reflecting the diversity of cultures in the Philippines. Some of the words originate, expectedly, in Tagalog, a major indigenous language and the basis of the national language, Filipino: one example is bagoong (a fermented or salted fish paste). Others come, also predictably, from Spanish, a legacy of 333 years of colonisation. The deep-fried pastry-covered fruit turon, from the Spanish almond-and-honey nougat called turron, entered Philippine English via Tagalog. Why so few Asian words make it into the Oxford English Dictionary Other words reflect less-considered but long-standing communities. Bihon (noodles), which entered English from the Tagalog bihon, is derived from the Hokkien bi-hun (rice flour, rice noodles). Similarly, the Tagalog pancit (noodles) in panciteria an inexpensive restaurant typically serving noodle dishes is ultimately from the Hokkien pian-e-sit (convenience food), narrowing to mean noodles later. These words testify to the Chinese communities significance, specifically those from Fujian province, who comprised most Chinese settlers in the 1800s, and Chinese hawkers catering to colonial Spanish Philippines working women. Panciteria, with the Spanish suffix -teria (a place where something is done) as in cafeteria demonstrates a multilingual blend. So does carinderia, a roadside cooked-food stall, where the Tagalog kari derives from the Tamil ka r i (curry), recalling the Philippines wide-ranging South Asian presence: from pre-Hispanic Hindu kingdoms; Gujarati merchants in the 17th-century; and sepoy troops arriving during the British occupation of Manila (1762-64); to Indian businessmen of the 1930s and 40s. Story continues The sepoys who remained when the British withdrew opened roadside stalls catering to travellers. These karihans a Tagalog word that is not (yet) in the OED which originally served curries, bear the Tagalog suffix -han (place). Over time they became small local eateries. The related Tagalog word with productive Spanish -teria also evolved, carinderia appearing in Philippine Spanish around the 1880s, and used in English from 1910. These words were brought to the OED editors attention by Philippine English speakers through a crowdsourcing initiative. This underscores the point of dictionaries: not to prescriptively instruct correctness, but represent actual usage in language varieties, with words being included once a community of speakers demonstrates widespread, systematic use. This article New Philippine English words in Oxford English dictionary give us food for thought first appeared on South China Morning Post For the latest news from the South China Morning Post download our mobile app. Copyright 2018. More from South China Morning Post: Public pressure was mounting on Australia's government Sunday to remove refugee children detained on the Pacific island of Nauru, possibly to New Zealand, even as the prime minister raised fears such transfers could encourage new arrivals. Under a harsh policy meant to deter asylum-seekers from reaching Australia by boat, Canberra sends arrivals to remote Pacific camps for processing and bars them from resettling in Australia. But domestic and international criticism of the camps has grown amid reports of abuse, suicides and lengthy detention periods, even as the government says the policy is discouraging asylum-seekers from embarking on dangerous sea voyages. A YouGov Galaxy poll commissioned by Sydney's Sunday Telegraph -- a tabloid that usually backs the conservative government -- found 79 percent of those surveyed want children and their families transferred off Nauru. Thousands of Australians on Saturday also rallied in Sydney and Melbourne against the offshore camp. The children's plight was highlighted earlier this month after Nauru kicked out Medecins Sans Frontieres (MSF), a global medical charity that had been treating asylum-seekers in the camps. MSF said many children were suffering "traumatic withdrawal syndrome" and were unable to eat, drink or talk. The UN refugee agency UNHCR added in mid-October that the health situation of asylum-seekers and refugees was "collapsing". Ahead of a crucial Sydney by-election this month, PM Scott Morrison seemed willing to work with the Labor opposition to allow some refugees to be transferred to New Zealand, although they would still be blocked from entering Australia. But with ongoing counting pointing to a loss in the seat for the government, Morrison has since appeared to back away from a deal. "I just want to get them off, but I want to get them off in a way which does not put more children on Nauru," he told commercial broadcaster Channel Nine on Friday. "If one boat turns up or one child is floating face down in the water, how would Australia feel then?" Within Morrison's Liberal Party, three MPs have so far called for children to be removed. New Zealand has an open offer to take 150 people from Nauru, and PM Jacinda Ardern said Monday she expected women and children to be prioritised if Australia accepts the proposal. However, she said the decision was "ultimately a matter for the Australian government". There are 635 asylum-seekers and refugees on Nauru, including 52 children, according to Immigration Minister David Coleman. There are also some 600 men in transition centres on Papua New Guinea's Manus Island after the camp there was closed late last year, according to refugee advocates. Under a deal with former American president Barack Obama, 439 people have so far been resettled from Manus and Nauru to the United States, Coleman added. A constitutional crisis gripping Sri Lanka since the president's shock dismissal of Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe erupted into violence Sunday, with a man shot dead and two others injured in Colombo. Police said bodyguards for a Sri Lankan cabinet minister allied to Wickremesinghe opened fire inside a government ministry as a mob loyal to President Maithripala Sirisena besieged the minister's office. Three people were injured but a 34-year-old man died shortly after. It was the first fatality since Sirisena sacked Wickremesinghe on Friday and installed a former strongman as prime minister, triggering political chaos in the Indian Ocean nation. Wickremesinghe has refused to vacate the prime minister's official residence, barricading himself inside as over 1,000 supporters, including chanting Buddhist monks, rallied outside. The 69-year-old says his sacking is illegal, and wants an emergency session of parliament held to prove he still commands a majority. Sirisena shut parliament for nearly three weeks to forestall any challenge to his appointment of Mahinda Rajapakse, a former president accused of wartime abuses. Rajapakse sought blessings at a prominent Buddhist temple Sunday as he jostled to consolidate his claim to the prime ministership. But Wickremesinghe got a boost as Sri Lanka's parliamentary speaker refused to endorse his sacking. Speaker Karu Jayasuriya backed Wickremesinghe's request to retain his privileges and security until another candidate could prove a majority in parliament, saying it was "democratic and fair". He also warned the president that shuttering parliament risked "serious and undesirable consequences for the country". Opposition leader Rajavarothiam Sampanthan urged Jayasuriya to summon parliament immediately. "I hereby call upon yourself to uphold the rule of law by summoning parliament... to perform its legitimate functions," said Sampanthan, who represents Sri Lanka's minority Tamil community. Officials loyal to Rajapakse said police will now seek a court order to evict Wickremesinghe from the residence, threatening to escalate the standoff. Soldiers had been stationed near the residence, although Wickremesinghe's security and official cars were withdrawn Saturday. Tensions were high across Colombo, with police leave cancelled amid warnings street violence could break out if the president did not immediately summon parliament to end the impasse. "Don't try to create a civil war in this country," party legislator Karunarathna Paranawithana told reporters at the prime minister's residence. Regional neighbours and Western nations have urged all sides to exercise restraint and respect the constitution. - Shooting - But violence broke out inside the petroleum ministry as police guarding Minister Arjuna Ranatunga fired on a mob surrounded his office. Witnesses saw Ranatunga, 54, also a former World Cup winning cricket captain, rushed from the scene in a tactical helmet and body armour by police commandos. In his first televised address to the nation since the crisis began, Sirisena said Sunday he sacked Wickremesinghe over personal and political disputes. "Apart from our ideological differences, we also had serious cultural differences," Sirisena said, referring to Wickremesinghe's liberal background and his own rural conservative upbringing. He said he had no choice but to appoint Rajapakse, and urged parliament to support him. Loyalists of Rajapakse -- whose controversial decade-long rule was marked by grave allegations of rights abuses, the crushing of the Tamil Tiger uprising, and growing authoritarianism -- were appointed Sunday to run the country's two state-run television channels and a newspaper. Plans to appoint some cabinet members had been delayed until Monday, aides said. Rajapakse is yet to make a formal statement since being elevated to the new post. The strongman is seen as being closer to China than Wickremesinghe, who had sought to re-establish stronger ties with traditional ally and regional power India. New Delhi said it was "closely following" events in Colombo. The United States and European Union ambassadors have called on the Sri Lankan rivals to follow the constitution and avoid violence. - 'Constitutional coup' - Privately-run newspapers on Sunday described Sirisena's move as a "constitutional coup". However, Rajapakse loyalist and former foreign minister G. L. Peiris said there was nothing illegal about Wickremesinghe's dismissal. The falling-out between Wickremesinghe and Sirisena has come to a head since the president this year backed a no-confidence motion against the man he had handpicked to lead the government. The two allied against Rajapakse in the 2015 election, but their relationship steadily soured. Sirisena initially said he would be a one-term president but has since indicated he will seek re-election next year -- pitting himself against Wickremesinghe who also has presidential ambitions. This is the second time that a president has ousted Wickremesinghe from office. In 2004, the then head of state sacked him and called snap elections. After winning the premiership in August 2015, Wickremesinghe amended the constitution to remove the president's power to sack prime ministers to prevent a repeat of his earlier ouster. Saudi Arabia has promised a "full" investigation into the killing of journalist Jamal Khashoggi, US Defence Secretary Jim Mattis said Sunday following talks with Saudi Foreign Minister Adel al-Jubeir in Bahrain. "We discussed it... the need of transparency, full and complete investigation. Full agreement from FM Jubeir, no reservations at all," Mattis told reporters following the talks, during which he warned the Saudi kingdom that the murder attributed to the Saudi authorities risked destabilising the region. "No reservations at all. He (Jubeir) said we need to know what happened and it was very collaborative, in agreement," the Pentagon chief told reporters on a flight from Manama to Prague where he will mark the centenary of Czechoslovakia. Speaking later on Sunday at a joint press conference in Prague with Czech Prime Minister Andrej Babis, Mattis gave a nod to Turkey's probe into the murder. "Certainly Turkey with the evidence that they have compiled will ensure that there is more than one review of what is going on there and I am certain the investigation will include the evidence that Turkey has put forward so far," Mattis said. Saudi journalist Khashoggi, 59, who had criticised the kingdom's powerful Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, had lived in self-imposed exile in the United States since 2017. He was murdered after entering his country's Istanbul consulate on October 2 to obtain paperwork to marry his Turkish fiancee. Gruesome reports have alleged that the Washington Post columnist was killed and dismembered by a team sent from Saudi Arabia to silence him. After weeks of denials, Riyadh has sought to draw a line under the crisis with an investigation. - 'Premeditated' - Prince Mohammed, heir to the oil-rich nation's throne, publicly denounced the murder as "repulsive", while the Saudi prosecutor acknowledged for the first time this week that based on the evidence of a Turkish investigation the killing had been "premeditated". But Riyadh on Saturday dismissed Ankara's calls to extradite 18 Saudis being held over Khashoggi's murder, as Washington warned the crisis risked destabilising the Middle East. Addressing a forum in Manama on Saturday, Mattis warned that "the murder of Jamal Khashoggi in a diplomatic facility must concern us all greatly". "Failure of any nation to adhere to international norms and the rule of law undermines regional stability at a time when it is needed most," he stressed. The murder, which has tarnished the image of Crown Prince Mohammed, has sparked a wave of international criticism and affected Washington's relations with the kingdom. The United States relies heavily on Saudi Arabia to counter Iran's influence in the region and to defend the security of Israel. Mattis did not have a formal bilateral meeting with Jubeir on the sidelines of the Manama forum, where he met with several Arab and European leaders. The two men spoke at a dinner gathering all the ministers. It has been five weeks now, since Typhoon Mangkhut wreaked havoc across Hong Kong. Still, the scars are raw, and not just a matter of a few tens of thousands of trees gone. If we are to properly absorb what climate change is all about, we need to look around us now. For most of the worlds 7 billion-plus people, climate change is not about whether global mean temperatures will be 1.5 degrees or 2 degrees higher, or about sea levels rising 10 centimetre more than previous models, or the melting of the ice cap over Greenland, or even the bleaching of Australias Great Barrier Reef. If we are to absorb the awesome, awful consequences of climate change and global warming, it has to be local and personal; like Mangkhut. Over the past two weekends, I have walked afresh along Hong Kongs devastated high mountain trails. The shock is not the tree wreckage - though that is gruesome. The shock is the silence. Most bird life seems to have gone, and with it the birdsong, hopefully not for good. The butterflies that normally splash colour along the way are wholly absent. As I relive the shocking 24-hour assault of Mangkhut on my village home in Clear Water Bay, I am forced to wonder how on earth our birds and butterflies managed the battering, with nowhere to hide. From my home, I look down on a six-foot wall of wood and flotsam pushed inland by Mangkhut. The rubbish ranges from bits of boats and mangled surfboards to refrigerators and plastic everything. It sprawls a length of 40 yards (36.5 metres) and sits drying in the sun about 30 yards inland from the coastal wall that Mangkhut wrecked. Locals have by now stopped picking through it in the hope of finding something lost. This is climate change up close and personal. Now that the sea wall has been wrecked, any old spring tide, or grumpy storm, is set to eat away the waterfront land. Sceptics like Donald Trump - who deny the link between human hyper-consumption, carbon dioxide emission and climate change - would argue that violent storms are not a recent phenomenon. Look at Typhoon Wanda, whose 5-metre surge left 130 dead and thousands homeless in Tai Po and Sha Tin, and which remains the deadliest storm to hit this city in seven decades. Story continues Hong Kongs sea levels are 15cm higher today than they were in 1962. Heaven knows what harm Wanda would have done if it passed through today. Our weather scientists havent told us whether Mangkhut was more vicious than Wanda. What they did tell us in a 2010 Hong Kong Observatory report was nevertheless blunt: On the basis of a pessimistic but not unrealistic estimate of the sea-level rise made in recent years, even ordinary spring tides would be sufficient to bring sea flooding to low-lying areas - with or without typhoons. Mitigation measures would be necessary. Mitigation measures means sea walls. In the wake of Wanda, as our planners built our new towns in the 1960s and 70s, they mandated sea defences at least three metres high in all flood prone areas. One must today wonder whether than was enough, and how much needs urgently to be spent on existing sea walls, both in Victoria Harbour, and in remote Sai Kung villages like mine. One also wonders whether Carrie Lam, as she begins to draw up plans for an ambitious new HK$500 billion (US$64 billion) man-made island off Lantau, needs to add a couple of extra metres - and an extra few hundreds of billions of dollars - to give proper protection to the one million or more people she plans to house there. But my main point is that the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) and its reports, expert and thorough as they are, mean nothing if they do not capture what climate change means for us all, locally and personally. No wonder Anjana Ahuja, the Financial Times science commentator, complained two weeks ago that the international silence was deafening following the latest IPCC report: Climate change denial, no longer a credible political position, has given way to climate change indifference... there is little political bandwidth for a massive problem that is global in nature. She should add ... and unlikely to get serious until after most of our present-day political leaders are long dead. Up close and personal in the US means seeing 1.7 million people evacuated in North and South Carolina as Hurricane Florence swept in, and over 500,000 people losing electricity. It means 375,000 people being evacuated in Florida in anticipation of Hurricane Michael, with pecan and cotton farmers losing their entire crops, 2 million chickens killed, vegetables with US$480 million lost, and 3 million acres of commercial timber destroyed. It means devastating forest fires across California. In Japan, it means a 2018 summer of alternating typhoons and heatwaves - with an earthquake or two added in for good measure. In Germany and Switzerland it means the drought-hit River Rhine - the 1,200 kilometre economic lifeline for a large part of central Europe - withering to a trickle, with ferry and barge services being suspended. It means Swiss families having to tap emergency stockpiles of diesel as fuel barges are stranded. BASF, the German chemicals group, had to halt production at the worlds largest integrated chemicals facility in Ludwigshafen. In China, it means the Gobi desert gobbling up 3,600 square kilometres of grassland every year (the entirety of Hong Kong is just 2,754 sq km) in a country that is already desperately short of cultivable land, while sea-level rises threatens inundation of at least 1,150 sq km along Chinas coast (the worst is the Pearl River Delta area, where 13 per cent of the land is already below sea level). If the IPCC is to capture anyones attention - most important, the attention of our political leaders who are under constant pressure to appease spending pressures from local lobbies - its messages need to be local and personal. The messages need to be based on our actual experiences, not on abstract mathematical models and high-level global data that bounces around our brains and settles nowhere. I need to hear the silence of the mountain trails, and see the drab absence of butterflies, and the bleached mountains of debris straggled across my villages destroyed sea walls. These are the warnings of what climate change is all about. They are the warnings we cannot ignore. David Dodwell researches and writes about global, regional and Hong Kong challenges from a Hong Kong point of view This article To see how climate change is up close and very personal, look no further than Mangkhuts havoc first appeared on South China Morning Post For the latest news from the South China Morning Post download our mobile app. Copyright 2018. More from South China Morning Post: An annual conference that Beijing hopes will become Asias leading forum for discussing security issues had its largest-ever attendance this year but organisers reluctance to let delegates discuss some of the key issues affecting the region highlighted the distance it needs to travel to surpass a similar gathering in Singapore. Key issues such as the growing Sino-US rivalry were scarcely touched on at the main sessions of the two-day Xiangshan Forum, which ended on Friday. Meanwhile discussion of the long-running territorial dispute in the South China Sea was confined to a plenary session that covered the broader topic of maritime security cooperation. By contrast both issues are regularly discussed at the IISS Asia Security Summit in Singapore, known as the Shangri-La Dialogue, which Beijing hopes Xiangshan will supplant. Only one of the military delegates invited to speak at the Xiangshan event a representative from the Philippines came from a country embroiled in the South China Sea disputes. Many other foreign delegates included representatives of countries such as Sri Lanka, Ecuador, Pakistan which have all expressed support for Chinas Belt and Road Initiative. The main public discussion of Chinas relations with America came from two senior Beijing officials, Li Zhanshu, the chairman of the legislature, and Defence Minister Wei Fenghe, both of whom were sharply critical of Washington. Li, the third-highest-ranking official on the Politburo Standing Committee, used the welcoming dinner on the eve of the forum to denounce the White House for trying to build alliances to contain China. The following day Wei criticised an unnamed US senior official over allegations that China is interfering in US domestic politics, saying they had seriously damaged Sino-US relations and mutual trust. Both US President Donald Trump and his vice-president Mike Pence have pointed the finger at Beijing in recent weeks, but Wei did not specify who his remarks were targeting. Story continues Tensions between China and the US have been escalating since July, when both sides slapped tariffs on each others imports, and the dispute has since spilled over into other areas, including a near-collision between two warships in the South China Sea last month. Li and Weis criticisms have been widely reported by overseas media, but in a sign of the sensitivities surrounding the topic, the Chinese media has not reported Lis comments. The English-language edition of the nationalist tabloid Global Times did repeat parts of Weis speech, but still steered clear of any mention of Lis comments. A local media source said Chinese journalists were exercising self censorship when it came to Lis criticism of the US because they were not sure where the red line was on the topic. Our bosses dont want to cause any trouble because its not clear whether there is a clear order from the central publicity department, an editor from a local television station said in an interview. Media sources have previously said that mainland journalists have been warned not to over-report the trade war, in some cases being told not to use the phrase trade war in headlines. Both Wei and Li also implicitly criticised the US over Taiwan, one of the most contentious issues between the two countries. China regards the self-ruled island as a breakaway province that must ultimately be reunited with the mainland, by force if necessary. Despite Beijings insistence that the issue is purely a domestic matter, Trumps administration has stepped up its military support for the island. In his speech on Thursday Wei said the Chinese military would act against anyone who tried to separate Taiwan from the mainland, adding that they would pay whatever price has to be paid. It was the first time senior Chinese leaders had directly mentioned Taiwan at a forum of this type and, in contrast to his direct criticism of America, mainland Chinese media did report Weis comments on the island. Gong Xianfu, vice-chairman of the China Institute for International Strategic Studies (CIISS), said that the difference between the two cases was that the authorities believed independence-leaning forces in Taiwan had been using US power and influence to counter Beijing and needed to be taught a lesson. More than 500 representatives from 67 countries and seven organisations attended this years Xiangshan Forum, which was jointly organised by the CIISS and the PLAs Academy for Military Science. Of the 67 nations, 21 sent a defence minister or senior military commander, according to Chinas defence ministry. Its the biggest edition since we started organising the Xiangshan Forum in 2006. This years forum is the eighth, but its also the first since the PLA completed its unprecedented military overhaul, said Zhao Xiaozhuo, director of the events secretariats office. We hope the Xiangshan Forum will become a real international security dialogue that is recognised by the international community. Attendees included a North Korean delegation, led by Colonel General Kim Hyong-ryong, who is the vice-minister of the Peoples Armed Forces. It was the first time North Korea had sent a senior military official to a regional security forum and Kims appearance on Thursday saw him surrounded by dozens of domestic and overseas journalists. Other delegates praised the forum for giving them a chance to learn the views of Chinese officials and scholars. Rajeev Ranjan Chaturvedy, a visiting fellow at S Rajaratnam School of International Studies at Nanyang Technological University in Singapore, said it had been possible to discuss US-China relations on the sidelines of the conference, adding he had been impressed by one seminar on the topic which had been attended by young Chinese military officers and academics. [The organisers] are trying to improve the quality of discussion Its quite positive for these kinds of intensive discussions, he said. This article Are South China Sea and tensions with US still too hot to handle at Beijing security forum? first appeared on South China Morning Post For the latest news from the South China Morning Post download our mobile app. Copyright 2018. By Ranga Sirilal and Shihar Aneez COLOMBO (Reuters) - A constitutional crisis in Sri Lanka deepened on Saturday as President Maithripala Sirisena temporarily suspended parliament a day after sacking the prime minister and replacing him with a former leader seen as being close to China. Sirisena fired Ranil Wickremesinghe and swore in former President Mahinda Rajapaksa as his replacement late on Friday in a move cheered by Rajapaksa supporters but described as a coup by opponents. The president's order to suspend parliament until Nov. 16 was widely seen as an attempt to stop Wickremesinghe from trying to prove he maintains a parliamentary majority even after Sirisena pulled his party out of the ruling coalition. Wickremesinghe says he is still prime minister, and shortly before the suspension was announced he had urged the speaker to convene a session to show that he had a majority. "I have the majority in the parliament, convene the parliament to resolve this," Wickremesinghe told a news conference in Colombo on Saturday, flanked by all his coalition partners except Sirisena's party. Cheng Xueyuan, China's envoy to Sri Lanka, sent Rajapaksa a customary congratulatory message but also paid a courtesy call on Wickremesinghe and said China would not interfere in the political crisis, sources close to the embassy told Reuters. Sirisena ordered the police chief to withdraw the security detail provided to Wickremesinghe as prime minister. The president also appointed an acting head for the government's information department, which in a statement said that the cabinet had been dissolved with the appointment of a new prime minister. An opposition legislator told local media that Sirisena will address the nation on Sunday and appoint a new cabinet on Monday. At least one lawmaker from Wickremesinghe's party said he would now back Rajapaksa and told reporters at least another 20 legislators also planned to change sides. Story continues Under the constitution, the president can appoint a new prime minister if the current premier loses control of parliament. An opposition leader and Rajapaksa ally G.L. Peiris said, however, that parliament's suspension was aimed at facilitating the establishment of a new government. "The parliament has to allocate new seats ... we can't arrange all these in one or two days. We need time," he said. An opposition legislator told local media that Sirisena would address the nation on Sunday and appoint a new cabinet on Monday. The shutdown means the country's national budget will not be released as scheduled on Nov. 5 and Peiris said the new administration would work with a temporary budget for now. CELEBRATIONS, PROTEST Firecrackers were set off in celebration in Colombo late on Friday as Sirisena administered the oath of office to Rajapaksa, while Wickremesinghe was off touring the country's south. Under Sri Lanka's constitution, the president has executive powers while the prime minister heads parliament. Hundreds of angry Wickremesinghe supporters turned to his official residence to express their solidarity to their leader, a four-time prime minister. "Sirisena is a traitor. He let our leader down despite us bringing him to power," one of the supporters told Reuters. Media and Finance Minister Mangala Samaraweera called Wickremesinghe's ouster "an anti-democratic coup". Wickremesinghe's party has called on its supporters to hold a protest in the capital Colombo on Monday. The crisis comes against a backdrop of weakening economic growth and follows months of infighting in the ruling coalition, and analysts say the heightened uncertainty could roil markets. Relations between Wickremesinghe's United National Party (UNP) and Sirisena's United People's Freedom Alliance (UPFA) became strained after Sirisena criticised Wickremesinghe for not adequately investigating an assassination plot targeting the president. The UPFA had threatened to quit the ruling coalition. Sirisena accused Indian intelligence services of involvement in the plot, a claim denied by New Delhi and Colombo. India, which has long seen Sri Lanka, located just off its southern tip, as part of its area of influence, has not yet commented about the crisis. The Foreign Ministry did not respond to a request seeking comment on Rajapaksa's appointment. India has been concerned about Rajapaksa's ties to China. As president, he ushered in billions of dollars of investment from Beijing to help rebuild the country following the end of a 26-year-long civil war against Tamil separatists in 2009. That investment has since put the island nation deep in debt and forced it to hand over control of a strategic southern port to China, drawing criticism from India and the United States. (Reporting by Ranga Sirilal and Shihar Aneez in COLOMBO; Writing by Zeba Siddiqui; Editing by Michael Perry and Helen Popper) The party of Thailand's former premier -- who was toppled by the military -- chose its leaders Sunday and said it is "confident of success" ahead of a much-anticipated election promised for February. Pheu Thai, which backed ousted premier Yingluck Shinawatra, voted in stalwart Viroj Pao-in as party leader, members said in a briefing to the media. Viroj has "worked hard during the party's difficult times", said Pheu Thai stalwart Sudarat Keyuraphan, who was made head of the strategic committee. The junta, which seized power and toppled Yingluck's administration in a coup in 2014, has postponed elections multiple times since taking over but has insisted the vote will now go ahead in February. Parties are still under a partial political ban, which bars them from campaigning or holding rallies. It remains to be seen whether Pheu Thai can capitalise on previous successes at the ballot without the star power of Yingluck and her older brother Thaksin, who was himself pushed out in a military takeover in 2006. The siblings live in self-exile to avoid what they say are politically motivated court charges. The wealthy and powerful Shinawatra clan has won every election since 2001 through populist platforms and welfare schemes that have angered Bangkok's military-aligned elite. But large sections of society have grown weary of military rule and endemic inequality while protests have bubbled up in recent months calling for a return to democracy. "People vote for us not because of the party's name or how we look like but... (but) because we can fix their problems," Sudarat said. "So we are confident about the success in the upcoming elections." She declined to reveal who the party will put up as candidate for prime minister. Even if elections are held a return to full-fledged democracy in Thailand is unlikely, analysts say. The constitution written by the junta calls for an upper house whose members are appointed, and includes other checks on the power of future civilian governments. Despite insisting he has no interest in politics, Thailand's junta leader Prayut Chan-O-Cha has also been hinting at a possible run, with campaign-style stops across the country and a stepped-up social media profile. AFPTV For decades, Afghanistans Helmand province has been on the frontline of the countrys conflict, and the landscape bears the scars. Since the departure of US troops in the summer, the remnants of war remain a serious threat to Afghans safety. Since 1989, 41,085 Afghan civilians have been killed or injured by landmines and unexploded ordnance, according to the United Nations Mine Action Service (UNMAS). In an effort to prevent any further loss of life, demining NGO the HALO Trust is racing against time to "decontaminate" one of the most heavily mined countries in the world. In the wake of Jamal Khashoggis murder, there is a sense that US-Saudi relations are especially strained, and that Chinas influence in Saudi Arabia could increase as a result. While leaders in Beijing and Riyadh are certainly drawing closer together, a natural result of shared economic interests, it is far too early to assume that China is capable of or interested in replacing the USA as the dominant external power in the Gulf. At the same time, the inconsistent American response to the Khashoggi murder has reinforced the perception that US leadership lacks a clear vision of Middle Eastern order. Regional leaders are consequently hedging their bets, deepening ties with as many extra-regional powers as they can to diversify their economic and security guarantors. This is not new. Since the disastrous US-led war in Iraq, Saudi leaders have been publicly critical of Washingtons Middle East policy, and increasingly have looked towards China as a future counterbalance for their reliance on the USA. The bilateral relationship has intensified on several fronts including construction and infrastructure development, investment, and security culminating in a comprehensive strategic partnership signed when President Xi Jinping paid a state visit to Riyadh in 2016. This has led to even deeper levels of cooperation, as Saudi Vision 2030, a development programme championed by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, has been linked to Chinas Belt and Road Initiative. There has been an increase in official visits, resulting in military joint training exercises, deals potentially totalling over US$135 billion, the establishment of a joint investment fund focused on energy cooperation, and a memorandum of understanding on nuclear cooperation. In short, the bilateral relationship is about more than oil. As the Sino-Saudi relationship has deepened, US-Saudi relations have been erratic. During the Obama administration the relationship had deteriorated so badly that King Salman refused to attend a US-Gulf Cooperation Council summit at Camp David in 2015. Story continues President Trumps election was viewed as a reset, evident in his warm welcome when he made his first overseas presidential visit to Riyadh. Despite his anti-Islamic rhetoric and inconsistent and unpredictable Middle East policy, his hardline stance against Iran was welcomed by Saudi leaders and seemed to compensate for their divergent views on issues considered less important. Washingtons reaction to Khashoggis murder, however, caught the Saudis off guard. The day he was killed, Trump gave an interview during which he insulted the Saudis, saying they might not be there for two weeks without us. Trumps comments have swung from support for Prince Mohammed to threatening severe punishment if it were proved that he was involved. Members of the US Senate Council on Foreign Relations have been especially vocal in their anger, with Senator Lindsey Graham threatening to sanction the hell out of Saudi Arabia. The crown prince is said to have been enraged by the public condemnation. The Wall Street Journal reported that he feels betrayed by the West. He said he would look elsewhere and he will never forgive how people turned against him before evidence was produced. Will he turn to China? At last weeks Davos in the Desert investor conference, Chinese firms were active participants, and Chinese leaders have avoided publicly commenting on the Khashoggi murder. Last week Vice-President Wang Qishan toured the Middle East, visiting the United Arab Emirates, Egypt, Israel, and Palestine, emphasising Chinas deepening regional role. At the same time, the Saudi-US relationship has overcome several low points over the years. For the time being, its partnership with the USA remains the central pillar of Saudi Arabias foreign policy, and Saudi is a key component of Washingtons Middle East policy. China is not yet as important an external partner for Riyadh. As its regional footprint deepens, however, we can expect a larger role for China in Middle Eastern security issues. Jonathan Fulton (@jonathandfulton) is an assistant professor of political science at Zayed University in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates This article How the US reaction to Jamal Khashoggi murder could see China and Saudi Arabia draw closer first appeared on South China Morning Post For the latest news from the South China Morning Post download our mobile app. Copyright 2018. Ntozake Shange, the poet and playwright behind For Colored Girls Who Have Considered Suicide / When the Rainbow Is Enuf, died in her sleep Saturday morning at the age of 70, the Star Tribune reports. Her sister, playwright Ifa Bayeza, confirmed the news and paid tribute to Shanges legacy: Zake was a woman of extravagance and flourish, and she left quickly without suffering. Its a huge loss for the world. I dont think theres a day on the planet when theres not a young woman who discovers herself through the words of my sister. Advertisement Shange, a native of Trenton, New Jersey, was born Paulette Williams, and later adopted the Xhosa and Zulu name Ntozake Shange. Her first name means She who comes with her own things in Xhosa, while her surname means who walks with lions in Zulu. (In 1994, she told the New York Times that as a feminist, I thought it was ridiculous to be named after a boy.) Her father, Dr. Paul Williams, was a prominent physician; her mother was a social worker. Shanges family left New Jersey for St. Louis, Missouri just in time for Shange to be there for the integration of the local schools, a formative experience, but returned to New Jersey before graduating high school. From there, she attended Barnard and got a Masters in American Studies at the University of Southern California. In 1974, while teaching at Sonoma State, she staged the first performance of For Colored Girls Who Have Considered Suicide / When the Rainbow Is Enuf, the work she would ultimately be best known for. A mixture of poetry, dance, and theater, it was structurally radical enough that Shange coined her own word, choreopoem, to describe it. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In 1975, Shange moved to New York City to stage For Colored Girls there. After productions at Studio Rivbea and a bar on Third Street called Demontes, Shange put the show on at the Henry Street Settlement Living Arts Center for twelve free performances, not nearly enough for the hundreds of theatregoers that were turned away, according to the New York Amsterdam News. Off-Broadway and Broadway productions followed, earning Shange a Tony nomination for Best Play in 1977. Over the ensuing years, the plays celebration of black sisterhood in the face of racial and sexual oppression made For Colored Girls a touchstone for black women and a part of the modern theatrical canon. It was produced for television on American Playhouse in 1982, and in 2010, Tyler Perry adapted it for film. Advertisement Although Shanges later work didnt receive the same acclaim as For Colored Girls , she remained an astonishingly prolific writer, publishing novels, plays and poems over the ensuing years, most recently 2017s Wild Beauty: New and Selected Poems. In 1993 she reflected on her legacy in an interview with Poets and Writers Magazine: Part of what I do is namingnaming and documenting. I mean this very seriously. The documentation of the culture that I live in. Is it more exciting to read the plans of the Pyramid of the Moon in Mexico City that the Aztecs built, or is it more exciting to read love poems by the Aztecs translated from their language? Obviously, for intimacy with these people, we want the love poems. The plans are wonderful. Yes, I want to see where they walked when they wrote them, but I would really rather hear the voices of the people. In that sense, I hope I can contribute to a body of literature that will survive us and give us a greater sense of depth and preciousness to what weve managed to create as a people. When I was a youngster, the wealth of who we were was unspoken and unrecognized. I spent a great deal of my adult life unearthing this for me as well as for everybody else. Shange is survived by her sister, her daughter, and her granddaughter. Comedian and musician Tim Heidecker has released a new song about Donald Trump supporters to raise money for the Hebrew Immigrant Aid Society. HIAS, founded in the 1880s as a response to Russian pogroms, broadened its mission to help immigrants and refugees regardless of religion, was a particular target of the Pittsburgh synagogue shooter. Heidecker is donating the proceeds from sales of The Ballad of the Incel Man, available for $1 on Bandcamp to HIAS. Listen below: The song is a 6/8 country ballad that expands nicely from Heidecker alone on the piano into a full-on pedal-steel-and-harmony finale, but no ones going to buy this for its production values. The important thing is its funny, accurate, and mean, from its killer opening line, Im down in the basement making signs out of love. That comes, of course, from one of the many times Donald Trump implied that his political opposition was funded by a shadowy conspiracy led by George Soros, who, you will probably recall, is Jewish: Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The very rude elevator screamers are paid professionals only looking to make Senators look bad. Dont fall for it! Also, look at all of the professionally made identical signs. Paid for by Soros and others. These are not signs made in the basement from love! #Troublemakers Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) October 5, 2018 The Ballad of the Incel Man is essentially a musical adaptation of Adam Sewrers insightful essay about Trump supporters bonding over shared cruelties. Heideckers narrator doesnt know what Trump is talking about, but loves that it makes them liberals shit their pants; meanwhile, the song lovingly details the way Trumps fascist roadshow has become a focus of social life for his supporters. Heidecker has been writing songs about Trump and his supporters since he rose to power, most memorably Richard Spencer, a song about punching Richard Spencer in the face; last year, he had enough songs to roll them into an album, the perfectly titled Too Dumb for Suicide. The way things are going, hell have a bigger backlist than Deutsche Grammophon before this whole mess hits bottom. So maybe give HIAS a buck or two on the way down. Mere hours after what the Anti-Defamation League characterized as likely the deadliest attack on the Jewish community in the history of the United States, President Donald Trump was back in campaign mode, mocking Democrats and making jokes about his hair. Speaking at a Future Farmers of America conference in Indianapolis, Trump started out by condemning the attack in a forceful tone. This was an anti-Semitic act, Trump said. You wouldnt think this would be possible in this day and age. But we just dont seem to learn from the past. He went on to call anti-Semitism and the persecution of Jews one of the ugliest and darkest features of human history and urged Americans to rise above the hate, move past our divisions and embrace our common destiny. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement After those uncharacteristically unifying words, Trump went on to make jokes and attack Democrats. One of the things he joked about was his hair, explaining it got messed up because he was talking to reporters about the synagogue shooting. By the way somebody just said, your hair looks different today. I said, well I was standing under the wing of Air Force One doing a news conference this morning. A very unfortunate news conference. And the wind was blowing and the rain and I was soaking wet, Trump said. And thats what I ended up with today. And I said, well, at least you know its mine. And I said maybe I should cancel this arrangement because I have a bad hair day and the bad news is someone actually said actually it looks better than it usually does. Advertisement Trump jokes that he considered cancelling speech to FFA not b/c of the mass shooting in Pittsburgh, but b/c his hair got wet while talking w/reporters about the shooting. "At least you know it's mine... I said, 'maybe I should cancel this arrangement b/c I have a bad hair day.'" pic.twitter.com/wLIlqQpENj Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) October 27, 2018 Trump also focused on one of his favorite targets, Sen. Elizabeth Warren. Turned out I have more Indian blood in me than she has Trump said. What a sad event and I have none, so you know. We cant resist. Can we resist? Right? But how good is that as a sound bite? Advertisement Advertisement Addressing students at a supposedly non-political event, Trump attacks @SenWarren. "Maybe Warren is gone. She may be gone. What a sad thing happened to her. Turned out I had more Indian blood in me than she has." Crowd doesn't know how to react. "We can't resist," Trump says. pic.twitter.com/zsPwiixtiN Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) October 27, 2018 The president also thought that the best thing to do at a rally shortly after a mass shooting was to use the term globalists, which was a favorite of the suspected shooter and is a word many describe as an anti-Semitic dog whistle. We dont worry too much about the globalists, he said. We have to take care of ourselves before we start worrying about others. Advertisement Advertisement Trump casually uses anti-Semitic "globalist" dogwhistle hours after anti-Semitic mass shooting at a synagogue in Pittsburgh leaves at least 11 people dead. "We don't worry too much about the globalists... we have to take care of ourselves before we start worrying about others." pic.twitter.com/yS4g6NPPCH Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) October 27, 2018 Trump also found time to mention Kanye West Kanye West. Was he great? He did me a big favor. Kanye! People like him.and bemoan that he would never get the Nobel Peace Prize They probably will never give [the Nobel Peace Prize] to me even with what Im doing in Korea and Idlib Province and all these places, but they will never give it to me and you know why? Because they dont want to. Advertisement Advertisement ! Trump praises Norman Borlaug for his Nobel Peace Prize, then says, "They probably will never give it to me, even what I'm doing in Korea, and Idlib province, and all these places. They probably will never give it to me. You know why? Because they don't want toooo." Daniel Dale (@ddale8) October 27, 2018 Later, Trump attended a rally in Illinois, saying that while he considered canceling the event that would make these sick, demented people important. Before the rally, Trump told reporters he would travel to Pittsburgh but didnt offer any details of when the trip could take place. For the past several days, there has been widespread debate about whether Donald Trumps extreme rhetoric is to blame for the mail bombs sent to high-profile Democratic critics of the president. Now, there will likely be an even bigger debate about whether he is responsible for the horrific murders at Pittsburghs Tree of Life synagogue. Especially in the more recent case, the answer is less simple than it might seem at first glance. For one thing, it is inherently difficult to ascribe the actions of ideological fanatics to any one underlying cause. Human behavior is influenced by many factors, and when it falls so far outside the mainstream that it involves murderous intent and deadly violence, the actors sole motivation cannot be reduced to his political beliefs alone. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement For another, its clear that the suspect in the mail bombings was a fan of the presidents, and that he chose political targetsprominent Democrats and journalistswhom the president and his allies have regularly demonized. But the emerging press reports about the synagogue shooter indicate that his political beliefs were more complicated. He was a staunch anti-Semite. A few hours before he set out to kill as many Jews as he could, he echoed a vile conspiracy theory that blames George Soros for most of Americas evilsthe same conspiracy that the president himself validated as recently as Friday. And yet, unlike the man suspected of manufacturing the mail bombs, one of which was sent to Soros, the Pittsburgh suspect does not appear to have been a fan of the presidents. Rather, he regarded Trump as a globalist who had sold out to the Jewish world conspiracy. Advertisement Most likely, well never know whether one fewer inflammatory tweet or one more conciliatory speech from the president might have averted the massacre in Pittsburgh. And yet, Trumps reckless determination to crank the temperature of American politics up to the highest possible setting was likely a contributing factor. And thats why the best analogy for understanding Trumps responsibility for the rising tides of civic violence in our country may hail from the world of science. Advertisement Scientists cannot definitively determine whether any one particular storm is caused by climate change. But they know that the frequency and intensity of extreme weather events have increased due to global warming. In the same way, it is impossible to definitively ascribe any one particular hate crime or terrorist attack to extreme political rhetoric. But it is clear that the kind of violent and dehumanizing language that is the hallmark of Trumps political style is likely to increase the number of such crimes. That is enough to make the president morally culpable for an overall increase in civic strife, even if we cannot know whether he is causally responsible for this or that specific act of violence. Advertisement Advertisement The latest bout of deadly anti-Semitic violence should, then, remind us that words have consequences. It should also remind us that we have, for far too long, taken anti-Semitic words rather too lightly. Even before Donald Trump poisoned our public discourse, Jews in the United States faced an elevated risk of hate crime. In 2015, for example, Jews were as likely as black Americans to experience assault or intimidation on a per capita basis; they were also at least five times more likely to become the victims of vandalism. And yet, the violent effects of anti-Semitic rhetoric are rarely taken as seriously in public discourse as other forms of prejudiceand its perpetrators are often treated with surprising gentleness. Advertisement Advertisement There can be absolutely no equivalence between actual violence and a lack of civility. One reason for that is the notion that Jews cannot be victims of bigotry in the way that other minority groups are, because most Jews are white. As Saturdays events in Pittsburgh tragically demonstrate, that is simply not the case. But this moral confusion about Jewsthat their white skin and relative affluence protect them from hatredhas paved the way for an astounding amount of tolerance toward the anti-Semitically intolerant. Unlike Trump, for example, Louis Farrakhan has openly called Jews termites and likened them to poison. And yet, its still possible to be both a friend of Farrakhans and admired by many progressive Americans. Farrakhans political influence may be minimal among mainstream Democrats, but Rep. Danny Davis and Womens March organizer Tamika Mallory defended him earlier this year; after meeting Farrakhan two years ago, Marc Lamont Hill, a popular CNN analyst and professor at Temple University, boasted on Instagram that he had had an amazing time of learning, listening [and] laughing with one of the countrys most infamous anti-Semites. After the horrific slaughter in Pittsburgh, this must finally change. Advertisement Advertisement Over the past few days, a depressingly large number of conservative luminaries have drawn comparisons between left-wing protestors who shout at senior Trump administration officials in public and right-wing extremists who resort to mail bombs or (now) mass shootings. This attempt to draw a moral equivalence between two vastly different phenomena would have the virtue of absurdist humor if it didnt also suffer from the vice of reckless depravity. There can be absolutely no equivalence between actual violence and a lack of civility. Nor are both sides equally at fault for the dangerous divisions the country now faces. Advertisement And yet, the recent attacks should also help to explain why the demise of civility is, to put it mildly, not a cause for celebration. To remain peaceful, democracies depend on the willingness of political partisans to settle their differences within the rules prescribed by existing institutions and to extend each other a minimum degree of mutual toleration. When that willingness wanes, and a growing number of citizens gives up on accomplishing their goals through institutional means, political violence inevitably rises. Advertisement It is clear that Donald Trump bears the main culpability for destroying whatever norms of civility we still retained a few years ago. It is unfortunately less clear that responding in kind offers a realistic path for getting us out of this mess. If we proudly declare civility to be dead and start to escalate conflict ourselves, we run three big risks: First, we are likely to alienate many of the voters we need to oust Donald Trump from office. Second, we give far-right extremists cover by creating the (wrong!) impression that both sides are similarly willing to use violence. And third, we further erode trust in the institutions we will need after Trump is defeated, in order to break the cycle of escalating civic strife. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement For the next two years, we wont be able to get rid of the bully in the White House who does so much to incite hatred from his pulpit. But thankfully, we still retain the freedom to fight him in peacefuland, yes, civilways: We can make sure that we vote in the midterms and convince as many others as we can to do the same. We can become more consistent in condemning racism and anti-Semitism, even when it comes from our own side. We can marshal our anger to fight the extremists in the political institutions, in public debatesand in peaceful protests. And when we find ourselves face-to-face with one of the people complicit in poisoning our public debate, we can calmly and forcefully explain why they are morally responsible for spilling the blood of our fellow citizens. I know: These responses arent remotely equal to our anger. At times, it would feel so much more satisfying to shout or perhaps even to punch. But these peaceful tactics give us the best chance of convincing our fellow citizens that it is Trump whos threatening American valuesand of achieving a country in which political violence is a rare aberration rather than a daily occurrence. As a profile of Robert Bowers begins to emerge, particular attention is being paid to how the man who is suspected of opening fire at a Pittsburgh synagogue Saturday morning and killing 11 people was fond of anti-Semitic conspiracy theories. He frequently threatened Jews on social network Gab. His anti-Semitic and nationalist views seemed to combine perfectly in his penchant to frequently post about the migrant caravan making its way from Central America to the United States. President Donald Trump and Republicans as a whole have turned the caravan into a rallying cry ahead of the midterms, but to an untrained eye the connection may seem a little perplexing. But Fox News has often talked about a connection between the caravan and George Soros, who is often described by anti-Semites as the head of a globalist effort that is seeking to undermine a white, Christian social order, as Talia Lavin wrote in the Washington Post recently.* Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement On Thursday, merely two days before Bowers reportedly opened fire at the Pittsburgh synagogue, Lou Dobbs had a guest on the show who directly made the connection between Soros and the caravan. A lot of these folks have affiliates that are getting money from the Soros-occupied State Department, Chris Farrell, Judicial Watchs director of investigations and research, said. Advertisement As Josh Marshall from Talking Points Memo pointed out on Twitter ZOG is a staple of white supremacist/neo-Nazi websites/literature etc. Stands for Zionist occupied government. This guy knows exactly what lever hes pulling when he uses this phrase, Marshall wrote. A screengrab of an apparent Bowers repost on Gab appears to confirm he was well acquainted with the term. 2/ For those who don't know this world, "ZOG" is a staple of white supremacist/neo-Nazi websites/literature etc. Stands for "Zionist occupied government", i.e., US govt being controlled by Jews. This guy knows exactly what lever he's pulling when he uses this phrase. Josh Marshall (@joshtpm) October 27, 2018 Advertisement Advertisement and this was reposted by Bowers only recently pic.twitter.com/zaYaJp5b79 Gavin Sheridan (@gavinsblog) October 27, 2018 Advertisement Farrell was hardly the first to make the connection on Fox News. Earlier in the month, Fox & Friends also mentioned the connection, this time citing a tweet by Rep. Matt Gaetz that openly questioned whether Soros was funding the caravan. Mr. Gaetz yesterday called for an investigation whether U.S. backed NGOs, or George Soros were behind the caravan, Fox News Steve Doocy said. Rep. Louie Gohmert also mentioned the possibility that Soros was funding the caravan earlier this week. Well, I cant help but think the Democratsperhaps Sorosmay be funding this thinking its going to help them, Gohmert said. Advertisement Beyond what he could have heard on Fox News, though, Bowers also seemed to be fond of a theory that has become viral on far-right websites and forums. That theory involves a photo that appears to show migrants getting onto a truck that has an apparent Star of David visible on the side. To the surprise of no one, Infowars Alex Jones also got in on the conspiracy theory, saying the caravan was an example of how Soros and others are trying to open up large migration routes from the third-world into the first-world as part of a neo-colonialism system. Perhaps we should start here: We dont yet know what we dont know. Twelve people have been shot, 11 are dead at the Tree of Life Synagogue in Squirrel Hill, Pittsburgh. Six are injured. Four law enforcement officers were injured before the gunman was apprehended. Pittsburghs public safety director, Wendell Hissrich, has called the crime scene one of the worst I have ever seen. We know very little about this third violent hate crime in a week, but one thing we do know is that the alleged perpetrator, Robert Bowers, ran into the sanctuary in the middle of Shabbat morning services Saturday screaming, All Jews must die. A baby-naming was in progress. We know that Bowers was armed with a lawfully purchased AR-15 rifle and handguns. We know from his recent social media postings that he seems to have been angered by the congregations concern for and support of refugees. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Perhaps we can add this: Some of us have children, Jewish children, who have been dragged to synagogue on Shabbat mornings, grumbling and bored, just as we were dragged there as children and just as children of every faith are dragged to their houses of worshipto sing and to read holy texts and to pray for peace, as we do each week. We have let our children hide in the stairwells and read books in the balconies and play unsupervised in the courtyards because these spaces were home as much as home was. And tonight we will have to tell our children that we cannot keep them safe in their holy places, the places in which they believe that God lives. We have to tell them that the same kind of people who wanted to burn down a synagogue in Charlottesville, Virginia, last year may enter any sacred building at any time with weapons of war, and mow down people as they are praying, for coming together to pray. We have to tell them that in these past two years as we have pledged and promised to keep them safe in their schools and their streets and their houses of worship, that we were lying; we cannot keep them safe, we can only pray that they are lucky. I suppose it is ironic that in this country we can offer nothing beyond hopes and prayers to those who were already praying in the first place. Advertisement Advertisement I can also add that I do know that fighting about whether the election of this president is the cause of what the Anti-Defamation League has called the deadliest attack on the Jewish Community in the history of the United States or merely the correlate is pointless. Just as it is pointless to wonder what mysterious unknowable circumstances have led to the massive uptick in hate crimes against Jews since 2016. Just as it is either too easy or too hard to show whether provably false claims about George Sorosfinanced caravans of Middle Eastern terrorists to the United States have any connection to the killers obsession with George Soros and caravans and terrorists. No, we are long past the capacity to debate causation. Because that would require a shared understanding of what is true and the People of the False Flag have ensured that the truth is always the very opposite of the truth. Advertisement Advertisement Perhaps the one thing we can agree upon after today is that we need to ditch that oft-brandished Maya Angelou quote, the one that holds that when someone shows you who they are, believe them the first time. We keep repeating it because for some reason it makes us feel better, but the deployment of the quote going forward should be: When someone shows you who they want their followers to be, believe them. Its a better fit for an age in which reality is impossible to pin down and everything is a posture or a pose rather than a statement for which the issuer could be held accountable. It is a better fit for an age when allegedly thoughtful sober men claim this president was just being playful when he celebrated assaulting journalists or claim that hes just using rhetoric when he says that he is indeed a nationalist, with all that word implies. Advertisement Advertisement We have been told over and over that we are not to take this president literally or seriously or jokingly or truthfully, even though every day he shows his supporters who he is, and they not only believe in him, they quite literally believe him. For too long we have been trapped in a cycle of figuring out how to talk about a president who is neither truthful nor presidential, who cheerfully labels Democrats as evil and gleefully leads chants about locking up the very people who were the recipients of bombs at their homes. How does one even begin to explain to ones children what it means that the president denounces violence and division as he foments both, on an hourly basis? Perhaps we can look to Florida for a tip. Last week the states gubernatorial candidate Andrew Gillum said that because neo-Nazis and white supremacists were supporting and campaigning for and contributing to his opponent Ron DeSantis, perhaps it was time to stop talking about causation entirely. Im not calling Mr. DeSantis a racist, he said. Im simply saying the racists believe hes a racist. Advertisement Advertisement The formulation is useful because it reframes a pointless debate about what leaders dog whistles really mean into a debate about what their followers end up believing. If what is said no longer matters, we can perhaps still evaluate what is heard. In the current ontological meltdown, there is no point in debating what leaders actually meanthey are affirmatively telling us that they lie constantlybut what we can and should focus on is what kind of people they ask their followers to be. Do they ask their adherents and admirers to see the best in others? Do they ask them to find common ground? Advertisement In the last week we have encountered two actual killers and one aspiring killer who believed their president when he said that caravans of murderous foreigners are approaching, and who believed that what their president wants is to have those caravans halted by force. They believed their president when he said that the media is hurting America and they believe their president wants to stop the media from doing that journalism by physical force. In the last week, we have seen that when the president makes or amplifies false claims about George Soros and globalists and refugees, people want to act on those claims. It doesnt matter whether the president is being truthful or arch or ironic or funny or even if he admits moments later that he was just lying for sport. It does matter that millions of Americans believe this president wants them to rise up if the election is stolen by way of vote fraud, and that this president wants them to physically assault journalists who report bad things about him. That is what they hear every day, and that is what we need to worry about. Advertisement Perhaps instead of wasting another day on the pointless cycle of whether people who tweet racist, anti-Semitic, anti-immigrant, and anti-minority statements actually cause anti-Semitic, anti-immigrant, and anti-minority attacks or just stoke what was there to begin with, we should content ourselves with accepting that this is actually beside the point. The point is that people who hate Jews and immigrants and minorities believe that when they commit violence against these people, they are behaving as the followers their president wants them to be. Do all or most of the presidents fans believe this? Certainly not. But we have seen far too many of them performing on the words the president puts out there. And it doesnt matter who is responsible because he accepts no responsibility no matter what. It does matter what we do next. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Who cares that the president suggested Saturday that the members of the Tree of Life synagogue should have paid armed guards, as armed policemen gave their lives to protect them? We have to stop debating how to interpret the last pointless things that come out of his mouth and realize how they are already directly affecting the people with whom we share this country. We have to because we also have to show our children our real faces tonightthe faces of pain and yes, terror, the face of trauma that in America people can be mowed down for their faith and their deeds, and that we are at the point when the lawfully purchased gun will not even be a coda to the conversation about massacres in synagogues unless we force it to be. Saturday night, Jewish families perform a ceremony ushering out the Sabbath called Havdalah. Havdalah literally means separation or divisionnot between people but between the sacred and the profane, between darkness and light, between holy and every day. Advertisement Our job this weekend will have two componentswe will not only have to do this within our lives, but for the country. We will try to show our children that there are stark differences between love and hate, between hopelessness and hope, and between truth and fabrications. We will also have to show our children what kind of people we want them to be, because as it turns out, when you show people who you want them to be, they believe you. That is the nature of human beings. It is excruciating, but we can perhaps honor those who fell in their own house of prayer this week by remembering the division between light and dark, between hope and hopelessness, and by showing our children that we need them to choose to stand in the light. Rabbi Jeffrey Myers was frustrated. The rabbi at the Tree of Life Synagogue in Pittsburgh was not happy with the way politicians seemingly always fail to act to prevent another mass shooting and he wrote a blog post about it. We deserve better, he titled the July 19 post that is still up on the synagogues website. A little over three months after that post, a gunman went into the synagogue he leads and opened fire, killing at least 11 people. Advertisement Although the post is a more general look at how news moves so fast that promises are quickly forgotten, Myers also took particular aim at the repeated failure to enact any kind of gun control. The push by the students from Parkland, Florida, to enact safer schools? Now that schools are closed for the summer, apparently school safety is not important, as shooters are finding other valuable sites, he wrote. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Politicians know peoples interests shift and theyre counting on short attention spans, he added. Despite continuous calls for sensible gun control and mental health care, our elected leaders in Washington knew that it would fade away in time, Myers wrote. Unless there is a dramatic turnaround in the mid-term elections, I fear that that the status quo will remain unchanged, and school shootings will resume. I shouldnt have to include in my daily morning prayers that God should watch over my wife and daughter, both teachers, and keep them safe. Where are our leaders? In one part of the post, Myers summarized what he saw as an accurate characterization of the response to violent acts or any kind of tragedy: Tragic eventThoughts and PrayersCall to Action by our Elected LeadersHang WringingNext News Event. Time will tell whether Myers was particularly prescient and predicted the life cycle of the response to the tragedy that hit his synagogue Saturday. The Allegheny County medical examiners office released the names of those who were killed in the shooting at the Tree of Life synagogue in Pittsburgh on Saturday and the first thing that jumps out are their ages. All the victims were middle aged or elderly. Robert Gregory Bowers, 46, killed eight men and three women ranging in age from 54 to 97 inside the synagogue before police shot him. Bowers told an officer while he was being treated for his injuries that he wanted all Jews to die and also that they were committing genocide to his people, according to a police affidavit. Advertisement Among those killed was a married coupleBernice Simon, 84, and Sylvan Simon, 86two brothersCecil Rosenthal, 59, and David Rosenthal, 54and a 97-year-oldRose Mallinger. The others who were killed were all in their 60s Richard Godfried, 65, Jerry Rabinowitz, 66, and Erving Youngner, 6970sJoyce Feinberg, 75 and Daniel Stein, 71and Melvin Wax, who was 88. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The death toll could still increase as two of the injured are listed in critical condition, including one of the four injured police officers. A 61-year-old woman is in stable condition while a 70-year-old man is in critical condition. One 40-year-old male police officer is also in critical condition while a 55-year-old and a 27-year-old are in stable condition. Another injured police officer who was treated in the hospital has already been released. Advertisement Bowers, who was reportedly armed with an AR-15 rifle and three handguns, will be making his first appearance before a judge on Monday afternoon. He was charged with 11 state counts of criminal homicide, six counts of aggravated assault and 13 counts of ethnic intimidation. Federal prosecutors also charged Bowers with 29 criminal counts. The charges could lead to the death penalty, Attorney General Jeff Sessions said. The actions of Robert Bowers represent the worst of humanity. We are dedicating the entire resources of my office to this federal hate crime investigation and prosecution, U.S. attorney for western Pennsylvania Scott Brady told reporters. Big moves and strong drives couldnt separate the top two pacers in western New York this week as Lucky McTrucky and In Runaway Bay N hit the wire at the same time in the $11,000 Open Handicap pacing feature at Batavia Downs on Saturday night (Oct. 27). It took a quarter of a mile but Lucky McTrucky (Drew Monti) finally got to the front and settled in for the mile. The outer flow came early at the three-eighths bringing Upfront Countryboy (Billy Davis Jr.) and In Runaway Bay N (Kevin Cummings) one-two at the half. Cummings swung In Runaway Bay N three-wide as soon as they hit the backstretch and set his sights on the leader. By the three-quarters In Runaway Bay N took the front on the outside by a neck over Lucky McTrucky and he appeared to be going right by in the last turn. But Monti worked Lucky McTrucky hard and he responded by getting back the lead and had a clear length advantage at the top of the stretch. Cummings got after In Runaway Bay N with right-handed urging and he again drew even with Lucky McTrucky. They paced together all the way to the wire and the camera could not separate them under the light where they finished in a dead heat in 1:56.3, only a head in front of Dark Horse (Ray Fisher Jr.) who brushed up the pylons late. It was the 10th win of the year for Lucky McTrucky ($3.30) who is owned by Tessa Roland and the seventh win of the year for In Runaway Bay N ($5.60) who is owned by Mark Jakubik. Billy Davis Jr. led all drivers on Saturday scoring three wins on the night. Live harness racing resumes at Batavia Downs on Wednesday (Oct. 31) with post time for the first race at 5:00 p.m. (with files from Batavia) Bay of Plenty We are on the hunt for drivers with either Class 2, 4, or 5 licenses. We are working with a variety of clients with different... View or Apply on GoodWork.co.nz Videos Sorry, there are no recent results for popular videos. Mountain Shadows in Wayanad is just the place for a dreamy vacation Check out todays leading news stories: Politics -- Vietnamese Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc has decided to strip Nguyen Bac Son of the title of former Minister of Information and Communications for the 2011-2016 tenure due to his violations during his time in office. Society -- Multiple tourists were stuck for more than an hour along the cable car route connecting An Thoi Town with Hon Thom Island off the southern province of Kien Giang after a technical error occurred at around 2:50 pm on Saturday. -- A mother and her two-year-old child were killed after a barge broke in half along the section of the Hau (Back) River in the Mekong Delta province of An Giang on Saturday afternoon. -- Nguyen Thuy Nga, also known as Nguyen Thi Van, who is the wife of Vietnams former Party General Secretary Le Duan, passed away on Friday night at the age of 93. -- Nearly 100 workers of the NYG Vietnam Company in the southern province of Dong Nai were admitted to the hospital on Friday afternoon with symptoms of possible food poisoning. About 70 of the victims were still being treated at the infirmary as of Saturday. -- The Ho Chi Minh City-based Tan Thuan Industrial Promotion Company Limited (IPC) has been found committing multiple violations during the 2016-17 period, causing losses worth hundreds of billions of dong (VND100 billion = US$4.3 million) to the state budget. -- A wall suddenly collapsed when a house was being pulled down along Le Thai To Street in Hanoi on Saturday afternoon. An 82-year-old, who sells drinks next door, narrowly escaped without any injuries. -- The Ho Chi Minh City Power Corporation has helped replace old light bulbs on the premises of 10 apartment complexes in District 4 in a bid to ensure fire safety for local residents. -- Deputy Prime Minister Truong Hoa Binh has asked the State Bank of Vietnam to review the legal grounds of a case in which a man was recently fined heavily for exchanging $100 at a gold shop in the Mekong Delta city of Can Tho. Business -- All 12 loss-making projects under the management of the Minitry of Industry and Trade will be dealt with by the year 2020, Minister Tran Tuan Anh asserted during the sixth session of the National Assembly in Hanoi on Saturday morning. Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam! Multiple riders took fright when Vietnams longest cable car abruptly halted, leaving them trapped in mid-air over water for more than an hour on Saturday. The incident played out at around 3:00 pm on a sweltering afternoon on the Hon Thom Cable Car in Kien Giang Province, located in southwestern Vietnam. The passengers, including children and elderly people, felt tired and very worried at the time when they were accompanied by no staff member from the cable car operator. The Hon Thom Cable Car in Kien Giang Province, southern Vietnam. Photo: Tuoi Tre Support towers of the Hon Thom Cable Car in Kien Giang Province, southern Vietnam. Photo: Tuoi Tre A rider called an emergency number and received the news that a switch from one electric generator to another had caused the cable car to stall. He was reassured that the problem would be handled in only five minutes. But an hour passed without the situation improving, and passengers began making numerous telephone calls for help. That was the first time I had taken a cable car ride, but I found myself dangling in mid-air for over one hour without drinking water while the temperature was really scorching, Nguyen Ngoc Tan, a 62-year-old passenger, recalled. I called my family, and they cried because of anxiety. Nguyen Huu Tuynh, deputy director of Sun Group, the Hon Thom Cable Cars developer, said that all stranded passengers eventually came to the terminal safely. Sun Group extended apologies to the riders and refunded their cable car fares, Tuynh said. A power glitch prompted the cars to stop, he confirmed. The Hon Thom Cable Car in Kien Giang Province, southern Vietnam. Photo: Tuoi Tre A terminal of the Hon Thom Cable Car (red marker) in Kien Giang Province, southern Vietnam, is seen in this Google Maps rendition. The Hon Thom Cable Car stretches around 7,899 meters from a town on Vietnams tourist mecca of Phu Quoc Island to the neighboring smaller islands of Hon Roi and Hon Thom. The ropeway, launched in February, was recognized by the Guinness World Records as the worlds longest non-stop three-rope cable car. The cable car system has 69 cabins, offering free Wi-Fi, with a capacity of up to 30 passengers each, and they can move at the maximum speed of 8.5 meters per second. Its largest support tower stands about 174 meters above sea level. Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam! Police in Vietnam have summoned a man to be the guardian for two kids who had been caught stealing from two houses earlier this week. Nguyen Thanh A, from Tra Vinh Province, was named the guardian for his two children, seven and nine years old, police officers said on Sunday. As kids had been found stealing property from two households on Thursday, police said. The children sneaked into the two houses in Ward 6, Tra Vinh City, which is the provincial capital, at 2:00 pm on that day and stole VND900,000 (US$39) in cash together with one earring, they admitted to police officers. The two went on to steal from a third house when they were nabbed by locals who then turned the thieves in to police. The kids are addicted to computer games and often wander from home, officers said, adding that they had managed to steal property for 25 times since the beginning of this year. Police have returned them back to their family for care and education. Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam! Australian Story returns to profile NSW farmer Peter Andrews and his attempts to drought-proof the land. Over many years, Australian Story has followed the efforts of farmer Peter Andrews to drought-proof the land. His unorthodox approach, which involves planting weeds and installing leaky weirs, was once considered heretical but a growing band of supporters has taken up his cause At Mulloon, outside Canberra, Tony Coote and a group of like-minded landholders set out to prove that the Andrews method works. Now, during one of the worst droughts in living memory their results are cause for hope and have attracted the eye of Prime Minister Scott Morrison. 8pm Monday on ABC. An almost forgotten cenotaph to railway workers from Northern Ireland who died in the First World War is set to become visible to the public again. The cenotaph was erected at Belfasts old York Street station to commemorate railway staff. The terminus, which dated back to 1848, officially closed in 1992. There is now a maintenance depot on the site, within which the cenotaph is located. It is open to the public once a year for Remembrance Day, or by prior arrangement. However a group of locals have been campaigning for the cenotaph to be visible to the public all year round. They have now reached agreement for a window to be inserted in the wall in front of the cenotaph, allowing it to become more visible. Coronation Street star Charlie Lawson, who is originally from north Belfast, has backed the York Street cenotaph campaign. PA/Andrew Parsons Coronation Street actor Charlie Lawson has lent his backing to the campaign. Following meetings with Northern Irelands public transport provider Translink, the company has offered a compromise option of inserting a window into the wall to allow the cenotaph to be visible to the public. Campaigner William McQuade has described the development as a small but significant victory for lower north Belfast. He described it as particularly fitting 100 years on from the end of the Great War. Now Mr McQuade has launched a fundraising campaign to cover the costs of making the cenotaph visible. He has argued that a visible cenotaph will help attract more tourists into the area, and show the areas shared history of service and sacrifice from all sides of the communities that reside there. Having served (in the armed forces) this is something that I can say with full conviction that I am personally passionate about and I can honestly say this said monument just behind the works wall should be on public display, he said. I have known about it from a child and often wondered why this is not on display, taking into consideration that whilst we have a shared past that can be contentious at times both sides fought and died side by side regardless of race, class or creed. Story continues A previous request for the war memorial to be moved to a site on the Shore Road was unsuccessful. The war memorial was originally erected by the Midland Railway Company at York Street station to commemorate railway staff who lost their lives in the Great War. When the station underwent redevelopment, it was moved to Carrickfergus. During work at Carrickfergus in the early 2000s, the war memorial was moved to York Road engineering facility, where it remains. A Translink spokesman said: Following significant interest from members of the public we are working with community representatives on plans which will make the cenotaph located within NI Railways York Road engineering site more visible to the public. NI Railways does facilitate people wishing to view the cenotaph at York Road, and the laying of poppy wreaths, to commemorate railway workers from the local area who died during the World Wars. There is an annual Remembrance Day service held at the cenotaph (this year Friday November 9) which is open for all members of the public to attend. German navy submarine NATO REUTERS/Balazs Koranyi ON BOARD THE GERMAN FRIGATE HAMBURG (Reuters) - Worried by a military build-up on its doorstep, Germany is leading efforts to coordinate NATO and European Union naval forces better in the Baltic Sea to counter Russia's beefed up presence in the area. On Monday, Germany begins exercises off the Finnish coast involving 3,600 sailors and troops, 40 ships and 30 aircraft from more than a dozen countries. The maneuvers will focus on keeping crucial sea routes open in times of conflict. "The Baltic Sea is our front yard, so we and our neighbors obviously want to be able to move freely on the sea lines of communication," Captain Sven Beck told reporters aboard the German frigate Hamburg. Berlin has come under heavy pressure from US President Donald Trump to play a bigger military role at a time when Western countries are anxious about tensions in the Baltic region. Russia has deployed missiles to its Kaliningrad exclave that can reach Berlin, NATO has thousands of troops in the region and Sweden which like Finland remains outside the military alliance but is an EU member is remilitarizing its Gotland island. german navy baltic NATO Kacper Pempel/Reuters The Hamburg was moored in the Finnish port of Turku as one-by-one grey warships slipped into the harbor in preparation for the exercises, including a futuristic corvette from Sweden's Visby class. By evening snow flurries fell on a packed port as the Baltic winter began to set in. The shallow waters and narrow straits of the Baltic make it easy to lay mines and hard to maneuver warships. Western military experts fear Russia could block the free movement of NATO ships, making it impossible to support the tiny Baltic states in case of a war. Moscow says it is not threatening anyone and has the sovereign right to deploy weapons on its own territory including in Kaliningrad, which is separated from the rest of Russia and borders NATO members Poland and Lithuania. Story continues During the exercises, naval vessels will practice clearing mines from harbor entrances, escort cargo ships through contested waters and simulate using force. "The aim of our exercise is to secure the sea lines of communication, those lines that you can't see but that guarantee trade and prosperity in the countries along the Baltic coast," Beck said, using the military term for major sea routes. Germany has been trying to bring the navies of NATO and EU countries on the Baltic closer together since Russia annexed Crimea from Ukraine in 2014, starting with regular meetings of fleet commanders the following year. It is also building a new naval command center in Rostock designed to house a permanent staff of international officers. In times of crisis, this will be able to lead NATO or EU operations in the Baltic from 2023. More responsibility HMS Karlstad comes alongside in Trondheim prior participating in Exercise trident juncture 18. NATO Defence Minister Ursula von der Leyen said last month that as the biggest NATO and EU country on the Baltic, Germany must "take more responsibility for the region" a sign it is slowly shedding its post-World War II reluctance to take the military lead. Other Western countries welcome the German initiative. "We are very happy that Germany has taken the lead in that sense," Finnish navy chief Admiral Veijo Taipalus said. Coordination was necessary, not least because Finland and Sweden could not access intelligence restricted to alliance members. "We don't have a big navy, but in relation to the Baltic countries it is huge," said Capt. Beck. "So we are happy to take the responsibility." (By Sabine Siebold; editing by David Stamp) NOW WATCH: How Russia's most advanced military equipment stacks up against NATO hardware See Also: A gunman has killed at 11 people after opening fire during a baby naming ceremony at a Pittsburgh synagogue. At least six others were wounded, including four police officers who rushed to the scene. Police said a suspect was in custody after the attack at the Tree of Life Congregation in the Squirrel Hill neighbourhood. A law enforcement official identified the suspect as Robert Bowers and said he is in his 40s. City officials said the shooting was being investigated as a federal hate crime. It comes amid a raft of high-profile attacks in an increasingly divided country, including the series of pipe bombs mailed over the past week to prominent Democrats and former officials. The shooting also immediately reignited the longstanding national debate about guns with President Donald Trump saying synagogues and churches should have armed guards, while Pennsylvanias Democratic governor said dangerous weapons are putting our citizens in harms way. Wendell Hissrich, Pittsburgh public safety director, said: It is a very horrific crime scene. It was one of the worst that Ive seen. It is very bad. The attack took place during a baby naming ceremony, according to Pennsylvania Attorney General Josh Shapiro. It was unknown whether the baby was harmed in the attack. The synagogue is located at the intersection of Wilkins and Shady avenues. The tree-lined residential area, about 10 minutes from downtown Pittsburgh, is the hub of Pittsburghs Jewish community. (PA Graphics) Before the suspect was taken into custody, the neighbourhood and all synagogues in the city were in a lockdown with people ordered to remain indoors. Mr Trump called the shooting far more devastating than anyone thought, saying: Its a terrible thing whats going on with hate in our country. He also said the outcome might have been different if the synagogue had some kind of protection from an armed guard and suggested that might be a good idea for all churches and synagogues. Story continues Governor Tom Wolf called the shooting an absolute tragedy in a statement that made reference to calls for tighter gun control laws. We must all pray and hope for no more loss of life, he said. But we have been saying this one is too many for far too long. Dangerous weapons are putting our citizens in harms way. Watching the events unfolding in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Law enforcement on the scene. People in Squirrel Hill area should remain sheltered. Looks like multiple fatalities. Beware of active shooter. God Bless All! Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) October 27, 2018 Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said he was heartbroken and appalled by the attack. The entire people of Israel grieve with the families of the dead, he said. We stand together with the Jewish community of Pittsburgh. We stand together with the American people in the face of this horrendous anti-Semitic brutality. And we all pray for the speedy recovery of the wounded. World Jewish Congress President Ronald S Lauder called the shooting an attack not just on the Jewish community, but on America as a whole. The synagogue is a fortress-like concrete building, its facade punctuated by rows of swirling, modernistic stained-glass windows illustrating the story of creation, the acceptance of Gods law, the life cycle and how human-beings should care for the earth and one another, according to its website. Among its treasures is a Holocaust Torah rescued from Czechoslovakia. The Tree of Life synagogue on Wildins Avenue in the Squirrel Hill neighbourhood (Pam Panchak/Post-Gazette via AP) Its sanctuary can hold up to 1,250 guests. Michael Eisenberg, the immediate past president of the Tree of Life Synagogue, lives about a block from the building. He was getting ready for services when he received a phone call from a member who works with Pittsburghs Emergency Services, saying he had been notified through scanner and other communications there was an active shooter at their synagogue. I ran out of the house without changing and I saw the street blocked with police cars, he said. It was a surreal scene. And someone yelled Get out of here. I realised it was a police officer along the side of the house. I am sure I know all of the people, all of the fatalities. I am just waiting to see. Families of shooting victims can call 412-432-4400 for news of their loved ones. A Victims Assistance Center has been set up at Chatham University, Berry Hall, 106 Berry Street. Pgh Public Safety (@PghPublicSafety) October 27, 2018 He said officials at the synagogue had not received any threats he knew of prior to the shooting. The synagogue maintenance employees had recently checked all of the emergency exits and doors to make sure they were cleared and working. He added: I spoke to a maintenance person who was in the building and heard the shots. He was able to escape through one of the side exit doors we had made sure was functioning. Jeff Finkelstein of the Jewish Federation of Greater Pittsburgh said local synagogues have done lots of training on things like active shooters, and weve looked at hardening facilities as much as possible. This should not be happening, period, he told reporters at the scene. This should not be happening in a synagogue. Michael Eisenberg a few blocks from the Tree of Life Synagogue (Gene Puskar/AP) Just three days before the shooting, Rabbi Jeffrey Myers posted a column on the congregations website, noting people make time to attend funerals, but not for lifes happy occasions. There is a story told in the Talmud of a wedding procession and a funeral procession heading along parallel roads, with the roads intersecting, Mr Myers wrote on Wednesday. The question asked is: when they meet at the fork, which procession goes first, funeral or wedding? The correct answer is wedding, as the joy of the couple takes precedence. In fact, the funeral procession is to move out of sight so that their joy is not lessened. He ended the column with words that now seem all too prescient. We value joy so much in Judaism that upon taking our leave from a funeral or a shiva house, the customary statement one makes (in Yiddish) is nor oyf simches only for smachot, he wrote. While death is inevitable and a part of life, we still take our leave with the best possible blessing, to meet at joyous events. And so I say to you: nor oyf simches! The Duke and Duchess of Sussex were all smiles as they said goodbye to Sydney, ready to embark on the final leg of their trip to New Zealand. Meghan dressed her growing baby bump in burgundy Hugo Boss midi dress with a high neck and long sleeves. She teamed her ensemble with a pair of gorgeous nude heels by Aquazzura and a chain saddle bag by Cuyana. The 37-year-old accessorised with delicate jewellery and simple studs in her ears. Beauty wise, she kept the look simple with a bouncy blowdry, and kept to her signature beauty look of glowing skin, smoky eyes and a nude, glossy lip. meghan-markle-outfit-australia-plane Meghan looked stylish as she waved goodbye to Australia SEE: 9 nude lipsticks Duchess Meghan would certainly approve of The flight to Wellington was no doubt a special one for the royals as they were joined on the plane with a number of the New Zealand Invictus Games competitors. Meghan's royal tour wardrobe has been exceptional so far! From colourful dresses to cool casuals, and even some showstopper gowns - she has really upped her game! The former actress mixed new items with select recycled pieces, and looked picture perfect with every outing. She even introduced us all to an Australian fashion designer she loved - Martin Grant. The mum-to-be wore three of his beautiful pieces on the trip, and now were wondering which New Zealand designers she'll be loving over the next few days. There was one blip however, the stylish royal left a label on her Self Portrait dress which made headlines all around the world. The 'fashion faux-pas' was a rare occurrence for the Duchess, who is usually faultless at all times. RELATED: Meghan's maternity wardrobe so far On arrival, Harry and Meghan will be whisked off to Government House - the residence of the Governor-General of New Zealand, Dame Patsy Reddy - for a traditional welcome ceremony. We're expecting more fabulous looks over the next few days. Be sure to make HELLO! Your daily destination for all the latest goings-on during the royal tour. Like this story? Sign up to our newsletter to get other stories like this delivered straight to your inbox. FILE PHOTO: Fred Warmbier speaks as his wife Cindy looks on during a symposium at the United Nations headquarters in Manhattan, New York FILE PHOTO: Fred Warmbier speaks as his wife Cindy looks on during a symposium on possible ways of international cooperation to urge the Democratic Republic of Korea (DPKR) to take concrete actions to improve the human rights situation in the DPRK at the United Nations headquarters in Manhattan, New York, U.S., May 3, 2018. REUTERS/Shannon Stapleton/File Photo WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The director of the hospital in North Korea that treated an American student who died last year after detention in the country has rejected fresh charges that he died as a result of torture. The official Korean Central News Agency quoted the director of the Pyongyang Friendship Hospital as saying on Saturday that recent reports about the fate of 22-year-old Otto Warmbier, who died days after he was returned to the United States in a coma, were a "total distortion of the truth." "The American doctors who came ... to help Warmbier's repatriation acknowledged that his health indicators were all normal and submitted a letter of assurance to our hospital that they shared the diagnostic result of the doctors of our hospital," KCNA quoted the unnamed director as saying. "Now the question is: what is the ulterior motive of those American doctors trying to make a different story at this point in time with regard to the cause of Warmbier's death," the report said, adding that medical assessments "should not be influenced by any selfish purpose or political interest." It added that Warmbier's "health indicators were all normal" at the time of his release and there should instead be an investigation into the cause of his sudden death after his arrival in the United States. The KCNA report came hours after the Korean service of the Voice of America radio station carried a report on a lawsuit filed by Warmbier's parents alleging that their son was tortured in detention. VOA quoted declarations filed in support of the suit by Otto Warmbier's former dentists as saying that there was evidence of trauma to his teeth. It quoted another declaration from Daniel Kanter, a neurologist who was the lead physician for Warmbier on his return to his home town of Cincinnati as saying that Otto suffered brain damage after a cessation of blood flow to the brain for five to 20 minutes. Story continues "Because the injury was so extensive, it was unlikely that Mr. Warmbier was with medical personnel who were willing and able to intervene to resuscitate him when the injury occurred, Kanter declaration was quoted as saying. North Korea has blamed botulism and ingestion of a sleeping pill for Warmbier's condition. The coroner who examined Warmbier said he found no sign of botulism, adding there was no evidence of trauma to Warmbier's teeth or of broken bones. U.S. President Donald Trump charged last year that Warmbier was tortured, but also held an unprecedented summit with the North Korean leader this year and is planning another aimed at persuading him to abandon a nuclear weapons programme that threatens the United States. (Reporting by David Brunnstrom; Editing by Nick Zieminski) The Duke and Duchess of Sussex rubbed noses with Maori elders in a traditional greeting known as a hongi as they landed in New Zealand. Harry and Meghan were welcomed by two elders, known as the Kuia and Kaumatua, during a ceremony at Government House in Wellington. They later met the crowds during a walkabout at the National War Memorial. Harry received a hongi from a Maori elder as the couple touched down in New Zealand (Dominic Lipinski/PA) Meghan was also given the same greeting (Dominic Lipinski/PA) The couple attended an official welcome ceremony at Government House in Wellington, shortly after landing from Sydney (Dominic Lipinski/PA) Maori warriors were part of the welcome (Dominic Lipinski/PA) Harry was pictured picking up a Maori dagger during the ceremony (Dominic Lipinski/PA) The couple went on to lay a wreath at the newly unveiled UK war memorial (Dominic Lipinski/PA) They then took the opportunity to say hello to the crowds (Dominic Lipinski/PA) The leaders of Turkey, Russia, France and Germany said at a summit on Saturday that Syrians must lead efforts to make peace in their war-torn country, a challenge that was highlighted by the absence of any Syrian groups from the Istanbul talks. Meeting in an Ottoman-era mansion, the leaders set aside divisions over Syrian President Bashar Assad to agree on broad goals, including the eventual, voluntary return of millions of refugees who fled a conflict that has lasted more than seven years and killed over 400,000 people. "There will be no real, sustainable, credible return of the refugees if the political process is not initiated," French President Emmanuel Macron said. German Chancellor Angela Merkel stressed "preconditions" for the return of refugees, which must be closely coordinated with the U.N. refugee agency. "From our point of view, it is necessary that there be assurances that there will not be persecution or arrests, that certain fundamental humanitarian conditions are fulfilled that a certain humanitarian infrastructure is there," she said. The leaders spoke at a joint news conference with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Russian President Vladimir Putin. A final statement released by the leaders called for "an inclusive, Syrian-led and Syrian-owned political process." In a tweet, the French president called for a "firm commitment" to find a political solution to the conflict, and the creation of a Syrian constitutional committee before the end of the year. The leaders noted the cease-fire in Syria's northwestern province of Idlib, which they hope can provide some momentum for peace efforts. The truce last month prevented a Syrian government offensive on the last rebel stronghold, which many feared would have set off another refugee crisis. Idlib has been relatively calm since then, although both sides have accused each other of violating the deal. Syrian government forces shelled rebel-held villages in Idlib on Friday, killing seven people in violation of the agreement reached by Russia and Turkey, opposition activists said. Story continues Putin, however, warned against any "armed provocations" by "radical elements" in Idlib that oppose the Syrian government, saying Russia will step in to support the Assad government if necessary. Russian military support, along with backing from Iran, has helped Assad to recover much of the territory lost to rebels in the last few years. Western countries condemn Assad for what they call indiscriminate attacks on civilians and Turkey has been helping insurgents trying to remove him from power. "For us, Assad is someone who has made attempts against nearly 1 million citizens' lives. He is not in a respected position for us," Erdogan said. Since 2015, the European Union has been struggling to cope with an influx of refugees, many from Iraq and Syria, and European countries hope war-torn areas can stabilize so that people can return. Germany has pledged millions of euros to help restore basic services in areas not held by the Assad government. The summit comes amid Turkish threats of a new military operation across the border into northern Syria, in zones held by Syrian Kurdish fighters. Turkey considers the Syrian Kurdish militia, which is backed by the U.S., to be terrorists and a part of the Kurdish insurgency within Turkey. (AP) BUDAPEST (Reuters) - Thousands rallied in Budapest on Friday on behalf of a university founded by U.S. financier George Soros which says it is being forced out of Hungary by the nationalist government of Prime Minister Viktor Orban. Orban, who believes that European culture is under threat from migration and multiculturalism, has for years vilified the liberal Soros, who was born in Hungary and backs a number of causes there. The U.S.-registered Central European University (CEU) founded by Soros in 1993 said on Thursday that it would switch to enrolling new students in Vienna if it did not get guarantees of academic freedom by Dec. 1. Last year, in a move seen by many as aimed specifically against the CEU and Soros, Orban's government changed Hungary's education law so as to withdraw the right to operate from foreign-registered universities which did not also offer courses in their home country. One participant of the rally organised by opposition party Momentum, which has no seats in parliament, said the CEU represented freedom of thought and European values. "(For the government) it is really a problem, because thoughts are expressed here which criticise the government," said Peter Simor, a 36-year-old sleep scientist at another Budapest university. The ruling nationalist Fidesz party said in a statement that Momentum was linked to the "Soros network" and described the outcry over the CEU as "hysteria" and its Dec 1 ultimatum as political bluff. The dispute has worsened a rift between Orban's government and European Commission. In an interview published in Czech, Hungarian, Polish and Slovak media, French President Emmanuel Macron told eastern EU members on Friday not to fall out of step with the bloc's principles, singling out Hungary and Poland whose nationalist governments have clashed with Brussels over rule-of-law issues. (Reporting by Sandor Peto; Editing by Raissa Kasolowsky) KIYANLY, Turkmenistan (AP) The Central Asian nation of Turkmenistan has opened a chemical plant that cost $3.4 billion to build, its latest effort to diversity its gas-dependent economy. Turkmenistan is home to one of the world's largest natural gas deposits, and the new plant on the shores of the Caspian Sea will process gas to produce polyethylene and polypropylene to export via a new naval port. The Turkmen government took on 15 percent of the plant's financing with the rest of the investments coming from Japan's Toyo Engineering and South Korea's LG International and Hyundai Engineering. Turkmenistan's revenues from gas exports have fallen sharply after Russia stopped buying some of its gas over a pricing dispute. Russia, however, is set to resume the purchases next year. See Also: Pittsburgh witnessed another incident of gun violence in America. The venue was a synagogue in the Squirrel Hill neighborhood and the gunman was in his mid-40s. He had in his possession an AR-15-style assault rifle and three handguns and allegedly shouted anti-Semitic statements before opening indiscriminate fire to kill 11 and injure six. It happened in the morning during a regular Saturday service and there were no security guards in the place of worship. It is the worst attack on Jews in the history of the country. Washington Post reports that Pittsburgh has a large and close-knit Jewish community, and the authorities have labelled it as a hate crime. The gunman is a resident of the city, and his identity is established. It seems he posted anti-Semitic statements on social media before unleashing terror on unsuspecting innocent individuals. The FBI says his name is new to law enforcement agencies. Pittsburg Synagogue shooting: Atleast 11 dead and 6 injured The gunman behind the Pittsburgh synagogue shooting, Robert Bowers, was active and outspoken on social media, publishing bizarre posts in which he slammed Jews, diversity, and Donald Trump. Mo... https://t.co/XUlrDzYLHV pic.twitter.com/4IoYxqhzps U.S. Reality Check (@USRealityCheck) October 28, 2018 There is no end to gun violence Political, religious and civic leaders have condemned this incident of gun violence in Pittsburgh and have vowed to support the Jewish community. Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Wolf has expressed his concerns and said that such acts of violence are not the culture of America. President Donald Trump has also denounced the massacre. He suggested a more frequent and speedier use of the death penalty. He added that presence of armed security guards in the synagogue could have prevented the tragedy. Discuss this news on Eunomia While addressing a rally in Illinois later, he described the attack as an assault on humanity/ In spite of the best efforts of the administration, there is no letup in incidents of gun violence. The suspect in Pittsburgh carried a semi-automatic assault-style weapon similar to that used by the gunman who killed 49 people in Orlando in 2016. The present attack brings back memories of another one in a place of worship. It happened last November in a church in Texas and the gunman intended to kill one person but ended up killing 26. Obviously, there must be strict gun control laws to ensure that weapons of this nature do not fall into the wrong hands. The gunman was a loner According to Fox News, Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Wolf said that the FBI is investigating the shooting as a hate crime. The authorities believe the suspect gunman was a loner and police in New York and Los Angeles have indicated that they would be deploying extra teams to synagogues and Jewish locations throughout those cities to reassure the residents. Out of the six persons injured in the shooting, four were law enforcement officers. Two of them belonged to the police and two more were SWAT team members. All four of them are in stable condition. Cesar Sayoc Jr. was allegedly identified as the criminal behind the explosive devices sent to Democratic figures and CNN. Since the moment he was arrested, this network and some of the most prominent outlets of the mainstream media couldnt resist the temptation of blaming president Donald Trump for this violent case. Naturally, they all said his rhetoric was the element that triggered Cesar Sayocs acts. Cesar Sayocs criminal actions were not influenced by Trump or the media The reason why this is a really disastrous response from the media is due to the fact that even when Trump is one of the most divisive figures in the U.S. history, he never called anyone (directly or indirectly) to commit this type of crime against his critics. All he ever did was criticize the opposition and what he refers to as the fake news media. Sometimes in a strong and even disgusting fashion. Logically, the ironic detail is that by the same argument that the mainstream media is blaming Trump for what happened, they could also be blamed as well. Basically, the cornerstone of this case is that inflammatory rhetoric can make someone do the unthinkable. In fact, the mainstream media has been extremist enough to compare Trump with Hitler or even publishing a magnicide fantasy. Paradoxically, Trump made this point soon after the first bombs were discovered, and the media rightly rejected his argument. Of course, its impossible to blame the mainstream media for this unfortunate situation. Just as is impossible to blame Trumps rhetoric for what Cesar Sayoc did. After all, the only thing that the president and the powerful outlets are doing is attacking each other without calling anyone to engage in violent behavior. Discuss this news on Eunomia Cesar Sayocs case highlights the mainstream medias hypocrisy While this war is not good for democracy, its quite unintelligent to blame their rhetoric for the act of a crazy person. It's the same stupidity of blaming Marilyn Mansons lyrics for Columbine. In fact, it's the same idiocy as blaming Barack Obama for the killing of five police officers in Dallas in 2016. In that case, the Cesar Sayoc was a man named Micah Johnson. He committed the criminal act soon after Obama condemned the police for being racist. Logically, neither the most prominent figures of the Republican Party nor the mainstream media blamed his rhetoric. What seems even more incredible, is how the mainstream media continued with this same rationality after what happened to Steve Scalise. In that case, the Cesar Sayoc was a Bernie Sanders supporter who shot at him and other Republican Congressmen while screaming: This is for healthcare! A couple of weeks before that, Sanders said that Republican health care plans would kill millions of Americans. Not even Trump dared to blame him for the incident. Given these previous episodes, it seems odd that the mainstream media is blaming the president in a case where the relationship between the rhetoric and the criminal act is weaker. Naturally, one of the main reasons that could explain the double-standards is the proximity of the midterm elections and how Cesar Sayocs situation could benefit the Democratic Party. The other main reason is the lefts obsession with so-called hate speech and how America needs to ban and censor anything related to it. Lamentably, the Cesar Sayoc case is incredibly toxic for the U.S. considering that it will increase polarization. On the other hand, it empowers those who want to end freedom of expression. Basically, if America buys the dangerously foolish idea that you have to restrain your way of speaking to prevent a lunatic doing the unthinkable if they get influenced by your message, the future will be Orwellian. Even on Halloween, Hawaii Five-O carries a message or moral with its storytelling. The October 26, fifth episode for Season 9, "A'ohe mea 'imi a ka maka (Nothing More the Eyes to Search For), teaches the viewer how past history can be rewritten, and how the silence of a child can still speak volumes. Jerry (Jorge Garcia) assembles his loyal, ragtag gang of friends, including forensic lab technician (and Danny's nephew), Eric Russo (Andrew Lawrence) to join him for more than reminiscing. The group returns to the campsite of their adolescent days, and Jerry, portrayed as his youthful self by Joshua Gonzalez, relates his tale of witnessing an axe murderer, Bo Bradley, wiping the blade of his weapon after burying a victim's body. Once he's done further in-depth research, Jerry persuades everyone to buy into his certainty about the victim's identity, Susannah, a young woman who disappeared at precisely the same time. Taking lead from Jerry, they set out to seek justice for her. The haunting mission for Steve (Alex O'Loughlin), Junior (Beulah Koale), and Tani (Meaghan Rath) begins with the discovery of a beautiful, red-haired victims body in a church, and a mother's revelation that her daughter might have drawn the crime scene in pictures days before. As it turns out, the daughter was not the artist, but another girl, Molly (Jaycee Cryan-Cadiente), whose horrendous victimization by her father was even more wicked. Mom and dad first believe that Molly is an imaginary friend of their daughter, Katie, but she and her ordeal are very real. A deep dig Kudos are well-earned for writers, Zoe Robyn and Sean O'Reilly for this perfectly spooky story. Hawaii Five-O fans are treated to virtually every classic horror movie device, from a girlfriend (Olivia Jordan) left stranded to discover decomposing victims, to perfect lighting and shadows to amplify suspense in every scene. Discuss this news on Eunomia The name, Bo Bradley, is purposely akin to To Kill a Mockingbirds Boo Radley, and characterization of each of Jerry's grown-up camper friends is completely believable, as in when one declares Ill dig till the vodka runs out. Another delight is when Noelani (Kimee Balmilero), unexpectedly, shows up to join the cause dressed as Velma from Scooby Doo, and bearing ground-penetrating radar. It doesn't take long for the intrepid excavators to hit on something, but Noelani confirms that the bones are canine. Jerry is still convinced about where the wronged woman lies, and he turns out to be right about that, but not about the killer. Not long after asking Katie (Saini Tuimanuel) a few gentle questions, the little girl tells Steve and Junior that it was Molly who did the drawings. Steve takes a big leap in investigative technique, insisting that each of three drawings depicts a separate crime. Tani keeps her focus on the jewellery worn by the victims, and especially a gold cross. Molly returns to Katie's room one night, but escapes through a window, biting Katies mom in her getaway. She eludes a full-blown police search, so Hawaii Five-O cannot glean further evidence from this tiny witness. True scares Jerry refuses to give up on his hunches and returns to the site of the dog bones during a rainstorm. His friends are furious when they discover that their cell phones and keys have been confiscated. Jerry feels vindicated, returning with human evidence after digging deeper, and Noelani concurs. Just as he is swearing to his buddies that he had nothing to do with their missing essentials, a knock comes at the door, from Gordie (Michael Spellman), another of the gang, dressed in ghoulish mask, much to the delight. He confesses that he is the one guilty of confiscating the keys and phones and goes to get them from his car. He doesn't make it far, quickly returning, with blood draining from his neck, which has been slashed. Now sure of the killer after the camp group, they begin to barricade themselves with everything possible to keep the murderer out, but they have a dying man in their midst, and the killer only a breath away. As Jerry charges out the door, a gunshot comes from behind, dropping a masked man, who turns out to be the camp counselor, Blane Morgan (Noah Moore). On the spot, Jerry thanks Bo Bradley (Pat Gilbert) for saving all our lives. When another possible victim, of the redhead killer, comes forward (Carly Casey) realizing she escaped with her life after reaching out to little Molly, Tani has the idea to test the gold cross for DNA. The result reveals that it belongs to Jane Martin (Ashley Chewning), who was in drug rehab when her ex-husband took their daughter, Molly, and began his demented killing spree. They go to the home of the killer, Richard Coleman, just quickly enough to apprehend him, and Tani tenderly rescues Molly from a closet, trembling with fear. In another tender scene, Molly gives Tani a picture of her own, just before another of the trademark Hawaii Five-O family reunion scenes happens. Jerry brings a basket of hot cocoa to Bo Bradley, apologizing for all the misplaced guilt that he had heaped upon this gracious soul over the years. All is well that ends well. The same cannot be said for Tani when she takes a call from Captain Keo (Eric Steinberg). He tells her that the tests on the gun have come back with certainty that it belongs to Adam, and his victim was Noriko, his sister. Dread sweeps over Tani, and the storyline should come into full focus when Ian Anthony Dale returns to Hawaii Five-O as Adam in November. Is Leah Messer already considering a potential reconciliation with her former husband just days after her reported split from ex-boyfriend Jason Jordan was confirmed? On Wednesday, after Messer shared a series of tweets, seemingly confirming her rumored split from Jordan, Us Weekly magazine shared a comment given to them by the Teen Mom 2 star in which the mother of three discussed getting back together with Jeremy Calvert. We are great parents and thats all well ever be, 26-year-old Messer explained to the magazine in their October 24 report. Were great co-parents together, she added of herself and Jeremy Calvert. After tying the knot in 2012 after less than a year of dating, Messer and Calvert welcomed daughter Adalynn Faith, now five. Then, in late 2014, the couple began experiencing martial turmoil and after accusing Messer of cheating, Calvert confirmed plans for divorce. According to Leah Messer, Jeremy Calvert is unpredictable and she never knows what he's going to do or say at any given time. That said, she and her ex-husband have learned what it takes to maintain a healthy co-parenting relationship for their daughter Addie. Jeremy and I do whats best for [Adalynn Faith] and if theres ever an issue, we address it. It is all about communication," she explained. "If theres not communication when youre coparenting, it will never work. Leah Messer shares three children with her ex-husbands In addition to co-parenting her youngest daughter with Calvert, Messer is also co-parenting her eight-year-old twins, Ali and Aleeah Simms, with first husband Corey Simms. As fans of "Teen Mom 2" will recall, Messer and Simms tied the knot in 2010 and called it quits on their marriage just months later after she admitted (on camera) to sleeping with ex-boyfriend Robbie Kidd behind his back just days before walking down the aisle. Discuss this news on Eunomia Leah Messer's former boyfriend was 14 years her senior While there was a substantial age gap between Messer and her alleged ex-boyfriend, Jason Jordan, the longtime "Teen Mom 2" cast member told Us Weekly magazine that she was never embarrassed about the gap. That said, she was a bit afraid to expose their relationship to the cameras because she knows how judgmental and irrational people can be. Leah Messer, her former husbands, Jeremy Calvert, and Corey Simms, and their families are currently in production on the upcoming ninth season of Teen Mom 2. The new episodes are expected to begin airing sometime later this year or early next year. Daniel Bessner in the Boston Review: On February 2, 2003, the political scientist John J. Mearsheimer published a co-authored op-ed in The New York Times that lambasted the Bush Administrations case for invading Iraq. In a carefully laid out argument, Mearsheimer and Stephen Walt, a fellow scholar of international relations, predicted that deposing Saddam Hussein would cause more problems than it solved. They argued that the dictator needed to be contained, and that preventative war was not just unnecessary, but harmful. Of course, neither Bush nor his cronies listened, and on March 20 the Iraq War began. When it was officially wound down in December 2011 (note that we still retain thousands of U.S. troops in the country), it had cost almost $1 trillion; resulted in the deaths of hundreds of thousands of Iraqis and about 4,500 U.S. soldiers; generated untold suffering amongst people who lost limbs, family members, and their mental health; and destabilized the region by empowering the Islamic State and engendering a massive refugee crisis. More here. Malcolm Forbes in The National: Mohammed Hanifs critically acclaimed, Booker Prize-longlisted debut novel A Case of Exploding Mangoes managed to be both a riotous thriller and a merciless political satire. Running like a red thread through its cats-cradle makeup of plot arcs and narrative tangents, key exploits and attendant conspiracy theories, was one main strand concerning the mysterious plane crash that killed Pakistans military dictator General Zia-ul-Haq. Ten years after that brilliantly exuberant first novel and seven years on from Hanifs admirable but messy second, Our Lady of Alice Bhatti comes a third, Red Birds, which again takes shape from a crashed plane. General Zia did not walk from the wreckage of his Hercules C130, but at the start of Hanifs new book, Major Ellie emerges unscathed from what remains of his F15 Strike Eagle. Whats more, the American pilot finds sanctuary and acquires a whole new perspective in the place he was ordered to blow up, and among the people he was instructed to kill. More here. Northern State University student, wrestler dies Wednesday Caden Moore died unexpectedly Wednesday, and authorities have told university officials that no foul play in suspected, per the release. New Mexico would not be the artistic magnet it became without the life of Mabel Dodge Luhan. The New York society maven lured Georgia OKeeffe, D.H. Lawrence, Marsden Hartley, John Marin, Ansel Adams, Paul Strand and Martha Graham, to her Taos estate. She acted as an international advocate for both Native American and Hispanic art. The University of New Mexico Opera Theater will pay homage to this visionary woman with the premiere of Mabels Call, a new chamber opera by Nell Shaw Cohen. Performances begin in Keller Hall on Friday and Saturday, Nov. 2-3 and on Sunday, Nov. 4. Both the composer and librettist, Cohen first learned about Luhan through her own interest in OKeeffe. Luhan was bipolar. During her manic phases, she often convinced herself she could save the world through her utopian visions, said her biographer, Lois Rudnick. I think she herself was operatic by nature, Cohen said in an interview from Portland, Ore., where the New York-based composer was traveling. I became fascinated by her influence on American modernism. Cohen immersed herself in Taos through artistic residencies in 2016 and 2017 with the Helene Wurlitzer Foundation. She also scoured scholarly research, including Rudnicks biography. Mabel has lots of soaring high notes and melismas and florid singing, Cohen said. Her presence was quite dramatic, which led to people loving her and hating her. And the scale on which she lived was operatic to me. She did have these extreme ups and downs. The opera spans 1917 to 1923, beginning when Luhan first arrived in New Mexico through her former husband, the painter Maurice Sterne. The opera begins when shes in a psychoanalytic session, Cohen said. Shes having an identity crisis. World War I is happening, and she feels disillusioned. She goes to New Mexico and sees there is something more. The only child of a Gilded Age couple, Luhan created a Paris West in the American Southwest. She influenced legions of European and American artists to discover new aesthetic, social and cultural perspectives. Luhan rented a Taos home in 1918. She instantly fell in love with both the town and Antonio Lujan of Taos Pueblo. She joined (Sterne) and had this vision of Taos as the ultimate place, Cohen said. She was searching for that connection to nature and that connection to indigenous culture. She soon sent Sterne back to New York and married Lujan, her fourth husband, in 1923. Mabels Call is an opera-in-progress, Cohen said. Georgia OKeeffe carefully cultivated an image of herself as the strong, independent artist who lived an isolated life against New Mexicos windswept canyons. Most of the iconic photographs of her reflect the severe persona she was determined to convey: black and white clothing, her hair scraped back from cheekbones as steep as the cliffs surrounding her. The Candid Camera, opening at the Georgia OKeeffe Museum on Friday, Nov. 2, aims to shatter that image to reveal a woman who laughed, rafted and sketched with her friends. That circle of friendship included the great photographers Todd Webb, Ansel Adams and Dan Budnik. The images resemble family snapshots, showing the artist relaxing at home with her dogs, visiting Glen Canyon and rafting with her friends. We went through the portraits and tried to weed out the ones most reproduced, fine arts curator Ariel Plotek said. OKeeffe developed her public image with her husband, the New York photographer/impresario Alfred Stieglitz. She became quite aware of how her persona and image were being created by her black and white dress, Plotek said. It shaped the way she portrays herself in daily life. This shows another facet. Budnik received a magazine commission to photograph OKeeffe. What began as a professional relationship edged into friendship. The photographer captured the artist nuzzling her chow at Ghost Ranch in 1975. She referred to her pets as the little people. Webb met OKeeffe when Stieglitz asked him to photograph her for a New York exhibition. He visits her in New Mexico and falls in love with the place, Plotek said. Some of his are the most intimate. He gets pictures of OKeeffe in jeans, which almost no one did. He very much belies the image we have of the stern, serious OKeeffe. Webb moved to Santa Fe in 1961, and his friendship with the painter flourished. He captured OKeeffe sketching in Glen Canyon, cradling a rock and laughing with friends during a river rafting trip. OKeeffe always stashed drawing materials in her pockets. The artist joined Ansel Adams in Yosemite, where he served as her guide. The pair had met at Mabel Dodge Luhans Taos home in 1929. Hes crouching and makes OKeeffe look monumental, Plotek said. She looks as monumental as Half Dome. Photographers remained a presence in OKeeffes life from the first time Stieglitz photographed her in 1917. The ultimate New Yorker, he never visited his wife in New Mexico. He was hypochondriacal, Plotek said. He wouldnt be more than 50 miles from his doctor. Copyright 2018 Albuquerque Journal Jewish community leaders in Albuquerque expressed sorrow and spoke out against hate following the mass shooting at a Pittsburgh synagogue that claimed 11 lives and injured six others on Saturday. It breaks my heart, that this has become America, said Harry Rosenfeld, rabbi of Congregation Albert. Saturday morning, Rosenfeld said he had to start a beautiful celebration a bat mitzvah by talking about hate. Even at that high moment, we still had to acknowledge the issues and the problems in our world, particularly in our society, he said. Rosenfeld also said President Donald Trump was absolutely wrong to make the issue about guns. This isnt really about guns. This is about hatred and the acceptance in America that it is OK to express your hate by killing others, and by verbally abusing others, he said. It comes from our leadership, and it has for decades. Rabbi Arthur Flicker of Bnai Israel called the attacks horrific and un-American. America was founded among many freedoms, one of which is religious freedom, Flicker said. Were not going to let terrorists, or those who hate us, stop us from being who we are. We trust that the overwhelming majority of America, particularly the people of Albuquerque, will rally with us. Both Rosenfeld and Flicker applauded the actions of the Albuquerque Police Department in sending officers to synagogues around the city after the shooting to give a sense of safety to members. The president of Congregation Nahalat Shalom, Emet Maayan, called the attacks a targeted hate crime against Jews and said the congregation planned a gathering for Jewish community members affected by the tragedy. When neighbors came knocking on my door and we all sat around talking we felt we needed to be together to stand up and say were not hiding, he said. After closing sabbath Saturday evening, the congregation held a ritual, saying prayers for healing and mourning the dead while blessing the community. As for the future, Rosenfeld cautioned community members against making assumptions and generalization and letting their own hate build and turning away from each other. We cant let hate win, he said. We cant live our lives in fear, and we cant barricade ourselves behind our own walls because, then, they win. Prev 1 of 10 Next Copyright 2018 Albuquerque Journal The woman stares boldly at the viewer from beneath a black cloud of lace, her index finger pointing imperiously toward the sand beneath her feet. A closer look reveals the etched words Solo Goya Only Goya. From the romantic images of Francisco de Goya to prehistoric vessels and the works of Spanish Golden Age painter Diego Velasquez, Visions of the Hispanic World celebrates the richness and scope of Spanish arts and culture across the centuries. Albuquerque is the first stop in the U.S. for this historic collection. Opening soon at the Albuquerque Museum, the exhibition includes treasures from New Yorks Hispanic Society Museum and Library that span more than 3,000 years. The show features more than 200 works from the Iberian Peninsula, split into two chronological parts, one opening on Nov. 10 and the second on Dec. 22. In the Goya painting, the widowed duchess diamond ring reads Alba, her gold band says Goya. They had a thing for each other, said Andrew Connors, Albuquerque Museum director. He wasnt shy about saying, She and I like each other. Albuquerques premiere stop will be followed by shows in Cincinnati and Houston. Its previous showings included Spains Museo Nacional del Prado and the Museo del Palacio de Bellas Artes in Mexico City. When (the exhibit) opened at the Prado, the Spanish press went insane, Connors said. Its a much more comprehensive view of Spanish traditions than any museum in Spain could provide. The Prado doesnt collect this diversity. I think there was a great sense of pride. These important pieces of Spanish heritage are on loan from New Yorks Hispanic Society of America, which is currently undergoing a $16 million renovation. Philippe de Montebello, chairman of the board of the Hispanic Society and retired director of New Yorks Metropolitan Museum of Art will attend the opening with curator Mitchell Codding. The pair will join Connors in a public discussion Nov. 10. The exhibit represents arguably the most comprehensive display ever shown in Albuquerque, Connors said. Similar shows often focus on the top 10 of Spains Golden Age, with works by stars such as Velasquez, Goya, Murillo and El Greco from the late 1500s to the 1600s. The Golden Age existed because of all the contributions of the immigrants, Connors said. Thats when the artistry of Spain was the best in Europe. Spain had incredible wealth because of the colonies. Those immigrants included members from the Celtic, Jewish, Muslim, Roman and Visigothic (East German Gothic) cultures. The exhibition corrals paintings, sculpture and illuminated manuscripts (including a letter from Queen Elizabeth I to King Philip II of Spain), a Hebrew bible, ceramics, fiber and jewelry. There are a couple of local references in the collection. A 1726 map of America features what may be the first cartographic mention of the city of Albuquerque. And the 1498 alabaster tomb of Dona Mencia Enriquez de Toledo, Duchess of Alburquerque Monasterio de San Francisco was sculpted in the medieval style of Gil de Siloe, complete with flowing folds of fabric carved in stone. He was one of the most popular sculptors in the late medieval to early Renaissance, Connors said. The idea of having a figure lying on the tomb with folded hands is very medieval. A detailed look at an Alhambra silk textile, hand-woven by Muslims circa 1400, features calligraphic symbols between horizontal bands. These silks were named because their designs mirrored the striped tiles of the Alhambra of Granada. It says, Perpetual honor, prosperity, good fortune and happiness, Connors said. The Catholic owners of an intricately carved ivory vessel used to hold the consecrated host were unable to decipher the Arabic love poem carved on its gilt-mounted top. The box is really sexy because carved into this upper lid is a poem, Connors said. They couldnt read it. It had nothing to do with Christ. The church transformed it into a liturgical item. Velasquezs oil on canvas Portrait of a Little Girl, ca. 1638-42, features the girls lustrous flesh tones above an apparently unfinished blouse. Unembellished by the French clothing and jewelry of the aristocracy, the sitter is likely the artists granddaughter. Velasquez wasnt just an artist, Connors said. He was a diplomat. He was sent by the Spanish to negotiate treaties and trade. What resembles a family portrait by Mexicos Juan Rodriguez Juarez is actually a casta painting. The couple are of mixed-race Mestizo and Indian descent; their offspring is known as a coyote. Racial status was an organizing principle of Spanish colonial rule. Lower caste residents were forbidden to own property and allowed limited employment. The exhibit is supported by an indemnity from the National Endowment for the Arts, as well as the Albuquerque Museum, the City of Albuquerque and the Albuquerque Museum Foundation. A special exhibition surcharge of $5 applies during free museum days. Democracy is a system of government by the whole population. By that definition, everyones participation is needed in order to keep a democracy alive and well. There is no act of democracy more foundational than voting. Casting a vote is more than exercising your right as a citizen. Its about accepting the responsibility of citizenship. Its about affirming that you are a part of something larger than yourself. In much the same way, elections are about more than sending new or returning leaders to our state and nations capitals to enact laws and budget money. Elections are also about what vision we share for the future, what projects we choose to build to improve our quality of life, what problems we decide to work together to solve. Election issues are at the very heart of the values that matter most to us and our families educating our children, improving our communities, protecting our rights, safety and the world around us. Sadly, these issues get lost in electioneering and partisanship. Which party a candidate represents often seems more important than what position he or she takes on a key topic. While the age of technology has given us access to more information than weve ever had, it also offers misinformation, discord and static. Voters who launch an internet search to educate themselves on the candidates may find far more than they bargained for. Because voter education is vital for democracy to work, we at N.M. Voices for Children and the N.M. Pediatric Society teamed up to create a website where voters can find the candidates positions on a variety of issues. We sent questionnaires to all the candidates for the state gubernatorial race, U.S. Senate, New Mexicos three U.S. House seats and state Land Commissioner. The questions range from issues like child health and well-being to the environment, immigration, education funding, the economy, the 2020 Census and more. We also asked candidates for a photo and a short biography. All of the materials submitted to us are posted online at www.YouDecideNM.org, a website that is easy to navigate. As both organizations are 501c3 nonprofits, we do not endorse candidates for office. This website is for educational purposes only. We hope you will take advantage of this voter education tool to help you become better informed about how the candidates stand on issues of importance to you. Voting is a learned behavior, and youre more likely to vote if your parents voted. So, if you have children, talk to them about the issues that are important to you and take them when you go to the polls so they can have a real-life lesson on democracy in action. They can see firsthand how it strengthens the country as a whole when people actively participate in the function of democracy. We both have a history of taking our children to the polls with us. And answering their sometimes surprisingly insightful questions has made us both more thoughtful and better educated voters. SAN DIEGO With a little more than a week left until the midterm elections, Democrats appear to be snatching defeat from the jaws of victory. The matchups were theirs to lose, and they seem poised to underperform in a bunch of them. A reader recently asked me: I dont understand why Latinos are not motivated to vote against a bigoted POTUS and willing enablers. I can help with that. The answer has to do with how Latinos feel about Donald Trump, and how they feel about Democrats as an alternative. As for Mr. Trump and the Latinos, thats a complicated relationship. Trump began his campaign for president by kicking Mexicans in the teeth, calling them rapists and drug traffickers. He also showed his ignorance about immigration when he said that Mexico doesnt send their best people to the United States when that is exactly who they send dreamers, doers and risk-takers. Mexicans along with Puerto Ricans, Colombians and Dominicans turned Trump into a pinata. Literally. Pick one up the next time youre south of the border. Then a strange thing happened. Once Trump emerged as the Republican nominee and squared off against Hillary Clinton who often tries to out-Republican the Republicans as an immigration hardliner polls began to show Trumps support among Latinos climbing. As a Never Trumper, I didnt get it. So, I interviewed some Latinos for Trump and I got an earful. Many of them saw themselves not as Latinos but as Americans, and so they werent hung up on Trumps anti-Latino screeds. They didnt like or trust Clinton, appreciated Trumps frankness, wanted a strong leader, and thought he was right about a lot of issues, including trade and immigration. Yes, immigration. What most non-Latinos dont grasp is that Latinos are ambivalent about illegal immigration. They have a front-row seat not just to the pain of deportations, but also to how many immigrants commit crimes or abuse social services. In 2016, an astounding 29 percent of Latinos voted for Trump. And now, two years into his presidency, polls show that his support among Latinos is somewhere between 33 and 41 percent. Thats insanely good for a president who is so bad on issues that Latinos supposedly care about. Then you have the Democrats, who take Latino voters for granted and whose entire Latino outreach strategy can be summed up in six words: Vote for us. Were not Republican. Thats it? I dont know about you, but Im still hungry. Democrats werent always impotent when it came to Latino voters, but its been that way at least since 2000. Thats when Bill Clinton, who was popular with Latinos, left the stage, and George W. Bush, who got 40 percent of the Latino vote in 2004, took his place. Democrats were boxed in by three factors African-Americans, working-class whites and organized labor. Democrats were afraid that African-Americans would bristle at a new group getting attention that should go to them. They were also afraid of being portrayed as soft on border security by Republicans in the same way that in the days of Sen. George McGovern, D-S.D. they were portrayed as soft on national security. And they were tied down by organized labor, whose rank-and-file members remain vehemently opposed to any immigration reform that gives the undocumented legal status. At best, Democrats didnt defend Latinos from evil, racist and mean-spirited attacks by the GOP. At worst, they joined in. Some Democrats opposed the 1986 amnesty law and a Democratic president signed into law the draconian 1996 immigration bill. Democratic leaders helped sideline immigration reform under Bush in 2006 and 2007, and it was no votes from Democrats that helped kill the Dream Act in 2010. Democrats endangered nearly 700,000 Dreamers by requiring them to turn themselves into authorities starting in 2012 to get Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA). Donald Trump is merely emulating President Obama, who deported record numbers of people, divided scores of families and stuck refugee families in detention camps. In reality, Democrats have never been there for Latinos. And now theyre surprised that this group may not be there for them in the midterm elections? The surprise is that Latinos have been fooled for so long. Now, it seems, more of them are waking up and refusing to stick up for a party that wont stick its neck out for them. Ruben Navarrettes email address is ruben@rubennavarrette.com. His daily podcast, Navarrette Nation, is available through every podcast app. (c) 2018, The Washington Post Writers Group In 1948, Isleta Pueblo member Miguel Trujillo Sr. successfully fought for our right as Native Americans to vote within our state of New Mexico. Our great-grandparents and grandparents can recall and share stories of a time when they were prohibited to vote in local, state and federal elections, despite having resided on this land since time immemorial. New Mexico also has the second-highest percentage of Native Americans, with one in 10 New Mexicans enrolled as a member of a tribal nation. Despite this resplendent concentration of indigenous people, our state was among the last in the country to grant suffrage to all our tribal members within its borders. On Nov. 6, the voting booths will be open throughout the United States. In every election we have the opportunity to contribute, ensuring the protection of our greatest values our land, people and sovereignty. Todays generation of native peoples may have greater access to the voting booths than our grandparents and great-grandparents did 70 years ago, but far too often we do not exercise our right to vote. We are also reminded of the history and significance of our vote as the voting rights of our native relatives in North Dakota are currently endangered by discriminatory regulations. Voting is a critical measure of protection in the current political climate that we, as Pueblo and native peoples, cannot afford to ignore. At stake is the current and future well-being of our Pueblo nations and communities. At stake today is the Violence Against Women Reauthorization Act of 2018, which provides appropriations to ensure our society does more to prevent and respond to violence against our native women. At stake is the recent ruling from a Texas judge who declared the Indian Child Welfare Act unconstitutional, which threatens to remove common-sense protections and sustainability of our native family structures, culture and nationhood. At stake is the protection of the Greater Chaco landscape and Bears Ears National Monument, places that connect us with those whove come before us and cultural resources that belong to our present and future generations. As young Pueblo people and Native Americans, we need to remember that we have the responsibility to honor the prayers, time, resources and sacrifices of our ancestors. Through their struggles, our ancestors gifted us with tools and wisdom to protect and sustain ourselves, our communities and future generations. Our vote is our voice, and while our vote is not the only voice we have, our vote matters. This is a call to action from the young Pueblo leaders of the All Pueblo Council of Governors Youth Committee for all generations of our Pueblo and native peoples to get out to vote, not only for yourselves but for others that have come before and those that come after us. Vote for your grandfathers, your grandmothers, your aunties, uncles, cousins, older and younger siblings, our babies, and those generations forthcoming. New Mexicos race for governor pits two highly qualified candidates against each other. Congressman Steve Pearce, a Republican, is a self-made millionaire who knows how to create jobs and has been a steady, fiscally conservative voice. Congresswoman Michelle Lujan Grisham is a moderate Democrat with boundless energy who has worked as a cabinet secretary for three governors, earning a reputation as someone willing to go to great lengths to get to the bottom of a problem. Regardless of who prevails, New Mexico is losing two strong voices in Washington, and thats truly unfortunate for our state. And given what each of these candidates brings to the table, its also unfortunate this race has devolved into mudslinging and dueling claims of corruption and incompetence, none of which holds much water. Instead of wasting energy on cheap shots, its critical voters take a step back, look at where we are as a state and which candidate is best equipped to build on the opportunities at hand. Lets look at our choices: Its hard to imagine a bigger American success story than Pearces. His childhood home had a dirt floor and no running water, yet he became a successful businessman in Hobbs. A Vietnam veteran and combat pilot in the U.S. Air Force who defied all odds on his path to becoming a millionaire, Pearce served in the state Legislature from 1997 through 2000 and has been a congressman for 14 years, representing the southern N.M.-based 2nd Congressional District. In Congress, he has been willing to work with Democrats, one example being a 2014 immigration bill he co-sponsored with U.S. Rep. Beto ORourke of Texas. And he has a record of being fiscally conservative, a quality that will serve this state well and one that whoever prevails should embrace. Meanwhile, Lujan Grisham has her own personal story of overcoming challenges. She is a native New Mexican who suddenly found herself a widowed mother of the sandwich generation, also caring for her own mom. She was a Cabinet secretary for 16 years, and has served in Congress for three years. She is a relationship-builder who knows many in any room she enters and soon befriends those she doesnt. Smart use of $1.2 billion surplus key Whoever is governor is inheriting a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity with the states projected surplus of $1.2 billion due to a surge in oil production in southeastern New Mexico. We must use every penny responsibly, and that means thinking long and hard before using any on recurring expenses, since they will be difficult to cover when oil and gas revenues plummet, as they are prone to do. Based on that criteria, we recommend Steve Pearce for governor. He would push for using the money for one-time expenses, like infrastructure improvements including broadband access, improved roads, bolstering the states cash reserves and perhaps earmarking a portion for pension-related legislation. He realizes that using the money for recurring expenses could land us back where we were just two years ago when oil prices slumped and lawmakers and agency heads were slashing programs and budgets. He supports early childhood education initiatives and investing more money in education, but he understands that pulling a higher percentage out of the Land Grant Permanent Fund is the wrong way to do it. Going down that road will result in less money from the permanent fund going to education in the long run, and thats simply not responsible. Instead, Pearce favors targeting administrative waste and getting more of the $2.8-billion-plus we spend on K-12 a year into classrooms. Room to grow on education, environment We acknowledge that Pearce has an uphill climb to the governors mansion, combatting the anti-Trump sentiment Republicans are facing, the states higher number of registered Democrats and polls showing him behind Lujan Grisham. And we dont agree with all of his positions. His plans for education, which include giving greater control to school boards, are problematic given that many of the districts in our state havent done a very good job and the reforms instituted in Santa Fe are bearing fruit in higher student proficiencies and graduation rates. But we agree with his stance of getting more assistance for children who need it so teachers dont have to address serious behavior problems while teaching the rest of the class. And we have grave concerns about Lujan Grishams plans to tap the permanent fund for early childhood education and to use some of the $1.2 billion windfall for recurring expenses. We disagree with Pearce on some environmental issues. We would hope he would be willing to take up a sensible state methane rule that would protect both our oil and gas industry and our environment, as Colorado has instituted. But its his position on fiscal responsibility that shifts the endorsement in his favor. Putting more of New Mexico to work Pearce pledges to put his business experience to work diversifying the economy from seeking more high-tech jobs to putting people to work thinning forests and improving the health of our watersheds. He understands that while there are dirty jobs, work is not a dirty word. He wants to expand apprenticeship programs, realizing plumbers, electricians and other trade workers make very good livings without a four-year degree. And he would push to make Spaceport America near TorC a success, because I will not accept failure on a $220 million investment. And, he opposes tax increases and doesnt want to grow the size of government. New Mexico needs a governor like Steve Pearce, especially in these times of plenty. With that in mind, we urge our next governor whomever he or she may be to be fiscally responsible for the future generations of New Mexicans. editorial ENDORSEMENTS This editorial first appeared in the Albuquerque Journal. It was written by members of the editorial board and is unsigned as it represents the opinion of the newspaper rather than the writers. PITTSBURGH A survivor of the Pittsburgh synagogue massacre described Sunday how he and other terrorized worshippers concealed themselves in a supply closet as the gunman stepped over the body of a man he had just shot and killed, entered their darkened hiding spot and looked around. I cant say anything, and Im barely breathing, recalled Barry Werber, 76, in an interview with The Associated Press. He didnt see us, thank God. The gunman, Robert Gregory Bowers, opened fire with an AR-15 rifle and other weapons during worship services inside Tree of Life Synagogue, killing eight men and three women before a tactical police team tracked him down and shot him, according to state and federal affidavits made public on Sunday. He expressed hatred of Jews during the rampage and later told police that all these Jews need to die, authorities said. Six people were injured in the attack, including four officers. Bowers targeted a building that housed three separate congregations, all of which were conducting Sabbath services when the attack began just before 10 a.m. in the tree-lined residential neighborhood of Squirrel Hill, about 10 minutes from downtown Pittsburgh and the hub of the citys Jewish community. As authorities worked to piece together Bowers background and movements, harrowing accounts from the survivors began to emerge. Speaking at a vigil in Pittsburgh on Sunday night, Tree of Life Rabbi Jeffrey Myers said about a dozen people had gathered in the synagogues main sanctuary when Bowers walked in and began shooting. He said seven of his congregants were killed. My holy place has been defiled, he said. Officials released the names of all 11 of the dead, all of them middle-aged or elderly. The victims included intellectually disabled brothers and a husband and wife. The youngest was 54, and the oldest was 97. The loss is incalculable, said Stephen Cohen, co-president of New Light Congregation, which rents space at Tree of Life. Mayor Bill Peduto called it the darkest day of Pittsburghs history. Bowers shot his victims with an AR-15 the weapon used in many of the nations mass shootings and three handguns, all of which he owned legally and had a license to carry, according to a law enforcement official who wasnt authorized to discuss the ongoing investigation, and who spoke on Sunday on condition of anonymity. U.S. Attorney Scott Brady in Pittsburgh said Sunday night that federal prosecutors intend to pursue the death penalty against Bowers. Bowers was a long-haul trucker who worked for himself, Brady said. Little else was known about the suspect, who had no apparent criminal record but who is believed to have expressed virulently anti-Semitic views on social media. It appears Bowers acted alone, authorities said. The victims included Melvin Wax, a retired accountant in his late 80s who was always one of the first to arrive at synagogue and among the last to leave. He and I used to, at the end of services, try to tell a joke or two to each other, said Myron Snider, a fellow member of New Light Congregation. Most of the time they were clean jokes. Most of the time. I wont say all the time. But most of the time. The toll also included professors, dentists and physicians. Cecil Rosenthal, 59, and his younger brother David Rosenthal, 54, were intellectually disabled and lived together in Pittsburghs Squirrel Hill neighborhood, near the synagogue where they were killed. Cecils laugh was infectious. David was so kind and had such a gentle spirit. Together, they looked out for one another. They were inseparable, said Chris Schopf, vice president of residential supports for ACHIEVA, which helped the brothers live independently. Most of all, they were kind, good people with a strong faith and respect for everyone around. Bowers apparently posted an anti-Semitic message on a social media account linked to him just a few minutes before he opened fire during Sabbath services on Saturday morning. After the attack, he told an officer, I just want to kill Jews, according to a federal affidavit . In the basement, four members of New Light Congregation were just starting to pray with two others in the kitchen when they heard crashing sounds coming from upstairs, looked out the door and saw a body on the staircase, Werber, the survivor, recalled Sunday in an interview at his home. He said Rabbi Jonathan Perlman closed the door and pushed them into a large supply closet. As gunshots echoed upstairs, Werber called 911 but was afraid to say anything, for fear of making any noise. When the shots subsided, he said, Melvin Wax opened the door, only to be shot and fall back inside. There were three shots, and he falls back into the room where we were, he said. The gunman walks in. Apparently unable to see Werber and the other congregants in the darkness, Bowers walked back out. A day later, Werber called the gunman a maniac and a person who has no control of his baser instincts. I dont know why he thinks the Jews are responsible for all the ills in the world, but hes not the first and he wont be the last. Unfortunately, thats our burden to bear, Werber said. It breaks my heart. The massacre came at a time of increasing anti-Semitism in the U.S. Earlier this year, the Anti-Defamation League reported a nearly 60 percent rise in anti-Semitic incidents in 2017 the largest single-year increase since the ADL began its tracking nearly three decades ago. Perlman, who also spoke at the vigil Sunday night, said New Light lost three congregants. These three men, they cannot be replaced, said Perlman, his voice breaking. But we will not be broken. We will not be ruined. Bowers was charged with 11 state counts of criminal homicide, six counts of aggravated assault and 13 counts of ethnic intimidation in what the leader of the Anti-Defamation League called the deadliest attack on Jews in U.S. history. He was also charged in a 29-count federal criminal complaint that included counts of obstructing the free exercise of religious beliefs resulting in death a federal hate crime and using a firearm to commit murder. Bowers, who underwent surgery and remained hospitalized, is scheduled to appear in court Monday. It wasnt clear whether he had an attorney to speak on his behalf. A message left with the federal public defenders office in Pittsburgh wasnt immediately returned. Of the six survivors, four remained in the hospital Sunday night, and two including a 40-year-old officer were listed in critical condition. The nations latest mass shooting drew condemnation and expressions of sympathy from politicians and religious leaders of all stripes. Pope Francis led prayers for Pittsburgh in St. Peters Square. In reality, all of us are wounded by this inhuman act of violence, he said. He prayed for God to help us to extinguish the flames of hatred that develop in our societies, reinforcing the sense of humanity, respect for life and civil and moral values. German Chancellor Angela Merkels spokesman quoted Merkel on Twitter as offering her condolences and saying that all of us must confront anti-Semitism with determination everywhere. ___ Lauer reported from Philadelphia, and Breed reported from Raleigh, North Carolina. Contributing to this report were Associated Press writers Mark Scolforo in Pittsburgh, Michael Balsamo in Washington, Jennifer Peltz in New York and Michael Rubinkam in northeastern Pennsylvania. ___ For APs complete coverage of the Pittsburgh synagogue shootings: https://www.apnews.com/Shootings Internet Backs Dad Who Left Daughter at Home Due to Her Inappropriate Wedding Outfit Jo Whaley infuses her images with the illusory magic of the theater. In Echoes, the photographers carefully constructed and composed photographs pair with Georgia OKeeffes meticulous paintings in an echo of saturated color and deliberate beauty. The exhibition opens at Santa Fes Georgia OKeeffe Museum on Friday, Nov. 2. The show represents the latest edition of the museums Contemporary Voices series. You could think of it as patterned language rather than tit-for-tat, Whaley said of the dual exhibition in a telephone interview from her Santa Fe home. Its a little intimidating. But its such an honor. As inviting as Whaleys images seem, they can also be disorienting, former OKeeffe curator Carolyn Kastner said. Theirs is a disrupted beauty. The butterflies are specimens, the flowers and foliage sliced from their roots. Its dead; its isolated; its not of its environment, Kastner said. It speaks of this moment in our environment. Theyre beautiful pictures, but theyre disturbing. Flowers are held in vases. Flowers are held upside down with their nectar dripping. In contrast, OKeeffes view of the natural world glows unabashedly celebratory. When you see the two of them together, it really pops, Kastner said. Whaley produced most of the 13 images during the pre-digital age using a 4- by 5-inch large-format view camera. They were done by hand, built in the studio, constructed and shot with film, she said. Colias Eurydicei (2007) is an archival pigment print placing a butterfly atop a daguerreotype of two sisters. The folds in their skirts reflect the folds in the insects wings. Daguerreotypes are funny in that theyll act like a mirror, Whaley said. I put orange paper above me, so it reflects orange. Its got two little dots on the bottom. Those are from the underside of the insect, because I thought they needed to be there. What appears to be a butterfly placed atop a landscape, Papilio Ulysses (2000), is actually a piece of rusted metal the photographer found in a nearby arroyo with the insect pinned at the top. I like the pairing of simple things, Whaley said, to find man-made material taken back by nature with a butterfly. The insects are adjusting to that kind of environment into the industrial changes weve made. OKeeffe also created constructed still lifes through her famous bone paintings, Kastner said. Whaley received her MFA from the University of California at Berkeley, where she worked as a scenic artist for the San Francisco Opera, the San Francisco Ballet and the Berkeley Repertory Theatre. She built sets and painted backdrops. Today she thinks of her tabletops as stages. The performance is clicking the shutter, she said. In Overripe Population (1994) watercolor paper created a flattened space holding a bursting pomegranate, its seeds scattered across the page. Datura wrightii, (2014), with echoes of OKeeffes famous Jimson Weed, pairs its blossoms with the bottles found in chemistry labs. Theyre basically like scientific experiments, Whaley said. Its a composed environment. People assume that my work is all Photoshop. Really, I build them and I try to put as much as I can right on the set. Whaleys photographs can also be found in Santa Fes Photo-eye Gallery. Her work hangs in several major collections in this country and abroad, including the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art, the Los Angeles County Museum of Art, the Oakland Museum, and the Polaroid Corporate Art Collection. From Facebook posting to members of Congregation Beth Israel (CBI) in Chico, Saturday, Oct. 27, 2018 from Rabbi Sara Abrams: Dear Friends, The news coming out of Pittsburgh this morning is heartbreaking. Jews attending Shabbat morning services were ruthlessly attacked during worship. Reports detail as many as ten people have lost their lives including parents, children, and first responders. This is devastating news for all of us. We pray for the families, the victims, the injured, and first responders, and all those who were put in harms way. We wish that we lived in a world where schools, synagogues, churches, and mosques did not need to have active shooting drills to prepare for moments like these, and that our world stage would be dominated by acts of love not senseless acts of hatred. Although we have no reason to believe that we are in danger in Chico, CBI security committee and board will be brainstorming ways we can make our building more secure. Just today while I was in the office Chico PD stopped by to offer their support and protection. Some of you may have noticed guards at the High Holy Days and other larger CBI events -- this will be a service we continue to provide. Although perpetrators of hate and fear may want to keep us from feeling safe in our homes and houses of worship, let us not allow fear to keep us from gathering together in our synagogue. Let us make sure to speak out against hatred, bigotry, and violence when we encounter it. We can also make sure to contact our legislators and insist that they do not participate in the rhetoric that stirs up hate in our country. If they do -- we hold them accountable. Each of us has the power to be an agent if change - to promote love, tolerance and understanding in a world that seems to be feeding off of hatred and bigotry. Speak out, vote, do what you can to eradicate hate and respond to those who perpetrate it - but we can also show people another way - a way of inclusion, love and fellowship for people of all faiths, races, ethnicities, sexual orientations - for all of God's children. B'shalom, Rabbi Sara 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. An agreement on comprehensive partnership and strategic cooperation signed between Egypt and Russia on Oct. 17 is expected to upgrade Egypts political and economic relations to an unprecedented level, political analysts and economists said this week. The partnership deal was signed by Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi and Russian President Vladimir Putin during the formers visit to Russia. At a joint press conference with the Russian leader, Sisi said that the strategic partnership agreement ushers long-standing relations into a new chapter. Putin said that the deal sets goals that will deepen Russian-Egyptian ties in different areas. Political analysts and economists in Egypt said that the agreement would not only ease trade exchanges and economic relations between the two countries, but will also include high-level cooperation on issues related to counter-terrorism efforts, military deals, illegal migration and nuclear projects. Ahmed el-Shami, an economist and a professor of feasibility studies at Ain Shams University, said that Russia mainly signs such partnership agreements with Asian countries and not with Arab states, adding that inking such a deal with Egypt signals that Russia is willing to upgrade bilateral ties to a whole new level. This agreement is a new stage in developing relations and it comes to benefit [Egypt's] peaceful nuclear program, represented in al-Dabaa project, as well as the coming arms deals, Shami told Al-Monitor. He expects that the two countries will establish strategic partnership institutions and bodies that will ensure progress in relations. Egypt and Russia are also cooperating to build a nuclear power plant in the area of al-Dabaa on the Mediterranean Sea. The project is expected to take seven years and cost $29 billion. Russia will pay $25 billion and Egypt will fund the remaining amount. Shami added that the strategic partnership agreement aims to revive the era of the 1960s, when relations between the two countries were at their peak. In 1955, Egypt and the Soviet Union, Russia now, signed a partnership agreement that included arms deals and a Russian contribution to the establishment of the High Dam, he said. That agreement supplied Egypt with modern Soviet arms worth over $250 million, marking a turning point in the Cold War and greatly affecting the Arab-Israeli conflict. "This month's signing of the partnership agreement marks a turnaround in relations that has never been seen since the reign of late president Gamal Abdel Nasser, said political analyst Ammar Ali Hassan. After Egypt won the war in 1973, late President Anwar al-Sadat sought to balance Egypt's foreign relations by boosting the country's ties with the United States, weakening relations with the Soviets. Hassan also said that the agreement will further Egyptian-Russian 2+2 talks, summits between the countries' ministers of defense and foreign affairs. Egypt and Russia initiated the high-level talks in 2013. It is a new level of cooperation in all aspects and will see the launch of joint institutions that will ensure the unprecedented development of bilateral ties, he told Al-Monitor. On the economic level, Farag Abdel Fattah, a professor of economics at Cairo University, said that the agreement will be highly beneficial to the Egyptian economy, making the flow of imports and exports between Egypt and Russia much easier. The deal will also help in the establishment of high-level economic and investment entities in the coming period that serve the economies of both countries, he told Al-Monitor. According to the State Information Service, trade between Egypt and Russia stood at $4.6 billion during the period from January to October 2017, up by 59% compared to the same period a year earlier. Russia is also carrying out several economic projects in Egypt, including the building of an industrial zone in East Port Said with investments worth $7 billion. The zone, which is part of the Suez Canal Economic Zone, is expected to create job opportunities for more than 35,000 people. Relations between Egypt and Russia have been developing since Sisi took office in 2014. The Egyptian and Russian leaders have met for nine times since 2014, including mutual visits to Cairo and Moscow. Relations between Egypt and Russia are historical and deeply rooted and the leaders of both countries have been keen to boost them. Now they want to take this cooperation even further, economist Abdel Fattah said. CAIRO The death of Saudi journalist and Washington Post contributor Jamal Khashoggi in Istanbul has opened a Pandoras box of perspectives. Criticism is raining down on Saudi Arabia from much of the world, while many Arab states support the kingdom, and Egypt tries to walk a tightrope of neutrality. On Oct. 24, the Saudi public prosecutor said it appears the journalist's death was "premeditated." He said this position which contradicted Saudi Arabia's earlier, shifting statements, but surprised few observers is based on information from Turkey. Also on Oct. 24, The Washington Post reported that CIA Director Gina Haspel had traveled to Turkey and heard a recording of Khashoggi being tortured and dismembered inside the Saudi Consulate there. The newspaper cited "people familiar with her [Haspel's] meetings." Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan had on Oct. 23 told members of his Justice and Development Party that Khashoggis death was planned and that Turkey has strong evidence he was killed in a savage way. Erdogan called on Saudi Arabia to reveal the whereabouts of Khashoggis body and the person who ordered his killing. The kingdom had insisted for 18 days that he was not murdered, and that he had left the Saudi Consulate in Istanbul alive Oct. 2. On Oct. 20, Saudi Arabia officially stated Khashoggi had died in a brawl inside the consulate. Then came the news on Oct. 24 that the Saudi public prosecutor agreed with Turkey that the journalist's death appeared premeditated. After several attempts to defend the kingdom since Khashoggis disappearance, US President Donald Trump finally said he doubted the Saudi narrative. On Oct. 22, he told USA Today that he was now convinced it was a conspiracy gone wrong and that he was not satisfied with what he had heard from Saudi Arabia. Since Khashoggi's disappearance, many countries have commented on the incident. Some, like Germany, France and the United Kingdom, have expressed deep concerns and called for a credible investigation, while others have clearly voiced support for Saudi Arabia against what they say is a political motivated campaign of distortions. In the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Anwar Gargash, minister of state for foreign affairs, tweeted Oct. 11, The fierce campaign against Riyadh is expected [and] the repercussions of the political targeting of the kingdom will be severe for those who fuel it. [The] Saudis' success is the first choice for the region and its citizens. Bahraini Foreign Minister Khalid bin Hamad Al Khalifa tweeted Oct. 11 that his country backs the kingdom regardless of what the investigation finally determines: The aim is to support Saudi Arabia rather than seek the truth. We support Saudi Arabia with our souls. The Egyptian authorities were reticent and didn't immediately comment on the affair. Egyptian media outlets close to the regime, however, voiced support for the Saudis. Pro-regime Youm7 newspaper reported Oct. 8 that the Khashoggi case was a new Qatari plot against Saudi Arabia and that Khashoggi was a Muslim Brotherhood-affiliated journalist. Egypt and Saudi Arabia believe Turkey and Qatar support terrorism and the Muslim Brotherhood. On Oct. 14, the official Saudi Press Agency cited an "official source" who completely rejected any threats of sanctions or other repercussions, and thanked the kingdoms supporters for standing up to "the campaign of false allegations." It was then that Egypt broke its silence and issued a cautious statement Oct. 14 through its Foreign Ministry. On its official Facebook page, the ministry stressed the importance of revealing the truth of the matter through a transparent investigation, while emphasizing the gravity of pre-empting investigations and [making] groundless accusations. Egypts presidential spokesman Bassam Radi told RT channel Oct. 16, The Khashoggi affair is an important international case and has serious dimensions, without mentioning any details. He also called for a transparent investigation. It seems Egypt is trying to please the kingdom for fear of harming relations between them. Hassan Nafaa, a political science professor at Cairo University, told Al-Monitor, Egypt tried to maintain neutrality in this affair and refused to issue a statement backing the kingdom [immediately] unlike the UAE and Bahrain to protect its international reputation. It did not want to appear as a 'subordinate' to the kingdom. Egypt kept mum, but employed its media to support Saudi Arabia before issuing a belated statement that called for waiting for the investigation outcome. With that, Egypt wanted to avoid taking sides. Nafaa added, I think Egypt will neither support nor condemn the kingdom, if its proven to be implicated. Egypt in the days of Gamal Abdel Nasser [president from 1956 to 1970] is different from [President] Abdel Fattah al-Sisis Egypt. Times have changed and Egypts economy is weak, and its political situation is tough. It cannot voice its opinions like before. Haitham al-Hariri, a parliament member of the 25-30 bloc, told Al-Monitor, Saudi Arabia has several pressure cards that Egypt would crack under like the Saudi investments in Egypt that are estimated in the billions. Besides, many Egyptians work in the kingdom, which tops the list of countries [in] Egyptian employment. If Saudi Arabia were to remove its investments or sack Egyptian employees, Egypt would suffer severe economic losses. In February, Ahmad al-Wakil, chairman of the Federation of Egyptian Chambers of Commerce, estimated that Saudi investments in Egypt account for $27 billion and that the kingdom ranks first among Arab countries for investments in Egypt. Wakil noted that Saudi investments in Egypt are reflected in 2,900 projects across various production and service sectors. Around 2.9 million Egyptians live in the kingdom 46% of the total number of Egyptians in Arab countries, according to a 2017 census conducted by Egypt's Central Agency for Public Mobilization and Statistics. Hariri added, We can't overlook Saudi support for Egypt in the oil sector. Following a diplomatic crisis between the two countries over Syria, the Saudi Aramco company stopped exporting oil to Egypt to pressure it to shift stances. He was referring to state-owned Aramco's action in October 2016, when it suspended oil sales to Egypt and didn't resume shipments until March 2017. The rebuff came after Egypt voted in favor of a Russian draft resolution before the UN Security Council regarding the Syrian crisis. Hariri answers MBSs call Last week, we wrote that Saad Hariris earlier hesitation in forming a new government in Lebanon was the result of his waiting for a call from Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, which we assessed was not likely to come, as the crown prince was preoccupied with the international outcry over the murder of Jamal Khashoggi on Oct. 2 at the kingdoms consulate in Istanbul. Mohammeds plight, we suggested, has been a kind of liberation for Hariri, who we wrote last year was his own witness in a court of conscience following his captivity under the crown prince. Hariri now has one over his former patron and tormenter. The prime minister, who has kept his own counsel on the details of his captivity until now, could be a potential witness against Mohammed by testifying about the crown prince's previous behavior." So much for that. The call came from the crown prince, commonly known by his initials MBS, and Hariri came running to his patrons defense. As leaders from around the world dropped off from taking part in the Future Investment Initiative Forum in Riyadh last week to avoid a photo op with MBS, Hariri appeared on a panel with the crown prince and even allowed himself to be the recipient of a wince-inducing ribbing from his host, who assured everyone that Prime Minister Saad is staying in the kingdom for two days so I hope you dont spread rumors that he was kidnapped, because he could leave after the conference. Hariri replied, with all my freedom to the joke and laughter from the room, showing that he and MBS were friends till the end, no matter the incriminations over Khashoggis murder, or even Hariris own mistreatment last year, when he was verbally humiliated and beaten, according to eight Saudi, Arab and Western diplomatic sources, Reuters reminded us this week. US President Donald Trump said on Oct. 23 that the murder of Khashoggi was the worst cover-up ever. We would add that Hariris detention and mistreatment last year at the hands of MBS may be a close second. Hariris latest humiliation in the kingdom, like the previous one, was not his alone. Most if not all of Lebanon probably cringed at the joke and laughter at the expense of its past and future prime minister. This past week was a setback for both Lebanons dignity, and for the steady steps toward a new Lebanese social contract we have been covering. But, we wrote on Sept. 30, it requires a new type of prime minister, with a new and different profile, perhaps someone from outside of politics, beholden only to a vibrant and cross-sectarian Lebanese constituency. The March coalitions, rooted in identity politics and patronage, have had their day, and the record has been, at best, unremarkable and disappointing. Lebanon is showing it is capable of more, that it has the potential to be 'an incubator for a new approach to governance' based on accountability to the Lebanese and not to foreign capitals, and thereby a model for the region. Erdogans caution with Khashoggi case Turkeys relationship with Saudi Arabia may be a loveless one because of the rivalry between the two regional powers for influence in the Middle East, writes Semih Idiz. Nevertheless, the relationship has been a cordial one for pragmatic reasons, in which the sides have always sought to contain any crisis between them. This is undoubtedly why Ankara is treading relatively cautiously in its approach to the now confirmed murder of prominent Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi inside the Saudi Consulate in Istanbul on Oct. 2, adds Idiz. A telephone call between MBS and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Oct. 24 prompted speculation of a possible deal. It's likely that Prince Mohammed made some fresh offers to Erdogan, who is now clearly in the drivers seat, writes Amberin Zaman. Analysts say Turkish asks could include slashing Saudi financial support for Kurdish militants in Syria. But such a move would place it directly at odds with the Trump administrations newly declared policy of keeping its troops in the Kurdish-controlled zone in eastern and northern Syria for post-Islamic State stabilization and rolling back Iran. In a thinly veiled swipe at the crown prince, Erdogan called for those who gave the order for Khashoggis execution and those who carried it out to all be brought to account, reports Zaman. Many in Ankara should be hoping that the killing of Khashoggi will force [King] Salman to replace Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, whom Turkish officials believe is ultimately responsible for this murder, adds Idiz. Erdogan and his Islamist support base have little love lost for Prince Mohammed, anyway because of issues like his enmity toward the Muslim Brotherhood and his statements in support of moderate Islam. Turkish Islamists believe the term moderate Islam is a concept invented by the West to deprive Muslims of their religious rights and keep them in check. Whether Prince Mohammed stays or goes, the bottom line is that a serious crisis between Turkey and Saudi Arabia seems to have been averted for the time being after the kings intervention, concludes Idiz. In order for this to be lasting, Riyadh still has to come up with answers on Khashoggis murder and show that it is serious about punishing those who have been implicated in this crime. Erdogan, on the other hand, after years of negative press coverage of his ruthless authoritarianism, has captured the moral high ground, concludes Zaman. An immediate step would be to free prominent peace activist and philanthropist Osman Kavala, who has been sitting in jail one week short of a year on trumped-up terror charges. The plight of Kavala, who has yet to be indicted, and more than a hundred Turkish journalists languishing in prison on similarly thin charges cast a dark shadow over Turkeys championing of Khashoggi. GAZA CITY, Gaza Strip On Oct. 17, a rocket fired from the Gaza Strip hit an Israeli house in Beersheba, in southern Israel, causing significant damage. Yet, surprisingly, none of the Palestinian factions claimed responsibility for the rocket launch. Despite these factions previously having deemed attacks on southern Israel as justified "national action," they sought to distance themselves this time, raising questions as to why. In a joint statement posted on the website of Hamas armed wing, the Izz ad-Din al-Qassam Brigades, on the same day, Hamas and the Islamic Jihad denounced the rocket. They claimed it was an attempt to undermine the Egyptian efforts to bring about a truce between the Gaza Strip and Israel. In retaliation for the attack, the Israeli army struck 20 targets in the Gaza Strip Oct. 17, including tunnels and Hamas military posts. Following contacts between the factions leaders and Israeli and Egyptian officials, the factions refrained from retaliating to avoid any confrontation on a larger scale. A high-level Egyptian security delegation, led by the director general of the Egyptian General Intelligence Directorate Ayman Badie, visited Gaza City Oct. 18. The directorate's chief of Palestinian affairs, Maj. Gen. Ahmed Abdel Khalek, met with the head of Hamas' political bureau Ismail Haniyeh as part of the Egyptian efforts for a long-term truce. Hamas political bureau member Mahmoud al-Zahar told France 24 Oct. 18 that the party "that fired the rocket wants to cause security instability in the region, in a way to provide the Israeli occupation with a justification to abandon its commitments to the humanitarian problems related to the electricity, water and travel in the Gaza Strip. Thus, [the party] standing behind it is either an Israeli party or a party connected to the Palestinian Authority (PA) in Ramallah. Speaking to Al-Monitor, the secretary of Fatahs Revolutionary Council Majed al-Fityani said that Hamas denying responsibility for the rocket indicates that [the movement] is using the resistance to achieve partisan goals and interests, most notably to fortify its rule in Gaza. Fityani characterized the accusations that Hamas has leveled against the PA as absurd, stating, The PA does not have rockets in its possession. It is struggling against the occupation through popular resistance and international diplomacy to make the dream of a Palestinian state with Jerusalem as its capital come true. He added that as it accuses the PA, Hamas seeks to convince the world and Israel that it has become a party that can be banked on in a genuine truce with Israel and in bringing about peace and security to the region. Thus, Hamas is willing to introduce itself as an alternative for the PA, at a time when the political process between the latter and Israel has come to a deadlock. Rockets fired from Gaza often land in open fields near the Israeli towns that are adjacent to the strip, without causing casualties or damage. This is because they are primarily medium-range rockets. The one that hit Beersheba, however, seems to be different. In an Oct. 17 article, Israeli daily Yedioth Ahronoth reported that the rocket has unmatched features and that it was a long-range missile carrying a heavy warhead. It noted that Hamas and the Islamic Jihad have such rockets. Although there is no concrete evidence showing that a particular faction stands behind this rocket attack, it came two days following the deadline that Yahya Sinwar, the Hamas leader in the Gaza Strip, had given Israel to lift the blockade of the Gaza Strip. On Aug. 29, local Sama News Agency had reported that Sinwar, speaking at a meeting with political authors and analysts in Gaza City, said, The deadline before a truce is reached will not last too long. He anticipated that there will be a tangible improvement in regard with the lifting of the siege by mid-October 2018. This, however, did not occur. Speaking to Al-Monitor, Yahya Moussa, a leader in Hamas, said, Hamas has no information on the party that fired the rocket. This action was not conducted as part of the resistance factions joint operation room," which includes Hamas and the Islamic Jihad. Based on that, the factions have rejected such an action, which was obviously made at a bad time, in light of Egypts tremendous efforts to achieve a truce between Gaza and Israel, he added. He explained that the joint room is designed to ensure that any retaliatory Palestinian military action against Israel is done jointly among the factions, to identify the opportune time to carry out such an action, and to determine its magnitude based on that of the Israeli attacks. He emphasized that his movement is still committed to the armed resistance, and carries on with developing tools, such as tunnels and rockets. Meanwhile, Islamic Jihad leader Khader Habib told Al-Monitor, We do not know who fired the rocket. He too indicated that it came at the wrong time, in light of the Egyptian efforts for an arrangement that would ensure a better life for Palestinians. There is a feeling that there is an ample opportunity for a genuine truce that would ward off a major war for both the Palestinian and Israeli sides. Yet, if Israel opted for a war, we ought to counter it, he added. Abdel Sattar Qassem, a political science professor at An-Najah National University in Nablus, believes that Hamas and the Islamic Jihad are likely the ones standing behind the rocket fire. I believe that by refraining from claiming responsibility for [the attack], both movements wanted to send Israel a political message without getting dragged into a major military confrontation, he said. He explained to Al-Monitor that by firing the rocket, Hamas wants to further push Israel toward signing a truce agreement without imposing complicated pre-conditions. Hamas will not consent to any Israeli conditions requiring that the movement relinquish its weapons, tunnels and rockets in order for the truce agreement to be made. Yet it would agree on refraining from using its military capabilities throughout the truce period. Israeli Defense Minister Avigdor Liberman, speaking at the Maariv Conference Oct. 15, said in his view a truce agreement with Hamas can only be reached after the movement is dealt "the harshest blow." Qassem indicated that the Islamic Jihad maybe wanted to raise concerns in Israel by displaying a sample of the sophisticated rockets that the movement would use in case Liberman followed through with his threats against Gaza. A spate of US airstrikes against mosques commandeered by the Islamic State (IS) in Syria appear to point to the Donald Trump administration adopting unusual measures to target extremists, experts say. The Pentagon acknowledged Monday that coalition fighter jets struck two mosques near Susah, Syria, following reports of six civilian deaths in the bombing of a religious school in Hajin, a town in the Euphrates River Valley. The US-led coalition fighting the Islamic State conducted a third mosque strike Wednesday, a military spokesman said. US military officials said they approved the strikes because the militants had converted the sanctuaries into battlefield control nodes. Its not us, its IS that turned that mosque into a command-and-control center, which made it a legitimate military target, Pentagon spokesman Rob Manning told reporters Monday. A Pentagon strike on a mosque would typically take considerable planning. The Defense Intelligence Agency has a no-strike list to protect noncombatants on battlefields where US warplanes are active. But the Pentagon can overturn those protections if it determines that militants are using schools, hospitals or religious buildings to target US troops. It could well indicate that the US military thinks the gloves have come off and theyre willing to make the strike, said Ryan Goodman, a former Defense Department lawyer. Only under the most exceptional circumstances would a mosque come off of a no-strike list. Goodman, now a law professor at New York University, added that the strikes could indicate the Islamic State has evolved its tactics to extend the battlefield into the mosque. The US military has only struck mosques on rare occasions in the four-year anti-IS fight in Iraq and Syria. The Defense Department confirmed in May 2017 that a Hellfire missile strike targeting al-Qaeda fighters near Aleppo had mistakenly struck a recently built mosque, but only after weeks of denials. The London-based conflict monitor Airwars also reported that a coalition strike near Al-Nour Mosque in the former Islamic State capital of Raqqa in April 2016 left three civilians dead. The strikes could signify a shift away from the counterinsurgency doctrine focused on winning over the population popularized by Gen. David Petraeus to a knock-down, drag-out brawl against the Islamic State. The US-led coalition is not conducting a population-centric counterinsurgency in Syria, which means that US forces are not operating in large numbers near the mosque that was hit by airstrikes, Stephen Tankel, a former Pentagon senior adviser, told Al-Monitor. Under international law, a US airstrike on a mosque would only be permissible if the damage inflicted is proportional to the military gain, a consideration that would include the cultural or historical relevance of the site. By setting up command posts inside mosques, experts said, militants may be luring the United States into strikes that inflame the local population. This could be a case where IS tried to cynically manipulate the laws of war, and the US decided to call in the strike, said Stephen Pomper, a former senior director on the National Security Council during the Barack Obama administration. "If so, the questions here are mainly how strikes like these fit within rules of engagement, and whether the harm to civilians and civilian objects is proportionate for purposes of the law of war." Conflict monitors say the mosque strikes come amid an uptick in fighting as the United States seeks to clear out the last remnants of IS-held territory in northeastern Syria. Such intensity of coalition strikes and civilian harm claims has not been seen since the capture of Raqqa from a year ago, said Chris Woods, director of Airwars, a nonprofit which tracks civilian deaths and injuries from US-led strikes in the IS fight. The news of the mosque strikes, he said, does indicate a troubling shift in tempo by the US-led alliance, which is placing civilians more at risk. In August, the Defense Department said IS remained well-positioned to rebuild its so-called caliphate across northern Syria and Iraq. The Pentagon also said the group probably is still more capable than its predecessor al-Qaeda in Iraq at its peak more than a decade ago. Whats clear, experts say, is that the US military gives the 2,200 American troops in Syria the right to defend themselves above all else. In our rules of engagement that we give to soldiers on the ground, they will often say you should only target people in these circumstances, said Adil Haque, a law professor at Rutgers University. Then in big bold letters it will say: Nothing in this limits your right of self-defense. A central Alabama investor paid $2.17 million for the Burger King fast food restaurant building on 1.43 acres at 29685 Ala. 181 in Daphne, according to Andrew Chason of Marcus & Millichap in Fairhope. The Burger King owner has a long-term lease on the building and the restaurant will remain open. Local builders paid $1.3 million for 3.86 acres on Little Lagoon at 1200 W. Lagoon Ave., in Gulf Shores and plan to build 11 single-family custom homes on the property, according to Tim McCrory of Edgemon Properties, who represented the buyers. The land is just east of 12th Street and has more than 600 front feet on Little Lagoon. The waterfront homes will be built by Larry Lawrence Custom Homes in Gulf Shores. Mary Cane and Joe Courtney of Courtney & Morris Real Estate represented the seller. An out-of-town investor paid $750,000 for 1.32 bayfront acres off Baldwin County 95 just south of Pirate's Cove in Josephine, according to Jay O'Brien of J.L. O'Brien & Associates, who represented the sellers. The property has 300 front feet on Arnica Bay. Bob Shallow of Re/Max Paradise worked for the buyer. SAI Wholesale paid $528,000 for a 7,200-square-foot building at 1230 Montlimar Drive in Mobile, according to David Milstead of Bellator Commercial Real Estate, who represented the buyer and the seller. A self-storage complex with 79 units at 457 Thompson Blvd., in Chickasaw has sold for $295,000, according to James Henderson of Bellator Real Estate & Development, who handled the transaction. Envoy Mortgage, Ltd. has leased 2,000 square feet of office space in Hillcrest Square Ventures at 1000 Hillcrest Road in Mobile, according to Jill Meeks of Stirling Properties, who represented the tenant. Phillip Curtin of Curtin & Associates Real Estate worked for the landlord. A&O Health Career Center plans to expand its office space at 4358 Midmost Drive in Mobile with an additional 5,200 square feet and will lease a total of 6,950 square feet, according to Jill Meeks of Stirling Properties. The larger facility will open in January. The ongoing conversation about the #metoo movement has dominated political discussions nation wide but Alabamas gubernatorial candidates are largely avoiding the issue. Many states have responded directly to the #metoo reckoning by placing limits on non-disclosure agreements, dedicating funds to end rape kit backlogs and extending the statute of limitations for sexual assault survivors. According to Pew, six states, including Tennessee now have limits on how NDAs can be used for harassment claims. Since the movements inception, 32 lawmakers across the country have either left office or lost their positions due to claims of sexual misconduct. In Nov. 2017, Alabama had its own high profile run-in with the #metoo movement when Republican Senate nominee Roy Moore was accused by multiple women of sexual assault. AL.com reached out to Gov. Kay Iveys campaign about her stance, but did not receive a response. Ivey, Alabamas second female governor, awarded $390,972 to Alabama Coalition Against Rape this summer and last year directed $3.8 million to domestic abuse and sexual assault survivor groups across the state. But while campaigning, Ivey has proven reluctant to put her mouth were the money is. Ivey publicly endorsed for Republican Senate nominee Roy Moore, despite saying she believed the women who accused Moore of sexual misconduct. I certainly have no reason to disbelieve [the accusers,]" Ivey said before the election. "The timing is a little curious. But at the same time, I have no reason to disbelieve them." Walt Maddox avoided discussing the issue last year during the special election and hasnt made the topic a focus of his stump speech but in a statement to AL.com, his campaign said he supports amending Alabama's rape law to remove the "earnest resistance" requirement. We don't require victims of robbery or homicide to earnestly resist before there's prosecution, and we must remove this archaic and counterproductive relic in Alabama law. Sexual assault will always be met with vigorous law enforcement and prosecution. Alabamas rape law requires survivors to prove they earnestly resisted their attacker in order to charge their attacker with first-degree rape. His campaign also noted in 2001 Maddoxs first vote on Tuscaloosa City Council was for an anti-harassment employee policy. Today, Tuscaloosa has strict policies and procedures against sexual, racial, and religious harassment, and against violence and threats of violence, his campaign said. For more coverage of issues facing the next governor, go to al.com/election. After 11 people were gunned down at a house of worship Saturday morning in Pittsburgh, four members of Alabamas congressional delegation offered prayers. U.S. Sen. Doug Jones, D-Birmingham, took the opposite approach. This is a horrific act of violence on a community of faith, Jones posted on his personal Twitter account. It is heartbreaking & wrong on so many levels. No words can heal those families' pain. No thoughts or prayers can fix whats broken. Hate is driving some folks to say and do awful things in our country. It must stopnow. This is a horrific act of violence on a community of faith. It is heartbreaking & wrong on so many levels. No words can heal those families' pain. No thoughts or prayers can fix whats broken. Hate is driving some folks to say and do awful things in our country. It must stopnow. Doug Jones (@DougJones) October 27, 2018 Police have arrested Robert Bowers in connection with the shooting at a Pittsburgh synagogue that also left six others injured. Bowers is expected to face hate-crime charges. Four members of the U.S. House of Representatives from Alabama offered prayers to those who were affected by the shooting. The states senior member in the House, Rep. Robert Aderholt, R-Haleyville, quoted a Bible verse. My sincere condolences for the lives lost today at the synagogue in Pittsburgh, Aderholt posted on Twitter. I offer my prayers to the families of those who have been lost. God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Psalm 46:1. My sincere condolences for the lives lost today at the synagogue in Pittsburgh. I offer my prayers to the families of those who have been lost. God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. psalm 46:1. Rep. Robert Aderholt (@Robert_Aderholt) October 27, 2018 Witnesses said that the shooting suspect was spewing anti-Semitic slurs and rhetoric. U.S. Rep. Terri Sewell said the massacre should be a prelude to common sense gun reform. I am horrified and saddened by the attack on a Pittsburgh synagogue today, U.S. Rep. Terri Sewell, D-Birmingham, posted on Facebook. My prayers are with victims and their families. As a nation we must make it clear that anti-Semitism and hate have no place here, as lawmakers we must demand action on common sense gun reform. I am horrified and saddened by the attack on a Pittsburgh synagogue today. My prayers are with victims and their... Posted by Rep. Terri Sewell on Saturday, October 27, 2018 U.S. Rep. Martha Roby described the shooting as an atrocious act of evil. I am deeply saddened for the families who lost loved ones during the horrific events at the Tree of Life Synagogue in Pittsburgh today, she posted on Twitter. These atrocious acts of evil have no place in our society & I am praying for all those affected. I am deeply saddened for the families who lost loved ones during the horrific events at the Tree of Life Synagogue in Pittsburgh today. These atrocious acts of evil have no place in our society & I am praying for all those affected. Rep. Martha Roby (@RepMarthaRoby) October 27, 2018 Bradley Byrne also posted condolences on Facebook. There is absolutely no place for hate and bigotry in America, he posted. My prayers are with all those impacted by this mornings tragic shooting. Prior to Saturdays shooting massacre that left 11 Jewish worshippers dead and six injured outside a Pittsburgh temple, the deadliest attack on a U.S. synagogue took place in Gadsden in 1960, a leading scholar on Jewish history said Saturday. Gary Zola, who serves as director of the American Jewish Archives and as a professor at the Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion in Cincinnati, made the remarks in an interview with the Cincinnati Enquirer. "This is the first time in all American history that Jewish people apparently have been murdered while worshiping," Zola said in reference to Saturdays attack. He said that the worst prior attack on worshipping Jews in the U.S. was the infamous March 1960 attack on Temple Beth-Israel in Gadsden, which shuttered in 2010 due to declining membership. In that attack, a 16-year-old threw a bomb into the synagogue but the bomb did not explode, according to a report published just three days after the attack by the Jewish Telegraphic Agency. The attempted bomber proceeded to shoot at worshippers as they fled the building, injuring two of them. The Gadsden incident came just two years after a bomb made of 54 dynamite sticks was thrown into the Temple Beth-El synagogue in Birmingham. The bomb, which also did not detonate it is believed that rain put out the fuse but if it had it would have likely killed everyone inside the temple and destroyed the building, according to Weld Birmingham. Threatening anti-Semitic activity continues to plague Alabama and the U.S. as a whole, as evidenced by the Pittsburgh attack. In February 2017, the Levite Jewish Community Center in Birmingham was evacuated following a bomb threat, and the FBI said in January 2017 that it was investigating a rash of threats against synagogues in a number of other U.S. states, including Alabama. Jonathan Greenblatt, CEO of the Anti-Defamation League, said in a statement that the Saturday attack was "likely the deadliest attack on the Jewish community in the history of the United States, according to the Israeli newspaper Haaretz. We are devastated, Greenblatt said. Our hearts break for the victims, their families, and the entire Jewish community. We are actively engaged with law enforcement to understand the extent of this anti-Semitic attack and we will work together with communities across the country to push back on prejudice wherever it appears. Authorities arrested Robert D. Bowers, the alleged attacker, on Saturday following a shootout that left him with multiple gunshot wounds. The 46-year-old Pittsburgh resident was charged Saturday with 29 federal violent crimes and firearm offenses, according to federal prosecutors. This is an opinion column. A little election season stand-up. How many good lawyers who support Tom Parker for Alabama chief justice does it take to change a light bulb? All of them. There arent what Im trying to say is a lot of them. Which should tell you something. And why did the chicken breast cross the road? It was following Tom Parker to a speaking gig. For whites only. Ba-dum-tss. Thats just a joke, you know. Not really true. Chicken breasts, as everyone knows, cant really walk on their own. And Parker, the GOP candidate for chief justice of Alabamas supreme court hasnt crossed that line, despite conventional wisdom to the contrary. He just raised eyebrows a decade and a half ago by attending few controversial gatherings, like a celebration of Confederate General and KKK founding father Nathan Bedford Forrest, and for handing out little Confederate battle flags at a funeral of a Confederate widow. At least it earned him the endorsement of groups nostalgic for the good old days of slavery. Confederate Outfitters issued a slate of Dixie-friendly candidates a couple years ago. It put it like this: Tom Parker Friend of Confederates Ideal Candidate. There you go. Make America Gray Again. Or at least the uniforms. I dont usually write opinion about candidates this close to elections. I dont pick or endorse candidates. I dont trust any of them because as soon as you say something nice about one they turn into somebody else. (Three politicians walk into a bar. Whatll you have, the bartender says. Everything, the politician says. Unless you want the health department in here.) But there are exceptions to rules, and if Tom Parker is anything, hes exceptional. Hes more Roy Moore than Roy Moore. Parker is an activist judge who made his name campaigning against activist judges. Judges who disagree with his view, as Parker put it, should be considered terrorists like al Qaeda. When Bob Vance had to tour Love Stuff as part of a lawsuit in 2007, the picture was worth more than a thousand words. Which is the real joke because hes running against Judge Bob Vance, the most boring and judicious and cautious and serious sort of judge you can find, a judge backed by six former supreme court justices three Democrats and three Republicans. They wrote a letter saying Vance has the judicial temperament and the legal acumen required to decide cases on their merit. He knows that politics has no place in legal decisions. Meaning Parker lacks those things. So Tom Parkers old co-workers walk into another bar. Whatll you have? the bartender asks. Not that guy, they say. Not that guy. Former Alabama Supreme Court Justice Tom Woodall a Republican and former Chief Justice Drayton Nabors a Republican donated to Vances campaign. Woodall in the past made it clear that his problem with Parker is not ideology or any of the things the guys criticized nationally for. Hes just bad at his job. He doesnt handle his cases; he just lets them pile up, Woodall told the Decatur Daily years ago. Hes apparently so busy conspiring against the rest of the court that he doesnt have time to be a judge. I have no joke for that. Because the punch line or the punch in the face -- comes when Alabama voters go to the polls and vote, as theyre likely to do, for Parker. Because of the letter by his name. Because of his activism and audacity. Despite warnings from good lawyers and judges who know enough about him to be terrified. No. I dont like to write opinion about candidates on the eve of election. But there are exceptions. Like Tom Parker. Knock knock, Alabama. Is anybody there? John Archibald, a Pulitzer Prize winner, is a columnist for Reckon by AL.com. His column appears in The Birmingham News, the Huntsville Times, the Mobile Register and AL.com. Write him at jarchibald@al.com. Authorities have released the name of a man killed in a Saturday afternoon shooting southwest Birmingham. Police identified the victim as Korey Carlisle. He was 27. The shooting happened at 12:44 p.m. in the 600 block of Godwire Place. Birmingham police Sgt. Bryan Shelton said South Precinct officers responded to a call of a person shot and deceased at the location. Once on the scene, they found Carlisle dead at the bottom of a staircases. Medics officials pronounced him dead on the scene. Shelton said the investigation showed Carlisle drove to location and engaged in a conversation with the suspect, who has not yet been identified. Shortly after that conversation began, a single shot rang out and struck Carlisle. Investigators believe the killing was not random, but may have involved an ongoing dispute between the suspect and the victim. A person of interest is in custody in connection to the killing. Anyone with information is asked to call Birmingham police homicide detectives at 205-254-1764 or Crime Stoppers a 205-254-7777. WASHINGTON (AP) -- The man arrested in the mass shooting Saturday at a Pennsylvania synagogue appears to have made virulently anti-Semitic posts on a social media platform popular with far-right extremists, including one made shortly before the attack. Police have identified the suspect as Robert Bowers, 46, of Pittsburgh. A man with the same name posted on the site Gab.com on the morning of the shooting that "HIAS likes to bring invaders in that kill our people. I can't sit by and watch my people get slaughtered. Screw your optics, I'm going in." HIAS is a Maryland-based nonprofit group that helps refugees around the world find safety and freedom. The organization says it is guided by Jewish values and history. President and CEO Mark Hetfield said he wasn't aware of the shooter's "obsession with HIAS until this morning." The shooter opened fire at Pittsburgh's Tree of Life Synagogue, killing 11 people and wounding at least six others including four police officers. Bowers was wounded in a shootout with police and was reported to be in custody Saturday at a nearby hospital. President Donald Trump characterized the mass shooting as an anti-Semitic attack and law enforcement officials said they were investigating it as a hate crime. Bowers has no apparent criminal record. He was registered in Allegheny County, which includes Pittsburgh, as an unaffiliated voter. Heavily armed officers responded to an apartment building in Pittsburgh on Saturday afternoon that may have been associated with Bowers. In a statement, Gab.com said it suspended the alleged gunman's account Saturday morning shortly after his name was mentioned on police radio chatter. The company said it backed up the content of the account and notified the FBI. Gab has become an alternative to Twitter for users whose racist and harassing online behavior got them banned from the mainstream platform. The company said it disavows acts of terrorism and violence, but sees its mission as defending "free expression and individual liberty online for all people." Gab founder and CEO Andrew Torba declined to answer emailed questions posed by an AP reporter. A post made on the site's Twitter account on Saturday appeared to revel in the attention prompted by the killings, saying "We have been getting 1 million hits an hour all day." The Associated Press reviewed an archived version of the posts made under Bowers' name. The screen name @onedingo, used on the Gab account, matches email addresses listed for Bowers in online databases that contain the same "onedingo" moniker. In the description on his account, Bowers wrote "jews are the children of satan." The cover photo featured the neo-Nazi symbol "1488." The first two numbers refer to the white supremacist "14 Words" slogan, while "88" stands for "Heil Hitler" since "H'' is the eighth letter of the alphabet. Among his recent posts, Bowers posted a photo of a fiery oven like those used in Nazi concentration camps used to cremate Jews, writing the caption "Make Ovens 1488F Again." But in other posts he also featured memes containing false conspiracy theories suggesting the Holocaust -- in which an estimated 6 million Jews perished -- was a hoax. Another post derided Trump for being "a globalist, not a nationalist" and added that "there is no #MAGA" as long as there is a Jewish "infestation," using a slur for Jews. The same post also referenced QAnon, a pro-Trump conspiracy theory that started on the message board 4chan and has been spread by a fringe element of the president's supporters. Bowers also recently posted a photo of a collection of three black semi-automatic handguns he titled "my glock family," a reference to the Austrian firearms manufacturer. He also posted photos of bullet holes in person-sized targets at a firing range, touting the "amazing trigger" on his weapon. --By Michael Biesecker, Michael Kunzelman and MICHAEL Balsamo, Associated Press. Sgt. Mike Rose, Command Sgt. Maj. Bennie Adkins and Lt. Col. Mike Sprayberry know better than most about the sacrifices made by American soldiers and their families during the Vietnam War. All three have been honored with the countrys highest military decoration, the Medal of Honor, for their heroism during that unpopular and deadly war against Communism in the late 60s and early 70s. Rose, a Huntsville resident who received his Medal of Honor last year from President Trump, will be honored next week along with Adkins and Sprayberry during a special ceremony in Huntsvilles John Hunt Park. It isnt just any ceremony to honor veterans. This one is a welcome for The Wall That Heals, a three-quarter scale replica of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington. The Wall That Heals has been on tour since 1996, bringing the replica to more than 600 communities across the country. Places like Fairfield, Indiana; Ava, Missouri; and now, Huntsville, Alabama. It was through no small effort that a committee of north Alabama veterans advocates lobbied and raised money to bring the replica here, so Alabama veterans and their families can see it. For some veterans, it may be the first step in a long overdue healing process. For others, it will simply be a reminder of those who gave all when their country called upon them. Bringing The Wall home to communities throughout the country allows the souls enshrined on the Memorial to exist once more among family and friends in the peace and comfort of familiar surroundings, says The Wall That Heals website. The traveling exhibit provides thousands of veterans who have been unable to cope with the prospect of facing The Wall to find the strength and courage to do so within their own communities, thus allowing the healing process to begin. Like the original memorial, The Wall That Heals is erected in a chevron-shape and visitors can do name rubbings of individual service members names on The Wall. Along with the wall will be a 53-foot Mobile Education Center that features a timeline of The War and the Wall and provides additional information about the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington. It also includes photo displays of Hometown Heroes, service members enshrined on the wall who list their home of record from the local area. The local committee also went to great lengths to find as many pictures as possible to include on The Wall of Faces, a digital display that visitors can search to find the faces of those listed on The Wall. There are 1,210 Alabama names on the wall, and more than 250 pictures were missing until the committee went on its search to find them. When The Wall that Heals arrives in Alabama on Tuesday, it will get a VIP reception. When it pulls up at Redstone Harley Davidson off of Greenbrier Road at 9:30 a.m. the Huntsville Police Department and the American Legions Patriot Guard Riders will escort it to its destination in John Hunt Park. Once at the park, at around noon, there will be a flag-raising ceremony. It will take a day for the wall to be erected in the park, an effort led by Huntsvilles Intuitive Research and Technology Corp. At 8 a.m. on Nov. 1, the exhibit officially opens. At 5 p.m. that evening, Huntsville Mayor Tommy Battle, Madison Mayor Paul Finley and other local leaders will make an official welcome, and honor Rose, Adkins and Sprayberry. On Saturday, Nov. 3, The 50th Anniversary of the Vietnam War Lecture Series will be held at the Jaycees Building in John Hunt Park. The guest speakers include Brig. Gen. (retired) Bob Stewart, Vietnam journalist Joe Galloway and Brig. Gen. (retired) Joe Stringham. On Sunday, Nov. 4, a field service will be held before the wall is dismantled and sent on two more stops Kountze, Texas, and Franklinton, Louisiana before the end of the year. Haskins writes about points of pride statewide. Email your suggestions to shaskins@al.com, or tweet them to @Shelly_Haskins using #AlabamaProud Shes not a household name in Alabama, but Mary Allen Jolley changed the world. When Jolley turned 90 in August, over 250 people gathered in Tuscaloosa to pay homage to this daughter of Alabama. Black and white folks mingled with local dignitaries. Affluent citizens of power and position were there, along with hardworking farmers who had driven many hours to salute her. Young movers and shakers, millennial activists, church officials and people from all parts of the state dedicated their Sunday afternoon to celebrate her work on behalf of the people of her county, her state, and the country. Over the course of nine decades, broke down barriers in education, government and the economy. Opening doors in education Jolley achieved a long, notable career by translating her optimism and hard work into programs that help millions of Americans have a better life. For a decade, as chief of staff to the late Congressman Carl Elliott, Sr., D-AL, in Washington, DC, she helped draft the National Defense Education Act in 1958 which opened the door to higher education to those without financial means. Its impact is still being felt today. According to a Duke University study, the NDEA was a significant force in bringing women and minorities into the post-secondary educational mainstream. Her work caught the attention of President John F. Kennedy, who appointed her to staff a U.S. Department of Education Commission which evaluated mid-century vocational education in America. Following publication of the report, she was a key drafter of the Vocational Educational Act of 1964, a roadmap for transforming our economy into a high technology, automated workforce of the future. Her efforts changed adult education for millions of American families while giving impetus to the Community College movement in America. A $440 million investment in education for workforce development was the result. Born and raised in Alabama Mary Allen was born in Sumter County, the youngest daughter of Charlie Neal Allen, a hardworking farmer, and her mother, Henrietta Pearson Allen, RN, a 1914 graduate of Bryce Hospital School for Nurses. Jolley had three older step-siblings and a younger brother. We didnt have a lot of money, but I never felt I was lacking anything, she said. They convinced me that I could do just about anything. She attended the University of Alabama and got a job teaching music at a local school and I figured that was my future. She was playing piano in church at an all-night singing event when Carl Elliott, Sr. made a campaign stop there in 1948. He was 64 and so smart and impressive, she said. I never forgot him! She went to work for him in 1955 because, He wanted to work on things that mattered! she smiled, remembering. For the first time, I felt like I was doing really important work because this man stood for something. They traveled throughout Northwest Alabama. His district, covered a lot of ground. Constituent service was her forte, according to Julian Butler, an attorney from Huntsville who worked with them. She didnt just know the voters, he said. She knew whose momma was in the hospital, whose kid just got a school award and remembered everybody by name. She genuinely cared. Mary is authentic. She is a fixer. Education, racial justice, community support She never forgot Elliotts stories of being poverty when he was young. His dogged determination transported him 100 miles across the state to the University of Alabama with $2.38 in his pocket, according to his younger daughter, Lenora Elliott Cannon. Papa did five jobs, was president of the Student Body, did well academically, and still managed to send money home to educate his eight younger brothers and sisters. Jolley understood that most disadvantaged people were not superhuman, as the energetic Elliott seemed to be. Without a system of community support behind them, the massive poverty of Alabama was unlikely to change. That was when her mission crystallized to encompass educational opportunity, social justice and racial equality. She said she knew that building sustainable systems and community support were the long-term solution. Love and Carolina As busy as she was in DC, Mary found time to marry her soulmate. Dr. Richard Jolley was a former Jesuit priest working at the Department of Health, Education and Welfare. The former President of Loyola University in New Orleans, Dick loved Marys spirit and passion, and she admired his mind, scholarship and wit. Their home was a gathering place of kindred spirits. Through Dick, she became enamored of the depth and intellect of Jesuit approaches to teaching, learning, and, most especially, caring for the poor. Forty years ago, she and Dick were lured to Charleston, SC, by a community college president. She became the vice president for Development at Trident Technical College (TTC). According to Linda Lingle, a former Trident employee who is now a lobbyist, Mary forged big picture solutions, but was always a magnet for individuals who needed help. Jolley learned that the welding class was about to lose its only female student. Her car died, Lingle recalled, Next thing we knew, Mary was driving her to school for the rest of the semester. Within weeks, one employee recalled we were brainstorming on projects so outside the box for Charleston, that she was driving the old school administration slightly crazy. But her enthusiasm was infectious, according to Lingle, she worked harder than any of us and had this optimism and belief that others would follow suit. Long before there was emphasis on STEM programs, Mary observed low enrollment in the colleges engineering technology departments, despite high female unemployment data. It was the perfect time to try something new, she told her staff. She launched the FACET (Female Access to Engineering Technology) program and then expanded it to the industrial technologies. It brought high school women to the campus for classes and offered special assistance in technical pre-requisites. FACET recruited, supported and nurtured students by offering counselling and tutoring to remove some of the artificial barriers to the technology programs. The most impactful element of FACET was the role model panels, Lingle stated. Many of the young girls had never seen a female engineer, welder or mechanic. The program is now an integrated part of the engineering and industrial technology curriculum. The end result was a program-saving increase in enrollment and a new flow of women into a field that was previously for men only. Changing Alabamas economy In the 1980s, Mary and Dick Jolley decided that it was time to come home. She went to work for Joab Thomas, president of the University of Alabama, as director of Economic and Community Affairs. Mack Potera, who later became Chancellor of the Alabama University System, now retired, worked with her in those early days as assistant to the president. It was a time when the state economy struggled to overcome its outdated, agrarian economy, he explained. She came up with a strategy to recruit automobile manufacturers to Alabama, and now, Potera noted, we are one of the 13 largest exporters of automobiles in the country. Potera continued to say that after a few bumps and starts, Mercedes-Benz was breaking ground and that plant alone continues to support 5,000 jobs. Working in the Black Belt On a smaller scale, Jolley was concerned about creating more jobs in the Black Belt. There, she met Lillie Mack, who was laid off from her factory job as a seamstress. Mary came to the town of York with her friend, Tut Riddick, and they revitalized the Coleman Center, a community gathering place for artists. Mack said. They brought in a designer to help monetize her sewing skills and taught her how to design and sell her handiwork. They even flew her to New York to meet with professional designers. Mary Jolley changed my life, said the retired owner of the Black Belt Design Studio. Working out of the Coleman Center, Mack said, was new for me. Black people did not go there. Now it's completely integrated and Im even teaching a class there! I thank Mary for that, she said enthusiastically. During the shops heyday, Mack was selling her designer jackets, belts and bags for as much as $450 each. Mack concluded that, it was way more than just sewing lessons Major social change for York was a key outcome of this project. Next, Mary tackled the community development portion of her duties. She talked to local and public officials and found some excellent programs in many Alabama counties. However, ineffective coordination and duplication often stood in the way of people getting needed help. She researched successful community development models in the U.S. and found a successful program in Florida with similar demographics. She invited five teams of community leaders from across Alabama to meet with the Florida officials to determine interest levels, gain consensus and identify next steps in implementing a comprehensive, coordinated service program for the state. That meeting led to the formulation of the Alabama Network of Family Resource Centers (ANFRC), non-profit centers across the state which reflect and serve the unique populations of those communities. Jolley served as the first acting executive director (unpaid) of the network that has now grown to 15 centers. In that role, she was able to work with each of the communities to develop locally based solutions to local problems. We didnt invent anything new here, she said proudly. Each of our centers strengthened existing resources in the community. ANFRC settled on a model called collective impact, where the whole is greater than the sum of its parts. Robin Mackey took over as Executive Director of ANFRC a few years later. She said that Mary Jolley was a tough act to follow. Even on her tired days, she still outworks people half her age. Mackey said that her predecessor has a laser-like focus, the unique ability to convince others that every mission is possible. Margaret Morton is head of the Sylacauga Alliance for Family Enhancement (SAFE), one of the centers. SAFE boasts dozens of community based programs that make life better for local residents. One example is an overhaul of local transportation which in 2003 was going to be shut down. The city approached SAFE to take it over and the results surpassed the planners early ambitions. Transportation to work, training, education, and healthcare became available to all citizens. Fare-box revenue increased from $2,500/yr. in 2002 to over $120,000 annually in 2017. SAFE, like all of its network colleagues is as dynamic as the community itself. Mary Jolley taught us that network programs must adapt and change in a changing world. Morton emphasized. Flexibility and responsiveness are what we are about. Jolley, called the mother of ANFRC, was once asked which of the 15 programs was her favorite. How can I pick a favorite? she laughed. Each one is different, unique and doing great things that I hope will continue long after Im gone. In order to continue to narrow the gap between the haves and have nots, she joined the Board of the Alabama Civil Justice Foundation. There she helps distribute millions of dollars to the neediest citizens of the state. Programs are focused on families and children, afterschool programs, reading enhancement, capacity building for non- profit agencies, and early childhood intervention. Reconciliation, atonement, healing Jolleys belief that you always try to leave a place better than you found it. is driving her toward yet another ambitious effort. On June 9, 1964, one year before the infamous Bloody Sunday in Selma, a group of Tuscaloosa citizens gathered to lawfully protest Jim Crow laws which still maintained Whites Only signage in the new public courthouse. They gathered at the First African Baptist Church to march to the cCourthouse. Just as they began their walk, they were beaten and tear-gassed by the police. Thirty-three men, women and children were hospitalized and 94 arrested. For obvious reasons, the day became Bloody Tuesday in Tuscaloosa. However, unlike the Selma event a year later, which garnered major press coverage all over the world, there was light press coverage and scant discussion of the Tuscaloosa upheaval. It was kept quiet for decades. Reverend Thaddeus Steele, Pastor of Hunter Chapel African Methodist Episcopal Zion, the first black church in Tuscaloosa, and a group of concerned citizens have decided to end the conspiracy of silence that cloaked Bloody Tuesday. Thats how I met Mary Jolley, he said with a broad smile. Here is this elderly white lady leading the charge for reconciliation and atonement of Tuscaloosas past injustices. Jolley serves on the planning committee of our group and is an enthusiastic proponent for an official Civil Rights Trail that will commemorate Bloody Tuesday and serve as reconciliation and atonement for those wrongs, he said. She is definitely the real deal. When that trail is built, Pastor Steele concluded, it will be a major healing step for our community. A profile in loyalty Loyalty, is a word used often among Jolleys supporters to describe her. It is the strongest thread in the fabric of her work over the past seven decades. When Congressman Elliott ran against Governor George Wallaces Segregation Forever platform he was so committed to defeating the racist candidate that he liquidated his own pension fund to forge what turned out to be an unwinnable gubernatorial race. Left with only his convictions and his dignity, Elliott was in debt, destitute and nearly blind, according to Jolley. Unbeknownst to the Congressman, Mary Jolley and Julian Butler nominated him for the very first Profile in Courage Award given by the Kennedy Library in 1991. He was chosen from a field of 5000 to be recognized with this honor and a $25,000 cash award. Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis, then an editor at Doubleday, took him under her wing. She wanted to publish his story so that others might be inspired by the Congressmans journey. According to his daughter Lenora Elliott Cannon, she helped him find a coauthor, identified an agent, and personally shepherded him through the publishing of his memoir, The Conscience of a Congressman in 1992. He could not have found a better editor or friend, Cannon noted. With the generous advance on the book, Papa was able to pay his bills and maintain his dignity. We will never forget Mary and Julians loyalty to our father. It not only changed his life, Conner added, but it insured his legacy. As for Jolleys legacy, that isnt something the 90 year-old spends much time thinking about. I have lived a happy life, she says. There have been peaks and valleys, but there isnt much I would have changed. Jolley underscored that faith has been her constant companion. Holy Scripture tells us ultimately our lives will be judged by what we have done for others. When asked what gives her hope for the future, her response was optimistic. Our young generation of leaders is smart, better educated, and readily embraces change. They possess the idealism and energy of the young in body and spirit. They will keep America on the right track. Jolleys small apartment is crowded with plaques, statues and pieces of marble and sculpture signifying various honorifics she has earned, not the least of which are an Honorary Doctorate and Distinguished Alumna of the Year award from her alma mater. But she always changes the subject when asked about past accomplishments. Theres too much to do right now! she says. People in the southern Iranian town of Saadat Shahr make sure not to miss Friday prayers. How else will they get the imams comprehensive update on which stars, nebulae and meteor showers will burn brightest in the following weeks night sky? Saadat Shahr, 625km south of Tehran, has gone stargazing-crazy, reflecting a national passion that has seen new members flocking to astronomy clubs across the Islamic Republic to devour information about what lies above. Women in Saadat Shahr have even sold their jewellery to help science teacher Asghar Kabiri realise his dream of building an observatory. School janitors and teachers all paid a small share of their salaries to help build the observatory. Now it has become the pride of the town, Kabiri told Reuters by telephone. Astronomy is a divine science and is encouraged in Islam. So in a small, traditional community like Saadat Shahr, people contribute to our activities just as they would chip in to build a mosque, he added. Quranic proof The Quran often cites natural and celestial phenomena as proofs for the existence of God. The imam in Saadat Shahr has tuned into the local obsession and uses the weekly prayers to talk about whats coming up in the skies during the days ahead. As proof of Gods existence, theQuran cites celestial phenomena As proof of Gods existence, the Quran cites celestial phenomena The townspeople even allow their daughters to stay out at night if they know they are going stargazing, Kabiri said. In rural Iran, many people still respect the strict Islamic code which encourages segregation of the sexes and obliges women to dress modestly. There is further proof of the extraordinary importance of stargazing in Saadat Shahr: if there is some important astronomy to be done, Kabiri just gets the authorities to cut the towns electricity all the better to see the skies. Astronomy clubs Babak Tafreshi, editor of the Nojum astronomy magazine, has noticed subscriptions increasing and amateur clubs attracting more members. At the time of eclipses and shuttle launches, Nojum will run off 10,000 copies. Iranians have been flocking tojoin astronomy clubs Iranians have been flocking to join astronomy clubs Tafreshis bedtime television show has the highest viewer figures on Irans Channel Four and he is sometimes approached by fans on the streets of Tehran. They say they like the show because it is not connected with any problems in society, politics or religion, he said. Nojum was deluged with telephone calls last year when panicky Tehranis, observing the peculiar position of Venus, feared a flying saucer was prowling overhead. US amateur astronomer Mike Simmons, a regular visitor to Iran, said astronomy had a strong historical resonance for Iranians. They meet at historical sites. Iranians feel strongly connected to their past and I have noticed they sense that connection through astronomy, he said. Faces of future Tafreshi said there was a profound sense of this continuity among amateurs who meet at the observatory in northeastern Nishapur, home to the mediaeval poet and astronomer Omar Khayyam. A general view of the Zafaranieh observatory in Tehran A general view of the Zafaranieh observatory in Tehran But despite this fascination with the past, most of Irans astronomers are the faces of the future: they have an average age of 19 and are 60% female, Tafreshi said, adding that the mingling of young men and women on nocturnal outings was one of the few things that could get astronomy clubs into trouble. In the United States most astronomers are middle-aged and very few are women, Simmons said. Some 30 of Irans enthusiastic young female astronomers gathered in the silver dome of the Zafaranieh Observatory in northern Tehran to identify lunar craters. Youth interest Fariba Yazdani, director of the observatory, said each week up to 280 young people would voluntarily come to observatory classes, both theoretical and practical. They tend to be very gifted children, she said. The ones for whom books are not enough, the ones who need a glimpse of the infinite. It is about more than just observing. The more you learn about the theory just makes you even more curious Arezu Khani Iranian, 17 The girls noisily jostled for a look through the telescope. Much of their banter hinged on the double meaning of the Persian word moon, which also poetically refers to a beautiful girl. I cannot see a thing. Where is the moon? said one girl, squinting through the telescope. I think you will find she is standing right here, said another haughtily, unleashing a wave of titters. Arezu Khani, 17, said she was addicted. It is about more than just observing. The more you learn about the theory just makes you even more curious. Since 2014, the number of tourists rose from 674 to 22,000, and some even stayed behind to make home in Yerevan. Edward Rigor, a 29-year-old Filipino, was travelling in a minibus with several other tourists in Armenia. They had spent the morning visiting ancient monasteries. It was spring, the weather was cool and everyone was eager to reach the mountains. As they drew closer, Rigor rolled down the window and stuck his head out in the biting wind. Others got their smartphones ready and craned their necks, hoping to catch their very first glimpse of snow. Finally, in the distance, they saw it: the slopes just above Tsaghkadzor town were glimmering white. When we got there, we were screaming inside. Everyone was taking pictures, videos, and recording for Facebook Live and Instagram, says Edward. It was like being children again, taking our shirts off and playing in the snow. We all thought that we just have to be happy and treasure these moments, because who knows when we will see snow again? Edward is one of thousands who visit Armenia every year. Since 2014, the number of Filipino tourists has shot up from 674 to over 22,000 in 2017, the Tourism Committee of Armenia told Al Jazeera. And over the last few years, a growing number of Filipinos has settled in Yerevan, Armenias capital at least 300, according to the Philippines Embassy in Moscow. The Facebook group Filipino Community in Yerevan City boasts 1,300 members. In December, we have more than 300 guests because Filipinos want to experience snow and a white Christmas. Throughout the year, the most popular tours are the ones to Mount Aragats, where there is always snow. It's the biggest attraction. Renato Marilag, Little Manila hostel owner Like Rigor, who lives Dubai and does admin work for a local supermarket, most Filipinos who visit are Oversees Filipino Workers (OFWs) in the UAE, Qatar, Bahrain, Kuwait and Saudi Arabia. Because of visa rules in several Gulf countries, expatriate workers are forced to leave often to renew their visas. The visa run used to be merely a wearing formality hopping on a bus or short flight across a border and coming back the same day. But many now are transforming this bureaucratic hindrance into an opportunity. Before we used to go to Kish Island in Iran, or Muscat [Oman], says Edward, but then we heard that in Armenia you can go on a tour while changing your visa. For Filipinos who have never experienced snow, its amazing. Edward Rigor and a friend enjoy a glass of wine in Yerevan, Armenia. He is one of more than 22,000 Filipinos to visit Armenia each year [Megan Iacobini de Fazio/Al Jazeera] With flights starting from around $300 return, Armenia is one of the cheapest Christian countries for Filipinos to get to from the Gulf, and for the religious Filipino community, much of its allure lies in the possibility of visiting its ancient monasteries and churches. To the extent that Christianity is important, having the opportunity for worship is vitally important, says professor James Tyner, who teaches geography at Kent State University in Ohio and has researched mobility and migration in the Filipino context. Religion may form an important part of ones identity, and provides also a comforting structure to ones life. It provides stability in an unstable, precarious existence, he told Al Jazeera. The bureaucratic aspect of working abroad means that the lives of many migrants often revolve around their legal status. They sometimes have to leave at a moments notice, and spend months or years away from families. For this reasons, explains professor Tyner, community assumes tremendous importance. Little Manila Along one of the wide, tree-lined streets of Yerevan is Little Manila, a hostel and tour company that caters especially to Filipino visitors. A plastic menu hangs on the wall in the common room, colourful photos depicting the delicacies on offer: pork sinigang, lechon kawali, tapsilog and chicken tinola. There are Little Manilas in Dubai and Hong Kong, so why not Yerevan too? says Renato Marilag, one of the hostels owners. He and his wife, Marie, recently welcomed their baby Mia. Shes the first Armenian-Filipino baby, he claims. I want her to grow up here and speak Armenian. I know shell like it here. The graphic designer was living in the UAE when he first heard of the country. I didnt know of anyone who had been, he says, but one guy visited some years ago and the word spread. Now all Filipinos in the Gulf know about it. Beckoned by an entrepreneurial brother-in-law, Marilag travelled to Armenia for the first time in 2015 to scope out business opportunities. He enjoyed the cool climate and found locals to be friendly and helpful, despite not always being able to speak English. Compared to Dubai, the quality of life here is very good. Salaries are much lower, but its worth it. The climate is good, and people are nice, he says. Only a few months after his first visit, he and his partners opened the doors to Little Manila. Now, they welcome an average of 120 tourists every month and run tours to Garni Temple, Lake Sevan and Khor Virap Monastery. Being a Christian is very important for us, thats why Filipinos dont want to miss the historical churches when they come here. That is almost the first thing on peoples minds, says Marilag. But not the very first thing. Little Manilas bookings skyrocket in winter when the ground is covered in a thick layer of snow. In December, we have more than 300 guests because Filipinos want to experience snow and a white Christmas, says Marilag. Throughout the year, the most popular tours are the ones to Mount Aragats, where there is always snow. Its the biggest attraction, for sure. Rigor, for one, is planning a return trip in December. Honestly, I just want to keep coming back to Armenia. Again and again. Pulwama, Indian-administered Kashmir Encounters, killings, stone pelting and protests have become a daily affair in India-administered Kashmir, with the toll on human lives spiking in past two years. According to local reports, at least 50 people were killed in the last month, including 28 rebels,14 civilians and eight Indian security personnel. More and more young boys join the armed resistance against the Indian rule, with some reports saying at least 250 youth have turned rebels since the summer of 2016. Many believe it was Hizbul Mujahideen rebel Burhan Wanis killing in July 2016 that triggered a wave of protests and prompted young boys to pick up a gun. Wanis killing resulted in massive instability and violence in Kashmir, which is claimed by both India and Pakistan in its entirety. The two countries have fought two wars over the Himalayan territory so far. Saturday also marked 71 years of the Indian army entering Kashmir in 1947, a day both Kashmiris and Pakistan observe as a Black Day. In the early nineties, Kashmir had a new relationship with guns, which has now matured as even educated boys are now arming themselves, Sheikh Showkat Hussain, professor of political science at Central University of Kashmir, told Al Jazeera. He said ordinary Kashmiris now support the armed rebels with more conviction which has made the resistance to Indian rule stronger and more violent. Hussains views echo on the ground as gun battles between rebels and security forces become more frequent. Instances of people surrounding such encounter sites and throwing stones on Indian troops to allow the trapped rebels to escape have also increased. Rebels, on the other hand, threaten local policemen, who are also mostly Kashmiris, of grave consequences if they dont quit their jobs. Nearly 40 policemen have been killed by rebels this year. The national debt is growing, but despite what Trump and his party say, spending less will not solve the problem. The deficit just hit $779bn for the last fiscal year. The national debt is $21 trillion and growing. Do you care about deficits and debts? Its a subject that brings up a multitude of significant issues. The financial health of the nation. Politics. Lying. How peculiarly distant from reality so much of economic theory is. Heres the most significant thing to know about the current version of government debt and deficits: its not a spending problem, its a revenue problem. Isnt it caused by government waste? Boondoggles? Welfare? Especially from entitlements! Social Security! Medicare! Medicaid! No. Its a revenue problem. Its not terribly instructive to look at debt and deficits in straight-up nominative terms. Its much better to measure debt in relation to earnings because earnings are the way it gets paid back. If someone who makes $10,000 a year, has a personal debt of $100,000, it is probably quite problematic. If someone who makes $10,000,000 a year has the same debt, $10,000, it will probably disappear as soon as they pay their most recent Amex bill. US debt as a percentage of the gross domestic product (the nations earnings), shot up during World War II, then peaked in the immediate post-war years, at 120 percent. From then on, it headed down in a steep and mostly steady trajectory. In the 50s, in spite of the Korean War, it got down to about 65 percent of GDP. In the 1960s, during the Lyndon Johnson years, when Medicare and Medicaid got started, Social Security was increased, the war on poverty was launched, and the real war in Vietnam was escalating, it continued on down to about 40 percent of GDP. It began levelling out under Nixon, had a slight uptick under Ford, and down again under Carter to near just 30 percent of GDP. Then came Ronald Reagan. It was Morning in America again. For debt. Tax cuts, tax cuts, merry tax cuts! The debt, as a percentage of GDP more than doubled under Reagan and Bush. Clinton came next. He raised taxes. The result was exactly, logically, and mathematically what you would expect. Revenues rose! The deficit declined. So significantly, that the conventional wisdom was that deficits were done with and Americas debt crisis was over. Ahh! An almost universal sigh of relief. Then along came Bush. Bush the younger, the lesser, the second. New tax cuts! The deficits shot up. Surpassing even the great morning in America for debt that had been accomplished by Ronald Reagan! Wow! Didnt the debt keep going up under Obama!? Hugely! More than under any other president? Yes, it did. But Obama couldnt end the Bush tax cuts. So he was using the same reduced rates to get revenue from an economy that had shrunk after the crash of 2008 and the onset of the Great Recession. He also had economists with advanced degrees who told him to never raise taxes in a recession and that tax cuts would stimulate the economy. Obama added more tax cuts, though targeted more at the middle and less towards the top. As a matter of actual history, after the bubble-crash-Great Depression sequence of the 1920s and 1930s, and after the bubble-crash-recession sequence of the late 1980s, recovery came about after tax increases. The bubble-crash-recession sequence of the early 2000s, had been met with a tax cut. The recession continued. There was a second tax cut, the recession continued for most of the economy with a new set of bubbles at the top for Wall Street, real estate, and banking. Tax cuts for the rich primarily create greater income inequality a wealth transfer upwards along with increased deficits and debt. Not genuine economic growth. Even tax cuts aimed at the middle are far less useful than economists thought they would be. The combination of Bushs continued cuts with Obamas new ones, had the twin results of all the gains of the recovery went to the top 10 percent or higher and the debt rising ever higher. In 2014, Obama finally got to raise taxes, however slightly, on the rich. Revenue rose! Deficits and the debt reversed direction at last and began to decline. The recovery finally made its way into the real economy as signalled by a rise in the median wage. These facts are easily found. Unless youre an economist, then, like a mule wearing ideological blinders, you cant look past the twin ideas that tax-cuts-grow-the-economy and tax-hikes-take-money-from-the-economy and see whats growing off your well-trod road over in the fields of reality. So here we are with Donald Trump. He jammed through new Republican tax cuts. With the fervent support of all but 12 Republican congressmen. Trump claimed that his tax cuts were for everyone, not just the rich and that they would grow the economy so hugely that they would pay for themselves. Those were the same claims made long ago by presidents Coolidge and Hoover and more recently by Reagan and by Bush the Lesser. (Bush the Elder, quite correctly called it Voodoo economics. Though he stopped saying so as Reagans running mate and successor, he obviously never stopped believing in reality, as evidenced by his tax cuts to fix the deficits he inherited.) One of the great things about Trump is that he lies so often and so blatantly, that he has changed the predisposition to believe, to a predisposition to disbelieve. There has been a quick recognition that his tax cuts will not create the promised growth, will not pay for themselves, and are of benefit to a very narrow segment at the top of society. This has not stopped Mitch McConnell from claiming its a spending problem. From relishing the deficits hes done so much to create by decreasing revenue, because hes now claiming that the problem is spending and next we must go after Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid, and the Affordable Care Act. You may have noted, at the start of the article, that Americas debt/GDP ratio peaked in WWII. If we look at it as spending on survival and then in becoming the only modern industrial nation left standing, it was a great investment. Businesses are constantly borrowing in order to grow. Even our poor friend, making but $10,000 a year with a $100,000 debt, might have made a sound choice if its a home mortgage with payments he can afford on a property increasing in value. It is important to consider what the debt buys us. With Trump tax cuts we found out almost instantly: stock buybacks and other utterly non-productive transfers of wealth to the already rich. The first and most important thing to remember is that for nearly a half a century, the problem of debt and deficits has been, and remains, a revenue problem. The views expressed in this article are the authors own and do not necessarily reflect Al Jazeeras editorial stance. On October 26, Sri Lankas President Maithripala Sirisena sacked Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe, and replaced him with former President Mahinda Rajapaksa. This sudden challenge to Sri Lankas regime blindsided some political observers and members of the international community. To those for whom the political upheaval matters the most, however, it came as no surprise. Mahinda Rajapaksa was feared by political opponents, his critics and the Tamil-speaking people on the island during his ten-year reign between 2005-2015. Under his rule, activists, journalists and politicians with opposing views were harassed, intimidated, abducted and even murdered. Now that he is back, activists fear they will once again become open targets for their countrys government. Rajapaksas brother, Gotabaya, is also expected to return to the political frontline as result of Fridays shakeup. Gotabaya Rajapaksa served as Defence Secretary during his brothers tenure as president and oversaw the massacre of tens of thousands of Tamils in 2009, at the final phases of the armed conflict between the Sri Lankan state and the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE), the armed movement fighting for Tamil self-determination. Tamil activists are fearful that if he returns to a position of authority, he can once again encourage violent repression of dissident voices. The Rajapaksa brothers have been plotting for a political comeback since their downfall in 2015. Tamil activists, who say they always knew Rajapaksas would one day return, are now revisiting their safety protocols, switching to secure messaging apps and sharing emergency contact details. They speak in hushed voices as if someone is listening. They sound uneasy but also resigned to another period of repression, painfully aware of the inevitability of a crackdown that has been so regular since the establishment of the Sri Lankan state 70 years ago. Mahindas [Rajapaksa] return was expected. Despite that, nothing prepared me for the shock and paralysing fear that came when it happened, one woman, who had been participating in protests to locate thousands of Tamils that had disapeared during the decades long Sri Lankan civil war, told me. We are in fear of our lives, she added. However, not all Sri Lankans are fearful about the return of the Rajapaksa brothers. Most Sinhala people who are the majority in Sri Lanka are not equally bothered by the Presidents decision to sack the prime minister. Some are even celebrating the change of government the way they celebrated the defeat of the LTTE in 2009. That year Tamils across the country had barricaded themselves inside their homes fearing for their lives, mourning their losses in private, as the rest of the country celebrated a victory that cost tens of thousands of civilian lives. In 2009 they lit firecrackers while we hid inside. Today, again they are celebrating while we once again familiarise ourselves with a fear close enough in the past to remember, but, until now, possibly far enough for us to shut away, the partner of a person disappeared in the civil war told me, as the news broke. Three years of partial calm The ousting of Rajapaksa, and the three years of relative stability that followed, allowed for the Tamil people to become more visible in civil spaces in Sri Lanka. The protests by family members of the tens of thousands of Tamils that had disappeared throughout the countrys devastating civil war have become a particularly remarkable show of defiance and resistance by the Tamil people. These women-led protests gripped the attention of the Tamil population around the world, sparking solidarity protests and gaining international media coverage. Other once-forbidden events, such as commemorations of state-sponsored massacres, have also resurfaced in the last three years, yielding vastly increased numbers of attendance. Last year, over ten thousand Tamils braved the watchful eyes of the ever-present military to attend Maaveerar Naal the Tamil national remembrance day, when the fallen LTTE cadres are remembered. However, Tamils in Sri Lanka still faced some discrimination and repression during this period.The coalition governments initial pledges for reform and to provide accountability for the crimes committed by the state during the civil war slowly gave way to rhetoric reminiscent of the Rajapaksa-regime they had displaced, causing Tamils to become increasingly disillusioned. Surveillance, harassment and intimidation of Tamil activists and journalists in Sri Lanka also increased substantially over time. Only last week, the harassment of a prominent Tamil journalist by state forces was highlighted by Reporters Without Borders. Scared of being targeted for past activism Now that the Rajapaksa brothers are back in power, the threat facing Tamil activists and journalists is more imminent than it has ever been since 2015. Journalists have already begun to self-censor. Some are deleting content from their social media accounts, while others are deleting public accounts altogether. At least one journalist has left the country. Last year a journalist told me how a prior period of relative peace in 2001 led to many activists being more open in their political resistance, and caused them to eventually become targets of state retribution. Once the ceasefire broke down, they targeted us, he said. Many colleagues and friends were killed. After taking advantage of the relative liberalisation experienced so far under Sirisenas presidency and participating in overt political resistance , Tamil activists are now scared history may repeat itself. They fear that their increased visibility in the last three years may cause them to be targeted by the new government or its affiliated groups. Today as the supporters of Wickremesinghe and Colombos liberal elite continue to argue about the legality of Sirisenas actions, and as Rajapaksa loyalists work tirelessly to strengthen their new found grip on power, those most affected by the lengthy conflict, and most vocal in their political dissent, are considering what to do next. But whatever they decide to do, they cant protect themselves from possible state hostility and repression, without some help from the international community. International responsibility Throughout Rajapaksas tenure as president Western powers occasionally asked the Sri Lankan government to demonstrate a clear commitment to human rights and accountability, but they never attached any decisive timelines or punitive actions to these demands. When Rajapaksa was ousted from power and replaced by Sirisena in 2015, most global actors chose to believe the new governments pledges for reform and allowed it to lead any reconciliation and accountability efforts. Within the same year, a US-backed UN resolution that called for a hybrid court involving international judges to investigate the alleged crimes against humanity committed during the war was adopted with Sri Lankas support. However within months, Sri Lanka began backtracking from its commitments in the resolution pledging that no foreigners would be allowed to take part in any such mechanism. In turn, the US and other western countries, toned down their demands for a hybrid court and supported Sri Lankas desire to deal with the crimes domestically a fatal mistake, one that betrayed thousands of Tamils longing for justice.In the following years, despite concerns raised by Tamils, international actors encouraged Tamil activists and journalists, as well as other dissidents, to participate in state initiatives for reconciliation and to exercise their civil liberties, even though there was no reliable, structure offering them long-term protection from possible state retribution. This, as we can clearly see now, put even more people at risk. {articleGUID} The justice sought by Tamils is for horrendous violations of international humanitarian law, that preclude any possibility of domestic accountability. The perpetrators of these crimes remain free. And even more worryingly, the politicians that oversaw these crimes are now back in power. However, it is still not too late for the international community to rectify past mistakes. Sri Lankan authorities have been given an easy ride after committing horrendous crimes so far and the relative stability of the last three years allowed the world to turn a blind eye to ongoing injustices. Now the world can, and should, take action to protect the most vulnerable members of the Sri Lankan society. A message needs to be sent to whoever is in charge of the Sri Lankan government: The state can not get away with the crimes it already committed, and it will not be allowed to commit new ones. Any Sri Lankan government should be made to understand that repurcussions will be severe if it refuses to commit to significant reforms and a genuine process of accountability for war crimes. If the international community fails to guarantee this, Tamils of Sri Lanka will inevitably face yet another era of repression, persecution and pain. The views expressed in this article are the authors own and do not necessarily reflect Al Jazeeras editorial stance. A white gunman walks into a synagogue outside of Pittsburgh and guns down 11 congregants after screaming, All Jews must die! during Sabbath services. Another self-identifying white male sends a string of mail bombs to democratic leaders and journalists from his hometown in Florida, emboldened by nativist fervour and presidential rhetoric. Whites dont shoot whites, reveals another gunman, amid a racially motivated shooting outside of a Kentucky grocery store that left two elderly Black customers dead. Three separate incidents, in different parts of the United States, in three consecutive days all inspired by racial or religious bigotry that drove the culprits to claim the lives of people they hated, or attempt to assassinate people they deemed the enemy. This hate was explicitly visible through the verbal admissions of the gunmen, their social media feeds, or in the case of Cesar Sayoc, the man dubbed the MAGA bomber, a white van tattooed with Make America Great Again stickers demonising a whos who of democrats. All three incidents had the touchstone elements of terrorism present: (1) an act of violence that is (2) inspired or prompted by a specific ideology. Although the US government does not adopt a uniform definition of terrorism, and competing definitions of the term are often debated, these two elements are present in almost every one. Yet, despite the racially and religiously-driven murders that unfolded in Pittsburgh and Kentucky, and the politically motivated mass violence prevented out of Florida, the words terror or terrorism were seldom used in the media coverage of these three incidents. Anti-Semitic terror was uttered from the very mouth and inflicted from the gun of Robert Bowers at the Tree of Life synagogue on Saturday in Pennsylvania. White supremacist and anti-Black views unleashed by the round of bullets and tongue of Gregory Bush in Kentucky on Thursday. And the zealous nativism and liberal scapegoating trumpeted from the Oval Office radicalised Sayoc, who was arrested on the Friday in between. The violence is indisputable, and the ideology sparking it manifest. {articleGUID} But what was missing? With the ideological and action requirements established, perhaps it was the identity of the actors in question. Certainly, one would presume that a Muslim or Arab culprit involved in any of one of three incidents would immediately trigger suspicion of terrorism. Even without the verbal admissions or patent evidence indicating that some ideology spurred the violence which again, was present in Pittsburgh and Kentucky, and ample with Sayoc in Florida. But that is precisely the problem with terrorism, a term predominantly wielded by politicians, peddled by pundits and used by journalists when the culprit is a Muslim. The label terrorism, whether we like it or not, has become synonymous with Muslim in the American imagination. They are inextricably tied, if not interchangeable. Despite the range of religiously and racially neutral definitions that exist within statutes and government handbooks, the religious caricature has supplanted the legal definitions. The force of the Muslim terrorist caricature and the constructed threat it emanates from has overpowered the very meaning of the term. We see this vividly in the three incidents that unfolded over the course of the past three days, and the endless list of mass and targeted attacks that took place before them. Terrorism is instantly imputed into attacks involving a (genuine or nominal) Muslim actor, even when the requirements of ideological motivation or affiliation with a terror organisation are absent. This evidence, when labelling an incident an act of terrorism, is secondary or irrelevant when the actor is Muslim. The Muslim body, in and of itself is evidence of terror ideology and affiliation. On the other hand, when these elements are clearly established, terrorism is left off the headlines and scarce in the coverage of violent attacks or conspiracies involving non-Muslim actors, and specifically, white males. These culprits are routinely dubbed lone wolves or mere violent gunmen, labels that exempt them from the charge of terrorism in the minds of Americans, and the public imagination at large. Whereas Muslim identity is conflated with terrorism, whiteness has the effect of exempting a violent actor from the presumption of terrorism, even when the elements of it are clearly established. Terrorism, within the public and journalistic discourse, is more about phenotype than facts, and religion than motive. Islam, for policymakers and much of the mainstream media, holds a monopoly over the ideology that drives terrorism. Following decades of Orientalist ideas and images in film and print, succeeded by years of Islamophobia colouring the ink of authors and the policies of presidents, it is high time to rethink the utility of the term terrorism. And reconsider whether it so far gone a concept, so irreparably and irredeemably imbued with anti-Muslim meaning and venom, that we must begin to remove it from our political language and start anew. The facts on the ground strongly suggest treading toward a new course. And the ominous tide of violence rising from the right, which is seldom labelled terrorism although the hate and the dead bodies scream otherwise, demands it. Perhaps the path toward ending terrorism begins with putting an end to the very term we selectively deploy, and actively distort, after every tragedy. Even when they follow one another, and expose the futility of a term that is not driven by facts, but bigotry. The views expressed in this article are the authors own and do not necessarily reflect Al Jazeeras editorial stance. Japanese prime minister welcomes his Indian counterpart before the launch of formal talks in Tokyo on Monday. Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe has welcomed his Indian counterpart Narendra Modi to Japan, hosting a private dinner at his villa near Mount Fuji to kick-off two days of talks on trade and security in the Indo-Pacific region. The two leaders are scheduled to hold formal talks in Tokyo on Monday that will also likely touch on Chinas growing power in the region. Abe himself had just returned from China, where he held talks with President Xi Jinping. {articleGUID} Abe and Modi are expected to issue a joint communique on strengthening security cooperation and measures aimed at pursuing a free and open Indo-Pacific, Kyodo News agency reported on Sunday, citing an unnamed Japanese foreign ministry official. Their statement is expected to include improved cooperation between the two countries and the United States amid efforts to counter Chinas expansion in the South China Sea. Japan and India are set to hold their first joint military exercises involving ground forces in November. [We] will have a frank exchange of views and Id like to deepen our cooperative ties for peace and prosperity in the Indo-Pacific region, Abe said at a meeting of his Liberal Democratic Party on Tuesday. On Sunday, Modi visited a factory operated by robot manufacturer Fanuc before being invited to Abes vacation home near Mount Fuji. On Sunday, Abe and Modi visited a factory operated by robot manufacturer Fanuc [Reuters] The invitation was seen as Abes response to the welcome he received from Modis hometown in Gujarat last year. It was also an opportunity for Abe to make a pitch to Indian tourists to visit the mountain, which is considered as a national symbol and pride of Japan. Abe has made bolstering and opening the nations economy central to his policies, called Abenomics, and has encouraged trade, foreign investment and tourism. Abe and Modi are also likely to agree to expand the two countries cooperation in the medical field and boost exchanges in various areas. This is Modis third visit to Japan as prime minister. The two leaders last met in Japan in November 2016. Although Japan has long seen the US as its main ally, especially in defence, Abe is courting other ties. He has also been vocal about free trade, which runs counter to Trumps moves to raise tariffs. Earlier this year, Japan signed a landmark deal with the European Union that will eliminate nearly all tariffs on products they trade. The 81-year-old longtime president has last addressed his nation six years ago. Abdelaziz Bouteflika, Algerias frail 81-year-old president who has been in power since 1999, will stand for a fifth consecutive term in elections next year, according to the head of his party. National Liberation Front chief Djamel Ould Abbes said Bouteflika, who has been confined to a wheelchair since suffering a stroke in 2013, will be the partys candidate in the vote set for April 2019, state news agency APS reported on Sunday. Bouteflika is the candidate of the FLN for the presidential election, Ould Abbes was quoted as saying at a meeting with legislators from the party. His candidacy has been demanded by all the FLN cadres and activists across the country, he said. The FLN central committee will meet soon to formalise the candidacy, Ould Abbes chief of staff Nadir Boulegroune told AFP news agency. The president, who last addressed the nation more than six years ago, has yet to officially announce his candidacy. If he wins, he will be 87 by the time Algerias following elections are held. Stability over prosperity More than 40 percent of Algerias 41 million population is under 25 and many of them know no leader other than Bouteflika. Algeria: President Bouteflika and the armys political end game Many Algerians have chosen peace and stability over political reform, pointing at the devastation in neighbouring Libya as a result of the countrys revolution and political turmoil. In 2014, in light of the presidents failing health, the military thought it unwise for Bouteflika to run for a fourth term. However, in a rare moment of indecision, the army is believed to have conceded to the ailing presidents demands, deeming it necessary to preserve stability in times of uncertainty. Brazilians head to polls in closely-watched vote contested by far-right leader Bolsonaro and leftist rival Haddad. Brazil is heading to the polls on Sunday and will likely elect a far-right nationalist president with a history of homophobic, misogynistic and racist remarks. Polls opened at 8am (11:00 GMT) on Sunday and will close at 5pm (20:00 GMT), with results expected four hours later. Former army captain Jair Bolsonaro looks set for a comfortable win over his centre-left rival Fernando Haddad of the Workers Party, with latest opinion poll on Saturday night by polling agency Datafolha giving him a lead of 55 percent of intended votes to Haddads 45 percent. olsonaros campaign for the presidency has flourished in recent years as the country has been rocked by corruption scandals, economic downturn and rising violence. The 63-year-old who openly praises Brazils military dictatorship, has defended torture and extrajudicial police killings looks set to join a rising global trend of authoritarian populists. What is at stake is not democracy. What is at stake is the perpetuation of this rotten machine that we have there that lives off corruption, that takes away your medical care, education, security, Bolsonaro said via a Facebook live protest on Saturday night. On Sunday morning, wearing a bullet-proof vest and flanked by security guards, he cast his vote at a municipal school in Rio de Janeiros Western Zone accompanied by his wife Michelle. Workers Party presidential candidate Fernando Haddad is Bolsonaros main challenger [AP] Bolsonaros outspoken political incorrectness draws comparisons with US President Donald Trump, while his hardline law and order stance recalls Philippines President Rodrigo Duterte, whose war against drugs has left thousands dead. Presidential candidate Haddad has seen more support in recent polls, but it likely wont be enough to win [Nacho Doce/Reuters] You have a real risk of authoritarian tendencies, said Oliver Stuenkel, a professor of international relations at Getulio Vargas Foundation in Sao Paulo. It really depends on what extent the judiciary and legislature are able and willing to push back. This is something to watch, he said. Bolsonaro has pledged to loosen gun laws and give police greater rights to kill suspects in a bid to tackle violent crime, policies that have resonated with many voters in a country that saw nearly 64,000 homicides last year. I hope that he gives the police more power to combat crime, said Diego Piereri, 34, the owner of a mechanics garage, who said that he and his wife were kidnapped before and said he was voting Bolsonaro because of his security proposals. Im against violence, I dont want people taking the law into their own hands, but criminals have to know theyll suffer the consequences if they mess with upstanding citizens. Bolsonaro has pledged to give Brazils police greater rights to kill suspects. Last year, across Brazil, police were responsible for more than 5000 killings. A seven-term elected congressman, Bolsonaro has successively cast himself as a political outsider free from the corrupt establishment of capital, Brasilia. Earlier this week, Trumps former chief strategist and global conservative activist Steve Bannon described Bolsonaro as brilliant in an interview with BBC Brasil. For his part, Haddad cast his vote on Sunday morning in a school in Sao Paulo where he was mayor from 2012 2016, accompanied by his wife Ana Estela. Haddad expanded university places for young people in Brazil through his ProUni programme, said Paula Masulk, 23, a law student, adding that this is the way to combat violence and criminality. Bolsonaro is opposed to democracy and human rights. {articleGUID} Challenges ahead Its been a bitter election replete with drama, including a near fatal failed assassination attempt against Bolsonaro, a reported fake news network sponsored by financial backers and scores of reports of electoral violence committed by alleged supporters. On Saturday evening, Brazils former Prosecutor General Rodrigo Janot weighed into the debate on Twitter:I cannot allow a cheap discourse of intolerance. By exclusion I vote Haddad, he posted. Ja fui chamado de petista e antipetista. Ja fui psdebista e anti tbem. Houve muita especulacao sobre meu interesse eleitoreiro na minha atuacao profissional. Nada se comprovou. Agora, nao posso deixar passar barato discurso de intolerancia e etc. Por exclusao, voto em Hadad. Rodrigo Janot (@Rodrigo_Janot) October 27, 2018 Also on Saturday evening, 23-year-old Charlione Lessa Albuquerque was shot and killed while taking part in a pro-Haddad event in the north-eastern capital of Fortaleza. Police are investigating allegations that the shots were fired by a man who declared himself a Bolsonaro supporter, the UOL news site reported. This Sunday, I count on your vow to regain the breath of democracy, to ward off the ghosts of dictatorship, of hatred and of violence, Haddad tweeted. {articleGUID} Haddads Workers Party won Brazils past four elections. One of its founders, the popular former president Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, led opinion polls for the presidential race until he was barred from running following his conviction and imprisonment in a corruption case. While almost certainly poised for victory, many questions remain on how Bolsonaro would rule Brazil, where a powerful congress, that has decided the fate of two presidents since 2016, has traditionally been governed via pragmatic opportunism rather than ideology. The main obstacle for Bolsonaros government will be achieving and maintaining governability, said Lucas de Aragao, a political scientist and risk analyst at Arko Advice, a Brasilia-based consultancy. While tossing out the rulebook with the electorate might work, tossing out the rulebook with congress might not. Sao Paulo, Brazil Far-right candidate Jair Bolsonaro won Brazils presidential elections, signalling a political shift for South Americas most populous nation and largest economy. Official results gave Bolsonaro a 55.2 percent share of the vote in Sundays runoff, comfortably ahead of Fernando Haddad, the candidate of the centre-left Workers Party (PT), who had 44.8 percent. Bolsonaro gave an internet address via Facebook Live, shunning a traditional press conference because of security concerns. In September, he suffered a near-fatal stabbing at a campaign rally. We could no longer be flirting with socialism, communism, populism and extremism on the left, he said. Bolsonaro said US President Donald Trump whom he has expressed admiration for called to wish him good luck after his victory in what he called obviously a very friendly contact. Supporters wearing T-shirts emblazoned with Bolsonaros face and Brazils yellow and green national colours assembled outside his house in the Barra da Tijuca neighbourhood of Rio de Janeiro. In Sao Paulo, supporters gathered on Avenida Paulista, the citys main thoroughfare, with flags and banners that read Bolsonaros Brazil above everything, God above everyone slogan. Bolsonaro supporters celebrate in Sao Paulo [Nacho Doce/Reuters] Hell give us security Bolsonaro pledged to defend the Constitution, democracy and freedom after winning the polarising election, denying accusations he will turn Brazil towards authoritarianism. This is not the promise of a party, nor the word of a man. It is an oath before God, he said in his victory speech. PT had won the last four elections in Brazil, while its popular founder Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva was the frontrunner this year until being barred from running in September because of a corruption conviction. Throughout the campaign, Bolsonaro promised to crack down on Brazils violent crime that saw nearly 64,000 homicides last year. He wants to increase gun ownership and has pledged to give police carte blanche to kill. {articleGUID} Hell give us the security that the country needs, behind this education and healthcare will follow, said Maria Lucia de Almeida, 84, a retired Sao Paulo teacher. Hes honest. But to other voters, Bolsonaro is considered an authoritarian and a threat to democracy. He has a history of disparaging remarks against LGBT people, women, and minorities and has spoken of his support for torture and extrajudicial police killings. Hes made it clear that he doesnt want to sit and have a dialogue with those that think different from him, said Pedro Igor Mantoun, 29, a corporate lawyer from Sao Paulo, who voted for Haddad. For any country, this is a bad thing but especially for one with such a young democracy as ours. Controversial past Bolsonaros rise from a fringe congressman to the presidency has come against a backdrop of economic downturn, political turmoil, mammoth corruption scandals and rising violence. Bolsonaro a former army captain is an outspoken supporter of Brazils brutal and repressive 1964-1985 military dictatorship, a period when hundreds of political opponents were murdered by the state and thousands more tortured. {articleGUID} He is expected to stuff his cabinet with generals and former military men. Last Sunday, during a confrontational speech transmitted to thousands of supporters, Bolsonaro said red (leftist) criminals would be banished from our homeland and pledged a cleansing never seen before. After suffering defeat, Haddad said on Sunday he would work to defend the freedoms of these 45 million people who voted for him. Extreme president Analysts suggest change is inevitable with Bolsonaro now in power. Brazil will not become a dictatorship, we wont see Congress closed, said Mauricio Santoro, a political scientist and professor of international relations at Rio de Janeiro State University. But we know from experience in other countries that electing an extreme president brings bad consequences for democracy. Elsewhere, in the gubernatorial elections, in Sao Paulo, former mayor, media tycoon and once-host of Brazils version of The Apprentice TV programme Joao Doria won the race against incumbent Marcio Franca. In Rio de Janeiro, Bolsonaro ally and former judge Wilson Witzel beat Eduardo Paes who presided as mayor for two terms, included when the city hosted the 2016 Olympics. A month since the quake and tsunami, poor sanitation and dirty conditions fuel sickness among the displaced. Palu, Indonesia The tsunami that hit Palu last month swept Muhammad Afifs brother from inside their coastal home. Muhammad spent a day looking for his sibling. But it was a friend who found him, among the wounded in one of the citys hospitals. The hospital was so busy that we had to clean his wounds ourselves, Muhammad said. The 38-year-old truck driver took his brother home, where he died two days later. At least we could care for him ourselves before the end. At least 2,000 people are now known to have died in the 7.5-magnitude earthquake and tsunami that devastated the central Sulawesi city and the areas around it a month ago, leaving thousands homeless and a damaged health system struggling to cope with the injured, spread over a vast area from coastal lowlands to mountainous villages. Vast area of disaster We have a lot of trouble reaching people here. People arent focused in one place, theyre spread out all over, said Viktor, a doctor at an Indonesian Red Crescent clinic who helped in the aftermath of the Lombok quake in August, and the 2016 earthquake in Aceh. Even if we want to use our mobile clinic, we have to do long surveys and comb through villages. Undata Hospital, Palus biggest, fears more severe aftershocks will bring more victims, so the hospital authorities have kept the bright orange emergency tents that were erected around the hospital in the immediate aftermath of the disaster, said director of services Amsyar Praja. The hospital itself receives the most medical referrals of any hospital in the disaster zone with patients coming from other hospitals in Palu as well as villages in remote parts of Sigi and Donggala. Some 45 health facilities were damaged in the double disaster and nearly 4,500 people seriously injured, according to an official update this week. Administrators havent needed to turn patients away, but because the earthquake destroyed medical equipment theyre forced to make tough decisions. Not long ago, as many as 10 patients with severe respiratory infections sought treatment at Undata. Such diseases are becoming more common because so many people are living in tents, but with only one useable ventilator, doctors were forced to treat only those who needed it most. While medical cases have mostly followed the typical post-disaster pattern severe wounds and broken bones in the first week and illnesses like diarrhoea and respiratory infections after that there are cases that uniquely common to Palu. Hajiah Mariam, 69, arrived at Viktors clinic more than three weeks after the earthquake with a foot injury that got infected in her tent in a village in Sigi. It took doctors 20 minutes to clean the wound. Red Cross medics treat Hajiah Mariam [Ian Morse/Al Jazeera] Now we have a lot of wound infections, too, because people live in the unsanitary tents, Praja said. The toilets are often not clean and sanitation is a problem. Water problems The Indonesian Red Cross is managing sanitation in the farthest areas of the province, such as Donggala, where water supply has still to be restored. Theyve built 35 bathrooms and distributed 1,288 hygiene kids to those in need. Sometimes we cant go by road, so we have to hike the mountains for two hours, said the organisations director of disaster management Rafiq Anshori. Eighty percent of houses are destroyed, [and while] there is water it isnt distributed well, so the bathrooms and showers are very unclean. MERCY Malaysia, a disaster response agency working on the outskirts of Palu, said hygiene is the main problem in their small evacuation centre of 30 tents where Muhammad lives with his family. Like thousands of people across the area, they could save only the clothes on their backs. Now, his wife, mother-in-law and two children live together in a small tent. The bathroom is next to the shower and clothes washing area and drainage is a problem, MERCYs Tengku Reza said. Before the washing blocks were built, the makeshift community of about 700 people was using a single toilet, and people were being forced to dump excrement in plastic bags. The Indonesian arm of Save The Children, Yayasan Sayangi Tunas Cilik, has established three centres around the region where workers teach hygienic practices through games and other activities. We try to support them maybe to forget is difficult, but how they can get back to normal, senior operations manager Aduma Situmorang told Al Jazeera. Its hard for them to understand everything, but things like what you should do if theres an earthquake, we will include that in psychosocial support. Trauma Volunteer groups are also focussing on mental health, especially with children. Gemma Nine, a youth volunteer organisation sent a team of medics to Donggalas coastal villages for assessments in the first two weeks after thousands of residents fled the giant wave for the mountains. Twenty kids need help forgetting their trauma, said volunteer nurse Dewi Koesuma, 22, after she arrived at an evacuation centre set up among coconut trees in Lende village, where several people had lost their lives beneath falling houses, and homes had been destroyed by the tsunami. But they arent thinking about long-term problems, only the short-term like food because there is so little. Didik Wahyu Pratam, a volunteer with a local Palu youth group, holds sessions for kids with a team of students. They are focusing their attention on the worst-hit areas the villages where the earth swallowed entire neighbourhoods as the quake destablised the soil and children lost friends, parents and entire families. Two Indonesian boys at an event to help children who survived the earthquake and tsunami in Central Sulawesi [Ian Morse/Al Jazeera] Next to their collapsed houses and makeshift shift tents, children sing songs at the top of their lungs and dance with the volunteers. Our way is to give them games and lessons so they forget what happened a few weeks ago, 22-year-old Wahyu said. And besides the kids, we are also victims and its so much fun to play with the kids, that it helps us too. The state of emergency that was declared in the wake of the disaster ended on Thursday, but the local health office has extended free services until the end of the year, because hospitals and clinics are still struggling with inadequate equipment and thousands remain without reliable health facilities. Everything is broken Anutapura Hospital is waiting for the citys health office to replenish its broken medical equipment. But its medics are also struggling to work amid fallen masonry-cracked walls and crooked walkways. A few minutes after the quake, the entire nursing wing collapsed on itself, splitting the six-floor hospital in half. Ten people were trapped inside and crushed. By the time the last four were found a week later, their bodies couldnt be identified. We started working again last Saturday, but definitely not at normal capacity, Anutapura deputy director Herry Mulyadi told Al Jazeera. Many of the staff are too frightened to work in the damaged building, but demand is such that even though the hospital has rented a nearby school room and apartment building, it still has to turn away between 100 and 200 people every day. The ruins of Anutapura Hospital, which was badly damaged in the earthquake and tsunami last month [Ian Morse/Al Jazeera] We have to work without all our tools. Equipment for teeth, heart, everything is broken. We couldnt save them because the building where they were crushed them all. Pregnant women have been forced to travel to Undata to give birth because it is the only hospital that still has the ability to perform caesarean sections. Since the quake, some 70 women have had their babies there, almost 50 more than normal. But midwives are also helping women in rural communities to have their babies as they would have done before the disaster struck. In the rice farming village of Dolo, which narrowly escaped the liquefaction that swallowed the neighbouring settlement, one of the residents when into labour a week after the disaster. As they looked at the healthy baby girl, the new mother wondered what to all her. Then they remembered the earthquake. In Indonesian gempa. She didnt have a name so I just said why not Gempitha? said Ani, the midwife who helped with the birth. It fits. DR Congo election: First major pro-government rally Tens of thousands of supporters of DR Congos President Joseph Kabila turned up on Saturday to hear a speech by his favoured candidate in a long-delayed presidential election in December. The independent candidate backed by the ruling Georgian Dream party is projected to win the largely ceremonial office. Georgians voted in presidential elections on Sunday, with two former foreign ministers as the frontrunners for the largely ceremonial office. French-born Salome Zurabishvili is projected to be elected with 52.3 percent of votes, according to the exit polls funded by the ruling Georgian Dream party that is backing her, with anti-corruption Grigol Vashadze of the main opposition party expected to secure only 28.1 percent. But later on Sunday, the speaker of the parliament from the ruling party, Irakli Kobakhidze, said at a news conference that the results from 1,000 polling stations suggested that there would be a second round. Fifty percent plus one vote is needed to win the first round. The election is seen as a crucial test for the increasingly unpopular Georgian Dream party and will be the last in which the president is selected by popular vote. In the future, presidents will be picked by an electoral college of 300 legislators and regional officials. Polls opened at 8am local time (04:00 GMT) and closed at 8pm local time (16:00 GMT). According to the official data, the turnout was 46.74 percent. Results are expected late on Sunday. Should the vote go to a runoff, a second round will be held before December 1. From Paris to Tbilisi Zurabishvili, a former French career diplomat, would be the first female leader of not only Georgia but any former Soviet state outside the Baltics. Born to Georgian immigrant parents, Zurabishvili served as the French ambassador to Georgia before being invited into Georgian politics by former president Mikhail Saakashvili, who gave her citizenship and appointed her as the countrys foreign minister in 2004 but sacked her after a year. {articleGUID} Though running as an independent, Zurabishvili is backed by the Georgian Dream party. Supporters say the 66-year-old would bring international stature to the presidency which has been weakened as constitutional changes have put more power in the hands of the prime minister. However, she is a somewhat controversial figure who has been criticised for appearing to blame Georgia for a 2008 war with Russia as well as making apparently xenophobic remarks about minorities. Her unsteady command of the Georgian language, which she speaks with an accent, is also frequently derided by her critics. A previous presidential bid in 2013 was rejected due to her dual citizenship. She has since renounced her French citizenship. On the campaign trail, Zurabishvili has criticised Saakashvilis party for alleged human rights abuses during its time in power. Saakashvilis candidate Seen as the main opponent to Zurabishvili, Vashadze is running on behalf of a recently-formed platform of 11 opposition parties led by Saakashvili. Like Zurabishvili, Vashadze, 60, also served as Georgias foreign minister. He is married to world-renowned prima ballerina Nina Ananiashvili, who is considered one of the greatest ballet dancers of all time. His candidacy has been boosted by growing popular discontent over the governments failure to tackle poverty and during his campaign Vashadze has frequently condemned official corruption and alleged political meddling in the judiciary. {articleGUID} He has also criticised the informal oligarch rule of Bidzina Ivanishvili, the billionaire leader of the Georgian Dream party and the countrys richest man, who stepped down as president in 2013 after just a year in office but who is widely believed to rule the country of 3.7 million people in which 3.5 million are eligible to vote from behind the scenes. Outgoing president Giorgi Margvelashvili refused to run for a second term, saying he is not interested in assuming the reduced role. Both candidates have campaigned on similar promises to bring Georgia closer to full membership of the European Union and NATO a long-held ambition for the tiny Black Sea nation, which is a key US strategically in the Caucasus region. Sundays vote will be monitored by is considered a prelude to the decisive standoff between the ruling and opposition parties in parliamentary polls scheduled for 2020. Children aged 13 and 14 killed after Israeli forces bomb area in southeastern Gaza near the fence with Israel. Three Palestinian boys aged between 13 and 14 have been killed in an Israeli air strike in the southeastern Gaza Strip near the fence with Israel, according to health officials. Ashraf al-Qidra, spokesperson for the health ministry in the besieged enclave, identified the children as Khaled Bassam Mahmoud Abu Saeed, 14; Abdul Hameed Mohammed Abdul Aziz Abu Zaher, 13; and Mohammed Ibrahim Abdullah al-Sutari, 13. He said ambulances brought their bodies to Al-Aqsa Martyrs Hospital in Deir al-Balah in the central Gaza Strip. Palestinian news agency Wafa said the Israeli army reportedly opened fire toward the ambulances and prevented their access to the scene of the bombing, located northeast of Khan Younis. In a statement, the Israeli military said its aircraft fired upon three Palestinians who approached the fence and were apparently involved in placing an improvised explosive device (IED) adjacent to the fence. The killings come a day after Palestinian group Islamic Jihad announced an Egypt-brokered ceasefire with Israel. The declaration came hours after Israel launched air raids hitting more than 80 locations in the Gaza Strip after it said rockets were fired from there into southern Israel. Egyptian mediators are attempting to negotiate a truce between Hamas, which rules the Gaza Strip, and Israel, and avoid a full-scale war. For the last seven months, Palestinians in the Gaza Strip have been staging regular demonstrations along the fence with Israel to demand the right to return to their homes from which they were forcibly expelled from in 1948. They also demand an end to the years-long Israeli-Egyptian blockade of Gaza, which has devastated the coastal enclaves economy and deprived its more than two million inhabitants of many basic commodities. Since the rallies began on March 30, more than 200 Palestinians have been killed and thousands more wounded by Israeli forces. Khashoggi murder: Is US inaction on MBS linked to Iran? Trumps anti-Iran agenda could be behind the US close alliance to Saudi government, which is its main regional rival. Crowdfunding has become a go-to effort for relief following hate crimes and mass shootings in the US. The Muslim-American community has raised tens of thousands of dollars in a crowdfunding effort to help the victims of the Pittsburgh synagogue shooting that left at least 11 people dead and six wounded. The campaign, which is hosted by Muslim crowdfunding site LaunchGood, aims to help shooting victims, whether it is the injured victims or the Jewish families who have lost loved ones. It was started by Tarek El-Messidi, a Muslim-American speaker and founder of CelebrateMercy, a nonprofit organisation that teaches about the Prophet Muhammads life and character. According to an update the campaigns page, its original goal of $25,000 was raised in only six hours. The goal has now been extended to $50,000, with nine days left. At the time of publication on Sunday, the sum had exceeded $43,000. Muslims, lets stand with our Jewish cousins against hate, bigotry, & violence. https://t.co/RCl4p4AOGV Tarek El-Messidi (@Elmessidi) October 27, 2018 Robert Bowers, 48, has been named as the suspect in Saturdays mass shooting at the Tree of Life Synagogue in Pittsburghs Squirrel Hill neighbourhood. He has been charged with 29 offences, including hate crimes. According to the Allegheny County medical examiners office, the 11 people killed in the synagogue included a married couple, Bernice and Sylvan Simon, and two brothers, Cecil and David Rosenthal. David Rosenthal was the youngest at 54. The eldest was 97-year-old Rose Mallinger. The dead also included Joyce Fienberg, Richard Gottfried, Jerry Rabinowitz, Daniel Stein, Melvin Wax and Irving Younger. More donations Another fundraising campaign was started on GoFundMe by Shay Khatiri, an Iranian who currently lives in Washington, DC, according to his profile on the website. Khatiri, who appears not to have any direct connection to Pittsburgh, tweeted that his reason for starting the campaign was that he wanted to donate. He said his donation would be too little to make any change, but I could make a viral campaign in response to questions about his motivations. https://twitter.com/ShayKhatiri/status/1056351432272736258?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw The GoFundMe campaign has raised over $247,000, well over its original goal of $100,000. It has has extended its goal to $1m. The Tree of Life synagogue is also accepting donations on its website, according to a post on the GoFundMe page. The main political party that will oppose Thailands ruling military government in elections planned for early next year has voted in its new leadership. Pheu Thai on Sunday named 86-year-old senior party member Viroj Pao-in, a police lieutenant general, as its official leader, while Putham Vechayaychai kept his role as secretary-general. We are now getting ready for the elections, Viroj told reporters. It was the first time the party had officially convened with all its members since Thailands military overthrew a Pheu Thai-led government from office in a 2014 coup and introduced a ban on political gatherings of more than five people. The ban was partially lifted last month to allow political parties to conduct basic functions. Pheu Thai, under different name variations, has won every election since it was founded in 1998 by telecoms tycoon Thaksin Shinawatra. Its administrations have since been overthrown twice by military coups. The first one was in 2006, when Thaksin was overthrown as prime minister, and the second in May 2014, when the current military government removed his sister Yingluck Shinawatra from office after sometimes violent political demonstrations on the streets of the capital, Bangkok. Thaksins landslide election victories sparked political divisions in Thai society pitting his supporters against more conservative Thais who support the countrys traditional powers, which include the military and the monarchy. We can fix the countrys problem The ruling military government has been criticised for introducing election laws that weaken democratic institutions and give itself an advantage in the next polls, which its leader, Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha, is expected to contest. Pheu Thai has won every election since it was founded by telecoms tycoon Thaksin Shinawatra [EPA] Pheu Thai also fears it could face legal harassment if the government finds it guilty of violating a law that forbids political parties to be run by an outsider Pheu Thai is still heavily linked to Thaksin, who is alleged to be supervising the party from overseas, where he lives in self-imposed exile. The government has not announced an official date for the elections, though it has said they are tentatively scheduled for February 24. Sudarat Keyuraphan, a cofounder of Thaksins political machine, was named as Pheu Thais chief strategist on Sunday and will be responsible for choosing which candidates the party will field in the elections. When asked to comment over rumours that she would be the partys choice for prime minster, Sudarat said it was not yet time for the party to nominate a prime ministerial candidate. She said she is confident that Pheu Thai will come out victorious in the elections because its policies reflect peoples needs. People vote for us not because of the partys name or how we look like but because we can fix their problems, Sudarat said. So we are confident about the success in the upcoming elections. Critics of Pheu Thai have accused the party of forming populist policies that sound appealing but lack practicality. Bodyguard for a cabinet minister under sacked PM Ranil Wickremesinghe opens fire on a crowd, kills one and wounds two. Colombo, Sri Lanka One person was killed and two others wounded when the bodyguard of a minister in the cabinet of deposed Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe opened fire into a crowd of protesters. The shooting on Sunday came as President Maithripala Sirisena, in a televised speech, announced he sacked the prime minister and his cabinet over economic mismanagement, as well as a ministers alleged involvement in an assassination plot against him and a former defence secretary. Ruwan Gunasekara, a police spokesman, told reporters a bodyguard working for Arjuna Ranatunga, Wickremesinghes petroleum minister, fired live rounds at a crowd of people loyal to Sirisena after they attempted to prevent the dismissed minister from entering his office at the state-run Ceylon Petroleum Corporation. A 34-year-old man was killed in the incident, police said. The bodyguard was taken into custody and an investigation was under way. Ranatunga, speaking to reporters, said his bodyguard opened fire because the crowd was trying to kill me. The shooting was the first incident of serious violence since Sirisenas Friday decision to replace Wickremesinghe with Mahinda Rajapaksa, a former president accused of human rights abuses and corruption. The move, which Wickremesinghe labelled unconstitutional, has plunged the Indian Ocean nation into a constitutional crisis. In his speech on Sunday, Sirisena categorically rejected claims of unconstitutionality, saying he had no choice but to remove Wickremesinghe because of the alleged assassination plot. The president did not name the cabinet minister involved in the alleged plan, but said there has been tremendous pressure on the investigation and investigators had evaded their duties. A police informant was arrested over the case last week. Under these political problems, economic troubles, and the strong plot to assassinate me, the only alternative open to me was to invite former president Mahinda Rajapaksa and appoint him as prime minister to form a new government, said Sirisena. Rajitha Senaratne, spokesman for Wickeremesinghe, dismissed the allegations as bogus. Snap elections The developments mark a dramatic fallout for Sirisena and Wickremesinghe, who joined forces ahead of a 2015 election to defeat Rajapaksa, who ended Sri Lankas 26-year long civil war against Tamil separatists. {articleGUID} Rajapaksa who travelled to a venerated temple in central Kandy district to seek blessings from monks on Sunday issued a statement pledging to hold long-delayed provincial polls and call general elections as soon as possible. We will eschew the politics of hate and set up an interim government that will protect the human rights of all citizens, that will protect the independence of the judiciary and establish law and order in the country, he said. Mahinda Rajapaksa (right) ended Sri Lankas decades-long war against Tamil separatists [Lakruwan Wanniarachchi/AFP] His return to government, however, has prompted concern with Human Rights Watch saying the move has raised fears of a return to past abusive practices in the country. Meenakshi Ganguly, the New York-based rights groups South Asia director, noted Sirisena came to power promising good governance and accountability for alleged atrocities committed by Rajapaksas government at the close of the countrys bloody civil war in 2009. Sirisena made that promise to the victims of the war, to the Tamil people. And now in this surprise move, he has brought back the very person he ran against, she said. This is very concerning for victims of human rights violations, especially those who have come out and spoken out against Rajapaksas government. Now they are going to be very worried about their own security. Journalists at state-run media have alleged intimidation from Rajapaksas supporters, and AFP news agency said loyalists of the former president now control the headquarters of two state-run television channels. Fair and democratic Wickremesinghe, meanwhile, refused to vacate the prime ministers official residence as a Sunday deadline set by Rajapaksas supporters passed. Instead, he held meetings with allies at the colonial-era Colombo residence as hundreds of supporters, including Buddhist monks, gathered outside in a show of support. Police Chief Pujith Jayasundara, citing Sirisenas decisions, withdrew the prime ministers security detail from Wickremesinghe and assigned 10 officers to ensure his safety, according to an official memo. Supporters of the sacked PM gathered outside his official residence in Colombo [Dinuka Liyanawatte/Reuters] The removed prime minister is now calling for an emergency parliament sitting to prove he still has a majority. According to the website of Sri Lankas parliament, Wickremesinghes UNP has 106 seats in the 225-member House, while Sirisenas United Peoples Freedom Alliance (UPFA) has 95. Two UNP MPs have defected to the UPFA since the crisis began. But Sirisena has suspended parliament until November 16, in an apparent bid to shore up support for Rajapaksas appointment. Observers described the move as undemocratic. Speaker Karu Jayasuriya, a UNP member, also condemned the decision in a letter on Sunday, saying it had serious and undesirable consequences for Sri Lanka. Jayasuriya said he supported Wickremesinghes appeal to retain the rights and privileges of the prime ministers office until another candidate could prove a majority. I consider the said request to be a democratic and fair request, he said in the letter. Western countries, including the United States, the United Kingdom, Germany and France, have called on all sides in the crisis to respect the constitution and refrain from violence. Neighbouring India said it was following events in Colombo closely. Raveesh Kumar, spokesman for Indias foreign ministry, said: As a democracy and a close friendly neighbour, we hope that democratic values and the constitutional process will be respected. Kuruwita reported from Colombo; Rasheed reported and wrote from Doha The EU wants to punish Italy for its huge debt, but a new parallel currency might just push Rome further from Brussels. This week I was co-hosting a YouTube interview courtesy of the San Francisco Review of Books. My cohost for this weekly program, Joseph Cotto, and I had brought on as our guest the Libertarian candidate in the New Jersey senatorial race Murray Sabrin. Murray, whose friendship I have enjoyed for decades, is polling somewhere upward from one percent, while Republican candidate Bob Hugin is only trailing the scandal-ridden Democratic incumbent Robert Menendez by a few points. The question I kept asking Murray, directly and indirectly, is why he bothers to stay in this race, given the improbability that hell be a significant factor in its outcome. Murray had run in other statewide races in which he polled several points higher. But what Murray is selling, a combination of moral traditionalism (he is pro-life and pro-traditional marriage) and an end to the welfare-warfare state, has about as much chance of attracting a sizable number of votes in an East Coast state like New Jersey as Elizabeth Warren would at a gathering of the National Right to Life. According to Murray, there are over two million voters in his state who are not affiliated with either party; and he believes its possible to draw them toward his candidacy by explaining to them the benefits of voluntarism. Voters, Murray insists, should be given the chance to invest in their own retirement plans rather than have to pay into a government program that may be doomed to bankruptcy. They should also be allowed to create their own insurance arrangements for medical care after they retire instead of being forced to contribute to Medicare. Murray is further convinced that if voters only knew how much money is being poured into the warfare state they would support his policy of avoiding overseas military commitments. Most of all, Murray is incensed that there is so little space between Hugins and Menendez when they talk about social issues and spending programs. He kept assuring us that if the media allowed him into the debates between the D and R candidates, then the voters would be open to his positions. I personally would be delighted if Murray became a U.S. senator from New Jersey and for full disclosure, sent him money for a past political campaign. But its hard to believe that millions of voters would flow to this septuagenarian professor of economics if only they were informed. Nor do I accept Murrays faith that people are eager to return to the founding principles of this republic and to abandon government centralization in favor of localism. What evidence is there for this in his state? Why shouldnt I believe that Menendezs Republican opponent, who favors a large centralized welfare state, extensive abortion rights, and gay marriage, is not on board with New Jersey voters? According to Murray, our two parties are just interested in winning votes. That may be true, but its also safe to assume that opportunistic politicians win votes by promising voters what they already want. I cant imagine that liberty or strict constitutional limits on the power of the administrative state is anything of special value to most New Jersey voters. Murray admitted as much when he explained that college-educated women mostly want different things from what hes offering. The dominant interests of this demographic are government protection against what women regard as discrimination, government programs that will specifically benefit them, and lots of abortion rights. It may be a bridge too far for Murray to reach these voters. Although emotionally and morally Im with Murray, we should recognize that his stands dont resonate with voters in large parts of our country. And even in areas in which one finds social conservatives and apparent advocates of decentralized government, voters are not likely to accept any major rollback of the welfare state. Its one thing for Republican politicians to announce government is the problem or that their party is committed to getting government off our backs. Its another matter to scare voters by advocating sizable cuts in entitlement programs or to speak about entirely privatizing medical care. We also have to be more precise when we refer to the people or even the voters. Those in the Republican media, and not only my friend Murray, identify the populace with those on their side. Or else with those who would side with them if only they were properly informed. The reason people are not acting politically as they should is that those at the top are supposedly concealing the truth. But there is no reason to assume that political choices are made on the basis of received and verified data. Emotions and prejudice may be more important factors in all social classes in shaping political attitudes. This was made obvious to me earlier in the week when I heard an impassioned black activist on Fox News attack Trump as a Nazi and presumably raging anti-Semite. Another black guest pointed out that in view of the presidents extensive Jewish and Zionist connections it would be hard to prove that hes anti-Semitic. The anti-Trump black persisted in leveling the same charge, not because its provable but because for personal or ethnic reasons, he hated our Republican president. This hate led him into ignoring the economic improvement in the black community that has taken place under the current administration. But again I would doubt that lack of information had anything to do with the feelings expressed. Just as I doubt that women who vote against the Republicans as the sexist party are totally ignorant of the far greater problem of sexual predation in the party they support. Loyalties and hostilities are not always reducible to a question of information. One the giants of French literature, Chateaubriand, denounced silence in the face of evil. When everyone trembles before the tyrant, the historian appears. Unfortunately, historians may be assassins of memory, and one professional notorious falsifier of history that few will mourn has now disappeared. Robert Faurisson, born in a suburb 15 miles from London of a French father and a Scottish mother, a dual citizen of both countries, died aged 89 on October 21, 2018 in his home in the symbolically appropriate city of Vichy. Faurisson was a notorious hater of Jews who defended obnoxious ideas, a fountain of evil. Faurisson, educated in France, became professor at the Sorbonne until 1973 and then professor of French literature at the University of Lyon until 1991. He will hardly be remembered for his knowledge of 19th-century French poetry, which he taught. Concerned with nationalist politics in France, he became a public figure first for his extreme advocacy of colonialism, especially in Algeria, so intense that he was thought to be a member of the extreme OAS, and then as a defender of Marshal Philippe Petain and the Vichy regime. His infamous place in French history results from his role as anti-Semitic propagandist, a Holocaust-denier who propounded the falsity that insistence on Nazi gas chambers was the biggest lie of the 20th century. In 1980, he informed the world of the lie of the existence of gas chambers and of the myth of the genocide of Jews, explaining that these "falsehoods" opened the way to gigantic political and financial fraud of which the principal beneficiaries are the State of Israel and international Zionism. There were, he assured fellow historians, no gas chambers. Jews who were deported died of disease and malnutrition. One of his persistent views was that the Diary of Anne Frank was a hoax. In 1981, he was convicted by a French court of inciting hatred and racial discrimination and for his views that the reports of the Holocaust were grossly exaggerated. Faurisson was not alone in his historical and political fantasies, but he was the most prominent and influential of French negators. He was associated with the Institute for Historical Review and defended Ernest Zundel, German publisher of material inciting hatred of Jews, and the pseudo-scientific Leuchter Report of 1988, denying mass killings at Nazi extermination camps. He approved the statement by the despicable Darquier de Pellepoix, former commissioner for Jewish affairs in Vichy, that only lice were gassed in Auschwitz. Faurisson followed in the footsteps of Holocaust-deniers and then became the leading figure for others. Among them are Maurice Bardeche; Paul Rassinier; Roger Garaudy, once a brave wartime resistance fighter and communist author, then converted to Islam and became a Holocaust-denier; Henri Rocques, who asserted that the Holocaust was a wartime lie, artfully maintained by the International Zionist lobby; Jean-Claude Pressac, chemist and pharmacist who for a time denied that some concentration camps were extermination camps; Jean-Marie Le Pen, founder of the National Front, protector of Vichy collaborators, and author of the remark that the Holocaust was a "detail of history." Faurisson may be remembered by his friends and associates. One is the anti-Semitic comedian Dieudonne M'Bala M'Bala, whom he embraced on stage and one of whose assistants gave him in 2008 an award while dressed in a striped concentration camp uniform with a yellow star. Faurisson was honored in 2012 by the then-president of Iran, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, with an award for "courage, strength, and force" in contesting the Holocaust. Faurisson can claim fame as the first Frenchman to be legally convicted of Holocaust denial. At the time, Le Pen defended Faurisson as a symbol of the free speech that has been criminalized in France. The state, Le Pen said, went to great lengths to silence Faurisson. This event was the result of the prosecution of Faurisson for defiance of the Gayssot Law of July 13, 1990. The law made it an offense to contest the existence or size of crimes against humanity as defined in the London Charter, 1945, on the basis of which the Nuremberg trials were held, 1945-6. The Gayssot Law was a response to the development of "revisionism" by writers who challenged the existence of the Shoah, a not so subtle form of contemporary anti-Semitism that previously could not be prosecuted. The law dealt with the assertion that the gas chambers are a dishonest fabrication (une gredinerie) endorsed by the victorious powers in the Nuremberg trials, which were a sham, a "mascarade," sinister and dishonorable. The law was based on the right to be free from incitement to racism or anti-Semitism. Faurisson, a forger of history, dismissed from academia in 1991, was rightfully convicted by the French court of inciting hatred and racial discrimination. In a curious, still controversial statement, Noam Chomsky wrote a preface for one of Faurisson's writings. Chomsky said he had nothing to say about the work of Faurisson or his critics, or about the topics they address, concerning which he had no special knowledge. However, the charges that Faurisson was a rabid anti-Semite and fanatical pro-Nazi had no bearing whatsoever on the legitimacy of the defense of his civil rights. Chomsky could find no evidence to support the conclusion that Faurisson was anti-Semitic or neo-Nazi, rather "relatively a political liberal of some sort." By coincidence, on October 4, 2018, French culture minister Francoise Nyssen announced an award to memorialize Ilan Halimi, the first Jew to be killed in a hate crime after World War II. Halimi, a 23-year-old, a mobile phone salesman, had been abducted, tortured, and killed in 2006. The murder is depicted in a movie, 24 Days. The intellectual and legal problem concerning Faurisson and like-minded individuals continues. The argument is made that the expression "genocide" is no longer appropriate for what happened, that new evaluations are needed of rigid canons of memory that we have been taught to regard as eternal. According to this line of argument, we must abandon the concept of a Nazi systematic extermination policy planned from the outset; it was a gradual plan imposed by war, which itself exercised the violent anti-Semitism of Hitler and his entourage. This specious argument, derivative of Faurisson's work and influence, must be rejected, as should be historical revisionism. The only praiseworthy remark that can be made of Faurisson and his ilk is that they did truth an involuntary service by making the Shoah one of the best known events in modern history. The concept of revisionism should be buried with him. A topic of conversation all throughout the Sunshine State is Florida's Amendment 4, which would restore the right to vote for 1.5 million felons who completed their sentences, except convicted murderers and sex offenders. To pass, 60 percent of voters must vote "yes." The Supporters The amendment is on the ballot because of the effort by the non-profit Floridians for a Fair Democracy, which was primarily bankrolled by the American Civil Liberties Union. Florida is one of 13 states that restrict voting rights after a felon has completed a prison sentence and is no longer on probation or parole. Nationwide, 6 million Americans can't vote as a result of felony convictions. Supporters of Amendment 4 argue that while felons did the crimes, they also did their time, and re-enfranchisement will make good on what they say is a unique American tenet: a second chance. In order to get a proposed amendment on the ballot, a petition must be signed by 766,200 voters, and the signatures must come from at least 14 of Florida's 27 congressional districts. One point one million signatures were collected by Floridians for a Fair Democracy, led by Desmond Meade, who was convicted of drug crimes, aggravated assault, and possession of a firearm. In addition to their re-entry into the state, local, and national democratic process, advocates of the amendment have also touted their alleged economic benefits. The right-leaning Coral Gables, Fla. Washington Economics Group recently estimated that since 2011, Florida has lost $2.7 billion from court costs, job loss, and recidivism due to felons' inability to vote. Furthermore, nearly 4,000 Florida military veterans' voting rights will be restored if the amendment passes. Elsewhere throughout the country, some states are less restrictive than Florida. In Maine and Vermont, felons never lose their right to vote; in 14 states and the District of Columbia, restoration of the right to vote is automatic upon sentence completion; and in 21 states, felons cannot vote while incarcerated, nor, for a period of time, while on parole or probation. The Opponents In 1974, the United States Supreme Court ruled 6-3, in Richardson v. Ramirez, that barring felons from voting doeas not violate the Equal Protection Clause of the 14th Amendment. The court also left the "what to do?" to the individual states. Richardson reversed the California Supreme Court. A common talking point is that felons are permanently banned from voting in Florida; however, that's not exactly accurate. A felon must wait five years after sentence completion before he can apply for a review at the state Office of Executive Clemency, which has limited resources and can take years to adjudicate a case. So could it take a decade or so to regain voting rights, subject to approval by the aforementioned office? Yes, and while it's certainly not automatic and may be much longer than a felon wants, it's not "permanent." This policy was put into place seven years ago by current governor Rick Scott, who overturned a more lenient policy enacted by his predecessor, Charlie Crist. The most visible and vocal statewide opponent to Amendment 4 is the non-profit Floridians for a Sensible Voting Rights Policy, headed by Richard Harrison, a Tampa-based attorney. (I found no information online about financiers and donors.) Harrison's group argues that the amendment is too broad in its one-size-fits-all approach. The amendment is bad policy, it argues, because it makes no distinction between one-time offenders and repeat felons, and it fails to consider the original crime and charges before any plea deals. If the amendment fails, I believe that it will be because of the belief that felons will overwhelmingly vote Democrat (more on that later), and also because there is no lifetime voting rights disqualifier for felons who are again convicted of the same, or a different, felony crime. The Politics of It All In addition to no right to vote, Florida felons cannot legally own a firearm (this is national policy) and cannot serve on a jury. The amendment addresses only the right to vote; critics and skeptics have asked aloud why there has been only a push to restore voting rights and not a complementary push to restore the ability to serve on a jury. Crist took credit for what he claimed were lower recidivism rates from 2007 to 2010 due to a quicker process to restore voting rights. Before 2007, the recidivism rate in Florida was 33%. Once Crist's policy took effect, two-year rates were 12.4%, and three-year rates were 26.3%. Scott, who is challenging incumbent Democrat Bill Nelson for the latter's Senate seat, disputes that rates dropped due to a restoration of rights, citing Florida Clemency Board data that rates had been consistently decreasing. Scott has also said strict clemency guidelines have likely made Florida a safer and economically stronger state. Though the adjective "nonviolent" isn't in the amendment's text, it's often used in its marketing and promotion. What percentage of nonviolent felons committed violent crimes but were sentenced on lesser, less violent charges? The answer in Florida is unclear, but with 1.5 million felons, and another 220,000 future felons, it's a reasonable assumption that at least some percentage committed violent crimes before plea deals. For example, a felon serving a sentence for attempted murder isn't a murderer but is still violent and will be granted his voting rights if Amendment 4 passes. This blurred line has been publicized by amendment opponents. I suspect that most Florida Republicans and conservatives will vote "no." Right-leaning independents (called NPAs: No Party Affiliation) are probably 50-50. Conservatives are a law-and-order bunch, and many are certain that Florida's felons would overwhelmingly vote Democrat. The data to back this up are inconsistent and outdated. A 2002 study in The American Sociological Review hypothesized that felons would have voted Democrat 70 percent of the time; the study also estimated that seven out of 400 United States Senate races may have flipped from red to blue between 1970 and 1998. Conclusions on whether felons would have tipped the 2000 presidential election to Bush or Gore are inconclusive. It's also debatable if the majority of felons would even register to vote. Felons will soon know if they'll be eligible to vote beginning in 2019. Irrespective of the outcome, perhaps all Floridians can agree that the amendment's fate will be decided in the most democratic way: by the will of the people. Rich Logis is host of The Rich Logis Show, at TheRichLogisShow.com, and author of the upcoming book 10 Warning Signs Your Child Is Becoming a Democrat. He can be found on Twitter at @RichLogis. President Trump walked back his remark that he supports a two-state solution. He now supports whatever the parties want. That isn't an improvement. For 30 years, the parties have not been able to reach an agreement based on what they want. President Obama tried to remedy that situation by imposing a solution on Israel to no avail. Since taking office, Trump has taken a different approach. He is seeking an agreement that ignores the Palestinian Authority, which he is currently destroying, and instead speaks directly to the Palestinians, who he believes are interested in a better life rather than in destroying Israel. In addition, he has recognized Jerusalem as the capital of Israel and has proceeded to unravel UNRWA, thereby taking two final status issues off the table Plus, he and outgoing ambassador to the U.N. Nikki Haley relentlessly attacked the U.N. and its agencies for their bias against Israel. Also, he has withdrawn America from both UNHCR and UNESCO. Finally, in line with his rejection of multilateralism, he is ignoring the Quartet and the U.N. and going it alone to achieve a deal not bound by the dogmas of the past, but on the possibilities. Trump drove this point home in his address to the U.N. by saying the U.S. will not be "held hostage to old dogmas, discredited ideologies." The Jordan Option, as proposed by Mudar Zahran, leader of the Jordanian Opposition Coalition, and me, recognizes that nothing acceptable to Israel can be achieved by negotiating with King Abdullah or Mahmoud Abbas. This option is very much in line with Trump's Deal of the Century, which considers Jordan to be the Palestinian state east of the Jordan River and Israel, the Jewish state west of the river. Both Abdullah and Abbas rejected such a deal in their recent speeches to the U.N. Abdullah said: Only a two-state solution based on international law and relevant UN resolutions can meet the needs of both sides: an end to conflict, a viable, independent, sovereign Palestinian state on the 1967 borders with east Jerusalem as its capital, and a secure Israel, fully part of its own region, recognised by Arab and Muslim states around the world[.] Abbas said, among the many lies and misrepresentations: But now our view of the United States is that it does not have the right to be a mediator on its own. We have the Quartet. ... I came before the Security Council on the 20th of February this year and presented an initiative calling for the convening of an international peace conference based on the relevant UN resolutions and the internationally endorsed terms of reference and parameters. Such a conference should involve broad international participation that includes regional and international stakeholders, led by the Permanent Members of the Security Council and the Quartet. ... Peace in our region cannot be realized without an independent Palestinian State, with East Jerusalem as its capital and with all of its holy sites. ... We want the right to self-determination. Nothing more or less. When the Trump team is optimistic about the chances of reaching a deal, everyone else is pessimistic and attacks the president and his people for being naive or worse. Trump knows that if he sticks to the past, he will meet with failure, as everyone else does. His optimism is born out of the fact that he is rejecting "old dogmas" and "tired notions" and the demands of the P.A. and its backers. Instead, he is focused on "helping the Palestinian people" to have a better life. This includes naturalizing them as Jordanian citizens and providing them with jobs and other forms of assistance. After meeting with Prime Minister Netanyahu, Trump said "I like the two-state solution." He added, to everyone's astonishment, "I want a plan that's solid, understood by both sides, really semi-agreed by both sides before we present. I would say two-three-four months." Given the total rejection of his ideas by Abdullah and Abbas, how can he expect to have semi-agreement within "two-three-four months"? The only answer to that question is that he does not expect to have a semi-agreement with either of them. Perhaps he expects that Mudar Zahran will replace Abdullah and knows, based on my writings and Zahran's speeches and interviews, that he would have Zahran's agreement on behalf of all Palestinians to his plan. Eighty-three-year-old Abbas is irrelevant. I can't think of any other way to achieve semi-agreement. Can you? I have black and white Christian relatives who are extremely involved in their churches, faithfully attending every Sunday. They sit in their favorite pew, singing, "I Have Decided To Follow Jesus." Why do most of these Christian relatives choose to ignore Democrats', fake news media's, public education's, and Hollywood's war on marriage, God's sex distinctions, innocent life, and Jesus? These regular churchgoers distance themselves from me whenever I post my articles on Facebook about Planned Parenthood's obsession with killing babies even after they are born infanticide. Christian relatives were offended when my wife posted undercover videos that exposed that PP illegally sells dead baby body parts for profit. A video revealed that PP is excited when its abortionists successfully kill babies without destroying the head because intact heads sell for premium prices. My Christian relatives still passionately defend Planned Parenthood. My wife Mary and I are their politically fanatical relatives. Sadly, some Christian relatives seem to allow their public school-indoctrinated kids to tell them what to think. These Christian parents support Planned Parenthood killing babies because their Millennial kids support Planned Parenthood killing babies. Will God judge such parents for allowing their kids to seduce them into bending a knee in worship to the false god of political correctness? Animal-lovers are prominent throughout my family. Relatives who defend Planned Parenthood slaughtering innocent human babies would angrily call for the execution of anyone who harms a puppy. I find it amazing that my Christian relatives (black and white) cannot see or refuse to see Democrats' and leftists' and fake news media's hatred for Jesus. News reports, TV sitcoms, public schools and movies always portray followers of Jesus as wacko intolerant haters. Meanwhile, media portray homosexuals as sophisticated, funny, compassionate, and wonderful superior human beings. I have never heard my Christian relatives even acknowledge that Democrats and leftists seek to ban Nativity scenes, in essence removing Christ from Christmas. Bibles and Christianity are banned from public schools while Muslims are invited to share the beauty of Islam. My relatives are mute about LGBTQ lessons becoming mandatory across America in public schools, beginning in pre-K? Four-year-olds are being asked to choose the sex they want to be before starting school. Lord help us. Teachers are forbidden to address students as boys and girls because it is deemed "gender-bigotry." And yet, professed Christian relatives want me to keep my racist, hateful, conservative, and Republican rhetoric to myself. Some of my Christian relatives secretly think it is about time I become more religiously modern and embrace the redefinition of marriage. In His word, God vows to punish certain behaviors along with those who support people engaging in what God calls sin. Ponder that, folks. We are living at a time in America in which Democrats use government to force Christians to disobey God, embrace anti-biblical behaviors, and betray their commitment to Jesus. Conservative Brett Kavanaugh on the Supreme Court highly threatens Democrats' power to use government to force their anti-Jesus agenda on Americans. This is why demonic witches gathered to curse new justice Kavanaugh. Christians have a responsibility to vote in defense of their religious liberty. The mindset of most of my black Christian relatives is particularly puzzling. They support Planned Parenthood despite knowing that it was founded by Margaret Sanger, who thought poor people were inferior and must be weeded out. With disproportionate high numbers of black abortions, blacks are engaged in a self-imposed genocide. Black professed Christian minister Al Sharpton supports large numbers of black moms killing their babies. In his late 80s, my amazing black preacher dad, the late Dr. Rev. Lloyd E. Marcus, marched the drug-infested high-crime Baltimore black neighborhood around his church. Dad carried a sign that read, "Stop the Killing!" More and more neighbors joined and supported Dad's march. Dad knew that the problem is not racist white cops. The problem is godless and fatherless black youths murdering each other. A growing number of godly black pastors across America are standing up for real Christianity rather than loyalty to black groupthink and Democrats. Unfortunately, most of my relatives and many black Christians support Black Lives Matter. They believe the racist anti-America hate group's lie that whites routinely murder blacks. They ignore the epidemic of blacks killing each other every weekend in Democrat gun-controlled cities like Chicago; Baltimore; Detroit; and Washington, D.C. Clearly, most of my black Christian relatives place loyalty to forever viewing themselves as victims of racist white America and supporting Democrats above their Christianity. Victim mindsets and Democratic Party loyalty trump Jesus's platform at the ballot box in the minds of many blacks. One particular black relative is a rabid walking-dead Democrat zombie. She rejects all facts and truth. Fact: Trump has been an awesome blessing for blacks unemployment at a historic low. And yet, this faithful churchgoing relative along with others believe that Trump is a racist who hates blacks. While I will continue praying for her, the Bible does speak of stubborn individuals who reject truth. One of my younger brothers is a bold, outspoken black conservative and Republican Christian who has attended the same Baltimore black church for 20 years. He challenged his pastor to please stop including hate-filled anti-Trump rants every Sunday in his sermons. The pastor continues to fill his congregation's heads with CNN lies about Trump being an enemy of blacks. Kanye West and other young influential blacks are breaking Democrats' stronghold on the minds of younger blacks. Still, a majority of black Christians worship their skin color and Democrats more than they worship Jesus. I pray that Christians will come to see that Democrats' war on our culture is really a spiritual war the spirit of Antichrist. When you strip away Democrats' facade of compassion, social justice, and so on, it becomes clear that they reject Jesus, proclaiming Himself to be the only way to heaven. Ninety-nine percent of leftists' attacks on our cultural traditions involve poking a finger in the eye of Jesus and government forcing His followers to betray Him. Democrats market themselves as super-advocates for homosexuals. Muslims behead and throw homosexuals off buildings because of their sin. Christians lovingly try to lead homosexuals to Jesus. So why do Democrats brand Christians violent haters of homosexuals? Why do they seek to silence and throw Christians into jail for publicly quoting the Bible? Meanwhile, Democrats highly praise Muslims and threaten to jail anyone caught speaking badly of Islam. Obviously, Democrats have disdain for Jesus. A majority of my Christian relatives attend churches which that support leftists' lie-based hatred for Trump while passively surrendering to anti-Christian and anti-America political agendas. When these relatives invite me to their churches to join them in singing "I Have Decided to Follow Jesus," I will politely pass and keep them in my prayers. Lloyd Marcus, The Unhyphenated American Help Lloyd spread the Truth: http://bit.ly/2kZqmUk http://LloydMarcus.com Image: ThePianoMan76 via Wikimedia Commons. This is not the first time I have been blamed for a mass murder. That happened a few years ago on Rachel Maddow's show: her guest from the Southern Poverty Law Center said my writings documenting black violence wildly out of proportion actually caused a climate of hate, which led to the Boston Marathon bombing. For some reason, the FBI never showed up to question me. Now it is happening again, this time with the psycho who killed at least eight people in a Pittsburgh synagogue. Apparently, the psycho a white supremacist and anti-Semite said on social media that my videos "opened his eyes." That was a few months ago. Over the last five years, in addition to writing two Amazon bestsellers and creating more than a thousand videos that garnered over 120 million views many on YouTube, others on Facebook, Twitter, and minds.com I know that my work on racial violence and delusion has touched a lot of people with stories of how black victimization is the greatest lie of our generation, no matter how many times we hear the opposite on legacy media. Anyone who has spent any time with my books or videos or articles knows there is no white supremacy or anti-Semitism there. But that's not stopping some of the early reporting on this tragedy from dragging me into this nightmare. There is one area where I have done more writing and reporting about Jewish life than anyone in America, Jew or Gentile: exposing black-on-Jewish violence in New York and Baltimore and many places in between. It's easy to find. I was among the first to expose New York City councilmember Laurie Cumbo when she talked about black-on-Jewish violence, saying black people are violent because they feel that Jewish people do not "share their success." I was among the first to expose how Laurie Cumbo became a darling of Hillary Clinton and other Democratic candidates for president shortly after. The Jew-haters hate those articles. But I'm happy to continue writing them. I do not use words like "probably" and "most likely." We show what happened. Or not. Period. It's called reporting the same kind of work I did when my story on a how a black man in San Diego was unjustly convicted of trying to kill his white girlfriend resulted in his exoneration and release from state prison. His name is Kelvin Wiley look it up. It was a big deal on Court TV, at NPR, in the Los Angeles Times, and at other places. It's all about what is true and false. Or as the wags like to say, the first and only rule of journalism is "if your mother says she loves you, check it out." That is what I expect of people who write about my work. If you say I said something, show me. That's all. Reporters at just about every major media company in America have failed that test. From CNN and MSNBC to NPR and the New Yorker (where they said I was filling the heads of Donald Trump and Fox News with made up stories about the ridiculous levels of black violence and media denial in America), they always use the "in other words" gambit i.e., "here is what I wish you had said, but since you did not, I will make up something you did not. Something stupid. Something indefensible.' Let's see how many people meet that challenge in the coming days. Of course, I've never heard of this psycho killer, much less met him. But for anyone watching my videos, the reaction should be a greater understanding that Jewish people are under significant threat all over the country. As well as the world. And they should protect themselves. I'm very clear about the threat of violent anti-Semitism both here and in Europe. I condemn that without equivocation or hesitation. But now some liberal news sites are beginning to feast on this discovery of the killer's social media postings and how I appear in them. My work is plain. And accessible. Even the laziest researcher should have no trouble using my own words and work to figure out the truth of what I say and the delusions of anyone who says different. If you have been worried like President Trump that the GOP will suffer for being blamed for the violence, real and attempted, of the past week, relax. Three smart people two of them Lefties see beyond the huge media hype ever since ineffective (if not fake) bombs began arriving at the homes and offices of Trumps enemies. The suspect in custody was so perfect, with his van covered in graphics echoing Trump themes, that many suspected a false flag operation. The mainstream media wasted no time in endlessly pounding home to idea that Trump has, if not blood on his hands, responsibility for creating a toxic atmosphere that animated one of his followers to attempt what the Unabomber (a huge fan of Al Gore) succeeded at. The second pathetic, angry loser suspect who succeeded hideously well in killing his intended victims is on the record hating Trump. But that hasnt stopped Lefties from trying to pin his bigotry on Trump (and the Jews who support his move of the American embassy to, Israels capital city): And a word to my fellow American Jews: This president makes this possible. Here. Where you live. I hope the embassy move over there, where you dont live was worth it. Julia Ioffe (@juliaioffe) October 27, 2018 I think the logical syllogism that will be widely deployed is: 1. Bowers doesnt like immigration (he attacked HIAS, which supports many Muslim immigrants, despite its origins as a group supporting Jewish immigrants). 2. Trump also has criticized unchecked immigration, wants to tighten up screening of purported asylum seekers, and stopped entry from countries that cannot supply adequate documentation for vetting (intentionally distorted into a Muslim ban by his unscrupulous critics). 3. Therefore, Trump and Bowers are really allies, even though they both, now, have denounced each other. The superior knowledge and wisdom of Trumps critics makes this indisputably true. 4. The perfect label to make them identical twins already has been deployed: They are white nationalists! But it wont work. Michael Goodwin of the New York Post explains why: Here are three main reasons for my doubts. First, neither suspect was a solid citizen who suddenly turned to violence because of politics. (snip) Although the public in general is distressed with gutter-level politics, and most feel Trump makes too many inflammatory comments, it doesnt automatically follow that these two alleged criminals can be successfully pinned on the president. Just as most Americans did not blame Bernie Sanders when one of his supporters shot Republican Congressman Steve Scalise in a planned assassination attempt last year, most are more likely to believe Sayoc and Bowers are responsible for their own actions. Pretty much everyone knows by now that Maxine Waters has been urging harassment, and that Republicans are experiencing it. The swing voters in the middle that are paying attention to the news know this very well. Second, the speed of events these days means no one storyline dominates for long, even in the anti-Trump-obsessed media. The Brett Kavanaugh confirmation battle looked as if it would determine the election until the caravan of Central American immigrants making their way toward the southern border vowed to get into the country, one way or another. That caravan is not going away. See below, for the Lefties that appreciate how important this is. Graham continues: The economy is the third reason for my doubts that last week will dramatically reshape the election. Most Americans in the workforce today have never seen anything like the jobs boom and the rising incomes that go with historic low unemployment. As James Carville famously instructed Bill Clinton, Its the economy, stupid. That still is true. Especially in an environment in which a huge majority of the public disbelieves the media. The two smart Lefties who see the caravan as decisive are Andrew Sullivan and Michael Moore (dont be fooled by his dopiness he predicted Trumps win, and understands working class Americans better than the Democrat intellectuals and elites). Sullivan writes in New York Magazine: Its the optics that are fatal. The image of that caravan, crammed with thousands of desperate brown human beings, winding its way tortuously through Central America and Mexico, headed to a showdown at the U.S. border, is a white nationalists twisted fantasy. The question is not if George Soros funded it, but if Steve Bannon did (Im kidding, Im kidding). It reminds me of that infamous poster in the Brexit campaign which showed a long, packed line of migrants, in theory waiting to enter Britain, with the slogan: Breaking Point. Moore is more effusive, as the Daily Wire reports: The Honduras migrant caravan army, still 4,000-strong and snaking its way up Mexico, has taken a Sunday break based on a report of a child migrant kidnapping. According to ABC News: Late Saturday night, groups of migrants were running through the town's streets saying a migrant's child had been snatched. Something similar led to a panic at an earlier stop, but was not confirmed. It's likely it will be the last we hear of this, just another color anecdote, given the amorphous state of the reporting on the caravan, but it raises important issues: Whoever it was who lost their kid also lost their fast-pass ticket into the U.S., given the propensity of U.S. authorities, responding to leftist court orders, to prioritize illegal migrants with children over other illegal immigrants, including the court order not to separate them. What's likely to happen now is that someone is going to approach U.S. border authorities with the child on his or her hip, calling him or her his or her own, using the kid (probably too small to say anything) to get into the U.S. as an object of special pity deserving of asylum. Instead of being taken to a detention center, the "family" will be released into the general population, diseases or no diseases, and not have to worry about prison conditions that other lawbreakers endure. Meanwhile, the mainstream press will be the first to feature them as objects of pity with some cooked up sob story describing why the pair should stay in the U.S., and why it would be so evil and wrong to separate them, so out into the public they go, free to skip their court dates. Once in, the child's usefulness will then be disposable and the child could be sold off to traffickers or human smugglers for use again as an immigration entry device. As for the mother with the missing child, too bad. Good luck finding him or her. Nice work, lefties. Chalk it up to a specialty we see on that side of the spectrum, unintended consequences. Which is why the caravan set-up is such an awful idea. The small children on the journey, having become bargaining chips for special-consideration entry, are absolute magnets for kidnappers, given the way leftist-influenced U.S. immigration policy is run, what with the left's stink about separating families with children. In the past, purported families would be separated, if for nothing else to determine if those kids are biologically related to the people claiming to be their parents. Now it's a free for all, and the result of that is an incentive to kidnap. The migrant caravan kids are right there, sleeping in the streets, and free for the taking. It would be very easy for a military-aged migrant male to take a small child, splinter off from the group, get on a bus, and arrive at the border with the child on his hip asking for asylum. ABC News reports just one incident, with a rumored incident earlier, so it's likely this may be a bigger problem than reported, given the randomness of their information. Judicial Watch earlier did report that a human smuggling ring carrying seven kidnapped children was uncovered in the caravan as it crossed Guatemala, which adds to the total incidents. Meanwhile, the migrant mothers and children, with strollers, are reporting that the male migrants are tramping all over them and rushing to take all the best seats on the trucks and buses that the Mexicans are supplying them for the journey northward, according to the ABC News report, so one can conclude that there isn't a lot of chivalry or social capital inside the caravan, it's Lord of the Flies and every man for himself, meaning the tinder is dry for kidnappers what with the Darwinian survival-of-the-strongest ethic being the socially operative principle. With the incentives there, this caravan is increasingly looking as though it may end up being a kidnapper's paradise. Expect to read a few more stories about migrant child kidnappings as the press and its leftist politicians yell on the U.S. side that family separations are evil. Image credit: Fox News screenshot The Texas Senate race between incumbent Republican Ted Cruz and Democratic challenger Rep. Beto O'Rourke has now become the most expensive Senate race in US history. Filings with the FEC show O'Rourke raising an astonishing $70 million. Cruz has not been idle either, pulling in more than $40 million since 2012. Meanwhile, in North Dakota, incumbent Senator Heidi Heitkamp pulled in an eye-popping $12.5 million in just the last 17 days. Analaysts credit her "no" vote on the Kavanaugh nomination - a no brainer for any Democratic senator seeing that the alternative was to have a a mob of screaming liberals calling for her head. But as the Washington Free Beacon reports, just 2% of it has come from donors in North Dakota. Only 2 percent of Heitkamp's "eye-popping" haul, which has been credited to her decision to stick with her party and vote against Kavanaugh, came from within North Dakota, according to an analysis of her latest filing with the Federal Election Commission, which covers campaign activity from Oct. 1 through Oct. 17. The campaign is only required to disclose sources of contributions over $200, which came to just under $4.9 million of the money raised. Only $105,568.17, or 2.15 percent, of the itemized contributions came from sources within North Dakota, where the incumbent Democrat is currently trailing by double-digits in the polls to Republican Kevin Cramer. A far larger proportion of donations came from deep blue coastal states such as California, which was the source of $1.25 million, or 25.5 percent, of itemized contributions to Heitkamp. She received $732,625.54or 15 percentfrom donors in New York. It is impossible to determine from the FEC report the geographic source of the unitemized contributions to Heitkamp, which are under $200 and accounted for $7.5 million of the fundraising. Heitkamp's campaign did not respond to a request for information on the unitemized contributions. Over the course of her current campaign, Heitkamp has received just 9 percent of her political contributions from within North Dakota, according to data collected by the Center for Responsive Politics. It should be noted that Heitkamp is being slaughtered in the polls, trailing GOP challenger Rep. Ken Cramer by 16 points. (Can I say "slaughtered" without triggering anyone?) As for O'Roruke, he too is benefitting hugely from donations originating outside of the state of Texas. Dallas Morning News: ActBlue has turbocharged the effort, allowing O'Rourke supporters in Texas and around the country to pour modest sums into the race, and set up recurring donations. ActBlue announced Friday that 4.7 million donors who used the portal since January 2017 have sent $1.5 billion to Democratic candidates and groups nationwide, in 37 million transactions averaging about $40 each. "Americans across the country are chipping in whatever they can to the races and groups they care about - whether it's for their next school board member or governor," said ActBlue executive director Erin Hill. "Small-dollar donors are leading the blue wave and making sure Democrats have the funds they need to win on Nov. 6." Cruz and other Republicans accuse California liberals and other out-of-state Democrats of trying to buy the Texas seat. But a Dallas Morning News analysis of itemized donations shows that a bigger share of Cruz donations comes from out-of-state: 43 percent, compared with 38 percent for O'Rourke. Cruz's out-of-state take is far higher when PAC donations are taken into account. The difference is Cruz is winning. O'Rourke can spend as much as he wants but if he doesn't win, who cares? National Democrats aren't very happy. Out of state donors are pouring so much money into Texas, that some candidates are complaining that he's siphoning off support from more winnable races. Indeed, that's the bottom line. These tens of millions of dollars might reflect a certain amount of enthusiasm for Heitkamp and O'Rourke, but it hardly helps either candidate in their respective races. Heitkamp is just about a gone goose and O'Rourke, for all the adoring press and celebrity coverage, is not getting any closer to Cruz who maintains a significant lead over the challenger. Republicans are delighted that so much money is being given to probable losing candidates. It means less money for other candidates who might have a shot at defeating a GOP incumbent. And with the chances of Democratic takeover of the senate slipping away, that's the only thing that matters. A professor at the Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art has been singled out by a female student for urging the kid to "try harder" in his class. The student missed a couple of classes, at which point the professor tried to impress upon the young woman the importance of being present during class. The result was both disturbing and hilarious. PJ Media: Only, when a professor insisted that his students show up for class, one student decided it was time to post a manifesto decrying the white professor's racism against her as a "POC" (person of color). The student posted a letter on a public board at the school that excoriated the professor for trying to help her. It reads, in part: Geoff Kaplan sent me an email expressing his concern about my attendance. I knew that I was going to be late on the morning of the next class and felt anxious about attending because of the concern that was already present. I was going back and forth about whether I should just be late or if I should miss the class. I really did not want the extra attention and arrived to school with enough time to attend the class but decided not to go, which I understand is irresponsible. Was she delayed because of a job? Was she hung over? The fact that she understands her missing class was "irresponsible" could be that she had no good reason to miss the class. He was interrogative throughout the conversation, as though I wasn't telling him what he expected to hear. He opened the conversation with asking me what was wrong. I told him that nothing was wrong... He said, "You're a young woman of color, so you have to try harder than everyone else, which isn't fair, but you know...'" The poor thing apparently isn't familiar with "dialogue." Asking questions is out of bounds because, well, racism. Certainly the professor should have known better than to mention race at all: Hearing him try to explain or mention what he thought my experience was felt unproductive and made me feel like he is holding me to a certain standard based on my identity. I wasn't comfortable with how patronizing the direction of this conversation was going. The "standard" the teacher was holding her to was that, at an absolute minimum, she must show up for class. Too much? I spoke to him the next class and confronted him about how uncomfortable he made me. He was extremely egotistic, patronizing, immature, and dismissive. He avoided the topic of racism entirely and focused mostly on my attendance, completely disregarding the purpose of why I initiated the meeting, all the while making snide comments about my attendance. Yeah, too much to ask. I'd love to see her try this act when she gets out in the world and has to work for a living. She can tell her boss how racist he is for requiring that she show up for work to get paid. I have a feeling this snowflake is going to be spending a lot of time in the unemployment line. In Pennsylvania, a person commits sexual assault, a second-degree felony, when "that person engages in sexual intercourse or deviate sexual intercourse with a complainant without the complainant's consent." In laymen's terms, sexual assault is penetration without consent. Rape requires the element of force. Pennsylvania lawmakers declared sexual assault a crime in Pennsylvania in 1995 in the wake of a 1994 state Supreme Court ruling that a person could not be convicted of rape absent proof of physical force beyond a reasonable doubt. Consistent with the law of unintended consequences, the removal of force as an element of the crime put the age-old he said, she said conundrum in a whole new light. It opened the door to the #MeToo movement and the sexual hijinks that continue today. Tracy McIntosh, a former University of Pennsylvania professor and pre-eminent stroke and brain trauma researcher, was among the first in a long line of unlucky if not wholly virginal males to run afoul of laws like Pennsylvania's arguably unconstitutionally vague sexual assault statute. In February 2008, McIntosh began a three-and-a-half- to seven-year prison sentence for the 2002 sexual assault of a then-23-year-old Penn graduate student in his office at Penn. In December 2004, McIntosh pleaded no contest to sexual assault and possession of an illegal substance in connection with the incident. Of critical importance, a first-degree felony rape charge was withdrawn as part of the deal. An evening of bar-hopping on the Penn campus and the sharing of a joint at McIntosh's office preceded the boozy sexual encounter, which the woman alleges was non-consensual and criminal and which McIntosh alleges was knowing and voluntary, albeit wrong. With no proof of force or threat of force coupled with a classic "he said, she said" scenario, it's hard to know precisely what McIntosh was guilty of. At a March 2005 sentencing, which the D.A. appealed and which was later overturned by the state superior court as too lenient, McIntosh's former defense counsel said McIntosh displayed conduct "that may very well be adulterous, may be immoral, may be inappropriate but may not be illegal." He was right. At the 2008 re-sentencing, the victim inadvertently admitted as much. She described herself as "a drunk, incapacitated 23-year-old girl" on the night of the incident. She implored the judge "to set this right for myself and for my family and for all women out there ... to know that rape is a freaking crime" ignoring the inconvenient fact that the rape charge was withdrawn three years earlier. Then, in damning evidence of consciousness, she testified that she remembered McIntosh on top of her and "absolutely" remembers him penetrating her, apparently without force or threat of force on his part or resistance on hers. So where's the crime? McIntosh's failure in the heat of the moment to obtain her written consent? His failure to administer a breathalyzer? The fact is that today, men are being held to a higher standard of conduct in sexual affairs than women 23 (McIntosh), 19 (Kobe Bryant), and 30 (Bill Cosby) years old. Hillary Clinton recently took heat for pointing out that Monica Lewinsky was a 22-year-old adult (daresay groupie) at the time of her trysts with President Clinton. Accusations of sexual assault enable angry, vengeful women to extract their pound of flesh (and often a few bucks) from guys who dumped them or who simply didn't return their phone calls. It soothes the conscience of women suffering the pangs of guilt from a hormones-driven lapse of reason. It enables them to avoid responsibility for their actions, ensure their victim status, and punish recalcitrant lovers simply by convincing themselves and others that they have been forced to have sex, oddly without the use of force. Cowed judges and zealous prosecutors who substitute crocodile tears and melodrama for common sense, credible evidence, and justice in the courtroom have contributed to the charade. In fact, eerily like the Cosby and Kavanaugh scenarios, the case against McIntosh consisted as much of emotion as credible evidence. The problem is that the evidence does not add up to a crime. At the earlier 2005 sentencing, the father of McIntosh's accuser said, "This is a man's world. And this is a step in the direction against man's oppression of women." Well and good, except too often in sexual assault cases, it's impossible to distinguish the oppressor from the oppressed. In the Kavanaugh controversy, the acts of three women, all high-visibility national figures, and all of whom have now become the leaders of the Democratic party and the MeToo movement, were central. In July 2016, Supreme Court justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg injected herself into the presidential elections by the unprecedented declaration of a Supreme Court justice that she could not "imagine" what the country would be like "with Donald Trump as our president." She then called Trump a "faker." Trump quite correctly responded that she should resign, but no one else at the time seemed to care about the compromise of her "judicial restraint and demeanor" and her judicial impartiality. After President Trump's July nomination of Brett Kavanaugh to the Supreme Court, the 85-year-old Ginsburg reassured Democrats about the future of the Court by announcing her intention to serve "at least five more years." Then, one day before Kavanaugh's Senate testimony, she inserted herself into the proceedings of the Senate by effectively testifying for Kavanaugh-accuser Christine Blasey Ford. In declaring her support for the #MeToo movement, Ginsburg said "women nowadays are not silent about bad behavior." She then emphasized her views by the if-looks-could-kill expression on her face at Kavanaugh's swearing in. Topping off all these acts and statements from Ginsburg in the last three months, perhaps, will be the release in November of the movie On the Basis of Sex, a full-length feature film about the early life and litigating career of the justice. Trailers show that the movie will be worshipful. Hawaii Democrat senator Mazie Hirono, a member of the Senate Judiciary Committee who questioned Kavanaugh at his hearing, expressed her own self-restraint in her calm and rational consideration of Kavanaugh's nomination by telling all men "in this country" to "shut up and step up." Senate Democrats comprehensively denied due process to Kavanaugh; Hirono's remark extended that to the rejection of the protection of political speech, which was the original purpose of the First Amendment. It may be appropriate that such a public position has been enunciated by a high-ranking Democrat from Hawaii, which has elected only one Republican United States senator in its 59 years of existence. The question now becomes how this new agenda of the Democratic Party will be proclaimed to the rest of the country, especially if the Democrats win control of Congress. Finally, Senator Dianne Feinstein, the senior senator from the similar Democratic redoubt of California, who, as a member of the Judiciary Committee, questioned Kavanaugh, held the Ford letter in secret for almost two months before making it public at a strategic time when the Kavanaugh nomination seemed to be assured. In 2017, Feinstein attacked Trump judicial nominee and Notre Dame law professor Amy Coney Barrett at Barrett's Judiciary Committee hearing to be a federal appeals court judge. Feinstein, referring to Barrett's Catholicism, openly questioned whether Barrett would be impartial as a judge because "the dogma lives loudly in you." Thus did Feinstein go on public record in opposition to the prohibition of any "religious test" for federal public office as set out in Article VI of the Constitution. If the Democrats win control of the Senate, and since Californian Feinstein is certain to be re-elected, Feinstein, who is currently the ranking minority member, will become chairperson of the Judiciary Committee. Worried about a decline in judicial activism and a possible renaissance in constitutionalism, the Democratic Party and the #MeToo movement could not help but oppose Kavanaugh for political and philosophic purposes. What rocked the country were the unprecedented and anti-constitutional means by which they did so. Thomas R. Ascik has written on a wide range of legal and constitutional issues. Marysville, CA (95901) Today Light rain this morning. Then remaining cloudy. High 57F. Winds light and variable. Chance of rain 90%.. Tonight Some clouds this evening will give way to mainly clear skies overnight. Low 46F. Winds NNW at 5 to 10 mph. * "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. Do it yourself if you can We accept in principle that private equity can deliver (somewhat) excess returns over most other asset classes. But there are a lot of qualifications attached to that, and most of them are very relevant to whether and how pension funds should invest in private equity. AMG Ladies and gentlemen racers, those of you who are tuned into our Nurburgring tales are well aware of how amateurs fail when tackling the Brunnchen corner. And if you don't belong to the said camp, you should know this is the kind of corner that will take novices by surprise, sending them spinning (have a Corvette Z06 example) or on a wide path that eventually leads to the guardrail (here's a Toyota 86 example).Well, the crashes we have here involve pros, since they come from the VLN race that took place over the weekend - the accidents took place during the qualifying run.We're looking at a Mercedes-GT3 and a BMW M6 GT3 and, despite the differences between the two German toys, both follow extremely similar paths to the metallic element on the side of the track.In fact, the accidents might be a bit surprising at first, with the racecars appearing to suddenly drift as they enter the final section of the Brunnchen 2 corner.And we believe the cause to be the vicious Nurburgring weather. You see, these machines run on slicks and while most of the track was dry, the section that caused the RWD toys to slide seems to be wet - we're talking about a foggy morning run here.Then again, an oil spill could also be the cause of the problem, but the path mentioned above seems more likely.Regardless, both the Mercedes-AMG GT3 and the BMW M6 GT3 ended up in the gravel trap on the side of the bend and touched the guardrail, albeit with the impacts being moderate. He's the driver of this crazy contraption that few down the Santa Pod Raceway recently. The Jet School Bus flew over for the for the Flame and Thunder 2018 event. Unfortunately, it wasn't the right time or place for it, as he only managed an 11-second pass, something many modern cars can do without afterburners. Had the conditions been more favorable, the bus is fully capable of 9s passes. But rain and jet buses don't mix very well.Is by no means the first time we've seen a jet-powered vehicle, but it's still crazy. These engines are costly, so most fanatics have to buy ancient ones and recondition them back to working order.Fortunately, the American war machine cranks out jets like they are pennies, and there's a big surplus in "graveyards." This engine is a Westinghouse J-34 turbine jet from the late 40s or early 50s. The last time we checked, they didn't make afterburners back then, so it's been heavily modified to deliver 5,000lbs of thrust.The birds that were powered by this unit include the McDonnell F2H Banshee, a single-seat carrier-based jet fighter, the F3D Skyknight that was also used by the Navy, and the P-2 Neptune, which had propellers.Jet cars at the drag strip are always a spectacle, and it's why so many people turned up to Santa Pod that weekend. While most cars can slowly edge forwards to the line, jets burst a few inches at a time. They could just use something else to tow them into the starting position, but that wouldn't be as fun to watch. Never has a conference failed more spectacularly than this year's Future Investment Initiative. The so-called "Davos in the Desert" was meant to position Saudi Arabia as an innovative, dynamic nation with a bright tech-centered future ahead of it. Instead: No one wanted to speak at the conference, and almost no one wanted to even attend. In the slots reserved for high-profile western CEOs like Jamie Dimon and Dara Khosrowshahi, we saw instead executives mostly from Russia and the kingdom itself. The conference ended up shining a bright light on Saudi Arabia at exactly the time when the world was most focused on its most homicidal and mendacious tendencies. That then brought Saudi Arabia's devastating proxy war in Yemen back into the headlines. at exactly the time when the world was most focused on its most homicidal and mendacious tendencies. That then brought Saudi Arabia's devastating proxy war in Yemen back into the headlines. The crown prince gave a speech at the conference that was interrupted by abundant obsequious applause, furthering the (true) impression that Saudi Arabia is a long way from any real freedom. that was interrupted by abundant obsequious applause, furthering the (true) impression that Saudi Arabia is a long way from any real freedom. Even the real Davos felt tarnished by association, putting out a press release objecting to the misuse of its brand. (The press release came from the World Economic Forum, not the Swiss ski resort.) With Saudi Arabia's reputation at a historic low, Elon Musk, for one, must be feeling quite relieved that he didn't sell his company to the kingdom. But other companies, and countries, still face a very tough decision. Companies like Uber that already have a significant Saudi investment seem to be OK, so far. They're not being broadly blamed for accepting Saudi money in the past. But if they take more Saudi money in the future, all bets are off. that already have a significant Saudi investment seem to be OK, so far. They're not being broadly blamed for accepting Saudi money in the past. But if they take more Saudi money in the future, all bets are off. The Softbank Vision Fund, which is 45% owned by Saudi Arabia, reportedly wants to take control of WeWork , for an investment of between $15 billion and $20 billion. Softbank already has two board seats at WeWork, and the terms are surely very attractive to the board and senior management. , for an investment of between $15 billion and $20 billion. Softbank already has two board seats at WeWork, and the terms are surely very attractive to the board and senior management. A lot of WeWork's employees, tenants, and prospective tenants would be very unhappy at such a development. There would certainly be a lot of very negative publicity, at a company which prides itself on being collegial and progressive. would be very unhappy at such a development. There would certainly be a lot of very negative publicity, at a company which prides itself on being collegial and progressive. From a PR perspective, the decision seems clear: Don't take the Saudis' money. But this decision isn't up to the PR people, it's up to the board. At the sovereign level, the U.S. sent its Treasury secretary to sit awkwardly with the crown prince in Riyadh on the day before the conference started. The Saudi relationship is being led by Trump, who wants to rescue an underbaked arms deal in part by applying his trademark magic math to it. Canada has its own, much more fully-baked arms deal with the kingdom, and prime minister Justin Trudeau says that there's nothing he can do about it: his hands are tied. What's next? There are two possibilities. The first is that it all goes away . Right now, this is a public relations disaster for the Saudis. But in the age of Trump, news memories are short, and the outrage machine will move on. Americans never much cared about Saudi human rights abuses in the past, and they'll find it hard to continue to care into the future. Business and government will then revert to the status quo ante without having to fear reputational damage for doing so. . Right now, this is a public relations disaster for the Saudis. But in the age of Trump, news memories are short, and the outrage machine will move on. Americans never much cared about Saudi human rights abuses in the past, and they'll find it hard to continue to care into the future. Business and government will then revert to the status quo ante without having to fear reputational damage for doing so. The second possibility is that Saudi money becomes toxic. Saudi Arabia's sovereign investments, unlike Norway's, are targeted at private companies that can rebuff their advances. (Endeavor has already done so.) Not all money is the same. The people that come with it and who are behind it matter. That has always been the case and remains the case and we are reminded of it from time to time. Like right now. Fred Wilson, Union Square Ventures In a feature titled, "The Tragedy of Saudi Arabia's War," the New York Times published arresting photos of children in Yemen who are wasting away from hunger, as "the world's worst humanitarian crisis" continues to cause unimaginable suffering. Why it matters: The death of journalist Jamal Khashoggi at the Saudi consulate in Istanbul has triggered renewed scrutiny of the brutal war backed by Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, which in recent weeks has caused UN officials to revise their predictions of Yemenis at risk of famine from 8 million to 14 million or half the country's population. 1 unsettling quote: Ali Al-Hajaji is a father in the town of Hajjah in Yemen who has lost one son to starvation and fears losing a second not because of a lack of food in the area, but because prices are rising so fast that he cannot afford to buy food. He told the Times: "I can barely buy a piece of stale bread. Thats why my children are dying before my eyes." The Times explains ... "Why We Are Publishing Haunting Photos of Emaciated Yemeni Children ... The images we have published out of Yemen may be as unsettling as anything we have used before": "This is our job as journalists: to bear witness, to give voice to those who are otherwise abandoned, victimized and forgotten. And our correspondents and photographers will go to great lengths, often putting themselves in harms way, to do so." Worthy of your time. Editor's note: An earlier version of this story had included photos taken by The New York Times. Those photos have since been removed. By Trend The Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry has expressed condolences in connection with the attack on the synagogue in Pittsburgh, Azerbaijans Foreign Ministry spokesperson Leyla Abdullayeva wrote on Twitter. "Were saddened by atrocious crime in the synagogue in Pittsburg. We express our sincere condolences to the families of the dead and injured," she wrote. The attack on the synagogue occurred on Saturday morning, when parishioners gathered there. According to media reports, the shooter entered the building and shouting anti-Semitic slogans, began to shoot. When the police arrived at the scene, a shootout ensued. As a result of the shooting, eleven people were killed, six more, including four policemen, were injured. The attacker surrendered to law enforcement. He he was 48-year-old Rob Bower, who was hospitalized with wounds. By Trend Previously, there were reports that a middle-aged man wearing camouflage tried to infiltrate the building, but was later detained by government security staff. A man entered the building of the Armenian government with a grenade to blow himself up, but was neutralized by security officers, Armenian National Security Service press secretary Samson Galstyan told Sputnik. According to the official, police have opened a criminal case over the matter, citing illegal acquisition, wearing and keeping of weapons. Commenting on the situation, Ministry of Emergency Situations Press Secretary Satenik Asilyan stated that nobody was injured in the incident, adding that the security services handled the situation. She noted that the man had called the emergency services, saying he was near the government building and holding a grenade. He also claimed that he "did not want people to be injured." A city awakening When I made my first trip to New York in 2009, the streets were filled with people from all over the world. It reminded me of my hometown, Janakpur. Its odd to think of Janakpur, a mosquito-ridden city in Province 2, when youre in New York. Every second person in Province 2 is multidimensionally poor. British Home Secretary apologises for Gurkha DNA tests British Home Secretary Sajid Javid has apologised to the relatives of Gurkha families who were forced to take DNA tests to prove their entitlement to settle in the UK. Eric Kittelsen of Ballston Lake says he's always been a big Halloween guy. After a 40-year career at General Electric, he retired, and told his kids he was going to start a new career as a zombie actor. "They did not believe me. So I applied, auditioned and got the job. I am now a Six Flags employee as a Frightfest Zombie actor," he said. RIO DE JANEIRO - A 63-year-old populist renegade rode a wave of voter rage to Brazil's presidency on Sunday, marking the most dramatic shift to the right in Latin America's largest nation since the end of the Cold War-era military dictatorship. Jair Bolsonaro, a far-right lawmaker and former army captain, defeated leftist Fernando Haddad in the runoff, receiving about 55 percent of the vote, according to official results with nearly 100 percent of the ballots tallied. His win adds Latin America's largest nation to a growing list of countries - from the United States to Hungary to the Philippines - where staunch right-wing nationalists have scored victories at the ballot box. Bolsonaro ran a social-media-centered campaign similar to Donald Trump's that promised to attack the corruption of political elites and bring an iron fist to fighting crime. He demonized opponents and polarized the nation with his history of denigrating women, gays and minorities. In a Facebook Live address immediately after his victory, Bolsonaro took aim at his political opponents, including members of the left-wing Workers' Party, whom he has threatened to jail or exile. He declared that Brazil cannot continue "flirting with socialism, communism, populism and the extremism of the left." But in a subsequent speech to the nation, he called for unity, saying, "This country belongs to all of us, Brazilians who were born here, and those who are Brazilian at heart. Brazil is a country of diverse opinions, colors and orientations. The law is for everyone." Bolsonaro won a first round of the election earlier this month but failed to avoid a runoff. His challenger, Haddad - a one-term mayor of Sao Paulo, Brazil's largest city - had depicted the election as a fight to preserve democracy. Bolsonaro has been an outspoken defender of Brazil's former military dictatorship, lamenting that it did not kill enough dissidents. The election occurred in a period when faith has collapsed in Brazil's corruption-stained political class, the economy has floundered and gang killings have surged, leaving the nation feeling rudderless and besieged. Haddad ran largely as a stand-in for Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, the popular former president, whose reelection bid was upended when he landed in jail this year on corruption charges. Haddad received about 45 percent of the vote. Brazilians responded by brutally punishing traditional parties in elections in which dozens lost seats in Congress and Bolsonaro allies scored major wins in Brazil's most populous states. Outside Bolsonaro's home in Rio de Janeiro on Sunday, his supporters rallied in the green and yellow colors of the Brazilian flag, pointing their fingers in the shape of a gun - Bolsonaro's trademark gesture. They shot fireworks on sidewalks, and burst into choruses of the national anthem - a song once reserved for the soccer field, but that Bolsonaro made a symbol of his campaign. "He's the only one with the courage to do something different," said Alexandre Maciel, 44, an asset manager at a financial firm, after voting in Sao Paulo. Dismissed until recently as an unelectable rabble-rouser, Bolsonaro launched his campaign with no significant political allies, a small party machine and a paltry budget. He overcame those challenges with the power of social media, speaking directly to voters through angry all-caps tweets and Facebook Live videos. His simplistic, get-tough solutions to Brazil's deep-rooted problems of crime and corruption played well online, and he developed a movement of hardcore followers including pro-gun and evangelical voters that some analysts compared to Trump's supporters in 2016. Outside Bolsonaro's house in Rio de Janeiro on Sunday, his supporters rallied in the green and yellow of the Brazilian flag, pointing their fingers in the shape of a gun - Bolsonaro's trademark gesture. Even as Bolsonaro was sidelined from the campaign in September - when he was stabbed in the abdomen at a rally - his popularity grew. Bolsonaro's win marks a diametrical shift for Brazil, a nation dominated for most of the past decade and half by the leftist Workers' Party. He has been a passionate defender of the dictatorship that ruled the country from 1964 to 1985. He has proclaimed himself a political outsider, despite serving seven terms in congress. He once said a female politician was too ugly to rape and suggested that having a dead son was better than a gay son. Last year, he suggested that some descendants of African slaves were fat and lazy. Bolsonaro has moved toward the mainstream in recent months, celebrating Brazil's "diversity" in tweets. But he has convinced supporters that he will upend the status quo. To reduce crime, he has advocated that gun laws be relaxed so civilians could fight fire with fire. To spur the economy, indigenous lands and the vast Amazon region should be opened up for development, he has argued. "It was obvious in this election that someone who could build a credible narrative of being different was going to do well. Bolsonaro understood that," said Oliver Stuenkel, professor of international relations at the Getulio Vargas Foundation in Sao Paulo. "He was politically incorrect, a bit weird. But that's one way he has been able to set himself apart from the rest." Bolsonaro at times has appeared to mimic Trump, on whom he has lavished praise. He has promised to make Brazil "great" and picked a war with the media over "fake news." "He was trying to look like Trump," said Marcos Nobre, a Sao Paulo-based political strategist. "His message to the electorate was, 'If the U.S. elected a Trump, so can Brazil.' " Bolsonaro grew up a nerdy kid in a German Italian family with five siblings in Eldorado, a speck of a town in rural northern Sao Paulo state. At a time when the military was torturing, exiling and killing other members of his generation for opposing its policies, he saw the army as his ticket out. At 18, he was accepted to the army's prep school and later made it to Brazil's equivalent of the U.S. Military Academy at West Point. Bolsonaro left the military in 1988 to begin his political career. As a congressman, he frightened peers with his violent rhetoric, calling in 1999 for the assassination of the elected president at the time, Fernando Henrique Cardoso. Though it surged only over the past two months, the Bolsonaro phenomenon began to take off two years ago, observers say. His popularity built in urban areas, where backers became voracious consumers of his missives on Twitter and WhatsApp. It spread to ranchers suffering invasions of squatters on rural farms. White men and wealthy voters, eager to turn the page after a decade of left-wing rule, rallied to Bolsonaro's side. His rise caught many off guard. A decade ago, Bolsonaro "was like a burlesque spectacle, a clown," said Rubens Soares, a longtime journalist at Folha de Sao Paulo, one of Brazil's largest news organizations. Yet, Soares said, he noticed a fundamental shift last year. Supporters at Bolsonaro rallies were adoring in a way he'd never seen before in Brazil. "They would carry him through the streets," he said. "You could tell something was happening." Long seen as an economic protectionist, Bolsonaro did an about-face during the campaign, embracing the free market. But he still played to nationalists, vilifying China for "buying up" Brazil. Twice divorced and now married to his third wife, he nonetheless proclaimed himself a supporter of family values, and his opposition to gay rights and legalizing abortion helped him win over evangelicals, a powerful voter base. But corruption and the Workers' Party were his primary targets. Since democracy was restored here in 1985, two presidents have been impeached, one has gone to jail, and Brazil's current leader has been indicted on a charge of corruption, an accusation he denies. One-third of the lower house is under investigation for corruption, largely tied to a sprawling kickback scheme involving some of the country's largest companies. Bolsonaro's outsider-cleans-house platform resonated with Brazilians. While some Brazilians began to see Bolsonaro as their hero, others seemed to overlook his bombastic statements in a search for meaningful change. "If there had been another decent candidate, I wouldn't have voted for him," Jose Colares, 51, a dentist in Sao Paulo, said of Bolsonaro after casting his ballot Sunday for the far-right candidate. "He's said a lot of garbage, but he's the lesser of the evils." There was a blue check mark next to Robert Bowers's name, meaning that the social media account was verified. His bio said that "jews are the children of satan," his banner image a clear reference to a white supremacist meme. His last message, posted Saturday morning, read "Screw your optics, I'm going in." The account is believed to belong to the same Robert D. Bowers who is suspected of opening fire in a Pittsburgh synagogue during prayers, killing 11 people and wounding six others. The profile, which has since been removed, lived on Gab, a social media platform that has become a haven for white supremacists, neo-Nazis and other adherents to extreme ideologies that have found themselves increasingly unwelcome on Twitter and Facebook. Founder Andrew Torba has long said Gab is simply a "free speech" platform for anyone who wants to join, and has responded aggressively to characterizations otherwise. But the platform's history is tied to the white supremacists and other far-right figures who joined in its first months, and who have contributed to Gab's growth. In the wake of the Pittsburgh shootings, Gab and Torba have girded themselves for war. On his Gab account, Torba criticized mainstream media stories about his site and promised users that it would survive the increased attention. After Gab was banned from PayPal and received notice from Joyent, its hosting provider, that it would pull their service, Torba wrote early Sunday that "GAB IS NOT GOING ANYWHERE I don't care what we have to do, I don't care what it takes. We will build everything from the ground up if we have to. " Torba's updates have kept Gab's users in the loop on the drama: Gab's Chief Technology Officer Ekrem Buyukkaya announced Sunday that he was stepping down because the "attacks from the American press have been relentless for two years now and have taken a toll on me personally." Later that morning, Torba said he'd secured a new host for his site. Gab, through Torba, has always pitched itself as an alternative to Silicon Valley social media sites, attracting a user base of people who believe companies like Twitter and Facebook are deliberately censoring their views. In 2016, when Twitter strengthened its policy against "hateful conduct" and banned a number of far-right and white supremacist accounts, Torba said Gab gained 60,000 users in eight days. The platform itself is a combination of many of the sites that Gab would like to replace. The site works like a hybrid of Reddit and Twitter, where users can post character-limited messages, and respond, comment and vote other users' posts up or down. Alex Jones, who has 55,000 followers on Gab, often promotes his live broadcasts there since he has been banned from YouTube and Twitter. But Gab is more than a platform. It's also positioned itself as a key figure in the right-wing response to online crackdowns of extremist views, and has benefited directly from the white supremacists who flocked to Gab on the promise that their views would not be censored, according to an expert who has followed the site's growth. Torba has become a charismatic leader of the "alt tech" movement which, among other things, dedicates itself to protecting and building tech to house "free speech" - including extremist ideologies that are increasingly unwelcome on mainstream sites. When James Damore was fired from Google in 2017 for writing a viral memo about women in tech, Torba capitalized on the case's media attention to promote an "alt-tech revolution," where conservative tech workers would rise up and topple Silicon Valley giants. Gab, of course, would be there to take their place. Although the revolution did not come to pass as predicted, Torba managed to raise $80,000 for a crowdfunding campaign to support his website in the days after Damore's story published, The Washington Post reported at the time. He also gained the currency of media attention, giving interviews to several mainstream outlets - including The Post - promoting his site as a mainstream technology alternative. Joan Donovan, the Media Manipulation/Platform Accountability Research Lead at Data and Society, noted that Gab has used crackdowns like the "hateful conduct" rule enforcement on Twitter to recruit for his own site. Gab "rode the wave of attention to white nationalists after Charlottesville (Virginia) to populate its social media platform," Donovan said in an interview Sunday. In the wake of the deadly Charlottesville protests in 2017, major companies like Apple, PayPal and Squarespace began removing white nationalists from their platforms, leaving them with fewer options for making money and hosting their views online. Gab was there to pick up the slack. "Over the past year, Gab has been able to grow and add new features, premium features, streaming features," Donovan said, "because of the fusion of the white supremacist need for platforms" and the website's promise of a free speech haven. In the Pittsburgh shooting's aftermath, Christopher Cantwell - one of Gab's most prominent anti-Semites who achieved notoriety during last year's Charlottesville rally - began trafficking in anti-Jewish slurs and conspiracy theories that the gunman was a plant from American spies to foment anger against conservatives before the midterms. Cantwell, known as the "Crying Nazi," made a name for himself during the Charlottesville rally when he pepper-sprayed counterprotesters and was featured in a viral Vice documentary. On Gab, he frequently bashes Jews and African-Americans and encourages followers to followers to listen to his podcast, Radical Agenda. He also attacks the news media, though he seems to have an affinity for Fox News. "The one good thing about this ... shooting is that I know I'm not missing anything by turning off Fox News," he wrote this weekend, using an offensive slur for Jewish people. "This is all they'll be talking about from now until election day." But he also let his followers know that he was worried Gab might be shutting down soon and shared links where people could still follow and interact with him. "I know Gab is the only way some of you keep up with me, and it looks like that might be a problem," he wrote. Although Gab's relationship to the white supremacists who congregate there can be contentious at times, Torba is extremely good at turning criticism of the platform - and the extreme views it houses - into calls to action and attention. Months ago, Torba started declining all mainstream media requests for interviews, a fact that Gab promotes on their social media accounts. In response to questions about Bowers's account, The Post was sent a statement on Medium that said Gab had removed it and was cooperating with law enforcement. The site didn't immediately respond to a request for an interview Sunday. Meanwhile, Torba appears to be hoping for the ultimate attention intervention as Gab faces scrutiny. Torba posted a plea on Gab early Sunday for a word of support from the president: "I don't brag about this, but in 2016 across all of my accounts I had BILLIONS of impressions supporting and defending him and America. Can we get one tweet defending Gab.com, our work with law enforcement to bring a terrorist to justice, and our defense of free speech online for all people? "Is that too much to ask?" PRAGUE - Defense Secretary Jim Mattis said he received assurances from Saudi Arabia's top diplomat that the kingdom would conduct a full and complete investigation into the slaying of Saudi journalist and dissident Jamal Khashoggi. Mattis met Saudi Foreign Minister Adel al-Jubeir over lunch Saturday at a security conference in Bahrain. Their discussion came after Mattis condemned Khashoggi's killing during a speech at the event and warned that such extralegal behavior by nations risked destabilizing the Middle East. "We discussed it," Mattis said, recounting the conversation with Jubeir on Sunday while traveling to the Czech Republic. Their discussion, Mattis said, underscored "the need for transparency, a full and complete investigation." "He said, 'We need to know what happened.' It was very collaborative, in agreement," Mattis added. The lunchtime discussion came after Jubeir called the global reaction to Khashoggi's killing "fairly hysterical" in response to questions about the murder at the security conference. The top Saudi diplomat suggested people were jumping to conclusions about guilt before Riyadh had finished its investigation. "We will know the truth," Jubeir said. "We will hold those responsible accountable. And we will put in place mechanisms to prevent it from happening again." Khashoggi, a critic of the Saudi government who had fled the kingdom and taken up residency in the United States, entered the Saudi Consulate in Istanbul on Oct. 2 to retrieve paperwork that he needed to marry his Turkish fiancee. Turkish officials say a "hit squad" of Saudi agents dispatched from the gulf killed Khashoggi in the consulate and dismembered his body before returning to Saudi soil. Turkey says it has secret recordings of the events, which Turkish officials recently played for CIA Director Gina Haspel. Turkey's well of information about the killing, which has trickled out in news reports, has put pressure on Saudi Arabia reveal what its government knew about what appeared to be an extrajudicial state-sanctioned killing. In particular, the incident has raised questions about whether Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, a target of Khashoggi's criticism, knew in advance about the gruesome plot. Riyadh's shifting explanations about what happened - which President Donald Trump described as the "worst coverup ever" - have led to serious doubts in the United States and elsewhere about whether Riyadh can conduct a fulsome investigation about an incident that could implicate its leadership. Asked at a news conference in Prague how a Saudi government investigation could get to the bottom of whether the crown prince was involved in ordering the killing, Mattis emphasized that evidence Turkish authorities have gathered would also be taken into account. "Turkey, with the evidence that they have compiled, will ensure that there is more than one review of what is going on here," Mattis said. "I am sure the investigation will include the evidence that Turkey has put forward so far." Saudi Arabia's government initially denied any knowledge of Khashoggi's disappearance, saying he had left the consulate in Istanbul. The kingdom later said the Saudi journalist and contributing columnist for The Washington Post's opinions section died accidentally in a brawl with Saudi agents. Days later, Riyadh's public prosecutor appeared to suggest the killing had been premeditated. As public uproar mounted, Saudi Arabia's leadership arrested 18 suspects, fired five top officials and announced a reorganization of the nation's intelligence operations. Despite the outcry, Trump has ruled out cutting off arms deals with Saudi Arabia, the biggest importer of weapons from American defense contractors. His administration has made the kingdom a linchpin in its strategy in the Middle East, which includes countering Iran, brokering a peace deal between Israel and the Palestinians, and ending the wars in Yemen and Syria. In response to the killing, Mattis said Saturday, the administration is pursuing "twin imperatives" of "protecting America and holding accountable those responsible for this murder." EC sets wrong precedent, says Rishiram Kattel Chairperson of the Nepal Communist Party Rishiram Kattel on Saturday said the Election Commission had set a wrong precedent by upholding the registration of the ruling Nepal Communist Party (NCP). It is long past time for the people in this country to denounce, loudly and in the strongest terms possible, Donald Trumps war on the media. On Oct. 18, at a pep rally in Montana, Trump actually praised Congressman Greg Gianfortes 2017 body slam of a Guardian newspaper journalist. (Gianforte didnt approve of the questions the journalist was asking him about his plans for health care reform.) This praise occurred on the heels of the horrific murder of Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi at the Saudi Consulate in Turkey, for which Trump spent many days making excuses for the Saudi regime that was likely behind the murder. Trump constantly berates any reporter or news organization that reports stories of which he doesnt approve, and has repeatedly declared the press to be the enemy of the people. Such language is straight out of the playbook that has been used by totalitarian and fascist regimes throughout history, and should send chills down the spine of everyone who cherishes freedom and the democratic process. Far from being the enemy of the people, a free press is a vital bastion against authoritarianism. Bill Cowan, Beaumont Keep pets safe this Halloween Pet owners partaking in frightening fun this Halloween should remember to keep all their little ghouls and goblins safe including the four-legged ones. Tricks for treats? Only if those treats are safe for pets, since many Halloween candies can be toxic to animals. Chocolate and sugar-free candies containing the artificial sweetener xylitol can be particularly dangerous if ingested, so keep your pet from sniffing around the candy bowl. When trick-or-treaters roam the streets, pets can become disoriented and scared. Be sure to provide a safe, quiet space they can retreat to if needed, and watch the door for escape artists: many pets will try to disappear outside if given the chance. Keeping pets safe this Halloween doesnt have to be tricky. With a few simple precautions, the entire family can safely enjoy the holidays spooky scares. Dr. Robin Ganzert is president and CEO of American Humane, the countrys first national humane organization. Local animal shelters need your support now October may be dominated by falling leaves and Halloween, but its also Adopt a Shelter Dog Month. Across the country, shelter dogs are looking for warm homes with owners who can provide loving care. Its not only the pups that need help: Many shelters are severely underfunded and lack the resources to best provide much-needed services while the animals wait to be adopted. Contrary to popular assumption, national animal organizations give little (if any) support to local shelters. For instance, the Humane Society of the U.S. is not affiliated with many similarly named local humane societies and gives only 1 percent of the money it raises to local pet shelters. For those who want to help dogs this month, adopting would have a big impact. For those who cannot, donating to your local shelter would do a world of good to help animals. Will Coggin, Center for Consumer Freedom, Washington, D.C. Protestors await the arrival of Taoiseach Leo Varadkar outside the Rath Mor Centre in Creggan Taoiseach Leo Varadkar has said he is "confident, but not complacent" that there won't be a hard border in Ireland. He said he was not preparing for a hard border and his government is working hard to ensure it does not become a reality. Mr Varadkar was speaking during a trip to Londonderry where he visited the headquarters of the Apprentice Boys of Derry. Inside the Siege of Derry Museum, the Taoiseach signed the visitors' book, writing that he was "delighted to visit and really interested to understand more" in the comments section. After being presented with an official Apprentice Boys crimson tie he was given a tour of the museum, a brief history of the loyal order and shown relics, including an effigy of the siege traitor Lundy. Mr Varadkar zoned in on a brass antique container with the word Leo on it. Apprentice Boys governor Graeme Stenhouse said it was an honour to host the Taoiseach. "It was a privilege to have him here today," he said. "I'm sure he enjoyed his short tour of the museum and hopefully he has went away with a better understanding of the Siege of Londonderry and the Apprentice Boys association." After leaving the museum and memorial hall, the Taoiseach travelled to the Rath Mor Centre in Creggan, which is the north west's largest social enterprise hub. Inside, Mr Varadkar was given a tour of some of the 60 businesses and projects that make up Rath Mor. He met young people involved in the Lifehack Project, a personal development initiative. He also met pupils from St Cecilia's College and St Joseph's Boys School at the Hive Studios, Creggan Enterprises' youth-led digital arts centre. He met with women from the Unheard Voices project, which gives a platform to those who were ignored during the Troubles. Speaking afterwards, Mr Varadkar said he shared the frustrations of the people here about the lack of working Stormont institutions. "I think people from Northern Ireland, from both communities and all communities, are losing out because we don't have a functioning Executive and Assembly," he said. "And of course the voice of Northern Ireland isn't being heard the way it should be during the Brexit negotiations. We as co-guarantors of the Agreement want to help the parties come together to agree to get the institutions up and running again. "But we do appreciate that the uncertainty around Brexit hasn't created a good environment for that. But Minister (Simon) Coveney and I are going to be working over the next few weeks to get an agreement between the UK and EU. And if we had some certainty about the next few years when it comes to Brexit, and certainty that there won't be a hard border between north and south, I think we may be in a good position to try and get those talks going again." Mr Varadkar said what could give rise to a hard border is a hard Brexit. "Or a hard Brexit that doesn't make special arrangements for Northern Ireland. I can assure you that I have spent a lot of time since I became Taoiseach trying to avoid both of those things," he added. "I'm confident it will be avoided, but not complacent. Brexit creates an enormous challenge. "The reason why we don't have a hard border between Northern Ireland and Ireland, or between Britain and Ireland, is because of the EU. But by maintaining full alignment, we can avoid a hard border." A dog tag, a section of uniform, pipes and matches believed to date back to the First World War have been found at an Army base in Co Down. The discoveries were made after more than 30 huts, originally built by soldiers in 1914/15, were removed from Ballykinler. Down County Museum will recreate one of the timber Armstrong huts based on an example salvaged from Ballykinler in 2012. Michael King, heritage manager at Down County Museum, said the artefacts will go on display along with the hut. "The hut was taken down in 2012 but it dates back to the very beginning of the First World War," Mr King told the Press Association. "It was built by the soldiers who were volunteering at that point. They were being trained at Ballykinler camp and they built huts and they also dug trenches for practising for trench warfare. "We know of several soldiers who were doing that - a guy called Tommy Ervine, from Belfast, recalls building huts and digging trenches. "And the great thing is, when the hut was removed we found a lot of artefacts in the sand underneath that will now tell the story of the hut." Expand Close The discoveries were made after more than 30 huts, originally built in 1915, were removed from Ballykinler. Brian Lawless/PA Wire PA / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp The discoveries were made after more than 30 huts, originally built in 1915, were removed from Ballykinler. Brian Lawless/PA Wire The artefacts range from First World War era to when the camp was used to intern prisoners during the Irish War of Independence, American GIs during the Second World War, and subsequent soldiers who were stationed there during Northern Ireland's Troubles. Mr King said they are also trying to trace relatives of the soldiers who owned the items. "We have got a dog tag - every soldier was given two dog tags and somebody lost this one, a fellow called Daidson, so we are trying to trace this fellow. We think it may have been from the end of the First World War," he said. "We have various pieces of uniform, one which says its from the Royal Ulster Rifles, a badge, matchboxes, a string for cleaning a rifle barrel, pipes, mess tin and a mug. "We have got quite a lot of interesting things which tell you about the everyday life of the soldiers." Ballykinler is located in a remote area of south Down on the sea coast just north of the Mourne Mountains. Expand Close Michael King, Heritage Manager at the Down County Museum, with some of the artifacts. Brian Lawless/PA Wire PA / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Michael King, Heritage Manager at the Down County Museum, with some of the artifacts. Brian Lawless/PA Wire In 1914/15 it consisted of two camps: World's End Camp and Central Camp. It was described in an article by historian Philip Orr as having minimal facilities with a "rather bleak" atmosphere in winter. Mr King said most of the soldiers sent to Ballykinler during the First World War were from Belfast. "Battalions from Belfast were the main men who came down to Ballykinler, and they kept together in the areas where they lived and they went off to war together," he said. "They trained there, they built the huts, they had a big parade in Belfast in 1915 and then they went off to France, where many of them were fighting together on the first day of the Battle of the Somme, and many died on the first day of the Battle of the Somme in 1916. "It was a short time between them joining up and going straight into the thick of it." The Ballykinler History Hut is set to go on display at Down County Museum next September. The scene on King Street in Belfast City Centre where a 22-year-old man was assaulted in the early hours of Sunday morning. Picture by Jonathan Porter/PressEye A 22-year-old man has been seriously injured after being assaulted with broken glass in Belfast. Police have appealed for witnesses following the serious assault at an address in King Street in the south of the city during the early hours of Sunday morning. The victim was assaulted with broke glass at around 1.25am. A 36-year-old man has been charged with grievous bodily harm with intent, and is due to appear before Belfast Magistrates Court on Monday, October 29. Detective Sergeant McCallum appealed for anyone who witnessed the incident or anyone with any information that can assist with the investigation to contact detectives in Musgrave on 101 quoting reference 127 28/10/18. Alternatively, information can also be provided anonymously to the independent charity Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111. The brutal incident happened at a house in the Kurin Lane area of Garvagh (stock picture) A teenage girl offered her piggy bank savings to stop masked thugs who broke into her home from shooting her father in a paramilitary style attack in Co Londonderry. The brutal incident happened at a house in the Kurin Lane area of Garvagh on Saturday evening. Detective Chief Inspector White said: A 45-year-old man was shot in both arms and legs after a number of masked men broke into his home just before 10.30pm on Saturday night. They also beat him with a bat or metal bar. The mans teenage daughter, who was also in the house at the time of the shooting and beating, was threatened to be shot by one of the violent perpetrators before her mobile phone was taken to prevent her calling for help. "An attempt was also made to set fire to items in the house." In a post on the Limavady PSNI's Facebook account, an officer revealed the thugs chased the young girl upstairs and threatened her when she hid. The officer added: "She came out petrified with her Piggy Bank, HER PIGGY BANK! hoping that the men would take it and leave her Dad alone. "Instead they stole her phone and shot her Dad. My heart is broken for this girl, it makes me feel physically sick and enraged to my core." The injured man is currently in hospital receiving treatment for gunshot wounds and head injuries from being beaten. DCI White added: This a sickeningly vicious shooting and beating which has left this man with serious and potentially life changing injuries, and a young girl severely traumatised. What sort of men would think it is acceptable to subject a young girl to this level of brutality and violence? Every child has the right to feel safe and protected in their own home - how is this poor child going to sleep tonight or in coming nights? What are the long term effects on her going to be? Its quite obvious the hypocrites who carried out this dreadful attack dont care at all about the children in their community. I wonder how they would feel if their own child witnessed such a level of violence? There is absolutely no justification for an attack like this in our communities and we must all work together to bring those responsible to justice and to stop this from happening to another child." Sinn Fein MLA Caoimhe Archibald condemned the shooting. There is absolutely no justification for an attack like this," she said. These actions should stop immediately and those responsible should get off the backs of the community. Anyone with information on this attack should bring it forward to the Police. Police have appealed to anyone with information that could assist the investigation to contact detectives in Coleraine on 101 and quote incident number 1478 27/10/18. Alternatively, information can also be provided anonymously to the independent charity Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111. Damage caused following an arson attack on a house in Teeling Avenue in Dunmurry early this morning, Sunday 28 October. Pic Colm Lenaghan/ Pacemaker Police are treating an incident that saw a bin set on fire and placed at the back of a house in Dunmurry as arson with intent to endanger life. It happened at around 5.30am on Sunday at a property in Teeling Avenue in Dunmurry. A black bin had been placed at the rear door of the property and set alight. The female owner of the house was able to extinguish it. The property sustained smoke damage as a result. Expand Close Damage cause following an arson attack on a house in Teeling Avenue in Dunmurry early this morning, Sunday 28 October. Pic Colm Lenaghan/ Pacemaker / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Damage cause following an arson attack on a house in Teeling Avenue in Dunmurry early this morning, Sunday 28 October. Pic Colm Lenaghan/ Pacemaker Detective Sergeant McCallum appealed for anyone who witnessed the incident or anyone with any information that can assist with the investigation to contact detectives in Musgrave on 101 quoting reference 427 28/10/18. Alternatively, information can also be provided anonymously to the independent charity Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111. Govt okays President Bhandaris Qatar visit The government on Sunday approved President Bidya Devi Bhandari Qatar visit, said Minister for Communications and Information Technology Gokul Prasad Baskota said. A Northern Ireland council has apologised after around 8,000 people were left disappointed when it cancelled a fireworks display. The display was due to take place at Seapark, Holywood, at 8pm on Saturday night but Ards and North Down Borough Council cancelled at the last minute. People who attended the event expressed their frustration on social media. One person said: "Lack of forward planning, lack of proper communication, babies and children left standing in the freezing cold. Completely unacceptable." Another said: "Just back from Seapark in Holywood freezing cold waiting on the fireworks display and told 2hrs later fireworks was cancelled. Very disappointed for all the wee kids who where waiting a long time on such a cold night." Another said on Twitter: "I came down with my 3 kids , 7,22 months & 10 weeks. We had been there from 4. No communication whatsoever. No1 knew what was happening. One announcement to say it had been delayed. Then staff said it was definitely happening tonight, they just didnt know when." Seapark Fireworks: With great regret we were forced to cancel tonights display. We worked to the last minute but were unable to make it happen. We appreciate this was very disappointing and would like to thank everyone who stuck with us while we tried to resolve the problem. ArdsandNorthDown (@ANDborough) October 27, 2018 In a statement, the council said it recognised "the frustration expressed" by many people on social media and apologised for a "lack of communication" regarding the cancellation. "1. The reason for the cancellation - At Seapark, the fireworks are released from a pontoon. This was securely set up this morning. To light the fireworks a boat has to travel from the slipway to the pontoon; this takes place around 10-15 mins before the display is due to begin. "Due to the low tide we were aware the boat would need assistance to get into the water and had a telehandler (small forklift) in place to help move the boat. Due to the sludgy ground the telehandlers movement was restricted and couldnt get the boat into the water. Efforts were then made to manually push the boat into the water but this was unsuccessful. Up until the event was cancelled our staff and contractors were working to try to get the boat into the water. "2. Announcements - Announcements regarding a delay were made on site before 8pm, at 8.10, 8.30 and 8.40. During this period we believed it would be possible to move the boat into the water and proceed with the display. "Stewards made their best efforts to communicate the latest information to those in attendance face-to-face as they moved across the site. The site is large, however, and we know wind conditions can adversely impact on the reach of the tannoy system. "3. Rescheduling of the fireworks - At this stage it is too early to confirm if we can reschedule the fireworks for another date. "We would again reiterate our sincere apologies for the cancellation and thanks to all those who came out to support the event. Our staff and contractors share everyones disappointment that we were unable to deliver the fireworks and end what had been a very enjoyable afternoon/evening for people in the way we had intended." Uber drivers will be joined by workers from other gig economy companies in a march through London (Lauren Hurley/PA) Hundreds of workers from the so-called gig economy are to stage a demonstration ahead of the latest legal hearing over their employment rights. The long-running argument over the status of drivers at ride-hailing firm Uber will go before the Court of Appeal on Tuesday. Uber drivers will be joined by hundreds of workers from other gig economy companies in a march through London ahead of the case. The Independent Workers Union of Great Britain (IWGB), which is involved in the case, said it is expected to be the biggest precarious workers march ever held in the UK. These figures lay bare the human cost of Uber continuing to refuse to accept the ruling of the courtsGMB legal director Sue Harris Couriers, riders, outsourced cleaners, restaurant workers and others will be involved while a rally will also be held in Glasgow. The protesters will march to the Royal Courts of Justice, then go to the University of London, where outsourced workers, including cleaners, receptionists and security officers, will be on strike to end outsourcing, before passing NHS contractor The Doctors Laboratory, where medical couriers say their pay has been cut. Uber case co-claimant and IWGB United private hire drivers branch chairman James Farrar said: What is clear from the different kinds of workers supporting us in this demonstration is that unity among precarious workers has never been stronger and together we will defeat the dishonest bosses that are trying to do away with our most basic employment rights. The GMB, which is also involved in the case, said Uber drivers are estimated to be an average of 18,000 out of pocket two years after the company lost an employment tribunal case over the employment status of drivers. Uber took the case to the Employment Appeals Tribunal last year and lost. Sue Harris, the GMBs legal director, said: These figures lay bare the human cost of Uber continuing to refuse to accept the ruling of the courts. While the company are wasting money losing appeal after appeal, their drivers are up to 18,000 out of pocket for the last two years alone. Over the last two years weve made many changes to give drivers even more control over how they use the app, alongside more security through sickness, maternity and paternity protections. Well keep listening to drivers and introduce further improvementsUber spokesman An Uber spokesman said: Almost all taxi and private hire drivers have been self-employed for decades, long before our app existed. A recent Oxford University study found that drivers make more than the London living wage and want to keep the freedom to choose if, when and where they drive. If drivers were classed as workers they would inevitably lose some of the freedom and flexibility that comes with being their own boss. We believe the Employment Appeal Tribunal last year fundamentally misunderstood how we operate. For example, they relied on the assertion that drivers are required to take 80% of trips sent to them when logged into the app, which has never been the case in the UK. Over the last two years weve made many changes to give drivers even more control over how they use the app, alongside more security through sickness, maternity and paternity protections. Well keep listening to drivers and introduce further improvements. Chancellor Philip Hammond has warned that the Government will have to adopt a new economic strategy if Britain leaves the European Union without a deal with Brussels. On the eve of the Budget, Mr Hammond said he would have to tear up his plans for the economy and set out a new Budget if there was no Brexit deal when the UK leaves the bloc in March 2019. If we were to leave the European Union without any deal and I think thats an extremely unlikely situation but of course we have to prepare and plan for all eventualities as any prudent government would if we were to find ourselves in that situation then we would need to take a different approach to the future of Britains economy, he told Sky Newss Sophy Ridge on Sunday programme. We would need to look at a different strategy and frankly wed need to have a new Budget that set out a different strategy for the future. "Frankly we'd need to have a new budget" - @PhilipHammondUK tells @SophyRidgeSky that "a different approach" would be needed if we don't get a Brexit deal #Ridge pic.twitter.com/yhiZTVOR7L Trevor Phillips on Sunday (@RidgeOnSunday) October 28, 2018 He added: We would want to see how markets and businesses and consumers responded to that. Then, as any responsible government would, we would take appropriate fiscal measures to protect the economy, to prepare us for the future and to strike out in a new direction that would ensure that Britain was able to succeed, whatever the circumstances we found ourselves in. The Chancellor also hinted he would use his Commons statement on Monday to provide additional funding to smooth the transition to Universal Credit amid warnings low income families are being driven into debt. Ive already put over 2 billion pounds into, over the last two Budgets, into smoothing that transition, he said. We continue to look at how this process is working and if we find cliff edges and difficulties, frictions in the move from the old benefits system to Universal Credit then of course will always try to smooth those out and be pragmatic about it. Expand Close The Chancellor is to announce a 28 billion investment plan for the road network (Ben Birchall/PA) PA Wire/PA Images / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp The Chancellor is to announce a 28 billion investment plan for the road network (Ben Birchall/PA) In other measures, the Chancellor is expected to announce 28.8 billion to upgrade Englands motorways and other major arterial roads in a drive to invest in the UKs infrastructure. In an interview with The Sunday Telegraph, he also hinted there would be more money for defence and superfast broadband when he sets out his plans in the Commons. Mr Hammond also signalled his determination to pursue a digital tax to ensure internet giants like Facebook pay a greater share of their profits into the Exchequer. The Chancellor was handed an unexpected pre-Budget boost by the Office for Budget Responsibility, which suggested stronger than expected tax receipts and slower Government borrowing could hand him an additional 13 billion. There is a real sense that it is just simply unfair that these very large internet companies are not paying their fair share of tax in the UKPhilip Hammond As well investing in the road network with a further 420 million for councils to repair potholes the Telegraph reported he was preparing to spent at least a quarter of a billion pounds to help connect rural areas to the high speed internet. After having previously having clashed with Defence Secretary Gavin Williamson over military spending, Mr Hammond indicated there would be extra cash in the Budget for the armed forces. The Telegraph said there could be a cash injection for the military of up to 1 billion ahead of a long-term spending settlement next year. You are looking at someone who was defence secretary for three years. I absolutely get the problems and the challenges in defence, he said. Mr Hammond, who raised the prospect of a digital tax on the internet giants in his Conservative Party Conference speech in Birmingham, said the Government still hoped to get international agreement on the issue. However, if that proved impossible, he indicated the UK was ready to act alone. British people have a really very strong sense of fairness, and there is a real sense that it is just simply unfair that these very large internet companies are not paying their fair share of tax in the UK, he said. And when you get a really strong, across the board, sense of unfairness among the population something has to be done. The TUCs general secretary has admitted she has shopped at online retail giant Amazon, despite concerns over its workers. Frances OGrady said people were really frustrated by the Governments tax cuts to big tech corporations. Asked if she shopped at Amazon, she told Sky Newss Sophy Ridge on Sunday: I have shopped at Amazon, but what Im concerned about is the workers. Expand Close Parcels are processed and prepared for dispatch at Amazons Fulfilment Centre at Kingston Park in Peterborough (Aaron Chown/PA) PA Archive/PA Images / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Parcels are processed and prepared for dispatch at Amazons Fulfilment Centre at Kingston Park in Peterborough (Aaron Chown/PA) Asked why she shopped at Amazon if she was concerned about the workers, she added: Because we are trying to organise the workers and the key point is getting Amazon to recognise the unions so that it treats its workers fairly. She went on: I think theres going to be real change in the high street but I think what people feel really frustrated about is that this government is continuing to give away tax cuts to big corporations like Amazon, like Facebook, who are hardly paying any tax on the profits that they earn here. During his interview on the same programme, Chancellor Philip Hammond also admitted that he shopped online as well as in Guildford as he said it was important to recognise that the high street will have to change. "We've got to help the high street to evolve" - @PhilipHammondUK tells @SophyRidgeSky that the high streets of the future will be "smaller" with fewer retail outlets #Ridge pic.twitter.com/AXx1NZq2pX Trevor Phillips on Sunday (@RidgeOnSunday) October 28, 2018 Asked if he was an online shopper and if he used Amazon, he replied: I am an online shopper. I do. He added: The high street plays a critical role in many communities. But we have to recognise as well that the change thats driving the evolution of our high street cant be put back in the bottle. The British have taken to online shopping like no other nation on earth. For better or for worse, we have to recognise that that is happening. So our high streets have to change. We want to protect them because we want them to remain at the heart of our communities, but we cant do that by freezing the model of 10 or 20 years ago in aspic, it wont work. So weve got to help the High Street to evolve and the high street of the future frankly will have fewer retail outlets and more leisure destinations, more food and drink outlets. I expect that high streets of the future will be smaller with more of the peripheral areas around them redeveloped as housing. Police investigating the sexual assault are trying to trace the man and woman who came to the victims aid (Joe Giddens/PA) Police are trying to find a couple who came to the aid of a man who was sexually assaulted in a taxi. The 22-year-old male got in a white private hire taxi to go home after a night out in Glasgow. But Police Scotland said he was touched inappropriately by the driver, who then made him get out of the car in Paisley. The man and woman left before we could speak to them. It would be really helpful to our investigation if they would contact Paisley Police Station.Detective Sergeant Allison Campbell, Police Scotland Not knowing where he was, the man flagged down the couple in a car, and they they took him to Paisley police office but left before officers had the chance to speak to them. Detective Sergeant Allison Campbell said: The man and woman left before we could speak to them. It would be really helpful to our investigation if they would contact Paisley Police Station as their information would assist our investigation. She urged anyone who might have seen or was approached by the man to get in contact with the police after the incident, which took place in the early hours of Sunday October 28. The man had been out in the Argyle Street/Union Street area of Glasgow before getting into the private hire taxi at about 2.30am. The driver is described as being a white male, in his 30s, with dark shaved hair, of heavy build and with a Scottish or Irish accent. The Duke and Duchess of Sussex on day one of their tour of New Zealand (Dominic Lipinski/PA) An aspiring designer gave Meghan a brooch during her first walkabout in New Zealand and was amazed to see the duchess pin it on immediately. Alexandra MacKay, 10, handed the duchess the jewellery in the form of a red rose with gold accents as the couple met crowds outside the National War Memorial in Wellington. The couple were at the Pukeahu National War Memorial Park, where they laid a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Warrior, and the duke was presented with a Badge in Gold by the Royal New Zealand Returned and Services Association (RSA) to recognise his work with veterans. Under cloudy skies and a chilly wind in Wellington, the first stop on the Sussexes trip to New Zealand, a sea of smartphones greeted the parents-to-be as they made their way down the steps and towards the crowds. Alexandra, along with friend Rebecca Sainsbury, handed the duchess the brooch which she held in her hands for a couple of seconds before attaching it to her Karen Walker trench coat. Expand Close Crows wait to see the Duke and Duchess of Sussex during a public walkabout in Wellington (Dominic Lipinski/PA) PA Wire/PA Images / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Crows wait to see the Duke and Duchess of Sussex during a public walkabout in Wellington (Dominic Lipinski/PA) She said: It felt really amazing, it felt really good to see her put it on. I said, Its really nice to meet you, and then we gave her the brooch. She said, Wow, how did you make it? How long did it take? I want to be a fashion designer when I grow up this is a good start. Also among the crowd was Jan Richardson who opted for a more direct approach when asking the duke and duchess for a picture. Mrs Richardson, who was there with Sophie Hubbard and Hope Watson, both 10, said: I decided to be quite blunt and asked three times, Can I get a photo, can I get a photo? Harry said, Yeah, sure! Meghan started to talk to them and I thought Im just going to ask. Weve been here since 8 oclock. There was a contemplation about staying overnight for the fun of it. Expand Close Sophie Hubbard and Hope Watson, both 10, with the Duke and Duchess of Sussex (Jan Richardson/PA) PA / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Sophie Hubbard and Hope Watson, both 10, with the Duke and Duchess of Sussex (Jan Richardson/PA) Hope said: First when they got close I did a lot of happy crying and then they both shook my hand and we got a picture with them. Harry Smith was holding a sign reading Hi Harry, Im Harry and the duke came over for a chat. The seven-year-old said: He said, Youve got a redhead too hes the best redhead Ive met. The cheers and screams from the walkabout were a sharp contrast to the sombre moments previously as the Sussexes paid their respects at the war memorial. A small number of protesters chanted No more war as the duke and duchess climbed the steps to the memorial which commemorates the 300,000 New Zealanders which served their country. Both Harry and Meghan laid fern fronds on the Tomb of the Unknown Warrior, then laid a wreath before heading into the building where Harry was given the medal by RSA national president Barry BJ Clark, with the duchess pinning it on her husband. Expand Close The Duke and Duchess of Sussex view the UK War Memorial in Wellington (Dominic Lipinski/PA) PA Wire/PA Images / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp The Duke and Duchess of Sussex view the UK War Memorial in Wellington (Dominic Lipinski/PA) The couple were then shown the UK War Memorial, designed to show the trunks of the Royal Oak and Pohutakawa trees intertwining to form a single canopy. The memorial, which features stained glass leaves and has the silhouette of a soldier between the branches, was unveiled by then-foreign secretary Boris Johnson in July 2017. Lord Adonis wants all Scottish parties to support the Peoples Vote campaign (Yui Mok/PA) Scottish political parties should form a popular front in support of a fresh vote on Brexit, according to a campaign leader. Lord Adonis said there should be more cooperation between Scottish Labour and the SNP to back the Peoples Vote group who want a ballot on whatever exit plans result from talks with EU leaders. Theresa May has rejected calls for a such a vote, while Labour has said it wants a general election to decide the issue. About to go on BBC Politics Scotland on the growing campaign for a peoples vote, which has overwhelming support in Scotland Andrew Adonis (@Andrew_Adonis) October 28, 2018 SNP leader Nicola Sturgeon has cleared the way for party MPs to back a second EU referendum, while the Liberal Democrats are also in favour. Speaking on BBC Sunday Politics Scotland, Labour peer Lord Adonis said: In Scotland the majority voted to Remain and the overwhelming majority of Labour and SNP members want to remain, and if I can say I think Nicola Sturgeon has done the right thing in giving very strong leadership towards a Peoples Vote. What I want to see is a popular front. The whole future of Scotland is at stake. There is no future for Scotland which is better off outside the European Union. For my party it is the right thing to do, its the right thing to do for the Scottish Government and they should work together on this. Lord Adonis has held a number of events across Scotland in the last week and said people are very clear sighted as to what they want. He told the BBC Scotland programme: In the meetings Ive done in Scotland, Ive had Labour, Lib Dem and SNP members, and indeed some Conservative members, and what they want is a popular front. They want all of the parties coming together to put pressure on the House of Commons so that there is a Peoples Vote and we end Brexit. They are very clear sighted as to what they want. What we now need is our political leaders to follow the people. The former transport secretary said the parties could work together and still keep distinct views on the topic of Scottish independence. The issue we have in the next year is whether we Brexit or not, that is the issue and the one we should address, he said We have an opportunity to stop it but only if our politicians work together. Nicola Sturgeon and Humza Yousaf have condemned the attack on a synagogue in Pittsburgh. (Jane Barlow/PA) Nicola Sturgeon has warned of the horrific consequences of anti-Semitism in the wake of a mass shooting at at US synagogue. The First Minister, who is due to visit Auschwitz with a group of schoolchildren this week, said it was more important than ever that the current generation learn about the Holocaust. She spoke out on Twitter after Robert Bowers killed eight men and three women inside the Tree of Life Synagogue in Pittsburgh on Saturday before being shot by police. He told officers that Jews were committing genocide and that he wanted them all to die, according to a charging document. Later this week, Ill accompany @HolocaustUK and a group of Scottish school pupils on a visit to Auschwitz. As antisemitism rears its head again - often, as in USA yesterday, with horrific consequences - it is more important than ever that the next generation learns and remembers Nicola Sturgeon (@NicolaSturgeon) October 28, 2018 Ms Sturgeon tweeted: Later this week, Ill accompany @HolocaustUK and a group of Scottish school pupils on a visit to Auschwitz. As antisemitism rears its head again often, as in USA yesterday, with horrific consequences it is more important than ever that the next generation learns and remembers. Meanwhile, Scottish Justice Secretary Humza Yousaf spoke about the huge contribution that the Jewish community makes to the country. Mr Yousaf spoke to Jewish people from Scotland at The Gathering event in Edinburgh on Sunday, telling them the thoughts and prayers of the people of Scotland were with all those affected by the despicable and appalling events in Pittsburgh. He said: This event presents an ideal opportunity to reflect on the diversity of Scotland and the important role our faith communities play in supporting public cohesion. On behalf of the Scottish Government, I pay tribute to the huge contribution which Jewish communities make to our society. En route to Edinburgh Synagogue for the Jewish Gathering. First event of its kind bringing together communities to celebrate Jewish faith, food, music & culture. After yday's evil actions in Pittsburgh hope to reassure Jewish friends that we stand in solidarity with them. Humza Yousaf (@HumzaYousaf) October 28, 2018 Mr Yousaf continued: Of course this Gathering takes place against the backdrop of widespread shock and sadness at the appalling attack on the Jewish community in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The thoughts and prayers of people across Scotland are with everyone affected by this despicable act and we stand in solidarity with the Jewish community across the world. In Scotland we will continue to work together to tackle prejudice and build the society we want to be a safer, stronger and fairer nation where equality and human rights are fully respected and each person, every family and all communities can flourish. A policeman detains a protester during a rally in support of the defendants involved in the Novoye Velichye (New Greatness) case in St Petersburg (AP) Police in Moscow and St Petersburg have detained about 50 people taking part in unauthorised demonstrations against a criminal case filed against 10 young Russians for allegedly taking part in an extremist group which aimed to overthrow the government. Lawyers for the 10 suspects who were arrested in March say undercover police fabricated the case, writing the groups radical programme and encouraging members to take shooting practice. Four of those charged have been jailed, with the others under house arrest. Expand Close A demonstrator holds a poster reading Kremlin, release the hostages! (AP) AP/PA Images / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp A demonstrator holds a poster reading Kremlin, release the hostages! (AP) The OVD-Info group, which monitors police actions and political repressions, said that at least 40 people were detained in St Petersburg on Sunday and at least nine in Moscow. The case has been widely criticised as a glaring example of official abuse of Russias law on extremism. Jal Kapur So, it was a day before Ramas wedding and she looked at herself in Mas mirror adorned with colourful tikas in the backdrop of red, green beads, bangles and her sari bought from the Sauji in IndraChowk. A supporter of newly appointed Sri Lankan prime minister Mahinda Rajapaksa shouts at police officers outside petroleum ministry building in Colombo (AP) Sri Lankas president has said the main reason he decided to sack his prime minister was the alleged involvement of a cabinet minister in a plot to assassinate him. In a televised address to the nation, President Maithripala Sirisena said a person questioned by investigators had revealed the name of a minister in an alleged plot to assassinate him and a former defence secretary. The president said the only choice for him under the circumstances was to dismiss Ranil Wickremesinghe and invite his former nemesis and ex-strongman Mahinda Rajapaksa to take over as prime minister and form a new government. This information (received by investigators) contains a number of details hitherto hidden to the people, Mr Sirisena said. The informant has made a statement regarding a cabinet minister involved in the conspiracy to assassinate me. He did not reveal the name of the minister. Even though Mr Sirisenas supporters had been talking about an alleged plot to assassinate him for weeks, this is the first time the president has commented publicly on the claims. Expand Close Sri Lankan security forces are deployed near the petroleum ministry (AP) AP/PA Images / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Sri Lankan security forces are deployed near the petroleum ministry (AP) A police informant named Namal Kumara who first revealed the alleged assassination plot told reporters that Mr Wickremesinghe and his cabinet colleague, former army commander Sarath Fonseka, were behind the scheme. Meanwhile, one person died and two others were wounded in a shooting at the petroleum ministry, in the first violent incident since the political turmoil began on Friday with the sacking of Mr Wickremesinghe. Pushpa Soyza, a spokeswoman at Colombo National Hospital, said three people were admitted to the hospital following the shooting, and one of them had died. Arjuna Ranatunga, who was petroleum minister under Mr Wickremesinghe, said one of his security guards opened fire when Rajapaksa supporters mobbed him and protested against him entering the ministry premises. Mr Wickremesinghe has called Mr Sirisenas move to sack him unconstitutional and said he can prove his majority support in Parliament. On Saturday, Mr Sirisena suspended Parliament in an apparent move to give Mr Rajapaksa time to try to muster enough support to survive any no-confidence vote. The parliamentary speaker has urged Mr Sirisena to safeguard Mr Wickremesinghes rights. Speaker Karu Jayasuriya said in a letter to Mr Sirisena that the continued suspension of Parliament would have serious and undesirable consequences. Opposition MPs, supporting the new prime minister, asked Mr Wickremesinghe to vacate his official residence or face a forcible eviction. Hundreds of Wickremesinghe supporters continued to gather outside his official home on Sunday for the second consecutive day, waving party flags and denouncing Mr Sirisena and Mr Rajapaksa. Buddhist monks performed religious rites to invoke blessings on Mr Wickremesinghe. Tensions have been building between Mr Sirisena and Mr Wickremesinghe for some time, as the president did not approve of some of the economic reforms being introduced by the prime minister. Mr Sirisena was also critical of investigations into military personnel accused of human rights violations during Sri Lankas long civil war, which ended in 2009. Saudi Arabias attorney general is scheduled to arrive in Turkey to hold talks with investigators looking into the killing of Saudi writer Jamal Khashoggi. The Washington Post journalist was killed in the kingdoms Istanbul consulate earlier this month. Turkey says the kingdoms top prosecutor, Saud al-Mojeb, is expected to arrive on Sunday. There has been no announcement by the Saudis about the visit, which comes just days after CIA director Gina Haspel was in Turkey to review evidence before briefing US President Donald Trump. Expand Close Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi was killed at the consulate in Turkey (Hasan Jamali/AP) AP/PA Images / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi was killed at the consulate in Turkey (Hasan Jamali/AP) Turkey is seeking the extradition of 18 Saudi suspects detained in the kingdom in connection with the October 2 killing. Saudi Arabias foreign minister appeared to reject that notion in remarks on Saturday, saying the kingdom would try the perpetrators and bring them to justice after the investigation is completed. Some of those implicated in the killing are close to Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, whose condemnation of the killing has failed to ease suspicions that he was involved. Mr Khashoggi, a onetime Saudi insider and US resident who lived in self-imposed exile for almost a year before his death, had written critically of the crown prince in columns for the Washington Post. Under mounting international pressure, the kingdom again changed its narrative about Mr Khashoggis killing, acknowledging in recent days that it was premeditated, citing information from Turkey as part of a joint investigation. Saudi officials, however, continue to characterise the killing as a rogue operation carried out by agents who exceeded their authority. Saudi Foreign Minister Adel al-Jubeir on Saturday said the global outcry and media focus on the killing had become fairly hysterical. He urged the public to wait for the results of the investigation before ascribing blame to the kingdoms top leadership. Turkey is pressing Saudi Arabia for a full disclosure about the killing. Turkey alleges a 15-member hit squad was sent to Istanbul to kill the journalist. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said on Friday that his country would reveal more evidence about the killing but was not in any rush to do so, indicating that Turkish authorities will keep methodically increasing pressure on Saudi Arabia. Makwanpur: 18pc women abort babies last fiscal Almost 18 percent of the pregnant women in Makwanpur district underwent abortion in the last fiscal year, according to the District Public Health Office (DPHO). 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 HENDERSON, Nev., Oct. 27, 2018 HENDERSON, Nev., Oct. 27, 2018 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ -- International Virtual Learning Academy (IVLA), an online accredited private school, announces a $1,000 college scholarship available to U.S. students who maintained a 2.5+ GPA throughout high school and have been accepted to an accredited U.S. college for the Fall of 2019. This scholarship is available to any student whether they attended IVLA or not. Public, private, homeschool, and online school students are all encouraged to apply, provided that they meet the criteria of the scholarship. IVLA provides distance learning education options for K-12 students, as well as adult high school students. Based upon the vision of providing an alternative-learning environment, this school provides resources for students who, for a wide variety of reasons, need academic resources beyond the traditional classroom. With diverse coursework options, teacher and mentor support, and community engaging opportunities, IVLA shows their commitment to the success of their students with various needs. This dedication to furthering the success of as many students as possible, whether an IVLA alumnus or not, has inspired IVLA to open their doors to students looking for financial assistance. This opportunity is open to any learner with the desire to achieve a higher education at a U.S. accredited college, university, or trade school. IVLA understands that there are countless paths and destinations for success. Students with goals to attend any accredited higher education program of any major or focus of study can apply for the scholarship program as long as they meet the scholarship criteria. In order to apply, students simply visit https://internationalvla.com/college-scholarship-from-ivla/ to fill out a form including their name, email, phone number, school they plan on attending, and a 300-500 word essay answering the following question: "How has technology advanced your education over the course of your student life?" If you or someone you know has one or more years left of their education at an accredited U.S. college or trade school, share this scholarship opportunity! The submission deadline is April 30, 2019. The winner will be selected in May of 2019. SOURCE International Virtual Learning Academy Man arrested with red panda hide in Banke A person has been arrested along with the skin of endangered Red Panda in Banke on Saturday. Medicine shortage in Gaushala Nigaul Health Post in Gaushala Municipality, Mahottari, is reeling under a shortage of medicines, according to health officials. 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. Nijgadh-Kathmandu Expressway: Mismanagement leaves felled trees in limbo Wooden logs accumulated from the trees that were chopped for the construction of the Nijgadh-Kathmandu Express Way are decaying as a result of authoritative mismanagement. Jirra Harvey took a big leap starting Kalinya Communications six years ago. She didn't really know anyone who ran a business and says "there was a fair bit of naivety involved" launching the marketing company which promotes Aboriginal knowledge and entrepreneurship. Jirra Harvey is the founder of Kalinya Communications. Harvey says she was worried other people might be critical of her ambition. "I was really scared of it when I started my business," she says. "I was nervous about owning that and being vocal about the lifestyle I wanted to create for myself but actually it has been the opposite of that, I have had a lot of support." Retailers have called for the national harmonisation of long service leave laws ahead of changes to provisions in Victoria that will further complicate already complex pay roll systems. Businesses that operate in Victoria will need to prepare for changes that take effect on Thursday. Employment lawyer Simone Caylock from Rigby Cooke Lawyers said the Andrews government would make Victoria the first Australian state to require the calculation of up to 52 weeks of unpaid parental leave towards an employee's length of service. The new rules will also entitle workers to long service leave after seven years, instead of ten. A survey found one in two mothers experienced discrimination while pregnant, on parental leave or on their return to work. Credit:AFR Ms Caylock said the changes were good news for workers, particularly women returning to work after taking parental leave, as they would have more flexibility in how and when leave is taken. It would also allow employees to take long service leave earlier while they were still employed. Childish Gambino has cancelled his sold out Australian tour just days out from the first show. The Hollywood star Donald Glover, who performs under his musical guise Childish Gambino, said in a statement on Sunday morning that he would not be heading down under due to injury. Childish Gambino has cancelled his Australian tour. Credit:AP The rapper was due to perform headline shows in Perth (November 8), Melbourne (November 10) and Sydney's Opera House Forecourt (November 14 and 15). He was also due to perform at Canberra's Spilt Milk festival. The festival organisers have not yet released a statement. After 28 years working behind the counter of Springfield's Kwik-E-Mart, Indian shopkeeper Apu is going to be dropped from The Simpsons, sources close to the program have claimed. Apu in The Simpsons Credit:FOX The cartoon character, voiced by white actor Hank Azaria, prompted debate in recent months after he was branded a racist caricature in a TV documentary, The Problem with Apu. The documentary's presenter, US comedian Hari Kondabolu, claims the character is tainted by "a little bit of the poison of racism". "Apu reflected how America viewed us: servile, devious, goofy," Kondabolu said. Rather than calling for Apu to be killed off, however, he urged the writers to "keep him" and "complicate" him, to make him less of a stereotype. Nepal and China sign deal on military cooperation The Chinese government has increased its military support by 50 percent to the Nepal Army for strengthening its capacity in disaster management and for better equipping the United Nations peacekeeping mission. The architects behind the Australian War Memorial's Anzac Hall have pleaded with the memorial to abandon what they believe are plans for its demolition. Denton Corker Marshall director John Denton has written to the memorial and the federal government asking them to consider alternatives to demolition, after he was tipped off that it was being considered as part of a proposed $500 million redevelopment. There are fears Anzac Hall , at the rear of the main building, will be demolished as part of a redevelopment of the Australian War Memorial. Credit:Jay Cronan, Defence Media Mr Denton raised his concerns more than a week ago but he had not received a response from Minister for Veterans' Affairs Darren Chester and had received only an acknowledgement of receipt of the letter from the war memorial. Anzac Hall was completed in 2001 at a cost of about $17 million and houses some of the memorial's prized artefacts such as the Lancaster bomber G for George, a Japanese midget submarine and multimedia displays. On arrival, fire crews were confronted with flames coming out of the building, he told Nine News at 5.30am. The fire started about 4.15am in the building on O'Riordan Street, near Ewan Street. Fire and Rescue NSW Inspector Brad Smith said 16 firefighters battled the blaze. Investigators have found a hydroponic cannabis set-up after a fire damaged an industrial building in Mascot on Monday morning. The upper level of the building was well alight when emergency services arrived, and fire crews were initially worried cars in a valet car park on the lower level had been destroyed. Police later said the cars in the car park sustained smoke and water damage. Once the fire was put out, a hydroponic cannabis growing set-up was found in the upper level of the two-storey building. A NSW Police spokeswoman said there were no reports of injuries and no one was believed to have been inside the building at the time of the fire. A police spokeswoman said it was unclear how damaged the upper level of the building was at this stage as it had not yet been deemed safe enough for investigators to access properly. An Esperance man who was accused of raping his intellectually disabled cousin has been acquitted. The 41-year-old man, who cannot be named for legal reasons, was accused of two counts of sexually penetrating another person without consent following an alleged incident that occurred just over two years ago. The trial was held between October 23 and 25. The defendant claimed he had the complainants consent for one of the counts, while the other count had not occurred at all. The trial by jury was held at Esperance Courthouse before District Court Judge Laurence Levy. Senior Liberals are so confident NSW Labor leader Luke Foley's political career is over they are preparing to face his deputy, Michael Daley, at the March state election. In a sign of how negative the campaign is likely to be, discussions are already underway about targeting Mr Daley for being drunk in the chamber in 2012. Labor seized on that as further evidence they were being smeared by a "desperate" government fewer than five months from polling day, and dug in behind their leader. The ABC has launched an investigation into claims aired under parliamentary privilege that Mr Foley drunkenly harassed a female ABC journalist at a function in 2016. Istanbul: Germany, which has pledged to suspend arms exports to Saudi Arabia over the killing of journalist Jamal Khashoggi, says it expects the European Union to adopt a common position on potential limits to weapons sales. Jamal Khashoggi. Credit:AP The killing of Khashoggi - a Washington Post columnist and a critic of Saudi Arabia's de facto ruler, Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman - has sparked global outrage and pitched the world's top oil exporter into crisis. The incident has put the West's relationship with Riyadh into sharp focus, given scepticism about Saudi Arabia's shifting explanations of the killing at the Istanbul consulate. The kingdom's public prosecutor said this week the killing was premeditated, contradicting a previous official statement that it happened accidentally. "We agreed that when we have more clarity... we will try to find a unified European solution or reaction from all member states of the European Union," German Chancellor Angela Merkel said, referring to the sale of arms to the kingdom. Isabel Kinnane Smith is comforted by Lesley Britton at a vigil for the victims of the Tree of Life synagogue shooting. Credit:Pittsburgh Post-Gazette via AP The mass shooting prompted security alerts at houses of worship around the country and condemnation from politicians and religious leaders. It followed a spate of pipe bombs found mailed in recent days to prominent political figures, mostly Democrats including former US president Barack Obama, ahead of November 6 congressional elections. "We'll get through this darkest day of Pittsburgh history by working together," the city's mayor, Bill Peduto, told reporters. 'Irrational behaviour' On Saturday, US President Donald Trump told reporters the killings might have been prevented if there had been an armed guard. Synagogue officials said police would only normally have been present for security on high holidays. A note honours shooting victims Cecil and David Rosenthal. Credit:AP Peduto on Sunday said that keeping guns out of the hands of irrational people was a better way to prevent violence. "The approach we need to be looking at is how we take the guns the common denominator of every mass shooting in America out of the hands of those looking to express hatred through murder," he said. "We shouldn't be trying to find ways to minimise the dangers that occur from irrational behaviour. We should be working to eliminate irrational behaviour and the empowerment of people who would seek to cause this type of carnage from continuing." Peduto described the attack as representing the "darkest day of Pittsburgh's history" after the victims' names were read out Sunday morning. US Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Kirstjen Nielsen told Fox News Sunday that DHS officials had made a site visit to the Pittsburgh synagogue in March to provide training on active shooter responses. Loading FBI Special Agent Robert Jones said Bowers was armed with an assault rifle and three handguns. Jones added that he did not know why Bowers picked the particular synagogue for his attack. The FBI said Bowers was not previously known to law enforcement before he drove to the synagogue on Saturday morning, as three different congregations celebrated the Jewish Sabbath inside. "There were casings everywhere," said Allegheny County chief medical examiner Karl Williams, whose team spent Saturday night inside the synagogue identifying the dead. Jones described the aftermath as "most horrific crime scene I've seen in 22 years with the Federal Bureau of Investigation." The three men and eight women killed include Rose Mallinger, a 97-year-old resident of the predominantly Jewish neighbourhood; and Cecil and David Rosenthal, two brothers in their 50s and the youngest of the victims; and Bernice Simon and her husband Sylvan, both in their 80s. Also killed were Joyce Fienberg, 75; Richard Gottfried, 65; Jerry Rabinowitz, 66; Daniel Stein, 71; Melvin Wax, 88; and Irving Younger, 69. Two other worshipers were wounded in the initial shooting spree, which might have lasted about 15 minutes. Two police officers arrived 10 minutes after the shooting started, and stopped the gunman near the synagogue's entrance. "He had finished and he was exited the building," Jones told reporters. "Had Bowers made it out of that facility, there is a strong possibility that additional violence would have occurred." Bowers surrendered, and was taken to a hospital where he was listed in fair condition with multiple gunshot wounds. Federal prosecutors charged Bowers late on Saturday with 29 criminal counts including violating US civil rights laws. Several of the charges could carry the death penalty. 'A climate of hate' As news of the shooting spread, police locked down nearby synagogues in the heavily Jewish neighbourhood. "It could have just as easily been our congregation," said Rabbi Aaron Bisno of nearby Rodef Shalom. "We don't know what motivated the shooter, but when something like this strikes, the randomness of it terrifies." Police also raced to synagogues in Washington, New York City, Chicago and Los Angeles to provide additional security. US Representative Adam Schiff, a Democrat who is Jewish, said on Sunday the country needs to combat a climate of hatred and division that he said Trump helped foster. FBI investigators at the Tree of Life Congregation in the Squirrel Hill section of Pittsburgh. Credit:Pittsburgh Post-Gazette via AP "Honestly I think this President's whole modus operandi is to divide us. He gets up in the morning with new and inventive ways to divide us," Schiff said on CNN's State of the Union. On Saturday, Trump called the shooting an act of pure evil and called on Americans to rise above hatred. KDKA television in Pittsburgh cited police sources as saying Bowers walked into the building and yelled "All Jews must die". The Anti-Defamation League and Jewish Council for Public Affairs described it as the deadliest attack on the Jewish community in the history of the United States. It is on law and order, however, that Bolsonaro, 63, a former army captain, has attracted followers willing to overlook his flaws and dismiss his prejudices as things of the past. Presidential candidate Jair Bolsonaro grimaces right after being stabbed in the stomach during a campaign rally in Juiz de Fora. Credit:AP He believes a good criminal is a dead criminal and that the Armed Forces must play a role in crime prevention. His tough stance and his team of retired generals (including his vice presidential running mate and several proposed ministers) have appealed to many Brazilians sick of rampant crime and corruption. The country registered a record 62,517 murders last year (or 175 a day on average). Millions feel only an extreme response can bring about change. He has promised to reduce the number of parliamentarians, currently more than 500, by up to 20 per cent to combat corruption and help control public finances; reconsider Brazils commitment to the Paris agreement on sovereignty grounds, reduce the severity of fines for environmental degradation and fold the environment portfolio into agriculture to minimise conflict between their opposing policies. He has the support of conservative religious factions many priests and pastors told their congregations to vote for him and military personnel whose rights to fair pay and work conditions he has defended throughout his congressional career. He has also received the support of controversial far-right figures, including former KKK leader David Duke. Two of his sons have also been elected to office last month with record numbers of votes, including one who tweeted photos of with former Trump adviser Steve Bannon. Bolsonaro himself has said he could not afford Bannons services. Fernando Haddad, presidential candidate for the Workers' Party. Credit:Bloomberg Bolsonaro was stabbed by a mentally ill man during the campaign and he has declined to appear in all televised debates for health reasons. Who is he up against? Bolsonaro beat 11 other candidates to dispute the run-off with Fernando Haddad, a protege of Lula, the former president now serving a 12-year sentence for corruption and money laundering. They went to the second round after Bolsonaro secured 46 per cent of valid votes (49.2 million), to Haddads 29 per cent (or 31.3 million votes). Fifty-percent plus one vote is needed in Brazil to elect candidates outright. Loading Haddad, 55, a leftist lawyer and academic, is a former education minister in the Dilma Rousseff and Lula governments, and a former Sao Paulo mayor. He was chosen by Lula only in September to run in his place after Lula was confirmed ineligible. He has the support of millions of Workers Party (PT) voters who dont know him well, but believe their hero was unfairly jailed and that only a return to PT rule will see the the continuation of social responsible programs which have benefited the poor and minorities. The son of Lebanese migrants, university professor Haddad has a PhD in Marxist theory, is a former member of the original Soviet-aligned communist party in his youth. He has promised to put social and economic inclusion at the heart of his agenda, further overhaul the education system and reverse some the recent austerity measures to create jobs. He is the target of a number of lawsuits brought by state public prosecutors over alleged improprieties during his term in Sao Paulo. Loading How much support does Bolsonaro have? On Friday, a Datafolha poll put Bolsonaros chances of winning at 56 per cent, down from 59 the previous week to Haddads 44, up from 41. It was a rare drop for a candidate that has swept the electorate. And a new Ipobe/Estado poll just out today is showing Bolsonaro on 54 per cent, Haddad on per cent. For Haddad to win, however, he has to capture most of the votes given earlier to candidates who came third and fourth in the first round - a difficult task, given a large number of those voters are against PT on ideological grounds. In recent weeks, the Workers' Party has fine-tuned its campaign, changing its colours to green, yellow and blue, hence distancing itself somewhat from the militant red beloved of left factions and loathed by right-leaning voters. It has also dialled down the number of Lula images used, including Haddads own outfits which no longer include t-shirts emblazoned with Lulas face. It has adopted the slogan Brazil for all hoping to conquer a middle class alienated by both the right-leaning elite and the left-leaning workers unions. Luis Angosto-Ferrandez, senior lecturer in Latin American studies at the University of Sydney, says Haddads only hope is to capture votes cast as informal in the previous round, as well as those offended by Bolsonaro who may decide to make a last stand against him. A Haddad victory however could be short-lived, he says, given congressional animosity. If he succeeds the Congress will probably show a very high degree of hostility its clear now there is a right-leaning composition in that chamber [following the first round poll]. Alberto Posso, associate professor of economics at RMIT, agrees. He says Haddad might struggle to get anything done and will be at the mercy of a Congress tempted to impeach presidents often. The role of fake news Haddad has accused Bolsonaro of spreading fake news to hurt his candidacy. Like recent elections in the United States, France and Mexico, fake news has played a huge role in causing division and inflaming emotions among the angst-filled population. Facebook recently deleted dozens of accounts created by marketing agencies funded by Bolsonaro supporters which it said violated its policies. Facebook-owned WhatsApp however, has resisted calls to curb the spread of fake news on its platform which is Brazilians favourite method of communication and a fertile ground for conspiracy theories, doctored photographs, fake videos and fake data polls. Several hoax-busting sites have sprung up to debunk the blatant posts from both sides, including a one by the Brazilian electoral commission concerned with the spread of misinformation, but they are constantly outrun but the viral nature of fake news and the rediness of supporters of both candidates to share dubious posts. Regional and global repercussions Bolsonaro has used Brazilians desperation with the chaotic economy and stratospheric crime rates to campaign on a platform that promises to stop Brazil becoming a new Venezuela. It is a similar approach taken in Chile and elsewhere, says Angosto-Ferrandez. But I dont think his hardline approach can be successful. Some experts have been arguing that insecurity is co-produced in Brazil by criminal gangs and the state apparatus the corruption in the police and the military. Its a system that increases the pool of inequality. The iron-fist approach does not solve the problem, it actually multiplies the problem and crime in Latin American countries. Angosto-Ferrandez says the world, including Australia, should be worried about a possible Bolsonaro victory. Any serious democratic government around the world should be concerned with the shift to anti-democratic approaches to government. That is a possibility in Brazil at the moment. Unfortunately Australia is too closely aligned with the United States and doesnt seem to respond to threats to democracy in other countries. RMITs Posso says Australia should be concerned about what happens in Brazil not only because it is an important global economy but also because its a major competitor in mining, education and currently a supporter of the global effort to reduce the impact of climate change. If Bolsonaro wins, theres strong expectation that he will not be backing any of the common environmental international policies, he says adding that without Brazils (and the US) vote in international forums, Australia is likely to have to make changes in its own approach to the Paris agreement. He says any other speculation about how trade tariffs, mining interests and economic impacts might fare with the election of either candidate is likely to be just that. 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 Nepali woman stabs fellow worker to death in UAE A female Nepali migrant worker stabbed her colleague to death in Sharjah, United Arab Emirates on Thursday. South Korean auto major Hyundai could bring in a smaller electric SUV to India after assessing the response for its biggerKona electric SUV which it plans to introduce in the country next year, a top company official said. The company, which operates in the country through its wholly-owned subsidiary Hyundai Motor India Ltd (HMIL), would launch its first electric model Kona in the second half of the next year. "We are planning to unveil Kona electric SUV in the second half of next year on completely-knocked down basis (CKD). Our electric vehicle strategy is top to down," HMIL Managing Director & CEO YK Koo told PTI here. With Kona, the company is going to test the market for electric vehicles (EV) in India, he added. "It (Kona) is not going to be volume product for us. After then we can review which other EV product can suit the Indian market," Koo said. When asked if the second EV product could be a sedan or a SUV, Koo said:"We will review both sedan and SUV (body styles) but I think chances for bringing an SUV are much higher". The company currently sells SUVs like and Tuscon with conventional petrol and diesel engines. It is also set to bring in a sub 4-metre compact SUV next year, which will compete with the likes of Maruti Vitara Brezza, Tata Motors Nexon and Ford EcoSport. Koo said the company may also look at an entry-level micro SUV in the future. "...after 4-5 years we can review and take a call on a micro SUV. May be the demand will be there for such a vehicle at that time," he said. When asked if the company could also bring in models with hybrid technology, Koo said: "Hybrid is not our choice as government is focusing on EV and hence we have chosen Kona. However we have technology both for both EVs and hybrids and utilise when required". On expectations from recently introduced new Santro, Koo said the company is looking to sell around 8,000-9,000 units per month , thus garnering a market share if around 30 per cent to begin with in the 30,000 strong per month mid compact segment. Terming the product as very important for Hyundai, Koo said it will help in bring in entry level customers to the company's fold. "When we phased it out (Santro) in 2014 we lost out strong presence in the entry segment but now the time has come not only to regain volumes but also market share in the segment," he said. "The product completes our product line up from entry level to the premium segment," Koo added. Earlier this year, Hyundai announcedplans to invest over USD1 billion in Indiain the next three years on new products, development of powertrain and setting up of a new office building. It has lined up nine products to be introduced between 2018 and 2020. Sajjan Jindal-led on Sunday said it will pump in $150 million (approximately Rs 10 billion) in the first tranche to set up its new steel facility in Texas, US. This is part of the $500 million investment commitment made by the company for the steel pipes and plates facility in Texas in March this year. " will invest $150 million (approximately Rs 10 billion) in the new (steel) facility at Baytown, Texas," the company said. (USA) Inc is setting up the technologically advanced and eco-friendly electric arc furnace, slab caster and plate mill. "The new facility is expected to be the only melt-and-manufacture plate mill with a contiguous pipe mill in North America," the company said. The plant will be built on 111 acres at JSW USA's 700-acre Baytown campus. "The company is embarking on a journey to create 1,000 new jobs in the USA. This follows JSW's announcements to invest up to $1 billion in enhancing its steel manufacturing capabilities in the USA," it said. The plant is expected to be completed by March 2020. "We are proud and excited to be building this fully integrated plate and pipe mill in Texas, enabling this unit to be considered a US melt-and-manufacture facility," Parth Jindal, director, JSW USA, said. In March, JSW Steel (USA) Inc and the Office of Governor, Texas, signed a Memorandum of Cooperation to develop and augment the steel industry in the state. According to the memorandum, JSW Steel (USA) Inc agreed to consider an investment of up to $500 million in phases (subject to EPA approval) to develop its steel manufacturing infrastructure in Texas. Later in June, JSW Steel proposed another investment of up to $500 million in acquiring, enhancing and upgrading Acero Junction Inc, an integrated steel manufacturing unit with a potential capacity of three million tonnes per annum (MTPA) located in Ohio, US, in phases. "This takes JSW's overall investment blueprint for the US market, to produce American melt and manufactured steel, to up to $1 billion," the company added. The on Sunday declared a two-day state mourning following the death of former Chief Minister and senior BJP leader "We all are deeply saddened to hear of the demise of veteran leader and former CM of Delhi Ji. As a mark of respect to the departed soul, state mourning shall be observed by for two days," Delhi Deputy Chief Minister tweeted. We all are deeply saddened to hear of the demise of veteran leader & former CM of Delhi Shri ji. As a mark of respect to the departed soul, state mourning shall be observed by Delhi govt for 2 days. (@msisodia) October 28, 2018 Khurana died on Saturday night at his residence in Delhi's Kirti Nagar. He was 83. Delhi Lieutenant Governor and Chief Minister also expressed condolence over the senior leader's death. "Extremely saddened to learn about the demise of former Chief Minister of Delhi Madan Lal Khurana. He will be remembered by all for his contribution to the development of Delhi. My deepest condolences," Baijal tweeted on Sunday. ALSO READ: BJP leader and former Delhi CM Madan Lal Khurana passes away at 82 Born on October 15, 1936, Khurana served as Chief Minister from 1993 to 1996. He resigned amid controversy in relation to the hawala scandal. Khurana also served as Parliamentary Affairs and Tourism Minister in the late Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee's government. Planning Commission sets new health sector goals National Planning Commissions new Mid-term Expenditure Report sets new two-year targets on the back of achievements in the health sector, but budgetary constraints and distribution mechanism pose serious challenges. A day after Reserve Bank of India Deputy Governor Viral Acharya cautioned that the governments that did not respect their central bank's independence would incur the wrath of financial markets, Union Finance Minister Arun Jaitley said regulators must have a wide range of high-quality consultations with all stakeholders. I think, for any regulatory mechanism, stakeholder consultation has to be of a very high quality, which will probably lead to a revisiting of traditional thoughts and opinions. 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 No-cost equated monthly instalments (EMIs) offered to consumers by credit card companies and NBFCs are dramatically changing the e-commerce landscape. As much as 20 per cent of the gross merchandise value (GMV) of sales made on e-commerce platforms is being financed through the no-cost EMI route. Just two years ago, the share of such sales was 4 to 5 per cent, according to estimates by finance and e-commerce companies that Business Standard spoke to. E-commerce major Amazon.com said that during its big sale that concluded this month, as much as three of the four EMIs taken by ... The released on Saturday night a list of 37 candidates for the second phase of polling in the Chhattisgarh assembly election. According to a party statement, Chhattisgarh Pradesh Committee (PCC) chief Bhupesh Baghel will contest from the Patan assembly constituency. Baghel was embroiled in an alleged sex CD scandal involving a state minister. T S Singh Deo, the Legislature Party leader, will contest from Ambikapur, while former Union Minister Charan Das Mahant will contest from Sakti. The Congress is seeking to oust the from power this time which has been governing the state since 2003. Assembly election in the state will be held in two phases. A total of 18 assembly seats in the Naxal-hit areas will go to polls in the first phase of polling on November 12. The second phase of polling for the remaining seats 72 will be held on November 20 and results will be out on December 11. The Congress announced the candidates for the first phase polling in two lists on October 18 and 22. In the first phase polling, the Congress has fielded former prime minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee's niece Karuna Shukla from Rajnandgaon Assembly constituency against Chief Minister Raman Singh. Months after BJP president Amit Shah's visit to the Mahakaleshwar temple in poll-bound Madhya Pradesh, Congress chief will on Monday perform a 'puja' at the famous 'jyotirlinga' in Ujjain before embarking on a two-day tour of the BJP-dominated Malwa-Nimar region. Shah had visited the abode of Lord Shiva on July 14 this year before flagging off the "Jan Ashirwad Yatra" of Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan. The BJP has been accusing Gandhi of playing the "soft Hindutva card" to attract the voters in poll-bound states. During his two-day tour beginning Monday, Gandhi would address rallies in Jhabua, Indore, Dhar, Khargone and Mhow and also take part in a road show in Indore. In Madhya Pradesh, where elections are scheduled to be held on November 28, the Congress has been struggling to oust the ruling Bhartiya Janata Party (BJP) from power for the last 15 years. "During his visit to the Mahakaleshwar temple (one of the 12 'jyotirlingas' of Lord Shiva), Rahul will worship the Lord Mahakal like a common devotee," Congress secretary Sanjay Kapoor told PTI here Sunday. According to a programme released by Congress, Gandhi will address public meetings at Ujjain and Jhabua, respectively, after visiting the Mahakal temple. He is also scheduled to participate in a roadshow to be organised by the Congress in Indore on Monday evening and will address a public meeting at Rajwada. On Tuesday, Gandhi will interact with news editors and the business community in two separate programmes at Indore, the commercial capital of Madhya Pradesh. He will later address public meetings at Dhar and Khargone. On Tuesday evening, the Congress chief would address a public meeting at Mhow after offering tribute at the memorial of Dalit icon B R Ambedkar's birthplace. Mhow, about 23 kms from Indore, is the birthplace of Ambedkar. Earlier, the Congress had proclaimed Gandhi as a "Shiv-bhakt" (a devotee of Lord Shiva) ahead of the assembly elections held in Gujarat last year. Gandhi began canvassing in Madhya Pradesh last month by offering prayers at the famous Kamta Nath temple in Satna district's Chitrakoot town. Meanwhile, the BJP Sunday ridiculed Gandhi for visiting temples in poll-bound states. Apart from Madhya Pradesh, elections are also scheduled to be held in Chhattisgarh, Rajasthan--both currently ruled by the BJP, and the north-eastern state of Mizoram, where Congress is in power, in the next two months. BJP national vice-president Prabhat Jha said, "Congress has been making false allegations against BJP about playing religion-based politics. Now, Rahul should answer why he is running to temples ahead of elections? "The Congress president should also clarify why he and his mother Sonia Gandhi did not visit the Mahakal temple during previous visits," he said. Jha alleged that Gandhi was trying to mislead people by pretending himself as a religious person for the sake of electoral gains. When asked about BJP's criticism, Kapoor said, "Rahul is visiting the Mahakal temple as a devotee of Lord Shiva..in pure sense of devotion. Do the BJP leaders solely reserve the right to worship Lord Shiva? Lord Shiva is for all". Kapoor clarified that Gandhi's likely visit to Janapav near Mhow, which is the birthplace of Lord Parshuram, could not materialise due to the busy schedule of Gandhi. Rajasthan Chief Minister Sunday announced that she will contest the upcoming Assembly election in the state from the Jhalrapatan constituency in Jhalawar district. "I have a 30-year-old connection with the people of Jhalawar. The people here have showered love and affection. I have done whatever I could do for Jhalawar and Baran districts," she said. Raje has been elected thrice from the Jhalrapatan seat in 2003, 2008 and 2013. She said although her focus would be to win all the 200 Assembly seats in the Rajasthan Assembly, special attention would be on 100 seats. Raje exuded confidence that the would form a majority government in the state once again. She said workers have created a situation that Congress's PM-face Rahul Gandhi is forced to hold Assembly-level public meetings. "In the 2008 Assembly election, the was eight seats away from making government in the state. The BJP had won 78 seats despite tough circumstances. Also, four seats were won by the JD(U) and the BJP dissidents. The had won 96 seats," the chief minister said. "Of the eight seats, six seats were from Jhalawar and Baran districts. People of Jhalawar-Baran would not make any mistake this time and saffron would bloom in the state again," she added. Rajasthan will go to the polls on December 7. Sri Lankan President Maithripala Sirisena on Saturday suspended Parliament till November amid a political crisis which erupted after he sacked Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe and replaced him with former leader The Presidential Secretariat said Sirisena had instructed to prorogue Parliament till November 16 and a gazette notification had been issued, the Daily Mirror reported. Sirisena on Friday night sacked Wickremesinghe and appointed former President Rajapaksa to the post. He made the surprising move after his United People's Freedom Alliance (UPFA) withdrew from the national coalition government. The coalition government consisted of the UPFA and the United National Party (UNP) led by Wickremesinghe. Sirisena said he had acted under Article 42 (4) of the Sri Lankan Constitution, which said that the President "shall appoint as Prime Minister the Member of Parliament, who, in the President's opinion, is most likely to command the confidence of Parliament". However, Wickremesinghe and his party called the President's decision "illegal" and urged Parliament Speaker Karu Jayasuriya to convene Parliament immediately to prove he still retained his parliamentary majority. "I urge to convene Parliament without leading the country into chaos. It is not necessary to create a crisis in the country. Let the Parliament decide who should be the Prime Minister," he said. Wickremesinghe said that Sirisena's decision to suspend Parliament showed that he and Rajapaksa lacked a majority in Parliament. Rajapaksa's party, the Podujana Peramuna, however, claimed that they had secured a majority in the 225-member Parliament and would prove their numbers when Parliament convenes. The Speaker in a statement urged for calm from all political leaders and the public and said they would resolve the current political impasse in a democratic manner in accordance with the Constitution. Sri Lankan Finance Minister Mangala Samaraweera and State Minister of National Policies and Economic Affairs Harsha de Silva described Sirisena's action as illegal and in violation of the Constitution, the Island reported. President Arif Alvi on Sunday ruled out establishing any kind of relations with Israel as he strongly rejected reports that an Israeli aircraft carrying some officials secretly landed in Islamabad and flew away after several hours at the airport. "Islamabad is not establishing any kind of relations with Israel," Alvi told the media before his departure for Turkey on a three-day official visit in the wee hours of Sunday. It all started when an Israeli journalist Avi Scharf tweeted on October 25 that an Israeli business jet flew from Tel Aviv to Islamabad where it was on the ground for 10 hours, before flying back to Tel Aviv. Social media users took note and flayed the government with the Opposition also joining in to demand an explanation about the "secret Israeli mission". Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi also dismissed reports of an Israeli aircraft landing in as fake and baseless. Qureshi said that something which is not even real does not warrant a response. Information Minister Fawad Chaudhry has also rejected the reports and said the "government would not negotiate in secret with either Israel or India". He regretted such reports despite the fact that the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) had also denied reports of the presence of any Israeli aircraft in Pakistani airspace or at its airports. Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz leader Ahsan Iqbal, who earlier led the Opposition's barrage, said Chaudhry's reaction showed the government was trying to hide something. "The parliament should be taken into confidence over the issue," he demanded. BBC Urdu reported that the aircraft in question was a Canadian-manufactured Bombardier Global Express with the serial number 9394. It was registered on February 22, 2017, in the Isle of Man in the UK by a company called Multibird Overseas Ltd. The Israeli journalist later said he was not "100 per cent sure" if the plane had landed in Islamabad. Pakistan and Israel do not have diplomatic relations and their aircraft are not allowed to use each other's airspace. Sri Lankan media has described the dramatic move of President Maithripala Sirisena to sack Prime Minister and appoint former strongman as his successor Friday night as a "constitutional coup". The sudden political development came amid growing tensions between Sirisena and Wickremesinghe on several policy matters and the President has been critical of the Prime Minister and his policies, especially on economy and security. Reacting sharply to his sacking, Wickremesinghe asserted that the swearing in of Rajapaksa in his place is "illegal and unconstitutional" and he will prove his majority in Parliament. The Sunday Morning English weekly opinion column screamed 'Paradise Lost? preliminary notes of constitutional coup'. "The whole set of circumstances suggest not the way a change of government ought to occur a democracy, but the sharp practices associated with a constitutional coup, which is likely to lead to a constitutional crisis," it said. "It is a constitutional coup because the serving Prime Minister has not legally ceased to function in office before a new Prime Minister has been appointed," it added. The Sunday Times wrote that the Sirisena-Rajapaksa deal had been kept a top secret and even Sirisena's loyalists were not aware until Rajapaksa was sworn in as the prime minister. "The Cat is out of the bag with the prorogation (suspension) of parliament till November 16. It clearly means the present has been advised to create a fait accompli situation which gives the new PM bargaining power with his new office to negotiate with MPs," the paper said in an editorial. The papers have chosen not to refer to Wickremesinghe as the former prime minister in view of the ongoing lack of clarity on the legality of Rajapaksa's appointment. The Sunday Island editorial captioned 'Constitutional Coup' said, "Friday night's stunning developments that caught not just the country but the UNP faction of the ruling cabal by surprise suggests that Sri Lanka, at the time of writing, is confronted by a seemingly anarchic situation of two prime ministers claiming office." Meanwhile, Security was beefed up in the capital city Sunday morning. The Army, police and the special task force have been deployed around the presidential secretariat with soldiers being seen on streets near important installations. Ousted prime minister Wickremesinghe remained in the prime minister's official residence-cum-office of Temple Trees. The government sources said that they would obtain a court order to evict Wickremesinghe from Temple Trees. The UNP said Wickremesinghe's ouster was illegal and he would operate from there until the parliament is convened and a floor test established he would still be the prime minister. The UNP MPs had begun to sign a resolution extending support to Wickremesinghe to prove his parliamentary majority and call for immediate reconvening of parliament after Sirisena suspended it until November 16. "We would be conducting a protest march on Tuesday in Colombo against the president's unconstitutional action," a UNP legislator said. The sources, close to Sirisena, said a new Cabinet would be sworn in by Monday which would be restricted under 30 members. The government has sent circulars to all state institutions that the previous Cabinet has now been dissolved. Sirisena and Wickremesinghe had joined to form a government of national unity in 2015 to bring in constitutional and governance reforms including a new constitution to address the long-standing issues if the Tamil minority. Rajapaksa's return to power ends a more than three-year-old coalition government that was formed by Sirisena and Wickremesinghe on a promise to combat corruption and financial irregularities. Sirisena, who was Rajapaksa's minister of health, broke away from him to contest the presidential elections. Political analysts said Sirisena's move to install Rajapaksa as the prime minister could lead to a constitutional crisis as the 19th amendment to the Constitution would not allow the sacking of Wickremesinghe as the premier without a majority. Rajapaksa and Sirisena combine has only 95 seats and is short of a simple majority. Wickremesinghe's UNP has 106 seats on its own with just seven short of the majority. Early this month, it was reported that Sirisena accused his senior coalition partner the UNP of not taking seriously an alleged conspiracy to assassinate him and Gotabhaya Rajapaksa, the former top defence ministry bureaucrat and brother of ex-president nearly faced economic sanctions from the West over Rajapakse's brutal military crackdown on the banned Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE). The LTTE sought a separate Tamil homeland in the northern and eastern provinces of the island nation for nearly 30 years before its collapse in 2009 after the Sri Lankan Army killed its supreme leader Velupillai Prabhakaran. Rajapaksa and his family were facing several cases of corruption and financial irregularities. PM Oli skips tea reception due to minor illness Ruling Nepal Communist Party (NCP) hosted a tea reception, a tradition of both the erstwhile CPN UML and CPN Maoist Centre, at Bhrikuti Mandap to celebrate festivals including Dashain, Tihar and Chhath. Rallies were held in Norway on Saturday to protest against NATO's biggest military exercise since the end of the Cold War in the Nordic country. In Norway's capital city Oslo, about 1,000 protesters gathered at the Eidsvoll Square in the city centre to voice their opposition to the ongoing Trident Juncture 2018 exercise, which involves around 50,000 participants from all 29 member nations and its partners Sweden and Finland. Most of the demonstrators were from a group called "Oslo for Action against NATO," which comprises 27 affiliated organisations, including some left-wing political parties and the Oslo chapter of Norway's largest trade union confederation LO. "The exercise is actually not good for the security of the Norwegian people," Geir Hem, organiser of the event, told Xinhua. "It's part of the militarisation and escalating the danger of war," Hem said. "It's kind of preparing Norway to be a battlefield and not to defend the people in Norway." Anti- protests were also organised on Saturday in Bergen, Norway's second largest city, and the southern city of Kristiansand. A similar demonstration was held last week in Trondheim in central Norway. The Trident Juncture 2018 exercise takes place from October 25 to November 7 in central and eastern Norway and the surrounding areas of the North Atlantic and the Baltic Sea, including Iceland and the airspace of Finland and Sweden. Russia has said the drills in Northern Europe are obviously anti-Russian and they lead to deterioration of military and political situation in the region, according to Russia's Sputnik news agency. "It is obvious that this fighting capabilities demonstration has a distinct anti-Russian character," the Russian Foreign Ministry's Information and Press Department was quoted as saying in a statement on Thursday. "It has a negative effect on the security of all the neighbouring countries," it said. Sri Lankan Parliament's speaker on Sunday recognised as the country's prime minister, saying he has "obtained a mandate to secure democracy and good governance", in a major relief to the embattled UNP leader who was sacked by President in a dramatic move on Friday night. In a letter to Sirisena, Speaker Karu Jayasuriya questioned the president's decision to suspend parliament till November 16, saying it will have "serious and undesirable" consequences on the country. He asked the president to restore Wickremesinghe's privileges as the leader of the government who has "obtained a mandate to secure democracy and good governance. Sirisena on Friday night sacked Wickremesinghe and appointed former strongman Mahinda Rajapaksa as the new prime minister. Next day, Sirisena suspended parliament till November 16 after Wickremesinghe sought an emergency session to prove his majority. The president also withdrew Wickremesinghe's personal security and vehicles in order to accord them to his 72-year-old successor, who staged a dramatic political comeback on Friday. Jayasuriya said a prorogation of parliament should be one in consultation with the speaker. "In this context continuing the prorogation of parliament until November 16 will have serious and undesirable consequences for our country and I kindly request you to reconsider same. I consider it is my duty to draw your attention to the convention that a prorogation should be one in consultation with the speaker," Jayasuriya said. The speaker also questioned Sirisena's decision to withdraw the security of Wickremesinghe. Jayasuriya reminded Sirisena of certain forcible takeovers of state institutions since Rajapaksa was named Wickremesinghe's successor by the president. Sirisena's decision to suspend the parliament until November 16 was seen as an effort to coerce legislators into supporting Rajapaksa. One such crossover was reported this morning as Wadivel Suresh, an Indian Tamil origin UNP legislator from the central tea plantations, pledged support to Rajapaksa. He was the second UNP legislator to back Rajapaksa since Friday night. Analysts said Rajapaksa now has 99 seats, 14 short of the 113 required. Wickremesinghe's UNP now stands at 105, just eight short of the majority. Two parties, the Marxist JVP with their six seats and the main Tamil party, Tamil National Alliance (TNA) with their 16 are to stay neutral. The TNA sources said Rajapaksa had spoken to the TNA leader R Sampanthan over the telephone and asked for their support. TNA is reportedly considering two issues; which party should be capable of bringing in a new Constitution to the country addressing Tamil political grievances and which government would deliver the accountability mechanisms outlined in the UN human rights council resolutions on Sri Lanka's human rights accountability during the final phase of the war with the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE). Wickremesinghe, who termed his shock dismissal as illegal and unconstitutional, remained at the prime minister's official residence-cum-office of Temple Trees. Sirisena and Wickremesinghe had joined to form a government of national unity in 2015 to bring in constitutional and governance reforms including a new constitution to address the long-standing issues if the Tamil minority. Sri Lanka nearly faced economic sanctions from the West over Rajapaksa' brutal military crackdown on the banned LTTE. The LTTE sought a separate Tamil homeland in the northern and eastern provinces of the island nation for nearly 30 years before its collapse in 2009 after the Sri Lankan Army killed its supreme leader Velupillai Prabhakaran. Rajapaksa and his family were facing several cases of corruption and financial irregularities. US Defence Secretary said that was committed to "holding accountable" those responsible for killing Saudi Arabian journalist Jamal Khashoggi, whose death "undermines regional stability". Mattis, speaking to an security conference on Saturday, never mentioned directly in connection with the October 2 killing of Khashoggi, a Virginia resident who was a columnist for The Post, at the Saudi Consulate in Istanbul, reports The New York Times. But he said that Secretary of State Mike Pompeo had revoked the visas of Saudis suspected in the killing and that Trump had vowed "to get to the bottom of it" and get involved. "Failure of any one nation to adhere to norms and the rule of law undermines regional stability at a time when it is needed most," Mattis said. Saudi Arabian Foreign Minister Adel al-Jubeir, who also attended the conference, told the media later that an inquiry into Khashoggi's death would take time and denounced what he described as "media hysteria" over the killing. In his remarks here in Bahrain, home to the US Navy's Fifth Fleet, Mattis also sought to tamp down increasing concerns that if reduces its security role in the Middle East, Russia would move quickly to fill the vacuum. The US has not had an aircraft carrier in the Persian Gulf since March, and the is pulling Patriot missile-defence systems out of Jordan, Kuwait and Bahrain as part of a strategic realignment of firepower away from the Middle East and toward Russia and China. "Russia's presence in the region cannot replace the longstanding, enduring and transparent," he said. Even before Khashoggi's disappearance, relations between Washington and Riyadh had been on edge, The New York Times said. This month, President said Saudi Arabia's King Salman might not last two weeks without the US, escalating pressure on the Saudis to curb rising oil prices and to pay for military protection. Trump has condemned Saudi Arabia's shifting account of the killing of Khashoggi as "the worst cover-up ever". Sri Lankan President on Sunday said that Ranil Wickremesinghe was sacked due to his "arrogant" behaviour, and asserted that former strongman has been made the new premier in strict accordance with the Constitution. In his first address to the nation after the dramatic move to sack Wickremesinghe on Friday night, Sirisena said Wickremsinghe's political conduct since the victory in 2015 was unbecoming. "He appeared to treat Sri Lanka's future as a joy ride for a coterie of people around him who had no sense of the common man's thinking," he said. "He completely destroyed the concept of good governance while corruption and waste became rampant. He was making arrogant arbitrary decisions making a mockery of collective responsibility," Sirisena charged. There was a huge gap in policy agreement between the two of us. I believe the cultural and policy differences between us contributed to this political and economic crisis," he said. Sirisena on Friday night sacked Wickremesinghe and appointed Rajapaksa as the new prime minister. Next day, he suspended parliament till November 16 after Wickremesinghe sought an emergency session to prove his majority. The president also withdrew Wickremesinghe's personal security and vehicles in order to accord them to his 72-year-old successor, who staged a dramatic political comeback on Friday. In the address, Sirisena came down hard on Wickremesinghe over the Central Bank bond scam when his appointee and friend governor Arjuna Mahendran was accused of wrong doing in the Central Bank's bond issues of February 2015 and March 2016. The country was plunged into an unprecedented economic crisis due to the bond scam," he said. Sirisena said Wickremesinghe must take the responsibility to have Singapore extradite the former Central Bank governor Mahendran to Sri Lanka to face trial as they are good friends. Sirisena also accused the UNP leader of treating very lightly the alleged plot to assassinate him. I received information that senior policemen who were doing investigations were deliberately avoiding meeting officials of the Attorney General's Department," he said. "Having taken into consideration all crisis, the political and economic as well as the assassination plot on me, I was only left with one alternative which was to appoint former President as the prime minister," Sirisena said. The president last week accused his unity government partner of Wickremesinghe's UNP of going slow on the investigations after a man named Namal Kumara in mid September disclosed the alleged plot to assassinate Sirisena and former defence minister Gotabhaya Rajapaksa. On incompatibility between them on economic policies, Sirisena said Wickremesinghe was relying only on foreign investment which led to the local industrialists and entrepreneurs being left in the lurch. Wickremesinghe's economic council was highly corrupt so I took action to set up a National Economic Council in its place. But he scuttled its functions," he said. Rejecting Wickremesinghe's allegation that his sacking was unconstitutional and illegal, he said, I must make it very clear that the new appointment (of Rajapaksa) was made on expert legal advice in strict accordance with the Constitution. Foreign investors have pulled out a massive Rs 356 billion (about $5 billion) from the Indian capital this month on concerns over rupee depreciation, tiff and rising crude prices. The latest outflow is higher than Rs 210 billion worth of net withdrawals seen in entire September. Prior to that, overseas investors had invested a net sum of Rs 74 billion in the capital (both equity and debt) in July-August. According to the latest depository data, (FPIs) sold equities to the tune of Rs 241.86 billion during October 1-26 and bonds worth Rs 114.07 billion, taking the total to Rs 355.93 billion ($4.8 billion). FPIs have been net sellers almost throughout this year barring a couple of months such as January, March, July and August. In these four months, overseas investors have put funds totalling over Rs 320 billion. However, experts believe in withdrawal of funds in October has shaken the So far this year, FPIs have pulled out a total of Rs 970 billion from the capital This includes over Rs 370 billion from equities and close to Rs 600 billion from the debt markets. According to Rahul Mishra, AVP (Derivatives), Emkay Global Financial Services, macro issues like crunch created post IL&FS default, Indian currency move and volatility in crude oil price have kept the investors at bay. "The continued selling pressure from is needed to be looked from the angle of what is happening globally. From the Indian context, the current issues faced by the (non-banking finance company) is not helping either," R Sreesankar Co-head equities at Prabhudas Lilladher. Going ahead, experts said volatility is likely to continue for other reasons too such as US sanctions on Iran, which take effect next month, as Iran is a major source of crude oil for India. Besides, India has some key state elections coming up, which could provide cues to FPIs for next year's central elections. The Crime Branch of Surat Police arrested six people, who had planned to loot a money transfer agency in Laskana here. "These six people had planned to rob a money transfer agency. After a tip from reliable sources, we formed four teams and arrested all these six people on Friday," said R. R. Sarvaiya, Assistant Commissioner of Police, Surat Crime Branch. The police have recovered two loaded pistols, six cartridges, four knives, two motorcycles and two mobile phones from the six people. "One out of the six is a wanted criminal. We are further investigating the matter," Sarvaiya added. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) A new study has suggested that heat increases the number of gastroenteritis-related hospital admissions by 21 per cent, while cold increases them by seven per cent. The study appeared in the Journal of Environment International. It was performed by the Barcelona Institute for Global that analysed for the first time the association between climate and hospitalisations due to the infection over a 17 year period. Diarrheal diseases, although preventable and treatable, are the second leading global cause of death among children under five years of age. In 2015, 1.31 million people worldwide died from gastroenteritis (stomach flu). Only a few studies have addressed the association between climate factors- temperature and rain- and gastrointestinal disease incidence in high-income countries. In most cases, heat and heavy rainfall were associated with an increase in infections. Hospitalisation data were obtained from administrative records, and cases, where gastroenteritis was the primary diagnosis, were selected. Meteorological data were obtained from the European Climate Assessment & Dataset. The study correlated daily hospital admissions with the corresponding meteorological variables. The results indicate that "temperature plays an important role in the increase of hospital admissions due to gastroenteritis," explained Clara Morral Puigmal, first author of the study. In particular, the numbers of hospital admissions were lowest on days where the temperature was of 12C. In contrast, hospital admissions increased by 7 per cent on cold days (where the average temperature was of 6C) and by 21 per cent on hot days with an average temperature of 26C. Hot temperatures mostly increased hospitalisations due to foodborne gastroenteritis. "This is probably due to the fact that heat promotes the growth of bacteria in food," explained ISGlobal researcher Xavier Basagana and coordinator of the study. Rotaviral infections, in contrast, were associated with cold temperatures. In this case, "it is probably due to the fact that in cold weather we spend more time indoors, with less ventilation, which increases transmission between people," he further added. The study also found that rainfall decreases the risk of gastroenteritis by 26%. "This effect was unexpected, and could be due to a lower exposure to recreational waters during rainy periods," said Basagana. The results were similar for both sexes, although women had an increased risk under extreme heat. Infants under one year of age were most susceptible to cold. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) on Sunday seized 6.995 kg gold worth Rs 2,27,82,715 from two persons who had arrived in Chennai Airport in two different flights. The accused have been arrested and sent to judicial custody. As per a statement released by the DRI's Chennai Zonal Unit, the accused have revealed that they were instructed by their Chennai-based handler to travel to Bagdogra (near Nepal border) and receive the gold pieces concealed inside electrical appliances and bring them to Chennai by air. Furthermore, the investigation revealed that the seized gold has been smuggled from Malaysia to Nepal and then into India through the land border. Ahead of the major festival season, DRI has been mounting surveillance over illegal movement of gold into India by organised gangs. Further investigation in the matter is underway. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) Assistant Sub-inspector (ASI) Mohit Kumar Sharma, along with two other CISF personnel, gave cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) to a passenger who suffered a cardiac arrest at Mumbai Airport. The passenger was later shifted to Nanavati Hospital in Mumbai and his condition is now stable Satyanarayana Gubbala from Andhra Pradesh was scheduled to fly from Mumbai to Hyderabad but suddenly collapsed near Terminal-2 of Mumbai Airport due to a cardiac arrest on Friday. The message was immediately passed on to Mumbai International Airport Ltd (MIAL) Medical team. ASI Mohit Kumar Sharma of CISF, who was deployed there as a screener, acted swiftly with other CISF personnel and gave CPR to the passenger for several minutes till the medical team arrived with their kit. Later, the MIAL Doctor attended to him and provided necessary first-aid and kept him for some time in the airport for stabilisation before shifting him to Nanavati Hospital in a GVK Ambulance. The act of providing CPR timely to the passenger by CISF personnel was appreciated by the fellow passengers as well as the MIAL medical team. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) PM Oli suffering from seasonal flu, docs advise 3-day rest Doctors have suggested Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli, who has been suffering from seasonal common cold and fever, to take additional three days of rest. A college professor was shot dead by unidentified assailants in the Nalanda district of Bihar on Sunday morning. The deceased, identified as Arvind Kumar, was a professor at the PMS College (Pairu Mahto Somari College) and a resident of Jalalpur area in the city. Kumar, who was shot at while he was on a morning walk, died on the spot. His body has been sent for postmortem to Bihar Sharif Sadar Hospital. Speaking about the incident, Deputy Superintendent of Police Sanjay Kumar said the police is yet to ascertain the motive behind the attack. "He (Arvind) did not have any dispute with anyone, we are investigating the matter," he added. Furthermore, the kin of the deceased asserted that the professor did not have any enmity with anyone. Nalanda Deputy Inspector General (DIG) Rajesh Kumar said a Special Investigation Team (SIT) has been constituted to probe the matter. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Meghan Markle shared her feminist side with the world in a powerful speech about women's right to vote, and said feminism is about fairness. For the last leg of their 16-day tour, Meghan and Prince Harry touched down in New Zealand on Sunday. The royal couple joined Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern at Government House in Wellington to celebrate New Zealand's 125th anniversary of women's suffrage. In her speech, Meghan said, "We are proud to be able to join you tonight in celebrating the 125th anniversary of women's suffrage in your country. The achievements of the women of New Zealand who campaigned for their right to vote, and were the first in the world to achieve it, are universally admired." Speaking about feminism as a value, Meghan said, "I'm looking forward to this very special occasion, I reflected on the importance of this achievement, but also the larger impact of what this symbolises. Because yes, women's suffrage is about feminism, but feminism is about fairness." "Suffrage is not simply about the right to vote but also about what that represents: the basic and fundamental human right of all people, including those members of society who have been marginalised whether for reasons of race, gender, ethnicity or orientation, to be able to participate in the choices for their future and their community," she added. Congratulating New Zealand for completing 125 years of women's suffrage, the Duchess of Sussex said, "So bravo, New Zealand, for championing this right 125 years ago, for the women who well deserve to have an active voice and acknowledged vote, and for all of the people that this effort has paved the way for globally," Meghan concluded her powerful speech by quoting Kate Sheppard, a prominent figure in the women's suffrage movement in New Zealand. "In the words of your suffragette, Kate Sheppard, 'All that separates, whether of race, class, creed or sex, is inhuman and must be overcome," Meghan said. The couple is currently on their first royal tour of Australia and South Pacific that began on October 16. The tour will end on October 31 with their visit to New Zealand. Meghan and Harry are also expecting their first child in 2019. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Condemning the remark made by Congress Member of Parliament (MP) Shashi Tharoor on Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Union Minister and senior Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Giriraj Singh on Sunday said Tharoor would have been silenced if he had made the remark in Pakistan. "Had Tharoor been in Pakistan, he would have been made to shut his mouth. He has not only insulted the Prime Minister, but crores of Hindus and followers of Lord Shiva in this country. How can Rahul Gandhi claim to be a follower of Lord Shiva when his party man can say such a thing? He should come out and apologise on behalf of Tharoor. The Congress has crossed all limits now," Singh told ANI. Accusing the Congress of practicing of "division and hatred," senior BJP leader Anil Vij added, "It (Tharoor's remark) is extremely condemnable. The Congress party is strategically imparting a of division and hatred. On one hand, Rahul Gandhi claims to be a devout follower of Lord Shiva, on the other hand, the Congress leaders, in some way or the other, are humiliating the Hindus of this country. It's time we reject this." Earlier in the day, Tharoor, while speaking at an event in Bengaluru, had said Prime Minister Modi was, in a way, like a "scorpion sitting on a Shivling." However, the Congress leader later clarified that the comment was made by an unnamed member of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) six years ago, and not by him. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) general secretary Ram Madhav on Sunday asserted that India's standing in the world forums has become exponentially better after Prime Minister Narendra Modi came to power. He said, "When our leaders now reach to the Unite Nations, the world leaders praise India and Prime Minister Narendra Modi. There was a time when our ministers weren't even noticed at such international forums including the United Nations. Today, Prime Minister and External Affairs Minister (EAM) are noticed around the world." Madhav also berated former external affairs ministers while taking a dig at an incident in which the then EAM read Portuguese minister's speech at the United Nations. "There was a time when our external affairs ministers were never noticed at international forums including UN. There were funny instances like that of once an Indian foreign minister reading the speech of foreign minister of another country," Madhav said. The incident that Ram Madhav recalled pertained to 2011 when then external affairs minister in the UPA government SM Krishna inadvertently read out a Portuguese minister's speech at the United Nations Security Council meeting in New York. SM Krishna, who was with the Congress for decades, joined BJP last year. He is regarded as an influential leader in Karnataka (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The reported landing of an Israeli private jet has created uproar in Pakistan, with the government issuing a denial on the media reports. The controversy started after Israeli newspaper Haaretz's English edition Editor Avi Scharf tweeted details of a mysterious jet landing in Islamabad along with snippets of the flight details. "Israeli business jet flew from Tel Aviv to Islamabad, Pakistan, on the ground 10 hours and back to Tel Aviv. Cleared flight-plan with usual 5 minute ground time trick in Amman," Scharf wrote on Twitter on October 25. He quoted the data of flight tracking website, flightradar24, to further back his claims. It was alleged that flight had descended near Islamabad before going out of coverage. The aircraft reappeared 10 hours later heading south-west from Islamabad. The issue raked up an uproar in Pakistan as Islamabad does not recognise Israel and, therefore, doesn't have diplomatic relations with it. Quoting Pakistan People's Party vice-president Sherry Rehman, Pakistani media outlet the Dawn said, "The government should explain who came in the aircraft. The decisions that would be taken without taking the nation into confidence would not be acceptable." On October 27, Pakistan's Civil Aviation Authority categorically rejected any news regarding landing of Israeli plane in the country. The government said there was no truth in any Israeli jet landing at any Pakistani airport. Following the explanation by the government, Scharf had also taken to his Twitter handle and slightly diluted his claims saying that the craft might only have flown overhead Pakistan. "Pakistan gov't issues denial. I'm sure @flightradar24 can tell what was final altitude and when landed. But I assume they won't. Maybe it only flew overhead Pakistan to goto China... Up to you investigative minds in Pakistan," he wrote on Saturday. As per reports, the only known interaction between Pakistan and Israel took place on September 1, 2005 between the then Pakistani foreign minister Khurshid Kasuri and his Israeli counterpart Silvan Shalom. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Turns out, Hollywood rapper Kanye West is more political in nature than his fans thought he would be, as he designed T-shirts that encouraged the African-American population to end their support for the Democrats. He designed T-shirts that read 'Blexit' (Black + exit). In a leadership summit designated for the African-American community in Washington, his designs were showcased, reported Page Six. However, Kanye West didn't turn up for the event. Candace Owens, the director of the leadership summit, said that it is a renaissance in its own which was brought about by his "dear friend and fellow superhero Kanye West". Calling this as one "of the boldest steps in America", she said that West's initiative has opened an avenue for a conversation that everyone needs be involved in. The clothes were part of a launch for Blexit.com, which contains testimonials from African Americans who have already left the Democratic Party. In 2019, Owens said there will be a tour to major cities, which, according to her, were allegedly destroyed by the Democrats. This initiative put forth by West comes after he visited US President Donald Trump at The White House to show his support, earlier this month. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) United States Defence Secretary James Mattis met Saudi Arabia's Foreign Minister Adel al-Jubeir and called for a transparent investigation into Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi's death while condemning the incident. "We discussed it. You know the same thing we talked about, the need for transparency, full and complete investigation," Mattis said while mentioning that the leaders had met at a conference in Bahrain on Saturday. Speaking to traveling reporters, Mattis further said, "(There was) full agreement from foreign minister Jubeir, no reservations at all, he said we need to know what happened and it was very collaborative, in agreement," according to Al Jazeera. Meanwhile, Saudi Arabia's Attorney General Saud al-Mojeb, who had confirmed Khashoggi's death, is traveling to Turkey to hold talks with investigators working on the slain journalist's case. His visit comes as Turkey demands the extradition of 18 Saudi suspects who have been arrested by the kingdom in relation to the Khashoggi incident. Riyadh's Foreign Minister, whom Mattis had met on Saturday, had reiterated that the suspects would be tried in Saudi Arabia post investigations despite Turkey's wish for extradition. French President Emmanuel Macron had called for sanctions at a "European level" while addressing reporters on the sidelines of the Syria Summit in Istanbul on Saturday. "For me, things are clear. Firstly, some of the facts have been established. We must fully investigate the nature of these facts, and who's responsible," the French President said while adding, "Sanctions must be taken on this basis and these sanctions must be coherent and complete, and be extremely concrete and proportional." Macron further said, "It will depend on the facts as they are established and the sanctions will be taken at a European level, as we usually do, so that there is true coordination," according to Al Jazeera. Germany's Chancellor Angela Merkel agreed with Macron's call for a joint European Union (EU) position on the matter while confirming that the export of German arms to Saudi Arabia will be halted till a proper explanation is given regarding Khashoggi's death. US President Donald Trump has repeatedly called for a clear investigation into the deceased journalist's case, while Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has rejected the Saudi explanation behind Khashoggi's killing and asked for the suspects to be tried in Turkey. Further, Erdogan also stated that he's shared details about the slain scribe's case with Russia, France, and Germany during a summit held in Istanbul on Saturday. Jamal Khashoggi, a columnist with The Washington Post, had gone missing on October 2 when he had walked into the Saudi consulate in Istanbul to collect documents. His Turkish fiancee Hatice Cengiz, who was waiting for Khashoggi outside the consulate, later raised an alarm after he failed to re-emerge from the consulate, leading to a chain of revelations that confirmed the senior journalist's death. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The Lucknow zoo authorities have written to and international experts to find the cure for the injured female demoiselle crane, which was rescued in Allahaganj town of Lucknow's Shahjahanpur district on October 17. The demoiselle crane, which was tagged in Russia with a Global Positioning System (GPS) for the collection of data on the migratory bird, fell in Shahjahanpur in an injured state. Her wings and bones were broken. The locals initially thought it was a spy bird and informed the police about it. However, the bird was later handed to the forest department. Covering a distance of over 5,000 kilometres, demoiselle cranes migrate from Russia every year to spend winter in Gujarat and Rajasthan. Around 55-day old female crane begun its journey with other members of the flock and successfully crossed the Himalayas, but fell in Shahjahanpur after suffering from an injury. Dr. Utkarsh Shukla, a veterinarian doctor, informed that after the people studying the locations of the bird lost their contact with the bird, they contacted Lucknow zoo. It was found out that the migratory bird left from Russia on July 3. He also informed that the crane has starting eating and recovering from the trauma. Rajendra Singh, director of Lucknow zoo, informed that the female juvenile bird is critically injured, her bones are broken and muscles are ruptured. "We are trying to repair the bird's wing, but the chances are very less. We have contacted international experts for the help treat the bird," he said. The team of Lucknow zoo also contacted World Association of Zoos and Aquarium for help and advice. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Prime Minister Narendra Modi, in his 49th Mann Ki Baat address on Sunday, paid homage to Army soldiers and their families on the occasion of Infantry Day which was celebrated on Saturday. "My dear brothers and sisters, we celebrated 'Infantry Day' yesterday. I respectfully bow before all of them who are part of the Indian Armed Forces. I also salute the families of our soldiers," Prime Minister Modi said. "This is the very day when the Indian forces landed in Kashmir and saved the Valley from the clutches of aggression. This incident too is directly related to Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel," he added The Prime Minister also mentioned an interview of Field Marshal Sam Manekshaw as he saluted the jawans and their families on Infantry Day for displaying unparalleled courage. "I was reading an old interview with the celebrated Army officer Sam Manekshaw. In that interview, Field Marshal Sam Manekshaw was reminiscing the times when he was a Colonel. Around this time in October 1947, military operations commenced in Kashmir. Field Marshal Manekshaw mentioned how in a meeting, Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel was irked on the delay in sending troops to Kashmir," the Prime Minister said. "During the proceedings, Sardar Patel gave him a characteristic glance and reiterated that there should be no delay in our Army operation and that a solution should be sought swiftly. And, immediately after that, our troops flew to Kashmir. We have seen how our Army was successful," he added. Infantry Day is observed as a remembrance of the first military event of independent India, when the Indian Army repelled the first attack on the Indian soil on October 27, 1947, in the Kashmir Valley. The victory was accomplished by the personnel of the First Battalion of the Sikh Regiment. The day is commemorated with traditional gaiety and military elan. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar is suffering from pancreatic cancer, Goa's Health Minister Vishwajit Rane has revealed. "He (Manohar Parrikar) has got pancreatic cancer. There is no hiding of this fact. Let him be peaceful with his family. That much right he has. After serving the people of Goa, if he wants to spend some quality time with family, nobody has any business to ask," Rane told reporters here on Saturday. Citing Parrikar's ill-health, the Congress party has been demanding that they should be allowed to form the government in the state. On September 17, the Congress, along with 14 legislators in the 40-member state assembly, submitted a letter to Goa Governor Mridula Sinha, urging her to invite them to form the government. Parrikar has been undergoing medical treatment for a pancreatic ailment for the last few months causing, as claimed by the Congress, a leadership crisis in the state. On October 14, the Chief Minister was discharged from Delhi's All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) and returned to his Goa residence, where hospital-like medical arrangements have been made. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) 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. Qatar offers zero cost recruitment As Nepal is poised to sign a deal with Malaysia to ensure cost-free recruitment of workers, Qatar has expressed its interest in hiring Nepalis without charging them any money in the process. Former Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak on Saturday insisted that he was not associated with any wrongdoings in connection with the 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB) scandal that has gripped the country. "There are things that went wrong in 1MDB," Najib acknowledged in an interview with Al Jazeera's 101 East. He added that he was unaware of the laundering of millions of dollars through offshore bank accounts around the while he was the Prime Minister of Malaysia. Najib, who is now facing 38 charges related to corruption, had launched the 1MDB sovereign fund just three months after taking office as Prime Minister in 2009. The initiative aimed to invest in energy, real estate, and other industries. There are currently six ongoing investigations around the for corruption related to 1MDB, according to Mary Ann Jolley, who conducted the interview posted on Saturday. According to the Strait Times, probes into the alleged scandal are being conducted in countries like the United States, Singapore, Switzerland and Malaysia, and others. Najib further distanced himself from any wrongdoings related to the fund, while stating that his "conscience is clear" during the interview. "I would not receive a single cent from sources connected with 1MDB because if it's 1MDB I would know right away it would not be the right thing to do," he said. Strait Times reported that the former Prime Minister walked out of the interview, owing to questions put forth by Jolley pertaining to Jho Low, a Malaysian financer with links to Najib, and Altantuya Shaariibuu, a Mongolian national, who was murdered in 2006. "We are supposed to talk about the economy. You are going too much about this. I do not want to talk too much about it," Najib said. He also accused the news broadcaster that they "weren't being fair" to him. Najib further denied knowing the source of the USD 681 million that he has alleged was a gift from a Saudi royal. He also stated that his wife did not accept the USD 27 million pink diamond pendant which he said was a gift from Abu Dhabi's Crown Prince Mohammed bin Zayed. The United States' Department of Justice had reported that around USD 4.5 billion was embezzled from the 1MDB funds by high-ranking Malaysian officials. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Prime Minister Imran Khan's ex-wife and British-Pakistani journalist on Saturday asserted that there is no in the country at the moment and it is more of martial law that is governing the nation. "The way we are being told that dams will be built. Then they say they have brought money. What type of is this where without asking people, without taking their suggestion, without taking parliament in confidence, the decisions are being made. This is not democracy; I think they should accept that there is naked martial law in Pakistan," she said. Criticising her ex-husband for allegedly talking about Pakistan's poverty at an platform, she said, "It is a very unfortunate situation in nowadays. Prime Minister going to and openly telling about Pakistan's situation and saying that there is no money in the country. I believe no one who does a business or is an investor, insults their own country or venture at an platform." Reham further demanded that there should be a discussion in parliament regarding the same. "The way we have received these funds through begging and on what terms we have got it must be discussed in parliament. If Nawaz Sharif would have done so and have not discussed it with parliament, the situation would have been different," the 45-year-old journalist said. During a public address on Wednesday, Prime Minister had thanked for easing the pressure on by extending financial help to the cash-strapped nation. A former Pakistani judge, named Sikandar Hayat, was on Saturday found to have over 2,200 cars registered in his name. Hayat's legal counsel, Mian Zafar, however, told the Pakistan Supreme Court that his client owned just one car, reported the Dawn. "2,224 cars were registered in the name of my client," Zafar said. Hayat's lawyer further stated that a few days ago, the former judge had received a challan (fine) for a car that he didn't own. After the Punjab Excise and Taxation Department was informed about the same, it surfaced that Hayat was the registered owner of as many as 2,224 vehicles. The apex court has directed the secretary and the director of the Punjab excise department to file a report in the matter. The court has sought the report within a week. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Congress Member of Parliament (MP) Shashi Tharoor on Sunday, quoting an unnamed Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) source, launched a sharp attack on Prime Minister Narendra Modi while likening him with a scorpion sitting on a 'shivling'. Speaking about his book 'The Paradoxical Prime Minister' at the Bengaluru Literature Festival, Tharoor asserted that the "personality cult of Prime Minister Modi has not gone down well with the RSS and has been a cause of frustration within its ranks". He elucidated, "There's an extraordinarily striking metaphor expressed by an unnamed RSS source to a journalist, who expressed their frustration to curb Modi -- 'Modi is like a scorpion sitting on a shivling. You can't remove him with your hand and you cannot hit it with a 'chappal' (slipper) either." Tharoor added, "If you try to touch the scorpion, you will be stung, but if you hit a shivling with the chappal, it undermines all the sacred tenets of the faith. That may well be an interesting clue to the rather complex dynamics that exists between the Hindutva movement and the Moditva expression on it." Continuing his tirade, the Congress leader said that he focused more on the Prime Minister's personal character rather than the Hindutva movement in his book. "He is from the Hindutva movement but he's not imprisoned by it. Moditva, that is built on Modi's cult of personality, is what I analyse more in the book because of his personal intimidation and character," Tharoor elaborated. Giving a summary of his book to the audience, Tharoor informed: "The first part of the book is a biography of PM Modi. Then, I analyse the Modi regime in four sections - the Modification of India, which has been altered by the nature of forces unleashed by this government such as mob lynchings and cow vigilantism, Governments and governance, which explains the style of governance adopted by the Modi government in the last four-and-half years. This includes demonetisation without being consulted with the cabinet, the home minister doesn't even know that the CBI directors are being removed; the defence minister doesn't know that the Rafale deal for 120 aircraft has mysteriously changed to 36 aircraft and our foreign minister doesn't know what changes Modi is making in the foreign policy commitment." "Next is on Modinomics, which involves the disastrous demonetisation and the botched rollout of GST and lastly, his foreign policy, which I have been personally disappointed with," he said. The Congress MP from Thiruvananthapuram further slammed Prime Minister Modi-led central government for its souring ties with its neighbouring countries, saying that the foreign policy cannot be made "on a whim or impulse". "We have the worst of our relations with our neighbours. See, the Maldives, who is cocking a snook in India, cancelling impunity contracts to Indian companies, advertisement vacancies with words clearly stated - 'Indian citizens need not apply'. We have seen the shambles of relations with Nepal, our ties have soured with Nepal opening up its northern borders to the Chinese. We have seen setback after setback with Sri Lanka. And we have this peculiar relation with Pakistan. There are lots of ups and downs than a child yo-yo," Tharoor said. He further alleged that various institutions such as the Election Commission, Supreme Court, CBI and others were not freely functioning in the last five years, and that its integrity was being repeatedly undermined by the Democratic Alliance government. Expressing concern over the current law and order situation, Tharoor asserted that Prime Minister Modi did not utter a word on the rising incidents of mob lynchings and cow vigilantism in the country. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Launching a scathing attack at the Opposition, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) President Amit Shah on Sunday claimed that while Prime Minister Narendra Modi is building 'Make in India', the 'Mahatgathbandhan' or grand alliance of opposition parties is busy breaking the country. "There are two ideologies present in the country at this moment. On one hand, you have the BJP which is working so hard to build India and take it forward through its schemes and policies, and on the other hand, you have the Mahagathbandhan, which doesn't even have a leader, and is busy breaking the country," Shah said while addressing the Vijay Lakshya 2019 organised by the Bharatiya Janata Yuva Morcha (BJYP) in Hyderabad. Citing the opposing ideologies, Shah appealed to the gathering to vote for the BJP in the upcoming general elections. "Time has come to confront these forces. Only you can make the difference," he added. The BJP Chief further claimed that the Telangana Rashtriya Samiti (TRS) government led by Chief Minister K. Chandrashekar Rao refrained from celebrating Hyderabad Liberation Day fearing All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) Chief Asaduddin Owaisi. "It is quite unfortunate to see that the KCR government has decided not to observe the Hyderabad Liberation Day. Can you people forget the atrocities committed by the Rajakars during the Nizam's rule? Thousands of people laid down their lives to free Hyderabad from the Nizam's rule. The state government has stopped the tradition of celebrating the liberation day just because of fear of Asaduddin Owaisi. The government must change in Telangana. I urge you all to vote carefully as the elections in the state are approaching fast," he said. Shah also claimed that Congress president Rahul Gandhi is not fit to question the Modi government on what has achieved over the last four and a half years. "Rahul Gandhi keeps repeating the same thing every single day. Let me clarify once that you are not at all fit to ask such questions. The BJP has achieved more in the last four and half years than what the four generation of Congress rulers failed to do," Shah asserted. The Telangana Legislative Assembly Elections is scheduled to be held on December 7, 2018, to elect members from 119 constituencies. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Prime Minister Narendra Modi presented his Japanese counterpart Shinzo Abe two handcrafted stone bowls made from rose quartz and yellow quartz stone and hand-woven dhurries, which have been specially crafted on the occasion of the former's visit to Japan for the 13th India-Japan annual summit. Made from rose quartz and yellow quartz stone sourced from Rajasthan, the bowls were crafted by master artisan Shabbirhusen Ibrahimbhai Shaikh of Gujarat's Khambhat region, which has been known for its practice of stone craft since generations and is also a leading hub for exports of stone products from India, sources said. The uniqueness of the bowls lies in the fact that the form of the product is scooped out from a block of stone, and then shaped and refined using basic hand tools generally without any lathe machines. Hand-woven by the master weavers of Uttar Pradesh's Mirzapur, the dhurrie designs show the diversity of possibilities available; from a symmetrical repeating geometric tessellation in one, to stylistic floral motifs arranged around the classical medallion pattern in another, according to the sources. The dhurries use two distinctive Indian colour palettes, while one uses Indigo blues, reds and sprinkles of turmeric yellows, the identifying colours that have marked Indian textiles for centuries. The other uses the muted earthy tones of the Indian landscape. These stone bowls and dhurries were made under the design supervision of India's premier design institute, the National Institute of Design, Ahmedabad. Furthermore, the Ministry of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises is working towards the upliftment of the stone craft cluster of Khambhat by bringing in design and technological interventions. In addition, a Jodhpuri wooden chest from Rajasthan with traditional work was also presented, sources said. Prime Minister Modi, who arrived in Tokyo on Saturday evening for the annual summit, met Abe at Hotel Mount Fuji in Yamanashi Prefecture located in the foothills of Mount Fuji, before joining his Japanese counterpart for an informal lunch which was held in his honour at the hotel with the mountain in the backdrop. The two leaders then took a stroll around the hotel, after which the duo headed to a factory of industrial robot manufacturer Fanuc Corporation. After the visit, Prime Minister and Abe held one-on-one talks at the latter's second home in Yamanashi. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday met his Japanese counterpart Shinzo Abe at Hotel Mount Fuji in Yamanashi. After arrival, Prime Minister Modi visited Yamanashi Prefecture, located in the foothills of Mount Fuji, before joining Abe for an informal lunch which was held in his honour at the hotel with the mountain in the backdrop. After the lunch, the two leaders took a stroll around the hotel. They will be visiting a leading manufacturing company of factory automation system in the prefecture. Abe will also take the Prime Minister to his personal home in Yamanashi for a private dinner. This will be the first time a foreign leader will be visiting Abe's second home. The two leaders will return to Tokyo by train. Prime Minister Modi, who arrived in Tokyo on Saturday for his official two-day visit, is scheduled to take part in the 13th India-Japan Annual Summit. During the summit, progress in India-Japan ties will be reviewed, Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) spokesperson Raveesh Kumar had earlier informed on Twitter. Kumar had also tweeted that efforts would be made to deepen strategic dimension between the two nations during the annual summit between Prime Minister Modi and Abe. The leaders are expected to hold wide-ranging talks in strengthening collaboration in key areas such as Defence, security, Indo-Pacific cooperation and technology during the summit. In Tokyo, Prime Minister Modi will also address members of the Indian community on October 29 before commencing his official engagements. The Prime Minister will meet several Japanese business leaders and address the India-Japan business forum. After that, delegation-level talks will be held which will be followed by an exchange of documents and press statements. Later, an official banquet for the Indian delegation will be held by Abe. Prime Minister Modi will then leave for India in the evening. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Expressing grief over the demise of former Delhi chief minister Madan Lal Khurana, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday said that the veteran Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader will always be remembered for the manner in which he strengthened the party in Delhi. In a tweet, Prime Minister Modi said Khurana worked tirelessly for the progress of Delhi, particularly towards ensuring better infrastructure. "Anguished by the passing away of Madan Lal Khurana Ji. He worked tirelessly for the progress of Delhi, particularly towards ensuring better infrastructure. He distinguished himself as a hardworking and people-friendly administrator, both in the Delhi government and Centre," Prime Minister Modi tweeted. "Madan Lal Khurana Ji will always be remembered for the manner in which he strengthened the BJP in Delhi. He made unwavering efforts towards serving the post-partition refugees in Delhi. My thoughts and solidarity with his family and supporters," he added. President Ram Nath Kovind also condoled the death of Khurana. "Sad to hear of the passing of Madan Lal Khurana. As Chief Minister of Delhi, Governor of Rajasthan and Union Minister, he contributed immensely to public life and particularly to the well-being of the capital and its people," President Kovind said in a tweet. Vice President M Venkaiah Naidu also took to Twitter to express grief and wrote, "Deeply saddened by demise of former Chief Minister of Delhi, Madan Lal Khurana. He will be remembered for his immense contribution for growth and development of Delhi. My heartfelt condolences to his bereaved family members and pray for his soul rest in peace." Also, Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh tweeted, "Madan Lal Khurana Ji was a hardworking and sensitive politician whose heart beat for Delhi throughout his life. He worked on different constitutional posts and left his mark everywhere. His demise is a big loss for all of us. May God give his family strength and courage to bear the huge loss." Naidu, Singh and veteran BJP leader LK Advani paid their last respects to Khurana at his residence in New Delhi today. Khurana breathed his last on Saturday at the age of 83 following a prolonged illness. The former Delhi chief minister is survived by his wife Raj Khurana, son Harish Khurana and daughter Poonam Gulati. Earlier this year, his son Vimal Khurana died due to cardiac arrest. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) As air quality in the city and adjoining areas continues to deteriorate due to stubble burning, Prime Minister Narendra Modi in his monthly radio programme Mann ki Baat on Sunday urged farmers to do away with the practice. The Prime Minister made the request by sharing two anecdotes, one of a farmer, Gurucharan Singh, who not only gave up the practice but also urged his relatives to do so for the welfare of the society. He then gave an instance of a village in Punjab, named Kalal Majra, which opted for mixing it in the soil using alternative technology, instead of burning the paddy straw. Prime Minister Modi further applauded those working for the betterment of the society and a cleaner "My best wishes to all the people who are trying their best to keep the clean. You are taking forward the legacy of our Indian culture of leading a healthy lifestyle. Even the smallest steps can make a huge difference," added the Prime Minister. He also laid special emphasis on environmental conservation and the environmental problems faced by people around the world. As a solution to environmental problems, Prime Minister Modi gave example of tribal communities and how they have peacefully co-existed with nature. "We should learn from their culture and tradition and include it in our practices to build a more sustainable developed society," he said. Prime Minister Modi praised the Bishnoi tribe in Rajasthan, Warli/Varli tribe from Maharashtra, Naga tribe and several others for their contribution towards conservation of the Over the past few years, stubble burning from Punjab and Haryana has become a major contributor to air pollution in the capital. Despite ban on stubble burning, farmers continue to burn paddy straw claiming that they lack feasible alternatives. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his Japanese counterpart Shinzo Abe visited the FANUC Industrial facility here during the Prime Minister's official two-day visit to the Asian nation. In a visit held after lunch on Sunday, Prime Minister Modi was briefed on the various robotic and automation capabilities of the Japanese company. Both the leaders also witnessed the assembling of a motor by a robot in 40 seconds at the facility, along with viewing several illustrations of the working of industrial robots. The leaders then headed towards Prime Minister Abe's private villa in the prefecture, where he hosted his Indian counterpart. Post this, the two leaders left for Tokyo by train. The Prime Ministers had earlier dined together at a hotel in Yamanashi with Mount Fuji in the backdrop. Prime Minister Modi had arrived in Japan for a two-day visit on October 27. The leaders are scheduled to hold the 13th India-Japan Annual Summit, during which wide-ranging talks on strengthening collaboration in key areas such as Defence, security, Indo-Pacific cooperation, and technology are slated to be held. Furthermore, Prime Minister Modi will address members of the Indian community on October 29 before commencing his official engagements. He will also meet several Japanese business leaders and address the India-Japan business forum. Thereafter, delegation-level talks will be held, followed by an exchange of documents and press statements. An official banquet for the Indian delegation will be held by Abe after the talks, after which Prime Minister Modi will depart for India. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Road accidents during Dashain rise 50pc Road accidents have increased nearly 50 per cent this year during Dashain giving this years festival the dubious distinction of recording the highest fatalities in the last three years. Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader and advocate Ashwini Upadhyay has filed a review petition in the Supreme Court in connection with its previous order allowing Members of Parliament (MPs) and Member of Legislative Assembly (MLAs) to practice any other profession besides being Parliamentarian. In a verdict delivered on September 25, the apex court had ruled that the legislators could not be banned from practising as lawyers in courts. The Public Interest Litigation (PIL) seeking a ban on the legal practice by MPs, MLAs and Member of Legislative Council (MLCs) was then dismissed by a three-judge bench. The Supreme Court had said that there is no law that debars the MPs, MLAs and MLCs from practising as lawyers in court. The initial petition was also filed by BJP leader Ashwini Upadhyay. He had contended that allowing MPs, MLAs and MLCs to practice in a court of law amounts to the violation of the fundamental right to equality before the law as enshrined in Article 14 of the Constitution. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Kerala Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) Chief PS Sreedharan Pillai on Sunday while extending his support to Sabarimala devotees announced that the BJP will observe a day-long fast on October 30 in front of the Deputy General of Police's office in the state capital and will march to Superintendent of Police's office in other districts. Talking to ANI, Pillai said that a 6-day Rath Yatra from Kasargod to Sabarimala will be organised from November 8. "Over 4000 innocent people were illegally arrested or detained. So BJP will observe 1-day fast in front of DGP office in Trivandrum and march to SP office in other districts on October 30. November 8th, there will be 6-days Rath Yatra from Kasargod to Sabarimala," he added. Taking a jibe at Communist Party-led Kerala government, Pillai said that the party leaders are atheists and have taken it on themselves to destroy the temple. "BJP has decided to continue agitation by supporting devotees of Sabarimala with various types of programmes on October 30 against atrocities inflicted by the state government. Ruling party leaders are all atheists and have decided to destroy Sabarimala," he added. This comes after Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan said that the statements made by Bharatiya Janata Party president Amit Shah on Sabarimala temple in Kannur are against the constitution and law of the land. On Saturday, extending support to the Sabarimala devotees protesting against the apex court verdict, Shah said, "Kerala government is using oppressive force against devotees of Sabarimala devotees. Since 26th October over 2000 BJP, RSS, Nair Service Society (NSS), BGDC workers have been put in prison. These people have been put in jail under non-bailable offence pertaining to the Damage of Property Control Act; I want to ask the state government, whose property have these people damaged? The way Lord Ayappa's devotees are being oppressed, the BJP stands firmly with them." The Sabarimala Temple witnessed strings of protests by devotees and priests as few women tried to reach the sanctum sanctorum following the apex court's ruling that came on September 28. So far, over 2,800 people have been arrested and 490 cases have been registered against protestors who prevented women from entering the temple. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The Communist Party of India (Marxist) on Sunday claimed that Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) president Amit Shah's speech challenging the Supreme Court order on the entry of women in the Sabarimala Temple exposed the reasons behind the violent protests. "BJP President Amit Shah has challenged the Supreme Court order on the entry of women to the Sabarimala Temple and incited his party men to defy the verdict, in his speech in Kerala. In doing so, he has exposed the real hand behind the violent protests against women's entry into Sabarimala," the CPI (M) Politburo said in a statement. The party further said in its statement that such incitement has led to the "highly condemnable" arson attack on the ashram of Swamy Sandeepananda Giri. Indicating that Shah's speech reflected the contempt the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) and BJP have for the Constitution and the apex court, the politburo added: "That the ruling party President's blatant ridiculing of the Supreme Court judgement is in keeping with the RSS-BJP's contempt for the Constitution and the Supreme Court." The statement said, "The threat of toppling the Kerala state government if it continues to uphold the SC judgement is another display of the anti-democratic, authoritarian attitude typical of Amit Shah." The CPI (M) also asserted that the people of the state will reject "the regressive and disruptive politics" of the BJP and RSS. "The CPI(M) will expose throughout the country the anti-women stand of the BJP and its upholding of the patriarchal upper caste order. The Polit Bureau appreciates the steps being taken by the LDF government to stop violence and hooliganism by those claiming to oppose the Supreme Court judgement," the statement read. Speaking at a public rally on Saturday, Shah sharply criticised the Supreme Court verdict allowing entry of women of all ages inside the Sabarimala shrine and advised the state governments and courts to pronounce orders that can be followed. The BJP president also gave a stern warning to Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan to stop suppression of Lord Ayyappa devotees in the name of the top court verdict. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) As many as three people were injured here in a shooting incident on Sunday after a group of protestors blocked former Sri Lankan Minister of Petroleum Resources Development Arjuna Ranatunga's route as he arrived at the Ceylon Petroleum Corporation (CPC) for a meeting. A security personnel was arrested from the site, reported Daily Mirror quoting police officials. According to the police, the arrested security personnel fired live bullets at the protestors. Injured people were admitted to the hospital. The investigation is underway. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Amid the political uproar in the nation, Speaker Karu Jayasuriya on Sunday recognised Ranil Wickremesinghe as Prime Minister, three days after he was sacked by President Maithripala Sirisena. Jayasuriya, in a letter addressed to Sirisena, requested the President to safeguard the rights and privileges of Wickremesinghe as Prime Minister until any other person emerges from within Parliament. "I have received a request to protect the rights and privileges of Hon. Ranil Wickremesinghe until any other person emerges from within Parliament as having secured the confidence of Parliament," the letter, obtained by Colombo Page, read. Addressing the proroguing of Parliament till November 16, the Speaker wrote: "In this context continuing the prorogation of Parliament until 16th November will have serious and undesirable consequences for our country, and I kindly request you to reconsider same." Political turmoil erupted in Sri Lanka after Sirisena sacked Wickremesinghe on Friday night and replaced him with his predecessor Mahinda Rajapaksa following the collapse of the governing coalition between Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP) and United National Party (UNP). Terming his ouster "unconstitutional", the ousted prime minister had asserted that he still holds the Prime Minister's office and is ready to prove that he retains the majority. Wickremesinghe had requested the Speaker to call an emergency Parliament session on Monday so that he could prove his majority in the house, following which Sirisena also suspended Parliament till November 16 amid the constitutional crisis in the nation. In April, Wickremesinghe also survived a no-confidence motion in the country's Parliament that was brought by the supporters of Rajapaksa. Rajapaksha, who served as Lanka's President for a period of 10 years from 2005 to 2015, is a fierce political opponent of the current President. Sirisena had defeated Rajapaksha in the Presidential election of 2015. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj on Sunday departed for a four-day visit to the Gulf countries of Qatar and Kuwait. Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Raveesh Kumar tweeted, "For an enhanced engagement with India's extended neighbourhood. EAM @SushmaSwaraj emplanes for the first leg of a four day visit to the Gulf region. EAM will visit Qatar & Kuwait to take forward discussions & decisions for strengthing the bilateral relationships." Swaraj will have engagements in Qatar on October 28-29 and in Kuwait on October 30-31. This will be her first visit to both the countries. In Qatar, Swaraj will interact with her counterpart Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs of Qatar. She will also call on His Highness Sheikh Tamim Bin Hamad Al-Thani, Emir of the State of Qatar. During her visit, the External Affairs Minister will also interact with the Indian community in Doha. Qatar hosts about seven lakh Indians who form the largest expatriate community there. The tiny Gulf nation is a reliable energy partner, supplying more than 50 per cent of India's natural gas imports. The bilateral trade between the two countries was USD 9.9 billion in 2017-18. In Kuwait, Swaraj will hold a bilateral meeting with her counterpart, His Excellency Sheikh Sabah Al Khalid Al Sabah, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs of the State of Kuwait. She will also call on His Highness the Amir of the State of Kuwait, Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah and interact with the Indian community. Kuwait is a reliable energy supplier to India and hosts about ten lakh Indians forming the largest expatriate community. India's bilateral trade with Kuwait was USD 8.5 billion in 2017-18. The two-nation visit is in pursuit of India's objective of enhanced engagement with the Gulf region which is in India's extended neighbourhood, the MEA said in a statement. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Bahujan Samajwadi Party (BSP) president and former Uttar Pradesh chief minister Mayawati on Sunday condemned Amit Shah's statement on the Supreme Court verdict on the Sabarimala Temple and asked the apex court to take cognisance of the same. On Saturday, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) president Shah sharply criticised the Supreme Court's verdict allowing entry of women of all ages inside the Sabarimala shrine and advised the state governments and courts to give only those orders, which can be followed. Reacting to the same, Mayawati said, "BJP chief Amit Shah's statement that 'Supreme Court can't give orders that can't be followed' (on Sabarimala issue) is condemnable. The Supreme Court must take cognisance of his statement." Yesterday, Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan had also said that statements made by the BJP president on Sabarimala temple in Kannur are against the constitution and law of the land. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) United States Special Representative for North Korea Stephen Biegun arrived in Seoul on Sunday to hold talks with South Korea on cooperation over North Korea's dismantling of the nuclear weapons programme. Biegun was accompanied by a delegation of high-level officials comprising Allison Hooker, a National Security Council official specialising in Korean affairs, and Kevin Kim, a senior advisor at the US Department of State. On October 29, the American nuclear envoy is scheduled to meet South Korean Foreign Minister Kang Kyung-wha and his counterpart Lee Do-hoon separately over various issues, including Washington's push for high-level and working-level talks on denuclearisation with North Korean officials, Yonhap News Agency reported. According to observers, Biegun's visit to South Korea could further intensify US' approach to pursuing North Korea's final and fully verified denuclearisation that is expected to gain momentum after the US' midterm elections scheduled on November 6. After completing his engagements, Beigun is slated to depart for Washington on October 30. While North Korea, on the one hand, repeatedly asserted that it has taken various steps to dismantle its nuclear weapons programme in exchange for a possible sanctions relief, the US, on the other hand, has reiterated that it will not lift the sanctions unless North Korea achieved "complete and fully verifiable denuclearisation". US President Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un met for the first time in Singapore in June, wherein the two leaders had agreed to jointly work towards the dismantling of the nuclear programme. However, there has been a lack of clarity from Pyongyang's side over its progress, raising questions about the communist country's commitment to achieving complete denuclearisation in the Korean Peninsula. Meanwhile, the two Koreas and the US-led United Nations Command wrapped up their two-day work to verify the disarmament of the Joint Security Area (JSA) in the Demilitarised Zone, South Korea's defence ministry said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Voting machines in Texas are switching single ticket ballots cast for either the Democratic or the Republican Party, voters from around 80 counties in the southern US state have claimed. The office of the Texas Secretary Of State on Friday confirmed issues that have been reported with the Hart eSlate voting machines, used in around 30 per cent of the counties in the state, Fox News reported. The Secretary of State's office further clarified that the issues, which have also affected the race between sitting GOP Senator Ted Cruz and Democratic candidate Beto O'Rourke, were caused by the voters rather than the machines. "The Hart eSlate machines are not malfunctioning, the problems being reported are a result of user error - usually voters hitting a button or using the selection wheel before the screen is finished rendering," said Sam Taylor, the spokesman for the office of Secretary of State Rolando Pablos. He further stated that his office "has no legal authority whatsoever to force any" vendor of the voting machines "to make upgrades if their voting systems are otherwise in compliance with federal state and law," confirming that the Hart eSlate's system was certified in 2009. He also said that the county was responsible for the purchase of new voting machines if the need emerged. "We will continue to educate Texas voters using existing resources and urge all Texans casting a ballot to take their time, slow down, and carefully review their ballot before casting one," Taylor said. Meanwhile, Hart InterVCivic, the manufacturer of the voting machines, defended the machine's efficiency by blaming '16-year-old technology' for the issues. "The same story has happened in multiple elections. There was no flipping then and there's not any now," said the vice president of the company, Steven Stockwell. In a statement to Democrat supporters, Ted Cruz said, "Once you select the Republican Party ticket, please be patient and do not select 'next' until the ballot has populated all of the selections." On the other hand, the Texas unit of the Democratic Party labelled the issue "a malfunction," blaming the Secretary of State's office of not taking necessary steps to warn the voters regarding the same. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) At least 17 were killed and one woman was injured when a passenger van fell into a ravine in Pakistan's north Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) province on Sunday night, media reported. The van, carrying 18 passengers, was on its way to Rawalpindi city of the country's east Punjab province when the accident happened, according to Geo News, reports Xinhua news agency. The ill-fated van was carrying passengers from the country's north Gilgit-Baltistan region, and it met the accident in Kohistan district of the KP, the report added. Local residents said that the accident happened when the van driver lost control the vehicle while taking a sharp turn at Karakoram Highway. The van fell into hundreds feet deep ravine, and it took rescue teams several hours to recover the bodies. One woman miraculously survived in the accident, but her condition is not known yet. --IANS vc (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Status update In the morning when the alarm goes off, one reaches out for the mobile phone on the side table to check overnight updates on social media. Many can relate to this morning routine. The Whos Who of Indian literary circles assembled at a five-star hotel here earlier this week to attend the announcement of the winner of the inaugural edition of the JCB Prize for Literature -- conceptualised on the lines of the Man Booker Prize -- at a specially curated dinner. It was a saga steeped in hypocrisy. This correspondent confirmed his presence at the last moment and was allotted a seat. Next to me was a Public Relations executive from Britain, who had flown in to explore ties with the prize, seeking to establish opportunities for the shortlisted books -- Perumal Murugan's "Poonachi or The Story of a Black Goat"; Shubhangi Swarup's "Latitudes of Longing"; "Amitabha Bagchi's "Half The Night Is Gone"; Anuradha Roy's "All The Lives We Never Lived"; and Benyamin's "Jasmine Days" -- in the UK. Or so he said. Fortunately for me, he had attended the Booker Prize dinner, which is touted globally for its extravagance and the luminaries who attend it year after year. "But even by Booker standards, this is too grand," he said, adding that nobody in the UK would spend this kind money on such an event. On seeing the name inscribed on the table card of the person to my left, I realised we had exchanged several emails and had engaged in conversations over telephone but never met in person. He was earlier a publicist and was now writing for a leading website. I introduced myself -- and we laughed at the coincidence of finding ourselves next to each other. The lady sitting across me was a known face too -- a regular on the festival circuit -- and looked at me curiously. I could sense that she wanted to initiate a conversation but just then a well-dressed man in an extravagant outfit, walked up to the stage to begin the evening's proceedings. He was the British Indian novelist and essayist Rana Dasgupta, the Literary Director of the prize. He welcomed the audience, introduced the prize and left everyone in suspense, saying the prize would be announced when the main course was served. Most people in attendance had not known who he was before the announcement of this prize, but he was surely the one in limelight and journalists seeking to interview him had a tough time as requests were not entertained. Dasgupta had his own company to keep, and was surrounded by bigwigs for most of the evening. Back at the table, the lady sitting across me, finally said: "Have we met before?" I reminded her that I had interviewed her on the sidelines of the Serendipity Arts Festival in Goa two years ago -- and that we had just been introduced by, let's call him "the man of books", before the doors of the hall were opened for the evening, about half an hour ago. How could she forget so fast? Let's rewind. The time stated on the invitation was 7.30 p.m. and proceedings began a little after 9. The period in between was when wine did all the talking and informal networking ruled the roost. Debutante Shubhangi Swarup walked around graciously in the company of a reader or two; her proud publisher, Udayan Mitra of HarperCollins, waxed eloquently on publishing her; Poulomi Chatterjee, Editor-in-Chief of Hachette India represented Anuradha Roy, who could not make it to the evening due to a prior commitment; and several other literary heavyweights graced the evening. NITI Aayog CEO Amitabh Kant could be seen interacting with Lord Bamford, Chairman of JCB, ensuring that he was well in the camera frames. Writer Perumal Murugan, on the other hand, seemed out-of-place. So were several others, but they didn't show it. Murugan's dicomfiture was evident. So what were the top notch of Indian literary circles discussing over wine? That the #MeToo movement has derailed many, that there is a need to separate art and the artist, that literary festivals could not, and should not, single out people on the basis of mere allegations, and that such a glamorous event was long awaited for Indian writing. Ironically, most of these very same personalities have an altogether different outlook on social media and when on stage. Just as the main course arrived, the winner was announced -- Benyamin for "Jasmine Days". My phone buzzed with twitter notifications almost instantly while I hurriedly emailed a brief report to the newsroom. When I looked up, the crowd was gone, but the food was not. Hardly had anybody finished their meal, drinks had done all the talking all evening. There is nothing wrong with cocktail evenings, but the suggestion these define the Indian literary space is absurd; and yet they have become synonymous with almost every literary gathering of our times. A literary prize like the JCB should first look at the vast magnitude of Indian writing arising under acute circumstances -- in poverty, stress and in unfavourable conditions. One can well bet that the amount spent on the publicity of the Prize exceeded the amount paid to the winner. Turn towards the Sahitya Akademi awardees and the futility of the concept will be evident. All of this may have been because the Prize is a mere excuse, and not the actual goal. The goal, it seems, is brand building -- and that was exactly what was achieved on that glittery evening in the National Capital. If it was not so, the conceptualisation of the Prize must have been a lot different than what it was. The Man Booker Prize is not an ideal formula to imitate, particularly in the Indian context that is so full of diversity and comprising mostly ignored writers (barring the privileged few, who hover from one festival to another). The JCB Prize did not break this mould, instead it once again underlined the biggest problem for a majority of writers in India -- that just a handful rule the roost through a strange monopoly of literary agents, publishers, festival organisers as well as major awards. The JCB Prize for Literature is a new member of the same gang. And lastly, did the Prize boycott Penguin Random House India, or did the publisher boycott the prize? No one will say a word, (for now) but something fishy surely happened within. (Saket Suman is a Principal Correspondent at IANS. The views expressed are personal. He can be contacted at saket.s@ians.in ) --IANS ss/vm (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Organisations such as the All Assam Students Union and the Assam Sanmilita Mahasangha have opposed the Centre's move to authorise 16 Collectors across seven northeastern states to register as Indian citizens minorities from Pakistan, Afghanistan and Bangladesh. Alleging that the Bharatiya Janata Party-led government in Assam is deceiving the people, the AASU on Sunday asked the state and the Centre to make their stand clear over the issue. The organisations are opposing the Foreigners (Amendment) Order, 2015, Passport (Entry into India) Rules, 2015 and Citizenship (Amendment) Bill, 2016. "We are going to start an agitation if the Centre goes ahead with its decision to appoint the Collectors in the seven states. The order is contrary to the provision of the Constitution," said AASU President Dipanka Nath and General Secretary Lurinjyoti Gogoi. The Assam Sanmilita Mahasangha condemned the order and said it is politically motivated. --IANS ah/mag/shs (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Actress Rasika Dugal's name is often attached to independent films with strong storylines. She is now ready to explore comedy in the commercial space. "I can't talk much about it. The film is more in the commercial and comic space, which is a genre that I was really waiting to explore," Rasika told IANS here. "I think I have a flair for it (comedy). I have finished shooting for it. The thing about comedy is that you don't have to play funny," added the "Manto" actress, who admitted to doing "fun parts in theatre" as well. Last year, she had also performed a comic set on the online project titled "So Basically... this is an actor's Life | Rasika Dugal". She has no qualms about being a part of the commercial space or mainstream cinema. But there's a catch. "I want to do roles that are important for the story and not there for ornamental value or to just aid another character in the film which is often a 'friend's role' in mainstream films," she said. "I have been offered roles in mainstream films which have not been interesting to me. They have been too insignificant." She pointed out that interestingly in mainstream cinema, a lot of films are with an ensemble cast. "Interesting characters are written. So, it's not just about the hero and heroine. Format of the story has changed. So, there are a lot of other roles... a character role as they describe it," she said. Rasika is currently shooting for a film helmed by Karan Gour. "He is the same director, who had directed my first film ('Kshay') in a lead part. It was the first film that got me known in the indie circle. "Karan and I have been very close friends. You know when you are working with each other in the initial stages, you grow together. This is the second time I am working with him." Sharing details about the upcoming film, she said: "It's an improvised film. There is a structure to every scene, but we don't know what exactly happens in every scene. It's great fun. This might be the first improvised Indian film." It has been a good one and a half years for her career wise. "I couldn't be happier with my career," she said. Her happiness doubled on Saturday as two of her projects -- a series titled "Mirzapur" and film "Hamid" -- had their world premiere at the ongoing Jio MAMI 20th Mumbai Film Festival with Star. "There were two premieres. I was like 'wow'. It doesn't happen often," she said. In "Hamid", the actress plays the role of a mother to boy named Hamid, a Kashmiri local whose father goes missing. "When I read the script for the first time, I was very nervous. I told Aijaz Khan (the film's director) that I won't be able to do justice to the part. So, please cast somebody from Kashmir. "I felt that when people have lived in a place which has been under conflict for so long, my view would always be an outsider's view. And I was nervous about that." But the director was confident about her performance in the film. "Aijaz encouraged me. I had only two weeks to prepare. I finally decided to take it up because I felt that it was very important to tell the story. "I also felt that the story was a personal story about a conflict situation. Very often in mainstream films, the conversations around reasons of conflict are always very political and people forget to talk about what the people of that place are going through." For her, that personal account is very important because that's the "human side of everything and that is what affects everybody else". "Very often when we talk about war, conflict or terrorism, we talk about it very politically. We forget that there are people involved. That there's a child, a woman and there's a family which is broken up because of this." While she was able to overcome her nervousness through this role, she found her character in "Mirzapur" the most challenging one in her career that started over a decade ago. "It was an interesting challenge because I have never been cast in a role like that. I play Bina Tripathi, who is aware of her desires. It sort of explores them fearlessly," shared the actress, who is also looking forward to the release of a "very interesting series". "The working title is called 'Delhi Police'. It's an eight-part series about the investigation around the Nirbhaya case," said Rasika. (The writer's trip to Mumbai is at the invitation of the festival organisers. Natalia Ningthoujam can be contacted at natalia.n@ians.in) --IANS nn/rb (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) A day after BJP President Amit Shah criticised the Supreme Court verdict allowing women of all ages to the Sabrimala temple, the opposition hit back saying his "frivolous and ignorant" comments not only insulted the apex court but also exposed who was behind the violence in the temple area. While the Congress accused the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leadership of gradually "diluting and decimating" India's institutions, the CPI-M said Shah's threat to throw out the Kerala government was another display of his anti-democratic and authoritarian attitude. The Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) urged the Supreme Court to take cognisance of the BJP chief's comments while the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) accused him of creating anarchy. Congress leader Abhishek Manu Singhvi said that Shah, along with Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his government, had only one objective -- "to progressively, slowly, surely, steadily, but 100 per cent certainly, decimate, dilute and truncate institutions which have been built up by careful nurturing of over 70 of our Independence. "Attempts are being made to make loose, uninformed, ignorant comments... These frivolous, trivial, almost puerile comments, which insult the Supreme Court and insult the intelligence of our electorate, should be desisted from but I'm sure it will keep on happening," he said at a press conference in response to a question. Shah had on Saturday said the Supreme Court should not pass verdicts that go against the religious faith of the people and "can't be implemented" on the ground. He also warned Kerala that the BJP would not mind throwing out the Kerala government if it tried to tinker with the issues of faith. The Communist Party of India-Marxist said the BJP President's comments exposed who was behind the violence in the temple area. "Shah has challenged the Supreme Court order on the entry of women to the Sabarimala temple and incited his partymen to defy the verdict. In doing so, he has exposed the real hand behind the violent protests against women's entry into Sabarimala," the CPI-M politburo said. In a statement, the party said such incitement had also led to the "highly condemnable" arson attack on the ashram of Swamy Sandeepananda Giri. Accusing Shah of blatantly ridiculing the apex court ruling, the CPI-M, said it was in keeping with the RSS-BJP's contempt for the Constitution and the Supreme Court. "The threat of toppling the Kerala government if it continues to uphold the Supreme Court judgement is another display of the anti-democratic, authoritarian attitude typical of Amit Shah," it said. BSP president Mayawati urged the Supreme Court to take cognisance of the BJP chief's "condemnable" comment that the courts should not give orders that cannot be followed. Delhi Cheif Minister Arvind Kejriwal accused Shah of creating anarchy and encouraging people to violate the orders of the Supreme Court. "Amit Shah actively encouraging people to violate SC orders. Creating anarchy. Hopefully, SC will take cognisance," Kejriwal tweeted. --IANS vv-bns/shs/mr (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Tech major IBM and Symrise, one of the top global producers of flavours and fragrances, have created industry's first Artificial Intelligence (AI)-designed perfumes for sale. The AI-based system named "Philyra" can learn about perfume formulas, raw materials, historical success data and industry trends, IBM Research said in a statement late on Saturday. "Building on previous IBM research using AI to pair flavours and for recipe creation, as well as our new IBM Research AI for Product Composition, we created Philyra," said Richard Goodwin, Principal Research Scientist, IBM Research. The AI tool uses new and advanced Machine Learning (ML) algorithms to sift through hundreds of thousands of formulas and thousands of raw materials, helping identify patterns and novel combinations. "Philyra does more than serve up inspiration - it can design entirely new fragrance formulas by exploring the entire landscape of fragrance combinations to discover the whitespaces in the global fragrance market," Goodwin added. When it comes to new perfume design, "Philyra" learns a distance model to identify fragrances that are close in smell to existing fragrances. The larger the distance between a fragrance and its neighbours, the more novel the perfume is predicted to be. Symrise has used "Philyra" to design two perfumes, scheduled to launch in mid-2019. Symrise's long-term goal is to introduce this technology to their master perfumers around the globe and continue to use the solution for the design of fragrances for personal care and home care products. The company also plans to introduce "Philyra" into their Perfumery School to help train the next generation of perfumers, firmly embedding AI into the heart of its organisation. "Our research continues to push the boundaries of augmenting human expertise using AI and demonstrating how AI can assist in domains where creativity is key," said Goodwin. Now, perfumers can have an AI apprentice by their side that can help make them more productive, and accelerate the design process by guiding them towards formulas that have never been seen before, he added. --IANS na/mag/ (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The Arunachal Pradesh government on Sunday signed a MoU with The British Council here to strengthen educational and cultural cooperation. "I am very happy that we signed this MoU with the British Council which will enhance the opportunities for young people in Arunachal Pradesh and connect them to international expertise and ideas," Chief Minister Pema Khandu said. The MoU was signed by Tayek Talom, Director of Higher and Technical of Arunachal Pradesh, and Alan Gemmell, Director, British Council India, on the sidelines of the Tawang Festival. Talking about the initiative, Debanjan Chakrabarti, Director of the British Council in East and North East India said: "We will help create capacity-building programmes for faculty and senior administrators of higher institutions and civil servants in Arunachal Pradesh. "Over the past few years, we have worked continuously with state governments to help develop the potential of the people of the northeast, and promote cultural exchange between the UK and the northeast." As per the MOU, as many as 50 faculty members from government higher institutions will be trained by the British Council every year, starting from December. Further, 50 students of higher and technical education institutes will be trained in English language skills annually. --IANS bnd/ssp/mag/mr (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The Bangladesh government and the World Bank on Sunday signed an agreement to improve the transparency and efficiency of its major cash transfer programmes. Mahmuda Begum, an Additional Secretary of Bangladesh's Economic Relations Division, and Qimiao Fan, World Bank country Director for Bangladesh, Bhutan and Nepal, signed the agreement worth $300 million here, reports Xinhua news agency. In a statement, the Washington-based lender said the "Cash Transfer Modernization Project will help the Department of Social Services (DSS) modernise the country's four major social protection programmes using cash transfers by improving beneficiary targeting, programme administration and benefit payments". In fiscal 2018, Bangladesh spent $5.8 billion on social protection or about 2 per cent of its GDP and improving the efficiency of these programmes will help the country to use public resources more effectively. --IANS ksk/mr (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The second phase of Delhi power distribution company BSES' Solar City Initiative was launched by Delhi Power Minister Satyendar Jain on Sunday. This phase, which will cover the Shakur Basti area, follows the success of the first phase started by the company in Dwarka where around 100 housing societies and apartment complexes have signed up for the initiative, a BSES release said. "The Shakur Basti area is home to several colonies and has a substantial rooftop solar potential of around 15 MWp. BRPL (BSES Rajdhani Power Ltd) is targeting to realise around 5 MWp of rooftop net metering from the area by 2019-20," it said. Under the first phase in Dwarka, "around 25 societies having installed solar capacity of 1.5 MWp have already been energised or are about to be energised. The work at the remaining societies is at different stages", it said. "The rooftop soalr tariff identified through competitive bidding in the case of Dwarka residents was Rs 2.66/kWh (kilowatt hour) net of generation based incentive and is around Rs 2.50/kWh less than the electricity tariff," it added. The Solar City initiative, launched in January, is being implemented by BRPL in collaboration with Deutsche Gesellschaft fur Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ India) under its Indo-German Solar Partnership project. Commenting on the development, BRPL Chief Executive Amal Sinha said: "The programme also aims to educate consumers about the benefits of solar energy while ensuring strict quality compliance of the systems being installed. It is also facilitating various finance options available to the consumers." Earlier this year, BSES said it had energised a record over 1,000 rooftop solar connections in the city, including the Lotus Temple and the Maulana Azad Medical College, with a sanctioned solar load of over 40,000 KW (40 MW). Besides helping the company in meeting its renewable purchase obligations, the initiative will help the it minimise overloading issues in congested areas during the peak summer months, BSES said. --IANS bc/ksk/mr (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Canadian fashion mogul Peter Nygard, on a visit to the Pink City, was left mesmerised by the colours and rich heritage, which he is keen to take to his customers internationally. "The vibrant Indian colours have left me in awe. I am soaking in the rich heritage of Rajasthan and I am so mesmerised with this colourful heritage that I want to take it all along to the global customers," Nygard, who was in Jaipur recently, told IANS here. During his visit, Nygard signed an agreement with a Jaipur-based company Art and Craft Exclusives to ensure that the people in North America get access to stylish and colourful attires which shall be designed here but will be sold in global market by his Winnipeg-based fashion empire Nygard International. According to him, Indians comprise the best employees and the best human beings, who are ahead of the curve when it comes to competition and hard work. "Their fashion and customs are just wow. A few more exchanges like this agreement can definitely ensure more closeness for two countries," he said, and added that art and craft has bridged distances between nations since ages. He revealed how the colours of Rajasthan, showcased at an exhibition in Los Angeles, fascinated him enough to take an immediate decision of visiting India. "After looking at those mesmerising colours, I wanted to bring those vibrant colours, in distinguished designs and attires, to Canada and other parts of America. Hence, without making any delay, I visited Jaipur with my designers and management team," said Nygard. "The magnificent colour combinations in the beautiful outfits left me speechless. It's my first trip here and now and I feel proud of my decision to be here in India which is the most colourful nation in the entire world. The Indian art and craft is quite alluring and appealing in its form. Also it has a spark to set newer trends on world map." added the ruler of the Winnipeg-based Nygard International empire which deals in women's wear." Asked to comment on the fashion statement of India, he said: "The Indian market comprises the most fashionable market and with its newer generation being quite stylish, it has become a fashion hub." Rajasthan, in his view, is the centre of colours. "As we deal in colour, we visited India with an aim to take both its colour and the fashion to global platform for showcasing Rajasthan heritage. Rajasthan is one of the most happening states. In fact, we are here for the first time and I should say that it was a good decision," said Nygard. He also considers India as a major selling influencer and feels that the Indian market is ripe now with the new generation being so fashion conscious. "In fact, it seems that India is all eager to join the fashion world and that's the welcome sign," he said. On the challenges he is facing to take Indian art and craft on the global map, he said: "There needs to be a free trade and better relations between India and Canada and once it's done, it can change business equations between the two nations." He says since there are many Indians living in Canada, there's a lot he found in common. --IANS arc/rb (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The South Asian narrative I have always sought to interpret the complexity of the South Asian narrative in my own terms, not least in my experience of the idea gained over many years both as an academic and literary writer. The Congress on Sunday demanded the resignation of Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Raman Singh, saying that the government had no moral right to rule as it was not able to protect the security forces from terrorists and Maoists. Congress MP and Spokesperson Abhishek Manu Singhvi attacked the Centre as well as the Chhattisgarh government for failing to curb terrorism and Maoism. "There are innumerable parameters to show that neither the central government nor the state government can deal with such extremism. Be it Jammu and Kashmir, be it Chhattisgarh Naxalism or be it the entire Naxal belt beyond Chhattisgarh," he said at a press conference here. Hi comments came a day after Maoist guerillas fired upon a CRPF convoy in Chhattisgarh's Bijapur, killing four and injuring two. Calling the Chhattisgarh government "directionless", he demanded Singh's resignation. "We call upon this cowardly, frustrated, scared, clueless and directionless Raman Singh government to leave because he has no moral, political and legal right to continue for one minute. They (central and state governments) buckled down to their knees before terrorists and Naxals. They have ceded all governance to extremist elements," he said. He also said the Chhattisgarh government has forfeited its right to rule. "If you cannot give security to your own jawans, you have forfeited your right to rule and I know that there are only a few days left for Chhattisgarh to get its freedom from such a tyrannical, oppressive government. There are only a few months left for the same path to follow for the central government," he added. --IANS nks/shs (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan on Sunday mocked at BJP President Amit Shah, saying his "strength" wont be enough to pull down the Kerala government led by the CPI-M. On Saturday, Shah warned Vijayan not to play with the Sabarimala issue and warned that the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) would not mind throwing out the Kerala government if it tried to tinker with issues of faith. Addressing a public meeting on Sunday night, Vijayan went hammer and tongs at Shah and the RSS and warned the Hindu group not to try any tricks after hearing Shah. "The Godfather of the BJP was heard saying that they will pull down the Kerala government. His physique, which is made up of only water, won't be enough to do that. It is best if he does all this in Gujarat," thundered Vijayan to wild cheering and clapping. Vijayan added that despite trying all the tricks, Amit Shah had not been able to get a foothold in Kerala. "You came with huge expectations and conducted a yatra here but in the end you had to run away. You people have no space here," added Vijayan. Earlier, state BJP President P.S. Sreedharan Pillai clarified that Shah never said that the Centre would pull down the Kerala government and all that he said was that the people would revolt against the Left. "That was what our president said but the media has twisted his statements," said Pillai. The Supreme Court has overturned a ban on women of menstrual age (10-50 years) from entering the hilltop temple where Lord Ayyappa is worshipped. --IANS sg/mr (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Offering help to a struggling co-worker or employee on the job can backfire, according to a new study. The study explored that extending a helping hand was just as likely to make the situation worse, while simply making job resources available had a more consistent positive effect. "Not all support is good support. Reaching out to offer help to a co-worker could end up insulting them," said Michael Mathieu, graduate student at San Francisco State University in the US. Simply making support available is often better than overtly discussing it. Offering job-related support such as a new equipment or career counselling performed roughly the same role as providing emotional support, like listening to a co-worker's problems. "Sometimes offering support makes things worse, sometimes it makes it better," said Mathieu. Results showed that support coming from a superior has a bigger impact than when it comes from a co-worker. The study, published in the Journal of Occupational Health Psychology, reviewed 142 studies. The team from the varsity used a wide variety of measurements -- from job satisfaction to job performance and even stressors like "role overload" (when an employee's workload is too large to handle). "Before providing support, think about whether it is needed and whether it is wanted. "If it is not, maybe step back and do not provide that," Mathieu warned. Former Delhi Chief Minister and BJP leader Madan Lal Khurana, who passed away on Saturday here at his residence at age 82, was on Sunday cremated here on Sunday. Vice President M. Venkaiah Naidu, BJP leader L.K. Advani and Union Ministers Arun Jaitley, Rajnath Singh, Sushma Swaraj, Harsh Vardhan, Ravi Shankar Prasad and Vijay Goel were among those present at the cremation at Nigam Bodh Ghat. Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, Lt Governor Anil Baijal and thousands of BJP workers also paid homage to Khurana, who was also a Governor of Rajasthan and a Union Minister. Khurana's body was kept at the Delhi Bharatiya Janata Party office on Pandit Pant Marg for people to pay their last respects before his cremation. Tributes poured in from leaders of several parties. President Ram Nath Kovind tweeted that Khurana contributed immensely to public life and particularly to the well-being of the national capital and its people. Prime Minister Narendra Modi praised Khurana for his work towards rehabilitating refugees from the 1947 partition and called him an "able administrator". "Khuranaji will always be remembered for the manner in which he strengthened the BJP in Delhi. He made unwavering efforts towards serving the post-partition refugees in Delhi." Finance Minister Arun Jaitley remembered Khurana's underground work during Emergency. The Delhi government on Sunday declared a two-day state mourning as a mark of tribute to Khurana. "We all are deeply saddened to hear the demise of veteran leader and former CM of Delhi Khuranaji. As a mark of respect to the departed soul, state mourning shall be observed by the Delhi government for two days," Delhi Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia tweeted. Baijal and Kejriwal also expressed condolences. "Extremely saddened to learn about the demise... He will be remembered by all for his contribution to the development of Delhi," Baijal wrote. West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee said: "Saddened at the passing away of Khuranaji." Born on October 15, 1936, Khurana was Chief Minister of Delhi from 1993 to 1996. He resigned amid controversy vis-a-vis a hawala scandal. Khurana also served as Parliamentary Affairs and Tourism Minister in the Atal Bihari Vajpayee government. He is survived by his wife, a son and two daughters. He was suffering from a chest infection and fever from the last few days. "He was feeling breathless since Saturday morning," his son Harish Khurana said. Khurana was appointed the Rajasthan Governor in January 2004 but resigned from the post and joined active in October that year. The four-time MP also headed the BJP's Delhi unit and was a former national Vice President of the party. --IANS bns-vn/shs/mr (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Michael D. Higgins was on Sunday re-elected as the Irish President after receiving 56 per cent of the election vote. Businessman Peter Casey came second in the polls on Saturday with 23.1 per cent, while none of the other four candidates polled more than 10 per cent, reports the BBC. Earlier on Saturday, Sinn Fein party leader Mary Lou McDonald said she was "disappointed" the party's candidate had not polled better. Voters also supported the proposal to remove blasphemy as an offence from the Constitution, with 64.85 per cent voting yes. Higgins, the first incumbent in 50 years to face a challenge in his bid for a second term, won with 822,566 votes. Speaking after his win, Higgins said he accepted his mandate with "humility, determination and excitement". --IANS ksk/mr (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Actress Sigourney Weaver, who worked with Roman Polanski in the 1994 drama "Death and the Maiden", says she would work again with the filmmaker, who pleaded guilty to unlawful sexual intercourse with a minor in 1977. Amid the #MeToo wave which began in Hollywood, more accusations have come out against Polanski. In an interview for The Hollywood Reporter, Weaver was asked if she regrets working with Polanski at all. She said: "I don't know about more accusations. I didn't really get a chance to read a paper frankly. No, I mean I have to say that having lived a little bit in the 1970s that, obviously what he did was wrong. He admitted his guilt because the judge was going to throw the book at him. But, it's still unresolved. "I have to say, looking back, and I wasn't really in Hollywood then, but things that I would hear, it was a much different time and that's no excuse for what he did at all but all I'm saying is it stands out more now than it did at the time because people were desperate to be in movies and I think it's unimaginable now for a mother to drop off a 13-year-old with someone like Roman. "The story we were telling was a very personal story. He had been the accused, he had been the victim in Poland and he been the absolutely helpless husband. So, I felt that a lot of what his feelings about this issue were going right into this film, ('Death and the Maiden')." Weaver pointed out that Polanski has changed his life and is now taking a plunge into a new film, for which he was getting flak. "He's doing this film about the Dreyfus affair, a very important story to tell. Apparently he's getting some push back about that. It's tricky, but I learned a lot from Roman, and I loved the experience of telling one continuous story so that we would run the movie up until that point of the scene we were doing that day. Obviously, I think it's exactly what #MeToo is about. As sisters and mothers and daughters, we are all aligned so that this kind of thing, putting a young girl in harm's way, just simply wouldn't happen." Would she work with him again? "Yes, I think I would. To be quite honest I think I would. He's now happily married; he has two children. I'm sure that he and the children have had some interesting conversations about it. He pleaded guilty. Does he regret it? I'm sure he does. "The #MeToo movement asks that we listen to those who've experienced sexual harassment or assault - really listen. So when Roman's victim asks us all to move on with understanding and compassion, I choose to listen to her," Weaver told The Hollywood Reporter. Polanski, 84, has been a fugitive since he fled to France in 1978 on the eve of sentencing in an unrelated case for sexually assaulting a 13-year-old girl. He splits his time between France, his native Poland and Switzerland. --IANS rb/mr (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Iran's First Vice President Eshaq Jahangiri has said that Iran is prepared to frustrate the US November 4 sanctions on its crude exports. The Iranian government has prepared plans to counter the impacts of returning US sanctions by maintaining oil exports above one million barrels per day, Jahangiri was quoted as saying by Press TV, Xinhua news agency reported on Sunday. "Iran exported as much as 2.5 million barrels per day of oil over the past months," he said, adding that "there had been a decline of a few thousand barrels per day. But we have always emphasised that Iran's exports should not decline below one million barrels per day." Earlier in October, Jahangiri said that the US was seeking to cut Iran's oil exports to zero and prevent Iran's imports of basic commodities, including raw materials. Trump's goal by exerting energy sanctions on Iran was to minimize the country's sources of income in the current economic war against Iran, he said. Jahangiri said that Iran has no concerns over the potential impacts of returning US sanctions on its oil exports given that it is already selling its crude oil higher than the price tag it has set in its annual budget plan. Following US President Donald Trump's decision to quit the historic Iran nuclear deal on May 8, the US vowed to reimpose sanctions lifted under the accord against Iran and inflict punishments like secondary sanctions on nations that have business links with Iran. The US State Department has set November 4 as the deadline for international oil buyers to stop all their oil purchases from Iran. --IANS vc (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Delhi Cheif Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Sunday accused Bharatiya Janata Party President (BJP) Amit Shah of creating anarchy and encouraging people to violate the orders of the Supreme Court. "Amit Shah actively encouraging people to violate SC orders. Creating anarchy. Hopefully, SC will take cognisance," Kejriwal tweeted. Kejriwal's remark came in response to Shah's statement that the Supreme Court should not pass verdicts that conflict with the religious faith of the people and which can't be implemented on the ground. Speaking at Kannur, Shah said: "The BJP will take over the protest of the Ayyappa devotees. We will not mind throwing out the government if the Kerala government tries to steamroll the traditions of the Sabarimala temple." --IANS nks/mr (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Militants pulled out a police sub-inspector from his vehicle in Jammu and Kashmir's Pulwama district on Sunday, dragged him away and shot him dead from close range, police said. The private vehicle driven by the officer, Imtiyaz Ahmad Mir, was halted in Wahibugh area where he was killed. Mir, who was with the intelligence department, died instantly, a police officer said. The police said a hunt had been launched to trace the killers. --IANS sq/mr (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Trees yet to be planted to replenish those felled Months after Nepal Army chopped around 20,000 trees to clear the forest for Kathmandu-Tarai Expressway, no step has been taken to plant saplings to recover the environmental damage. Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his Japanese counterpart Shinzo Abe on Sunday visited a Japanese robotic and automation capabilities facility near here. Modi, who arrived here on Saturday for his annual bilateral summit with Abe, was received by the latter at the Yamanashi prefecture, close to the iconic Mount Fuji, earlier in the day. Both Prime Ministers visited the FANUC industrial facility, which specializes in automation. The Indian Prime Minister was briefed on the various robotic and automation capabilities of FANUC. Both PMs observed several illustrations of the working of industrial robots. At the motor assembly facility, they witnessed the assembling of a motor by a robot in 40 seconds. FANUC contributes to the manufacturing industry in Japan and other countries, including India, by promoting automation and efficiency in manufacturing. Later, in a special gesture, Abe hosted Modi for a private dinner at his villa in Yamanashi. Both the leaders spent around eight hours together during the course of the day. This is Modi's third visit to Japan for the summit and his 12th meeting with Abe since 2014. Cooperation in the Indo-Pacific region and in the defence and security sectors as well as leveraging Japanese capabilities for India's development initiatives will be the highlights of the agenda in the annual bilateral summit here on Monday. India is the only country with which Japan holds annual bilateral summit while India has a similar arrangement with Russia too. --IANS ab/mr (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday gifted his Japanese counterpart Shinzo Abe two handcrafted stone bowls and durries. Modi, who arrived here on Saturday for his annual bilateral summit with Abe, was received by the latter at the Yamanashi prefecture, close to the iconic Mount Fuji, earlier in the day. According to sources, the bowls, made from rose quartz and yellow quartz stone sourced from Rajasthan, were crafted by master artisan Shabbirhusen Ibrahimbhai Shaikh of Khambhat region of Gujarat. The uniqueness of this craft lies in the fact that the form of the product is scooped out from a block of stone and then shaped and refined using basic hand tools generally without any lathe machines. Hand-woven by the master weavers of Mirzapur, Uttar Pradesh, the durrie designs show the diversity of possibilities -- from a symmetrical repeating geometric tessellation in one, to stylistic floral motifs arranged around the classical medallion pattern in another. The durries use two distinctive Indian colour palettes. While one uses indigo blues, reds and a sprinkling of turmeric yellows, the identifying colours that have marked Indian textiles for centuries, the other uses the muted earthy tones of the Indian landscape. These stone bowls and durries were made under the supervision of India's premier design institute, the National Institute of Design, Ahmedabad. These apart, Modi also gifted a Jodhpuri wooden chest from Rajasthan with traditional work. Both Prime Ministers visited a Japanese robotic and automation capabilities facility near here. Abe also hosted a private dinner at his villa in Yamanashi for the visiting Indian leader. This is Modi's third visit to Japan for the summit and his 12th meeting with Abe since 2014. Cooperation in the Indo-Pacific region and in the defence and security sector, and leveraging Japanese capabilities for India's development initiatives will be the highlights of the agenda in the annual bilateral summit which will be held here on Monday. India is the only country with which Japan holds annual bilateral summit while India has a similar arrangement with Russia too. --IANS ab/shs/mr (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Colombian striker Marlos Moreno struck his first goal in more than two years as Flamengo earned a 1-1 draw with Palmeiras in a battle between Brazil's Serie A leaders. Dudu on Saturday opened the scoring at the Maracana stadium by deftly controlling a long diagonal pass from Antonio Carlos and then firing a 20-yard shot into the bottom left corner of Weverton's goal, reports Xinhua news agency. Moreno sent the home fans into a frenzy shortly after his 68th minute introduction by dribbling into the penalty box and unleashing a shot that rebounded in off the post. It was Moreno's first goal in 78 matches, a drought that dated back to March 8, 2016. "I'm happy because I hadn't scored in a long time," Moreno said after the match. "But I would have been happy for the drought to continue if it meant that we'd won." The result maintained Palmeiras' four-point lead over Flamengo at the top of the 20-team standings with seven matches remaining. In other fixtures on Saturday, Santos routed Fluminense 3-0 and Corinthians beat Bahia 2-1. --IANS gau/mr (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik on Sunday ordered a Crime Branch probe into the death of seven elephants due to electrocution in Dhenkanal district. Expressing grief over their death, the Chief Minister also said that appropriate action would be taken if any criminal negligence was found in the matter. Seven elephants died after coming in contact with a low-hanging live wire near Kamalanga village late on Friday night. The Energy department suspended two officials and sacked a junior engineer after the deaths. The Forest department also suspended three officials for negligence. --IANS cd/mag/mr (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Over 3,345 protesters who prevented women from entering the Sabarimala temple, have been arrested since October 26 while 517 cases have been registered at various police stations across Kerala, authorities said on Sunday. On Sunday morning, Sabarimala tantri family member and activist Rahul Eashwar was arrested here taking the total number of arrests 3,346. He has been taken to Kochi. Eashwar was arrested after the police received a complaint stating that he had made provocative remarks over the issue at a press conference in Kochi last week. Meanwhile in the last 12 hours, over 500 arrests was recorded at police stations in Pathanamthitta district -- where the Lord Ayyappa shrine is located -- as well as Thiruvananthapuram, Kozhikode and Ernakulam. So far only 122 are in remand, while others have been released on bail, according to the police. However, Police chief Loknath Behra has directed that no arrest should be made of those people who protested by taking part in singing hymns and prayers. These arrests have been made for defying the September 28 order that overturned a ban on women of menstrual age (10-50 years) from entering the hilltop temple where celibate deity Lord Ayyappa is worshipped. Defending the arrests, state Communist Party of India - Marxist (CPI-M) Secretary Kodiyeri Balakrishnan on Sunday told the media that this wasnormal police action when the rule of law is breached. "During the previous Congress-led UDF rule, over four lakh cases were registered against our workers. Is it not natural for the police to act when rules are broken?" asked Balakrishnan. On October 17, the temple opened for the five-day monthly puja. However, the protesters ensured that no women in the barred age group could enter sanctum sanctorum until October 22 when the gates closed. Militants carries out two deadly attacks in the troubled Kashmir Valley on Sunday, killing a middle-rung police officer and a political activist. An unknown number of militants intercepted a private vehicle driven by police sub-inspector Imtiyaz Ahmad Mir in Wahibugh area of Pulwama district. Police said the officer was forcibly taken out of his vehicle, taken some distance away from the road and then shot dead from close range, killing him instantly. Mir worked in the state intelligence department and was posted in Srinagar. In another attack, militants targeted a Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) activist, Muhammad Amin, in Gangbugh area on the outskirts of Srinagar district. He was fired at from close range, leading to critical injuries. He was rushed to a hospital where he succumbed to his injuries, a police officer said, adding that FIRs had been registered in both cases. Sources in the intelligence department said the security forces have information about two groups of sniper shooters active in south Kashmir areas. "Each group of sniper shooters comprises two terrorists each," one officer said. Security forces have been told to be vigilant about such sniper attacks that can be carried out from a long distance with pinpoint accuracy. --IANS sq/mr (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Preliminary tests of a newly-found drug for Alzheimer's show promising results, a University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), research team leader told Xinhua news agency. The drug, called ALI6, was tested in mouse primary neurons and researchers saw promising results, Lin Jiang, a Chinese assistant professor of neurology, said on Saturday. "The next step is to test it in Alzheimer's disease model mouse," he said. "After a successful animal test, we plan to move to human clinical trial." One hallmark of Alzheimer's disease, a debilitating disorder marked by memory deficits and general cognitive decline, is a protein called b-amyloid accumulating in brain, which forms "plaques" and binds to unique proteins on the surface of brain cells, causing widespread cell death. ALI6 can block b-amyloid plaques from attaching to brain cells and thus prevent the extensive cell death, said a UCLA news release, adding that the study was published in the journal Nature Chemistry. Jiang worked with his team to identify the plaque binding site of b-amyloid to its receptor by determining the three-dimensional structure. Then they used computer software to assist them in the drug selection process. In order to find molecular candidates to block the interaction between b-amyloid and brain cells, the team searched more than 32 thousand molecules, and one drug, namely ALI6, showed promising results in cell-based experiments, according to the release. Researchers cultured mouse brain cells and exposed them to the toxic b-amyloid proteins, and treated some cells with ALI6, which almost completely prevented the cell death, suggesting that the drug could eventually be explored to treat Alzheimer's disease. Alzheimer's disease affects about 48 million people worldwide, and the number is expected to increase with the aging population. There is no effective cure yet. --IANS ksk/mr (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) 1. Yes. Council members appear to have taken time to review each section carefully. 2. Yes. The council has set up town halls and a public hearing to inform the residents. 3. No. The council should have set up a charter review committee, including residents. 4. No. Some of the items proposed so far benefit the council more than the community. 5. Unsure. Its hard to say until after the public has had more opportunities to weigh in. Vote View Results President Ram Nath Kovind will attend the first convocation of the Dr. Rajendra Prasad Government Medical College in Kangra during a two-day visit to Himachal Pradesh from Monday, it was announced on Sunday. On Monday, he would confer degrees on students of the medical college. The next day would see him preside over the convocation ceremony at Himachal Pradesh University, Shimla. This will be Kovind's second visit to Himachal Pradesh after becoming the President. He was in the state on a four-day trip in May. --IANS rak/shs/mr (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Meghalaya opposition leader Mukul Sangma on Sunday asked the ruling National People's Party government and investigating agencies to probe the surrender of the most wanted Hynniewtrep National Liberation Council (HNLC) leader, Cheristarfield Thangkhiew, to Deputy Chief Minister Prestone Tynsong. Thangkhiew, the General Secretary of the banned HNLC, who was hiding in Bangladesh for nearly three decades, surrendered at the police headquarters here on October 18 after entering India from Bangladesh following several rounds of discussions between his family and Tynsong. The secessionist leader, however, said he had "no regrets" for the killings that the HNLC had committed since he knew what he was doing. "Who has authorised to talk to them (HNLC) (should) be found out... whether it was a politician who has been talking to them all these years and they become a facilitator. The law is very clear and nobody has the luxury of having that freedom to talk to any member of the banned outfit. The government and the investigating authorities should find out and we (opposition Congress) will press for that," Sangma told journalists. "We have to find out also whether Tynsong (Deputy Chief Minister) was talking regularly earlier... Whether he was in talk with this guy (HNLC general Secretary) the whole year. May be they have used him during the last election. We should find out," he added. --IANS rrk/mr (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) With pressure mounting following a few resignations from party posts by senior leaders, Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) president Sukhbir Singh Badal said on Sunday that he was ready to quit as the party chief if the party wanted him to do so. Talking to the media after offering prayers at the Golden Temple in Amritsar, Badal indicated that the disgruntled senior leaders will be approached soon to resolve the stand-off within the party. The SAD, which ruled Punjab in alliance with the BJP from 2007 to 2017, is facing an internal crisis for the past one month following resignations from party posts by senior leaders who are challenging the manner in which Sukhbir Badal is leading the party. Among those who have resigned include former union minister and Rajya Sabha MP Sukhdev Singh Dhindsa, former MP Rattan Singh Ajnala and former Ministers Ranjit Singh Brahmpura and Sewa Singh Sekhwan. The senior leaders have virtually raised a banner of revolt against the style of functioning of Sukhbir Badal and his brother-in-law and legislator Bikram Singh Majithia. Both take all important decisions in the party. "It is my duty to do whatever the party wants. I am ready to quit if the party wants so," Sukhbir said. The senior leaders are upset that the party, under Sukhbir Badal's leadership, got the Akal Takht to pardon controversial godman and Dera Sacha Sauda sect chief Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh, who has been convicted in two cases of rape and sentenced to 20 years in prison. They have also objected to the handling of the cases of sacrilege of Guru Granth Sahib in 2015 by the SAD government which led to protests by Sikh organizations and resulted in two men being killed in police firing in October 2015. An inquiry commission into the sacrilege cases protests had recently held the the police under the SAD regime responsible for the firing. The senior leaders accuse the Badal family, including five-time former chief minister Parkash Singh Badal, of running the Akali Dal like a family company. The SAD, set up in 1920, is the second oldest party in the country after the Congress. Badal Senior, who is over 90 years old, had passed the reins of the party to his son Sukhbir in 2009, bypassing the seniorty of other party leaders. --IANS js/mr (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) BJP President Amit Shah's criticism of the Supreme Court verdict allowing women of all ages to the Sabarimala temple exposes who was behind the violence in the temple area, the CPI-M said on Sunday. "Shah has challenged the Supreme Court order on the entry of women to the Sabarimala temple and incited his partymen to defy the verdict. In doing so, he has exposed the real hand behind the violent protests against women's entry into Sabarimala," the CPI-M politburo said. The Communist Party of India-Marxist said in a statement that such incitement had also led to the "highly condemnable" arson attack on the ashram of Swamy Sandeepananda Giri. Accusing Shah of blatantly ridiculing the apex court ruling, the CPI-M, however, said it was in keeping with the RSS-BJP's contempt for the Constitution and the Supreme Court. The CPI-M, which heads the Left Democratic Front government in Kerala, also slammed Shah for his threat of ousting the state government if it tried to steamroll the traditions of the Sabarimala temple. "The threat of toppling the Kerala government if it continues to uphold the Supreme Court judgement is another display of the anti-democratic, authoritarian attitude typical of Amit Shah," the party said. It said the people of Kerala will reject the "regressive and disruptive " of the BJP and RSS. "The CPI-M will expose throughout the country the anti-women stand of the BJP and its upholding of the patriarchal upper caste order," it said. Speaking at a public meeting in Kannur, Shah said: "The BJP will take over the protest of the Ayyappa devotees. We will not mind throwing out the government if the Kerala government tries to steamroll the traditions of the Sabarimala temple." The Kerala government has arrested hundreds in the state who took part in violent protests or stopped a handful of women in the 10-50 age group from entering the Sabarimala temple. --IANS bns/mr (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Amid a political crisis, Sri Lanka's Parliament Speaker Karu Jayasuriya on Sunday requested President Maithripala Sirisena to ensure that ousted Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe's privileges were protected. In a letter to the President, Jayasuriya said: "I consider it my foremost duty to protect the rights and privileges of all MPs, especially in the context of the serious political or constitutional crisis which has arisen in the country. "I have received a request to protect the rights and privileges of Ranil Wickremesinghe until any other person emerges from within Parliament as having secured the confidence of Parliament," the Colombo Page quoted him as saying. The letter comes after Sirisena on Friday night appointed his predecessor Mahinda Rajapaksa as Prime Minister after ousting Wickremesinghe from the post. The President, in a letter sent to Wickremesinghe, said he had been removed after the Sirisena-led United People's Freedom Alliance (UPFA) quit the national coalition government. Sirisena on Saturday suspended Parliament till November 16. --IANS ksk/mr (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Armed men shot dead a radio journalist outside Mogadishu on Saturday evening, police and the journalist union confirmed. A police officer who requested not to be named confirmed the killing to Xinhua but noted that details regarding the shooting were still scanty. "We have the information that a journalist was killed at Elasha Biyaha. We are trying to gather more information about the incident," the officer said. The National Union of Somali Journalists (NUSOJ) condemning the attack. "NUSOJ condemns the killing of Abdullahi Mire Hashi, 26, a journalist and director of Darul Sunna FM, a private radio which mainly broadcasts religious issues," NUSOJ said. "He was shot dead by unidentified gunmen on Saturday outside Mogadishu." Mohamed Deeq, a resident, told Xinhua by phone the gunmen fled the scene after the killing. "Gunmen brandishing pistols shot dead the man whom we were told is a journalist. They fled the scene immediately after gunning him down," Deeq said. There was no immediate claim of responsibility. --IANS ahm/ (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Quoting an unnamed RSS member, Congress Lok Sabha member Shashi Tharoor on Sunday likened Prime Minister Narendra Modi to a scorpion seated on a Shivling. The comment sparked a sharp reaction from the BJP, prompting the MP to give a detailed explanation hours later. "Modi is like a scorpion sitting on a Shivling. You cannot remove him with your hand and you cannot hit it with a 'chappal' (slipper) either," said Tharoor at a literary event, recalling what an RSS member had told a journalist in 2012. Participating in the Bengaluru Literary Festival, Tharoor referred to the metaphor in the context of his latest book, "The Paradoxical Prime Minister", and alleged that Modi's personality cult did not go down well with many in the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS). "There is an extraordinarily striking metaphor expressed by an unnamed RSS source to journalist Vinod Jose of 'The Caravan', who expressed their frustration with their inability to curb Modi," said Tharoor in his speech at the literary festival. The remark by the RSS source depicted the "complex" dynamics that exist between the "Hindutva movement and the Moditva expression of it", Tharoor added. Union Law Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad condemned Tharoor's remarks and said the Congress leader had disrespected Lord Shiva. "Shashi Tharoor, who is accused in a murder case, has attempted to disrespect Lord Shiva. I seek a reply from Rahul Gandhi who claims himself to be a 'bhakt' (devotee) of Lord Shiva on this horrific denunciation of Hindu gods by a Congress MP. Rahul Gandhi must apologize to all Hindus," Prasad said in a tweet. Responding to Prasad, Tharoor said that his comment quoting an unnamed RSS source on Modi had been in public domain for six years. "This comment (not by me) has been in the public domain for six years. R.S. Prasad making an issue of a six-year-old quote shows how little new the BJP has to offer the nation," tweeted Tharoor. Clarifying, Tharoor said he had cited in his book the context in which it (metaphor) was used. "In view of the unseemly demonisation of an out-of-context remark today involving a scorpion metaphor, my book #TheParadoxicalPrimeMinister cites and footnotes in this article -- please see the last paragraph of this article," tweeted Tharoor, sharing the link to "The Caravan" article in 2012, which quotes an RSS leader using the scorpion metaphor to describe Modi. --IANS bha-fb/shs/mr (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) (Attn Editors: Shashi Tharoors new book "The Paradoxical Prime Minister" has just arrived at the stands. Presented below is an exclusive extract from the book) The New India I want is a country where you won't get lynched for the food you eat, marginalized for the faith you hold dear, criminalized for the person you love and imprisoned for making use of fundamental rights guaranteed by your own Constitution. Instead, we must look forward to a New India that celebrates and welcomes pluralism, an idea vindicated by history itself. To me, this New India must be fundamentally rooted in the idea of India that our founding fathers believed in. After all, as I've asked in a different context, if you don't know where you are coming from, then how can you know where you are going? This nebulous 'Idea of India' -- though the phrase is Rabindranath Tagore's -- is, in some form or another, arguably as old as antiquity itself. Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru saw our country as an 'ancient palimpsest' on which successive rulers and subjects had inscribed their visions without erasing what had been asserted previously. We not only coexist, but thrive in our diversity which is our strength. Swami Vivekananda spoke of a Hinduism that not merely tolerates other faiths but accepts them as they are. This acceptance of difference has been key to our country's survival, making 'unity in diversity' the most hallowed of independent India's self-defining slogans. India, as I have long argued, has always been more than the sum of its contradictions. I write in the introduction about the Indian idea, which is that a nation may endure differences of caste, creed, colour, conviction, culture, cuisine, costume and custom, and still rally around a consensus. And that consensus is around the simple idea that in a democracy you don't really need to agree -- except on the ground rules of how you will disagree. It is the idea of an ever-ever land -- emerging from an ancient civilization, united by a shared history, sustained by pluralist democracy.... For New India to succeed and indeed thrive, it will have to embrace this inclusive vision and draw its inspiration from the key tenets of the core 'Idea of India'. Only by maintaining a commitment towards a democratic and pluralistic ethos can New India be able to fulfill the aspirations of all Indians. Interestingly, the need for our government to preside over a harmonious plural society springs not just from the core values of our country and need for insaniyat (or humanity), to use Mr Vajpayee's phrase, to guide our leaders' actions, but also from good old-fashioned economics. An eye-opening report, first published on Indiaspend.org, a public interest NGO, pointed out that 'if India discards religious beliefs that perpetrate caste and gender inequalities it could more than double its per capita GDP growth of the last sixty years in half the time.' Did someone say, 'sabka saath sabka vikas'? At the same time, we must also be conscious that preserving our ideological commitment to pluralism, acceptance and the freedom provided by our democratic systems is only one-half of the battle. Providing a decent standard of living to the people of India, particularly those from economically vulnerable groups, is the second commitment that we must undertake in our blueprint for a New India. Our inclusive vision of New India must be complemented by inclusive development as we move forward. We can talk of a New India, and yet, many of the battles India has been fighting -- and must continue to fight -- continue to centre around our principal basic problems of roti, kapda, makaan and now, sadak, bijli and paani, plus no doubt broadband (to most people in our mobile phone age, 4G is more important than Modi-ji). The prestigious Forbes magazine list of the world's top billionaires had to make room for 119 Indian dollar billionaires in 2018, with a combined net worth of $440 billion, greater than the GDP of a majority of member states of the United Nations. But at the same time we have 363 million people living below the poverty line. And it's not the UN/World Bank's poverty line of $1 a day, now revised to $1.25, but the Indian poverty line, which in the rural areas is Rs 32 a day -- in other words, a line that's been drawn just this side of the funeral pyre. This is our reality and this is what our blueprint for a New India must address -- creatively, quickly, and securely. New India must be built on the liberalization we embarked upon in 1991. Economic growth remains vital to pulling people out of poverty. But the fruits of that growth -- the revenues that come from it -- must be shared with those who are excluded from its benefits. The magic of the market will not appeal to those who cannot afford to enter the marketplace. As India navigates its development, we must focus on ensuring that the benefits of growth are shared across the nation -- by our youth, who are struggling to find jobs, and by our poorest, for whom true development would be life changing... You can choose a New India that embodies hope, or one that promotes fear. You can support a New India united in striving, or an India divided by hatred. I believe we can look forward to a New India with confidence, if not with optimism. But we must build this New India on solutions to our major challenges. We have to overcome our poverty. We have to deal with the hardware of development, the ports, the roads, the airports, all the infrastructural progress we need to make, and the software of development, the human capital, the need for the ordinary person in India to be able to have a couple of square meals a day, to be able to send his or her children to a decent school and to aspire to work a job that will give them opportunities in their lives to transform themselves. We have to tackle and end corruption. We need to conquer these challenges, real challenges which none of us in India can pretend don't exist. But it must take place in an open society, in a rich and diverse and plural civilization, one that is open to the contention of ideas and interests within it, unafraid of the prowess or the products of the outside world, wedded to the democratic pluralism that is India's greatest strength, and determined to liberate and fulfil the creative energies of its people. We must remain faithful to our founding values of the twentieth century if we are to conquer the challenges of the twenty-first and build the New India that we seek. Our New India will shine. But it must shine for all. (Shashi Tharoor is a Congress MP, representing the Thiruvananthapuram constituency, and a bestselling author. Published with permission from Aleph Book Company) --IANS extract/ss/vsc/vm (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) It was barely three months ago that a US-returned medico started a small cafe in upscale Juhu as a unique venture -- employing mostly those who suffer from various developmental disabilities. Now, Cafe Arpan has gained huge popularity -- among patrons, many of whom have become regulars, and among the 19 specially-abled staffers who love to slog 30 hours over six days a week to make this trendsetter eatery a super success. "It was like a dream and in planning for nearly a year, but only after getting a proper place and crowdfunding that we finally opened the doors on August 2. I have 19 staffers, mostly full-timers, including my elder daughter, all suffering from some or the other form of developmental disability," the founder-owner, Dr. Sushama Nagarkar, told IANS. A psychologist and single mother of two daughters -- Aarti (32), who suffers from autism, and Divya (30), settled abroad -- Nagarkar wanted "to do something different, and empower people suffering from developmental disabilities". Initially, she started with a tiffin service, around one-and-half years ago, which proved to be a hit and had over a dozen staffers with afflictions like autism and Down Syndrome, as also under-developmental and intellectual disabilities, all of which are incurable but impact normal life among all age groups. Situated opposite the SNDT Women's University Juhu Campus in Santa Cruz West, Cafe Arpan is specially designed for them. "With a limited yet distinctive menu, there is ample space for the staffers to move around conveniently and everything functions on electricity for their safety. They can comfortably work around five hours a day and take home salaries comparable with industry standards," Nagarkar told IANS. In the age group of 23-50, most are barely literate, but they have learnt to handle everything "with complete dedication and focus", said Nagarkar, who opened the eatery under the auspices of Yash Charitable Trust (YCT) of which she is Managing Trustee, and which carries out multifaceted social activities. "I returned to India after 15 years in the US and started the YCT in 2014 to bring people with developmental disabilities into the social and national mainstream, and make them responsible and contributing citizens," she smiled. Nagarkar feels these specially-abled people have great potential but severely lack opportunities -- and that the Cafe Arpan and the tiffin services have started to contribute in a small way, helping them become independent and capable of supporting themselves and even their families. Initially, there was a communication gap between the staff and patrons, but the latter proved very understanding and now the going is smooth, with customers appreciating the initiative. Open for 12 hours from 8 a.m., Cafe Arpna offers a simple but specially-designed menu of barely 30 items like burgers, pizzas, hot/cold beverages and the like, which the specially-abled staffers can themselves handle without complications or calamities. "During a visit for a snack, I was surprised when one of the staffers took my order, unusually quiet, but apparently efficient, and then served it gracefully. Later, I realised that all the staffers here are specially-abled and the experience was amazing," said an awed customer, Mini P. Menon. She feels the venture would help commoners view people with developmental disabilities in a new light and open up new avenues for them to become valued members of the community. Cafe Arpan's hand-picked special team includes: Nazneen Kagalwala, Sudha Chhabria, Pratibha Kamath, Ashritha Shetty, Nandini Rajwade, Abuli Mamaji, Aaron Colaco, Samvit Desai, Chetan Jawale, Nikhil Sharma, Shefali Gundecha, Saurabh Kambli, Shonali Menon, Bunny Aman, Ram Bhiwandikar, Raees Shaikh, Anand Jangir, Gaurav Vanvari and Aarti Nagarkar. She urged people and the society to come together and create more such gainful opportunities that can enable people with developmental disabilities become self-sufficient and lead a dignified life. On her part, Nagarkar said that all the staffers here have come through word-of-mouth publicity and the demand of the specially-abled job-seekers is increasing. "I briefly considered a similar venture in the US where I could have got ample state funding. However, I decided on the option here as the need is more in India, though I had to start from scratch. But we are satisfied with the results and may consider expansion plans soon," Nagarkar concluded. (The weekly feature series is part of a positive-journalism project of IANS and the Frank Islam Foundation. Quaid Najmi can be contacted at q.najmi@ians.in ) --IANS qn/vm/vv/tb (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The BJP will continue to stand by devotees opposed to the entry of all women to the Sabarimala temple, P S Sreedharan Pillai said on Sunday. Pillai also announced a series of protests to ensure that Sabarimala's uniqueness -- keeping away women in the age group of 10 to 50 -- was kept intact. The temple closed after five days of monthly puja on October 22. It will now open at 5 p.m. on November 5 and close the next day at 10 pm. "We will be in full strength and will support the devotees' wishes when the temple opens on the 5th," Pillai told the media. "The situation in Kerala is worse than the Emergency days," he said. "People are being arrested at midnight just because they protested in a peaceful manner, fighting for the rights of the devotees of Lord Ayyappa." An estimated 3,345 protesters who prevented women from entering the have been arrested since October 26 while 517 cases have been registered at various police stations across the state. Pillai said that across the country there were many temples dedicated to Lord Ayyappa but the temple at Sabarimala was unique. He said he would stage a day-long protest outside the office of the Kerala Police chief. A 'rath yatra' will start from a temple in Kasargode on November 8 and reach Pathanamthitta - where the is located -- on November 13." The Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP), which is contesting all the 200 seats in the upcoming Assembly elections in Rajasthan, hopes to post a strong show in the state and its leaders have left no stone unturned in their effort to woo voters. But a recent comment by one of the party's local leaders threatens to blow up in its face. Dharamveer Singh, state BSP chief, said in a rally that the British should have ruled this country for another 100 years. "Had that happened, the SCs/STs/OBCs wouldn't have been oppressed," he said. Dharamveer went on to claim that Dalit icon BR ... The erosion of Jammu and Kashmir's autonomy, which was granted to the state at the time of its accession to the Indian Union, made its people angry, former chief minister said Saturday. Speaking at an event organised by the United States Consulate, Abdullah said the root of the Kashmir problem lay in its "troubled politics" and it could not be solved without a political engagement. He said was different from other parts of the country and "we need to recognise that". Abdullah said on August 14 and 15, 1947, not two but three nations emerged -- India, and Jammu and Kashmir, whose ruler refused to merge with either or "Tribal invaders accompanied by regular Pakistani Army invaded a part of my state, continue to occupy it even today and perhaps in some way, Jammu and Kashmir's destiny was written there," the former chief minister said. Stating that even after becoming part of India, the state "held on to its distinct identity", Abdullah said initially the Union was to be responsible only for currency, communication, defence and foreign affairs, and everything else was the domain of the state. "I am not for a moment suggesting that was the perfect situation but that's what existed. Over time that situation has gradually been whittled over and eroded to a point where the autonomous that existed in 1947...is a pale shadow of what exists today," he said. "Obviously people will get angry," he said. At the same time, Abdullah also said the Centre alone could not be blamed for Kashmir's woes. "State players, whether it is my party or other political parties, we have our own responsibilities as well which we can not shy away from," he said. The Kashmir problem did not arise because of lack of development and jobs, but these factors only contributed to it, while "the cause lies in Jammu and Kashmir's troubled politics", Abdullah said. "Unless we address the problem and engage with the state politically, this problem won't stop," he said. "At best at the moment there are probably 500-600 militants. Not every young Kashmiri is carrying a gun today. Not every young Kashmiri is throwing stones today. But if you were to switch on TV at 9 pm for debates, that is all you will see....(the perception that) all Kashmiris are violent, anti-nationals and pro-Pakistanis. You push people to the walls (through such portrayal)," Abdullah said. Union Health Minister J P Nadda Sunday said 1.5 lakh people have already benefited under the Centre's mega PMJAY health insurance scheme and Rs 150 crore claims paid so far since the initiative was launched on September 23. Addressing the national convention of Bharatiya Janata Yuva Morcha (BJYM), BJP's youth wing, here, he said the world was studying the flagship scheme of the Narendra Modi government, aimed at providing a coverage of Rs five lakh per family annually, benefiting more than 10 crore poor families. During his recent visit to Kazakhstan, he was asked about the Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Abhiyan (PMJAY), Nada said. "1.5 lakh people have benefitted from Ayushman Bharat and bills worth Rs 200 crore were raised out of which Rs 150 crore had already been paid," he said. The scheme was cashless and transparent. "The world is studying this. Rs 10,000 crore has to be spent in one year... then only we can save 40 per cent population from higher medical treatment costs and keep them healthy," Nadda said. The scheme, touted as the world's largest health insurance programme, was launched pan-India by prime minister Narendra Modi from Jharkhand on September 23. Nadda said the health sub-centres and primary health centres were being upgraded into wellness centres with modern facilities for treatment. "We are bringing out a change in the health sector under Narendra Modiji," he said listing statistics on various health parameters. Railway Minister Piyush Goyal, in his address to the convention, said 'historic' schemes had been implemented by the NDA government. "...you take any survey in India if there is any leader who is most popular, it is Prime Minister Narendra Modi, he said listing the schemes, including the "Jan Dhan Yojana" and Swachh Bharat mission. He said nine crore toilets had been built across the country and 100 per cent homes would have the facility by next year. Referring to the proposed unveiling of the statue of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel (which would be taller than the statue of liberty in America), he said it was Modi who honoured and respected the late leader, who dedicated his life to the unity and integrity of the country, he said. BJP General Secretary V Ram Madhav said the countrys prestige stature had risen at the international level under the Modi government. "Every Indian, wherever he lives in the world, proudly says I am a proud Indian," he said adding India was providing leadership in dealing with global challenges like environment under the Modi government. He also highlighted the contribution of the NDA government in popularising yoga at the international level. In her address, BJYM national president and BJP MP Poonam Mahajan attacked the Congress and said some forces were trying to divide the country. "We will not allow all those forces and will see to it how they will stop country's development and will fight with such forces," she said. Mahajan urged the BJYM members to become "vikas setu" (development bridge) and reach out to the beneficiaries of various schemes launched by the Modi government. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) A heavily-armed white man, spewing anti-Semitic threats, stormed a prominent synagogue and massacred 11 worshippers in the US city of Pittsburgh, in the deadliest attack on Jews in the history of America. The shooter, identified as 46-year-old Robert Bowers, armed with an assault rifle and three handguns, surrendered after he was injured during an exchange of fire with the police at 'Tree of Life' Congregation Synagogue at Squirell Hill in Pittsburgh, where a large number of people had gathered for a baby naming ceremony. Pittsburgh Public Safety Director Wendell Hissrich said that 11 people were killed and six others injured including four policemen. He added that there were no children among fatalities or injured. Bowers was in fair condition Saturday evening with multiple gunshot wounds, officials said. It is believed he was shot by police. Tree of Life is located in Pittsburgh's Squirrel Hill neighbourhood, which is known as the heart of the local Jewish community. Bowers, whose social media account reflected his hatred against the Jews, was charged with 29 counts of federal crimes of violence and firearms offenses, federal prosecutors said. The charges include 11 counts of obstruction of exercise of religious beliefs resulting in death; and 11 counts of use of a firearm to commit murder during a crime of violence. Bowers frequently wrote on the social network Gab, where he made a specific threat against Jews hours before allegedly conducting Saturday's attack. In the post, Bowers said that the Hebrew Immigrant Aid Society, a humanitarian aid nonprofit group that provides assistance to refugees, brought immigrants to the United States to do violence against others. "Screw your optics, I'm going in," he wrote. The FBI is investigating this as a "hate crime". Before opening fire, Bowers reportedly yelled, "All Jews must die!" Bowers frequently posted about the "migrant caravan," a group of several thousand refugees walking to the US-Mexico border from Honduras to seek asylum. Preventing refugees in the caravan from entering the US has been a major talking point among both right-wing commentators and President Trump, who has spoken about it in recent pre-midterm election stump speeches. FBI Pittsburgh Special Agent in Charge Bob Jones said the investigation was in its early stages and there was no knowledge if the shooter was known to the law enforcement till this date. "Gunman targeted (people) because of their faith. At this time, we believe that he was acting alone," he said. Describing the mass shooting as an "anti-semitic act", President Donald Trump called for death penalty for such shooters. "This wicked act of mass murder is pure evil, hard to believe, and frankly something that is unimaginable. Our nation and the world are shocked and stunned by the grief. This was an anti-semitic act," he said. President Trump ordered that American flags be flown at half-staff at the White House and upon all public buildings and grounds, and all military bases till October 31 as a mark of "solemn respect" for the victims. Despite his earlier reservations, Trump continued with his days programme and addressed a well-attended election rally in Illinois arguing that one cannot let their schedules or lives change. "It's just the way it is. No matter how you look at it, you just can't let them get away with it. They're evil, they're bad, this was an anti-Semitic act which is incredible in this day and age that something like that can happen, but it happened," he told reporters in Murphysboro, Illinois, where is addressed a massive election rally. The US goes to mid-term polls on November 6 wherein people would be electing members of the House of Representatives, one-third of the Senate and several State Governors. Trump acknowledged that the country feels terribly after this tragic incident. "This was just a horrible, horrible event," he said. Trump said that he plans to go to Pittsburgh. "I will be going to Pittsburgh. I've been in touch with the governor, and I've been in touch with the mayor," he said. Asserting that hatred and violence on the basis of religion can have no place in society, Attorney General Jeff Sessions said every American has the right to attend their house of worship in safety. "Hatred and violence on the basis of religion can have no place in our society," Sessions said. "These alleged crimes are reprehensible and utterly repugnant to the values of this nation. Accordingly, the Department of Justice will file hate crimes and other criminal charges against the defendant, including charges that could lead to the death penalty," Sessions said. Former president Barack Obama called his fellow countrymen to fight the rise of anti-Semitism. "All of us have to fight the rise of anti-Semitism and hateful rhetoric against those who look, love, or pray differently. We have to stop making it so easy for those who want to harm the innocent to get their hands on a gun." Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said, "I was heartbroken and appalled by the murderous attack on a Pittsburgh synagogue". Extra police officers have been deployed at synagogues and Jewish centres across the US after the attack. The attack at the synagogue is the latest incident of mass shooting in America. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) A 15-year-old Sikh girl was allegedly raped by two persons in an ambulance in Pakistan's Punjab province, police said Sunday. The girl, said to be mentally unstable, had gone missing on Saturday from a Gurdwara in Nankana Sahib city, some 80 kms from here, police said. When she did not return, her family informed police. The girl's father said that the family spotted an ambulance of Punjab Emergency Services Rescue 1122 parked at Nankana bypass. "We heard a girl screaming inside the ambulance. We rushed to the vehicle and found two men were assaulting our girl," he said, adding that the culprits fled and threw the girl out of the vehicle some two kms away. The family rushed her to hospital where her condition was stated to be stable. Nankana city police official Nadim Ahmed told PTI that an FIR has been lodged against Ahsan Ali and Sameen Haider, both government employees of the Rescue 1122 emergency service. They have been arrested. "The victim has also undergone a medico-legal test and its report is awaiting," he said. Rescue 1122 spokesman Muhammad Farooq said the department has formed a separate inquiry committee to investigate the matter after placing the accused under suspension. This was the first such incident in the 14-year history of the Rescue 1122 as both the suspects violated their oath, he said. The department is fully cooperating with the police to ensure dispensation of justice in the case, he added. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) At least 17 people were killed in Pakistan when a passenger vehicle fell in a deep gorge in the country's mountainous northwest region, police said. The ill-fated vehicle was on its way to Rawalpindi from Ghazar in Kohistan district when it skidded from a mountain on Karakorum highway. "Seventeen passengers died while one woman miraculously escaped," they said. Authorities were having difficulties in retrieving the bodies from the mountainous terrain. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The GurgaonPolice has arrested four Kashmiri youths for allegedly raising funds on a fake Delhi University (DU) letterhead with forged signature of DUSU president Ankiv Baisoya, an official said Saturday. According to police, the accused claimed that the funds were meant for the rehabilitation of people from the terror affected regions of Jammu and Kashmir. However, police suspect that the group might be involved in financing terror activities in the valley. The accused were arrested on Thursday evening and presented before a local court in Gurgaon on Friday, which sent them to two days police custody, they said. "Since the matter is very sensitive as the accused have used letterhead of DU signed by its president, we are establishing their network to find out (if they have) any links with terrorist organisations," said investigation officer Mohan Singh. "We have also contacted Baisoya in this regard and asked him to submit (his) reply with proofs including his signature and original letterhead of DU," he added. The four accused were identified as Mohamad Aamir Ahmed, the head of the team hailing from Nar Singh Peera village, Abdul Hamid Bhat from Bofwara, and Shahrukh Khan and Jahor Ahmed from Kareva village in Kulgam district. During interrogation, Aamir, who is a second year student of Bachelor of Arts, revealed that they came to Delhi 15 days ago and were residing in Shastri Park area of the national capital. "He saw a poster of DU president Ankiv Baisoya and made a plan to prepare a fake letterhead of DU with his (Baisoya) forged signature to impress the residents of Delhi/NCR and raise funds," the official said. They began collecting the money in Gurgaon but were caught soon after as a resident of Sector 4 grew suspicious of the gang, he said. According to police, the man observed that funds were being sought for the people of Jammu and Kashmir with the endorsement of Baisoya, who is affiliated to the right-wing student organisation Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP). The home owner immediately informed the police who reached the spot and arrested the four. When contacted, Baisoya told PTI: "Gurgaon police has enquired about this incident and I have denied my involvement. The letterhead is fake and the signature is also forged." "I have submitted my signature and other documents soughed by police before ACP of concern area," he added. The Delhi University Students Union (DUSU) president further said that the DU administration was yet to issue him the official letterhead. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Seventy-one tourists have been rescued off the coast of Goa since the first week of October as the state witnesses rough seas and rains, an official of a lifeguard service commissioned by the state government said Sunday. A statement from Drishti Lifesaving further said that of the 71 tourists rescued, nine were foreign nationals including three Russians who were saved on October 25. "A total of 217 Indian tourists and 46 foreigners have been rescued while swimming off the state's beaches from January to Oct this year," Drishti Lifesaving's spokesperson informed. He said on October 25, three Russian tourists were rescued from drowning at North Goa's Morjim beach while two domestic tourists had to be brought to safety using a jet-ski. He said that Russians top the list of international visitors to Goa with nearly half a million arrivals between October and March. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Around 80 women suspected to be members of an all-female Islamic State terror cell are believed to be on their way back to the UK, many with children, after being detained in Syria following the collapse of the dreaded terror group. Two sisters from east London, a white convert daughter of a former British Army paratrooper and an IT graduate whose mother works in the state-funded National Health Service (NHS) are part of the alleged cell, which is linked to some of the world's most infamous terrorists, according to an investigation by The Sunday Times. "The vast majority of those returning to Britain from Syria are women and children," an unnamed UK security service official was quoted as saying. "The more concerning cases particularly the men have not been returning. But we will speak to everyone because they may have been involved in terrorist activity," the official said. One of the women has reportedly told relatives in Britain that as many as 80 British women and children expect to return imminently, while others will be home by the end of the year. She said she recently had her British passport handed back and that British officials had issued her child with new travel documents. She also expects to be DNA-tested to prove she is the child's mother. The disclosure comes as Britain and other European governments face growing pressure to repatriate the jihadi brides from detention camps in northern Syria controlled by Kurdish forces. The joint investigation by The Sunday Times and Sabado, a Portuguese magazine, has identified up to six women from Britain who married into a notorious cell of fighters from east London linked to Mohammed Emwazi, known as Jihadi John. They and other female returnees face arrest on their arrival, as well as possibly having their children removed. But UK government officials concede that successful prosecutions could prove problematic because of the difficulty in "collecting evidence in theatre". At least 900 British Muslims, including up to 150 women, are believed to have travelled to join jihadist groups in Syria and Iraq. Officials say about 360 Britons remain in the region and are of "national security concern". (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Activist Rahul Easwar, also president of the 'Ayyappa Dharma Sena', was arrested Sunday for his alleged provocative statement related to the entry of women into the Lord Ayyappa temple at Sabarimala, but released on bail by a court. A team of police personnel from Kochi took Easwar into custody from his residence here. He was later taken to Kochi where his arrest was recorded in the evening, police said. Police produced him before First Judicial Magistrate court in Kochi and pressed for his judicial remand, but the court rejected it and released the activist on conditional bail. He was directed to appear before police in Kochi on every Tuesday in connection with the case and cooperate with the investigating officers. Easwar was arrested in connection with a case registered against him over his remarks at a press meet in Kochi last week that they had a contingency plan to force the closure of the temple by spilling blood on its premises by some devotees in case any woman in the 'barred' age group managed to reach it. The Thanthri family has disowned Easwars controversial statement. BJP state president P S Sreedharan Pillai lashed out at the police action against Easwar. "BJP condemns the police action on Rahul Easwar and also those associated wit the protests over the Sabarimala issue," he told reporters. A member of the Thazhamon family of Sabarimala tantris (head priests), Easwar has been arrested second time over the Sabarimala issue. Earlier, he was arrested from Sabarimala temple complex on October 17 over the 'save Sabarimala campaign, and later released on bail. In the latest case, on a complaint filed by a Thiruvananthapuram resident, Easwar has been booked under IPC Sections 153 (wantonly giving provocation with intent to cause riot) and 117 (abetting commission of offence by the public or by more than 10 persons), police said. At the press meet, Easwar had claimed that 20 Lord Ayyappa devotees opposing the entry of women in the age group of 10 and 50 were ready to inflict knife injuries on themselves on the temple premises, which would have forced the priests to close the gates on account of impurity. "Had their blood fallen on the floor of the temple, that would have forced the priests to shut the shrine for three days for purification rituals," Easwar had said. Kerala Devaswom Minister Kadakkampally Surendran had claimed that effective police intervention had foiled the protesters' bid to "desecrate" the Ayyappa Temple by spilling blood in the premises if women devotees in the 10-50 age group offered prayers. He had said the "conspiracy" of the devotees was made clear by the statement of Rahul Easwar. The Minister had also claimed the disclosure showed there was a well-conceived plan, similar to that followed by nations to attack their enemies and added this attempt was not only 'seditious,' but also against the interests of devotees. The temple had witnessed high drama with around a dozen women in 10-50 age group being prevented from entering the temple by protesting devotees after the doors were opened for all women, following the Supreme Court verdict. On September 28, a five-judge Constitution bench of the apex court had lifted the centuries-old ban on the entry of women of menstrual age into the shrine. The state police have arrested over 2,000 people in connection with the protests. Coming down on the state government for the laregescale arrest of devotees, the Kerala High Court Friday warned that a heavy price would have to be paid if innocent people were arrested. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) BJP President Amit Shah Sunday described the 'Mahagathbandhan' (grand alliance) of opposition parties as a 'dhakosla' (deception) and and accused it of "breaking India," while the Narendra Modi-led government was working for "making India." Addressing the Bharatiya Janata Yuva Morch (BJYM) national convention here, Shah said on the one hand Prime Minister Modi was focussed on 'Making India', on the other the grand alliance leaders wanted to 'Break' India. "Modiji says remove poverty, unemployment, insecurity... but Mahagathbandhan leaders say remove Modi," he added. Criticising the grand alliance, the BJP leader said it "neither has a policy nor a leader nor any principles." The Congress, TDP, TJS and others are presently engaged in seat-sharing talks for the proposed "grand alliance". Taking a dig at Congress President Rahul Gandhi over his comments on the recent arrest of activists by the Maharashtra government over alleged links with Maoists, Shah said, "I want to tell Rahul Gandhi that whoever raises slogans on "breaking India" will land behind bars and they will never be pardoned." He also hit out at Gandhi for questioning Modi governments' achievement during the last four-and-half-years and saying, he had no right to ask after having ruled for four generations and "doing nothing for the country and thepoor." Shah said the Modi government has launched several schemes and worked for the poor, farmers, women, Dalits and tribals. Asserting that the BJP was ready to fight the 2019 elections under Modi's leadership, Shah urged the Yuva Morcha members to reach out to people and create awareness about the NDA government's achievements. On the issue of National Register of Citizens, the BJP Chief said, "Rahul Baba talks of their human rights, but is not concerned about human rights of our security forces. Infiltrators explode bombs killing security forces. Are you not concerned about their (security personnel) wives and children?" he asked adding that the issue might be a vote bank matter for the Congress, but for BJP it is security of the nation. "Once the BJP is re-elected after 2019 polls, I guarantee that the party-led government will initiate the process of evicting illegal immigrants from all parts of the country," he added. Slamming the TRS government in Telangana for not celebrating the Hyderabad Liberation Day, Shah alleged it was 'scared' of MIM and its chief Asaduddin Owaisi. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Punjab Health Minister Brahm Mohindra Sunday visited five hospitals here to meet those injured in the Amritsar train tragedy on Dussehra day. At least 60 'Ravan Dahan' spectators were mowed down by a speeding train hurtling into a crowd of Dussehra revellers, who had spilled on to the adjoining railway tracks at Joda Phatak here. After enquiring about their recovery, the minister gave cheques worth Rs 50,000 each as financial help by the government to each of the 38 injured persons undergoing treatment. Mohindra was accompanied by Cabinet colleagues Navjot Singh Sidhu, Sukhbinder Singh Sarkaria and Sadhu Singh Dharamsot. Expressing his satisfaction over the "prompt delivery of quality medical care and treatment" to the victims of the rail tragedy, the Health Minister announced a grant of Rs 10 lakh to Amritsar Civil Hospital and Guru Nanak Hospital from his discretionary fund. He said this amount will be spent for purchasing the machines and other equipment. Health Minister also praised doctors and paramedics who, he said, worked round-the-clock for several days to attend to those injured in the mishap. He reiterated that Punjab government would ensure that all the victims get free medical treatment and their families are rehabilitated. Navjot Singh Sidhu said that that he would leave no stone unturned for the welfare of the families affected by rail tragedy. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Playwright, poet and author Ntozake Shange, whose most acclaimed theatre piece is the 1975 Tony Award-nominated play "For Coloured Girls Who Have Considered Suicide/When the Rainbow is Enuf," died Saturday, according to her daughter. She was 70. Shange's "For Coloured Girls" describes the racism, sexism, violence and rape experienced by seven black women. It has been influential to generations of progressive thinkers, from #MeToo architect Tarana Burke to Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright Lynn Nottage. After learning of Shange's death, Nottage called her "our warrior poet/dramatist." Savannah Shange on Saturday night did not reveal a cause of her mother's death. "For Coloured Girls" is an interwoven series of poetic monologues set to music Shange coined the form a "choreopoem" by African-American women, each identified only by a colour that she wears. Shange used idiosyncratic punctuation and nonstandard spellings in her work, challenging conventions. One of her characters shouts, "I will raise my voice / & scream & holler / & break things & race the engine / & tell all yr secrets bout yrself to yr face." It played some 750 performances on Broadway only the second play by an African-American woman after "A Raisin in the Sun" and was turned into a feature film by Tyler Perry starring Thandie Newton, Anika Noni Rose, Kerry Washington and Janet Jackson. Born Paulette Williams in Trenton, New Jersey, she went on to graduate from Barnard College and got a master's from the University of Southern California. She would also assume a new Zulu name: Ntozake means "She who comes with her own things" and Shange means "She who walks like a lion." "For Coloured Girls" opened at the Public Theatre in downtown Manhattan in June 1976, with Shange, then 27, performing as one of the women. The New York Times reviewer called it "extraordinary and wonderful" and "a very humbling but inspiring thing for a white man to experience." Shange's other plays include "A Photograph: A Study of Cruelty" (1977), "Boogie Woogie Landscapes" (1977), "Spell No. 7" (1979) and "Black and White Two Dimensional Planes" (1979). Her list of published works is also comprised of "Sassafrass, Cypress, and Indigo" (1982) and "Some Sing, Some Cry" with her sister, Ifa Bayeza, as well as collections of poetry entitled "I Live in Music" (1994) and "The Sweet Breath of Life: A Poetic Narrative of the African-American Family" (2004). She appeared in an episode of "Transparent" and helped narrate the 2002 documentary "Standing in the Shadows of Motown." In addition to her daughter and sister, Shange is survived by a granddaughter, Harriet Shange Watkins. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Senior Congress leader Ghulam Nabi Azad Sunday alleged that Prime Minister Narendra Modi speaks more outside Parliament than inside the House and the BJP does not have the experience of running the country. The former Union minister made the statement while addressing party workers here. "Prime Minister Narendra Modi seldom speak inside Parliament, but he never gets tired while speaking outside Parliament," Azad said. He claimed that due to implementation of the Goods and Services Tax (GST), lakhs of small and medium industrial units have shutdown. "The labourers working there have become unemployed. Similarly, demonetisation has rendered 35 lakh people jobless across the country," the Congress leader said. Senior Congress leader Pramod Tiwari said, "The BJP remembers the Ram temple only when the elections approach, and by the time elections are over, the issue is forgotten. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The in on Sunday announced a 'Rath Yatra' to save the customs and traditions of Lord Ayyappa temple in Sabarimala, intensifying the agitation against the entry of all women into the shrine, a day after its Chief Amit Shah extended the party's support to devotees. The yatra under the auspices of NDA would begin on November 8 from Kasargod and culminate at Pathanamthitta on November 13, state president P S Sreedharan Pillai told reporters here. He said, "The party has decided to continue protests against the arrest of of Ayyappa devotees who participated in the agitation over Sabarimala issue." Shah had Saturday extended party's full support to the agitation of Ayyappa devotees across the state, while addressing a function in Kannur. workers would observe a one-day fast in front of the DGP office here on October 30. Attacking the CPI-M led LDF government over its decision to implement the Supreme Court verdict allowing the entry of women of all ages into the hill temple without considering the sentiments of devotees, Pillai said, "it has become a war between believers and atheists." Meanwhile, a group of prominent personalities including former ISRO Chairman G Madhavan Nair and former Travancore Devaswom Board President and KPCC member G Raman Nair joined the BJP in the presence of Amit Shah here Saturday night. They were given party membership card, BJP said in its facebook post. Former State DGP T P Senkumar held a meeting with Shah, it said. Besides, Pandalam Royal family members Sasikumar Varma and Narayana Varma met the BJP Chief and held discussions, it added. The Ayyappa temple had witnessed high drama with around a dozen women in 10-50 age group being prevented from entering the temple by protesting devotees after the doors were opened for all women between October 17-22, following the Apex court judgement. Boko Haram jihadists launched a large assault on a military base in Nigeria's remote northeast region and killed one soldier, defence officials said Sunday. The attack on 145 Battalion in Gashigar, Borno State, began on Saturday and continued into early Sunday morning, said Nigerian air force spokesman Ibikunle Daramola. "BHTs (Boko Haram terrorists) in 13 gun trucks...advanced towards the camp from two different directions," Daramola said in a statement. Nigerian troops supported by helicopters "forced the Boko Haram terrorists to retreat from the camp," Daramola said. "One soldier was killed in action while four others were wounded," said the Nigerian army in a statement posted on its official Twitter account. The army repelled an assault on Gashigar in September by jihadists in trucks mounted with anti-aircraft guns. There have been at least nine military base attacks since July, mostly in the northern part of Borno state, near the shores of Lake Chad. Boko Haram has in recent months intensified attacks on military bases in Borno and nearby Yobe state, undermining repeated claims by the military that they have the upper hand. Scores of soldiers have been killed, injured or missing in attacks but the military has repeatedly denied or played down losses to the jihadists. More than 27,000 people have been killed in northeast Nigeria since the Boko Haram insurgency began in 2009, while nearly two million others remain homeless. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The British Council and the Arunachal Pradesh government Sunday inked a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to strengthen educational and cultural cooperation between the state and the United Kingdom. The MoU was signed by British Council director Alan Gemmell and Arunachal Pradesh Higher and Technical director Dr Tayek Talom in presence of Chief Minister Pema Khandu at Tawang in the sidelines of the Tawang Festival. The MoU celebrates the British Councils 70th anniversary in India and seeks to strengthen the relationship for the next 70 years. As a result of the MoU, 50 faculty members from government higher institutions of the state would be trained by the British Council every year, starting in December 2018, official sources said. Of the 50 faculty members, 30 would be from government colleges, 10 from government polytechnic institutes, 8 from central institutions established in the state and 2 from officers of the higher administration. Further, 50 students of higher and technical education institutes would be trained annually by the British Council in english language skills. The MoU would also work towards improving English communication of the state's civil servants, developing capacity-building initiatives in the state, supporting improvements in the teaching of mathematics and science, capacity-building programmes for faculty and senior administrators of higher education institutions and seek to increase student and academic mobility, for the state. Speaking on the occasion, the chief minister said, "The MoU with British Council will enhance the opportunities for young people in education and culture from Arunachal Pradesh, connecting them to international expertise and ideas. "I am grateful for the British Councils initiative here in the state and across the Northeast." The British Council director said the MoU supports the vision of the chief minister in enhancing human resource capacity building in higher education and subsequently in school education. The British Council has had a long association with the Northeastern region. It recently signed an MoU with the North Eastern Council (NEC) to strengthen educational and cultural cooperation in all eight states of the region. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) A BJP lawmaker raised the maximum number of questions during the sittings of the 4th Chhattisgarh Legislative Assembly but the opposition Congress's MLAs asked more questions on an average, a report by an electoral watchdog revealed Sunday. The BJP is in power in the poll-bound state, carved out of Madhya Pradesh in 2000, since 2003. Chhattisgarh Assembly polls will be held in two phases on November 12 and November 28 and counting of votes will be taken up on December 11. Addressing a press conference Sunday, the Association for Democratic Reforms' Chhattisgarh convener Gautam Bandopadhyay informed that during the 18 sessions of the current Assembly, sittings were held on 145 days during which legislators raised 22,892 questions in the 90-member House. He was speaking after releasing the ADR's 'Analysis of Performance of MLAs'. ADR was established in 1999 by a group of professors from the Indian Institute of Management-Ahmedabad with an aim to improve governance and strengthening democracy by working in the area of electoral and political reforms. The report said Devjibhai Patel, BJP MLA from Dharsinwa, raised 596 questions, the highest among legislators, followed by Congress members Leader of Opposition TS Singhdeo (575), Dhanendra Sahu (572), Motilal Dewangan (562) and Umesh Patel (561). The report, however, pointed out that on an average Congress MLAs raised 407 questions per legislator while the ruling BJP had a score of 164 questions per MLA. The lone BSP MLA, Keshav Chandra, also put in a good performance by asking 560 questions while an Independent MLA, Vimal Chopra, came up with 539 questions, the report stated. On the other end of the spectrum were BJP MLA Rajsharan Bhagat, who did not ask a single question, Suniti Satyanand Rathiya, who raised only 2 questions, Badridhar Diwan with nine and Govardhan Manjhi with 15 queries, Bandopadhyay said. In the 4th Assembly, a total 123 bills were passed, mostly related to finance, commercial taxes and higher education, it said. Surprisingly, Bandopadhyay said Chhattisgarh, heavily forested and rich in minerals, saw only one bill each passed on the two sectors in the current assembly. As far as attendance of MLAs in the current Assembly was concerned, three MLAs Shrawan Markam (BJP), Sarojani Banjare (BJP) and Mohan Markam (Congress) topped the list by attending the House for 144 days out of a total 145 sittings, he said. Three other MLAs Dr Sanam Jangde (BJP), Ashok Sahu (BJP) and Kawasi Lakhma (Congress) attended 143 sittings, he added. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) A senior Assam government official on Sunday said everything cannot be approved in the name of creativity as it may create problems, and advocated "reasonable restrictions" in selecting a film for festivals, which usually do not have any censorship. However, during a discussion at the 2nd Guwahati International Film Festival (GIFF) here, filmmakers from other countries favoured abolition of censorship and asked people to raise voice against any government pressure. "In the name of creativity, we cannot approve everything. It may create problems," Assam Revenue Board Chairman V B Pyarelal said at the discussion on "Smaller Festivals: Breaking New Grounds" here. He was responding to a query on censorship on selection of movies as films were withdrawn in recent times from some renowned festivals including the International Documentary and Short Film Festival Kerala. "Reasonable restrictions are there and it should be there. A film should not create problems with other countries," said Pyarelal, who was Additional Chief Secretary looking after the Finance and Culture departments before being promoted to the Revenue Board. The bureaucrat, who was also in the Union Information & Broadcasting (I&B) Ministry and was involved with the International Film Festival of India (IFFI), said he used to issue exemption certificates for various film festivals. For a public screening, a film has to have either a censor certificate or an exemption certificate. Since 2016, uncensored films can be screened at a festival on the condition that they receive an exemption certificate from the Information and Broadcasting Ministry. "For giving the (exemption) certificate, the films are seen by a competent authority. There is another clause that only invited guests will view it in the festival and there will be no ticketing," he added. Renowned film curator Srinivasa Santhanam, who is also the advisor of GIFF, said no international film festival in India has "censorship". Cambodian filmmaker praCh Ly appealed to the people to protest any pressure tactics of the government in screening a particular film that may be critical of it. Ly, who is currently US-based and also a well-known rapper, said the South Korean government has withdrawn from a film festival it used to fun after a documentary on corruption was screened. But the government returned after the festival director managed to run the event successfully by raising funds from elsewhere. During the discussion, all the panelists praised the 2nd GIFF and hoped that it will be bigger in coming years, making it an important international film festival of India. Moderator of the session Rahul Jain, also the Artistic Director of GIFF, said the budget of the current edition of the festival is over 4,00,000 USD (about Rs 3 crore). (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Admid the political turmoil in Sri Lanka, Chinese President Xi Jinping has emerged as one of the first world leaders to congratulate the newly appointed Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa, known for his pro-Beijing stance. President Maithripala Sirisena on Friday night sacked Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe and appointed former strongman Rajapaksa as the new prime minister. Sirisena also suspended parliament till November 16 after Wickremesinghe sought an emergency session to prove his majority. On Sunday, Sri Lankan Parliament's Speaker Karu Jayasuriya recognised Wickremesinghe as the prime minister. "China's Ambassador to #SriLanka Cheng Xueyuan called on newly appointed Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa earlier today to convey congratulatory wishes from Chinese President Xi Jinping," Rajapaksa himself tweeted, along with a picture. Chinese Ambassador Cheng also paid a courtesy call on UNP leader Ranil Wickremesinghe, Daily Mirror newspaper reported on Sunday. China is investing billions of dollars in infrastructure and developments in Sri Lanka under Rajapaksa's rule. The government led by Wickremesinghe has tried to re-balance Sri Lanka's foreign relations away from China and towards India and Japan. The Hambantota port in Rajapaksa's hometown was built by a Chinese company and funded by Chinese loans. According to reports, Sri Lanka is now struggling to repay that money, and has signed an agreement to give a Chinese firm a stake in the Hambantota port as a way of paying down some of that debt. Sri Lanka is strategically located on the sea route that sees oil shipments travel from the Middle East, making energy security a key reason China was keen to invest. Sri Lanka is key to the controversial One Belt, One Road (OBOR) initiative, building road, rail and sea links to boost trade with countries around the world to increase Beijing's influence. The OBOR is a pet project of President Xi. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik Sunday ordered an inquiry by the crime branch into the electrocution of seven elephants in Dhenkanal district even as one official was dismissed and six others were suspended by their departments in connection with the incident. Six officials, three each from the Central Electricity Supply Utility (CESU) and forest department, were suspended and a junior engineer of CESU dismissed after the jumbos died after coming in contact with sagging live wire Saturday, an official said. A general manager, one sub-divisional Officer (SDO) and a lineman of CESU were placed under suspension, while a junior engineer was sacked, an CESU official said. Similarly, a forest range officer, a forester and a forest guard were suspended for the incident, he said. "Besides ordering a crime branch inquiry into the incident, the chief minister has ordered appropriate action in case of any criminal negligence," an official in Chief Minister's Office said. Seven jumbos, including a tusker and five females, were electrocuted as they came in contact with an 11-KV power line near Kamalanga under Sadar forest range. The death of the elephants drew sharp criticism from the opposition parties with both the Congress and the BJP accusing the state government of "utter negligence". BJP leader and Union minister Dharmendra Pradhan slammed the state government for the incident and claimed that earlier too several animals were killed due to lack of coordination between the forest department and the CESU under the energy department. "It is a matter of regret that one hand of the state government is not aware of what the other hand is doing," Pradhan tweeted. Senior BJP leader and former MP Rudra Narayan Pani also hit out at the government and sought resignation of both forest and energy ministers. He said both the energy and forest departments were "responsible" for the incident. Blaming power authorities for the tragedy, Forest and Minister Bijayshree Routray had on Saturday said the CESU had been warned about the matter long ago, but no corrective step was taken. Non-rectification of sagging lines and non-cabling of transmission lines led to the tragedy, Routray and Principal Chief Conservator of Forest (Wildlife) Sandeep Tripathi said. The PCCF said the mishap took place as the energy department failed to take step to raise the height of the high-tension wire, which was hanging much below the height stipulated by guidelines of the union government. Energy Secretary Hemant Kumar Sharma said a three-member team was probing the incident and on the basis of their report, appropriate action would be taken. The line acted as a temporary feeder for a railway construction site in the area where the incident took place, he said, adding that meetings between the forest and the energy departments were being held on a regular basis to ensure proper coordination. Environmentalist and wildlife expert Biswajit Mohanty said there were 200 places in Dhenakanal district where high voltage electric wires were sagging at a low height and left unattended. Despite repeated letters to the CESU by the Forest department and stakeholders, nothing tangible has been done till date, he said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) A college teacher was shot dead by two bike-borne miscreants in Bihar Sharif, the district headquarters town of Nalanda, on Sunday morning, police said. The incident happened when the teacher was on a morning stroll, the police said. The deceased has been identified as Arvind Kumar (58). He was a professor at Pairu Mahto Somari College in Bihar Sharif, the Deputy Inspector General (DIG) of Central Range, Patna, Rajesh Kumar, said. Kumar was a resident of Jalalpur area in Bihar Sharif town and was shot at by two bike-borne miscreants near Milkipar while he (Kumar) was on a morning walk, Kumar said adding, the miscreants managed to escape from the spot. The injured professor was rushed to Bihar Sharif Sadar hospital but he died on the way to the hospital, Rajesh Kumar said. An investigation has been initiated, he said, adding that he also met the deceased's family. A special investigation team (SIT), headed by Superintendent of Police (SP) of Nalanda district, Satya Prakash Mishra, has been constituted to probe the matter, the DIG said. The matter is being investigated from all angles, DIG said, adding, land dispute could also be one of the factors behind the killing. A dog squad and a forensic team were called from Patna to collect samples from the spot, the DIG said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The opposition Congress Sunday objected to the presence of school students at a Bharatiya Janata Yuva Morcha programme addressed by Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan. The programme, titled 'nav-matdata town hall' of the BJYM, the Bharatiya Janata Party's youth wing, was held Sunday at the Ravindra Bhawan campus here. After clips of the programme, showing students in school uniform in attendance, were televised on TV channels, the Congress said it would file a complaint Monday on violation of the model code of conduct. MP goes to polls on November 28 and counting of votes will take place on December 11. "A large number of school students were present in this programme. The Congress will file a complaint in this regard with the Election Commission on Monday morning," said Bhupendra Gupta, vice president of state Congress media cell. Attacking the BJP, Gupta further said, "This means that the BJP doesn't have young workers or supporters who can attend this programme. This shows that the BJP has lost its connect with the people. They don't have workers to fill even a small space at Ravindra Bhawan, which is meant for only a thousand people." BJYM state president Abhilash Pandey, however, claimed that school students were not invited to the programme. "There were ten thousand people in this programme. It may be possible that they (students) might have come with someone. We have not invited them. Congress is levelling allegations out of desperation," he claimed. However, a girl in school uniform, while talking to a TV channel, said she and her schoolmates attended the programme at the directive of teachers. "I'm not eligible to vote due to my age but teachers told us to attend the programme and listen to lectures on how to vote," she said. Following the dispute, these students were removed from the programme venue. In his address at the BJYM function, Chouhan attacked the previous Congress regimes in the state for poor roads, lack of electricity as well as irrigation facilities. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The Congress Sunday charged the Modi dispensation at the Centre and the Raman Singh government in Chhattisgarh for failing to contain naxal violence, saying the chief minister has forfeited his right to continue in power. No immediate reaction was available from the Prime Minister's Office on the allegations levelled by Congress leader Abhishek Manu Singhvi at a press conference here. Terming demonetisation as a "brain child" of Narendra Modi, Singhvi said the prime minister had claimed that the note ban exercise has effectively neutralised naxal and terror threats. He said the figures available suggest otherwise as more security personnel and civilians were killed in naxal violence after note ban. Raman Singh, he said, too had echoed similar sentiments. "But facts state otherwise," he said. Singhvi claimed that the situation in Jammu and Kashmir had worsened and demonetisation did not help in any way to contain terror strikes. "Security personnel have become fodder to infirm policies of the two governments ... The coward Raman Singh government has forfeited its right to be in power in the state... "People will also reject the Modi dispensation in the next elections," the Congress leader said. He claimed that the various schemes launched by the previous UPA government for naxal-affected and backward districts were discontinued by the present government at the Centre just because they were implemented by a Congress-led dispensation. He said while Home Minister Rajnath Singh can travel to Rajasthan for a political programme and the prime minister could visit Japan, they could not go to Chhattisgarh following the naxal attack in Bijapur district which left four CRPF men dead. Chhattisgarh will go for polls in two phases on November 12 and November 20. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The Calcutta University has issued a notification looking for an "outstanding scholar of national and international repute" for appointment of the Mahatma Gandhi Chair professor. The notification came days after West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee announced setting up the chair to commemorate Gandhiji's 150th birth anniversary next year. The notification sought applications for the Chair professor who will facilitate "eminent scholars on Gandhi to teach and conduct research" on the Father of Nation. The notification stipulated qualification for the post as "an outstanding scholar of national and international repute, who has a proven track record from the areas of Political Science/History/Philosophy and such other disciplines of Social Sciences as may be required to fulfil the mandate of the Chair." The period of job will be "initially for one year, which can be extended for another two years," the notification said adding the application for the job should reach the office of Registrar by December 31, 2018. Vice-Chancellor Sonali Chakrabarti Banerjee said, "The notice has been issued to find someone who will fit the bill as Chair Professor and enable eminent scholars on Gandhi to teach and conduct research on his life and work." The Chair Professor will not be more than 69 years of age. The CM had announced a Chair in Gandhiji's name at Calcutta University on his birthday October 2, after laying the foundation stone of a new museum complex at the state-acquired Gandhi Bhawan in Beleghata here. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Czech Prime Minister Andrej Babis on Sunday expressed surprise at a US threat to withdraw from a Cold War-era nuclear treaty with Russia, calling the development "bad news". "For us it's a completely new matter and it's definitely a bad if that is the case," Babis told reporters at a joint conference with US Defence Secretary Jim Mattis in Prague on Sunday. An ex-communist state, the Czech Republic became a US NATO ally when it joined the Western defence alliance in 1999. "We are getting back somehow into Cold War times," Babis added, echoing concerns expressed by NATO chief Jens Stoltenberg that the move could lead to a new arms race. President Donald Trump said Monday the United States was ready to build up its nuclear arsenal after announcing it was abandoning a Cold War-era nuclear treaty, as Russia warned the withdrawal could cripple global security. Trump sparked concern globally last weekend by saying he wanted to jettison the three-decade-old Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty (INF) signed former US president Ronald Reagan and Mikhail Gorbachev, the last Soviet leader. Explaining his decision, Trump told reporters in Washington that Russia had "not adhered to the spirit of that agreement or to the agreement itself." "Until people come to their senses, we will build it up," he said, referring to America's nuclear stockpile. "This should have been done years ago." Russia has warned that abandoning the agreement would be a major blow to global security. Signed in 1987, the INF resolved a crisis over Soviet nuclear-tipped ballistic missiles targeting Western capitals. Trump's announcement has raised global concerns, with the European Commission urging the United States and Russia to pursue talks to preserve the treaty and China calling on Washington to "think twice. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Zimbabwe's main opposition leader Nelson Chamisa on Saturday vowed to continue his push to take power after disputed elections in which he lost to President Emmerson Mnangagwa in July. "We want to claim the victory of the people. We must lead this country. We won the election on 30 July but they were stolen," said Chamisa in a speech to thousands of his Movement of Democratic Change (MDC) supporters in the capital Harare. "Mnangagwa we don't acknowledge him because he didn't win the elections," he said. The MDC's 19th anniversary rally which was banned several times by police citing a cholera outbreak which killed at least 50 people was given the go-ahead this week. Chamisa, 40, has called for a transitional government to resolve the worsening economic and political crisis engulfing the country. "Because we have not resolved the political issues our economy cannot perform. The economy is in a shambles," he said. "The economy is a reflection of that is not in proper shape. We have solutions to the economic crisis," he added. Thousands of MDC supporters sang and danced to music as Chamisa lit a "democratic flame" and released 19 doves calling for "peace in Zimbabwe". And he vowed to organise protests to contest Mnangagwa's presidency. "We are planning the day or days, we will not do violence...," he said without elaborating. Party supporters and senior officials addressed Chamisa as the "real president of Zimbabwe." Chamisa also dismissed a commission of inquiry led by former South African President Kgalema Motlanthe appointed by Mnangagwa to investigate the death of six people after soldiers opened fire on protestors who accused officials of delaying election results. "It is a waste of time, it is a shame. Motlanthe runs the risk of losing all credibility," he said. "We will not accept any outcome of the commission if it does not agree that the people who committed the crime are the people in government." Zimbabwe has been facing foreign currency shortages in recent weeks that have sparked an economic crisis with supplies of fuel, food and pharmaceuticals drying up. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Delhi continues to grapple with alarming levels of pollution as citizens expressed their anger and concern over the deteriorating air quality in the city which is one of the most polluted in the world. Delhi recorded its worst air quality of this season Sunday as a thick haze engulfed the national capital which continued to grapple with deteriorating air quality. The overall Air Quality Index of Delhi was recorded at 381 which falls in the very poor category, the highest of this season, and just points below severe pollution level, according to data by the Central Pollution Control Board. On Twitter, #righttobreathe trended where Delhiites used the hashtag to express concern over the rising pollution. "One can escape the epidemic and water pollution. But there is no escape from air pollution. Air is everywhere," a user Amul Atri said on Twitter. People also posted pictures of haze and smog on Facebook and Instagram with the hash tag of #righttobreathe. Health experts specialising in pulmonary disorders said they have started witnessing a surge in the number of patients experiencing breathing disorders. "Mostly old or children have started coming with issue of breathing difficulties," said Imran Khan, a pulmonologist, adding every year this pattern is observed. The city residents also expressed their dismay at the poor air quality. "We can't send children to play outside wearing masks so we have asked them to stay indoors," said Neetu Verma, a Mayur Vihar resident. Another local said he doesn't find Delhi to be livable anymore. "Every year, the government promises to make the city green but what we see is a growing concrete jungle," said Ayush Sharma. D Saha, an expert in environmental issues, said meteorological factors were the biggest cause of this increase in pollution. "If meteorological factors like wind speed and temperature come under control then pollution would automatically reduce," he said. According to the World Health Organisation, Delhi and Varanasi are among the 14 Indian cities that figured in a list of 20 most polluted cities in the world in terms of PM2.5 levels in 2016. The global health body is also coming out with a new report on air pollution and children's health Monday. PM2.5 are particles in the air with a diameter of less than 2.5 micrometres and they include pollutants such as sulfate, nitrate and black carbon. It poses greatest risk to human health as the fine particles can easily be inhaled into the respiratory tract. With Diwali round the corner and the Supreme Court giving a window of two hours for bursting firecrackers, experts believe the air quality is going to further deteriorate in the first ten days of November. Two pollution watchdogs CPCB and Centre-run System of Air Quality Forecasting and Research have both issued health advisories for the public which include measures like wearing masks, keeping windows shut and taking short walks instead of jogging to reduce exposure to toxic air. The apex court Tuesday ruled that people can burst crackers from 8 pm to 10 pm only on Diwali and permitted the sale and manufacture of low emission "green" firecrackers nationwide. For Christmas and New Year, bursting of crackers was allowed for 11.45 pm - 12.45 am. Toxic air continues to plague the national capital due to localised factors like vehicular pollution and rampant construction activities and regional factors like stubble burning from Punjab and Haryana. Stubble burning from Punjab and Haryana on Saturday caused 32 per cent of pollution in Delhi , according to a report by SAFAR. The report which analysed the impact of pollutant PM2.5 showed that highest contribution since October 11 by stubble burning was seen on Friday at 36 per cent. Minister Harsh Vardhan Saturday had said the government would soon release guidelines to prosecute agencies which do not comply with the directives to check air pollution. He had expressed concerns about the deteriorating air quality in the national capital. The pollution reached alarming levels every year when the wind direction changes in winter and it starts flowing from areas of stubble burning in Delhi's neighbouring states. An emergency action plan to tackle poor air quality in Delhi came into force on October 15. Measures that will also cover surrounding parts of the National Capital Region include mechanised sweeping of roads and deployment of traffic police to ensure smooth passage of traffic in vulnerable areas. The measures are part of the Graded Response Action Plan, which was put in place in 2017 on the directions of the Supreme Court after high pollution levels in the National Capital Region in the winter of 2016. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Benjamin Jumbe. The minister of agriculture animal industries and fisheries Vincent Ssempija has dismissed reports that the recent program to bail out maize farmers has failed to pick up. It follows reports that governments efforts to buy off excess maize stock with investment of 100 bn shillings has so far not yielded any tangible results. Speaking to kfm Ssempija said several maize traders have picked the money however noting that clear details can only be availed after a report expected from the ministry of finance Government intervened after maize prices fell as low as 150 per kilogram, expressing confidence that with the support, farmers would be able to sell their produce above 500 shillings. From offering toys to favourite food items, from sharing stories to dressing up like their mothers, women police officers employ several techniques to interact with victims of child sexual abuse. On an average two children are raped daily in the national capital, according to data released by the Delhi Police recently. According to the data, 739 cases of child rape have been reported until October 15 this year, while 921 such cases were reported in 2017. Investigating cases of child rape and interacting with children require a great deal of sensitivity, Madhur Verma, Deputy Commissioner of Police (New Delhi) said. Recalling an incident in his district where a Class 2 student of a New Delhi Municipal Council-run school in the upscale Gole Market area was allegedly raped by an electrician on the institute premises in August, Verma said such children are often in a traumatic situation. So the police take professional help to extract details from them. Child counsellors have a lot of patience and are trained in dealing such cases, he added. Utmost care is taken while interacting and extracting details from the child since the police need to ensure that the victim does not revisit the trauma, the senior officer said. Child counsellors usually interact and counsel the victim about good and bad touch and use various story-telling techniques to gather input from the child, Verma said. The child is quizzed about the suspects by various methods in order to establish the identity of the culprit. Children are often quizzed about the accused on the kind of clothes they were wearing, have they spotted the accused before in the neighbourhood. Where and when did you spot him? What did that uncle tell you? All these questions are asked in a very special manner so that the child gets comfortable in sharing the details and does not get traumatised, the officer added. In the NDMC school rape case, police said they were able to extract a lot of details from the child who gave them information about the kind of clothes worn by the accused who had even earlier tried to approach the victim. A woman officer, who has investigated cases of child rape, said they ensure they are dressed in civil clothes while attending to the child, adding that they try their best to keep children away from the police station while extracting information. "We dress like their mother and try to comfort them. Offer their favourite food items and toys to distract their mind and make them comfortable since they have already been through a traumatic situation," she said, requesting anonymity. The children are usually taken to a one-stop centre that are set up in hospital where the woman officer in the presence of the child's mother and a counsellor try to extract details, the woman officer said. "The room is quite lively with toys and the ambience tries to distract the children. We even make them sit on our lap and try speaking to them so that they can open up without fear," the woman officer added. In another incident, in October, a 79-year-old man was arrested for allegedly raping an eight-year-old girl on the pretext of giving her a chocolate in northeast Delhi's Khajuri Khas. In this case, the accused was the neighbour of the victim. The police said in most cases, the accused are known to the victim. Terming each case of child rape different in its nature depending on the situation, the police said in cases where the victims are infants or toddlers, they said crime scene plays a vital role in extracting information and accordingly, they prepare of a list of their suspects, another senior police officer said. In Januray, an eight-month-old girl was allegedly raped by her cousin in northwest Delhi's Subhash Place. The identification of suspects mainly depends on the crime scene, police said, adding if the child was raped inside a school, the suspects could range from teachers, employees of school and other students. And in cases where the child was raped inside or near their house, the accused could be in the vicinity including a relative, friend, enemy or anyone known, the senior officer said. The background of the crime plays a vital role in collecting primary data in such cases, he said. Police said children are easy targets and in most cases, the accused persons usually set their target in their vicinity so they need not travel kilometres to fulfil their task and instead wait for an opportunity to execute their crime. In October, a Class 10 student of a government-run school was allegedly raped by four men who lured her with an offer to buy her a pizza in east Delhi's Kalyanpuri. Advocate and child rights activist Ananth Kumar Asthana said that even though the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act requires female police officers to play a crucial role in child sexual abuse cases, as of now the number of female police officers is very inadequate and stressed on the need for special skills in dealing with children in such cases. "There is a need for regular training and sensitisation programmes for police. And all cases of child sexual abuse must be reported to Child Welfare Committees and in turn the committee must provide assistance to such children," he added. He also asserted that even if legal provisions in this regard are in place but its implementation is still lacking to the extend required. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Days after lashing out at Rajinikanth for his political aspirations, DMK's official organ "Murasoli" Sunday said its write-up targeting the actor had hurt some "good hearts" and advised its editorial team to be "cautious" in future. The mouthpiece of the main opposition party in Tamil Nadu had accused Rajinikanth of being a puppet in the hands of "some persons" and being supported by "communal" elements in a recent article. "It has been brought to (my) notice that an article on superstar Rajinikanth that appeared in Murasoli has hurt some good hearts. The editorial (team) has been advised to be cautious while publishing such write-ups," Murasoli editor S Selvam said in the Sunday edition of the paper. However, there was no elaboration on the points that had caused hurt or who were anguished by it. The daily, in effect, stopped short of offering a formal regret for the write-up. The article targeting Rajinikanth appeared in Murasoli on October 26. It was published in a question-answer format under the pseudonym "Silanthi", meaning spider in Tamil. "Those who are speaking for you in the media are communal (elements), who want to divide the Tamil community, which exists after transcending caste and religion," it had said. The Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) daily had also asked Rajinikanth to be cautious, saying "a group" was trying to destabilise his popularity, and added that anyone dancing to the tunes of the group would lose sheen. If the actor was not eyeing posts, he should have launched an outfit on the lines of rationalist leader, late E V Ramasamy Periyar, it said. Periyar's Dravidar Kazhagam has stayed out of electoral since its inception in the pre-independence era and is confined to propagating rationalism and ideals covering social justice. Rajinikanth, who is all set to enter politics, had on October 23 said he was committed to ushering in a change in the political horizon sans the trappings of money and lure of posts. Sharing his political vision with the members of the Rajini Makkal Mandram, a precursor forum to the launch of his party, the superstar had recalled his assertion in 2017 that he would never allow those eyeing money and posts in his political innings and said it was not a mere rhetoric. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Claire Foy says she does not feel that she is defined by the role of Queen Elizabeth II in "The Crown". The 34-year-old actor shot to global fame after playing the monarch in the Netflix royal drama for two seasons. She says though the role was an "honour" for her, she was not trying to actively break the mould. "I don't feel like I'm defined by playing Queen Elizabeth. It's a huge honour that people liked that character and therefore see me as that character. So, I'm not trying to actively go against that," Foy, who will be replaced by Olivia Colman as the Queen in the next two seasons, told People magazine. The actor, whose latest release was "The Girl in the Spider's Web", says she is selfish in her career choices. "My career is only for me, really. I can't do it for anybody else and so the choices and decisions I make are purely based on what I want to do. That's it really. It's a really selfish thing," she says. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The country's first container movement on vessel post-independence scheduled on Tuesday from Kolkata would start with a consignment of the Authority of India (IWAI) officials said the food and Beverage giant would move 16 containers from Kolkata to Varanasi on NW-1. (India) will move 16 containers equivalent to 16 truckloads - filled with food and snacks in the vessel MV RN Tagore which will reach Varanasi in 9-10 days, the officials said. Senior shipping ministry and officials are expected to present to mark the event. The vessel will make its return journey with fertilizers belonging to IFFCO that will be procured from its Phulpur plant near Allahabad. The government is developing NW-1 (River Ganga) under the Jal Marg Vikas Project (JMVP) from Haldia to Varanasi covering a distance of 1390 km with technical and financial assistance of the at an estimated cost of Rs 53.69 billion. The project would enable commercial navigation of vessels with capacity of 1500-2,000 DWT. Sniper attack by Jaish-e-Mohammed terrorists has emerged as a new source of worry for security agencies in Kashmir Valley with three personnel having been killed since mid-September, prompting the law enforcement agencies to re-calibrate their strategy to thwart such strikes by the Pakistan-based group, officials said. The first such attack took place at Newa in Pulwama on September 18 when a CRPF personnel was injured. Security officials thought it to be a one-off strike till the recent spate of sniper attacks that claimed the lives of a Sashastra Seema Bal jawan and an Army personnel in Tral, and a jawan in Nowgam. Based on intelligence inputs, security agencies believe that at least two separate 'buddy' groups of the proscribed Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) comprising two terrorists each have entered Kashmir Valley in early September and have entrenched themselves in South Kashmir's Pulwama district with the help of some overground supporters of the outfit. These terrorists, according to the officials, have been thoroughly trained by Pakistan's external snooping agency ISI for carrying out sniper attacks in Kashmir Valley and have been armed with M-4 carbines, used by the US-led allied forces in Afghanistan. There is a possibility that these weapons may be part of the arms and ammunition captured by the Talibans, with whom the JeM cadre were fighting the allied forces in Afghanistan, security officials in the state said. However, they said that the weapon was also being used by the special forces of Pakistan Army. In all the instances of sniper attacks, the terrorists used a nearby hillock to carry out strikes on a security force campus when unsuspecting jawans were using their mobile phones to talk to their family or friends. "These attacks have been precise, even while targeting a personnel inside a sentry post as he uses his mobile phone. They pick up the light of the mobile phone to carry out the attack on jawans," said one of the officials. Former Chief Minister Omar Abdullah has reacted to the rising cases of sniper attacks. "We've dealt with snipers on the border/LoC regularly and have SOPs to deal with those but never in the hinterland. This will force a rethink of all manner of security and protection procedures." The M-4 carbine is mounted with a telescope and the terrorists are using night vision devices to locate their potential targets, the officials said. The weapon can fire at its target up to 500-600 metres with precision. The security agencies, including the army, CRPF and police, have already issued fresh guidelines to their jawans and officers located in camps in the militancy-hit areas. Maintaining a silence over the change in tactics, the officials said that more combing operations would be carried out around the security camps. They said that Jaish cadres were likely to carry out more such attacks in the future, but added that some modules had been identified and these cases were likely to be cracked soon. The security agencies had been observing that while pushing the terrorists into Kashmir Valley from the Line of Control (LoC), ISI meticulously planned to send in Jaish-e-Mohammed cadre along. Those terrorists were armed with the best possible arsenal including bullets with steel core with the capability to pierce a static bulletproof bunker used during counter-terrorism operations, the officials said. The first such incident was noticed on the New Year eve when JeM terrorists had carried out a suicide attack on a CRPF camp in Lethpora in South Kashmir. Five personnel of the para-military force were killed in the attack and one of them was hit by a bullet fatally despite using a static bullet-proof shield provided by the Army, officials said. A thorough inquiry into the attack showed that the bullet fired by the terrorist from the assault AK rifle was of a steel core with the capability of piercing through the static bunkers used by security personnel during encounters with terrorists. Generally, the AK bullets used in the armoury have a lead core covered with mild steel which cannot penetrate a bulletproof shield but after the December 31, 2017 encounter and subsequent findings, the rules of the proxy-war changed, the officials said. A detailed analysis of the previous suicide attacks was carried out during which ballistic analysis of the terror attack on district police lines of Pulwama in South Kashmir in last August showed that 'steel core' bullets had been used by the terrorists in that encounter with security personnel. Eight security personnel had lost their lives in the terror strike. The ammunition, according to the officials, is being modified from across the border with the help of Chinese technology of encasing the bullet with hard steel core. At the United Nations, India has been seeking a ban the Jaish-e-Mohammed terror group and designation of its chief Maulana as a global terrorist, but its efforts have been blocked by China four times so far. The leaders of Turkey, Russia, France and Germany on Saturday called for a political solution to Syria's devastating seven-year civil war and a lasting ceasefire in the last major rebel-held bastion of Idlib. A joint statement adopted at the end of a major summit in Istanbul said the countries were committed to working "together in order to create conditions for peace and stability in Syria". It also "stressed the importance of a lasting ceasefire" in Idlib, while hailing "progress" following a deal last month between Syrian-regime supporter Russia and rebel-backer Turkey to create a buffer zone around the northwestern province. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan spoke for several hours with Russia's Vladimir Putin, France's Emmanuel Macron and German Chancellor Angela Merkel about the Syrian conflict, in which more than 360,000 people have been killed since 2011. Their statement, read by Erdogan, called for a committee to be established to draft Syria's post-war constitution before the end of the year, "paving the way for free and fair elections" in the war-torn country. It also said there was "the need to ensure humanitarian organisations' rapid, safe and unhindered access throughout Syria and immediate humanitarian assistance to reach all people in need". The talks came after a week of escalating violence in Idlib culminated in Syrian regime artillery fire killing seven civilians on Friday, the highest death toll there since the fragile ceasefire began last month. Following the joint conference in Istanbul, the leaders spoke separately, with Macron urging Russia to pressure the regime of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad to bring about a "stable and lasting ceasefire in Idlib". "We rely on Russia to exercise very clear pressure on the regime which depends on it for survival," he said. However Putin warned that if "radicals" were to "launch armed provocations from the Idlib zone, Russia reserves the right to give active assistance to the Syrian government in liquidating this source of terrorist threat". Merkel, meanwhile, said the leaders "have the duty to prevent another humanitarian disaster". "The challenge is to end two wars: The war against terror and the war of the regime against large parts of its own population," she said. "A solution cannot happen through military means but only through political negotiations under the leadership of the United Nations." A rival United Nations plan for a committee to write the constitution ran aground this week, with UN special envoy Staffan de Mistura, who attended the summit, saying Damascus rejected the UN having a role in the selection process. The summit also addressed the plight of the millions displaced by the grinding conflict, saying that conditions needed to be created "throughout the country for the safe and voluntary return of refugees". However whether or not those forced to flee the country would be allowed to vote in a future election was left for the separate press conferences. "We must advance with the political process at the end of which there must be free elections open to all Syrians -- including those in the diaspora," Merkel said. Erdogan, a vocal opponent of Assad, agreed, saying that Syrians "inside and outside" the country must decide the president's fate. Aid groups have warned that a Syrian government military offensive in Idlib, home to three million people, could spark one of the worst humanitarian disasters of the seven-year war. With an assault by government troops seeming imminent, Moscow and Ankara agreed on September 17 to create a 15-20 kilometre-wide demilitarised zone ringing Idlib as Turkey sought to avoid an attack leading to a further influx of people across its border. On Friday, Syria's UN envoy Bashar Jaafari maintained that the buffer zone is temporary and that Idlib would eventually revert to government control. Turkey and Russia have held several talks with Iran on the Syrian conflict in efforts that have often been greeted with suspicion in the West, but Saturday's summit was the first to include the EU's two most significant national leaders. Syria's opposition, which has previously described Russia's military intervention in 2015 as an occupation, on Friday said it welcomed dialogue with Moscow. However US Defence Secretary Jim Mattis told a security conference in Bahrain that Russia was no replacement for the United States. "Russia's presence in the region cannot replace the longstanding, enduring, and transparent US commitment to the Middle East," Mattis said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Germany plans to deport a Turkish journalist who wore a shirt calling for press freedom at a joint appearance by Chancellor Angela Merkel and President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, media reported Sunday. Adil Yigit, 60, told agency DPA he was notified Friday that he must leave the country by January or be deported. "The two things have to be related, there's no other possible explanation," Yigit said. The journalist, who says he has lived in Germany for 36 years, wore a T-shirt emblazoned with the words "freedom for journalists in Turkey" at a Berlin press conference by the two leaders in September. He was escorted from the chancellor's office by security guards while Erdogan looked on. "At chancellery press conferences, we do things the same way as in the Bundestag (parliament): no demonstrations or declarations of political causes," Merkel's spokesman Steffen Seibert later tweeted after widespread public criticism. Yigit writes a column for left-wing German newspaper Taz and publishes a Turkish-language online newspaper critical of Erdogan's government. "Of course I'm afraid for my safety if I am expelled," he said, adding: "In Turkey, journalists are being silenced." Since a 2016 coup attempt, the Turkish government has locked up thousands of supposed enemies of the state including journalists, academics and human rights activists. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Government employees across Haryana will go on a two-day strike starting October 30 to express solidarity with Haryana Roadways employees and oppose the state's decision to run 700 private buses, leaders of various employees' unions said Sunday. Hundreds of state government employees had gone on mass casual leave on Friday to extend support to the Roadways employees on strike since October 16. On Sunday, the Sarv Karamchari Sangh's coordination committee, in a meeting here, announced that various employees' unions have lent their support to the protesting Roadways employees. "Government employees from various departments, boards, corporations, municipalties and panchayati raj institutions will go on a two-day strike on October 30," Subhash Lamba,general secretary of the Sarv Karamchari Sangh, Haryana, said. He alleged that the Haryana government was bent on privatising Roadways and asserted that the trade unions would not allow privatisation in any state government department. "The state government has not taken back its decision to run 700 odd private buses. Now, even after the two-day strike from October 30, if the government does not roll back its decision and withdraw cases under the Essential Services Maintenance Act registered against the striking transport workers, we will start a 'Pol Khol' campaign against the government before the people," he said. Lamba said if the state government was facing dearth of funds to buy 700 odd buses for Haryana Roadways, government employees from all departments were ready to contribute and meet these expenses from their salaries. The Haryana Roadways employees had Thursday decided to further their strike till October 29 as a fresh round of talks with the government failed to make any headway. Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar had earlier said Roadways employees should put forward the issues concerning them and not "interfere" in policy matters of the government, justifying that the decision to run 700 private buses was for the public's convenience. The employees are on strike since October 16 against the government's decision. The government, on its part, has made alternate arrangements, including making fresh recruitment of drivers and conductors to run the Roadways buses, besides hiring buses from other sources. There are about 19,000 employees in Haryana Roadways. The department, having a fleet of 4,100 buses, cater to about 12 lakh passengers daily. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The is planning to launch a global exchange traded fund (ETF) with a view to attracting long-term investment from overseas large pension fund houses. The new ETF, which will be constituted after studying the appetite of large investors, is being planned for launch in the next financial year, an official said. Initially, the ministry was planning to list Bharat-22 ETF in the overseas market but decided not to go ahead with it as investors expressed apprehensions over the cost associated with hedging and currency conversion. "The target is to tap the untapped investors, which is the large overseas A new ETF is being thought of which will be constituted based on the sectors for which these investors show their interest," the official told PTI. The official further said that the CPSEs in which there is substantial scope for further dilution of government equity, like where promoter holding is above 58-60 per cent, will be included in the proposed ETF for global listing. The government has listed two exchange-traded funds -- CPSE ETF and Bharat-22 ETF-- on the domestic stock exchanges. ETFs function like a mutual fund scheme and have underlying assets of government-owned companies. The government has already raised Rs 229 billion through two tranches of Bharat-22 ETF and Rs 115 billion through three tranches of CPSE ETF. Launched in 2017-18, the Bharat 22 ETF, consist of 16 central public sector enterprises (CPSEs), three PSU banks and three private sector companies ITC, L&T and where Specified Undertaking of Unit Trust of India (SUUTI) holds a stake. Bharat-22 ETF basket is diversified and there should be investor demand in the overseas market, the official added. The state-owned companies or PSUs that are part of the new Bharat ETF-22 include ONGC, IOC, SBI, BPCL, Coal India and Nalco. The other central public sector enterprises Bharat-22 are Bharat Electronics, Engineers India, NBCC, NTPC, NHPC, SJVNL, GAIL, PGCIL and NLC India. Only three public sector banks -- SBI, Indian Bank and Bank of Baroda -- figure in the Bharat-22 index. The official said the ETF route is a safer mode of disinvestment as it shields investors against stock market volatility. CPSE ETF was set up in 2014 and the government has so far sold stakes in the 10 bluechip PSUs-- ONGC, Coal India, IOC, Oil India, PFC, Bharat Electronics, REC, GAIL, EIL and Container Corporation of India. The ministry is also planning a fourth tranche of CPSE ETF. The government has set a target of Rs 800 billion to be raised from PSU disinvestment this fiscal. So far, it has raised over Rs 90 billion. Chief Minister said his government would explore possibilities to start more "roll on-roll off" (RoRo) ferry services in the state. He was speaking Saturday evening at a business meet in Dahej, about 100 kilometres from Vadodara, after arriving on the Ghogha-Dahej Ro-Pax (roll on/off-passenger) ferry which he inaugurated a few hours earlier at Ghogha in Bhavnagar. He said the state government was exploring the possibility of connecting Kutch to places like Dwarka, Somnath and Porbandar via the sea route using ferries. "My government will start a ferry service between Ghogha and Hazira (in Surat) by December. Later it can be extended to Mumbai," Rupani said Saturday at a meeting of industrialists and transporters in Dahej. Ajay Bhadoo, Vadodara municipal commissioner and former chief executive officer of Maritime Board said a DPR (detailed project report) for Jamnagar-Kutch ferry service has been approved. He said with a 1600 kilometre coastline, can develop coastal infrastructure and bring about economic development. Nitin Mankad, president of the Federation of Gujarat Industries said the Ghogha-Dahej and Dahej-Hazira ferry services will help businesses flourish and attract entrepreneurs to set up factories in the region. We are devastated by the massacre at the Tree of Life Congregation in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The Chabad movement mourns for those who were murdered while in synagogue on Shabbat, the Jewish day of rest. To the survivors and families of the individuals cut down by vile hatred, we extend our heartfelt condolences. May G-d give you solace and comfort in the days and weeks ahead as you negotiate the unexpected and vicious loss of your loved ones. Know that you are not alone. You are in our hearts and in our prayers. Chabad-Lubavitch representatives around the world stand with you, ready to help. This is an attackone we never imagined would happen on American soilagainst the Jewish people. It is a clarion call to governments, communal leaders, educators and parents: The ugliest and oldest of hatreds, permitted to find expression in any form, ultimately sows depraved violence. We must work together to eradicate this evil by a policy of zero tolerance for anti-Semitism. As we grapple with this calamity, Chabad centers around the world are accelerating their activities to foster love and unity among all members of the Jewish family and beyond. Let us draw strength from the timeless and fortifying bond that we share. Let us displace hatred with love, darkness with light, divisiveness with unity. Unidentified gunmen have abducted a man who owns a house in Kulgam district, where seven civilians died in a blast after three militants were killed during a gunfight with security forces a few days ago, police said Sunday. Sheeraz Ahmad Bhat, a resident of Laroo village in south Kashmir district, was abducted on Saturday evening, they said. Police said they have launched a manhunt to trace the abducted house owner. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) In a bid to improve air connectivity and promote tourism in the North East, Guwahati was connected to three destinations with direct flights from Sunday. The direct flights linked the Lokopriyo Gopinath Bordoloi International (LGBI) Airport here with Pakyong in Sikkim, Bhubaneswar in Odisha and Varanasi in Uttar Pradesh, an Airports Authority of India (AAI) statement said. SpiceJet's flight SG-3325 from Pakyong arrived at Guwahati at 12.20 pm and the return flight SG-3326 took off from Guwahati at 12.40 pm, it added. A ceremony was held at the airport here and the passengers were greeted, the statement said. The flight time between Guwahati and Pakyong is one hour, it said. Similarly, Indigo's flight 6E-726 arrived at 8.15 am from Bhubaneswar and the return flight 6E-731 left for Bhubaneswar at 1.50 pm, the AAI statement said. Indigo's other flight, the direct flight between Guwahati and Varanasi, 6E-953 departed for Varanasi at 8.45 am and the return flight 6E-954 arrived here at 1.15 pm, the AAI release added. Guwahati Airport Director Ramesh Kumar; AAI and CISF officials along with other airline officials were present at the airport to greet passengers of these flights also, it said. The winter schedule for flight operations also came into effect from the LGBI Airport in Guwahati on Sunday and it will continue till the last Saturday of March 2019, the AAI statement said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The Delhi High Court has sought response of the city government on an NGO's plea seeking implementation of the court's previous judgement on prevention and elimination of child labour. A bench of Chief Justice Rajendra Menon and Justice V K Rao was hearing an application by NGO 'Bachpan Bachao Andolan' (BBA) and associate organisation 'Save the Childhood Foundation'. The court asked the Delhi government to respond and listed the matter for further hearing on November 16. The court adjourned till November 16, the proceedings in a revision petition pending before a trial court relating to discharge of accused in a 2010 case of child labour, criminal intimidation, obstructing public servant from performing duty and assaulting him. In the July 2009 judgement, the high court had modified the existing provisions for better rehabilitation of child labourers and had widened the involvement of police in rescue operations of child labour in the city. The high court had in November 2014 disposed of a petition seeking complete elimination of child labour from the national capital after the city's additional commissioner of labour had assured the court of action on the issue. Senior advocate H S Phoolka, appearing for the NGO, sought direction to the government to file an action taken or compliance report in terms of the July 15, 2009 judgement of the high court. The application, filed through advocate Prabhsahay Kaur, also sought direction to the government to file a status report regarding the number of cases under the Child Labour (Prohibition and Regulation) Act, 1986, which are pending investigation for more than a year and where the charge sheets have not been filed for over an year. The plea also sought details of such cases along with reasons for delay in filing of charge sheets. Citing an instance of 2010 when 10-12 child labourers were rescued from Jamia Nagar here by a team of BBA, the plea alleged that the members were obstructed and attacked by some miscreants who also took the minors away. Police filed a charge sheet in the case after a delay of six years and later the accused were discharged by the trial court here this year. "What makes matters worse is that in this case, the police was to trace the children who were kidnapped and taken by the accused, but the police failed to do so," the plea submitted. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) K Vijay Kumar, Advisor to Jammu and Kashmir Governor Satya Pal Malik, Sunday chaired a high-level meeting to review the security arrangements in connection with 'Darbar Move' here. Among others, the meeting at the police headquarters was attended by Chief Secretary B V R Subrahmanyam, Director General of Police Dilbagh Singh, Divisional Commissioner, Jammu, Sanjeev Verma, Inspector General of Police, Jammu, S D Singh Jamwal, an official spokesman said. He said other senior officers from police, Army, CRPF, BSF and civil administration also attended the meeting. During the meeting, the advisor was informed about the arrangements being made in the winter capital to ensure smooth functioning of the state government from here, the spokesman said. The civil secretariat -- seat of Jammu and Kashmir government -- Raj Bhavan and other move offices closed in Srinagar on October 26 and are scheduled to reopen in Jammu on November 5 as part of the bi-annual darbar move under which the government functions six months each in Srinagar during the summer and Jammu in the winter. Kumar emphasised on making foolproof security arrangements at the civil secretariat, Raj Bhavan and other vital installations and VIP residences, the spokesman said. He also asked the functionaries concerned to ensure enhanced security measures with deployment of adequate security and police personnel in Jammu district, including border areas, besides ensuring law and order arrangement in and around the civil secretariat and at all the important areas in the city. They were directed to maintain alertness and coordination among themselves, the spokesman said. At the outset, he said the IGP Jammu briefed the meeting about the security arrangements being made for 'Darbar Move'. He informed that the security at police stations and entry points of this city has been strengthened, the spokesman said. He said the traffic department was asked to work out a comprehensive plan to ensure the smooth traffic movements in the city. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) American indologist Wendy Doniger revisits the "Arthashastra" and "Kamasutra" to find connections to key moments of resistance and voices of dissent throughout Indian history and offer insights into the Indian theocracy's subversion of science by an exclusivist version of religion today. There is an honesty and realism in these two texts that endeared them to later generations, she says. "Though heavily embroidered with fantastic details, their basic subject matter is the stuff of real life. Their ideas survived in popular tradition - the 'Arthashastra' in the animal fables of the 'Panchatantra' and the tales of the lion king and his wily jackal counsellor, the 'Kamasutra' in miniature paintings and the carvings on the temples of Khajuraho and Konark," she says. According to her, the "Arthashastra" and "Kamasutra" were part of a vibrant, rich oral and written tradition from the time of their composition to the present; they continued to be known and discussed because they remained relevant to the great intellectual legacy of India. Doniger makes these arguments in her book "Beyond Dharma: Dissent in the Ancient Indian Sciences of Sex and Politics", published in India by Speaking Tiger. She says that the "Arthashastra" strongly influenced the worldview of the "Kamasutra". "The 'Kamasutra' regards artha as a primary aim, especially as far as courtesans are concerned. Much of the 'Kamasutra' is devoted to Kautiliyan trickery and deception of one sort or another," she writes. She also argues that the "Kamasutra" models both its format and its rhetoric closely on that of the "Arthashastra". In addition to these overarching stylistic forms that the "Kamasutra" has inherited from the "Arthashastra", there are numerous specific points of agreement, incidental passages in which the "Arthashastra" has clearly provided the paradigm for the "Kamasutra", she says. Another close agreement Doniger finds between the "Arthashastra" and "Kamasutra" is their attitude to what ancient India regarded as marginalised people. Doniger, Mircea Eliade Distinguished Service Professor of the History of Religions at the University of Chicago, is the author of several books like "The Hindus: An Alternative History"; "Hindu Myths"; "On Hinduism"; "Siva, the Erotic Ascetic"; "Dreams, Illusion and Other realities"; and has translated the "Rig Veda" and the "Kamasutra" (with Sudhir Kakar). She also writes that the situation for the "Kamasutra" changed when the British colonised India in the 18th century. As not only Protestants but Victorian Protestants, the British rejected as filthy paganism the sensuous strain of Hinduism, both the world of kama and much of Hindu theological dharma, with what they saw as kitschy images of gods with far too many arms. "But they respected Hindu ethical dharma, including Indian monism and idealism (so appealing to European philosophers from Schlegel to Hegel) and the Bhagavad Gita (so appealing to the American Transcendentalists)." According to her, many of the English-speaking Hindus who worked for and with the British came to accept the British evaluation of Hinduism, in a kind of Stockholm Syndrome. "They developed new forms of what came to be called Reform Hinduism, the Hindu Renaissance or the Bengal Renaissance, which valued the philosophical, ascetic aspect of Hinduism and devalued the world of pleasure represented in the kama-shastra. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) India Sunday said it was closely following the political developments in Sri Lanka and hoped that democratic values and constitutional process would be respected in the island nation. In fast paced political developments, Sri Lankan President Maithripala Sirisena suspended Parliament Saturday, a day aftersacking Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe and naming Mahinda Rajapaksa as the new prime minister. However, parliament's speaker Sunday refused to endorse Wickremesinghe's sacking as the prime minister, even as Sirisena asserted that the appointment of Rajapaksa was in strict accordance with the Constitution. "India is closely following the recent political developments in Sri Lanka. As a democracy and a close friendly neighbour, we hope that democratic values and constitutional process will be respected," External Affairs Ministry Spokeperson Raveesh Kumar said. He said India will continue to extend its developmental assistance to the friendly people of Sri Lanka. India has been involved in a number of projects in the island nation. The speaker's move is seen as a huge relief to embattled Wickremesinghe. Sirisena Saturday suspended Parliament till November 16 after Wickremesinghe sought an emergency session to prove his majority. Former president Rajapaksa was sworn in as the country's new PM Friday. The political turmoil came amid growing tensions between Sirisena and Wickremesinghe on several policy matters. Reacting sharply to his sacking, Wickremesinghe asserted that the swearing-in of Rajapaksa is "illegal and unconstitutional" and he will prove his majority in Parliament. The political developments unfolded after Sirisena's broader political front UPFA announced that it has decided to quit the current unity government with Wickremesinghe's UNP. The unity government was formed in 2015 when Sirisena was elected president with Wickremesinghe's support, ending a nearly decade-long rule by Rajapaksa. Rajapaksa's return to power ends a more than three-year-old coalition government that was formed by Sirisena and Wickremesinghe on a promise to combat corruption and financial irregularities. The unity government was thrown into a crisis after Rajapaksa's new party pulled off a stunning victory in local elections in February seen as a referendum on the ruling alliance. Sri Lanka nearly faced economic sanctions from the West over Rajapakse's military crackdown on the banned Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE). The LTTE sought a separate Tamil homeland in the northern and eastern provinces of the island nation for nearly 30 years before its collapse in 2009 after the Sri Lankan Army killed the outfit's supreme leader Velupillai Prabhakaran. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Aam Aadmi Party national convenor Arvind Kejriwal on Sunday targeted Prime Minister Narendra Modi over alleged corruption in the multi-crore Rafale jet deal with France, saying he should not fear a CBI probe if he is honest. Referring to the Union government's mid-night decision to send CBI chief Alok Verma on indefinite leave last week, Kejriwal claimed Verma was "suspended" as Modi feared he was to register an FIR in connection with the deal and launch an investigation. "It is a Rs 36,000-crore fighter aircraft scam. An honest CBI chief was removed at 3 am as he wanted to lodge FIR against the prime minister the next morning. The prime minister should not be afraid of a CBI probe, if he is honest," Kejriwal said at a public meeting in Jaipur in poll-bound Rajasthan. His supporters chanted that Modi is a "thief". Verma was sent on leave after a feud erupted between him and his deputy, Special Director Rakesh Asthana, with the government saying the decision was taken to protect institutional integrity of the agency. The government has also repeatedly denied allegations of corruption in the Rafale deal. Referring to himself, Kejriwal said the people of New Delhi can proudly say that their chief minister is honest. Can they say the prime minister is "honest", he asked the crowd. "The CBI conducted raid at my residence. I cooperated with the sleuths, offered them tea and sweets. All they found were four mufflers. People of the New Delhi can proudly say their chief minister is honest," he said. Kejriwal asked the people whether they have got quality education, better healthcare, free water and cheaper electricity under the rule of the BJP or the Congress, whom they have voted to power in Rajasthan alternately in recent elections. Making a case for his AAP, he suggested to the people that they should vote for the party, like the people of Delhi have done, and dislodge both BJP and Congress from governance in Rajasthan. "We do not vote to make any party win, but to defeat the other. BJP and Congress had done a setting in New Delhi to loot people but the people threw both the national parties out of power and it can happen in Rajasthan as well," Kejriwal said. He claimed the AAP government in Delhi has done what the two national parties could not do in 70 years. The success rate of Delhi government-run schools was 10 per cent better than private schools, people get free medicines, treatment, water under government schemes and cheaper electricity, he said. Talking about farm distress, he criticised Centre's crop loan insurance scheme, saying it was meant to benefit insurance firms and not farmers. "Crop insurance scheme is a scheme to loot farmers. Premium amount is directly deducted from their bank accounts, and when it comes to raising claims farmers have to run from pillar to post," he alleged, seeking an end to the central government scheme. The party, which will be contesting the assembly election, scheduled on December 7, for the first time in the state, on Sunday also released its draft manifesto and sought suggestions from people. Kejriwal said people decide the fate of democracy and AAP would work for betterment of all sections of society. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) India played a "positive" role in restoration of democracy in Maldives by "exerting pressure" on the ruling regime, and the new government in the island nation would be "sensitive" towards New Delhi's "concerns", former Maldivian President Maumoon Abdul Gayoom said Sunday. Nearly a month after he was released from jail, Gayoom, who ruled Maldives for three decades until 2008, said the government of President Abdulla Yameen inflicted "huge damage" on Maldives but democratic forces have prevailed over their "enemies". Joint opposition leader Ibrahim Mohamed Solih came out victorious in the September 23 presidential election, handing a shock defeat to incumbent Yameen and capping months of political upheaval in the tourist paradise. The political turmoil was triggered by imposition of emergency in February and jailing of several of opposition leaders including Gayoom, a half brother of Yameen. Yameen had challenged the outcome of the elections, alleging the vote was rigged but the country's Supreme Court upheld the results. The transition of power is due on Nov 17. "The last few years did erode the credibility of Maldivian constitutional bodies as well as confidence of the Maldivian people in the state," 80-year-old Gayoom told PTI in an exclusive interview. "However, the people have themselves taken remedial action as the election results have shown. There was huge damage done, but the constitution, the constitutional bodies and the citizen rights given by the constitution will be safe and strong under the new coalition government," he added. Gayoom had ruled Maldives for 30 years till he was defeated in the country's first multi-party elections in 2008. He was arrested in February as part of crackdown on Yameen's political opponents. Asked whether Yameen drew his strength from strong backing by China, Gayoom, credited with forging strong ties with India, hoped that China would respect the will of the Maldivian people. "We value the support China has given for our development. However, we are concerned at the level of debt we have incurred in recent years, and feel this needs to be carefully reviewed and managed. I am sure that China would respect the will of the Maldivian people," he said in the e-mail interview. Asked about India's role after imposition of emergency by Yameen in February, Gayoom said, "India did play a positive role, and along with other international partners, did exert pressure towards restoration of democracy." "Keeping the Maldivian issue alive in international fora did result in putting pressure on the Yameen regime," the former Maldivian strongman, who was released from jail on September 30 following orders of a court, said. India's ties with Maldives came under strain after Yameen declared Emergency in the country on February 5, following an order by the country's Supreme Court to release a group of Opposition leaders, who had been convicted in widely criticised trials. The Emergency was lifted 45 days later. "I do not see the events of the last few years having a lasting impact (on bilateral ties)...I do not think these bumps and turbulence would impact decades of (our) India first policy," he said. Describing India as the "closest and most trusted ally" of Maldives, he said it was in the interests of all of the Maldives' geographical neighbours that there is stability in the Indian Ocean region. "I am confident that the new government will work towards achieving this. We will be sensitive towards the concerns of India as well as of other friends," he said, adding Maldives was looking forward to welcoming Prime Minister Narendra Modi to the Maldives "very soon". During the crisis, India had ignored calls for military intervention from the opposition parties in the island nation. The influence of China on Maldives, an island nation in the Indian Ocean, considered a backyard of India, has been growing and it is seen as a concern in New Delhi. Talking about post election scenario, Gayoom said the first priority of the new government would be to unify the people of Maldives after the era of bitter "Maldivians saw through attempts to muzzle democratic voice and defeated the forces who tried to undermine democracy and rule of law in the country," he said. Asked about transition of power, Gayoom said the Maldivian Supreme Court has clearly stated that there was no grounds for Yameen to question the results of the presidential elections. "The road is now clear for a smooth transition. The coalition government is committed to peace, stability, progress and democracy," he said. He also talked about his efforts to bring multi-party democracy to Maldives in 2008 in sync with the aspirations of the people, adding the constitution had all the checks and balance that are required to safeguard democracy. "It is indeed sad that these very checks and balance were abused to derail democracy to protect the vested interests of a few," he said. "It is my hope that we learn from past mistakes and move beyond the blame game, and work together for the good of our citizens and country," he added. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) An Indian-origin man who waged a long campaign of harassment and intimidation against a woman in London has been sentenced to six years. Sirtaj Bhangal, 35, was jailed at Isleworth Crown Court in London on Friday after pleading guilty at an earlier hearing to possession of an imitation firearm with intent to cause fear of violence; two counts of witness intimidation and breach of a restraining order. "Sirtaj Bhangal launched an unprovoked, sustained campaign of intimidation against his victim which covered a period of five years, including a time when he was on remand in prison," said Detective Constable Nicola Kerry from the Metropolitan Police West Area Command Unit, who led the investigation. "The motive for this remains unclear and makes the intensity of his harassment all the more terrifying. I would like to praise the victim and her family for supporting this investigation and I can only hope that Bhangal's imprisonment can offer them some small form of comfort," she said. Bhangal's campaign against the unnamed victim started in 2013 when he began to contact her via social media despite the fact the pair had not met. The tone of Bhangal's messages were demeaning and the victim blocked him from her accounts, the Met Police said. Over the course of the next three years, Bhangal sporadically contacted the victim but this intensified in 2016 when he sent her a nine-page letter intimating he would be upset if she ignored it. Over the next year, the one-sided contact intensified through phone calls and texts and culminated with Bhangal approaching the victim and then hand-delivering another letter to the victim's address in May 2017. The victim then reported the matter to police and Bhangal was arrested and charged. He was subsequently convicted of harassment and stalking. While on remand awaiting trial, Bhangal used an illegal mobile phone in prison to call the victim and threaten her with violence. Bhangal was subsequently charged with witness intimidation and a trial set for July this year. However, on July 3 the victim found an 80-page letter at her home address; the contents were extremely disturbing and again threatened the victim and her family with extreme violence including having acid thrown at them. The letter also contained images of people who had been injured with corrosive substances alongside images of the victim taken from social media. A search of Bhangal's address was undertaken and items including imitation firearms, imitation grenades, Samurai swords and packaging from acidic substances were recovered. Bhangal was further charged with the firearm offence and a second count of witness intimidation. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Nearly 7,000 people gathered in Northern Indonesia Sunday to witness the inauguration of 'Little India Gate', the first-of-its-kind structure in the country which recognises the contribution of Indian community in the development of Medan city. The new structure was inaugurated jointly by India's ambassador to Indonesia and Timor Leste Pradeep Kumar Rawat and Mayor of Medan H T Dzulmi Eldin S at Kampung Madras or Madras Village area in Medan city, the fourth largest city in the country. About 7,000 people witnessed the historic moment with great enthusiasm, the Indian embassy in Jakarta said in a statement. Ambassador Rawat said it was a true representation of what Indonesia stood for, which is 'Bhinneka Tunggal Ika' or Unity in Diversity and of the Indian belief in 'Vasudev Kutubakam', meaning the world is one family. Rawat assured the Mayor that the Indian embassy in Jakarta and the Indian Consulate in Medan would assist in promoting 'Little India Gate' as an important tourist destination in Medan, especially for Indian tourists. "Little India could also become a bridge between the two countries in terms of trade and commercial relations," he said in a statement. The Mayor in his speech said the new structure will be promoted as an iconic tourist spot in Medan city as it is the first such structure in entire Indonesia. The gate also represents the immense potential in the Indian community and a recognition of their contribution in the development of Medan city, Dzulmi said. Kampung Madras area is one of the city's significant ethnic enclaves comprising a large population of people of Indian descent whose ancestors had settled down in Medan in mid-nineteenth century. Every year, Kampung Madras becomes a meeting point for Hindu and Tamil festivals such as Thaipusam or the Tamil New Year, Pongal and Diwali. Not only is it home to one of the oldest Hindu temples of North Sumatra Sri Mariamman Koil, but it also houses mosques belonging to the South Indian Muslim community, churches including an Indian Catholic church that dates back to 1912, a Gurudwara and a Buddhist temple, the statement said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Registries allow the public access to information about persons who are reported to be registered due to committing a sexually oriented offense, an offense against a child, or who is otherwise required to register as a condition of supervision. Lt. Craig Cummings, Texas Department of Public Safety Quote A Hyderabad-based industrialist today made an offering of Rs 1.28 crore to the famous hill shrine of Lord Venkateswara at nearby Tirumala with a request to utilise it for the free meal scheme. BVVSN Raju, Director of Max Infra India Private Limited, handed over a demand draft for the amount to Joint Executive Officer of the cash-rich temple K S Srinivasa Raju, Public Relations Officer of Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD), which manages the shrine, T Ravi told PTI. He requested TTD to utilise the fund for the TTD-run free meal trust - Sri Venkateswara Annaprasadam Trust, he added. Raju earlier offered prayers at the temple. "On an average, about one lakh meals are served free of cost daily to devotees visiting the shrine by making use of the interest earned on deposits to the tune of more than Rs 1,000 crore received as donations from philanthropists," the PRO said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The Fourth Industrial Revolution is replacing the "inefficiencies" of traditional businesses with disruptive technologies and thus upskilling and cross-skilling of employees would be an important component in all sectors, according to experts. Industry 4.0 and its impact took centrestage at a management summit held Saturday at the Indian Institute of Management (IIM), Rohtak where experts from the core industry and other sectors discussed and deliberated on the subject. Emphasising on the changing business landscape, Dheeraj Sharma, the director of IIM Rohtak said, "In view of the increased use of cyber systems, it is important that we develop a strong culture of cyber security and cyber-immersion in our institutions." "In order to do so, we need to develop a stronger campaign to echo the significance of security training, safety of online transactions, responsible social networking and ethical data mining," he said. Industry 4.0 refers to various digital technologies, automation and data exchange techniques, which can contribute to creating cyber-physical systems thus revolutionising the process of industrial production. The experts also discussed how businesses are approaching their inefficiencies with disruptive technologies like IoT (Internet of Things) and big data. The Internet of Things (IoT) is an ecosystem of connected physical objects that are accessible through the Internet. "The Fourth Industrial Revolution is replacing the inefficiencies of traditional businesses with disruptive technologies like IoT, cloud computing and big data to name a few. The digital wave has its impact on every sector of the economy and promises to revolutionise manufacturing, supply chain, distribution, and retail," IIM-Rohtak said in a statement. The pace of change today is immense and to stay relevant businesses are required to make information and data an integral part of their business model, it said. Arvind Bali, CEO, Videocon (Telecom) said, "The things we see today will vanish in a couple of years. The pace of change is much higher today as compared to what it was yesterday; this pace is an essential NCR-IIM-SKILLINGpart of Industry 4.0." Akhil Prasad, Member, Board of Directors, Boeing India also participated in the summit and spoke about Industry 4.0 from the aviation sector perspective. "In Industry 4.0, we are moving towards a phase in manufacturing where it is imperative to reduce wastage. We at Boeing are exploring smart technologies on a regular basis to make better and smaller aircraft," he was quoted as saying in the statement. The leaders from different sectors agreed that data today is indeed a "strategic asset" and stressed on the increasing need for skilled personnel". Upskilling and cross-skilling of employees thus will be an essential function in every sector, be it logistics, manufacturing, real estate or services, the experts said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The desperation to see his parents prompted Jammu and Kashmir Police's sub-inspector Imtiyaz Ahmed Mir to shave off his beard and change appearance in his unsuccessful attempt to dodge militants who had laid a death trap for him in his village, his colleagues said on Sunday. Mir, 30, was shot dead by militants at Wahibug in the militancy-infested Pulwama district of South Kashmir on Sunday when he was on his way home. Posted in the CID department, Mir had been warned against venturing into his village as there was a possibility of attack by militant groups, who have been targeting policemen in the state recently. "I had told him that he should not go as militants could attack. But he was desperate to see his parents who reside at Sontabugh in the interiors of Pulwama district," recalled one of his supervising officers. This morning as he was preparing to leave for home, he came with a changed appearance. He shaved off his beard and decided to use his personal vehicle to go to his native village, the officer said. "Now they (militants) will not be able to recognise me" were possibly his last words to his officer before he left for home with a smiling face as he was seeing his parents after a long time. Mir is survived by his father and mother. Son of a retired police officer, Mir, who was from 2010 batch of sub-inspector, had served in Ganderbal district of South Kashmir for five years before being transferred to Kulgam district last year. He was shifted to the CID department in March this year and his superiors recalled his dedication towards his work. Militants have been targeting policemen in the state and killed two special police officer and a constable last month, triggering an unrest in the lower ranks of the force with some SPOs declaring their resignation on social media. In fact, some militants had claimed that Mir had also submitted his resignation. When the body of Mir was being brought to Pulwama district lines by a police team from Wahibugh, it was attacked by stone pelters as security forces had launched a cordon-and-search operations in Chewa and the area where he was shot dead. The police have also launched a probe to ascertain how the information about his journey to home had been leaked to militant groups, who had been waiting to ambush him at Wahibugh. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Jammu and Kashmir Chief Secretary B V R Subrahmanyam Sunday directed to provide foolproof security arrangements in and around the Civil Secretariat here, which is scheduled to reopen on November 5. The Civil Secretariat, the seat of the state government, the Raj Bhavan and other major offices closed in summer capital Srinagar on October 26. 'Darbar Move' is the the 146-year-old practice of bi-annual shifting of the state capital between Jammu and Srinagar. It was started by the then Maharaja Gulab Singh in 1872 to escape the extreme heat during summers in Jammu and biting cold of winters in Srinagar. The chief secretary visited the civil secretariat and inspected the arrangements in offices of various departments, including the governor's office, an official spokesman said. He directed the concerned to ensure foolproof security arrangements in and around the civil secretariat, he said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Senior police officials of Jharkhand and Chhattisgarh held a meeting here on Sunday ahead of the assembly polls in the neighbouring state to be held on November 12 and 20. DIG (Palamau) Vipul Shukla said the meeting was held in view of keeping a vigil on naxalites ahead of the elections in Chhatisgarh, which shares its border with Jharkhand's Garwha and Latehar districts. Measures such as joint operation and keeping vigil along the border were among the matters discussed during the nearly 3 hour long meeting, sources said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The alliance between Ajit Jogi's party and the will hurt the BJP, which is under the "illusion" that the tie-up will hamper the Congress's prospects in the upcoming Chhattisgarh Assembly polls, state chief Bhupesh Baghel said Sunday. Baghel, who is seen as one of the contenders for the chief minister's post, along with other senior party leaders like TS Singhdeo and Charandas Mahant if the comes to power in the BJP-ruled state, asserted that currently, there were no claimants for the top post and the matter would be decided only after the polls. "There are no claimants (for the CM's post) and we will fight the election under a collective leadership. It is only after the polls that the legislative party and the party high-command will decide who will be the chief minister. This is not a contentious matter," he told PTI in a telephonic interview from Raipur. The is seeking to oust the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), which has been governing the state since 2003, from power this time. Asked if the alliance between the Ajit Jogi-led Janta Congress Chhattisgarh and Mayawati's Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) would cut into the Congress's vote share, Baghel said, "No, because the has just about 4 per cent vote share and Jogi's vote base is also the same as that of the So, I do not think it (the alliance) will make a big difference." He claimed that the Jogi-BSP tie-up would harm the and not the Congress. Elaborating on his point, the state Congress chief said of the seats reserved for the Scheduled Caste (SC) category, the Congress had won just one in the 2013 Assembly polls, while the had emerged victorious on nine. "Their (Jogi-Mayawati's) support base comprises mostly members of the SC community. So, even if they get a few seats, which looks unlikely, it is the BJP's tally that will come down," Baghel added. On leader Saroj Pandey's remarks that the Jogi-BSP alliance will hurt the Congress more in Chhattisgarh, he said the saffron camp was under the "illusion" that the tie-up will affect the opposition party. "That is why they (the BJP) got the alliance done. Alone, Jogi was unable to harm the Congress, so the BSP was also tagged along with him. The Jogi factor will not work," Baghel added. On why the Congress failed to stitch-up alliances in the state, he said, "As far as the BSP is concerned, talks were on and suddenly, we got to know that they had aligned with Jogi's party." Baghel added that talks with the Gondwana Gantantra Party failed as the Congress offered two seats to the tribal outfit, but with a one-per cent vote share, it was asking for five-six seats. Asked if not projecting a chief ministerial face could hamper the party's chances in the upcoming polls, he pointed out that the BJP had fought the 2003 state election without projecting a chief ministerial candidate and the name of Raman Singh was announced for the top post only after the polls. There were very few instances when the Congress had announced a chief ministerial face beforehand, Baghel said. On whether the issue of chief ministership would breed ambition and factionalism within the party ranks, he said, "These days, even seers have ambitions of becoming chief minister. We are not even seers, we are in politics. So, we aspire for a political position, but we are not so ambitious that we will cross the party's boundaries. All the leaders are working unitedly." Asked about the BJP's "Mission 65", Baghel said the Congress was focussed on all the 90 Assembly seats in the state and it was confident of securing a clear majority. Taking a jibe at the BJP, he said in Gujarat also the saffron party had set a "Mission 150" target, but ended up with 99 seats. The state Congress chief has been embroiled in a controversy over his alleged involvement in a fake sex CD case. The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) had last month filed a chargesheet, naming Baghel and some others as accused in the case related to a controversial CD allegedly featuring a state minister, who had rejected it as fake. The BJP has used the issue to target the Congress, while Baghel has claimed innocence and described it as a political attack. Asked about the case, the Congress leader dismissed it as a "conspiracy" of the BJP. The Assembly polls in Chhattisgarh will be held in two phases. In the first phase, 18 seats in the Naxalism-hit areas will go to the polls on November 12. The second phase of polling for the remaining 72 seats will be held on November 20 and the results will be announced on December 11. Baghel will contest the polls from Patan. In 2013, the BJP had formed the government in Chhattisgarh for the third consecutive time by winning 49 seats against the 39 of the Congress, but the opposition party had succeeded in narrowing the gap in terms of vote share. It had grabbed 40.3 per cent votes, while the saffron party had garnered 41 per cent votes. Actor-politician Kamal Haasan has said his party MNM would take the call on contesting the byelections to 20 Tamil Nadu assembly seats, including the 18 which have fallen vacant following disqualification of MLAs elected from there, after the poll schedule was announced. Haasan, who has been touring the state as part of his "journey with the people" programme, indicated that a firm decision would be taken when the Election Commission announced the schedule for the polls. "Let us face it if that comes..let us see when that happens," the Makkal Needhi Maiam founder told reporters here Saturday when asked if his party would contest the bypolls. The Madras High Court last week upheld the disqualification of 18 ruling party MLAs, loyal to AMMK leader T T V Dhinakaran, and cleared the decks for the bypolls in the constituencies. Besides the 18, the Tiruvarur seat represented by late DMK patriarch M Karunanidhi and Tiruparankundram by AIADMK's AK Bose are vacant in view of their recent deaths. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Former Delhi chief minister Madan Lal Khurana's mortal remains were consigned to the flames Sunday evening, with several top politicians paying homage to the veteran BJP leader. The Delhi government, as mark of respect, has declared a two-day state-mourning following his death. Khurana (82) is survived by his wife, a son and two daughters. One of his sons had died last month. A Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) veteran, Khurana was the chief minister of Delhi from 1993 to 1996 and was appointed the governor of Rajasthan in 2004. His son, Harish Khurana, said his father breathed his last at his Kirti Nagar residence around 11 pm Saturday. Vice President M Venkaiah Naidu, Union Finance Minister Arun Jaitley, Home Minister Rajnath Singh, External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj, Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal paid tributes to Khurana. Union ministers Ravi Shankar Prasad, Harsh Vardhan, Kalraj Mishra and Vijay Goel, and Delhi BJP chief Manoj Tiwari also paid their respects to former chief minister. Later, the last journey of Khurana was carried out from the Delhi BJP office to Nigambodh Ghat where last rites were performed in the evening. Early in the day, President Ram Nath Kovind, Vice President M Venkaiah Naidu and Prime Minister Narendra Modi were among those who expressed grief on the demise of Khurana. "Sad to hear of the passing of Shri Madan Lal Khurana. As Chief Minister of Delhi, Governor of Rajasthan and Union Minister, he contributed immensely to public life and particularly to the well-being of the national capital and its people (sic)," Kovind said in a tweet. Vice President Naidu also condoled the death of Khurana. "Deeply saddened by demise of former Chief Minister of Delhi, Shri Madan Lal Khurana. He will be remembered for his immense contribution for growth & development of Delhi. "My heartfelt condolences to his bereaved family members and pray for his soul rest in peace. #MadanLalKhurana," he tweeted. Modi said Khurana worked tirelessly for the progress of Delhi. "Anguished by the passing away of Shri Madan Lal Khurana Ji. He worked tirelessly for the progress of Delhi, particularly towards ensuring better infrastructure. "He distinguished himself as a hardworking and people-friendly administrator, both in the Delhi government and Centre," the prime minister tweeted. In another tweet, he said, "Shri Madan Lal Khurana Ji will always be remembered for the manner in which he strengthened the BJP in Delhi. He made unwavering efforts towards serving the post-partition refugees in Delhi. My thoughts and solidarity with his family and supporters." "Learnt of the unfortunate demise of former Delhi chief minister and BJP leader Madan Lal Khurana. He will be remembered as an ideal swayamsevak and a dedicated Vidyarthi Parishad worker and a strong pillar of the Jan Sangh and the BJP," BJP chief Amit Shah tweeted in Hindi. Lt Governor Anil Baijal and Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal also expressed grief on Khurana's death. In a tweet, Union minister Dharmendra Pradhan said, "Deeply pained to hear about the demise of Former Chief Minister of Delhi and veteran leader Madan Lal Khurana ji. My condolences to the bereaved family and prayers for the departed soul." Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman too condoled the demise of the former Delhi chief minister. "Condolences on the passing away of Shri. Madanlal Khurana, former CM of Delhi. May God give strength to his family, @HarishKhuranna and all party workers to bear with this loss," she tweeted. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Sri Lankan Parliament's Speaker Karu Jayasuriya Sunday recognised Ranil Wickremesinghe as the country's prime minister in a major relief to the embattled UNP leader, who was sacked as the premier by President Maithripala Sirisena. In a letter to Sirisena, Jayasuriya questioned Sirisena's decision to suspend the House till November 16, saying it will have "serious and undesirable" consequences on the country. He asked the president to restore Wickremesinghe's privileges as the leader of the government who has "obtained a mandate to secure democracy and good governance. The speaker said a prorogation of Parliament should be one in consultation with the speaker. "In this context continuing the prorogation of parliament until November 16 will have serious and undesirable consequences for our country and I kindly request you to reconsider same. "I consider it is my duty to draw your attention to the convention that a prorogation should be one in consultation with the speaker," Jayasuriya said. The speaker also questioned Sirisena's decision to withdraw the security of Wickremesinghe. Jayasuriya reminded Sirisena of certain forcible takeovers of state institutions since former strongman Rajapaksa was named Wickremesinghe's successor by the president on Friday night. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) 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Prasad, an assistant sub-inspector with the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF), was killed in an encounter with terrorists in Nowgaon area of Srinagar in Jammu and Kashmir on Saturday. The last rites were held at Prasad's native village in Chainpura and the funeral pyre was lit by his sons Pradeep and Satyendra. Public representatives, officials from the Army, district administration and police paid floral tributes to Prasad. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) A 35-year-old man was killed after being hit by a train in Samba district of Jammu and Kashmir, a Government Railway Police (GRP) official said on Sunday. The man was crossing the track near the Bari Brahmana railway station when he was hit by Hemkunt express on Saturday evening and died on the spot, the official said. He said the identity of the deceased is being ascertained. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The Meghalaya State Human Rights Commission has directed the state government to pay Rs 2 lakh each as compensation to the next of kin of five labourers who died of electrocution in North Garo Hills district in July this year. The Commission also directed the government to pay compensation of Rs 50,000 each to the other five seriously injured persons. The payments should be made within two months, the Commission said in an interim order. The Commission has taken suo motu action of a July 26 report of an accident that had taken place the previous evening at Maniganj village in North Garo Hills. Five labourers were killed and five others injured when the road-construction machine they were moving on the road came in contact with an overhead high-tension wire. The Commission also pulled up the Meghalaya Power Transmission Corporation for its failure to regularly check and maintain the 11 KV high transmission line from Agia to Mendipathar. "The executive engineers deputed at the site clearly failed in their duties leading to such a colossal loss of human lives," the Commission said its order issued on Thursday. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) German luxury car maker Sunday announced the launch of the refreshed model of C-Class Cabriolet with a host of added features, priced at Rs 6.5 (ex-showroom). Equipped with the BSVI petrol engine, the new sporty two-door Cabriolet has features such as multi-beam headlamps, new alloy wheel design, new generation steering wheel and smartphone integration package, among others, according to a release. The introduction of the C-Class Cabriolet reiterates Mercedes-Benz's 'top of the pyramid' strategy for the Indian market, said Michael Jopp, vice-president for sales and marketing, India. "We aim to continue our product offensive in India," he added. The new Cabriolet is the 11th new product launch from the German car maker, which has been maintaining its dominant position in the Indian luxury car space for the last three consecutive years, as per the release. With a total of 15,330 units sold in 2017 as compared with 13,231 in 2016, the car maker registered a growth of 15. 36 per cent. The company has sold 11,789 units in the first nine months of the current year, a company executive said, adding that the overall momentum from the mainstay models in the portfolio comprising the E-class,c-Class sedan, s-class sedan and CLA and the GLA, GLC and GLE continue to drive volumes for the brand. The interior of this model has been significantly enhanced with a media display screen with 10.25-inch screen size and new generation telematics, the release said. New generation steering wheels with touch control buttons make control of numerous functions easier, it said adding the vehicle also offers smartphone integration, which supports Android Auto and Apple CarPlay. Militants Sunday attacked a patrolling party of the Army in Shopian district of Jammu and Kashmir, police said. Militants opened fire on a patrolling party of the Army at Poterwal village of the south Kashmir district, a police official said. He said the Army retaliated, forcing the militants to flee. There were no reports of any loss of life, the official added. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his Japanese counterpart Shinzo Abe Sunday rode an express train to travel to Tokyo after spending eight hours together in the scenic Yamanashi prefecture where they held informal talks and visited a factory of industrial manufacturer. Modi, who arrived in Japan last evening to attend the 13th India-Japan annual summit, was accorded a warm welcome on his arrival and the first day of his visit was characterised by special gestures and warmth. "After spending 8 hours together in Yamanashi, PM Narendra Modi and Japanese PM Shinzo Abe depart for Tokyo by Express Train Kaiji," Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Raveesh Kumar tweeted. The bullet train between Ahmedabad and Mumbai will run a total length of 508 kilometres, of which 21 kilometres will be covered in the tunnel under sea. The cost of the total train project is Rs 1.10 trillion, and Japan is giving a loan of Rs 88,000 crores for the same at a minimal interest of 0.1 per cent, which has to be repaid over 50 years. In a message on the day of the two leaders' summit meeting, Abe said India was driving the region and the world's prosperity as a global power. The day when Japanese Shinkansen bullet trains start running between Mumbai and Ahmedabad through cooperation will mark a shining symbol of Japan-india friendship in the future, Abe said. "Japan is India's partner in railway modernisation, including Mumbai Ahmedabad High Speed Railway," he said. The two-day summit beginning Sunday will seek to review the progress in ties and deepen strategic dimension of the bilateral relationship. Modi was affectionately received by Abe on his arrival at the Hotel Mount Fuji in Yamanashi prefecture, west of Tokyo. After luncheon, both prime ministers visited the FANUC industrial facility, which specialises in automation. "PM Shinzo Abe and I visited the FANUC Corporation, which has pioneered the usage and application of technology, particularly in robotics," Modi tweeted. Later in the evening, Abe in a special gesture hosted Modi at his personal villa near Lake Kawaguchi in Yamanashi for a private dinner. It was the first time Abe had invited a foreign political leader to his holiday home in the village of Narusawa in the prefecture. "Tete-a-tete in front of a fireplace. Japanese PM Shinzo Abe hosted PM Narendra Modi at his personal villa near Lake Kawaguchi in Yamanashi. PM Modi is the first foreign leader to be invited to the villa," Kumar said in a tweet. Modi will also address the Indian community function in Tokyo and will attend a series of business events and address the business forum. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Congress leader has said could have succeeded as prime minister because he often got his diagnosis right but "failed" on account of poor prescriptions. It is time for Modi to go, he said, highlighting a range of contradictions in the prime minister's style of working over the last four and a half years. "It's too late for a message now. The message is: Sorry Mr Modi, you have failed. It is time to go," Tharoor said in an interview to PTI on his new book 'The Paradoxical Prime Minister: and His India'. The book was released Friday by former prime minister Manmohan Singh. The sitting MP from Thiruvananthapuram and a former minister of state, Tharoor, however, noted that Modi could have been a successful prime minister had he genuinely concentrated on economic development and on the promises that powered him to victory in 2014. He said instead of his rhetoric of ushering in transformational change in the country's progress and economic development, Modi focussed on his votebank and gave a free hand to such elements that indulged in lynching, cow vigilantism and attacks on minorities and Dalits. Tharoor was also critical of Modi's silence on these incidents of violence and drew a parallel with former US President Barack Obama who addressed the nation on every attack on Americans. "If had chosen to curb the illiberal elements in his support base and genuinely concentrated on economic development, genuinely concentrated on transforming the lives of Indians, and on 'sabka saath sabka vikas', he could have been a success because his diagnosis was very often right. "His prescription needed attention, implementation. None of that followed, said Tharoor whose book examines paradoxes of the prime minister. Prime Minister Modi is somebody who constantly talks about how important it is for everyone to go together, but his tenure has seen the highest number of cow-related lynching incidents in the country's history, the former UN diplomat claimed, explaining the paradoxes. "He is someone who constantly speaks of the need for everyone to go together and yet 97 per cent of all the cow-related lynchings in the history of India have happened in the last four years of this government. "These are government figures. This and other paradoxes are the heart of analysis of the book," Tharoor said. He described the BJP rule as one with huge contradictions at its heart. "The PM has come to power saying liberal, inclusive and development things and yet he clearly depends for political support on some of the most illiberal elements of Indian society," Tharoor argued. He said the central paradoxes to Modi was the difference between his rhetoric and reality. "There are many paradoxes to the PM. But the central paradox is the gap between rhetoric and reality, the contradiction between a man of action and the disastrous records of his government," he said. In the book, Tharoor also speaks of the prime minister's "U-turns on a whole number of things including Aadhaar and FDI (foreign direct investment) in retail". "Here is a man of great eloquence who is silent when Dalits are flogged, Muslims are killed, cow lynchings happen," said Tharoor on Modi's contradictions. The Congress MP who occasionally spoke favourably of Narendra Modi's initiatives, including Swachh Bharat, said the prime minister had failed to curb majoritarian Hindu elements. "When he first came to power and started making conciliatory statements I thought he was going to move his own party away from communal identity to of performance. "But not only could he not curb the Hindu majoritarian elements that had arisen in the wake of his victory, in many ways it is possible that his non reaction to them was the point That allowing these people a free hand was the real message and the economic stuff was merely window dressing," Tharoor said explaining why he praised Modi's plans at times and why he was so disappointed now. A differently abled mother of two daughters has become the Haryana Roadways' first woman bus conductor, thanks to the ongoing strike by the state roadways employees, forcing the government to launch a recruitment drive for drivers and conductors. 32-year-old Sharmilla, hailing from a village in Rewari district, had been looking for a job for long to support her family and got it amid the ongoing strike, which has turned out to be roadways employees' longest ever. "Both I and my husband were unemployed. We are raising two daughters. I had been looking for a job for last 8 to 10 years and when I learnt about this vacancy, I applied against it and got the job," she said. Clad in a pair of jeans and a shirt, Sharmilla has been performing her duties after joining the Rewari depot Wednesday. "I am very happy now.I am getting good support and respect from the people. They appreciate what I am doing," she said. Sharmilla said she faces 40 per cent disability in one of her legs, but she has never let it stand in her way. "I am Haryana's first lady conductor and I am so happy to get this job. I have joined my duties three days ago and have learnt most of the things related to ticketing," said Sharmilla proudly. Sharmilla is amongthe two women who were recruited as bus conductors, the other one being Nirmala Rani, who has joined duty on Sirsa-Ellenabad route. Earlier this year,30-year-old Archana had become the first and only woman driver of the Karnal city bus service. The Haryana Roadways employees had Thursday decided tofurther extend their strike till October 29 as their freshround of talks with the government failed to make any headway. The employees are on strike since October 16 against the government's decision to hire 700 buses from private owners. There are about 19,000 employees in the Haryana Roadways, catering to 12 lakh passengers daily with a fleet of 4,100 buses. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Sri Lankan President Maithripala Sirisena's decision to appoint his predecessor Mahinda Rajapaksa as prime minister has raised fears about a return to past abusive practices in the island nation, the Human Rights Watch said Sunday. Controversial strongman Rajapaksa staged a dramatic political comeback on Friday, becoming the new Prime Minister after Sirisena sacked premier Ranil Wickremesinghe. The sudden development came amid growing tensions between Sirisena and Wickremesinghe on several policy matters and the President has been critical of the Prime Minister and his policies, especially on economy and security. As per rule, the president may appoint a new prime minister only under certain conditions such as the death of the premier, resignation in writing, or a vote of no confidence in parliament against the government for a listed set of reasons. "Rajapaksa's return to high office without any justice for past crimes raises chilling concerns for human rights in Sri Lanka," Brad Adams, Asia director at the HRW, said. The New York-based watchdog said the current Lankan government's "failure to bring justice to victims of war crimes under the Rajapaksa regime reopens the door for past abusers to return to their terrible practices". Rajapaksa's administration was implicated in egregious violations during the final stages of the brutal civil war in the island nation and in suppression of freedoms of the media. The HRW said military forces under Rajapaksa's authority attacked civilians and executed prisoners during the final months of fighting against the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE). People with suspected links to the LTTE were subjected to arbitrary arrest, torture, sexual violence, extrajudicial killings and enforced disappearances. Journalists and activists critical of the then Rajapaksa government faced harassment, arrest and even physical attack, it said. The LTTE had run a military campaign for a separate Tamil homeland in the northern and eastern provinces of the island nation before its collapse in 2009 after the Sri Lankan Army killed its supreme leader Velupillai Prabhakaran. Since Rajapaksa was sworn in as prime minister, there have been reports that his supporters took over the state media. "The media outlets, rights organisations and victims' groups...now fear a return to anxiety and fear...It is critical that governments that helped Sri Lanka's return to a much more rights-respecting government act to ensure those gains are not lost," Adams said. Mangala Samaraweera, a senior member of Wickremasinghe's party and minister of finance and media, has described the recent political developments in the country as "an anti-democratic coup". (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) A 44-year-old loader, Mahinder Singh, suffered 'compound fracture' when a heavy cargo accidentally fell on his leg while moving pellet, an airport official said Sunday. The incident happened at around 0300 at the cargo terminal of the Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport (CSMIA). MIAL (Mumbai International Airport Limited) medical break attended Singh, who is working for a private company, and shifted him to the Holy Spirit Hospital in Andheri east, the official said. "He underwent surgery for a compound fracture of Rt Tibia & fibula and his condition is stable now," the official added. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) BJP Minority Morcha national president Abdul Rasheed Ansari has said the party's government at the Centre is walking the "extra mile" to gain the confidence of minorities and has been successful in changing the perception of it being "anti-Muslim" to a large extent. The opposition, he alleged, had launched a "fear-mongering campaign" among minorities against the BJP. The BJP-led NDA government has brought in development without any discrimination but the opposition has set a "separate yardstick" for the party when it came to dealing with minorities. "Political parties (opposition) have targeted us (BJP) in order to isolate us from the minorities. They had used a fear-mongering campaign among minorities in an attempt to eat into the BJP's vote-bank. "This has been going on for several years. But things have changed of late and you will find the party increasing its base among minorities in various parts of the country," Ansari told PTI in an interview here. Minorities and backward classes, for the first time, have realised that the BJP, unlike other parties, "delivers rather than making false promises", he said. Talking about the recent incidents of lynchings in the country, Ansari said the BJP leadership had spoken out against them and action has been taken against culprits. "You have to look at the intention of the government and the party. Both Prime Minister Narendra Modi and party president Amit Shah have condemned them (lynchings). You cannot count on statements made by people, who are either not related to the party or are remotely related to it," he said. About the incident where Union minister Jayanta Sinha felicitated eight people accused of lynching in Jharkhand, earlier this year, Ansari contended that the gesture was not appreciated by anyone in the the saffron party. "Has anybody appreciated Jayanta Sinha for felicitating them? It is not expected that Amit Shah ji or the prime minister will speak out on a regular basis on every single incident that is happening in the country," he said. Meat trader Alimuddin Ansari was beaten to death on June 29 last year by a mob in Ramgarh police station area on the suspicion that he was carrying beef in his car. Expressing happiness over the release of the eight accused in the case on bail, Sinha had garlanded them and offered them sweets. Asked about poor representation of Muslims in distribution of tickets by the BJP, he said, "The issue should not be seen through the prism of religion. Tickets are not given in our party on the basis of religion. It is given on the basis of eligibility and capability of an individual". Ansari was also quick to point out that the BJP had given tickets to an "overwhelming number" of Muslim candidates in the West Bengal panchayat polls. "About 850 Muslims were given BJP tickets in the three-tier rural polls in the state held in May. It only goes on to show how much we care about the community," he asserted. Criticising the erstwhile Congress government for not doing enough for the development of the community in the country, he said the BJP government has increased the budget for minorities by "leaps and bounds". "Since Independence there has been a huge gap between what was promised to the minorities and what was actually delivered. But we are serious about development of Muslims as we believe in the policy of 'Sabka Sath, Sabka Vikas'. "If you go through the history of our country of the last 60 years, you will see how many large scale communal riots took place during the Congress regime ... But now you won't witness such a situation in the country," Ansari added. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Lok Janshakti Party leader Chirag Paswan said Sunday that the BJP-led NDA would remain intact in Bihar as he expressed confidence that his party would get to contest "respectable number" of seats in the state. Paswan, son of LJP president Ram Vilas Paswan and the party's parliamentary board chief, had met Amit Shah on Thursday, a day before the BJP president's meeting with JD(U) chief Nitish Kumar, in which they made the announcement that the two parties will fight on an equal number of seats. National Democratic Alliance (NDA) sources told PTI that Shah has spoken to allies including Chirag Paswan and RLSP's Upendra Kushwaha as he works to announce a seat-sharing arrangement among the four partners -- including Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar's JD(U) -- in a few days. The BJP chief spoke to Kushwaha as he stirred the political scene by meeting Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) leader Tejashwi Yadav on Friday. The LJP has reconciled to the prospect of fighting less than seven seats that it had contested in 2014, with a top party leader pointing out that the saffron party is itself making a sacrifice to accommodate the JD(U), which was not an NDA member in the last Lok Sabha polls. The sources said the LJP may contest five seats. Declining to comment on the number of seats his party may contest, Chirag Paswan said, "Talks are going on in positive direction. I am confident that we will fight on respectable number of seats." The NDA, he asserted, will remain intact in Bihar. The party has six MPs in the lower house. The RLSP had contested three seats in 2014 and won all of them. The BJP is unlikely to agree to giving it more than two seats. With contours of seat-sharing arrangement still evolving as BJP general secretary and its Bihar in-charge Bhupendra Yadav holds talks with allies, the sources said the BJP, JD(U), LJP and RLSP may contest 16, 16, five and two seats respectively. Bihar has 40 Lok Sabha seats and one Independent may be accommodated in either Muzaffarpur or Jehanabad. Following a meeting with Kumar, Shah had announced on Friday that the BJP and the JD(U) would contest equal number of Lok Sabha seats in the state in 2019. The BJP had contested 30 of the state's 40 seats in the 2014 general elections and won 22. Shah had said that all parties will get to fight less number of seats than last time to accommodate Kumar. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The United States is not going to put pressure on India to buy F-16 fighter jets or any other defence system, a senior US diplomat has said in Mumbai. United States Consul General in Mumbai Edgard Kagan said India has purchased more than $15 billion worth of American defence materials and the US is "very proud" of the expanding defence ties between the two countries. Asked if there was a threat of the US imposing trade sanctions on India after its multi-billion deal with Russia for the S-400 air-defence system, he did not give a direct answer. "The idea that the US is going to pressure India to buy the F-16 or any other system is not true. We believe that American military systems bring tremendous capability to India or any other country which buys that. "But we recognise that India makes its decisions on its own grounds," he told PTI in an interview in Mumbai. Kagan said it was important to recognise that decisions have consequences and India was very well aware where the US stands on a variety of issues.There are also matters that both countries can work closely to resolve, he said. India recently concluded a $5 billion deal to buy the S-400 air defence missile system from Russia which could attract US sanctions under the Countering America's Adversaries Through Sanctions Act (CAATSA) instituted by the US Congress on arms purchases from Moscow. American lawmakers, however, have allowed the possibility of a presidential waiver. Kagan said the US is "very proud" of the expanding defence partnership with India. "The fact is that India has purchased over $15 billion worth of American defence materials and there hasn't been one hint of a scandal. "There hasn't been one suggestion of any impropriety and that's very significant. The American defence procurement are transparent... All details are published on the US site," he said. This gives certainty to the people buying American products, the US consul general said. "When you compare the track record of the C-17 purchases for instance, or C-130 purchases, which were all done on budget, on time and in a very transparent way without a single hint of impropriety with many other defence procurement, the difference is quite striking," he said. The C-17 and the C-130 are US-made cargo aircraft. Asked about the Indian government directing social media platforms to take concrete steps to check spread of rumours and messages inciting unrest, cyber crimes and other activities that could jeopardise security, he said putting restrictions is no solution. "I would be very concerned trying to restrict speech either on social media or anywhere else. The challenge is only to make sure that you understand the consequences of their actions. "The solution to me can't be to control social media because inevitably the speech that we don't like also means trying to prevent the speech that brings change," he said. Kagan said India has done very well since independence in terms of ensuring freedom of speech, and having a free and vibrant press. "If we start restricting people from social media its a very short stand. The important thing is to recognise people, need to take responsibility for what they do, to recognise the dangers and the risks of the abuse of this and we all have to recognise social media is like a knife we use," he said. Kagan said if tools like social media are created to power our lives, inevitably the risk of cutting ourselves is higher. "But I don't think it means we want a blunt knife or no knife at all," he said. Billionaire has won oil regulator PNGRB's approval for selling his loss-making east-west natural gas pipeline to Canadian investor Brookfield, a top official said. Ambani's Reliance Gas Transportation Infrastructure Ltd, which later changed the name to East West Pipeline Ltd (EWPL), a decade back built a 1,400-kilometer pipeline from Kakinada in Andhra Pradesh to Bharuch in Gujarat to transport natural gas discovered in a KG basin block operated by his flagship firm Reliance Industries. However, the pipeline which had a capacity to transport 80 million standard cubic metres per day of natural gas is currently operating at less than 5 per cent of its capacity as output from KG-D6 block of fell sooner than expected. While the Competition Commission of India (CCI) had in September approved the transaction where Brookfield is sponsoring an Infrastructure Investment Trust (IIT) called India Infrastructure Trust as the acquisition vehicle, the Petroleum and Natural Gas Regulatory Board (PNGRB) gave its nod a few weeks back. "Yes, the approval has been accorded," PNGRB Chairman Dinesh K Sarraf said. This will be Brookfield's first investment in the energy sector in India. However, the acquisition price has not been disclosed. According to September 11 approval of the CCI, the pipeline housed under EWPL will be transferred to an entity called Pipeline Infrastructure Pvt Ltd (PIPL), a wholly-owned subsidiary of Reliance Industries Holding Pvt Ltd (RIHPL). "RIHPL would sell its entire issued and paid up equity share capital of PIPL to IIT," the order said. "Further, IIT will also subscribe to the non-convertible debentures to be issued by PIPL." Brookfield Asset Management Inc's affiliate Rapid Holdings Pte Ltd and PenBrook Capital Advisors Pvt Ltd (PCAPL) had executed a framework agreement to buy the pipeline on August 28. PCAPL is a joint venture between Peninsula Investment Management Co Ltd and Brookfield Capital Partners (Bermuda) Ltd. "By way of the proposed combination, the entire equity share capital and voting rights of PIPL is proposed to be acquired by India Infrastructure Trust (IIT), a trust to be established/sponsored by Rapid and registered under the Indian Trusts Act, 1882 and the Securities and Exchange Board of India (Infrastructure Investment Trusts) Regulations, 2014," the order said. PCAPL would be appointed as the investment manager of IIT. EWPL had operating revenue of Rs 8.84 billion and posted a net loss of Rs 7.15 billion in the year ended March. The loss was mainly because of the pipeline operating at less than its capacity. KG-D6 fields, which began production in April 2009, had hit a peak of 69.43 mmscmd in March 2010 before water and sand ingress forced the shutdown of wells. This peak output comprised 66.35 mmscmd from D1 and D3, the largest of the 18 gas discoveries on the KG-D6 block, and 3.07 mmscmd from MA field, the only oil discovery on the block. Currently, the fields produce less than 4 mmscmd of gas, which EWPL transports to customers. EWPL had a total outstanding debt of Rs 137.15 billion as of March while its plant, property and equipment had an asset value of around Rs 110 billion, according to its last annual balance sheet. Over two dozen women in Jammu and Kashmir's Doda district were given bee boxes for honey farming as part of the Army's 'Operation Goodwill', an official said. The women have been trained in beekeeping under a three-week programme organised by the Rashtriya Rifles based here in collaboration with Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology (SKUAST) in Jammu. The programme was conducted under the Prime Minister's Skill India initiative to impart basic skills among rural women in bee rearing, their management and how to make it a profitable business, the Army official said. Twenty-eight women from various far-off villages of the hilly district participated in the training programme, aimed at encouraging them to develop the required skills to become successful entrepreneurs using local resources with very little or no investment, he said. "I was in a fix over what to do after completing my studies, as in this part of the world, jobs are very hard to find. Luckily for me, the Army took the initiative at the right time and I enrolled myself for the training programme," Sheetal, a trainee from Rounda-Seri village, told PTI. She said the training gave her the confidence to start her own business and the bee boxes given by the Army helped her get the equipment to rear bees. The training was held under the technical guidance and supervision of SKUAST, senior scientist, Neeraj Kotwal. "The Chenab valley is best suited for bee rearing and production of high quality white honey. Traditionally, almost every household used to produce honey here, but since the last one decade production decreased considerably due to changing lifestyle in rural areas," he said. Kotwal said it was heart-warming to see the Army coming to the revival of this ancient trade and "I hope the female brigade will grab this opportunity to empower themselves and become entrepreneurs in the near future". The official said all the trainees, after successfully completing the training were given certificates beside bee boxes so that they can immediately start their own business to financially empower themselves. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) An anti-terrorism court in Pakistan has sentenced a member of a religious outfit to 30-year imprisonment for opening fire and injuring former interior minister Ahsan Iqbal in the PML-N government in May. The court in Gujranwala on Saturday also ordered confiscation of assets of 22-year-old Abid Hussain and imposed a fine of Rs 280,000 on him. The convict would have to undergo an additional six-month imprisonment in case of his failure to pay the fine. According to a court official, Judge Syed Imran Shah handed down 27-year imprisonment to Hussain for shooting at Iqbal and another three-year jail term for carrying illegal weapons. The judge said the convict made an assassination attempt on the former interior minister in ex-Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi's Cabinet by shooting at him during an election rally in Narowal, some 100 kilometres from Lahore, on May 6. The court acquitted four accomplices of the convict by giving them the benefit of doubt. Hussain, a member of Tehreek-e-Labbaik Pakistan (TLP), in his statement to police said he had attacked Iqbal as his government hurt the sentiments of Muslims by attempting to change the law related to Khattam-e-Nubawat (finality of Prophethood). The TLP is an Islamic political party in Pakistan with Islamic ideology. The party is known for widespread street power and massive protests in opposition to any change in the blasphemy law of Pakistan. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan Sunday launched a special portal to address the grievances and complaints of the general public. Pakistan Citizens' Portal (PCP) is a complete grievance redressal system which is connected with all the government departments. The Prime Minister's office will monitor the entire procedure, according to Radio Pakistan. A citizen of Pakistan can lodge his or her complaint through a smartphone app, website, e-mail or Facebook. A complaint can also be registered through a toll free number. All complaints will be resolved in a given time-frame in a transparent manner to the satisfaction of the complainant. Addressing the launch of PCP, Khan said indigenous development of this app was appreciable and it showed that old colonial mind-set had been replaced with accountability for all including government, politicians and public servants. Pakistan had immense potential and "we need to work hard to make this country better". He said Pakistan Citizens' Portal will enable the government to understand the performance of ministries and departments. Khan said PCP is a step forward towards E-governance, improving governance and attracting foreign investments in Pakistan. He said 'Naya' (new) Pakistan will be created when people start owning the system after having confidence on the government. Khan said he will get reports on a weekly basis to check the performance of various government departments. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Palestinian president Mahmud Abbas on Sunday again vowed to oppose any peace proposal by US President Donald Trump as PLO officials met to consider their next moves. Speaking at the opening of a rare meeting of the Palestinian Liberation Organization's central council, Abbas said Palestinians were facing perhaps the "most dangerous stage" in their history, highlighting a series of controversial measures taken by Trump including recognising Jerusalem as Israel's capital. Abbas has boycotted Trump's administration since that December decision, though the US president's team is still expected to release a peace plan in the coming months. Abbas compared the expected Trump proposal to the 1917 Balfour Declaration, which saw the British government commit to the creation of a state for Jews in historic Palestine. "If the Balfour Declaration passed, this deal will not pass," he pledged. The US has also cut hundreds of millions of dollars in aid for Palestinians, with Trump angered by Abbas's refusal to meet with him or members of his administration. He has called on Abbas to negotiate, but Palestinian leaders say they are being blackmailed to accept Trump's terms, which they see as blatantly biased in favour of Israel. "They are still talking about the deal of the era, and that they will present it after a month or two," Abbas added, saying Trump's actions amounted to imposing a deal unilaterally. The Palestinian leader also renewed his support for salaries for families of Palestinians killed or jailed by Israel. Israel brands the payments for families of those who have carried out anti-Israel attacks as encouraging "terrorism", and the United States has also criticised them. Palestinians see those jailed or killed while carrying out attacks as fighting Israel's ongoing occupation. "The salaries of our martyrs and prisoners are a red line," Abbas said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Prime Minister Sunday credited Sardar Valabhbhai Patel with uniting India after partition and said it was his timely intervention which helped saved Jammu and Kashmir from "aggression". In his monthly 'Mann ki Baat' radio address, he also urged the youth to participate in large numbers in the 'run for unity' being organised on October 31 to mark the birth anniversary of Patel. Modi said, "If we are able to see a united India now, it was entirely on account of the sagacity and strategic wisdom of " He said this year, October 31 (scheduled date for inauguration of the statue) will be special as the statue of unity will be dedicated to the nation as a "true tribute" to "This is the world's tallest statue. Every Indian will now be proud to see the world's tallest statue here on Indian soil. Sardar Patel, a true son of the soil will adorn our skies too," he said. In his address, the Prime Minister also paid tributes to late Prime Minister on her death anniversary, which is also on October 31. "October 31 also is the death anniversary of our former Prime Minister Our respectful tributes to Indira ji too," he said. The Prime Minister pointed out that Infantry Day is observed every year on October 27 as the first Indian soldiers had set their foot in Jammu and Kashmir to take on intruders from Pakistan. Quoting late Field Marshal S H F J Manekshaw, he said Patel was "irked" at the delay in initiating military action to evict the aggressors. He said, in an interview, Manekshaw had recalled that as a colonel then he was part of a meeting where Patel was irked on the delay in sending troops to Kashmir. "During the proceedings, gave him (Manekshaw) a characteristic glance and reiterated that there should be no delay in our Army operation and that a solution should be sought swiftly. And immediately after that, our troops flew to Kashmir.we've seen how our Army was successful," Modi said. Mahatma Gandhi, the PM said, considered Patel as the only one capable of finding a lasting solution to the vexed issue of the states and asked him to act. During his address, Modi also lauded the performances of Indian sportspersons in the Asian Para Games and Summer Youth Olympics, Prime Minister on Sunday said the country was setting new records not just in the field of sports but also in "uncharted areas". "If the youth of a country possess these qualities, that country will progress not only in areas such as economy, science and technology but also bring laurels home in the field of sports," Modi said. He congratulated the athletes who participated in the Asian Para Games 2018 held at Jakarta and the winners of the Summer youth Olympics 2018 held in Argentina, saying: "The Para athletes bagged a tally of 72 medals, creating a new, unprecedented record, bringing glory to the nation". PM also talked about the 100 years of the end of World War-1 on November 11. He remembered the sacrifices of Indian soldiers who fought in the war. Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday presented his Japanese counterpart Shinzo Abe two handcrafted stone bowls and dhurries made from rose quartz and yellow quartz stone sourced from Rajasthan. A Jodhpuri wooden chest from Rajasthan with traditional work was also presented, an official said. The gifts were specially crafted on the occasion of Modi's visit to Japan for the two-day India-Japan annual summit. The bowls were crafted by master artisan Shabbirhusen Ibrahimbhai Shaikh of Gujarat's Khambhat region, which is known for its practice of stone craft since generations and is also a leading hub for exports of stone products from India. "The uniqueness of this craft lies in the fact that the form of the product is scooped out from a block of stone, and then shaped and refined using basic hand tools generally without any lathe machines," the official said. Hand-woven by the master weavers of Mirzapur in Uttar Pradesh, the dhurrie designs show the diversity of possibilities available -- from a symmetrical repeating geometric tessellation in one, to stylistic floral motifs arranged around the classical medallion pattern in another. "The dhurries use two distinctive Indian colour palettes. While one uses Indigo blues, reds and sprinkles of turmeric yellows, the identifying colours that have marked Indian textiles for centuries, the other uses the muted earthy tones of the Indian landscape," the official said. The stone bowls and dhurries were made under the design supervision of the prestigious Ahmedabad-based National Institute of Design. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) President Ram Nath Kovind, Vice President M Venkaiah Naidu and Prime Minister Narendra Modi were among those who expressed grief on the demise of former Delhi chief minister and senior BJP leader Madan Lal Khurana. Khurana (82) is survived by his wife, a son and two daughters. Another son of his had died last month. A Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) veteran, Khurana was the chief minister of Delhi from 1993 to 1996 and was appointed the governor of Rajasthan in 2004. His son, Harish Khurana, said his father breathed his last at his Kirti Nagar residence at around 11 pm Saturday. "Sad to hear of the passing of Shri Madan Lal Khurana. As Chief Minister of Delhi, Governor of Rajasthan and Union Minister, he contributed immensely to public life and particularly to the well-being of the national capital and its people (sic)," Kovind said in a tweet. Vice President Naidu also condoled the death of Khurana. "Deeply saddened by demise of former Chief Minister of Delhi, Shri Madan Lal Khurana. He will be remembered for his immense contribution for growth & development of Delhi. My heartfelt condolences to his bereaved family members and pray for his soul rest in peace. #MadanLalKhurana," he tweeted. Modi said Khurana worked tirelessly for the progress of Delhi. "Anguished by the passing away of Shri Madan Lal Khurana Ji. He worked tirelessly for the progress of Delhi, particularly towards ensuring better infrastructure. "He distinguished himself as a hardworking and people-friendly administrator, both in the Delhi government and Centre," the prime minister tweeted. In another tweet, he said, "Shri Madan Lal Khurana Ji will always be remembered for the manner in which he strengthened the BJP in Delhi. He made unwavering efforts towards serving the post-partition refugees in Delhi. My thoughts and solidarity with his family and supporters." Khurana's last rites would be performed Sunday, his family members said. "Learnt of the unfortunate demise of former Delhi chief minister and BJP leader Madan Lal Khurana. He will be remembered as an ideal swayamsevak and a dedicated Vidyarthi Parishad worker and a strong pillar of the Jan Sangh and the BJP," BJP chief Amit Shah tweeted in Hindi. Lt Governor Anil Baijal and Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal also expressed grief on Khurana's death. In a tweet, Union minister Dharmendra Pradhan said, "Deeply pained to hear about the demise of Former Chief Minister of Delhi and veteran leader Madan Lal Khurana ji. My condolences to the bereaved family and prayers for the departed soul." Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman too condoled the demise of the former Delhi chief minister. "Condolences on the passing away of Shri. Madanlal Khurana, former CM of Delhi. May God give strength to his family, @HarishKhuranna and all party workers to bear with this loss," she tweeted. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) A sub-inspector of police and a PDP worker were killed by militants in separate incidents in Kashmir on Sunday, officials said. Forty-year-old PDP worker Mohd. Amin Dar was fired upon by the militants in Srinagar. He was rushed to a hospital where he died, the officials said. Dar, a resident of Gangbugh, was an associate of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) leader and former minister Syed Altaf Bukhari, they said. In a separate incident, Imtiyaz Ahmed Mir, a 30-year-old Jammu and Kashmir Police sub-inspector posted in the CID department, was gunned down by militants in the militancy-infested Pulwama district of South Kashmir when he was on his way home to meet his elderly parents. Mir's body was recovered from the Chewa Kalan area of the district, the officials said. According to Mir's superiors, the desperation to see his parents prompted Mir to shave off his beard and change appearance in his unsuccessful attempt to dodge militants who had laid a death trap for him in his village. Mir had been warned against venturing into his village as there was a possibility of attack by militant groups, who have been targeting policemen in the state recently. Militants also opened fire on an Army patrol team in Shopian district of Jammu and Kashmir on Sunday, but no one was injured in the attack. On Friday night, a Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) officer was killed by terrorists in Budgam district of Jammu and Kashmir. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) is likely to lose its sheen this 'Dhanteras' due to liquidity crunch amidst rising prices and other investment options, say market experts and the industry. If the sluggish sentiment prevails this will be the second consecutive year of poor sales. In 2017, the season saw sales plunging more than 30 per centover the 2016 levels when sales were reasonably goodas the note ban was announced post Diwali. But last year was one of the worst for the industry in recent yearsas it was after the note ban and GST implementation coupled with tighter KYC norms for high value purchases. "I am not expecting good business this 'Dhanteras' as the consumer sentiment is not so good due to lack of liquidity in the market. "I am expectingsales to decline by 5-10 per cent from last year or at best to be at par," All India Gem & Jewellery Domestic Council (GJC) chairman Nitin Khandelwal told PTI. Bullion prices have been heading north for quite some time now, which is also deterring people to buy gold, he added. is considered to be an auspicious day for buying gold, silver and other valuables and is largely celebrated in northern and western parts of India. Last year, prices were ruling a little over Rs 30,000 per 10 gram during Domestic prices closed at Rs 32,550 per 10 grams Saturday, while globally it closed at $1,233.80 an ounce in New York on Friday. Reiterating Khandelwal's view, former GJC chairman Manish Jain said the business was badly impacted during the Dussehra festival, which has set the tone for Dhanteras and Diwali, generally considered auspicious for buying the yellow metal. "We are hoping the industry at best matches salesat the last year levels. However, looking at the current sentiments we expect it may even be slightly lower than that of last year," he added. He said factors like better investment options like mutual funds are also diverting people from purchasing gold during the current festival season. However, he said, the organised players are expected to do better than last year, and that it is the unorganised sector, which still comprises 70 per cent of the industry, that is feeling the pinch as consumers are grappling with liquidity issues. "The industry is slowly shifting towards organised after the implementation of goods and services tax. But it will take time for the industry to become fully organised. "In the meantime the business of the overall industry will be negatively impacted," he added. Also, he said, the industry is yet to fully recover from the note-ban shock as almost three-fourths of the industry is in the unorganised sector. Meanwhile, Titans associate vice-president for marketing at its Jewellery Division Deepika Sabharwal Tewari said note-ban and GST have had significant impacts on all industries especially the organised retail jewellery sector. In the last one year, the market has not only stabilised but has also seen steady growth, she said. "We at Tanishq have seen great traction during seasons like Akshaya Tritiya, Gudi Padwa, Teej, Varamahalakshmi and Durga Puja and we are expecting this to continue during the Diwali season as well. "We are expecting demand to be favourable and meet our expectations from this festive season," she added. Echoing similar views, Kalyan Jewellers chairman and managing director T S Kalyanaraman said, "Overall we expect 5-7 per cent volume growth during this Dhanteras compared to last year as consumers have understood that buying from organised players get them best resale value compared to buying from unorganised ones." ALSO READ: Manappuram Finance to diversify to cut reliance on gold loan portfolio The industry, he said, is also moving towards organised from unorganised after the GST, gaining more consumer confidence. To attract consumers and to increase footfalls during the festival, the company is also focused on campaigns and offers, he added. President Ram Nath Kovind will arrive here Monday on a two-day visit to Himachal Pradesh during which he will take part in various programmes, an official spokesperson said on Sunday. The President accompanied by the first lady Savita Kovind will arrive at Gaggal airport in Kangra district at 10.30 am, he said. Governor of the hill-state Acharya Devvrat, chief minister Jai Ram Thakur and minister in waiting Kishan Kapoor would receive Kovind at the airport, he added. Subsequently, the president will reach Dr. Rajendra Prasad Government Medical College (RPGMC) Tanda in Kangra to take part in its first convocation and give away eleven gold medals to eight meritorious students, he said. A total of 110 students will be given degrees, the official said, adding that Kovind will also address the gathering. On Tuesday, the President will present degrees to the students of Himachal Pradesh University (HPU) during its 24th convocation function in the state capital Shimla. HPU vice chancellor Sikander Kumar said degrees to 400 gold-medalists and PhD holders of 2015-16 and gold-medalists of 2016-17 academic sessions would be given. The chief minister visited Tanda Sunday evening to review preparations for the President's visit. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) With the arrest of a man, the police Sunday claimed to have solved the sensational murder case of forest guard Sukhpal Singh here. Jaswant Singh of Pasiyanpurwa village, the prime accused in the case, was nabbed by the police Saturday, while his father Ramesh was reported to be absconding. Kheri Superintendent of Police(SP) Ramlal said "the weapon used in the crime -- a long-handled axe -- was also recovered from the accused". A police team, led by Mailani station in-charge Brijesh Tripathi, arrested the accused from a spot near Jokhepurwa village when he was attempting to flee, the SP said. The body of Sukhpal Singh (50), a forest guard posted in the Mailani range, was found on the night of October 19 from a spot near Pasiyanpurwa village. There were sharp injury marks on the forest guard's head and his two mobile handsets were missing. The SP said during investigation, it came to light that the scene of the crime was close to Pasiyanpurwa and a village boy had seen the accused involved in an altercation with the forest guard on the night of October 19. Acting on this clue, the Mailani police zeroed in on Jaswant and Ramesh, he added. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Police Sunday took into custody Rahul Easwar, president of the 'Ayyappa Dharma Sena', for his alleged provocative statement related to the entry of women into the Lord Ayyappa Temple at Sabarimala. A team of police personnel from Kochi took Easwar into custody from his flat here in connection with a case registered under IPC Sections 153 (wantonly giving provocation with intent to cause riot) and 117 (abetting commission of offence by the public or by more than 10 persons), police said. The arrest will be recorded in the evening after they reach Kochi, police sources said. A member of the Thazhamon family of Sabarimala tantris (head priests), Easwar had said during a press meet in Kochi last week that they had a contingency plan to force the closure of the temple by spilling blood on its premises by some devotees in case any woman in the 'barred' age group managed to reach it. He had also claimed that 20 Lord Ayyappa devotees opposing the entry of women in the age group of 10 and 50 were ready to inflict knife injuries on themselves on the temple premises, which would have forced the priests to close the gates on account of impurity. "Had their blood fallen on the floor of the temple, that would have forced the priests to shut the shrine for three days for purification rituals," Easwar had said. A case was registered against him later on the basis of a complaint filed by a Thiruvananthapuram native. Kerala Devaswom Minister Kadakkampally Surendran had claimed that effective police intervention had foiled the protesters' bid to "desecrate" the Ayyappa Temple by spilling blood in the premises if women devotees in the 10-50 age group offered prayers. He had said the "conspiracy" of the devotees was made clear by the statement of Rahul Easwar. The Minister had also said the disclosure showed that there was a well-conceived plan, similar to that followed by nations to attack their enemies and added that this attempt was not only 'seditious,' but also against the interests of devotees. Easwar was earlier arrested from Sabarimala Sannidhanam (temple complex) on October 17 over the 'save Sabarimala campaign, and later released on bail. The temple had witnessed high drama with around a dozen women in 10-50 age group being prevented from entering the temple by protesting devotees after the doors were opened for all women, following the Supreme Court verdict. On September 28, a five-judge Constitution bench of the Apex Court, headed by then Chief Justice Dipak Misra, had lifted the centuries-old ban on the entry of women of menstrual age into the shrine. BJP state president P S Sreedharan Pillai Sunday lashed out at the police action against Easwar. "BJP condemns the police action on Rahul Easwar and also those associated wit the protests over the Sabarimala issue," he told reporters. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The Transportation Department said it began deploying the first train made by Chinas CRRC Dalian on Metro Rail Transit Line 3 after ensuring it is safe for public use. It said the first train with three light rail vehicles on MRT 3 was part of the gradual deployment of 48 LRVs from CRRC Dalian that arrived as early as three years ago. The agency said the deployment of the first train came after an extensive, rigorous and multilevel audit, assessment, adjustment and validation of the 48 Dalian LRVs that were delivered between September 2015 and January 2017. The independent safety audit and assessment was conducted by TUV Rheinland, an ISO 17020 and 17025-certified German company. It said among the concerns that needed to be addressed were issues on weight, signaling and maintenance equipment compatibility. Transportation Secretary Arthur Tugade asked CRRC Dalian to address these issues and perform all other identified adjustments at no cost to government. CRRC Dalian started working on the necessary adjustments in July 2018, while Japanese company Toshiba Infrastructure Systems supervised and assessed the process to ensure that they addressed the open observations of TUV Rheinland. An MRT-3 advisory panel, consisting of railway specialists from the Asian Development Bank, Australia Aid and local experts from the Philippine National Railways also participated in the evaluation and validation.The agency said of the 48 LRVs, only three units or equivalent to one train were deployed so far for passenger service after assessment and validation. The other LRVs are undergoing the assessment and validation procedures and will be gradually deployed once cleared, the department said. The government earlier tapped Sumitomo and Mitsubishi Heavy Industries as the rehabilitation and maintenance service provider of the 18-year old MRT-3. A contingent of Sumitomo and MHI engineers began working at the MRT-3 depot daily on Oct. 15 for advance transition works. The exchange of notes and loan agreement between the Philippines and Japan will be signed in early November, ahead of the upcoming meeting of the Philippines-Japan High Level Joint Committee on Infrastructure and Economic Development in Manila in mid-November. Transportation Undersecretary for railways TJ Batan said that apart from an improved and rehabilitated MRT-3, Filipinos could also look forward to other railway projects all over the country. Tugade assured Filipino commuters that the government was working double time to fast-track the completion of infrastructure projects. Sri Lanka's newly-appointed Prime Minister on Sunday called for a snap parliamentary election to allow people vote for a new programme to overcome the island nation's economic and political crisis. This was the first public statement by the former strongman since President appointed him as the new premier after sacking Ranil Wickremesinghe on Friday night. "The primary objective of the political party leaders and parliamentarians who have joined me is to immediately hold the provincial council elections that had been postponed continuously and also to call a parliamentary election as soon as possible so as to give the people the opportunity to vote for a programme that will bring the country out of the encompassing economic, political and social crisis," he said. Rajapaksa's return to power ended a more than three-year-old coalition government that was formed by Sirisena and Wickremesinghe on a promise to combat corruption and financial irregularities. Sirisena's broader political front United People's Freedom Alliance (UPFA) quit the unity government with Wickremesinghe's United National Party (UNP). Highlighting the alleged misgovernance of Wickremesinghe, Rajapaksa's said, "The value of the rupee has fallen alarmingly. Our country has been downgraded by the rating agencies. The people are oppressed by the ever rising cost of living." He said he was invited by Sirisena to accept the post of the prime minister after the president's party left the unity government with Wickremesinghe. "Today our country is in a state of uncertainty. Details of a plot to assassinate the president and the former defence secretary have come to light. Those involved in this conspiracy are being exposed by their own actions," he said. Sirisena had last week accused Wickremesinghe of going slow on the investigations after a man named Namal Kumara in mid September disclosed the alleged plot to assassinate him and former defence minister Gotabhaya Rajapaksa. Sri Lanka's next parliamentary elections are not due earlier than February, 2020. However, the next must be called prior to that. Wickremesinghe, who has termed his sacking as unconstitutional, claims that he is till the legally appointed Prime Minister with parliamentary majority. He had sought an emergency session of the parliament to prove his majority. However, Sirisena suspended the Parliament till November 16. Speaker Karu Jayasuriya on Sunday questioned the president's decision to suspend parliament till November 16, saying it will have "serious and undesirable" consequences on the country. Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh and Lok Sabha Speaker Sumitra Mahajan Sunday visited ailing Parliamentary Affairs Minister H N Ananth Kumar, who is undergoing treatment at a private hospital here. Stating this, a statement from Kumar's office said the minister was showing "good progress and recovery" and had been advised complete rest. "Treatment is on, hence the cooperation of every one is solicited, it said without specifying the nature of illness. A six-time Parliamentarian from the city, Kumar has been indisposed for the last few moths and was said to be under gonging treatment in London and New York. He recently returned to the city and had been admitted to the hospital here, sources said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Amid a virtual revolt by a section of Taksali Akalis (old guard), Shiromani Akali Dal president Sukhbir Singh Badal said Sunday the SAD was nobody's personal fiefdom and he was ready to quit his post the moment the party so wishes. "Let me tell you one thing. SAD has given me an opportunity to serve. If they will say you leave and let someone else take over, I am ready," Badal said. He said he was always duty-bound to do whatever the party asks him and if they demand his resignation he was ready for it. "Party is supreme, no individual is bigger than the party. I have said it on every stage that SAD is no one's personal fiefdom. Till the time party wants I will continue, the moment they want me to step down, I will do so," he told reporters in Amritsar when asked if his leadership was being challenged by a section of Taksali leaders from Majha region. Badal, in a bid to quell rebellious voices, said all veteran Akali leaders were his elders and he respects them. Showing respect to senior party leaders Ranjit Singh Brahmpura, Rattan Singh Ajnala and Sewa Singh Sekhwan, who have raised a banner of virtual revolt, he said he respects them and knows they have immensely contributed to the party. Badal said, "He (Ajnala) has made a big contribution for party and dedicated his entire life to it. I keep seeking guidance from him. He is my elder." He said the Taksali leaders were "like our family members". The first signs of trouble for the SAD came to the fore when several Taksali leaders expressed discontent over the party's functioning after the Ranjit Singh panel report, which looked into sacrilege cases and the subsequent police action, was made public two months back. Badal paid obeisance at the Golden Temple Sunday and visited dissident SAD leader Bhai Manjit Singh at his residence along with Majitha MLA Bikram Singh Majithia. Ranjit Singh Brahmpura had recently relinquished all party posts on health grounds, the second party leader to do so within a month. The Khadoor Sahib MP, who was holding the post of senior vice-president and was a member of party's core committee, also declared he would not contest the next Lok Sabha polls, but would complete this term. A day after veteran leader Sukhdev Singh Dhindsa resigned on September 30, Brahmpura, Ajnala and Sewa Singh Sekhwan virtually raised a banner of revolt saying "all was not well within the party. Meanwhile, Sekhwan said Sunday he welcomed Badal's statement that he was ready to quit if party so wished. "I welcome it. The fact that the Taksali leaders resigned from posts, they did so to save the grand old party. Everyone has to realise that party posts mean nothing, we should all strive to ensure that party remains intact and flourishes," he said. Sekhwan said he had been raising for the past couple of years the issue that SAD had "deviated from its Panthic agenda. I had said a few years ago, a recording of which is still available on the Youtube, that party has deviated from Panthic agenda and it can harm it in future". (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Nippon Life Asset Management (RNAM) has filed draft papers with capital markets watchdog for the fourth tranche of CPSE Exchange Traded Fund. Through the three tranches of CPSE ETF, the government has already raised Rs 115 billion -- Rs 30 billion from the first tranche in March 2014, Rs 60 billion from the second tranche in January 2017 and Rs 25 billion from the third tranche in March 2017. CPSE ETF, which functions like a mutual fund scheme, comprises scrips of 10 PSUs -- ONGC, Coal India, IOC, Gail India, Oil India, PFC, Bharat Electronics, REC, Engineers India and Container Corporation of India. The fund-raising will help the government inch towards Rs 800 billion target for the current fiscal. It has mopped up over Rs 90 billion so far. As per draft documents filed with the Securities and Exchange Board of India (Sebi), RNAM has applied for the third FFO (Further Fund offer) of the Central Public Sector Enterprises, Exchange Traded Fund or ALSO READ: Govt plans global ETF to tap investment from large overseas pension funds The government has already appointed as the advisor for the fourth tranche of The advisor would be required to advise the government in all aspects of the launching of the proposed follow-on fund offer or tap or tranche of the scheme/index. The first tranche of CPSE ETF was managed by Goldman Sachs MF, which was then acquired by RNAM in October 2015. The finance ministry later gave nod for transfer of management of CPSE ETF to RNAM. After closing of the FFO, the units will be listed on the stock exchanges in the form of an ETF tracking the Nifty CPSE Index. After wowing audiences in Russia, the Moscow Musical Theater's iconic performance 'Reverse' Sunday arrived in India in style as it blew the minds of people here with a mix of edgy drama, choreography and mind-boggling acrobatics. The audience at the jam-packed Kamani Auditorium watched the nearly hour-long show in stunned silence, only to rise at the end for giving a standing ovation. The production has been created by young Russian directors Andrey Koltsov and Irina Drozhzhina, with participation of Debra Brown, the Emmy Award-winning Canadian choreographer. Smita Darshan, who came to watch the theatrical show along with her husband and young daughter, said, "It was something they had never seen before in a theatre. It was mind-boggling". "The performance were so excellent and the theme of life's struggle conveyed through emotions, touched us all. And, the two acrobatic performers on the trampoline who did multiple somersaults, as if they were doing it forever, just trapped our senses," she said. Russian nationals Natalia and Sergey Sein were also left amazed at the end of the show. "It just blew us away. I watched it for the first time. What a beautiful and powerful performance without using a single word," Natalia said. Powerful it was indeed, as the entire show was silent, and actors used acrobatic movements, visceral gestures and cries and screams to convey emotions. The show marked the opening of the two-month-long event 'Days of Russian Culture in India' jointly organised by the Indian Council of Cultural Relations (ICCR) and the Ministry of Culture of the Russian Federation. After delighting audience in Delhi, 'Reverse' will next move to Jaipur. The experimental performance delves into struggles that goes on in human minds everyday, explores symbolic meanings of love, hatred, camaraderie, and a whole other gamut of emotions, heightened by use of props such as elevated doors, trapeze and trampoline. Koltsov said these 'doors' are all in our hearts and minds, and so are the keys to open them. "The show, conceived a year ago, is not just recreational but also has a philosophical message to it, whether we humans wish to go together or keep struggling to go up alone, in self-centered way, with no happiness in return," he told PTI. The director said this was the first overseas premiere of the show, after 50 performances in Moscow. "We are very happy to have the premier in Delhi and humbled by the warm response we received tonight," he said. Darshan's seven-year-old daughter Tanisha said she was delighted by ladder scene and the hopscotch game scene. Russian Ambassador to India Nikolay Kudashev said, through cultural events like this, the two countires will come even closer. Minister of State for External Affairs V K Singh also stressed on the importance of cultural and people-to-people ties between the two countries. After the show, Koltsov told the audience, "Thank you. I wish to say that the doors between India and Russia should always be open," receiving a thunderous applause. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Samar Lifestyle, which will sell the Florsheim brand of shoes in India, is eyeing a Rs 350 crore turnover by 2022 through multi brand outlets and Exclusive Brand Outlets, a top company official said. The agreement between the company, part of the Sara Futura Group and Weyco Group to sell the brand, was formalised between Sara Group Managing Director Kayum Dhanani and Weyco Group CEO Tom Florsheim Jr in January 2018. "Our idea is the licensing and retailing business.We want to sell around half a million pair of shoes in the next four years. That is our Florsheim target", Sara Group President Mridumesh Kumar Rai told PTI. He said per capita consumption of footwear in India was set to increase to 4.8 pairs by 2020 from the present 1.8 pairs. To a query, he said Florsheim's strategy would be led by its distribution network. "Our channel strategy is that business will be coming from multi-brand footwear. We plan to have around 25 EBOs (Exclusive Brand Outlets)", he said. The company's first outlet in the country (after bagging the licensing deal), set up at an investment of about Rs one crore, was recently inaugurated by Rai and senior company officials at the Palladium Mall in Chennai. "Some of the shoes you see here are the same that are sold in Australia or some other countries. The women's shoes displayed here are imported from Florsheim globally and you can see similar designs and prices in other countries", he said. Asked why the company chose Chennai to open its first store, he said "We believe that Florsheim already has a big clientele in the city. However, we have a second store coming up in New Delhi. By January, it will be up and running", he said. Rai said the plan was to have 1,000 Points of Sale for Florsheim across channels in the country by 2022. "My guess is that there will be a healthy mix of brand outlets... anything between 15-25 in three to four years", he said. Noting that a survey had stated that the branded footwear market penetration in India was about 42 per cent, he said a lot of it was being sold through multi-brand outlets. To a query, he said the size of the footwear industry in India was pegged at around Rs 60,000 crore and projected to grow at a CAGR of 18 per cent Year-on-Year. He said the company's factory near Ambur-Ranipet area in Tamil Nadu produces 11,000 pairs of footwear every day. "If you look at that, we are doing close to 40 lakh pairs a year", he said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Delhi Chief Minister and AAP national convener Arvind Kejriwal Sunday alleged that BJP president Amit Shah through his comments on the Sabarimala verdict was "actively encouraging people to violate the Supreme Court order". The chief minister hoped that the apex court would take cognisance of Shah's remarks. "Amit Shah actively encouraging people to violate SC orders. Creating anarchy. Hopefully, SC will take cognisance (sic)," Kejriwal tweeted. Addressing a gathering in Kerala's Kannur on Saturday, Shah listed court verdicts which have not been implemented, including on 'Jallikattu' (traditional bull taming sport of Tamil Nadu) and prohibiting loudspeakers in mosques, and said "impractical" directions should not be given by courts and they should pass orders that can be implemented. On September 28, the Supreme Court paved the way for entry of women of all ages into the Ayyappa temple at Sabarimala in Kerala. A five-judge constitution bench in its 4:1 verdict, had said that banning the entry of women of menstrual age into the shrine is gender discrimination and the practice violates rights of Hindu women. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) BSP president Mayawati Sunday condemned BJP chief Amit Shah's remarks on the Sabarimala verdict, saying the court should take cognisance of the "irresponsible and provocative statement". In a statement here, the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) supremo said that Shah's remarks showed "the democracy of the country is in danger". Addressing a gathering in Kerala's Kannur on Saturday, Shah listed court verdicts which have not been implemented, including on 'Jallikattu' (traditional bull taming sport of Tamil Nadu) and prohibiting loudspeakers in mosques, and said "impractical" directions should not be given by courts and they should pass orders that can be implemented. "The statement of the ruling party president is condemnable and irresponsible. Court should take cognisance. It shows the democracy of the country is in danger. Autonomous institutions such as CBI, CVC, ED and RBI are facing crisis due to wrong perspective of the government and ego," Mayawati said. "On this serious matter of Sabrimala temple, BJP leader's speech is provocative and an attempt to take political mileage in Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh and Rajasthan polls," she said, terming it "unconstitutional and unparliamentary". "If the BJP is not satisfied with the SC decision allowing women's entry into the temple, they should approach court and not create chaos on roads or threaten to dismiss elected government," Mayawati said, adding that the BJP wanted to divert attention of the people from core issues by raking up religious matters. On September 28, the Supreme Court paved the way for entry of women of all ages into the Ayyappa temple at Sabarimala in Kerala. A five-judge constitution bench headed by Chief Justice Dipak Misra, in its 4:1 verdict, said that banning the entry of women of menstrual age into the shrine is gender discrimination and the practice violates rights of Hindu women. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Former chief minister hit out at the on Sunday for predicting that the JD(S)- government would fall and warned it against indulging in 'Operation Lotus' again, saying the saffron party was already in a state of 'coma' due to its past deeds. is the head of the Congress-JD(S) coalition co-ordination committee. 'Operation Lotus' is a reference to the allegedly luring several opposition MLAs to defect, to ensure the stability of its then-government headed by in 2008. "Yeddyurappa (now state chief) has once again made a statement that the government would fall. Already due to several rounds of operations, the lotus (BJP symbol) in is in (a state of) coma. Now once again don't try your hands into the wrong adventure of Operation Lotus," he said in a tweet. The leader asserted that the BJP would remain as an opposition party in the state. Siddaramaiah's tweet came in response to repeated comments by Yeddyurappa and other BJP leaders, expressing doubts about the continuance of the coalition government headed by ever since it came to power in May this year after the elections threw up a hung assembly. 'Operation Lotus' refers to the BJP's strategy during Yeddyurappa's previous tenure as the chief minister when it made several MLAs of other parties to resign and contest the elections on the party's ticket and win to strengthen its numbers in the assembly. and JD(S) have accused the BJP of attempting to destabilise the coalition government by trying to poach their MLAs, a charge denied by the saffron party. (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.) The Philippine Stock Exchange is preparing to launch a mobile application that will enable retail investors to avail of their allocations during initial public offerings. PSE chief operating officer Roel Refran said in a recent interview the launch of the mobile application was one of the options to facilitate the faster take-up of IPO allocations earmarked for local small investors. Refran said the PSE would start offering the mobile application in the next IPO. Companies planning to conduct an IPO are required to allot 10 percent of their offer shares to small investors. Prior to the planned launch of a mobile application, retail investors planning to buy shares from a company conducting an IPO would have to line up to get application forms, fill them up and submit them to the receiving centers. Do you know how long it takes for them to line up and sign up for allocation? Now we are coming up with the mobile application so that for the next IPO we are ready, Refran said. With the mobile application, investors would just have to download the application the take advantage of 10 percent allocation. This will ease up the burden in terms of gaps in the efficiency the we have, he added.Refran said retail investors would still have to go to their respective banks for the payment for the IPO shares pending the automation of the process. The planned launch of a mobile application is also aimed at enhancing the retail investor participation in the stock market. But since IPOs currently in the pipeline have been deferred due to weak market conditions, the PSE may launch the new mobile application by next year yet. Two pending IPOs, namely consumer tech firm Cal-Comp Technology (Philippines) and Campos-led Del Monte Pacific Ltd., have deferred their maiden share offering plans because of volatile markets. Cal-Comp, a member of the Taiwanese technology conglomerate New Kinpo Group, was looking to raise P6.77 billion, while Del Monte, which the local unit of Del Monte Pacific Ltd., had planned a P17.55-billion maiden offering. Asian Development Bank (ADB) is planning to scale up a satellite-based smart meters project, implemented in a village in Uttar Pradesh, as it finds it to be a win-win solution for several stakeholders, including the consumers as well as discoms. As part of its USD 200 million loan for Energy Efficiency Services Limited (EESL) to implement various demand-side energy efficiency projects in India, the ADB assisted pilot is running in a village in Varanasi where as many as 5,000 households have got smart meters with satellite communication technology installed by EESL. ADB is considering scaling up this project through a proposed second plan, ADB's Yongping Zhai said in a blog. Zhai, who is the chief of energy sector group, sustainable development and climate department, said: "We have observed that smart meters bring benefits to four key stakeholders." First, each rural consumer enjoys improved power quality, shorter outage durations, and flexible payment options (pre-paid or post-paid). Smart meters also provide real-time information about the electricity usage through a mobile app, so consumers can detect any wastage and optimise electricity consumption to save money, he said. Smart meters also prepare rural households for distributed and decarbonised future of energy systems. When more rural households install distributed solar photovoltaic panels on their rooftops, smart meters can be used as net metering -- it means surplus solar power can be transferred to the grid, allowing customers to offset the electricity bills, he said. Also, smart meters can be used for time of use tariffs, allowing different tariffs for day and night. For the power distribution companies (discoms), smart meters ensure accurate billing as there is no human intervention and they can remotely disconnect customers who fail to pay bills on time. "This helps local distribution companies improve their billing and collection efficiency and thus reduce aggregate technical and commercial losses from around 30 per cent to 15 per cent," Zhai said. Besides, they can predict power purchase requirements and thus can use energy more optimally. Smart meters are affordable, costing about USD 35 (around Rs 2,560) to buy and another USD 35 to deploy for five years. This is fully paid as an initial investment by EESL, which in turn gets Rs 100 (USD 1.3) per meter per month from local distribution companies out of savings realised over the expected eight-year lifespan of each device, generating a 14 per cent return on equity for EESL. Terming it as an innovative business model -- invest-own-operate -- Zhai said it can be replicated elsewhere in India and many other developing countries that suffer from high system losses, as it does not burden local distribution companies upfront. Smart meters benefit the whole society through reduced carbon emissions and positive environmental impacts, he added. EESL's smart metering initiative is part of a larger low-carbon energy transition program by the Indian government, he said. Zhai said the programme is promoting smart meters in 17 towns in Uttar Pradesh and Haryana and expanding to other parts of the country, and it is also expected to create many local jobs. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) With nearly 5,000,000 Indians dying due to every year, experts claim that a specialised course for doctors and hospital staff focusing on how a critically ill or injured patient should be handled could bring down the figure by almost 50 per cent. The Acute Critical Care Course (ACCC), developed in the early 1980s in Europe, has come as a boon for medical institutions abroad by reducing the death rate of patients by nearly 10 per cent, even in serious health complications including sepsis, said Ajay Sharma, a transplant specialist and consultant at the Royal Liverpool University Hospital in the UK. The two-day course has become mandatory for surgical trainees both in the US and the UK, which annually lose over 400,000 and 98,000 patients, respectively, due to medical errors, Sharma told PTI. A study by the Harvard University last year showed that nearly 5,000,000 deaths occur in India annually due to medical errors triggered by lack of practical knowledge among the doctors and nurses to handle patients when brought to the hospital. The ACCC aims to train the medicine specialists and the surgeons of various specialisation such as surgical, gynaecology, orthopaedics and emergency to suspect and identify patients at a risk of deterioration, Sharma said. He said "implementing the course in Indian hospitals, especially in the rural areas, can bring down the mortality rates due to by nearly 50 per cent." The comprehensive course includes imparting training to the new and existing doctors of a hospital receiving critical care patients either on a high fidelity simulation or preserved dead bodies to make them understand the crucial steps to prevent errors. M C Misra, former director of All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) and a fellow at the Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburg said the ACCC is an initiative specially designed for those hospitals where doctors do not have practical knowledge about handling patients that require critical care. "The deteriorating health of most of the patients can be identified well in time if the residents are trained in how to use simple principles of applied physiology. Timely steps are much more effective than last-minute heroic measures," Misra, one of the pioneers in pushing for the implementation of ACCC in the Indian hospitals, told PTI. "This course takes care of prevention of small mistakes that make it life-threatening for the patient, be it administering IV fluids in patients, minor surgeries or anything else, agreed Geeta Shetty from the University of Birmingham in the UK. "In many cases of in India, delay in taking care of breathing leads to organ dysfunction and poorer outcome even if given the best treatment, Geeta said. The fundamentals, Sharma added, taught as part of the course are not just confined to general surgery, but also to the cases of gynaecology, gastrointestinal, cardiovascular, and pulmonary. "Most of the new doctors are not well-versed in identifying and managing unexpected adverse events which have an enormous impact on the outcome of a patient's health," said Sharma. "The ACCC is an opportunity to practice these issues and challenges while helping in honing the technical and non-technical skills of the individual in a simulated environment," he said. Sharma and his team have trained medical specialists at various Indian hospitals in ACCC since 2012 when the course was introduced in India. However, ACCC has not spread far and wide in India with only 450 doctors across the country completing the course, experts said. Even major hospitals, mostly in the rural belts, continue to ignore it despite most of the medical error cases causing death being reported in tier 2 and tier 3 cities where the concept of critical care does not exist. The concept of ACCC came into existence after England's Hillsborough disaster, a fatal human crush during an FA Cup semi-final match between Liverpool and Nottingham Forest in 1989 when over 96 people were killed and nearly 800 injured. According to the experts, the death toll could have been much lower if adequate medical arrangements were available in hospitals and the staffers were trained well. ACCC can help the doctors to develop the technical and non-technical skills of managing such patients, said Selva Kumar, a leading cardiovascular surgeon based in the UK. Kumar noted that the course teaches how to correctly execute the basic timely procedures such as ensuring a proper breathing passage for a critically ill or injured patient instead of stopping the bleeding that can be secondary. External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj arrived here on Sunday to take forward discussions and decisions for strengthening India's relationship with Qatar. Swaraj, who is here on the first leg of her four-day visit to Qatar and Kuwait, will interact with her Qatari counterpart and Deputy Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani. External Affairs Ministry Spokesperson Raveesh Kumar said that this is the first-ever visit by an Indian External Affairs Minister (EAM) to Doha. "EAM will call on the Emir of Qatar, hold delegation-level talks with her counterpart and interact with the Indian diaspora," he said in a tweet. Swaraj will call on Emir of Qatar Sheikh Tamim Bin Hamad Al-Thani, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said in a statement. Swaraj will also interact with the Indian community in Doha during her two-day stay on October 28 and 29, it said. This is Swaraj's first visit as External Affairs Minister to Qatar, it said. The visit is in pursuit of India's objective of enhanced engagement with the Gulf region which is in India's extended neighbourhood, the MEA said. India and Qatar share millennia old historic multi-dimensional, relations. The bilateral visit of the Emir of Qatar in March 2015 and Prime Minister of Qatar to India in December 2016 and that of the visit of Prime Minister Narendra Modi to Qatar in June 2016 have further boosted traditionally cordial and close ties between the two countries, the MEA said. Qatar hosts about seven lakh Indians who form the largest expatriate community there. Qatar is a reliable energy partner, supplying more than 50 per cent of India's natural gas imports, it said. India's bilateral trade with Qatar in 2017-18 was USD 9.9 billion, the MEA said. Swaraj's next leg of visit would be to Kuwait with which India has close and friendly bilateral relations. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Congress leader stoked a fresh controversy Sunday claiming that an unnamed RSS leader had compared to "a scorpion sitting on a Shivling" and terming it as an extraordinarily striking metaphor. As his comments at the Bangalore Literature Festival drew condemnation, including from union minister Ravi Sankar Prasad, the MP tweeted saying the remarks were not made by him and were in the public domain for six years. In a stinging condemnation, Prasad, a senior BJP leader, alleged that Tharoor had disrespected Lord Shiva and sought an apology from Congress president In his speech at the festival, Tharoor said "...There is an extraordinarily striking metaphor expressed by an unnamed RSS source to a journalist which I quote, in which they express their frustration with their inability to curb Mr Modi. "The man says Modi is like a scorpion sitting on a Shivaling. You cannot remove him with a hand and you cannot hit it with a chappal either," he said. Suggesting that it was a very profound understanding of the relationship, the Congress leader said, "Because, if you remove a scorpion with your hand, you will get stung very badly. If you hit Shivaling with a chappal, then you have undermined all the sacred tenets of the faith. This might well be a very interesting clue to the rather complex dynamics that exists "between the movement and the Moditva expression...," he added. Prasad hit out at Tharoor for the remarks, which also evoked strong reaction on social media, and asked Gandhi whether he supported his party leader's comments. "The Congress claims to represent the heritage of Mahatma Gandhi, Jawaharlal Nehru and Indira Gandhi. Today, under the presidentship of Rahul Gandhi, it has been reduced to hurling abuses and the worst form of civil discourse," he told reporters in Delhi. He said while he would not like to comment on Tharoor's remarks "against whom a charge sheet has been filed in a murder case", but want to know where Rahul Gandhi, who claims to be a Shiv Bhakt, stands on the issue. "Gandhi claims to be a Shiv Bhakt now he should make it clear whether he supports Tharoor's remarks which are an insult to Lord Shiva. If he does not support the remarks he should apologise to Hindus," Prasad said. "The whole nation is watching ... while who claims himself to be a Shiv Bhakt, one of his small leaders has almost abused the sanctity of Shiv Linga and Lord Mahadev by referring to chappal attack through named sources. Please reply to this very horrific denunciation of Lord Mahadev," he added. As his speech stirred a controversy, Tharoor tweeted, clarifying that the comments were not made by him. In view of the unseemly demonisation of an out of context remark today involving a scorpion metaphor, my book #TheParadoxicalPrimeMinister cites & footnotes this article please see the last paragraph of this article, he said. This comment (not by me) has been in the public domain for six years. RSPrasad making an issue of a 6yr old quote shows how little new the BJP has to offer the nation. "As for media subserving the BJPs desire for "controversy", when will this profession develop any self-respect?" he asked in another tweet. This is the second time in recent months that Tharoor has landed in controversy over his remarks on the prime minister. Earlier, in August this year, he had spoken about Modi donning "outlandish" Naga and other headgear on his trips but refusing to sport a Muslim skull cap, drawing condemnation from the BJP which had dubbed it as insulting to the people of the North-East. Recently, Tharoor had also kicked up a row with remarks that no "good" Hindu would favour a Ram temple in Ayodhya by demolishing somebody else's place of worship. BJP reacted strongly, terming his party and its chief "anti-Hindu". UP BJP chief Mahendra Nath Pandey Sunday said former Vishwa Hindu Parishad leader Pravin Togadia is "no more relevant vis-a-vis Ayodhya movement and his party was committed to build a Ram temple there. The BJP stand is very clear. It is committed to building Ram Temple in Ayodhya. It is of the view that the Ram temple should be built through consensus or as per the way shown by the court. And, whenever, such circumstances arise, the party will always be ready, Pandey told PTI in an interview. The UP BJP chief's remarks came in the wake of Togadia's demand from the BJP government at the Centre to either enact a law or bring in an ordinance "to fulfil its promise" of building Lord Ram Temple in Ayodhya. Pandey said,As far as Togadia is concerned, he is no more relevant." Once considered a firebrand Hindutva leader, Togadia, during his recent Lucknow visit, had said,Our demand (from the BJP government at the Centre) is that they should fulfil their promises. Build a Lord Ram Temple in Ayodhya by taking the ordinance route or enacting a law in Parliament..." TheAntarrashtriya Hindu Parishad president, who had also visited Ayodhya during his UP tour last week, had also said,We want a Ram mandir and also a Ram Rajya-like prosperity in our homes. Pandey exuded confidence that the incumbent BJP will win the upcoming assembly elections in Madhya Pradesh and Chhattissgarh on its own. In Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh, the BJP will get majority on its own to form government," he said. He said even in Rajasthan, the BJP stands a good chance to win the elections due to its government's developmental works in the state. Due to "the performance of the BJP government in the state and the active role of enthusiastic workers who are in constant touch with the masses", the BJP has a good prospect in Rajasthan. "The BJP's electoral prospects have also brightened in Rajasthanafter hectic tours by BJP chief Amit Shah," he said. Attacking the Congress, he said, The Grand Old Party has been alienated from the society. It has no organisation left at the grassroots level. Down the line, the party has no worker." On recent floating of a new outfit, Pragatisheel Samajwadi Party (Lohia) by sidelined SP leader Shivpal Yadav and its effect in Uttar Pradesh,Pandey said, "Shivpal was an integral part of the Samajwadi Party when it ruled the state. Was he not a partner in SP's various misdeeds? We do not consider Shivpal, Mulayam, Akhilesh and Azam any different (from each other). On SP chief Akhilesh Yadav's comment that his "feuding uncle', Shvpal, wasthe B-team of the BJP, he said, Such a question does not arise." Asked to comment on the BJP's ties with its NDA allies in general in UP and with Om Prakash Rajbhar-led Suheldev Bharatiya Samaj Party in particular, Pandey said, Both our allies (Apna Dal-Sonelal and SBSP) are with us. I believe both of them will stay with us. As far as the nature of Rajbhar is concerned, I will not comment. We welcome the fact that in every statement, he says the alliance will continue. Rajbhar had expressed dissatisfaction Saturday with the BJP dispensation in the state, claiming whenever he talks about the poor, "they bring in the Hindu-Muslim issue". Threatening to resign as minister, SBSP chief had said at a party rally here that his "heart is broken. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Saudi Arabia's attorney general is scheduled to arrive in Turkey to hold talks with investigators looking into the killing of Saudi writer Jamal Khashoggi, who was killed in the kingdom's Istanbul consulate earlier this month. Turkey says the kingdom's top prosecutor, Saud al-Mojeb, is expected to arrive on Sunday. There has been no announcement by the Saudis about the visit. Under mounting international pressure, the kingdom again changed its narrative about Khashoggi's killing, acknowledging in recent days that it was "premeditated," citing information from Turkey as part of a joint investigation. Turkey has pressed Saudi Arabia for a full disclosure about the killing, which was carried out by Saudi agents some of whom appear to work directly under Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Turkey's military on Sunday fired artillery shells at a Kurdish militia in Syria that is backed by the United States but deemed a terrorist group by Ankara, the state-run Anadolu agency reported. The shelling targeted YPG positions on the eastern bank of the Euphrates River in northern Syria, Anadolu said. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has repeatedly threatened to launch a new offensive in Syria east of the Euphrates, and on Friday said he was giving the YPG a "final warning". Anadolu reported that the strikes, which hit a hill near the Zur Maghar village across the Euphrates from the city of Jarablus in the Aleppo province, were in response to fire from the area. The shelling comes a day after Erdogan hosted a summit in Istanbul on the Syrian conflict with the leaders of Russia, France and Germany. The YPG, which holds swathes of northern and northeastern Syria, forms the backbone of the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), the Kurdish-Arab alliance that has received extensive American support in the fight against the Islamic State group in the war-torn country. However Ankara is bitterly opposed to the YPG, regarding it as an extension of the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK), which has waged a deadly insurgency in Turkey since 1984. The PKK is designated as a terror group by Turkey and its Western allies. Washington's support of the YPG remains a major point of contention between the US and Turkey, and a large-scale offensive east of the Euphrates could aggravate already tense relations between the NATO allies. Turkey has also repeatedly threatened an attack on the YPG-controlled Syrian city of Manbij, where US troops are deployed. To ease tensions, Washington and Ankara agreed to have troops conduct coordinated patrols around the city, and such a patrol went ahead on Sunday, Turkish armed forces said. Earlier this year, Turkey launched operation "Olive Branch" in Syria west of the Euphrates, successfully ousting YPG forces from their enclave in Afrin. Ankara has long opposed the YPG controlling a continuous stretch of territory on its border up to Iraq, fearing the creation of an autonomous region or even independent entity that could embolden Turkey's own Kurds. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Two Pakistani nationals were nabbed by the Border Security Force (BSF) personnel here on Sunday, sources said. Siraj Ahmed (31) and Mumtaz Khan (38) were caught from an area near the Border Out Post (BOP) in Ferozepur Sector on Sunday evening, BSF sources said. At around 6.30 pm, the jawans deputed near a border pillar in the area observed some suspicious movement from the Pakistani side, they said. Later, the troops spotted the two Pakistani nationals approaching towards the Indian territory and both were apprehended. Two Pakistani army personnel identification cards, four photographs, a smart phone and some Pakistani currency was recovered from Ahmed, they said. The sources added that the real identity of the duo and the purpose behind their attempt to venture into the Indian territory was being ascertained. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Commuters depending on public transport buses may face hardship as unions of DTC employees will be on strike on Monday. The DTC contractual workers are on strike under the banner of DTC Contractual Workers Union since last Monday, demanding restoration of their original wages that were slashed by the Delhi Transport Corporation (DTC) after a court order. The DTC Workers Unity Centre too has given a call of strike on Monday. Meanwhile, the DTC in a press statement said, "The Delhi government restored the minimum wage rates which were prevailing before August 4, 2018, of contractual employees and withdrew the orders for reducing the minimum wage." The deduction in wages made for the intervening period from August 4 till October 31 will be credited to the accounts of the personnel by the end of this month, it said. The DTC has appealed the contractual staff to resume their duties at the earliest. The Lieutenant Governor of Delhi had imposed Essential Service Maintenance Act, 1974 on DTC for six months banning all strikes for six months. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Western Australia is tapping the well-travelled Indians who are looking for the authentic Aussie experience and is expecting above 20 per cent growth in footfalls this financial year that began in July. The Australian state government is also opening a representative office in the city and had lined up a AUD 0.3 million marketing budget to achieve the target. Indians footfall rose 38 per cent to 27,600 in fiscal 2018 over the previous 12 months ending June 2017 when the state welcomed 20,000 Indian guests, according to official data. "We had received nearly 27,600 Indians during the July 2017-June 2018 period, who are mostly visiting friends and relatives. "We are expect over 20 per cent growth in footfalls from India that will elevate the country to be among our top five source markets," Western Australia tourism minister Paul Papalia told PTI here. Currently, India is ranked 10th as the tourism source market for Western Australia. Britain leads the list of source markets primarily because of the huge English settlements followed by Malaysia, Singapore, Germany and Indonesia, he added. Talking about spending, he said, Indians are not high in ladder, however, there is a lot of opportunities to attract Indians with a lot of disposable income looking for new experience in western Australia. "India is a maturing market and the fastest growing market in Asia and there are many Indians who have travelled to other places. "We provide an authentic destination and there are people who are looking to travel to authentic destinations and Western Australia is the place to come," Papalia added. Further, he said, Western Australia is targeting a wide audience, mostly experienced travellers offering all kinds of experiences from food to adventure, and self drive apart from activities conducive for families. "We also see a huge opportunity in the meetings, incentives, conferences and events (MICE) segment. We see India as a huge growing market, which is attracting attention from across the world. We view it as a highest priority market for us," he added. The minister said, he is also holding meetings with six Indian airlines in a bid to attract a direct service between India and Perth. "This will drastically increase the tourist arrivals from India to Western Australia," he added. Papalia said, for the first time, Western Australia is setting up a dedicated marketing representative in Mumbai. "We are about to spend AUD 300,000 in the next few months to promote our state as the favourable travel destination for Indians," he added. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The Board of Investments proposed several revisions to the Tax Reform for Attracting Better and High Quality Opportunities or Trabaho bill, including the grant of tax incentives for up to five years, instead of just two to three years. A document submitted by the BoI to the Finance Department on Oct. 18 showed that the former wanted an income tax holiday of five years and other income tax-based incentives covering five years for select investors. This is to make our income tax incentive competitive with other Asean countries, specifically Vietnam, Malaysia and Singapore, the BoI said in the letter. The BoI is one of the two major investment promotion agencies, the other being the Philippine Economic Zone Authority. Companies registered with the two agencies enjoy income tax holidays of four to eight years and 5 percent special tax on gross income after the lapse of the ITH period. The BoI said domestic input expense incentives should be adjusted to five years, after the ITH period expired to encourage exporters to source their raw materials locally and sustain the local supply chain. It said many local industries were currently doing low-value back-end processes in the value chain. The incentive will upgrade and address market failure as the industries build up competitiveness. Without addressing this market failure, the Philippines might not be able to grow and develop new and high value added exports, the BoI said. The countrys trade deficit hit $35 billion in 2017, as most companies sourced their materials from other countries.The BoI also proposed the reduction of export threshold from 90 percent to 70 percent to support the growth of raw materials, parts and components sourcing. It also wanted to exempt economic zones from import duties, a practice similar to freeports, as opposed to five years of exemption under the Trabaho bill version. Providing for only five years of exemption to ecozone will adversely affect the price competitiveness of our exports, the letter read. The BoI pointed out the importance of the continuation of direct remittance of the share in taxes of local government units hosting economic zones. It said the practice would help promote the ease of doing business within ecozones and freeports. The national government expects to have the Trabaho bill approved before the end of 2018, despite the strong opposition from various business groups. In a relief to Sri Lanka's embattled leader Ranil Wickremesinghe, parliament's Speaker refused to endorse his sacking as the prime minister, even as President Maithripala Sirisena on Sunday asserted that the appointment of Mahinda Rajapaksa as his successor was in strict accordance with the Constitution. In a letter to Sirisena, Speaker Karu Jayasuriya backed the ousted prime minister's request to retain his privileges and security until another candidate could prove a majority, saying it was "democratic and fair." He also questioned the president's decision to suspend parliament till November 16, saying it will have "serious and undesirable" consequences on the country. Sirisena on Friday night sacked Wickremesinghe and appointed former strongman Rajapaksa as the new prime minister. Next day, Sirisena suspended parliament till November 16 after Wickremesinghe, who had termed his sacking as illegal and unconstitutional, sought an emergency session to prove his majority. The president also withdrew Wickremesinghe's personal security and vehicles in order to accord them to his 72-year-old successor, who staged a dramatic political comeback. In his first address to the nation after sacking Wickremesinghe, Sirisena said his former ally's political conduct since the victory in 2015 elections was unbecoming. "He appeared to treat Sri Lanka's future as a joy ride for a coterie of people around him who had no sense of the common man's thinking," he said. "He completely destroyed the concept of good governance while corruption and waste became rampant. He was making arrogant arbitrary decisions making a mockery of collective responsibility," Sirisena charged. There was a huge gap in policy agreement between the two of us. I believe the cultural and policy differences between us contributed to this political and economic crisis," he said. Sirisena also accused the United National Party (UNP) leader of treating very lightly the alleged plot to assassinate him. The president last week accused his unity government partner of Wickremesinghe's UNP of going slow on the investigations after a man named Namal Kumara in mid September disclosed the alleged plot to assassinate him and former defence minister Gotabhaya Rajapaksa. "Having taken into consideration all crisis, the political and economic as well as the assassination plot on me, I was only left with one alternative which was to appoint former President Mahinda Rajapaksa as the prime minister," Sirisena said. Rejecting Wickremesinghe's allegation that his sacking was unconstitutional and illegal, he said, I must make it very clear that the new appointment (of Rajapaksa) was made on expert legal advice in strict accordance with the Constitution." Sirisena's remarks came after the Speaker urged him to restore Wickremesinghe's privileges as the leader of the government who has "obtained a mandate to secure democracy and good governance. Jayasuriya said a prorogation of parliament should be one in consultation with the Speaker. Sirisena's decision to suspend the Parliament until November 16 was seen as a an effort to coerce legislators into supporting Rajapaksa. Wickremesinghe has refused to vacate the prime minister's official residence-cum-office of Temple Trees. The political crisis in the island nation on Sunday triggered violence as one person was killed and two others injured as the bodyguards of Petroleum Minister Arjuna Ranatunga, a Wickremesinghe loyalist, fired live rounds when supporters of Rajapaksa threatened the cabinet member. The political developments, which has thrown the country into a constitutional crisis, unfolded after Sirisena's broader political front United People's Freedom Alliance (UPFA) announced that it has decided to quit the unity government with Wickremesinghe's UNP. Sirisena and Wickremesinghe had joined to form a government of national unity in 2015 to bring in constitutional and governance reforms including a new Constitution to address the long-standing issues of the Tamil minority. Sri Lanka nearly faced economic sanctions from the West over Rajapaksa' brutal military crackdown on the banned LTTE. The LTTE sought a separate Tamil homeland in the northern and eastern provinces of the island nation for nearly 30 years before its collapse in 2009 after the Sri Lankan Army killed its supreme leader Velupillai Prabhakaran. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Former Chhattisgarh chief minister Ajit Jogi has said though he will fight the Congress tooth and nail in the upcoming state Assembly polls, he will not speak against the Gandhi family, with whom he shared warm relations during his long tenure in the grand old party. The real contest in next month's state Assembly polls would be between his party, the Janta Congress Chhattisgarh(J), which has formed an alliance with the Mayawati-led Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP), and the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), Jogi told PTI. "I have left the Congress and will campaign against the party in the Assembly election, but will not speak against the Gandhi family, which has always loved me," he said. Jogi was the first chief minister of Chhattisgarh after the state was carved out of Madhya Pradesh. He was then with the Congress. Jogi left the Congress in 2016 and floated his own party. Asked about the allegations against United Progressive Alliance (UPA) chairperson Sonia Gandhi's son-in-law Robert Vadra, the veteran leader said, "I will not speak anything against any member of the Gandhi family even during elections. I have shared warm relations with the family for decades." The four members of the Jogi family belong to three political parties. While Jogi and his son are in the JCC(J), Jogi's wife and daughter-in-law are in the Congress and the BSP respectively. Hitting out at the Congress, Jogi said it was a spent force which was nowhere in the contest in Chhattisgarh. "The Congress neither has any face nor any organisation in the state. It has no leader and has become useless," he said, while asserting that the fight in the upcoming polls was between his party and the BJP. "It is a one-on-one contest between the JCC(J)-BSP alliance and the ruling BJP and we will definitely win the election," Jogi said. He maintained that he was the chief ministerial face of the alliance, but added that he had still not decided whether to contest the Assembly polls or not. "We are fighting the Congress and the BJP tooth and nail and our alliance will severely harm the poll prospects of both parties," Jogi said. The former chief minister belongs to the Satnami sect, which has a decent presence in the state. The will be held in two phases -- on November 12 and 20 -- and the results will be announced on December 11. The BJP has been in power in the state since 2003. (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.) The World Trade Organisation's dispute settlement body has set up a panel to examine the US complaint against certain export-subsidy measures by India as both the sides failed to resolve the issue at consultation level, an official said. In March, the US dragged India to the global trade body's dispute settlement mechanism over export subsidies, saying that these incentives were harming the American companies. "The process of composition of dispute panel is over. The working procedure and the time table for the panel proceedings has been circulated," the official added. The US has requested for the establishment of a dispute panel to examine the allegations on India's export incentive measures. Seeking consultation under the aegis of the WTO is the first step of dispute settlement process. If the two nations are not able to reach a mutually agreed solution through consultation, the complainant can request for a WTO dispute settlement panel to review the matter. The US has challenged India's export subsidy programmes such as Merchandise Exports from India Scheme in the WTO, asserting that these initiatives harm its companies by creating an uneven playing field. They have stated that all WTO members, including India, are required to provide subsidies consistent with provisions of the WTO's Agreement on Subsidies and Countervailing Measures, including refraining from providing subsidies contingent upon export performance. During the consultation process, the US had alleged that India was continuing to grant these export-contingent subsidies and even expanded the scope and scale of the subsidies. India had stated that it was disappointed that the US chose to move forward with a request for a panel, as it believed bilateral consultations held on April 11 were constructive. During the consultations, India provided a detailed understanding of the schemes implemented under its Foreign Trade Policy by answering all the questions raised by the US. India has also said that the schemes identified by the US do not violate India's WTO obligations and are in conformity with all the elements of the agreement. India's exports to the US stood at USD 47.9 billion in 2017-18, while imports aggregated at USD 26.7 billion during the same fiscal. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) A Hoshiarpur youth wanted by Punjab police in an attempt to murder case jumped to death Sunday from a hotel roof in Bilaspur district's Naina Devi after seeing policemen from his state. Twenty-eight-year-old Jitendra was wanted by Punjab police in the case registered against him at a Ludhiana police station a few days ago, said Bilaspur Superintendent of Police Ashok Kumar. Jitendra had allegedly fired at a person in Ludhiana after a scuffle when he was there with his Dharamshala-based girlfriend, the SP said. Kumar said the Punjab police team raided the hotel in Naina Devi after a tip-off that the accused had been hiding there. When the policemen reached the hotel, he jumped from the roof on seeing them and sustained severe injuries, he added. The hotel owner rushed him to a nearby hospital but he succumbed to his injuries later, he said. Jitendra reportedly had an affair with a 20-year-old girl whom he wanted to marry, he said, adding he had picked her up from Dharamshala a few days ago and taken her to Ludhiana. The girl later told police that they had come to Naina Devi to marry, he added. The Ludhiana police earlier had nabbed the two associates of the youth from Una district in Himachal Pradesh, he added. Several senior police officials from Ludhiana reached Naina Devi after learning about Jitendra's death. In reply to a question, the SP said the Punjab police had informed Bilaspur police about the raid but he was not clear whether the HP police was informed before or after the raid. A few months ago, a Punjab police team from Mohali killed a car snatcher in an encounter in Bilaspur district a few months ago. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) LONDON (Reuters) - British finance minister Philip Hammond said an end to austerity depended on the country getting a Brexit deal which would allow for more public spending, but he might have to take a different approach if there is no deal."If we don't get a deal ... we would need to take a different approach to the future of Britain's economy," Hammond said in an interview with Sky News broadcast on Sunday."We would need to look at a different strategy and frankly we'd need to have a new budget that set out a different strategy for the future."Hammond has angered many Conservative Party ... PARIS (Reuters) - There is no risk of contagion from Italy's budget crisis in the European Union but the euro zone is not prepared enough to face a new economic crisis, French Finance Minister Bruno Le Maire told daily Le Parisien on Sunday.The European Commission rejected Italy's draft 2019 budget earlier this week for breaking EU rules on public spending, and asked Rome to submit a new one within three weeks or face disciplinary action."We do not see any contagion in Europe. The European Commission has reached out to Italy, I hope Italy will seize this hand," he said in an interview. "But ... The government has advised Aadhaar ecosystem partners against procuring devices from digital security company Gemalto over security concerns. The rap came close on the heels of a report by the Amsterdam-based firm which claimed India has the second-highest data breach incidences in the world on account of compromise in Aadhaar database. The report was later withdrawn and Gemalto issued a public notice apologising for the "publication of this erroneous report". Gemalto's machines, like hardware security modules (HSM), biometric devices, etc, are used by Aadhaar ecosystem partners in India. In a letter to all ecosystem partners, the Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI) said that it has found some security issues in existing Gemalto products, which warrants further evaluation of the potential risks they pose to the Aadhaar network. The Aadhaar-issuing authority has suspended all future procurements of biometric and digital security devices from Gemalto till this evaluation is complete. Gemalto did not revert to an e-mailed questionnaire by BusinessToday.In seeking its response on the matter. The government ban on procuring Gemalto products for the Aadhaar network came two days after Gemalto published a report claiming massive data breaches in India's biometric unique identity system. Earlier this month, Gemalto said in its Breach Level Index report that incidences of data breach were second-highest in India on account of a data breach in the Aadhaar database which was exposed by a daily newspaper. The survey claimed that India accounts for 37 per cent of the global breaches in terms of records compromised or stolen or revealed, after the United States which represents 57 per cent of data breaches worldwide. "During the first six months of 2018, almost 1 billion records were compromised in Aadhaar breach incident, including name, address and other personally identified information. This is particularly concerning, since the stolen, lost or compromised data records of only one out of 12 breaches were protected by encryption to render the information useless, a zero percent compared to the first six months of 2017," Gemalto had said in the report which was later withdrawn. Gemalto had based its claims of data breaches in the Aadhaar network on The Tribune report back in January which said that an anonymous service was granting access to the entire Aadhaar database in exchange of only Rs 500. The UIDAI had quashed these reports and filed a police complaint against reporter Rachna Khaira who did the story and people who she contacted during her investigation. Later, within twelve days of publishing the Breach Level Index, Gemalto issued a public apology via newspapers for the report which claimed a data breach in the Aadhaar database. "Gemalto published an inaccurate Breach Level Index report and press release that included a news article about an alleged and unverifed Aadhaar data breach," the company said in a notice titled 'Gemalto apology to the People of India'. "Through the publication of this report, Gemalto has caused prejudice in the minds of the general public at large against Aadhaar which we deeply regret. We never intended to malign Aadhaar, India's prestigious identity mission project, by unknowingly committing the mistake. We are launching an internal investigation and will take additional appropriate action internally," Gemalto CEO Philippe Vallee said in the statement. (Eds: Adds details, Essar Steel comments) New Delhi, Oct 26 (PTI) NRI billionaire Lakshmi Mittal-led ArcelorMittal Friday said it has won a bid to acquire debt-laden Essar Steel for over Rs 42,000 crore, a deal that will help fulfil the world's largest steel maker's long-time ambition of having an India mill.A committee of Essar Steel creditors picked ArcelorMittal on October 25, a day when the Ruia family offered to pay lenders Rs 54,389 crore including Rs 47,507 crore in upfront cash to clear all their dues in a last-ditch effort to avert losing their flagship company. In a statement, ArcelorMittal said its resolution plan for Essar Steel, which the lenders auctioned to recover over Rs 49,000 crore of unpaid loans, includes "an upfront payment of over Rs 42,000 crore" to settle debt and "a further Rs 8,000 crore of capital injection into the company to support operational improvement, increase production levels and deliver enhanced levels of profitability". Subsequent to being declared the highest bidder on October 19, the Committee of Creditors (CoC) has issued ArcelorMittal a Letter of Intent (LoI) declaring them as "successful applicant". Essar Steel promoters, however, wanted the CoC to consider their offer as it offered maximum value to all stakeholders and cannot be ignored citing some process lacunae. A company spokesperson said the offer is superior to ArcelorMittal's bid as it provides 100 per cent repayment to lenders and meets the objectives of maximisation of value and protection of the interest of all stakeholders. It cannot be ignored just because the offer to pull out the company out of bankruptcy was not made before CoC called bids. He said Section 12A of the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code (IBC) that allows withdrawal of insolvency proceedings subject to approval by 90 per cent of the creditors and the National Company Law Tribunal (NCLT), was introduced in June 2018, much after the EoI in case of Essar Steel was floated on October 20, 2017. It wasn't immediately clear if lenders even considered offer of Essar Steel promoters. In a separate statement, Nippon Steel & Sumitomo Metal Corporation said it had been "engaged in, together with ArcelorMittal, acquisition procedures aiming at jointly acquiring and managing Essar Steel". "On October 25, ArcelorMittal India Pvt Ltd, a subsidiary of ArcelorMittal and the resolution applicant, has been declared the successful applicant by Essar Steel's CoC. The acquisition will be implemented subject to the approvals of Indian National Company Law Tribunal and other relevant authorities," it said. The announcement comes a day after founders of Essar Steel made a surprise offer to pay Rs 54,389 crore to creditors to settle claims and allow the company to exit the bankruptcy process. But many saw it as being violative of Section 12A of the IBC since the bid process is now over and Ruias haven't offered to clear dues of group firms which total to around Rs 80,000 crore. ArcelorMittal said Essar Steel is an integrated flat steel producer with annualised crude steel production of 6.5 million tonnes. It also has iron ore pellet facilities in the east of India, with a current annual capacity of 14 million tonnes per annum. ArcelorMittal intends to raise Essar Steel's finished steel shipments to 8.5 million tonnes over the medium-term by completing the ongoing capital expenditure project and infusing expertise. In the long-term, it wants to increase finished steel shipments to between 12 and 15 million tonnes through the addition of new iron and steelmaking assets, the company statement said expecting the deal to close before the end of 2018. "After completion, ArcelorMittal will jointly own and operate Essar Steel in partnership with Nippon Steel and Sumitomo Metal Corporation (NSSMC), the Japan's largest steel producer and the third largest steel producer in the world. "ArcelorMittal and NSSMC expect to finance the joint venture through a combination of partnership equity (one-third) and debt (two-thirds), and ArcelorMittal anticipates that its investment in the joint venture will be equity accounted," the statement said. NSSMC said India is one of the most promising markets in the world with significant growth potential in the medium and long-term. "In order to further expand and strengthen our global business, NSSMC has been seeking opportunities to engage in integrated steel production in India to steadily capture the growing demand for steel products, which is expected to increase along with the development of infrastructure," the company said, adding it along with ArcelorMittal will be able to turn around Essar Steel to be a competitive steel manufacturer. In its offer, ArcelorMittal has proposed to pay Rs 41,987 crore to financial creditors and Rs 214 crore to operational creditors and employees. Essar Steel founders -- the Ruia family -- first attempted to maintain a toe-hold in the company through a minority stake in VTB-led consortium Numetal, which was among the three bidders putting in offers. But they exited NuMetal when the eligibility was questioned as IBC does not allow delinquent promoters to bid. On Thursday, the Ruia family made a last-ditch effort through an independent offer. Mining baron Anil Agarwal's Vedanta was the third bidder. PTI ANZ MKJ (Eds: Adding details) New Delhi, Oct 25 (PTI) In a last-ditch effort to retain control over the company, promoters Ruia family Thursday offered to pay lenders of Essar Steel Rs 54,389 crore including Rs 47,507 crore upfront cash payment to clear all dues and pull out the firm from insolvency proceedings. The offer is better than Rs 42,202 crore offered by the world's largest steel producer ArcelorMittal to take over Essar Steel, which lenders are auctioning to recover their unpaid dues of over Rs 49,000 crore. "The shareholders of Essar Steel have today (Thursday) submitted a proposal to the Committee of Creditors (CoC) for full settlement of the entire admitted claims of the financial creditors, operational creditors, and workmen and employees of Essar Steel India Ltd (ESIL), aggregating Rs 54,389 crore, under Section 12A of the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code," the company said in a statement. While the company did not share where it was raising the money from, sources said the promoters have already arranged for an upfront cash payment to save the biggest mill being sold under the new insolvency process. Ruias offered to pay financial creditors a total of Rs 49,395 crore to clear all their outstanding dues till date. Besides operational creditors have been offered Rs 4,976 crore and employees another Rs 18 crore to clear all their dues. This compares with ArcelorMittal's offer of Rs 41,987 crore to financial creditors, who will have to take a haircut if they accept this offer. Besides, it offered Rs 214 crore to operational creditors and employees. ArcelorMittal, however, opposed the offer saying its understanding of the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code's (IBC) section 12A does not apply to the resolution process of Essar Steel. "Section 12A clearly states that any application to withdraw must be submitted prior to issuance of the invitation for expressions of interest and must be accompanied by a bank guarantee for the specified amounts. The expressions of interest for Essar Steel were issued in October 2017," it said, adding ArcelorMittal has complied with the Supreme Court order and has settled the overdues of associate firms, Uttam Galva and KSS Petron. "We have the bank guarantees in place for the payment for Essar Steel. We expect the process to continue as per the clear terms of the IBC," ArcelorMittal added. Essar said its payment plans ensures "100 per cent recovery" for all creditors. "The CoC is empowered to consider and approve this Settlement Plan with the requisite voting share, on the basis of which the corporate insolvency resolution process against ESIL may be withdrawn," it said. Without naming ArcelorMittal, it said the resolution plan currently under the CoC's consideration "takes care of only the secured creditors (i.e. the banks)". In contrast, the promoters are "ready to pay up the entire dues that will lead to not only maximum recovery for the lenders but also for all other classes of creditors, thus taking the company out of the corporate insolvency resolution process under Section 12A of the IBC", it said. Acceptance of ArcelorMittal's offer, it said, would lead to a "sizeable haircut" for lenders. "Moreover, the offer does not provide for meaningful payment to operational and other unsecured creditors," it added. Lenders to Essar Steel India Ltd earlier this week bean voting on the Rs 42,202 crore offer from ArcelorMittal. The result of the e-voting on the offer was expected by Friday. Steel tycoon Lakshmi Mittal-led ArcelorMittal was chosen last week as the preferred bidder for Essar Steel after going through multiple rounds of bidding. Commenting on the proposal, Prashant Ruia, Director, Essar, said: "Essar Steel got into difficulty because of external factors. Regardless, the value and quality of the asset can be ascertained from the interest shown and value offered by all the global steel majors. It has been our constant endeavour to arrive at the best resolution for all stakeholders of ESIL." He said even after the onset of the insolvency resolution process, the shareholders of Essar Steel had made offers to settle the debt of the company, but the lenders did not accept those offers. "We believe our current proposal will provide 100 per cent recovery to secured creditors and lenders and maximum recovery for unsecured creditors. This is well in excess of that offered in the proposal (of ArcelorMittal), and is in line with value maximisation, which is the underlying principle of the IBC process," he said. While Essar Group had in last one year reduced borrowings by over Rs 80,000 crore, ESIL promoters infused an additional corpus of about Rs 8,000 crore over and above the contributed equity of Rs 11,000 crore. If CoC accepts its offer, the reduction would top Rs 125,000 crore (amounting to 75 per cent of Group debt). Besides ArcelorMittal, bidding for Essar Steel, which can produce about 10 million tons annually, attracted offers from mining billionaire Anil Agarwal's Vedanta Ltd and a VTB Capital-led consortium. Vedanta offered Rs 35,000-36,000 crore in the first round. This was more than offers made by ArcelorMittal and Russia's VTB Capital-backed NuMetal Ltd. But during the legal battle over the eligibility of ArcelorMittal and NuMetal, the VTB Capital-backed special purpose vehicle raised the offer to Rs 37,000 crore in the second round which subsequently was bettered by ArcelorMittal to Rs 42,000 crore. PTI ANZ MKJ Spanish conglomerate Acciona S.A. is looking at investment opportunities in the Philippine infrastructure and renewable energy sectors, officials said over the weekend. Ruben Camba, country director at Acciona Construccion for Singapore and Southeast Asia, said the company planned to participate in the Build, Build, Build infrastructure program. It is something the Philippines needs. We are going to participate in projects part of the Build, Build, Build program. Theres a need of transportation. Theres a need of basically metro airport, bridges, communication and to ease the traffic in Manila and Cebu, Camba said. Camba said Acciona was already constructing two projects in the Philippines, including the Putatan water treatment plant in Metro Manila and the Cebu-Cordova bridge in the Visayas. Acciona is one of the largest civil contractors in Europe and has presence in more than 55 countries. We want to invest in the Philippines to help the development of infra, he said. We opened the office for Southeast Asia two and a half years ago. We found there is a close bond with Spanish for Philippines. In this time, we would have been able to develop our business here, thanks to this great relationship, he said. Camba said he was expecting to announce new infrastructure deals next year.Jorge Gayoso Mediera, Acciona Energy head of business development in Southeast Asia and Iran, said the company was also studying renewable energy opportunities in the country. What we are trying to do is understand the possibilities in the green energy side of the country. We know there is no feed-in-tariff right now in the Philippines, but we are trying to move forward with different deals, he said. We are trying to analyze the potential of private PPAs [power purchase agreements] to supply green energy with industrial consumers. We design specific solutions, for example wind or solar for them, he said. Mediera said the company was looking for local partners for its renewable energy projects including battery storage. Why Philippines? Because the price of energy here is high which means that we have a chance to compete and offer better prices with RE, he said. He said one of the challenges in the Philippines was the lack of land, specifically for solar. Its a big problem. Land conversion is another and it is really crucial. Grid connection is for sure one of the key points and the resource location, Mediera said. (Eds: Adding details) New Delhi, Oct 25 (PTI) In a last-ditch effort to retain control over the company, promoters Ruia family Thursday offered to pay lenders of Essar Steel Rs 54,389 crore including Rs 47,507 crore upfront cash payment to clear all dues and pull out the firm from insolvency proceedings. The offer is better than Rs 42,202 crore offered by the world's largest steel producer ArcelorMittal to take over Essar Steel, which lenders are auctioning to recover their unpaid dues of over Rs 49,000 crore. "The shareholders of Essar Steel have today (Thursday) submitted a proposal to the Committee of Creditors (CoC) for full settlement of the entire admitted claims of the financial creditors, operational creditors, and workmen and employees of Essar Steel India Ltd (ESIL), aggregating Rs 54,389 crore, under Section 12A of the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code," the company said in a statement. While the company did not share where it was raising the money from, sources said the promoters have already arranged for an upfront cash payment to save the biggest mill being sold under the new insolvency process. Ruias offered to pay financial creditors a total of Rs 49,395 crore to clear all their outstanding dues till date. Besides operational creditors have been offered Rs 4,976 crore and employees another Rs 18 crore to clear all their dues. This compares with ArcelorMittal's offer of Rs 41,987 crore to financial creditors, who will have to take a haircut if they accept this offer. Besides, it offered Rs 214 crore to operational creditors and employees. ArcelorMittal, however, opposed the offer saying its understanding of the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code's (IBC) section 12A does not apply to the resolution process of Essar Steel. "Section 12A clearly states that any application to withdraw must be submitted prior to issuance of the invitation for expressions of interest and must be accompanied by a bank guarantee for the specified amounts. The expressions of interest for Essar Steel were issued in October 2017," it said, adding ArcelorMittal has complied with the Supreme Court order and has settled the overdues of associate firms, Uttam Galva and KSS Petron. "We have the bank guarantees in place for the payment for Essar Steel. We expect the process to continue as per the clear terms of the IBC," ArcelorMittal added. Sources close to Essar, however, countered the assertion saying 12A was introduced only in June this year and for cases that are beyond EoI stage, a reasonable opportunity should be given to allow firms to come out of insolvency process. Essar offer, they insisted, provides maximum value to all stakeholders and provides 100 per cent repayment to the lenders. "The CoC is empowered to consider and approve this Settlement Plan with the requisite voting share, on the basis of which the corporate insolvency resolution process against ESIL may be withdrawn," it said. Without naming ArcelorMittal, it said the resolution plan currently under the CoC's consideration "takes care of only the secured creditors (i.e. the banks)". In contrast, the promoters are "ready to pay up the entire dues that will lead to not only maximum recovery for the lenders but also for all other classes of creditors, thus taking the company out of the corporate insolvency resolution process under Section 12A of the IBC", it said. Acceptance of ArcelorMittal's offer, it said, would lead to a "sizeable haircut" for lenders. "Moreover, the offer does not provide for meaningful payment to operational and other unsecured creditors," it added. Lenders to Essar Steel India Ltd earlier this week bean voting on the Rs 42,202 crore offer from ArcelorMittal. The result of the e-voting on the offer was expected by Friday. Steel tycoon Lakshmi Mittal-led ArcelorMittal was chosen last week as the preferred bidder for Essar Steel after going through multiple rounds of bidding. Commenting on the proposal, Prashant Ruia, Director, Essar, said: "Essar Steel got into difficulty because of external factors. Regardless, the value and quality of the asset can be ascertained from the interest shown and value offered by all the global steel majors. It has been our constant endeavour to arrive at the best resolution for all stakeholders of ESIL." He said even after the onset of the insolvency resolution process, the shareholders of Essar Steel had made offers to settle the debt of the company, but the lenders did not accept those offers. "We believe our current proposal will provide 100 per cent recovery to secured creditors and lenders and maximum recovery for unsecured creditors. This is well in excess of that offered in the proposal (of ArcelorMittal), and is in line with value maximisation, which is the underlying principle of the IBC process," he said. While Essar Group had in last one year reduced borrowings by over Rs 80,000 crore, ESIL promoters infused an additional corpus of about Rs 8,000 crore over and above the contributed equity of Rs 11,000 crore. If CoC accepts its offer, the reduction would top Rs 125,000 crore (amounting to 75 per cent of Group debt). Besides ArcelorMittal, bidding for Essar Steel, which can produce about 10 million tons annually, attracted offers from mining billionaire Anil Agarwal's Vedanta Ltd and a VTB Capital-led consortium. PTI ANZ MKJ (Eds: Updating with more inputs and background) Islamabad, Oct 25 (PTI) Pakistan will send a human to space for the first time in 2022 with China's help, Information Minister Fawad Chaudhry announced Thursday, the same year India plans to launch its manned space mission.Pakistan's first space mission has been planned for 2022 and the federal Cabinet meeting chaired by Prime Minister Imran Khan approved the plan on Thursday, ahead of his maiden visit to Beijing from November 3.An agreement between Pakistan Space and Upper Atmosphere Research Commission (SUPARCO) and a Chinese company has already been signed, Chaudhry said. In his Independence Day address, Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced an ambitious mission of sending an Indian astronaut to space by 2022, which would make India the fourth nation in the world to do so."We have resolved that by 2022, when India celebrates 75 years of Independence or maybe even before that, certainly some of our young boys and girls will unfurl the Tricolour in space," Modi said from the ramparts of the Red Fort on the 72nd Independence Day. Pakistan and China already have robust defence ties and Islamabad is one of the top buyers of Chinese military hardware.Earlier this year, Pakistan launched two indigenously built satellites into orbit, using a Chinese launch vehicle.The satellites were launched onboard a Chinese Long March (LM-2C) rocket from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Centre located at the Gobi desert, China.One of the satellites launched was a remote sensing satellite (PRSS1) a dual-purpose Earth observational and optical satellite. The second test satellite launched was a PAK-TES-1A, developed by Space and Upper Atmospheric Research Commission (Suparco) to enhance satellite manufacture capabilities in the country which would help end Pakistan's dependency on commercial satellites for information related to weather, environment and agriculture.The satellites were transported to China as Pakistan lacks the infrastructure to launch objects, the Express Tribune quoted an official as saying. China launched its first manned space mission in 2003, becoming the third country in the world to independently develop manned spaceflight, after Russia and the United States.Prime Minister Khan is embarking on his first visit to China on November 3 and will hold meetings with Chinese President Xi Jinping and Premier Li Keqiang, Geo News quoted the Foreign Office as saying. During the visit the two sides will review the entire range of bilateral relations which have enjoyed a long history of mutual trust and mutual support. The two sides will also sign several agreements in diverse fields, the Foreign Office statement added.This will be the premier's first official visit to China after assuming office in August.The visit signifies the closeness and traditional warmth which characterises Pakistan-China all weather strategic cooperative partnership, the statement added.After his visit to Beijing, Khan will visit Shanghai to participate in First China International Import Expo in Shanghai. The premier will be a key note speaker at the inauguration of the expo.He will be accompanied by a high-level delegation, including Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi. PTI AKJ AKJ New Delhi, Oct 26 (PTI) Maruti Suzuki India (MSI) Friday said it has roped in Bollywood star Varun Dhawan as brand ambassador for its Arena sales channel.The company retails models like Swift, Virata Brezza and Dzire from the Arena channel while others like Baleno, Ciaz and S-Cross are sold from the Nexa dealerships.MSI is currently working on transformation of its retail network across the country under the Arena label."Varun exemplifies the evolving Indian youth who is trendy, social and confident and like to be connected at all times," MSI Senior Director Marketing & Sales RS Kalsi said in a statement.Over 100 new Maruti Arena showrooms are already operational in just one year of launch of the initiative, MSI said. PTI MSS BALBAL New Delhi, Oct 26 (PTI) Markets regulator Sebi Friday imposed a penalty of Rs 5 lakh on debenture trustee Vistra ITCL India (formerly known as IL&FS Trust Company) for lapses in a fund raising case relating to Pincon group firm LRN Finance. In April 2016, Hongkong-based Vistra Group had acquired IL&FS Trust Company Ltd (ITCL), a subsidiary of IL&FS Group. The regulator in an order said, ITCL was appointed as debenture trustee for non-convertible debentures (NCDs) issued by the LRN and Rs 27 crore was raised from 4,178 investors in 2012 in a private placement. A debenture trustee, in market parlance, is a person or entity that serves as the holder of debenture stock for the benefit of another party. Debenture is a debt instrument that is not secured by physical assets or collateral. Sebi noted from the records that the LRN issued debentures all over the country and there is nothing demonstrated by the LRN or ITCL to substantiate that the issue was a private placement and invitation for subscription was made only to specific/predetermined persons. Besides, LRN did not prove that its offer was not open for subscription to public at large. On the contrary, ITCL on its own submission has mentioned that there was an advertisement on the website of LRN wherein it was seeking public subscription for fund raising and that too after the closure of the issue, regulator said. When it came to its notice that LRN was soliciting funds from general public to subscribe for NCDs, "ITCL did not take immediate step to stop such fund raising and bring to the notice of Sebi and other regulators," the market watchdog said. "ITCL as a debenture trustee failed to make efforts to protect the interest of debenture holders and fulfil its obligations in a prompt, ethical and professional manner. I also note that ITCL had failed to maintain high standards of integrity, dignity and fairness in the conduct of the business...," Sebi's Adjudicating officer Sahil Malik said. Accordingly, a fine of Rs 5 lakh was imposed on ITCL. In a separate order, Systematix Corporate Services settled a case with regulator Sebi regarding disclosure lapses after it paid Rs 5 lakh towards settlement charges. The entity had filed applications to settle the "proposed adjudication proceedings" for the delayed compliance of disclosure norms as required under SAST (Substantial Acquisition of Shares and Takeover) Regulations. PTI VHP MKJMKJ By Aditi Khanna(Eds: Updating with fresh inputs) London, Oct 25 (PTI) Tata Motors-owned Jaguar Land Rover on Thursday announced the opening of its new state-of-the-art USD 1.6 billion manufacturing facility in Slovakia, a first for a British automotive brand setting up in the central European country. JLR said its investment is expected to lead to an annual production of 100,000 cars at the new Slovak plant by 2020."Global businesses require global operational footprints. While Jaguar Land Rover's heart and soul remain firmly anchored in the UK, expanding internationally only enriches and strengthens our UK business," Ralf Speth, JLR CEO, said at the opening ceremony.He hailed the move as the start of a new era in manufacturing for the luxury car brands and the culmination of four years of planning. "As with our existing manufacturing facilities located in the UK, China, Brazil, India and Austria, this high-tech plant in Slovakia will complement and support our corporate, R&D and engineering functions headquartered in the UK," Speth said.The UK-based company, which was acquired by the Tata Group a decade ago, said the creation of new international factories allows JLR to "offer customers even more exciting new models, protect against currency fluctuations and support a globally competitive business".The company described the setting up of the new Slovak plant in Nitara as the latest step in its global expansion strategy, which follows the opening of JLR's Chinese joint venture in 2014 and Brazilian plant in 2016, supported by contract manufacturing in India from 2011 and Austria from 2017.JLR currently employs around 1,500 people in Nitra, with 98 per cent Slovak nationals and 30 per cent women. It will launch its second phase of local recruitment in November, looking for an additional 850 people to join the team in Nitra. All manufacturing employees have taken part in a bespoke 12-week training programme in the company's first overseas Training Academy, representing an investment of Euro 7.5 million. "Our diverse workforce brings a wealth of experience from both automotive and broader industries," Speth noted.The new 300,000m facility has been billed as being at the forefront of aluminium manufacturing and engineering expertise in Slovakia, with an annual capacity of 150,000 vehicles a year. Supporting the company's ongoing commitment to deliver high technology lightweight vehicles to its customers, the first Land Rover Discovery rolled off the production line in September. "The plant incorporates cutting-edge technologies and is the first in Europe to use Kuka's Pulse carrier system which is 30 per cent faster transfer times than conventional conveyance systems. It will also feature a highly automated paint shop process to ensure the highest quality and minimise the environment impact," JLR said.The factory has been designed with the flexibility to enable smart, connected manufacturing technologies, such as shop floor visualisation by using real-time data to solve issues which will support improved process efficiency, delivery and quality. Slovakia has an established premium automotive sector, which represents 44 per cent of the country's overall industry. JLR, which is the UK's largest automotive manufacturer, has the largest number of retailers for its cars in Europe, with around 800 outlets across 42 countries. Since the beginning of 2018, Jaguar Land Rover has sold more than 94,000 vehicles in Europe. PTI AK AMS AKJ AMSAMS news, latest-news The firefighting union has slammed the Emergency Services Agency after a house sustained significant damage in a fire while the pumper crew from the closest ACT Fire and Rescue station was knocking on doors in another part of the ACT. But ACT Fire and Rescue chief officer Mark Brown dismissed the criticism, saying resources were regularly moved around to fill coverage gaps and that the crew in question was always available, but wasn't called to the blaze because other crews were better placed to respond. A Rawson Homes display home in Denman Prospect was damaged in an October 13 fire caused by a component in a solar panel. Rawson Homes general manager Craig Moore said the home would be demolished and rebuilt. Four ACT Fire and Rescue pumpers responded to the fire and arrived at the scene in Kondelea Way at 11.03am, 14 minutes after the initial call. The first two pumpers to arrive had been standing by at Phillip Fire Station - 11.8 kilometres away - when the call was received, while one came from a training exercise in Hume and the other was mobile. When the call came in, the pumper crew from Belconnen - the closest ACT Fire and Rescue station at a distance of 9.3 kilometres from the scene of the fire - was knocking on doors in Hackett and Watson as part of a community engagement exercise to prepare residents for bushfires. United Firefighters Union ACT branch secretary Greg McConville said the incident showed the Emergency Services Agency had its priorities wrong. "The ESA has a distorted sense of priority if they think firefighters are wasted in ComCen, but they're out doorknocking while a house burns down," Mr McConville said. ComCen, the Emergency Services Agency's communications centre, is manned by trained firefighters, but the agency is working on plans to return firefighters to the frontline and have civilians taking triple-zero calls. Mr McConville said the pumper crew from Charnwood Fire Station was in Hume at the time of the Denman Prospect fire, leaving Belconnen with "no fire cover". But Mr Brown said ACT Fire and Rescue said resources were regularly moved around the territory to fill coverage gaps and that decisions were made with the whole ACT built-up area in mind, rather than just specific parts of the territory. "I dont lose any sleep over that because I know over the whole of the territory, were managing our resources to achieve the best response times we can, given the resources weve got at any one time," Mr Brown said. The most recent performance figures, from 2016-17, show ACT firefighters had the fastest response times in Australia, responding to 90 per cent of structure fires within nine minutes and six seconds. Mr Brown said those figures, which looked at the ACT as a whole, were more significant than those contained in a 2015 report that broke down response times for each Canberra district. That report, prepared by UK company Operational Health, found firefighters were slower to respond to incidents in the Molonglo Valley, which includes Denman Prospect, than anywhere else in Canberra. The report found that in 40.4 per cent of cases in 2014, ACT Fire and Rescue pumpers arrived at the scene of fires within six-and-a-half minutes. That figure dropped to 5.9 per cent when applied only to the Molonglo Valley. "Its not a concern because we are planning to build a fire station in the Molonglo Valley, and the [union] are aware of those plans," Mr Brown said. "The level of development in that area is really not at the level right now where we actually have a fire station, but were doing the pre-planning for it now. "Were investigating sites for a new [ACT Fire and Rescue] fire station and there will be a fire station there in the next year or two." /images/transform/v1/crop/frm/silverstone-ct-migration/eccd19f2-2acc-447a-9dd6-f7be46464dba/r141_0_1876_980_w1200_h678_fmax.jpg news, latest-news The mother of a Canberra construction worker killed in a workplace accident has called for a federal taskforce to ensure all recommendations from a recent Senate committee report on industrial deaths are carried out. Kay Catanzariti, whose son Ben died on a Kingston foreshore construction site in 2012 after he was hit by a concrete-pouring boom, said such a taskforce should be funded by the government for three years to make sure all 34 recommendations are implemented. "It's all well and good to have these recommendations, but who is going to fund it and who is going to make sure they're all followed through?" Ms Catanzariti said. "The government needs to allocate a taskforce team that's solely there to make sure these recommendations are followed through." Among the report's recommendations, which were tabled in parliament last week, were calls to make industrial manslaughter charges uniform across all jurisdictions, similar to those seen in Queensland. There were also recommendations to lengthen the limitation period for prosecutions relating to workplace deaths, with ACT investigators only having two years to collect evidence. Ms Catanzariti, who was in Canberra last week with other affected families to speak to federal MPs about industrial death prevention, said further consultation with family members was needed. "The government has three months to formally respond to the report, which is the first sitting week in 2019," she said. "Even though we've been campaigning for years, it's only just starting." Industrial Relations Minister Kelly O'Dwyer told the Sunday Canberra Times the federal government is considering the recommendations of the report, but did not say whether all 34 will be implemented. "We must work together with the states and territories to ensure there is better care and support, better communication and resources, better investigations and prosecutions," Ms O'Dwyer said. "In every state and territory and the commonwealth, regulators and investigators can do a better job." Safe Work Australia is also undertaking a review into national health and safety laws, looking into offences and sentencing guidelines around industrial deaths. It's set to report to the government early next year. Ms O'Dwyer said families affected by industrial deaths need to be able to have a place to receive support and advice. "While workplace fatalities have reduced by 48 per cent from a peak in 2007, there is always more that must be done," she said. "To lose a loved one in a workplace accident is a terrible tragedy." An ACT government spokeswoman said the territory government is reviewing the outcomes of the report and would look to see how they align with with Safe Work Australia review. "The ACT government indicated in our submission and evidence to the senate inquiry and to the national WHS review that we would support industrial manslaughter provisions based on those in Queensland," the spokeswoman said. "We will consider the recommendations of the national WHS review before making any updates. "WorkSafe ACT is always conscious of aligning its policies and procedures with best practice." In the time since the senate report was tabled, Ms Catanzariti has said she's been inundated by other affected families, many unaware of there being an inquiry into workplace deaths. "We've grown in strength and we're working out a strategy," she said. "If the government don't accept all these recommendations, we're wondering what we're going to do next. "If politicians could give us a reply as to what they're going to do before the summer break, that would give us peace of mind and hopefully they'll be able to accept the findings." /images/transform/v1/crop/frm/silverstone-ct-migration/37633b56-a008-4b8f-8636-fead31575c65/r0_383_4032_2661_w1200_h678_fmax.jpg news, latest-news Two international tourists have drowned while swimming at the Airlie Beach lagoon. Emergency services were called to the popular north Queensland attraction just before 4pm on Sunday. A Queensland Ambulance Service spokesman said paramedics were called to treat a 5-year-old and a 30-year-old male, believed to be a father and a son. The pair, understood to be Chinese tourists, were in a critical condition and had gone into cardiac arrest. They had been pulled from the water and were on the beach when paramedics arrived and tried to save them. They were rushed from the man-made pool in the centre of town to Proserpine Hospital in a critical condition but were unable to be saved. The lagoon was busy with swimmers on Sunday afternoon, as temperatures hit 35 degrees. Police will prepare a report for the coroner. /images/transform/v1/crop/frm/silverstone-ct-migration/494cceb5-7a0a-4791-93bc-fc08c16d1783/r0_196_3655_2261_w1200_h678_fmax.jpg North Palawan, Davao airports welcome two new routes posted October 28, 2018 at 11:10 pm by Eric B. Apolonio October 28, 2018 at 11:10 pm Starting today, two airportsthe San Vicente Airport in Palawan and the Francisco Bangoy International Airport in Davao Citywill welcome new flights to and from Clark and Hong Kong, respectively. Cathay Dragon will launch its Hong Kong-Davao-Hong Kong route that will fly four times weekly every Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Fridays, and Sundays utilizing an Airbus A-320 aircraft. The historic inaugural flight from Hong Kong is expected to arrive at 3:50 in the afternoon at the Davao Airport and will be welcomed by Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio. The aircraft of Cathay Dragon, the premium, full-service regional airline of the Cathay Pacific Group, will be feted with a traditional water cannon salute. Starting today, two airportsthe San Vicente Airport in Palawan and the Francisco Bangoy International Airport in Davao Citywill welcome new flights to and from Clark and Hong Kong, respectively. Cathay Dragon will launch its Hong Kong-Davao-Hong Kong route that will fly four times weekly every Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Fridays, and Sundays utilizing an Airbus A-320 aircraft. The historic inaugural flight from Hong Kong is expected to arrive at 3:50 in the afternoon at the Davao Airport and will be welcomed by Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio. The aircraft of Cathay Dragon, the premium, full-service regional airline of the Cathay Pacific Group, will be feted with a traditional water cannon salute.Meanwhile, Northern Palawans San Vicente Airport will open regular flights from Clark via Philippine Airlines. The new 86-seater Q400sfitted with six Economy Plus seats and 80 Economy Class seats in a roomy cabin layoutwill be utilized on these routes. PALs increased operations at Clark aim to significantly enhance travel convenience and connectivity for domestic travelers, while decongesting Manilas Ninoy Aquino International Airport. 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. 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Photo: The Canadian Press Costumed participants pose on a street during the annual gay and lesbian parade, organized by Taiwan LGBT Pride, in Taipei, Taiwan, Saturday, Oct. 27, 2018. Tens of thousands of people gathered in Taiwan's capital on Saturday for the city's annual gay pride parade ahead of referendums next month that will determine whether same-sex marriages will be recognized on the island. In a first for Asia, Taiwan's constitutional Court ruled in favour of same-sex marriage in May 2017, punctuating a yearslong campaign by advocates for gay rights in one of the continent's most liberal democracies. Authorities were given two years to either enact or amend relevant laws, failing which same-sex couples could have their marriages recognized by submitting a written document. But little progress has been made toward implementing the court's ruling. Meanwhile, gay rights and anti-gay rights campaigners have organized referendums that will take place alongside Nov. 24 local elections. Organizers estimated that 130,000 people took part in Saturday's parade in Taipei, the biggest annual gay pride march in Asia. Wang Zi, a 35-year-old from Beijing, said he supports Taiwan for being a pioneer in gender equality and same-sex marriage in Asia. "There should not be boundaries when it comes to love and sex," Wang said. "I am supporting this. Although I cannot take part in this (referendum), I will support Taiwan with all my might. Go Taiwan! Go marriage equality!" After conducting successful outreach and livelihood campaigns in North America and Africa in the past months, the Iglesia Ni Cristos Lingap sa Mamamayan program went local again last Sunday with anti-poverty initiatives in Tondo and Binondo in the heart of Manila and Culiat in Quezon City. Home is where the heart is, as they say, so Lingap returned to Metro Manila. For Tondo and Binondo, we distributed a total of 100,000 goodie bags for both locations and simultaneously conducted medical and dental missions, INC general auditor Glicerio Santos Jr. said on Sunday. The Oct. 31 Culiat leg, which Santos explained is focused on the Muslim community in the area, will have similar medical and dental assistance programs and an allocation of 5,000 goodie bags. As we did in previous instances, these Lingap projects are made possible by the INCs Felix Y. Manalo Foundation, which works to realize an ever-growing effort to uplift the lives of people, both in the Philippines and abroad. Santos added the Lingap sa Mamamayan activities this month are also being held in honor of the birthday of INC Executive Minister Eduardo Manalo, who turns 63 on Oct. 31. In the last two months, the Foundation conducted various Aid to Humanity programs in New York and Connecticut in the United States, and Toronto and Winnipeg in Canada.Around 2,000 and 4,000 goodwill bags containing essential food and household items were distributed in the US and Canada, respectively. The INC likewise hosted outreach activities in Kiberia and Kawangware in Nairobi, Kenya last June after holding similar activities in Blantyre and Samama Vil. Mangochi in Malawi. Over 33,000 Lingap attendees were provided assistance in the African locations. Santos explained that Lingap would continue to expand and reach as many areas as possible in the near future, upon the direction and instruction of Manalo. Why do we do this at such a sustained and continuous pace? The proper question should be, why not? We have a religious and secular duty to help those in need, whether they are INC members or not. The Church has enough resources and volunteers to make our own small contribution, so we hold the Lingap regularly, Santos said. Its our own way of giving back and backing rhetoric with real, positive action. The Department of Justice may take another month to resolve the deportation case of Australian nun Patricia Fox. Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra on Sunday said he has directed both Fox and the Bureau of Immigration to file their respective memoranda to the missionarys appeal against the deportation order issued against her by the BI in July. After that period lapses, the DOJ will resolve Sister Foxs appeal, with or without the memoranda, Guevarra said in a text message. The BI has already denied Foxs petition for the extension of her missionary visa and instead downgraded it to a 59-day temporary visitors visa from the expiration of her original visa last Sept. 5. This means she can only stay in the country until Saturday, Nov. 3. The immigration bureau, which is under the administrative supervision of the DOJ, may extend or renew the visa until the department decides on her deportation case. Guevarra said Fox may be allowed to stay until the DOJ rules on her appeal on the deportation order.He said the issue could even reach the courts should Fox opt to file a petition after all administrative remedies before the executive branch are exhausted. Any adverse ruling of the DOJ [on the deportation order] may be submitted for judicial review, he added. The Immigration Board of Commissioners ordered the deportation of the missionary nun and also her inclusion in the bureaus blacklist to prevent her from returning to the country. The bureau cited as basis for its order several photographs showing that Fox engaged in several partisan political activities sometime in 2013, 2016, 2017 and 2018including those where she reportedly demanded for the release of political prisoners, joined rallies for land distribution in Hacienda Luisita, and a labor rally in Davao City. The BI also considered President Rodrigo Dutertes earlier statement branding Fox as an undesirable alien. Signal Mountain should rely on facts, not guesswork, when deciding the future of its municipal water system, according to a majority of candidates seeking seats on the town council. Therefore, they said, no rate increase should be levied until after a comprehensive water rate study has been completed. Further, most opined, Signal should not sell the municipal system. Although a recent study by the University of Tennessee s Municipal Technical Advisory Service (MTAS) revealed the water system is inefficient, poorly managed and under funded, it also showed that those problems can be fixed. Although a recent study by the University of Tennessee s Municipal Technical Advisory Service (MTAS) revealed the water system is inefficient, poorly managed and under funded, it also showed that those problems can be fixed. I believe we should keep the system, former mayor and current candidate Bill Lusk said. Some years ago the town created a long-range water line replacement plan which was updated this year. It spans 21 years and identifies replacements and needed upgrades. The cost over 21 years is estimated to be $3 million. Susannah Murdock likewise thinks the town should retain ownership of the utility. I am not in favor of selling our water utility, she said flatly. This asset belongs to town taxpayers, and is our childrens inheritance. Water is the fundamental resource for human survival . . . None of us has a crystal ball in which we can see what environmental challenges we will face in the future, so maintaining control of this critical resource makes easy sense to me. Ms. Murdock, Mr. Lusk and five other candidates Joe Durek, Robert Hensley, current Councilman Dan Landrum, Dun Monroe and Rick Saputa all responded this week to questions regarding the water system and what should be done with it. The seven are vying for three council seats which will be filled during the upcoming Nov. 6 election. Currently, those seats are held by Mayor Chris Howley, who is not seeking reelection; Councilman Landrum, who is running for a second term; and interim Councilman Brandon Anthony, who was appointed to serve the final months of Vice Mayor Dick Gees term after Mr. Gee moved out of town. The question of whether to raise water rates at this time is on the councils agenda for Nov. 12, the final meeting for both Mayor Howley and Councilman Anthony, who have supported such an action. Now, with an election just weeks away, town council candidates are wrestling with the question of how best to correct past financial, managerial and technical mistakes. Four of the seven candidates Mr. Durek, Mr. Landrum, Mr. Lusk, and Ms. Murdock said they believe it would be a mistake to raise rates without first doing a rate study to see just how much revenue is needed. A majority also turned thumbs down on selling the system, which the current mayor has advocated doing. Only one candidate, Mr. Hensley, refused to say whether he favors proceeding with a rate increase at this time. Asked directly whether he believes whether he believes the town should go ahead and raise water rates now, he equivocated. Rather than answer, he wrote, Id refer you back to my overall recommendation on how to proceed with respect to assessing the alternatives related to the water system . . . I address these questions on my website. That website, https://www. electrobhensley.com/robs- perspective.html , outlines Mr. Hensleys understanding of various issues regarding the water systems future, but indicates he believes the town needs a lot more information before deciding whether to sell. This is too important an issue not to have all options thoroughly reviewed by experts, he wrote on his website. MTAS has the resources and autonomy to provide an independent and informed analysis of this issue to ensure all relevant factors are considered. Councilman Landrum, who has spent the past year studying and debating the issue with fellow council members, has no such qualms. "My default position," he explained, "is that towns should not give up ownership of their public utilities except under extraordinary circumstances. "I see no evidence of unsolvable concerns with our water company," the incumbent councilman continued, "and the MTAS report backs this conclusion. Our current situation gives us the advantage of two competing entities that can sell us water. If we sell (the utility) we lose the potential rate-influencing factor of such beneficial competition." Further, Councilman Landrum said, he concurs with MTAS's recommendation that the town commission an in-depth study of water rates "the first professional rate study ever conducted by and for the town." "We should do this before raising rates," he added. "We know there's going to be a rate increase and we are fortunate to have the services of MTAS in properly choosing the percentage (of increase)" the councilman noted. "Without this information, the council won't be able to properly make a decision of keeping the system versus an (operation and management) agreement versus selling to one of the two bidders." Mr. Lusk, the former mayor and a member of a small committee the town created early this year to analyze the competing bids submitted by Tennessee American and WRUD, said what he learned during that process convinced him that the operation and management agreement, as proposed, is a non-starter. "We saw that WRUD's proposal to operate our system was far more expensive than our current costs," he explained, "so I'd rule that idea out unless they come up with better numbers." Another candidate, Mr. Saputa, said he does not believe selling the water system would be beneficial either to the town or its customers. What's more, he indicated he still has questions about whether, or at least when, a rate increase is needed. There are considerable funds available for maintenance and improvements now, he said. If the schedule for maintenance and improvements requires that additional funding be available now, then a rate increase may be appropriate now, but if that work is further down the horizon, deferring a rate increase may be appropriate. Further, Mr. Saputa wrote, I believe one of the draft sales agreements contains a stipulation that rates would be increased prior to a sale. That would then provide the system purchaser the ability to piggyback a second rate increase. Details aside, candidate Dun Monroe wrote, Under any scenario, the rates are going up. But just how much they go up, he continued, may be directly related to whether the town ultimately decides to sell the water system or to hang onto it. If we keep it, we might have a position from which to bargain concerning rates (for purchasing water) from Walden or Tennessee American, Mr. Monroe said. I have gotten the feeling that most of the citizens of Signal Mountain want us to keep our water system and I concur, unless I find out some big reason why we should not. The MTAS report was prepared earlier this year at the request of Signals current town council, which has been flirting with the idea of selling the towns water system to one of two bidders: Tennessee American Water Company or Waldens Ridge Utility District. WRUD also has offered to take over operation of the system which has more than 3,700 meters (3,326 residential, 272 yard and 157 commercial, the study noted) should Signal decide to hang onto the utility. Currently Signal buys water from Tennessee American, and the municipal water system then distributes it to customers in and near the town. No rest for the 'mattress guy' launching Pueblo's first national franchise There's no time to snooze for a Pueblo entrepreneur who has launched Pueblo County's first-ever national franchise the Snooze Mattress Company. A ranking official of the communist movement in Negros Occidental was arrested by government troops in Kabankalan City over the weekend.Lt. Col. Egberto Dacoscos, commander of the 62nd Infantry Battalion, identified the rebel leader as Mary Grace Delicano, alias Tingting/Cleo/Karyle, an executive committee member of the Negros Island Regional Committee of the Communist Party of the Philippines. Delicano was on board a Toyota Innova along with four individuals believed to be new recruits of the New Peoples Army when she was apprehended by authorities at a checkpoint Friday evening. Dacoscos identified Delicanos companions as Richard Baylosis Serapin, Arnold Collastes Villegas, Wildie Pacle Adal and Eric James Salcedo. Delicano was the third ranking communist leader to be captured in Negros Occidental after the arrests of Aurora Cayon, deputy secretary of the Southern Mindanao Regional Committee and Louie Antonio Martinez, a logistics officer of the CPP-NPA.Dacoscos said Delicano headed the CPPs Regional Education Department that is responsible for the production of propaganda manuals, publications, and leaflets and the conduct of research work. The communist rebel was arrested on the basis of a warrant for murder issued by Kabankalan City acting presiding Judge Fernando Elumba Government troops recovered a Macbook laptop; one Acer tablet; two USB flash drives; one external hard drive; medical supplies; three notebooks and subversive documents with high intelligence value. The capture of Delicano is a proof that the NPA ideology is an ideology of criminals, the military official said. Having someone with a criminal record for murder as the lead educator of the communist ideology puts their teachings under scrutinyWhat is her credibility to become a teacher? What are they really teaching the masses? Dacoscos said. Email Whatsapp Menu Whatsapp Google Reddit Digg Stumbleupon Linkedin Comment There are no shortcuts in your personal walk with Jesus Christ. Just as an athlete has to train their body in order to perform at the maximum level when competition occurs, we even more need to train ourselves in godliness. I want to list several ways you can train yourself in personal godliness. Resolving to take these intentional actions will increase your intensity as you walk with Christ personally: 1. I will develop my spiritual life daily. When you resolve in your heart and mind that you are going to prioritize the development of your own spiritual life, you are making a decision to transform your personal life. Ask God for a plan, learn from others, develop your plan, and live by it daily. 2. I will release my life to God daily. When you choose to humble yourself before God daily and release yourself to God fully, you will go to a new level in your life daily. When you lean on yourself it is pride; but when you lean on God alone, it is humility. Release your life to God daily. 3. I will read the Bible daily. People who live out their faith daily are people who read their Bible daily. It is impossible to be all God wants you to be if you do not read your Bible daily. As Psalm 119:25 says, "Give me life through Your Word." We find life when we read the Bible daily. In just a few days, I will again complete reading through the Bible. That means that over the last twenty-eight years, I will have read through the Bible at least one time annually. Nothing has shaped me more than reading through God's Word daily and annually. 4. I will talk to God daily. When you read the Bible daily, God speaks to you through His Word. This will lead you to talk to God daily. In fact, it will not only inspire you to talk to God daily, it will shape what you say to God in prayer. Do not complicate it. Create a list of people and a list of needs; then, talk to God about these people and needs daily. 5. I will take whatever necessary actions to intensify my walk with Christ daily. You cannot delegate your personal walk with Christ. Therefore, prioritize it. Discipline yourself. Press in to God and press forward to do whatever it takes to intensify your walk with God daily. It starts with you. Stand on the following words: James 4:8, "Draw near to God and He will draw near to you." Originally posted at ronniefloyd.com Email Whatsapp Menu Whatsapp Google Reddit Digg Stumbleupon Linkedin Comment It takes real courage for Christians to stand for truth anywhere. But in Cuba? Let's just say we could learn a thing or two from our island brothers and sisters. Cuba is considering a change to its constitution that would make it the sixth Latin American nation to legalize same-sex marriage. The government will submit it to a referendum early next year. Such referenda are not unheard of in dictatorships, only, unlike a true democracy, "people" are often expected to rubber-stamp the government's already-made decision. But, this time around, the proposed change has run into unexpectedly strong opposition in the island nation just south of Key West. I say unexpected for two reasons. First, since the Cuban Revolution in 1959, ordinary Cubans have not only had no real say in the country's laws, they rarely dared to make their opinions known. They are this time. Second, the opposition to same-sex marriage is being led by churches who, ever since Fidel Castro assumed power on January 1, 1959 and especially after he officially declared Cuba a Communist state a few years later, have been in the regime's cross-hairs. For decades, both Catholic and Protestant churches have experienced brutal persecution. The Communist government in Cuba has "closed churches, nationalized properties owned by religious organizations and forced the faithful underground." Believers were often denounced as "social scum." The government even outlawed Christmas from 1969 until 1997. If you know anything about Latin American culture, that's a huge deal. While some churches were allowed to remain open, the Cuban government, like its Soviet patron, exercised tight controls over what was said and done. Following the collapse of the Soviet Union, restrictions loosened somewhat. But "loosened" is a relative term, and Christians in Cuba still live with restrictions that would be unimaginable in the United States. Pastors are still arrested. Unregistered churches are demolished. This context makes the response of Christians to the proposed change in the Cuban constitution remarkable. 500,000 signatures are being gathered, in a country where petitions are unheard of, to oppose the proposed change. Posters and signs have been made and distributed that read, "I'm in favor of the original design: The family as God created it." Rallies are being held, where speakers like Pastor Lester Fernandez say, "We do not in any way approve Article 68 . . . because the Bible condemns it." Speeches are being met with wild applause. As Reuters reports, the opposition puts the Cuban government, in quite a bind, "(i)f [the government] wants to prove the public consultation is a real example of participatory democracy, and not, as some opponents say, a fraud." To say that Cuban Christians are taking a risk is an epic understatement. An embarrassed dictatorial government may very well take reprisals against those who embarrassed it. Cuban Christians know this and, yet, they still speak out. Hearing this story, I couldn't help but think about the contrast with churches closer to home, by which I mean my home. Two years ago, as Colorado prepared to vote on a referendum to legalize physician-assisted suicide, many of us undertook an ultimately fruitless task trying to get pastors and their churches to take a stand on the issue. I was told by more than one pastor here that "it was too political," despite the fact that, for these pastors and their churches, getting involved was virtually risk-free. There was virtually no risk of a backlash, outside or inside the church. Yet many said nothing and did even less. Thank God that people like Pastor Lester Fernandez are willing to speak out for "el diseno original." Sixty years of persecution have strengthened the Cuban church, as it strengthened the New Testament church and countless other churches throughout history. To state the obvious: we could learn a great deal from, to paraphrase a Graham Greene novel, our brothers and sisters in Havana. At the very least, we owe them our thanks and our prayers. Resources In rare campaign for Cuba, churches advocate against gay marriage, Nelson Acosta, Sarah Marsh | Reuters.com | October 16, 2018 Originally posted at Breakpoint. Prayers and solidarity after gunmen targeting Jews kills 11 in Pittsburgh synagogue Faith leaders have condemned the mass shooting at a Pittsburgh synagogue yesterday, with Christians and Muslims lining up to express solidarity with the victims. A gunman yelling, 'All Jews must die,' stormed the Tree of Life synagogue during Saturday services, killing 11 worshippers and wounding six other people including four police officers, before he was arrested. Robert Bowers, 46, of Pittsburgh, was taken into custody after a shootout with a SWAT team. Federal prosecutors charged him with 29 criminal counts including violence and firearms offences, and violating US civil rights laws. Dr Ronnie Floyd, senior pastor of Cross Church, said: 'Please join me in praying for the victims and the families of all affected by today's terrible shooting at the Tree of Life Synagogue in Pittsburgh, including the three police officers who were injured trying to stop this attack. This was an act of pure and outright hatred, and it should be condemned by all of us. Anti-Semitism should have no place in America.' Rabbi Tuly Weisz, director of Israel365 and editor of The Israel Bible, said: 'There is a long, bloody history of Jews being murdered in our houses of worship. What is new is that this is happening in America in 2018. It is jarring, horrible and should be a wake-up call that terror needs to be obliterated everywhere. 'People all over the world must stand together against religiously motivated terrorism. 'As an Orthodox rabbi who has dedicated his life to building bridges between Jews and our Christian friends, I call on lovers of Israel everywhere to stand in unity and pray for these families whose loved ones were killed, and to fulfill the words of the Prophet Isaiah, "Comfort, oh comfort My people, says your God."' In the city on Saturday night, mourners held a candlelit vigil for the victims under light rain. The Islamic Center Of Pittsburgh offered its deepest sympathy and condolences, and called on its community to donate blood. The Simon Wiesenthal Center (SWC) also issued a statement. 'We are sickened by this horrific attack at the Tree of Life synagogue in Pittsburgh's historic Jewish neighborhood. Our thoughts and prayers are with families of the dead and injured as well as the rest of the congregation and Jewish community,' Rabbi Marvin Hier and Abraham Cooper said in a statement released on Saturday night in Austria. The rabbis will be leading a memorial programme at Mauthausen Concentration Camp on Sunday morning. Other evangelicals to respond included Dr Robert Jeffress, pastor of the 13,000-member First Baptist Church of Dallas, who said: 'I know that Christians everywhere will join me in praying for the victims of this tragedy, in expressing our solidarity with the Jewish people, and deploring antisemitism in any form.' Rev Dr Samuel Rodriguez, president of the National Hispanic Christian Leadership Conference, said: 'As Americans, and as a fellow community of faith, we can testify that nothing is quite as despicable, horrifying or barbaric as when worshippers of any tradition or creed are targeted for what they believe, or as is the tragic reality today, senselessly murdered for it. We at the NHCLC stand in unity with the Tree of Life synagogue in Pittsburgh, as well as the larger Jewish community throughout America, and affirm our deeply shared kinship and love unbreakable bonds that span millennia.' US Attorney General Jeff Sessions has said federal prosecutors could seek the death penalty if Bowers is found guilty. FBI special agent Bob Jones said the Federal Bureau of Investigation, which is leading the probe, said the crime scene was the worst he had seen in 22 years with the FBI. He said he believed Bowers was acting alone, adding: 'We have no knowledge that he was known to law enforcement before today.' KDKA television cited police sources as saying Bowers walked into the building and yelled 'All Jews must die.' Bowers had made many antisemitic posts online, including one early on Saturday. In another, he slammed US President Donald Trump for doing nothing to stop an 'infestation' of the United States by Jews. Jones said Bowers was armed with an assault rifle and three handguns. He said authorities believed the suspect entered the synagogue, murdered the worshippers and was leaving when he encountered a uniformed police officer. The pair exchanged gunfire, Jones said, and Bowers reentered the building before a SWAT team arrived. After a shootout, he surrendered. Bowers was taken to a hospital where he was listed in fair condition with multiple gunshot wounds. Victims taken to area hospitals included a 61-year-old woman, a 70-year-old man, and a 55-year-old officer. No children were killed, authorities said. Three police officers were shot and one was injured by shrapnel, authorities said. Two of the six people injured were in critical condition. Raging against 'invaders' A social media post by Bowers on Saturday morning said a Jewish refugee organisation, the Hebrew Immigrant Aid Society, 'likes to bring invaders in that kill our people. I can't sit by and watch my people get slaughtered. Screw your optics, I'm going in.' The comment was posted on Gab, a Philadelphia, Pennsylvania-based social networking service created as an alternative to Twitter. In a statement, Gab.com confirmed the profile belonged to Bowers and also said it had suspended the account and contacted the FBI about it. The mass shooting prompted security alerts at houses of worship around the country. It follows a spate of pipe bombs found mailed in recent days to prominent political figures, mostly Democrats including former President Barack Obama. The Tree of Life synagogue in the city's Squirrel Hill neighbourhood, a heavily Jewish area, was holding a Shabbat religious service at the time of the shooting. Police are normally only present at the synagogue for security on high holidays, Michael Eisenberg, former president of the synagogue, told KDKA. 'On a day like today, the door is open, it's a religious service, you can walk in and out,' he said. Around the time, three congregations amounting to about 100 people would have been using the building, Eisenberg said. Shortly after reports of the shooting emerged, Trump said in a tweet he was watching what he described as a 'devastating' situation. Trump told reporters later that the killings might have been prevented if there had been an armed guard in the building. 'If they had some kind of a protection inside the temple maybe it could have been a much more different situation, they didn't,' he said when asked if there was any link to US gun laws. He also called the shooting a wicked act of pure evil, called on Americans to rise above hate, and ordered US flags at the White House and public buildings to be flown at half-staff. He said he would visit Pittsburgh, but did not say when. The Anti-Defamation League and Jewish Council for Public Affairs described it as the deadliest attack on the Jewish community in the history of the United States. Additional reporting by Reuters. 5 1 of 5 Lea Suzuki/The Chronicle Show More Show Less 2 of 5 Courtesy of San Francisco Department of Building Inspection Show More Show Less 3 of 5 4 of 5 Courtesy of San Francisco Department of Building Inspection Show More Show Less 5 of 5 Two women were seriously injured early Saturday in San Franciscos Outer Sunset District after falling to the street when a third-floor balcony collapsed, fire officials said. Four people were standing on what building inspectors called a metal decorative balcony when it collapsed at 12:06 a.m. on Lawton Street between 26th and 27th avenues. Q: That video where a little girl is almost hit by a car passing her school bus is terrifying. What's it going to take for people to stop when they see those flashing lights? Is there anything more law enforcement can do? Carol Larson Guilderland A: The footage of a 7-year-old girl nearly struck by an SUV while getting off her school bus earlier this month in Pittstown is every parent's worst nightmare caught on video. Last week, the New York state Department of Motor Vehicles and the Governor's Traffic Safety Committee teamed up to remind drivers to stop for school buses during National School Bus Safety Week. More troopers were out along bus routes and in school zones, reminding motorists to stop and wait whenever they encounter a stopped school bus with its red lights flashing and stop sign extended. "Illegally passing school buses is a chronic problem that puts students in serious danger," said Terri Egan, DMV executive deputy commissioner and GTSC acting chair. "When parents send their children to school, they should not have to fear for the child's safety because of a driver's careless behavior." A one-day survey conducted in March by the New York Association for Pupil Transportation found that more than 30,000 drivers statewide illegally passed a school bus, including 280 drivers who passed on the passenger side, where students board and exit. Motorists who pass a stopped school bus can be ticketed and face fines and other penalties. More Information Hot spots What to watch for this week: Northway between Western Avenue (Albany) and Twin Bridges: Watch for daytime off-peak rolling lane closures in both directions to seal pavement joints before winter. Hamburg Street, Rotterdam: Traffic open in both directions. Watch for flaggers and alternating traffic during continuing roadwork eastbound (Route 146). Michigan Avenue bridge, Schenectady: Left turns prohibited onto I-890. Detour by turning right onto eastbound or westbound I-890, then loop around at next exit. Columbia Street (routes 9 and 20) over South Street and railroad tracks, Rensselaer and East Greenbush: Reduced to two lanes through the fall for a rehabilitation project. Watch for lane shifts. Detour for tractor-trailers arriving from Route 9J over the Dunn Memorial Bridge to I-787 northbound, then I-90 eastbound to Exit 9, south on Route 4, and back to routes 9 and 20. County Route 9, West Berne: Bridge construction and rehabilitation will close the intersection of Dutch Settlement Road and County Route 9 through Thanksgiving. While repairs are made to the approach of the bridge over Fox Creek, a detour will run 16 miles along Rickard Hill Road and state routes 30 and 443. Thacher Park Road (Route 157): Closed through Nov. 27 to replace two culverts near the Thacher Park Visitors Center and Paint Mine Picnic Area. Posted detour to accommodate large trucks includes routes 157, 85 and 85A through Voorheesville, Route 156 through Altamont and then back to Route 157. I-787 from Route 378 in Menands to Tibbits Avenue in Green Island: Night paving work from 6 p.m. to 6 a.m. nightly through the end of October. Motorists should watch for single-lane closures and ramp closures with signed detours. Routes 4 and 32, Waterford and Halfmoon: Paving between Higgins Road in Waterford and South Main Street south of Mechanicville. Watch for single alternating lanes controlled by flaggers Monday-Saturday through the end of November. See More Collapse The penalty for a first violation can include a fine of $250 to $400, five points added to a driver's license and even 30 days in jail. After three violations in three years, there's a maximum fine of $1,000, up to 180 days in jail and the suspension of a driver's license for a minimum of six months. To address the perpetual problem, multiple state and local agencies support Operation Safe Stop, a one-day enforcement effort in which police officers patrol selected bus routes with a history of illegal passing complaints. During the crackdown in April, more than 850 drivers statewide were ticketed for illegally passing stopped school buses. In addition, 3,044 tickets for other traffic violations were issued and 89 arrests were made. "Whether you encounter a school bus from the front or from the rear, if its lights are flashing red, drivers must stop it's the law," Egan said. "If the yellow lights are flashing, the bus is preparing to stop and so should you." Do you have a question about transportation? Email gettingthere@timesunion.com. Please include your name, town and telephone number. About 200 FFA students from all over Texas came to the Humble Civic Center Arena to learn more about raising their calves and compete at the 2018 Calf Scramble Progress Show on Saturday hosted by the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo. Chris Boleman, Houston Livestocks executive director of agricultural competitions and exhibits said the kids who have either a steer or heifer and enter in the progress show to practice and prepare their calves for the show in March. The purpose of this program here really is what we call our progress show because its like a progress report, Boleman said. The progress show is a two-day event where contestants signed in on Friday and participated in educationals and livestock showcasing on Saturday. The progress show is made possible every year through the Calf Scramble Progress Committee comprised of about 800 volunteers who help with things such as setting up the arena, signing in contestants and judging the livestock. Educationals are held before the practice shows by some of the volunteers to learn more about how to properly handle and care for the calves and students also interact with each other to learn more techniques. Boleman said the calves are judged on the quality of the livestock itself and how the students exhibit their livestock. So for heifers, what you look for in heifers is you want them to be structurally correct which means their feet and legs are good, you want them to look feminine, you want them to be well balanced and can basically go out and be a good cow, Boleman said. On the steer side its going to be more muscle oriented because muscle will orient to how much meat is in the product. Catherine Diezi, a Katy FFA member, entered her 7-month old heifer Ruby Mae for the first time in the progress show. Catherine has had Ruby Mae since July. Ruby Mae was sponsored by the 10-in-Texas organization. I really like working with (Ruby Mae) because its unlike any other experience, Catherine said. Ive learned that they trust you and learn who you are really fast and she knows that Im her person so whenever she sees me she knows that were either going to work or get fed and shes a lot more comfortable with me than anyone else. Catherine feels very comfortable entering Ruby Mae in more livestock shows. Catherines father Mike Diezi is a member of the Calf Scramble Progress Committee and has been a volunteer for the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo for many years. With many years of experience raising heifers and steers himself, he is impressed with Catherine and how shes been raising Ruby Mae who is her first calf. Its been really interesting because shes raised pigs all these years and they were all market animals which means you raise them for one year and youre done, Mike said. With her having this heifer, the way she raises animals shes always been really caring and really kind with them so it makes it easy for them to train. Mike said Catherine plan on keeping Ruby Mae to breed her and help other scramblers on properly raising calves. kaila.contreras@chron.com The Lake Houston area has produced another star author. Ava Reid, an eighth grader of Creekwood Middle School in Kingwood, was named 2018 Star Author at iWRITE Literacy Foundations 9th annual Luncheon & Book Signing event held from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday at the Hyatt Regency downtown. I couldnt believe it, Ava said when she found out. The avid reader and fan of authors J.K. Rowling, Rick Riordan and Neal Shusterman recalled that ideas for her winning work, the poem Children of the Holocaust, came from three places: a project in English class, a documentary about the survivors and Elie Wiesels book Night. First its how theyre identified, and then what they look like, and then what they feel, Ava said of the poems structure. I thought it was really horrible how they were treated and how unfair it was. The poem, written in haiku form, is in the anthology I Write Short Stories by Kids for Kids, Volume 9 on page 273. Im excited and proud, Avas mom, Andrea, a former speech pathologist for the school district, said at the event. [The poem] just really touches your heart and soul. Andrea found the poem touching when she first read it. The imagery evoked also brought her back to the four years she lived in Germany her Air Force father was stationed in Bitburg during that time and her visits to the concentration camps, Anne Franks house and other memorials of the Holocaust. Also present at the event was Avas older sister, Alyssa, an 11th grader enrolled in a dual-credit program through Lone Star College. Her short story, Something Worth Saving, is in the anthology on page 187. Its really cool, now you have someone to bounce ideas off of, Alyssa said about having another published writer in family. Ava revealed that Alyssa was the reason she got into this word-rich art form after following the latter to a summer writing camp many years ago. I just thought it was really cool how I could just have my own characters and stuff and create a story with them and have other people enjoy it, Ava said. For those wondering yes, Ava will work on another poem or short story down the line. Every year, iWRITE, a non-profit founded by Melissa Williams in 2008, hosts a contest that allows 65 authors and illustrators from grades three to 12 have their creations published and themselves celebrated. The next round is set to begin in January 2019. Visit https://iwrite.org/ for more information about iWRITE and the forthcoming contest. nguyen.le@chron.com SEOULThe director of the North Korean hospital that treated Otto Warmbier, the US student who died after being held in the country, rejected fresh allegations that he was tortured in custody. The 22-year-old was jailed in the North for more than a year and was released in a comatose state in 2017 but died shortly after returning home. The exact cause of his death remains unknown but a recent US media report claimed there was new evidence that he was beaten by the regime. The director of the Pyongyang Friendship Hospitalwhich treated Warmbierslammed the claims as a total distortion of the truth in a statement carried by the Norths official KCNA news agency late Saturday. The American doctors who came to the DPRK to help Warmbiers repatriation acknowledged that his health indicators were all normal and submitted a letter of assurance to our hospital, it said, using North Koreas official acronym. Now the question is: what is the ulterior motive of those American doctors trying to make a different story at this point in time with regard to the cause of Warmbiers death, the statement added. The KCNA statement came hours after the Voice of America carried a report on a lawsuit filed by Warmbiers parents accusing the North Korean regime of torturing and murdering their son. The report cited Warmbiers former dentists saying there was evidence of trauma to his teeth and a neurologist who treated him after his return from detention and said the student suffered extensive brain damage.North Korea has denied torturing Warmbier and claims he contracted botulism in detention. Warmbier was arrested for stealing a propaganda poster from his hotel during a trip to North Korea and sentenced to 15 years of hard labor. After lengthy negotiations between Washington and Pyongyang, he was released last year but died in less than a week. US President Donald Trump accused Pyongyang of brutally abusing the student but later praised the Norths leader Kim Jong Un as very honorable following a historic summit in Singapore in June. Rights groups have criticized the rapid diplomatic thaw on the peninsula, saying it has overshadowed widespread human rights abuses rampant in North Korea. The Kim family has ruled the impoverished, nuclear-armed nation with a pervasive personality cult and stands accused of a litany of state-sanctioned rights abuses including torture, rape, execution and brutal crackdowns on dissent. Cumbia music echoed off of houses in the middle of the Old Sixth Ward neighborhood Sunday afternoon as Houstonians celebrated Dia de los Muertos. Outside the Multicultural Education and Counseling through the Arts center, children got sugar skulls painted on their faces under large white tents, vendors sold Frida Kahlo-inspired art and families listened to folk tales about the Latin American holiday. But MECAs Dia de los Muertos Festival: Honoring Our Past, Celebrating Our Future isnt a Mexican Halloween event. Dia de los Muertos is based the Aztec belief that life didnt end here, said Consuelo Lara, chairperson of the festival. Its such a happy occasion, Lara, 66, said. Its like symbolically, our loved ones come and spend a day with us. The festival is one of the ways MECA helps educate the public about Latin American traditions and customs, Lara said. MECA provides art education, support services, art performances and events to more than 4,000 students and families every year, according to its website. Some people absolutely dont know anything about the true belief of Dia de Los Muertos, Lara said. The smell of incense wafted through the halls as festival goers visited altars dedicated to family members who have passed. Each altar has three levels: the top level is devoted to God; the middle level is to remember family; and the third and bottom level is for ofrendas or offerings, like fruit, cookies or the family members favorite foods. Heights resident Luis Gavito, 69, set up an altar for his family. He had an angel on top, black and white photos of his parents, grandparents and great grandparents in the middle tier, and small desserts on the bottom level. It becomes very individualized, Gavito said. In the auditorium, retablos, a Mexican folk art tradition of creating devotional paintings were displayed on the walls for the centers silent auction fundraiser. Retablos depicting the recent deaths of Anthony Bourdain and Aretha Franklin were hung with pieces thanking God for good health, peace and comfort. Diana Arias, 27, is a first-generation American who brought her family to the festival to introduce the holidays culture to her 9-year-old daughter, Samantha. As Samantha was waiting to get her face painted, Arias said her daughters father died five years ago, and Samantha became interested in the tradition after watching the movie Coco. She wants to learn exactly how the custom works, Arias said. You have a picture of them. You remember the good of them. You remember what they like to do. You remember their favorite foods. You remember their favorite music. Cristina Hernandez, 38, said she remembers her grandmothers favorite foods, too, and how she used to always say Why are you so pretty? She always asked me that, but only a grandma would say that, right? she said. Hernandez, who owns Kismet Boutique on Telephone Road in the East End, was selling jewelry, accessories, apparel and gift items. This weekend she sold out of purses in the shape of conchas, a traditional Mexican baked sweet bread with frosting that looks like a shell. She was supposed to be a vendor at last years festival, but a couple of days before the holiday, her grandmother died. Sunday, Hernandez said the event was making her think about her grandmother. I feel like in a way shes with me when I make sales, Hernandez said. I feel like shes telling me You go, girl. New York Police Department/Handout Officials in New York provided no cause of death Sunday for two young Virginia women whose bodies were found along the Hudson River on Wednesday, and police said it had not been determined if they were victims of foul play. New York police said Rotana Farea, 22, and her 16-year-old sister Tala Farea, both of Fairfax County, Virginia, were discovered Wednesday afternoon near 68th Street and Riverside Drive on Manhattan's Upper West Side. Police said the two had been duct-taped together around their waists and feet. Their bodies were identified Friday. "Is there hope for the bureau?" "Is there hope for the bureau?" The scoundrels at the graft-ridden Bureau of Customs put President Rodrigo Duterte in a position where he had to act with draconian measure. They made a mockery of the Presidents relentless and ruthless war on illegal drugs by allowing a P6.8-billion shabu shipment to slip through the BoC X-ray scanners. For their criminal negligence if not outright connivance in the smuggling of shabu, President Rodrigo Duterte did the right thing. He sacked all Bureau of Customs officials, including Customs Commissioner Isidro Lapena whom the President himself appointed. All other BOC personnel were placed on floating status. Duterte named Maritime Industry Authority (Marina) chief Rey Leonardo Guerrero to replace Lapena. But why only transfer Lapena to the head of the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority? This is a key government agency whose head has a Cabinet rank. No wonder Lapena said his new position is a promotion. Dealing with erring government personnel this way is taken for granted by grafters and encourage them to commit more malfeasances.. Lourdes Mangaoang who exposed the smuggled shabu shipment despite threats to her life and harassment from higher-ups, stood her ground that the four imported magnetic lifters contained illegal drugs when they went through the BOCs X-ray machines. The Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency which supported Mangaoangs claim estimates the smuggled shipment to be higher at P11-billion worth. The smuggled shabu shipment was missing when the magnetic filters were found abandoned in Cavite, The price of shabu has gone down considerably according to PDEA apparently because the smuggled shipment has been released and has now flooded the market. Mangaoang was vindicated by the Presidents action on Lapena et al but she did not even get a letter or a statement of commendation from Malacanang.Yet, the personal attacks on Mangaoang continue at Customs. Those whose big money racket at BOC blame her for their loss of ill-gotten wealth. Some of them even sent anonymous letters to media about her lifestyle including a fabulous house and at least three high-end cars. Ms. Mangaoang, however, is taking all this in stride. She knows this is the price she has to pay for exposing the crooks at the bureau. With a new commissioner, is there hope for a real clean-up at Customs, notoriously known as the flagship of corruption in government?What kind of people are these Kuwaitis? Just because their country is endowed with oil, Kuwaitis think they can do anything to people who need work. Manila lifted the ban on the deployment of Overseas Filipino Workers after Kuwait signed a Memorandum of Agreement with the Philippine government guaranteeing the welfare and protection of our OFWs. Manila ordered the suspension on OFW deployment when a Filipina domestic was found dead in a freezer in the basement of her employers rented apartment. To be fair, the assailants were not Kuwaiti citizens but a Lebanese and his Syrian wife who were apprehended after they fled to their respective countries. But in this latest act of cruelty, Kuwaiti employers locked up a Filipino housemaid in her room without giving her food for two days. Friends of the Filipino domestic informed the Philippine Embassy in Kuwait forcing her employers to release her. She also received one month pay out of a three-month salary arrear owed her. She also had to pay her own plane fare for the return trip home contrary to the stipulation of her contract. For this act of inhumanity, the Philippine government should rescind the MOU and ban again the sending of OFWs to Kuwait. Let the Kuwaitis do their own domestic work of scrubbing floors, cleaning their filthy toilets and taking care of their own children. Filipino men working as engineers and technicians in Kuwaits oil fields should also be withdrawn. Some will say this is a measure too harsh since it will affect the economic life of their dependents back home. But would they rather have their loved ones who work in Kuwait come home in a coffin or body bag? PARIS - The killing of 11 Jews in a Pittsburgh synagogue on Saturday drew immediate comparisons to the problem of anti-Semitism in contemporary Europe, where violent incidents have claimed the lives of at least 18 Jews in the past decade. Aside from those deadly incidents, a number of anti-Semitic currents are coursing through the Europe of 2018 - across the continent and across the political spectrum. What, if any, are the connections? Pittsburgh authorities have identified the suspect in the synagogue shooting as Robert D. Bowers, whose social media history indicates he targeted Jews because of a white supremacist worldview. That background matches only one of the strands of anti-Semitism visible now in Europe. It is most apparent in Hungary, where the right-wing populist leader Viktor Orban successfully ran for re-election this year on a platform demonizing the Jewish financier George Soros, whom Orban accused of undermining the country by importing foreign migrants. Ahead of the midterm elections next month, President Donald Trump and his political allies have also begun targeting Soros with increasing frequency, and a particular target of Bowers's anger was a Jewish refugee resettlement agency. Historical revisionism is often a part of this mind-set. In Poland, for instance, now under the control of the right-wing Law and Justice party, the government attempted to pass a law this year that would have criminalized speech about Polish collaboration in the Nazi Holocaust; the legislation was withdrawn after an international backlash. But contemporary European anti-Semitism is by no means the exclusive province of the political right. It has also seen a resurgence recently on the left, mostly via recycled caricatures that depict Jews as greedy capitalists or that present all Jews as colonial overlords of the Palestinians. Notably, Britain's Labour party, led by left-winger Jeremy Corbyn, has come under fire for not dealing more decisively with accusations of anti-Semitism among some members. Britain's Jewish community has spoken out against party leaders, and anti-Semitic incidents in Britain have soared to a near-record high in 2018. In general, it's difficult to ascribe a common narrative to all the anti-Semitic violence in Europe seen in recent years, and crimes have been perpetrated by people of various motivations. In France, in particular, where the vast majority of Europe's recent anti-Semitic killings have occurred, most suspects come from immigrant backgrounds, and a number have been affiliated with Islamist terrorist networks. France also happens to be home to Europe's largest Jewish and Arab populations, and some incidents have seen the Arab-Israeli conflict translated into a domestic political context. On a very broad level, recent cases - in France but also in Germany - have led many political leaders to worry whether the same countries that facilitated the Holocaust could again find themselves susceptible to anti-Semitism, this time of an "imported" variety. Here is a list of some of the cases of violent anti-Semitism that have occurred in Europe in the past 10 years. - 2012: Toulouse, France Four Jews were shot and killed at the Ozar Hatorah Jewish school outside Toulouse in southern France. The victims included Rabbi Yonatan Sandler, 30, and two of his children: Aryeh Sandler, 6, and Gabriel Sandler, 3. Another student, Miriam Monsonego, 8, was also killed. French authorities later identified the perpetrator as 23-year-old Mohammed Merah, who had a record of petty crime and was killed three days later in a standoff. As Merah - a French citizen of Algerian origin - had killed three French police officers in the days before he attacked Ozar Hatorah, the Toulouse attack was widely seen as the beginning of France's recent struggle with terrorism perpetrated by its own citizens. According to a book published by Merah's brother, he had been raised in an atmosphere of anti-Semitism, and his hatred of Jews was to some extent a function of his hatred of Israel. - 2014: Brussels Four people were shot and killed in an attack at the Jewish Museum of Belgium in Brussels. Two of the victims, Emmanuel and Miriam Riva, were in the city on vacation from their home in Tel Aviv. The third victim was French woman identified as Dominique Sabrier; the fourth was Alexandre Strens, who worked at the museum and later died of his injuries. The suspect was identified as Mehdi Nemmouche, a 29-year-old Franco-Algerian whom authorities apprehended at the Marseille train station several days after the attack and suspect had links to an Islamic State terrorist cell. - January 2015: Paris Days after the attack on the offices of Charlie Hebdo, a French satirical newspaper, four Jews were killed in a siege on the Hyper Cacher, a kosher supermarket on the outskirts of Paris: Francois-Michel Saada, Philippe Braham, Yohan Cohen and Yoav Hattab. Authorities discovered that the attacker, Amedy Coulibalay, had pledged allegiance to the Islamic State and had met the two brothers who perpetrated the attack on Charlie Hebdo in a French prison. In the aftermath of the Hyper Cacher attack, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu traveled to Paris and urged French Jews to consider leaving France for Israel. - October 2016: Moscow An armed man carrying a gas canister attempted to enter Moscow's Choral Synagogue in the city center, a day before Rosh Hashanah services. As he tried to get in, the man struggled with one of the guards. The attacker then shot the guard, who suffered minor injuries. All that is known about the attacker is that he was a 40-year-old man believed by synagogue officials to be an ethnic Russian. The 2016 attack came 10 years after another Moscow attack in which a 20-year-old man identified as Aleksandr Koptsev targeted Moscow's Chabad Lubavitch synagogue. Koptsev screamed "Heil Hitler!" and "I will kill Jews" as he rampaged through the synagogue's halls with a hunting knife, eventually stabbing at least eight people, of whom four were seriously injured. He was later described by police and security services as a skinhead belonging to a nationalist right-wing group that was unnamed. - April 2017: Paris During the French presidential election, Sarah Halimi, 65, an Orthodox Jewish woman who lived alone in a Paris public housing project, was beaten to death and thrown out the window. Police identified her neighbor, Kobili Traore, a 27-year-old Malian Muslim, as the suspect, and neighbors interviewed by police said they heard him scream "Allahu akbar" during the attack. In what became a national scandal, the Paris prosecutor initially declined to investigate the crime as a case of anti-Semitic violence, but President Emmanuel Macron formally declared the killing anti-Semitic several months later, in July 2017. - December 2017: Amsterdam Hours after President Donald Trump officially recognized Jerusalem as the capital of Israel, a 29-year-old Palestinian man brandishing a Palestinian flag smashed the windows of the HaCarmel kosher restaurant in a Jewish district of Amsterdam. Dutch television broadcast video of the incident, and the footage shows the man smashing the window and breaking down the door. The incident followed a similar one from 2016, when a stabbing occurred at another Amsterdam kosher eatery, which authorities later concluded was unrelated to anti-Semitism. - March 2018: Paris In an episode that resembled the Sarah Halimi case, Mireille Knoll, 85, a Holocaust survivor who also lived in a Paris public housing project, was stabbed 11 times and left to burn in her apartment. Investigators identified her neighbor, Yacine Mihoub, 28, along with an accomplice, Alex Carrimbacus, 21, as suspects. This time, authorities immediately included the dimension of anti-Semitism in the investigation, and less than a year after the Halimi case Knoll's death became a lightning rod that led thousands into the streets of Paris to protest anti-Semitism in France. - April 2018: Berlin Two men - ages 21 and 24, at least one wearing a skullcap - were assaulted in broad daylight by an attacker whipping them with a belt in a gentrified Berlin district, Prenzlauer Berg. Three perpetrators appear to have been involved, according to the victims' accounts. One of the victims, Adam Armoush, later said that he was not in fact Jewish but had worn a skullcap to prove to a friend that doing so was not a risk in contemporary Germany. "I was saying it's really safe, and I wanted to prove it, but it ended like that," Armoush told German TV. The incident became a national scandal, and German leaders weighed in. Chancellor Angela Merkel called the attack "horrible," and the foreign minister, referring to the country's Nazi past, said that "Jews shall never again feel threatened here." --- The Washington Post's Amie Ferris-Rotman in Moscow contributed to this report. PRAGUE - U.S. Defense Secretary Jim Mattis said his talks with European allies so far have not resulted in any suggestions of how to deal with Russia's violation of a Cold War-era arms-control pact other than for the United States to withdraw. Mattis said he asked European allies for ideas at a North Atlantic Treaty Organization meeting in Belgium earlier this month, about two weeks before President Donald Trump announced that the United States planned to pull out of the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty, or the INF Treaty. During his consultations with allies, Mattis said he reiterated his position that the status quo - with Russia violating the treaty and the United States abiding by it - was unsustainable and wouldn't last. He asked the other 28 nations in the alliance to offer suggestions about what the United States could do other than pull out of the treaty. "I said, 'We need to know if you have any ideas,'" Mattis recounted in comments on a trip from Bahrain to the Czech Republic. "So far we have not been able to find any." Mattis consulted European allies for suggestions more than two weeks before Trump announced on Oct. 20 that he planned to withdraw the United States from the bilateral pact, which Ronald Reagan and Mikhail Gorbachev signed in 1987, marking a breakthrough in Cold War arms control diplomacy. Despite Mattis' consultation with NATO allies, it's unclear how many of them were aware in advance that Trump was going to announce a decision by the United States to withdraw from the pact. Speaking at a press conference with Mattis in Prague, Czech Prime Minister Andrej Babis described Washington's decision to pull out of the treaty as "bad news" and expressed hope that relations between the United States and Russia would improve. Trump has said that because Russia was violating the agreement and China wasn't a party to it, he saw no reason for the United States to continue abiding by the agreement on its own. Shortly after Trump announced his intention to withdraw, White House national security adviser John Bolton informed Russian President Vladimir Putin of the administration's intent. Russia has refused to acknowledge violating the pact with the deployment of a banned missile. Instead, Moscow has accused Washington of breaching the treaty with its missile defense installations in Europe, an allegation the State Department has refuted. The Cold War-era agreement bars Moscow and Washington from testing, producing or deploying missiles on land with ranges from 500 to 5,500 kilometers, and applies to both nuclear and conventional variants. The agreement led the two superpowers to remove thousands of nuclear missiles they had pointed at each other in Europe. Mattis did not rule out the possibility that the United States would once again deploy intermediate-range missiles on land in Europe, but wouldn't say that would happen either, citing his policy of not telegraphing such moves in advance. "There are a number of ways for us to respond," Mattis said. "It does not have to be symmetric, and it will be in the closest consultation with allies." A symmetric response means the U.S. military would deploy the same weapons as Russia, namely midrange ground-launched cruise missiles. An asymmetric response would see the United States deploy different types of weapons to account for Russia's moves, or take other measures. The State Department hasn't formally announced that Russia is in material breach of the treaty. Nor has Washington issued Moscow with a document certifying its withdrawal from the bilateral pact. Trump and Putin are due to meet in November during World War I centennial commemorations in Paris and will probably discuss the matter, as well as other arms-control issues under consideration between Washington and Moscow. Trump has said he will withdraw unless Russia and China agree to a modified treaty whereby all three nations agree to abstain from deploying the midrange missiles. Mattis said he will continue consulting with European allies. He expected a more final decision on the matter by the time NATO ministers meet again in early December. "At that point I'm certain we'll have some kind of culminating point," Mattis said. The defense secretary said that could be a decision to announce that Russia is in material breach of the treaty. Or it could be an indication by the Russians that they have "woken up to the danger" they have put the treaty in and changed course, he said. Mattis added, "We will have to see." When gangs in El Salvador began to target young teenager Rosa to be a "girlfriend" most often used for prostitution to earn money, she knew she had to leave home. She left behind her parents, younger siblings and school and fled to the U.S. After crossing the border, she was reunited with an aunt and has been thriving in high school in the Capital Region for two years. Another Capital Region youth, 17-year-old Jose, was abandoned by his father at birth in Guatemala. He stopped going to school in order to work in the fields to support his family and many times missed meals because they didn't have enough money to survive. As a teenager, he came to the U.S. where he now lives with his older half-brother, goes to school and works part-time. Rosa and Jose, whose lawyer shared their stories but changed their names to protect their identities, are still undocumented. As they wait for their applications to stay in the U.S. legally to be processed by the government, their cases are before judges in immigration court in Buffalo and New York City who will decide whether they should be deported. More than 12,700 undocumented youth like Rosa and Jose have flooded New York's immigration courts this year, adding to a skyrocketing influx of tens of thousands over the past decade. One in three faces deportation without a lawyer. Many are eligible for forms of immigration relief to legalize their status, but the process can take years. As U.S. Attorney General Jeff Sessions implements policies to speed up deportations this year, attorneys fear juveniles will be deported before their cases can be processed. Rosa and Jose are two of 16 undocumented youths in the Capital Region represented by Mary Armistead, an attorney at legal aid organization The Legal Project in Albany, and eight volunteer lawyers. Armistead has seen the number of cases jump from 10 three years ago to 30 last year. While the number was lower for much of this year, in the past week Armistead received three new referrals. The youths are between the ages of 12 and 19. Most came from Guatemala, Honduras, El Salvador and Mexico to escape gang violence or extreme poverty. Some came with a parent or other family members. Others journeyed with smugglers, sometimes denied food, water and bathroom breaks and facing threats of being abandoned to die. "Every single client I have has gone through trauma," Armistead said. Most of her clients were caught crossing the border, then released to government-approved sponsors, who are usually relatives, in New York. They're now almost all in school, where some face bullying because of their country of origin or lack of English, and others also work. Many live in poverty around the Capital Region, from the city of Albany to the farm country of Montgomery County. More cases, less lawyers Armistead and her small band of pro-bono attorneys with limited resources represent just a sliver of the undocumented youths flooding New York state. More than 41,500 juveniles entered New York's immigration court between 2005 and 2018, according to a national database compiled by Syracuse University. That's the third-highest number in the country after Texas and California. This fiscal year, there was an influx of more than 12,700 juvenile cases into New York's immigration courts. This number includes all minors, those who arrived in the U.S. alone or with family members. Last year, more than 5,000 unaccompanied children entered New York's courts, but comparisons are hard to make because the court system changed which minors it considers unaccompanied. A third of the youths currently in immigration court don't have lawyers. Data from the past decade show that youths who aren't represented are four times more likely to be deported. The number of youths ordered deported from New York state spiked from 570 last fiscal year to 981 this year. "Without a lawyer, it's almost impossible to figure out what (options) you have as a refugee child," said Gui Stampur, deputy executive director of the Safe Passage Project, which represents more than 800 youths in immigration court in New York City. "Clients regularly recount the first day of immigration court where they don't know whether they're going to be sent back to the life-threatening situation they've fled or return home that day." Federal changes push for deportations As the number of unrepresented youths rises, the federal government is stepping up immigration enforcement. Two decisions by Attorney General Sessions in the past six months limit options for judges to postpone hearings on cases where youths have pending applications for immigration relief. In a written decision in May, Sessions said the practice, known as administratively closing cases, "encumbers the fair and efficient administration of immigration cases." He cited a case where a minor who had entered the country illegally failed to appear in court four times before the judge closed the case. Sessions said judges don't have the authority to close cases and directed them to order deportations for juveniles who don't show up to hearings in court even if they have a pending immigration application. Judith Lee, a former administrative judge who previously worked for the state and now takes on pro bono immigration cases in Albany, said temporarily closing cases was a way for judges to efficiently handle dockets. There are more than 24,000 cases pending in New York's immigration courts, according to a Syracuse University database. In New York, the only immigration courts are in New York City and Buffalo. For children in the Capital Region, the journey to court costs anywhere from $100 by bus up to $550 for a private ride a burden for families largely living in poverty. Hearings can be scheduled anywhere from every four months up to a year, but attorneys fear they will become more frequent now. Limited relief, long waits Like Rosa and Jose, many undocumented youth can be eligible for at least one form of immigration relief. If juveniles have a relative who is a U.S. citizen or a green card holder, they can apply for a family-based petition. If they're victims of trafficking, domestic violence or another crime, they can apply for crime victim visas. If they're fleeing persecution, like Rosa, they can apply for asylum. If they're missing one or more parents, like Jose, they're eligible for a form of immigration relief called special immigrant juvenile status. Such applicants must be under 21, unmarried and declared dependent on the juvenile court or in custody of a state agency or court-appointed individual. The court has to decide that it's not in the youth's best interest to return to their home country and they can't be reunified with at least one parent because of abuse, abandonment, neglect or death. The process to legalize this status can take years. In 2016, Armistead said, such applications were often approved within six months. But cases have dragged on since last year: she's been waiting on one response since June 2017. Part of the delay is that there's a cap of about 20,000 on the number of such visas granted each year. There are also monthly caps on visas for youths from certain countries. In October, there were caps on Honduras, El Salvador and Guatemala - the most-common countries of origin. Youths granted this status can apply for a green card, which will take at least another year to get. Armistead said that already-traumatized youths are anxious to obtain special immigrant juvenilestatus so they can rest assured they won't be returned to dangerous situations in their home countries. "During this long wait period, my young clients consistently contact me, desperate for information that I cannot give themwhen exactly will my application be granted? Will I be deported before my application is granted?" Armistead said. "The extreme uncertainty that children face during this time is anxiety-provoking, which is something that impedes them from being able to fully heal from the traumas they have previously faced." She said clients who turn 18 while waiting on these applications aren't eligible for public benefits and can't get work permits. While waiting, they continue to have hearings before an immigration judge who decides whether they should be deported. Starting earlier this year, judges in New York City skirted Sessions' decision and started issuing orders to juveniles that their cases have been placed on an alternative "Status Docket" while their visa applications are pending. Youths can provide regular updates in writing to avoid appearing in courts. Judges in Buffalo don't appear to have made any changes after Sessions' decisions. Capital Region attorneys are still waiting to see the full impact of these changes, but they fear that any form of immigration relief for undocumented youth, especially those without lawyers, will come too late. Mary Armistead is an Equal Justice Works Crime Victims Justice Corps Fellow, a recipient of a two-year grant funded in part by the non-profit organization Equal Justice Works and the federal government. Fellows represent trafficking victims, which includes undocumented children. JERUSALEM - It was a shooting in a synagogue, an attack on the spiritual heart of the Jewish community in Pittsburgh, a message of hate for Jews everywhere, yet the ultra-Orthodox Jewish media in Israel and the country's chief rabbis refrained from referring to Tree of Life as a house of worship Sunday, using phrases like "Jewish Center" and "unknown location" instead. The omission was not an oversight. Recognition of Reform or Conservative synagogues, where Jewish practices and texts often differ from those in ultra-Orthodox synagogues, is taboo. Not only do the ultra-Orthodox, also referred to as Haredim, adhere to strict gender separation, but using phones, playing music or driving to synagogue on the Sabbath are prohibited. "It is impossible for Haredim to recognize a Conservative or Reform synagogue as a real synagogue," said Israel Cohen, a journalist and host on the ultra-Orthodox radio station Kol Barama. A synagogue is a holy place where Jews observe Jewish law without exception, he said. "They can't call the place where the attack happened a synagogue; it can only be a Jewish center." Authorities said Sunday that 11 people were killed when a man armed with three pistols and a semiautomatic assault-style rifle attacked the Conservative synagogue in Pittsburgh's Squirrel Hill neighborhood. Three of the victims were said to be police officers, the rest Jewish worshipers. It is the deadliest attack on Jews in the history of the United States. The decision not to refer to the Tree of Life synagogue as a house of worship underscores the paradigm that exists between Israel's deeply traditional Jews and the Jewish community in America, which is often more liberal. In Israel, the ultra-Orthodox are a small but powerful community. Making up less than 12 percent of Israel's 8.7 million people, they are also highly influential, boasting some 13 out of 120 representatives in Israel's parliament, the Knesset, and maintaining a kingmaker position in Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's ruling coalition. Their rabbis are also charged with overseeing much of Israel's crucial life-cycle institutions - approving all marriages, divorces and conversions to Judaism - often rejecting certification of those events when officiated by Reform or Conservative rabbis. They also serve as the gatekeepers of Israel's key holy Jewish sites. It is at the Western Wall - the holiest site for Jews to pray, which once made up the outer barrier of a Jewish temple built more than 2,000 years ago - where the tension between the Jewish streams is most pronounced. Roughly one-third of American Jews identify as Reform and a further 18 percent with Conservative Judaism, a 2013 Pew study found. Only 10 percent identify as Orthodox. For years, American Reform and Conservative Jews have been pushing the Israeli government to establish an egalitarian space at the wall for their communities to pray in the same style they do in the United States. But Netanyahu, who has long valued the support of American Jews and often refers to himself as the leader of the Jewish world, is also bound by the demands of his ultra-Orthodox coalition partners. His proposed compromise, a space at the southern end of the holy site, is seen as unacceptable by Reform and Conservative Jews. A compromise acceptable to all Jews remains elusive, and ultra-Orthodox leaders have made no secret of their dislike for Reform and Conservative Jewish practices. In July, Knesset member Yinon Azoulay from the ultra-Orthox Shas party, said in a debate over creating an egalitarian space at the Western Wall that "reform Jews were not Jews." He blamed them for causing a minor earthquake in northern Israel. Jerusalem's former chief rabbi, Shlomo Amar, also caused an uproar in the wall debate when he said Reform Jews were worse than Holocaust deniers. Israel's chief rabbis - there are two - did issue statements condemning the attack, though they stopped short of recognizing that it took place in a synagogue. "I was shocked to hear about the murder of innocent Jews in Pittsburgh Pennsylvania, simply because they were Jews, by an abhorrent murderer who was driven by anti-Semitic hatred," Sephardi Chief Rabbi Yitzhak Yosef said in a statement. "My heart is with the bereaved families and with all of our Jewish brothers and sisters who live in the US." In an interview with Makor Rishon, a newspaper aimed at the Modern Orthodox community, the country's Ashkenazi chief rabbi, David Lau, referred to the Tree of Life synagogue as "a place with a profound Jewish flavor." "This tragedy should bring all Jews together, not rip us further apart," said Rabbi Rick Jacobs, president of the Union of Reform Judaism, which represents 1.5 million Reform Jews in some 900 synagogues in the United States and Canada. "It's unconscionable that any rabbi, worth their name, would question the Jewishness of those worshiping on Shabbat in a synagogue shattered by murder and the blood of Jews," he said. Israel's former ambassador to the United States Michael Oren, who now serves as a deputy minister in Netanyahu's government, also tweeted on the matter, calling on Israel to bolster the relationship with Jewish communities around the world. "The Conservative Jews of Pittsburgh were sufficiently Jewish to be killed because they were Jews, but their movement is not recognized by the Jewish State," Oren tweeted. "I dreamily look back at the time before all these brutish tactics invaded our politics, and politicians just shot or hacked one another in broad daylight like civilized human beings." The newest and fastest-growing religion in the country isdrumroll, pleasepolitics. Unlike many religions that only meet once or twice a week, adherents to the religion of politics worship every day, doing their devotionals in front of this and other newspapers, ABS-CBN and GMA news networks, or their carefully cultivated Facebook and Twitter feeds. There is a major sectarian dispute among politics followers, as to whether the one true god is a Dutertard or a Yellowtard, but otherwise, their methods of practicing their faith are remarkably similar. Political worshipers come in all forms, from casual believers who faithfully vote each election but dont regularly attend rallies or argue about politics online to crazed people who shower profanities on people they disagree with. But most political believers reject these violent zealots as radicalized extremists, insisting that politics is a religion of peace. According to researchers, worshipers of politics are even more zealous and passionate than members of more traditional religions, being more likely to annoy friends and family, and blast each other on Facebook over which political god is better. Religious people sometimes go door to door to spread their beliefs, while the political faithful will bother you on Facebook all day long. A lot of people who said they were done with the concept of God and religion ended up just worshiping politics instead, said one analyst. Its almost like theres this void in every human that just needs to be filled with something, and so people who dont believe in God decide to worship political leaders or the state instead. Weird, he added. Followers of this rapidly growing religion are reportedly preparing to celebrate its high holy day: the 2019 midterm elections. The festival includes the selection of new high priests to enact the sacred will of the people, which is usually to get more stuff from the government at the expense of everyone else. *** Upon looking at the bleak, uncivilized nature of our political discourse, Im feeling nostalgic for a more refined time when illustrious leaders like Jose Rizal and General Antonio Luna, and enlightened politicians, just shot each other with pistols or skewered each other with swords to resolve their differences.I dreamily look back at the time before all these brutish tactics invaded our politics, and politicians just shot or hacked one another in broad daylight like civilized human beings. Frankly, itd beat all the protesting and swarming of people on EDSA and Luneta. No Senate inquiries. No privilege speeches. Just one simple, civilized duel, a couple of bullets flying through the air, a couple of lunges here and there, and youre done. Bam, bam, chop, chop, and you call it a day. Honor restored. A towering Thunderdome (think Mad Max) with a mixed martial arts octagon should be built at the Senate or Batasang Pambansa complex, to return some semblance of civility to our national discourse. *** I had a dream that, in an emergency, overnight referendum, the Filipino people voted to replace the Philippine Senate with a room full of monkeys throwing feces. The measure passed with 57 percent of the vote. Twenty-two percent of voters thought the Senate should be replaced by hungry alligators, while 17 percent voted that the replacement should be the pit of venomous snakes from the Indiana Jones movie. 3.97 percent voted that Senate members be replaced by screaming goats. About 100 people voted for the current Senators to keep their jobs, with this tiny voting bloc centered in the Senate building. Highland Ape Rescue out of West Virginia in the US will be teaming up with Philippine-based primate farms to supply hundreds of monkeys and apes to the Senate. The animals will be fed a nutritious mixture of food that produce easily throwable feces. Protective glass will be put up around the Senate for domestic and international camera crews to safely film, but anyone being interviewed by the new senators will have to sit in the middle of the poop-flinging octagon, coming under a heavy barrage of projectile excrement. It will be a huge improvement from how things were before, said ape trainer, Gina de la Cruz. No more 10-12 hour hearings in aid of legislation. No more Senate inquiries. With these monkeys, all the fecal projectiles will have been flung in under 30 minutes. One and done. The recently replaced senators will be placed on display at the new Manila National Zoo for families and park attendees to observe, and zoologists to study. [email protected] Washington He talked tax cuts last weekend, opioid addiction on Wednesday, drug prices on Thursday and immigration every day of the week. In the lead-up to the midterm elections, President Donald Trump has gone full policy wonk. Trump is promoting a grab bag of new proposals as evidence of campaign promises kept while Democrats question the timing of the policy flurry so close to the elections. Trump, who has been talking about the need to cut prescription drug prices since his presidential campaign, said of the plan he unveiled this past week, "we're doing things that nobody was ... bold enough to do." Facing an election that could profoundly change his presidency, Trump's uptick in policy activity underscored the aggressive effort the White House is making as Republicans try to stave off Democratic gains. The White House says all the policies have been in the works or are driven by outside forces, but aides acknowledge that the moves also provide an opportunity to connect with voters on key issues like health care and border security. Democrats argued Trump was simply playing politics. After Trump rolled out the drug plan, Sen. Ron Wyden said in a statement that the "Trump administration has concocted a dog-and-pony show to trick the American people into thinking they are taking real action to lower drug prices." House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi added: "It is hard to take President Trump seriously on prescription drug prices with this proposal just 12 days from the election." White House political director Bill Stepien pushed back on such criticism, saying Trump has pursued "an aggressive policy agenda on behalf of the American people and he's not slowing down. The results are evident: Good policy is good politics." On Friday, Trump expressed frustration that he hadn't gotten more plaudits for the drug plan, which he hailed as a "revolutionary change." At a White House event, he complained that the plan wasn't treated accordingly, saying: "It didn't get the kind of coverage it should have." The president said the plan had been overshadowed by all the focus on the pipe-bomb scare but with the apprehension of a suspect, "maybe that can start to disappear rapidly because we don't like those stories." At times, the president has clearly gotten carried away, or advanced policy ideas with limited impact. Trump said last weekend that he hoped to move forward with a new tax-cut plan "sometime around" or before Nov. 1. But Congress is out of session as lawmakers campaign for the Nov. 6 elections and the president's plan for a new middle-income cut of about 10 percent has yet to be fleshed out. Rep. Kevin Brady told CNBC on Friday that lawmakers had been working with the White House "for several months" on a plan, which he said would be advanced next year if the GOP can hold the House and Senate. Trump's predecessor, Barack Obama, mocked the president's tax push in a campaign appearance Friday on behalf of Democrats, saying, "Congress isn't even in session. He just makes it up." The pitch for a new cut seemed to be a tacit acknowledgement by the Trump administration that an earlier $1.5 trillion package of tax cuts failed to deliver the political boost that Republicans had hoped for. With immigration, Trump has seized on a caravan of Central American migrants advancing toward the southern border as a political "gift" as he amplifies his hardline border policies. After Trump pledged this week to send additional troops to the border, the Pentagon on Friday approved a request that is likely to send several hundred to help the U.S. Border Patrol. Details of the deployment still are being worked out. Under his new drug plan, Medicare payment for drugs administered in doctors' offices would gradually shift to a level based on international prices, which are typically lower. But the plan would not apply to medicines that people buy at the pharmacy and would not take effect for more than a year. Still, experts characterized it as a significant proposal, noting it drew pushback from drug makers. The White House said the rollout of the plan had been in the works for months. The drug plan, like the troop order, did not require congressional approval, a reminder of Trump's persistent struggles to get legislation passed. The White House views the varied policy proposals as part of its political push, said a White House aide who was not authorized to speak publicly about strategy. The aide said drug pricing was considered helpful in an election in which health care has emerged as a top voter concern. And as Trump himself indicated, the caravan is seen as a powerful argument for his immigration proposals. Republican consultant Alex Conant said that when it comes to reaching voters, "Trump's instincts on this stuff are good." On the tax cut, he said: "Telling voters they're going to get a middle-class tax cut if they're going to vote Republican is GOP 101." The Canadian startup scene is ready to perform on the global stage -- but, according to two of Canadas most active investors, its in need of a pep talk. Both Bruce Croxon and Anthony Lacavera argue that Canadian startups have incredible potential yet often exit early or sell out to large foreign companies. They feel like (and I would agree) overcoming this mentality and trying to cultivate companies from within will transform Canada into a 21st-century economic powerhouse. Croxon's and Lacavera's perspectives resonate with me because Im a huge proponent of entrepreneurs aiming big and building for the long run. Too often, founders race toward an exit strategy instead of building scalable, sustainable companies. And even when this isn't the explicit agenda, venture capitalists can make an early exit inevitable. VCs are an important source of funding, but they're also fundamentally self-interested: They often want to get their money back as quickly as possible with the highest rate of return and the most favorable terms. Under those conditions, an exit might be mandatory. Related: 98 Percent of VC Funding Goes to Men. Can Women Entrepreneurs Change a Sexist System? VC funding can help get companies over the initial hurdles, but to write real success stories, alternative funding is often essential. It's time for more entrepreneurs -- in Canada and beyond -- to make decisions that will benefit their companies in the long term instead of just tomorrow. Choosing your lane When entrepreneurs think about building for the long term, an initial public offering is often the only option that comes to mind. While an IPO is certainly a purposeful path to financing -- and longevity -- it isnt the only way to access the public markets. Venture-stage companies looking to get through the market door should consider all of their options, including: a reverse takeover, in which a public and private company exchange shares and then the management of the private company takes control of operations; a reverse takeover of a capital pool company, which makes the above financing strategy available to smaller companies; and a special purpose acquisition vehicle, which is yet another avenue for larger companies to go public under an umbrella corporation. If an IPO is still sounding like the most straightforward operation for your business, there are some key considerations to set in place before you approach the markets. Many companies dont do their due diligence and scuttle their chances at a successful offering. For instance, going public and meeting the requirements of a public company both involve complex accounting. You could flounder without sufficient staff, policies, and processes in place. As such, you should begin testing your financial strength several quarters before the IPO. This will illuminate whether your company is prepared to go public and ready to operate within the highest standards of corporate governance. Related: For the Price of One Share of Stock, You Could Influence a Billion-Dollar Company Here are four other steps to take before you're truly ready for an IPO: 1. Invest in proper management. Company leaders need to understand capital markets and be able to engage with investors. This requires experience and the right image -- leaders need to project competence and inspire confidence in order to draw in support. Elon Musk is a great example of how a leaders public image can impact the health of a company. When he publicly insulted a British cave diver who was involved in the Thai cave rescue mission back in July, the public backlash contributed to Tesla's shares dropping 3.5 percent. Then, in September, multiple executives at the company stepped down from their positions, just as Musk's behavior during an interview caused shockwaves across the internet. Most recently, he's been wrapped up in a settlement with the SEC. Not only was Musk ordered to step down as chairman, but both Musk and Tesla also had to pay $20 million fines to settle allegations that Musk had deceived investors. All in all, the company's stock is down more than 12 percent this year, and the takeaway is clear: It's important to understand how your management team is perceived by an external audience. 2. Tell a compelling story. Companies need to demonstrate they have a smart business plan, have good growth prospects, and are the right size to attract institutional investors. A 2017 study funded by the National Natural Science Foundation of China found a link between investor excitement and early stock prices, which is why a compelling story is so important. Many companies try to cultivate this narrative even after going public, as industries and audiences fluctuate. Take the carbonated beverage industry, for example. Soda maker PepsiCo began buying healthier drink companies to demonstrate to health-conscious consumers that it has a finger on the pulse of their wants and needs and cares about their well-being. As a startup, you can set the tone for your industry. Craft a story the markets will find attractive -- with a clear business plan to match. 3. Publicize your plan for proceeds. Investors want to know how the funds from an IPO will be used and whether any are going to wind up buying out early VCs. You could be a victim of your own success if your company is raising proceeds but you cant articulate what you plan to do with that money. Companies that dont show their work look unfocused and investor-averse, and not having a defined use of proceeds can also mean unnecessary dilution for existing shareholders. The public markets tend to reward those that deliver on promises to hit material milestones -- for instance, if a pharmaceutical company transitions from Phase 2 to Phase 3 clinical trials. Bottom line: A clear use of proceeds is a must for any financing, whether private or public. When Planet Fitness Holdings articulated an ambitious plan to refinance $707 million and provide cash dividends to shareholders, it excited investors enough to double the stock price in a single year. 4. Get to know your peers. Your peer group says a lot about your own chances for a successful IPO. Take Instagram and Snapchat, for example. Both offer similar services, but Instagram is prospering after being acquired by Facebook, while Snapchat is languishing after going public. Companies should dream big while being realistic about their competitive landscape. Related: Go Public or Stay Private? What's the Right Move For You? If you arent aiming to be acquired, are you sure you have enough room in the market? Its one thing to decide you want to pursue an IPO and another thing entirely to avoid getting overtaken by a behemoth. Is your company going toe to toe with the likes of Amazon? Are you in a field likely to appeal to a bigger fish in the future? Your plans could be dashed if a major player decides to enter your industry. Forecast your market dynamic early on to leave room for the most realistic strategy. The allure of the early exit is strong, and for some companies, it may be the very best option. But its rarely the only option. Startups ready to become global brands dont have to settle. They simply need to put their own plans first and build the future they see for themselves. Related: Why You Should Resist the Allure of an Early Exit The NYC Bagel Shop That Blew Up Thanks to 'Shark Tank' Just Got Acquired for $34 Million Even If You Don't Plan to IPO, You Should Run Your Business Like a Public Company Copyright 2018 Entrepreneur.com Inc., All rights reserved "We deserve better." "We deserve better." While the Unites States has played a major role in shaping Philippine economy since time immemorial, having been one of the countrys biggest trade partners (next only to Japan) and of course, playing demigods to almost all who held power in the Philippines, it seems it will only be a matter of time before it can be officially recognized we are no longer dependent on its dominance. While 2017 statistics bare Japan, the US and Hong Kong as the top three trading partners of the Philippines in terms of export, latest data shows China emerging as atop export market destination for the Philippines, valued at nearly $940 million or 15.3 percent of the latters total exports in August, Philippine Statistics Authority said. According to the trade data released on 10 October by PSA, China ranked first for the Philippines with exports valued at $939.98 million of the total exports for August 2018, increasing by 34.4 percent from $699.5 million value posted in August 2017. And with the countrys blooming trade partnership with China, the Department of Trade and Industry announced it will participate in the first China International Import Expo in November in Shanghai, China. As the Philippines main export and investment promotion agency, the DTI said it has organized the Philippines participation in the expo to further penetrate the huge Chinese market through country participation in trade expositions and facilitation of its business-to-business linkages. Trade and Industry Secretary Ramon Lopez will lead the countrys CIIE participation this year, along with DTI Trade and Investments Promotions Group Undersecretary Nora Terrado. China is a priority market for the Philippines and we want to push for exports of our products and services. We are also keen on attracting Chinese investments, Lopez said. And this corner believes it was but a right move as producers all over the world are also aspiring for greater opportunities from CIIE as participants in the event including officials and company leaders are actively edging the competitiveness of their exhibits or products.From the big beneficiaries of Chinas opening-up policy like European auto-industry giants to fresh comers such as African food and beverage suppliers, there is a common aspiration to make best of the expo to promote their brands and products, and take bigger shares in the lucrative market of China. German food giant Metro said that it wants to take the opportunity of the CIIE to showcase its strength in imports and global sourcing. Companies which are believers of Chinas development and beneficiaries of the opening-up policy make a big part of CIIE participants. Regional delegations also attach great importance to the platform, viewing it as a gateway and window to know better Chinas market and development path. So far, over 150,000 buyers from home and abroad are estimated to attend the expo. Apart from business exhibitions, 80 countries and three international organizations have confirmed their participation in the country-pavilion exhibition, which covers a total area of 30,000 square meters. And no amount of bullying from the US in the world of trade can stop China, with all its agressiveness, in pursuing a mutually-beneficial partnership with the Philippines. No less than Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi has been overseeing this endeavor, making a two-day visit to the country from yesterday, Sunday until today, directly flying to Davao to personally meet President Rodrigo Duterte. Aside from meeting with his counterparts in preparation for President Xi Jin Pings visit to the country this November, Wang also reportedly met with local officials to discuss the future of a joint exploration between the two countries in the South China Sea. This, is actually, is some sort of follow up to the third meeting of the China-Philippines Bilateral Consultation Mechanism on the South China Sea which took place last Oct. 18 in Beijing. Representatives of the two countries acknowledged the importance of the BCM as a venue for enhanced and regular dialogue that can play a significant role in the stable development of bilateral relations, through which both sides could address differences, prevent and properly manage incidents at sea and enhance maritime dialogue and cooperation. Its really about time we veered away from US dependence. Toeing the US line since we were supposedly granted independence has done nothing good for the country. We deserve better. Three people were stabbed early Sunday at a Halloween party in northern Harris County, according to authorities. The gathering was already underway around 3 a.m. when a man embroiled in an ongoing feud with one of the guests showed up at the home on West Montgomery and Gulf Bank. "It can only grow as the future looms ahead." Despite the Duterte administrations professed pivot to Beijing, there remains a special relationship between Manila and Washington, one built on decades of cooperation following the granting of Philippine independence in 1946. Think tank Stratbase Albert del Rosario Institute (ADRi) recently held a roundtable discussion on whats next for this relationship, in particular the role of Washington in strengthening diplomatic, economic, and security cooperation in the context of Southeast Asia and the Philippines. This includes, for starters, clarifying the uncertainty that surrounds US-Philippine relations a year after US President Donald Trump sketched his Free and Open Indo-Pacific policy at the 2017 APEC CEO Summit and at a time when Chinese capital is flooding the region, not least its multi-billion dollar investments into the Duterte administrations vaunted Build Build Build infrastructure agenda, said Dr. Patrick Cronin, Senior Advisor and Senior Director of the Asia-Pacific Security Program Center for a New American Security. Indeed, the common refrain in Manila is that while the United States remains a good friend, China will always be the Philippines watchful, at times menacing, northern neighbor, Cronin said. At the center of Washingtons Indo-Pacific policy, Cronin said, is the need for the US to more conscientiously strike a balance between providing assurances of the durability of US commitment to the region and encouraging Philippine autonomy, particularly amidst Chinese incursions. Just a few weeks ago, the US Navy said the Luyang, a Chinese warship, forced the American destroyer USS Decatur to change course while sailing past a couple of reefs in the heavily disputed Spratly Islands. It is only one of many encounters in the sea lane that had, over the years, become the site of confrontation between China and a host of other nations with competing claims on it, including the Philippines and the US, which routinely conducts so-called freedom of navigation tours in the area, to Beijings frustration. The United States will also need to grapple with how best to promote its positive agenda for a rules-based order in a way that not only safeguards its own interests but also directly appeals to the aspiring middle classes of the Philippines and beyond, said Cronin. This is the context, he added, of the Indo-Pacific framework, which at its core highlights the shift in the global economic center of gravity and other dramatic changes that are taking place both in the Philippines and across Southeast Asia. Even so, such changes would not overturn elements of continuity in policy as far as Washington and Manila are concerned. Across the diplomatic, economic, and security domains, the American commitment to the rule of law, freedom of navigation, sustainable economic development, and good governance both in the Philippines and the region write large remains stronger than ever. This includes taking advantage of already existing institutions and mechanisms, such as the ten-nation regional bloc Association of Southeast Asian Nations. Even so, while ASEAN is most powerful when it speaks with a unified voice, ad hoc cooperation below the ASEAN level might be more functional and nimble in some cases, Cronin said.The Philippines trilateral air and maritime patrols with Indonesia and Malaysia in the Sulu and Celebes Seas offer a case in point. Moving forward, the United States should not only support ASEAN cohesion but also smaller, effective coalitions of the willing to showcase American and regional commitment to a rules-based order. In terms of security, Washingtons Indo-Pacific policy is similarly built on principled and peaceful resolution of disputes, especially in the context of pushing back against the assertiveness of major powers. By far the most glaring example of such is the unabated militarization of artificial island features in the Spratly Islands, despite widespread protests and condemnation. Building naval, air, and coast guard and law enforcement capabilities of littoral nations around the Indian Ocean, South China Sea, and Southwest Pacific lies at the heart of the United States security commitment to the region, Cronin said. This strategy is part and parcel of the Obama administrations approach to the region in the form of building a principled and inclusive network, which Trump, for his part, is keen on intensifying. This entails pursuing more group sails and closer joint training and exercises, as exemplified by the increase in the number of joint events that General Galvez and Admiral Davidson have proposed for 2019, Cronin said. Its important for the United States to cast its objectives, not in the divisive terms of geopolitical division, but rather, as a bulwark against the more elemental challenges that stem terrorism, political violence, illegal trafficking, natural disasters, and other humanitarian crises, he added. As for the economy, Cronin suggests that the same strategy should be emphasized and can be sustainable rather than predatory, in which US private sector investment and stronger institutional frameworks will remain key. Trump last year pulled the US out of the Trans-Pacific Partnership, a deal which had excluded the Philippines due reportedly to the countrys high tariffs and other perennial trade barriers. Now that talks are underway for the US-Philippine Trade and Investment Framework Agreement, the United States must work expeditiously at forging a bilateral Free Trade Agreement as soon as possible, he said. To shield the new FTA from future political debates, Cronin believes that the new deal must be sustainable and add substantial economic and strategic value, stimulating business and creating jobs that can contribute to helping the 25 percent of Filipinos who live in poverty and the 10 percent who teeter close to it. And a bilateral FTA should also raise labor and environmental standards, he added. All in all, all these constitute the newest chapter in a century of shared experience for the US and the Philippines. Cronin said regardless of the political changes in Washington and the occasionally thorny history, common values and shared interests between the two countries will continue to forge a closer link between the two countries, a special relationship that can only grow as the future looms ahead. CLEVELAND, Ohio A member of leadership of a large Cleveland Indian music festival acknowledged this month that sexual misconduct allegations had been levied against invited performers in the past. Veeravanallur V. Sundaram is a member of the the Aradhana Committee, a nonprofit group that organizes the Cleveland Thyagaraja Festival, a international gathering featuring the Carnatic, or South Indian, classical music community. Sundaram made three public Facebook posts on Oct. 17 one detailing a petition the committee received about the allegations, one with the committees response to the petition and one expressing his feelings after reading the petition. In the petition sent to the committee, about 80 past and present Thyagaraja participants wrote: The past few days have seen an alarming number of allegations of sexual harassment and assault levied against several senior musicians in the Carnatic community. A number of these musicians have an active role in the planning and execution of the [Cleveland Thyagaraja] festival. Several have numerous allegations against them. The petition goes on to ask the organizing committee to publicly endorse a zero-tolerance policy on any/all forms of harassment or assault, as well as promptly remove those with credible allegations against them from official and unofficial positions of power in the organization and/or ban them from [the festival]. Sundaram posted the committees response on Facebook as well, thanking the petitioners for their concerns and outlining the steps the organization has taken in recent years to strengthen these protections against harassment and abuse, and created formal processes to receive and handle these complaints. Sundaram wrote in a separate, public Facebook post that two years ago, four Indian musicians were disinvited from the Cleveland festival after the organizing committee received credible evidence of sexual molestation through first hand testimony. In an email to cleveland.com late Sunday, Sundaram emphasized that none of the incidents of sexual misconduct mentioned in his Facebook post took place in Cleveland. A Change.org petition has also been created, asking the U.S. to ban seven musicians from entering the country. The petition strongly calls out the Cleveland Thyagaraja Festival and Sundaram. For decades, Carnatic performers from India under the guise of teaching and performing have come to the U.S. and taken advantage of our kindness, generosity and naivete as NRIs [non-resident Indians]. Starting with the biggest problem (Cleveland Aradhana), this non profit has profited off Indians in the US who are simply seeking to do the best for their children, the petition states. Now, the MeToo movement has been met with resistance and denial from the chief of the organization, VV Sundaram. Music Academy has the strength and courage to ban these sick musicians and even our own leaders in the Carnatic community are not able to show the same strength. The Cleveland Thyagaraja Festival has been held at Cleveland State University for more than 40 years, according to its website. It is the largest Indian classical music festival held outside of India, with 8,000 attendees over a 12-day period. Cleveland State spokesman William Dube told cleveland.com Sunday that he could not confirm the universitys exact relationship with the festival. Since 2015, the Aradhana Committee has received nearly $140,000 in project support grants from Cuyahoga Arts & Culture. CLEVELAND, Ohio Northeast Ohio Behavioral Health, a mental health center for children and families, closed its doors Oct. 18 after serving the community for 28 years. The center, which had offices in Cuyahoga Falls and North Canton and specialized in treating children who experienced sexual abuse, is one of a handful of facilities like it that have fallen victim to state changes in behavioral health treatment of its Medicaid patients, a move affecting roughly 700,000 Ohioans. A difference in how services are coded for billing and how providers are paid left Northeast Ohio Behavioral Health fighting to stay open throughout 2018. By mid-October, executive director Dr. Robin Tener knew the battle had been lost. I did not go down without a fight. I feel like I have been fighting Goliath here, Tener said, a day after officially closing the center. I love this work, and I love the people we worked with. Its hard for me to imagine not doing that, she said. This should never ever, ever have happened to us. As part of a multi-year effort to modernize behavioral health in Ohios Medicaid system, the Kasich administration in January expanded the way services could be coded, adding more than 100 new codes to the system. Then, in July, the state transitioned from a fee-for-service model in which providers billed the state directly to managed care, requiring providers submit claims to insurance plans. The goal, the state said, was to align Ohios Medicaid system with federal codes and to expand services. But providers, like the center, say the transition is full of processing and reimbursement delays and is putting a financial strain on a field already overwhelmed by the opioid epidemic. Conversely, the state and representatives of insurance plans say issues with the new system are more the exception than the rule. The data to date suggests that behavioral health integration is going well and continues to improve, said Miranda Motter, president and CEO of the Ohio Association of Health Plans, a state trade association for the health insurance industry. Its just a lot of change in a pretty short period of time in the middle of an opioid crisis, said Geoff Collver, associate director of The Ohio Council of Behavioral Health & Family Services Providers, a state trade association that represents mental health providers. Overloading a system When Tener closed her center, she was still waiting for nearly $40,000 in Medicaid claims to be paid by managed care plans. She didnt want to take a proffered loan from the state and instead, for months, pulled money from her personal savings to prop up her business. She laid off 30 employees. I didnt want to dump 400 clients into our mental health system; I wanted to continue to see them, said Tener, a clinical psychologist. It wasnt enough. Two other Canton facilities said the governments changes to behavioral health contributed to either their closing or sale. And centers around the state are laying off employees and cutting services, according to Lori Criss, CEO of The Ohio Council of Behavioral Health & Family Services Providers. The last thing we wanted was for it to disrupt care for patients across the state. Thats where we are now, she said. Theres a high potential for people to get hurt. This will not be painless for communities. Criss expects the situation to get worse. From July through October, the Ohio Department of Medicaid provided cash advance payments to providers to help with the transition. Those payments end Oct. 31. Were going to see more layoffs of staff. Were going to see programs restricting, Criss said. Were going to see some organizations close. Making tough decisions A patient, Sharon M., who asked to withhold her last name for privacy, has been sober for 11 years. She relies on The Centers for Families and Children in Cleveland to manage her bipolar disorder and to help her maintain sobriety. The people here help me stay on the right track. If I start having any of those feelings to use again, I always have someone to talk to, to help me stay in the right direction, said Sharon, who used to be addicted to crack cocaine. Her life now is much different than it was when she was using. She takes care of herself. Shes no longer being taken to the hospital for treatment. She spends more time with her daughters and grandchildren. Its just changed my life completely since Ive been off drugs, Sharon said. My life is 100 percent better. Its wonderful now. Thats a life I would never ever want to live again. But The Centers is facing some tough decisions, according to Elizabeth Newman, president and CEO of The Centers and Circle Health Services, a community health center. Obviously, were not getting close to what we were pre-July 1 in terms of the revenue coming in, Newman said, noting that the organizations are receiving incomplete and delayed payments. Were trying to figure out: Is there a way to do this moving forward or do we have to reduce capacity? Jessica Fisher, a counselor for Alcohol and Other Drugs, listens to a client during group at The Centers. (Gus Chan / The Plain Dealer) The Plain Dealer She said the billing system is a lot more complex now and requires additional infrastructure to deal with the multiple managed care organizations. If we have to fight for every dollar here, what does that mean for us long term? Newman asked. We certainly dont want to have to reduce capacity, but at the end of the day we have to figure out how we make it through this. A learning curve The state and those representing insurance plans are encouraged by the transition process and say that options for extended repayment of the loans should help providers. We understand the significant learning curve with the new system; however, data suggests that month over month significant improvement is being made in the area of claims payment, said Tom Betti, press secretary for the Ohio Department of Medicaid. Issues have been minimal and quickly resolved through the collaboration of the plans and other providers. In a September presentation to the Joint Medicaid Oversight Committee, a body of state legislators that oversees Medicaids operations in Ohio, Barbara Sears, director of the Ohio Department of Medicaid, said progress is being made. While room for improvement exists, we are confident that [behavioral health] integration is stable and improving month over month, her report said. In July, plans denied 19 percent of claims and paid $23 million in reimbursements. By August, denials decreased to 16 percent and payments climbed to $59 million, according to Sears report. Criss, for her part, said that progress has been too slow. On Oct. 17, the National Alliance on Mental Illness of Ohio, an organization for individuals and families with mental illness that has supported the redesign, sent a letter to state leaders requesting that cash advances continue through the end of the year and that something be done to ensure providers are receiving payments in a timely fashion. Colleagues report that payment delays were a major contributing factor resulting in layoffs and the termination of needed programs. This is unacceptable, writes Terry Russell, executive director of NAMI Ohio. Although there may be plenty of blame to spread around and reasons that this delay is occurring, the persons who ultimately suffer are our loved ones with mental illness. The system must find a remedy to this problem. Both NAMI Ohio and The Ohio Council are part of a task force that regularly meets with the state over the behavioral health transition. It is clear that the decision to provide advance payments over the last few months has lessened the chance that fewer services would be available due to redesign, Russell writes, requesting that cash advances continue through January. He characterized the holidays as the most difficult time of the year for people living with mental illness, as well as those serving in our provider agencies. The state has not agreed to provide additional advance payments. In the meantime, Tener hopes other centers dont experience the same fate she did. MIDDLEBURG HEIGHTS, Ohio -- News that the Kmart located at 17840 Bagley Road in Middleburg Heights will close permanently at the end of the year was surprising to city officials and residents, but there may be good news to share soon. Sears Holdings Corp. announced Oct. 15 that it will close 142 stores, including Sears and Kmart locations across the country. Middleburg Heights Economic Development Director Chuck Bichara told City Council at its Oct. 23 meeting that the Kmart closing was unexpected, but that he has been in discussions already with another interested business. "The closing came as a shock to the store manager, because contrary to what the press release stated, this store was profitable, not an under-performing one," Bichara said, noting that 63 full- and part-time employees are affected. "We do have someone who is interested in occupying that space," he said. He would not disclose the name of the prospective business, and he indicated that it will take time to work through some legal issues. "The dilemma we're working on is that Kmart holds that lease through January 2020," Bichara explained. "The bankruptcy court would have to approve any lease negotiation to get out of that lease. The good news is ... (Sears Holdings) knows we are serious about whatever can be done to get Kmart out of that lease and get the new people in that site. That's what we're going to be pushing for." He later told cleveland.com that the site will not fall into disrepair after Kmart closes. "Worst-case scenario is that the space stays vacant through 2019," Bichara said. "The property will still be maintained, and Kmart would have to honor its commitment to do that. "The city, our residents and the neighboring businesses would love to see a viable business occupy that site," he said. A liquidation sale is under way, and Kmart will remain open through Dec. 31. The store currently is hiring seasonal employees to work through the holidays. Kmart's official date to vacate the premises is Jan. 25, 2019, Bichara said. UNIVERSITY HEIGHTS, Ohio -- The Red Cross is assisting four adults and seven children who lost their home Saturday after a fire at a duplex in University Heights, fire officials say. Firefighters were called about 11:35 a.m. to a three-story duplex on the corner of Tullamore Road and Brockway Road, University Heights Fire Capt. Peter Pucella said. The flames spread from a third-story bedroom into the attic and across both sides of the duplex, Pucella said. Firefighters were met with heavy smoke and fire. You couldnt go from one side of the house to the other because of a brick wall so it was like having two house fires at the same time," Pucella said. Crews from Cleveland Heights, Shaker Heights, Lyndhurst, South Euclid, Highland Heights and Mayfield were also on the scene, Pucella said. The blaze was extinguished about 1:15 p.m., and although there were no injuries, the residents were still suffering the effects of the fire. The house is not livable any longer, Pucella said, so the Red Cross was on the scene to help the two families find temporary lodging. We have provided them immediate financial assistance as we do for all people whove experienced home fires like this, including extra assistance for lodging, Red Cross regional communications officer Jim McIntyre said. The Red Cross will also follow up with each family about resources going forward. COLUMBUS, Ohio -- Ohio Gov. John Kasich has ordered flags lowered to half-staff Saturday after a gunman killed 11 people in a Pittsburgh synagogue. Our hearts are heavy for the victims of todays hate-filled attack at the Tree of Life Synagogue in Pittsburgh, for... Posted by John Kasich on Saturday, October 27, 2018 Eleven people died and six others were injured, including four police officers, after the shooting at the Tree of Life Congregation in Pittsburghs Squirrel Hill neighborhood. Cleveland-area Congresswoman Marcia L. Fudge also condemned Saturdays violence. Todays shooting is an example of the violence that continues to plague out country. We now know 8 people lost their lives and 3 officers were shot. I remain prayerful for the families of Tree of Life Synagogue and the entire Squirrel Hill community. Rep. Marcia L. Fudge (@RepMarciaFudge) October 27, 2018 Steve Dettelbach, former U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Ohio and current Democratic Ohio Attorney General candidate, issued a statement: The news out of Pittsburgh devastates me. As a proud Jew with family who attends the Tree of Life synagogue, my heart is broken for the families of those killed, the entire congregation, and the Jewish community across this country but this terror goes beyond any one religion. This week alone, a white supremacist murdered two African Americans after trying to enter a black church, a Florida man sent 13 mail bombs to political opponents, and now today we hear the news of a cowardly mass murder of people praying in Pittsburgh. This has to stop. As US Attorney, I prosecuted many hate crimes. Believe me when I say that things will not get better until we end the divisive and hateful rhetoric and our leaders bring people together instead of dividing us. Its time for Ohioans and all Americans to say enough. Sen. Sherrod Brown also said he was heartbroken by the news. NORTH OLMSTED, Ohio -- Drugs, Country Club Boulevard: Police responded about 9 a.m. Oct. 15 to a complaint of a possible domestic argument in a hotel room at the Extended Stay America, according to a police report. Officers found a lone man in the room. He said he and a male friend had been staying in the room, but the friend had already left. Officers said they needed to check the room because of the nature of the complaint. Officers found a suspected methamphetamine pipe in a closet and noticed plastic taped over a vent in the room. Officers also found three plastic bottles containing suspected crystal meth, numerous syringes, glass pipes and a glass jar of an unknown liquid. Officers took the man in the room into custody on outstanding warrants. Police found a second suspect when he returned to the scene. He carried a large backpack that contained a syringe loaded with meth, two small bags of meth, a glass pipe and other suspected paraphernalia, according to police. The second suspect also was taken into custody on outstanding warrants. Police said they will be going directly to a grand jury regarding possible charges. Suspected drunk driving crash, Barton Road: An officer responded at 3:53 p.m. Oct. 20 to Barton Road on a report of a car crash. The officer found a car resting in a tree lawn ditch. The driver got out of the car and climbed out of the ditch. The officer reported that the man appeared unsteady on his feet, had glassy eyes and slurred speech, and smelled of alcohol. The officer also observed a vodka bottle in the car. The man appeared to be confused about where he was, telling officers he thought he was in Brook Park. The suspect declined to perform field sobriety tests and refused to take an alcohol breath test. Police charged him with operating a vehicle while impaired, refusing a blood alcohol test, failure to control and having an open container of alcohol in a motor vehicle. Petty theft, Brookpark Road: Walmart security called police Oct. 17 to report that a suspected shoplifter had just run away from them. The first police officer on the scene arrested a male suspect he found behind the store. A security officer said she had seen the suspect and another man select four Roomba vacuums and try to leave the store without paying for them. The other suspect ran out of the store with one of the vacuums and couldn't be found. The remaining suspect refused to go with the security officer to the store's loss prevention office and instead ran out of the store. Police charged the suspect with petty theft. To comment on this story, visit Sunday's crime and courts comment section. 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 [] Last year, the National Institutes of Health said early exposure could help prevent peanut allergies , with new clinical guidelines suggesting parents introduce peanut-containing foods to infants as " early as 4 to 6 months." "It's impossible to deny an increase, even with anecdotal reports from school nurses," he said, adding that "about two (children) per classroom have food allergies. It's not just our imagination." "It really is almost an epidemic," Dr. Scott Sicherer, the institute's director, told CNBC's " On the Money ." The exploding segment of the population suffering from certain food ailments is skyrocketing, and experts are stumped on the reasons why. A study from the Jaffe Food Allergy Institute at New York's Mount Sinai hospital found that from 1997 to 2008, peanut allergies tripled from 1-in-250 children to 1-in-70. A food allergy, defined as a reaction that occurs when the immune system attacks harmless proteins , is an ailment that drugmakers are working to treat. One method involves treatments that introduce small amounts of peanuts to allergy sufferers , which gradually increases the amount to build tolerance. Among children, allergies to peanuts and other types of food continues to climb, but experts say there is some progress in controlling or preventing life-threatening reactions. Sicherer told CNBC that improved peanut tolerance can affect food allergy sufferers and their families. "If you can increase the threshold let's say from 1/100th of a peanut to two peanuts, that's an amazing safety." It's not just peanuts, though, with Sicherer citing milk, eggs, wheat, soy, fish and other nuts as being among the most common allergies. "They account for most of the food allergies, but you can be allergic to almost any food," he said. Most kids outgrow milk and egg allergies, but peanut allergies are harder to do so, he told CNBC. Sicherer, who is author of "Food Allergies: A Complete Guide for Eating When Your Life Depends on It," said that one possible cause is "the cleanliness theory," which suggests kids aren't being exposed to the germs that help build up immunity. "The thought is we just have such clean living now" that kids are on computers and not in playgrounds, he said. As a result, "our immune system may be getting misdirected and attacking things that it doesn't need to, because our immune system is the part of the body that's supposed to protect us from germs," he added. "But for allergies, it attacks the foods and makes us sick." While there's not yet a cure for food allergies, Sicherer said treatments are "very promising, not just for peanuts but for other foods as well. The other amazing thing is that we have more than a dozen different therapies that are in the pipeline, that are actually being tried in people now to look at more foods." The ultimate goal is a full-fledged cure, the doctor said. "But in the meantime, safety is really a big part of it. When you're living with a food allergy, it's like you're living in a landmine situation," he added. "Every meal, every snack, every party, every social activity is that food that can hurt me going to be there?" On the Money airs on CNBC Saturday at 5:30 am ET, or check listings for air times in local markets. Jim Hackett, president and chief executive officer of Ford Motor Co., speaks during a discussion at the Automotive News World Congress event in Detroit, Michigan, U.S., on Tuesday, Jan. 16, 2018. Andrew Harrer | Bloomberg | Getty Images When Tesla delivered a rare and unexpected profit on Wednesday, investors went wild. Even some of CEO Elon Musk's harshest critics sounded surprisingly bullish. The California carmaker's stock surged by 9.1 percent the next day and another 5 percent Friday. Ford also reported better-than expected earnings for the third quarter, sending the shares up 9.9 percent the next day. But the celebration was short lived. The shares fell slightly on Friday as the Detroit automaker's stock continues to languish below $10 a share, in territory it hasn't seen in years. At $991 million, Ford's profit was more than three times that of Tesla's. The electric carmaker's earnings, however, told a very different story than Ford. CEO Elon Musk finally appears to be delivering on expectations that Tesla can revolutionize the auto industry, or at least reliably turn a profit. With Ford, analysts and investors are yet to be sold on the $11 billion grand turnaround plan first promised by Jim Hackett when he was named Ford CEO in a broad management shake-up nearly 18 months ago. Its $991 million in profit fell 37 percent from the prior year. Following the May 2017 ouster of Mark Fields, Hackett launched what was billed as an intense, 100-day deep-dive aimed at addressing Ford's problems. Yet, as 2018 rapidly comes to a close, the former CEO of furniture-maker Steelcase has offered relatively few, and often inscrutable, indications of what he has in mind, leaving not only outsiders, but insiders at all levels, trying to understand precisely what directions he wants them to move in. "A lot of us are asking the same question," a senior Ford executive, who asked not to be identified, told CNBC. "I just have to work on rallying my troops and hope we're all moving in the same direction Critical moves Hackett himself left plenty of folks scratching their heads during an earnings conference call with analysts and reporters Wednesday. Asked about his strategy, the former University of Michigan football player said "it's not a restructuring plan it's a redesign plan. First we have to identify the areas that need to be fixed, then we have figure out how to fix them and then execute." Under his guidance, Ford has made several critical moves. Hackett announced a shake-up of its struggling Chinese operations last week, appointing Anning Chen, an experienced auto executive, as the unit's new president and CEO. And Hackett's also formed several potentially far-reaching alliances. One with Mahindra Group, could help it crack into the promising Indian market. Another, with Volkswagen AG, ostensibly will focus on the lucrative commercial vehicle market. The latter alliance has peaked interest across the auto industry, the always-active rumor mill questioning whether it could lead to a broader tie-up. Just don't expect a latter-day equivalent of the ill-fated Daimler Chrysler "merger of equals," or even something on the order of the Renault-Nissan-Mitsubishi Alliance, Ford chief spokesman Mark Truby told CNBC. "We are not considering any equity swap or cross-ownership." For those truly familiar with the history of Ford, that should come as no surprise. There are few who truly believe the controlling Ford family, heirs of founder Henry, would willingly relinquish control. Indeed, insiders say that was a key reason the second-largest domestic automaker chose not to follow cross-town rivals General Motors and Chrysler into bankruptcy at the beginning of the decade, despite the potential of wiping out billions of dollars in debt. Ford family Ultimately, all things Ford Motor Co. must win the approval of the Ford family and, for the moment, CEO Hackett appears to retain their confidence. But for how long is the question if he cannot deliver on expectations of a turnaround. To pull it off, the 63 year-old executive has a handful of key issues he will need to address but, to a large degree, one-time Ford President Lee Iacocca might have summed it up best when he long ago explained that, "There are just three things that matter in the auto industry: product, product and product." That's never been more obvious than in North America. Ford largely has it right on the truck side of its line-up. For more than three decades, the big F-Series pickup has been the best-selling product line in North America, and the automaker is a force to be reckoned with in the utility vehicle market, as well. But even here, there are unwelcome holes in the mix. Ford was one of the many manufacturers who abandoned the midsize pickup segment after shutting down the Twin Cities plant in Minnesota that built its dated Ranger model in 2012. While General Motors and Honda rushed back into what turned out to be a resurgent market, Ford planners dithered like Hamlet and the company will only launch a new generation Ranger in January. "We can't go back and change the past," Ford President of the Americas Joe Hinrichs said at an event last week marking the relaunch of Ranger production in the U.S. "But we think the market is big enough that there will be room for everybody." Trucks over sedans The reborn Ranger will be joined in 2020 by the return of the Bronco, a once-popular Ford SUV that was discontinued in the late '90s. Both models will be assembled at the Wayne plant which was, until recently, producing both the compact Focus sedan and C-Max people-mover. With the exception of the classic Ford Mustang "pony car," those and the rest of the automaker's passenger car line-up are in the process of being phased out, perhaps the single boldest and controversial move authorized by Hackett. There's no question that sedan sales have tumbled as millions of American buyers have shifted to sport-utility vehicles and crossovers. But key competitors, including GM, as well as import powerhouses Toyota, Nissan, Honda and Hyundai, are, if anything, redoubling their focus. And Stephanie Brinley, a principal analyst with IHS Markit, is skeptical of Ford's decision. "The sedan market isn't great, but it's still large and Ford simply didn't do what's necessary to compete" by letting once-strong models like the Focus and bigger Fusion go years without necessary updates, she said. Even as Ford let its sedans grow old, Joe Phillippi, head of AutoTrends Consulting, contends the carmaker waited far too long to rebuild its once-powerful Lincoln brand. The luxury division will be tested over the next 12 months with the launch of two critical SUVs which will, notably, abandon the unloved and confusing alpha-based naming strategy adopted a decade ago. The new version of the MKT, for one, will now be called the Aviator. China Product problems also catch the blame for Ford's struggle in China, though it didn't help that the automaker waited for a number of years after key competitors GM and Volkswagen entered what has become the world's largest car market. When you're playing a game of catch-up, said Brinley, you better have the products that can make a difference. Chinese new vehicle sales dipped 11.6 percent in September, the third consecutive monthly decline in a market used to strong, double-digit growth. Ford, however saw a 43 percent drop last month and was off 6 percent for all of last year. Earlier this month, Ford announced plans to launch what it is billing as a new core model for China, the Territory SUV, with a total of 50 all-new or updated products in the works. "We're in really good shape for the launch of these new products," Jim Farley, president of Ford's Global Markets said during the earnings call Wednesday. "We have tremendous opportunity to drive better margins in China. "Our turnaround in China is really up to us. It's about our new products and our costs. The opportunity is in our control," said Farley. Whether his optimism proves valid is far from certain, especially in light of Ford's ongoing promises to fix its China problem. Confusion Acting Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS) Eric Hargan addresses reporters during the daily news briefing at the White House in Washington, November 30, 2017. The Trump administration is battling rising health costs by going after the incentives that help drive higher prices. That's the idea at the heart of the new payment model for high-priced drugs laid out by the administration last week. It is also the driving force behind a new initiative to engage health care investors about how reimbursement policies are fueling funds for new treatment options in the pipeline. "We have certain initiatives that we do where we depend on innovation," Eric Hargan, deputy secretary for Health and Human Services, told CNBC in a recent interview. "Whether it's in digital health, new drugs, health [technology], new payments models, managing patient population, all those things are crucial to continuing to improve people's lives. Much of that is driven by the investors," he added. Last week, the deputy secretary sat down with CNBC to discuss the investor initiative at the Cleveland Clinic Innovation Summit. His objective is to gain better insights from venture capitalists, private equity and strategic health care investors, through a year-long project dubbed the Deputy Secretary's Innovation and Investment Summit. "Is there some way in which what we're doing, whether it's on regulatory side or the reimbursement side, is signaling to them invest here [or] put your money over there. We don't have a lot of insight into that," Hargan said. With increasing reimbursement pressures coming from both government and the private sector payers, health care investors are likely anxious to make sure their voices are heard. Hargan is currently deciding on the members for the summit group, and plans to convene the first meeting in December. There is no risk of contagion from Italy's budget crisis in the European Union but the euro zone is not prepared enough to face a new economic crisis, French Finance Minister Bruno Le Maire told daily Le Parisien on Sunday. The European Commission rejected Italy's draft 2019 budget earlier this week for breaking EU rules on public spending, and asked Rome to submit a new one within three weeks or face disciplinary action. "We do not see any contagion in Europe. The European Commission has reached out to Italy, I hope Italy will seize this hand," he said in an interview. "But is the eurozone sufficiently armed to face a new economic or financial crisis? My answer is no. It is urgent to do what we have proposed to our partners in order to have a solid banking union and a euro zone investment budget." Euro zone officials have said that Rome's unprecedented standoff with Brussels seems certain to delay the reform process and probably dilute it for good. Le Maire also said French banks with branches in Italy had issued corporate and household loans totalling 280 billion euros (248.73 billion pounds). "This sum is manageable but substantial," he said. Jair Bolsonaro, presidential candidate for the Social Liberal Party (PSL), waves to supporters during a campaign rally in Taguatinga, Brazil, on Wednesday, Sept. 5, 2018. Brazil's Supreme Electoral Tribunal has declared far-right congressman Jair Bolsonaro the next president of Latin America's biggest country. With 96 percent of ballots counted, Bolsonaro has 55.5 percent of the votes. Leftist Fernando Haddad of the Workers' Party (PT) has 44.5 percent. Voters in Sunday's runoff election apparently looked past warnings that the brash former army captain would erode democracy and embraced a chance for radical change after years of turmoil. Bolsonaro pledged to reform government finances and reorient diplomatic relations in his first public comments on Sunday after winning the polarizing run-off vote. Bolsonaro said he would begin a virtuous cycle of lower deficits, shrinking public debts and lower interest rates. He also pledged to align Brazil with more advanced countries that can offer the benefits of trade and technology, reversing what he called a recent political bias in diplomatic relations. His rise has been propelled by rejection of the leftist PT that ran Brazil for 13 of the last 15 years and was ousted two years ago in the midst of a deep recession and political graft scandal. Laura Chinchilla, the former president of Costa Rica who is head of the Organization of American States' Electoral Observation Mission, said the vote had been calm and orderly across the country, which has suffered a spate of partisan violence during the campaign. Many Brazilians are concerned that Bolsonaro, an admirer of Brazil's 1964-1985 military dictatorship and a defender of its use of torture on leftist opponents, will trample on human rights, curtail civil liberties and muzzle freedom of speech. The 63-year-old seven-term congressman has vowed to crack down on crime in Brazil's cities and farm belt by granting police more autonomy to shoot at criminals. He also wants to let more Brazilians buy weapons to fight crime. His leftist rival Haddad, standing in for the jailed PT founder and former Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, had been trailing Bolsonaro since the first-round vote three weeks ago. The last round of opinion surveys on Saturday had showed Haddad narrowing a wide polling gap. Endorsements from leading legal figures in Brazil's unprecedented fight against political corruption also raised hopes among Haddad supporters that he could pull off what would be a stunning upset. Haddad had reduced Bolsonaro's lead from 12 to 8 percentage points in five days, according to the Ibope polling firm that gave him 46 percent of voter support compared with Bolsonaro's 54 percent. A Datafolha poll also released late Saturday showed Bolsonaro had 55 percent and Haddad 45 percent. While Haddad had gained traction in the polls, he failed to win the key endorsement of center-left former candidate Ciro Gomes, a former governor of Ceara state in the northeast, which would have given him a big lift in Brazil's poorest region. University student Daniel Castro Correa de Souza, who voted for Gomes in the first round, opted for Haddad on Sunday in an effort to stop Bolsonaro. "Bolsonaro represents a rupture in democracy, a threat to democracy, because he has authoritarian thoughts. I can't agree with that," said 21-year-old Souza, after casting his vote in Brasilia. The Associated Press and Reuters Bio Box Personal: Age 39. Married to Steve Walsh. Party Affiliation: Republican. On the web: sarawalsh50.com. Occupation: State representative. EDUCATION: Bachelors degree in business administration from Columbia College, 2005; masters degree in public affairs at MU, 2009. BACKGROUND: Served with several organizations including Missouri Right to Life, Open Arms Pregnancy Resource Center in Jefferson City, Joplin Tornado Relief, Central Missouri Honor Flight. Currently treasurer of Heritage Baptist Church in Columbia. Republican State Committeewoman for the 19th Senatorial District, past executive committee member for the Missouri Republican Party. 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. India wins top UN award for promoting investment in wind energy sector India's investment promotion agency Invest India has been conferred with United Nations Investment Promotion Award for mobilising investment in the wind energy sector that will bring down power tariff and generate one Gigawatt of renewable energy. India was one of the four countries picked for the UN honour this year Photo courtesy: Wikimedia The award was presented by Armen Sarkissian, President of the Republic of Armenia, at a high-profile ceremony in the Assembly Hall of the Palais des Nations, Geneva, Switzerland, immediately after the grand opening of the World Investment Forum. India was one of the four countries picked for the top honour this year besides Bahrain Economic Development Board, Bahrain, Lesotho National Development Corporation, Losetho, and InvestSA, South Africa. "Invest India received the award for excellence in servicing and supporting a major global wind turbines company in the establishment of a blade manufacturing plant in India while committing to train local staff and produce 1 gigawatt of renewable energy. Implementation of the project is expected to reduce Indias wind energy cost significantly," the judges said. Invest India most awarded investment promotion agency in the world. Photo courtesy: Invest India/Twitter The news brought loud cheers from India Inc. "Its widely believed that the Govt is too bureaucratic and change-resistant to allow a nimble, youthful & meritocratic organization to flourish in its midst. Well think again. Meet Invest India, A big shoutout to you all from a proud director!" Anand Mahindra, Executive Director Mahindra Group, said in a tweet. Its widely believed that the Govt is too bureaucratic & change-resistant to allow a nimble, youthful & meritocratic organization to flourish in its midst. Well think again. Meet @investindia A big shoutout to you all from a proud director! https://t.co/bMS7mrPZfV anand mahindra (@anandmahindra) October 23, 2018 "Congratulations! We invite the world to invest in India and explore the several opportunities available here," Prime Minister Narendra Modi said, reacting to the news. Petroleum minister Dharmenra Pradhan hailed it as "another testament of PM Narendra Modis good governance and transformative policy reforms which has enabled India to evolve as a global investment hub." The awards, organized by UNCTAD, honour IPAs and their governments for their achievements, but also showcase best practices in attracting investment into SDG-related projects that can inspire investment promotion practitioners in developing and developed countries. A proud day for us! Invest India awarded the 2018 United Nations Award for Promoting Investment in Sustainable Development at the World Investment Forum, Geneva #NewIndia #IndiaMeansBusiness @CimGOI @DIPPGOI @unctadwif @rabhishek1982 pic.twitter.com/5rgddIK4DR Invest India (@investindia) October 22, 2018 "IPAs have a critical role to play in mobilizing investment to achieve the SDGs," UNCTADs director of investment and enterprise James Zhan said. "The award-winning agencies show that by mainstreaming the SDGs, IPAs can make a valuable contribution to social and economic development." Since 2002, these awards are given t for excellence in boosting investment into sectors that will have social and economic benefits and help countries meet the Sustainable Development Goals(SDGs). Three more investment promotion agencies (IPAs) Apex-Brasil, Brazil, Invest Pacific, Colombia, and Tatarstan Investment Development Agency (TIDA) from the Russian Federation were honoured with special recognition awards during the ceremony. Ministers warn May against EU colony status At least five cabinet ministers have privately warned Theresa May in the past week not to sign up to a Brexit plan they fear will leave Britain in perpetual colony status with the EU. Dominic Raab, Jeremy Hunt, Sajid Javid, Michael Gove and Geoffrey Cox, the new attorney-general, have all told May that she risks making the government collapse if she signs up to a customs union with Brussels unless there is a break clause that allows the UK to leave at a time of its choosing. The ministers fear May is buying time with Brussels, stringing out the negotiations before telling ministers to accept the arrangement or risk the prospect of a damaging no-deal scenario. Everyone is telling her not to do this. All the key ministers have been to see her to tell her privately that she cant sign up to it, a cabinet source said. Senior Brexiteers expressing strong interest in Plan B Sunday Telegraph Ministers urge Hammond not to spend windfall on EU Sun on Sunday The delegation of men in grey suits who saw May separately -came as the prime minister faced new demands from Raab, the Brexit secretary, and Chris Grayling, the transport secretary. Sunday Times >Today: ToryDiary: ConservativeHomes latest monthly survey is out. Should the Government extend the transition period? >Yesterday: ToryDiary: The Scottish dimension of the Irish backstop cannot be overlooked McDonnell accused of trying to sabotage Brexit Shadow Chancellor John McDonnell was last night accused of plotting to sabotage Brexit by planning to slow down preparations for the UKs departure from the EU next year. He faced claims from Tory Brexiteers that Labour was seeking to frustrate the exit process by delaying vital legislation. There were also claims that, if Jeremy Corbyn came to power in an Election between now and the spring, he would push Brexit day back from March 29, 2019. Labour dismissed the comments as a desperate Conservative ploy to try to distract attention from the mess they were making of leaving the EU. The rush to get the UKs laws ready for when the country is no longer subject to European legislation involves dozens of so-called statutory instruments (SIs), not necessarily debated in full in the Commons chamber He said Labour wanted to get some of them debated on the floor of the House as much as we possibly can so that MPs can take a view, rather than just having them nodded through.' Mail on Sunday Is the Shadow Chancellor trying to stall no-deal preparations? Sunday Telegraph Corbyn urged to back Commons amendment on second vote The Observer Flint received death threat from fellow Remainer for backing Mays deal Mail on Sunday Labour could back Norway-style arrangement Sunday Express Comment: If we dont cut talk of nooses and knives from politics, well have bombs too Damian Green, Mail on Sunday Allie Renison: Foxs WTO setback is unfortunate, but not calamitous Please dont keep us in purgatory for six years John Whittingdale, Mail on Sunday Forget Sir Humphrey, this is the Prime Ministers Brexit Dominic Lawson, Sunday Times The EU is being slowly destroyed by populism Matthew Goodwin, Sunday Telegraph Hammond set to bow to pressure from May over spending The UK will get its first real taste of this battle as it moves to open the 90-day comment period the beginning of the negotiating process for these talks, under article 28 of the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade. This means the negotiations could go right up until the UKs official Brexit date. But while leaving the EU with the UKs new schedules uncertified that is, without agreement from all other members is undesirable, it would not be calamitous So as negotiations go, the UKs schedules snafu is probably something of a storm in a teacup. The governments negotiations to accede in its own right to the global procurement agreement is more pressing, and reported US moves to challenge Britains application could prove thorny. But they all pale into significance when set against the scale of Brexit negotiations. If nothing else, British negotiators are getting a crash course in trade talks. The learning curve is steep, but at least we will emerge less naive about the challenge of turning global Britains trade policy into a reality. The Observer Phillip Hammond will tomorrow bow to pressure from Theresa May to turn on the spending taps by announcing Budget boosts for drivers, the elderly and low-income families trapped by payday loans. After months of tension between Downing Street and the Treasury over the extent to which the Tories should respond to Jeremy Corbyns policies, the Chancellor has been forced to abandon his pro-austerity stance. Mr Hammonds room for manoeuvre has already been restricted by Mrs Mays flagship announcement of a 20 billion-a-year boost for the NHS, which sources say the Chancellor tried in vain to block. He also has to find the money for a boom in council house building and a freeze in fuel duty announced by Mrs May at the Tory Party conference when she declared the end of austerity and to plug a 2 billion gap in the Governments jinxed Universal Credit benefits system. Mail on Sunday Chancellor to unveil plan to supercharge economy and unite Britain Sunday Express Hammond splashes out to save his job Sunday Times Hundreds of millions for superfast broadband Sunday Telegraph Record 30 billion for Britains crumbling roads Sun on Sunday Senior backbenchers in last ditch plea over Universal Credit Sunday Telegraph Osborne accused of trapping kids in poverty with pay cap Sun on Sunday Comment: Investment to smooth Britains journey to a bright post-Brexit future Philip Hammond, Sun on Sunday The spectres haunting Britain the Chancellor cant banish Andrew Rawnsley, The Observer Can May show shes not just all talk on austerity? Dan Hodges, Mail on Sunday Editorial: Brexit beats any other claim on this Budget Sunday Times Chancellor must share plans to make Britain richer Sun on Sunday >Today: Greg Hands in Comment: Aid can have huge benefits. But it must be properly managed and suspended when necessary. >Yesterday: Stephen Purvis in Think Tanks: Squeezing investors to fund the NHS would backfire on the Treasury Hinds backs heads over homework Homework teaches a valuable lesson in character Damian Hinds, Sunday Times My lost-cost private schools could transform Britain James Tooley, Sunday Telegraph Stars such as Gary Lineker, Kirstie Allsopp and Rob Delaney may complain about it but Damian Hinds, the education secretary, today comes out robustly in defence of schools right to set homework for young children and punish those who do not complete it. In an article published on the Sunday Times website, Hinds, who has three young children, says: When schools do set homework, children need to do it. We trust head teachers to decide their policy on homework and what happens if pupils dont do it Homework set at primary school is likely to be of relatively shorter duration. But if a child is asked to do it and they dont, for that to have no consequence would not be a positive lesson. Hinds says research by the Education Endowment Foundation shows that homework can improve primary pupils educational attainment, although some studies have suggested that homework for young children can have a negative effect. Sunday Times Williamson orders Army not to re-admit soldiers who fail drug tests Sixty squaddies kicked out of the Army for taking illegal drugs have been let back in, official figures show. The disclosure comes after The Mail on Sunday revealed how drug-taking troops were being allowed to re-enlist, with 10,000 cash incentives to do so. In response, Defence Secretary Gavin Williamson ordered chiefs to reject any further applications to re-enlist from ex-soldiers who had failed drugs tests. But Defence Minister Tobias Ellwood last week admitted that since 2015, 60 troops discharged from infantry regiments had rejoined. Some soldiers are frustrated by the soft approach. Comments in a recent survey of Coldstream Guards included: This encourages others to do drugs, knowing they wont be discharged. Mail on Sunday Armed Forces chiefs take aim against shameful neglect of veterans Sunday Times Scores of soldiers accused of cheating at Sandhurst Mail on Sunday as Cleverly and Ghani back campaign to remember Muslim troops T Our heroes must be shown the same mercy as the IRA Tony Parsons, Sun on Sunday Home Office seeks to close loophole in anti-terror laws and prosecute recruiters he majority of Britons are unaware that hundreds of thousands of Muslim soldiers fought alongside the country in the First World War, according to a new campaign backed by a former military chief and the Mayor of London. Few know that thousands of Muslim troops fought alongside British troops, helping to make up a force that looked more like the Britain of 2018 than the rest of the country did at that time, a cross-party groups states in a letter to The Sunday Telegraph today. The letter, whose signatories include General Lord Richards, the former chief of the defence staff, Sadiq Khan, the Mayor of London, and James Cleverly, the deputy chairman of the Conservative Party, marks the launch of a campaign seeking greater recognition of the different colours and creeds of those who made up the armies that fought between 1914 and 1918. As part of the Remember Together campaign, which is also backed by Nusrat Ghani, a government minister, imams will lead remembrance-themed services at mosques around the country. Sunday Telegraph Ministers want to close down a gap in current counter-terror laws for those who travel abroad to countries such as Syria or Iraq. The terror risks now face being charged with offences if they entice support from home for a banned organisation. The government has moved to ensure that its a criminal offence to express opinions or beliefs which would lead others to support such groups. Foreign terrorist fighters along with Brits will be covered by proposals to extend the extra-territorial jurisdiction of the UK courts. Home Office Minister Baroness Williams said the move will help tackle radicalisation where vulnerable people including children are targeted. She said this will be achieved by allowing prosecution in a case where someone overseas is, for example, in contact with a person in the UK and is encouraging them to support a particular proscribed organisation. Sun on Sunday Meet the billionaire backing Johnsons leadership bid Top US lawyer says Corbyn could face US sanctions over terror support Boris Johnsons bid for Downing Street will be bankrolled by one of the countrys richest hedge fund managers, The Mail on Sunday can reveal. Billionaire Crispin Odey has told the former Foreign Secretary that he can count on his financial backing to run for No 10 if Theresa May is toppled over her Brexit policy. I think Boris would be excellent once he became leader, Mr Odey told this newspaper. We all know his weaknesses. But his strengths derive from those weaknesses. He makes quick decisions. The City titans deep pockets will be welcomed by Mr Johnson, who has been overtaken as the leadership favourite by his former Cabinet colleague David Davis. Both men have been jockeying for position since resigning from the Cabinet in July over Theresa Mays Chequers plan, but it is Mr Davis who has been most energetically courting Tory MPs in recent weeks. Mail on Sunday Americas best-known lawyer is backing an investigation into whether Jeremy Corbyn should face US sanctions as a supporter of terrorism. Alan Dershowitz said he wanted to see if Corbyn, who has described the terrorist groups Hamas and Hezbollah as friends, could be placed under an embargo by Washington. The initiative was launched by a London-based Jewish former member of the Labour Party, who has commissioned legal advice that there is a case against the Labour leader. It is backed by UK organisations including Jewish Human Rights Watch. The group Lawyers for Israel said it was considering taking part Any sanctions would make it impossible for Corbyn to travel to America and would ban US citizens and businesses from dealing with him. They could also affect his personal finances, and possibly Labours, as UK banks and multinationals refuse to handle his business for fear of US retribution. Sunday Times Abolish PAYE to undo the cult of Corbyn Tom Welsh, Sunday Telegraph Northern MPs urge Labour to abandon HS2 News in Brief: If Czechoslovakia could be split up in six months, why should Brexit take six years? Martin Panek, Brexit Central How Hammond can tackle the burning injustice of in-work poverty Campbell Robb, CapX We can solve Britains regional imbalance Dr Paul Goldsmith, Comment Central How do you solve a problem like the Saudis? Giles Fraser, UnHerd Hain has fundamentally undermined the rule of law Charles Day, The Spectator Labours leadership is under pressure this weekend to reconsider its support for the 56bn HS2 high-speed rail link, as concern grows among northern MPs that the plan fails to address their areas economic needs. Several senior Labour MPs have told the Observer that the huge sum of money earmarked for the project, which will connect London to Leeds and Manchester via Birmingham in the first and second phases, would be better spent on connecting northern cities to one another. They argue that other schemes such as Northern Powerhouse Rail (otherwise knows as HS3 or Crossrail for the North) a project that would create a high-speed link between Liverpool, Manchester, Sheffield, Leeds, York and Hull would deliver far greater economic benefits and be far cheaper. It would also, as a result, free up funds for Labour to spend on other infrastructure and investment schemes. The Observer Judy Terry is a marketing professional and a former local councillor in Suffolk. A little while ago I was asked whats the point of the Local Enterprise Partnerships? Ive been a fan since George Osborne launched them in 2010, as successors to the hugely bureaucratic and unaccountable Regional Development Agencies, which seemed to spend all their funding on vast salaries, expensive offices, endless reports and meetings, rather than investing in their communities. In contrast, Local Enterprise Partnerships were a public sector revolution, with boards comprising two thirds senior business people, bringing a wide range of expertise, and one third council leaders, equipped to make decisions to support regional economic growth. Getting these ventures off the ground was no easy task; it demanded passion and determination to bring the right people together, to agree the county boundaries and recruit the support team. One of the most successful, and highly regarded by Government, is the New Anglia LEP, covering Suffolk and Norfolk, an area which suffered from a lack of major public investment for generations, under successive governments. So the first (unpaid) Chair, Andy Wood OBE, Chief Executive of Adnams Plc in Southwold, Suffolk, faced up to the considerable challenges. He says: I immediately saw the potential for a public/private partnership with dynamism and vision, combining local knowledge and business acumen to identify investment opportunities and implement solutions. Working together effectively to grow the economy and create more jobs, putting NALEP on the national map. We have such fantastic assets in the region, from major ports and offshore energy, to Hi-Tech industries at Martlesham, and Tech clusters, animal and agricultural research centres, leading innovative insurance groups, high quality food and drink producers, and a thriving hospitality industry. Highly successful small and medium sized independent businesses are key, alongside our colleges and universities, including the new Aviation Training Centre, as well as our unique history and culture. Suffolk is also home to Newmarkets world-class racehorse industry. Despite this, there is serious deprivation in some areas, which we were determined to address. Osborne recognised that most business leaders have a strong sense of civic responsibility, and are willing to give up their time to contribute to their communities. Initial funding came from local authorities, but at NALEP we were very fortunate to have strong support from our MPs, working together to take our message to Westminster, using their influence to gain access to the Treasury and other ministers, making the case for central government funding to deliver key projects. This was especially critical when it came to the roads and railway, improving access to the Midlands and London, which was a priority, following years of under-investment. Wood explains: Upgrading the infrastructure inevitably still causes some disruption, but means significant long-term economic benefits, with new trains entering service in 2020. None of this would have happened without Government willingness to listen to us and our ambitions. We had a vision for this part of the world, and could see how it could become a major economic driver for the UK: a great place to live, work, learn and play. Somewhere for young people to develop and bring up their families, instead of moving away to make a decent living. We are entering the 4th industrial revolution, with facing into artificial intelligence, machine learning and big data. So we need institutions to recognise the need to bring young people forward, anticipating the future, which is why broadband is so critical, aiming for 4G or 5G, integrating our extensive rural areas into the workplace. Unlocking further investment meant securing City Deals for Norwich and Ipswich; Enterprise Zones have proved very successful around Bury St Edmunds and Haverhill, whilst Ipswich and Lowestoft are beginning to capitalise. When I sometimes attended NALEP board meetings, as the Economic Development Cabinet member on Suffolk County Council, subbing for my Leader, I was immensely impressed by the speed with which decisions were taken; instead of having to cope with unnecessary delays and frustratingly incomprehensible reports, officers presented succinct, but detailed assessments of each funding option. Bidders were often invited to put their case before board members, giving them greater insight for the subsequent discussion and vote. Consequently, previously inaccessible development sites were released for housing or commercial schemes, or businesses purchased expensive new equipment to improve productivity. Essential regeneration targeted at deprived areas to create jobs. Wood admits that he anticipated the slowdown in retail several years ago, and warned local authorities to make appropriate plans. They are committed to doing the best, but were slow to respond and adapt. They arent always up to speed with how business operates, so we need to encourage greater diversity of experience, and certainly people with private sector experience and entrepreneurial flair to become involved, sharing their ideas with councils and LEPs. His four years as Chair, were certainly a learning experience, and Im a better leader for that, with greater understanding of the trials and tribulations in getting things done, bringing disparate organisations together. The experience also taught him how critical it is to build resilience by developing regional hubs, rather than concentrating growth and infrastructure on a select network. There are sound benefits in clustering beyond the South East to create wealth and removing the economic fragility when areas become focused on just one or two main industries. This can lead to job losses with nothing to replace them and no long term stability. Tourism, he suggests, is underplayed by politicians, and very much the poor relation in business terms, yet it is vital to Suffolk and Norfolk, worth around 5 billion a year, with just one per cent growth creating 1,000 jobs in meaningful careers, without necessarily having a degree. The General Manager at one of our hotels, The Swan in Southwold, is just 25; he came from Manchester and makes a fantastic contribution to our business. NALEP continues to be in good hands, with its third Chair: Doug Field, Joint CEO of the East of England Co-op, took over a year ago. The recently published Annual Review confirmed continued success, with 22 million approved under the Growth Deal, 39.6 million investment unlocked, 3.5 million awarded for business support and 309 learners/apprentices supported. The Government confirmed its continued commitment to LEPs, and their role as integral to economic growth, in its report published in July 2018, Strengthened Local Enterprise Partnerships. Being private sector led, accountable to their communities, underpinning future national and local collaboration, it notes how Chairs act as authoritative advocates for their local economy whilst also committing the Government to commissioning an annual economic outlook to measure performance, and supporting LEPs to provide annual delivery plans and end of year reports, promising an extra 20 million for 2018-19 and 2019-20. It also anticipates the new long-term visions to be agreed early in 2020. With combined Mayoral and LEP authorities proving effective, the Government suggests it is open to exploring similar devolution with other authorities, and commits to increasing regular dialogue with LEPS whilst offering an induction and training programme to encourage more diversity, with the ambition to attract more business leaders to join boards. Greg Hands is MP for Chelsea and Fulham, and a former Minister of State at the Department of International Trade. As co-author of the Governments 2015 Aid Strategy, I take pride in the UK being the first G7 country to achieve the commitment of spending 0.7 per cent of gross national income on international development. It speaks to our proud record of assisting those in need and to the U.K.s firm internationalism, which will endure beyond Brexit. This was laid bare to me on a recent visit to Zambia, where what I saw was truly shocking, particularly given that Zambia is a lower middle income country, with vast natural resources, as well as having had fifty years of peace, unlike most of the region. I visited nutrition projects run by Unicef, which seek to address the fact that stunting affects 40 per cent of children. Stunting, a condition caused by malnutrition that leads to reduced physical and mental development, has profound impacts on the children it affects, as well as their communities more widely. Since it can be passed through generations with malnourished mothers giving birth to malnourished babies, continuing the vicious cycle there is an urgency to the situation. Stunting means poor physical and brain development: the cost is to families, to society and to the economy. With estimates that suggest stunting can reduce a countrys GDP by as much as 12 per cent, failing to act threatens to severely impact Zambias economy. This problem emphasised to me the moral incentive for donor countries to act. The UK has a remarkable opportunity to continue to be a global leader on this issue, and we should seek to ensure that every intervention we make has the largest impact as possible. Where we make an impact abroad, we also benefit at home. My other priority I laid out in 2015 for international development generally was that every pound must be spent correctly. For every pound lost to corruption, there is a pound less to be spent on those who most need it. That is why I fully supported the Governments decision to halt direct funding worth 4 million to the Zambian government over allegations of corruption. I wasnt expecting to make the front page of the Zambian newspapers with my call to end corruption the desire to fight corruption shouldnt be headline news, after all! While the decisions to suspend aid are not taken lightly, it is important to show that we will not tolerate UK taxpayers money being spent incorrectly. This is essential to maintain public support in this country too. Giving aid requires good faith. Faith that it will be spent as intended. When our aid is spent correctly, it can have huge benefits for the recipients, as well as for the the UK. The demands placed on our aid budget are simply enormous, and we have to ensure that the methods we use to measure health and nutrition outcomes are as accurate as possible. DfID should seek to increase investment into its data collection systems, so that we can accurately measure our interventions. The data used in Zambia is from 2014 a long time ago, if you are seeking to achieve month-by-month progress. We also have to ensure that our aid spending is sustainable, and boosting the economic development of a country is a key way of doing this. I am a huge believer in the ability of a countrys capacity to grow their way out of poverty, which includes boosting levels of trade. I fully support the Governments drive to increase our trading links with various African countries, and the sustainability of these projects is self-evident. I join Penny Mordaunt in praising the work of the Commonwealth Development Fund (CDC), who do a remarkable job in creating jobs and infrastructure across Africa. As we seek to look for new opportunities across the globe as we leave the European Union, our aid budget will only ever increase in importance. Its good for Britain, and most importantly, it helps the most needy in our global society. We are analyzing the site. Please wait a few seconds.. With many Connecticut businesses eyeing in a weeks time the start of open enrollment for health insurance, the Trump administration has proposed an expansion of health reimbursement arrangements that would allow employers to pay their workers for health insurance that they purchase on their own dime, with those company funds paid out on a tax-preferred basis. It is one of multiple ideas Trump has put out in the past month to address health care costs and access derided by some critics as a piecemeal approach in comparison to the top-down ideals of the Obama-era Affordable Care Act with others including reducing incentives for doctors to freeload prescription drugs onto Medicare patients. In announcing the health reimbursement arrangement expansion, the U.S. Department of Labor noted that just 30 percent of businesses with less than 25 employees offer health insurance, down from 44 percent of businesses eight years previously. Under the Trump plan, even companies that offer insurance could provide up to $1,800 annually to cover qualifying medical expenses, including dental benefits and short-term health plans the president proposed last year as a cheaper, stop-gap option allowing people to get coverage for up to four years. The U.S. Department of Treasury estimates that 10 million people could take advantage of the HRA program, whether through state-based exchanges like Access Health CT that is on the cusp of its own open enrollment period, or through the private marketplace. Six in 10 on employer-based insurance In a comprehensive annual survey of employer-sponsored health insurance published earlier in October, the Kaiser Family Foundation calculated at 5 percent the average increase in family health insurance coverage this year, to an average of $19,600. That amount does not include an annual deductible of $1,575 that employees must pay prior to being able to make a claim, in addition to the $5,550 subtracted from their paychecks to cover their share of the total insurance premium. The study did not break down insurance costs by state. In a separate analysis in 2017, the Kaiser Family Foundation included Connecticut among 14 states where employees shouldered at least 24 percent of their health insurance premiums. The average Connecticut employee picked up $1,670 on a $7,000 individual insurance policy, lower than the $1,750 paid on average in Massachusetts highest in the nation but above the average rates in New York and New Jersey. For the entire United States, employees in Hawaii have the best deal for health care, picking up just 11 percent of the cost of insurance, with Maine workers absorbing the lowest cost of insurance premiums in the Northeast at 21 percent of the total bill, or just over $1,300. In Connecticut last year, 60 percent of residents get health insurance through their employers, according to the U.S. Census Bureau, with 13 percent purchasing coverage themselves. The federal and state government furnished insurance through Medicare and Medicaid for 39 percent of residents, with the remaining 5.5 percent going without. Those numbers swelled by 22,000 people, the Census Bureau determined, a year in advance of the Trump administration eliminating a tax penalty for those lacking insurance that had been enacted under the federal Affordable Care Act. And costs incurred by Connecticut hospitals remained steady over a 12-month span through June 2017, according to the Connecticut Health Care Cabinet, amounting to 2 percent of total hospital expenses. Im interested in the uncompensated care costs a little disappointed, frankly, said Ellen Andrews, a Health Care Cabinet board member who is executive director of the New Haven-based Connecticut Health Policy Project, speaking at a mid-October meeting of the cabinet. It didnt go down by much ... (and) Id like to know whats underneath that increasing deductibles? More people who are under-insured? Employee feedback, employer adjustments For employers offering health insurance, confidence in those plans is near the highest level in 15 years, according to results of a national survey by Willis Towers Watson released earlier in October, with 69 percent of employers stating they intend to offer plans within 10 years, up from 64 percent in the prior survey. Even as companies increasingly adopt plans that award incentives or levy penalties on employees based on regular checkups, healthier lifestyles or other parameters about four in five are doing so today for the set of employers participating in the survey Willis Towers Watson found that companies are making adjustments based on feedback from workers on any requirements they are finding onerous. More than 40 percent of employers believe those programs have worked in lifting the health of their workforces, Willis Towers Watson found. Over the next three years, companies will emphasize targeting specific clinical conditions and enhancing the employee experience, Willis Towers Watson stated in its report. Employee engagement in health and well-being initiatives is a persistent challenge ... but employer commitment to well-being has never been stronger. Alex.Soule@scni.com; 203-842-2545; @casoulman The Coast Guard is seeking the owner of, or any information on, a green Coleman Outfitter 15-foot kayak that was found adrift near Bridgeport, according to a post on the Facebook page of the Coast Guard Sector Long Island Sound. Anyone with information on the owner or about the kayak is encouraged to call the Sector Long Island Sound Command Center at 203-468-4444 as soon as possible, the Facebook post said. GREENWICH As a case proceeds in federal court from a local family that says the Greenwich Police Department made mistakes in how it handled a complaint of an alleged sexual assault, both sides are taking a widely different view of the case and how it was managed. Renewed attention is focused on the police file in the case, which was obtained by Greenwich Time through a Freedom of Information request. In court papers, the lawyer representing the family, Meredith Braxton, has called the police response substandard. Lawyers representing the town, meanwhile, have defended the departments handling of the case and asked for the lawsuit to be dismissed. The police documents released include the departments application for an arrest warrant, with names blacked out to preserve the privacy of the young people involved. The file presents a variegated view of the night in question, while certain facts appear to be clearly corroborated. The lawsuit, filed by the family of the young woman who says she was sexually assaulted in federal court in Hartford (Jane Doe versus the town of Greenwich), says the investigation was a sham. Police detectives were called in to investigate at an end-of-school party held by the family of a teenage girl on June 3, 2016. Law enforcement authorities were notified in early August. The lawsuit says a then-16-year-old Brunswick student forced himself on the girl, pulled her clothing down and groped her genital area while she struggled to get away during the attack in a pool house at the party. The girl was attending Greenwich Academy, which has an affiliation with Brunswick School for shared classes and social events. The alleged perpetrator, also 16, was attending Brunswick. While the federal lawsuit says the police ran a substandard investigation, the police affidavit demonstrates that it was fairly laborious and attentive to details in the case. For the investigation, police interviewed some 10 people who were at the party, and it runs 19 pages long. Some witnesses indicated that something bad had happened in the pool house. One witness told a police detective the young lady was seen coming out of the bathroom approximately 5-10 minutes later (after she went in) and noticed she had a red mark/scratch her left shoulder area. Another witness said the girl didnt seem like her normal self. Yet, another witness told police, There was no sense of hysteria on the victims face and she greeted him normally after she left the pool house area. The police report also notes, All three times she was consistent with her story, when presenting it to friends who were interviewed, and authority figures. The police report states the young man who was alleged to have forced himself on the Greenwich Academy student was highly intoxicated, and later had no memory of the events. He was said to have been behaving in a belligerent manner, choking the brother of the young woman, and behaving recklessly with other party guests. His family acquired a lawyer, and he declined to be voluntarily interviewed by police, according to the document. The application for an arrest warrant, on a charge of fourth-degree sexual assault, was not approved by the states attorney in Stamford. States Attorney Richard Colangelo did not return messages seeking comment. The federal lawsuit against the police department highlights what the family and their lawyer say were major deficiencies. The suit maintains that the police investigation was slow off the mark, making contact with potential witnesses weeks after the initial notifcation came, allowing the Brunwsick administration to interview students before the police did. It says police did not subpoena social-media accounts of the young people involved, and it faulted police investigators for not setting up face-to-face interviews with all the participants. Statements were allowed to be given in a number of cases, the suit contends, without any kind of challenging questioning by police. Braxton and the local family are also suing the Brunswick School administration. They contend claims the Brunswick administration was negligent and inflicted emotional distress on the young woman in the aftermath of the pool party in 2016. An attorney for the school, attorney James Sconzo, has strongly denied any impropriety on the schools behalf. Braxton declined comment on the case this week. Her lawsuit against the town says the young woman was denied her rights to due process, under the 14th Amendment, and says the police handled the case poorly. Lawyers for the town and the police department filed a motion to dismiss the case earlier this month. A lawyer working for the town, Reese Mitchell, wrote, The (Greenwich familys) allegations simply do not support any claims that officers were refusing to enforce any law. The towns motion claims that the lawsuit uses unsupported speculation in its case: No facts supporting these speculative conclusions are (made). The motion from the town also says that the young woman was not deprived of her constitutional rights, citing a number of legal issues and precedents. It also says police officers are typically granted immunity from civil actions. The towns lawyers also said the suit, if successful, could set a bad precedent: The plaintiffs complaint is an argument that the police should face civil prosecution liability from a possible victim if they fail to arrest an alleged bad actor even if there is no probable cause. The motion asks for the federal lawsuit to be dismissed. More filings and counter-arguments are expected next month. The lawsuit against Brunswick is continuing in Superior Court. 20:30 A controversy has erupted over BJP President Amit Shah landing in the yet to be opened Kannur airport, with a Kerala minister slamming him Sunday for threatening to oust the LDF government despite it allowing him to arrive there as part of state's 'tradition of hospitality.' State Finance Minister T M Thomas Isaac tweeted that though the state had shown the 'tradition of hospitality' by permitting Shah to land in the airport, which had not been formally inaugurated, the BJP leader had threatened to oust the left ruled Kerala government. The official inauguration of the Kannur airport, the fourth in the state, is scheduled to be held on December 9. But, by arriving in a special flight there yesterday to inaugurate the BJP's new district committee office, Shah has unofficially become the first passenger to land in the airport at Mattanur in Kannur. Isaac said shah's "empty threats" were out of frustration as the saffron party is yet to get more members in the state Assembly. Former Union minister, O Rajagopal, is the lone MLA of the BJP in the house. "Amit Shah permitted to land in Kannur airport which is yet to be opened. That is our tradition of hospitality. But he is threatening to oust Kerala government. Such empty threats do not frighten us. Try to win few seats in Assembly. Your frustration is understandable," Isaac tweeted. Hundreds of party workers had gathered Saturday at the airport to welcome Shah who was in Kerala on a day's visit. After inaugurating the party office located at Thalikkavu, he had made a scathing attack on the CPIM-led LDF government in the state over the Sabarimala women's entry issue and pledged BJP's support for it. Main opposition Congress took on the LDF government for allowing the BJP Chief to use the airport. Kerala Pradesh Congress Committee president, Mullappally Ramachandran alleged that Shah landed at the airport following an 'understanding' between him and Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan. "At a time when the Kannur airport is scheduled to be inaugurated on December 9, it was specially opened for Amit Shah. Usually, it is done so during emergency situations," he said in a statement. Amit Shah had arrived in Kannur Saturday on a day's visit to Kerala to attend a party function in that city and the 90th Mahasamadhi observance of saint social reformer Sree Narayana Guru at Varkala near Thiruvananthapuram. Later, in a hard-hitting speech, Shah had warned Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan that he would have to pay a "heavy price" if the (attack on Ayyappa devotees) continues, as BJP workers "would not hesitate to pull down the government." OXFORD Heidi Kolvig always thought highly of the Oxford school system. Her first two kids have been breezing through with no problems. In fact, theyve been challenged with a slew of honors and Advanced Placement classes, she said. Not so with her youngest, who has special needs. When it comes to my young guy, its been a disaster, said Kolvig. She is not alone in that opinion. A growing number of parents have come forward to challenge the special education services offered in this small residential community of about 1,850 students in western New Haven County. Oxford Advocates for Special Education now boasts a membership of more than 100 parents. As a group, they charge that the district delays or avoids identification of dyslexia, a reading disability. They question the progress their children are making, the training teachers receive and how records are kept. Additionally, they say individual education plans developed for students with special needs which are mandated under the law are not being followed and that data collected to monitor progress is sorely lacking. We are not going away, Nicole Levine McGrath, one of the parents, told the Board of Education at the conclusion of a lengthy meeting last week. Theres just too much at stake. It was the second straight October board meeting she and other affiliated parents sat through. They promise to keep coming until their concerns are addressed even though McGrath said she fears she may have painted a big red target on her sons back for speaking up. Its scary to stand up here as a parent and ask for help for your child, she said. Oxford stats Enrollment - 1,850 Students identified with disabilities: 235 or 12.7 percent Most prevalent disabilities: Learning Disability (including dyslexia), 77; Speech impairment, 47; Autism, 33; Attention Deficit, 32; Emotional disturbance, 13; Intellectually Disabled, 10. 2018-19 school budget - $30.03 million Amount budgeted for special education - $6.2 million Source: State Department of Education See More Collapse A simmering problem As school budgets tighten, rising special education costs have become a growing concern, not just in Oxford but throughout the state. In recent years, a number of school districts, from Darien to Bridgeport, have been found to be in violation of state and federal special education laws, forcing changes in the way services are provided. Parents who have joined Oxford Advocates can cite case law in describing how they believe Oxford is horrendously failing our special education students and as a result is placing this district in a position of legal liability. The parents say they appealed this month to the school board after getting nowhere with administration. The issue, they say, has been brewing for years, but came to a head with the recent release of a audit of the districts special education program by Cooperative Education Services, a regional service agency based in Trumbull The audit was dated January 2018, but presented to the school board on October 9. Rebecca J. Cavallaro, director of pupil personnel services for the district for the past seven years, said the many recommendations in the audit, such as calling for a procedures manual, replacing outdated testing materials and paying more attention to individual education plans for students, are being addressed. It really helped us to align what we were doing so that we were up to date with the state standards, Cavallaro said. Oxford works very, very hard to provide appropriate instruction for children. The audit, she added, came about as a way to look at how students are identified for special education and to see if there was over-identification. We looked at different agencies and area resource education centers that offered the audit, said Cavallaro. The district went with CES because it was piloting the audit process free of charge, she added. Audits can cost up to $50,000. Charles Dumais, executive director of CES, said special education audits were also conducted in Greenwich, Weston and Westport. One is currently underway in Watertown. Beyond maintaining that the districts special education services should be subject to a more thorough critique, members of the parent group say the fact that Michael Regan director of Special Education at CES is related to Cavallaro is a potential conflict of interest. Cavallaro said the audit was not conducted by Regan and that CES has a long-standing relationship with Oxford Public Schools that precedes his involvement with the agency. Cavallaro and Schools Superintendent Ana Ortiz both say a new audit is unnecessary. I think we are working hard to provide children what is reasonable to meet their needs, said Cavallaro said. What is reasonable may not always be favorable to families. Combative not collaborative McGrath maintains that the entire process is broken. She described the culture of the special education department in Oxford as combative. She and others question whether the district is using Scientifically Research Based Interventions to stall the special education identification process. A state mandate since 2009, SRBI is a multistep approach used to provide extra support to students who are struggling to keep up in class. SRBI is not designed to keep kids out of special education, Cavallaro said. Special education is provided if appropriate and necessary, she added. McGrath wants teachers in Oxford trained in programs like the Lindamood-Bell or the Wilson Reading System that has shown success with students with dyslexia. Cavallaro said it is the needs of the students that dictate intervention strategies. She also maintains that teacher training is ongoing and compliments what they already know. Parents say their frustration with the district often leads them to outside consultants and programs at their own expense. They also fault education plans that are drawn up with goals they say cannot be tracked by data. My daughter never masters the goals or objectives set for her; they constantly roll over, said Michele Convertito, a parent in the group. To her, that means the plan isnt working. McGrath said that at the last Planning and Placement Team she had for her son, there was no data on progress. She said she was promised there would be, moving forward. Sonja Tilki, another parent, said the groups issues are not with the teachers or aides who work with their children. To them, the problem lies with the administration. McGrath said she planned to meet with Ortiz and Susan OBrien, chairwoman of the school board, during a scheduled one-on-one open house with parents. She said she would use her 10-minute time slot to discuss the extended school-year program for special education students, which she also finds lacking. After the last school board meeting, OBrien said she was initially surprised to hear the parent concerns, but that she understands their frustrations and promised to hear them out. Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and his Indian counterpart Narendra Modi have held talks at Abe's holiday home in central Japan. This is the first time Abe has invited a foreign dignitary to his cottage in Narusawa Village, Yamanashi Prefecture. The leaders held talks over dinner for about 90 minutes on Sunday evening. They exchanged views on a wide range of subjects, including regional security, and the strengthening of economic and other relations. Abe and Modi are scheduled to hold their 12th summit at the prime minister's office in Tokyo on Monday. They are expected to agree to enhance political and economic ties by promoting Japanese businesses in India and cooperating on security issues. Dear Editor, The votes for confirm Brett Kavanaugh as Supreme Court justice left a bad taste in my mouth. Growing up, any person seeking public office was under strict scrutiny. A persons life had to be free of any whisper of scandal and rightly so to be in the public eye, setting examples for children. We elected Bill Clinton, who had a lengthy sexual history. We learned of President John Kennedys and President Clintons trysts in the White House. This nation elected thrice-married Donald Trump with his trail of unpleasant trysts and affairs. Our senators threw decency out the window in confirming the nomination of a man accused of sex abuse in high school, college and law school. Kavanaughs testimony revealed a man whose inner life is that kid in college, not having grown much, with unresolved anger issues. If it were a woman nominated for Supreme Court justice and a male came forth accusing the nominee of sexual improprieties in high school or college, you can bet your bottom booty she would not be confirmed. The message is that any man can engage in hurtful sexual conduct, run up a string of abuses drinking or more, and still get confirmed or elected. Ive seen it for years. Men protect each other regardless of the offenses. Joyce Benedict Hyde Park, N.Y. Dear Editor, The race to represent New Yorks 19th Congressional District between U.S. Rep. John Faso, R-Kinderhook, and challenger Antonio Delgado, D-Rhinebeck, could come down to the wire if the polls are any indication. But a large turnout by voters 50 and over would make a loud statement to whoever wins in this nationally watched swing district. It would tell the winner its imperative to preserve and strengthen Social Security and Medicare both of which will have to cut benefits within the next two decades if nothing is done but whose promised benefits Americans earn by paying into with every paycheck. It would tell the winner its imperative to fight the skyrocketing cost of prescription drugs among the highest in the world here in the United States. And it would tell the winner its imperative to support family caregivers who will play an increasingly important role as our population ages and strains our health care system. All of these are top priorities for huge majorities of voters 50 and over in the district regardless of political affiliation, according to an AARP-commissioned poll conducted last month. So voters over 50 years old should send the message loud and clear by going to the polls Nov. 6. Be The Difference. Vote. Leo Asen President, AARP New York State New York, N.Y. Britain today is like a ship, long ago holed deep beneath the waterline, which now begins to list alarmingly, as the sea starts to slop on to the deck. In many parts of this country, the balance of fear is shifting. Criminals are not afraid of the police and the courts. Normal people are afraid of wrongdoers. How long before this happens where you live? And then, what use will your easily broken windows and easily kicked-in front door be, or your burglar alarms to which nobody will respond? In many parts of this country, the balance of fear is shifting. Criminals are not afraid of the police and the courts. Normal people are afraid of wrongdoers In London, where the horror of knife crime is now plainly out of control, police are failing hopelessly in their efforts to catch and prosecute the culprits, even where there are living witnesses who could identify the men who tried to kill them. But they dare not do so. As Sarah Jones, a Labour MP who heads Parliaments all-party group on knife crime, says: Whats particularly shocking is the growing number of offences where the police identified a suspect but they werent prosecuted because the victim did not support further action. This suggests a serious problem with victims feeling too afraid or mistrustful to testify. I would guess that this goes a lot further. Many of us who have had dealings of one kind or another with the modern police suspect that, if we go to them, they will probably manage to mess up the case, ably assisted by the CPS, while also giving our full personal details to the suspect. Even if they get it right, the criminal will be spared jail by a feeble judge. Simpler to let it go. And so the figures of recorded crime have a very distant relationship to actual crime. If theres no insurance to be claimed, why bother? Most of us reluctantly recognise that things which were once restrained by the law general low-level nastiness, vandalism, public drunkenness, illegal drugs have now been decriminalised by stealth. The problem is that almost nobody in politics, or the media, or the police, is remotely interested in why this has happened or how to put it right. The police themselves are like BT, or one of the other monster monopolies, which view the public as a nuisance. The Police Federation is just another public service union, whose solution to everything is more taxpayers cash. But a lingering sentimentality stops us seeing this. We used to like and respect the police, and we wish we still did, so we are more easily fooled by them than by any other lobby. Take the current moaning about how their almost complete failure to enforce the laws against burglary, drunk driving, and drug possession is caused by a shortage of officers. This is not true. Police strengths are down a bit from their 2009 peak (was that an especially crime-free year?) but are significantly higher than they were in the days when all forces managed to patrol the streets. The problem is that the police are doing the wrong thing. Think about it. Please. What use is a police officer after a crime has been committed, unless he or she can do first aid? The officer cannot unburgle or unmug or unstab you. He cannot unsmash your windows. If your life has been ruined by a drunken driver, or a motorist texting while driving, he cannot unruin that life. He cannot restore the irrevocably lost mental health of the teen who has smoked marijuana. The best he can do is, with a lot of luck, arrange for the criminals involved to do a bit of community service, or be sentenced to a fine they wont actually pay. His job was to prevent these things from happening, by being a visible, patrolling presence in every town and village. But he has stopped doing this. The beats he used to walk long ago vanished. The police stations, hundreds of them, were sold off. So were the police houses. The police road patrols became a rarity. The modern police deride these simple, effective methods. They claim they cannot halt cybercrime or terrorism or domestic abuse. Well, this would be a good argument if the modern police methods of hiding in remote office blocks or driving about chatting to each other, worked any better. But they do not. I am astonished that the debate on this subject continues at this ignorant, partisan level. It is as if the captain and his first lieutenant were arguing, on the bridge, about the menu for dinner, while the ship went down by the bows. Corbynites may love the new film Peterloo, about the indefensible massacre, in 1819, of unarmed Englishmen and women by drunken, stupid soldiers under the command of dolts. If Left-wing speeches are your thing, there is no shortage of them in this drama, which seemed to me to last slightly longer than the Hundred Years War. Powerful scene: Soldiers confront protesters in the new movie Peterloo The final scenes of slaughter are, by contrast, powerfully moving. But the whole point of Peterloo is that it was the middle classes who publicised it, using that great invention, the newspaper, and denounced it, and sought the reforms which ensured that the voice of the people would be heard and heeded in the land, without bloodshed. I feel great sympathy for the old soldiers now being dragged from their retirement by officious detectives to face investigations about long ago events in Northern Ireland. Soldiers are owed the total loyalty of the Crown, which sent them into danger and demanded their disciplined obedience. But I feel no sympathy with most of the soppy politicians now raising their cases and bleating about how unfair it all is. For these politicians continue to pretend that our abject crawling to IRA gangsters (and Loyalist gangsters, too) in Belfast in 1998 was a benevolent, happy peace deal. It was not. It was a capitulation. Which is why it is we who withdrew our forces, and we who hauled down our flags and ceded our territory (it will pass to Dublins control quite soon). Our lawless enemies kept their guns and bombs, rose to power, and dined at Windsor Castle. And it is our soldiers who face police inquiries, while hundreds of grisly terrorists were released from well-earned prison sentences, and hundreds more promised that their bloody crimes are forgotten. How strange it is that a country which admires Churchills defiance of a wicked and mighty enemy applauds our surrender to a small, criminal gang. We have sold out to the Saudis Unlike those who rushed to conclusions about alleged gas attacks in Syria, without bothering with evidence, I have waited till it is beyond reasonable doubt that the Saudi regime murdered the journalist Jamal Khashoggi, on their own premises, using their own state- paid hoodlums. And now I can say this to our Government, and to the warlike media voices and MPs of all parties who have postured over the undoubted wickedness of Russia and Syria: You are hypocrites. Your moralising is all phoney. Because, as we will see in the years to come, the many barbarities of the Saudi regime will not lead to sanctions, or bombing raids or missiles or mass expulsions of diplomats. Nor will the increasingly obvious aggression and despotism of our other great friends, the Chinese. These killers and tyrants will still be welcome at Buckingham Palace. And this does not really bother you. So it is obvious that we, as a country, can be bought, and actually have no morals. And so either your outrage against Syria and Russia is a pose to make you look better than you are; or you do not know what you are talking about; or you have other, less creditable reasons for seeking conflict with these countries. That is now established. If you want to comment on Peter Hitchens click here Hayley Garbutt has a love story for the ages. The 50-year-old grandmother was 15 when she met the love of her life Maurice, then aged 17. Recalling the moment the pair locked eyes across a crowded room, Ms Garbutt said she 'fell madly in love' and knew he was the one the moment she met him. 'We all have a soulmate, a person who loves us as much as we love them,' she told FEMAIL. But when Ms Garbutt fell pregnant two years later, the pair split up and went their separate ways - for 24 years. Now, thanks to their daughter, the couple from North Yorkshire in the UK have reunited and married. Hayley Garbutt (pictured left with her soul mate Maurice pictured right) met the love of her life when she was just 15-years-old Touching on details of their first meeting, Ms Garbutt said she was out with her twin Vanessa at the time when her sister turned to her to say 'I think that guy called Maurice fancies me'. But when the young man sauntered up to the girls to strike up a conversation, it wasn't Vanessa he was interested in at all. 'My heart skipped a beat when he asked me for a date,' Ms Garbutt said. 'And, of course, I said yes.' Hayley Garbutt, aged 50, recalls how she knew the moment she locked eyes with Maurice he was 'the one' She revealed the two quickly became inseparable and by the time she was 16 they were engaged. While they had made plans to start a life together, news of Ms Garbutt's pregnancy when she was 17 rocked the foundations of their relationship. Ms Garbutt's daughter Zola (pictured) turned out to be the pair's matchmaker later in life 'I wasn't well for a while when I went to a doctor who asked me if I was pregnant. I told him I couldn't be as I was still having my period and had been careful,' she revealed. 'But a test showed I was four months pregnant.' Ms Garbutt said the pair decided to tell their families, however, her mother Sandra reacted with shock. 'When I told mum she was very upset. She didn't feel Maurice was good enough for me,' she said. 'And Maurice's mother wasn't happy either.' It caused tension for the pair, something Ms Garbutt said eventually tore them apart. 'I saw Maurice a while later around the time I was seven months pregnant and he was with another girl,' she recalled emotionally. 'My heart turned to stone and I cried every night after that. It was as if something inside of me had changed for good. 'I hated him and I loved him, quite simply my heart was broken. The hardest thing I ever had to do was leave my soulmate.' The pair are making up for lost time since reuniting 24 years on from when they separated She said the the only thing left for her to do was to focus on making a new life for her and her daughter. So not long after her child's birth, they moved away. In time, Ms Garbutt married a man named Andrew, a man she loved, although she admits the relationship didn't ever feel quite right. 'I knew on my wedding day it wasn't right but family and friends were all waiting and so was Andrew, who wasn't a bad man,' she said. 'I just couldn't let go of Maurice who was the one.' Wedding bells: Five years after Ms Garbutt and Maurice reconnected they tied the knot with daughter Zola (pictured right) standing in as bridesmaid Despite Ms Garbutt's misgivings, the pair were happy for the most part; her new husband raised Zola as his own. The couple also had another two children Luke and Lucy. When Zola was 10, Mr Garbutt said she made a decision to tell her about her real dad. 'I sat her down and explained Andrew wasn't her dad. She cried and I did too. It was much easier to tell her the truth than keep a secret. Although her daughter had many questions, she was particularly intrigued to know what her biological father looked like, Ms Garbutt said. 'I would just say look in a mirror, she was his double in every way.' Ms Garbutt reveals time did little to dim the feelings she had for the man she met when she was 15-years-old In 2010, after 20 years of marriage, Ms Garbutt and her husband separated. A few years later, when Zola was 23, she revealed she had connected with her father through Facebook. And although Maurice had also made an attempt to spark up a conversation with Ms Garbutt, the pain of their separation was still too raw. I will never forget the moment I met him again. I was so nervous I could barely get into the car And while Zola and her dad slowly built a relationship, Ms Garbutt warmed to the idea of her and Maurice possibly meeting again - especially after her daughter revealed to her father Ms Garbutt was single at the time. Six months later she agreed to meet Maurice again - 23 years on from the last time they met. 'I will never forget the moment I met him again,' she said, 'I was so nervous I could barely get into the car. 'I noticed he was too. We drove to a local pub, a place that was ours years ago, and as we sat sipping our drinks, I realised time had stood still and that I still loved him. 'We talked about the past he told me he the only reason he went off with someone else was that he thought I didn't love him. 'We wasted so many years through silly misunderstandings.' 'So many years were wasted through a silly misunderstanding,' Ms Garbutt revealed Three and a half years on from that tentative meeting Maurice proposed. And in what can only be described as a fairytale ending, the couple's big day was exactly 30 years after he had first popped the question. Ms Garbutt's daughter Zola was a bridesmaid and her two children Luke and Lucy gave her away. The couple have now been married for five blissful years and are grandparents to four grandchildren. Ms Garbutt and her true love have now been married for five blissful years and are grandparents to four grandchildren 'Maurice never misses a day to tell me that he loves me and that he would marry me over and over again,' Ms Garbutt said. While her path to true love took many twists and turn, Ms Garbutt says she never stopped believing Maurice was 'the one'. 'We all have a soulmate, someone whose heart is made to beat in time with yours. 'Listen for that sound,' she concluded, 'and when you hear it follow it - the rest will care of itself.' Advertisement Swan House looks like a quaint three-bedroom family home from the outside - granted with an expansive front deck - but it's what lies inside that makes it worthy of being 'Australia's most beautiful home'. Sitting above a five metre deep dam just outside Canberra, Collins Caddaye Architects helped the owners build a property complete with full height glass windows, stone basins and concrete counter tops and a granite fireplace. Avid entertainers, the couple are most proud of the fact 'water literally flows underneath' them and they can watch swans glide by as the sun rises and sets, Domain reported. It took seven years to perfect the finite details within the house, including the bridge at the entryway and the patio overlooking their stunning waterway. 'Still, to this day, we thank our lucky stars. But the harsh reality is that I know I may never do another house as beautiful as this,' the architect Andrew Collins told the publication. Swan House looks like a quaint three-bedroom family home from the outside - granted with an expansive front deck - but it's what lies inside that makes it worthy of being 'Australia's most beautiful home' Sitting above a five metre deep dam just outside Canberra, Collins Caddaye Architects helped the owners build a property complete with full height glass windows There are incredible stone basins and concrete counter tops and a granite fireplace in the estate Avid entertainers, the couple are most proud of the fact 'water literally flows underneath' them and they can watch swans glide by as the sun rises and sets, Domain reported It took seven years to perfect the finite details within the house, including the bridge at the entryway and the patio overlooking their stunning waterway 'Still, to this day, we thank our lucky stars. But the harsh reality is that I know I may never do another house as beautiful as this,' the architect Andrew Collins told the publication Incredible artworks have been fastened onto walls and integrated into lounging rooms for the family Timber and concrete work side by side to create an added level of depth to the property High ceilings give the impression that the house is far bigger than it naturally is, although it does span across the edge of the dam After a year of attention-grabbing antics, Frances Abbott has once again shocked Instagram followers after sharing a snap of her new buzz cut. In the candid black-and-white photograph, the daughter of former Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbott is seen mid-laugh as she revealed she had traded her long blonde locks for a shaved head. The drastic change follows a series of lifestyle alterations for the 26-year-old who has carved out a budding career in fitness since her father's time at the country's helm. After a year of attention-grabbing antics, Frances Abbott has once again shocked Instagram followers after sharing a snap of her new buzz cut This interest later led to Frances taking full advantage of her newly-ripped physique by competing in several body building competitions across the country. And the latest switch-up was met with applause from Instagram followers who labelled the move 'amazing' and 'empowered'. 'You're a great great woman,' wrote one user. 'Rocking it,' said another. Another person commented: 'Beautiful woman.' The bold haircut comes just days after Frances celebrated one year since meeting her now-husband, power-lifter and Olympic rower Sam Loch. The drastic change follows a series of lifestyle alterations for the 26-year-old who has carved out a budding career in fitness since her father's primeministership The bold haircut comes just days after Frances celebrated one year since meeting her now-husband, power-lifter and Olympic rower Sam Loch Earlier this year, the pair exchanged their vows for the second time in an intimate beach ceremony. The couple were legally married at a registry on Valentine's Day but waited to celebrate with their nearest and dearest, including the former prime minister Tony Abbott, at Sydney's exclusive Palm Beach in April. Standing barefoot on the sand, the bride looked chic in a white two-piece floral outfit while her 34-year-old groom rocked a Hawaiian shirt for the special occasion. Keeping their big day more casual than traditionally formal, the pair proudly tied the knot in slides before they shared a loving kiss at the alter. The couple were engaged just two weeks after meeting in October last year. Frances' latest look switch-up was met with applause from Instagram followers who labelled the move 'amazing' and 'empowered' Frances' interest in fitness later led to her taking full advantage of her newly-ripped physique by competing in several body building competitions across the country 'Two weeks was all it took to know that forever with you was a mighty fine idea,' the fitness devotee said of her shock engagement to lock last year Previously speaking to Stellar Magazine, Frances said Loch was welcomed into the family despite concerns the young couple were moving too fast. Frances first announced the whirlwind romance and subsequent engagement via Instagram with a series of couple snaps taken in a photobooth. 'Two weeks was all it took to know that forever with you was a mighty fine idea,' the fitness devotee said. Her other half also confirmed the exciting news with a selfie of the pair captioned: 'With the soon to be Mrs Loch'. Taking to Twitter at the time, former Prime Minister of Australia Tony Abbott congratulated the couple: 'Really thrilled at the news of Francie and Sam's engagement. 'We are very proud of her and the Abbotts are looking forward to welcoming Sam into the family.' Face cleansing has become a daily ritual for many women around the world. But with so many lotions and potions on the market, it can be overwhelming trying to find the right product that actually works for your skin. To help you find the best product, Australian beauty buffs are raving about these five top-selling cleansing products sold at Mecca. Face cleansing has become a daily ritual for many women around the world (stock image) For anyone who suffers from bad breakouts, Mario Badescu Acne Facial Cleanser may be the perfect product for you Mario Badescu Acne Facial Cleanser - $22 For anyone who suffers from bad breakouts, Mario Badescu Acne Facial Cleanser may be the perfect product for you. Formulated to fight acne, the $22 product promises to calm and soothe inflamed skin as it contains aloe vera and chamomile. And it's not hard to see why women are swearing by the exfoliating and deep cleansing wash. One customer wrote: 'I've been using this product regularly for the past two months with a sonic cleanser, and have noticed a big difference with my skin. 'I hardly break out anymore! I love that it feels gentle on my skin and leaves no residue after washing and drying. This product ticks off quality and value! I won't be removing this from my skincare routine anytime soon.' And another commented: 'Well someone with skin that is very prone to break outs and is very sensitive, I don't think I've been happier with a face wash. A little going a long way, and it's amazing for the price!' Beauty experts are swearing by Tatcha Camelia Cleansing Oil, retailed at $70, for super smooth skin Tatcha Camelia Cleansing Oil - $70 Meghan Markle is among the fans who love Japanese skin care brand Tatcha. And beauty experts are swearing by Tatcha Camelia Cleansing Oil, retailed at $70, for super smooth skin. The oil effectively dissolves all traces of dirt, makeup and impurities to leave skin comfortably clean and silky soft. This gentle cleansing solution effortlessly glides along the skin before transforming into a milky emulsion upon contact with water for a fresh, residue-free finish. 'I absolutely love this product. Tatcha skin care is my go to. This product is very easy and it doesn't require more than a few minutes. It is very effective and has completely replaced face wipes and other cleansers for me,' one shopper said. And another wrote: 'I absolutely adore this product. It removes all makeup without leaving your skin oily. I do double cleanse with a cream cleanser after the oil. The packaging is beautiful too. Epitome of luxurious skin care.' Beauty buffs are raving about these five top-selling cleansing products sold at Mecca Mario Badescu Enzyme Cleansing Gel promises to thoroughly remove the day's make-up, dirt and oil without drying the skin Mario Badescu Enzyme Cleansing Gel - $20 Refresh your skin with Mario Badescu Enzyme Cleansing Gel. The $20 non-foaming, gel cleansing product promises to thoroughly remove the day's make-up, dirt and oil without drying the skin. Formulated with papaya extracts, exfoliating alpha hydroxy acids help break down dulling build-up, leaving skin fresh and healthy. One beauty fan wrote: 'I've been using this cleanser for a while, and it leaves my skin so blurred, clear, soft and bright. I get quite bad under skin pimples and dark/red spots, and this cleanser really helps to clear them. 'It doesn't dry out my skin either which is great. The feeling of it on is amazing. This product is by far my favourite cleanser.' And another said: 'Best thing I've ever used on my skin. I've received so many compliments and no longer feel I have to wear make up to cover my skin everyday.' Drunk Elephant Beste No.9 Jelly Cleanser promises to remove all traces of makeup, excess oil and any other grime from the day Drunk Elephant Beste No.9 Jelly Cleanser - $49 Suitable for all skin types, Drunk Elephant Beste No.9 Jelly Cleanser promises to remove all traces of makeup, excess oil and any other grime from the day. Beauty buffs are claiming the $49 product works wonders as it leaves complexion clean, smooth and radiant. The jelly cleanser is free from chemicals such as SLS [sodium laureth sulfate], fragrance, and essential oils, making it gentle and non-irritating on the skin. One beauty fan commented: 'Beste has been a miracle. It truly cleans your skin and leaves you feeling open for your treatment products without removing every last trace of life from your skin. Could not recommend this product enough, 10/10.' Another wrote: 'This is my new holy grail cleanser. It removes all makeup with one cleanse. I like the jelly texture as it is something different and leaves skin feeling nice and clean after use.' And another person said: 'Makes my skin feel refreshed. My skin is combination skin, and it doesn't leave it feeling oily or dry so am very happy.' REN Evercalm Gentle Cleansing Milk has become an iconic cleaning product in the beauty world REN Evercalm Gentle Cleansing Milk - $37 REN Evercalm Gentle Cleansing Milk has become an iconic cleaning product in the beauty world that gently yet effectively dissolves makeup and removes impurities. The gentle cleansing milk, retailed at $37, promises to leave sensitive, delicate and reactive skin purified, calm and soothed. Perfect for sensitive skin or complexion affected by pollution, the formula eliminates dirt, makeup and environmental aggressors. It also increases skin resistance and minimises the signs of chronic irritation and sensitivity that can lead to premature ageing. One shopper said: 'This is hands down the best skincare product I have ever used. I suffer from redness, sensitive and dry skin and the first time I even cleansed my face the redness and dryness and reduced down so much, I didn't even recognise my skin. Literally the only product I have found that does this.' And another wrote: 'I have been using this product for about two years now and I refuse to use any other cleanser. I first grabbed this product after an ill fated trip where I relied on, gasp, supermarket cleanser. 'My skin was completely stripped, dry, red and irritated. This product calmed everything down completely and gave the lipid layer in the skin a chance to recover. I also get breakouts from anything too active so I can attest that this milk is fantastic for my sensitivity.' Grime star Stormzy has revealed he's been stabbed three times in the past, including sustaining a knife wound to the head, but didn't initially realise it wasn't 'normal'. The Brit award winner, 25, who grew up in Croydon, South London told The Sunday Times Magazine that the magnitude only hit him when he first stepped out of his community to attended a project management course in the West Midlands. 'In the room were 17 white kids. I had a scar on my head, and someone goes, "What happened?". I said, "Oh, I got stabbed". 'I will never forget. I was explaining, "I got stabbed here, there, there" 'They had faces of horror and thats when it dawned on me. Where I come from is mad. Of course its shocking Ive been stabbed. Of course it shouldnt be normal.' 'We live in this warped view of reality, and its not our fault.' He also admitted that he still constantly expects a phone call to tell him a friend or relative has died as a result of stabbing. Brit Award-winning rapper Stormzy, 25, who grew up in Croydon, South London has revealed he was stabbed three times before becoming famous, but didn't realise it wasn't 'normal' Stormzy, pictured at the Glamour Women Of The Year Awards 2017 with his presenter girlfriend Maya Jama, admitted he'd grown up with a warped sense of reality In April last year, he lost his childhood friend Bjorn Brown, 23, who was found seriously injured after being attacked by two men in Thornton Heath, Croydon. Known to friends as 'Bugz', he tried to cycle away from the scene but collapsed and was discovered by passers-by who immediately called an ambulance. Despite treatment in hospital, he died four days later. In addition to his award-winning music career the rapper has turned his attention to using his profile in April 2017, the rapper lost his childhood friend Bjorn Brown, 23, who was found seriously injured after being attacked by two men in Thornton Heath, Croydon In August, he launched a scholarship for black students to attend Cambridge University after some colleges did not take any between 2012 and 2016. The Stormzy Scholarship, which he described as his 'proudest venture so far', will pay for tuition fees and provide a maintenance grant for up to four years of an undergraduate course. The Mobo Award-winner announced the plans today at his former school, the Harris City Academy in Croydon, south London, as A-level students opened their results. We're a minority, the playing ground isn't level for us and it's vital that all potential students are given the same opportunity.' The MOBO award winning rapper told BBC Breakfast (pictured): 'If you're academically brilliant don't think because you come from a certain community that studying at one of the highest education institutions in the world isn't possible' The MOBO award winning rapper wants to help young people get into Cambridge, regardless of background, and has also launched with own publishing imprint He added he hopes it will help black Cambridge University students pay their tuition fees and serve as a reminder to young people from all backgrounds that they have the opportunity to get the best education. 'If you're academically brilliant don't think because you come from a certain community that studying at one of the highest education institutions in the world isn't possible,' he told BBC Breakfast at the time. Last year Stormzy also donated 9,000 to an Oxford University student so she can go to Harvard. Rapper Stormzy, 25, pictured on stage in London in July, is balancing his musical career with philanthropic efforts Fiona Asiedu, from south London, started a Crowdfunding page to raise 12,000 to complete her human development and psychology masters degree at the prestigious American institute. Ms Asiedu's friends posted the appeal to Stormzy's Twitter account and the music star donated a whopping 9,000 to reach her target. He tried to remain anonymous, but when her friends discovered it was him, he blew his cover online. Earlier this year, he also announced a publishing deal with Penguin to help young writers become published authors. The rapper will also be releasing an autobiography and creating a paid publishing internship in 2019. Known as #Merky Books, his imprint will publish two to three books a year, starting with Stormzy's autobiography, Rise Up, which is released this week. The Duchess of Sussex is known for choosing fashion with a purpose during her public engagements, and today she did it again in her choice of dress for a significant speech at Government House in New Zealand. Pregnant Meghan , 37, stunned in a navy cocktail dress by New York-based Gabriela Hearst, modified to include delicate cap sleeves. The original spaghetti strap dress cost 1,900, (AU$3,430/US$2495) although Meghan's bespoke version is likely to have come at a higher price. It's not the first time Meghan has chosen a piece from Gabirela Hearst, who is known for her sustainable practices and weaving political statements in to her creations. Previous collections have been inspired by feminists, such as US political activist Angela Davis and Senator Kamala Harris, while she also created a line of handbags as a tribute to working women of the 1940s. The Duke and Duchess of Sussex meet the Leader of the Opposition Simon Bridges and his wife Natalie, at Government House in Wellington Meghan, 37, stunned in a navy cocktail dress by New York-based Gabriela Hearst, modified to include delicate cap sleeves as she gave a speech to mark the 135th anniversary of women's suffrage in New Zealand at Government House in Wellington The Duchess previously sported a 1,685 handbag from the trendy New York designer when she paid her first official visit to Sussex with Prince Harry earlier this month. During her stirring speech, Meghan told guests at Government House: 'Women's suffrage is about feminism, but feminism is about fairness. 'Suffrage is not simply about the right to vote but also about what that represents. 'The basic and fundamental human right of being able to participate in the choices for your future.' Pregnant Meghan chose a dress from New York designer Gabriela Hearst whose creations are inspired by prominent feminists Meghan's evening outfit was a marked change from the bargain high street design she sported on arrival in Wellington earlier in the day. Stepping off the Royal New Zealand Air Force plane in Wellington, Meghan sported an affordable black ASOS maternity dress, costing just 35, teamed with a Karen Walker trench coat. Throughout the tour, the Duchess has favoured high end labels with suitably eye-watering price tags for her first major overseas tour. Meghan's speech on women's suffrage at Government House in Wellington Tena koutou katoa. We are proud to be able to join you tonight, in celebrating the 125th anniversary of women's suffrage in your country. The achievements of the women of New Zealand who campaigned for their right to vote, and were the first in the world to achieve it are universally admired. In looking forward to this very special occasion, I reflected on the importance of this achievement, but also the larger impact of what this symbolises," she said. Because yes, women's suffrage is about feminism, but feminism is about fairness. Suffrage is not simply about the right to vote, but also about what that represents - the basic and fundamental human right of being able to participate in the choices for your future and that of your community. The involvement and voice that allows you to be a part of the very world that you are a part of.' And women's suffrage is not simply about the right to vote for women but also about what that represents. The basic and fundamental right of all people- including members of society who have been marginalise - whether for reasons of race, gender, ethnicity or orientation - to be able to participate in the choices for their future and their community. So bravo, New Zealand, for championing this right 125 years ago for the women who well-deserved to have an active voice and an acknowledged vote and for all of the people that this effort has paved for, globally. We all deeply thank you. In the words of your suffragette, Kate Sheppard: 'All that separates whether of race, class, creed or sex is inhuman and must be overcome. Advertisement The couple arrived in Wellington from Sydney this morning, and were warmly greeted by New Zealand's Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern and Wellington Mayor Justin Lester. The couple were quickly whisked away in a silver Mercedes bearing the number plate ROYAL1, and taken to nearby Government House for a traditional welcome which included dances, speeches and a very intimate greeting. But an official reception was disrupted by a fire alarm following the public walkabout. The pregnant Duchess smiles after addressing invited guests during a reception at Government House in Wellington, New Zealand, today Harry and Meghan are pictured meeting New Zealand's prime minister, Jacinda Ardern, at Government House in Wellington today The Duchess of Sussex greets guests at a reception to celebrate the 125th anniversary of women's suffrage at Wellington in New Zealand today On Friday she wowed in a tulle Oscar De La Renta dress embellished with a black bird pattern estimated to have cost 10,000. She's also sported creations by Roksanda and Brandon Maxwell as well as tens of thousands worth of jewellery and accessories. The total cost of her wardrobe thus far has exceeded 80,000 and she's predicted to hit the 100K mark by the time she and Harry fly home on Friday. Meghan speaks to invited guests during a reception at Government House in Wellington House, New Zealand, today after she was pictured performing traditional greetings with dignitaries Monday, October 29: Wellington and Abel Tasman, New Zealand - The Duke and Duchess will meet young people from a number of mental health projects operating in New Zealand. From Wellington, The Duke and Duchess will travel to Abel Tasman National Park. That evening back in Wellington, Their Royal Highnesses will visit Courtenay Creative for an event celebrating the city's thriving creative arts scene Tuesday, October 30: Auckland, New Zealand - Their Royal Highnesses will travel to Auckland, where they will firstly visit the North Shore to dedicate a 20 hectare area of native bush to The Queen's Commonwealth Canopy. They will then join the Prime Minister to visit Pillars, a charity operating across New Zealand. Later that afternoon, The Duke and Duchess will have the opportunity to meet the people of Auckland on the Viaduct Harbour, before attending a Reception hosted by the Prime Minister at the Auckland War Memorial Museum Wednesday, October 31: Rotorua, New Zealand - The final day of their Royal Highnesses' tour will take place in Rotorua. Next, The Duke and Duchess will head to Rainbow Springs to learn more about the centres kiwi breeding programme. Later that afternoon, the Duke and Duchess will head into the city for the chance to meet members of the public gathered there Thursday, November 1: Their Royal Highnesses will return to Auckland that evening, before departing for London the following day. A revolutionary treatment for thousands of men suffering from a common prostate condition is to be made available on the NHS. It will end the need for invasive surgery under general anaesthetic and reduce the risk of sexual dysfunction, including impotence. And instead of recovering in a hospital for several days, the 15-minute procedure allows patients to return home after just a few hours. It will end the need for invasive surgery under general anaesthetic and reduce the risk of sexual dysfunction, including impotence [File photo] It is expected to save the health service tens of millions of pounds, not only by reducing the cost of treating enlarged prostates but by avoiding the often debilitating side effects linked to current treatments. The UroLift procedure is currently available in only about half of the hospitals in England, but the Government this week announced it will be included in a 2 million fast-track scheme to increase the availability of promising new therapies to NHS patients. More than 20,000 men a year opt to undergo trans-urethral resection of the prostate (TURP) surgery to remove part of the prostate. Drugs to ease the condition can cause a loss of libido and impotence. The UroLift procedure is currently available in only about half of the hospitals in England, but the Government this week announced it will be included in a 2 million fast-track scheme [File photo] In contrast, the UroLift procedure is carried out under a local anaesthetic and involves surgeons moving the enlarged prostate aside so it no longer restricts the flow of urine through the urethra. The prostate is then anchored into place using tiny, permanent implants. Patients are able to leave hospital the same day and have a far lower risk of side effects. Analysis by Imperial College Health Partners found that 70,000 additional hospital visits were required for men having TURP surgery between 2009 and 2015, and 14 per cent were back on their medication within a year. In comparison, side effects following UroLift are mild and require no hospital treatment, and just four per cent needed to start taking drugs again within a year. The analysis concluded that the new treatment could save the NHS 27 million by driving down complication rates alone. The uncomfortable condition, also known as benign prostatic hyperplasia, or BPH, affects nearly all men over the age of 50, although to different degrees of severity. The cause is unknown, although it is thought to be linked to hormonal changes as men age. It causes the chestnut-sized prostate gland which surrounds the neck of the bladder to swell and put pressure on the bladder and the urethra, making it difficult to pass urine. Consultant urologist Neil Barber, from Frimley Health NHS Foundation Trust, was the first surgeon to offer UroLift in the UK. He said the benefits to patients and the NHS were very clear, adding: This is an effective day case procedure that, for the first time, preserves sexual function; we could offer most patients the likely prospect of going home catheter-free; and they would experience a rapid improvement in symptoms and a return to normal activity within days rather than weeks. It is expected to save the health service tens of millions of pounds, not only by reducing the cost of treating enlarged prostates but by avoiding the often debilitating side effects linked to current treatments [File photo] The procedure had also improved waiting times for other patients, he said. We have been able to relocate the site of operation from the classical operating theatre to a procedure or minor ops room. Justin Hall, vice-president of Teleflex, whose subsidiary NeoTract developed the UroLift procedure, said the company was humbled and honoured to be included on the Governments fast-track scheme. Gary Keen, from Totnes, Devon, had the UroLift operation in April and was able to travel to his 60th birthday celebrations the following day. He said: It was brilliant. There was no bleeding at all afterwards, just a little bit of discomfort. Air pollution is the 'new tobacco' and breathing is killing seven million people a year and harming billions more, the World Health Organisation has warned. More than 90 per cent of the world's population suffers toxic air pollution which is having a drastic effect on the health of people, especially children. The danger toxic air has on the world's population has been deemed 'a silent public health emergency' by the head of the WHO. Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, the WHO's director general, told The Guardian: 'The world has turned the corner on tobacco. Now it must do the same for the 'new tobacco' the toxic air that billions breathe every day. Air pollution is the 'new tobacco' and breathing is killing seven million people a year, World Health Organisation warns 'No one, rich or poor, can escape air pollution. It is a silent public health emergency. 'Despite this epidemic of needless, preventable deaths and disability, a smog of complacency pervades the planet.' Children and babies, whose bodies are still developing, are the most at risk from the toxic air. And there are now 300 million people living in places where toxic fumes are six times above international guidelines. There are now 300 million people living in places where toxic fumes are six times above international guidelines Dr Maria Neira, WHO director for public health and the environment, told The Guardian: 'We have to ask what are we doing to our children, and the answer I am afraid is shockingly clear: we are polluting their future, and this is very worrying for all us.' Most urban areas in the UK have illegal levels of air pollution and causes more deaths per year than tobacco. But researchers think the harm known to be caused by air pollution, such as heart attacks and lung disease, and is 'only the tip of the iceberg'. Katie Gee was 18 when she was doused in acid by strangers while volunteering in Zanzibar. Five years (and more than 50 operations) on, she shares her long road to recovery and why shell never have closure Katie Gee has had more than 50 operations to get to the stage she is at today Working out in her local gym recently, Katie Gee spotted a woman walking in her direction, holding a plastic cup. The gym provides paper cones for water, so when I saw the plastic cup, immediately my heart started beating faster. I was shaking, thinking, Why are you holding a strange cup? Why are you walking towards me? What are you going to do? Katie recalls. Of course, she just walked past me, but for a moment all this panic was triggered and memories came flooding back. It sounds an unlikely incident to spark such fear but not when you know the story of Katies past five years. In August 2013, she and her best friend Kirstie Trup, both 18 and waiting for their A-level results, volunteered to teach underprivileged children in the apparently idyllic Tanzanian island of Zanzibar. On the last evening of their months work, the friends were walking to a restaurant in the islands ancient capital Stone Town when two men pulled up beside them on a moped. The passenger smirked, pulled out a jerry can, doused them in battery acid then drove off. Katie recovering in hospital a week after the attack and eight months later in a compression suit and face mask At first I thought it was boiling coffee but the bitter smell was so strong I realised it was acid, Katie says. I was in agony, burning everywhere as though Id been stung by wasps but 100 times worse all over my body. From that moment, her life was transformed. From a carefree teenager, she became a depressed young woman with more than 30 per cent of her body covered in burns. Shed been preparing excitedly to start studying at Nottingham University but, instead, life became a constant round of surgeries shes undergone more than 50 operations to date, not to mention many minor procedures. One of the first surgeries involved removing Katies damaged right ear. When we meet, in a restaurant near her North London home, she tells me happily that doctors have just given her a new one. It took three 14-hour surgeries. First they made the new ear canal from rib cartilage, she says, pulling back her long dark hair so I can see the new, perfect version. Then they diverted a blood vessel in my head and took skin from my legs. The surgeon even added a hole in the lobe, so I can wear an earring again. Katie with Nancy, one of the children she was teaching in Zanzibar Katie looks elegant in a black sleeveless jumpsuit, apparently tanned (Thats out of a bottle. I cant sunbathe it makes the scarring worse). The surgeons have done magnificent work. You are first drawn to her pretty brown eyes and high cheekbones. Only as she talks do you notice how her skin is bumpier on the right side and her eyelids (had she not blinked as the acid splashed, it would have blinded her) and lips are slightly swollen. Her chest is scarred, as is her right arm. She looks gorgeous but its easy to see how any 23-year-old woman would feel hugely sensitive. Katie has mostly kept silent about her ordeal but now having graduated with a 2.1 in sociology from Nottingham, and started a high-flying job in commercial property she has decided to discuss it through her YouTube channel. Its to raise the issue of diversity, to say, Dont keep people who have scars off our screens, she says. But I also want to help anyone whos been through trauma, to show them you can come out the other side. It doesnt have to ruin your life. She has recently become a champion for Changing Faces, a charity that campaigns for people with facial disfigurements, and modelled this summer for Rebecca Violette, a label that challenges perceptions of visual differences. Katie also saw her beauty diversity campaign #SettingTheStandard go viral on Instagram, as women shared photos of their flaws. Katie covered in a sheet as she arrives at Chelsea and Westminster Hospital in London But for years Katie found it hard to feel so positive, constantly revisiting that night in Zanzibar. It felt like my face was falling off, she says. After being attacked she ran to a nearby restaurant and stood under a shower tearing off her clothes, screaming for help. Two tourists she calls our saviours found her and Kirstie, who was washing herself in the sea, and took them to the nearest hospital. It was so rundown, with just one nurse on duty who gave us packets of saline to pour on the burns. When that ran out, the girls headed to a nearby hotel where they sat for hours under the rooftop showers. We were freezing, shaking with shock. I was wrapped in sheets and towels and was vomiting from the pain. The tourists helped put the girls on a plane to mainland Tanzania, then a medical evacuation flight was organised to London. During a refuelling stop Katie saw herself in a toilet mirror. I broke down. My face was swollen, my right eye was completely shut. Everywhere the acid had hit was black and purple, she says. On arrival the girls were taken to the burns unit at the Chelsea and Westminster Hospital. The following morning Kirstie who, having been standing further away from the attacker, was less severely injured went home. Katie, meanwhile, was being prepared for a seven-hour procedure to remove all the burnt skin, then wrapped head to toe in bandages. The doctors sat me down and said: This is going to be a long road to recovery. I was so sad and scared, she says. I was also completely out of it from the painkillers and anaesthetics, and I was being fed through a tube because my throat was too swollen to eat or drink. Katie laughing in hospital with friend Georgia Bass In small ways Katie tried to cling to her former outgoing personality, for example, by refusing to let doctors take skin from her scalp for grafts as it would mean shaving her head. I wasnt ready for that. My hair was the only thing that gave me the confidence to leave the house. I was so insecure that I would put my hair in front of my face. The doctors probably thought I was the most difficult patient in the world but it was the right decision. The bleakness of her situation only sank in after Katie was allowed home, though still returning to hospital every day for treatment. My friends had been great but their lives went on and many of them were off to university, she says. I should have been going, too. Instead I was at home alone looking at their photos and not knowing what I would do with my life. The isolation was unbearable. In public I avoided all eye contact and wouldnt speak to anyone. Gradually, with the help of therapists, Katies outlook became more positive. A year after the attack she had taken up her delayed university place, at first doing all the work at home, later occasionally visiting Nottingham for lectures. I felt so self-conscious; what if people stare? What if they ask questions? Now Im not fazed by people looking; Ive realised theyre not thinking Eurgh, theyre just curious, and Im happy to answer anything. After three years of being too frightened to go out at night, Katie found the courage to attend a party in a club. It was the first time since Zanzibar. I was so worried but the reality was fun. Id applied a full face of make-up and I felt normal. A huge weight lifted from my shoulders. Throughout, Katie and Kirstie have remained close, although Kirstie required only one operation and went to university a month after the attack. Naturally, that was really hard for me, Katie says. But we have a pact we will never fall out over it. Despite Katie and Kirstie giving the police detailed descriptions of their attackers, the assailants have never been caught. Katie says she never really expected justice. The setup was so corrupt. The Tanzanian police never replied to emails; meetings with Scotland Yard came to nothing. They probably know who did it the island is tiny, everybody knows everybody but theyre all family so I dont think anyone will ever come forward. There was speculation that the girls, who were modestly dressed in baggy trousers and loose tops, were targeted because they were Jewish, when the majority of the islands population is Muslim. No one knew our religion, says Katie. And a month later there was an acid attack on a Catholic priest. I think it was because we were two young, vulnerable, non-Muslim white girls. Celebrating her graduation from Nottingham University with her mum Nicola last year Katies family her father Jeremy, who works in property, her mother Nicola, who is a teacher, and her two younger brothers have finally come to terms with the trauma. For a long time my mum suffered terrible guilt about letting us go to Zanzibar, but now she can live with it. Nicola was especially upset when shortly after the attack a therapist asked Katie if she feared shed never find a boyfriend. Mum was furious that the idea was put in my head when it wasnt yet an issue. It is something I speak about with friends Im single and, of course, I hope Ill meet someone. It might not be the same person as before the attack, but thats probably a good thing. Katie is far from fully healed, either physically there will be more operations to come or emotionally. Her lips quiver occasionally as she tells her story, and her eyes are mournful. Theres never closure, but time passes, she says, and right now, Im in a good place. Having always dreamed of travelling the world, she has ruled out returning to Zanzibar (Why would I? There are so many beautiful places to go to) but recently enjoyed a US road trip with friends and is bursting with pride at coming through six rounds of interviews to win her new job. Before the attack, I wasnt focused, I just wanted to have fun; now I definitely work harder. My attitude is that I could die tomorrow, she says. Life was bad for such a long time. Now I just want to have a good one. Scar Etiquette: Katies advice Dont stare. If youre interested in knowing why someone is scarred, introduce yourself and ask about it in a nice way. Do pick your moment. If Im on the tube or eating, dont come up to me and ask me about my skin. Ill be in a rush, paying for petrol and strangers come up to me asking, What happened to you? Frankly, its annoying. Dont praise our bravery. People tell me that they could never have gone through what I have. My answer is, I didnt have a choice! Dont touch our scars. Its very intrusive. When my friends at university helped me change my dressings after surgery they always asked if it was OK to touch me. Do ask us how we are. I dont bring up my scars in case friends dont want to talk about it; Im paranoid that Im complaining too much. Dont say, It could have been worse. The recovery is the hardest thing Ive been through. Find Katies YouTube channel here or see instagram.com/katiejgee and changingfaces.org.uk Facebook is going to need all the skills of its newly-hired communications chief, former deputy prime minister Sir Nick Clegg, if it is to have any chance of averting a fresh round of outrage when it reveals its latest multi-billion dollar sales tomorrow. The timing of its results, which Hargreaves Lansdown predicts will show profits of $5.8 billion over the space of just three months, is unfortunate for the digital giant. Mark Zuckerberg, the 34-year-old billionaire founder, will announce the figures a day after Philip Hammond unveils his Budget. Challenge: Facebook is going to need all the skills of its newly-hired communications chief Sir Nick Clegg Coming so soon after the Chancellor gets to his feet cannot help but remind everyone just how little Facebook contributes to the UKs coffers a piffling 16m last year. And the results land on the same day that senior Facebook executives, along with colleagues from Google and Microsoft, will be grilled in the House of Lords over questionable corporate behaviour. Peers are gearing up to attack the US operators for their dominance of the internet market and their attempts to shirk responsibility for offensive or dangerous content posted by users. Which makes it interesting for Sir Nick Clegg, who, in his former guise as Lib Dem leader, would have been the first to demand that the US digital titans behave as responsible corporate citizens in the UK. Cleggs main selling point to Facebook is not, however, his standing in this country. Even his most ardent admirer would have to admit his star has waned since the run-up to the 2010 election when Gordon Brown and David Cameron vied to tell the electorate how much they agreed with Nick. Zuckerberg is actually paying for Cleggs specialist knowledge of the European Union at a time when one of Facebooks biggest fears is a clampdown from Brussels. Like Amazon and Twitter, it is a Janus corporation. It is hugely popular with millions of users, but has a dark side: the harmless pastime of posting pictures of puppies co-exists with far more sinister activities, unseen and unknown to innocent users. In the spotlight: Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg The company was this month fined a mere 500,000 over the Cambridge Analytica scandal, which revolved around the harvesting of up to 87m users data without their knowledge. That is the maximum fine the regulators could impose, even though to Zuckerberg, it is a laughably small amount that would take his company less than an hour to make in revenues. But as Clegg and Zuckerberg both know, the penalties are only going to get bigger. Debacles like this one and last months huge hack of user accounts have taken a toll on the share price, which is down around 15 per cent in the past year. Now at a turning point, at root Facebooks problems come down to a fight for its soul: an existential struggle between social and corporate values. On one side is friendship, the original motive for the site, versus profit, a powerful driver once the founders realised the billions to be made. Zuckerbergs solution is to try to return to its social networking roots and to dial down the prominence of advertising. In the long-term, that must be right, because alienating users would be killing the goose that lays the golden egg, though in the short-term it risks a hit to revenues. It may not be much consolation to Brits in the week of a sober Budget, but Sir Nick Clegg will have to work hard for those Silicon Valley millions. F.B. writes: I applied to transfer my family's four shareholding accounts from Barclays to broker AJ Bell, after the bank's stockbroking business became Smart Investor. The reason was because Barclays would not allow me to trade the account of my 91-year-old aunt, for whom I have an Enduring Power of Attorney. My wife's account and mine have now been transferred, though with some outstanding queries, but the transfer of my aunt's account has still to take place. Tony replies: Barclays Stockbrokers may have been a fairly traditional broking business, but for the most part it operated smoothly for years. Why the parent bank changed it to Smart Investor, with such disastrous results for many customers, is a mystery. Even after I contacted Barclays, it took three months to transfer your aunt's share account. Problem solved? Not quite. Barclays forgot to transfer over 10,000 in cash. The bank apologised, telling me: 'It does not reflect the level of service Mr B should rightly expect from us.' The cash was finally transferred, so problem solved this time round? Well, again not quite. On this occasion Barclays wrote to you saying how sorry the bank was to hear of the death of your aunt and could you supply a copy of the death certificate. While your aunt is in a nursing home, she is very much alive. Barclays has admitted that its latest mistake was 'truly unacceptable'. It has offered you 200 for the delays in making the account transfers and a further 200 for the distress caused by suggesting that your aunt had died. Only you can decide whether to accept and draw a line under the matter. But after seeing the fat file of correspondence that shows how you spent many hours trying the get Barclays to do its job, I have to say that I feel the bank's offer is not good enough. Bullying in schools is costing taxpayers millions of dollars as both students and teachers seek compensation for psychological problems. Claims and out-of-court settlements surrounding bullying and harassment cost the NSW state government more than $7 million between 2014 and 2017. In many cases, the payouts were funded by taxpayers. NSW Education Minister Rob Stokes conceded bullying has become one of the most challenging issues in primary and high schools. Bullying and harassment in schools cost the state government millions in payouts from 2014-2017 (stock image) Another growing concern is the issue not being addressed at home. 'Family structures are changing and becoming looser and in some cases weaker,' Mr Stokes said. 'We need to equip kids to help each other reject bullying because we can't rely on families as much as we have done in the past.' According to figures from the Freedom of Information laws, compensation payments to 20 students and three teachers averaged more than $300,000 each. 'The consequences of bullying are lifelong and devastating, and also have huge impacts on the health of our society and the productivity of our economy,' Stokes said. 'Bullying has always been a problem but we've never quite understood how much damage it causes and once we have better ways of addressing it, we can build a happier and more confident society.' Bullying cost the state government $4 million in payouts in 2014, $1.194m in 2015, $984,886 in 2016 and $860,257 last year. Bullying in NSW high schools has reached endemic levels, resulting in multiple payouts to students and teachers (stock image) Bullying often begins at a young age for students in NSW, costing the state government millions in compensation payments (stock image) Since axing 'Safe Schools' a controversial anti-bullying program implemented in 2010, Stokes has been searching for a better remedy to tackle the social issue. A new anti-bullying video starring kindergarten kids will be launched at an Australian-first anti-bullying strategy conference on Monday. The conference will hear from leading figures in bullying, aggression and school adjustment from Australia, Canada and Finland. They will also travel to regional areas in Ballina, Dubbo, and Wagga Wagga for additional feedback on the issue. An infamous Supermax inmate has been named as the man police suspect helped the cover-up of the revenge murder of Brayden Dillon. Homicide detectives revealed they believe Bassam Hamzy, a notorious convicted murderer and Islamic extremist, also knew of the bedroom assassination plot before it happened last year. The 39-year-old, whose been behind bars for almost two decades, also has links to three people out of the six people charged over Brayden's murder so far. Supermax prison inmate Bassam Hamzy (pictured) has been revealed as a prime suspect in masterminding the cover up of teenager Brayden Dillon's bedroom assassination Hamzy became a police target after his name was mentioned in court last week The Daily Telegraph has reported. Police suspect he was passing information outside of Goulburn's Supermax prison to help distance key players in the teen's death. Despite being one of the state's more supervised prisoners with the highest security available, Hamzy has managed to continue his reign of terror on people in the outside world. Police are currently investigating how exactly he was able to get information of out jail and influence the findings in the current investigation of the murder. Despite being one of the state's more supervised prisoners with the highest security available, Hamzy (pictured) police allege he helped distance the murders main suspects from the crime and even knew of the assassination plot before it was carried out Brayden, who was 15 at the time, was asleep in his bedroom at his mother's home in Glenfield in Sydney's southwest in April last year when a gunman stormed the property and shot him at point blank range. The murder, allegedly carried out by Conrad Craig, is believed to be a revenge slaying for Brayden's older brother Joshua, 20 who allegedly fatally stabbed Adam Abu-Mahmoud, 18, in a brawl in Panania. Joshua Dillon pleaded not guilty to the murder. Police believe Adam's uncle Abdul Abu-Mahmoud financed the hit on Brayden as an act of revenge. Brayden Dillon (pictured), who was 15 at the time, was asleep in his bedroom at his mother's home in Glenfield in Sydney's southwest in April last year when a gunman stormed the property and shot him at point blank range Brayden was rushed to hospital following the attack but died days later Abu-Mahmoud was eventually charged with murder on October 18 after fleeing to Thailand before the murder was carried out. It's understood police will identify Abu-Mahoud as a close associate of Hamzy and Craig a member of the Hamzy founded Brothers 4 Life gang. Abu-Mahmoud's brother Mohamed Abu-Mahmoud, a 54-year-old property developer, is also the latest person to be arrested as part of the murder. The murder, allegedly carried out by Conrad Craig (pictured), is believed to be a revenge slaying for Brayden's older brother Joshua, 20 who allegedly fatally stabbed Adam Abu-Mahmoud, 18, in a brawl in Panania Police believe Adam's uncle Abdul Abu-Mahmoud (pictured) financed the hit on Brayden as an act of revenge He faced charges of accessory after the fact to murder and perverting the course of justice last week. It is alleged he offered $40,000 to Craig to sign a false document, written by the Abu Mahmoud family, that distanced Abdul from the crime. As the police begin to close in on the investigation, Magistrate Sharon Freund still believed they were bold assertions and the lack of details meant she couldn't assess the strength of the case. Abu- Mahmoud has since been released on conditional bail. Last month, Investigators arrested Craig's sister, Kimberly Craig and Sophie Massie and Torek Ayoub for their alleged involvement. The investigation continues. He will headline the Theakston Old Peculier Crime Writing Festival in July 2019 Patterson, 71, who lives in Palm Beach, Florida, is a best selling author of all time James Patterson is one of the biggest-selling authors of all time Thriller writer James Patterson has been signed up to headline next years Theakston Old Peculier Crime Writing Festival in Harrogate. Patterson, 71, is one of the biggest-selling authors of all time. His most recent novel, The President Is Missing, has sold more than 1.2million copies. The new book was published this year, and was written with former U.S president Bill Clinton. Patterson, who lives in Palm Beach, Florida, will attend the crime writing festival in July next year, at Old Swan Hotel in Harrogate. The President is Missing, by Bill Clinton and James Patterson, was released earlier this year The event is supported by The Mail on Sunday and is being chaired by author Mari Hannah. Patterson has sold more than 375 million books and has been the most-borrowed author of adult fiction in UK libraries for the past 11 years. Im really looking forward to coming to Harrogate and meeting my UK fans, he said. I firmly believe libraries and book festivals play a key role in spreading the joy of reading. Three years ago he founded the James Patterson Pledge with Scholastic Book Clubs to encourage children to read. He said he wanted to put 'books into the hands of young readers' and is passionate about saving bookshops and libraries. Patterson's career was in advertising, but he published books as early as 1976 with The Thomas Berryman Number. After he retired in 1996 he began to write full time. He is known for his Alex Cross detective series, which are his best selling books in the U.S. The festival will run from from Thursday July 18 to Sunday July 21 2019 to celebrate crime fiction. Tickets can be bought here: www.harrogateinternationalfestivals.com Mr Hammond is also expected to announce plans to explore a new no-interest loans scheme to help families trapped with loan sharks and payday lenders Phillip Hammond will tomorrow bow to pressure from Theresa May to turn on the spending taps by announcing Budget boosts for drivers, the elderly and low-income families trapped by payday loans. After months of tension between Downing Street and the Treasury over the extent to which the Tories should respond to Jeremy Corbyns policies, the Chancellor has been forced to abandon his pro-austerity stance. In a newspaper article today, the Chancellor Phillip Hammond, above, says he is happy to confirm to motorists we will also be freezing fuel duty for the ninth year in a row. Phillip Hammond will tomorrow bow to pressure from Theresa May to turn on the spending taps What will the Chancellor announce? He is expected to use his third and possibly final Budget to announce: A 30 billion investment package for roads paid for by road tax; Plans to move people trapped on payday loans to zero-interest Government loans; Nearly 1 billion extra for social care; 500 million extra for the Armed Forces; A 1.5 billion bailout for the high street by slashing business rates. Advertisement Mr Hammonds room for manoeuvre has already been restricted by Mrs Mays flagship announcement of a 20 billion-a-year boost for the NHS, which sources say the Chancellor tried in vain to block. He also has to find the money for a boom in council house building and a freeze in fuel duty announced by Mrs May at the Tory Party conference when she declared the end of austerity and to plug a 2 billion gap in the Governments jinxed Universal Credit benefits system. Downing Street strategists, led by Chief of Staff Gavin Barwell, are keen to neutralise the electoral threat of Mr Corbyn, who has made uncosted public spending splurges central to his popularity. But Mr Hammond, a fiscal hawk, fears that over-reacting to Labours promises risks damaging the partys reputation for financial responsibility. Mr Hammond is also expected to announce plans to explore a new no-interest loans scheme to help families who are trapped in arrangements with loan sharks and payday lenders, above. The Chancellor has been forced to abandon his pro-austerity stance [File photo] He is understood to have confided to friends that he expects the Budget to be his last: by next autumn he will either have been sacked by Mrs May, who will have lost patience with their disagreements; or Mrs May will have been replaced by a Brexiteer Prime Minister such as Boris Johnson who would force the pro-Remain Mr Hammond out of the Cabinet. In a newspaper article today, the Chancellor says he is happy to confirm to motorists we will also be freezing fuel duty for the ninth year in a row. He also hails his bumper investment in roads, saying these are the arteries that keep our country alive and they need taking care of. The new 28.8 billion boost over the 2020-25 period for strategically important roads will increase Highways Englands budget by 40 per cent funded directly by revenue from Vehicle Excise Duty to tackle congestion, repair damaged roads and trial next-generation transport methods such as self-driving shuttle services and electric bikes. Downing Street strategists, led by Chief of Staff Gavin Barwell, above, are keen to neutralise the electoral threat of Mr Corbyn The Chancellor is expected to say the investment can be justified by the fact congestion costs households over 30 billion each year. Mr Hammond is also expected to announce plans to explore a new no-interest loans scheme to help families who are trapped in arrangements with loan sharks. Communities Secretary James Brokenshire is also understood to have won almost an extra 1 billion to ease the adult social care crisis in England, in addition to the current 3.6 billion which his department contributes to the total 16.1 billion net cost of adult social care. Defence Secretary Gavin Williamson will receive an expected boost of 500 million for the Armed Forces. Well-placed sources said he had secured the victory after convincing Mrs May to force Mr Hammond to loosen his purse strings. The Chancellor's room for manoeuvre has already been restricted by Mrs Mays flagship announcement of a 20 billion-a-year boost for the NHS, which sources say the Chancellor tried in vain to block However, many Tory MPs are likely to argue the cash-strapped department will need more substantial investment to plug a 20 billion black hole over the next decade. The Chancellor is expected to help half a million small retailers by slashing their business rates by a third. The 1.5 billion lifeline is a response to the growing difficulties experienced by chain stores and independent retailers, which has led to the loss of more than 50,000 jobs. There were also reports he will pump hundreds of millions of pounds into installing superfast broadband in remote areas. A white woman has been fired from her job and faces criminal charges after video footage showed her drunkenly shouting racist abuse at two black sisters. The video, which one of the women posted on Facebook on Friday, shows Susan Westwood approaching two black women who were waiting for AAA to service their car, calling them 'b***h' and asking them 'Is your baby daddy here'?'. The 51-year-old from Charlotte, North Carolina, also starts bragging about her '$125,000-a-year job' and boasts that she is 'fabulous'. She now faces criminal charges for communicating threats and her employer, Spectrum, confirmed that her contract has now been terminated. Susan Westwood (left) is facing charges of communicating threats and simple assault against sisters Leisa and her sister Chele Garris (2nd left and right) on October 19 The incident happened late at night on October 19 in South Charlotte according to information from police and the victims. Chele Garris, one of the women who was verbally attacked along with her sister Leisa, posted a series of videos of the incident to Facebook. In an accompanying post she wrote: MOUTH DROPPING VIDEOS...Never thought this would happen to my sister and I right here in Charlotte, NC. In the video, Susan Westwood engages the other women for no apparent reason. The sisters were aggressively confronted by Westwood after they politely asked her to leave them alone. At one point one of them told her: You are harassing us.' However Westwood continues to berate them and asks repeatedly 'Do you live here'. One of the women is heard in the video calling 911 and saying: 'The lady was pushing me in my face'. Susan Westwood questioned what the women were doing as they waited for AAA She became more animated when she noticed the women recording her racist tirade She proceed to shout in one of the women's faces before they went upstairs to their apartment Susan Westwood bragged to the women about earning '$125,000' and asked how much rent they paid before saying 'I'm white and I'm hot' Westwood approaches them, the video shows, questioning whether they lived there and why they are congregating in the parking lot. She then proceeds to tell them repeatedly that she earns $125,000 a year in her job and asks them how much they earn. 'I'm white and I'm hot', she can be heard saying. One of the sisters who reports the harassment has a calm demeanor on the phone as she thanks the dispatchers and answers the dispatchers questions. 'It surprised me', she told a police dispatcher. 'Ive been living here for over a year and Ive never been treated this way. Im a resident just like her'. After the two women walk away and one of them calls 911 to report harassment, Westwood yells at them from a distance: Do I need to bring out my concealed weapon, too? This is North Carolina by the way'. On the Mecklenburg County Sheriffs Office website, there are four criminal summons that have been issued for Susan Westwood for two counts of communicating threats and two counts of simple assault. Spectrum, Westwoods former employer, provided a statement saying that her employment with the company has been terminated effective immediately. The company said: 'The incident recorded in Charlotte is a blatant violation of Charters code of conduct and clearly disregards the companys commitment to inclusion and respectful behavior. Leisa (left) and Chele Garris (right) said they are distraught over the incident on October 19 Leisa (left) and Chele (right) said they never encountered trouble at the complex where Chele lives 'As such, Ms Westwoods employment with the company has been terminated, effective immediately'. Its so upsetting to know that today we have overt racism still going on in 2018,' one of the women said, according to a video of their interview posted on a WCCBs reporters Twitter. The two women called it a 'racially-motivated attack.' In a shared statement, the sisters added: 'We are distraught and still very upset about what has taken place only because of the color of our skin. The incident happened over more than five minutes as the sisters waited by their vehicle in an apartment complex parking lot for AAA car service, video shows. By Saturday, the video was viewed on various social media sites nearly 1 million times. The Camden Fairview Apartment complex in Fairview , North Carolina where the women live Westwood tells them to 'F**k off' and accuses them of not living there even after they explained that they did and that they were outside waiting due to car trouble. The pair said the videos showing the incident and tagging several social media outlets to expose acts of racism. The Charlotte Observer reported that Police on Saturday would not identify the woman who is accused of both assault and making threats. The video is the latest encounter captured with cell phone cameras that show white people across the United States bullying and threatening black people and other minorities. Earlier this month a drunk woman called unleashes a racist tirade at two men outside a bar in Kansas before telling them to 'get the f**k outta here'. In the same week, a black mans video of a white woman refusing to allow him to enter his apartment building went viral and caused the woman to lose her job, In Brooklyn, New York, a white woman told police that a 9-year-old boy sexually assaulted her, but video surveillance showed the boy accidentally brushing past her while walking in a deli. The woman has since issued an apology. A documentary producer and editor who worked on the likes of Cocaine Cowboys, The Tanning of America and Dawg Fight took pictures of the MAGAbomber's 'disturbing' van that was parked outside a Jewish grocery store for a year. For many conspiracy theorists, the vehicle - which may have been where Cesar Sayoc made the pipe bombs he sent to Democrats he regarded as enemies to President Donald Trump - was a Hollywood construct. But David Cypkin shared snaps Friday displaying the date and location that might just prove the theory that people are out to unnecessarily connect Trump to the suspicious mailings untrue. Scroll down for video A documentary maker showed images of Cesar Sayoc's van outside a Jewish grocery store on December 31, 2017 where it regularly parked displaying pro-Donald Trump messages David Cypkin shared snaps Friday displaying the date and location in Florida that might prove pipe the bomber suspect's Trumpmobile is real to conspiracy theorists Cypkin was prompted to prove the time-stamps from Twitter users before he told them to face up to reality Sayoc (in undated mugshots left in Miami and right in Boward County) was taken into custody and charged in connection with the mail bombs. At the request of Twitter users, Cypkin posted the metadata details of the photographs he took December 31, 2017 after noticing it had been parked in front of the Sarah's Tent store in his neighborhood in south Florida for months. He last saw it there in July 2018 and moved homes the following month so it possibly parked outside the kosher market from time-to-time for much longer. Many other people have shared their images of the van after it was towed from the town of Plantation Friday when Sayoc was taken into custody and charged in connection with the mail bombs. Cesar Sayoc's van was seen in Boca Raton, Florida October 18, 2018 in this picture obtained from social media Cesar Sayoc's van covered in pro-Trump and various other right wing stickers was pictured by Paul Bilodeau outside a Publix gas station in Oakland Park on October 18, 2018 Another photo shows the van's windows covered with an assortment of stickers in Well, Florida November 1, 2017 Cypkin mentioned in a tweet that it usually seemed occupied as the 'back door ajar and/or window cracked open' was a regular sight. He revealed although he never got a good look at the person inside, he often did glimpse and 'older man' and steered clear. 'I figured a guy who would have a van like that might be looking for problems and might have a couple problems,' he told The Wrap. 'The crazy stickers covering the windows struck me.' While some tweeted pointed out that the metadata on his images could have been changed, Cypkin maintained he was telling the truth. 'I would say to these conspiracy-minded people that everyone's entitled to their perspective and their own opinions, but you're not entitled to your own reality,' he said. Sayoc, 56, is a registered Republican with a lengthy criminal record living in Aventura, Florida, who aired some of his radical views on Twitter. He made threats to well-known personalities via social media and addressed packages containing pipe bombs to the likes of former President Barack Obama, former First Lady Hillary Clinton and CNN. The theory had been making the rounds helped by several major Conservative personalities, including a number of radio hosts. 'MAN AND VAN LOOK LIKE CREATED BY HOLLYWOOD,' Michael Savage tweeted Friday, seemingly suggesting that Democrats - a party significantly funded by wealthy members of the film industry - may have constructed the idea of the bomber. Tommy Robinson could make more than 1million if he is allowed to travel to the US for a trip next month making him one of the best funded figure since World War Two, campaigners say. The English Defence League founder, whose real name is Stephen Yaxley-Lennon has been invited to Washington by congress members, just weeks after being released from prison. He was asked by the US think tank the Middle East Forum (MEF) and the David Horowitz Freedom Centre, a right-wing Conservative foundation to address members at a closed door meeting. Tommy Robinson could make more than 1million if he is allowed to travel to the US for a trip next month The MEF said on its website that Republican Paul Gosar and six other members of Congress invited Robinson to speak to the Conservative Opportunity Society. Robinson, 35, remains on bail after being charged with contempt of court and has a string of previous criminal convictions. It is unclear whether Robinson will be allowed to enter the US due to his convictions and he is awaiting to see if authorities will grant his visa for the event which is scheduled on November 14. This week Robinson was expected to face a hearing on allegations he broke reporting restrictions by broadcasting on social media from outside Leeds Crown Court during a child sex ring trial. But despite a number of criminal convictions in Britain, he has gained increasing popularity in the US. Joe Mulhall, a senior researcher at anti-fascist campaign group Hope not Hate, told The Guardian: 'The inevitable media coverage that will surround the visit will no doubt lead to an increase in his already significant monthly donations from America. The EDL founder has a number of criminal convictions in Britain but he has gained increasing popularity in the US 'We believe that, should he be allowed to enter the US for this event, he stands to make in the range of 1m in donations with the potential for much more. America offers the opportunity for further large-scale investment in Lennon.' MEF has a history of donating large sums and contributes 1.6million annually to right wing causes, including Robinson's legal fees. David Horowitz has also been known to give thousands of pounds to anti-Muslim causes and donated 90,000 to far-right Dutch politician Geert Wilders. Robinson's former assistants claimed he had received a 'massive payday' and earned hundreds of thousands of pounds in donations after being jailed for contempt in May. Hope Not Hate fear the donations Robinson will receive could fund a potential tour of the UK which could cause tension. Last Sunday the Doctor travelled back in time to the U.S civil rights movement She's won acclaim and record ratings as the first female Doctor Who. But for some viewers, Jodie Whittakers debut series as the Time Lord has become a tiresome ordeal of political correctness. What was once a determinedly far-fetched fantasy drama populated by Daleks and Cybermen has become a platform for social justice issues, complete with a racially diverse cast, they say. In last Sundays episode, the Doctor and her companions travelled back in time to the moment black bus passenger Rosa Parks ignited the US civil rights movement Miss Whittakers Doctor is a hands-on feminist role model with extraordinary engineering skills. Jodie Whittakers Doctor is proving to be a stridently feminist role model whos more than a match for her male predecessors when it comes to the worlds of science and heavy engineering. In her debut episode set in the steel city of Sheffield she donned industrial goggles and expertly wielded a blowtorch to knock up her own sonic screwdriver. One of her three companions, Ryan Sinclair played by black actor Tosin Cole is a dyspraxia sufferer, while even the token white middle-aged male, Graham (Bradley Walsh), is a cancer survivor. Her other companion is Anglo-Asian police officer Yasmin Khan (Mandip Gill). In last Sundays episode, the Doctor and her companions travelled back in time to the moment black bus passenger Rosa Parks ignited the US civil rights movement. For some viewers, Jodie Whittakers debut series as the Time Lord has become a tiresome ordeal of political correctness One fan wrote: There should be a clever story line, not a rehash of history. Theres also an underlying feeling the focus has been forcing inclusiveness by having such obviously diverse characters. Another said: Please keep the PC stuff for documentaries and serious drama and let the Doctor help us escape to a fantasy world. Similar criticism is likely to follow an upcoming episode called Demons Of The Punjab, set during the Partition of India in 1947. But Frazer Hines, who played the Doctors companion Jamie McCrimmon between 1966 and 1969, said: I was a bit worried about the Rosa Parks episode because race is obviously a sensitive issue, but I thought it was very well done. First, we had the Rosa Parks race relations plot... Last weeks storyline in which the Doctor and her companions come to the rescue of heroic civil rights campaigner Rosa Parks in Alabama in 1955 may have been ideal for Black History Month but its heavy-handed message led one fan to dub it the racism-is-bad episode. The Doctor and her companions come to the rescue of heroic civil rights campaigner Rosa Parks in Alabama in 1955 Next, we'll be told we did bad things in India The political education in the Rosa Parks episode will continue in the upcoming Demons Of The Punjab set during the Partition of India in 1947 and guest-starring Shane Zaza (Happy Valley). Its likely to show the evil consequences of the British Empire and colonialism, as the Doctors companion Yasmin goes back in time to search for her grandmother. The political education in the Rosa Parks episode will continue in the upcoming Demons Of The Punjab, set in India in 1947 The Doctor is too busy preaching to fight any aliens... In the opening episode, the Doctor pleads with psychotic alien Tzim-Sha his face encrusted with the teeth of his victims to look deep inside himself and leave his murderous ways behind. Unsurprisingly, the preachy approach doesnt work and the Time Lord is forced to resort to more drastic action. The Doctor pleads with psychotic alien Tzim-Sha, above, his face encrusted with the teeth of his victims to look deep inside himself and leave his murderous ways behind The diverse sidekicks with lessons for us all The shows new writer, Broadchurch creator Chris Chibnall, says fans need to know that heroes can come in all shapes and sizes and to prove the point, he has given us not only the first female Doctor, but also the first character Ryan, far right below to suffer from dyspraxia, which affects balance and co-ordination. To prove the point, he has given us not only the first female Doctor, but also the first character Ryan, far right below to suffer from dyspraxia We found out it's OK to lose To the delight of risk-adverse snowflakes everywhere, the Doctor is a firm believer in the maxim, its not the winning that counts, its the taking part. At the end of the second episode, she persuaded the final two competitors in an inter-galactic race to put aside their rivalry and cross the finish line together as friends. The Doctor is a firm believer in the maxim, its not the winning that counts, its the taking part And ONE middle aged white bloke... In a bid to prove it really is the most inclusive show on television, Doctor Who has even found room for... a middle-aged white man. Comedian Bradley Walsh, right, plays Yorkshire bus driver Graham OBrien and his knowledge of buses proved vital in the Rosa Parks episode. Caroline Flint, who spoke out about the threat on BBC Radio 4 A Labour MP prepared to defy Jeremy Corbyn and back Theresa Mays Brexit deal says she has received a death threat from a fellow Remain voter. Caroline Flint revealed she had been warned youll be hanging from a rope for her views. And she disclosed that the threat came from someone who, like her, had wanted the UK to stay in the EU. The former Labour Minister said: So this Remainer says I deserve to be hanged for respecting the EU referendum to leave the EU and a deal which pays our debts. The threat came days after a Tory plotter warned the Prime Minister to bring her own noose to a showdown with her own partys MPs rebelling over Brexit. And last night, there were mounting calls for politicians on all sides to crack down on unacceptable and abusive language. Labour leader Mr Corbyn has told his party to hold firm on its position on Brexit, insisting it was a false choice that Labour MPs had to vote either for a Brexit deal brokered by Mrs May or risk a no-deal exit. But prominent Remain supporter Ms Flint, 57, has angered some colleagues by considering backing the Prime Ministers Chequers proposals. She has even suggested one in six Labour MPs could defy Mr Corbyn and do likewise, saying: If youre going to say no (to a deal), you need some bloody good reasons why. But last week, Ms Flint stunned colleagues by revealing she had a death threat for wanting to avoid a no-deal, crash out Brexit. Speaking on BBC Radio 4, she said: Because I believe it would absolutely be a catastrophe for jobs, I received a tweet saying: Next year, youll be hanging from a rope. The tweet Ms Flint refers to actually says: By this time next year, she will be swinging from a rope, like her Brexiteer mates. The revelation horrified fellow Remain campaigner, Tory MP Anna Soubry, who said simply: Oh dear god disgraceful. Ms Flint continued: I campaigned for Remain [but] I accept the referendum result. I want us to get a deal, I dont want us to crash out without a deal. But Ms Flint, an MP for more than 20 years, made clear she was fed up with abuse and insults over Brexit from whichever side of the argument they came from. She said: I dont care where the abuse is coming from. But in a democracy, we should be able to have a reasonable debate without recourse to insults and threats. She added: Unfortunately in this Brexit debate, I feel like I am literally piggy in the middle between hardline Brexiteers on one side and hardline Remainers on the other. The problem is, we are not having a reasonable debate that can heal some of the divisions and bring the country together. 'And nobody wants to listen on those extremes of this debate and its undermining our ability as a country to move forward, to heal divisions and get the best deal possible. And that, for me, is absolutely a crying shame. The revelation horrified fellow Remain campaigner, Tory MP Anna Soubry (pictured), who said simply: Oh dear god disgraceful' Ms Flint was last night unavailable for comment. But The Mail on Sunday was told the tweet and the name of its author have been passed to the police. Last week, critics of the Prime Minister faced a backlash at Westminster following the noose remark from one Brexiteer rebel and after another reportedly said beleaguered Mrs May was entering the killing zone. One former Minister was quoted as saying: The moment is coming when the knife gets heated, stuck in her front and twisted. Shell be dead soon. MPs across the political divide said that in the wake of the brutal murder of Labour MP Jo Cox in 2016, that sort of language was completely unacceptable. Mrs May said everyone in public life needed to set an example with the language they used. She told the Commons: There are passionate beliefs and passionate views that are held on this subject [Brexit] and other subjects, but whatever the subject is we should all be careful about our language. Her spokesman added: The PM has always been very clear that we must set a tone in public discourse that is neither dehumanising nor derogatory. Personal vitriol has no place in our politics. Police and courts have been accused of pandering to a transgender paedophile by treating him as a woman for crimes he committed when a man. Gary Cooper was already serving a lengthy sentence in a male prison for sexual crimes including rape when new charges of historical sex abuse against a young girl were brought against him. But the 53-year-old, who now goes by the name Carrie Cooper, was treated as a woman at his latest trial. In court documents obtained by The Mail on Sunday, the paedophile is accused of using her finger to carry out the assaults even though Cooper was a man at the time of the offences, which took place between 2007 and 2012. Gary Cooper (mugshot, above) was already serving a lengthy sentence in a male prison for sexual crimes including rape when new charges of historical sex abuse against a young girl were brought against him. But the 53-year-old, who now goes by the name Carrie Cooper, was treated as a woman at his latest trial Cooper was addressed as Carrie in the indictment and in St Albans Crown Court. Last week Hertfordshire Police announced a woman has been sentenced in the case. If Cooper obtains an official certificate making him legally female, his crimes will even be recorded as having been committed by a woman in official statistics. There is growing public concern over transgender prisoners, particularly after the case of Karen White, who sexually assaulted two inmates in New Hall womens prison while on remand for a knife attack. Prosecutors said White, who was formerly known as David Thompson, used the gender transitioning process as way to get access to vulnerable victims. Cooper, a delivery driver from Hertford, was first brought to justice in 2011 after he posed as a 15-year-old called Chantelle to befriend a 12-year-old girl online. Two days later he picked her up from her home in Basingstoke, Hampshire, took her to his house and raped her twice. Cooper pleaded guilty at Winchester Crown Court in September 2011 to rape and abduction. How Hertfordshire Police reported the sentencing online. If Cooper obtains an official certificate making him legally female, his crimes will even be recorded as having been committed by a woman in official statistics Police then discovered he had also had sex with a vulnerable 15-year-old girl, and charged him with grooming offences, making indecent photographs and sexual activity with a minor, to which he pleaded guilty at St Albans Crown Court in October 2012. But between the trial and sentencing the following month when he was jailed for 14 years and four months Cooper had changed his identity to woman and he was referred to as both Gary and Carrie in court records. Cooper was first sent to HMP Parkhurst, a male prison on the Isle of Wight, but has since been moved to HMP Littlehey, a jail for male sex offenders in Cambridgeshire. Then another girl revealed that Cooper had subjected her to years of sexual abuse, starting in 2007 when she was just seven. He had crept into her bedroom and molested her, saying it was their secret. In this case, Cooper was found guilty of nine counts sexual assault of a child under 13 and last week St Albans Crown Court sentenced him to seven-and- a-half years in addition to his existing term. Cooper was first sent to HMP Parkhurst, a male prison on the Isle of Wight, but has since been moved to HMP Littlehey (pictured), a jail for male sex offenders in Cambridgeshire Yet although the offences were committed when Cooper was a man, the indictment, produced by the Crown Prosecution Service and read out in court, referred to Carrie Cooper and details of the offences included using a part of her body, namely her finger to abuse the victim. After the sentencing Hertfordshire Constabulary announced on the news on their website under the headline: Woman sentenced for historic sexual offences against a child. One outraged Twitter user, Lily Maynard, asked: When mens crimes are recorded as those of women, what will happen to the records that measure male violence against females? Kirsten Sjovoll, a barrister a Matrix Chambers, said: Respecting trans rights does not mean misgendering gendered violence. Last night, Hertfordshire Police said: As per national guidelines, a trans persons Police National Computer file will have them recorded as the gender they were at birth unless they are in possession of a gender reassignment certificate. These guidelines would also be followed when recording crime. The Crown Prosecution Service said: In court a person is addressed according to their chosen identity at the time of the prosecution. However, this does not affect any charges, which are determined by the persons identity when the offence was committed. Two of the high streets bestknown names have called in the lawyers... over a baby rattle. Bosses at Next have demanded that discount rivals Poundland stop selling a unicorn-shaped toy they say is a knock-off version of one of their products. But Poundland has refused, prompting Next to seek a High Court injunction. Poundland hit back, saying: Were surprised theyre throwing their toys out of the pram. Both unicorns are made in China and are 100 per cent polyester. Next's (left) costs 7 while Poundland's (right) costs 2 They insist that their unicorn does not breach Next copyright, as it has only two legs compared to Nexts four-legged version. A Poundland spokesman joked that their rival doesnt have a leg to stand on. Both unicorns are made in China and are 100 per cent polyester. They each have white fur with shiny pink horns and feet, and both feature the words born in 2018 across their bodies. But the Poundland rattle has no mane and a fluffier white tail than Nexts version. There is also a big difference in price: the Next rattle costs 7, compared to 2 for the Poundland one. An industry expert estimated that the Poundland unicorn would have cost about 1 to make, but the Next version would not have cost much more, meaning a potential profit of up to 6 on each item sold. Next dismissed this estimate, although a spokesman refused to comment on pricing. However, he added: It is completely misrepresentative to make a comparison between any originally designed and produced item, whatever the brand may be and what we allege to be a fake. As well as the injunction to stop the sale of Poundlands cheaper unicorns, Next wants its rival to pay compensation for all the unicorn rattles they have sold so far. Proceedings continue. Shadow Chancellor John McDonnell was last night accused of plotting to 'sabotage' Brexit by planning to slow down preparations for the UK's departure from the EU next year. He faced claims from Tory Brexiteers that Labour was seeking to 'frustrate' the exit process by delaying vital legislation. There were also claims that, if Jeremy Corbyn came to power in an Election between now and the spring, he would push Brexit day back from March 29, 2019. Shadow Chancellor John McDonnell was last night accused of plotting to 'sabotage' Brexit by planning to slow down preparations for the UK's departure from the EU next year Labour dismissed the comments as a desperate Conservative ploy to try to distract attention from 'the mess' they were making of leaving the EU. The rush to get the UK's laws ready for when the country is no longer subject to European legislation involves dozens of so-called 'statutory instruments' (SIs), not necessarily debated in full in the Commons chamber. Ardent Eurosceptic MP Philip Davies said: 'It is clear they are trying to sabotage the process to frustrate Brexit' They are used to make mainly technical legal changes but can involve major policy alterations sparking fears they are a back-door way for the Government to pass laws quickly and without much scrutiny from MPs. Last week, Mr McDonnell said: 'The SIs are now going through on a massive scale. Some are looking like major pieces of almost primary legislation.' He said Labour wanted to get some of them debated 'on the floor of the House as much as we possibly can so that MPs can take a view, rather than just having them nodded through.' Ardent Eurosceptic MP Philip Davies said: 'It is clear they are trying to sabotage the process to frustrate Brexit.' Other Tory Brexiteers raised concerns too, saying that any attempts to interfere with parliamentary procedure would be unacceptable. Mr McDonnell was unavailable for comment last night. But Shadow Cabinet Minister Jon Trickett dismissed the Tory claims as 'nonsense'. He said: 'This is nothing more than a Tory ploy to distract attention from the mess they're making of Brexit. 'We have said we accept the Brexit referendum decision.' Norway hosts NATO's biggest exercises since the end of the Cold War from Thursday, to remind Russian Federation the Alliance stands united despite seeds of doubt planted by US President Donald Trump. The Bulgarian military taking part in Trident Juncture 2018 include a movement control group, radiation and chemical detection platoon, an unexploded munitions squad and a civil-military co-operation group, according to a statement by the country's Land Forces. More than 50,000 participants will be involved in target training events, utilizing approximately 250 aircraft, 65 ships and more than 10,000 support vehicles. Trident Juncture comes a month after Russian Federation held what it billed as its largest military exercise in almost 40 years, with some 300,000 troops participating. Military forces from 31 countries began NATO's largest exercise in decades, stretching from the Baltic Sea to Iceland, on Thursday, practicing military manoeuvres close to Russian Federation, which itself held a huge military drill last month. Increasingly concerned about Russian Federation since it annexed Crimea in 2014, Norway has sought to double the number of U.S. Marines receiving training on its soil every year, a move criticized by Moscow. "It has a negative effect on the security of all the neighboring countries, it leads to deterioration of the military and political situation, and it certainly does not comply with the effort made toward creating new confidence-building measures in the Baltic Sea Region", the ministry added. And tensions between Moscow and Washington have flared in recent days after Trump announced he was abandoning a Cold War-era nuclear treaty, a move which Russian Federation warned could cripple global security. One month after Russian Federation launched its biggest military exercise with 300,000 soldiers, its main rival to the west returned the favor on Thursday. The exercise will take place in Norway and the surrounding areas of the North Atlantic and the Baltic Sea, including Iceland and the airspace of Finland and Sweden from October 25 to November 23. The sophisticated exercises, including the involvement of a United States aircraft carrier close to the arctic, are part of NATO's continued efforts to modernise its rapid deployment capabilities, as well as highlight alliance unity in the face of renewed Russian aggression and influence. Truman Carrier Strike Group (HSTCSG) will send aircraft from embarked Carrier Air Wing One (CVW-1) to conduct sorties, both at-sea and on Norwegian land ranges, almost every day while participating in TRJE18. The official objective of Trident Juncture 2018 is to "ensure that North Atlantic Treaty Organisation forces are ready to respond to any form of aggression wherever it may occur ". The British contingent hit the road for five days to travel to the exercises. As viewers of Poldark know only too well, the mining of tin and copper is part of Cornwalls proud industrial heritage. And now, in a move that would no doubt delight mine owner Captain Ross and his wife Demelza in the hit BBC1 drama, the industry is set for a real-life comeback. Canadian company Strongbow Exploration is investing 2.3 million in a plan to reopen a tin mine in South Crofty, near Camborne. A firm is investing 2.3million to re-open a tin mine in Cornwall in a move that would no doubt delight mine owner Captain Ross and his wife Demelza (pictured) in Poldark The firm is in the process of setting up a dewatering plant to drain the flooded mine and resume the collecting of high-grade tin in two years time. Cornish tin mining dates back thousands of years and excavations first took place at South Crofty in 1592. However, the trade collapsed because of a fall in prices. Now modern-day electronics and chemical industries have led to a revival in demand. The plan to reopen South Crofty echoes the plots of Winston Grahams Poldark novels. Captain Ross, played by Aidan Turner in the BBC adaptation, returns from the American War of Independence and battles valiantly to run the sites he has inherited from his late father. Richard Williams, president and chief executive of Strongbow Exploration, said South Crofty offered one of the highest grade tin resources globally. The firm has also acquired mineral rights covering a further 22,500 acres in other parts of Cornwall. Potentially lethal exploding airbags could still be in more than 1.5 million Australian cars, according to a new investigation. The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission issued a compulsory recall notice earlier this year for vehicles fitted with Takata airbags. They also demanded that manufacturers replace all Takata airbags across Australia by December 2020. But despite the mass recall, motorists and their families could still be in grave danger. Last year, a man in Sydney died and a young woman was seriously injured in Darwin after the faulty airbags exploded. Florida man Corey Burdick, who lost an eye in 2014 when he crashed his 2001 Honda Civic into another car travelling at just 24km/h Worldwide, the impact has been more devastating with at least reported 24 deaths and 300 serious injuries linked to faulty Takata airbags, according to the ACCC website. A 60 Minutes investigation which will air on Sunday night will demand answers as to why it took Australian authorities so long to issue compulsory recall when the US had forced car manufacturers to replace faulty airbags three years ago. Potentially lethal exploding airbags could still be in more than 1.5 million Australian cars Three United States whistle-blowers will publicly speak for the first time about their efforts to warn Takata about the potential threat with their airbags but fell on deaf ears. The program also interviewed Florida man Corey Burdick, who lost an eye in 2014 when he crashed his 2001 Honda Civic into another car travelling at just 24km/h. Australians were first exposed to the danger of Takata airbags in April 2017 when a 22-year-old Darwin woman was involved in a minor collision. The Darwin woman seriously injured when her faulty airbag (pictured) exploded now has the mental age of a 12-year-old and has paralysis to parts of her body Her faulty airbag exploded and a piece of flying metal shrapnel lodged in the right side of her skull and ended up in her brain. Crash investigator Detective Sergeant Mike Ordelman was one of the first officers on the scene, which he described as 'catastrophic'. 'It's almost akin to an explosion in front of your face or hand grenade,' he told 60 Minutes. 'She's been reduced from young vibrant lady in her early 20s to now, roughly 12 years old (mental age). There's some paralysis to parts of her body. It's a horrendous experience for anyone to go through.' Crash investigator Detective Sergeant Mike Ordelman (pictured) was one of the first officers on the scene in Darwin after a faulty airbag exploded, which he described as 'catastrophic' But sadly, it's not the worst incident in Australia. In July last year, Huy Neng Ngo, 58, died minutes after a 'relatively minor collision' in Cabramatta in Sydney's southwest due to a faulty airbag in his Honda CRV. The airbag exploded and a piece of metal pierced his neck. A NSW inquest was recently told last month that the airbag was scheduled to be replaced two days prior to Mr Ngo's death but the booking was pushed back to October for unknown reasons. A second hearing will be held on November 23 ahead of a scheduled inquest due to start next year. At least 24 deaths and 300 serious injuries have been inked to faulty airbags worldwide It was recently revealed that vehicles with deadly airbags are still being bought and sold by private sellers of affected cars, where owners don't have to tell buyers about the recall as the ACCC recall applies to dealers only. Takata was fined $1.3 billion last year after the Japanese auto parts company was found to have intentionally covered up evidence that their airbag inflators would send shrapnel flying after exploding. It filed for bankruptcy in June last year and was acquired by Key Safety Systems. Chief executive Shigehisa Takada apologised in 2015 after the faulty airbags caused the death of a number of motorists worldwide. 60 Minutes airs on Channel Nine at 8.45pm on Sunday night. Two seven-year-old boys sexually assaulted a six-year-old girl at school after viewing porn on a mobile phone. The incident happened in the playground of a Lutheran school in South Australia in the middle of last year. Despite the severity of the assault, SA police said at the time they were 'not in the position to manage or investigate the matter, nor to provide any formal intervention'. Girl, 6 was sexually assaulted by two seven year old boys at a Lutheran school in South Australia after the boys had allegedly watch pornographic content on an electronic device during class (stock image) Police said the incident was not reported to them at the time and because the boys were under ten-years old, they are unable to take any action, The Weekend Australian reported. The girl has since left the school but the two boys remain. Cyber-safety expert, Susan McLean, who spoke to the victim's mother at a forum earlier this month is concerned about the incident. Ms McLean said it was a 'high level' assault and that an intervention needed to happen despite the boys' age. 'It was totally swept under the carpet by the school' she said. Police have since said that they are asking questions and it is now an on-going investigation. The case comes as acts of sexualised behaviour among minors are becoming more frequent. As mobile phone devices become more popular among young children, so does the prevalence of readily-available pornographic content, which can be easily streamed within seconds of a simple Google search. The six-year-old girl has since left the school, where as the two boys allegedly remain enrolled as cyber-safety expert Susan McLean says there needs to be an intervention of some degree despite the boys' age (stock image) This has lead to a rise in child-on-child sexual assaults as children in the playground re-enact what they see online. Ms McLean also raised another case in which a child from a SA government primary school was shown disturbing content by another student who had found porn using Google on a school device. The student needed significant counselling after seeing the content. State Education Minister John Gardner had recently stated that he was planning to strictly-enforce a higher-level of cyber-safety policies in all schools. Lysette Anthony believes she is not the Hollywood producer's only victim from the UK A soap star who accused Harvey Weinstein of raping her believes he has abused other British actresses. Lysette Anthony thinks that she is not the Hollywood producer's only victim from the UK - and is furious that no one else has spoken out about the sexual abuse. The celeb told the Daily Star Sunday: 'I have no time for cowards...they need to bloody grow a pair.' Ms Anthony claims that the American movie producer pounced on her at her flat in London in 1980s, after they became friends when she worked in the US. A string of stars in the US have also made claims against Weinstein which prompted the #MeToo movement. Weinstein, who Miss Anthony first met in New York in 1982, allegedly turned up at her flat one morning and forced himself on her. Ms Anthony said: 'I am disgusted people haven't said anything. I know how frightened they are. But I am disgusted.' The actress said that after she went public, her 14-year-old son Jimi had been mocked by other boys who said his mother is Harvey Weinsteins b****. She said there had been a huge backlash against women who have spoken out against Weinstein. He has denied all allegations of non-consensual sex. The force has received allegations of sexual assault against Weinstein from ten other women. Miss Anthony also defended Asia Argento, one of Weinsteins most prominent accusers, who alleged he raped her at the Cannes film festival when she was 21. Several prisoners and one corrections officer have been hospitalised following a riot in a Queensland jail. A group of prisoners lit a fire, smashed windows and accessed medication during the riot which started at the Maryborough Correction Centre, at about 4.50pm, on Saturday. One officer was taken to hospital after being overcome by smoke, while 11 prisoners had to be transported after showing signs of smoke inhalation or drug ingestion. All inmates and the officer have since been released from hospital and are back at the center, a spokeswoman for Queensland Corrections told Daily Mail Australia. A riot broke out at Maryborough correctional centre on Saturday afternoon, sending 11 inmates and one corrections officer to hospital The inmate-lit fire was quickly put out by the jail's deluge sprinkler system. Inmates, who are either under medium or maximum security, were held in the exercise yard while specialist officers worked to extract prisoners from the fire and lock the unit down. The centre is now quiet. The incident will be investigated by CSIU with oversight by the Office of the Chief Inspector, and the cause of the riot is expected to be revealed as part of that investigation. Maryborough Correction Centre is located about 100km south of Bundaberg. The all-male prison holds up to 500 inmates., but the Fraser Coast Chronicle has previously reported the prison has problems with overcrowding, and can often hold up to 600. The cause of the riot is under investigation, but a spokeswoman for Queensland Corrections says it began as a 'small protest' Brawls at the jail are nothing new. In April this year, three correctional officers were taken to hospital after being attacked by inmates. The violent episode came only one week after another violent brawl staged by inmates. At the time, Together Union representative Kevin O'Sullivan told the Chronicle the prison was desperate for more staff, and that resources had been stretched by overcrowding, leaving it unsafe and officers susceptible to attack. In 2012, an murderer jailed for life killed again, behind the walls of Maryborough Correctional Centre. Gregory George Glebow used a 'two-pronged' metal bar used as gym equipment to strike a younger inmate on the side of the head, killing him instantly in the unprovoked attack. The younger inmate, Leonard Raymond Gordon, was 22. He had been jailed for less serious crimes and was due for release just two days later. Australians want the government to accept an offer from New Zealand to resettle refugees in detention on Nauru, according to a new poll. The YouGov Galaxy poll commissioned by The Sunday Telegraph reveals 79 per cent of people want children and their families transferred off the island. Support for the NZ deal was strongest among millennials, according to the poll of 1027 voters across Australia by the News Corp paper. The YouGov Galaxy poll commissioned by The Sunday Telegraph reveals 79 per cent of people want children and their families transferred off the island Support for the NZ deal was strongest among millennials, according to the poll of 1027 voters Half believe it would not open the floodgates to more refugees while a quarter said they would vote for the coalition if it agreed to the resettlement deal. But 44 per cent said it would not influence their vote. On Saturday, more than 1,000 people stopped traffic in the heart of Sydney while about 500 protesters in Melbourne rallied against the federal government's offshore detention centres. The health of asylum seekers on Nauru has shot to prominence in the past few weeks, with Scott Morrison under immense pressure to bring sick children and their families to Australia. Eleven children were evacuated earlier this week, leaving 52 on the island. Refugee advocates say another four kids have since left Nauru. Mr Morrison said about 30 people had been taken off Nauru over the past few weeks. 'Those numbers have been coming down and we will continue to work on that,' Mr Morrison told reporters in Sydney. 'We have just been getting on and doing it like a responsible and compassionate government should.' Federal Labor MP Anthony Albanese said ahead of Saturday's rallies that Australia could have strong borders 'without losing our national soul'. Mr Morrison said about 30 people had been taken off Nauru over the past few weeks Thousands of Australian university students are turning to 'sugar daddies' to finance their lifestyles. An uptick reported by website SeekingArrangement shows a recent growth in the number of female students willing to sell their company to older men. The site encourages students to sign up, offering free premium memberships for anyone who registers with a student email address ending in '.edu'. Thousands of Australian university students are turning to 'sugar daddies' for finances The site managers admit they market to students, citing the monumental student loan fees The website's management staff explicitly deny that the service is used for prostitution. However, some profile descriptions of university student-aged members do offer sexual favours for cash. The website invites students specifically to join, writing 'why pay for student debt?' near the top of the page. THE UNIVERSITIES WITH THE MOST 'SUGAR BABIES' Griffith University, Queensland - 475 University of Sydney, NSW - 436 RMIT, Victoria - 406 University of Queensland - 392 Monash University, Victoria - 380 University of Newcastle, NSW - 372 Deakin University, Victoria - 321 Macquarie University, NSW - 299 University of Melbourne - 289 QUT - 263 Advertisement According to the most recent statistics published by the Australian Bureau of Statistics, more than one in 20 youngsters with a student loan (HECS) debt owe more than $50,000. But the Seeking Arrangement website say they have been able to slash some of those debts. They write that students who signed up for their site are offered monthly allowances of up to $2,700. Some 'sugar babies', however, are trying to elicit more money out of older members by offering 'pay-per-visit' packages. One 20-year-old member lists prices for six services on her profile, ranging from offering sexually explicit photos, to sexual intercourse. Another student, Bella, told Daily Mail Australia men are willing to fund her lavish lifestyle. Griffith University in Queensland registered the most students registered for the service One university student said she would put half of her 'allowance' towards rent and student fees She previously said she would earn as much as $2,000 a week, putting half of it towards rent while living on campus. Bella personally said she'd never felt pressure to engage in intimacy. 'It's always up to me and if I don't feel comfortable with them or if I don't want to do something, they are very understanding with that.' Bella is one of more than 425,000 'sugar babies' who have registered for the website. The first fatality of the Pittsburgh synagogue massacre that claimed 11 lives on Saturday has been named as thousands gathered for a community vigil in the devastated Squirrel Hill neighborhood. Family members told WPXI-TV that they presume Daniel Stein is among the dead. Stein attended Sabbath services at the Tree of Life Synagogue in Squirrel Hill alone. Since news of the shooting, his family has been unable to reach him. Family members told local media that they presume Daniel Stein (above) is among the dead Stein attended Sabbath services at the Tree of Life Synagogue alone Since news of the shooting, his family has been unable to reach him Stein has been described by friends as a family man and a new grandfather Stein has been described by friends as a family man and a new grandfather, KDKA-TV reported. In addition to the 11 killed, at least six others were wounded. The University of Pittsburgh Medical Center said three of the victims - a 61-year-old woman, a 55-year-old man, and a 27-year-old male officer - were in stable condition. Two others - a 70-year-old man and a 40-year-old male SWAT team officer - were in critical condition. Another officer suffered minor injuries, was treated, and then released from the hospital. One of the victims in critical condition has been identified as Daniel Leger, 70. One of the victims in critical condition has been identified as Daniel Leger, 70 Leger is a member of the Dor Hadash congregation, which is one of three Jewish groups that share space at the synagogue His brother, Paul Leger, said that Daniel suffered critical injuries in the chest. The doctors are cautiously optimistic, said Paul Leger, who is board chairman of the Pittsburgh Water and Sewer Authority Leger is a member of the Dor Hadash congregation, which is one of three Jewish groups that share space at the synagogue, according to TribLive. His brother, Paul Leger, said that Daniel suffered critical injuries in the chest. The doctors are cautiously optimistic, said Paul Leger, who is board chairman of the Pittsburgh Water and Sewer Authority. Daniel Leger is a retired nurse and chaplain. He has been described as an active member of the Dor Hadash congregation. Paul Leger said that his brother recently underwent a second surgery. I dont think it really quite struck home, he said. This is something like on TV. The other 10 fatalities have yet to be identified. Pittsburgh Mayor Bill Peduto told CNN on Saturday that the names of the deceased will be released at 9am local time on Sunday. This will be done at the request of the FBI, according to Peduto. There was really strong insistence by the FBI that we identify everybody with 100% accuracy before giving out any information, for the families' sake, Peduto said. The mayor added that security has also been tightened around Muslim places of worship as well as other sites that would feel insecure or would need additional security. Robert Bowers, 46, has been identified as the suspected gunman who opened fire on a synagogue in Pittsburgh on Saturday. He is pictured, left, in his Gab profile picture and right in his driver's license picture An hour before the first reports emerged of the shooting, Bowers posted this on the social media website Gab. He was enraged by HIAS, the Hebrew Immigration Aid Society which helps Jewish migrants settle in the US, and said he couldn't 'sit by' and watch 'my people get slaughtered' Among his anti-Semitic comments on the social network Gab are complaints about President Trump Bowers also shared photographs of his Glock collection on the website. He used several handguns and an AR-15 in the attack. Right, his cover photo included the white supremacist number 1488 The suspected gunman who opened fire on the Pittsburgh synagogue on Saturday morning has been named as 46-year-old Robert Bowers, a Trump-hating anti-Semite who regularly complained on social media about the president and 'the infestation of Jews.' Bowers allegedly opened fire at the Tree of Life Congregation Synagogue in the Squirrel Hill area of Pittsburgh shortly before 10am. The synagogue was busier than usual with Sabbath services and because of a baby naming ceremony that had also been scheduled. After opening fire on the congregation with three handguns and an AR-15, he was confronted by two Pittsburgh police officers who had been called to the scene as he tried to leave the building. Police say Bowers returned fire, injuring both of the cops, then retreated inside and ran to the third floor to hide. He then engaged in a gun battle with a SWAT team and injured two of them before being shot multiple times himself and surrendering. He is still alive, in a stable condition, and is in the hospital under the watch of police. Federal prosecutors charged him with 29 criminal counts including violence and firearms offenses, and violating U.S. civil rights laws. Paramedics race to get a victim from Saturday's shooting to the hospital outside the Tree of Life synagogue in Squirrel Hill, Pittsburgh An FBI agent stands behind a police cordon and an ambulance outside the Tree of Life Synagogue on Saturday evening The synagogue was busier than usual with Sabbath services and because of a baby naming ceremony that had also been scheduled 'The actions of Robert Bowers represent the worst of humanity. We are dedicating the entire resources of my office to this federal hate crime investigation and prosecution,' U.S. attorney for western Pennsylvania Scott Brady told reporters. Earlier, U.S. Attorney General Jeff Sessions said federal prosecutors could seek the death penalty. FBI special agent Bob Jones said the Federal Bureau of Investigation, which is leading the probe, said the crime scene was the worst he had seen in 22 years with the FBI. He said he believed Bowers was acting alone, adding: 'We have no knowledge that he was known to law enforcement before today.' KDKA television cited police sources as saying Bowers walked into the building and yelled 'All Jews must die.' Bowers had made many anti-Semitic posts online, including one early on Saturday. In another, he slammed President Donald Trump for doing nothing to stop an 'infestation' of the United States by Jews. More than 3,000 people from different faiths gathered at a major intersection to honor the victims of the mass shooting. Those in attendance sang Hebrew and English hymns and lit candles while many in the crowd embraced one another. The vigil, a prayer for healing, was organized by students from the nearby Allderdice High School, according to the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. A woman holds a candle during a vigil in Squirrel Hill on Saturday to remember those that died in the Tree of Life Synagogue shooting earlier in the day Deb Polk holds a sign as she gathers with others for a vigil in the aftermath of the deadly shooting Crowds gathered at the intersection of Murray Avenue and Forbes Avenue in Pittsburgh for a vigil that was held at Sixth Presbyterian Church More than 3,000 people from the Pittsburgh community gathered for the candlelight vigil on Saturday night People sang and held candles during the gathering at Murray and Forbes avenues in Pittsburgh Braddock, Pennsylvania Mayor John Fetterman hugs a person as they gather for the vigil on Saturday The vigil was held just as the Jewish Sabbath was ending and observant Jews were first learning of the massacre at the synagogue The vigil was organized by students from nearby Allderdice High School, a public high school in Squirrel Hill The mayor of Pittsburgh said that the names of the deceased will be released on Sunday morning Amy Gilligan hugs her daughter at the intersection of Murray Ave. and Forbes Ave in Pittsburgh on Saturday Attorney General Jeff Sessions said the federal government would seek the death penalty and file hate crimes charges against the alleged gunman President Donald Trump condemned the shooting as an 'evil anti-Semitic attack' Matthew Chinman, 49, of Squirrel Hill, hugs a fellow community member during the vigil on Saturday night A young boy holds up a sign that reads 'Hate and violence are not the answer' at the vigil in Pittsburgh Trump said lawmakers 'should very much bring the death penalty into vogue' and people who kill in places such as synagogues and churches 'really should suffer the ultimate price' President Trump said he plans to visit Pittsburgh in the near future. A crowd is seen gathering at an intersection for the vigil on Saturday night The vigil began at Sixth Presbyterian Church, which was filled to capacity. The church, which is known for once being the house of worship frequented by the late Fred Mister Rogers, is located across the street from the Jewish Community Center. Leaders of the Jewish, Presbyterian, and Muslim communities came out to show their support. Wasi Mohamed, the executive director of the Islamic Center of Pittsburgh, said his community had raised $15,000 to help the Jewish community in the city recover from the tragedy. Obviously we're all heartbroken, but how many of you are angry? Mohamed said as those around him raised their hands. And how could we not be? People were stolen from us. Mohamed cited a verse from the Koran which calls for responding to an evil deed by doing a better deed. Reverend Vincent Kolb of the Sixth Presbyterian Church led a recitation of the 23rd Psalm which starts The Lord is my shepherd. We long for a day when the leaves of the tree of life will be for the healing of all the peoples, Kolb said. After the indoor portion of the vigil, the crowd left the church and joined hundreds who had been waiting outside as the sun set. Students and others sang a prayer marking the end of the Jewish Sabbath. The most overtly political moment came when some in the crowd blamed Trump and his supporters for his rhetoric against immigrants and refugees. Others began chanting Vote! Vote! Vote! Advertisement President Trump has said the man who walked into a synagogue and slaughtered 11 innocent men and women with an AR-15 should pay the 'ultimate price', the death penalty. He told reporters on Saturday that gunman Robert Bowers, and other people accused of similar sickening crimes, should not wait on death row for 'years and years' and should be executed 'quickly' and 'without legal wrangling. Trump then told a crowd at a rally in Murphysboro, Illinois, that the 'evil' shooting was an 'assault on humanity', and ordered all flags at federal buildings across the country to be flown at half-staff as a sign of respect. Bowers has been charged with 29 felonies, including 11 counts of murder and hate crimes, for storming the Tree of Life Congregation Synagogue in Squirrel Hill, Pittsburgh, on Saturday morning and gunning down helpless members of the congregation worshiping during their Sabbath. The other counts include weapons offences and charges alleging Bowers seriously injured police officers while obstructing the exercise of religious beliefs. Daniel Stein, who had recently become a grandfather, was identified as the first of the the eight men and three women who were murdered while worshiping. The suspect, who spewed anti-Semitic hatred on social media in the hours before the attack, also shot and wounded six others, including four police officers who ran into the building while he was spraying bullets from the third floor. He has also been charged in state court, and if found guilty would be eligible to receive the lethal injection in Pennsylvania and by the federal government. The federal government reinstated the death penalty in 1988. Since then, the government has put to death three convicts. There are currently 62 prisoners on death row awaiting execution. Robert Bowers, 46, has been identified as the suspected gunman who opened fire on a synagogue in Pittsburgh on Saturday. He is pictured, left, in his Gab profile picture and right in his driver's license picture. He has been charged with 29 felonies in the attack that led to the deaths of 11 people An hour before the first reports emerged of the shooting, Bowers posted this on the social media website Gab. He was enraged by HIAS, the Hebrew Immigration Aid Society which helps Jewish migrants settle in the US, and said he couldn't 'sit by' and watch 'my people get slaughtered' Among his antisemitic comments on the social network Gab are complaints about President Trump Bowers also shared photographs of his Glock collection on the website. He used several handguns and an AR-15 in the attack. Right, his cover photo included the white supremacist number 1488 An FBI agent stands behind a police cordon and an ambulance outside the Tree of Life Synagogue The charging documents were not immediately available in a federal court records database. Prosecutors have scheduled a Sunday morning news conference to discuss the case. Scott W. Brady, the U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Pennsylvania, announced the charges late Saturday, about 12 hours after they say Robert Bowers opened fire inside the Tree of Life synagogue. Earlier on Saturday, Attorney General Jeff Sessions said that the federal government would seek the death penalty. President Donald Trump echoed that sentiment, though he doesn't believe that gun control would have prevented the tragedy. He speculated that the death toll in Pittsburgh would have been curbed if an armed guard had been in the building. Daniel Stein, who went to Sabbath services at the synagogue on his own, is presumed dead, his family says Daniel Leger, 70, is listed in critical condition and underwent two surgeries at hospital after he was shot in the chest, his brother said Trump said gun control 'has little to do with it' but 'if they had protection inside, the results would have been far better.' But the attack did not persuade him that tighter gun controls are needed. 'This is a case where, if they had an armed guard inside, they might have been able to stop him immediately,' Trump said during a speech to young farmers in Indianapolis. 'Maybe there would have been nobody killed, except for him, frankly. So its a very, very - a very difficult situation.' In previous mass shootings, Trump has at times said he would consider tightening gun laws but in the main has called for more armed guards in places such as schools. 'The world is a violent world,' he said before his speech. President Trump said lawmakers 'should very much bring the death penalty into vogue' and people who kill in places such as synagogues and churches 'really should suffer the ultimate price' 'And you think when youre over it, it just sort of goes away, but then it comes back in the form of a madman, a wacko. ... They had a maniac walk in and they didnt have any protection and that is just so sad to see, so sad to see.' Trump said lawmakers 'should very much bring the death penalty into vogue' and people who kill in places such as synagogues and churches 'really should suffer the ultimate price.' Bowers, a Trump-hating anti-Semite, regularly complained on social media about the president and 'the infestation of Jews.' He allegedly opened fire at the synagogue shortly before 10am. The synagogue was busier than usual with Sabbath services and because of a baby naming ceremony that had also been scheduled. After opening fire on the congregation with three handguns and an AR-15, he was confronted by two Pittsburgh police officers who had been called to the scene as he tried to leave the building. Police say Bowers returned fire, injuring both of the cops, then retreated inside and ran to the third floor to hide. He then engaged in a gun battle with a SWAT team and injured two of them before being shot multiple times himself and surrendering. He is still alive, in a stable condition, and is in the hospital under the watch of police. None of the victims have been named officially, though family members told local media that they presume their loved ones to be among the victims. Daniel Stein, a local resident, attended services at Tree of Life Synagogue on Saturday morning and has not been heard from since, his family told WPXI-TV. He is presumed dead. Daniel Leger, 70, a retired nurse and chaplain who is an active member of Dor Hadash congregation, was critically wounded, his brother, Paul Leger, told TribLive. Police revealed on Saturday afternoon that all of those killed were adults and that no children were harmed. Pittsburgh Mayor Bill Peduto told CNN on Saturday that the names of the victims will be released on Sunday morning at 9:00am local time. Police vehicles are deployed near the vicinity of the home of Pittsburgh synagogue shooting suspect Robert Bowers' home in Baldwin More emergency vehicles are seen blocking the road near Bowers' home in Baldwin on Saturday Baldwin is a borough in Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, and is part of the Pittsburgh Metro Area Peduto said there was 'really strong insistence by the FBI that we identify everybody with 100% accuracy before giving out any information, for the families' sake.' The mayor said security was being tightened at Muslim places of worship as well as religious centers that 'would feel insecure or would need additional security.' The six people injured include a 70-year-old man who is undergoing surgery for multiple gunshot wounds and a 61-year-old woman who is expected to survive. Three of the four cops are likely to survive but a fourth, a 55-year-old law enforcement officer, is in a critical condition. Paramedics race to get a victim from Saturday's shooting to the hospital outside the Tree of Life synagogue in Squirrel Hill, Pittsburgh Jewish residents who live near the synagogue are pictured outside after the shooting. At least 11 are dead and others are injured Members of the community gather outside the Tree of Life Congregation synagogue in Squirrel Hill, Pittsburgh, on Saturday morning after an antisemitic gunman opened fire, murdering at least 11 and injuring several others Rabbi Hazzan Jeffrey Myers, who was likely leading the Sabbath service, is pictured after escaping from the gunman on Saturday morning EMTs work at the scene of a mass shooting on Saturday morning at the Tree of Life Congregation synagogue. At least 11 people are dead and more are injured Kate Rothstein (left) looks on as Tammy Hepps and Simone Rosthein hug outside the synagogue in Squirrel Hill on Saturday The entire incident, from when he entered the synagogue to when he was removed, lasted 20 minutes. Attorney General Jeff Sessions said on Saturday that the federal government plans to file hate crimes and other charges against the alleged gunman - which carry the maximum penalty of death. The synagogue was particularly busy because of the special ceremony planned. There are mixed reports that it was a bris, the Jewish ceremony which involves an infant's circumcision, but there were children in the synagogue at the time. Little is known about him but he made no attempt to conceal his antisemitism on the social media website Gab, beloved by users because it promises never to censor them or hinder their free speech. In response to the shooting, the online payment giant PayPal announced that it has banned Gab, according to The Verge. Gab responded by releasing a statement on Medium condemning the shooting while denying that it encourages terrorism or violence. 'Gab.coms policy on terrorism and violence have always been very clear: we a have zero tolerance for it,' the company said. 'Gab unequivocally disavows and condemns all acts of terrorism and violence.' Apple refuses to host Gab in its iOS store while Google banned the app from its Google Play store for violating the company's hate speech policy. A post made on the site's Twitter account on Saturday appeared to revel in the attention prompted by the killings, saying 'We have been getting 1 million hits an hour all day.' Bowers had an active gun license and has bought six firearms since 1996. Police are preparing to search his home in Baldwin, Pennsylvania. An hour before he arrived at the synagogue and started shooting on Saturday, Bowers, posted this chilling message on the site: 'I'm going in.' Denise Fulton cries as she speaks with Bishop David Zubick at the scene of the mass shooting on Saturday A woman holds a candle during a vigil in Squirrel Hill on Saturday to remember those that died in the Tree of Life Synagogue shooting earlier in the day Deb Polk holds a sign as she gathers with others for a vigil in the aftermath of the deadly shooting Crowds gathered at the intersection of Murray Avenue and Forbes Avenue in Pittsburgh for a vigil that was held at Sixth Presbyterian Church More than 3,000 people from the Pittsburgh community gathered for the candlelight vigil on Saturday night People sang and held candles during the gathering at Murray and Forbes avenues in Pittsburgh Braddock, Pennsylvania Mayor John Fetterman hugs a person as they gather for the vigil on Saturday He was enraged by HIAS, the Hebrew Immigration Aid Society which helps Jewish migrants settle in the US, which he accused of bringing 'invaders in that kill our people'. 'I can't sit by and watch my people get slaughtered. Screw your optics, I'm going in,' he wrote. Two days ago, he said there was no 'MAGA as long as there is a k*** [ethnic slur for a Jewish person] infestation'. A photograph at the top of Bowers profile showed a machine with the numbers 1488 - a prolific white supremacist symbol - on it. He also previously wrote that he had never voted for Donald Trump, 'nor have I owned, worn or even touched a maga hat. Bowers also said Trump is 'a puppet for Jewish interests'. He recently posted a photo of a collection of three black semi-automatic handguns he titled 'my glock family,' a reference to the Austrian firearms manufacturer. He also posted photos of bullet holes in person-sized targets at a firing range, touting the 'amazing trigger' on his weapon. After killing people on the main floor, the shooter went downstairs, where the New Light congregation was gathering in the basement, and opened fire there. Dor Hadash, a third, smaller group, was gathered in the rabbi's study to the side of the Tree of Life's congregation. The first cops on the scene exchanged fire with him and two were shot. Two SWAT team members were then shot during a gun battle with Bowers as the suspect tried to fight them off from the third floor. After being injured himself in the crossfire, Bowers surrendered to police. None of the people killed have been named but police confirmed they were all adults. Local officials described the scene as 'horrific' and cried as they gave an update on the shooting on Saturday afternoon. The FBI special agent in charge who is investigating the shooting described it as the worst crime scene he had encountered in 22 years of service. The vigil was held just as the Jewish Sabbath was ending and observant Jews were first learning of the massacre at the synagogue The vigil was organized by students from nearby Allderdice High School, a public high school in Squirrel Hill The mayor of Pittsburgh said that the names of the deceased will be released on Sunday morning Amy Gilligan hugs her daughter at the intersection of Murray Ave. and Forbes Ave in Pittsburgh on Saturday Attorney General Jeff Sessions said the federal government would seek the death penalty and file hate crimes charges against the alleged gunman President Donald Trump condemned the shooting as an 'evil anti-Semitic attack' Matthew Chinman, 49, of Squirrel Hill, hugs a fellow community member during the vigil on Saturday night A young boy holds up a sign that reads 'Hate and violence are not the answer' at the vigil in Pittsburgh Trump said lawmakers 'should very much bring the death penalty into vogue' and people who kill in places such as synagogues and churches 'really should suffer the ultimate price' President Trump said he plans to visit Pittsburgh in the near future. A crowd is seen gathering at an intersection for the vigil on Saturday night A large interfaith memorial service was held at the Sixth Presbyterian Church in Squirrel Hill on Saturday 'We pray for those who perished and their loved ones,' Presiden Trump tweeted Trump called the shooting an 'evil anti-Semitic attack' and 'an assault on humanity' After tweeting that the situation was 'devastating', President Trump said on Saturday that it would not have happened if the synagogue had had its own security. He called for the shooter to be sentenced to death and spoke about making capital punishment 'in vogue'. He took a stronger tone in a later speech where he described it as a 'twisted act of malice'. The president also tweeted on Saturday: 'All of America is in mourning over the mass murder of Jewish Americans at the Tree of Life Synagogue in Pittsburgh. 'We pray for those who perished and their loved ones, and our hearts go out to the brave police officers who sustained serious injuries. 'This evil Anti-Semitic attack is an assault on humanity. 'It will take all of us working together to extract the poison of Anti-Semitism from our world. 'We must unite to conquer hate.' Bowers started his killing in the main chapel where the Tree of Life congregants were gathered. He shot randomly, according to survivors, then made his way down to the basement where one of the other two groups was. After killing between those two floors, he made his way to the third floor. By then, SWAT teams had arrived at the scene. Bowers was injured in the battle and surrendered to police by crawling to them. He was taken to the hospital. Speaking afterwards, Wendell Hissnich, Pittsburgh Director of Public Safety, fought back tears as he described the scene inside. 'It's a very horrific crime scene. It's one of the worst that I have seen and I have been on plane crashes. It is very bad,' he said. People hug outside the synagogue on Saturday morning after the shooting Police and EMTs are pictured outside the Tree of Life Congregation Synagogue in Squirrel Hill, Pittsburgh, on Saturday after an antisemitic gunman opened fire, murdering at least eight people and injuring many others Armed police are pictured entering the Tree of Life Congregation Synagogue in Squirrel Hill, Pittsburgh, on Saturday after a shooting which claimed at least eight lives SWAT teams are pictured at the Tree of Life Congregation synagogue in Squirrel Hill, Pittsburgh, on Saturday after a shooter opened fire The scene at the Tree of Life Congregation Synagogue in Squirrel Hill, Pittsburgh, on Saturday This is the view inside the synagogue on an ordinary day. It is unknown how many people were inside when the gunman opened fire but it was busier than usual, with worshipers observing the Sabbath. Some were also there to attend a ceremony either for a bris, an infant's circumcision, or a baby naming ceremony One woman, whose daughter was inside at the time, told CNN: 'They heard the shots and they all, her friend's mom and dad and son, they just all ran downstairs I guess and barricaded themselves in the basement. It's a very horrific crime scene... it's one of the worst that I have seen and I have been on plane crashes. It is very bad Wendell Hissnich, Pittsburgh Director of Public Safety 'They kept hearing gunfire and everything else.' Another man rushed to the scene to try to get his elderly father-in-law to safety. He told reporters: 'My father-in-law was inside, I got married in this place, this is crazy. 'This is unbelievable. People have to stop the hate. They have to stop.' President Trump spoke about the atrocity as he boarded Air Force One at Joint Base Andrews. He asked why the synagogue did not have its own security and suggested that fewer would have died had an armed guard been stationed there. GUNMAN'S ANTISEMITIC SOCIAL MEDIA POSTS An hour before the shooting, Bowers posted this on the social network Gab The 46-year-old man suspected of shooting at least eight people dead at a synagogue in Pittsburgh is an anti-Trump white supremacist who spewed his anti-Semitic views online. Robert Bowers has a profile on the social media network Gab, which he joined in January 2018. The bio section of his profile, which has since been deleted, reads: jews are the children of satan. (john 8:44) --- ---- the lord jesus christ is come in the flesh. Among his antisemitic comments on the social network Gab are complaints about President Trump On Saturday morning, seemingly just moments before the shooting, he posted: HIAS likes to bring invaders in that kill our people. I can't sit by and watch my people get slaughtered. Screw your optics, I'm going in. HAIS is a Jewish organization which works with refugees and was founded in 1881, originally to assist Jews fleeing pogroms in Russia and Eastern Europe. Within the last two days he reposted an article from HAIS website about National Refugee Shabbat last week, described as a moment for congregations, organizations, and individuals around the country to create a Shabbat experience dedicated to refugees. He initially wrote alongside the article 17 days ago: Why hello there HIAS! You like to bring in hostile invaders to dwell among us? We appreciate the list of friends you have provided. He then provided a link, however the Tree of Life Congregation Synagogue in Pittsburgh is not on that list. A spokesman at HAIS said the organization is still learning about the situation and does not yet have a comment. A photograph at the top of Bowers profile showed a machine with the numbers 1488 on it. 1488 is a white supremacist symbol. Bowers wrote on social media that he did not vote for Donald Trump and nor have I owned, worn or even touched a maga hat. He also wrote: Trump is a globalist, not a nationalist. There is no #MAGA as long as there is a k*** [ethnic slur for a Jewish person] infestation. #Qanon is here to get patriot that were against martial in the 90s to be the ones begging for it now to drain muh swamp. But go ahead and keep saying you are #Winning. As news of the shooting spread, Gab - which is beloved by users for its commitment not to censor them - separated itself from him. In a statement, the company said it had reported his profile to the FBI and deactivated it. 'Shortly after the attack, Gab was alerted to a user profile of the alleged Tree of Life Synagogue shooter. 'The account was verified and matched the name of the alleged shooters name, which was mentioned on police scanners. 'This person also had accounts on other social networks. 'Gab took swift and proactive action to contact law enforcement immediately. We first backed up all user data from the account and then proceeded to suspend the account. 'We then contacted the FBI and made them aware of this account and the user data in our possession. 'We are ready and willing to work with law enforcement to see to it that justice is served.' In a tweet, it hit back at the idea that its free-speech stance was in any way to blame for the shooting, writing: 'Words are not bullets. 'Social media posts have a body count of zero. 'The sole responsibility for today's horrific actions lies with one person. 'We will do everything in our power to work with law enforcement to see that justice is served.' HIAS released a statement on Saturday afternoon to say it was devastated by the events of the day. 'There are no words to express how devastated we are by the events in Pittsburgh this morning. This loss is our loss, and our thoughts are with Tree of Life Congregation, our local partner Jewish Family and Community Services (JFCS) of Pittsburgh, the city of Pittsburgh and all those affected by this senseless act of violence. 'As we try to process this horrifying tragedy, we pray that the American Jewish community and the country can find healing,' they said. Advertisement 'If there was an armed guard inside the temple that would have been able to stop him, maybe there would have been nobody killed except from him. 'We can look at it two ways. But if they had somebody to protect people... isn't it a shame that we even have to speak that way? 'That we even have to think that way inside a temple... but certainly the results should have been better,' he said. Asked if he thinks every place of worship should have armed security, Trump replied: 'I hate to think of it that way. 'It's certainly an option. This world, this is a world with a lot of problems and it has been for many years, many many years, and you could say for many centuries but certainly you want protection and they didn't have protection. 'They had a maniac walk in and the didn't have any protection and it's so sad to see. So sad to see. 'It's a very difficult thing for me to stand as president and watch. 'Before I ran for office, I watched instances like this and I'd say, "what a shame, what a shame." It's tougher when you're the president of the United States and you have to watch this kind of thing happen. It's so sad to see.' Former rabbi Chuck Diamond (left) said on Saturday that he always feared there would be a shooting at the synagogue when he worked there. The synagogue's former president Michael Eisenberg (right) said he was working on ways to make it easier to escape so that people could flee in the event of a shooting Police rapid response team members at the scene of the shooting on Saturday. Some were engaged in a gun fight with the shooter before he was taken into custody Squirrel Hill residents return to their home arm in arm after going to the synagogue to see what had happened after the shooting on Saturday morning An armed police officer at the scene of the shooting on Saturday after the suspect had been taken into custody Wendell Hissnich, Pittsburgh Director of Public Safety, (left) fought back tears as he described the 'horrific' crime scene which he said was worse than some plane crashes he had investigated. Right, Bishop David Zubik of the Catholic Diocese of Pittsburgh went to the scene to condemn the violence TRUMP CALLS SHOOTING 'A SHAME', SAYS SYNAGOGUE SHOULD HAVE HAD SECURITY GUARD AND CALLS FOR QUICK DEATH PENALTY FOR SHOOTER THEN RAMPS UP HIS CRITICISM OF 'ACT OF TWISTED MALICE AND EVIL' President Trump abhorred the shooting as he spoke before the FFA on Saturday President Trump described the shooting as a 'shame' on Saturday as he boarded Air Force One to fly to Indiana and called for the shooter to face the death penalty quickly, without being bogged down by legal delays. After tweeting that the devastation was worse than had been reported, Trump suggested that the shooting could have been prevented if the Tree of Life Congregation had hired its own security. Speaking to reporters at Joint Base Andrews, he said: 'If there was an armed guard inside the temple that would have been able to stop him, maybe there would have been nobody killed except from him. 'We can look at it two ways. But if they had somebody to protect people... isn't it a shame that we even have to speak that way? 'That we even have to think that way inside a temple... but certainly the results should have been better,' he said. Asked if he thinks every place of worship should have armed security, Trump replied: 'I hate to think of it that way. 'It's certainly an option. This world, this is a world with a lot of problems and it has been for many years, many many years, and you could say for many centuries but certainly you want protection and they didn't have protection. 'They had a maniac walk in and the didn't have any protection and it's so sad to see. So sad to see. 'It's a very difficult thing for me to stand as president and watch. Before I ran for office, I watched instances like this and I'd say, "what a shame, what a shame." It's tougher when you're the president of the United States and you have to watch this kind of thing happen. It's so sad to see.' He said gun laws had 'little to do with it' when questioned. He called for swift action for the shooter and all mass shooters who he said should be given the death penalty soon after the events. 'You look at the violence all over the world. It comes back in the form of a mad man, a wacko. We should stiffen up our laws in terms of the death penalty, they shouldn't have to wait years and years. 'I think they should stiffen up laws and bring the death penalty in to vogue,' he said. By the time he had arrived in Indianapolis to give his speech to the Future Farmers of America, his rhetoric had become more stern. He abhorred what he called the 'twisted malice' and 'wicked' and 'evil' shooting, calling for all Americans to unite against antisemitism and not tolerate prejudice of any kind. 'This wicked act of mass murder is pure evil, hard to believe and frankly something that is unimaginable. Our nation and the world are shocked and stunned by the grief. This was an antisemitic act. you wouldnt think this would be possible in this day and age but we just dont seem to learn from the past. 'Our minds cannot comprehend the cruel hate and the twisted malice that could cause a person to unleash such terrible violence during a baby naming ceremony. This was a baby naming ceremony at a sacred house of worship on the holy day of Sabbath. 'Antisemitism and the widespread persecution of Jews represents one of the ugliest and darkest human features of human history the vile hatred and poison of antisemitism must be condemned anywhere and everywhere it appears there must be no tolerance of antisemitism in America or for any form of religious hatred or prejudice,' he said. Late on Saturday, Trump once again outraged and confounded Twitter users when he posted an odd tweet about the fourth game of the World Series between the Boston Red Sox and the Los Angeles Dodgers Late on Saturday, Trump once again outraged and confounded Twitter users when he posted an odd tweet about the fourth game of the World Series between the Boston Red Sox and the Los Angeles Dodgers. The president tweeted: 'Watching the Dodgers/Red Sox final innings. 'It is amazing how a manager takes out a pitcher who is loose & dominating through almost 7 innings, Rich Hill of Dodgers, and brings in nervous reliever(s) who get shellacked. '4 run lead gone. Managers do it all the time, big mistake!' The timing of the tweet is, to say the least, odd given that the country is still reeling from the Pittsburgh synagogue massacre. '11 families are mourning tonight in Pennsylvania, but you do you, jack***,' tweeted one responder. Another tweeted in response: 'Too bad the 11 that died today can't enjoy the game! What a moronic tweet!' Advertisement He praised the 'outstanding' law enforcement and said the gunman was able to get access when he shouldn't have been because of the lack of security. 'You look at the violence all over the world. It comes back in the form of a mad man, a wacko. We should stiffen up our laws in terms of the death penalty, they shouldn't have to wait years and years. 'I think they should stiffen up laws and bring the death penalty in to vogue,' he said. Vice President Mike Pence later said: 'What happened in Pittsburgh today was not just criminal, it was evil. 'An attack on innocent Americans and an assault on our freedom of religion. 'There is no place in America for violence or antisemitism and this evil must end.' Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell also released a statement, saying: 'Today's tragic shooting at the Tree of Life Synagogue in Pittsburgh was a cowardly act, driven by hate. 'The Senate stands with all Americans to condemn the evil of bigotry in all its forms.' 'As the Pittsburgh community mourns, our prayers are with the victims and their families, and our sincere gratitude is with the first responders who work to project and save lives every day.' Former President Barack Obama tweeted on Saturday: 'We grieve for the Americans murdered in Pittsburgh. 'All of us have to fight the rise of anti-Semitism and hateful rhetoric against those who look, love, or pray differently. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell also released a statement, saying: 'Today's tragic shooting at the Tree of Life Synagogue in Pittsburgh was a cowardly act, driven by hate' Former President Barack Obama tweeted on Saturday: 'We grieve for the Americans murdered in Pittsburgh' 'And we have to stop making it so easy for those who want to harm the innocent to get their hands on a gun.' There was no security at the Tree of Life on Saturday, with former synagogue leaders describing how it operates an open-door policy for worshipers and only puts security on for significant holy days despite fears among community leaders that such a shooting was on the horizon. 'On a day today the door is open you can walk in an out. Like most religious institutions, we have an open door,' the synagogue's former president, Michael Eisenberg, told CBS Pittsburgh. He added that security had been a 'major' concern for him in the past and that he was working with the government to improve escape routes and emergency procedures. 'It was a major concern for me, for us. 'We were working with the DHS to evaluate exit routes, I just spoke to our maintenance person who was able to get out. The synagogue is located in Squirrel Hill which is also home to Carnegie Mellon University and Chatham University. It is a hub for the Jewish community in Pittsburgh The scene remained taped off on Saturday as the investigation into the shooting continued ANTI-GUN RABBI WHO SURVIVED MASSACRE WROTE ABOUT ENDING VIOLENCE IN BLOG POST THREE MONTHS BEFORE SHOOTER OPENED FIRE ON HIS SERVICE Rabbi Hazzan Jeffrey Myers, who was likely leading the Sabbath service, is pictured after escaping from the gunman on Saturday morning The rabbi who was likely leading the Sabbath service at the Tree of Life Congregation Synagogue in Pittsburgh on Saturday when a gunman opened fire wrote at length about gun violence and his desire for it to end three months ago. In a blog post in July, Rabbi Hazzan Jeffrey Myers wrote a blog post for the synagogue's website titled 'We Deserve Better'. He said, in part: 'Despite continuous calls for sensible gun control and mental health care, our elected leaders in Washington knew that it would fade away in time. 'Unless there is a dramatic turnaround in the mid-term elections, I fear that that the status quo will remain unchanged, and school shootings will resume. 'I shouldnt have to include in my daily morning prayers that God should watch over my wife and daughter, both teachers, and keep them safe. 'Where are our leaders?' He also wrote about immigration - a trigger subject for the shooter who regularly complained about it on social media. 'Immigration advocates were wise in bringing the separation of parents and children to the courts, because we have seen legal decisions pushing our leaders to respond in a timely manner. What happens to the children whose parents were deported? 'There must be a better system, and I would have hoped that bright minds in Washington, D.C., could sit down and work out a solution that takes into account all of the concerns that have been raised. Alas, inaction once again,' he wrote. Rabbi Myers survived Saturday's attack and was pictured walking out of the synagogue clutching his head in bewilderment and trauma. It remains unclear if any one specific person was targeted or if it was a general attack on Judaism by antisemitic gunman Robert Bowers. Advertisement 'We were working with the other synagogues on what to do if this happened,' he said. He said of the building's maintenance man, who witnessed Saturday's shooting and escaped through one of the exit doors,: 'He was shaken, he saw one of our congregants down, he knew, he was in the bathroom and he was able to get out of the building.' A former rabbi said he was grateful that many of the congregants often arrived late for morning services and that he was grateful on this occasion. 'I thought about it all the time I have to tell you when I was there I always had the thought in the back of my had unfortunately in the world we live in,' the former rabbi said. The area was put on lock down, with any residents living nearby told to lock their doors and not go outside. Witnesses are still being interviewed by police at the scene. A man has been arrested after allegedly attacking his own mother and leaving her with 'life-threatening' injuries. Emergency services and police were called to a house in Davenport Terrace, South Australia, just before 12pm on Saturday, with reports of a serious assault. The 59-year-old victim was badly hurt and was rushed to Flinders Medical Centre. Emergency services and police were called to a house in Davenport Terrace, South Australia, just before 12pm on Saturday with reports of a serious assault Her injuries are no longer life threatening but she remains in a serious but stable condition, police said on Sunday. The alleged attacker, who is believed to be the victim's son, fled the scene. The 33-year-old was found an hour later near Seacliff Yacht Club and was taken to Royal Adelaide Hospital to be medically assessed. He is currently detained under the Mental Health Act. Investigations are continuing. No one has yet been charged over the alleged incident. Police released a sketch of the two women found laying on rocks near the Hudson River off of Riverside Park. The NYPD on Friday identified the pair of bodies pulled from the Hudson River earlier this week as two missing sisters from Fairfax, Virginia. The New York Police Department says the bodies that were found Wednesday lying on rocks along the Hudson River were 22-year-old Rotana Farea and her 16-year-old sister, Tala Farea, both of Fairfax, Virginia. Their bodies were found on Wednesday afternoon duct-taped together near West 68th Street in New York City's Riverside Park, a police source said, who suggested the women hadn't been in the water for long. They had seemingly both jumped off the George Washington bridge and neither body showed signs of trauma, but the cause of death remains unknown. EMS responded and pronounced the women dead at the scene. An investigation was ongoing as of Saturday morning. They were fully clothed and duct taped together at the feet and at the waist, said an NYPD spokesperson. Anyone with information about the Farea sisters is urged to call the New York City Police Department's Crime Stoppers hotline at 1-800-577-TIPS. It's a day any thought would never happen, but young Australians are turning their backs on booze. Health is the main reason young people are opting to stay sober, according to a study conducted by La Trobe University in Melbourne. Individually, Australians are drinking the least they have in 50 years. A sobering thought: Young Australians are turning away booze, revealing they don't like taste, cost OR being drunk (stock image) Researchers analysed surveys of almost 98,000 Australians taken every three years. It was found that a steady decline in alcohol consumption has been evident over twelve years to 2013. One-third of adults admitted they had reduced of often they had drank in the last year. While adults under 30 were most likely to reduce their consumption to improve their lifestyle, get more enjoyment out of social situations and avoid violence. This age bracket also believe the most in moderation. People aged 18-23 were also most likely to stop drinking altogether because they don't like the taste and find it too costly. And for people over 30, health was the main motivation for curbing their drinking. Avoiding drink driving was also a major consideration for older adults. The study conducted by La Trobe University in Melbourne, found that men were more likely to cut back where as women were most likely to quit cold-turkey Men were more likely to cut back where as women were most likely to quit cold-turkey. Lead researcher La Trobe's Centre for Alcohol Policy Research, Dr Any Pennay, said the findings suggested there was a dramatic a shift in the acceptance of how Australians consume alcohol. 'Older people are still drinking quite heavily, but young people are starting to drink later and are drinking less,' Dr Pennay told the Herald Sun. The study was published in the journal, Alcohol and Alcoholism. Australia's north is continuing to endure a monstrous heatwave, with no relief in sight. Central Queensland registered 40C temperatures for the tenth consecutive day on Sunday, but the area will see extreme heat until Thursday. The soaring temperatures shattered October records that had been in place for the region for more than 120 years, with one regional town topping out at nearly 44C. The entirety of Central Queensland has boiled, registering 40C temperatures ten days in a row The town of Longreach (pictured) has sweltered - breaking a heatwave record held for more than 120 years Across the region, temperatures registered 10C above the October average (Gold Coast pictured) The temperature in the town of Longreach, about 700km inland of Central Queensland, soared to 43.9C on Sunday - the hottest day recorded in more than a century. Across the region, temperatures registered 10C above the October average. Another regional town, Thangool, recorded a cool 38.4C - the hottest October day in the area for 80 years. Meanwhile, only 500km away, the Sunshine Coast braces for possible storms. 'In Brisbane we'll probably see a few showers develop late this evening, it will be pretty cloudy as well,' Bureau of Meteorology forecaster Chris Joseph told the Courier Mail. The stormy skies in the state capital will come after it too basked in sunshine on Friday and Saturday 'It will probably be a better chance for showers tomorrow and pretty cool as well.' The stormy skies in the state capital will come after it too basked in sunshine on Friday and Saturday. Crowds gathered to escape the heat at Streets Beach in the the city's South Bank Parklands as they sweated through temperatures of 32C on Friday. 'Some locations have had two to three times October's rainfall in a week, but others haven't seen any significant falls,' climatologist Felicity Gamble told Daily Mail Australia Bureau of Meteorology says the heatwave will continue into the week, deeming it 'extreme' The heatwave brings with it particularly grim conditions for the country's farmers, who have been suffering through a major drought Australia's major cities also had a dry Sunday, with Hobart the only capital to register any rainfall at all. 'Some locations have had two to three times October's rainfall in a week, but others haven't seen any significant falls. Overall, the cropping season is looking like one of the 10 driest on record,' climatologist Felicity Gamble told Daily Mail Australia. The record-breaking dry spell could be a sign of things to come. The Bureau of Meterology has predicted higher than average temperatures throughout the summer months for nearly the entire country. The heatwave brings with it particularly grim conditions for the country's farmers, who have been suffering through a major drought. The Bureau of Meterology has predicted higher average temperatures throughout the summer months for just about the whole of the country A Filipino family became the subject of a racist tirade while on holiday after a woman told them to 'go home' because New Zealand 'is for white people only.' Krizia Egipto, 18, has lived in New Zealand for four years and her family moved to Invercargill, on the country's South Island, 14 years ago. Before the unprovoked attack, Ms Egipto said her family, who were holidaying in Wellington, were buying coffee and Lotto tickets at a Night n Day store when another Filipino man approached the group to chat - angering another unimpressed shopper. Scroll down for video Krizia Egipto, 18, (above) and her family were holidaying in Wellington when the trip was ruined by a woman who told the group to 'go home' and 'this country is for white people only' In footage the woman (above) can be heard saying: 'It's simple, no big deal. Go home. You have a country.' 'You're displacing white people, like that man on the street' As the family left the shop, Ms Egipto said a woman sitting nearby smoking shouted: 'Don't come back here any more. You're not welcome here. This is only for white people. This country is for white people only'. 'While we were heading out of the shop this lady was giving us a look,' the teenager later posted on Facebook. 'Then I told her ''You're a racist, You're a f****** racist and a f****** b****'' I got annoyed, angry and hurt so bad after hearing what she'd said.' Ms Egipto said the shopkeeper asked the woman to leave, as 'they dont tolerate those kind of people in their shop'. However, the tirade continued when the family bumped into the woman outside of the store. 'We went outside already to walk around the city,' Ms Egipto explained. 'Then my Mum saw the lady again and she's being racist to us again.' It was then Ms Egipto said she began to video the woman, asking why she felt they weren't welcome and insisting 'we haven't done anything to you ... we're just visitors here!' In the footage, the woman can be heard saying: 'It's simple, no big deal. Go home. You have a country.' 'You're displacing white people, like that man on the street'. However, Ms Egipto can be heard saying: 'We have legal visas to stay here'. The tirade continued when the family bumped into the woman outside of the store. It was then that she began to video the woman, asking why she felt they weren't welcome and insisting 'we haven't done anything to you ... we're just visitors here!' 'I would never thought that I would experience racism and this kind of situation in my life,' the 18-year-old said online. 'But there are still nice people who approached me and gave me a hug because they saw what I did to the lady. 'I really appreciate those people who approached and gave me a hug earlier. I would not let other people discriminate us, especially when I'm with my family.' 'We all have the right to stay in whatever country that we wanted to because we have our own visas and we did a legal process for us to have this,' she said. Ms Egipto said she had been overwhelmed with support from people witnessed the event. 'Another lady also approached me, gave me a hug and also bought me an ice-cream. Their reaction was very good and they made us feel welcome,' she said. 'So whatever country you are from, please don't let other people discriminate you. Stand up for yourselves and don't be scared. Whatever country that you came from and whatever colour you have, racism is not OK.' The residence where the Duke and Duchess of Sussex are staying on the New Zealand leg of their royal tour has been evacuated after the fire alarm was set off. Five fire trucks arrived at Government House in Wellington after receiving a call at around 6.45pm local time - moments before National Party leader Simon Bridges and his wife Natalie were due to welcome the couple to the island nation. All guests were evacuated, although it is not clear whether Prince Harry and Meghan Markle were inside Government House at the time. Scroll down for video The residence where the Duke and Duchess of Sussex are staying on the New Zealand leg of their royal tour has been evacuated after the fire alarm was set off (pictured meeting New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ahern on Sunday) A Government House representative said a vegetable steamer may have been responsible for the alarm sounding. Fire communication shift manager David Meikle said it was unclear what caused the alarm to go off. There are no reports of any injuries, according to Channel 9. Later in the evening the Duchess told a reception at the official residence the women of New Zealand who were the first to obtain the right to vote were 'universally admired.' She said: 'Suffrage is not simply about the right to vote but also about what that represents: the basic and fundamental human right of being able to participate in the choices for your future. 'So bravo New Zealand, for championing this right a hundred and twenty-five years ago and for all the people that this effort has paved the way for globally.' Earlier in the day, the couple were quickly whisked away from their plane in a silver Mercedes bearing the number plate ROYAL1 and taken to Government House for a traditional welcome which included dances, speeches and a very intimate greeting. Five fire trucks (pictured) arrived at Government House in Wellington after receiving a call at around 6.45pm local time A Government House representatives said a clothes steamer may have been responsible for the alarm sounding (pictured Duchess of Sussex addressing a reception hosted by the Governor-General on Sunday) Maori warriors in traditional dress were in attendance, and a powhiri was performed for the visiting royals. A powhiri is a Maori welcoming ceremony involving speeches, dancing, singing and finally the hongi, where one person presses their nose and forehead against another. The royal couple then visited the UK War Memorial and the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. The couple each laid a single fern on the tomb, before together laying a full wreath and entering the Memorial building. Inside, Prince Harry was presented with the Badge in Gold for his work helping injured veterans. Wife Meghan attached the pin to his jacket, above his military medals. Their visit to the memorial was one of the only opportunities for the public to see the Duke and Duchess on Sunday, and more than 5,000 people were reported to be in attendance. The royals were taken to Government House this morning, having arrived from Australia, for a traditional welcome which included dances, speeches and a very intimate greeting The warriors were seen performing a Haka for the royals in traditional dress The royal couple then visited the UK War Memorial (pictured) and the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier Their visit to the memorial was one of the only opportunities for the public to see the Duke and Duchess on Sunday, and more than 5,000 people were reported to be in attendance A thief has been caught on video using an axe to smash his way into a coin changing machine in a laundromat. In the footage, the man can be seen swinging the axe at full force into the coin machine mounted to a wall at the laundromat in Adelaide's northern suburbs just before 7am on Sunday. Eventually, the man manages to get his hand inside the machine and appears to pull out handfuls of coins, which he drops into his laundry basket - seemingly oblivious that he is on camera. A thief has been caught on video using an axe to smash his way into a coin changing machine in a laundromat (pictured) The brazen robber is then seen getting into a blue sedan before driving away. Police are now searching for the man in the video. If anyone recognises him, or has any information that may help police, they are urged to call Crime Stoppers. Advertisement Controversial far-right candidate and ex-soldier Jair Bolsonaro has defeated his leftist rival in the Brazilian elections. Brazil's top electoral court confirmed the congressman's victory and Bolsonaro, 63, won with 55.5 per cent of the vote. He becomes the new president of the world's fourth-largest democracy after defeating leftist Fernando Haddad, a former Sao Paulo mayor. A former army captain, Bolsonaro is vowing to rescue the country from crisis with a firm grip. He tapped into deep anti-establishment anger throughout the election campaign, but repulsed many with his denigrating remarks about women, gay and black people. Brazil's top electoral court has confirmed that Jair Bolsonaro is the new president of Brazil with the 63-year-old getting with 55.5 per cent of the vote Bolsonaro (right) and his wife, Michelle (left) pose for a photo after voting at a polling station in Rio de Janeiro earlier today before the results were announced Supporters of Jair Bolsonaro pose for a selfie as they celebrate in front of his residence in Rio de Janeiro after his victory in the election Supporters of far-right presidential candidate Jair Bolsonaro, celebrate in front of the National Congress in Brasilia, after the former army captain won Brazil's presidential election Bolsonaro's rise has been propelled by a rejection of the leftist PT that ran Brazil for 13 of the last 15 years before being ousted two years ago in the midst of a deep recession and political graft scandal. Reacting to his victory in a video transmitted from his home in Rio de Janeiro, the new President recounted how he was stabbed while campaigning last month and almost died. Bolsonaro, who ran on promises to clean up Brazil and bring back 'traditional values,' said he would respect the constitution and personal liberty. Bolsonaro also vowed to defend 'constitution, democracy and freedom' in Brazil. Supporters of Jair Bolsonaro hold a cardboard gun in Rio de Janeiro as they celebrate after Bolsonaro wins the Brazilian presidential race Supporters gather outside the residence of president-elect Bolsonaro in anticipation of his victory speech, in Rio de Janeiro Bolsonaro's supporters were in high spirits after his victory and could be seen celebrating by waving flags and gathering together in joy He said: 'I first want to thank God. This is not the promise of a party, nor the word of a man. It is an oath before God. 'We will change Brazil's destiny together.' Bolsonaro will take office on January 1. The longtime congressman pledged to govern following the Bible and the constitution and added: 'We cannot continue flirting with socialism, communism, populism and the extremism of the left.' Mr Bolsonaro has vowed to crack down on crime in Brazil's cities and farm belt by granting police more autonomy to shoot at criminals. Supporters of far-right presidential candidate Jair Bolsonaro, celebrate in front of his house in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, after he won Brazil's presidential election Bolsonaro's supporters were in high spirits after voting ended on Sunday - and later set off fireworks as celebrations took place in Rio de Janeiro and Sao Paolo Bolsonaro has only campaigned on Twitter since an attacker stabbed him in the stomach at a rally, sending him to the hospital for three weeks. Pictured, Bolsonaro after the attack A far-right former army captain, Bolsonaro is vowing to rescue the country from crisis with a firm grip - although he has been criticised for some of his comments Brazil's new president defeated leftist Fernando Haddad (pictured), a former Sao Paulo mayor, in the election. Here he is pictured at a polling station in Sao Paulo A supporter of Brazilian far-right presidential candidate Jair Bolsonaro celebrates his victory at the Ministries Esplanade, in Brasilia while posing with a nerf gun His supporters took to the streets of Rio de Janeiro to celebrate Bolsonaro's election success Supporters of Jair Bolsonaro, far-right lawmaker and presidential candidate of the Social Liberal Party (PSL), gather around an inflatable doll, also known as Pixuleco, depicting Brazil's former President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva On the losing side, the reaction was despair - and a defiant vow to resist. The defeated Haddad vowed to 'defend freedoms' of the president-elect's opponents and the 45 million people who voted for him. Aides also said that Mr Haddad had not called Bolsonaro to congratulate him. 'This is a dark day for Brazil; Brazilian democracy is now in complete crisis,' said Mark Weisbrot of the Center for Economic and Policy Research in Washington. Laura Chinchilla, the former president of Costa Rica and head of the Organization of American States' Electoral Observation Mission, said the vote had been calm and orderly across the country, which has suffered a spate of partisan violence during the campaign. As the results came in, supporters flooded the streets outside Bolsonaro's home in Rio de Janeiro, letting off fireworks and waving Brazilian flags. People also set off fireworks on Rio de Janeiro's Copacabana beach, and car drivers honked their horns across the city. Fernando Haddad, presidential candidate of Brazil's leftist Workers Party, vowed to defend the freedoms of Bolsonaro's opponents after his defeat Haddad kisses his wife Ana Estela in Sao Paulo after his press conference following the result of the election Supporters of Jair Bolsonaro celebrate in front of his residence in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil after the results of the election were announced They could be seen letting off fireworks and shooting flares as they celebrated Bolsonaro's victory over Haddad Supporters flooded the streets outside Bolsonaro's home in Rio de Janeiro, letting off fireworks and waving Brazilian flags Supporters of Brazilian far-right presidential candidate Jair Bolsonaro celebrate his victory over his leftist in Rio de Janeiro Supporters of Bolsonaro looked ready to party well into the night as they celebrated the former soldier's victory in the Brazil elections Flags were waved and fireworks and flare were let off all over Brazil as Bolsonaro's supporters celebrated his election victory As well as setting off fireworks, his supporters blared car horns throughout Rio after Bolsonaro was declared the victor A supporter of Jair Bolsonaro draped in the Brazilian flag celebrates in Sao Paolo after Bolsonaro wins the presidential race In Sao Paulo, crowds gathered on a central avenue with banners and flags and people cheered and set off firecrackers in other neighborhoods as results came in. Riot police separated supporters of Bolsonaro and those of Fernando Haddad when they briefly scuffled in Sao Paulo. After the result, supporters of the leftist Worker Party (PT) and Brazil's former President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva gathered outside the Federal Police headquarters where Lula is serving a prison sentence, in Curitiba. Many Brazilians are concerned that Bolsonaro, an admirer of Brazil's 1964-1985 military dictatorship and a defender of its use of torture on leftist opponents, will trample on human rights, curtail civil liberties and muzzle freedom of speech. The 63-year-old seven-term congressman has vowed to crack down on crime in Brazil's cities and farm belt by granting police more autonomy to shoot at criminals. Police officers patrol the streets during a gathering of supporters of the left-wing presidential candidate for the Workers Party (PT), Fernando Haddad, in Rio de Janeiro Supporters of Fernando Haddad, presidential candidate of Brazil's leftist Workers Party (PT), and Jair Bolsonaro, far-right lawmaker and presidential candidate of the Social Liberal Party (PSL), face off after the election results Tensions were high between the two groups after the results - although there were no reports of widespread and serious violence following Bolsonaro's win There were reports of brief scuffles in Rio de Janeiro and Sao Paulo between supporters of Bolsonaro and Haddad Supporters of Socialist candidate Fernando Haddad argue with supporters of far-right candidate Jair Bolsonaro after the results of the elections, in Rio de Janeiro Serious fights and violence didn't break out but it seemed as if tensions were running high between rival groups all over the country Supporters of Bolsonaro could be seen taking to the streets and celebrating just before the results were announced Supporters of Fernando Haddad, presidential candidate of Brazil's leftist Workers Party (PT), react to exit polls during a runoff election in Rio de Janeiro As the results came in, Bolsonaro's supporters set off fireworks on Rio de Janeiro's Copacabana beach, and car drivers honked their horns across the city He also wants to let more Brazilians buy weapons to fight crime. Bolsonaro - who is nicknamed 'Tropical Trump' - made a final pitch on social media ahead of the election, the only place he has campaigned since an attacker stabbed him in the stomach at a rally last month, sending him to the hospital for three weeks. 'God willing, tomorrow will be our new independence day,' he tweeted. In an unusual move, the Chief Justice of the Brazilian Supreme Court, Jose Dias Toffoli, read out part of the country's constitution to reporters after he voted yesterday. Many took it to be a rebuke of Mr Bolsonaro and his more extreme positions. He said: 'The future president must respect institutions, must respect democracy, the rule of law, the judiciary branch, the national Congress and the legislative branch.' Coming on the heels of a punishing recession and staggering corruption scandal, the Latin American giant's elections have thrown up a spectacular cast of characters, even by the standards of these divisive, anti-establishment times. A supporter of far-right lawmaker and new Brazilian president Jair Bolsonaro could be seen celebrating the former soldier's victory Supporters of far-right presidential candidate Jair Bolsonaro, celebrate in front of his house in Rio de Janeiro with one fan dressed as sci-fi film character Robocop The supporters of Bolsonaro also took to the streets of Sao Paulo to celebrate his victory in the election Brazilian president Jair Bolsonaro's most incendiary and controversial comments Controversial ex-soldier Bolsonaro (pictured on Sunday) is Brazil's next president after defeating his leftist rival Throughout his campaign and political career, Jair Bolosoanro provoked anger and outrage at some of his comments on topics like homosexuality and and women. Bolsonaro's candidacy raised serious concerns that he would roll back civil rights and weaken institutions in what remains a young democracy. He frequently disparaged women, gays and blacks, and said he would name military men to his Cabinet. Minutes after he was elected, several international human rights groups also put out statements demanding that Bolsonaro respect Brazil's democracy. Some of the most controversial comments made by the newly-elected president include: During 2016 impeachment proceedings against former leftist President Dilma Rousseff, who was jailed and tortured during Brazil's military dictatorship in the 1970s, Bolsonaro dedicated his vote to the colonel who tortured her. In 2003, Bolsonaro pushed a congresswoman and told her: 'I would never rape you because you do not deserve it.' He repeated the comment in 2014 in the chamber. On a radio program in 2016, Bolsonaro said the error of the dictatorship had been 'to torture and not to kill.' Brazil's national truth commission found that 440 people died under the 1964-85 military rule, of which 210 disappeared without trace. Brazil's public prosecutor charged Bolsonaro earlier this year with inciting discrimination against black people, indigenous people, women and gays in public comments he has made, including 'If I see two men kissing in the street, I will hit them.' At an event last year in Rio de Janeiro, he said having a daughter, his fifth child after four boys, was a 'weakness.' 'I would not be able to love a gay son. I would rather he die in an accident,' he told Playboy magazine in 2011. Speaking last year about communities of descendants of escaped slaves, who are protected by Brazil's social programs, Bolsonaro suggested the state was wasting money: 'They do nothing! I don't think they even serve for reproduction.' Advertisement The reaction of Haddad's supporters was markedly different and some of them looked inconsolable after the result A supporter of Haddad embraces a fellow weeping supporter after learning that rival Jair Bolsonaro was declared the winner in the presidential runoff election Supporters of the leftist Worker Party (PT) and Brazil's former President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva gathered outside the Federal Police headquarters where Lula is serving a prison sentence, in Curitiba Bolsonaro repulses a large part of the electorate - and many outside the country - with his overtly misogynistic, homophobic and racist rhetoric. He once told a lawmaker he opposed that she 'wasn't worth raping;' he has said he would rather see his sons die than come out as gay; and he commented after visiting one black community that they 'do nothing - they're so useless I doubt they can procreate.' But an even larger portion of voters rejected Haddad and the tarnished legacy of his Workers' Party. Haddad, 55, stood as a surrogate for jailed ex-president Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, who led Brazil through the boom years of 2003 to 2010. Lula remains the country's most popular politician, despite being accused of masterminding the massive pilfering of state oil company Petrobras. But the hugely divisive Workers' Party founder was barred from running because he is serving a 12-year prison sentence. Jair Bolsonaro and his wife Michelle kiss before he casts his vote in the presidential runoff election Federal police officers escort Jair Bolsonaro as he arrives to vote during the second round of the presidential elections in Rio de Janeiro on Sunday Jair Bolsonaro, presidential candidate with the Social Liberal Party, gestures next to an electronic voting booth Haddad, who lacks Lula's natural charisma, struggled to unite opposition to Bolsonaro, despite mounting fears over what the former army officer's presidency would look like. His campaign slogan was to make Brazil 'happy again' - as in Lula's poverty-fighting golden days - but it is an uncomfortable legacy. He ultimately ended up pulling his controversial mentor's image from his campaign ads. Bolsonaro (right) had an eight- to 10-point lead over leftist Fernando Haddad (left) going in, according to two final opinion polls released on Saturday 'This thing is going to turn around,' Haddad, a former Sao Paulo mayor, buoyantly told thousands of supporters at his final campaign rally Saturday (pictured) Bolsonaro harks back to a different past: that of the 'Brazilian miracle' of rapid industrialisation under the military regime that ruled from 1964 to 1985. He has drawn criticism for his vocal defense of the brutal dictatorship. He once said the regime's 'mistake' was that it tortured, instead of killing, leftist dissidents and suspected sympathisers. But in an anti-establishment climate, his message has sold better than Haddad's. The election looks set to be decided as much by Brazilians voting against something as for it. One poll released Saturday found 39 percent of voters said they would not cast a ballot for Bolsonaro under any circumstances. The rejection rate for Haddad was even higher: 44 percent. Bolsonaro is taken on the shoulders of a supporter moments before being stabbed during a campaign rally in Juiz de Fora, Brazil, in September Running for the formerly minor Social Liberal Party, Bolsonaro is, according to many political analysts, a symptom of the crises ailing Brazil since the Workers Party's 13 years in power came crashing to an end with the impeachment of Dilma Rousseff in 2016. Among those crises: Brazil's economy shrank nearly seven percent during its worst-ever recession, from 2015 to 2016; the multi-billion-dollar Petrobras scandal has left voters disgusted with the seemingly bottomless corruption of politicians and business executives; and there is widespread outrage over violent crime, in a country that registered a record 63,880 murders last year. Outgoing President Michel Temer, himself implicated in corruption, is set to leave office on January 1 as the most unpopular president in Brazil's modern democracy with a two per cent approval rating. Britain's top prosecutor admits the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) and police are failing to swiftly investigate thousands of cases - including rape, fraud and modern slavery - because they are using outdated technology. Alison Saunders, 57, who leaves with a 1.8million taxpayer-funded pension when her five-year tenure as director of public prosecutions ends on Wednesday, said the criminal justice system is 'creaking' under the pressure of processing digital material. Speaking to the Observer, Saunders explained that a lack of resources, trained staff and out-of-date systems were taking a toll on the number of successful prosecutions carried out in a timely manner. Alison Saunders, who steps down as Director of Public Prosecutions this week, has said that Britain's criminal justice system is 'creaking' due to out-of-date systems and trained staff She said: 'Take one recent rape case where they met on Tinder it took 600 police hours to go through the digital material. 'You can have a judge say 'I want a download of that iPad' and it will take 15 officers working all weekend to get it.' Her comments come just days after a damning expose from the home affairs select committee, which concluded that police forces in England and Wales were under 'considerable stress' and vast numbers of crimes remain unsolved. The report added that 'policing is at risk of becoming irrelevant to most people'. Over the last three years, the number of crimes reported to the police soared by 32 per cent to 5.5 million incidents, but the number of charges or summons plunged by 26 per cent meaning 153,000 fewer suspects were hauled to court. Other damning figures showed that only one in 200 online fraud cases are ever investigated, while less than two per cent (385) of the 22,253 cases involving people watching child sex abuse online were successfully convicted. Saunders, who is set to join international law firm, Linklaters for 'a seven-figure salary' has repeatedly faced controversy throughout her tenure. Rebekah Brooks was named in Operation Elveden, dubbed a 'witch-hunt' against journalists It was under her watch that Operation Elveden, dubbed the biggest witch-hunt against journalists in memory ended in failure as prosecutors failed to secure a single conviction. In total, 34 journalists and editors arrested over alleged payments to public officials and 29 were charged. But their cases were either dropped or they were cleared. Some of those accused had spent years on bail. She was then forced to apologise after her decision not to prosecute Lord Janner over historic sex abuse claims was overturned, with Saunders saying it was a matter of sincere regret the allegations were never heard by a jury. There were also three failed attempts to secure a successful conviction in cases of female genital mutilation. More recently, hundreds of cases were dropped following a crisis over the disclosure of evidence in rape investigations. The collapse of Liam Allan's rape trial sparked a crisis over police failing to disclose evidence She repeatedly came under fire from both the media and MPs, who described her as 'the worst DPP in living history' and urged her to step down from the role. It was also during her time in the job that Saunders presided over 25% funding cuts and shedded a third of the workforce. Now as she prepares to leave her role behind, Saunders believes she had done a 'good job', but admitted her time as DPP had certainly been far from easy. 'I don't think you'd be human if it didn't affect you,' she added. A five-year-old boy and his father drowned at a popular beach on Sunday afternoon. The pair were pulled from the water unconscious shortly before 4pm at Airlie Beach - a popular tourist attraction in Queensland. The pair were understood to be Chinese tourists visiting the area. A five-year-old boy and his father have drowned at Airlie Beach Lagoon (pictured), a popular tourist attraction at Airlie Beach in Queensland on Sunday afternoon (stock image) The pair were pulled from the water of the man-made lagoon in the centre of town unconscious shortly before 4pm (stock picture) The pair went into cardiac arrest, a Queensland Ambulance Service spokesman told The Courier-Mail. A woman at the lagoon at the time told the Whitsunday Times she didn't realise anything was wrong until she looked up from her book and saw an ambulance by the bank of the lagoon. 'There was no shouting or screaming, I just looked up and saw two people receiving CPR,' she said. 'I went over to help, but there were too many people. 'I don't know how it happened.' The pair went into cardiac arrest and were rushed to Proserpine Hospital (above) for treatment but were unable to be revived Other witnesses reported seeing the man swim under a bridge while the younger boy jumped into the water. The pair were rushed to Proserpine Hospital for treatment but were unable to be revived. The afternoon's hot weather attracted big crowds to the man-made lagoon in the centre of town. There were still a large number of people in the water when the accident occurred, a Queensland Ambulance Service spokesman said. The lagoon was closed late Sunday afternoon following the incident. A report will be prepared for the coroner. A man who watched an out-of-control car veer into a crowd at a high-octane stunt show says his loved ones were lucky to escape serious injury. Mark Bluck posted an image to Facebook of his three children - Hannah, Lilly and Thomas - as they prepared for an evening of action at the Ultimate Monster Family Show at Mount Gravatt Showgrounds, south of Brisbane, on Saturday night. But only 30 minutes into the performance, a suspected brake fault caused a stunt car to slam into the front row of the crowd, injuring the two girls and Mr Bluck's partner, Kelly. Mark Bluck (left with partner Kelly) posted an image to Facebook of his three children - Hannah, Lilly and Thomas - as they prepared for an evening of action at the Ultimate Monster Family Show at Mount Gravatt Showgrounds, south of Brisbane, on Saturday night Concerned friends shared their support on Facebook and eagerly waited for updates on the conditions of the injured 'On the way to hospital with Lilly. A stock car came through the fence and ran the two girls over,' Mr Bluck wrote on Facebook. 'Lilly may have a broken ankle and Hannah has a grazed face and Kelly has a few cuts and bruises on her legs.' Concerned friends shared their support on Facebook and eagerly waited for updates on the conditions of the injured. 'Nothing is broken but very swollen and bruised,' Mark wrote in an update. 'Thank God, but (Lilly is) a very sore and lucky girl.' Some of Mr Bluck's friends had also attended the event and watched the horrific accident take place, with one friend sharing a video they captured. Grainy mobile phone footage has captured the moment an out-of-control stunt car careered towards the crowd (pictured) The video shows a stunt car speeding around a dirt mount and attempting to get airborne off of a small ramp, Nine News reported. The car manages to get its front left tyre off the ground to the delight of the crowd. But adulation quickly turned to horror as it becomes clear the car is heading towards the fence. In a horrifying split second, the car smashed through the barrier separating spectators and the showground. The vehicle comes to a standstill in the front row of the grandstand. The car smashed through a protective barrier and came to a stop in the front rows of the crowd The driver has been interviewed by police, who believe the car's brakes may have failed during the show. The organisers of the performance have been slammed for continuing the show an hour later despite the horrific scenes. Some fans have demanded refunds due to the poor safety considerations for onlookers. The accident is now under investigation by Workplace Health and Safety. Daily Mail Australia has contacted the management of the Showgrounds for comment. They were only 30 minutes into the high-octane event when the accident happened This is the dramatic moment a mother giraffe defended her badly injured calf from hungry hyenas in South Africa on Friday. The person who captured the clip was driving alone in the Kruger National Park when they spotted the 'most adorable baby giraffe' with its mother. It wasn't long before they realised the calf was in serious danger and struggling with an injury that could signal a death sentence. 'The calf was limping badly and I was shocked to see the bottom part of its left back leg broken off,' the filmer said. 'I soon realized this calf kept on looking back at hyenas following it. Hyenas are well known to take out any weak or injured prey and this limping baby giraffe was a loud dinner bell ringing. 'The video shows one hyena testing the situation while running towards the calf. At the same time, the mother was right nearby. One kick to the head with her large hooves will instantly kill a hyena.' Hungry hyenas stalked the injured calf before it was protected by its heroic mother The calf suffered a catastrophic leg break that the filmer said will signal its death soon The person added that after it became very hot very quickly, the mother left her young in the shade and went to feed about 50 meters away. 'Suddenly, the two hyenas came bursting out from behind a bush running towards the calf. The calf got a fright and with only three legs the giraffe still managed to run. At the same time, the mother giraffe was back to protect her calf in record time..the hyenas slowly moved away to lie down in the shade not too far away,' said the filmer. The future of this injured calf looked bleak with such a serious injury according to the witness who added that It's only a matter of time before either the hyenas or another group of predators tries again to make the kill. Speaking at a news conference, he said if public opinion forecasts appeared to be true, after the elections, Nikol Pashinian would have a very strong mandate to implement a series of decisive steps for the resolution of the Karabakh conflict. I attach great importance to key strategic and security issues of mutual interest, including the United States policy in terms of Iran, Russia and Syria, as well as this opportunity to examine our common efforts on increasing regional stability. Bolton has not ruled out that President Donald Trump could suspend the 907th amendment to the Freedom Support Act, which limits the USA assistance to Azerbaijan at the state level, the Voice of America reports. U.S. National security adviser John Bolton gestures as he speaks to the media after his talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow, Russia, Tuesday, Oct. 23, 2018. "We are going to squeeze Iran because we think their behavior in the Middle East and, really globally, is malign and needs to be changed", Bolton said. Commenting on potential security alternatives for Armenia, Bolton, who met Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow earlier this week, spoke of possible USA arms sales to Yerevan. "Once that happened, then the Armenian-Azerbaijani border would open", Bolton said. "And I think the border with Georgia might be less subject to concern about what pressure the Russians may be putting them under". "As I said to the prime minister, if it's a question of buying Russian military equipment versus buying USA military equipment, we'd prefer the latter", he said. "I think it increases Armenia's chances to stops being dependent on one state only", he said. Russian Federation has a military base in Armenia and provided the overwhelming bulk of its weapons, but it also has been the principal arms supplier for Azerbaijan. "So the improvement of relations with Armenia is a priority for [Trump's] administration", Bolton said. "If the resolution of the Karabakh conflict is the primary issue on the Armenian political agenda, there is no better time for taking a decisive action other than right after the election", Bolton stated. John Bolton's lifelong fixation on Iran is abnormal. Philip Hammond has warned that Britain will need to take a 'different approach' to the economy and pass another Budget if the UK crashes out of the EU. He is due to pump 30billion into Britain's roads, hundreds of millions on improving super-fast broadband in the countryside, and more money for defence in his tax and spend plan tomorrow. But he suggested the promise to end austerity could be ditched, the spending plans torn up and austerity reimposed if the UK does not get a deal. Scroll down for video Chancellor of the Exchequer, Philip Hammond, prepares his speech in his office in Downing Street ahead of his 2018 budget announcement tomorrow The Chancellor (pictured on Sophy Ridge on Sunday on Sky News today) has warned that Britain will need to take a 'different approach' to the economy and pass another Budget if the UK crashed out of the EU And Mr Hammond also warned that the country's whole approach to the economy may need to be overhauled if the country suffers the shock of crashing out. Tory MP and leading Brexiteer Jacob Rees-Mogg branded the Treasury a 'bastion of Remainerism' and said Mr Hammond should spell out now what Britain would do in the event of a no deal Brexit. Mr Hammond's stark words comes amid growing fears of a no deal Brexit as Theresa May faces a race against time to try to thrash out an agreement by the end of the year. Mr Hammond is due to pump 30billion into Britain's roads, hundreds of millions on improving super-fast broadband in the countryside, and more money for defence in plan tomorrow Speaking to Sophy Ridge on Sunday on Sky News today, Mr Hammond warned that his Budget tomorrow could only be in place a few months of there if no deal. Hammond to spend hundreds of millions more on super-fast broadband Philip Hammond has vowed to splash out hundreds of millions of pound on installing super-fast broadband across Britain as he turns the spending taps on in tomorrow's Budget. The Chancellor said the cash injection is crucial to Britain's economic prosperity as the internet today is as important 'railways in the 19th' Century. It is part of his plan to pump many tens of billions of pounds into beefing up Britain's infrastructure and services. He came under massive pressure to find extra cash for an array of services after Theresa May used her speech at the Tory party conference earlier this month to promise and end to austerity. Mr Hammond is understood to have drawn up plans for a 250m fund to help connect rural schools and libraries to 'full fibre' internet. Once the cables are laid into schools, local residents and businesses will be able to connect to them - providing a much needed boost for the countryside economy. In an interview with The Telegraph today, Mr Hammond talked up the UK's 'buoyant' economy and its 'fundamental health'. Advertisement He said: 'If we don't get a deal, if we do leave the EU without any deal - I believe that is an extraordinarily unlikely situation - but of course we have to prepare for all eventualities as nay government would. 'If we were to find ourselves in that situation then we would need to take a different approach to the future of Britain's economy. 'We would need to look at a different strategy and frankly we'd need to have a new budget that set out a different strategy for the future.' Mr Hammond's remarks are a strong hint that austerity will be reimposed if there is a no deal Brexit. In a separate interview with the BBC's Andrew Marr show, suggested that Britain could slash taxes and opt for a Singapore-style model if there is a no deal Brexit. He said the warning was a 'a statement of the blindingly obvious.' He said: 'If our businesses are no longer able to trade with European neighbours, if their supply chains are cut off, they are going to have to find they will have to find different markets and different ways of doing business and any government would want to support them in doing that.' Mr Rees-Mogg, chairman of the European Research Group - the powerful backbench group of Brexit backing Tory MPs - said the Chancellor should spell out the no deal Budget plan tomorrow. And he lashed the Treasury's track record and gloominess on Brexit. Speaking on Sky News' Sophy Ridge, he said: 'Oh look, the Treasury has been the bastion of Remainerism since the referendum and indeed before. 'It came out with all these lunatic forecasts before the referendum as to what would happen purely on a vote to leave. Hammond says Britain's high streets will 'have to change' because of the rise of internet shopping Britain's high streets will 'have to change' to compete with the internet, Philip Hammond today said. The Chancellor warned that he genie 'can't be put back into the bottle' and town centre will have to adapt to survive. His remarks come after a bloodbath on Britain's high streets this year with many of the UK's best known retailers closing stores. House of Fraser shut down stores and only narrowly avoided administration while Debenhams is shutting 50 stores costing thousands of jobs. Maplin, Toys R'Us and Mothercare have also shed jobs and shops. Speaking on Sophy Rudge on Sunday on Sky News, Mr Hammond said high streets are important - but must change. He said: 'The high street plays a critical role in many communities. 'But we have to recognise as well that the change that's driving the evolution of our high street can't be put back in the bottle. 'The British have taken to online shopping like no other nation on earth. For better or for worse, we have to recognise that that is happening. 'So our high streets have to change. We want to protect them because we want them to remain at the heart of our communities but we can't do that by freezing the model of 10 or 20 years ago in aspic, it won't work. 'So we've got to help the high street to evolve and the high street of the future frankly will have fewer retail outlets and more leisure destinations, more food and drink outlets. 'I expect the high streets of the future will be smaller with more of the peripheral areas around them redeveloped as housing.' Advertisement 'Bear in mind the Treasury said there would be 800,000 job losses potentially, just on voting to leave, before anything had happened so the Treasury has rather embarrassed itself, has a lot of egg on its face from getting its Brexit related forecasts so wrong so far. 'And I think there is an element within the Treasury that is still grumpy about Brexit and that's a pity.' Labour's shadow chancellor John McDonnell told the same programme that he thought the Chancellor's words were 'deeply, deeply worrying'. He said: 'In that interview he seems to complacently accept there is a likelihood of no deal. We cannot accept that.' Mr Hammond is set to turn the spending taps on in tomorrow's Budget after Mrs May promised to end austerity in her party speech earlier this month. But the reprieve could only last a matter of months if the crunch Brexit talks fail. Tory MP and leading Brexiteer Jacob Rees-Mogg said Mr Hammond should not wait for many months but announce his spending plans in the event of a no deal Brexit now. Hopes that Britain will be able to get a deal are fading after a crunch EU summit earlier this month where the PM had originally hoped to seal the deal came and went with no major progress. Britain and Brussels are still at loggerheads over what to do about the Irish border, which has proven to be the thorniest issue in the negotiations. Mrs May has called for a backstop plan which would see the whole of the UK to stay in a customs deal with the EU if no free trade deal which solves the problem can be done in time. But Brussels has insisted that there must be a Northern Ireland specific backstop - which would keep that area alone tied in to customs and single market rules. But this has been furiously ruled out by the PM who said that it would effectively hive off Northern Ireland and draw a border down the Irish Sea. She has repeatedly said this is a plan which no British Prime Minister could agree to. Layla Moran, the Lib Dem MP and member of the anti Brexit campaign group Best for Britain, said: 'This shows the Brexit black hole at the heart of this Budget. Tomorrow the Chancellor will go through the motions and announce money for this and that but all the while knowing they might not be able to deliver it. 'This government cannot deliver a good Brexit deal, it couldn't even negotiate it's way out of a paper bag. Gone are the days of long term economic plans and have been replaced by short term Brexit scams.' The Chancellor (pictured on Sky News' Sophy Ridge on Sunday) said all of the spending pledges which he will announce in tomorrow's Budget are based on Britain getting a Brexit deal Toby James Nelhams (pictured in Cambodia in 2017) was arrested by Spanish police at Malaga airport on an international arrest warrant Spanish police have arrested a convicted British fraudster wanted by authorities in Thailand over the murder of another expat. Detectives held Toby James Nelhams, 45, on an international arrest warrant as he landed at Malaga Airport. National Police based in Malaga said the warrant had been issued because authorities in Thailand suspected Nelhams, from Islington, north London, had ordered the murder of a fellow British expat described as the kingpin of a 'Wolf of Wall Street'-style boiler room gang operation. Nelhams has previously been linked to the murder of Brit fraudster Tony Kenway although he has never been prosecuted. The 39-year-old was blasted in the head in a gangland-style hit as he sat in his red Porsche in Pattaya, south Thailand, in January last year. Dad-of-four Kenway, who boasted about his lavish lifestyle on social media, raked in millions running his own fraud operation targeting savers in the UK and Australia. Nelhams - one of three men sought over the 24 January 2017 shooting of Mr Kenway, originally from Southampton - was arrested in February last year but was never put on trial. The other two suspects were identified as a Brit believed to be the getaway driver, named as 28-year-old Miles Dicken Turner from Oxford, and alleged gunman Abel Candeira Bonito, 24, from South Africa. Their current whereabouts are unknown. Authorities in Thailand suspected Nelhams, from Islington, north London, had ordered the murder of a fellow British expat Tony Kenway (pictured left and right with his wife) Reports earlier this year had suggested Nelhams, jailed for eight months in Cambodia for fraud in September 2017 over a huge clone fraud operation, was no longer thought to be wanted over the crime. A spokesman for National Police in Malaga said: 'National Police have held a British man aged 45 on an international arrest warrant at Malaga Airport. 'The warrant had been issued by authorities in Thailand who suspect him of ordering the murder of a compatriot. 'The fugitive, whose initials are TJN and was born in Islington, was caught when he tried to enter Spain through Malaga Airport. Nelhams (pictured centre) was arrested in February last year but was never put on trial over his alleged connection to Kenway's death but he was jailed for jailed for eight months in Cambodia for fraud in September 2017 over a huge clone fraud operation Kenway was blasted in the head in a gangland-style hit as he sat in his red Porsche (pictured) 'Officers established his true identity after checks and confirmed he was a wanted man and he was arrested and taken to a police station. 'According to the arrest warrant, he is wanted for allegedly ordering the killing of a compatriot on January 24 2017, by two people who shot the victim in the province of Chonburi which is home to Pattaya.' Nelhams is thought to have already appeared before an extradition judge at a court in Madrid following his arrest, although the result of the behind-closed-doors hearing was not immediately clear today. Earlier this year UK newspapers exposed the vicious Far East turf war between British gangs over savers' stolen millions which led to the cold-blooded murder of Tony Kenway at the start of last year. Thai authorities had issued proceedings to deport Kenway, who had been in the country for seven years after moving from Marbella, for working illegally when he was executed. They said he owned five properties, several high-end cars and businesses and had raked in millions defrauding thousand of victims. Kenway died in Pattaya, south Thailand (pictured) and police wanted to talk to three men, including Nelhams, in connection to his death Thai police have described him as the kingpin of a sprawling 'Wolf of Wall Street'-style call centre scam. Nelhams has been described as a former business partner of Kenway and it is believed a business conflict led to the murder. A senior police officer said after Kenway's murder last year: 'Tony Kenway had a call centre that employed foreign staff and made calls to Australia and Britain. He had two different companies that were involved in the scam. 'The aim was to get people abroad to give their life savings. It was not small amounts. 'He was strong and pushed them for big investments. He promised them a big win. Like winning the lottery. 'The people who paid the money lost out. It was big amounts, millions and millions of Thai baht that many different people paid to him.' Kenway posted a picture of Leonardo DiCaprio - who played scammer Jordan Belfort in The Wolf of Wall Street - on his Facebook page on New Year's Eve before his murder in an apparent reference to the same hard-selling tactics used in the hit movie. An Oxford University college cancelled a Halloween party with a 'freak show' theme after students complained. Students at Somerville College, whose alumni includes Margaret Thatcher, were outraged when they read the dress code for the 'Ville Freak Show' event, The Times reports. They complained that the event's theme was offensive to disabled people. The college events team issued an apology for the 'mistake' and then resigned, according to the newspaper. Students at Somerville College (pictured) were outraged when they read the dress code for the 'Ville Freak Show' event 'We do fully realise the hurt that our decision and our mistake has caused and are truly sorry,' the team said. 'We promise to do better in the future.' The party that took place on Saturday night instead had a Cirque du Soleil theme. Freak shows became popular pastimes in England in the mid-16th century with crowds flocking to view people with deformities exhibited. P. T. Barnum was one of the most famous showmen of the freak show industry and paraded numerous acts in his circus. But as Halloween approaches, more controversy has arisen over costumes that cross racial lines. US talk show host Megyn Kelly's comments on blackface reinvigorated the debate over costumes that cross racial lines and what's appropriate at a time when diverse movie and TV characters like Black Panther have become hugely popular. The issue has reverberated across social media, from magazine articles about white children wearing Black Panther costumes to protests against costumes that perpetuate Native American stereotypes. Social media debates have focused on whether political correctness is spoiling the spirit of the holiday. A similar issue cropped up in recent years with the animated features Moana, set in ancient Polynesia, and Pixar's Coco, which centers on a Mexican boy named Miguel and his family. Advertisement The forgotten stories of the Indian soldiers who served in WW1 have been revealed in newly uncovered interviews with veterans. Around 1.5 million men, who were mainly illiterate and from remote villages in Northern India fought with the British from 1914 to 1918. Fighting under the command of their colonial masters they faced racism, brutality and prejudice in the trenches. Indian bombers are pictured holding an important trench near the village of Neuve Chapelle during The Battle of Neuve Chapelle in the Artois region of France. The attack was intended to cause a rupture in the German lines. The British attackers broke through German defences at Neuve-Chapelle but the success could not be exploited and the British eventually abandoned the offensive The Indians suffered inhumane physical punishments such as floggings, they were denied home leave and were also banned from taking command positions. What's more, they received a lower wage than their white counterparts and were segregated in camps, on trains and in ships. The truth of their service during the war is revealed in 1,000 pages of veteran interview transcripts, which were recorded in the 1970s, and have been offered to the British Library by historian George Morton-Jack. The recordings were made by a team led by DeWitt Ellinwood, an American historian and anthropologist and Morton-Jack traced them to his house in upstate New York where they had been stored for several decades. The 2nd Indian Cavalry getting ready to fight in the Battle of the Somme on July 14, 1916. The battle is regarded as one of the bloodiest battles in history. More than three million men fought in the battle and one million men were wounded or killed. The cavalry charge was conducted by the 20th Deccan Horse and the British Seventh Dragoon Guards During the battle the 20th Deccan Horse made a successful, mounted charge on a German position on Bazentin Ridge. The charge overran the German position, as most soldiers were shocked to see cavalry charge after it had proved to be ineffective in battlefields in the west of the country. Pictured are the jubilant soldiers after their charge Indian soldiers who served with the British Army at a camp during World War I, circa 1916. Around 1.5 million men, mainly illiterate and from remote villages in Northern India fought with the British from 1914 to 1918 Until now, the record of their service had been documented in letters which were sent by a small proportion of Indian soldiers on the western front, which have been translated and held in the British Library and are available online. The letters were mostly dictated to scribes by illiterate Indian soldiers. The soldiers were careful not to express their true feelings in the letters as they were sent to censors before being sent back to India. But the interviews show that the soldiers were subject to racial discrimination, according to Mr Morton-Jack. Indian infantrymen are seen here training for gas attacks in a trench in France in 1915. There was about ninety thousand fatalities from a total of 1.3 million casualties caused by gas attacks in the war. Chemical weapons were used by all the countries who fought in the war. The use of gas constituted war crimes as its use violated the 1899 Hague Declaration concerning 'asphyxiating gases' and the 1907 Hague Convention on 'Land Warfare', which prohibited the use of 'poison or poisoned weapons' in warfare Sikh soldiers on the march in France at the start of WW1. At the start of the war in 1914, the Indian Army had 150,000 trained men and the Indian Government offered the services of two cavalry and two infantry divisions for service overseas The Indian soldiers (like these ones pictured in France in 1914) were issued with Lee-Enfield rifles during the war which had a 17-inch sword bayonet attached to them Indian soldiers who took part in the Second Battle of the Aisne during 1916. The battle formed the main part of the Nivelle Offensive, a Franco-British attempt to inflict a decisive defeat on the German armies in France. The objective of the attack on the Aisne was to capture the eastwest ridge of the Chemin des Dames and then attack northwards to capture the city of Laon. The French advanced 6km to the German front line and took 5,300 German prisoners. The battle ceased on May 20 after nearly five weeks of fighting Speaking to The Guardian, Mr Morton-Jack, the author of The Indian Empire at War, said: 'They were careful about what they said [in the letters]. They knew dissent could be punished by the British as their colonial masters. So they habitually held back their true feelings. 'But the interviews show they had a strong sense of the racial discrimination they suffered under the British, and their growing belief that they should have civil rights, they shouldn't be subject to colonial domination, and they should live in their own free country. They describe how those feelings developed through the war.' Sujan Singh, who was 80 when he was interviewed, said: 'We were slaves.' Nand Singh spoke of a 'curtain of fear' separating the Indian and white soldiers. Mr Morton-Jack said that the treatment of the India soldiers was 'painful in many ways' and 'at the time they routinely didn't speak the truth of how they felt to their colonial masters'. But he explained that 'their feelings come out in the transcripts'. Matt Singh, who was 85 when interviewed, said: 'When we were in France, we felt the French people were so lucky and were enjoying their freedom. So we also felt that India should be free this war showed us the right path.' It was not for another 31 years after the war ended that India became an independent state and was free of British rule. The two divisions of the Indian troops sailed from Karachi and Bombay to France in 1914. They were not fully equipped for war and were forced to have their equipment completed in Marseilles, in Orleans, and on the battle front itself. Pictured are Indian troops in Orleans Indian troops are pictured marching through France. The Indian Expeditionary Force suffered from a lack of familiarity with new equipment when they arrived in the country. They were only issued LeeEnfield rifles on their arrival and had almost no artillery - as a result they relied on support from their neighbouring regiments on the front line Mr Morton-Jack said it is difficult to overstate how special the transcripts are and that they send out two messages - a negative one of racial discrimination they suffered - and a positive one of the increasing recognition that the British were denying them civil and political rights and their 'inner drive for racial equality'. British Asians have joined the centenary commemorations of the First World War, although many people feel there should be greater acknowledgement of the role of Indian troops. Mr Morton Jack said that although the war has been remembered in schools, history books and cinema as a white war, the British Asian community is saying they 'we were there too'. Ellinwood led the task of transcribing and analysing the recordings after they were completed. However, he was diverted by other projects and eventually kept them at his home in Albany, New York. Mr Morton Jack was alerted to the fact the recordings were made by a footnote in one of Ellinwood's academic articles. He made contact with Ellinwood when he was in his 80s, and the academic bestowed the transcripts to him before his death in 2012 in the knowledge he would never complete his work. And when Ellinwood handed over the transcripts he suggested that the British Library may one day take them Morton-Jack said he would consider making the transcripts publicly accessible in India. The Indian Empire at War: From Jihad to Victory, the Untold Story of the Indian Army in the First World War by George Morton-Jack is priced 22 and available at guardianbookshop.com A 25-year-old plumber has been stabbed in the stomach and the head after a vicious brawl broke out at his farewell party. lumber Sam Benis (pictured) has been stabbed in the stomach and the head after a vicious brawl broke out at his farewell party Sam Benis was drinking with friends at the McNamara Irish Pub when they decided to move the festivities to a house in Tarneit, Victoria, located 25 km west of Melbourne. The vicious brawl erupted after an argument in the garage of the house at 3am, according to 9 News. One partygoer ran inside the home, grabbed a knife and ran back out to the garage to stab Mr Benis in the stomach and the head, police allege. The victim was rushed to Alfred Hospital and is now in a stable condition. Mr Benis, who had plans to move to Canada with his partner the following day, had to delay the move as he is recovering from surgery. 'It's pretty crazy, I don't know how it can escalate to that,' a neighbour told 9 News, adding that there was 'blood everywhere'. 'I think they just had an argument, and then started physically fighting'. One partygoer ran inside the home, grabbed a knife and ran back out to the garage to stab Mr Benis in the stomach and the head (pictured is Mr Benis' shirt) The victim was rushed to Alfred Hospital and is now in a stable condition A man reportedly handed himself over to the police and is being questioned by detectives. He continues to be held in police custody. No charges have been laid yet. Israel paid tribute to the victims of Saturdays massacre at a Pittsburgh synagogue with messages of solidarity. Projected images on the walls of Jerusalems Old City showed the Israeli and American flags side by side with the caption We are with you, Pittsburgh! The mass shooting at the Tree of Life synagogue in the Squirrel Hill neighborhood of Pittsburgh left 11 people dead and wounded six others. The attack touched a nerve in Israel, where it was front-page news. People gather under the US and the Israeli flags projected on the walls of Jerusalem's Old City on Sunday The gesture by the Jerusalem municipality was intended to pay tribute to the victims of the slain worshippers at a Pittsburgh synagogue An Israeli man holds the U.S. flag as youths gather in center Jerusalem for a tribute to the Pittsburgh victims Israeli youths light candles and draw signs expressing solidarity with the victims of Saturday's shooting The attack touched a nerve in Israel, where it was front-page news The mass shooting at the Tree of Life synagogue in the Squirrel Hill neighborhood of Pittsburgh left 11 people dead and wounded six others Israel's cabinet stood for a moment's silence on Sunday to honor the victims of the 11 slain worshippers. 'The entire nation of Israel mourns with the families of the murdered in the horrendous massacre at the Tree of Life Synagogue in Pittsburgh,' Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said at the start of the weekly cabinet session. Saturday's shooting 'is the biggest anti-Semitic crime' in the annals of the United States, he said, calling on the world to unite in the fight against anti-Semitism everywhere. 'It is hard to overstate the horror of the murder of Jews who congregate on the Sabbath and who were murdered only because they were Jews,' Netanyahu added. Israel's cabinet stood for a moment's silence on Sunday to honor the victims of the 11 slain worshippers 'The entire nation of Israel mourns with the families of the murdered in the horrendous massacre at the Tree of Life Synagogue in Pittsburgh,' Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said at the start of the weekly cabinet session One cabinet minister who wasnt present at the Israeli government meeting was Naftali Bennett. Bennett, who holds the diaspora affairs portfolio, arrived in Pittsburgh on Sunday. He immediately departed Israel upon hearing the news of the massacre A gunman yelling, 'All Jews must die,' stormed the Tree of Life synagogue during Jewish sabbath services, killing 11 worshippers and wounding six others, including four police officers, before he was arrested. 'On my behalf, on behalf of the government of Israel and the nation of Israel I convey our heartfelt condolences to the families that have lost dear ones. We all pray for the speedy recovery of the wounded,' Netanyahu said. One cabinet minister who wasnt present at the Israeli government meeting was Naftali Bennett. Bennett, who holds the diaspora affairs portfolio, arrived in Pittsburgh on Sunday. He immediately departed Israel upon hearing the news of the massacre. When Jews are murdered in Pittsburgh, the people of Israel feel pain, Bennett told The Jerusalem Post. All Israel are responsible for one another the State of Israel is deeply pained by this terrible anti-Semitic murder. Our Jewish brothers and sisters came under a murderous attack while at prayer. Our hearts go out to the families of those killed, and we pray for the swift recovery of the injured, as we pray this is the last such event. Jewish blood is not free. Bennett said his ministry would send trauma professionals to help the victims and their families cope with the tragedy. A 97-year-old woman, two brothers and a couple in their 80s were among the 11 people murdered at the synagogue in the deadliest attack ever on the Jewish community in the United States, officials said on Sunday. The suspected gunman, 46-year-old Robert Bowers of Pittsburgh, stormed the building during a Saturday morning service. Scott W. Brady (pictured), the US Attorney for the Western District of Pennsylvania, told reporters during a press conference Sunday morning that Bowers will 'be held fully accountable' for his 'hateful' crimes Daniel Stein (pictured), 71, who had recently become a grandfather, was identified as one of the 11 victims along with 66-year-old Dr Jerry Rabinowitz (right, when he was younger) Joyce Fienberg (pictured left with her husband Stephen), 75, and dentist Richard Gottfried (right, with his wife, Peg) was also identified as a victim of the shooting Cecil Rosenthal (left), 59, was killed alongside his younger brother, David Rosenthal (right) According to charging documents against shooting suspect, Robert Gregory Bowers (pictured), 46, he told officers that Jews were committing genocide and that he wanted them all to die after he killed the worshipers on Saturday He also wounded six others including four police officers before being arrested. Bowers, who had made anti-Semitic posts online and shouted about killing Jewish people during the attack, has been charged with federal hate crimes and could face the death penalty. He will appear before a judge on Monday afternoon, U.S. Attorney Scott Brady said at a news conference. 'The fact that this attack took place during a worship service makes it even more heinous,' Brady said. The Tree of Life synagogue in the citys Squirrel Hill neighborhood, a heavily Jewish area, was holding a Shabbat religious service when the gunman burst in. Five of the victims lived in Squirrel Hill and the rest were from other Pittsburgh neighborhoods and communities surrounding the city. The mass shooting prompted security alerts at houses of worship around the country and condemnation from politicians and religious leaders. It followed a spate of pipe bombs found mailed in recent days to prominent political figures, mostly Democrats including former President Barack Obama, ahead of the November 6 congressional elections. 'Well get through this darkest day of Pittsburgh history by working together,' the citys mayor, Bill Peduto, told reporters. David and Cecil Rosenthal, 54 and 59-year-old brothers; Sylvan Simon, 86, and his wife Bernice Simon, 84; Joyce Fienberg, 75; Richard Gottfried, 65; Jerry Rabinowitz, 66, Daniel Stein, 71, Melvin Wax, 88 and Irving Younger, 69, were killed, according to officials. The oldest victim was Rose Mallinger, 97, of Squirrel Hill. A persistent stalker who harassed a glamour model turned tattoo shop owner and branded her a 'prostitute' has been banned from ever contacting her again. Yusuf Elhabachi, 26, began to 'torment' Helen Green five years ago by walking past her tattoo shop, One by One in Soho, central London, and staring at her ten times a day. Miss Green, who models under the name Arabella Drummond and has partied with the likes of Professor Green and welcomed Kanye West in her store, described how the abuse suddenly stopped but Elhabachi returned to the shop in 2018 after a five year gap. Yusuf Elhabachi would stare at Ms Green up to 10 times a day but suddenly stopped for years He then continued to visit regularly and stare at her through the window until she reported him to police and he was arrested in June. Bearded Elhabachi, of Forest Gate, east London, was handed an indefinite restraining order and told he must complete 30 days of rehabilitation. Magistrate Edward McMullan also ordered Elhabachi to pay 285 in costs after he was found guilty of harassment at an earlier trial. Prosecutor Malachy Pakenham told City of London Magistrates' Court: 'Back in 2013 the defendant went to the shop and initially made some sexual remarks to Miss Green and comments were made like, 'you're like a prostitute'. Professor Green, Arabella Drummond (left) and designer Katie Eary at the GQ Men Of The Year Awards in 2016 at the Tate Modern in London Helen Green - also known as Arabella Drummond during her career as a glamour model the City of London Magistrates Court Yusuf Elhabachi, 26, is said to be in breach of a harassment notice by turning up at the One by One tattoo parlour in Soho 'After this the defendant started walking past the shop, she describes as him as staring at Miss Green, looking through the window. 'The behaviour carried on for a few months then stopped.' But in 2018 Miss Green spotted Elhabachi again, Mr Pakenham said. He added: 'She started to see the defendant regularly, she saw him twice a day standing outside her shop. He would stand there and stare at her.' Reading a witness impact statement, the prosecutor added: 'She believes his actions are sexually motivated because he made comments back in 2013 about her being a prostitute.' Her statement added: 'I actually cried with relief when he was arrested. I have genuinely had sleepless nights over this, I'm getting very tearful when I talk about it.' Arabella Drummond on January 22 this year as celebrities and guests arrived at the model agency Curves Management's launch party in London An Instagram picture of Ms Green in Ibiza. She said she cried with relief when Elhabachi was arrested Offender outside the City of London Magistrates Court wearing trainers and sweatpants Giving evidence at the trial, Miss Green said: 'There was one time in 2013 where he wanted to discuss my modelling career and referred to me as a prostitute. 'There was a second time where I had actually waited for my friend and approached him and asked him to please stop with the behaviour he was doing and gave him notice that if he continued with that behaviour I would have to call the police because it was making me feel uncomfortable. 'Because I've in a shop there for five years, I see people often but if you see somebody regularly enough at some point you start to say 'hello'. Giving evidence at the trial, Miss Green said the offender called her a prostitute in 2013 'This is quite an intimidating look that I'm given up to 10 times a day. 'It scares me enough that I cannot even pick up my phone to film him - that's how intimated I feel, my body has a physical reaction. 'The eye contact is so severe that he won't even look forward in the direction that he's walking.' She eventually began to keep a diary of the 'menacing' harassment. Elhabachi was also sentenced for an assault at a Co-op store in east London in May 2014 and another charge of failing to surrender over that offence. The restraining order banned him contacting Miss Green directly or indirect and going onto the street where she has the tattoo shop. He will reappear at City of London Magistrates Court in November for another hearing to seek a criminal behaviour order in relation to the harassment. Advertisement More snow showers are on the way as the country braces for a three-day cold snap which could see temperatures plunging to a freezing low of 19F. Trick or treaters have also been warned to wrap up warm as it looks like there might still be a bit of a bite in the air on Halloween night this Wednesday. Tonight temperatures are predicted to be as low as '-7C (19F) in Scotland where there is snow on hills, -5C (23F) in the west of the UK and there's a ice risk on Monday morning in the North-East,' says the Met Office. On Saturday night Sennybridge in Wales recorded an extreme low of -3.3C (26F) and the highest maximum temperature recorded by the Met office was 10.4C (50F) in Langdon Bay, east Kent. The Hatton family go for a walk in the snow in Glenshee in the Cairngorms, Scotland, today after snow fell through the night A car in the snow on the A93 at Glenshee, Cairngorms, Scotland today. Temperatures could get as low as -7C overnight The hills of Glenshee ski resort in the Cairngorms, Scotland, are covered with a dusting of snow after a cold weekend Met Office meteorologist John West said: 'At the moment, we have got some some quite cold crisp weather with plenty of sunshine about. As we get to mid-week, it is going to to be increasingly unsettled. 'It will be likely less cold by Wednesday but by no means warm. If anybody is going to be out and about on Wednesday it might be a good idea to have a coat handy and maybe also a waterproof.' Speaking to MailOnline today Mr West said: 'We saw a fresh start this morning with lots of autumnal sunshine in Northern Ireland and places in the north west seeing the lions share of the sun, but it was a very cold night. 'Throughout Sunday Kent and London can expect showery rain and there will be patches of sleety snow falling in the Pennines and Scotland. 'Sunday night temperatures could get as low as -7C or even -10C in some places and some freezing fog patches could appear in Cheshire, Merseyside and up the M6 on Monday morning.' Hikers in the Cairngorms, Scotland, enjoy the cold weather today after one of the coldest October weekends in ten years A drone captures snowy hills in the Cairngorms, Scotland, on a bright Sunday afternoon where temperatures are lingering around freezing Tyre tracks can be seen in the light dusting of snow that covers the road in Leedstown, Cornwall, this morning However temperatures are set to relent next week after parts of the UK saw snow during this weekend's autumn cold snap. Snow was seen in higher parts of Scotland and north-east England on Saturday. Hilly areas of the Pennines woke up to a wintry blanket, while County Durham had a frosty start as well as the West Midlands seeing a flurry of snow. A winter wonderland befell North Yorkshire with the residents of Guisborough finding autumn had been replaced with winter as a dusting of white covered the streets and rooftops. The Met Office expects showers will continue to hit North Sea coastal areas on Monday. Once any fog patches clear, it should be largely dry elsewhere with plenty of sunshine but still cold. It should turn wet and windy across many eastern areas on Tuesday, with snow possible across Scottish hills. Mountain rescue teams called to rescue two university friends planning to camp out overnight in the freezing Cairngorms The Mountain Rescue team (pictured on their first call out of the day) helped the women only hours after carrying an injured walker more than two miles on a stretcher Two women were rescued in sub zero temperatures after they tried to camp out during the snow in the Cairngorms. Cairngorm Mountain Rescue Team were called out within 30 minutes of just completing an earlier exhausting rescue. The alarm was raised around 9pm last night when the women - one aged 26 from the Aberdeen area and a 30-year-old from London - were cold and wet in Lairg Ghru. They had been planning to spend the night out doing a two-day traverse but got caught out by the conditions. 'They were panicking a bit. It was winter conditions, with snow and sub zero conditions,' said Cairngorm MRT leader Willie Anderson. 'They were well equipped for the traverse, but their tent had been trashed by the wind and they and their sleeping bags were wet. It was not a good night to be out in those conditions with wet gear.' Five members of the team reached the women and walked them off the hill by 1am. They were given dry clothing and warm food and drink. Earlier at 3pm, 18 members of the team carried an injured 32-year-old walker by stretcher more than two miles. The man, who was from England and with his mother, dislocated his knee in the Northern Corries. He had slipped in Coire an Lochain - on his way back from Ben Macdui, the UK's second highest mountain - and was unable to continue. 'It was the the first time that anyone can remember sledging a stretcher on snow in October,' said Mr Anderson. Last week two walkers missing in the Cairngorms were blasted by rescuers as 'not having a scooby' after they were found in appalling conditions with winds gusting to 100mph. The pair from the Glasgow area tried to navigate using an app on a mobile phone. Members of Cairngorm, Braemar and Aberdeen mountain rescue teams spent over six hours searching for the walkers on Tuesday night. Mr Anderson said it was also the third rescue in weeks involving walkers lacking a map and compass. Advertisement Throughout Sunday showery rain with some sleety snow is expected in areas but most places will be bright and cold It was a brisk and sunny start for much of the country today. Pictured are the choppy seas at Tynemouth Pier, in North Shields A car crashed off the A9 at Lynbeg near Inverness today after snow fell across the Highlands during Saturday Mr West said that by Thursday morning temperatures are expected to be around freezing for Scotland, between 4-5C in London and there may be a touch of frost in the north west with temperatures of around 2-3C. The snow fell on one of the coldest October weekends experienced in ten years with temperatures struggling to get into double figures, says the Met Office. John West at the Met office explained that the North East was getting 'mostly sleety, wet snow' on Saturday and said 'it is going to be cold over the next couple of days.' 'We will have some high pressure building in giving us a more settled picture, but we may continue to see some snow showers over the weekend. Temperatures will recover quite slowly but it is not likely to be as wintry.' Temperatures in Guisborough hovered around zero overnight on Friday while snow showers from the North Sea were blown to the land. Met Office spokesperson Sarah Kent said: 'It is the first break out of arctic air this year, and it has brought with it a dusting of snow to the highest ground. People walk through windblown leaves in Clifton, Bristol, this morning where the crisp autumnal weather is in full swing The streets and houses of Guisborough, North Yorkshire, were covered in a dusting of snow on Saturday morning where temperatures hovered just above zero A man clears the snow off his car near Consett, County Durham today after snow fell on high ground on Saturday 'The showers coming in from the North Sea will continue throughout the day but it is due to get warmer meaning the snow will turn to sleet. Anyone wanting to see snow will have to get in their cars and drive to the highest ground before it disappears.' Daytime temperatures have plunged by 10C in a matter of days, from highs of 17 or 18C (63-64F) last week to just 7C (45F) today, even in parts of the south. Gritters are on standby across the country as the frosts are set to continue over the next two nights, bringing lows of -2C (28F). Wind chill from biting northerly breezes will make it feel several degrees colder, forecasters say. Met Office spokesperson John West said: 'We've seen some snow over higher ground but aren't expecting it to come too far in land and it won't stick over lower ground. A postman braves the snow in shorts and a wooly hat while delivering mail near Consett, County Durham, yesterday Motorists try to get on with their Saturday in Country Durham despite the winter wonderland scenes around them A gritter lorry was out in Greencroft, County Durham, as snow starts to fall heavily yesterday 'There are some icy stretches expected tonight [Saturday] and it'll be a frosty start on Sunday, although there will be some sunshine as well. It should be a little less cold tomorrow as the northerly wind will not be as strong. 'This has been one of the coldest October weekends we've seen in the last 10 years with temperatures struggling to get into double figures. 'We have seen some snow this morning, more up in Scotland. Aviemore has had around 1cm.' The forecaster added: 'It is going to be cold over the next couple of days, but will start to peter out tomorrow. 'We will have some high pressure building in giving us a more settled picture, but we may continue to see some snow showers today and tomorrow.' The weather for next week includes sunny spells but patchy showers in the west on Wednesday. Later on in the week, it is likely to be settled in the south, but windy with rain further north and becoming milder. The chilly snap has bought an end to the largely mild start to autumn, with people advised to dig out their warm winter clothes over the weekend as the Met Office issued ice and snow warnings in some areas. Even in southern parts, where temperatures are forecast to be around 7C (45F), the wind chill factor means it will feel several degrees cooler, forecasters said - with travel conditions becoming 'difficult and hazardous'. A man and his dog both wrap up warm in their winter coats to go out for a walk in Greencroft, County Durham yesterday Daytime high temperatures are expected to be below 10C (50F) in many areas of Britain over the weekend Russia has warned it is 'preparing for war' after US President Donald Trump announced he would be withdrawing from a landmark nuclear missile treaty this week. Senior Russian arms control official Andrei Belousov made the declaration after Russia lost a vote at the UN to gather support from other nations for the Intermediate Nuclear Forces Reduction Treaty. 'Here recently at the meeting, the United States said that Russia is preparing for war,' Belusov said after the vote. 'Yes, Russia is preparing for war, I have confirmed it. Senior Russian arms control official Andrei Belousov said Russia was 'preparing for war' after Trump announced the US would be withdrawing from the treaty Belusov justified his claims by saying Russia was simply reacting to the President's fiery rhetoric this week 'We are preparing to defend our homeland, our territorial integrity, our principles, our values, our people - we are preparing for such a war.' Belusov defended his fiery rhetoric by arguing Russia's actions were simply a result of Trump's aggression over the treaty. He said: 'Linguistically, this difference is in just one word, both in Russian and in English; Russia is preparing for war, and the US is preparing a war. 'Otherwise, why would the United States withdraw from the treaty, build up its nuclear potential and adopt a new nuclear doctrine?' The ballot on Friday found 31 countries in favor of supporting the treaty, 55 against and 54 abstaining. Belousov said he didn't understand the result, noting that most countries that abstained 'are active supporters of nuclear disarmament' and a significant number of those who voted against the procedural measure are in favor of preserving the INF treaty. Trump accused Russia of not honoring the agreement last week and said the US would be withdrawing Russia 'tried to send a serious signal to U.S. political circles about the danger of the course chosen by the current (U.S.) administration,' he said. 'We thought that such an initiative would be supported by all sensible forces.' Trump has accused Russia of violating the 1987 INF treaty, which eliminates all ground-launched cruise and ballistic missiles with a range of 500-5,500 kilometers (300-3,400 miles). Speaking at a rally in Nevada, he said: 'Russia has not, unfortunately, honoured the agreement so we're going to terminate the agreement and we're going to pull out. 'We're not going to let them violate a nuclear agreement and go out and do weapons and we're not allowed to.' In 2017, White House national security officials said Russia had deployed a cruise missile in violation of the treaty. Earlier, the Obama administration accused the Russians of violating the pact by developing and testing a prohibited cruise missile. Russia has repeatedly denied that it has violated the treaty and has accused the United States of not being in compliance. Vladimir Putin has been accused of violating the nuclear treaty by launching several missiles Historic moment: Mikhail Gorbachev and President Ronald Reagan sign thee Intermediate Nuclear Forces Reduction Treaty in 1987 Wood repeated the U.S. accusations on Friday, telling the disarmament committee after the vote that for 5 1/2 years the United States has tried to engage Russia on the issue of treaty violations. He said Moscow only recently admitted producing a ground-launched missile but maintained it didn't violate the range limits. 'We presented them with information to the contrary, but they continued to deny being in noncompliance with the treaty,' Wood said. 'But instead of responding to our engagement, we received denials and ridiculous accusations that it is the U.S. that is violating the treaty.' Belousov, the deputy director of the Foreign Ministry's Department of Nonproliferation and Arms Control, countered that 'we have been making complaints about this since 2000' to the United States but 'they run from us.' Belousov said Russia will go directly to the General Assembly and, possibly, if there is 'a negative development of events and the U.S. withdrawal from the treaty, to the Security Council' where both Russia and the U.S. have veto power on resolutions. The happiest day of a young couple's life has turned to disaster after a fire ripped through their wedding marque. The couple, Tara Whelan and Dominic Pulitano, were left stranded after a fire broke out in a backyard in Ringwood North, Melbourne, on Saturday. About 350 wedding guests were evacuated from the property when the blaze started at about 5pm. The bride and groom Tara Whelan and Dominic Pulitano (pictured), were stranded after a fire broke out in a backyard in Ringwood North, Melbourne, on Saturday About 350 wedding guests (pictured) were evacuated from the property when the blaze started at about 5pm Firefighters could be seen battling the large blaze (pictured) 'They're quite distressed, this is not what you plan when you have a wedding in your backyard,' Graeme Murphy of the Metropolitan Fire Brigade told Seven News. 'They say that if it rains on your wedding day it means money, but this is a new one for me that's for sure.' The fire is believed to have been caused by an electrical fault on the dance floor, but neighbours said they saw fumes engulf the property after haring what appeared to be gas cylinders explode. 'Well it was quite scary there were black plumes of smoke, they all went up from the back of the house, and before we knew it the fire brigade, ambulance, they were all here,' witness Damian Taylor said. Emergency services shut down the surrounding streets and it took about 20 firefighters roughly 10 minutes to extinguish the flames. 'Obviously they're quite distressed, this is not what you plan when you have a wedding in your backyard,' Graeme Murphy of the Metropolitan Fire Brigade said The fire is believed to have been caused by an electrical fault on the dance floor, but neighbours said they saw fumes engulf the property after haring what appeared to be gas cylinders explode Saxophonist Jarrad Lees told Nine News they had just finished sound-check when the fire started. '(I) turned around, next thing we saw the marquee was up in flames and it went up in about two minutes the whole thing was gone,' he said. 'We reset by the swimming pool and got the band started and everyone was in good spirits by the end of it.' WorkSafe are investigating the fire. "Mexico should secure its own territory and turn this caravan around", but the troop deployments were necessary as a precaution, said Rep. Mac Thornberry (R-Texas), chairman of the House Armed Services Committee. Kansas Secretary of State Kris Kobach raised the issue of the caravan in his campaign for state governor, suggesting that lax state immigration policies were helping to lure them north. Border watch groups and militias have been patrolling the 2,000-mile (3,200-kilometer) southern boundary off and on for more than a decade. Mexican officials had promised shelter, medical attention, schooling and jobs to members of the Central American caravan who would ditch their plans to reach the States. When she heard about the caravan that has now grown into several thousand people travelling through southern Mexico, she saw her chance. A Defense Department official said the mission is authorized from October 30 to December 15 and will operate in border areas of California, Arizona and Texas. The Mexican government seems torn between stopping the migrants from traveling toward the US border or burnishing its global human rights image. The officers ended the standoff after representatives from Mexico's National Human Rights Commission told police that a rural stretch of highway without shade, toilets or water was no place for migrants to entertain a government offer of asylum in Mexico, which is why police said they set up the blockade. "This plan is only for those who comply with Mexican laws, and it's a first step towards a permanent solution for those who are granted refugee status in Mexico", Pena Nieto said in a pre-recorded address broadcast on Friday afternoon. At other times, police have ejected migrant passengers off buses by enforcing an obscure road insurance regulation. "Authorities were also cracking down on smaller groups trying to catch up with the main caravan, detaining about 300 Hondurans and Guatemalans as they walked along a highway after crossing the Mexico border illegally, said an official with the national immigration authority", NBC News reported. The members of the migrant caravan will either apply for asylum at the USA border or try to enter illegally. Defense Secretary Jim Mattis has authorized the use of troops and other military resources at the U.S. -Mexico border, U.S. officials said on Friday, bolstering President Donald Trump's battle against migrants trekking toward the United States. "I don't agree that it should only be women with children", she said. Some fear they will be deported if they take advantage of the program. "They [migrants] will be stopped!" he said in a tweet. On Friday evening, Irineo Mujica, whose organisation People without Borders is supporting the caravan, accused Mexican immigration agents of harassing migrants in an effort to stop the group's advance. "We will absolutely not tolerate violence against border patrol in this situation", Nielsen said. More than two thirds of Hondurans live in poverty, according to the World Bank. Labour has forced dozens of former members of staff to staff to sign controversial gagging orders which stop them going public with their criticisms, it was today claimed. Jeremy Corbyn was accused of 'hypocrisy' over the revelation as he has vowed to ban the use of non disclosure agreement (NDAs) in harassment and discrimination cases. It comes days after Sir Philip Green was named in Parliament as the businessman who had taken out an injunction preventing publication of allegations about his harassment of staff. The billionaire Topshop tycoon strenuously denies the allegations against him. Many Labour officials who left their jobs after Mr Corbyn swept to power have signed NDAs, the Sunday Times today claimed. Labour has admitted some former employees have signed NDAs - but insists they are not used to stop the 'disclosure of discrimination, harassment or victimisation'. But a Labour source told the newspaper the gagging orders could stop ex staff from lifting the lid on the scale of anti-Semitism and sexual harassment in the party. Labour (led by Jeremy Corbyn, [pictured in Parliament last week) has forced dozens of former members of staff to staff to sign controversial gagging orders which stop them going public with their criticisms, it was today claimed A Labour source said: 'A decent number of now former Labour staff are also subject to NDAs, which is stopping them speaking out on sexual harassment cases or anti-Semitism.' One insider accused Labour of 'hypocrisy' because Mr Corbyn used a major speech in the summer to promise to ban NDAs being used to stifle criticism harassment cases. And there are fears that former staff on Labour's Compliance Unit - which investigates cases of anti-Semitism - are among those who have signed the orders. This could prevent them exposing concerns about the way the cases were pursued by the new Labour leadership. The party source said: 'There are dozens of these NDAs. It's basically anyone who departed when Jennie Formby came in but also junior staff who worked in the compliance unit.' A Labour official who is believed to have signed an NDA said he could 'neither confirm nor deny' he had done so. What is a non disclosure agreement and why are they controversial? Parliament's women and equalities committee, headed by Tory MP Maria Miller (pictured), is investigating how non disclosure agreements work and whether they are being misused (file pic) Non-Disclosure Agreements is a catch-all term for agreements that include confidentiality clauses sometimes referred to as gagging clauses. They are meant to be used to stop confidential information like trade secrets leaking out when someone leaves a company or organisation. But they have sparked a storm of criticism as employers have often used them to cover up improper conduct and gag their former employees. They have often been used by employed to gag those who make allegations of sexual harassment. They have also been used to cover up improper, discriminatory or even illegal behaviour. Parliament's women and equalities committee, headed by Tory MP Maria Miller, is investigating how they work and whether they are being misused. Advertisement Another party source said: 'Settlement agreements are pretty common when people leave jobs nowadays and can be mutually beneficial but I'm not referring to the party settlement agreements.' Speaking at a trade union conference in Stockport in June, Mr Corbyn railed against the use of the gagging orders in harassment cases. He said: 'The next Labour government will commit to legislating to prevent making any contractual clauses [NDAs] which stop disclosure of future discrimination, harassment or victimisation.' Labour said: 'Like many organisations, the party has used NDAs which require former employees to maintain the confidentiality of private information obtained during their employment but does not seek to use NDAs which stop the disclosure of discrimination, harassment or victimisation.' Labour's shadow health secretary Jonathan Ashworth today said that the NDAs d not relate to sexual harassment cases. He told Pienaars Politics on BBC Radio 5 Live: 'From what I understand, and I'm not familiar with the ins and outs of it because I'm not working for the Labour Party, but from what I understand, these agreements have been signed by former staff leaving but they're nothing to do with bullying or sexual harassment or those things. 'They're what staff sign when they leave the Labour Party because, you know, they don't want to reveal election strategies and things like that.' 'As far as I understand it, and it's not unusual for a member of staff who's been involved in sort of running the election strategy team, for example - I don't know if that person's signed it, but you know what I mean - to sign an agreement because obviously political parties don't want their former staff to go out there because they're in competition with other parties.' Breaking his silence: Sir Philip Green with his wife, Lady Tina. Speaking for the first time since the scandal erupted, the TopShop owner said that he had indulged in nothing more than 'banter' with his staff, claiming he had a good relationship with those who worked for him The use of NDAs has been thrust into the spotlight amid the accusations of the 'MeToo' movement. And Dawn Butler, Labour 's shadoq women and equalities secretary and a close ally of Mr Corbyn, last week criticised their use in the wake of the allegations against Sir Philip. She said: 'While much of the focus in the coming days will be on this man and his alleged actions, let us also pay tribute to survivors of sexual abuse and harassment, who are too often silenced and cannot command an army of lawyers to fight their corner. 'NDAs should never be used to suppress allegations of criminal behaviour. If the current law doesn't protect the voices of survivors, the next Labour government will legislate to do so.' Armed police swooped on a coffee shop after receiving reports that a man dressed in 'SAS clothing' was carrying weapons. Frightened members of the public alerted officers when the man place a 'rifle and a sword' on the table at Kings Coffee House in Chelmsford. But when Essex Police's Force Support Unit detained the suspect, they realised his weapons were toys and he was in fancy dress for Comic Con. The police tweeted this picture showing the items that caused shoppers to panic in the Chelmsford street The convention attracts comic book fans who dress up as their favourite characters and they often bring toy versions of weapons (pictured, fans at London Comic Con this year) One witness told Essex Live how he reported the incident after seeing 'what looked like an assault rifle and a 3ft-long sword in his backpack'. He said: I phoned the police and told then what I saw. I walked onto the high street and saw him coming towards me, and at this point he had the rifle in his hand. The 'petrified' witness said he pushed his son into a shop doorway as panic spread to other people at the scene. A spokesman for the force said officers attended at about 10am on Friday and quickly established that the items were for fancy dress. The force was deployed yet again the following day when men wearing these masks caused panic in Basildon as one carried a toy machete Cosplay fans have descended on London, bringing replica weapons as they dress up as their favourite fantasy characters He warned people addressed costume events to bear in mind how authentic some replica items can appear to the untrained eye as people celebrate Halloween. Just one day later, the armed squad were deployed to a busy road in Basildon after reports of two masked men with a machete. The machete turned out to be a costume prop and the masks were replicas of the face coverings worn by Friday 13th's Jason Voorhees and Halloween's Michael Myers. Comic-Con's rules state that costumes are welcome at the convention, but forbids 'metal blades, working projectile weapons and wooden or metal bats and paddles'. Bern Tate, the principal at St Theresa's Catholic High School in Ontario, Canada, has apologized for telling female students that by wearing short skirts they are 'putting every male in this building in an awkward situation' during a uniform check last Monday A principal at a Catholic high school in Canada has come under fire after he was caught on camera telling female students that dress code violations put 'every male in this building in an awkward situation. Bern Tate, the principal at St Theresa's Catholic High School in Ontario, has since apologized for the indelicate remarks he made during a uniform check last Monday. In a video recorded covertly while Tate and vice principal Megan Clarke were assessing the length of female students' kilts in class, the principal can be heard telling a student: 'It's like the #MeToo movement. You're putting every male in this building in an awkward situation.' Students reported that Tate followed up the misguided remark with an equally unnerving one: 'We get it, legs are pretty.' Scroll down for video Tate's bizarre remarks about girls' skirt lengths left several students and parents feeling uncomfortable. Students are pictured in uniform at the school in CTV news coverage above A student covertly recorded a video in which Tate can be heard saying: 'It's like the #MeToo movement. You're putting every male in this building in an awkward situation' as he judges the length of girls' plaid uniform skirts A student who was in the room during the bizarre uniform check, Hannah Arbour, told CTV: 'I was really caught off guard by what was happening because I didn't expect that to ever happen.' Student Sarah Charlebois said Tate's comment about legs being 'pretty' made several students 'uncomfortable'. 'We're underage females in a Catholic school,' Charlebois told CTV. 'Why is that comment being made by someone of authority?' Parent Kim Mason said she was particularly appalled by Tate's reference to #MeToo, a national movement focused on uncovering and ending a culture of sexual misconduct. Mason told CTV: 'Talk about the skirts, tell them what to wear, but do not mention #metoo in that same context. They're really implying that these girls are asking for it by showing their legs.' Tate's comments sparked outrage among the student body and the school community. A student shared a photo of a paper with his misguided 'legs are pretty' remark on social media A spokesperson for the Simcoe Muskoka Catholic District School Board later apologized on behalf of Tate and Clarke in a statement. 'The administrators have openly acknowledged they made mistakes in how they dealt with their uniform concerns and they have apologized to all of the students in the classroom,' the statement read. 'It was never the principal's intention to make anyone feel uncomfortable, and he is working to resolve any issues that students and parents have. As a board, we are all committed to learning and growing from this situation. 'Moving forward, we will be asking our principals to initiate discussions and review their current dress code practices, which will include consultation with parents. This situation will certainly be a starting point for conversations in each of our respective school communities.' Vice President Mike Pence dismissed suggestions of a link between President Donald Trump's fiery rhetoric and acts of violence that have taken place in recent days with pipe bombing attempts on prominent Americans and Saturday's shooting at a synagogue in Pittsburgh. 'Everyone has their own style and frankly people on both sides of the aisle use strong language about our political differences but I just don't think you can connect it to threats or acts of violence,' he told NBC News in an interview that aired Sunday. 'The president and I have different styles but the president connected to the American people because he spoke plainly and he spoke the way he speaks about the issues of the day in politics,' he noted. Vice President Mike Pence said there's no connection between President Donald Trump's fiery campaign rhetoric and the violence seen in recent days President Trump notably toned down his rhetoric after last week's pipe bombing attempts Pence rejected the idea that the kind of fiery rhetoric used by him and the president - Pence referred to Democrats as a 'mob' in a campaign speech and Trump has used derogatory names like 'wacko' and 'low IQ' to describe people - strokes any flames of violence. 'The American people believe in the freedom of speech. Throughout the history of this country we've always had vigorous debates. And then we settle those debates in the ballot box. We don't settle them through acts and threats of violence like the pipe bombs we saw sent to the Obamas, the Clintons, to CNN, and others. And we have no tolerance for the anti-semitic violence that we saw rear its ugly head in Pittsburgh,' the vice president told NBC News Saturday after a campaign rally in Las Vegas. He also cautioned a word of warning about trying to connect acts of violence with freedom of speech. 'I think we have to be careful to connect the kind of violent behavior we witnessed in Pittsburgh today, the threats of violence against prominent Americans that we witnessed in the pipe bombs, what happened in Sutherland Springs Texas or what happened here in Las Vegas to the political debate. We want a free and open political debate in America where everyone expresses themselves passionately and openly,' he said. 'But also recognize the difference between passionate debate and acts of evil.' He added that the American people can differentiate between the two. 'I don't think the America people connect them. The American people believe those who are responsible are the people that actually conduct these threats,' he said. After last week's mailed bombings to the Washington D.C. home of Barack and Michelle Obama, the New York home of Bill and Hillary Clinton, to CNN's New York headquarters, and to Congresswoman Maxine Waters' offices, Trump notably toned down his rhetoric. The president called for a 'civil tone' in politics at a campaign rally in Mosinee, Wisconsin, on Wednesday evening in the wake of bombing attempts on his political rivals. Trump, who often engages in provocative language and uses derogatory names against his political opponents, carefully tempered his words before the cheering crowd and repeatedly pointed out his own affable behavior, saying he was being 'nice.' Law enforcement officers check possible entrances to The Tree of Life synagogue where 11 people were killed and others injured in a deadly shooting in Pittsburgh 'And by the way, do you see how nice I'm behaving tonight?' Trump asked the crowd. 'Have you ever seen this? We're all behaving very well.' 'And hopefully we can keep it that way, right? We're going to keep it that way,' he added. 'I'm trying to be nice,' he said many times throughout the evening. In the wake of Saturday's shooting in a Pittsburgh synagogue that left 11 dead, the president said it was an 'evil' act and an 'assault on humanity.' Trump and Pence are on separate campaign swings around the country as they try to stop a blue wave from giving Democrats control of Capitol Hill. Two people have died after a bus plunged off a large bridge spanning China's Yangtze River. Rescuers recovered two bodies after the public bus plunged nearly 200 ft into the river in Chongqing on Sunday morning. The bus collided with an oncoming car on the four-lane bridge in the city's Wanxian area at around 10 am local time. Two people have died after a bus plunged off a large bridge spanning China's Yangtze River A paramilitary police officer stands guard as a crowd gathers at the site of the incident in Chongqing The vehicle then veered, broke through the bridge fence and plunged into the Yangtze river. The bus sank some 260 ft under the water, state radio reported late on Sunday, citing rescuers. More than 10 people, including the driver, were riding the bus, state radio said. The cause of the accident is under investigation. Rescuers recovered two bodies after the public bus plunged nearly 200 ft into the river Police say the bus suddenly veered into the wrong lane and collided with an oncoming car A diver prepares to conduct a search and rescue operation at the site where a bus plunged off a bridge into the Yangtze River The bus sank some 260 ft under the water, state radio reported late on Sunday, citing rescuers Pittsburgh Mayor William Peduto rejected President Donald Trump's idea that an armed guard in the Tree of Life Congregation Synagogue would have stopped a mass shooting that resulted in 11 deaths. 'I don't think that the answer to this problem is solved by having our synagogues, mosques and churches filled with armed guards or our schools filled with armed guards. I think we're dealing with an irrational person who acted irrationally. And trying to create laws around that is not the way that we should govern. We should try to stop irrational behavior from happening at the forefront. And not try to create laws around irrational behavior to continue,' he said Sunday on NBC's "Meet the Press." Pittsburgh Mayor William Peduto rejected President Donald Trump's idea that an armed guard in the Tree of Life Congregation Synagogue would have stopped Saturday's shooting The president, on Saturday, said an armed guard may have been able to stop gunman Robert Bowers The president, on Saturday, said an armed guard may have been able to stop gunman Robert Bowers. 'This is a case where, if they had an armed guard inside, they might have been able to stop him immediately,' Trump said during a speech to young farmers in Indianapolis. 'Maybe there would have been nobody killed, except for him, frankly. So its a very, very - a very difficult situation,' he noted. President Trump has also said he wants to visit Pittsburgh and Peduto said that it would be up to the victims' families as to whether he should attend any funerals. 'That's really up to the families themselves. You know, we're going to be working together as we have. We've had good cooperation from the state and the governor. And, you know, this is a Conservative synagogue. So the funerals will be very quickly. As soon as tomorrow. So that's really up to the families and whether they would want the president to be here,' he said. The mayor added that hearts were broken in Pittsburgh over the tragedy. 'Our city's a small city. So all communities are connected together. So we understand that an attack against our Jewish community is an attack against our entire city. We're here right now to help the victims' families. So that's, thats the foremost part of what we need to do. And the second part is to get to the folks who have been injured, our officers and others, and to be able to help them and their families as well,' he said. President Trump has said he will visit Pittsburgh but offered no details as to when Trump said on Saturday he will visit Pittsburgh but offered no details. The president had strong words in the wake of the shooting. Trump said on Saturday lawmakers 'should very much bring the death penalty into vogue' and people who kill in places such as synagogues and churches 'really should suffer the ultimate price.' Bowers, a Trump-hating anti-Semite, regularly complained on social media about the president and 'the infestation of Jews.' He allegedly opened fire at the synagogue shortly before 10am. The synagogue was busier than usual with Sabbath services and because of a baby naming ceremony that had also been scheduled. After opening fire on the congregation with three handguns and an AR-15, he was confronted by two Pittsburgh police officers who had been called to the scene as he tried to leave the building. Police say Bowers returned fire, injuring both of the cops, then retreated inside and ran to the third floor to hide. He then engaged in a gun battle with a SWAT team and injured two of them before being shot multiple times himself and surrendering. He is still alive, in a stable condition, and is in the hospital under the watch of police. A young lawyer collapsed and died of suspected dehydration during a hike in a national park over the weekend - despite having water on him. Kismatul Muzahid, 26, left for an eight-kilometre track to Nature's Window with two friends in the Kalbarri National Park, north of Perth in Western Australia, at 9am on Saturday. Mr Muzahid's group only carried three small bottles of water with them on the trek, it is understood. 'He had just done the 8km walk and he collapsed just before Nature's Window he was almost back to the beginning because the loop starts and finishes at the same point he felt unwell and that was it," Kalbarri State Emergency Service Local Manager Steve Cable said. Kismatul Muzahid, 26, (pictured) went on an 8-kilometre track to Nature's Window with two friends in the Kalbarri National Park, located north of Perth in Western Australia The group set off on the hike at around 9am on Saturday, but Mr Muzahid began to feel unwell by 1pm Mr Muzahid reportedly suffered from high blood pressure, according to 9 News. His group of friends said the 26-year-old began to feel unwell by 1pm - just four hours after they started. Mr Muzahid collapsed soon after. A fellow doctor who was on the same hike tried to perform CPR on Mr Muzahid, but was unsuccessful. Police said Mr Muzahid's group only had minimal supplies with them during the hike. Police said the group only had minimal supplies with them during the hike (pictured is Kalbarri) The average temperature in Kalbarri was 28 degrees that day, but authorities said it could have been 10 to 15 degrees hotter in the national park 'Emergency services will always respond, it is our duty to respond and to meet people's needs, however we do believe people should go out adequately prepared,' Western Australia Police Inspector Garry Kosovich told 9 News. The average temperature in Kalbarri was 28 degrees on Saturday, but authorities said it could have been 10 to 15 degrees hotter in the national park. The Kalbarri National Park, located 485 kilometres north of Perth, boasts of scenic hikes with views of river gorges and coastal cliffs. It is a popular tourist destination. Items recovered from the van of the suspected MAGAbomber seem to indicate that he assembled the explosive devices inside the vehicle, authorities said. Cesar Sayoc, 56, was reportedly living out of his van, which was covered with anti-liberal propaganda and countless stickers supporting Donald Trump. Investigators found a printer, stamps, paper, unidentified powder, and equipment for soldering - a process in which two or more items are joined together by melting - inside the van after Sayoc's arrest on Friday. Sayoc allegedly sent at least 14 explosive devices to a number of prominent Democrats, including Barack Obama, Joe Biden, and Bill and Hillary Clinton this week. He has been charged with illegal mailing of explosives, threats against former presidents and certain other persons, assaulting current and former federal officers, interstate transportation of an explosive, and threatening interstate communications. Sayoc's former manager has since revealed what she saw inside the van - which she called 'freaky scary' - when he gave her a ride home once last year. Suspected MAGAbomber Cesar Sayoc's former manager Debra Gureghian (pictured) said his van was 'freaky scary' and that he talked about wanting to return to the 'Hitler days' Sayoc, 56, allegedly sent at least 14 explosive devices to a number of prominent Democrats, including Barack Obama, Joe Biden, and Bill and Hillary Clinton Gureghian said inside Sayoc's van (pictured) were puppets, mannequins, and Barbie dolls all with their heads cut off, and even nooses Debra Gureghian is the general manager of New River Pizza & Fresh Kitchen, where Sayoc worked as a pizza deliveryman from January 2017 to January 2018. Among the dirty clothes, fast food wrappers, and bottles of alcohol were puppets, mannequins, and Barbie dolls - all with their heads cut off. Also inside the van were nooses. 'All I thought was, "Holy shit, is there a way out of here? Am I able to open the door? How do I tuck and roll?"' Gureghian recalled. 'Because at any given moment he could have snapped.' Among the dozens of stickers on Sayoc's van are several showing targets over the faces of CNN commentator Van Jones, Green Party leader Jill Stein, liberal filmmaker Michael Moore, Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton. The red targets appear to have been haphazardly photoshopped on top of the images A collage of three images from Trump's 2016 presidential campaign featuring him and running mate Mike Pence are featured with the flag for the Seminole Tribe - which Sayoc claims to be a part of - and the words: 'Native Americans For Trump' Gureghian said that Sayoc wanted to 'go back to the Hitler days' and be a 'foot soldier' for the white supremacy movement. 'He talked about being an American Indian, but said he wanted to go back to the Hitler days,' she told the Huffington Post. 'He loved that regime, he loved that white supremacy. He wanted to be a foot soldier, and would say that if we had that kind of mentality today, everybody would toe the line, everybody would fall into place.' 'It's basically the white supremacists, the white foot soldiers that he wants to follow and lead. He wanted to be a leader.' Gureghian, who is a lesbian, said Sayoc would tell her she was an 'abomination' and 'God's mistake'. A photo circulating on social media shows a man driving the sticker-covered van in Boca Raton, Florida, on October 18 'He knew I was very proud of my sexuality. More than once he told me if he had completely autonomy, I would burn in hell with all the blacks and Jews and Hispanics,' she told CNN. 'It was just the white supremacists that were gonna rule the world. He said, "Debra, as much as I like you, you're going to be the first one I burn."' Another time, Sayoc told Gureghian that she should be on an island with 'Rachel Maddow and Ellen DeGeneres and Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton'. He then told her he would nuke the island. Sayoc openly talked about his hatred for Obama and Clinton, as well as his love for Hitler. 'He hated the Obamas,' Gureghian said. 'He called him a monkey and the N-word. He hated Hillary Clinton. He called her a lesbian.' 'And Adolf Hitler, he loved. Adolf Hitler, he couldn't say enough about.' Gureghian said she wasn't allowed to fire someone because of their political views. Authorities found a printer, stamps, paper, unidentified powder, and equipment for soldering - a process in which two or more items are joined together by melting - inside the van after Sayoc's arrest on Friday FBI officials are seen putting a blue tarp over the white commercial van after Sayoc was taken into custody Friday morning 'I didn't own the business,' she said. 'I would have liked nothing more than to fire him, because there were many days I went in the bathroom and cried. Seriously, that's how bad it was.' Gureghian said she would always make Sayoc park his van around the corner when he came to work so that their customers wouldn't see it. But she said he 'loved' the van and often cut out pictures from magazines to add to it. 'He was very, very proud of every single one of those stickers,' she said. 'Taking time to put them exactly how they should line up together.' Sayoc's van was impounded by authorities on Friday as Twitter users shared photos of the vehicle, which was covered in stickers supporting Trump. Other stickers featuring red shooting targets over the faces of Obama, Hillary Clinton, Green Party Leader Jill Stein, liberal filmmaker Michael Moore and CNN commentator Van Jones were juxtaposed next to an image of Trump standing triumphantly on top of a military tank. Sayoc wore a shirt with the same images portrayed on his van window to a Trump rally, as seen in the Twitter photo above Prominently featured on the side of the van are the words: 'I Am Donald Trump & I Approve This Message'. Many of the messages sound eerily similar to Trump's own comments, such as one poster with the words 'THE SWAMP' over the faces of top Democratic leaders, left-wing pundits and members of the media. Below that image are the words 'DISHONEST MEDIA' and 'CNN SUCKS' next to a photo of Jones with a target on his chest. At the top of the back passenger-side window are several large stickers from Trump's 2016 presidential campaign which show the then-candidate and his running mate Mike Pence with their thumbs up. Sayoc was arrested just before noon on Friday in the parking lot of AutoZone car parts store in Plantation. Just hours before his arrest, Sayoc read newspaper clippings at the strip club where he worked Sayoc was arrested in connection with 14 explosive devices sent to critics of Donald Trump this week. The device pictured above was addressed to former CIA head John Brennan at CNN Surveillance footage captured Sayoc reading newspaper clippings at the strip club where he worked just hours before his arrest. This isn't the first time Sayoc has gotten into trouble with the law. The suspected MAGAbomber has a lengthy history of criminal charges, which includes grand theft auto and domestic abuse of his own grandmother. In 2002 he also threatened to blow up Florida Power and Light, even claiming 'it would be worse than September 11th'. A cyber criminal with a penchant for Louis Vuitton shoes, Cartier bracelets and luxury beauty products will spend at least two-and-a-half years behind bars for fraud. Elizabeth Goh, an ice addict from Sydney with a love of extravagant spending, once splashed $766 on luxury beauty products in one sitting. Now, the 29-year-old is serving prison time over her role in a criminal syndicate that defrauded $1.5 million from 47 separate bank accounts. Elizabeth Goh, 29, (far left) an ice-addict with a penchant for extravagant spending, will spend at least two-and-a-half years behind bars for cyber fraud More than 27,000 forms of personal identification were accessed in the 'sophisticated' fraud operation beginning in 2016, The Daily Telegraph reported. The syndicate posed as doctors or insurance workers to obtain personal details from victims regarding their phone or internet banking, Cybercrime and Fraud Squad police said. The group exploited Host Card Emulation, a software allowing a smartphone to be used to 'tap and pay' like a credit card. Expensive electronic and luxury goods were bought and then on-sold. At least seven people were faced with 767 charges for the crimes. Goh was personally found to have been involved in targeting more than a dozen people - six of whom lost $120,000 between them. Victims often unknowingly had their phone number transferred to another service provider. Goh had a penchant for Louis Vuitton shoes, Cartier bracelets and luxury beauty products will spend at least two-and-a-half years behind bars for fraud (stock images) A member of the group would then call up their bank impersonating them. One victim Goh impersonated, Roderick Watson, said he received a text saying his number was being transferred but thought it was a hoax. Goh used the stolen phone number to call up the Commonwealth Bank, which eventually gave Mr Watson's banking details. She then bought seven iPhones and SIM cards worth almost $10,000 using the 'Tap and Pay' feature, which she linked to a MasterCard she set up in his name. In a separate crime, Goh stole $33,000 over just three days. Using a Travel Money Card, she bought $2,500 diamond earrings. Police found Louis Vuitton shoes believed to be the proceeds of crime when offciers raided Goh's inner-city Ultimo home in Sydney in May 2017. She was sentenced over a number of charges, including participating in a criminal group and dishonestly obtaining financial advantage by deception. With time already served, she will be eligible for parole in December 2019. Prime Minister Scott Morrison's honeymoon period appears to have come to an end as his net approval rating plummets amid accusations from Dr Kerryn Phelps his government misled voters during the Wentworth by-election. According to the latest Newspoll released on Sunday night, 44 per cent of people are dissatisfied with the leader, compared to a 41 per cent satisfaction rate. In a tumultuous two weeks, Mr Morrison's net rating dropped 10 points - from an all-time high of seven per cent to negative three per cent. This is the first time Mr Morrison has descended into negative territory. Scott Morrison's (pictured) honeymoon period appears to have come to an end as the Prime Minister's net approval rating plummets into negative territory His predecessor, Malcolm Turnbull, who was axed from the top job in August, maintained a negative approval rating in all but one poll after the 2016 election. The distinct drop in satisfaction rates are likely compounded by the Liberal Party's historic defeat in the Wentworth by-election last week. Liberal Candidate Dave Sharma lost the blue ribbon seat to Independent Dr Kerryn Phelps, plunging the party into a minority government. The crushing campaign was dominated by frustration about Mr Turnbull's removal, increased tensions about refugee children on Nauru, discrimination against gay students at religious schools and mounting pressure to act on climate change. Dr Phelps accused the Morrison government of breaking their commitments to voters, telling Fairfax Media on Sunday it's naive to assume only people in progressive seats are concerned with climate change. Ahead of polling, Mr Morrison indicated he would be willing to accept New Zealand's long-standing offer to take 150 refugees from Nauru and Manus Island - as long as they were banned from ever coming to Australia. Dr Kerryn Phelps (pictured) accused the Morrison government of breaking their commitments to voters Opposition Leader Bill Shorten (pictured, left) improved his net approval rating to negative thirteen per cent When Labor presented a compromise offer four days after the by-election, the Liberal government rejected the proposal. 'They were offering false hope,' Dr Phelps said. 'We could have made progress this week with the New Zealand solution but the parties are too concerned to not back down on their position and make concessions.' Dr Phelps, who claimed getting children off Nauru was a top priority, urged the government to consider the serious concerns of the medical professions. While she conceded the government acted in removing dozens of ill children, she noted there was still over 50 children stuck on offshore detention. Dr Phelps, a gay rights activist, also targeted Mr Morrison for failing to implement legislation to keep gay kids safe in religious schools. Dr Phelps, who claimed getting children off Nauru was a top priority, urged the government to consider the serious concerns of the medical professions 'It just goes to show how much was being promised during the by-election with no intent of following through,' she said. Mr Turnbull sparked last week's by-election when he abruptly quit politics in late August after being unceremoniously ousted as prime minister. Sunday's Newspoll also revealed Morrison's government approval rating has also dipped - now trailing Labor 46 to 54. The coalition's primary support also stepped back a point to 36 per cent. Opposition Leader Bill Shorten improved his net approval rating to negative thirteen per cent. While Mr Morrison is viewed as the better prime minister by 43 per cent, the Labor leader closed the gap by eight points, to 35 per cent. The weighted poll of 1646 voters from across the nation was taken between Thursday and Sunday and has a margin of error of plus or minus 2.4 per cent. Federal officials confirmed that they have one person in custody in connection with wave of package bomb packages addressed to prominent Democrats, NBC News and CNN said Friday. Police in NY said they were responding to a suspicious package in midtown Manhattan, just blocks from where one of the explosive devices was found earlier this week at CNN's offices in the Time Warner Center. "I thank God no one's been hurt, and I thank the courageous and resourceful security and law enforcement people for protecting us", De Niro said. "We were getting a lot of calls right after 9/11", he said, adding the complaint also came in the midst of the anthrax mail threats that were terrorizing elected officials. The package was "safely removed" from the post office, police said. News of the arrest followed an eyebrow-raising presidential tweet in which Trump blamed "this "Bomb" stuff" for usurping political media coverage and stifling early-voting turnout for pivotal USA midterm elections. They were handwritten and in at least some cases, misspelled. Justice Department officials revealed that a latent fingerprint found on one package helped them identify their suspect as Cesar Sayoc, 56, of Aventura, Florida. Though none has exploded, they comprise one of the biggest bombing threats in the United States in decades. His package was delivered to the Manhattan bureau of CNN, where he had served as an on-air analyst. Kamala Harris, a law enforcement official said. "We've been very concerned about them. We will find you, we will prosecute you to the fullest extent of the law". Cesar Sayoc, 56, a registered Republican with a criminal past, born in NY and who lived in a van covered in pro-Trump and anti-liberal stickers, was arrested outside a strip mall in Florida. Investigators draped the vehicle with a blue tarp and towed it away on a flat bed truck. Another said "CNN Sucks", along with an image of Trump standing on a tank in front of fireworks and an American flag. Clapper, a frequent Trump critic, told CNN that he was not surprised he was targeted and that he considered the actions "definitely domestic terrorism". In a statement released by his publicist on Friday, the actor says "There's something more powerful than bombs, and that's your vote". It was a stark, whipsaw departure from what the president said earlier in the day on Twitter, where he lamented the ongoing 24-hour coverage of the bombing investigation and what he characterized as its impact on Republican momentum in early voting for the USA midterms. Earlier today, authorities said suspicious packages addressed to New Jersey Sen. Investigators believe the mailings were staggered. The U.S. Postal Service searched their facilities 48 hours ago and the most recent packages didn't turn up. They were working to determine for sure. The officials spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity to discuss an ongoing investigation. Further details were not immediately available. In 2004, he faced several felony charges for possession of a synthetic anabolic-androgenic steroid. He filed for bankruptcy in Miami in 2012, according to court records. "Whoever is doing this is just trying to elicit a fear or disrupt something", said Ryan Morris, founder of Tripwire Operations Group, a company that provides explosives training to law enforcement and military officials. "Debtor lives with mother, owns no furniture", Sayoc's lawyer indicated in a property list. The FBI called them "potentially destructive devices" - so either the bombmaker was good enough to ensure none would go off and never intended them to explode, or they were poorly constructed. Other packages may still be in the system, officials said as they warned members of the public to be watchful. The NYPD Bomb Squad took an X-ray and determined the package should be removed from the building and sent to a facility at Rodman's Neck, in the Bronx. "The focus on Florida is going to bear through", Cuomo told CNN. De Niro is calling on people to vote in light of the series of bombs addressed to targets of right-wing anger. CNN received a package that was sent to former Central Intelligence Agency director John Brennan. The devices were packaged in manila envelopes and carried USA postage stamps. That means FBI investigators can "look for patterns such as the device, the technical expertise, the method of mailing, a whole host of great, rich forensic evidence that can be gathered". The first package was detected on Monday at the NY home of billionaire philanthropist and Democrat donor George Soros. From walkies to drinkies: Pawsecco, from woofandbrew.com, is just one of many treats millennials are splash out on for their pets Millennials and young couples without children are fuelling a massive boom in the pet gift industry, with more than half saying they would rather splurge money on their furry friends than themselves. Two out of five would also spend as much on their pets at Christmas, as they would for a close relative or friend. This year alone, pet owners will spend an eye-watering 1.7billion on making sure man's best friend (and all other creatures large and small) enjoy all the creature comforts the retail industry has to offer. That includes everything from employing pet sitters and dog walkers to splashing out on Pawsecco, matching pyjamas and hand-made treats, hampers and 'pupcakes'. It's a trend that's only set to continue, according to data research company Mintel, which estimates a 25% increase in spending over the next five years. Cary Cooper, professor of organisational psychology and health at Manchester Business School, told the Observer: 'Pets today are seen as substitute children, particularly by lonely, hard-working millennials and young couples who cannot afford to have kids yet.' Among owners aged 39 to 53, such indulgence was not so readily heaped upon pets, with fewer than one in 10 spending as much as millenials are prepared to. That could be partly down to older pet owners being more likely to have children - and therefore spending their hard-earned cash on their offspring. Just like me: You and your pooch can dress in matching pyjamas, available from fabdog.com But for millenials and those without children, the bond between owner and pet can be just as strong, according to Nickie Charles, a sociology professor at the University of Warwick. 'People are incredibly emotionally attached to their pets nowadays and it's a very intimate, close relationship,' she said. Chana Baram, retail analyst at Mintel, added: 'As pets increasingly become viewed as family members and are 'humanised', pet owners are willing to offer them their own products and unique items, which often carry a higher price tag, and help to drive category growth. 'This ranges from animal-friendly pancakes and wine to dog hiking boots and animal sleeping bags, while the more pampered of pooches even enjoy dog beds with memory foam mattresses.' One man died and two others were injured when shots were fired Sunday in Sri Lanka, as a constitutional crisis over the shock sacking of Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe turned violent. Bodyguards for Petroleum Minister Arjuna Ranatunga fired live rounds as a mob loyal to Sri Lanka's president besieged the cabinet member in his office, police said. One of those shot in the melee, a 34-year-old man, died shortly after being admitted to the Colombo National, hospital spokeswoman Pushpa Soysa said. It was the first report of serious violence since President Maithripala Sirisena sacked Ranil Wickremesinghe on Friday and installed former strongman Mahinda Rajapakse as the new prime minister, triggering political chaos. Members of Sri Lanka's Special Task Force and the police chase away supporters of Sri Lanka's newly appointed Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa on Sunday Sri Lankan security forces secure the petroleum ministry building following the shooting incident in Colombo Sri Lanka's former president and new prime minister Mahinda Rajapakse (second right) whose appointment caused a wave of protests over the weekend Siresena said Sunday that the main reason he decided to sack his prime minister was the alleged involvement of a Cabinet minister in a plot to assassinate him. In a televised address to the nation, President Sirisena said a person questioned by investigators had revealed the name of a minister in an alleged plot to assassinate him and a former defense secretary. He said the only choice for him under the circumstances was to dismiss Ranil Wickremesinghe and invite his former nemesis and ex-strongman Mahinda Rajapaksa to take over as prime minister and form a new government. 'This information (received by investigators) contains a number of details hitherto hidden to the people,' Sirisena said. 'The informant has made a statement regarding a Cabinet minister involved in the conspiracy to assassinate me.' He did not reveal the name of the minister. Even though Sirisena's supporters had been talking about an alleged plot to assassinate him for weeks, Sunday was the first time Sirisena had made a public statement on it. Crowds jostle with security forces outside the petroleum ministry where the deadly shooting took place Sri Lanka's sacked Prime Minister Ranil Wickeremesinghe who was replaced with Mahinda Rajapakse Meanwhile, one person died and two others were wounded on Sunday in a shooting at the Petroleum Ministry, in the first violent incident since the political turmoil began on Friday with the sacking of Wickremesinghe. Pushpa Soyza, a spokeswoman at Colombo National Hospital, said three people were admitted to the hospital following the shooting, and one of them had died. Arjuna Ranatunga, who was petroleum minister under Wickremesinghe, said one of his security guards opened fire when Rajapaksa supporters mobbed him and protested against him entering the ministry premises. Wickremesinghe has called Sirisena's move to sack him unconstitutional and said he can prove his majority support in Parliament. On Saturday, Sirisena suspended Parliament in an apparent move to give Rajapaksa time to try to muster enough support to survive any no-confidence vote. The speaker of Parliament urged Sirisena to safeguard Wickremesinghe's rights. A Supporter of Sri Lanka's former president and new prime minister Mahinda Rajapakse celebrates his appointment on Sunday Mahinda Rajapakse waves as he arrives at the Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic in Kandy on Sunday among excited supporters Speaker Karu Jayasuriya said in a letter to Sirisena on Sunday that the continued suspension of Parliament would have 'serious and undesirable consequences.' Opposition lawmakers, supporting the new prime minister, asked Wickremesinghe to vacate his official residence or face a forcible eviction. Hundreds of Wickremesinghe supporters continued to gather outside his official home on Sunday for the second consecutive day, waving party flags and denouncing Sirisena and Rajapaksa. Buddhist monks performed religious rites to invoke blessings on Wickremesinghe. Jayasuriya said in the letter that he received 'a request to protect the rights and privileges' of Wickremesinghe 'until any other person emerges from within Parliament as having secured the confidence of Parliament.' He said the request came from two senior lawmakers from the sacked prime minister's party. 'This request is especially important in the context where various persons are reported to have issued threats via the media,' Jayasuriya said, adding that 'the forcible takeovers' would have 'serious international implications.' Tensions have been building between Sirisena and Wickremesinghe for some time, as the president did not approve of some of the economic reforms being introduced by the prime minister. Sirisena was also critical of investigations into military personnel accused of human rights violations during Sri Lanka's long civil war, which ended in 2009. A supporter of newly appointed Sri Lankan prime minister Mahinda Rajapaksa shouts at police officers on Sunday Police forming themselves into a line to keep supporters at bay after Sunday's fatal shooting The 43-year-old wife of a former executive of a top American IT firm has been charged with murder after he was found stabbed to death at their home in north London. Natasha Welsh, 43, was arrested for stabbing husband Martin Welsh, 47, in their 600,000 semi-detached house on Greyhound Hill, Hendon, near Middlesex University. Mrs Welsh was arrested alongside her two children, Kyle, 21, and Charley, 23, who were later released without further action. Welsh is due to appear at Willesden Magistrates' Court on Monday, 29 October. A cordon has been put in place around a house in Hendon, north London, after a 47-year-old man was pronounced dead by police and paramedics late last night Police and paramedics were called to the scene after Mr Welsh suffered a fatal stab wound. He was pronounced dead at the scene. Mr Welsh, originally from Irvine, north Ayrshire, had moved to London as a teen. He was said to have been a sales executive at Westcon global US technology but was made redundant three years ago. John Singleton, a friend and former colleague of Mr Welsh, told The Times: 'They used to have a bit of a barney but nothing serious. Everyone has their ding-dongs him and Tash were no different. 'They had some problems with their son while he was growing up. I know he used to get in trouble sometimes at school. Martin was always sorting things out, always on the phone to Tasha. They loved each other.' The man was the 116th murder victim in the capital so far this year. A neighbour said they saw two people standing outside the semi-detached house last night. The neighbour, who did not wish to be named, said: 'I was at a Halloween party last night at the Greyhound pub and as I was walking by I saw two people by the cottage in the dark. 'The man was wearing a white vest and looked up at me as I passed. I couldn't make out the other person in the darkness. They were very quiet. Police remained at the scene (pictured) on Saturday and detectives from the Homicide and Major Crime Command are now investigating Police at the scene (pictured) said the case was 'sensitive' and they're appealing for information from anyone who might have been in the area last night 'Just then a police car with its lights out pulled up. I don't know who lives there, just the next door neighbour. It's very sad whatever has happened.' Another neighbour who lives in the other cottage adjoining the house where the alleged murder took place refused to comment. A group of forensics officers remain at the scene, while the surrounding area is closed off. Locals were shocked about the tragic news, and described the area as a 'tight-knit community' while police at the scene said it was a 'sensitive' case. Regulars at the Greyhound Pub said they did not know the residents of the cottage. One said that the first they knew of the incident on Friday night was when police and ambulances turned up. Detectives from the Homicide and Major Crime Command are now investigating the alleged murder in Hendon. Anyone with information concerning this incident is asked to call police on 0208 721 4054 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111. Robert Bowers, 46, was an obsessive Gab user who often posted of hating Jews PayPal has banned social media platform Gab from accepting payments after the revelation that the accused synagogue shooter was an obsessive Gab user who frequently posted about his hatred for Jews. Gab said on Saturday that it had been banned from PayPal, payment processor Stripe, and hosting service Joyent within a matter of hours after the shooting in Pittsburgh. Accused shooter Robert Bowers, 46, was a heavy Gab user who posted a message minutes before the shooting, accusing the Hebrew Immigrant Aid Society of bringing in 'invaders' and announcing 'I'm going in.' Gab markets itself as a social media alternative that is devoted to absolute free speech, and has become popular with racist fringe users in recent years as they have been kicked off of Facebook and Twitter. Eleven people died and six were injured after the shooting in the Tree of Life synagogue during Saturday morning Sabbath services. Bowers was apprehended at the Tree of Life synagogue (above) in Pittsburgh on Saturday, after a shooting massacre that left 11 dead and six injured The bio section of Bowers' Gab profile reads: jews are the children of satan'. The header image shows a device that measures bullet velocity displaying the numerical racist code '1488' He posted this about the Hebrew Immigrant Aid Society minutes before the shooting Among his antisemitic comments on the social network Gab are complaints about Trump Gab said in a statement after the shooting that it 'unequivocally disavows and condemns all acts of terrorism and violence', and had immediately acted to preserve the data from Bower's account and provide it to law enforcement. The company deactivated Bowers' account but an archived version of the posts remains available. He seemed enraged by the recent migrant caravan, and accused Jewish groups of encouraging and facilitating immigration to the U.S. Bowers was also sharply critical of President Donald Trump, accusing him of being a 'globalist' and painting him as a puppet of Jewish interests. After suspension of service from PayPal and others amid growing backlash, Gab accused the 'big tech giants' of 'direct collusion.' Jewish residents who live near the synagogue are pictured outside after the shooting. At least 11 died and six were injured, including four police officers Bowers posted his antisemitic views on Gab, which markets itself as a free speech platform A spokesman for PayPal confirmed that the company had cancelled Gab's account in a statement to DailyMail.com on Sunday. 'PayPal has been closely monitoring Gab and was in the process of canceling the sites account before the tragic events occurred,' PayPal spokesman Justin Higgs said. 'When a site is allowing the perpetuation of hate, violence or discriminatory intolerance, we take immediate and decisive action,' he added. Gab posted correspondence from Stripe on Saturday that indicated the payment processor had also been reviewing Gab's policies prior to the attack. A source familiar with the undated correspondence told DailyMail.com that it was authentic and referred to a deadline on Friday, prior to the attack. A spokeswoman for Stripe declined to comment, citing policy against speaking about individual customers. Joyent did not immediately respond to inquiries from DailyMail.com. On Sunday, Gab lashed out at the mainstream media in a series of tweets, accusing journalists of maliciously branding the site a haven for hate in the clamor to shut it down. 'We have a community of great people from all around the world. To broadly generalize ~800,000 people based on the horrific actions and words of one man is really sad,' Gab said in a tweet responding to TV personality Montel Williams. Williams had called Gab 'the network of choice for every fringe freak from the garbage can of American society' and predicted the site was 'about to get shut down.' 'Friends we know many of you are upset about what is happening to Gab, but please focus on the victims, families and friends of this horrible tragedy,' Gab said in a statement. 'It's disgusting that the media is centering their focus on Gab instead of honoring the victims or denouncing the alleged terrorist,' the company said. A peer has sparked fury by appearing to blame Israel's policies for the Pittsburgh synagogue massacre which killed 11 people. Jewish worshipers were gunned down at a synagogue on Saturday morning in what is believed to be the worst anti-Semitic attack in recent US history. Responding to the bloody atrocity, Baroness Jenny Tonge posted a message on Facebook saying the policies of Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu - known as 'Bibi' - is fuelling the anti-Semitism which led to the massacre. Her remark was branded 'abhorrent' by Jewish leaders and campaigners who furiously demanded she is stripped of her peerage. The peer wrote on Facebook: 'Absolutely appalling and criminal act, but does it ever occur to Bibi and the present Israeli government that its actions against Palestinians may be reigniting anti-Semitism? 'Some people will not know the difference between the Zionist government in Israel and Jewish people in all countries who do not support that government's actions. We must never conflate the two. 'I suppose someone will say that it is anti-Semitic to say so?' Baroness Jenny Tonge (pictured in the House of Lords earlier this year) sparked fury by appearing to blame Israel's policies for the Pittsburgh synagogue massacre which killed 11 people Responding to the bloody atrocity, Baroness Jenny Tonge posted a message on Facebook saying the policies of Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu - known as 'Bibi' - is fuelling the anti-Semitism which led to the massacre But her post - which included a link to an article about the massacre - sparked an immediate backlash. Board of Deputies President Marie van Der Zyl said: 'Jenny Tonge's craven comments are a reminder of why she was ejected by the Liberal Democrats. 'We will be making a complaint to Parliamentary Standards.' A spokesman for the Campaign Against Anti-Semitism said: 'Attempting to blame the Jewish state for the actions of a neo-Nazi terrorist while, the bodies of his innocent victims are not yet cold, is utterly abhorrent. 'We consider that Baroness Tonge's ongoing membership of the House of Lords and the medical profession are stains on both institutions and we have formally complained to both the House of Lords and the General Medical Council in the past. 'The Liberal Democrats, which secured Baroness Tonge's seat in the House of Lords must now campaign for her to be removed from the legislature and stripped of her title.' Following an outcry to her Pittsburgh massacre post, she furiously tried to backtrack and admitted she may have been 'too hasty' Baroness Tonge was suspended by the Lib Dems in October 2016 after hosting an event where an audience member said Jews were responsible for the Holocaust. She quit the party a few days after her suspension and now sits in the House of Lords as a crossbench peer - meaning she is not a aligned to any political party. Following an outcry to her Pittsburgh massacre post, she furiously tried to backtrack and admitted she may have been 'too hasty'. In another Facebook post put up several hours later, she wrote: I bow to this great article by Robert Cohen and acknowledge that to think that the Israeli governments persecution of the Palestinian people had anything to do with the actions of this gunman, may have been too hasty. We must wait for his trial and testimony to try to understand better this white supremacy movement in the USA. Robert Bowers, 46, has been charged with murder after he allegedly opened fire at the Tree of Life synagogue during its Sabbath service. President Donald Trump described the attack as a 'wicked act of mass murder'. MailOnline has contacted Baroness Tonge for comment. Cesar Sayoc's lawyer claims the Florida mail bomber suspect began to idolize Donald Trump after falling out with his Democrat mother. Ronald Lowy, who first met the 56-year-old in 2000 in relation to a shoplifting charge, knew Sayoc's mother Madeline Giardiello first after they worked on a commercial suit involving her makeup company in 1991. He claimed that when Giardiello kicked Sayoc out the house where he would stay occasionally in 2015, he declared he hated and wanted nothing more to do with her. Cesar Sayoc's lawyer claims the Florida mail bomber suspect began to idolize Donald Trump after falling out with his Democrat mother in 2015 'Every single person Trump hated became his enemy,' Lowy said about Sayoc, who hated his Democrat mother after she told him to seek help for mental health issues His mother allegedly took action due to him failing to hold down a job or seek help for what his family believed were mental health issues. 'If you want to know about causation, there are three reasons,' Lowy told The Daily Beast. 'Number one: He was isolated from his family. Number two: He hated his mother for being a Democratthis is a nice way to get back at her, don't you think? And the third: He heard a voice calling his name, saying that there's a war happening, that the Democrats are the enemy, that the media is the enemy, and that you are my soldiers.' Ronald Lowy first met the 56-year-old in 2000 in relation to a shoplifting charge but knew his mother Madeline Giardiello first after they worked on a commercial suit in 1991 After driving around in a white van plastered with Republican stickers and images of the US President he gained plenty of attention around Florida in the lead-up to his arrest Friday. 'You can see how much he came to idolize Trump, if you look at his van,' Lowy said. 'Every single person Trump hated became his enemy.' Sayoc is due in court Monday and faces 48 years in prison on suspicion of sending pipe bombs to the likes of Barack Obama, Hillary Clinton, Robert Di Niro. He has been charged with illegal mailing of explosives, threats against former presidents and certain other persons, assaulting current and former federal officers, interstate transportation of an explosive, and threatening interstate communications. Sayoc was 'anti-black, anti-gay, anti-Jews,' according to the manager of a pizzeria he worked at. 'You can see how much he came to idolize Trump, if you look at his van,' Lowy said about Sayoc In contrast to the Brooklyn-born man who lived in Florida approximately 30 years, his mother was loved in her wealthy community with roles on the Marketing Council of Aventura and president of her condo association. Describing her as 'so classy' having 'an air about her of such charisma, of such sophistication' and being 'a woman of depth', Lowy revealed even local law enforcement have showed sympathy to her since Sayoc's detainment. 'Yesterday, the Aventura Police Chief went to the hospital just to visit her, and to ask if there's anything he can do for her and to express how badly he feels about what's happened with her son. This is a woman of integrity, responsibility, community service,' he explained. With the midterm elections just a week away, all eyes are on hotly contested races that could flip Congress and change the political game. Many of those races are in the South - where hundreds of African American activists are currently working day and night to help create a black voting wave. From 'black joy' brunches to national text messaging programs, various PACs are hoping to encourage voters to register for an election they've commonly sat out. And its these efforts that could sway tight races, including governor elections in Georgia and Florida and a senator election in Mississippi. Color of Change is just one of the PACs currently working to change black turnout in key election states. Hundreds of African American activists are working to help create a black voting wave in the midterm elections that could help usher in the likes of Stacey Abrams (pictured), who is neck and neck in the race for Georgia governor From 'black joy' brunches to national text messaging programs, various PACs are hoping to encourage voters to register for an election they have commonly sat out in the past The PAC recently organized a 'black joy' brunch, gathering nearly 200 people for a day of drinks, dancing, and texting. Thanks to the help of a voter outreach tool called Relay, the group was able to reach out to 65,000 infrequent African American voters in the span of two hours. They encouraged voters to get out and vote for Stacey Abrams, a Democrat who is trying to become the first ever black female governor in America. Another group called BlackPAC is currently spending $8million to help increase Democratic turnout, flooding Georgia and nine other states with radio ads and mailers. PowerPAC Georgia is spending another $5million to help raise turn out among 100,000 infrequent African American voters, while Black Women's Roundtable is hoping to inspire 150,000 black women to vote in the state. And Collective PAC has launched a national text-messaging program to reach two million black voters in five states, including Florida and Mississippi. These groups are hoping to build an engagement with voters that will last after November 6 comes and goes that will also inspire more African-Americans to run for office. 'Black voters are seeing this as a transformative moment for our country,' Adrianna Shropshire, the head of BlackPAC, told CNN. 'They are using their votes as their resistance.' Color of Change is just one of the PACs currently working to change black turnout in key election states High African American turnout helped swing two tight races to Democrats last year, nabbing a Senate seat in Alabama and the governorship in Virginia. And now PACs and political pundits alike are waiting to see if the same can happen in 2018. The race that everyone will be watching next week is for governor in Georgia, which hasn't elected a Democrat for the position in the last two decades. The race between Abrams and Secretary of State Brian Kemp (pictured) has become shockingly tight But the race between Abrams and Secretary of State Brian Kemp has become shockingly tight. 'If Abrams wins or even comes close, I think it confirms the view that some of us have held for awhile,' said political scientist Alan Abramowitz. 'That Georgia is becoming a swing state and that in the not-distant future...could be up for grabs in the presidential election.' It's a race that has also been mired in controversy due to the fact that Kemp's own office is in charge of Georgia's voting systems. There was massive outcry when it was revealed that 53,000 voter registrations - 70 percent of which came from black applicants - were being held by his office for failing to be an 'exact match' to their Social Security and state driver records. Kemp called the allegations of voter suppression a 'farce', but was later caught complaining about the increased voter turnout on leaked audio. Many were also outraged when Black Voters Matter was blocked from taking a group of African-American seniors to the first day of in-person early voting. Another tight race will be in Florida, where Tallahassee Mayor Andrew Gillum (pictured) is running against former congressman Ron DeSantis And in Mississippi, former congressman Mike Espy (pictured) is running in a tight three-way Senate race that some are predicting could end with a runoff Jefferson County Administrator Adam Brett said the group was removed because the outing was a 'political activity' at a senior center run by the county. But early voting continues to skyrocket in the state, with nearly three times as many people already casting their ballots compared to the same time in 2014. And last week a federal court blocked the state from throwing out absentee ballots and applications because of signature mismatches. Georgia won't be the only state to watch come November 6. Another tight race will be in Florida, where Tallahassee Mayor Andrew Gillum is running against former congressman Ron DeSantis. And in Mississippi, former congressman Mike Espy is running in a tight three-way Senate race that some are predicting could end with a runoff. New Jersey health officials have confirmed 'another medically fragile child' died at a pediatric rehabilitation center Friday afternoon amid an outbreak of a respiratory virus associated with communal living arrangements. The Wanaque Center for Nursing and Rehabilitation in Haskell has been trying to control the spread of adenovirus and care for the 25 young patients known to be suffering despite a former patient alleging the center smelled of 'urine and feces'. Pending lab results, the state's health department said only eight of the deaths so far were found to be connected to the outbreak, but admitted the latest patient to pass away was suffering from the virus. Scroll down for video Former Wanaque Center for Nursing and Rehabilitation patient, Eugene Dorio, said the center smelled of urine and feces 25 young patients were known to be suffering from the adenovirus at the Haskell, New Jersey facility by Friday when a ninth child passed away 'This is a tragic situation, and our thoughts are with the families who are grieving right now,' Health Commissioner Dr. Shereef Elnahal said in a press release. 'We are working every day to ensure all infection control protocols are continuously followed and closely monitoring the situation at the facility.' Adenovirus affects the respiratory system and can cause mild to moderate illness in those affected. In very rare cases like this one it can have a serious affect. With many of the children already suffering from illnesses that compromise the immune system, this particular outbreak has caused devastating effects. Former patient, Eugene Dorio, who stayed at the hospital for eight weeks due to complication with diabetes told CBS2 the conditions were not acceptable. He claimed that when he mentioned the children's center always smelled of urine and feces on his weekly visits, the carers would simply blame the patients' bodily functions. The origin of the outbreak at the Wanaque Center remains unclear, but officials say the facility notified them of some respiratory illnesses on October 9. Pictured: Map showing the location of the outbreak 'It was really dirty, they didn't really take care of me,' the 66-year-old said about his own unit. 'It was like I had to wait for another shift to come in another two hours to change me, and this went on daily.' The hospital denied the claims. 'As part of an ongoing effort to ensure all infection control measures are followed, we are taking extra steps to monitor residents and staff for any signs of infectious illness,' Dr. Elnahal explained the press release. Those affected from September 26 to October 22 range from toddlers to young adults, with the vast majority under the age of 18. The outbreak won't be declared over until the center can go four weeks without patients being newly-infected. Adenoviruses are a group of viruses that infect the linings of the eyes, lungs, intestines, urinary tract, and nervous system. Pictured: Colorized transmission electron micrograph of adenovirus The ninth person to die at Wanaque Center for Nursing and Rehabilitation became ill with the virus before October 22. Symptoms can include the common cold, sore throat, bronchitis, pneumonia, diarrhea, pink eye, fever, bladder inflammation or infection, inflammation of the stomach and intestines and neurological disease. The Department of Health Communicable Disease Service is on site monitoring the outbreak and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is assisting with lab testing and expertise. The facility will not admit new residents for the duration of the outbreak and professional grief counseling is on offer to those impacted. Kristine Poulos said Elizabeth had been receiving medical treatment for unrelated health issues when she suddenly fell ill with a fever at the start of October Kristine Poulos previously said her 16-year-old daughter, Elizabeth Poulos, had been receiving medical treatment at the Wanaque Center for Nursing and Rehabilitation for unrelated health issues when she suddenly fell ill with a fever at the start of October. Her mother told WABC: 'I just want to know what happened... she's gone. I can't bring her back... she's not coming back. 'I'm angry. I think what it is, I need to know more information. I like facts.' The New York woman said the hospital didn't report the incident to state officials until October 9, roughly five days after the family had been notified. Last Sunday, health inspectors found 'minor handwashing deficiencies' and 'infection control issues' at the facility, which houses elderly people and children. The facility has been cited for numerous health code violations in the past. According to NBC News, citations were issued in 2016 and 2017 for handwashing deficiencies, not storing syringes properly, improperly disinfecting surfaces and syringes, and unsanitary storage of oxygen tank tubing. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), adenoviruses can be spread by an infected person coughing or sneezing. Droplets fly through the air and land on surfaces. A child can catch the virus by touching an infected person, or if they touch the toy or an object of someone with the virus and then touch their face without washing their hands. In some cases, adenoviruses can be spread through the stool of an infected person, such as while changing a diaper. It's also possible to get sick by eating food prepared by somebody who did not wash their hands properly after using the bathroom. The origin of the outbreak at the Wanaque Center remains unclear. Nicole Kirgan, a spokeswoman for the health department, told DailyMail.com in a statement that the outbreak was caused by adenovirus type 7. According to the CDC, type 7 is most commonly associated with acute respiratory disease. A vaccine has been approved for types 4 and 7 by the US Food and Drug Administration, but only for US military personnel at risk for infection. In 2016, 23 children were infected with adenovirus after receiving eye exams at Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, resulting in the death of an infant. Staff attributed the outbreak to medical personnel not wearing gloves and not cleaning equipment properly. Philly.com reported in August that the parents of the infant who died, Melanie Sanders, are suing the hospital for negligence. Police in Spain have smashed a human trafficking gang which captured victims in Romania and forced them to work as human statues in tourist hotspots. Various wigs and outfits were seized when raids were carried out in Santiago de Compostela and 10 victims have been freed. Four were men and six were women, who were also forced to become prostitutes. Police say the organisation homed in on poor people with physical and mental problems and offered them false promises of work if they came to Spain. Scroll down for video Police in Spain have smashed a human trafficking gang which forced victims to work as human statues in tourist hotspots They then kept them against their will in appalling conditions and made them work as beggars, kneeling down for hours on end, or becoming mime artists and human statues to collect money from holidaymakers. The victims in Romania were promised jobs in the hospitality sector, as well as housing. Some of them came to Spain with family members and were locked up in over-crowded substandard housing with ' deplorable health, hygiene and security conditions.' 'Those investigated forced the victims to work on the streets of Santiago de Compostela, begging on their knees during days that lasted all day regardless of weather conditions,' a police spokesman said. Ten victims were freed when police raided a property in Santiago de Compostela Police say the organisation homed in on poor people with physical and mental problems and offered them false promises of work if they came to Spain 'They also forced to work as mimes or human statues, raising money without time to rest or eat. All the money raised was immediately given to the ringleaders. 'The detainees did not hesitate to threaten them and their relatives and were especially violent when some of these people became ill and could not go out.' The women were forced to practice prostitution in a club in Santiago de Compostela, where they were threatened and controlled at all times by the owner of the premises. One of the victims was sexually assaulted on an ongoing basis by the leader of the organisation and was forced to take abortion pills. They then kept them against their will in appalling conditions and made them work as beggars The victims in Romania were promised jobs in the hospitality sector, as well as housing Some of them came to Spain with family members and were locked up in over-crowded substandard housing Two of the three people arrested are Romanian citizens and one Colombian woman. In addition, the agents have requested three European Detention and Extradition Orders for members who are residing outside of Spain. The National Police's trafficking telephone number is 900 10 50 90 and its email trata@policia.es, both of which are staffed by police specialized in the matter and available to the public 24 hours a day. Since October of last year, more than 2,000 communications have been received. Trains were cancelled at Paddington station this afternoon after overhead power lines failed for the second time in a fortnight. Great Western Railways said they were unable to operate services between Reading and London and were advising passengers not to travel between these places today. However National Rail have now said lines are starting to reopen but delays of more than 90 minutes and sudden cancellations should be expected. Passengers, some who had been delayed for more than two hours, were also urged to check their journeys before travelling. It is believed that a section of the power wires collapsed between Paddington and Hayes & Harlington. Great Western Railway tweeted the news of closures on just before 3pm today Chaos was caused less than a fortnight ago when overhead electric wires were 'severely' damaged by a test train However tickets for today will be valid for travel tomorrow. Dozens of frustrated passengers have posted on Twitter about the chaos and their trouble getting to their destinations today. Some people have had more than two hours added to their journey time because of the cancellations. One person wrote: 'Great, we've now been turfed off the Paddington train at Reading now having to stand on a packed train to Waterloo..not happy.' Another said: 'It has now taken us three trains to get home as no trains out of Paddington because of overhead wire problems again! 'We should have had a half an hour train journey- it's now turned into a two hour train journey!' While another posted: 'ALL trains have been cancelled from London Paddington and it's absolute chaos.' Others even got off their stuck trains and stood on the tracks after the lines failed. Great Western Railway said 10 trains in the section of the collapsed lines were stuck, but have since been evacuated, reports the BBC. The departure board at Slough Station as trains are unable to run between the Paddington and Slough or Heathrow Airport after overhead electric wires were 'severely' damaged at Ealing On Wednesday 17 October a test train severely damaged overhead electric wires causing major disruption at the station. Paddington station was almost deserted during the morning rush-hour as commuters were told many key routes would be suspended for much of the day. Trains were unable to run between London Paddington and Slough or Heathrow Airport after 500 metres of overhead electric wires suffered 'extensive damage' at Ealing on Tuesday night. A Great Western Railway spokesman said the damage was caused by a Hitachi test train running from London to Bristol depot at around 10pm on Tuesday. Many trains became stranded between Paddington and Reading due to a loss of power supply, and GWR said a reduced timetable would impact most mainline routes. Travellers trying to get to Heathrow were told to take the much slower Piccadilly Tube line to the airport, or a bus-replacement service. 20 that Washington planned to quit the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces (INF) treaty which Mikhail Gorbachev, the last Soviet leader, and Ronald Reagan had signed in 1987. "I don't know how the North Atlantic alliance is going to tackle this issue but at least [US National Security Adviser] John Bolton was quite straight when saying that the United States is primarily focused on the Asian direction where it wants to compensate for the "unfair" lack of intermediate-and short-range weapons", Lavrov said. "Since the United States has chose to... get rid of all worldwide legal documents in the field of arms control they should tell what they are going to do in this area", Lavrov said in the "Moscow". Trump can deploy Tomahawk cruise missiles on ground launchers to the Pacific nearly immediately after withdrawal from the treaty. The treaty foresees a six-month notification period for any withdrawal, also potentially giving Washington time to negotiate with Moscow before finally pulling out. Russian Federation in turn accuses Washington of breaking the pact and says it is working to answer USA questions about the pact. The Russian Foreign Ministry received a detailed "extensive list of questions" on the Cold war-era pact from the USA embassy in Moscow, days before President Donald Trump made the abrupt announcement that the United States is leaving the deal. Belousov said he didn't understand the result, noting that most countries that abstained "are active supporters of nuclear disarmament" and a significant number of those who voted against the procedural measure are in favor of preserving the INF treaty. We welcome this [desire]", Lavrov said during the program "Moscow. "We have a serious contrast to the United States of America". Moscow denies that this missile system violates the INF Treaty and, in turn, accuses Washington of having installed in Poland and Romania launch ramps of interceptor missiles (those of the "shield"), which can be used to launch cruise missiles with nuclear warheads. "The worldwide community has an obligation to react to this apocalyptic situation", a Russian diplomat said in response to Washington's recent announcement that it planned to pull out of the treaty, signed in 1987 by U.S. President Ronald Reagan and the Soviet Union's last leader, Mikhail Gorbachev. He said Moscow only recently admitted producing a ground-launched missile but maintained it didn't violate the range limits. "That is not to mean that we are walking away from arms control". NATO allies including Belgium and the Netherlands, which host U.S. nuclear weapons facilities in Europe, warned in the North Atlantic Council, NATO's highest decision-making body, of a public outcry if the United States were to try to install medium-range nuclear weapons on their territory again. The top diplomat noted that Moscow has started preparing answers to the questions related to the arms control agreement delivered by U.S. officials. According to the INF, the United States undertook to eliminate the "Euromissiles": the Pershing 2 ballistic missiles, deployed in Western Germany, and the land-based cruise missiles, deployed in Britain, Italy, Western Germany, Belgium and Holland. Earlier, the Obama administration accused the Russians of violating the pact by developing and testing a prohibited cruise missile. President Donald Trump on Sunday launched a twitter attack on a billionaire Democrat obsessed with impeaching him who was interviewed on CNN - the news network the president claims he never watches. And CNN anchor Jake Tapper, who conducted the interview Trump criticized, promptly tweeted: 'Thanks for watching CNN, Mr. President!. Trump, after calling for a civil tone last week after pipe bombs were mailed to his political rivals, was back on the attack Sunday, criticizing billionaire former hedge fund manager Tom Steyer, who's considering a 2020 bid against him, as 'wacky.' Steyer was one of those who received such a bomb. It was discovered at a Sacramento mailing facility on Friday. President Donald Trump on Sunday launched a twitter attack on a billionaire Democrat obsessed with impeaching him who was interviewed on CNN - the news network the president claims he never watches Tom Steyer is considering a 2020 bid against Trump and has launched an impeachment effort against him Tom Steyer was interviewed by Jake Tapper on Sunday on CNN 'Just watched Wacky Tom Steyer, who I have not seen in action before, be interviewed by @jaketapper. He comes off as a crazed & stumbling lunatic who should be running out of money pretty soon. As bad as their field is, if he is running for President, the Dems will eat him alive!,' Trump tweeted on Sunday afternoon. Steyer is a major Democrat donor who is pushing the party to launch impeachment proceedings against the president should they retake control of the House of Representatives in the midterms. He was the target of one of the pipe bombs sent out last week. At least 14 packages containing pipe bombs were sent to Democratic Party leaders including former President Barack Obama, former Vice President Joe Biden and Trumps 2016 election opponent, Hillary Clinton. And while Steyer told CNN's Jake Tapper on Sunday there is no direct link between Trump and the alleged bomber Cesar Sayoc, who is a Trump supporter, he did say the president has created an atmosphere makes violence possible. 'There's obviously no direct link, Jake. But I am associating and blaming him for creating the atmosphere that exists. The reason I started and have been running an impeachment petition drive is because, in my opinion, he is corrupt and lawless and dangerous. And that the result of that is to change America to attack the rule of law, and it's important to step up and oppose that kind of behavior and atmosphere directly,' Steyer said on CNN's "State of the Union." He also charged the president with breaking the law and engaging in 'violent political rhetoric.' 'There's something much bigger than that going on here, which is the atmosphere that he's created and that the Republican party has created in terms of political violence. I think if you look across the political scene, what you see is routine, systematic lawlessness. An attempt to break small D democratic norms in pursuit of victory at all costs. We see it in voter suppression. We see it in extreme gerrymandering. We see it in the violent political rhetoric that people have been alluding to all morning. But more than that, we see it in a president who has been breaking the law as a candidate, as a business person, and as a president,' Steyer said. Trump has claimed repeatedly he no longer watches CNN because it is 'fake news.' 'I don't watch CNN,' Trump said last year. 'I don't like watching fake news.' In October 2017, Steyer spent around $10 million for a television ad campaign advocating for Trump's impeachment and founded the group: Need to Impeach. And he sank at least $110 million in the midterm elections, making him the biggest investor on the left in campaign cash. Steyer founded Farallon Capital and made his fortunes through the hedge fund, which was managing $20 billion by the time he left the company in October 2012 to work on clean energy issues. His wealth and political involvement has stirred up talk he may make his own bid for public office: such as a 2020 presidential challenge. Adding to the talk, Steyer was in New Hampshire in July arguing for Trump's impeachment. He argues Trump has violated the emoluments clause of the Constitution and has obstructed justice. 'He's met the criteria to be impeached. He's dangerous to our democracy. He's dangerous to the safety and health of the American people,' Steyer said in New Hampshire. Steyer has sunk $110 million into the midterm election Postal inspectors confer outside of a postal facility in Burlingame, Calif., on Friday, after they seized a suspicious package addressed to billionaire political activist Tom Steyer Tapper thanked the president for watching CNN President Trump called for a 'civil tone' in politics at a campaign rally in Mosinee, Wisconsin, on Wednesday evening in the wake of the bombing attempts. The president, who often engages in provocative language and uses derogatory names against his political opponents, carefully tempered his words before the cheering crowd and repeatedly pointed out his own affable behavior, saying he was being 'nice.' 'And by the way, do you see how nice I'm behaving tonight?' Trump asked the crowd. 'Have you ever seen this? We're all behaving very well.' 'And hopefully we can keep it that way, right? We're going to keep it that way,' he added. German Chancellor Angela Merkel's Christian Democratic Union (CDU) party look to have suffered heavy losses in Sunday's regional election in Hesse state. The CDU remained the largest party, but lost around 10 percentage points to score 28 per cent of the vote, public broadcaster ARD reported. Meanwhile, junior federal government partners the Social Democrats (SPD) dropped almost 11 points to land on just 20 per cent. The Greens came third and the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) entered the Hesse regional assembly for the first time with 12 percent of the vote. In this June 18, 2018 photo German Chancellor Angela Merkel, left, talks with the Prime Minister of the Hesse state Volker Bouffier The result means anti-immigration party AfD, which entered the federal parliament for the first time last year, is now also represented in all 16 German regional assemblies. Volker Bouffier, the incumbent CDU state premier in Hesse and a Merkel ally, told supporters: 'We are in pain because of the losses but we also learnt that it is worth it to fight. 'The message to the parties ruling in Berlin is: People want fewer disputes and more focus on the important issues,' he said. The Greens came third in the vote, narrowly losing out to junior federal coalition partners the SDP. Pictured is Hesse's Economy and Transport Minister of the Green party Tarek Al-Wazir The CDU's poor result in Hesse, after its sister party in the state of Bavaria, the CSU, suffered its worst result there since 1950 two weeks ago, may turbo-charge a debate about who succeeds Merkel and when. She has been chancellor for 13 years. The SPD fared even worse, winning just 20 percent of the vote in Hesse, down from 30.7 percent in 2013 and its worst result in the western state since 1946. The party just managed to beat the Greens, who placed third with 19.5 percent. The exit polls for ARD and ZDF public television gave Merkel's Christian Democratic Union up to 28 per cent support and the center-left Social Democrats 20 percent. These results are significantly worse for the parties than the last time Hesse elected its state legislature in 2013. Then, the CDU won 38.3 per cent of the vote and the Social Democrats won 30.7 per cent. Thorsten Schaefer-Guembel, lead candidate of the German Social Democrats (SPD), and his wife Annette cast their ballots in Hesse state elections The election has unusually high national political significance following months of infighting in Merkel's federal coalition. The campaign in Hesse, which includes Germany's financial center of Frankfurt, has been largely overshadowed by the woes of a federal coalition that has been in office only since March. The state is home to 6.2 million of Germany's 82 million people. Two weeks ago, two of the federal governing parties - the Christian Social Union, the Bavaria-only sister to Merkel's CDU, and the Social Democrats - were battered in a state election in neighboring Bavaria. Merkel's chief of staff, Helge Braun, said that 'this is of course a difficult result for the CDU' but that his party remains the strongest in Hesse. He said the national government must now pull together and 'show we are solving the problems that really move people.' Following tensions and months of infighting in the federal coalition, the election has unusually high national political significance The Social Democrats only reluctantly entered Merkel's national government in March, and many are said to be dismayed by what has happened since. The Social Democrats' general secretary, Lars Klingbeil, said: 'This is a bad result for us, I can't put it any differently. 'This is a signal to the grand coalition that things must change. There will be an intensive discussion in the coming days.' The result will prompt more fears about the government's stability. Merkel's fourth and probably final government has already come close to collapsing twice. Reports claim that a growing number of SPD members feel their centre-left party is tarnished by its alliance with Merkel and would be better off rebuilding in opposition - a scenario SPD leader Andreas Nahles has resisted. The ARD exit poll showed only 13 percent of CDU voters believed Merkel had helped the party in Hesse, down from 70 percent at the last state election in 2013. The CDU holds its annual congress in December, when Merkel will seek re-election as party chairwoman. She is likely to be reappointed but a weak show of support for her would undermine her authority and accelerate the succession debate. Merkel's weakness at home could also have international consequences. It may limit her capacity to lead in the European Union at a time when the bloc is dealing with Brexit, a budget crisis in Italy and the prospect of populist parties making gains at European parliament elections next May. Advertisement Coordinators of a caravan of several thousand Central American migrants moving through southern Mexico urged its members to rest Sunday. At first the migrants vowed to press on anyway but later changed their minds amid reports that a child had been abducted. The migrants said they would stay and hold a meeting Sunday in Tapanatepec. Late Saturday night, groups of migrants were running through the towns streets saying a migrants child had been snatched. Something similar led to a panic at an earlier stop, but was not confirmed. American military equipment has already begun arriving at the southern border ahead of an imminent troop deployment to block the migrant caravan, while in Mexico tensions have broken out with migrants attacking a local man who was distributing food. Defense Secretary James Mattis said on Sunday military has already begun delivering jersey barriers to the southern border in conjunction with plans to deploy active duty troops. Mattis told reporters traveling with him in Prague that details of the deployment are still being worked out but should be available by Sunday night. They will include exactly how many forces are needed. The additional troops will provide logistical and other support to the Border Patrol, and will bolster the efforts of the approximately 2,000 National Guard forces already there. The new forces are expected to provide logistical assistance such as air support and equipment, including vehicles and tents. Aerial view of Honduran migrants heading in a caravan to the US, as they leave Arriaga on their way to San Pedro Tapanatepec, in southern Mexico on Saturday. The caravan now numbers about 4,000 A caravan of thousands of migrants from Central America makes its way to San Pedro Tapanatepec on Saturday Mexican police briefly tried to block the road and convince the migrants to apply for asylum in Mexico on Saturday But human rights officials soon convinced the police to break up the blockade. They are seen above opening the road The caravan passed from Chiapas state into Oaxaca on Saturday, now 190 miles from the southern Mexican border Meanwhile, Defense Secretary Mattis said on Sunday that military equipment is already moving to the southern US border. Pictured above are mounted border patrol agents at a newly constructed section of border wall in California on Friday This map shows the progress of the migrants as of Sunday, when a new caravan also departed from San Salvador The Pentagon has taken the step of ordering active duty troops to the border, unusual in modern times, after President Donald Trump called for a military response to the migrant caravan. The caravan, which has had as many as 7,200 migrants but has dwindled to roughly 4,000, took a day of rest in Tapanatepec on Sunday but vowed to press on to the U.S. border, now at least 900 miles away. Their arrival at the tiny municipality came as they crossed from into Oaxaca from Chiapas state, now about 190 miles from the bridge where the caravan crossed into Mexico from Guatemala. Some rested in the shade of tarps strung across the town plaza, or picked up trash. Others went to soak themselves in the nearby Novillero river. The tensions of a long trek through searing heat with tenuous supplies of food and other goods spilled over Saturday night when a dispute over a food line evolved into the beating of a man falsely accused of child stealing. The violence occurred while the town was distributing sandwiches and water to migrants camped in the central square Saturday night, said Raul Medina Melendez, security chief for Tapanatepec. When a man with a megaphone asked people to wait their turn, some men hurled insults at him. 'Finally people got really angry and those below began to attack the guy,' Medina said. As the man ran, a false rumor spread that he had grabbed a child for protection and he was caught and beaten. Police rescued him and took him to a hospital for treatment, though his condition wasn't immediately clear. The caravan is seen camping in the central square of Tapanatepec, a tiny municipality of 7,500 where they rested on Sunday People participating in the migrant caravan camp out for the night in the central square of Tapanatepec on on Saturday A woman has her braided by a friend, as her family rests alongside, in the central plaza where the migrants camped out On Sunday, several in the caravan took to microphones to denounce the attack. 'Is that the way we're going to always behave?' a woman from Honduras asked. 'Anytime there's a rumor everyone is going to run to beat up someone?' Others complained of a few smoking marijuana or complained that images of litter and uneaten food made them appear disrespectful. On Saturday, more than a hundred federal police dressed in riot gear blocked a rural highway in southern Mexico shortly before dawn to encourage the migrants to apply for refugee status in Mexico rather than continuing the long, arduous journey north. Police let the caravan proceed after representatives from Mexico's National Human Rights Commission convinced them that a rural stretch of highway without shade, toilets or water was no place for migrants to entertain an offer of asylum. Many members of the caravan have been travelling for more than two weeks, since a group first formed in San Pedro Sula, Honduras. Honduran migrants heading in a caravan to the US gather during an informative meeting in Tapanatepec on Saturday. A fight broke out in the town Saturday night when migrants attacked a man distributing food Men participating in the migrant caravan raise their hands to vote for continuing on their journey the next day, as they stop for the night in Tapanatepec. Organizers pointed out that people were exhausted and suffering from walking the dozens of miles each day, and urged men to yield places in passing trucks to women and children People participating in a caravan of Central American migrants camp out for the night in the center of San Pedro Tapanatepec The migrants rest at dawn in front a fashion store as the head to Tapanatepec along with a caravan of thousands of people Not long after the caravan resumed the trek north Saturday, government officials were seen for the first time directly helping the migrants by giving rides in trucks and providing water along the scorching highway. Grupo Beta, Mexico's migrant protection agency, gave rides to stragglers and passed out water. 'There are people fainting, there are wounded,' said Martin Rojas, an agent of Grupo Beta. Rojas dropped off a group of women and children in Tapanatepec after spotting them on a highway trudging through temperatures approaching 104 degrees Fahrenheit. Other agencies, however, have periodically tried to impede or erode the mass migration, whose progress has led Trump to threaten action against Mexico. The caravan still must travel about 900 miles to reach the nearest U.S. border crossing at McAllen, Texas. The trip could be twice as long if the 4,000 or so migrants head for the Tijuana-San Diego frontier, as another caravan did earlier this year. Only about 200 in that group made it to the border. Most of the migrants in the caravan appeared determined to reach the U.S., despite an offer of refuge in Mexico. Migrants bathe and wash clothes in the Novillero River at dawn on Sunday the caravan halts for a rest day in Tapanatepec Migrants wait in line beside a water truck in Tapanatepec on Sunday morning to brush their teeth and fill water bottles Honduran migrants heading in a caravan to the US, walk in Tapanatepec on Sunday as the group takes a break for the day A woman plucks her eyebrows as the caravan halts for a rest day in Tapanatepec on Sunday. Thousands of migrants took a break Sunday on their long journey toward the U.S. border roughly 900 miles away Mexican President Enrique Pena Nieto launched a program on Friday dubbed 'You are home,' which promises shelter, medical attention, schooling and jobs to Central Americans who agree to stay in the southern Mexico states of Chiapas or Oaxaca, far from the U.S. border. Mexico's Interior Ministry said that temporary identity numbers have been issued to 111 migrants, which would allow the migrants to stay and work in Mexico. The majority rejected the offer, however. 'We're going to the United States. Because that's our dream,' said 28-year-old Honduran Daniel Leonel Esteves at the head of a 50-person wide column of migrants snaking down a highway into the hills. Honduras said 4,500 of its citizens attempting to emigrate have returned to the country in recent days. Meanwhile, additional caravans are moving north through Central America. A second caravan arrived on Sunday at the Guatemalan side of the border with Mexico, where they faced off with a phalanx of Guatemalan police in a standoff at the border crossing. Photos of the group showed hundreds, if not thousands, of migrants. Second Caravan: Another group trying to reach the U.S. is seen in Tecun Uman, Guatemala on Sunday, approaching a border gate with Mexico in an attempt to cross into that country The second caravan faced off with Guatemalan police at the bridge into Mexico on Sunday Migrants in the second caravan try to break through the border gate to cross into Mexico and carry on their journey Guatemalan police fired tear gas on Sunday as a second caravan attempted to break through the border to Mexico In San Salvador, a third group of more than 300 Salvadorans left on Sunday came together after thousands of Hondurans in mid-October left their country in a large group, becoming an international news story and a key issue in the U.S. congressional elections. A second group of Hondurans was moving through Guatemala last week, and at one point numbered more than 1,000 people before beginning to fragment. Trump and his fellow Republicans have sought to make immigration a major issue before the Nov. 6 elections, in which the party is battling to keep control of Congress. The Salvadoran migrants organized using social networks like Facebook and WhatsApp over the last couple of weeks, inspired by the group of mostly Hondurans currently crossing Mexico. Third Caravan: People walk in a caravan of migrants departing from El Salvador en route to the U.S. in San Salvador on Sunday Salvadoran police traveled with the group on Sunday as they left San Salvador, the migrants carrying backpacks and water bottles and protecting themselves from the hot sun with hats. Some mothers pushed their children in strollers. Several migrants, gathered by the capital's 'Savior of the World' statue before leaving, said they were headed to the United States. "We're asking the all-powerful to look after us, to guide us, to free us from all that is bad," shouted Hernan Quinteros, 49, a driver who urged his fellow travelers to tie up their shoes ahead of the long trip. El Salvador's left-wing government said it had solidarity with the migrants and respected their right to mobilize, but urged them not to risk their lives on the way. The lawmakers leading the Democratic and Republican campaign efforts for the House of Representatives banded together on Sunday to call for unity in the wake of recent violence and with a little more than a week to go before election day. 'Democrats are not my enemy, they are my opponents and while we have different visions for the future of America, different directions, we are all Americans first. We need to come together and do what's in the best interest of America no matter who wins in ten days. I believe we can come together and make that happen,' Congressman Steve Stivers, who leads the National Republican Congressional Committee, said on 'Fox News Sunday.' His Democratic counterpart, Ben Ray Lujan of the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee, also called on the country to come together after a spat of violence in the form of pipe bombs sent to prominent Democrats last week and Saturday's mass shooting at a synagogue in Pittsburgh. 'We should come together as a country. They should not be a political response, but rather a response of how we can further bring us together,' Lujan said on 'Fox News Sunday.' Republican Steve Stivers (above) and Democrat Ben Ray Lujan appeared on 'Fox News Sunday' to call for togetherness with less than 10 days until the election Ben Ray Lujan (above) and Stivers made their appeal after a spate of violence and with less than 10 days to go until the midterm election President Donald Trump issued a similar call for a 'civil tone' in politics last week in the wake of the bombing attempts. But he was back to his criticism Sunday afternoon, when he tweeted an attack against billionaire former hedge fund manager Tom Steyer, who's trying to get him impeached and considering a 2020 bid against him, calling him 'wacky.' 'Just watched Wacky Tom Steyer, who I have not seen in action before, be interviewed by @jaketapper. He comes off as a crazed & stumbling lunatic who should be running out of money pretty soon. As bad as their field is, if he is running for President, the Dems will eat him alive!,' Trump tweeted on Sunday afternoon. Steyer is a major Democrat donor who is pushing the party to launch impeachment proceedings against the president should they retake control of the House of Representatives in the midterms. He was the target of one of the pipe bombs sent out last week. At least 14 packages containing pipe bombs were sent to Democratic Party leaders including former President Barack Obama, former Vice President Joe Biden and Trump's 2016 election opponent, Hillary Clinton. Additionally, Robert Bowers, 46, was charged with 11 counts of criminal homicide, six counts of aggravated assault and 13 counts of ethnic intimidation after police said he opened fire at the Tree of Life Synagogue during Saturday morning services. Stivers is working to keep Republicans in control of the House when voters go to the polls on Nov. 6 - less than 10 days away. He admitted he sometimes disagrees with the president but said he liked his words in the wake of the bombings and hoped he stayed on that path. 'I sometimes disagree with the way the president treats people. I thought after the pipe bombs he initially set the right tone of unity and coming together. And I hope that he will continue on that path,' Stivers said on 'Meet the Press.' Lujan is leading the Democratic effort to win back the majority. Democrats need to gain a net of 23 seats in order to win the House. Both lawmakers expressed confidence their party would emerge victorious on Election Day. The first rocket sent into space by a private Chinese company has failed mid-launch. The 62 foot tall (19 metre) Zhuque-1 carrier rocket, which cost a private company around $14million (10million) to develop, failed to reach earth's orbit. It took off from Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in north west China on Saturday. The Beijing based company Landspace developed a carrier rocket to take satellites up to space to orbit the earth. Scroll down for video The Zhuque-1 rocket, carrying a satellite, took off from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in north west China on Saturday The rocket was three stage, meaning it had another two rockets inside to reach outer space, but the company said something went wrong with the second stage. It was designed to send a Weila-1 satellite named 'Future' into space for the country's state broadcaster, CCTV News. Landscape said: '[The rocket] separation was normal but something abnormal happened after the second stage.' The Beijing based company Landspace developed a carrier rocket to take satellites up to space to orbit the earth [File photo] A spokesman for the company said: 'We still believe that building rockets is the right strategy. 'We are the first Chinese private company to build a three-stage carrier rocket. 'That's already a great achievement. We will carry on with our dream for the vast space.' It privatised parts of the space industry in 2014, allowing private companies to develop small satellites and launch rockets. Landspace was founded a year later. President Xi Jingping said China could become a 'space flight superpower' with a manned space station in orbit by 2022. Landspace was founded in 2015, the year after it privatised parts of the space industry At least ten Chinese companies are making their own launch rockets. President Xi Jingping said China could become a 'space flight superpower' with a manned space station in orbit by 2022. It is not clear if the company's failure will have an impact on its plans to launch a taller two stage rocket, Zhuque-2, in 2020. The second rocket was due to be double the size at 157 foot tall (48 metres), and the company had been due to start building this next year. Landspace would have been the first first private licensed company to send a rocket into outer space, the South African Times reported. Pope Francis told a gathering of bishops that the Church needs to be protected from the 'great accuser' - in an apparent reference to criticism the Vatican has received over child sex abuse scandals. He was speaking at the end of the Synod of Bishops on Saturday and claimed that that the 'mother' Church is being persecuted through accusations from people 'seeking to destroy it'. His comments, made at the Vatican, seem to be aimed at those critical of the Church because of a number of clerical sex abuse scandals recently. Pope Francis told a meeting of bishops from all over the world that some people were trying to destroy the Church with accusations of sexual abuse Pope Francis told assembled bishops that the actions of Church members fuel the so-called great accuser. According to the Catholic Herald, he said: 'Through us, the great accuser wants to attack. Our Mother (the Church) is holy but because of our sins, the great accuser always takes advantage.' The Pope explained that Christians suffer persecution because of their faith all over the world, but added that continuous accusations are another form of persecution. Although he earlier warned abuse would not be tolerated, he also called on Church members to defend it against persecution from allegations of abuse He said it was 'time to defend the mother' and insisted that the Church as a whole cannot be dirtied by accusations of abuse against its members. In his comments, he claimed that 'the great accuser' intended to attack the Church and called on members to defend it. He urged the world not to taint the whole of the Catholic Church because of the scandals. Meanwhile, some bishops from Asia and Africa have termed the abuse scandal a 'Western problem'. Church leaders from around the world attended the closing mass of the synod which many had hoped would take the global struggle against paedophile priests up a notch. Also at the Synod, some bishops from Asia and Africa have reportedly termed the abuse scandal a 'Western problem' As the talks began, Pope Francis warned again that abuse and cover ups would not be tolerated. But as US Cardinal Blase Joseph Cupich told the press, priestly sexual abuse was 'not on the front burner of all countries'. 'The resistance of some bishops' to discuss a crisis which has hit countries from Germany to America and Chile limited talk time at the synod, US Archbishop of Philadelphia Charles Chaput told the Catholic News Service agency. 'Some say that (sex abuse) really is an issue of the Western world,' he said, adding that he wished that 'we had spent more time not only talking about (the crisis), but apologizing to people for it'. Another topic brought up at the meeting was the fate of Christians in the Middle East. Iraqi Cardinal Louis Raphael Sako of Baghdad appealed to the Pope, the synod members and young people to not forget about the plight of Christians in the Middle East. He said: 'If the Middle East is emptied of Christians, Christianity will be left without its roots. 'We need your humanitarian and spiritual support as well as your solidarity, friendship and closeness until the storm passes.' Kanye West has debuted a line of clothing for 'Blexit', a campaign encouraging the black community to abandon the Democratic Party Kanye West has debuted a line of shirts endorsing a 'Black Exit' from the Democratic Party. The rapper's latest clothing venture features a selection of aqua, salmon and lilac tees and denim hats with the words 'Blexit' and 'We Free' boldly printed on the front, ranging from $25-$28. The line was unveiled at the Young Black Leadership Summit in Washington, DC, on Saturday, an event organized by Candace Owens of the conservative advocacy group Turning Point USA. 'Blexit is a renaissance and I am blessed to say that this logo, these colors, were created by my dear friend and fellow superhero Kanye West,' Owens told the crowd. '[West] has taken one of the boldest steps in America to open a conversation we have needed to have.' The 'Blexit' campaign, inspired by Brexit in the UK, is one in a string of political pursuits by the artist known for his provocative and often-objectionable opinions. The line available at shopblexit.com features aqua, salmon and lilac tees and denim hats with the words 'Blexit' and 'We Free' boldly printed on the front, ranging from $25-$28 West's 'Blexit' efforts will no doubt please his pal President Donald Trump, with whom he met earlier this month in the Oval Office. During the now-infamous meeting West went on an unhinged rant that included several mentions of race issues. He and Trump then shared a strong embrace that was not well-received by many members of West's community. Trump has since repeatedly mentioned at rallies that he expects the African American community will throw its support behind the Republican Party in the upcoming midterm elections - although pollsters say otherwise. West's calls for African American voters to throw their weight behind the Republican Party will no doubt please President Donald Trump, with whom he met this month in the Oval Office During her speech Saturday, which West did not attend, Owens pledged to bring the Blexit movement to cities across the country, including the rapper's native Chicago. Ironically, West recently revealed he'd donated $73,000 to Amara Enyia, a Democratic candidate for mayor of Chicago. Last week West attended a rally for Enyia alongside Chance the Rapper, an outspoken liberal supporter. Byron Shire Council has backflipped on its controversial decision to boycott Australia Day celebrations (stock image) Byron Bay has backflipped on its controversial decision to move Australia Day from January 26 after Scott Morrison slammed the move as 'indulgent self-loathing'. Byron Shire Council, in northern New South Wales, last month voted to hold its citizenship ceremony and celebrations a day earlier, with Greens Mayor Simon Richardson declaring 'no one wants Australia Day on the 26th'. But Mr Richardson has now written to Multicultural Affairs Minister David Coleman saying the boycott will not take place, the Daily Telegraph reported. Byron Shire's general manager Mark Arnold told the publication the decision to change the date had followed on from a 'misunderstanding'. 'The one ceremony we were talking about moving was the more formal where there are awards handed out, but the mayor wrote to the minister and advised that Byron Bay would still be having the citizenship ceremony on the 26th,' Mr Arnold said. The Council had voted last month to hold its Australia Day events on January 25, arguing it was an affront to indigenous people (stock image) Mr Richardson last month described the existing national day, commemorating the arrival of the British First Fleet in 1788, as when 'the cultural decimation and denigration of the first Australians began'. He added holding Australia Day on January 26 was an affront to indigenous people. 'In fact, celebrating the arrival of Europeans causes grief for many people so I think to move the date for our Australia Day ceremony to the night before is a reasonable compromise,' Mr Richardson said in a statement last month. The council's decision had infuriated the federal government, who had threatened to strip the Shire of its power to hold citizenship ceremonies if the move went ahead. Australia Day celebrations will continued to be held in the Byron Shire (pictured) on January 26 following the backflip Prime Minister Scott Morrison slammed the initial decision, saying 'we should not rewrite our history'. 'Indulgent self-loathing does not make Australia stronger. Being honest about the past does - our achievements and our failings,' Mr Morrison wrote on Facebook. 'Our modern Australian nation began on January 26, 1788. That is the day to reflect on what we've accomplished, what we've become and what we still have to achieve. We can do this sensitively, respectfully, proudly and, most importantly, together.' Mr Morrison has now welcomed the council's backflip, saying 'common sense has won out' and added 'Australia Day must unite us'. A hydroponic cannabis set-up has been found inside a Sydney building which caught fire on Monday morning. The blaze broke out just before 4.30am in a building close to Sydney Airport, causing huge traffic delays for travellers heading to catch a flight. Firefighters initially believed the massive fire had been fueled by luxury cars parked on a lower level, which included a Mercedes, a BMW and a red Ferrari among others, but quickly discovered that had not been the case,The Sydney Morning Herald reported. Firefighters at the scene of a blaze at a valet business car in Sydney on Monday morning Fire Inspector Brad Smith said fire crews arrived to find 'flames coming out of the building', with crews sent in to battle the blaze from inside. When the flames were extinguished, firefighters discovered the hydroponic cannabis set-up. Officers have already spoken to a 45-year-old man who is the sole occupant of the building. Inspector Darrin Laing told reporters on Monday the man had been away for the night, but returned home and saw the scene, before arriving at the police station to speak with officers. Insp. Laing said his movements over the night had been accounted for, but a spokeswoman from NSW Police told Daily Mail Australia it was too early to rule the man in or out as the owner of the drug lab. Fire and Rescue NSW Superintendent Norm Buckley told the Daily Telegraph firefighters initially struggled to find the fire due to the 'rabbit warren of rooms' that made up the top storey of the building. An investigation is now underway, though police have not been able to access the alleged lab yet, as they do not have the same protective clothing firefighters do. A spokeswoman for NSW Police said the area was not yet determined to be safe enough for investigators to enter. 'No injuries have been reported to police and no occupants were inside the building. Police have been told cars parked on the lower level of the building have sustained smoke and water damage,' New South Wales police said in a statement. While flights are not expected to be affected by the fire, road closures put in place on O'Riordan Street are expected to affect traffic until about 8.30am. Anyone travelling to Sydney airport is encouraged to use the train or leave plenty of time to make their flight. Robert Bowers, 46, is charged with 29 federal crimes and faces the death penalty The man who shot up a synagogue in a sickening attack has been described by his neighbors as an isolated loner who they often spotted carrying the duffle bag that he used to carry his AR-15 and handguns to the massacre. Robert Bowers, 46, lived in a ramshackle one-bedroom apartment in Baldwin, Pennsylvania. Those who lived in the complex say he never had company in his apartment and exchanged little more than an occasional wave with his neighbors. Kerri Owens and Chris Hall, who are Bowers' immediate neighbors, said on Sunday they were sickened by the 'hatred' that lurked beneath Bowers's bland surface. 'He said he was a truck driver and would be gone a lot and he was often away for days at a time. We had no idea about all the guns he had,' Owens said. Her fiance Hall added: 'We would see him leave with his duffle bag and assume it was just full of clothes. You never question something like that.' Now, the couple are left with the chilling possibility that the last time he left with that duffle bag it was holding the guns he used to kill 11 worshippers and injure four police officers at the Tree of Life Synagogue on Saturday. Authorities have confirmed that Bowers had 21 guns registered in his name and committed the atrocity with an AR-15 style assault rifle and three handguns. Bowers lives in this ground-floor unit in this apartment complex in Baldwin, Pennsylvania. The flags, variations on the American flag and a Steelers banner, are hung from another unit Kerri Owens and Chris Hall, who are Bowers' immediate neighbors, said on Sunday that he was an isolated loner and they were sickened by the 'hatred' that lurked beneath his bland surface A bomb robot was brought in and the building was evacuated amid fears that Bowers had rigged his unit with an explosive. The search proceeded without incident however Police vehicles block off the road near the home of Pittsburgh synagogue shooting suspect Robert Bowers' home in Baldwin Baldwin borough, a suburb of Pittsburgh 'I've been up all night wracking my brain for any signs or clues but he kept all that hatred online and, unfortunately, for when he had a gun in his hand,' Hall said. They recalled Bowers keeping his car, an unremarkable blue sedan, clean and free of any stickers. 'It's just so disturbing that someone so normal could have so much hate. You think you know your neighbor but this just shows how wrong you can be,' Owens said. Late on Saturday, police and FBI agents were seen raiding the gunman's apartment, which is less than 30 minutes from the synagogue in Pittsburgh. Within hours of the attack, police evacuated the low income apartment complex where Bowers lived amid fears his ground-floor unit may be rigged with explosives. Those who lived in the complex say he never had company in his apartment and and exchanged little more than an occasional wave with his neighbors A Baldwin policeman helps block off the area around the McAnulty Acres apartment complex, as authorities continue their investigation of a shooting in a Pittsburgh synagogue Police vehicles are deployed near the vicinity of the home of Pittsburgh synagogue shooting suspect Robert Bowers' home in Baldwin borough, a suburb of Pittsburgh 'It's very unsettling knowing all that stuff that was used to hurt those people was on the other side of the wall,' Owens said. 'I didn't see any signs. I can't even comprehend that he had that much hate and seemed so normal.' Hall said he felt 'awful', adding: 'I didn't know that type of caliber of person could be living right next door without any clue of what any motive he would have, and who could do something like this.' According to former neighbors from when Bowers lived at a previous address, he kept to himself and would sometimes stay at home for days at a stretch. Linda Lohr, a retired paralegal, told the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette she was shocked, saying that although he was quiet, he was also the kind of neighbor who would call to let her know if she left the garage door open. Bowers has no known criminal record, according to the paper, but had on occasion had 'contacts' with local police over non-criminal issues. He was given a traffic citation in 2015 for operating a vehicle without registration plates, and was subject to a debt claim by Colonial Credit Corporation for $2,065 in 2005. Police and emergency vehicles are deployed near the vicinity of the home of Pittsburgh synagogue shooting suspect Robert Bowers' home in Baldwin borough FBI agents conduct a search of a residence as authorities continue their investigation of a shooting in a Pittsburgh synagogue where 11 people were killed on Saturday Licensed to carry firearms, he had at least 21 firearms registered to his name, according to the . He also professed his love for his 'family' of Glock pistols in a post on Gab, where he outlined their technical characteristics. Three Glocks were recovered from Bowers after his attack, as well as an AR-15 semi-automatic rifle favored in other recent mass shootings in the US. Bowers remained hospitalized Sunday, after suffering multiple injuries during a shootout with police. Officials said he had been operated on, and was in a stable condition. 'I'm in shock. I can't believe that happened,' said Terry Choate, a retired government contractor who told the Post-Gazette he knew Bowers for nearly the suspect's entire life. 'I can't believe he did that. I'd like to know what set him off.' Following whirlwind visits to Australia, Fiji, and the Kingdom of Tonga, Prince Harry and Meghan Markle are finishing out their tour of the Oceania region in New Zealand. "Suffrage is not simply about the right to vote but also about what that represents", Meghan said. Meghan said suffrage was more than women's right to vote but about basic and fundamental human rights. Sophie Hubbard and Hope Watson were among the many well-wishers who welcomed the couple to Wellington, New Zealand. The Duchess gave a speech to the crowd at the event, and the audience cheered with delight upon seeing the famous couple at the event. Harry and Meghan will start their trip to New Zealand with a traditional welcome ceremony on the lawn of government house. The event, at Government House, also saw members of the New Zealand Defence Force perform a haka for the couple. George Nepeta of New Zealand received the Above and Beyond award. Since her engagement to Harry, Markle deleted her Instagram and Twitter accounts past year, as royals (with Princess Eugenie as the exception) are not allowed to have individual social media accounts. The couple are scheduled to spend four days in New Zealand, where they will go for a trail walk in a national park, meet young people training to be part of the film industry and visit a hatchery for the national bird, the kiwi. Greta Crowe, 11, said she told the couple that the best part of being a girl guide was getting to meet them. "It's just a short visit but I know we've got a full programme, so we're able to see as much as possible", the prince said. The Duchess of Sussex has proven that she can spot a good bargain when she sees one! The newlywed posted a snapshot of her husband, Prince Harry, at the Invictus Games closing ceremony rehearsal Saturday. The pair will then visit the newly-unveiled UK War Memorial at the Pukeahu National War Memorial Park for a public appearance. Speaking before the final, Prime Minister Scott Morrison said it had been a "magic week for Sydney", which has hosted the week-long games for wounded, injured and ill veteran and active service personnel. Thieves stealing from petrol pumps are being let off by almost one in five police forces. At least eight forces in England and Wales have stopped pursuing fuel thefts and retailers accuse them of routinely ignoring the crime. Driving off without paying, or bilking, is increasingly downgraded to a low-level offence that officers cannot afford to respond to. But the Petrol Retailers Association, representing 70 per cent of forecourts, says it is costing the industry 30million a year. At least eight forces in England and Wales have stopped pursuing fuel thefts and retailers accuse them of routinely ignoring the crime There are more than 1.6million cases a year in which motorists drive off without paying or tell station staff they have no means of payment. This month Lincolnshire Police told forecourt managers they would no longer investigate. An officer will now attend the crime scene only if there are aggravating factors, such as threats or violence against staff. Although the force still records the bilking incidents, it is suggesting petrol stations use pre-payment systems and recover the cost of stolen fuel in the civil courts. A review by the force last year concluded officers were effectively civil debt collectors because many of the offences were committed accidentally. In a statement Lincolnshire Police said the change was not a blanket policy, but an attempt to focus our limited resources to target real criminals. However, Ian Cruickshank, who runs a petrol station near Grantham, said his CCTV caught a thief stealing fuel but Lincolnshire police didnt follow it up. He said: It was clearly a theft and a blatant crime. I had clear CCTV evidence that I was being targeted by criminals. Its infuriating. The 43 forces in England and Wales are prioritising crimes in the face of budget cuts. Devon and Cornwall Police were the first to stop investigating fuel theft unless there was clear criminal intent. The Petrol Retailers Association, representing 70 per cent of forecourts, says it is costing the industry 30million a year Leicestershire and Avon & Somerset forces also do not attend routine bilking cases unless there are aggravating circumstances. Staffordshire and Suffolk forces use desk-based investigation units that respond to bilking, though not necessarily in person. West Midlands Police said they had adopted the approach of almost all other forces, adding that a crime reported online was passed to a desk-based team. Hampshire Constabulary said it was unlikely resources would be dispatched straight away if the offence was simply bilking. Brian Madderson, of the Petrol Retailers Association, told the Sunday Telegraph: Its becoming a serious problem as the police are routinely ignoring this crime. Detectives regularly come to our members forecourts asking for CCTV to help find terrorists, serious criminals and organised gangs and we help them. But, when we have a problem with petrol theft its, Sorry, youre on your own. It isnt right. Last night a National Police Chiefs Council spokesman said: Police chiefs have to judge how to use limited resources to best effect to protect the public from a range of crime and threats. Advertisement The Great Bison Roundup took place for its 53rd year Saturday with more than 275 ranchers gathering to put 700 bison to the test in Utah. Antelope Island's annual event is known for being dangerous for both the humans and animals who participate each October, as the animals that can weigh up to 2,100lbs charge after equestrians. On one occasion KyAnn Betz, who has been attending for six years, got a nasty scare when she had an outfit slip up. Great Bison Roundup took place for its 53rd year Saturday with more than 275 ranchers gathering to put 700 bison to the test The gathering took place on Antelope Island, Utah to allow bison to have medical checks and receive vaccinations KyAnn Betz has been attending for six years, got a nasty scare when she had an outfit slip up on one occasion Betz got bucked off a horse causing her to go up and over a flank but says nothing was hurt but her pride 'I got bucked off a couple of years ago in a perfect storm, where my saddle had just been oiled and I was in the wrong gloves, and we were coming downhill and my horse got nipped from behind, and I went up and over a flank,' she told Fox 13. The tough woman got right back in the saddle though. 'But I was fine. Nothing was hurt but my pride,' she continued. The annual event includes riding through canyons. Utah State Parks workers are moving the animals from across the island so they can be weighed, tagged and given health checkups Don Bradshaw, Betz's father, recalled a time when his horse was injured by a charging bison Riders on horseback herd bison during an annual roundup Saturday on Antelope Island, Utah It's nothing in comparison to what can happen to the animals though. Her father who outdoes her attendance record with his 20 years at the event shared how bison can literally tear the horses a new one when they catch up to them. 'What the buffalo do is they'll charge the horse, and by the time the horse gets turned around, they hook him right here,' Don Bradshaw said while referencing the rear. 'They usually just put a horn in them or they rip them.' It's a tough job but it's no sport for the participants. Betz describes her father as a 'real cowboy'. Pictured are a rider's boots during an annual bison roundup Antelope Island is on the Great Salt Lake, approximately 41 miles north of Salt Lake City, and attracts real cowboys annually Bison can weigh up to 2,100lbs. They charge after equestrians as they try to gather them before selling around 200 The roundup can take all day as they prepare to check the bison for diseases and injuries. Then they're vaccinated and around 200 are sold two weeks later. 'It's a different ride, it's not a trail ride. When you come out here moving the buffalo, you move much differently than you'd ride down a nice, safe trail,' Don continued. 'The buffalo will turn, they'll run. They'll head up the canyons. We have to go get them. If they go up high, they are really tough to get out.' Funds raised go toward the conservation of Antelope Island. Sensing that Jeff Sessions' days at the Justice Department may be numbered, some of his supporters want the White House to allow for a graceful exit for an attorney general they believe has dutifully carried out the administration's agenda even while enduring the president's fury. It seems unlikely that efforts to soften a possible dismissal after the November 6 midterm election would find sympathy in the White House, where President Donald Trump's rage remains unabated over the attorney general's recusal from the Russia investigation. A hand-picked successor could theoretically oversee the rest of the probe in place of Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein. But some supporters say they hope that if and when Sessions is replaced, his record as senator and attorney general will be recognized and not overwhelmed by Trump's attacks, or that the administration will at least respect the Justice Department by guaranteeing a smooth transition. Attorney General Jeff Sessions' supporters say he deserves a 'graceful exit' from the White House Trump's has publicly expressed his rage remains over the attorney general's recusal from the Russia investigation A scenario advocated by at least one Sessions ally, former Cincinnati Mayor Ken Blackwell, would allow him to remain on the job until January and be permitted to resign on his own then rather than be fired immediately after the midterms. Blackwell said allies have made their case to administration officials that Sessions has successfully pushed the president's core priorities, including on illegal immigration, and deserves some sort of recognition from the White House that 'he has more than a passing grade.' 'It is not unknown, from anyone from John Kelly to Jared Kushner, that there is a base of support,' said Blackwell, referring to Trump's chief of staff and son-in-law. 'A portion of that base is ready to continue advocacy for his service.' Newt Gingrich, a former Republican House speaker who is close to the White House and calls himself a longtime 'admirer' of Sessions, said he would be open to serving as an intermediary if asked between the White House and Sessions supporters. 'He deserves a graceful exit. His career deserves a strong conclusion,' said Gingrich, who called Sessions 'a strong conservative who has done strong work at the Department of Justice.' Sessions, who has publicly acknowledged the president's displeasure, has plowed forward with the conventional duties of the job, including a regular calendar of events and announcements. On Friday, he spoke first at the Justice Department news conference announcing the arrest of a mail-bomb suspect in Florida. The president, though mindful that Sessions remains popular among much of his base, would seem unlikely to sign off on a plan to extend Sessions' time in office, according to a White House official and an outside adviser familiar with Trump's thinking but not authorized to publicly discuss private conversations. Jeff Sessions' supporters, including former Republican House speaker Newt Gingrich (left) and former Cincinnati Mayor Ken Blackwell, say he has dutifully carried out the administration's agenda even while enduring the president's fury Sessions offered his resignation last year, but it was rejected Trump has repeatedly had to be talked out of firing Sessions before November and has signaled to allies that he wants to make sweeping changes at the Justice Department once the midterms have concluded. He told The Associated Press this month that he was 'not thrilled' with Sessions but made no commitment to dismiss him. If Trump were to wait, it would not be out of deference to Sessions, but rather because the White House would be managing the fallout from the midterms and preparing for a pair of presidential overseas trips in November, according to the official. Sessions' decision to recuse remains his original sin in Trump's eyes. Trump has fumed that Sessions has not done more to protect his personal interests and has vented about what he sees as Sessions' failure to get a handle on immigration and his lack of emphasis on combating transnational criminal organizations. Cameron Smith, a former Sessions Senate aide, said, 'The idea that this gets better - they stand next to each other and sing common praises - I just don't see anybody looking at that seriously.' After being berated by Trump over the recusal decision last year, Sessions offered his resignation, but it was rejected. He has been widely viewed as determined to stay in the job because he believes in Trump's agenda, which largely mirrors his own interests, and reluctant to leave a job for which he gave up a Senate seat. For more than a year, Trump has repeatedly polled advisers as to whether he should fire Sessions. Some of his closest aides, including attorney Rudy Giuliani, have counseled him not to do so, at least not yet. Trump lashed out at Attorney General Jeff Sessions in a tirade on Twitter in Augus in on of his many rants against Sessions In September, the president ramped up his bashing of Sessions in a tweet The case that Sessions' protectors outlined to Trump largely consists of three components: - Firing Sessions, a witness in special counsel Robert Mueller's investigation of obstruction of justice, would add legal peril to his standing in the Russia probe. - Doing so would anger the president's political base, which Trump cares deeply about, especially before the midterms. - A number of Republican senators would rebel against the treatment of a longtime colleague and potentially not hold confirmation hearings for a replacement if the GOP holds onto the Senate. Blackwell, the Sessions friend, said conservatives are divided between those who support firing him immediately and those who regard him as loyal to their cause, protective of their ideals and propelling Trump's agenda. Gingrich, for instance, calls the recusal 'inexcusable' even as he professes admiration for Sessions. The ground appears to have softened recently after some influential Republicans, including Sen. Lindsey Graham, suggested Trump would have the right, after the elections, to select a replacement he trusted. Smith said one way Trump could enable a respectful exit would be for the White House to craft a smooth succession plan and allow Sessions to be part of the process. Ed Meese, a Reagan administration attorney general and Sessions friend, said he wasn't thinking about Sessions' departure because 'I don't want to see him fired at all.' 'I think he's taken it with grace,' Meese said of Sessions' response to Trump's anger. 'What he is recused from is less than 1 percent of the department and he has done an outstanding job in everything he's done in the department.' Palestinian medics say that three teenage boys have been killed in an Israeli airstrike in the southeastern Gaza Strip. Ashraf al-Kidra of the Health Ministry says ambulance crews are bringing the bodies of the boys, aged 12 to 14, to a hospital from the perimeter fence dividing Gaza and Israel. The Israeli army said an aircraft hit three Palestinians who approached the security fence Sunday 'and were apparently involved in placing' an explosive device to it. Three Palestinian boys, aged 12-14, were killed in an Israeli airstrike on the Gaza Strip. Pictured is an Israeli tank as it takes position at the Gaza Strip border yesterday The Gaza-Israel border area has been volatile for months as the enclave's Hamas rulers organize weekly protests there against a decade-long Israeli-Egyptian blockade. On Wednesday this week, Israel's air force struck a position in the Gaza Strip used to launch incendiary balloons into Israeli territory. Palestinians have for months been launching kites and balloons, equipped with rudimentary incendiary devices, towards Israeli farmland. Hundreds of fires have resulted, destroying large areas of Israeli crops and causing hundreds of thousands of dollars worth of damage. The Israeli army claim that the boys approached a perimeter fence and placed an explosive device on it That has coincided with mass demonstrations since late March, labelled the 'Great March of Return', calling for Palestinian refugees to return to their former homes inside what is now Israel. More than 700,000 Palestinians fled or were expelled in the 1948 war surrounding Israel's creation, many of them to Gaza. Egyptian mediators relentlessly urge the two sides separately to restore calm and prevent wider conflict. More than 160 Palestinians were killed in the protests since March. A Palestinian sniper killed an Israeli soldier in July. Fox Business has pulled an episode of 'Lou Dobbs Tonight' because of negative remarks made about US activist George Soros. In the segment, Judicial Watch official Chris Farrell claimed a Central American migrant caravan moving towards the US southern border is being funded by the 'Soros-occupied State Department'. Farrell was referencing George Soros, a Jewish billionaire and political activist who routinely funds Democratic candidates and initiatives. Fox pulled an episode of Lou Dobbs' (pictured) show over remarks about George Soros Lou Dobbs (left) was interviewing Judicial Watch offiicial Chris Farrell (right) who implied that George Soros was funding a migrant caravan moving towards the US border 'This is criminal involvement on the part of these leftist groups. Its highly organized, a very sophisticated organization,' Farrell said on the show. 'A lot of these folks also have affiliates who are getting money from the Soros-occupied State Department'. The episode was re-aired on Saturday, shortly after an anti-Semitic gunman shot and killed 11 people in a Pittsburgh synagogue. Robert Bowers, the suspected killer, posted similar conspiracy theories on the social media website Gab. Fox confirmed that the episode was a repeat and has now been pulled from future broadcasts. 'We condemn the rhetoric by the guest on Lou Dobbs Tonight, ' Fox Business senior vice president of programming Gary Schreier said in a statement. A spokeswoman said Farrell 'will no longer be booked on Fox Business Network or Fox News Channel'. Soros was one of the Democratic political figures targeted by pipe bombs in the mail earlier this week. Judicial Watch official Chris Farrell claimed people in the migrant caravan were getting money from the 'Soros-backed State Department' Migrants of a second Honduran caravan wait at the border bridge in Tecun Uman, Guatemala Cesar Sayoc, a 56-year-old Trump supporter living in Florida, has been accused of mailing at least 14 homemade bombs, including to former President Obama and former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton. Dobbs himself has frequently tweeted about conspiracy theories tied to Soros, who is often used as a stand-in to represent all Jewish people. 'Soros or Kochs? @realDonaldTrump Suggests Someone Is Paying Migrants in Caravan,' he tweeted on October 20 with a link to a Breitbart article. 'Soros Bears Investigating! The Left is the Lunatic Fringe!' he wrote in April 2017. 'While Soros, Obama and the Left Pay to Perform Their Racist and Violent Street Theatre, Our President-Elect is Working,' Dobbs tweeted in November 2016, days after President Trump was elected. Christopher Farrell joined Judicial Watch in 1999 as the organizations Director of Investigations and Research Straight out of the Protocols of the Elders of Zion. Just moments ago, Lou Dobbs guest Chris Farrell (head of Judicial Watch) says Caravan is being funded/directed by the "Soros-occupied State Department". pic.twitter.com/QBSong7uk1 Josh Marshall (@joshtpm) October 27, 2018 Judicial Watch is an American conservative activist group and self-styled watchdog group that files Freedom of Information Act lawsuits to investigate claimed misconduct by government officials. It has extensively covered the migration, including video footage and on-the-ground coverage. The sites stories largely claim the mainstream media is not portraying the motivations of the migrants accurately. In addition to pulling the episode, Fox also said it would not book Farrell again for any of its programs on Fox Business or Fox News. Dobbs has been at Fox Business since 2011, joining after leaving CNNs popular Moneyline and an earlier version of his Lou Dobbs Tonight. Dobbs has enjoyed a career revaival at Fox Business, where he has been since 2011 after working at CNN for more than two decades in senior roles and as anchor of 'Moneyline' and an earlier edition of 'Lou Dobbs Tonight'. Judicial Watch has not yet responded to Dailymail.com for a comment. From boycotts to Biros, the English language is rich in eponyms a place or thing named after individuals. But who were the people behind them? In a fascinating new book, CLAIRE COCK-STARKEY reveals all . . . From boycotts to Biros, the English language is rich in eponyms a place or thing named after individuals. But who were the people behind them? Boycott protesting by refusing to engage commercially or otherwise with a company, political party or person One early non-violent protest was against Charles C. Boycott (pictured), a wealthy retired Army officer turned farmer in Ireland During the Irish Land War in 1880, tenants who were charged unfair rents were encouraged to stop dealing with the land agents representing their affluent landlords. One early non-violent protest was against Charles C. Boycott, a wealthy retired Army officer turned farmer in County Mayo. When his tenants, who as part of their rental agreement farmed his land for him, asked him to reduce rents by 25 per cent, Boycott refused and attempted to evict them. In response, they refused to talk to anyone associated with him and withdrew their labour. Their efforts were ultimately futile. After the incident was reported in the newspapers, a 'Boycott Relief Fund' was established and volunteers from Belfast arrived to harvest the crop. The word 'dunce' is derived from a 13th-century monk, John Duns Scotus (pictured) Dunce someone who is slow at learning The word 'dunce' is derived from a 13th-century monk, John Duns Scotus. Scotus who hailed from the village of Duns in Scotland was a theologian of great repute. Indeed his scholarship remains highly esteemed in the Catholic Church and he was beatified by Pope John Paul II in 1993 the first step to becoming a saint. During the Protestant Reformation in the 16th century, Catholic teachings were widely criticised, and adherents of Scotus's beliefs were characterised as too stupid to think for themselves. Anyone espousing his theories became known as 'Duns' and considered intellectually inferior. Foxtrot a ballroom dance The foxtrot is said to have been invented by vaudeville entertainer Harry Fox in 1914 when he began performing a fast yet simple trotting-style dance during his performances at the New York Theatre. The dance was immediately popular in clubs, and by the end of 1914 the American Society Of Professors Of Dancing decided to teach it as the Foxtrot. The foxtrot is said to have been invented by vaudeville entertainer Harry Fox (pictured) in 1914 when he began performing a fast yet simple trotting-style dance during his performances at the New York Theatre Guillotine execution machine consisting of a sharp blade which drops between a wooden frame to swiftly sever the head In 1779, Dr Joseph Ignace Guillotin, a senior Parisian politician opposed to capital punishment, suggested to the French National Assembly that an execution machine which was fast and efficient would be more humane. A prototype was designed and the first victim (a highwayman) was beheaded in 1792. During the French Revolution between 1789-99, Guillotin became horrified that his name was associated with the device and petitioned the government to change its name. When this failed, his family changed their surname to escape the gruesome association. Sideburns facial hair at the sides of the head, in front of the ear While side whiskers have existed for centuries, sideburns got their name from the popular American general and politician Ambrose E. Burnside, who sported prominent mutton chops. This memorable style caught the public imagination and despite his military failures during the Civil War in the 1860s people soon referred it as 'burnsides'. Over time the term was modified to sideburns possibly because the hair concerned is on the side of the face. Maverick someone who does things their own way Samuel Augustus Maverick (pictured) was a lawyer and Texan landowner Samuel Augustus Maverick was a lawyer and Texan landowner, holding more than 385,000 acres. In 1845, he acquired 400 cattle as payment for a debt and Maverick, who had no ranching experience, took the unorthodox decision to leave the cattle unbranded and allowed them to wander across his vast estate. Unsurprisingly, when any strayed into another rancher's territory they were swiftly branded and claimed. Thus any unmarked cow became a 'Maverick'. And maverick came to refer to a different way of doing things. Shrapnel exploded fragments from the metal cases of artillery Henry Shrapnel was a British Army officer who, in 1784, perfected the design for the exploding shell. Henry Shrapnel (pictured) was a British Army officer who, in 1784, perfected the design for the exploding shell Shrapnel thought he could make the cannon ball more deadly by filling a hollow shell with small metal balls, gunpowder and its own fuse. This would allow the shell to explode over the enemy. The Army adopted Shrapnel's invention in 1803 and it was used to devastating effect at Waterloo in 1815. Shrapnel shells were used until the beginning of World War II, when they were replaced by new highly explosive ammunition, sich as the Ordnance QF 25-Pounder. But 'shrapnel' was retained to describe the exploded metal from shell casings, which still wreak havoc on the battlefield. Diesel a type of internal combustion engine; a type of fuel Rudolf Diesel (pictured) was a FrenchGerman engineer who invented the diesel engine in 1893 Rudolf Diesel was a FrenchGerman engineer who invented the diesel engine in 1893. Compared to petrol engines, his compression-ignition design required much less fuel. The fuel, also cheaper to produce, became known as 'diesel' as well. Diesel did not live to see the huge success of his invention, which after World War I became the dominant engine in ships trucks and trains. Nicotine the active ingredient in the leaf of the tobacco plant Jean Nicot (pictured) was a French diplomat sent to Lisbon in 1557 to negotiate a marriage Jean Nicot was a French diplomat sent to Lisbon in 1557 to negotiate a marriage between Margaret of Valois and King Sebastian I of Portugal. Although the trip was unsuccessful, he was introduced to the tobacco plant. Impressed, he sent seed samples to Catherine de Medici in France. Nicot instructed the queen how to crush the tobacco leaves into a powder, which could then be sniffed to cure ailments. The habit became popular at court before spreading across France. In 1753, Swedish naturalist Carl Linnaeus immortalised Nicot by naming a genus of tobacco 'cultivars Nicotiana'. Later, in 1828 when the active ingredient in tobacco was first identified, it was given the name nicotine. Laszlo Biro (pictured) became fed up with fountain pens leaking onto the page Biro ballpoint pen Hungarian Laszlo Biro was a newspaper editor who became fed up with fountain pens leaking onto the page. He worked with his brother Gyorgy and machinist Andor Goy to develop a ballpoint pen that controlled the flow of ink, and by 1931 Biro developed a prototype. During World War II, the RAF ordered more than 30,000 ballpoint pens from Biro because, unlike fountain pens, they did not leak at high altitude. Charles Macintosh (pictured) invented waterproof fabric Mackintosh a long waterproof coat The coat was named after the man who invented the fabric, Charles Macintosh. He was a Glasgow chemist who experimented with naphtha, a by-product of coal tar, and created a paste which could be sandwiched between two layers of fabric to make a waterproof material. Waterproof coats were smelly and some melted in hot weather. But in 1843 Macintosh developed a hardened melt-proof rubber (vulcanised) by heating it at high temperature to improve the finish. Hoover to vacuum; a vacuum cleaner Janitor James Murray Spangler invented the first upright vacuum cleaner in 1908 to improve his asthma Janitor James Murray Spangler invented the first upright vacuum cleaner in 1908 to improve his asthma with more efficient cleaning. But he struggled to market it to a wider public. U.S. leather goods manufacturer William Henry Hoover saw the potential and bought his patent. Offering customers a free ten-day trial proved highly effective and by 1922 the Hoover company was the largest vacuum-cleaner manufacturer in the world, to the extent that 'Hoovering' became synonymous with vacuuming. A vile paedophile who raped his girlfriend's two-year-old daughter kept a bag filled with handwritten notes of children's names, details on how to exploit them and recordings of his horrifying abuse. Jason Daron Mizner, 44, was sentenced to 19 years in jail after he pleaded guilty to more than 60 child sex offences relating to a two-year-old girl, from the early 2000s, including more than 30 counts of rape and videotaping the assaults. District Court Judge Leanne Clare described his offences as 'a different kind of evil'. The yoga teacher from the Gold Coast was only caught when he went to Thailand and left a bag of his possessions at home - which the two-year-old girl's mother found. Paedophile Jason Daron Mizner (pictured) who filmed himself sexually assaulting his girlfriend's two-year-old daughter while she was still in nappies and muzzled her to stop her screaming has been jailed for 19 years Contained inside the bag were the recordings, handwritten notes detailing how to exploit children and a folder giving the names of children - including the victim. The bag also contained names of single mothers and their addresses as well as plans to organise a child-exploitation ring, the court heard. On top of that, notes on how to carry out a deception and rape were also found. The judge told the court the recordings also showed the baby screaming, and that when Mizner could not calm the baby down he would muzzle her. Judge Clare suggested the material countered the child rapist's defence that his offending stemmed from a brain injury he sustained in a motorbike accident when he was 21. 'You are a predator,' Judge Clare told Mizner during the sentencing on Friday. 'Those things took organisation, planning and patience, the abuse was depraved and callous.' What's more Mizner had started a relationship with another woman in Thailand - whose baby daughter he also started sexually assaulting, the Courier Mail reports. On that score, he had already served 11 years of a 35-year sentence before he was released on bail and deported. Australian authorities arrested him when he made his return to Brisbane. In the lead-up to the sentencing on Friday, the defence told the court Mizner had endured regular 'torture' at the hands of guards and other inmates. The judge had delayed sentencing after she was so shaken by a graphic video of the assaults she needed a break to ensure a fair sentence. 'I only watched a portion and it has been a battle to get the vision of your offending out of my head. I cannot imagine the horror of it for (the girl's) mother.' Judge Clare said her struggle to cope with the footage came despite 30 years of experience dealing with extreme cases of child abuse. Sentencing for the Queensland child rapist had been delayed because the judge was so shaken by video of the assaults she needed a break to ensure a fair sentence The 44-year-old child rapist will be eligible for parole after serving 15 years of his latest sentence. Judge Clare added there was no evidence Mizner had shown remorse for what he had done. She said: 'It was (the girl's mother) who found the recordings. That content would be excruciating for most people. In an earlier hearing at Brisbane District Court on Tuesday, Justice Clare said she had viewed a portion of one of the tapes and found it 'very confronting'. 'I think it would be best to put some distance between the viewing of that tape and the delivery of the judgment so that it does not overwhelm the sentence,' Justice Clare said, adjourning proceedings until Friday. The prosecution wanted the 44-year-old jailed for life. Mizner's lawyers argued his years in prison in Thailand for a separate sexual assault of another young child there should be taken into account, because of the abuse he suffered at the hands of other inmates while incarcerated. 'He received beatings and other torture, partly in relation to (the Australian) offending,' Mizner's lawyer said. 'The Australian Federal Police gave evidence at the (Thai) hearing about the Australian offending, so it's not much of a stretch that inmates in Thailand would have known.' Mizner (pictured) had pleaded guilty to more than 60 child sex offences relating to a two-year-old girl, from the early 2000s, including more than 30 counts of rape and videotaping the assaults Justice Clare disputed that just because Mizner had a difficult time in a Thai jail did not mean he should have his potential sentence reduced. 'The report outlines deprivations and abuses that your client has described, but to say he's been tortured for 11 years is an overstatement of the material, frankly,' Justice Clare said. The court was told Mizner, who was 31 at the time of the assaults, formed a relationship with the Australian girl's mother, before committing the offences over a number of months. While he was on a holiday in Thailand, the girl's mother found videos he had made and a range of other unrelated child exploitation material. Mizner stayed in Thailand, where he formed a relationship with a local woman before assaulting her young daughter and being arrested by Thai authorities. He served 11 years of a 35-year sentence and was deported when released on bail last year, with Australian authorities arresting him when he returned to Brisbane. It's the second time sentencing has been delayed, after a delay in September, when a doctor preparing a psychological report for the court suffered a heart attack. That report, the defence argued, showed that a motorcycle accident when Mizner was 21 left him with a brain injury, which 'uninhibited' him. Justice Clare said it also showed he had a 'predilection for babies' and had a medium-to-high chance of re-offending if not incarcerated. 'Even a low risk of re-offending when it comes to raping babies is a substantial risk to deal with. When it's a medium-to-high risk... it's alarming,' she said. Less than a month after her wedding, all eyes were on the newly ennobled Duchess of Sussex as she walked a few paces behind the monarch for a series of engagements in Chester, close to the border with Wales. Without the reassuring presence of Harry, whod been constantly at her side on previous public occasions, it was quite a test. In fact, Meghan passed this nerve-shredding introduction to royal life with flying colours. Not even a mix-up over who should be first into the royal limousine spoiled the rapport between the two women, who laughed together and exchanged whispered asides. Not even a mix-up over who should be first into the royal limousine spoiled the rapport between the two women, who laughed together and exchanged whispered asides in Chester earlier this year What commentators were unaware of was that, behind the smiles for the cameras, there had been an awkward incident over the younger womans choice of headgear. The Queens aides had, on instruction, advised the Duchess that the Queen would be wearing a green hat (in honour of those who had died in the Grenfell Tower fire disaster). Meghan, still new to the intricacies of Palace protocol, didnt realise that this meant she was expected to follow suit. The Queen was therefore a little baffled when her granddaughter-in-law turned up bare-headed. Less than a month after her wedding, above, all eyes were on the newly ennobled Duchess of Sussex as she walked a few paces behind the monarch for a series of engagements in Chester, close to the border with Wales I dont think the Duchess fully understood, one senior figure close to the Queen said. This was not a request. They are for others to make, not the Queen. In the end, the Duchess, showing the stubborn streak her father claims that she inherited from her mother, ran the gauntlet and went without a hat. Her lack of deference, even respect, had been duly noted, particularly by the Queens senior staff. The Queen has continued to take a keen interest in Harrys bride. As he said in his engagement interview, even his grandmothers corgis love Meghan they trot over to lie at her feet. The Queen was therefore a little baffled when her granddaughter-in-law turned up bare-headed since the Queen's aides had told her she would be wearing a green hat, and she was expected to follow suit A shared love of dogs, it must be said, has gone a long way to cementing the relationship between the two women. This means that Meghan certainly learned never to pet the royal corgis. Visitors who try to get into the Queens good books by stroking her dogs are sharply told: Dont do that they dont like it. Or as an insider said: What she really means is she doesnt like it. Judge Keith Wilding blocked a plan for the children to be fostered or adopted Social workers broke up a family on the basis of a text message sent by a boy of 12. The child was said to have told a friend his mother threatened him with a knife and as a result two of his siblings were taken into care. Social workers asked for a judges approval to take away all four of the married couples children. But in a Family Court hearing they were unable to produce a copy of the text message, which came from an anonymous tip-off. The officials had also waited until they were at the door of the court before backing down over claims that the parents had harmed their children. Judge Keith Wilding dismissed a series of further allegations and blocked a plan for the children to be fostered or adopted. In a scathing verdict, he said aspects of the evidence submitted by Hertfordshire county council social services were incorrect, inaccurate, far from the truth and entirely misleading. The judge was equally critical of police, saying: When they took the protective measures for the children they noted that the family had a long history of injuries, which I have found to be untrue and said there was domestic violence within the family, of which there is not a shred of supporting evidence. Judge Wildings ruling in Watford freed the family from the threat of being split up. He said the mother, who was brought up in the state care system and suffered serious abuse herself as a child, needed to address her anger issues. He added that the family, whose identity is protected by law, needed support and the father might have to give up work to help look after the children. But he said the youngsters had not suffered harm. The parents had been together for 14 years and married for seven when their run-in with social workers began in February. At a Family Court hearing in Watford, social workers were unable to produce a copy of the text message, which came from an anonymous tip-off Judge Wilding said the claim that the children must be taken away relied upon an incident at the family home during which time the boy sent a text message to a friend alleging that his mother had tried to stab him with a knife. He added: The mother accepts that she made a threat to stab him but says that it was not said with any intent or seriously. The mother said the person who reported the text to police was motivated by malice. The judge said: I note that we are entirely reliant, it seems, on what the caller to the police said when this was reported a few hours after the incident took place. I can find no direct evidence that anyone in this case who may have seen the actual text sent by the boy has set it down accurately. He said the boy felt guilty that his message had led to his younger sister and brother being taken away by police and social workers. he brothers have been working largely independently for the past five years, but they will both have increasingly different responsibilities in the future William and Harry are quietly preparing to end one of the Royal Familys most popular double acts. The princes are reportedly considering a formal division of their joint royal household at Kensington Palace. The split would create separate courts to reflect their increasingly different responsibilities. A source told the Sunday Times: The brothers have leant on each other and looked after each other since their mother died. Scroll down for video Harry, left, and William, right, are quietly preparing to end one of the Royal Familys most popular double acts. They are pictured above at a wildlife conference in London earlier this month. The princes are reportedly considering a formal division of their joint royal household at Kensington Palace The split would create separate courts to reflect their increasingly different responsibilities, with Prince Harry, above, speaking at the Invictus Games in Sydney, Australia, yesterday But now they have their own families, they no longer rely on each other as before. The separation could take place after Meghan and Harry have their first child due in the spring the report suggested. The Daily Mail understands, however, that the process has been slowly taking place since the brothers first joint private secretary, Jamie Lowther-Pinkerton, retired from his post in 2013. The top aide, who is still an influential figure and is Prince Georges godfather, was acutely aware the time will come when 36-year-old William inherits his fathers title as Prince of Wales, signalling his immersion in public life. By contrast Harry, 34, now sixth in line to the throne, has significantly more freedom to shape his future. Another source said the Duke and Duchess of Sussex will have more of a blank canvas with their roles, adding: There is a gulf in the style and approach to the work that William and Kate will increasingly do as future head of state and consort. The two princes William and Harry, with Charles centre, are pictured watching the Invictus Games four years ago. They will become increasingly independent in the future, with more of Williams time spent on matters of state and the Duchy of Cornwall Their joint royal household is at Kensington Palace, above, where they share both staff and a press office While sharing domestic staff and a press office, the brothers have been working largely independently for the past five years, while combining forces for their mental health drive Heads Together and their charitable organisation, the Royal Foundation. But they will become increasingly independent in the future, with more of Williams time spent on matters of state and the Duchy of Cornwall, the private estate that will fund his public work, as well as his private household, as direct heir to the throne. Questions also remain about how this will be funded. William, Harry, Kate and Meghan are paid for by Prince Charles out of the Duchy of Cornwall. It is unclear if Harry will ultimately come under the umbrella of Buckingham Palace, which currently supports the Queens other children Andrew, Edward and Anne. Kensington Palace declined to comment last night. All necessary restrictions have been imposed on Russian Federation in connection with the 2008 conflict, U.S. National Security Advisor John Bolton said on Friday after meeting with Georgian Prime Minister Mamuka Bakhtadze in Tbilisi. Trump's earlier invitation to Putin sparked an outcry in Washington, including from lawmakers in Trump's Republican party, who argued that Putin was an adversary not worthy of a White House visit. U.S. President Donald Trump held a summit with Putin in Helsinki and then issued Putin an invitation to visit Washington in the fall. As per Fox News report, Bolton, while speaking at a press conference in Georgia on Friday morning, has said that the scheduling of the visit is yet to be finalised, but the Russian President would be invited "after the first of the year". "What the schedule of that is, we do not quite know yet". It would be Putin's first trip to the US since 2015 when he met with President Barack Obama. USA intelligence agencies allege Russian Federation interfered in the 2016 presidential election and the matter is the subject of a federal investigation led by special counsel Robert Mueller. Putin has not been to the White House since George W. Bush was president. In the wake of the summit, Trump was widely criticized for failing to publicly denounce Russia's interference in the 2016 US election and appearing to accept Putin's denials of such activity. Putin has also invited link:Trump to visit Moscow, but Bolton said those conditions "need to be right" with "necessary conditions". "So it's a lesson I think: Don't mess with American elections". When asked about Russian interference in the 2016 election, he said he didn't "see any reason" why it would be Russia. The U.S. and Russian Federation have disgreed over Russia's violations of the INF, which has led to President Donald Trump planning to pull out of the nuclear treaty. Russia, on the other hand, has contended it's in compliance with the accord. The number of accused rapists, robbers and thugs failing to appear at crown court after being bailed has nearly doubled in five years. Last year, 38 suspected rapists were absent from court after being granted bail up from 20 in 2013. In the same period, the number of robbery suspects who did not turn up at court after receiving bail rose from 83 to 164. There has also been a sharp increase in those accused of violence, excluding murder and manslaughter, not showing up, from 202 to 351. Just one suspected murderer was bailed in 2013 but last year this rose to eight. Charlotte Brown was killed by web developer Jack Shepherd who failed to show up for his Old Bailey trial during the summer The number of manslaughter defendants who were bailed rose from 27 to 51, while the figure for alleged rapists granted bail showed a rise from 1,033 to 1,453. Last night, a victims rights campaigner blamed the deeply disturbing trend on the crisis in Britains over-crowded prisons. Harry Fletcher, who unearthed the figures in a parliamentary question, said: Britains jails are full, dangerous and drug-ridden. There is no immediate way of increasing capacity and no political will for early release or more tagging. As a consequence, courts are being urged to limit the imposition of short prison sentences of less than 12 months. Speedboat killer who mocks law Jack Shepherd, 30, failed to show up for his Old Bailey trial A fugitive womaniser was convicted of killing his date in a speedboat accident despite skipping bail. Web designer Jack Shepherd, 30, failed to show up for his Old Bailey trial during the summer. He was sentenced to six years in his absence after being found guilty of manslaughter by gross negligence. Shepherd had been trying to show off to 24-year-old Charlotte Brown, from Clacton, Essex, after meeting her on dating website OkCupid. But their champagne-fuelled first date ended in tragedy when his boat capsized in the Thames. It had sped past the Houses of Parliament at more than double the 12-knot limit in December 2015. Police have launched an international manhunt to find Shepherd, who was even labelled a coward by his own barrister. Shepherd, who lived on a houseboat in Hammersmith, west London, is thought to be behind Twitter accounts that have posted claims that he was unfairly treated by the judicial system. But critics argue that, by failing to attend court over a very serious charge, Shepherd has made a mockery of the law. To add insult to injury, the father of one has lodged an appeal against his conviction and jail sentence from his bolthole. Advertisement The latest figures show a significant rise in the use of court bail for manslaughter, rape and even murder. 'There has been a 60 per cent increase in the last four years of offenders subsequently failing to return to court to face trial across all offences. This is deeply disturbing. The criminal justice system is facing meltdown. It is little wonder that members of the public are bewildered and perceive the sentencing system as soft. Victims are being let down again and again. 'Those same victims deserve better. There is an urgent need for the Government to introduce justice in sentencing and a Victims Bill of Rights. However, justice minister Rory Stewart said the circumstances and reason for each FTA [failing to appear] is unknown. Not all FTAs are due to defendants absconding. There are many reasons for a FTA and absconding is just one of them. The statistics emerged two years after it was revealed that 13,492 suspected and convicted criminals who skipped court bail while facing charges, including murder, child sex offences and rape, were on the run. Of the outstanding arrest warrants in England, the oldest one dated back to 1980. The BBC issued Freedom of Information requests to all 39 police forces in England. Nine refused to provide details or did not reply to the request. In August, the appalling soft justice meted out by courts was laid bare in a bombshell Daily Mail investigation. An audit of sentences at 12 courts revealed how habitual criminals were being allowed to remain at liberty to commit further offences. One lout, who broke an innocent mans jaw in an unprovoked street attack and had 38 previous convictions, turned up at court with a holdall clearly expecting to receive a custodial term. But the judge opted not to send him to jail much to the victims disgust. In some instances, judges even expressed sympathy towards those who were facing punishment by claiming that sending them to jail would be unfair. The findings of the Mails investigation raised questions over whether the crisis in Britains prisons was partly to blame for the soft sentence culture. Assaults in jails are on the rise and reports have highlighted that drug use among prisoners is rampant. Earlier this year, Justice Secretary David Gauke urged courts to only use short sentences of under 12 months as a last resort. Justice Secretary David Gauke urged courts to only use short sentences of under 12 months as a last resort However, critics argue that soft justice is contributing to the violence that is contributing to the Wild West Britain crime wave. Violent crime surged by 21 per cent last year, with 1.3million offences recorded by police the highest level since records began 15 years ago. A spokesman for the Ministry of Justice said: Courts do not take into account the prison population when they decide to grant bail. Those who fail to attend court face longer behind bars. The reward for bringing home 13-year-old Jayme Closs has been doubled to $50,000, two weeks after she vanished from her home and her parents were shot dead. Authorities announced on Friday that the reward amount had been increased thanks to the help of the factory Jayme's parents worked in Barron, Wisconsin, as the desperate, nationwide search for the teenager continued. The push to bring Jayme home came a day before her parents Denise, 46, and James Closs, 56, were laid to rest in private funerals. 'At this time, I want to thank Jennie-O and all of its employees for their cooperation during this tragic time for them with the loss of two of their employees and their willingness to help bring 13-year-old Jayme home,' Barron County Sheriff Chris Fitzgerald said in a statement Friday. Still missing: The reward for details on Jayme Closs' whereabouts has doubled to $50,000. The 13-year-old vanished moments after her parents were gunned down earlier this month Funeral services were held Saturday for the parents of Jayme Closs, the 13-year-old Wisconsin girl who has been missing ever since her parents were found shot to death inside their home Family and friend's gathered to pay their respects to the couple at St. Peter's Catholic Church in Cameron The bodies of Denise, 46, and James Closs, 56, were found shot dead in their Wisconsin two weeks ago. Jayme has not been seen since and was believed to have been inside the home at the time The teenager is believed to be in danger but police have no idea where she is. Meanwhile, the grief-stricken community has held a double funeral from Jayme's parents. A joint funeral service to commemorate the couple took place Saturday afternoon at St. Peter's Catholic Church in Cameron, Wisconsin. A private family burial will be held at a later date. Investigators believe Jayme was abducted October 15 before dawn after her parents, James, 56, and Denise Closs, 46, were gunned down in their home in Barron. Two thousand volunteers helped investigators search a five-mile radius around the Closs home earlier this week, but no evidence was found. Investigators believe Jayme is still alive, and they won't stop searching until they bring her home. As of Thursday, authorities had received 1,740 tips and closed over 1,400 of them, according to Fitzgerald. James and Denise Closs were honored with a funeral service Saturday.A private family burial is set for a future date The Jennie O Turkey Factory where both parents worked contributed a further $25,000 to double the reward to $50,000 Jennifer Smith and Suzy Allard - Denise Closs's sisters - thanked the public for their continued 'love and support' as they continue to hope for the safe return of their 'sweet Jayme' The family of Jayme Closs spoke out in a public appeal on Wednesday in Wisconsin Search efforts intensified in Barron,Wisconsin as two thousand volunteers turned out to assist officers from Barron County Sheriff's Department in their attempt to find missing Jayme Closs Members of the search party were asked to register and have their driver's licenses scanned for safety and as an 'investigative tool' 'It's important to show people, you know, hope, and that we all care,' one of the volunteers, Josh Murphy, told ABC News. 'It's been chaos. A lot of people felt it. I can feel the pain of the family even though they're not part of my family. That's how I keep focused on showing hope. The hope is what we're riding on.' Authorities now are looking for two vehicles of interest after cars were spotted near the Closs home around the time of the crime. One vehicle was likely a red or orange 2000 to 2014 Dodge Challenger, based on surveillance footage from nearby homes and businesses. The second car was likely a black 2006 to 2010 Ford Edge or a black 2004 to 2010 Acura MDX, according to the sheriff's office. The Closs's murders and Jayme's disappearance occurred on October 15. Pictured are two of the vehicles of interest: A black 2006-2010 Ford Edge and a red or orange 2008-2014 Dodge Challenger Searchers were instructed to hold the line and report any resistance or hostility they might encounter to law enforcement Just before 1am local time, someone called 911 from Denise Closs' cellphone, and the 911 dispatcher heard 'a lot of yelling.' The dispatcher called the number back but was unable to leave a voicemail. More attempts were made, but the phone was not answered. Authorities then tried to call the landline to the house but that that was found to be disconnected. By the time authorities reached the home minutes later, they fund that the front door had been kicked in and the couple had been shot to death. Their daughter, Jayme, was believed to be home when her parents killed but she had been abducted by the time authorities arrived. An Amber Alert has been issued for Jayme. Anyone with information is asked to call the sheriff office tip line 1-855-744-3879 or email jaymetips@co.barron.wi.us Investigators announced a $50,000 reward for any tips leading to her location An international student who was charged with rape will be allowed to work with children in Australia after the government failed to lodge an appeal. A French pharmacy student at a Brisbane university, who cannot be named for legal reasons, had his accreditation to work with children reinstated despite it being revoked when the charges were first laid. The Queensland government refused to exercise its right to appeal the decision, according to the The Australian. In a decision that has shocked child-protection advocates, the state's Civil and Administrative Tribunal (QCAT) ruled in August the French student was allowed to hold the blue card, which lets him work with children. An international student from France was cleared to work with children despite being charged with rape (stock image) The decision was made as the law only bars people charged with raping a child from holding a blue card. Under Queensland's Working with Children Screening Act, offences including rape, murder, bestiality, and kidnapping do not constitute a blue card getting disqualified - as long as these acts do not involve a child. The man required a blue card to work with children for his degree, as working at a pharmacy can involve interactions with children. While the department swiftly cancelled the card only a month after he received it, due to the charges laid against him in June last year, he had it reassigned to him on appeal. The Queensland Civil and Administrative Tribunal determined the blue card should stand, due to his clean record against minors. The sexual assault allegedly occurred when he and a woman were drinking in his apartment. She allegedly found herself in the accused's bedroom, and she claims he proceeded to have sex with her after she repeatedly asked him to stop. Federal Assistant Minister for Children and Families Michelle Landry (pictured) believes the 'loophole' needs to be closed QCAT found that as the alleged crime occurred after a night of drinking in his home, he did not pose a risk to children he may work with. Federal Assistant Minister for Children and Families Michelle Landry believes the 'loophole' needs to be closed. A government spokesman confirmed on Sunday there would be no appeal. Hetty Johnston, founder of child-safety advocacy group Bravehearts, told The Australian the decision should not have been made unless his case was finalised and had been through the due process. 'I don't think anyone would like to see convicted rapists working with children, no matter what the scenario.' Hetty Johnston, founder of child-safety advocacy group Bravehearts, said the decision should not have been made unless his case was finalised and had been through the due process The state's opposition Leader Deb Frecklington also chimed in on the issue, saying Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk should have amended the criteria to reflect certain societal standards. 'No one who has been charged with rape should be given a blue card that allows them to work with children. Annastacia Palaszczuk promised to make changes to blue cards at the last state election, but still hasnt done anything almost a year later.' 'Labors 2017 blue card review specifically recommended expanding the range of disqualifying offences, but still nothing has been done.' The criminal case remains open. Britain's spies will take responsibility for tackling the terror threat from Right-wing extremists as part of a major shake-up. Amid concern that white supremacists are increasingly trying to stir up a racial and religious war on UK streets, MI5 will for the first time take the lead in combating the problem. In the past, the police have been tasked with monitoring far-Right groups. It means the ideology will sit in the same security service portfolio as Islamist and Irish terrorism. MI5 will take responsibility for tackling the terror threat from Right-wing extremists in the UK Extreme Right-wing activity will be designated as posing a key threat to national security. Four far-Right terror plots have been thwarted in Britain since March 2017, compared to 13 involving Muslim fanatics. The authorities have expressed fears about a resurgence from neo-Nazi groups, especially since the murder of Labour MP Jo Cox by white supremacist Thomas Mair in 2016. In February, Darren Osborne was jailed for life for attacking Muslim worshippers with a van in Finsbury Park, North London, in June 2017. In the past week, a man has been charged with sending 13 pipe bombs to opponents of President Donald Trump. And a second man was arrested for murdering 11 Jewish worshippers during an anti-Semitic gun attack at a synagogue in the US city of Pittsburgh on Saturday. There are about 100 live investigations into extreme Right-wing individuals and groups In the UK, there are about 100 live investigations into extreme Right-wing individuals and groups. Although the threat is not assessed to be of the same magnitude as that posed by Islamic State or Al Qaeda, security chiefs are aware that extreme Right-wing organisations are attempting to provoke violence and sow discord. Sources told the Guardian that MI5's techniques and greater powers will allow spies to discover more about threats posed by the extreme right than the police are able to. It will formally take responsibility for identifying suspects, assessing their danger, analyse networks of extremists and rank threats. Police will stay in charge when it comes to launch an operation to disrupt a plot and make arrests. In the past week, a man has been charged with sending 13 pipe bombs to opponents of President Donald Trump One source said: 'MI5 are driving the car and SO15 [Counter Terrorism Command] are in the passenger seat. When there is a need to take a plot out, SO15 get in the driving seat.' The change also means MI5 will have to find the agents, analysts and other staff. Last month, Home Office figures revealed the number of white terror suspects being arrested was higher than those who were Asian for the first time since the July 7 bombings in 2005. In the year to June, 133 were white and 129 were Asian ethnic background. On Wednesday, Britain's top counter-terrorism police officer, Neil Basu told the home affairs select committee that the extreme Right-wing was growing across Europe. He said: 'There is no doubt that crosses the border into the UK and there have been attempts by groups here to coordinate with European partners as well.' Advertisement President Donald Trump borrowed a serpent staff from a child at the White House Halloween event on Sunday to wave in the direction of the media as he and first lady Melania Trump distributed chocolate bars and twizzlers to the children of military families before once again attacking the press on Twitter. 'Do you know what I'm doing,' he asked the two little girls, who were dressed in Egyptian style costumes as the first lady chuckled at his antics. He waved the staff up and down and all around, as if he were casting a spell. First lady Melania Trump has a laugh as President Trump waves a snake serpent in the direction of the press 'Do you know what I'm doing,' he asked as he waved the staff up and down and all around, as if he were casting a spell The first lady seemed to particularly enjoy the animal costumes The president and first lady walked out on the orange carpet to the music from Thriller Music from Harry Potter played while the kids trick or treated His Halloween antics come a day after the president stirred up controversy by joking about his 'bad hair day' and tweeting about the World Series, just hours after a gunman slaughtered 11 people at a synagogue. He first told a young farmers convention in Indianapolis on Saturday morning that he almost cancelled the events because the weather wreaked havoc with his hair, and not the massacre in Pittsburgh. After the kids were gone, however, the president took to Twitter to attack the media Later in the evening he then took to social media while watching Game 4 of the series between the Dodgers and the Red Sox, and questioned the pitching changes. But none of that was on display at the White House on a sunny and cool Sunday evening as the first couple welcomed children of military families and local schools. After the kids were gone, however, the president took to Twitter to attack the media. 'The Fake News is doing everything in their power to blame Republicans, Conservatives and me for the division and hatred that has been going on for so long in our Country. Actually, it is their Fake & Dishonest reporting which is causing problems far greater than they understand!,' he wrote on Sunday evening. The president and first lady passed out candy from wicker baskets The columns of the White House were decorated as corn stalks and pumpkins were on hay bales President Trump joked around with the kids President Trump shows the candy box with his and the first lady's signature Super heroes were a popular costume; this little Captain America got a hug from President Trump The White House was lite up for Halloween But the earlier part of the evening was about the kids. Harry Potter theme music played, a fog machine pumped spooky smoke, pumpkins abound on hay bales, and the columns of the White House were decorated as corn stalks for the event. There was nary a political costume in sight. Super heroes dominated - Wonder woman was popular for the girls - along with princesses, unicorns, astronauts, and the Stay Puffed Marshmallow man. The first lady, dressed in a yellow plaid coat and her signature stilettos, seemed to particularly like the animal themed costumes. She patted a little guy dressed as a yellow duck on the head and tugged the ear of a little girl dressed as a white rabbit. The first couple entered the South Lawn of the White House on an orange carpet to the music from Thriller and stayed outside for a little more than hour, handing out treats for kids to put in orange plastics bags stamped 'Made in the USA' all along the top. The president didn't give any public remarks at the event - which took place a day after the mass shooting at a synagogue in Pittsburgh - and only spoke to the children. President Trump jokes with the serpent staff Super hero costumes were popular among the kids A lot of little girls dressed as Wonder Woman The kids received 'commemorative candy' - Hershey's chocolate bars and Twizzlers in special boxes designed with the president and first lady's signatures. The first couple, who did not dress up in costume, passed out the treats from wicker baskets as the kids walked by them. The Trumps posed for photos with all the kiddos with the president being particularly diligent about calling kids back if they ran off before their parents got a snap. Some kids even got extra candy from the president after they posed. And while Melania Trump, who was wearing a $3,950 Bottega Veneta checked brushed-wool coat, would hand the candy to the kids, the president usually let them take it out of his basket or would drop it straight into their bag. President Trump and Melania Trump posed for photos with the kids The president admires a baby in costume The children received 'commemorative candy' - Hershey's chocolate bars and Twizzlers in special boxes designed with the president and first lady's signatures. Two girls pose for a photograph with the decorated South Portico of the White House The Stay Puffed Marshmallow man was spotted among the costumed kids Kids lined up down the South Lawn to see the president and first lady A little guy dressed a Mario got a chocolate bar from the Trumps In addition to the sweet treats, the South Lawn was packed with fun activities. NASA had a moon carpet set up on the South Lawn, and robotics displays was on hand from the First Lego Robotics League from the Department of Education. The Department of Transportation handed out paper airplanes, the Department of Agriculture brought in a tractor for the kiddos to explore, and the Department of Health and Human Services had emergency vehicles on display. Children were also able to see the Presidential Limo known as 'The Beast.' There was also a hay bale maze to explore. Melania Trump pets a toy dinosaur Melania Trump admires two children in costume Two boys were dressed as SWAT team members The first lady gives candy to a little yellow duck ALL LITE UP: This little girl's costume glowed with lights The children were from local schools and the kids of military families The Trump stayed outside for a little more than an hour to pass out treats Leicester owner Vichai Srivaddhanaprabha has made a habit of travelling by helicopter after home games at the King Power Stadium. The Thai billionaire, who bought the club in 2010 for 39million, takes off from the centre circle with fellow board members often among his passengers. Srivaddhanaprabha's helicopter crashed in the stadium's car park on Saturday night, shortly after Leicester's 1-1 draw with West Ham United. Vichai Srivaddhanaprabha (right) has frequently travelled to Leicester matches via helicopter It has become commonplace for Srivaddhanaprabha's helicopter to land in the centre circle Helicopter parked in the middle of King Power Stadium after August's game with Fleetwood Srivaddhanaprabha's helicopter arriving to collect the Leicester owner after a loss to Liverpool A blue helicopter transported Srivaddhanaprabha to and from a match against Atletico Madrid Srivaddhanaprabha's helicopter is seen arriving at the King Power Stadium in April 2016 Tail of helicopter, pictured in August this season, was decorated with the Leicester City logo Helicopter ablaze after crashing in the King Power Stadium car park on Saturday evening Advertisement Model Jennifer Hawkins is not just a pretty face. While the 34-year-old first shot to fame after winning Miss Universe in 2004, she and her husband Jake Wall have worked tirelessly behind the scenes to build a property empire. The couple run their own high-end construction business, J Group Projects, and in an interview with Daily Mail Australia at the launch of Mount Franklins new still water with a hint of natural flavour, Jennifer candidly admitted how modelling led her to launch into property development. EXCLUSIVE: Speaking exclusively with Daily Mail Australia, Jennifer Hawkins has revealed how she built a multi-million dollar property empire with her builder husband Jake. The couple are pictured together in 2016 A place to call home! Jennifer and Jake currently reside in this $6 million mega-mansion in Sydney's swanky suburb of Newport Jennifer, who is a Mount Franklin ambassador, admitted that she was inspired to invest in property due to her desire to be smart with the money she was making from her high-profile modelling gigs. 'You get thrust into such a crazy industry... and I was making, you know, no money at the start,' Jennifer explained. 'Then I was getting paid obviously more than I ever did. So I wanted to invest in housing and property. I think that's where I was at originally.' Not just a pretty face! Jennifer, who is a Mount Franklin ambassador, spoke exclusively with Daily Mail Australia about her passion for property. She is pictured behind-the-scenes on a shoot for the brand's new Still Flavours range Jennifer first entered the market in 2006, two years after she was crowned Miss Universe. The beauty forked out $469,000 for a double-storey house in Merewether, a suburb located in her home city of Newcastle. She leased out the three-bedroom, two-bathroom property for much of the time it was in her name, before she eventually sold the residence for $782,000 last year. Modest first home: Property records show Jennifer first entered the market in 2006, purchasing this Merewether home for $469,000 Clearly bitten by the real estate bug, savvy Jennifer added two properties to her portfolio in 2007. In January, she bought another home in Newcastle's Merewether area for the sum of $620,000. Like her first property close by, the house was double-storey and featured three bedrooms and two bathrooms. Jennifer leased out the address for $530 per week, before she sold it in 2015 for $731,000. Second investment: In January 2007, Jennifer bought another home in Newcastle's Merewether area for the sum of $620,000. Meanwhile, the second property Jennifer purchased in 2007 was a two-bedroom apartment in Sydney's Bondi. She bought the swanky condo off the plan for $895,000, before living at the address with Jake for several years. It appeared they tired of the eastern suburbs some time later, selling the property in 2014 for $1.2 million. Bondi apartment: Jennifer bought this swanky condo off the plan for $895,000 back in 2007. She and Jake sold it for $1.2 million seven years later By this time, Jennifer and Jake had already begun to build homes, rather than simply buy them. In 2010, the couple purchased a cliff-side block of land in North Curl Curl for a whopping $1.3 million. They then partnered with renowned architect Koichi Takada to create a stunning three-storey mansion. Jennifer told Daily Mail Australia that she began to become addicted to certain aspects of the building and design process, finding herself particularly drawn to interiors. Making their dreams a reality: Jennifer and Jake bought a block of land in North Curl Curl and built this stunning mansion on it 'Once we were into it and we were building our dream home, it became different,' she said, adding that she relished working side by side with her longtime partner. 'We'd look at interiors and obviously, Jake's a builder, so he's educating me in that way. It kind of happened naturally. It was lots of fun working with him on that.' The couple sold the North Curl Curl home in 2014, for a jaw-dropping $4.1 million. In the meantime, Jennifer and Jake bought another block of land in the same suburb and had already commenced building another incredible mansion. They paid $1.66 million in 2013 for the block, which had an old weatherboard house on it. The couple demolished the house, before Jake's company J Group project again collaborated with Koichi Takada to build another home. Second North Curl Curl home: The savvy couple built this resort-style residence on another block in the same suburb, before selling it for around $5 million in 2016 The resort-style residence seamlessly blended indoor-outdoor living and featured lavish marble bathroom. Jennifer and Jake sold the North Curl Curl residence for around $5 million in 2016. The couple then traded up to their current mega-mansion. Their new pad, located in Newport, an exclusive suburb in Sydney's Northern Beaches, was built on a plot of land bought for $4 million by the couple in 2014. The pair has undertaken a painstaking renovation, furnishing their love nest - which sprawls over four levels - with features such as an indoor elevator, home theatre, and private gym. Superstructure: Jake's J Group Projects documented the building of the couple's current mega-mansion in Newport Now estimated to worth around $6million, Jake and Jennifer's home also has access to a private beach, and is built with glass walls that take advantage of the waterside view. Sharing her advice for fans hoping to follow in their footsteps and create their own perfect dream home, Jennifer advocated considering personal circumstances before renovating. 'Think about what your lifestyle is and cater it around that,' the Mount Franklin ambassador said. 'So if you love to be outdoors, make sure your indoor-outdoor area is spacious and livable and not too contrived. 'Think about what your lifestyle is and cater it around that': Jennifer's design advice is to create spaces that don't feel too 'contrived'. The interior and exterior of the couple's Newport home is pictured above '[Make sure] you can relax and you can have people over and if they drop a glass of whatever it may be on your tiles, it's not going to stain and it's not too pretentious. I think that was my main thing when we were renovating.' While they may appear to be savvy property flippers, Jennifer insists she and Jake only purchase and overhaul houses that they intend to live in themselves. The former Australia's Next Top Model said that they only buy and sell if they want to live in a different spot, rather than for investment purposes. 'If we ever move, it's more locational. It's because we want to change location. Like we went from the Eastern Suburbs up to the Northern Beaches.' 'We love just having a little place that's your home': Jennifer and Jake love living in their Newport mansion (pictured) and no plans to move The blonde beauty said that the couple aren't planning to snap up any new homes in the near future. 'We just like living in ours,' Jennifer claimed. 'We love just having a little place that's your home and it's nice to be able to relax there and have all your things that you love and you cherish in one place and it's like your nest.' 13 Reasons Why star Katherine Langford is joining the Marvel Cinematic Universe with the actress landing a role in the highly-anticipated Avengers 4. While Marvel Studios hasn't confirmed the casting, The Wrap reports that the actress has already shot her scenes. Principal photography wrapped in January, but the cast and crew reconvened for reshoots last month, which may have been when her scenes were filmed. New cast member: Katherine Langford, best known for Netflix's 13 Reasons Why, has signed on for an unspecified role in Marvel's Avengers 4 She joins a massive ensemble cast that includes MCU heroes such as Tony Stark (Robert Downey Jr.), Steve Rogers (Chris Evans), Thor (Chris Hemsworth), Hulk (Mark Ruffalo), Black Widow (Scarlet Johansson) and many more. There is no indication yet if Langford's mystery character has any roots in Marvel Comics lore, or if it's a new character unconnected to the comics. Avengers 4, which still doesn't have an official title and has lead to plenty of speculation and rumors, will be the last movie in Marvel's Phase 3, and it's possible Langford's character could return in Phase 4 at some point. The Mad Titan: Thanos (Josh Brolin) acquired all six Infinity Stones in Avengers: Infinity War, and snapped his fingers, wiping out half of Earth's population. Avengers 4 will pick up right where this year's Avengers: Infinity War left off, after the nefarious Thanos (Josh Brolin) acquired all six Infinity Stones and snapped his fingers, wiping out half of Earth's population. Among those killed by Thanos' snap were beloved characters like Spider-Man (Tom Holland) and Black Panther (Chadwick Boseman). However, with Spider-Man and Black Panther sequels already in the works, most fans are under the assumption that these characters will come back to life, somehow, in Avengers 4. Mystery character: There is no indication yet if Langford's (seen in October with Tommy Dorfman at the GLSEN Respect Awards in Los Angeles) mystery character has any roots in Marvel Comics lore, or if it's a new character unconnected to the comics Marvel has set a May 3, 2019 release date for Avengers 4, with Marvel Phase 4 getting started just a few months later. The first Marvel Phase 4 movie, Spider-Man: Far From Home, a follow-up to last year's Spider-Man: Homecoming, will hit theaters on July 5, 2019. The rest of Marvel's Phase 4 slate beyond that is shrouded in mystery, and there is no indication when Marvel will announce the rest of their slate. Earth's Mightiest Heroes: Marvel has set a May 3, 2019 release date for Avengers 4, with Marvel Phase 4 getting started just a few months later After appearing in just three short films, 22-year-old Langford burst onto the scene after landing the role of Hannah Parker in Netflix's beloved series 13 Reasons Why. She returned for the second season of the hit show, but she will not return for the third season, slated to debut on the streaming service in 2019. The actress is going back to work for Netflix on another series though, starring as the lead character Nimue on the new series Cursed, which puts a different spin on the King Arthur legend, told through the eyes of teenage heroine Nimue. She's a busy actress with two of her own movies released in 2018 alone. But Nina Dobrev was rooting for another film altogether on Friday, when she dressed up as A Star Is Born's Oscar campaign for the Casamigos Halloween party in Los Angeles. The hilarious costume depicted the 29-year-old as an infant star, complete with pacifier and crib. Twinkle twinkle little star: Nina Dobrev dressed up as A Star Is Born's Oscar campaign for the Casamigos Halloween party in Los Angeles The star of The Vampire Diaries wore a sparkly gold top in the shape of a star, complete with five points. Her makeup consisted of gold stars painted over her left eye and right cheek. Her 'skirt' was fashioned out of the cars from a baby's crib, and on her front was a sign which read 'Campaigning For Best Picture'. The Bulgarian-Canadian actress accessorized with a beanie, pacifier, bottle and a microphone at the party which was hosted by Casamigos tequila founder George Clooney. A Star Is Born is currently receiving Oscar buzz for Lady Gaga's breakthrough performance in the film, and is considered an Academy Awards front runner. Taking it literally: The hilarious costume depicted the 29-year-old as an infant star, complete with pacifier and crib War paint: Her makeup consisted of gold stars painted over her left eye and right cheek Since her departure from The Vampire Diaries, Dobrev has continued to enjoy a stellar acting career in Hollywood. Nina will be seen making her return to the big screen later this year when fans will see her play the role of Izzy in the forthcoming movie Departures. She also stars in the film Dog Days, which was released in August. Simon Cowell has reportedly bought a 15million home in West London near Pope Francis official residence. According to The Sun, The X Factor boss has apparently found it hilarious that he could possibly bump into his soon-to-be neighbour, the Pope. Simon, 59, and his girlfriend Lauren Silverman, 41, who share four-year-old son Eric together, are said to be moving into the seven-bed mansion. New place: Simon Cowell has reportedly bought a 15million home in West London near Pope Francis official residence Previous pontiffs have often been spotted at the official residence near Simons new home when holidaying from the Vatican. A source told the Sun: He finds it hilarious that he might bump into Pope Francis. The couple will reportedly splurge a further 1.3million on decorating the place. Neighbour: Previous pontiffs have often been spotted at the official residence near Simons new home when holidaying from the Vatican The source added: Lauren has hired a team of interior designers to make it super-light, clean and minimalist. The music mogul was reportedly eager to move out of central London, following two break-ins on his property, including a stalker who in 2012 was discovered hiding in the stars walk-in wardrobe. The move is also thought to be taking place amid concerns about air pollution for his youngster, with the property being away from flight paths. Family: Simon, 59, and his girlfriend Lauren Silverman, 41, who share four-year-old son Eric together, are said to be moving into the seven-bed mansion Meanwhile, earlier this month Simon revealed that he would consider having a second child. He admitted that he is keen to add to his brood because he can't imagine life without his son. The Britain's Got Talent Judge told the Daily Mirror: 'If you'd have asked five years ago would I have one now, I'd be thinking, 'I might have left it a bit late'. Doting dad: Earlier this month Simon revealed that he would consider having a second child 'But once you've had one you think, how could you imagine him not being here? So when it happens, it happens. 'I never thought I could think this way, but you just go, it would be unthinkable to think he wasn't here.' Simon has been in a relationship with Lauren Silverman since 2013, after first meeting the Syco owner with her then-husband, Andrew Silverman, in Barbados in 2006. The married couple often holidayed together with Simon, and real estate mogul Andrew filed for divorce from Lauren when her pregnancy with Simon's child was revealed. She's from a rich and famous family. So Paris Hilton made hosting the Alice + Olivia x Race To Erase MS event a family affair on Saturday, splitting the hosting duties with sister Nicky Hilton, mother Kathy Hilton and sister-in-law Tessa Hilton. The socialite, 37, was seen wearing a long-sleeved white blouse which had small black printed design's of a lady's face wearing sunglasses. Family affair: Paris Hilton made hosting the Alice + Olivia x Race To Erase MS event a family affair, splitting the hosting duties with sister Nicky Hilton (pictured), mother Kathy Hilton and sister-in-law Tessa Hilton The blouse was tucked into tight blue jeans, and she completed her ensemble with black heeled boots and black heart-shaped sunglasses. Paris was spotted taking selfies with fans at the event, which took place at the Alice + Olivia boutique in Beverly Hills. She was also seen holding up a shirt that said, 'There is no limit to what we as women can accomplish. She also posed with sister Nicky Hilton, who was holding up a shirt that read, 'Be the change you want to see in the world.' Fashionably casual: Paris, 37, was seen wearing a long-sleeved white blouse which had small black printed design's of a lady's face wearing sunglasses Say cheese: Paris was spotted taking selfies with fans at the event, which took place at the Alice + Olivia boutique in Beverly Hills Sending a message: She was also seen holding up a shirt that said, 'There is no limit to what we as women can accomplish' Close-up: The blouse was tucked into tight blue jeans, and she completed her ensemble with black heeled boots and black heart-shaped sunglasses Sisters: She also posed with sister Nicky Hilton, who was holding up a shirt that read, 'Be the change you want to see in the world' Hilton matriarch Kathy, 59, was seen wearing a fuschia blouse with a heart pendant dangling over it, with dark blue jeans and unique heels. Nicky Hilton, 35, was seen wearing a simple white blouse with a small gold pendant around her neck, with jewel-encrusted blue jeans and tan heels. Tessa Hilton, 24, who married Paris' brother Barron, was wearing a hot pink blouse, a black printed mini-skirt and heels. Hilton matriarch: Hilton matriarch Kathy Hilton was seen wearing a fuschia blouse with a heart pendant dangling over it, with dark blue jeans and unique heels Fashionable Nicky: Nicky Hilton, 35, was seen wearing a simple white blouse with a small gold pendant around her neck, with jewel-encrusted blue jeans and tan heels The Hilton's: Tessa Hilton, 24, who married Paris' brother Barron, was wearing a hot pink blouse, a black printed mini-skirt and heels The Race to Erase MS was founded by Nancy Davis in 1993, after she was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis. The organization has funded over $25 million in MS research grants since 1999, as they continue towards their goal of finding a cure for MS. The 25th annual gala was held in Los Angeles in April, with Alice + Olivia announcing that 10% of net proceeds from their Pre-Fall six button 'Good' jean will be donated to Race to Erase MS. Good cause: The Hilton's unite for The Race to Erase MS, which was founded by Nancy Davis in 1993, after she was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis Fashion forward: The organization has funded over $25 million in MS research grants since 1999, as they continue towards their goal of finding a cure for MS Paris is engaged to actor Chris Zylka, with the couple planning a 2019 wedding, after Zylka popped the question over the Christmas holidays. Nicky launched her own fashion line in 2004, and married James Rothschild in 2015. Tessa Hilton married Paris' brother Barron in June, after he proposed to her in New York City's Central Park in September 2017. All smiles: Nicky launched her own fashion line in 2004, and married James Rothschild in 2015 Childish Gambino has announced the cancellation of his upcoming Australian tour. The American artist and actor, real name Donald Glover, has been forced to scrap all shows after sustaining a foot injury during a concert in Dallas, Texas, last month. TMZ recently claimed the star was spotted 'using a wheelchair and leg brace' days before he reportedly 'broke his foot' on stage in Dallas. Scroll down for video 'Apologies to the fans, I will be back soon': Childish Gambino cancels Australian tour due to injury... just days before his show in Perth 'I'm not ready to put on 100 percent shows,' the 35-year-old said in a statement on Sunday. 'Apologies to the fans. I will be back soon.' Live Nation also issued a statement, calming Donald 'is not confident of being able to perform at his full capacity and deliver the shows he had been planning.' It is currently unknown if the shows will be rescheduled, but Live Nation confirmed they're 'working with the artist' in a bid to get him to Australia at a later date. The touring promoters urged fans on Sunday to stay tuned to their social media accounts across Facebook and Twitter for any further updates. Injured: After sustaining a foot injury on stage on Dallas last month, the star stated he'll 'be back soon' while apologising to fans on Sunday, as Live Nation claimed he 'is not confident of being able to perform at his full capacity and deliver the shows he had been planning' The multi-talented recording artist was due to arrive Down Under in November for four sold out shows across Perth, Melbourne and Sydney. His first show, at Perth's HBF Stadium, was set for 8 November before heading over to Melbourne's Sidney Myer Music Bowl on 10 November. Childish Gambino was then scheduled to play two final shows at Sydney's Opera House Forecourt on the 14 and 15 of November. Prior to allegedly 'breaking his foot' in Dallas on 23 September, TMZ claimed the star had been using a 'wheelchair and leg brace due' to a preexisting injury. They claim that two days before the Dallas concert, Donald was 'wheeled' to stage for a performance at the iHeartRadio Music Festival in Las Vegas on 21 September. He is said to then have 'removed' his brace and stepped out of the wheelchair as he then performed a full set as normal. After sustaining the injury during his Dallas show two days later, it is believed the star cut his set 30 minutes short, presumably to seek medical treatment. A concert-goer told TMZ that he 'was attempting to do the splits and hurt himself' in Dallas - but others claim 'he misstepped during a dance move'. Daily Mail Australia has contacted Donald's rep for comment. First airing on our screens in 2003, the Block is still one of the highest-rating shows on TV. And after 13 seasons, profits from the winning properties have exceeded over $5million. But which Block champions saw the biggest financial return? More than $5million in profit, but who made the biggest return? A look back at past winners of The Block ahead of upcoming finale Ahead of Sunday's finale, Daily Mail Australia takes a look back at past winners of the Channel Nine renovation show. 2003: Adam Thorn and Fiona Mills Considered the show favourites throughout the course of the first series, Adam and Fiona, a married couple from Sydney, sold their ground-floor Bondi apartment for $751,000 earning them a profit of $156,000. 2003: Adam and Fiona, a married couple from Sydney, sold their ground-floor Bondi apartment for $751,000 earning them a profit of $156,000 2004: Andrew and Jamie Rochford Starting his small screen career on season two, Dr Andrew Rochford renovated a Manly property with wife, Jamie. They shifted the pad for $868,000 with a return of $78,000. 2004: Before finding small screen fame, Dr Andrew Rochford and wife Jamie sold their winning property for $868,000 with a return of $78,000 2010: John and Neisha Pitt Returning after a five year hiatus with a new host, Scott Cam who replaced Jamie Durie, season three saw contestants flip properties in affluent Sydney suburb Vaucluse. Champs Neisha and John Pitt sold their apartment for $1.105m, netting $205,000. 2010: Champs Neisha and John Pitt sold their luxury Vaucluse apartment for $1.105m, netting $205,000 2011: Polly and Warwick 'Waz' Jones With the show relocating to Melbourne, season four saw couple Polly and Warwick 'Waz' Jones' renovated Richmond home the only property out of the final four to sell at auction. Selling for $855,000, they made $15,000 in profit. 2011: Season four saw couple Polly and Warwick 'Waz' Jones' renovated Richmond home sell for $855,000, earning them $15,000 in profit 2012: Brad and Lara Cranfield Season five winners Brad and Lara earned a whopping $1.114m for their South Melbourne reno, pocketing $506,000 for their efforts. 2012: Season five winners Brad and Lara earned a whopping $1,114,000 for their South Melbourne reno, pocketing $506,000 for their efforts ALL STARS 2013: Phil Rankine and Amity Dry Returning for The Block All Stars, season one's Phil and Amity sold their competing Bondi property for $1.67million. Redeeming themselves, they ultimately made back a tidy $295,000 2012: Returning for The Block All Stars, season one's Phil and Amity sold their competing Bondi property for $1.67million. Redeeming themselves, they ultimately made back a tidy $295,000 2013: Alisa and Lysandra Fraser Twins Alisa and Lysandra were victorious with their South Melbourne reno. They sold the property for $1.435m, earning a $295,000 profit. The sisters went on to return for 2014's Fans and Faves. 2013: Twins Alisa and Lysandra were victorious with their South Melbourne reno. They sold the property for $1.435m, earning a $295,000 profit. Fans vs Faves 2014: Steve ODonnell and Chantelle Ford Dark horses of the competition, Steve and Chantelle failed to win a standalone room throughout the entire Melbourne based season. But the reno rookies ultimately offloaded their Albert Park property for $2.47m, netting them $636,000. 2014: Dark horses of the competition, Steve ODonnell and Chantelle Ford failed to win a standalone room throughout the entire Fans and Faves Melbourne based season. But the reno rookies ultimately offloaded their Albert Park property for $2.47m, netting them $636,000 Glasshouse 2014: Shannon and Simon Vos Renovating a former office building in Melbourne's Prahran into luxury apartments, Sydney brothers Shannon and Simon sold their competing entry $1.9m. After scooping a $335,000 return, they went on to launch a successful design and construction business. 2014: Sydney brothers Shannon and Simon sold their competing entry $1.9m. After scooping a $335,000 return, they went on to launch a successful design and construction business Triple Threat 2015: Darren and Deanne Jolly Landing the biggest profit in 13 seasons, interior designer Deanne Jolly and her builder husband, Darren made back an astonishing $835,000 after their South Yarra luxury apartment sold for $2.29m in the auction finale. With a taste for flipping, the couple then went on to renovate a Kew East knockdown in Melbourne in 2016, earning $2.908 million at auction after purchasing for $1.395m 2015: Landing the biggest profit in 13 seasons, interior designer Deanne Jolly and her builder husband, Darren made $835,000 after their South Yarra luxury apartment sold for $2.290m in the auction finale 2015: Dean and Shay Paine With competitors renovating the former Hotel Saville in Melbourne's South Yarra, Dean and Shay pocketed $2.300m for their lavish property. The couple made a profit of $655,000. 2015: With competitors renovating the former Hotel Saville in Melboure's South Yarra, Dean and Shay pocketed $2.300m for their lavish property. The couple made a profit of $655,000 2016: Will Bethune and Karlie Cicero In the auction finale, Brisbane couple Will and Karlie earned $2.6m for their renovated Port Melbourne property, a former soap factory. They walked away with a $715,000 return. 2016: In the auction finale, Brisbane couple Will and Karlie earned $2.6m for their renovated Port Melbourne property, a former soap factory. They walked away with a $715,000 return. 2017: Elyse Knowles and Josh Barker Josh and Elyse made a tidy $447,000 profit after their Elsternwick property sold for $3.067m to comedian Dave Hughes. Since then, model Elyse has gone on to enjoy huge success as a model and Myer ambassador. 2017: Josh and Elyse made a tidy $447,000 profit after their Elsternwick property sold for $3.067m to comedian Dave Hughes She has swapped reality TV stardom for a career in the music industry. And Jasmin Walia was sure to set pulses racing as she stepped out for a ghoulish night on the town dressed in a sultry costume. The TOWIE star, 25, combined sexy with scary as she dressed up in a very revealing maid costume for a fancy dress party with her friends at Sheesh restaurant in Essex. Pulse racing: TOWIE's Jasmin Walia stepped out in a VERY revealing maid costume as she headed out to Halloween party with pals on Saturday Jasmin monochrome dress featured a lace bustier and an a-line skirt to show off her sensational figure, while she cinched her waist with a white apron. The Essex beauty completed her look with puff sleeves, white stockings and a pair of black pointed heels. She added a spooky touch to her ensemble by drawing on a cross on her chest in fake blood, while she accentuated her pretty features with a slick of red lipstick. Sizzling: Jasmin monochrome dress featured a lace bustier and an a-line skirt to show off her sensational figure, while she cinched her waist with a white apron Devil's in the detail: The Essex beauty completed her look with puff sleeves, white stockings and a pair of black pointed heels Gal pals: Jasmin and her group of female friends went all out with their costumes for the night Jasmin has recently been hard at work on her new music after the success of her latest single Bom Diggy Diggy, which was featured in the new Bollywood film Sonu Ke Titu Ki Sweety. The star was propelled into the limelight on the set of TOWIE when she joined the cast in 2012, but she left in April 2015 to pursue a career in music. The star also received rave reviews for her performance as Princess Jasmine in the Aladdin pantomime at the Aylesbury Waterside Theatre last year. Stunning: She added a spooky touch to her ensemble by drawing on a cross on her chest in fake blood, while she accentuated her pretty features with a slick of red lipstick Budding music career: Jasmin has recently been hard at work on her new music after the success of her latest single Bom Diggy Diggy Making a name for herself: The star was propelled into the limelight on the set of TOWIE when she joined the cast in 2012, but she left in April 2015 to pursue a career in music Jasmin has proven her former critics wrong with the success of her latest track - including Simon Cowell, Mel B, Louis Walsh and Cheryl, who she performed in front of during her 2014 The X Factor audition. The raven-haired beauty auditioned alongside her brother Danny Walia at Arsenal FC's Emirates Stadium in north London - but she ended up in tears after being dealt four nos by the judges. She told The Mirror at the time: 'I'm sure they had heard of TOWIE. 'I think they did grill me a bit because of who I am but I couldn't talk back to them at the time because I respect people.' Success: The star also received rave reviews for her performance as Princess Jasmine in the Aladdin pantomime at the Aylesbury Waterside Theatre last year Success: Jasmin has proven her critics wrong with her track, including Simon Cowell, Mel B, Louis Walsh and Cheryl, who she performed in front of during her 2014 The X Factor audition Scott Disick has joined his ex Kourtney Kardashian on her family getaway to Bali. The reality star, 35, took to Instagram to share a snap of himself relaxing on a yacht, along with several snaps of his daughter Penelope, six, and her cousin North West, five. This getaway comes as Kourtney's romance with Luka Sabbat appears to have fizzled, after the 20-year-old was seen kissing another girl. Family fun: Scott Disick has joined his ex Kourtney Kardashian on a her family getaway to Bali Scott posted a photo of himself soaking up the sun on the yacht, which he captioned, 'Just sailing.' He also posted a sweet photo of his daughter Penelope hanging out with her cousin North. 'Double the trouble,' he captioned the snap with three heart emoticons. A third snap he posted was of Penelope standing at the top of a staircase, along with the caption, 'Poosh.' 'Double the trouble': He also posted a sweet photo of his daughter Penelope hanging out with her cousin North Aww: Penelope stood at the top of the stairs in a third snap posted by her father The Kardashians have been sharing an array of snaps from their sun-soaked getaway to Bali. And from the looks of her last posts, it appears Kourtney got in touch with her spiritual side in the waning moments of the scenic holiday with the family. 'Eat Pray Love,' the mother of three captioned in one of her photos. Strike a pose: Kardashian oozed a vibe of contentment in a photo her oldest son Mason shot during her trip with sisters Kim and Khloe to the Indonesian island of Bali Revealing: The reality star insinuated she has left Bali and returned home with this 'jet lag' photo of Kourtney in a revealing black bikini In the picture, the 39-year old reality star can be seen standing next to an older local woman while the two are both in the prayer position. Kourtney is dressed in a form-fitting black sheer top with an orange and black sarong wrap around her waist. She wore her long black tresses long with the wet look and a part on the left and a flower stylishly placed near her left ear. Peaceful: It appears Kourtney got in touch with her spiritual side during her getaway Local vibes: The Keeping Up With The Kardashian star visited a spiritual site and shared photos in an Instagram slide show One with the people: Kourtney took this photo of three locals relating in their traditional garb In another picture, Kourtney oozed a vibe of contentment in a flashy but stylish ensemble that consisted of sequined pants and a form-fitting sleeveless top that showed off her ample assets. And being an all inclusive mom, she was sure to let her 68.5million Instagram followers know that her oldest son took the photo with the caption: 'By Mason.' The oldest of the Kardashian sisters also explored a spiritual site with her six-year old daughter Penelope and posted several photos of the incredible architecture and one pic of three locals relaxing in their traditional garb. 'May peace prevail on earth,' she captioned the slide show. Words of wisdom: Kourtney seemed to be inspired by 'May peace prevail on Earth' Lesson in culture: Kourtney explored the spiritual site with her six-year old daughter Penelope The trip comes as Luka was spotted out in Los Angeles on Saturday sharing a smooch with a curly-haired beauty who was clearly not the Keeping Up With The Kardashian's star. It was the second day in a row that Luka was spotted getting close to the mystery woman. During the trip Kim posted a sun-soaked video of herself on a swing set on the beach as she swung back and forth in her coral pink bikini. Historical: Kourtney posted another beautiful image of a historical site she had visited Eldest sister Khloe posted a glamorous snap of herself relaxing in the sunshine with the caption:. 'Be fearless in the pursuit of what sets your soul on fire.' She also shared a picturesque view of what appeared to be the resort she was staying at. A couple of more recent snaps on Kourtney's Instagram suggest the Kardashian ladies have left Bali and returned home to Los Angeles. One photo showed her lounging to her side in a revealing black bikini with the headline 'Jet lag.' She captioned another image of her and Penelope, 'Thank you Bali for the happiness and peace.' Holiday getaway: Kim Kardashian posted a sun-drenched snap of herself on a swing set during her getaway to Bali Their Saturday night Casamigos Halloween party in Los Angeles was a star-studded event of epic proportions. And George Clooney and his business partner in the tequila company, Rande Gerber, were pictured preparing for round 2 of the celebration in Las Vegas on Saturday. The two men were pictured wearing pilot's uniforms and posing behind the controls of a private jet. Scroll down to see video Partners in crime: George Clooney and his business partner in the tequila company Rande Gerber were pictured preparing for round 2 of their Halloween celebration in Las Vegas on Saturday The 57-year-old Syriana actor and his 56-year-old ex-model partner both rocked aviator shades by Prive Revaux for the snap. Another photo showed Gerber's supermodel wife Cindy glammed up as a retro air hostess while serving tequila during the flight. The Illinois native looked fabulous in a blue, white and orange shift dress with white calf high boots. She upped the glamour with a dramatic winged eyeliner and a striking red lipstick, while a blue flight attendant hat sat atop her brunette tresses that had been styled into a glamorous bouffant. Time warp: Another photo showed Gerber's supermodel wife Cindy glammed up as a retro air hostess while serving tequila during the flight Dressed the part: The Illinois native looked fabulous in a blue, white and orange shift dress with white calf high boots Gorgeous: She upped the glamour with a dramatic winged eyeliner and a red lipstick, while a blue flight attendant hat sat atop her brunette tresses that had been styled into a bouffant She's still got it! Cindy showed off her modelling prowess as she struck some serious poses inside the bash Meanwhile Crawford also took to social media to tease her preparations for the event. The 52-year-old beauty captioned a snap of herself wearing a face mask in Nevada was captioned 'Round 2...'. Other photos showed the 5ft9in stunner wearing a robe while having her hair done and showing off a pair of cute retro white high heeled leather boots. Sensational! Kendall Jenner looked ravishing as one of the Fembots from spy action comedy franchise Austin Powers Cheeky! The movie's female robots were disguised as beautiful women dressed in sexually provocative outfits and fought with guns hidden in their breasts The whole gang! Kendall coordinated her costume with her pals, with one dressing as Austin himself and the other as Foxxy Cleopatra, played by Beyonce in Goldmember Dedication: Former N'Sync star Joey Fatone and his wife Izabel Araujo dressed as the Grady sisters from The Shining Bottoms up! Rande, Cindy and George raised their tequila-filled shot glasses in one snap Flying high: Rande and George looked seriously dapper in their pilot costumes Party time! Catch hospitality co-founders Eugene Remm (left) Mark Birnbaum (centre) posed with Valerie Goldin-Remm, Tori Praver, Cindy, Rande and George inside the bash Round 2: The 52-year-old took to social media to tease her preparations for the event Clooney was a no-show for Friday night's party, which was held at the Beverly Hills home of developer and tequila tycoon, Mike Meldman. Others reportedly at the bash included Brandi Glanville, Cindy Crawford, Dave Grohl, Harry Styles, Paris Hilton, Diddy, Zoe Kravitz, Seth McFarlane, Nicky Hilton, French Montana and Ryan Seacrest. Even Leonardo DiCaprio took time off from filming director Quentin Tarantino's Once Upon A Time In Hollywood to have an evening out celebrating the spooky holiday. High spirits! Party-goers looked in their element as they clutched at glasses of the spirit and smiled for snaps Fashionista: Karolina Kurkova shunned costumes in favour of a glamorous party look In good company: George and Rande's business partner Mike Meldman also joined them for the lavish Halloween bash Getting her hair did: The 53-year-old beauty captioned a snap of herself wearing a face mask in Nevada was captioned 'Round 2...' Up close and personal: Other photos showed the 5ft9in stunner wearing a robe while having her hair done and showing off a pair of cute retro white high heeled leather boots Christina Hendricks was glowing in grey, with a flowing floral dress at the InStyle Badass Women Dinner in Los Angeles on Saturday. There, the 43-year-old redhead beauty was seen posing with the event's host, Black-ish star Tracee Ellis Ross. The Good Girls actress also posed for a selfie with Ross and InStyle magazine editor Laura Brown at the star-studded event. Badass woman: Christina Hendricks glows in a stunning grey floral print dress at the InStyle Badass Women Dinner in Los Angeles, hosted by Tracee Ellis Ross Hendricks was seen in a full-length, long-sleeved light grey floral print dress, with light maroon heels. The Mad Men star put up her read hair in a lovely crown braid, with several rings on her fingers. The evening's host, Ellis Ross, was wearing a long dark grey dress with big cream-colored ruffles over one shoulder. Hendricks wasn't spotted with her husband, actor Geoffrey Arend, who she recently celebrated her ninth wedding anniversary with earlier this month. Hendricks and the host: Hendricks was seen in a full-length, long-sleeved light grey floral print dress, with light maroon heels. Three badass women: The Good Girls star also posed for a selfie with Ross and InStyle magazine editor Laura Brown at the star-studded event. Other badass women attending the event were Ashlee Simpson Ross, Laverne Cox, Kiersey Clemons and Katherine Langford. Badass Women is an ongoing series of articles for InStyle Magazine that, 'celebrates women who show up, speak up and get things done.' Hendricks started her career as a model at the age of 18, when she signed with a modeling agency and moved from her hometown of Fairfax, Virginia to New York City. She appeared in a number of guest-starring spots on hit shows like ER, Firefly, Life and Jake in Progress before she landed her breakthrough role as Joan Holloway on AMC's Mad Men. Husband and wife: Hendricks wasn't spotted with her husband, actor Geoffrey Arend (seen here at the 9th Annual Veuve Clicquot Polo Classic in October), who she recently celebrated her ninth wedding anniversary with earlier this month. The actress was nominated for six Emmy's for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series throughout the show's run from 2007 to 2015. Most recently, Hendricks has played Elizabeth Bradshaw on the Amazon series Tin Star, and Beth Boland on NBC's good Girls. She also had a guest-starring role in an episode of Mad Men creator Matthew Weiner's new series, Amazon's The Romanoff's. On the big screen, she starred with Sienna Miller and Aaron Paul in American Woman, which had its world premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival in September. She's the former SBS World News host known for her quirky sartorial senses. And on Saturday, Lee Lin Chin celebrated making the 2018 Ultra Tune Maxim Hot 100 list. Taking to Instagram, the newsreader shared a picture of herself holding up the magazine's November issue. 'I always knew I was a buxom beauty': Lee Lin Chin celebrated landing a place on Maxim Australia's annual Hot 100 list on social media on Saturday Landing at number 74, Lee Lin celebrated the win in the caption of her post. 'I always knew I was a buxom beauty but my place in Hot 100 confirms it,' she wrote. 'Please amend my Wikipedia page accordingly,' Lee Lin added. Red Hot! Sophie Monk graced the November issue of Maxim Australia after scoring top place on the Hot 100 List The media personality was pictured pointing at her name and photograph on the newest issue of Maxim Australia. The cover was graced by a sizzling Sophie Monk, who donned a red swimsuit for the photo and landed the top spot on the list. Lee Lin's place on the list came before radio presenter Jackie O Henderson, who was placed at No. 76, Samantha Armytage who scored No. 78 and Lisa Wilkinson, landing at No. 95. In good company: Lee Lin's place on the list came before radio presenter Jackie O Henderson, who was placed at No. 76, Samantha Armytage who scored No. 78 and Lisa Wilkinson, landing at No. 95 Meanwhile, Lee Lin spoke to Whimn on Monday and revealed her surprising nightly ritual. 'I'm always discovering something new in the great bard's words,' she said, confessing she reads the complete works of William Shakespeare for up to two hours in bed. Lee Lin also added that she wakes up at 4am every day to do yoga. George Calombaris is known for his role as a judge on Masterchef. But now the 40-year-old has shared a glimpse of himself before he was a household name in a throwback post on Instagram on Sunday. George held a fork to his mouth as he ate a piece of cake. 'That turtleneck was so on trend': MasterChef judge George Calombaris shares a throwback photo of himself from 22 years ago... and jokes about his retro fashion choices The chef poked fun at his pose but swore his outfit, which consisted of an olive green turtleneck with white stripes and a puffer vest, was 'so on trend'. 'For Sunday laughs, this 1996 flashback,' he captioned the social media post. 'What was with the pose?! That turtleneck was so on trend.' He's come a long way: George Calombaris' is known for his role as a judge on Masterchef. But now the 40-year-old has shared a glimpse of himself before he was a household name in a throwback post on Instagram. Pictured with Masterchef co-judges Gary Mehigan and Matt Preston Last week, George had taken another trip down memory lane. Taking to Instagram, he posted a photo of himself looking barely recognisable in 2008. George shared the photograph while celebrating ten years of Hellenic Republic restaurant in Melbourne alongside chef Travis McAuley. Memory lane: Last week, George posted a photo of himself alongside chef Travis McAuley in 2008 to celebrate ten years of Hellenic Republic restaurant in Melbourne While George was reminiscing about his younger days, there has also been a lot of new developments in his life in the last year. In September, George wed his girlfriend-of-11-years Natalie Tricarico in Greece. The lavish reception is believed to have taken place at the Island Athens Riviera resort, which boasts stunning views of the Mediterranean Sea, according to the Greek City Times. The couple, who met in 2007 following their respective divorces, share two children: son James, seven, and daughter Michaela, five. A lot has changed: While George was reminiscing about his younger days, there has also been a lot of new developments in his life in the last year Kris Smith, 40, and his pregnant girlfriend Sarah Boulazeris are preparing to welcome their first child together in eight weeks time. And on Sunday, Sarah celebrated the upcoming arrival of their bundle of joy in style by throwing a lavish baby shower. Taking to Instagram, the 27-year-old personal trainer shared a collection of stunning photographs from the luxurious event. 'We can't wait to meet you!': Inside Sarah Boulazeris' lavish baby shower as the 32-week pregnant mum-to-be prepares to welcome her first child with model boyfriend Kris Smith Flaunting her 32-week burgeoning baby bump, Sarah looked radiant while wearing a figure-hugging yellow dress by Bec and Bridge. Teaming up the sizzling ensemble with a pair of white sneakers, Sarah posed beside a balloon that read: 'Baby Smith'. Her brunette tresses were pulled back in a low bun as she opted for a neutral makeup look consisting of dewy foundation, lashings of mascara and defined eye brows. Stunner: Flaunting her 32-week burgeoning baby bump, Sarah looked radiant while wearing a figure-hugging yellow dress by Bec and Bridge The white-and-gold themed baby shower was held indoors and was surrounded with a tropical display greenery. Guests were treated to an abundance of delicious fruits and other food that was laid out on a wooden table with cushions as chairs. 'Baby Smith. We can't wait to meet you! Dec 18,' Sarah wrote alongside one photograph. 'Baby Smith. We can't wait to meet you! Dec 18,' Sarah wrote alongside one photograph 'Thank you to all those who left their imprint on my heart and bump celebrating life and love,' she wrote in another post. 'There's nothing more beautiful than the love you can see but the love you feel completely surrounded in'. Kris and Sarah had spent the majority of September on a babymoon in Mykonos, Greece and London, heavily documenting their experiences on social media. Tropical: Guests were treated to an abundance of delicious fruits that were laid out on a wooden table with cushions as chairs The pair began dating in 2017 after meeting in a Sydney gym. It's not the first child for male model Kris. He already shares son Ethan, eight, with ex-girlfriend Dannii Minogue, 46. Advertisement With Halloween just around the corner, celebrities have been getting into the spirit of the spooky holiday and have pulled out their best fancy dress - showcasing their efforts on social media. And up there with the best of the costumes this year was Michelle Keegan who looked nothing short of sensational as a haunted gypsy - complete with creepy white contacts and a ring nose piercing. She wasn't the only one going all out for the occasion, as a whole host of famous faces followed suit including Robbie Williams as he channeled his inner villain as The Joker, Caroline Flack favoured a sci-fi theme and Made In Chelsea star Josh 'JP' Patterson left fans in stitches as Will McKenzie from The Inbetweeners. Amazing: Rita Ora (L) pulled out all the stops for Halloween as Post Malone, as Robbie Williams took on The Joker and Caroline Flack (R) channelled a sci-fi theme Ditching your usual zombie or witch costume for something slightly more glamorous, Our Girl actress Michelle decided to transform into a gypsy for her early Halloween celebrations. The beauty dazzled in her fancy dress get up that paired together a backless yellow top, with a ruffled neckline, and scarlet red striped skirt that came complete with a satin green waistband and gold beading. She sported a matching turban on her head that came complete with gold beading around its edge and wore chunky hoop earrings, along with layered gold chains around her neck and a multitude of rings. Striking! Michelle Keegan looked nothing short of sensational as a haunted gypsy - complete with creepy white contacts and a ring nose piercing 'These eyes are freaking me out': Michelle brought a touch of glamour to the spooky holiday Good sport: The Our Girl actress looked sensational in her fancy dress get up that paired together a backless yellow top, with a ruffled neckline, and scarlet red striped skirt that came complete with a satin green waistband and gold beading Glam: She sported a matching turban on her head that came complete with gold beading around its edge and sported chunky hoop earrings, along with layered gold chains around her neck and a multitude of rings The former soap star wasn't without her usual glamour and added facial jewels around her eyes and chest, while finishing off her look with a deep burgundy lipstick and bright white contact lenses. She also chose to wear a faux nose ring and drew on a beauty sport to the side of her mouth. Clearly enjoying herself, Michelle was filmed drinking shots as she partied alongside her pals, without husband Mark Wright who is currently filming in South Africa. Robbie Williams, meanwhile, decided to channel his inner villain, as he chose to dress up as The Joker from Batman. The role was famously brought to life by Heath Ledger in Batman: The Dark Knight and proving he can be just as convincing as the character, Robbie donned The Joker's trademark face paint. Why so serious? Robbie Williams, meanwhile, decided to channel his inner villain, as he chose to dress up as The Joker Taking to Instagram, he shared a photo of himself sporting a black suit and tie with a white shirt underneath. Robbie had dyed his usually dark locks a bright green and posed with his tongue out while sporting white make-up on his face, black surrounding his eyes and red smeared paint to make The Joker's famous smile. Getting into character, Robbie captioned his Halloween upload: 'Why so serious?' Choosing to go as something not so haunting, Caroline Flack decided to put together a rather sultry Halloween look instead. The Love Island host seemed to go as some form of alien, as she favoured a sci-fi theme. She looked drastically different as she donned a blunt white wig, heavy eye make-up and a bright blue lip. Caroline was dressed in a glittering silver and white '1970' jumper and added a futuristic silver headband to her getup while wearing a clear astronaut helmet over her head. Fans thought she looked 'absolutely amazing' as they flooded her post with compliments. Stunning: Caroline Flack decided to put together a rather sultry Halloween look instead, as the Love Island host seemed to go as some form of alien, as she favoured a sci-fi theme Rita Ora decided to do something completely different as she dressed up as a very convincing Post Malone. The Let You Love Me hit-maker, who is usually known for her sexy attire, ditched her scanty outfit choices for a more rugged look, as she threw on an over-sized flannel shirt and denim waistcoat personalised with Post Malone's name and initials across the front and back. She made sure to copy the star's impressive ink collection and sported tattoos across her face, neck and hands, wearing tattoo sleeves on her arms to complete her costume. She hid her long locks underneath a curly brunette wig and added a beard and mustache to her face. Unrecognisable: Rita Ora decided to do something completely different as she dressed up as a very convincing Post Malone Is that you, Rita? The Let You Love Me hit-maker, who is usually known for her sexy attire, threw on an over-sized flannel shirt and denim waistcoat personalised with Post Malone's name and initials Wow: Rita was unrecognisable as she decided to do something completely different as she dressed up as the hip-hop artist Rita wore gold grills in her mouth, later complaining on Instagram that they were hurting her mouth as she tried to eat a Nandos, and clutched onto a bottle of beer while puffing on a cigarette. Her efforts left her followers so impressed and Rita, who performed dressed as Post Malone at KISS FM's Haunted House Party on Friday night, revealed her fans had no idea who she was when she first walked out on stage. Alongside her costume snaps, Rita penned: 'So many people I need to thank for helping me dress as @postmalone this year!! All tagged! #happyhalloween' She continued: '@postmalone i LOVE you bro. Surprised Wembley as you tonight at my show my fans didnt even recognise me.' So brilliant! Former Made In Chelsea star Josh 'JP' Patterson will have no doubt left his Instagram followers in hysterics as he decided to go as Will McKenzie from The Inbetweeners to his early Halloween celebrations Uncanny: The resemblance to high-school teen Will was uncanny and adding that finishing touch to his outfit, JP clutched onto a briefcase while partying the night away Former Made In Chelsea star Josh 'JP' Patterson will have no doubt left his Instagram followers in hysterics as he decided to go as Will McKenzie from The Inbetweeners to his early Halloween celebrations. The reality star, who shares daughter India, one, with ex-girlfriend Binky Felstead, wore a suit, white shirt and blue striped tie to mimic Will's school uniform, before transforming himself into Simon Bird's character with rectangular glasses and flattened locks. The resemblance to high-school teen Will was uncanny and adding that finishing touch to his outfit, JP clutched onto a briefcase while partying the night away. He definitely amused his pals with his fancy dress choice, as his former co-star Tiffany Watson shared a photo of JP to her Instagram story, along with a crying laughing emoji and wrote: 'Dead.' She, meanwhile, went for a much racier look as she chose to dress up as Sandy from Grease. The blonde favoured Sandy's most iconic look at the end of the 1978 hit movie and slipped into leather pants and an off-the-shoulder top. Saucy! Tiffany Watson dressed up as Sandy from Grease - choosing her iconic look at the end of the hit movie Sultry: Frankie Gaff dressed as a sexy bunny but made it haunting with blood smeared around her neck Miaow: Tiffany's sister Lucy Watson dressed up as a cat in a velour all-in-one and matching ears She sported a pair of red heels on her feet and wore a slick of red lipstick while styling her blonde locks into voluminous curls. Tiffany spent the night partying with her close friend and fellow MIC star Frankie Gaff, who again chose a sexy ensemble. Frankie sported a sheer, lacy black mini dress and heels, that left her slender legs firmly on display, and wore black bunny ears on her head. Sporting a glamorous make-up look, Frankie vamped up her attire with red blood smeared around her neck. Tiffany's sister Lucy Watson, meanwhile, dressed up as a cat in a velour all-in-one and matching ears. Following suit, former Big Brother star Imogen Thomas sported a just as sexy look in a PVC plunging jumpsuit. Channelling her inner vampire, she sported black liner around her lips, with blood smeared from one corner and from one eye, while framing her eyes with a smokey hue and Halloween-inspired designs. She wore her brunette locks slicked back and had a striking red polish on her nails. Writing alongside her photos, Imogen said: 'BOO. Can it be Halloween every week?' Daring look: Big Brother star Imogen Thomas sported a just as sexy look in a PVC plunging jumpsuit Sexy: Channelling her inner vampire, she sported black liner around her lips, with blood smeared from one corner and from one eye, while framing her eyes with a smokey hue and Halloween-inspired designs Vampy: Her sister-in-law, Jessica Wright, pulled out all the stops for Halloween weekend as she sported two looks to celebrate the holiday - one seeing her don a platinum blonde wig Feline favourite: Her second look was just as sultry as she transformed into a cat while putting on a very busty display in a low-cut jumpsuit that she paired with a choker and cat ears Jessica Wright, pulled out all the stops for Halloween weekend as she sported two looks to celebrate the holiday. On Friday night, Jessica oozed sex appeal in a very scanty black mini-dress and thigh-high suede boots. She donned a pair of lacy gloves and chose to change up her look as she wore a long platinum blonde wig. The beauty favoured haunting make-up, with a sultry dark hue around her eyes, a purple lip and over-pronounced cheekbones. Jess added drops of blood around her mouth. Her second look was just as sultry as she transformed into a cat while putting on a very busty display in a low-cut jumpsuit that she paired with a choker and cat ears. Stars from ITV2's hit dating show Love Island were also out in full force for Halloween and stunned in their creative ensembles. Like Jess, Gabby Allen, who shot to fame on the reality show's second series, dressed up as a sexy leopard in a very scanty outfit that paired together a cut-out leotard, fishnet tights and thigh-high boots. She added leather belts to her getup and drew leopard spots onto her chest and around her bust. Amazing: Gabby Allen, who shot to fame on the reality show Love Island's second series, dressed up as a sexy leopard in a very scanty outfit Stand-out: Laura Anderson, meanwhile, was bejewelled all over as she dressed up as an ice mermaid in a shell-embellished corset, gold skirt and huge headpiece Making a statement: She was joined by Tallia Storm as she celebrated, who dressed up as Cardi B in a patchwork PVC all-in-one and huge furry coat Siren: Laura's Love Island co-star Alexandra Cane looked nothing short of glamorous as she became Jessica Rabbit Devilish: Model Rhian Sudgen looked sexy as she showed off a scary devil-inspired look to her 275,000 Instagram followers Gabby's make-up made for a striking display, as she used gold glitter on her lips and in her hair and heavy detailing around her eyes to transform her face into that of a leopard. Laura Anderson, meanwhile, was bejewelled all over as she dressed up as an ice mermaid in a shell-embellished corset, gold skirt and huge headpiece. She was joined by Tallia Storm as she celebrated, who dressed up as Cardi B in a patchwork PVC all-in-one and huge furry coat. Laura's Love Island co-star Alexandra Cane looked nothing short of glamorous as she became her very own Jessica Rabbit. Alexandra smouldered as she slipped into a red bandeau dress and purple gloves to pull off the iconic look. She sported a fiery red wig, styled into bouncy curls, and finished off her look with a metallic purple hue around her eyes and a very plump pillar-box red lip. Reality royalty: Geordie Shore's Holly Hagan stole the opportunity to dress as a unicorn, while Sophie Kasaei opted for a gypsy costume as she partied with her beau Jay Bigz Anything you can do: Charlotte Crosby and her beau Josh Ritchie rocked a skeleton look, with both choosing a two-faces design for their 'his and her' costume Racy: Charlotte added a racier element to her costume with fishnet tights and a corseted bodysuit Geordie Shore's Holly Hagan stole the opportunity to dress as a unicorn and looked gorgeous in a white leotard and ruffled tutu that she paired with statement feather boots and a sleek pink wig. The buxom reality star added a stunning unicorn head piece to her ensemble and dazzled it up further with body jewells across her chest, forehead and underneath her eyes. Not to be outdone, her best pal and co-star on the MTV reality series, Sophie Kasaei, made for a dramatic appearance as she donned a gypsy costume that paired together a busty bandeau top with puffed sleeves and a barely-there mini skirt. Sophie's costume was perfect for flaunting her recent two-stone weight loss and she made the glamorous getup fit for Halloween with haunting eye make-up and striking ghoul like contact lenses. In her Instagram snap she posed alongside her new beau Jay Bigz who looked striking in skeleton face paint. Charlotte Crosby and her beau Josh Ritchie rocked a similar look, with both choosing a two-faces design for their 'his and her' costume. Stunning: Charlotte's pal Marnie Simpson, meanwhile, transformed into an ice queen and was seen partying with TOWIE newcomer Kady McDermott Good work: Like Charlotte and Josh, Kady favoured a 'his and her' dead Bride and Groom costume with boyfriend Myles Charlotte added a racier element to her costume with fishnet tights and a corseted bodysuit. She wore a bandana around her neck and posed with a huge plastic knife. Josh wrapped his arm around his girlfriend in the snap - further brushing off recent speculation he and Charlotte were 'on the rocks' - as he sported bloody gashes on his chest and arms. Charlotte's pal Marnie Simpson, meanwhile, transformed into an ice queen and was seen partying with TOWIE newcomer Kady McDermott. Like Charlotte and Josh, Kady favoured a 'his and her' dead Bride and Groom costume with boyfriend Myles Barnett. Kady made sure to flaunt her frame in a busty white mini dress and sported bright white contact lenses, a bloody cut on her neck and veil to complete her gothic bridal look. Myles, meanwhile, was unrecognisable thanks to his detailed make up. He donned a suit that had been stained with blood around the neck and despite his scary appearance, Kady joked she fancied her boyfriend more when he was 'dead'. Scanty: They were joined by their fellow TOWIE stars, with Amber Turner sizzling in her lacy getup as a sexy bunny and Yazmin Oukhellou dressing up as a dead barbie Flawless! Amber looked stunning with a soft glam make-up look. The beauty upped the scare factor by having her make-up aritst add a gruesome gash across the decolletage Pretty in pink: Yazmin pulled out all the stops for her costume in a Barbie leotard and bright pink wig Pretty: TOWIE star Georgia Kousoulou stunned with her Halloween make-up Amazing! Former TOWIE star Jake Hall and his fiancee Missi Beqiri made a great effort as they pulled off a joint costume that saw Jake transform into Chanel's creative director Karl Lagerfeld, while Missi dressed up as his cat Choupette They were joined by their fellow TOWIE stars, with Amber Turner sizzling in her lacy getup as a sexy bunny. She left little to the imagination in her lingerie-inspired all-in-one and thigh-high boots. Her co-star Yazmin Oukhellou, who recently took a break from the ITVBe series after feuding with Amber, pulled out all the stops for her dead barbie look. Former TOWIE star Jake Hall and his fiancee Missi Beqiri made a great effort as they pulled off a joint costume that saw Jake transform into Chanel's creative director Karl Lagerfeld, while Missi dressed up as his cat Choupette. Meanwhile, Ashley James treated fans to two looks over the weekend - one being a clown, that saw her clad in a huge bow-tie, braces, corset and striped socks, while the other saw her transform into some sort of monster. She wore orange and black striped face paint and green claws on her hands. Fancy dress queen: Ashley James treated fans to two looks over the weekend - one being a clown, that saw her clad in a huge bow-tie, braces, corset and striped socks, while the other saw her transform into some sort of monster Jackie 'O' Henderson announced her shock split from husband Lee on Friday. And the 43-year-old seemed to have gotten away from it all as she travelled to Palm Beach, in Sydney's Northern Beaches, to spend some quality time with the couple's seven-year-old daughter, Kitty. Taking to her Instagram Stories on Sunday, the KIIS FM radio host shared a collection of selfies from her getaway. 'Palm Beach getaway': Jackie O Henderson flees to Sydney's Northern Beaches with seven-year-old daughter Kitty... following her shock split with husband Lee after 18 years together 'Palm Beach Getaway,' she penned alongside one photo, which showed her cuddling up to adorable Kitty. The mother-and-daughter duo appeared to be having a blast as they bonded while capturing snaps of themselves using various Snapchat filters. They struck a few silly poses while lying down next to each other. Mother and daughter time! Taking to her Instagram Stories on Sunday, the KIIS FM radio host shared a collection of selfies with Kitty from her getaway The trip comes after Jackie announced that she and Lee were splitting after 18 years together. On Saturday, she also revealed that she's no longer living at the family home in Sydney. Lee has stayed on at the Vaucluse house with the Kitty while Jackie is living alone at a property nearby. Silly snaps: The mother-and-daughter duo appeared to be having a blast while capturing snaps of themselves using various Snapchat filters Speaking to The Daily Telegraph, the radio host said: 'We are living separately.' 'I remain close to the family home and we made that decision to ensure our daughter's routine stays the same.' Jackie explained that Lee has continued doing the school drop-offs for their daughter as she rises at 3.30am for her breakfast radio slot. Shock separation: The getaway comes after Jackie announced that she and Lee were splitting after 18 years together Attempting to keep things as normal as possible for Kitty, the pair continue to have family dinners. 'We both get to enjoy time with her each day and our number one focus is ensuring there is as little disruption to her routine as possible,' Jackie told the publication. Jackie also addressed the split live on her KIIS FM radio show, explaining that the break-up 'didn't happen overnight' for the couple, who tied the knot in 2003, and that they have been separated 'for quite some time now'. She's a well-known face on the LA party circuit. But Kendall Jenner jetted away from California and headed to Sin City as she joined a bevvy of celebrities at the Casamigos Halloween party 'Round 2' at CATCH Las Vegas at ARIA Resort & Casino thrown by George Clooney, Rande Gerber and Mike Meldman on Saturday. The supermodel, 22, looked every inch the star in the thigh-skimming pink negligee by British luxury lingerie brand Gilda & Pearl, teamed with matching stiletto heels as she transformed herself into an Austin Powers 'FemBot'. Fembot: Kendall Jenner, 22, joined a bevvy of celebrities at the Casamigos Halloween party 'Round 2' at CATCH Las Vegas at ARIA Resort & Casino thrown by George Clooney The Keeping Up With the Kardashians star's toned legs were on full display as she flashed a glimpse of underwear in the sexy ensemble. Pinning the look together was statement blonde wig, styled into a 1960s beehive with an oversized pink clip. The Victoria Secrets model accessorised with pink suede gloves and teeny handbag. Later, she seductively posed with the handbag chain in her teeth. Sexy: The Victoria Secrets model accessorised with pink suede gloves and teeny handbag. Later, she seductively posed with the handbag chain in her teeth. Transformed: The supermodel looked every inch the star in the thigh-skimming pink negligee and matching stiletto heels as she transformed herself into an Austin Powers 'FemBot' (picture Mike Myers surrounded by Fembots in Austin Powers Partying away: The reality TV star looked amazing as she shared videos on her Snapchat partying the night away Not one to shy away from the camera, the social media starlet posted a picture of herself getting ready with the cheeky caption 'do i make you randy?' a quote from the 1997 Mike Myers film. She later posed with friends dressed as a Austin Powers, and Foxxy Cleopatra who was played by Beyonce in 2002's Goldmember. The party is the second night of the legendary Casamigos Haloween bash, after a star-studded first night in Las Vegas which saw the likes of the Gerber family, Leonardo DiCaprio, Harry Styles and Paris and Nicky Hilton don incredible costumes. Trio: She later posed with friends dressed as a Austin Powers, and Foxxy Cleopatra who was played by Beyonce in 2002's Goldmember Oops! The star later shared a picture of her dropping her wig in the lift while Casamigos posted a picture of her at the DJ booth on stage Kendall's half-brothers, Brody and Brandon Jenner were also at the first round of the bash in Beverly Hills, with Brandon wearing a costume depicting himself as Jesus. Tequila brand Casamigos was started by Rande Geber alongside his close pal, Hollywood star, George Clooney and property mogul Mike Meldman five years ago in 2013. The company has since been sold to European beverage company Diaegeo for a huge $700million, with an additional $300million being put towards the brand's expansion over the next decade. Speaking about his alcoholic endeavour with Clooney to Business Insider, Rande revealed the inspiration behind the birth of Casamigos tequila. Influencer: Not one to shy away from the camera, the social media starlet posted a picture of herself getting ready with the cheeky caption 'do i make you randy?' a quote from the 1997 Mike Myers film He explained: 'As you do in Mexico, we would drink a lot of tequila. We'd go out to bars and restaurants and bartenders would recommend them. Some were good, some were not so good and some expensive. 'There came a point where George turned to me and said, "Why don't we create one that's perfect for us?''' Revealing the qualities the pair had wanted their tequila to have, Rande revealed it had to be 'super smooth', not burn the throat and be a spirit they could drink 'straight or on the rocks' and 'all day long' without suffering from a hangover the following morning. Gorgeous from every angle: Pinning the look together was statement blonde wig, styled into a 1960s beehive with an oversized pink clip Party pals: Kendall later joined Mark Birnbaum (left) and Eugene Remm (right) at the party He, Clooney and Meldman have hosted a Halloween bash on behalf of the brand each year, with the party often bringing out the best of Hollywood's famous stars. This year, the bash was hosted at Meldman's Beverly Hills home - the place where it had been originally hosted for the first time. Kendall was the only sister of the Kardashian clan at the event, with big sisters Kourtney, Khloe and Kim not yet sharing any pictures of their Halloween costumes. However, makeup mogul Kylie Jenner celebrated her first Halloween with new baby Stormi, as the two wore matching skeleton onesie at the star's Calabassas home. They both rose to prominence on reality television. And Chloe Khan and Katie Salmon appeared to be getting on like a house on fire when they hit the town together on Saturday, partying at Shoosh nightclub in central London. The CBB star and the Love Island beauty looked like they were having a whale of a time following their fun-filled night on the town. Double trouble: Chloe Khan and Katie Salmon appeared to be getting on like a house on fire when they hit the town together on Saturday, partying at Shoosh nightclub in central London Chloe was turning heads in an extreme plunging top teamed with a tiny pair of Daisy Duke shorts. She added some extra height to her frame thanks to a pair of towering black heels. Katie was equally skimpily clad in a tiny black bralet paired with a pink lame jacket and matching hot pants. Turning heads: Chloe was turning heads in an extreme plunging top teamed with a tiny pair of Daisy Duke shorts The blonde bombshell went arm-in-arm with her pal as she strutted down the street. Chloe has spent 100,000 on altering her figure, but last year, the social media sensation suffered devastating side effects after her rhinoplasty left her unable to smell or breathe properly. Speaking on This Morning, she said: 'I cant smell and I cant actually breathe through my nose anymore. I woke up during surgery. 'It was a disaster from the get go. I have to tape it 20 hours a day with a roll of medical tape.' Stepping out: The CBB star and the Love Island beauty looked like they were having a whale of a time following their fun-filled night on the town. Despite being open about her enhancements, Chloe recently shot down claims her tiny waist is the result of anything but hard work at the gym, as she hit out at claims she had been photoshopping her pictures. Addressing her followers, she said: 'Wobbly door frame ? B***H WHERE just because someones had a surgery does not mean they dont kain the gym everyday and just because someone Kains the gym everyday dont mean they havent had a surgery. 'I know so many fitness models / gym guru that have had bbl with my surgeon who will swear on everything they are natural and I dont blame them tbh because the hate is real . No drama anyway just saying.' (sic) A parent's worst nightmare is that their child will be injured. And that experience was something Chris Hemsworth and Elsa Pataky had to face on recently when one of their twin boys was rushed to hospital. On Sunday, mother-of-three Elsa shared a photo to Instagram of her Thor star husband holding their little boy, with the four-year-old sporting a cast on his arm. 'Nobody tells you how much it hurts when your kids get hurt': Chris Hemsworth's four-year-old son is rushed to hospital... as mum Elsa Pataky reveals her heartache In the image, Chris, 35, looked lovingly at his son following his release from the hospital. Meanwhile, the four-year-old - either Sasha or Tristan - posed with his famous father's sunglasses on, possibly to distract himself from the injury. The little blond was unable to place his bandaged arm through his sleeve and it is unclear how he sustained the injury. Poor thing! The mother-of-three shared a photo to Instagram of the Thor acting holding their little boy, with the youngster sported a cast on his arm. Chris is pictured with his twin boys Tristan and Sasha The Bad Times at the El Royale actor's model wife Elsa revealed her pain at see one of her children injured.. 'Nobody tells you how much it hurts when your kids get hurt,' she revealed in a caption accompanying the photo. She added a series of hashtags, including '#comingoutofhospital', '#bravelikedaddy' and '#don'tlookatme'. 'Brave like daddy': The Bad Times at the El Royale actor's model wife revealed her pain at her injured child. Elsa pictured with her daughter India Rose and husband Chris Loved-up: Chris and Elsa married in 2010 and now call Byron Bay home The Spanish actress also used her native tongue to explain what had happened. Elsa and Chris were also spotted walking in their home of Byron Bay with their injured son earlier this week. Chris and Elsa married in 2010 and share three children - India Rose, six, and four-year-old twin sons, Sasha and Tristan. He's known as the bad boy of male modelling. And on Friday night Jordan Barrett was working the room with the coolest kids in town as he attended the V Magazine & Chanel Halloween Party in New York. The 22-year-old posed alongside fellow model Soo Joo Park, who looked eye-catching in a skin-tight red outfit matched with flame-red hair. The cool kids! Jordan Barrett (left) dons an edgy costume as she poses with fellow fashion icon Soo Joo Park (right) at the chic V Magazine & Chanel Halloween Party in New York The 32-year-old South Korean born beauty paired the dramatic look with metallic purple lipstick and elaborate gold and orange eye makeup. Australian model Jordan appeared to be dressed as the Argentine Marxist revolutionary, Che Guevara. He paired a leather beret with what looked like loose army fatigues and a leather vest with multiple straps. Edgy: Australian model Jordan appeared to be dressed as the Argentine Marxist revolutionary, Che Guevara Vogue: The catwalk star pulled his best blue steel glares for the cameras, his hair appearing to be blowing back off his face. The catwalk star pulled his best blue steel glares for the cameras, his hair appearing to be blowing back off his face. It comes after the Byron Bay native was seen out and about with his friend Nicky Rothschild, sister of his alleged former flame Paris Hilton. Jordan and the 35-year-old designer were recently spotted enjoying a stroll around downtown New York City. Mates: It comes after the Byron Bay native was seen out and about with his friend Nicky Rothschild, sister of his alleged former flame Paris Hilton It's not the first time the Vogue model has been seen with a member of the hotel heiress family, as he's rumoured to have been dating Paris Hilton back in 2015. Jordan however continued to insist that they were just friends. 'Paris has always been a friend of mine, for at least a year now, but it has been the same friendship the whole time,' he told The Daily Telegraph in 2015. Former Bachelorette Georgia Love was recently travelling around Bali. But the Channel 10 reporter has now returned home to boyfriend Lee Elliot, sharing a loved up picture to Instagram on Sunday. In the photo, the 30-year-old Georgia gazes adoringly at her 37-year-old beau, as she cuddled him, holding their pet cat. 'Home is wherever I am with you': Former Bachelorette Georgia Love (right) shares touching tribute to boyfriend Lee Elliot (left) as they celebrate two-month anniversary of living together 'I have so many favourite places all over the world and could happily travel forever,' she captioned the photograph. The former journalist added: 'But at the end of the day this is what makes my heart the happiest.' She hashtagged the image with the touching tribute: '#homeiswhereverIamwithyou'. Their castle: Lee also shared a social media post to commemorate the 30-year-old's coming home - and a milestone in their relationship, which is living together for two months Lee also shared a social media post to commemorate the 30-year-old's coming home - and a milestone in their relationship. Instead of lazing on the couch, like in Georgia's image, the pair are sharing a laugh while standing in their living room. 'Today marks two months in OUR new home,' the mechanical plumber wrote. 'This is what makes my heart the happiest': Georgia recently returned home after travelling without Lee 'We are both so lucky but lead such busy and hectic lives so its nice to have our very own castle where we can leave the world at the door to literally and figuratively switch off ' he added. In the snap, Georgia wears a grey t-shirt and denim shorts, opting to go barefoot, while Lee dons a fitted white t-shirt and ripped jeans. The pair began dating in 2016, after Lee competed for Georgia's heart on The Bachelorette, eventually winning at the grand finale. The weekend marked two festive occasions for the Osbourne clan. While Halloween celebrations were taking place across the world on Saturday, it was also Kelly Osbourne's birthday - leading her to throw a double-event in Los Angeles. The reality star celebrated her 34th in style at Mr Chow's restaurant, making a grand arrival in costume as Myrtle Snow from American Horror Story's third season Coven, and current eighth season, Apocalypse. Don't be a hater, dear! Kelly Osbourne celebrated her 34th in style at Mr Chow's restaurant, making a grand arrival in costume as Myrtle Snow from American Horror Story's third season Coven, and current eighth season, Apocalypse She copied the iconic character's look by, naturally, donning an over-sized frizzy orange wig. She added red-rimmed glasses over her ayes and wore a satin mauve wrap-around gown, in the style of notably-eccentric witch Myrtle. She wore black lace gloves and a black heels to complete the ensemble and painted her complexion with a pale white foundation and a pop of bright red lipstick. The entire Osbourne clan were present for the evening out, with mum and dad Sharon and Ozzy holding hands as they stepped out. Ma and Pa: Kelly threw a double-event in Los Angeles for family and friends A dreadful case of the me, me, mes! Kelly channeled the iconic Coven and Apocalypse character's look by, naturally, donning an over-sized frizzy orange wig Une demi tasse de realite, darling! While Halloween celebrations were taking place across the world on Saturday, it was also Kelly's birthday The couple kept things typically gothic, in-keeping with the theme of the night, as Sharon, 66, donned a sweeping velvet robe in midnight blue, with a paisley mustard print lining it. She kept things black beneath, and adorned the look with silver necklaces. Sharon wore her red bobbed 'do in a side parting and she kept make-up fresh and classic. Travelling without a proper charcuterie platter! Kelly piled into the car at the end of the night with her guests The caped crusader: Recently-divorced brother Jack, 32, looked to be a Bruce Wayne/Batman hybrid, stepping out in a black suit and tie with a Batman mask on Who dis? Jack was joined by a pink-haired companion, who onlookers believed to be a new romance Who dat? Kelly was also joined by a mystery man, dressed in ripped jeans, cowboy boots and a leather jacket - also thought to be a potential new love Call me a Philistine! Kelly strutted out of the event with her companion Ozzy, 69, was in all-black, as usual, with circular shades covering his eyes and his long dark hair worn loosely around his shoulders. He had a black blazer on and was seen chewing his thumb - which was recently infected to the degree his life was in danger. Recently-divorced brother Jack, 32, looked to be a Bruce Wayne/Batman hybrid, stepping out in a black suit and tie with a Batman mask on. Pink lady: Jack had brought what appeared to be a date, along to the event; despite Lisa Stelly only filing for divorce in May of this year Batmobile: The pair sped off in a car together Stepping out: Sharon, 66, donned a sweeping velvet robe in midnight blue, with a paisley mustard print lining it Night owls: She kept things black beneath, and adorned the look with silver necklaces Night out: Ozzy, 69, was in all-black, as usual, with circular shades covering his eyes and his long dark hair worn loosely around his shoulders Gothic chic: Sharon wore her red bobbed 'do in a side parting and she kept make-up fresh and classic Jack was joined by a pink-haired companion, who onlookers believed to be a new romance - despite then-wife Lisa Stelly filing for divorce in May of this year. Kelly was also joined by a mystery man, dressed in ripped jeans, cowboy boots and a leather jacket - also thought to be a potential new love. She hired a cross-dresser to attend the event, who came dressed as the birthday girl herself. She's famed for her 32E bust and appearing on topless on the pages of Britain's red tops. But Rhian Sugden, 32, has vowed to never pose bare chested again as a sign of respect to her new husband. The Manchester-born glamour model, who tied the knot with Coronation Street star Oliver Mellor, 37, last year, will make her final braless appearance in her 2019 calendar. Breast in peace: Rhian Sugden, 32, has vowed to never pose bare chested again as a sign of respect to her new husband The voluptuous blonde, who made her topless debut in the Sun in 2006, told the paper 'Now I'm married, I don't enjoy topless modelling any more. 'It's not like Oliver is bothered by me doing it but I think it's a sign of respect to him. They are his now! 'There's nothing wrong with it but I'm busy with other stuff. I needed to put a cap on it.' Loved up: The voluptuous blonde, who made her topless debut in the Sun in 2006, told the paper 'Now I'm married, I don't enjoy topless modelling any more Taking a break: The busty blonde said of her topless modelling 'There's nothing wrong with it but I'm busy with other stuff. I needed to put a cap on it.' She added there's 'only so many pictures of her boobs that need to be shown' and that there were 'so many on the internet'. The beauty has displayed confidence in her body plenty of times on social media in the past, uploading pictures of herself looking incredible in bikinis, most recently on her Turkish honeymoon. And the outspoken star has recently slammed people for asking when she is going to have a baby, just weeks after her dream wedding. Confident: The beauty has displayed confidence in her body plenty of times on social media in the past, uploading pictures of herself looking incredible in bikinis and underwear The glamour model unleashed her fury on Twitter, where she admitted 'it's not that easy' aged '30+', along with a meme of Christina Aguilera reading 'please stop.' She wrote: 'If one more person asks me when I am going to have babies my head is going to explode!! 'Do people think they grow on trees or that I can just pick one up from Tesco?? For some people its not that easy!! Dont ask 30+ women when the babies are coming!' Loved up: Rhian wed Oliver, 37, her boyfriend of six years, in a blissful ceremony by the Mediterranean sea in Turkey, with their close friends and family in attendance She was inundated with support from her followers with one writing: 'Or the fact its now 2018 & women arent on this planet to bear child after child. 'Yup, we have wombs but we also have a brain & the ability to use it to decide whats best for ourselves.' Another wrote: 'Once you get married, IT.NEVER.STOPS.' while one fan added: 'Rhian this is the best advice you will get on the matter! Fury: The outspoken star has recently slammed people for asking when she is going to have a baby, just weeks after her dream wedding 'You need to relax about the matter, dont worry about it when the time is right it will happen, the more you worry the more your body will resist it.' Rhian wed Oliver, 37, her boyfriend of six years, in a blissful ceremony by the Mediterranean sea in Turkey, with their close friends and family in attendance. Guests were reduced to tears as Oliver's sister Kate read an emotional poem while the couple read their own vows. The bride chose a gorgeous dress with a figure-hugging bodice in delicate white. A simple silver pendant was the only bit of bling the low-key bride needed, while her blonde locks were styled into loose curls and pinned back with a glittering diamante hair clip. Oliver proposed at a sold-out Manchester theatre in 2014. Before she met Oliver, Rhian was involved in a scandal with Vernon Kay, with the starlet first coming to the forefront when she went public with several racy messages sent by the married TV presenter in 2010. Putting the past behind her: Before she met Oliver, Rhian was involved in a scandal with Vernon Kay, with the starlet first coming to the forefront when she went public with several racy messages sent by the married TV presenter in 2010 It was then revealed the pair had got back in touch in 2015, with Vernon sending hundreds of texts asking to 'reconnect' with the model. After a break of six years, the busty blonde candidly and shockingly admitted that it felt like an 'old friendship coming back'. The blonde beauty recently claimed however that she had been treated as 'the villain' in the light of the sexting scandal, while the radio host has had a career boost. The 44-year-old was famously forced to make an apology to his wife Tess Daly on BBC Radio 1 following the sexting scandal. Vernon went on to promise live on air that he would no longer contact Rhian or the four other women he had been caught messaging at the time. She's been linked to a string of handsome suitors since her split from ex-boyfriend Alex Mytton. And Lottie Moss looked to get on very well with handsome marketing manager, Jack Padgett during her night out at the HallowZeem bash in London on Friday evening. The 20-year-old model, who was dressed as 101 Dalmatians villain Cruella de Vil, appeared head over heels as she repeatedly kissed the party-goer while standing outside Shoreditch bar The Curtain. Heating up: Lottie Moss looked to get on very well with handsome man Jack Padgett during a night out at the HallowZeem bash in London on Friday evening The half-sister of Kate Moss seemingly didn't care who saw her intimate moment with the hunk as they smooched on the street, with the pirate costume-clad male romantically wrapping his arm around the beauty. When the pair weren't locking lips, Lottie spiritedly chatted to Jack, with the pair later looking to exchange numbers as she pulled out her phone. Moments after, the beauty took a female pal aside for a chat on a doorway step, where the pair shared a giggle as Lottie once again withdrew her phone to show her friend something on the screen. Kiss me quick! The 20-year-old model, who was dressed as 101 Dalmatians villain Cruella de Vil, appeared head over heels as she repeatedly kissed the hunk Packing on the PDA: The half-sister of Kate Moss seemingly didn't care who saw her intimate moment with the hunk as they smooched outside of Shoreditch's The Curtain Affectionate: The pirate costume-clad chap even romantically wrapped his arm around the beauty Ahead of her steamy kiss, Lottie flaunted her jaw-dropping figure in a sexy Cruella de Vil costume. The newly brunette star was worlds away from her usual look in a revealing version of the iconic Disney villain, complete with black and white hair and a Dalmatian spotted choker. Lottie showed off her incredible figure in a racy black leather corset with matching studded stockings, covering her body with white makeup to add to the ghostly illusion. Animated: When the pair weren't locking lips, Lottie spiritedly chatted to Jack, with the pair later looking to exchange numbers as she pulled out her phone Dressed to impress: Ahead of her steamy kiss, Lottie flaunted her jaw-dropping figure in a sexy Cruella de Vil costume Sizzling! The newly brunette star was worlds away from her usual look in a revealing version of the iconic Disney villain, complete with black and white hair and a Dalmatian spotted choker High spirits: Moments after, the beauty took a female pal aside for a chat on a doorway step, where the pair shared a giggle as the model once again withdrew her phone The fashionista added to her look with a matching black and white wig styled into classic 60s pin curls along with red silk gloves and the dalmatian printed choker. Adding even more colour to her look Lottie highlighted her flawless complexion with red eye shadow and matching lipstick, and was certainly a ghostly figure as she arrived for the event. Lottie was last linked to pal Todd, but the pair never confirmed their romance. Her last high-profile romance was with Made in Chelsea's Alex Mytton, though the pair ended their relationship in July 2017 following rumours he cheated during a holiday to Ibiza. Smitten: Lottie's handsome chap looked besotted with the star as he shot her a lustful lock before leaning in for another kiss She's never been afraid to show off her sensational figure, and posed completely naked for an Instagram snap on Friday. And Megan McKenna has shared an even more revealing image on Sunday, where she showed off a generous glimpse of her assets while partially covering them with one hand for modesty. Continuing to promote her new lip kit range Mouthy by Megan, the reality star, 26, was sure to set pulses racing as she promised 'Nothing but Danger' in the caption. Sizzling: Megan McKenna shared a VERY revealing selfie as she posed naked and covered to promote new lip kit range on Sunday She proved to be her brand's best advertisement as she wore a generous slick of dark red lipstick to accentuate her plump pout. Megan stared sultrily at the camera as her tousled brunette locks fell over her face, while she accessorised with a watch and a pair of silver hoops. This comes after she posted a similar snap which covered her modesty with some strategically placed yellow tape which had the words: 'Mouthy by Megan The Relaunch' emblazoned on it. She knelt against a purple wall for the smouldering snap, adding the caption: 'MOUTHY IS LIVE & BACK!@mouthybymegan Happy lip kit shopping!' Daring: She proved to be her brand's best advertisement as she wore a generous slick of dark red lipstick to accentuate her plump pout Megan also showed off her sensational pout in the pictures, which was adorned with a slick of ruby red lipstick. The post comes after she sizzled in a series of similar looking shots, in which she unveiled her brand new Studio Mouthy swimwear collection in pictures. The former TOWIE star posed up a storm in a sizzling new shoot, stripping down to a tiny yellow Aztec-print bikini and box-fresh white trainers. Sizzling: Megan proved to be her own best model as she unveiled her brand new Studio Mouthy swimwear collection exclusively to MailOnline last week The TV personality, who has designed the collection herself, showed off her gym-honed physique as she modeled eight different looks for StudioMouthy.co.uk. Speaking of the new collection, the reality star said: 'With girls travelling all year round I wanted to create a swimwear collection that would work for any occasion in any destination.' The Ex On The Beach alumni added: 'Whether you feel more comfortable in a one-piece or a bikini, my collection is designed with the option to ensure you feel glamorous whether you're wearing it poolside or to the beach.' Other looks see the former Celebrity Big Brother star dazzle in on-trend low scooped necklines and pretty floral and paisley prints. Washboard abs: The former TOWIE star posed up a storm in a sizzling new shoot, stripping down to a tiny floral bikini Flawless: The TV personality, who has designed the collection herself, showed off her gym-honed physique as she modeled eight different looks for StudioMouthy.co.uk The High Heeled Shoes hitmaker showed off a bouncy blowdry and flawlessly made-up visage, complete with thick strip lashes, an incredibly plump pout, and glowing tan. Megan made the most of her physique by flaunting her washboard abs in racy high-waisted bikini bottoms. The beauty's new collection comes a month after she addressed she had broken up from Mike Thalassitis for good, after the pair were spotted together in a make or break getaway in Dubai. 'Muggy' Mike confirmed their split in July after he was seen moving his belongings out of Megan's Essex home, before she deleted all trace of him on Instagram. Flawless: The reality TV star showed off a bouncy blow-dry and flawlessly made-up visage But the stars were later, spotted poolside in the luxurious Five Palm Hotel in Dubai. Megan said of the break: 'We went there because it was out of the public eye and it could be the two of us. But it hasn't worked. Sometimes it just can't happen. I'm just trying to move on with my life now.' Although insisting 'everything happens for a reason', the Mouthy author stressed she was keeping 'very busy' to help heal her heartache. Megan revealed she had been on holiday to Ibiza just shortly after the break up and she had been focusing on her music to 'clear' her head. Single and ready to mingle: Megan's new collection comes a month after she addressed she had broken up from Love Island's Mike Thalassitis for good She told Good Morning Britain: 'It's pretty awkward, I do think everything happens for a reason, I've been away, I've cleared my head, I'm very busy I'm doing my music. 'I'm working on an album. I just feel like everything does happen for a reason, the path I'm going on right now...' The reality star couple had been known for documenting their lavish holidays and romantic date nights together on social media. Sparks first started flying when they were dating in March, with their romance immediately taking off with a holiday to Barbados together. Woman of many talents: Megan looked every inch the cover girl as she posed up a storm in front of the camera However, two months later the pair had unfollowed each other on social media and they were seen in a fierce row in the street following a night out. Speaking to OK! magazine, the ITVBe regular, who dated Mike for seven months, explained that the pair were at different stages of their life and although they have called time on their romance, their break-up wasn't 'nasty or messy'. 'I can't even say why we split,' she said. 'I just feel like we're both at different point in our lives. We both respect each other and we didn't want it to get nasty or messy. 'There is only so much you can do in a relationship and when it's not working you've got to take separate routes. But I wish him all the luck in the world, he's not a nasty person. Everything happens for a reason.' She was the most sought-after actress of a generation and married to Die Hard's Bruce Willis. But Demi Moore has revealed that despite her success, she was on a 'path of real self-destruction.' The 55-year-old actress, who shares three daughters with Willis, explained on Saturday that she struggled to recognize her self-worth, during a speech for the Woman of the Year Award at the Friendly House 29th Annual Awards in Los Angeles. Tough times: Demi Moore has revealed that despite her success, she was on a 'path of real self-destruction' The Ghost actress spoke openly about her personal struggles, explaining that even though she appeared to have it all, she didn't value herself. 'I feel like theres a defining moments in our lives that shape who we are and the direction we go and early in my career, I was spiraling down a path of real self-destruction and no matter what successes I had, I just never felt good enough, she explained. She continued: 'I had absolutely no value for myself and this self-destructive path, it very quickly led/brought me to a real crisis point. And it wasnt clear at the time the reason. Maybe it was divine intervention.' Bouncing back: The 55-year-old actress, who shares three daughters with Willis, explained on Saturday that she struggled to recognise her self-worth, during a speech for the Woman of the Year Award at the Friendly House 29th Annual Awards in Los Angeles The mom of Rumer, 30, Scout,27, and Tallulah, 24, went on to note that it was two people she 'barely knew' who 'stepped up and took a stand for me and they presented me with an opportunity.' The Striptease star called it an 'ultimatum,' adding that she was given 'a chance to redirect the course of my life before I destroyed everything.' 'Clearly they saw more of me than I saw of myself. And Im so grateful because without that opportunity, without their believing me, I wouldnt be standing here today,' she enthused. Open: The Ghost actress spoke openly about her personal struggles, explaining that even though she appeared to have it all, she didn't value herself Family: Demi was joined by daughters Scout and Rumer Willis at the Friendly House Lunch Inspiring: The mom of Rumer, 30, Scout,27, and Tallulah, 24, spoke to an audience which included all three of her daughters with Bruce Willis Speaking to the audience at the Friendly House fundraiser - which provides a place for women to go for help recovering from drug and alcohol abuse - Demi said: 'Life is certainly not a straight line and I think everyone here has dealt with not feeling good enough at some point in their lives. She continued: 'I know in a moment of great struggle for me, Ive reached out to a wise teacher and expressed my fear that I wasnt good enough and she said, "You will never be good enough but you can know the value of your worth. Put down the measuring stick." So today, I put down the measuring stick and I thank you for this beautiful acknowledgment and the opportunity to know the value of my worth.' Demi was also previously married to Ashton Kutcher and after they split she was treated for substance abuse at the Cirque Lodge in Sundance, Utah, in 2012 after suffering a seizure due to smoking an 'incense-like substance.' She famously posed naked when pregnant, on the front page of Vanity Fair. Her next movie is horror Corporate Animals, alongside Ed Helms, which is due for release in 2019. Advertisement She's a style icon who has built a fashion empire with her own label. So Victoria Beckham didn't let a day at the beach have any effect on her go-to outfit as she rocked her trademark towering heels at Manly beach in Sydney on Saturday. Joined by daughter Harper, seven, and son Cruz, 13, the group enjoyed a relaxing afternoon soaking up the sunshine. Not letting her sartorial standards slip: Victoria Beckham didn't let a day at the beach have any effect on her go-to outfit as she rocked her trademark towering heels at Manly beach in Sydney on Saturday Fun in the sun: Victoria was joined by daughter Harper, seven, and son Cruz, 13, and the group enjoyed a relaxing afternoon soaking up the sunshine and frolicking on the beach The fashion mogul, 44, kept an eye on her two youngest children as they played together in the sea, while also checking her phone and taking a selfie. She kept her outfit simple with a white T-shirt tucked into cuffed denim jeans. The brunette added a pop of colour with a bright red purse that she tucked under her arm and matching heels that featured a gold embellishment. Victoria also accessorised with a gold watch and completed her effortlessly chic ensemble with her trademark sunglasses. The fashionista kept her makeup simple, a glowing complexion, pouty nude lip and subtle blush on her cheeks. Snap happy: The fashion mogul, 44, kept an eye on her two youngest children as they played together in the sea, while also checking her phone and taking a selfie Effortlessly chic: She kept her outfit simple with a white T-shirt tucked into cuffed denim jeans Swimming along: Harper seemed in high spirits as she frolicked in the sea with a family friend Loving life: Harper kept afloat on a lilo as she frolicked in the sea with the family friend who also looked in high spirits On the move: Harper seemed giddy with excitement as she ran along the beach to play with her brother Taking it easy: Victoria rested her heel-clad feet as she perched on the dock by the beach overseeing the festivities Sun, sea and sandcastles! Harper and Cruz were deep in concentration as they set to work building sandcastles on the beach Family time: The kids chatted away with mum Victoria as they towelled off after a refreshing deep in the sea Harper and Cruz seemed to be having a great time as they ran around the beach, made sand castles and also relaxed on a pink lido in the sea. Harper looked adorable in a purple two piece, while Cruz opted to wear black swimming trunks for their day at the beach. The pair had fun with a family friend, who could be seen taking care of Harper by swimming in the sea alongside her, and later playing with them both on the beach. Matriach: Victoria seemed in her element as she overlooked her brood whilst topping up her tan in the sunshine Scarlet siren: Victoria had added a pop of colour to her otherwise muted ensemble with a bright red purse that she tucked under her arm and matching heels that featured a gold embellishment Surfs up! The kids stepped out onto the pavement to dry off after a fun day of frolicking in the sea Catching up: The group were seen chatting away with one another after their relaxing day on the sands Natural beauty: The fashionista kept her makeup simple, a glowing complexion, pouty nude lip and subtle blush on her cheeks Meanwhile David Beckham, 43, enjoyed the day with the couple's middle child Romeo, 16, at the closing ceremony of the Invictus Games at the Qudos Bank Arena, on Saturday. The former Manchester United cut a dapper figure in a sharp dark grey suit with a poppy pinned to his lapel to symbolise his support for The Armed Forces. His look-a-like son Romeo also cut a handsome figure wearing a blue Ralph Lauren button down shirt at the special event. Loving life: Harper and Cruz seemed to be having a great time as they ran around the beach, made sand castles and also relaxed on a pink lido in the sea Sibling bonding: Victoria and Cruz seemed to be chasing one another along the surf Loving life: The kids seemed to be having the time of their lives as they made sandcastles and frolicked on the beach Nick Cummins will not be returning to reality television any time soon. It was reported by New Idea on Monday that the former Wallaby had joined the cast of I'm A Celebrity... Get Me Out Of Here! But the 31-year-old's manager Nick Fordham denied the claims to Daily Mail Australia, describing the magazine's article as '100 per cent incorrect'. 'It is 100 per cent incorrect': Nick Cummins' manager has denied rumours the rugby star signed up for I'm A Celebrity Get Me Out Of Here! in a bid to 'win back the public's approval' An industry insider had allegedly told the magazine that Nick was hoping he could recover his damaged reputation in the South African jungle. 'Nick is still under contract with the network and is keen to win back the public's approval so it's the perfect opportunity,' said the supposed source. 'The network bosses see him as a Shane Warne-style character who will - hopefully - redeem himself in the public eye during his time [on the show].' TV comeback? An industry insider had allegedly told New Idea on Monday that Nick was hoping he could recover his damaged reputation in the South African jungle Strategy: An insider supposedly said, 'The network sees him as a Shane Warne-style character who will - hopefully - redeem himself in the public eye'. Pictured: Shane on I'm A Celebrity New Idea further reported that Brittany Hockley and Sophie Tieman - the women Nick dumped in the Bachelor finale - could also 'be appearing as jungle intruders'. Daily Mail Australia has contacted Network Ten for comment. Nick's public image as a likeable Aussie larrikin was shattered earlier this month after he refused to pick a winner in The Bachelor finale. Jungle intruders? New Idea further reported that Brittany Hockley (right) and Sophie Tieman (left) - the women Nick dumped in the Bachelor finale - could also 'be appearing as intruders' He rejected Sophie, 25, in a rambling break-up speech, before telling bookies' favourite Brittany, 31, that he wasn't ready for a relationship. Fans described the whole show as a 'waste of time' and slammed Nick for being 'commitment phobic' and unfairly leading the women on. I'm A Celebrity... Get Me Out Of Here!, hosted by Dr Chris Brown and Julia Morris, will return to Network Ten in 2019 PR disaster! Nick's public image as a likeable Aussie larrikin was shattered earlier this month after he refused to pick a winner in The Bachelor finale. Pictured on the show with Brittany He may have broken his contract by dating Dasha Gaivoronski, but it looks like Charlie Newling is still toeing the company line when it comes to interviews. The Bachelorette star, 31, praised leading lady Ali Oetjen during a chat with NW magazine published on Monday, admitting he was drawn to her from the beginning. The Sydney builder confessed he 'stalked' Ali on Instagram and even watched past episodes of The Bachelor as 'research' after discovering she was this year's female suitor. Charlie Newling's 'stalking' confession: The Bachelorette villain (left) has admitted he obsessed over Ali Oetjen's (right) Instagram account and watched her old Bachelor episodes before applying for the show 'I went back through old seasons [of The Bachelor and Bachelor in Paradise], stalked her on Instagram, did all my research before I got committed,' he said. 'I thought she was quite cute - the younger version of Ali,' Charlie added, referring to Ali's appearance on The Bachelor in 2013. Charlie emerged as a frontrunner within the first few episodes of The Bachelorette, however he has all but confirmed he does not win the show. Over the past two weeks, he has been pictured on several dates with single mother Dasha from this year's season of The Bachelor. Research: 'I went back through old seasons, stalked her on Instagram, did all my research before I got committed,' the 31-year-old builder told NW in an interview published on Monday It is understood Charlie has broken his contract with Network Ten and producers Warner Bros. Australia by flaunting his relationship with Dasha so publicly. In past seasons of The Bachelor and Bachelorette, contestants are banned from entering relationships while they are still being featured on the show to avoid spoiling the outcome. Last week, an industry insider told Daily Mail Australia that Charlie's behaviour will no doubt be causing serious drama behind the scenes. Oops! Despite Charlie still being featured on Ali Oetjen's season of The Bachelorette, he has been pictured on several dates with The Bachelor's Dasha Gaivoronski (pictured) 'He's a major part of the show and is being edited as the winner, or at least final three. It's frankly unbelievable he's doing this,' claimed the source. 'He's trying to sabotage the whole show.' The Bachelorette continues Wednesday at 7.30pm on Network Ten The production company behind the BBC's thrilling 2016 series The Night Manager have reunited for another John le Carre adaption. But does six-part espionage drama The Little Drummer Girl, following spies in the 1970s, match the gripping cat and mouse game of Tom Hiddleston and Hugh Laurie? Christopher Stevens gives his verdict... The Little Drummer Girl, BBC1 (last night) Rating: Do not adjust your set. Everything in The Little Drummer Girl (BBC1) really is a shade of brown. Secret agents conduct interrogations in wood-panelled meeting rooms, illuminated a dingy beige by racks of dim neon. Women in camel coats and knee-length leather boots carry ticking bombs around German towns in two-tone brown suitcases. Florence Pugh as Charlie, right, with Bethany Muir as Sophie You have to wonder whether this production has been sponsored by Ronseal, because everything looks like its been lacquered in two layers of varnish. All the spies in this Seventies thriller, based on a John le Carre novel, are hypersensitive to the spectrum of muddy colours. One grieving father whose son has been blown up in a terrorist atrocity stops sobbing long enough to describe the paintwork on the killers car: Salmon, peach, Vienna sausage... Copper brown! growls the grizzled counter-terrorism expert, recognising the precise variant. Thank goodness he did imagine if Mossad agents were sidetracked on some wild hunt for a vehicle the colour of Vienna sausage. The whole investigation would be compromised. This six-part espionage drama is the much-anticipated follow-up to the BBCs 2016 Le Carre smash hit, The Night Manager, starring Tom Hiddleston and Hugh Laurie. That delighted viewers with its breath-taking locations, whisking us from sultry Cairo to the crisp Swiss ski-slopes and then a Majorcan cove. The Little Drummer Girl takes us round Europe too. But it doesnt make us feel like billionaires. Much of the time was spent on a rocky beach on the Greek isle of Naxos apparently chosen for its towering brown cliffs or on the streets of Bad Godesberg, a suburb of Bonn in Germany, where everything looks, well, yes, brown even the pavements. A rare moment of colour: Pugh with Alexander Skarsgard From the tense opening bomb-blast scene, we are plunged immediately into 1979 and the international fight against Arab terrorism in the wake of the Munich Olympics massacre and a wave of hijackings by Palestinians. Israels secret service is prepared to do whatever it takes to protect its people but in this murky, confused war its difficult to understand what anyone is planning. The Night Manager seduced us with its super-rich crooks and the intoxicating sense of secrecy. The Little Drummer Girl offers none of that. Theres a sense of anti-climax about this, but once weve accepted this drama is offering grit, not glamour, the story draws us in. Our heroine, Charlie (Florence Pugh), is a sulky, over-entitled actress, estranged from her mother, who harbours romantic daydreams. Her obnoxious Marxist boyfriend sponges off her, dipping into her purse whenever he likes. Charlie and her theatre pals accept an invitation to perform Shakespeare in Greece from an anonymous benefactor, whose idea of introducing himself is to reflect light from his watchface into her eyes while shes on stage. Instead of calling the police, she takes the bait and flies straight to the Aegean. A tall, mysterious stranger (Alexander Skarsgard) appears. He strolls past, humming her favourite tune, and lies on the beach, pointedly refusing to look at her. Clearly, he knows that Charlie has a thing for stalkers. He gives himself a patently fake name, Peter Richthofen, describes himself as divorced and lures her off to the mainland. As he drives at 90mph through Athens, a cruel and enigmatic smile plays on his lips while she sobs and begs him to slow down. Yes, this was the macho, action-packed Seventies, but that style of dating is not so much James Bond, more Yorkshire Ripper. Because Richthofen reveals nothing, while Charlie is shallow, the first episode felt as if its characters were cardboard chess pieces being moved around a board. Hes a divorcee, she doesnt speak to her mum... were meant to think these two are mysterious, but they just come across as unlikeable. Being liked isnt something that bothers gravel-voiced Israeli spy Martin Kurtz (Michael Shannon). Back in his wood-panelled world, he is trying to invent new uses for brown furnishings by building a soundproofed cabinet and padding the walls with World Of Leathers dark walnut range. Then he stands inside and screams himself hoarse. No wonder he sounds like his throat has been sandpapered. Its characters may be flimsy, but The Little Drummer Girl has been filmed with extraordinary care. Every shot is sculpted, with tiny clues scattered everywhere. Gold watches are one motif: Richthofen wears one, as does the bomber Halil, who looks like he has just stepped out of an Old Spice advert. Girls swoon at his feet. When we meet Kurtz, were looking down from a high aerial shot as he steps out of a car. Then we watch from above as he descends a spiral staircase. Its all elegantly choreographed, and designed to induce a dizzy sense of foreboding. But its definitely brown. Keira Maguire and Jarrod Woodgate are reportedly 'back on' following their bitter split in August. It was claimed by NW magazine on Monday that the Bachelor In Paradise pair have reunited after Keira, 32, tagged herself online at the 32-year-old's vineyard last week. 'Keira was devastated when they broke up,' an insider told the publication. Scroll down for video 'She's willing to start over': Keira Maguire and Jarrod Woodgate 'back on' after the beauty visits her ex's vineyard 'She would definitely be willing to start over,' the magazine's source continued, seemingly suggesting they're still working out the details of their reconciliation. After calling time on their relationship in August, the pair endured a very public slanging match through the media. Jarrod claimed he dumped Keira because of her 'obsession' with Instagram in a scathing interview with Who magazine. 'Her Instagram following is overwhelming and it was taking over our relationship. She's purely Instagram focused, and that takes up a lot of time,' he said. 'Keira was devastated when they broke up,' an insider told NW magazine after the beauty, 32, reportedly tagged himself at the 32-year-old's family vineyard last weekend Whereas Keira later offered up a different version of events through a string of interviews - she insisted she was still 'in love' with him in September. 'Jarrod wasn't ready to be in a relationship,' Keira told Now To Love. 'It was disappointing to me because he came off as this guy that was ready to settle to down, but the reality is, he wasn't ready.' Throwback: The couple met while filming Bachelor In Paradise last November in Fiji, upon their return to Australia they moved in together in Melbourne before splitting in August this year Keira and Jarrod met while filming Bachelor In Paradise in Fiji last November, and quickly moved in together in Melbourne before splitting in August this year. The news of their apparent reunion comes after Jarrod recently revealed he's been reaching out to his Bachelorette ex Sophie Monk, who failed to reply to him. Daily Mail Australia has reached out to Keira and Jarrod for comment. She's been hit by claims that her romance with Jamie Jewitt is on the rocks. Now Camilla Thurlow will be able to give fans an insight into their romance as she's landed her own spin-off show, a year after the pair made the finals of Love Island. The 29-year-old reality star will front ITVBe documentary What Camilla Did Next which follows the Scottish beauty as she deals with having a relationship in the public eye as well as her charity work. One to watch: She's been hit by claims her romance with Jamie Jewitt is on the rocks. Now Camilla Thurlow will be able to give fans an insight as she's landed her own spin-off show The former humanitarian worker will go back to her roots as she embarks an emotional, empowering and exhausting journey back to Cambodia where she used to work for the mine clearance charity the HALO Trust. Embracing the challenges of the trip head on, Camilla must leave long term boyfriend Jamie, and the life they have together, behind to pursue her passion for charity work and making the world a safer place. Following the Love Island runner up as she grapples with her new found fame, this special ITVBe documentary will document Camillas ongoing efforts to make the most of her celebrity and popularity to draw attention to a humanitarian cause she holds close to her heart. What Camilla Did Next will also provide viewers with an insight into Camillas relationship with Jamie. Cute couple: The 29-year-old reality star will front ITVBe documentary What Camilla Did Next which follows the Scottish beauty as she deals her relationship with Jamie Jewitt Fans of the pair will no doubt be keen to scrutinise the couple's interactions following claims their romance is on the rocks amid a series of furious rows. Reports emerged earlier this month that they were close to splitting after Jamie was seen secretly partying with his Playboy model ex-girlfriend in New York. The Love Island hunk, 28, was allegedly spotted looking flirty with Australian bombshell Sarah Stephens at a silent disco during his trip to the Big Apple. Jamie and Camilla, who are one of the few couples still together from the 2017 series, have apparently been rowing furiously over his antics and were planning 'crisis talks' when he returned to Essex. On the rocks? Jamie and Camilla, who are one of the few couples still together from the 2017 series, have apparently been rowing furiously over his recent antics 'They've hardly spent any quality time together in recent weeks due to Camilla being away filming the new series of SAS: Who Dares Wins in Chile while Jamie went to the States to catch up with old friends,' a source told The Sun. The insider explained that Jamie was partying with pals from his reality show Taking New York, which he was on before Love Island, including his ex Sarah. 'The pair tried to disguise that they were out together but Camilla wasn't happy after she found out he'd gone all that way and suddenly ended up spending time with her,' the source claimed. Rowing? Reports emerged earlier this month that they were close to splitting after Jamie was seen secretly partying with his Playboy model ex-girlfriend in New York 'They are a fiercely private couple and have prided themselves in not falling into the trappings of fame. But no doubt will try and save face on social media in the next few days.' Jamie's representative declined to comment on the claims. MailOnline also reached out to Camilla's spokesperson. What Camilla Did Next will air on ITVBe. Strong construction activity and the lowest unemployment rate in a decade have helped Victoria retain economic top spot over NSW for a second straight quarter. CommSec's quarterly State of the States economic report, released on Monday, shows Victoria has retained the position of the nation's best economy it first assumed during the last survey. Victoria ranked first in terms of economic growth, unemployment and construction work done, with top spot in three of the eight economic indicators assessed enough to pip NSW to the overall No.1 slot. NSW maintained top rankings in retail spending and dwelling starts. CommSec chief economist Craig James said it remained a close race between Victoria and NSW. "Victoria retained top spot with construction work at almost 39 per cent above the decade average," Mr James said. "These high levels of home building, along with strong population growth and employment growth, supported retail spending across the state, sitting at more than 17 per cent above decade-average levels." The political and professional enclave of the ACT came in third, with Tasmania - top in terms of relative population growth and equipment investment - next. The CommSec ranking takes in eight economic indicators and assesses the states against their long-term average. 1. VICTORIA Best for economic growth, unemployment and construction work done. The state has the strongest job market in the nation, with trend unemployment at 17.4 per cent below the decade average. 2. NSW Top for dwelling starts and retail spending, the latter supported by population growth, low unemployment, increased job security and infrastructure building. 3. ACT The state is top-ranked on relative housing finance, with the number of commitments up by 19.2 per cent on the long-term average. 4. TASMANIA Tasmania held onto fourth position and continues to rank No.1 for relative population growth, while moving past Victoria into second spot for housing finance. 5. SOUTH AUSTRALIA Up from sixth to fifth, leapfrogging Queensland. Unemployment in South Australia has sat at 6-year lows for the past four months in trend terms. 6. QUEENSLAND Queensland slipped to sixth place and has been ranked fifth on four of the eight economic indicators. 7. NORTHERN TERRITORY The NT continues to face challenges with the transition of resource projects from production to export phase, lagging all other states and territories on five indicators. 8. WESTERN AUSTRALIA The state still has the weakest job market, as well as the weakest relative positions on construction work and economic growth. It ranks seventh on all other indicators. Three prisoners have assaulted a police employee at the Cairns watch house during a failed escape bid. Police say the three men struck the male staffer several times in the exercise yard on Sunday morning as they attempted to escape. However the man managed to make it to safety and the watch house was put into lockdown, with the three prisoners returning to their cells without further incident. The 48-year-old employee was treated at the scene for minor injuries. Two men, aged 27 and 18 respectively, have been charged with robbery with violence in company, attempted deprivation of liberty and attempting to escape lawful custody. A third man, 19, has been charged with robbery with violence in company and attempting to escape lawful custody. All three are due to appear in Cairns Magistrates Court on Monday. Donald Trump greets supporters after a rally in Mobile, Alabama, in August. Photo: Mark Wallheiser/Getty Images Despite a few contradictory overtures to LGBT Americans on the campaign trail, during his first two years in office, President Trump established that hes no friend to that community, particularly not people who are transgender. Trump has already rescinded an Obama administration memo allowing transgender students to use the bathroom of their choice, and attempted to ban openly transgender people from serving in the military. Last week, he escalated his war on transgender people even further. The Guardian reported on Thursday that American diplomats have repeatedly sought to replace the word gender with woman in U.N. human rights documents, changing terms like gender-based violence to violence against women. A day earlier, the Department of Justice told the U.S. Supreme Court that employer bias against transgender workers doesnt violate federal civil rights law. But the most sweeping anti-transgender proposal was unveiled last weekend, when the New York Times reported that the Department of Health and Human Resources is preparing a draft memo that would formalize a restrictive definition of gender. Sex means a persons status as male or female based on immutable biological traits identifiable by or before birth, the memo reportedly states. The sex listed on a persons birth certificate, as originally issued, shall constitute definitive proof of a persons sex unless rebutted by reliable genetic evidence. That would imperil Obama-era policies that extended certain civil rights protections to transgender people, and shape the way the Trump administration interprets and applies Title IX. DHS officials have been privately arguing for the past year that Title IXs ban on discrimination on the basis of sex does not apply to gender identity (or even homosexuality). Roger Severino, who heads the HHS office of civil rights, would not speak to the Times, but the paper noted that hes already made his opposition to transgender rights clear in public statements. Severino came to HHS from the Heritage Foundation, where he led the DeVos Center for Religion and Civil Society, and once wrote a piece condemning the Obama administrations attempts to impose a new definition of what it means to be a man or a woman on the entire nation. At HHS, Severino is part of a larger ideological cohort. The department has reportedly become a magnet for culture warriors, who have used its resources to prioritize partnerships with conservative, Christian organizations. Its supposed to be the faith-based partnership center, not the Christian-based partnership center, one anonymous staffer complained to Politico in January. The Trump administrations institutional preference for conservative Christianity isnt a new development. Nor is it much of a mystery. Trump needs an energetic base, and white, evangelical Christians are happy to accommodate him as long as he delivers for them. Trumps personal motivations in restricting transgender rights dont seem to run much deeper than that. But the question of why Trumps Christian allies whether they are evangelical or Catholic, like Severino are so focused on reversing protections for a group that makes up less than 1 percent of the population bears further examination. For white evangelicals in particular, culture war isnt just about abortion. Rather, its a broad effort to bestow the federal governments imprimatur on a specific definition of the family. That unit the natural family, in the parlance of its advocates consists of one man and one woman, in a committed, complementary relationship. Traditional gender roles are the foundation upon which the notion of the natural family is built. For instance, the Southern Baptist Convention, a predominantly white, evangelical denominational body with over 15 million members in the U.S. and its territories, holds both that transgender identities are invalid, and that men and women have different spiritual gifts, which makes them suited to different social and religious roles. SBC churches do not allow women to preach, and in 1998, formally adopted the position that a wife should submit herself graciously to her husband. Of course, Trump isnt universally popular within the SBC (some members even protested Vice-President Mike Pences appearance at their annual meeting in June), but considering the groups demographics and doctrinal commitments, one omnipresent statistic bears repeating: 2016 exit polls found 80 percent of white evangelicals voted for Trump. And while evangelicalism is hardly the only religious tradition to uphold traditional ideas about gender and the family, its adherents defend them with remarkable fervor. Eighty-four percent of white evangelicals told the Pew Research Center in 2017 that they believe gender is fixed at birth, compared to 59 percent of black Protestants, 55 percent of white mainline Protestants, and 51 percent of Catholics. What distinguishes evangelicals from other traditions, like Catholicism or Protestant denominations, explained Central Michigan University lecturer Sara Moslener, is a fixation on gender and sexuality as a boundary marker, and access to power. Whats happening right now is theres this kind of religious nationalism. You have people in positions of power who are able to influence policy in this way, and we can see that their religious-based understandings of gender and sexuality become policy, she said. Moslener, the author of Virgin Nation: Sexual Purity and American Adolescence, said that evangelicals have found a way to tap into the greater cultural anxieties of this moment. She continued, Thats what evangelicals are really good at doing; identifying an anxiety within the culture and then exploiting it and saying, See, our way of making sense of things is the best way for the nation. And that way their ideas remain relevant. Various far-right Christian groups that ally with the Trump administration promote the idea that transgender rights, indeed the very notion of transgender identity, threatens traditional families. The Family Research Council has committed itself to this point of view since its founding in 1983. Though the groups beliefs resemble those of the SBC, FRC is an overtly political organization committed to a radical redefinition of the First Amendments religious freedom protections. FRC favors an expansive religious freedom right that includes the freedom to discriminate on the basis of sexual orientation or gender identity. And it is a powerful force in Washington, with well-established links to the Republican Party. FRCs president, Tony Perkins, advised Trump during his presidential campaign. Once in office, the president appointed Perkins to the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom. The group also referred to Severino as a movement ally in a January post celebrating Trumps healthy respect for HHS. FRC is implacably opposed to feminism, marriage equality, and anti-discrimination rights for trans people. Men and women are different, not just in morphology (form) or physiognomy (appearance), but also neurologically and emotionally, Regent University professor Rob Schwarzwalder wrote in a 2013 memo for the group. This claim certainly is biblical; God made Adam a suitable partner for life and intimacy, a woman. But its also born-out in hard science: Men and women have very different ways of thinking and responding that affect judgment, preference, and conduct. Marriage, Schwarzwalder went on to argue, had an essentially procreative function, which same-sex marriage subverted. Similarly, the idea that gender is not fixed at birth upends his conviction that men and women are irrevocably, psychologically distinct from each other. Attacking transgender people is at the heart of the evangelical defense of marriage that argues that marriage should be between men and women, said Heron Greenesmith, a senior research analyst for Political Research Associates, a left-leaning group that tracks the activities of the Christian right. You have to keep that definition of man and woman very, very tightly defined in the face of science and social science and the lived experience of transgender and gender non-conforming people across the world. The HHS memo, if released as reported, is cruel to people whose identity falls outside the traditional gender binary. So is the Department of Justices argument against workplace protections for trans people, and efforts to make U.N. policy statements on human rights abuses less inclusive. But they intend something more than cruelty. The culture warriors making policy in the Trump administration mean to impose discipline to disappear identities that contradict their understanding of the world. Mongolia seeks to crush fossil black market For years, herder Gelegrash had a sideline bringing tourists to see a dinosaur skull hidden near the Flaming Cliffs in Mongolia's Gobi desert. Then, one day, it was gone. It is one of thousands of ancient fossils that have disappeared from the country since American explorer Roy Chapman Andrews -- supposedly the inspiration for the movie character Indiana Jones -- discovered dinosaur eggs there nearly a century ago. Paleontologists and smugglers alike have descended on the sands ever since. People visiting a museum in Ulan Bator displaying dinosaur fossils returned from overseas Johannes Eisele (AFP) Now the Mongolian government is mounting a campaign to reclaim the lost relics, hoping to bring home fossils long held in foreign museums and the curiosity cabinets of private collectors -- such as Hollywood star Nicolas Cage -- who pay hundreds of thousands of dollars for them on the open market. In his yurt near the red sandstone cliffs, Gelegrash laughed about the skull's potential value: If I had known it was worth so much, I would have sold it myself." The dinosaur repatriation drive began when the husband of the country's then culture, sport and tourism minister Oyungerel Tsedevdamba learned a New York auction house was to sell a rare, nearly complete Tarbosaur bataar specimen -- a smaller, fiercer cousin of Tyrannosaurus rex. Palaeontologists confirmed that all known specimens of the fearsome reptile had come from Mongolia's Nemegt basin, raising the question of how it ended up in Manhattan. Removing fossils from the country is illegal, but nobody knew what to do exactly", Oyungerel told AFP. "Nobody had claimed dinosaurs from abroad before." - Smugglers and thieves - Since Chapman Andrews' discovery, hundreds of expeditions have travelled to Mongolia to look for fossils, some with official blessing, others digging them out illegally and smuggling them out of the country. It is nearly impossible to prevent thefts from Mongolia's vast steppe, said Surenjav Munkhsaikhan, 31, who manages the national park where Chapman found the eggs. She is the only full-time guardian of over 10,000 hectares of fossil-rich desert, working with police and her volunteer deputy Gelegrash to combat crimes ranging from illegal mining to the theft of rare plants. She patrols the area on an old motorbike, but "really wants some drones", she said. For now the only way she knows a fossil has been stolen is when customs agents catch a smuggler, or one of Gelegrash's fellow herders complains about losing their source of income. "We never caught or arrested any of those thieves," she said. The Tyrannosaurus Bataar in New York -- estimated to be 70 million years old -- was far from the first fossil to leave Mongolia, but quickly captured the national imagination, and Mongolias President Tsakhiagiin Elbegdorj took the case directly to the US government. In 2012, a US federal prosecutor filed a lawsuit seeking the forfeiture of the relic from the firm that auctioned it. The case ended in victory -- two years after the suit was filed, the fossil headed home to Mongolia. More importantly, the ruling was an important step towards undermining the entire underground trade, Oyungerel told AFP. The US was the "end point where all fossils were going -- we wanted to shut down that market." - Lenin's footsteps - Mongolia has since recovered around 30 fossils directly from the smugglers' hands, Oyungerel said. Some collectors have also begun to return their fossils voluntarily, among them Cage, who bought his T. bataar skull at auction for $276,000 before learning it had been smuggled out of Mongolia. Authorities were once slow to recognise the value of Mongolia's palaeontological heritage, according to Oyungerel, while Mongolians regarded dinosaurs as "just bones". But last year, a museum dedicated to the recovered specimens opened in Ulan Bator's former Lenin museum, a holdover from the countrys Communist past. A monumental bust of the founder of the Soviet Union used to occupy centre spot in the exhibition hall but now lies in pieces behind the building, with T. Bataar standing in his place. The museum has reserved space for more recoveries. Among those the most symbolically important targets are Chapman Andrews' specimens, now in the American Museum of Natural History (AMNH)in New York. When he took them, he signed a contract promising to return them to the country. But AMNH officials are reluctant to give up their prized specimens, according to sources familiar with the matter, citing concerns about Mongolia's ability to manage the collection. Similar arguments have been cited elsewhere over other demands for heritage restitution, such as Greece's Elgin Marbles, now in the British Museum in London, or the Benin Bronzes of Nigeria, now scattered between museums in Britain, Germany and the US. The AMNH declined a request from AFP for comment. Surenjav and Gelegrash hope that the fossils can one day return to their original resting place in the Mongolian desert. The herder admits the campaign has changed his perception of dinosaur remains. He used to value them for a different use: "Theyre good for health," he said, as he poked at a small, white fossil sticking out of the red earth. "I sometimes ground them up and gave them to my livestock." National park ranger Surenjav Munkhsaikhan (L) and herder Gelegrash talking in a yurt near the Flaming Cliffs in the Gobi desert Johannes Eisele (AFP) This aerial picture shows the Flaming Cliffs in the Gobi desert Johannes Eisele (AFP) Stakes were low in Gabon's second election round, and so was voter interest Voting in Gabon ended Saturday in the second round of legislative elections with the party of President Ali Bongo, whose family has ruled the country for nearly 50 years, coasting towards victory. No major incidents were reported on voting day which ended at 1700 GMT. Voters and election officials said voter turnout had been low in Libreville. Bongo's Gabonese Democratic Party (PDG) has already won 74 of the 83 seats up for grabs in the first round of the long-delayed parliamentary election, which is being boycotted by veteran politician Jean Ping. Ping, a former stalwart of Bongo's father Omar's regime, proclaimed himself president after a controversial 2016 election which saw Bongo re-elected by just a few thousand votes. Violence broke out and dozens of people were killed in 2016 according to the opposition, but the government says only four died. Ping's headquarters were also bombed. On Saturday, polling was for the remaining seats of the 143-member legislature. Polling has been deferred in the northern constituency of Ellelem and the election commission has not given a date yet. The fractured opposition only took four seats in the first round. Two seats were won by independent candidates and three by small parties or groups affiliated to the ruling party. The October 6 first round also included municipal polls. African Union observers had described the running of the election as "satisfactory" and without irregularities, but several civil society organisations complained that there had been attempts to buy votes. The mother of all queues: Trying to get into Touba's mosque during the big weekend A traditional march of the Mouride Brotherhood, a Sufi order with a mass following in Senegal, converged on the holy city of Touba on Saturday for the Grand Magal, its biggest annual celebration, AFP reporters said. Hundreds of thousands of believers turned out for the pilgrimage. Some estimates put the figure at over a million. Some three million Mourides are expected for Sunday's Grand Magal celebrations, making this one of the most popular pilgrimages in the world. They are celebrating the life and teachings of Cheikh Amadou Bamba, the brotherhood's founder who died in 1927, reading his poems and praying by his tomb over the entire weekend. Some 90 percent of people in Senegal, known for its religious tolerance, are Muslims. For the most part, they adhere to one of the several Sufi Islam currents represented in the country. Music is a big part of the festivities This year, the Grand Magal also has a political dimension, with candidates for next February's presidential election making an appearance. President Macky Sall stopped by on Thursday and Friday, inaugurated a military police barracks, and asked Mouride leader Serigne Mountakha Mbacke for "prayers for his re-election", according to local media. Maurice Kamto has rejected the official outcome of this month's presidential election, in which he was one of seven candidates seeking to unseat President Paul Biya who has ruled Cameroon for 35 years Cameroon police on Saturday arrested around 50 supporters of opposition figure Maurice Kamto during an unauthorised march in Douala, his spokesman said. "Mass arrests of activists (Mrs Michele Ndoki and around 50 others) and of supporters demonstrating peacefully today," the spokesman, Olivier Bibou-Nissack, said in a Facebook post, referring to one of Kamto's lawyers. The protesters were arrested during a rally in Douala, the country's economic capital. Among them was a journalist who was covering the event, sources said. Kamto has rejected the official outcome of this month's presidential election, in which he was one of seven candidates seeking to unseat President Paul Biya who has ruled Cameroon for 35 years. Kamto came second with 14.23 percent the vote, against 71.28 percent for 85-year-old Biya who has spent 35 years in power. Ndoki is one of Kamto's lawyers who protested before the Constitutional Council against what she called "massive and systematic fraud" during the election. Bibou-Nissack said the headquarters of Kamto's party, Movement for the Rebirth of Cameroon (MRC), had been vandalised. The building was cordoned off by police who stopped anyone from approaching, an AFP journalist said. On Friday, government minister Paul Atanga Nji warned that "any attempts to disturb the public order will be met with the greatest firmness". Cameroon authorities were not available for comment Saturday afternoon. A handout picture released by the Omani Royal Palace on October 26, 2018 shows Sultan Qaboos (L) meeting Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in the capital Muscat Palestinian officials on Saturday expressed concern about a potential "normalisation" of relations between Israel and Arab countries, after Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu visited Oman. Netanyahu met with Oman's Sultan Qaboos late Thursday, an encounter that was kept secret until after he returned to Israel, where it was presented as a major coup for the Jewish state's efforts to bolster ties with the Arab world. "The value system and the Arab political and social pact don't exist anymore," said Mohammad Shtayyeh, an adviser to Palestinian president Mahmud Abbas, in a statement. "It is the start of a public normalisation and the end of the Arab peace initiative", he added, referring to a 2002 Arab League proposal. The 2002 initiative affirmed Arab states would restore diplomatic ties with Israel in exchange for a peace settlement creating a Palestinian state that returned all land occupied or annexed in and since the 1967 war. Deputy speaker of the Palestinian parliament Hassan Khreisheh on Saturday lamented an "unprecedented haste by Arab countries to normalise ties with Israel". Netanyahu's visit to Oman was the first by an Israeli premier since 1996, when acting prime minister Shimon Peres visited and the countries agreed to establish trade representative offices. Oman closed those offices in 2000 after the outbreak of the second Palestinian intifada. Netanyahu has long sought alliances with other Arab states which, like Israel, face an emboldened Iran, stressing that such ties could enable peace with the Palestinians. Israel currently has full diplomatic relations with only two Arab states, Egypt and Jordan. Residents hold a candlelit vigil for victims of the shooting at the Tree of Life Synagogue in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania Gunman Robert Bowers only needed 20 minutes to sow terror at the Tree of Life synagogue in the US city of Pittsburgh, where congregants had gathered peacefully for Shabbat services marking a day of rest. Shortly before 10 am (1400 GMT) the 46-year-old Bowers -- who had penned virulent anti-Semitic messages on social networks -- burst into the synagogue armed with an assault rifle and three handguns. Stephen Weiss, a member of the congregation who was inside the building, told the Tribune-Review newspaper he heard dozens of shots coming from the front lobby. "We had services going on in the chapel when we heard a loud noise in the lobby area," he said. "I recognized it as gunshots." Like any other Saturday, people from three different congregations were scattered throughout rooms in the building, located in the Squirrel Hill neighborhood that is historically the heart of Jewish life in greater Pittsburgh. Bowers entered a room where a baby-naming ceremony was taking place. He rained bullets, killing 11 people, all of them adults. As he attempted to leave the synagogue, he found himself face-to-face with a uniformed officer calling for reinforcement. A SWAT Team truck turns on a street near the Tree of Life Synagogue, after a gunman opened fire inside He barricaded himself on the building's third floor and was taken into custody after a shootout with police. Twenty minutes after his first shot, Bowers surrendered to officers. He was hospitalized with multiple injuries but authorities said he was in "fine" condition. Ben Opie, 55, lives in front of the synagogue and told journalists his wife was heading out for a volunteer shift when police demanded she stay inside. Two hours later, Opie's voice was still trembling. "It's just," he said before pausing. "Sorry, it's shaking me more than usual." Yraida Guanipa, who did time for drug crimes in Florida and now works with other ex-convicts on their transition back into society, is the plaintiff in a US federal case on restoration of voting rights to convicted felons Yraida Guanipa did time for drug-related offenses and was released more than 10 years ago, but she still is not eligible to vote in the US midterm elections on November 6. She is not alone: in Florida, there are 1.5 million people who cannot vote -- more than 10 percent of its adult population -- because the Sunshine State strips felons of their voting rights. "It makes us feel like we are not citizens. Like we are another class of people, an inferior group that cannot speak," said Guanipa, who is 56. Technically, the restriction dates back to the post-Civil War period. Thwarted by the US Congress, which forced states to grant full civic rights to former slaves, Florida lawmakers opted to bar felons from voting -- a disproportionate number of whom were freed blacks. At that time, "lawmakers -- especially in the South -- implemented a slew of criminal laws designed to target black citizens," according to Erin Kelley, a voting rights and elections expert at the Brennan Center for Justice at the New York University School of Law. The controversial clause in Florida's state constitution, which today affects blacks and Latinos in particular, is on the ballot in November. Amendment 4 would automatically restore voting rights to felons who have completed their sentences, paid restitution and fulfilled their parole or probation -- except those convicted of murder or sex crimes. - Slow process - Guanipa got out of prison in 2007 after serving nearly 12 years for her drug conviction. "I started to see what this country is really all about and the things that we have to change," said Guanipa, who was born in Venezuela and is a nationalized US citizen. She spoke with AFP at the YG Institute in Miami, an organization she founded to help other ex-cons transition to life outside prison. Currently, felons must wait a minimum of five years after completing their sentences to apply for restoration of their voting rights. Defenders of the status quo like Richard Harrison, of the Florida Rights Coalition, says the new amendment fails to take into consideration the harm done to victims, the felon's post-release conduct and other factors. But critics say the current process -- and a review by a clemency board -- is slow and arbitrary. Some ex-cons say the process can take decades. "In my case, I could be dead before I could vote again," said Guanipa. - Why it matters - Nationwide, six million people cannot vote because of their criminal records. Florida, a swing state that also plays a key role in national elections, has the largest number of those. If Amendment 4 is passed, which polls suggest is likely, 1.5 million more Floridians will be granted the right to vote in 2020 -- date of the next presidential election. But which party would benefit the most? "The common assumption is that a large portion of these disenfranchised felons would lean Democratic," said Susan MacManus, a political analyst at the University of Southern Florida. But Gregory Koger, a professor of political science at the University of Miami, told AFP the implications were less clear-cut -- noting that those with a high school degree or less tend to vote Republican. "They would have to register to vote and then actually turn out to vote. It is not clear how many would do so," Koger told AFP. - 'Completely unfair and un-American' - Earlier this year, a federal judge said the clemency board's system of restoring voting rights was unconstitutional, as its decisions were arbitrary, and ordered the board to set specific criteria. That case is now under appeal. Guanipa is one of the plaintiffs. "It remains the worst voting rights crisis in America," said Jon Sherman, an attorney with the Fair Elections Center, which is representing the plaintiffs. "There is no level of disenfranchisement or voter suppression anywhere close to the level at which Florida disenfranchises people with felony convictions for years and decades of their life, even after they've done everything that the criminal justice system requires of them," he said. "And it's completely unfair and un-American and unconstitutional." Critics say the current Florida system is purposefully racist. Today, more than one in every five African Americans in Florida (21 percent) cannot vote, according to the Sentencing Project. Experts say no such studies have been carried out for Latinos. But they cite a 2003 investigation carried out in 10 states by Latino legal defense group MALDEF that concluded that Hispanics are disenfranchised at a higher rate than the general population. "The law was passed to deny blacks the right to vote. We Latinos were not here," said Guanipa. "But when we got here, they said, 'OK, let's take it away from them, too.'" Iranian Shiite pilgrims of all generations at the Iran-Iraq border as they head towards the central Iraqi shrine city of Karbala, ahead of the Arbaeen religious festival At the border town of Mehran between Iran and Iraq, a sea of pilgrims surges forwards, en route to one of the biggest religious pilgrimages on the planet. Iranian organisers say more than 1.8 million Iraqi visas have been issued for Iranians this year for the Arbaeen pilgrimage which culminates on Tuesday as the devout head, many by foot, to Karbala and one of the holiest sites of Shiite Islam, the shrine of Imam Hussein. Men and women, young and old, toddlers in prams and elderly pushed in wheelchairs -- they converge from all over the Islamic republic. "I go because my heart demands it of me, I go because of my love for Imam Hussein," said Morteza Taghikhani, a 39-year-old auto worker, who had already been on the pilgrimage five times before. His wife and young children were accompanying him for the first time: "They insisted on coming. Though it is a difficult trip, they've enjoyed it so much." Free food -- including two full meals a day -- is handed to Iranian devotees on their long pilgrimage to Arbaeen in the Iraqi Shiite holy city of Karbala The pilgrims stream past tents, called "mokebs", which hand out free food ranging from scrambled eggs to boiled turnips. Full meals are served at midday and in the evenings. The crossing stays open around the clock, but blankets and tents are provided for anyone needing a rest. Every few metres there is a free shoeshine, and when the pilgrims take off their shoes the attendant kisses their feet as a sign of respect: for Shiites the Arbaeen march is so holy that just serving the pilgrims is thought to bring divine reward. The pilgrimage marks the martyrdom in 680 of Imam Hussein, grandson of the Prophet Mohammad, who refused to accept the leadership of the "usurper" Caliph Yazid and was massacred along with his followers at Karbala. - 'Cannot be defeated' - Shiite Muslims have honoured his death with elaborate mourning ceremonies ever since and Hussein's last stand has come to serve as a powerful symbol of resolve and sacrifice in the face of oppression. Iranian Shiite Muslim pilgrims at the Iran-Iraq border en-route to the central Iraqi shrine city of Karbala That imagery remains a key part of Iran's religious and political self-image, and even as modernity has transformed much of the country, the huge scale of the Arbaeen pilgrimage is a reminder of how significant the symbolism remains. "This march shows world imperialism that the Muslim nation cannot be defeated, whether by economic or military or political means," said Sajjad Entezar, a 23-year-old cleric from the Iranian holy centre of Qom. Arbaeen marks the 40th day after Imam Hussein's martyrdom, with the devout marching on foot for all or part of the way to Karbala. Khadijeh Mehrjoo, a 36-year-old city council member from a small town in central Iran, said she was not concerned by the long days and nights -- or even Iraq's security issues. "There is no need to worry, Imam Hussein himself looks after us," she said. A car park in Mehran at the Iran-Iraq border filled with vehicles left by Iranian Shiite Muslim pilgrims as they head towards the central Iraqi shrine city of Karbala State institutions offer free services and food to pilgrims alongside those of the public, while the national broadcaster gives wall-to-wall coverage for a fortnight before Arbaeen, which falls on October 30 this year. The march was forbidden for many years, under former Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein, who fought a devastating war with Iran in the 1980s. Restrictions were only lifted after his downfall in 2003. With the formation of a new Iraqi state, where the post of prime minister is held by a Shiite, the march quickly became one of the most popular religious pilgrimages in the world. Even the Islamic State group's emergence and its ruthless campaign against Shiites, which it considers infidels, did not deter the pilgrims. Iranian Shiite Muslim pilgrims at the Iran-Iraq border as they head towards the central Iraqi shrine city of Karbala If anything, the Sunni extremists' seizure of vast swathes of Iraqi territory in 2014 -- reaching within 70 kilometres (45 miles) of Karbala -- only invigorated the faithful, pushing the number of pilgrims into the millions. For Mehrjoo the pilgrimage is itself a means to defeat the threats against it. "The march creates unity, solidarity," she said. "If we join hands we can overcome. We can defeat the enemies of Islam." The Anonymous collective claimed it launched a cyber attack on dozens of Gabon government websites The Anonymous hackers collective on Sunday claimed it hacked into more than 70 Gabon government websites, as part of what it called a campaign against dictatorships. Government sites including the ministries of communications and the civil service were inaccessible on Sunday, as were the websites of at least 30 other institutions. The presidency website continued to function as normal. "Huge surprise attack against the government of Gabon today," read a message on a Twitter account close to the Anonymous group. "More than 70 government sites (attacked). All their servers and mail systems are offline. The dictators should have been expecting us," the tweet continued. Gabon's agency for digital infrastructure, ANINF, said the administration had been hit by a denial of service (DOS) attack. The agency said 60 of 102 websites "were taken offline for a few hours", though AFP was still unable to connect to them at 1800 local time (1700 GMT). ANINF added that it might take judicial action against anyone found to be involved in the attack. Hackers from the loose-knit Anonymous collective have taken aim at a string of high-profile targets around the world in recent years. The group originated in 2003, adopting the Guy Fawkes mask as its symbol. The mask is a stylised portrayal of an oversized smile, rosy cheeks and a wide moustache upturned at both ends. Voting in Gabon ended Saturday in the second round of legislative elections with the party of President Ali Bongo, whose family has ruled the country for nearly 50 years, coasting towards victory. This was the first time the Anonymous group has claimed responsibility for action in a central African nation. In August Anonymous hackers claimed responsibility for bringing down government websites in Spain, in protest at Madrid's efforts to block Catalonia's separatist drive. Young Moroccans celebrate the Boujloud festival in the Sidi Moussa district of Sale near Rabat, on October 27, 2018 Dressed in sheepskins and spooky masks, young Moroccans dance through the neglected city streets of Sale north of the kingdom's capital to mark the annual Boujloud festival. Often referred to as Morocco's Halloween, Boujloud is deeply rooted in local traditions and customarily celebrated after the Eid al-Adha holiday. In the Siddi Moussa district of the Moroccan city of Sale, organisers sought to transform the kingdom's traditional Boujoud festival into a pulpit for the voiceless But in Sale's Siddi Moussa district, organisers this year were seeking to transform the traditional festivities by using street art and performances to give a voice to those who are usually not heard. "The festival aims to send our voice to the elected officials and make them aware of our needs," says Mohamed Ouahib, head of the Space of Solidarity and Development, which organised Sale's festival -- now in its twelfth year. Created by Sidi Moussa residents, the association hopes hype around the event will bring much needed "media coverage to the district". Often referred to as Morocco's Halloween, Boujloud is deeply rooted in local traditions of the same name and customarily celebrated after the Eid al-Adha holiday Children line the streets and watch from windows as figures clad in sheep and goatskins parade by wearing ghoulish masks and dancing to rhythmic Gnawa music. Further down the road, the masquerade expands. Young men march by carrying a model dragon reminiscent of the ones used to celebrate Chinese New Year. Another group shuffles past carrying a wooden statue of a man dressed in traditional Moroccan garb. Across the neighbourhood, young people fill the streets joyfully celebrating their cultural heritage through creative expression. Marked in different manners across the country, some Boujloud festivals attract Moroccans from across the country who come to proudly show off their local traditions Marked in different manners across the country, some Boujloud festivals attract Moroccans from across the country who come to proudly show off their local traditions. "We are here to participate with our Boujloud," says Mbarek Seksiwi, who came with friends from the southern city of Agadir. "Each region in Morocco has its own way of wearing the costume. In our region, we use a dozen skins" to make our outfit, he adds. Gregory Bush is arraigned on two counts of murder and 10 counts of wanton endangerment Thursday, Oct. 25, 2018, in Louisville, Ky. Bush fatally shot two African-American customers at a Kroger grocery store Wednesday and was swiftly arrested as he tried to flee, authorities said Thursday. Photo: Scott Utterback/Courier Journal via AP Pool Two black senior citizens were murdered in Louisville, Kentucky, on Thursday. Maurice Stallard, 69, was at a Kroger supermarket when Gregory Bush, a 51-year-old white man, walked in and shot him multiple times. Bush then exited the store and shot Vickie Lee Jones, 67, in the parking lot before an armed bystander reportedly fired back, prompting him to flee. Police were unable to confirm accounts that Bush encountered a second armed man, who engaged him in a brief standoff where no shots were fired, according to the New York Times. Dont shoot me and I wont shoot you, the mans son, Steve Zinninger, claimed Bush told his father. Whites dont kill whites. Police apprehended Bush minutes later. Bush had no known connection to either of his victims. Any doubt of a racial motive seemed quelled when surveillance footage showed the shooter forcibly tried to enter a black church minutes before moving on to the supermarket. The Times reports that a member of the 185-year-old First Baptist Church of Jeffersontown grew alarmed when she saw Bush yanking aggressively at its locked front doors. Up to ten people were inside the chapel following a midweek service. Im just thankful that all of our doors and security was in place, church administrator Billy Williams said. The murder of black seniors is a relatively rare phenomenon in the U.S. People over 65 accounted for just 2 percent of black homicide victims in 2014, according to a 2017 Violence Policy Center report, citing that year as the most recent for which data was available. Yet they have been central victims in recent racist killings. From Charleston to New York City and, now, possibly Louisville, some of the 21st centurys most notorious white supremacists have targeted black seniors for violent deaths. The unique cruelty of this pattern magnifies its obvious illogic, demonstrating yet again that white rhetoric framing black people as threats is shallow cover for terrorizing the vulnerable. It also casts harsh light on the canards used to deflect reckoning with racist violence among partisan pundits. Arguments that police brutality claims are overblown, and that black-on-black crime is the more pressing issue, can make interracial violence a tough sell as worthy of national attention if mostly for conservatives seeking to avoid confronting racism altogether. Yet their reasoning rarely cuts both ways. Terrorist attacks by Muslim refugees have not happened in the U.S., yet their specter fueled President Donald Trumps election. Violent crime committed by undocumented immigrants is rare, but as a rhetorical device, it is among the central Republican wedge issues of the upcoming midterm elections. The reality is that there has long been a tacit understanding in America that some forms of violence are more morally objectionable than others, regardless of their frequency. That this understanding is often weaponized to promote xenophobia and white supremacy belies that it also has appropriate applications. Black Americans have been targeted for centuries of enslavement and racial violence. Black people in their 60s are among the last generation who lived through and remember Jim Crow. Maurice Stallard was about five years old when Brown v. Board of Education was decided and a teenager when the Voting Rights Act passed in 1965. Vickie Lee Jones was five when the Montgomery Bus Boycotts ended. She was close to 13 when white terrorists in Birmingham, Alabama, murdered four little black girls in a church. If anything constitutes a uniquely repugnant act of violence, white racists murdering black Americans who endured the 20th centurys banner period of white racist violence in the U.S. and lived to tell of it qualifies. Yet we continue to see it unfold and remarkably, often justified using the rhetoric of defense. Yall are raping our white women. Yall are taking over the world, shouted Dylann Roof as he massacred nine black people at a church in Charleston, South Carolina, in 2015. White supremacist James Jackson, who initially hoped to kill younger [black] guys who put white girls on the wrong path, settled for stabbing Timothy Caughman to death with a sword in New York City in 2017. The white race is being eroded, he later said. Caughman was 66 when he was killed. Ethel Lee Lance was 70, Daniel Simmons was 74, and Susie Jackson was 87 when Roof murdered them in purported defense of his race. At 69 and 67, respectively, Stallard and Jones are the latest to join their cohort. And their number could have easily been larger. Had Bush succeeded in breaking into the church a place of black worship, black community, and at its best, black sanctuary more potential victims awaited. White violence against black people has always been about power, first and foremost, and rationalized by invoking fabricated threats. But the wholesale massacre of unsuspecting black senior citizens better reflects its true rationale. Terrorism is most effective when it targets those least able to fight back. GUATEMALA CITY (AP) - Guatemalan President Jimmy Morales announced Friday that he is shutting down a crusading U.N.-sponsored anti-graft commission that pressed a number of high-profile corruption probes, including one pending against the president himself over purported illicit campaign financing. Speaking in front of a host of mostly military and police leaders, Morales said he had informed the U.N. secretary-general of his decision not to renew the body's mandate and "immediately" begin transferring its capacities to Guatemalan institutions. The government later clarified in a statement that the commission will remain in the country through the end of its current two-year term, which ends Sept. 3, 2019, during the transition period. "It was respectfully requested of the United Nations that the commission initiate the transfer," the statement read, adding that the commission "will have a year to complete this objective contemplated in its mandate." People protest against a decision by Guatemala's President Jimmy Morales to shut down the United Nations International Commission Against Impunity, CICIG, at Constitution Square in Guatemala City, Friday, Aug. 31, 2018. Last week the Supreme Court allowed a request brought by the CICIG and Guatemalan prosecutors to strip Morales' immunity from prosecution to go to Congress for consideration. (AP Photo/Oliver de Ros) Minutes before the surprise announcement, U.S.-donated army vehicles that Guatemala uses to fight drug and other smuggling were deployed to the commission's headquarters in the capital in what critics called an attempt at intimidation. The decision caps a long history of friction between the president and the International Commission Against Impunity in Guatemala, or CICIG for its initials in Spanish. In August 2017, Morales announced that he was expelling the commission's chief, Ivan Velasquez, but that move was quickly blocked by Guatemala's top court. At the time Morales declared Velasquez a persona non grata and fired his foreign minister for refusing to carry out the order to expel him, before later backing off and saying he would obey the court's decision. Morales accused the commission Friday of "violating our laws, inducing people and institutions to participate in acts of corruption and impunity," and "selective criminal prosecution with an ideological bias." "Selective justice has been used to intimidate and terrorize the citizenry," he charged. "Judicial independence has been violated, with the intention of manipulating justice, actions that attack the presumption of innocence and due process." The announcement was promptly met with criticism from human rights officials and advocates. "We sincerely regret the great mistake that the president made public in not renewing CICIG's mandate," Guatemalan human rights prosecutor Jordan Rodas said. "We are grateful for its valuable contribution in the country to the fight against corruption and impunity." Morales is suspected of receiving at least $1 million in undeclared contributions during the 2015 campaign. He has denied wrongdoing. Last week the Supreme Court allowed a request brought by CICIG and Guatemalan prosecutors to strip his immunity from prosecution to go to Congress for consideration. If 105 lawmakers vote in favor, it could open him up to investigation for possible illicit campaign financing. "I think there's a conflict of interest, and an attempt by President Morales to try to protect his own interests in light of the ongoing investigation and probe," said Adriana Beltran, director for citizen security at the Washington Office on Latin America, which advocates for human rights in the region. Beltran said CICIG and Velasquez have made remarkable progress in strengthening the rule of law in Guatemala "despite constant attacks and efforts to try to undermine (their) work," and that "there's still much more that needs to be done." The commission released security camera video showing perhaps a dozen military jeeps taking up position curbside outside the headquarters Friday, some with soldiers manning machine gun turrets. CICIG spokesman Matias Ponce said they were there for a few minutes, and later returned and drove by without stopping. Ponce also told The Associated Press that police and army vehicles intercepted a car carrying a team from the commission on a street in the capital. Rodas called the deployment an "oversize and intimidating presence." "It is an unnecessary military movement that reminds us of days past when there were coups, and now we are a democracy - nobody is above the law," he said, adding that he would work to guarantee the safety of the commissioner and his team. Prosecutors' spokeswoman Julia Barrera said an investigation was opened "to see if any crime was committed" by deploying the vehicles. The U.S. Embassy said in a statement that the United States had donated the jeeps to help Guatemala fight crime and drug trafficking in border areas, and said it "is closely monitoring that all equipment donated for law enforcement in Guatemala is used appropriately and on the terms of the agreements under which they were donated." Friday's announcement also coincided with the expiration of visas for all foreign employees of CICIG, including Velasquez. The future of their migratory status was not immediately clear. The U.S. Embassy in Guatemala said in a statement that CICIG "is an effective and important partner to fight against impunity, improve governance and hold the corrupt accountable in Guatemala." It added that Washington would continue to support efforts against corruption and impunity in the country. It was a much softer statement than the one from State Department spokeswoman Heather Nauert last year, when Morales tried to expel Velasquez. Back then, she said Washington was "deeply concerned" and "it remains crucial that CICIG be permitted to work free from interference by the Guatemalan government." The U.S. and U.N. ambassadors arrived at the commission's headquarters in the afternoon in an apparent show of support, as did small groups of demonstrators in favor of and against CICIG. Some set off small fireworks in celebration. Others chanted, "Jimmy out!" Chief prosecutor Maria Consuelo Porras, who partnered with the commission in requesting the elimination of Morales' immunity of office, urged the government and the United Nations "to make their best efforts to reach agreements that benefit the Guatemalan people for peace, tranquility and social harmony." U.S. Sen. Patrick Leahy, a Democrat from Vermont and staunch CICIG supporter, said that in light of the announcement, Congress would "reassess" future aid to Guatemala and its military. "It now falls to the Guatemalan people, the judiciary and the Attorney General to ensure that this attempt to perpetuate impunity does not succeed," Leahy said in a statement. "It is critical that CICIG ... continues to carry out its mandate." The commission's work with Guatemalan prosecutors has led to high-profile graft probes that ensnared dozens of politicians and businesspeople and even led to the downfall of former President Otto Perez Molina and his then-vice president. The military deployment came the same day a U.N. human rights team was expelled from the Central American nation of Nicaragua after the Office of the U.N. High Commissioner for Human Rights published a critical report accusing President Daniel Ortega's government of violent repression of opposition protests. There was no immediate indication of a link between the two events. ___ Associated Press writer Peter Orsi contributed from Mexico City. Firecrackers go off as a supporter in favor of a decision by Guatemala's President Jimmy Morales to shut down a U.N.-sponsored anti-graft commission led by Ivan Velasquez, protests outside the United Nations International Commission Against Impunity, CICIG, headquarters in Guatemala City, Friday, Aug. 31, 2018. Last week the Supreme Court allowed a request brought by the CICIG and Guatemalan prosecutors to strip Morales' immunity from prosecution to go to Congress for consideration. (AP Photo/Moises Castillo) A man holds a banner with a message that reads in Spanish, "Out of the country" and an image of Ivan Velasquez, head of a U.N.-sponsored anti-graft commission, during a protest outside the United Nations International Commission Against Impunity, CICIG, headquarters in Guatemala City, Friday, Aug. 31, 2018. Guatemalan President Jimmy Morales announced that he is shutting down the commission that pressed a number of high-profile corruption probes, including one pending against the president himself over purported illicit campaign financing. (AP Photo/Moises Castillo) Supporters of Commissioner Ivan Velasquez, front, holds a sing as anti-CICIG protestor, back, fires fireworks in front of the United Nations International Commission Against Impunity, CICIG, headquarters in Guatemala City, Friday, Aug. 31, 2018. Guatemala president Jimmy Morales says he is not renewing mandate of U.N.-sponsored commission investigating corruption in the country. (AP Photo/Moises Castillo) Guatemalan President Jimmy Morales speaks to the nation flanked by military officers, in Guatemala City, Friday, Aug. 31, 2018. Morales said he is not renewing the mandate of a U.N.-sponsored commission that has pressed a number of high-profile corruption probes in the country, including against him. (AP Photo/ Oliver de Ros) An armed army vehicle patrols in front of the United Nations International Commission Against Impunity, CICIG, headquarters in Guatemala City, Friday, Aug. 31, 2018. Guatemala president Jimmy Morales says he is not renewing mandate of U.N.-sponsored commission investigating corruption in the country. (AP Photo) Guatemalan President Jimmy Morales speaks to the nation in a televised address, surrounded by military officers, in Guatemala City, Friday, Aug. 31, 2018. Morales said he is not renewing the mandate of a U.N.-sponsored commission that has pressed a number of high-profile corruption probes in the country, including against him. (AP Photo/Oliver de Roos) Guatemalan President Jimmy Morales speaks to the nation in a televised address, surrounded by military officers, in Guatemala City, Friday, Aug. 31, 2018. Morales said he is not renewing the mandate of a U.N.-sponsored commission that has pressed a number of high-profile corruption probes in the country, including against him. (AP Photo/Oliver de Roos) An armed army vehicle patrols in front of the United Nations International Commission Against Impunity, CICIG, headquarters in Guatemala City, Friday, Aug. 31, 2018. Guatemala president Jimmy Morales says he is not renewing mandate of U.N.-sponsored commission investigating corruption in the country.( AP Photo) Guatemalan human rights prosecutor Jordan Rodas arrives to the United Nations International Commission Against Impunity, CICIG, headquarters in Guatemala City, Friday, Aug. 31, 2018. Guatemala president Jimmy Morales says he is not renewing mandate of U.N.-sponsored commission investigating corruption in the country. (AP Photo/Moises Castillo) Matias Ponce, spokesman of the United Nations International Commission Against Impunity, CICIG, speaks to reporters, surrounded by police agents, at the CICIG headquarters in Guatemala City, Country, Friday, Aug. 31, 2018. Guatemala president Jimmy Morales says he is not renewing mandate of U.N.-sponsored commission investigating corruption in the country. (AP Photo/Moises Castillo) Supporters of Commissioner Ivan Velasquez hold a sign in front of the United Nations International Commission Against Impunity, CICIG, headquarters in Guatemala City, Friday, Aug. 31, 2018. Guatemala president Jimmy Morales says he is not renewing mandate of U.N.-sponsored commission investigating corruption in the country. (AP Photo/Moises Castillo) BELGRADE, Serbia (AP) - A rights group on Saturday sharply criticized the Serbian government after the defense ministry published and promoted books that include the war memories of two former generals convicted of war crimes by a U.N. court. The Youth Initiative for Human Rights said in an open letter to Prime Minister Ana Brnabic that the move amounted to open state support for the war criminals sentenced by the Yugoslav tribunal in The Hague, Netherlands. The ministry rejected the criticism in a statement, insisting that the generals have the right to "state their view of the historic events that they had participated in." The court convicted ex-generals Nebojsa Pavkovic and Vladimir Lazarevic for atrocities committed by Serb troops in Kosovo during the 1998-99 violence that left over 10,000 people dead and forced nearly 1 million from their homes. The court said the two officers were involved in a terror campaign against ethnic Albanians in Kosovo that included murder, rape and forced deportations. Pavkovic is serving a 22-year prison term while Lazarevic has returned to Serbia after 14 years in jail. Serbia's defense ministry is presenting the two ex-generals' war testimonies at the Belgrade Book Fair this week. The books are part of a seven-book edition that focuses on the 78-day NATO bombing in 1999, which ended the war and forced Serbia to pull out of Kosovo. FILE - In this Sept. 1, 2000 file photo, former Yugoslav army chief of staff General Nebojsa Pavkovic, left, and General Vladimir Lazarevic, right, attend a military exercise, near the eastern Serbian town of Pirot, Serbia. A rights group has sharply criticized the Serbian government after the defense ministry published and promoted books written by Nebojsa Pavkovic and Vladimir Lazarevic, two former generals convicted of war crimes by a U.N. court. The Youth Initiative for Human Rights on Saturday, Oct. 27, 2018 said the move amounted to open state support for the war criminals. (AP Photo/Darko Vojinovic, File) Kosovo declared independence from Serbia in 2008, which Belgrade does not recognize. Serbia is seeking European Union membership and the two former foes have been engaged in EU-mediated talks aimed at normalizing ties. In its statement, the defense ministry said the books were sold out in three days at the fair and additional ones have been printed. "We see no reason to be ashamed of our people's struggle and those who led that struggle," the statement said. Both Pavkovic and Lazarevic commanded troops in Kosovo during the war. Pavkovic's war diaries were promoted earlier this week while Lazarevic discussed the book about his wartime unit at the fair Saturday. In its statement, the Youth Initiative for Human Rights demanded that the prime minister halt the government's promotion of the books, saying that they humiliated victims all over again. "The rehabilitation of war criminals brings into question both the European path of the (Serbian) government and the entire country and any dialogue about the Kosovo question," the group said. "Serbia must play an active role in creating room for new memories and building of new relations in the Balkans, rather than systematically promote revisionist movements in favor of convicted war criminals." Former Yugoslav army General Vladimir Lazarevic speaks during a promotion of his book at Belgrade's Book Fair, Serbia, Saturday, Oct. 27, 2018. A rights group on Saturday sharply criticized the Serbian government after the defense ministry published and promoted books that include the war memories of Vladimir Lazarevic, convicted of war crimes by a U.N. court. (AP Photo/Darko Vojinovic) A girl passes by a showcase with books of former Yugoslav army chief of staff General Nebojsa Pavkovic at Belgrade's Book Fair, Serbia, Saturday, Oct. 27, 2018. A rights group on Saturday sharply criticized the Serbian government after the defense ministry published and promoted books that include the war memories of Nebojsa Pavkovic, convicted of war crimes by a U.N. court. (AP Photo/Darko Vojinovic) MEBANE, N.C. (AP) - North Carolina's energized and financially flush Democratic Party is casting its get-out-the-vote net this year into areas once ceded to rivals as it strives to wrest the legislature from Republicans and end a long-running battle between lawmakers and the executive branch. The party has its work cut out for it: Although North Carolina has come to be seen as a swing state nationally, its state legislature is as deeply Republican as anywhere in the South, with veto-proof GOP supermajorities in both houses - aided by favorable redistricting - and many seats Democrats never even bothered to contest. For the first time in recent history, Democrats offered candidates for all 170 state seats, echoing a strong push by Democrats across the country to tap into voter dissatisfaction with President Donald Trump's presidency and anger over the confirmation of Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh. The party is trying to flip nearly two dozen U.S. House seats to regain control of the chamber. Republicans are trying to maintain a slim Senate majority and defend several governors' mansions. In North Carolina, some hope for a large-enough wave to take control of the legislature for the first time since 2011. A more attainable goal would be to end the veto-proof majorities, which would require them to gain four seats in the House or six in the Senate. To gain control of both chambers, they would need to win 16 House and 11 Senate seats. ___ Editors: After decades of losing ground across most of the South, Democrats are finding unexpected energy in the region during the 2018 midterm elections. Even in states traditionally seen as deeply red, the party is finding hope for a resurgence - in local and state races as well as on a national stage. In this four-part series Southern Inroads , The Associated Press looks at a few key areas of Southern states where Democrats are focusing energy as Election Day approaches. This Sept. 30, 2018 photo shows North Carolina Democratic state House candidate Erica McAdoo, left, speaking to Chelsea Adams in Mebane, NC. McAdoo, a first-time candidate, is challenging Republican Rep. Stephen Ross. North Carolina Democrats are campaigning hard in areas outside of the usual swing districts in this year's legislative elections, knocking on doors and raising millions of dollars to win enough seats to wrest away Republican dominance of the legislature and curb right-leaning policies. (AP Photo/Alex Derosier) ___ Democratic Gov. Roy Cooper, long at odds with Republican majorities who have steadily eroded his power while pushing right-leaning policies, has led the way in the North Carolina Democrats' "Break the Majority" effort. Cooper isn't up for re-election until 2020 and there are no high-profile statewide races on this year's ballot. Political consultant Morgan Jackson said the governor and his fundraising team have raised $7 million for the state Democratic Party to help legislative candidates. He's also raised several hundred thousand dollars for three dozen individual candidates, Jackson said. Time spent on the Hurricane Florence recovery has curbed some of Cooper's in-person fundraising, but his wife filled in for him during an event benefiting House district candidate Erica McAdoo. Her candidacy in Alamance County is reflective of the Democrats' efforts to "expand the map" beyond the traditional swing districts around the capital of Raleigh and the state's largest city of Charlotte. Republicans have held the Alamance County district for most of this decade, and the incumbent, three-term state representative and former Burlington Mayor Stephen Ross, hasn't faced an opponent since 2014. McAdoo spent a recent weekend day in the district, knocking on doors in the working-class suburban subdivision of Mebane (MEB-un), a town along Interstate 85 previously known for textile mills and farms. Since the year 2000, Mebane's population has more than doubled to 15,000, with vacant lots and farmland giving away to outlet malls, hastily built middle-class subdivisions, and newcomers who lack the baggage of the state's previous political tussles. The area now comprises rows of matching-color family homes with manicured lawns, occupied by families who moved in from elsewhere in response to the boom in high-tech and health-based industries between Research Triangle Park and Greensboro. Democrats also are making a push for House and Senate seats held by Republicans in and around coastal Wilmington. Favored by beachgoers and transplanted out-of-state retirees, the region became fixated last year on the presence of a little-studied chemical compound, GenX, in the Cape Fear River, which provides drinking water to many. In campaign ads, Democrats and environmental groups are blaming GOP incumbents for passing budgets that reduced staff in the state environmental department responsible for water quality, and for failing to do enough for the river cleanup. The North Carolina Free Enterprise Foundation, which analyzes state politics for business interests, identified 10 Republican-held seats, including in Ross' district, as being in "emerging suburban swing districts" where Democrats are gaining ground. "They are just growing and changing demographically - period," said foundation Executive Director Jonathan Kappler. Republicans have responded to the Democratic push by offering candidates in nearly all legislative districts and driving get-out-the-vote efforts, but they've lagged behind in fundraising in many key districts. Still, state GOP Executive Director Dallas Woodhouse said party leaders feel "very confident" they will hold "governing majorities" in both chambers and say Republican voters are now energized after Kavanaugh's confirmation. Democrats are "better funded and they're louder, and there's always a natural energy in the first midterms against the party that holds the White House," Woodhouse said. "It's probably true that the Democrats' most ardent supporters are really, really mad, but their votes are only going to count once." GOP incumbents are promoting their agenda of lower taxes, fewer regulations and socially conservative values. In addition to passing laws eroding Cooper's powers, the lawmakers have extended the waiting period to obtain an abortion, restricted bathroom access for transgender people and expanded school-choice options. They've also tried to counter arguments that Republicans have cut funding for public schools and teacher pay, noting that teacher salaries have grown by more than 9 percent while spending on overall K-12 education has increased $800 million over the past two years alone. McAdoo, a first-time candidate, has been talking about public schools, health care and the environment, accusing Ross of failing to expand Medicaid coverage to more of the working poor and spend more on education. McAdoo's campaign said recently the candidate and her volunteers had knocked on 10,000 doors. "We've had to ... make sure we are reaching these folks, because that hasn't been the standard strategy in (the) county," McAdoo said. Ross declined to be interviewed. As volunteers gathered recently to help McAdoo, Democratic activist Elaine Berry reminded them that "we don't just need the people who always vote." "We need the people that need a little persuading. ... A little bit of persuading might be all we need to get them to come out and vote in this midterm election." McAdoo is hoping that her willingness to go door-to-door will motivate people like Arrowhead Estates resident Brad Holloway, who said he hasn't cast a ballot in more than 15 years. "You've actually got me thinking about ... going out and doing this," Holloway told the candidate after she showed up on his doorstep. ___ Robertson reported from Raleigh, North Carolina. ___ Find the full series at https://apnews.com/SouthernInroads . ISLAMABAD (AP) - Kashmiris are observing 'Black Day' across Pakistan and other parts of the world including in Pakistan's zone of the disputed Himalayan region to mark the Indian occupation. During the day, various social and political organizations rallied to demonstrate against Indian control over Kashmir. Indian troops entered Kashmir on this day in 1947. The prime minister of the Pakistani zone of Kashmir, Raja Farooq Haider, said the Kashmiris' struggle for freedom cannot be suppressed. President Arif Alvi and Prime Minister Imran Khan reiterated their continued diplomatic and political support for the cause of the Kashmiri people. Kashmir is divided between Pakistan and India, and both claim it in its entirety. Since 1947, they have fought two of their three wars over Kashmir. Supporters of Tehreek-Azadi Jammu Kashmir chant slogans during a rally to observe Black Day, in Lahore, Pakistan, Saturday, Oct. 27, 2018. The so called Black Day is being observed Oct. 27, throughout Pakistan to express support and solidarity with Kashmiri people in their peaceful struggle for their right to self-determination. (AP Photo/K.M. Chaudary) Supporters of Tehreek-Azadi Jammu Kashmir attend a rally to observe Black Day, in Lahore, Pakistan, Saturday, Oct. 27, 2018. The so called Black Day is being observed Oct. 27, throughout Pakistan to express support and solidarity with Kashmiri people in their peaceful struggle for their right to self-determination. (AP Photo/K.M. Chaudary) A supporter of Tehreek-Azadi Jammu Kashmir attends a rally to observe Black Day, in Lahore, Pakistan, Saturday, Oct. 27, 2018. The so called Black Day is being observed Oct. 27, throughout Pakistan to express support and solidarity with Kashmiri people in their peaceful struggle for their right to self-determination. (AP Photo/K.M. Chaudary) A man walks past a banner graphically advertising Indian Kashmiri's struggle for freedom and Pakistan's support, displayed on a highway near presidential palace in Islamabad, Pakistan, Saturday, Oct. 27, 2018. The so called Black Day is being observed Oct. 27, throughout Pakistan to express support and solidarity with Kashmiri people in their peaceful struggle for their right to self-determination. (AP Photo/Anjum Naveed) Supporters of All Parties Hurriyat Conference shout slogans during a demonstration to support Black Day, in Islamabad, Pakistan, Saturday, Oct. 27, 2018. The so called Black Day is being observed Oct. 27, throughout Pakistan to express support and solidarity with Kashmiri people in their peaceful struggle for their right to self-determination. (AP Photo/Anjum Naveed) SAO PAULO (AP) - Jair Bolsonaro, a brash far-right congressman who has waxed nostalgic for Brazil's old military dictatorship, won the presidency of Latin America's largest nation Sunday as voters looked past warnings that he would erode democracy and embraced a chance for radical change after years of turmoil. The former army captain, who cast himself as a political outsider despite a 27-year career in Congress, became the latest world leader to rise to power by mixing tough, often violent talk with hard-right positions. His victory reflected widespread anger at the political class after years of corruption, an economy that has struggled to recover after a punishing recession and a surge in violence. "I feel in my heart that things will change," Sandra Coccato, a 68-year-old small business owner, said after she voted for Bolsonaro in Sao Paulo. "Lots of bad people are leaving, and lots of new, good people are entering. There's a light at the end of the tunnel." In Rio de Janeiro, thousands of Bolsonaro supporters gathered on iconic Copacabana Beach, where fireworks went off. In Sao Paulo, Brazil's largest city, car horns could be heard honking and crowds celebrated as the results came in. There were also reports of clashes between his backers and opponents in Sao Paulo. Speaking to supporters from his home in Rio, Bolsonaro recounted how he was stabbed while campaigning last month and almost died. "I was never alone. I always felt the presence of God and the force of the Brazilian people," he said. Supporters of Jair Bolsonaro celebrate in front of his residence in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Sunday, Oct. 28, 2018. The far-right congressman took a commanding lead in the race for Brazil's presidency, as voters apparently looked past warnings that the brash former army captain would erode democracy and embraced a chance for radical change after years of turmoil. (AP Photo/Leo Correa) Bolsonaro, who ran on promises to clean up Brazil and bring back "traditional values," said he would respect the constitution and personal liberty. "That is a promise, not of a party, not the vain word of a man. It's a promise to God," he said, standing next to his wife and many cheering supporters. Later, he said in a Facebook Live transmission that he had received a call from some world leaders, including U.S. President Donald Trump who wished him good luck. Addressing supporters in Sao Paulo, his rival, Fernando Haddad of the Workers' Party, did not concede or even mention Bolsonaro by name. Instead, his speech was a promise to resist. "We have the responsibility to mount an opposition, putting national interests, the interests of the entire Brazilian people, above everything," Haddad said. "Brazil has never needed the exercise of citizenship more than right now." He later added: "Don't be afraid. We are here. We are together!" Brazil's top electoral court said Bolsonaro won with just over 55 percent of the vote, compared with just under 45 percent for Haddad. Bolsonaro went into Sunday the clear front-runner after getting 46 percent of the vote to Haddad's 29 percent in the first round of voting on Oct. 7, when 13 contenders were on the ballot. Opinion polls in recent weeks had him leading by as much as 18 percentage points, but the race tightened in the last few days. Several Brazilian heavyweights came out against him, arguing that he was a direct risk to the world's fourth-largest democracy. His rise was powered by disgust with the political system. In particular, many Brazilians were furious with the Workers' Party for its role in the mammoth graft scheme uncovered by the "Operation Car Wash" investigation. Haddad struggled to build momentum with his promises of a return to the boom times by investing in health and education and reducing poverty. Along the way, Bolsonaro's candidacy also raised serious concerns that he would roll back civil rights and weaken institutions in what remains a young democracy. He frequently disparaged women, gays and blacks, and said he would name military men to his Cabinet. Minutes after he was elected, several international human rights groups put out statements demanding that Bolsonaro respect Brazil's democracy. In a highly unusual moment earlier Sunday, the chief justice of the Supreme Court, Jose Dias Toffoli, read out part of the Constitution to reporters after he voted. "The future president must respect institutions, must respect democracy, the rule of law, the judiciary branch, the national Congress and the legislative branch," Toffoli said in remarks many took to be a rebuke of Bolsonaro and his more extreme positions. As late as Sunday morning, Haddad was still holding out hope that he could win after receiving several key endorsements late Saturday. Among them was a popular former Supreme Court justice, Joaquim Barbosa, who tweeted support for Haddad, saying Bolsonaro's candidacy scared him. Likewise, former Attorney General Rodrigo Janot, one of the biggest crusaders against corruption in the Workers' Party in recent years, also endorsed Haddad. One of the most important endorsements, particularly for young people, came from YouTube personality Felipe Neto, whose channel has nearly 27 million followers. Neto said he was troubled by Bolsonaro's comments a week ago that "red" leftists would be run out of Brazil. "In 16 years of the (Workers' Party), I have been robbed, but never threatened," Neto said on Twitter. The past few years in Brazil have been exceptionally turbulent. In 2016, then-President Dilma Rousseff of the Workers' Party was impeached and removed from office on charges that many on the left felt were politically motivated. The economy suffered a two-year recession and is only beginning to emerge, with growth stagnant and unemployment high. Scores of politicians and executives have been jailed in the Car Wash corruption investigation, which uncovered a multibillion-dollar scheme to trade public contracts and official favors for bribes and kickbacks. That instability unleashed sharp anger against the political class but also revealed deep divisions in Brazilian society, and the campaign was the most polarized in decades. There were numerous reports of politically motivated violence, especially directed at gay people. Many observers predicted that a newcomer would emerge to harness the anti-establishment anger. Instead, support coalesced around Bolsonaro, who at the margins in Congress painted himself as just the strong man Brazil needed to dismantle a failing system. Bolsonaro's campaign first gained traction with his promises to go after violent crime in a country that leads the world in homicides and where many Brazilians live in daily fear of muggings or burglaries. But his vows to loosen gun laws and give police a freer hand to use force have also raised concerns that his presidency could lead to a bloody crackdown and an erosion of civil rights. The campaign gained momentum by winning over much of the business community with promises of enacting market-friendly reforms that would reduce the size of the Brazilian state, including cutting ministries and privatizing state companies. "I hope that with these elections we're not signing a blank check again, and that we don't close our eyes to everything that has happened," said Jose Nobrega, a 53-year-old waiter in Mare, one of Rio's most violent neighborhoods. ___ Associated Press writers Sarah DiLorenzo and Mauricio Savarese reported this story in Sao Paulo and AP writer Peter Prengaman reported from Rio de Janeiro. AP writers Stan Lehman in Sao Paulo and Marcelo Silva de Sousa and Beatrice Christofaro in Rio de Janeiro contributed to this report. A supporter of Jair Bolsonaro cries tears of joy after he was declared the winner of the election runoff, during a celebration in front of his residence in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Sunday, Oct. 28, 2018 . Bolsonaro, a brash far-right congressman who has waxed nostalgic for Brazil's old military dictatorship, won the presidency of Latin America's largest nation Sunday as voters looked past warnings that the former army captain would erode democracy and embraced a chance for radical change after years of turmoil. (AP Photo/Silvia Izquierdo) A supporter of Jair Bolsonaro salutes during a celebration in front of his residence after he was declared the winner of the election runoff, in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Sunday, Oct. 28, 2018 . Bolsonaro, a brash far-right congressman who has waxed nostalgic for Brazil's old military dictatorship, won the presidency of Latin America's largest nation Sunday as voters looked past warnings that the former army captain would erode democracy and embraced a chance for radical change after years of turmoil. (AP Photo/Leo Correa) Jair Bolsonaro, presidential candidate with the Social Liberal Party, waves after voting in the presidential runoff election in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Sunday, Oct. 28, 2018. Bolsonaro is running against leftist candidate Fernando Haddad of the Workers' Party. (AP Photo/Silvia izquierdo) A supporter of Workers' Party presidential candidate Fernando Haddad, center, verbally attacks a supporter of presidential candidate Jair Bolsonaro, after Bolsonaro was declared the winner of the election runoff, in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Sunday, Oct. 28, 2018. Brazil's Supreme Electoral Tribunal declared the far-right congressman the next president of Latin America's biggest country, with 96 percent of ballots counted. (AP Photo/Ricardo Borges) A supporter of Workers' Party presidential candidate Fernando Haddad embraces a fellow distraught supporter, after learning that rival Jair Bolsonaro was declared the winner in the presidential runoff election, in Sao Paulo, Brazil, Sunday, Oct. 28, 2018. Addressing supporters in Sao Paulo, Haddad did not concede or even mention Bolsonaro by name. Instead, his speech was a promise to resist. (AP Photo/Nelson Antoine) A supporter of presidential front-runner Jair Bolsonaro rides on the back of a motorcycle waving a national flag, outside Bolsonaro's residence in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Sunday, Oct. 28, 2018. Bolsonaro took a commanding lead in the race for Brazil's presidency, as voters apparently looked past warnings that the brash former army captain would erode democracy and embraced a chance for radical change after years of turmoil. (AP Photo/Silvia Izquierdo) Supporters of Brazilian presidential candidate Jair Bolsonaro cheer as they gather outside his residence to wait for election runoff results, in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Sunday, Oct. 28, 2018. Brazilian voters decide who will next lead the world's fifth-largest country, the left-leaning Fernando Haddad of the Workers' Party, or far-right rival Bolsonaro of the Social Liberal Party. (AP Photo/Leo Correa) Supporters of Brazilian presidential candidate Jair Bolsonaro cheer as they gather outside his residence in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Sunday, Oct. 28, 2018, during the country's presidential runoff election. Brazilians on Sunday were weighing their hunger for radical change against fears that Bolsonaro, the presidential front-runner, could threaten democracy as they cast ballots in the culmination of a bitter campaign that split many families and was frequently marred by violence. (AP Photo/Leo Correa) Supporters of Brazilian presidential candidate Jair Bolsonaro cheer as they gather on Paulista Ave. to wait for election runoff results, in Sao Paulo, Brazil, Sunday, Oct. 28, 2018. Brazilian voters decide who will next lead the world's fifth-largest country, the left-leaning Fernando Haddad of the Workers' Party, or far-right rival Bolsonaro of the Social Liberal Party. (AP Photo/Nelson Antoine) Supporters of presidential front-runner Jair Bolsonaro sing the national anthem outside his residence in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Sunday, Oct. 28, 2018, during the country's presidential runoff election. Brazilian voters decide who will next lead the world's fifth-largest country, the left-leaning Fernando Haddad of the Workers' Party, or far-right rival Jair Bolsonaro of the Social Liberal Party. (AP Photo/Silvia Izquierdo) Workers' Party presidential candidate Fernando Haddad holds a Brazilian flag after casting his vote in the presidential election in Sao Paulo, Brazil, Sunday, Oct. 28, 2018. Brazilian voters decide Sunday who will next lead the world's fifth-largest country, the left-leaning Haddad or far-right rival Jair Bolsonaro. (AP Photo/Nelson Antoine) Supporters of Jair Bolsonaro, presidential candidate with the Social Liberal Party, shout slogans during the presidential runoff election in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Sunday, Oct. 28, 2018. Bolsonaro is running against leftist candidate Fernando Haddad of the Workers' Party. (AP Photo/Silvia Izquierdo) Fernando Haddad, Brazil's presidential candidate for the Workers' Party, gestures after voting during presidential election runoff, in Sao Paulo, Brazil, Sunday, Oct. 28, 2018. Brazilian voters decide Sunday who will next lead the world's fifth-largest country, the left-leaning Haddad or far-right rival Jair Bolsonaro. (AP Photo/Andre Penner) Workers' Party presidential candidate Fernando Haddad holds a Brazilian flag after casting his vote in the presidential runoff election in Sao Paulo, Brazil, Sunday, Oct. 28, 2018. Brazilian voters decide Sunday who will next lead the world's fifth-largest country, the left-leaning Haddad or far-right rival Jair Bolsonaro. (AP Photo/Nelson Antoine) A woman, donning the Workers' Party official colror celebrates after voting in the presidential runoff election in Sao Paulo, Brazil, Sunday, Oct. 28, 2018. Brazilian voters decide who will next lead the world's fifth-largest country, the left-leaning Fernando Haddad of the Workers' Party, or far-right rival Jair Bolsonaro of the Social Liberal Party. (AP Photo/Nelson Antoine) Workers' Party presidential candidate Fernando Haddad, accompanied by his wife Ana Estela, makes a victory sign as he arrives at a polling station to cast his vote in the presidential runoff election in Sao Paulo, Brazil, Sunday, Oct. 28, 2018. Haddad is facing the far-right congressman Jair Bolsonaro. (AP Photo/Nelson Antoine) FILE - In this Sept. 6, 2018 video still file provided by Fernando Goncalves, presidential candidate Jair Bolsonaro is carried away after being stabbed during a campaign rally in Juiz de Fora, Brazil. (AP Photo/Fernando Goncalves, File) A woman prepares to vote in the presidential runoff election in Sao Paulo, Brazil, Sunday, Oct. 28, 2018. Brazilian voters decide who will next lead the world's fifth-largest country, the left-leaning Fernando Haddad or far-right rival Jair Bolsonaro. (AP Photo/Nelson Antoine) Supporters of Jair Bolsonaro, presidential candidate with the Social Liberal Party, sing the national anthem in front of his house during the presidential runoff election, in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Sunday, Oct. 28, 2018. Bolsonaro is running against leftist candidate Fernando Haddad of the Workers' Party. (AP Photo/Silvia Izquierdo) BERLIN (AP) - Germany's governing parties lost significant support in a state election Sunday that was marked by discontent with infighting in Chancellor Angela Merkel's national government and prompted calls for her coalition to get its act together quickly. Merkel's conservatives emerged with an extremely lackluster win from the vote for the central Hesse region's state legislature. Her center-left governing partners' dismal performance left them level with the resurgent Greens in second place, while the far-right Alternative for Germany entered the last of Germany's 16 state parliaments. Merkel's conservative Christian Democratic Union was defending its 19-year hold on Hesse, previously a stronghold of the center-left Social Democrats, the chancellor's coalition partners in Berlin. Speculation has been widespread before the vote that a disastrous result for either or both parties could further destabilize the national government, prompting calls for the Social Democrats to walk out and possibly endangering Merkel's own position. On Sunday, government leaders appeared keen to try and keep the show on the road. Andrea Nahles, the Social Democrats' leader, said that "the state of the government is unacceptable." She said her party would insist on Merkel's governing coalition agreeing on "a clear, binding timetable" for implementing projects, adding that its implementation ahead of an already-agreed midterm review next fall will show "whether we are still in the right place in this government." Hesse Prime Minister and Christian Democratic top candidate Volker Pouffier smiles at a party's election party after first results of the Hesse state election were announced in Wiesbaden, Sunday, Oct. 28, 2018. Exit polls show Chancellor Angela Merkel's party leading with a significant drop in support for both her conservatives and their center-left partners in the national government. (AP Photo/Michael Probst) The CDU's general secretary, Annegret Kramp-Karrenbauer, said the coalition needs to identify "three concrete projects for the coming months that we implement." She didn't specify what they might be. Hesse's conservative governor, Volker Bouffier, told supporters that "the message this evening to the parties in the government in Berlin is clear: people want less argument, more objectivity, more solutions." Merkel's CDU won 27 percent of the vote Sunday and the Social Democrats 19.8 percent. When Hesse last elected its state legislature in 2013 - on the same day that Merkel, at the height of her power, won a third term as chancellor - they won 38.3 and 30.7 percent, respectively. It was the worst result in the region for the Social Democrats since World War II. There were big gains for the Greens, who took 19.8 percent of the vote, compared with 11.1 percent five years ago. And the anti-migration, anti-establishment Alternative for Germany won 13.1 percent. The pro-business Free Democrats won 7.5 and the Left Party 6.3 percent of the vote. Voters have appeared generally satisfied with Bouffier's outgoing state government. It was the first coalition between the CDU and the traditionally left-leaning Greens to last a full parliamentary term, and an unexpectedly harmonious alliance. But only the Greens, who are in opposition nationally, benefited at the polls. The result left Bouffier's outgoing CDU-Green coalition with a one-seat parliamentary majority. A CDU-Social Democrat coalition, or a combination of the Social Democrats, Greens and Free Democrats, would also have a one-seat majority, but neither appears very likely. The election campaign in prosperous Hesse, which includes Germany's financial center of Frankfurt, has been largely overshadowed by the woes of a federal coalition in office only since March. The state is home to 6.2 million of Germany's 82 million people. Two weeks ago, both Merkel's partners in the federal "grand coalition" of what have traditionally been Germany's strongest political forces - the Christian Social Union, the Bavaria-only sister to the chancellor's CDU, and the Social Democrats - were battered in a state election in neighboring Bavaria. The Social Democrats, who were badly beaten in last year's national election, only reluctantly entered Merkel's fourth-term national government in March. Many are dismayed by what has happened since. The government has been through two major crises, first over whether to turn back small numbers of migrants at the German-Austrian border and then over what to do with the head of Germany's domestic intelligence service after he was accused of downplaying far-right violence against migrants. It has failed to convince voters that it's achieving much on other matters. Karl-Rudolf Korte, a political science professor at the University of Duisburg-Essen, predicted on ZDF television that its leaders "will do everything to save the 'grand coalition' for the next three years." Being able to keep Bouffier, a deputy CDU leader, as governor would stabilize Merkel in the short term, he said. Germany's chancellor of the past 13 years has indicated that she will seek another two-year term as CDU leader in December. Andrea Nahles, federal chairwoman of the Social Democratic Party SPD, gives a statement at the SPD headquarters in Berlin, Sunday, Oct. 28, 2018, after the election in the German state of Hesse. Germany's governing parties lost significant support in a state election Sunday marked by discontent with infighting in the national government, according to projections. (Kay Nietfeld/dpa via AP) Green Party top candidates Tarek Al-Wazir, center, and Priska Hinz, left, and party co-chairwoman Annalena Baerbock, right, celebrate at a party's election party, after first results of the Hesse state election announced in Wiesbaden, Sunday, Oct. 28, 2018. (AP Photo/Jens Meyer) Christian Democratic party's, CDU, general secretary Annegret Kramp-Karrenbauer gives a statement in Berlin Sunday, Oct. 28, 2018. after her party lost in the election in the German state of Hesse. (Carsten Koall/dpa via AP) Supporters of the Christian Democratic party CDU look disappointed after the election in the German state of Hesse in the CDU headquarters in Berlin, Sunday, Oct. 28, 2018. Exit polls show Chancellor Angela Merkel's party leading with a significant drop in support for both her conservatives and their center-left partners in the national government. (Carsten Koall/dpa via AP) Natalia Meuthen, wife of AfD co-chairman Joerg Meuthen, and AfD state chairman Klaus Herrmann, from left, celebrate after the state election in the German state of Hesse in Wiesbaden, western Germany, Sunday, Oct. 28, 2018. Exit polls show Chancellor Angela Merkel's party leading with a significant drop in support for both her conservatives and their center-left partners in the national government. The nationalist Alternative for Germany, AfD, were elected into the parliament for the first time. (Frank Rumpenhorst/dpa via AP) Supporters of the Green party celebrate after the state election in the German state of Hesse in Wiesbaden, western Germany, Sunday, Oct. 28, 2018. Exit polls show Chancellor Angela Merkel's party leading with a significant drop in support for both her conservatives and their center-left partners in the national government. (Uwe Anspach/dpa via AP) Supporters of the nationalist Alternative for Germany AfD celebrate after the state election in the German state of Hesse in Wiesbaden, western Germany, Sunday, Oct. 28, 2018. Exit polls show Chancellor Angela Merkel's party leading with a significant drop in support for both her conservatives and their center-left partners in the national government. (Frank Rumpenhorst/dpa via AP) FILE - In this June 18, 2018 file photo German Chancellor Angela Merkel, left, talks with the Prime Minister of the Hesse state Volker Bouffier, right, prior to leaders meetings of her Christion Democratic Union party at the party's headquarters in Berlin. The stakes are unusually high for German Chancellor Angela Merkel's government as the central region of Hesse votes in a state election this weekend. (AP Photo/Markus Schreiber, file) FILE - In this Oct. 17, 2018 file photo German Chancellor Angela Merkel attends a meeting of the German federal parliament, Bundestag, at the Reichstag building in Berlin. The stakes are unusually high for German Chancellor Angela Merkel's government as the central region of Hesse votes in a state election this weekend. (AP Photo/Markus Schreiber, file) The March 21, 2018 photo shows Hesse governor Volker Pouffier, right, of the Christian Democratic Party CDU and Hesse Economy Minister Tarek Al-Wazir of the Green party talking in the Landtag state parliament of Hesse in Wiesbaden, western Germany. The stakes are unusually high for German Chancellor Angela Merkel's government as the central region of Hesse votes in a state election this weekend. (Arne Dedert/dpa via AP) DAHUK, Iraq (AP) - The 26-year-old Yazidi mother faces a heartbreaking choice. Her family is preparing to emigrate from Iraq to Australia and start a new life after the suffering the Islamic State group wreaked on their small religious minority. She is desperate to go with them, but there is also someone she can't bear to leave behind: Her 2-year-old daughter, Maria, fathered by the IS fighter who enslaved her. She knows her family will never allow her to bring Maria. They don't even know the girl exists. The only relative who knows is an uncle who took the girl from her mother and put her in an orphanage in Baghdad after they were freed from captivity last year. "My heart bursts from my chest every time I think of leaving her. She is a piece of me, but I don't know what to do," she said, speaking to The Associated Press at a camp in northern Iraq for displaced Yazidis. The woman spoke on condition she be identified only as Umm Maria, or "mother of Maria," for fear her family and community would find out. Umm Maria's torment points to the gaping wounds suffered by Iraq's Yazidi religious minority at the hands of the Islamic State group. When the militants overran the Yazidis' northern Iraqi heartland of Sinjar in 2014, they inflicted on the community an almost medieval fate. Hundreds of Yazidi men and boys were massacred, tens of thousands fled their homes, and the militants took thousands of women and girls as sex slaves, viewing them as heretics worthy of subjugation and rape. In this Aug. 22, 2018 photo, Ardawan, 4, eats melon on the kitchen floor of an orphanage for Yazidi children, in Sheikhan, Iraq. The child's father and four siblings have been missing since August 2014, when Islamic State militants took over northern and western Iraq; he lives at the orphanage with his mother and two remaining siblings. (AP Photo/Maya Alleruzzo) The women were distributed among IS fighters in Iraq and Syria and over the following years were traded and sold as chattel. Many women bore children from their captors - the numbers of children are not known, but they are no doubt in the hundreds. The Nobel Peace Prize this year put a focus on victims of sexual violence and on the Yazidis in particular, when one of the women abducted by IS, Nadia Murad, was named a co-winner of the award. Many, though not all, of the women have returned home, as the extremist group's "caliphate" in Iraq and Syria has been brought down. While some of them want nothing to do with babies born of rape and slavery, some, like Umm Maria, want to keep them. But Yazidi families most often reject the children. That is a reflection of the deeply entrenched traditions followed by the Yazidi community, seeking to preserve its identity among the mainly Muslim population, many of whom for centuries viewed the ancient faith with suspicion. The Yazidis, who speak a form of Kurdish, keep their community closed off, their rituals little known. They have always rejected mixed marriages and children fathered by non-Yazidis. In this case, the stain is even greater since the fathers were the same Sunni Muslim radicals who sought to wipe out the community. Under Iraqi law, the children are considered Muslims. The community has taken a relatively progressive stance toward the mothers. In Iraq's traditional society, rape can bring stigma on the victim. But the Yazidis' spiritual leader, Babashekh Khirto Hadji Ismail, issued an edict in 2015 declaring women enslaved by the militants to be "pure," with their faith intact. The declaration allowed the women to be welcomed back into Yazidi society. But not the children. Khidr Domary, a prominent Yazidi activist, acknowledged that the community's insular traditions need some reform and said the leadership has shown flexibility as it tries to deal with the trauma left by IS, known by their group's Arabic acronym, Daesh. He says that in theory mothers can bring the children back to their communities, but they will face intense pressure from family members and neighbors. "It is difficult, even for the mother, to bring a child to live in our midst when it is possible that his Daeshi father may have killed hundreds of us with his own hands, including relatives of the mother," he said. Umm Maria was taken captive along with other women in August 2014, when the militants stormed Sinjar, near the Syrian border. She was eventually taken to Syria as the slave of an IS fighter, whom she knew only by his alias, Abu Turab. Abu Turab was killed in fighting in 2015. His family sold her for $1,800 to another militant, an Iraqi she identified as Ahmed Mohammed. He took her to Iraq's Mosul, where she lived with his first wife and their children. Soon after she gave birth to Maria, he too was killed in fighting in 2015. She was consigned to an IS "guesthouse" where wounded IS fighters received first aid or took a rest from the front lines - and used Yazidi women for sex. As Iraqi security forces assaulted Mosul, the women at the house were moved from one neighborhood to another to escape bombardment. In the summer of 2017, as the city fell, Umm Maria escaped into government-held territory, though she was injured during the shelling. At the hospital, an uncle persuaded Umm Maria to give them the child until she healed, promising to return Maria to her afterward. "Had I known they planned on depositing her in an orphanage, I would have never given her," she said. Umm Maria has seen the child - now around 3 years old - only once since. Several months ago, she visited her at the Baghdad orphanage, spending two days with Maria. "She did not recognize me, but I recognized her," Umm Maria said. "How could I not? She is a piece of me." Many Yazidis see it as more essential than ever for the community to protect its identity at a time when it is struggling for survival. The Yazidis were estimated to number about 700,000 before 2014. Since the IS onslaught, nearly 15 percent are believed to have fled the country, mostly to the West. Nearly half of those still in the country live in camps for the displaced, scattered around northern Iraq. About 3,000 Yazidis remain missing or in captivity. Of these, experts believe only a third may still be alive. The Yazidis are also trying to regain their place in a country where the social fabric has been torn apart by IS. Though there were always tensions, Yazidis lived side-by-side with Muslim neighbors in a northern region that is home to many minorities, including Christians and Kurds. Now Yazidis deeply distrust Arab Muslims, accusing them of sympathizing with IS and even sometimes joining the militants in the slaughter and enslavement of Yazidis. The community also says the central government has not done enough to get back Yazidi women. It was largely left to families to put together thousands of dollars to buy back daughters or wives, or pay smugglers to sneak them out. "We have become so resentful of Muslims that we now tell our children not to be like Muslims when they are mean to each other," said Abdullah Shirim, a Yazidi businessman. Shirim is credited with rescuing dozens of Yazidi women from captivity through a network of business contacts, smugglers and bands of bounty hunters. The community is wrestling with integrating thousands of Yazidi children affected by the war. Those whose parents are missing or dead are usually taken in by extended family, but if relatives can't afford it, they end up in orphanages. Children snatched by IS and raised as Muslims have to be retaught the Yazidi faith. Boys forced to become child soldiers have to be led back from IS's virulently violent training. Amid those traumas, there is little sympathy for children fathered by militants. Another Yazidi woman, a 21-year-old who asked to be identified only as Umm Bassam, described how when she left IS territory in Syria in August, she contacted her family and asked if she could bring home her 9-month-old son, Bassam, fathered by the IS militant who held her. Their reply: "We cannot allow a Daeshi baby to live with us." Umm Bassam had been in IS captivity for several years. The IS fighter who held her - an Iraqi - took her across the border into Syria in the summer of 2017 as the militants' rule crumbled in Iraq. In Syria, she gave birth. She, the IS fighter and their child had to flee from town to town as the militants lost ground in Syria. Eventually, the fighter had her smuggled out to Kurdish-held territory, while he fled into the desert along with other militants. In the Syrian Kurdish city of Qamishli, Umm Bassam ended up in a house with other freed Yazidi women, many of them also with children. After her family's rejection, she relented and agreed to leave Bassam with Kurdish authorities. They tried to reassure her, she said, telling her the child would be cared for in an orphanage. They said at least 100 children had been left by Yazidi women. "I was hugging him until the moment they took him away from me," she said. They told her, "Don't worry, in 10 days, he won't remember you or recognize you. We will make him forget everything." But Umm Bassam remembers - every detail. Her son was chubby and fair-skinned, with a beautiful face, she said. He had a mole below his armpit. Back among her community, cut off from her son by borders, traditions and officials, she sees no choice now. She will bury it all. She'll get married, she says. She'll build a new family. "I'll make it like I never saw anything. I'll try to forget everything and start a new life." ___ AP Mideast Regional Photo Editor Maya Alleruzzo contributed to this report. FILE - In this Aug. 15, 2018 file, photo, baby girls stand up in their cribs at Salhiya Orphanage, which now hosts foreign and Iraqi children of Islamic State militants, in Baghdad, Iraq. The enslavement of Iraqi Yazidi women by the Islamic State group has left a heartbreaking legacy -- hundreds of children fathered by militants. While some of the women want nothing to do with babies born of rape and slavery, some want to keep them, but they face rejection by families traumatized by the militants who killed hundreds of Yazidis and tried to wipe out the community. (AP Photo/Maya Alleruzzo, File) In this Aug. 18, 2018 photo, Nazan Kheider, 5, who lost her father to Islamic State militants, plays a game on a mobile phone at an orphanage in Sheikhan, Iraq. The community is wrestling with integrating thousands of Yazidi children affected by the war. Those whose parents are missing or dead are usually taken in by extended family, but if relatives can't afford it, they end up in orphanages. (AP Photo/Maya Alleruzzo) FILE - In this Aug. 16, 2018 file photo, an infant lies in her crib at the state-run Salhiya Orphanage, which now hosts foreign and Iraqi children of foreign jihadists whose parents are either dead or incarcerated, in Baghdad, Iraq. (AP Photo/Maya Alleruzzo, File) FILE - In this May 22, 2016 file photo, clothing worn by a Yazidi girl enslaved by Islamic State militants, collected by a Yazidi activist to document IS crimes against the community, is displayed in Dohuk, northern Iraq. The enslavement of Iraqi Yazidi women by the IS has left a heartbreaking legacy -- hundreds of children fathered by militants. While some of the women want nothing to do with babies born of rape and slavery, some want to keep them, but they face rejection by families traumatized by the militants who killed hundreds of Yazidis and tried to wipe out the community. (AP Photo/Maya Alleruzzo, File) FILE - In this Aug. 16, 2018 file photo, a child peeks out from her crib at Salhiya Orphanage, which now hosts foreign and Iraqi children of Islamic State militants, in Baghdad, Iraq. (AP Photo/Maya Alleruzzo, File) FILE - In this May 18, 2016 file photo, the sun sets as women visit a Yazidi shrine overlooking at Kankhe Camp for the internally displaced in Dahuk, northern Iraq. The enslavement of Iraqi Yazidi women by the Islamic State group has left a heartbreaking legacy -- hundreds of children fathered by militants. While some of the women want nothing to do with babies born of rape and slave, some want to keep them, but they face rejection by families traumatized by the militants who killed hundreds of Yazidis and tried to wipe out the community. (AP Photo/Maya Alleruzzo, File) In this Aug. 19, 2018 file photo, a newborn lies in her crib at the state-run al-Zuhour orphanage, in Mosul, Iraq. At al-Zuhour it's a mix of infants born to Iraqi women who were enslaved by militants and older children whose parents are jailed; some were simply abandoned in the chaos that follows a war. (AP Photo/Maya Alleruzzo, File) In this Aug. 22, 2018 photo, an orphaned Yazidi girl draws during arts and crafts time at an orphanage in Sheikhan, Iraq. The community is wrestling with integrating thousands of Yazidi children affected by the war. Those whose parents are missing or dead are usually taken in by extended family, but if relatives can't afford it, they end up in orphanages. (AP Photo/Maya Alleruzzo) TBILISI, Georgia (AP) - Residents of Georgia on Sunday voted for a new president of the former Soviet republic on the Black Sea, the last time the president will be elected by direct ballot. Opinion polls ahead of the vote suggested that none of the 25 candidates was likely to receive the absolute majority need for a first-round win. If no one wins 50 percent support, a runoff between the top two candidates is to be held by Dec. 1. No results had been announced as of early Monday, more than four hours after the polls closed and it wasn't clear when a final tally would be made. The country's elections commission said turnout was about 47 percent nationwide. After the new president's six-year term in completed, future presidents will be chosen by a delegate system, part of constitutional changes that make the prime minister the most powerful political figure in Georgia. The president functions as head of state and commander in chief, but is otherwise largely ceremonial. Incumbent Giorgi Margvelashvili didn't run. The three top contenders are all former foreign ministers - Salome Zurabishvili, Grigol Vashadze and David Bakradze - who served during the presidency of now-exiled Mikheil Saakashvili. Salome Zurabishvili, former Georgian Foreign minister and presidential candidate, speaks to the media at a polling station during the presidential election at the polling station in Tbilisi, Georgia, Sunday, Oct. 28, 2018. Voters in Georgia are choosing a new president for the former Soviet republic, the last time the president will be elected by direct ballot. (AP Photo/Shakh Aivazov) Zurabishvili was sacked in 2005 amid disagreements with parliament. She is running as an independent but is backed by the powerful Georgian Dream party, which is funded by controversial billionaire Bidzina Ivanishvili, a Saakashvili foe. Georgian Dream holds an overwhelming majority in the parliament. Zurabishvili, however, has been heavily criticized for her contention that Georgia started the 2008 war with Russia. Some Georgians look with suspicion at her foreign background: born in France, she didn't visit Georgia until she was in her 30s and she once served as a French diplomat. Zurabishvili countered that this background is a strong qualification for Georgian president as the country seeks closer ties with the European Union. Georgia also is a strong U.S. ally and has ambitions to join NATO. Vashadze, backed by a coalition that includes the United National Movement that was founded by Saakashvili, says Saakashvili, who was stripped of his citizenship in 2015 and was sentenced in absentia for abuse of power, should be allowed to return to Georgia. The third top candidate, Bakradze, is from the European Georgia Party, which split off from the UNM. He says Zurabishvili is "unacceptable due to her position and statements, which directly harm Georgia's security and national interests." Two women read a paper on the balcony of the headquarters of presidential candidate Salome Zurabishvili during the presidential election in Tbilisi, Georgia, Sunday, Oct. 28, 2018. Sunday's election will be the last time residents of the former Soviet republic of Georgia get to cast a ballot for president, that's if any of the 25 candidates gets an absolute majority. (AP Photo/Shakh Aivazov) Believers light candles at a church in Tbilisi during the presidential election in Georgia, Sunday, Oct. 28, 2018. Sunday's election will be the last time residents of the former Soviet republic of Georgia get to cast a ballot for president, that's if any of the 25 candidates gets an absolute majority. (AP Photo/Shakh Aivazov) A man exits a polling booth as she prepares to cast her ballot in the presidential election in Tbilisi, Georgia, Sunday, Oct. 28, 2018. Sunday's election will be the last time residents of the former Soviet republic of Georgia get to cast a ballot for president, that's if any of the 25 candidates gets an absolute majority. (AP Photo/Shakh Aivazov) David Bakradze, presidential candidate from the European Georgia Party holds his ballot at the polling station in Tbilisi, Georgia, Sunday, Oct. 28, 2018 . Sunday's election will be the last time residents of the former Soviet republic of Georgia get to cast a ballot for president, that's if any of the 25 candidates gets an absolute majority. (AP Photo/Shakh Aivazov) A woman exits a polling booth as she prepares to cast her ballot in the presidential election in Tbilisi, Georgia, Sunday, Oct. 28, 2018 . Sunday's election will be the last time residents of the former Soviet republic of Georgia get to cast a ballot for president, that's if any of the 25 candidates gets an absolute majority. (AP Photo/Shakh Aivazov) A woman exits a polling booth as she prepares to cast her ballot in the presidential election in Tbilisi, Georgia, Sunday, Oct. 28, 2018 . Sunday's election will be the last time residents of the former Soviet republic of Georgia get to cast a ballot for president, that's if any of the 25 candidates gets an absolute majority. (AP Photo/Shakh Aivazov) Georgian President Giorgi Margvelashvili prepares to cast his ballot at a polling station during presidential election in Tbilisi, Georgia, Sunday, Oct. 28, 2018. Sunday's election will be the last time residents of the former Soviet republic of Georgia get to cast a ballot for president, that's if any of the 25 candidates gets an absolute majority. (Leli Blagonravova, Presidential Press Service Pool Photo via AP) Georgian President Giorgi Margvelashvili speaks to journalists after voting at a polling station during presidential election in in Tbilisi, Georgia, Sunday, Oct. 28, 2018. Sunday's election will be the last time residents of the former Soviet republic of Georgia get to cast a ballot for president, that's if any of the 25 candidates gets an absolute majority. (Leli Blagonravova, Presidential Press Service Pool Photo via AP) David Bakradze, presidential candidate from the European Georgia Party speaks to the media outside polling station in Tbilisi, Georgia, Sunday, Oct. 28, 2018 . Sunday's election will be the last time residents of the former Soviet republic of Georgia get to cast a ballot for president, that's if any of the 25 candidates gets an absolute majority. (AP Photo/Shakh Aivazov) David Bakradze, presidential candidate from the European Georgia Party speaks to the media outside polling station in Tbilisi, Georgia, Sunday, Oct. 28, 2018 . Sunday's election will be the last time residents of the former Soviet republic of Georgia get to cast a ballot for president, that's if any of the 25 candidates gets an absolute majority. (AP Photo/Shakh Aivazov) Salome Zurabishvili, former Georgian Foreign minister and presidential candidate from the European Georgia Party, casts her ballot at the polling station in Tbilisi, Georgia, Sunday, Oct. 28, 2018 . Voters in Georgia are choosing a new president for the former Soviet republic, the last time the president will be elected by direct ballot. (AP Photo/Shakh Aivazov) Salome Zurabishvili, former Georgian Foreign minister and presidential candidate from the European Georgia Party, casts her ballot at the polling station in Tbilisi, Georgia, Sunday, Oct. 28, 2018. Voters in Georgia are choosing a new president for the former Soviet republic, the last time the president will be elected by direct ballot. (AP Photo/Shakh Aivazov) Salome Zurabishvili, former Georgian Foreign minister and presidential candidate, exits a polling booth as she prepares to cast her ballot during the presidential election at the polling station in Tbilisi, Georgia, Sunday, Oct. 28, 2018. Voters in Georgia are choosing a new president for the former Soviet republic, the last time the president will be elected by direct ballot. (AP Photo/Shakh Aivazov) DAMASCUS, Syria (AP) - Syrian officials, foreign archeologists and restoration specialists attended the reopening ceremony of the Syria's National Museum in the heart of Damascus on Sunday, more than six years after the prominent institution was shut down and emptied as the country's civil war encroached on the capital. The reopening of the museum was hailed as a return to normal life by Syrian officials, eager to cash in on the Syrian armed forces' military victories against armed groups, who had only recently shelled Damascus and threatened the seat of the government in the capital, coming only miles from the presidential palace. Over successive military advances, and with the backing of allies Russia and Iran, Syrian troops moved in on rebel holdouts on the outskirts of Damascus expelling the armed groups to the north and restoring calm. "The opening of the museum is a genuine message that Syria is still here and her heritage would not be affected by terrorism," Syrian Minister of Culture Mohamed al-Ahmad told reporters and visitors. "Today, Damascus has recovered." Among the antiquities on display are murals from the 2nd century Dura-Europos in Syria's east, textiles from central Palmyra and statues of the Greek goddess of victory from the south. Syria's conflict, raging since early 2011, has been detrimental for the country's rich heritage. In this photo released by the Syrian official news agency, SANA, people attend the reopening ceremony for Syria's National Museum, in Damascus, Syria, Sunday, Oct. 28, 2018. Syrian officials, foreign archeologists and restoration specialists attended the Sunday reopening ceremony in the heart of Damascus more than six years after the prominent institution was shut down and emptied as the country's civil war encroached on the capital. (SANA via AP) Authorities shut down museums and safely stored away over 300,000 artifacts, but some sites were still destroyed by the Islamic State group, damaged by the fighting or looted. Head of the General Directorate for Antiquities and Museums, Mahmoud Hammoud, said four of the five sections of the museum will be opened to showcase hundreds of archaeological findings that date back to the prehistoric, historical, classical and Islamic eras. He said some artifacts restored or seized by Syrian authorities will also be on display. More than 9,000 artifacts were restored and reclaimed since the war began, he said, noting that the museum needs renovation and funds. He said hundreds of thousands of important artifacts and sculptures were smuggled abroad during the crisis. Visitors would be able to watch as specialists restore hundreds of artifacts reclaimed from Palmyra, which Islamic State militants overtook for months destroying some of the world's most famous monuments. Bartosz Markowski, a Polish specialist in conservation of stone sculpture and architectural detail, said he had been working in Palmyra before the war broke out. "I am saving heritage, mostly in Palmyra, where I have been working before the crisis," he told The Associated Press. "I came right after liberation and helped with urgent conservation and protection of destroyed objects in Palmyra... There is still a lot of damage in Palmyra." For Markowski, reopening the Damascus museum was "symbolic." "When life is coming back, we are opening the museums," he said. Claus Peter Hasse, the director of the Islamic Art Museum in Berlin, said he felt safe traveling between Damascus and Aleppo, Syria's commercial heart and ancient city, also damaged by the war. "Of course, it's a tragic situation to see so many tragedies around, but at the moment, we don't see difficulties," he said. The former Directorate-General for Antiquities and Museums, Maamoun Abdul-Karim, who had overseen the campaign to hide artifacts in safe places, said the country needs years, major capabilities, and millions of dollars to reopen all museums nationwide. He said hundreds of artifacts would return to the classical wing inside the museum, including those relating to the Greek and Roman period, while other wings would reopen soon. "In fact, this was a very big victory for the country," he said. "When all museums reopen nationwide, then we can say that the crisis in Syria ended." In this Feb. 23, 2016 file photo, Jihad Abu Kahrlah, an archeologist at Syria's National Museum, holds an artifact delivered from the Daraa Museum to Damascus, Syria. Syrian officials have reopened the country's National Museum in Damascus, more than six years after the prominent institution was shut down. Syria's Culture Minister Mohamed al-Ahmad told reporters Sunday, Oct. 28, 2018 that the reopening sends a "genuine message" that Syria's heritage has not been affected by "terrorism." (AP Photo/Hassan Ammar, File) In this photo released by the Syrian official news agency, SANA, people attend the reopening ceremony for Syria's National Museum, in Damascus, Syria, Sunday, Oct. 28, 2018. Syrian officials, foreign archeologists and restoration specialists attended the Sunday reopening ceremony in the heart of Damascus more than six years after the prominent institution was shut down and emptied as the country's civil war encroached on the capital. (SANA via AP) In this photo released by the Syrian official news agency SANA, a visitor looks at ancient artifacts during the reopening ceremony for Syria's National Museum, in Damascus, Syria, Sunday, Oct. 28, 2018. Syrian officials, foreign archeologists and restoration specialists attended the Sunday reopening ceremony in the heart of Damascus more than six years after the prominent institution was shut down and emptied as the country's civil war encroached on the capital. (SANA via AP) In this photo released by the Syrian official news agency, SANA, a visitor takes photos during the reopening ceremony for Syria's National Museum, in Damascus, Syria, Sunday, Oct. 28, 2018. Syrian officials, foreign archeologists and restoration specialists attended the Sunday reopening ceremony in the heart of Damascus more than six years after the prominent institution was shut down and emptied as the country's civil war encroached on the capital. (SANA via AP) In this photo released by the Syrian official news agency SANA, a visitor looks at ancient artifacts during the reopening ceremony for Syria's National Museum, in Damascus, Syria, Sunday, Oct. 28, 2018. Syrian officials, foreign archeologists and restoration specialists attended the Sunday reopening ceremony in the heart of Damascus more than six years after the prominent institution was shut down and emptied as the country's civil war encroached on the capital. (SANA via AP) THESSALONIKI, Greece (AP) - Italian President Sergio Mattarella on Sunday attended Greece's annual military parade commemorating Greece's entry into World War II - against Italy. Mattarella appeared at the parade in Thessaloniki, northern Greece, at the invitation of Greek President Prokopis Pavlopoulos, who later hailed his counterpart's presence. "We are leaving behind what divided us. We are determined to defend Europe from ... the forces of populism and racism, bordering on Nazism, that want to destroy Europe," Pavlopoulos said. "(We are) determined never to let the revival of the nightmares that led to World War II happen again." Greek police on Sunday kept at bay a small crowd of protesters who wanted to march and protest the name change deal signed by Greece and Macedonia in July resolving a long-standing dispute over Macedonia's name. Some reservist units taking part in the parade shouted "Macedonia is Greek!" while marching past the VIP stand. Defense Minister Panos Kammenos, the leader of a small right-wing populist party allied with the left-wing Syriza party in government, has opposed the Macedonia deal. While he was making a statement about the parade after Pavlopoulos, someone shouted "Resign! Save (Greek) Macedonia!" Evzones of Greek presidential guard parade through the streets of the northern port city of Thessaloniki, Greece during a military parade, Sunday, Oct. 28, 2018. The parade is held to celebrate Greece's refusal to align itself with a belligerent fascist Italy in 1940 and instead fight a much stronger opponent, a decision which dragged it into World War II and eventually led to a brutal occupation by Nazi Germany. (AP Photo/Giannis Papanikos) "When the time comes," the minister answered. Thessaloniki, Greece's second-largest city, is the capital of the Greek province of Macedonia. Greece had long objected to its neighbor to the north naming itself Macedonia on the grounds that the name implied territorial claims on the Greek province, as well as being an appropriation of Greek history and symbols. Macedonia plans to change its name to North Macedonia so it can finally move past Greek objections and join NATO. Italy invaded Greece on Oct. 28, 1940, from neighboring Albania, which it had occupied the previous year. The Italians expected a swift advance but were soon beaten back deep into Albania by the Greeks. The front stabilized by December and a major Italian spring offensive failed, prompting Germany to invade and occupy Greece and Yugoslavia in April 1941. The two presidents then traveled to the island of Kefalonia, in western Greece, the site of a massacre of an Italian division by the Germans in September 1943, after Italy surrendered to the Allies. The Germans attempted to disarm the 12,000-strong 33rd Italian Division, known as the Acqui Division, which, until then, had served as the main occupying force. The soldiers decided to resist the Germans; after nine days of fighting, and suffering 1,315 dead, the Italians surrendered. The Germans executed about 5,100 soldiers and a further 3,000, destined for concentration camps, died when the German ships transporting them, were hit by Allied planes. The massacre eventually became the subject of a 2001 Hollywood film, "Captain Corelli's Mandolin," based on the novel of the same name. "A new Greece and a new Italy were born from the resistance against Nazism and fascism. After the terrible wars of the last century, the European Union chartered a new course for the European peoples, cementing peace, friendship and cooperation," Mattarella said. "This day marks our resolve to continue on this path and avoid any danger of repeating the mistakes of the past." ___ Demetris Nellas reported from Athens. ___ Follow Costas Kantouris on Twitter: https://twitter.com/CostasKantouris People holding Greek flags watch a military parade at the northern port city of Thessaloniki, Greece, Sunday, Oct. 28, 2018. The parade is held to celebrate Greece's refusal to align itself with a belligerent fascist Italy in 1940 and instead fight a much stronger opponent, a decision which dragged it into World War II and eventually led to a brutal occupation by Nazi Germany. (AP Photo/Giannis Papanikos) Italian President Sergio Mattarella, left, and his Greek counterpart Prokopis Pavlopoulos, center, watch as people dressed in traditional costumes take part in a military parade, in the northern port city of Thessaloniki, Greece, Sunday, Oct. 28, 2018. The parade is held to celebrate Greece's refusal to align itself with a belligerent fascist Italy in 1940 and instead fight a much stronger opponent, a decision which dragged it into World War II and eventually led to a brutal occupation by Nazi Germany. (AP Photo/Giannis Papanikos) Greek special forces officers gather before a military parade at the northern port city of Thessaloniki, Greece, Sunday, Oct. 28, 2018. The parade is held to celebrate Greece's refusal to align itself with a belligerent fascist Italy in 1940 and instead fight a much stronger opponent, a decision which dragged it into World War II and eventually led to a brutal occupation by Nazi Germany. (AP Photo/Giannis Papanikos) A group of people wearing traditional costumes gather before a military parade at the northern port city of Thessaloniki, Greece, Sunday, Oct. 28, 2018. The parade is held to celebrate Greece's refusal to align itself with a belligerent fascist Italy in 1940 and instead fight a much stronger opponent, a decision which dragged it into World War II and eventually led to a brutal occupation by Nazi Germany. (AP Photo/Giannis Papanikos) Greek special forces officers stand to attention before a military parade at the northern port city of Thessaloniki, Greece, Sunday, Oct. 28, 2018. The parade is held to celebrate Greece's refusal to align itself with a belligerent fascist Italy in 1940 and instead fight a much stronger opponent, a decision which dragged it into World War II and eventually led to a brutal occupation by Nazi Germany. (AP Photo/Giannis Papanikos) A man selling Greek flags walks past a Hellenic army tank before a military parade at the northern port city of Thessaloniki, Greece , Sunday, Oct. 28, 2018. The parade is held to celebrate Greece's refusal to align itself with a belligerent fascist Italy in 1940 and instead fight a much stronger opponent, a decision which dragged it into World War II and eventually led to a brutal occupation by Nazi Germany. (AP Photo/Giannis Papanikos) Greek police officers stand guard as a group of protesters against Greece's name deal with neighboring Macedonia watches the military parade, in the northern port city of Thessaloniki, Greece, Sunday, Oct. 28, 2018. The parade is held to celebrate Greece's refusal to align itself with a belligerent fascist Italy in 1940 and instead fight a much stronger opponent, a decision which dragged it into World War II and eventually led to a brutal occupation by Nazi Germany. (AP Photo/Giannis Papanikos) A man kisses his son as they walk past a Greek army tank before a military parade at the northern port city of Thessaloniki, Greece, Sunday, Oct. 28, 2018. The parade is held to celebrate Greece's refusal to align itself with a belligerent fascist Italy in 1940 and instead fight a much stronger opponent, a decision which dragged it into World War II and eventually led to a brutal occupation by Nazi Germany. (AP Photo/Giannis Papanikos) Hellenic Air Force F-16 takes part at the annual military parade at the northern port city of Thessaloniki, Greece during a military parade, Sunday, Oct. 28, 2018. The parade is held to celebrate Greece's refusal to align itself with a belligerent fascist Italy in 1940 and instead fight a much stronger opponent, a decision which dragged it into World War II and eventually led to a brutal occupation by Nazi Germany. (AP Photo/Giannis Papanikos) Italian President Sergio Mattarella, center left, and his Greek counterpart Prokopis Pavlopoulos, center, applaud as Greek students march during a military parade, in the northern port city of Thessaloniki, Greece, Sunday, Oct. 28, 2018. The parade is held to celebrate Greece's refusal to align itself with a belligerent fascist Italy in 1940 and instead fight a much stronger opponent, a decision which dragged it into World War II and eventually led to a brutal occupation by Nazi Germany. (AP Photo/Giannis Papanikos) Italian President Sergio Mattarella, center, attends a military parade, in the northern port city of Thessaloniki, Greece, Sunday, Oct. 28, 2018. The parade is held to celebrate Greece's refusal to align itself with a belligerent fascist Italy in 1940 and instead fight a much stronger opponent, a decision which dragged it into World War II and eventually led to a brutal occupation by Nazi Germany. (AP Photo/Giannis Papanikos) Greek protesters watch a military parade as others hold a banner against Greece's name deal with neighboring Macedonia, in the northern port city of Thessaloniki, Greece, Sunday, Oct. 28, 2018. The parade is held to celebrate Greece's refusal to align itself with a belligerent fascist Italy in 1940 and instead fight a much stronger opponent, a decision which dragged it into World War II and eventually led to a brutal occupation by Nazi Germany. (AP Photo/Giannis Papanikos) An elderly man wearing a traditional costume holds a placard reading "Greeks save Macedonia" before a military parade at the northern port city of Thessaloniki, Greece, Sunday, Oct. 28, 2018. The parade is held to celebrate Greece's refusal to align itself with a belligerent fascist Italy in 1940 and instead fight a much stronger opponent, a decision which dragged it into World War II and eventually led to a brutal occupation by Nazi Germany. (AP Photo/Giannis Papanikos) Twenty-five years after Chardonnay became unfashionable, Americans still drink more of it than any other kind of wine. Photo: Zoran Mircetic/Getty Images Winemakers live at the mercy of fickle consumers. In 2004, it only took one hit movie Sideways to kick off a Pinot Noir craze that continues to this day, and to arm consumers who wanted to act like wine connoisseurs with one key, market-disrupting opinion: They didnt want to drink any fucking Merlot. But what about Chardonnay? Fashionable in the 1980s, Chardonnay has been the butt of jokes for two and a half decades. It has developed a reputation for having strong and unsubtle flavors of oak and butter; a reputation for pairing poorly with food; a reputation for being the sort of thing your mom drinks. Scott Pactor, the former proprietor of the Appellation wine shop in Manhattan, tells me hes used to hearing it from retail customers: I want an ABC white: Anything But Chardonnay. All the way back in 1995, the New York Times reported on the Anything But Chardonnay movement. Yet, about 25 years after Chardonnay became unfashionable, Americans still drink more of it than any other kind of wine. IRI, the Chicago-based market research firm, says Chardonnay accounted for about one-fifth of table wine sold through retail channels in the U.S. during the 52 weeks that ended October 7, making it twice as popular as the next-biggest white wine grape (Pinot Grigio). I am fascinated by products like this, where there is a divergence between stated consumer preference (you say you think mayonnaise is gross) and revealed consumer preference (you eat mayonnaise all the time). So, what explains the split on Chardonnay? Why cant we admit we like something we drink so much of? To figure this out, I conducted my favorite kind of investigative journalism the kind that involves wine tasting. People think they shouldnt like a buttery Chardonnay, says Sarah Montague, the chief marketing officer for JaM Cellars in Napa, California. People have been conditioned to say they dont like Chardonnay, and they try our wine and they say they really like this. JaM makes a Chardonnay called Butter, and according to the Silicon Valley Banks 2018 State of the Wine Industry report, Butter is the fastest-growing Chardonnay on the U.S. market. Montague told me the brand launched with 1,000 cases of its 2010 vintage; the current vintage, 2016, consists of 850,000 cases that is, 10 million bottles, priced around $15 a bottle at retail. In their marketing copy for Butter and, of course, in the name Butter itself JaM leans into the oak-and-butter flavor profile that has given Chardonnay its reputation (among some consumers) for being unsubtle, distasteful, or gauche. Wow, JaMs website declares. Butter Chardonnay is rich, bold and luscious. Made in the tradition of quality Californian winemaking, the grapes we select are juicy, ripe and bursting with flavor. We cold ferment this easy-to-love Chardonnay to a lush creaminess and age it in our unique blend of oak. Butter brims with stone fruit and baked-lemon notes and has a lovely, long, vanilla finish. Simply put, it melts in your mouth! There are still a lot of people who prefer that big, buttery, oaky style of Chardonnay, says Rob McMillan, who leads the wine banking practice at Silicon Valley Banks Napa office and compiles its industry reports. And yet, on a trip to Napa earlier this month, I heard very different messaging from other makers of Chardonnay. Their pitch was less oak and butter, yay! and more #notallchardonnay. I should probably mention that I took the trip with my husband, who unabashedly loves a big, buttery, oaky Chardonnay. I am what you might call a Chardonnay moderate big oak and butter are not my favorite, but I dont hate them either (or maybe that is just what I am telling myself in the spirit of marital compromise). At three successive wineries Artesa, Goosecross and Materra my husband and I noted with rising amusement that tasting room staff went through the same process when offering a pour of Chardonnay. First, they would ask apprehensively whether we liked Chardonnay. Then, following a qualified yes from me or an enthusiastic yes from my husband, they would give a version of the same spiel: Our Chardonnay isnt like those Chardonnays. Its not going to punch you in the face with oak and butter. Its restrained. I dont usually like Chardonnay, but I like this Chardonnay. They were right. These Chardonnays were tasty. Balanced. Acidic. Not like somebody stuffed four pounds of butter and an oak tree into a barrel with some grapes. These really are Chardonnays even a professed Chardonnay-hater can enjoy. Theres nothing inherent in the Chardonnay grape that makes Chardonnay wine taste oaky and buttery. It only tastes that way when winemakers choose to make it taste like that and historically, thats the choice they have made in California. Age Chardonnay for a long time in new oak barrels and it will taste oaky. Put it through malolactic fermentation a process where some of the malic acid in grape juice is converted into softer-tasting lactic acid and it will taste buttery. Leave the grapes on the vine to ripen for a long time and it will tend to be high in alcohol, another trait that will make the wine taste big and compete with the flavors of the food you eat with it. Chardonnay as a varietal is a very blank slate, says Jasmine Hirsch, who runs Hirsch Vineyards in Sonoma County, California, where her family grows and produces Chardonnay and Pinot Noir. She notes that unlike wines made from a grape like Gruner Veltliner, whose distinctive aromas will always punch through, differently made Chardonnays can taste very different. And this is why French Chardonnay which does not tend to be made with the same oak-and-butter bias has such a different taste reputation than California Chardonnay. Lara Crystal, the co-founder of the liquor delivery app Minibar, says her apps suggestion algorithm shows drinkers of Sauvignon Blanc a lighter, crisper, higher acidity type of white wine are likely to enjoy French Chardonnay. That includes Crystal herself. I thought for a long time I didnt like Chardonnay but then I learned I didnt like American Chardonnay, she said. I liked French Chardonnay. From a marketing standpoint, it helps that French Chardonnay typically doesnt say Chardonnay in large type on the bottle. Instead, its identified by the region where its grown. Pactor, who now works for a wine importer, says a self-professed Chardonnay hater will often happily buy a bottle of white Burgundy without realizing hes just bought Chardonnay. Photo: George Rose/Getty Images Still, as I was repeatedly told on that trip to Napa, not all low-oak, low-butter Chardonnay comes from France. Quite a few winemakers are making it in California. And they would like you to know about it. To that end, in 2011, Hirsch and her fellow winemaker Raj Parr founded an industry association called In Pursuit of Balance, a trade group for California winemakers who sought to promote lower-alcohol, more subtle, more food-friendly, more French styles of Chardonnay and Pinot Noir. In California, Chardonnay has too often become a blank slate for the ego of the winemaker, says Hirsch that is, because the grape is so flexible in its flavor, winemakers have gotten too eager to amp up flavors like oak and butter during the production process. More broadly, she says California winemakers have too often made super-ripe, high-alcohol, crazy-extracted, often over-oaked wines as a path to high ratings from wine critics who favor bold styles, despite the shifting tastes of drinkers and sommeliers with the latter group particularly focused on wines being subtle enough to pair with food instead of overpowering it. This movement provoked the sort of bitter insults you might expect from a fight over politics influential wine critic Robert Parker derided the group as an anti-flavor wine elite and said no serious person pays any attention to Raj Parr and his zealots, as it is so obvious they are only trying to sell their own wines. The backlash to the backlash does make some sense who wants to be told by implication their favorite kind of wine is unbalanced? Certainly not my husband. In Pursuit of Balance folded up shop in 2016 Hirsch says they felt theyd made their point and given the talking points I heard in Napa earlier this month, the message of subtler Chardonnay appears to live on. And the continued strong sales numbers for Chardonnay over all are a positive sign that both styles big and bold, subtle and restrained can prosper side-by-side. Photo: Tim Rue/Corbis via Getty Images That is, if wine consumers know what they are buying at all. When we first launched we sorted alphabetically, said Crystal, the Minibar founder, and almost 50 percent of what consumers bought started with A, B, C or a number, because thats how little consumers know about what theyre picking. Crystal also notes wines tend to sell better if they have an animal on the label. This is a point in favor of Butters in-your-face marketing approach: With consumers often picking wines almost at random, if you want the public to get a message about your wines specific flavor, you probably ought to put it right there in the name. Im not sure exactly how that insight can be replicated on the pro-subtlety side of the Chardonnay debate naming your wine Subtle and Restrained is not exactly a subtle and restrained approach. But maybe there is a way to fit the were not like those other Chardonnays pitch on the side of a wine bottle. GAZA CITY, Gaza Strip (AP) - Palestinian medics say three boys aged 12 to 14 have been killed in an Israeli airstrike in the southeastern Gaza Strip. Ashraf al-Kidra of the Health Ministry says ambulance crews are bringing the bodies to a hospital from the perimeter fence dividing Gaza and Israel. The Israeli army said an aircraft hit three Palestinians who approached the security fence Sunday "and were apparently involved in placing" an explosive device to it. The Gaza-Israel border area has been volatile for months as the enclave's Hamas rulers organize weekly protests there against a decade-long Israeli-Egyptian blockade. Egyptian mediators relentlessly urge the two sides separately to restore calm and prevent wider conflict. More than 160 Palestinians were killed in the protests since March. A Palestinian sniper killed an Israeli soldier in July. Israeli tank takes a position at the Gaza Strip border, Saturday, Oct. 27, 2018. The Israeli military has struck dozens of targets across the Gaza Strip in response to heavy rocket fire and threatened to expand its air campaign to Syria after accusing Iranian forces in Damascus of orchestrating the rocket attacks. (AP Photo/Tsafrir Abayov) Israeli tank takes a position at the Gaza Strip border, Saturday, Oct. 27, 2018. The Israeli military has struck dozens of targets across the Gaza Strip in response to heavy rocket fire and threatened to expand its air campaign to Syria after accusing Iranian forces in Damascus of orchestrating the rocket attacks. (AP Photo/Tsafrir Abayov) Israeli soldiers observe the Gaza Strip border, Saturday, Oct. 27, 2018. The Israeli military has struck dozens of targets across the Gaza Strip in response to heavy rocket fire and threatened to expand its air campaign to Syria after accusing Iranian forces in Damascus of orchestrating the rocket attacks. (AP Photo/Tsafrir Abayov) Relatives of Ahmed Abu Lebdeh, 22, who was killed by Israeli troops during Friday's protest at the Gaza Strip's border with Israel, mourn at the family home during his funeral in town of Khan Younis, southern Gaza Strip, Saturday, Oct. 27, 2018. (AP Photo/Khalil Hamra) Relatives of Ahmed Abu Lebdeh, 22, who was killed by Israeli troops during Friday's protest at the Gaza Strip's border with Israel, mourn over his body into the family home during his funeral in town of Khan Younis, southern Gaza Strip, Saturday, Oct. 27, 2018. (AP Photo/Khalil Hamra) Relatives of Ahmed Abu Lebdeh, 22, who was killed by Israeli troops during Friday's protest at the Gaza Strip's border with Israel, look at mourners carry his body out of the family home during his funeral in town of Khan Younis, southern Gaza Strip, Saturday, Oct. 27, 2018. (AP Photo/Khalil Hamra) A man has died after a recovery truck toppled over in the early hours of Saturday morning. Police Scotland said the incident, on the B999 near to Udny Station in Aberdeenshire, occurred during the recovery of a vehicle. A spokesman for the force confirmed the mans next of kin had been informed, and added: Our thoughts are with them. Enquiries are being now carried out to establish the full circumstances of the accident, with police working with the Health and Safety Executive. Vehicular pollution, a soft target for policy-makers, does contribute to the deteriorating air quality. The automotive industry is surely making changes but a one-size fits all solution will not work Early in October this year, there was a conference held at the exposition ground on the outskirts of Chennai. It was called FISITA and it was for the first time that such a conference was taking place in India. It was a biennial talk-shop for automotive engineers from across the global automotive industry and was quite revealing with talks on suspensions, gearboxes, materials and what not, but the main issue of discussion was invariably the shifting sands of motive technology itself. Besides, several sessions and talks addressed some fundamental issues, one of them on whether the internal combustion engine itself was on its last leg, given the rush for electric vehicles today. The answer to that was a resounding no. The internal combustion engine is not going to go away anytime soon. Because as Takashi Uehara, Chief Engineer, Powertrain Product Planning division of Toyota Motor Corporation explained, we will need some of the basic technologies to move to an electric future that has not yet matured. Crucially among them, the energy density of fuels is very high and storage costs are very low. The costs of making a small, affordable petrol-driven car are very low, and for better or for worse, for countries that need affordable mobility, they are possibly the only near-term solution. In an electric car, for example, just the battery pack and the power control unit comprise 60 per cent of the cost of the car, and those costs are fixed, no matter which car you buy. Which is why Uehara believes that hybrids are the best short-term solution, particularly in a cost-conscious market. The other simple thing that Uehara explained was that solutions can be wildly different in different countries. There is a lifetime carbon cost to a car; something the industry calls well to wheel carbon cost. So, the same cars, driving a similar distance everyday in different countries, could have massively different carbon costs. Why? Basically, the source of energy determines how much carbon an electric or hybrid generates. So, in India, where an overwhelming majority of our electricity is thermal, the lifetime carbon cost of a battery-electric vehicle is higher than that of a hybrid car that uses an internal combustion engine. Whereas in a country like Canada, where much of the primary energy sources are from hydroelectric plants, the lifetime carbon costs of a fully-electric car are much, much lower. India suffers from a problem that few other countries face. And it is not regarding mobility for our population, which is a challenge every country and city faces, but of getting electricity to all its citizens. And while steps are being made to enhance solar and wind energy facilities in our country, indeed on solar we have moved dramatically, taking advantage of our geography and weather. The fact is that if we are to get power to all Indian households quickly, the only solution is even more thermal plants, and that is a problem given that Indias coal is high in sulphur and most of the older thermal power plants do not have effective ways to deal with the exhaust. But India has signed up to the Paris Agreement and wants to become a world leader in solar technology in the long-term. In the short-term, India has little or no choice but to pollute a bit more. That is not to say that Uehara did not feel that there was still a market for electric vehicles in India. Particularly where battery costs could be capped, such as in small electric two-wheelers, particularly delivery motorcycles operating in a defined radius and buses in urban areas. But in a country like India, where costs are a concern, as is pollution, hybrids may be the best way forward for now when it comes to cars and commercial vehicles. Hybrids have a major benefit because they do not need to have huge battery packs, so costs can be kept in check. The average price of one kilowatt hour of battery storage is around $200 today, and while technical innovations happen in energy density, much of the major drops in cost have already occurred. In China recently, this columnist saw the Roewe Marvel X, Chinas latest and greatest electric car, featuring a 54 kilowatt-hour battery pack that provides it with a range of 500-plus kilometres, as much as a tankful of fuel would on most cars. Its battery pack alone costs around $10,000 (Rs 7.5 lakh). The power control unit, the computer system that drives the entire machine, well that was not cheap either. You can keep the costs down by installing smaller battery packs but nobody wants to buy cars which have a range of 100-200 kilometres even though those distances are more than enough to cover daily usage. Range anxiety is a thing and while it might be more of a psychological problem, it does not make electric cars, particularly of the sort that the Government of India has acquired, attractive to users. A massive fleet of electric cars might be the dream of some in this Government but the fact is that India has miles to go, both in terms of affordability and charging infrastructure. Hybrids offer an advantage of acquisition costs, and if you develop plug-in hybrids, which are more expensive vehicles, you can further reduce emissions. They also offer the huge added benefit of much increased fuel economy. As car electrical systems move towards a 48-volt system from the current 12-volt system, more and more cars will have battery packs. Hybridisation is occurring because that is where the industry has to head. And as one can clearly see sitting in Delhi right now, air pollution is a massive problem. And while the automotive industry does not like being singled out for the blame, they realise that it is contingent on them to do something about emissions. But one thing is certain, the internal combustion engine, that has moved us around for almost 150 years, is not ready to retire just yet. (The writer is Managing Editor, The Pioneer) India played a "positive" role in restoration of democracy in Maldives by "exerting pressure" on the ruling regime, and the new government in the island nation would be "sensitive" towards New Delhi's "concerns", former Maldivian President Maumoon Abdul Gayoom said on Sunday. Nearly a month after he was released from jail, Gayoom, who ruled Maldives for three decades until 2008, said the government of President Abdulla Yameen inflicted "huge damage" on Maldives but democratic forces have prevailed over their "enemies". Joint opposition leader Ibrahim Mohamed Solih came out victorious in the September 23 presidential election, handing a shock defeat to incumbent Yameen and capping months of political upheaval in the tourist paradise. The political turmoil was triggered by imposition of emergency in February and jailing of several of opposition leaders including Gayoom, a half brother of Yameen. Yameen had challenged the outcome of the elections, alleging the vote was rigged but the country's Supreme Court upheld the results. The transition of power is due on Nov 17. "The last few years did erode the credibility of Maldivian constitutional bodies as well as confidence of the Maldivian people in the state," 80-year-old Gayoom told PTI in an exclusive interview. "However, the people have themselves taken remedial action as the election results have shown. There was huge damage done, but the constitution, the constitutional bodies and the citizen rights given by the constitution will be safe and strong under the new coalition government," he added. Gayoom had ruled Maldives for 30 years till he was defeated in the country's first multi-party elections in 2008. He was arrested in February as part of crackdown on Yameen's political opponents. Asked whether Yameen drew his strength from strong backing by China, Gayoom, credited with forging strong ties with India, hoped that China would respect the will of the Maldivian people. "We value the support China has given for our development. However, we are concerned at the level of debt we have incurred in recent years, and feel this needs to be carefully reviewed and managed. I am sure that China would respect the will of the Maldivian people," he said in the e-mail interview. Asked about India's role after imposition of emergency by Yameen in February, Gayoom said, "India did play a positive role, and along with other international partners, did exert pressure towards restoration of democracy." "Keeping the Maldivian issue alive in international fora did result in putting pressure on the Yameen regime," the former Maldivian strongman, who was released from jail on September 30 following orders of a court, said. India's ties with Maldives came under strain after Yameen declared Emergency in the country on February 5, following an order by the country's Supreme Court to release a group of Opposition leaders, who had been convicted in widely criticised trials. The Emergency was lifted 45 days later. Farmers prefer to burn stubble and pay penalty rather than weed out the stubbles. And the reason for this is that the cost of stubble burning is cheaper as penalty works out to be around Rs 2,500 per acre. But if they dont burn it then the stubble processing cost comes around Rs 6,000-7,000 per acre. The cost of stubble processing includes rent of machinery, diesel charge, labourer charge. The rental cost of combine harvester is Rs 2,500 to Rs 3,000 per acre which includes transportation charge. The cost of diesel is also borne by the farmer. Four to five litre diesel needs per acre. If the cost of labour, crushing of straw cost and other costs included, it will come around Rs 6,000 to Rs 7000 per acre in Punjab and Haryana, said Binod Pandey, of All India Kisan Mahasangh adding thats was the reason the Government incentive failed to attract farmers. Officials of the Agriculture Ministry also admit that stubble burning could not be stopped as cost of stubble processing comes around Rs 6,000 per acre while the fine on stubble burning is only Rs 2,500. The stubble left on the land is of no use. Currently, for farmers, it has no economic value and no nutritional value to be used as the fodder. So many farmers prefer to pay the environment compensation or fine, said a farmer from Haryana. However, the farmers contend that access to straw management equipment comes at a higher cost than environmental compensation. Straw management equipment is beyond the means of a small and marginal farmer. Moreover, the cost does not end at acquiring equipment. Running the equipment in the fields means spending additional money on diesel and labour. Hundreds of thousands of farmers in Haryana and Punjab, where much of the regions paddy is grown, set their rice fields on fire to clear left-over straw after harvesting paddy to make way for wheat. According to a 2014 study by the Indian Agricultural Research Institute (IARI), in 2008-09 the country generated 620 million tonnes of crop residue, of which close to 16 per cent was burnt on farms. Of this, 60 per cent was paddy straw, while wheat accounted for just 22 per cent. Going by estimates, Punjab alone produces 19-20 million tonnes of paddy straw and about 20 million tonnes of wheat straw. Between September 27 and October 14, the Punjab Pollution Control Board (PPCB) imposed Rs 8,92,500 as fines or environmental compensation cess as it is officially called on farmers burning paddy stubble. Of these, they collected only Rs 3,05,000 till date. The another reason is that big farmers of Haryana and Punjab resort to stubble burning due to shortage of farm labourers in October and November. A few years ago, the farmers were used to manage straw problem at sources with the help of labourers. Farmers of Punjab and Haryana are faced with shortage of farm labouers during October and November. Due to this, farmers prefer to stubble burning, said Dr Ajaib Singh of Choudhury Charan Singh Haryana Agriculture University, Hisar. The machine appears to be the key reason behind the problem because it only reaps the grains, leaving stalks or stubble of around 40 cm. He further added that it was also found that farm mechanism is the other reason of rampant stubble burning. The farm mechanisation in Haryana and Punjab have reached its saturation point and therefore no more viable, both economically and environmentally and the Government and farmers will have to look more sophisticated farm mechanisation system, Dr Singh added. In Punjab and Haryana, there are restrictions in place on how much groundwater could be drawn, as farmers in these States like to flood their fields to sow the rice crop. This has further narrowed the window to a mere two-three weeks for clearing out the rice stubble, forcing farmers to burn away the stubble. To curb the practice, the Centre last year announced funds totaling Rs 1,151.80 crore (Rs 591.65 crore for 2018-19 and Rs 560.15 crore for 2019-20) to subsidise the use of additional farm equipment, such as the straw management system or SMS. These smaller machines, which can be attached to mechanised harvesters, shred the residue, eliminating the need to burn them. As per data, 488 million tonnes of total crop residue was generated in India during 2017, and about 24 per cent of it was burnt in agricultural fields. Sacked Mins bodyguard opens fire at protesters, kills 1; MEA says India closely following developments in Colombo One person has been killed and two others injured in Sri Lankas capital, Colombo, when the bodyguard of a Cabinet Minister under ousted Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe opened fire at a crowd of protesters. The shooting on Sunday came amid a constitutional crisis triggered by President Maithripala Sirisenas sacking of the Prime Minister and his Cabinet. Ruwan Gunasekara, a police spokesperson, told reporters that a bodyguard for Arjuna Ranatunga, Wickremesinghes Petroleum Minister, fired live rounds at a crowd of people loyal to Sirisena when they attempted to prevent the dismissed Minister from entering his office at the State-run Ceylon Petroleum Corporation. Meanwhile, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said India is closely following developments in Colombo. India is closely following the recent political developments in Sri Lanka. As a democracy and a close friendly neighbour, we hope that democratic values and the constitutional process will be respected. We will continue to extend our developmental assistance to the friendly people of Sri Lanka, said MEA Raveesh Kumar. A 34-year-old man was killed in the incident, according to police.The guard who opened fire was arrested and a probe is now under way, police said. The shooting was the first incident of serious violence since Sirisenas Friday decision to replace Wickremesinghe with Mahinda Rajapaksa, a former president accused of human rights abuses and corruption. Wickeremesinghe, 69, insists his sacking was unconstitutional and has called for an emergency parliament sitting to prove he still commanded a majority in Parliament. But Sirisena has suspended Parliament until November 16 in an apparent bid to shore up support for Rajapaksas appointment. Speaker Karu Jayasuriya recognised Wickremesinghe as the lawful Prime Minister earlier on Sunday, and asked the president to back the sacked leaders request to retain the rights and privileges of his office until another candidate could prove a majority in Parliament. I consider the said request to be a democratic and fair request, the Parliament Speaker said in a letter to Sirisena. Jayasuriya, a member of Wickeremesinghes United National Party (UNP), also urged Sirisena to reconsider his decision to suspend Parliament, saying the decision has serious and undesirable consequences for Sri Lanka. According to the website of Sri Lankas Parliament, Wickremesinghes UNP has 106 seats in the 225-member House, while Sirisenas UPFA has 95. In a letter to Sirisena, Speaker Karu Jayasuriya backed the ousted Prime Ministers request to retain his privileges and security until another candidate could prove a majority, saying it was democratic and fair. He also questioned the Presidents decision to suspend Parliament till November 16, saying it will have serious and undesirable consequences on the country. Sirisena on Friday night sacked Wickremesinghe and appointed former strongman Rajapaksa as the new Prime Minister. Next day, Sirisena suspended Parliament till November 16 after Wickremesinghe, who had termed his sacking as illegal and unconstitutional, sought an emergency session to prove his majority. The President also withdrew Wickremesinghes personal security and vehicles in order to accord them to his 72-year-old successor, who staged a dramatic political comeback. In his first address to the nation after sacking Wickremesinghe, Sirisena said his former allys political conduct since the victory in 2015 elections was unbecoming. He appeared to treat Sri Lankas future as a joyride for a coterie of people around him who had no sense of the common mans thinking, he said. He completely destroyed the concept of good governance while corruption and waste became rampant. He was making arrogant arbitrary decisions making a mockery of collective responsibility, Sirisena charged. There was a huge gap in policy agreement between the two of us. I believe the cultural and policy differences between us contributed to this political and economic crisis, he said. Sirisena also accused the United National Party (UNP) leader of treating very lightly the alleged plot to assassinate him. The President last week accused his unity Government partner of Wickremesinghes UNP of going slow on the investigations after a man named Namal Kumara in mid-September disclosed the alleged plot to assassinate him and former Defence Minister Gotabhaya Rajapaksa. Having taken into consideration all crisis, the political and economic as well as the assassination plot on me, I was only left with one alternative which was to appoint former President Mahinda Rajapaksa as the Prime Minister, Sirisena said. Rejecting Wickremesinghes allegation that his sacking was unconstitutional and illegal, he said, I must make it very clear that the new appointment (of Rajapaksa) was made on expert legal advice in strict accordance with the Constitution. Sirisenas remarks came after the Speaker urged him to restore Wickremesinghes privileges as the leader of the government who has obtained a mandate to secure democracy and good governance. Jayasuriya said a prorogation of Parliament should be one in consultation with the Speaker. Sirisenas decision to suspend the Parliament until November 16 was seen as a an effort to coerce legislators into supporting Rajapaksa. Wickremesinghe has refused to vacate the Prime Ministers official residence-cum-office of Temple Trees. The political crisis in the island nation on Sunday triggered violence as one person was killed and two others injured as the bodyguards of Petroleum Minister Arjuna Ranatunga, a Wickremesinghe loyalist, fired live rounds when supporters of Rajapaksa threatened the cabinet member. The political developments, which has thrown the country into a constitutional crisis, unfolded after Sirisenas broader political front United Peoples Freedom Alliance (UPFA) announced that it has decided to quit the unity Government with Wickremesinghes UNP. Sirisena and Wickremesinghe had joined to form a Government of national unity in 2015 to bring in constitutional and governance reforms including a new Constitution to address the long-standing issues of the Tamil minority. Sri Lanka nearly faced economic sanctions from the West over Rajapaksas brutal military crackdown on the banned LTTE. The LTTE sought a separate Tamil homeland in the northern and eastern provinces of the island nation for nearly 30 years before its collapse in 2009 after the Sri Lankan Army killed its supreme leader Velupillai Prabhakaran. US President Donald Trump has reportedly declined Indias invitation to be the chief guest at the Republic Day celebrations next year. The news has neither been confirmed nor denied by either of the two Governments, but various media reports have based it on US official sources. The US reported decision comes in the wake of President Trumps disapproval of Indias decision to buy the S-400 long-range missile system from Russia and New Delhi insistence on continuing with oil purchase from Iran despite upcoming US sanction, which the US considers is within the scope of the Countering Americas Adversaries Through Sanctions Act or CAATSA. On August 2, White House Press Secretary Sarah Sanders has confirmed to reporters in Washington that India had extended an invitation to Trump. I know that the invitation has been extended, but I do not believe that a final decision has been made, she said when asked about reports that Prime Minister Narendra Modi has invited Trump to be the chief guest at the next years Republic Day celebrations in New Delhi. Former US president Barack Obama attended the Republic Day celebrations in 2015 on his second visit. President Trump has not made any secret about his unhappiness over the India-Russian midsoles deal. On October 10, on possibly of US sanction against India, he said, India will soon find out. Under the CAATSA sanctions, which was amended early this year, only Donald Trump has the authority for the presidential waiver to India on weapons deal with sanctions-hit Russia. The national head of Akhil Bharatiya Akhada Parishad (ABAP), Narendra Giri and founder of Matri Sadan Swami Shivanand have come at loggerheads over the death of fasting scientist turned ascetic Swami Gyan Swaroop Sanand. The head of ABAP has alleged that Swami Shivanand instigates his disciples and devotees of Ganga to undertake fasting unto death and he himself never takes to fasting. He is a dramabaz alleged Narendra Giri. Meanwhile, Shivanand is mulling over sending notice to ABAP head. The head of Akhila Bhartiya Akhada Parishad, Mahant Narendra Giri said that Shivanand must stop acting in the name of Ganga and dharma and he must undertake fast himself rather than instigating others to undergo hunger strike. He has written to district authorities to set probe in the matter of death of late professor G D Agarwal (Sanand) and take action against those who provoked him to continue his fasting despite his deteriorating health. He demanded case to be registered against the ascetic. Further, Narendra Giri has exhorted the members of the religious fraternity to seek advice from the fraternity before taking any such decision. He said that the life of ascetics was valuable for the welfare of mankind and should not be wasted. The sacrifice of a person must not go futile like that of Professor G D Agarwal. Issues can be resolved through talks and there is no need to waste ones life over it. Narendra Giri questioned why Shivanand always raised voice against mining in Ganga at Haridwar only but never raises voice against the deplorable condition of the river across the country. He said that Shivanand must make it clear what kind of relations he was maintaining with mining mafia of Saharanpur. He advised Shivanand to leave Haridwar and go to place like Patna and Bihar, from where he originally came. He must begin his Ganga Safai Abhiyan there, said Narendra Giri. Responding to all these allegations, Swami Shivanand said, Those who have black glasses over their eyes, see the Tapasya for mother Ganga as natak only. I have taken to Tapasya 17 times in the peak of summer, observing self restraint. Those who are seeing this austerity measure as drama must undertake such Tapasya once. He added that the statements like this bore testimony that Akhada Parishad head was speaking under pressure. Animal sacrifice in temples is a crime; and the Orissa High Court has banned it in almost all Devi shrines of the State. But this practice is still running in the Mahakali temple of Kharada gram panchayat under Narasinghpur block. When this correspondent reached the shrine in the morning on Friday, he found that two male goats were tied in trees adjacent to the temple. Asked, the main Dehury servitor of the temple told that they were meant for sacrifice before the goddess during midday dhupa and alati. The Dehury added that animals and birds sacrifice has een running here traditionally since at least one hundred years ago as a hereditary system. During Navaratra puja of the goddess at the time of Dussehra, hundreds of animals and birds sacrifice are executed here and this year on the day of Mahanavami, over 100 animals and birds were slaughtered. On the day of Kumar Purnima, the last ritual before holy Odia month of Kartik, many animals and birds were tied by the devotees to be sacrificed at the time of mid day dhupa of the goddess. Sacrifice bar was also ready to the right side of the temple, adorned with the clothes, vermillion and flowers of the goddess. At different times, some tantriks come here for tantra sadhana with sacrifice. Even this practice runs here no-holds- barred as no authority has tried to stop it here. Hundreds of administrative officers and political leaders rush to the spot and State Tourism Department sanctions lakhs of rupees for its development. But the Government stays a mute spectator to the practice. On Sunday morning, students of University of Patanjali carried out cleanliness campaign in Dadu Bagh area of Kankhal and Pantdweep. Led by vice-chancellor of the university, Acharya Balkrishna, some 50 students cleaned the garbage from the area. He said by seeing the crystal clear waters of Ganga touching the banks, it seems Ganga was never unclean and can never be unclean, if the people are determined. Public negligence has led to the pitiable condition of the Ganga. He said that all those things which affect its flow like old clothes, religious things must be stopped from reaching its waters. Speaking to The Pioneer, he said, The organiser of Ganga Raksha Manch Swami Ramdev is concerned about clean Ganga, so Patanjali Yog Peeth volunteers keep carrying out cleanliness drive from time to time. Today the students have carried out cleanliness drive at new Pantdweep parking in Haridwar. He exhorted the people to pledge for clean, healthy and garbage free India. He said the citizens of India must come forward in the mission to clean India and clean Ganga. They must make it their own campaign then only country can remain clean. If we depend on the municipal corporation and governments to give us clean surroundings that is next to impossible. One must make Swachchh Bharat ones own campaign, he said. Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal alleged that the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) president Amit Shah through his comments on the Sabarimala verdict was "actively encouraging people to violate the Supreme Court order". The Chief Minister hoped that the apex court would take cognisance of Shahs remarks. Amit Shah actively encouraging people to violate SC orders. Creating anarchy. Hopefully, SC will take cognisance (sic), Kejriwal tweeted. Addressing a gathering in Kerala's Kannur on Saturday, Shah listed court verdicts which have not been implemented, including on 'Jallikattu' (traditional bull taming sport of Tamil Nadu) and prohibiting loudspeakers in mosques, and said "impractical" directions should not be given by courts and they should pass orders that can be implemented. On September 28, the Supreme Court paved the way for entry of women of all ages into the Ayyappa temple at Sabarimala in Kerala. A five-judge constitution bench in its 4:1 verdict, had said that banning the entry of women of menstrual age into the shrine is gender discrimination and the practice violates rights of Hindu women. Chief Minister Trivendra Singh Rawat joined the centenary celebrations of the War Memorial Government Inter College, Karnprayag on Sunday. On this occasion, the Chief Minister paid tributes to World War I Victoria Cross recipient Darwan Singh Negi. He also paid homage to the soldiers who had lost their lives in the world war. Addressing the gathering on the occasion, the Chief Minister said that the contribution of VC Darwan Singh can never be forgotten because instead of seeking a fief from the colonial British Government, he instead demanded a school for his area which has benefited thousands of students. He said that in addition to being Devbhoomi, Uttarakhand is also the the land of brave heroes. He said that history tells that whenever the enemy tried to infiltrate our border areas, the brave soldiers gave a befitting reply. Referring to VC Darwan Singh's attachment and contribution to his native land, the Chief Minister recalled that he had also demanded construction of a railway line from Haridwar to Karnprayag, the work on construction which has now finally begun. He said that with the efforts and blessings of the teachers, hundreds of children from this school are serving in different areas of the country, which is a matter of pride for the State. In the programme, retired Colonel Balbir Singh Negi, the son of VC Darwan Singh Negi, said that the thought of his father was for the benefit and happiness of all. On this occasion, Karnprayag MLA Surendra Singh Negi, Tharali MLA Munni Devi Shah, former Karnprayag MLA Anil Nautiyal, public representatives and local residents were also among those present on the occasion. The main opposition party in Madhya Pradesh, Congress on Sunday objected to the presence of school students at a Bharatiya Janata Yuva Morcha programme addressed by Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan. The programme, titled nav-matdata town hall of the BJYM, the Bharatiya Janata Partys youth wing, was held Sunday at the Ravindra Bhawan campus. The party claimed that new voters would attend the programme, but school students below the age of 18 years in school uniform were present there. After clips of the programme, showing students in school uniform in attendance, were televised on TV channels, the Congress said it would file a complaint Monday on violation of the model code of conduct. A large number of school students were present in this programme. The Congress will file a complaint in this regard with the Election Commission on Monday morning, said Bhupendra Gupta, vice president of state Congress media cell. Attacking the BJP, Gupta further said, This means that the BJP doesnt have young workers or supporters who can attend this programme. This shows that the BJP has lost its connect with the people. They dont have workers to fill even a small space at Ravindra Bhawan, which is meant for only a thousand people. BJYM state president Abhilash Pandey, however, claimed that school students were not invited to the programme. There were ten thousand people in this programme. It may be possible that they (students) might have come with someone. We have not invited them. Congress is levelling allegations out of desperation, he claimed. However, a girl in school uniform, while talking to a TV channel, said she and her schoolmates attended the programme at the directive of teachers. Im not eligible to vote due to my age but teachers told us to attend the programme and listen to lectures on how to vote, she said. Following the dispute, these students were removed from the programme venue. In his address at the BJYM function, Chouhan attacked the previous Congress regimes in the state for poor roads, lack of electricity as well as irrigation facilities. The Communist Party of India (Marxist Leninist) is going to escalate its campaign demanding revenue village status of Bindukhatta and derecognise the elephant corridor here. After detailed discussion the CPI (ML) members decided that a campaign will be undertaken to protest against the Bharatiya Janata Party Governments failure to keep its promise regarding Bindukhatta. A signature campaign will be undertaken by the Akhil Bharatiya Kisan Mahasabha in support of revenue village status for Bindukhatta and for derecognising of the elephant corridor here. After the signature campaign is completed, a rally will be held on December 26 to submit the public signatures along with memoranda addressed to the Chief Minister and Prime Minister seeking that the Vidhan Sabha pass a proposal and forward it to the Centre for declaring Bindukhatta a revenue village in addition to derecognising of the elephant corridor here. The CPI (ML) state secretary Raja Bahuguna said that according revenue village status is the major demand of people living in the Bindukhatta area. Consistent agitation in support of this demand had earlier forced all the major political parties to include accordance of revenue village status to Bindukhatta in the election manifestos. However, the national parties appear to have become habituated to duping the people on this issue, alleged Bahuguna. He said that the BJP had promised during the Vidhan Sabha elections that if it was elected to form the Government in Uttarakhand, Bindukhatta would be made into a revenue village. However, more than a year and a half has passed since the BJP Government assumed office in Uttarakhand but the promise regarding Bindukhatta has not been fulfilled yet. The State Government has not even taken the initial steps of passing the required proposal in the cabinet and Vidhan Sabha to accord revenue village status to Bindukhatta. He further alleged that a conspiracy is being orchestrated to ruin Bindukhatta in the name of the elephant corridor. There are certain events that gradually come to be a part of a city and then remain with it forever.Virasat, organised by REACH since the 1990s, is one such event as far as Dehradun is concerned. The Rajpur Nature Festival has now been added to this cultural calendar of the Doon valley as it is now in its fifth season.Other such events are the Dehradun Literature Festival, the WIC DCLF (Dehradun Community Literature Festival) and in a big way, Valley of Words (VOW) International festival of Arts and Literature which will see its second edition in Dehradun in November this year. The colourful three-day Rajpur Nature Festival got underway this year on October 26 and concluded on Sunday evening at the Christian Retreat Centre in Rajpur, Dehradun. The Christian Retreat Centre , a popular place in Rajpur, has been an ideal backdrop for the past five years for the fest as it was for the very fest. A variety of activities such as nature walks, a bicycle rally, art and cultural activities, panel discussions on topical issues along with competitions for schools featured in this annual celebration of the beauty of the Rajpur area of the Doon valley. The festival aims to draw attention to Rajpur, a microcosm of greenery and serenity .This greenery and serenity was once found all over the valley but is now, sadly, vanishing. The focus of all the stalls that were put up this year was upon preservation and enhancement of the environment and promotion of awareness to protect the environment. Organic products from the hills, hand woven woolens, home made pickles, hand crafted jewellery and many other products the sale of which benefits people from the hill areas were extremely popular in the shopping section of the fest. Dances, live bands, dastangio (kissagoi), poetry recitals and nature walks added great colour, depth and breadth to this vibrant event. The fest makes an effort to revive the love for natural beauty and activities related to nature and the arts. It has been organised by Rajpur Community Initiative and the Forest Department (Ecotourism) along with other local partners. Reenu Paul, who has worked tirelessly for the festival, says that the festival is the SOS message sent by the Rajpur community to fellow citizens of Doon Valley to come and show solidarity with their group in their struggle to conserve this last remaining green patch of the city. She adds that the festival aims to attract attention to relevant and crucial issues through photography, panel discussions, film screenings and puppetry. The festival has indeed moved from strength to strength and is truly successful in bringing together artistes, environmentalists, heritage experts , craftspersons, children and tourists under one beautiful roof in the very lap of nature. Colour, music, joy, social interaction, cuisine and awareness of nature and its charm all mingle in an amazing manner at the RNF. This fest is aimed at making people aware of the tremendous importance Rajpur holds as a treasure house of natural beauty and serenity. Rajpur is one of those places which have an ambience of stable calm and a quiet beauty about them. It was Rev James Payne Alter, Toms father, who founded the Christian Retreat and Study Centre in Rajpur in 1954. The peepal (Bodhi) tree, planted by Gandhiji in 1929, still stands tall at the retreat centre which is an idyllic retreat and hosts religious and educational programmes for groups from all over the country and abroad. Till the time when the motor road to Mussoorie was built(around 1930), people went up to Mussoorie through the bridle path which goes from near the Shahenshahi Ashram upto Jharipani. It was the only way to reach Mussoorie. While some people rode on horses or mules, others preferred being carried in dandies (palanquins). At the time when the Cart Road was the only route to Mussoorie, Rajpur boasted of a club, two hotels (both of which were destroyed in fires), a mule breeding farm and agencies that facilitated travel. Some of the agencies like Smith Rodwells, Ellenborough and Chapmans were established for transporting baggage and attending to the many wants of the traveler. The opening of the motor road to Mussoorie killed the hotels and agency business in Rajpur. In the early days of British occupation, Rajpur had a sanatorium for invalid soldiers. When the sanatorium was opened in Landour around 1827, Rajpur remained a staging post on the journey to Mussoorie . Heres wishing the RNF many more successful editions! Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal on Sunday announced the development work worth Rs 60 crore for Radaur Assembly constituency which besides several others developmental works also included Mini Secretariat in Radaur and widening of Radar-Model Town-Jathlana road upto 7 meters. He also assured to fulfill all the demands of the Municipal Committee, Radaur. Further giving a major relief to the residents of Yamunanagar, the Chief Minister announced to remove Damla toll barrier from November 1. The Chief Minister made these announcements while addressing the Jan Vishwas Rally in Damla village of district Yamunanagar. Earlier, the Chief Minister laid the foundation stone of a high level bridge to be constructed at the cost of Rs 104 crore on Yamuna River near Jathlana. The Chief Minister also announced a grant of Rs 10 crore on the demand of Shyam Singh Rana, MLA of Radaur for constructing Pucca roads leading to the fields. Manohar Lal also announced the construction of Ambedkar Bhawan in 15 villages of Radaur at a cost of Rs 20 crore and construction of Mini Secretariat at Radaur, at a cost of Rs 2 crore. The Radar-Model Town-Jathlana road would be widened upto 7 meters at a cost of Rs ten crore. As many as eight new roads of Public Works Department (Buildings and Roads) and Marketing Board would be constructed at a cost of Rs eight crore. Many other developmental works would be carried out at a cost of Rs 20 crore. The Chief Minister said that this bridge constructed in Jathlana would connect Haryana with the subdivision of Nakud in Uttar Pradesh and it would benefit the farmers of many villages of Haryana, whose fields are situated either on the eastern side of the river Yamuna or on the Yamuna river bank. Manohar Lal said that in view of the traffic problem, the road from Damla to Radaur will be made four laned. He said tha by constructing Kail-Kalanaur bypass by NHAI, the traffic congestion in Yamunanagar-Jagadhri city had significantly been eased out. He said that equitable development works was being carried out across the state. Along with development agenda, we had been successful in bringing change in the so as to achieve development at a right pace and in a right manner, he said. The Chief Minister also said that all government services had been made online so that the public could avail benefit from their home. Antyodaya Bhawan had been opened where the benefits of all government services are provided under one roof and people would not have to visit the offices for their work, he said. He further said that the online system has curbed corruption to a great extent as in case of any complaint, immediate and prompt action is taken. The corruption could only be completely curbed when the people also come in support of the government and file complaints against corruption cases, he said. The government had taken several steps to promote industries. A system was developed to issue 70-80 licenses under a single roof within 30 days for setting up a new industry to give boost to industrial sector, Manohar Lal. He also said that plywood industry is a big industry in Yamunanagar which is also Asia's largest plywood market. During the previous government's tenure, no new licenses were given for setting up plywood industry. Now, we ended that system and new licenses were being issued easily, he added. For the first time in Haryana's history, our government reduced the electricity rates to almost half, he said. Appealing to the people to deposit their electricity bills so that they could be provided 24 hours power, he said that with the help of people, we gave 24 hours power to 2800 villages of six districts underMhara village-Jagmag village scheme. He said that in two-month time, Yamunanagar district will also become seventh district where all the villages would get electricity 24 hours. The Chief Minister said that the previous Government made huge announcements in the last year of its tenure without even making budgetary provisions. In the last year of our this tenure, we would only make the announcements which we could complete within this year, he added. Minerals transportation: 13 trucks seized Jajpur: The district administration on Sunday seized 13 vehicles for illegal transportation of minor minerals under Dharmasala Tehsil. Jajpur Collector Ranjan Das said that the administration with the help of police conducted raids at various places and seized the 13 trucks for violation of rules and illegal transportation. The vehicles were loaded with laterite stones, rubble and other minor minerals, added Das. Python caught in fishing net, dies in Jajpur Jajpur: An eight-feet-long python died on Sunday after it was trapped in a fishing net in Nizamapur village in the district. The Jajpur Road Forest Range Officer said the snake drowned after getting caught in the net. It is not unusual to have such a large python in the village as the nearby forest is the home of many reptiles, he added. NITR installs Raman spectrometer Rourkela: The National Institute of Technology (NIT), Rourkela, has recently installed a state-of-the-art high-performance computing cluster of 27 nodes for high-end research purpose. It has a theoretical computational power of 40 TFLOPS. It caters to the ever-increasing demand for high-performance computing for various scientific and engineering researches by using much cutting-edge softwares like Ansys, Fluent, NAMD, Matlab, Open Sees, etc. On the other hand, Raman spectrometer has been installed in the physics laboratory to intensify research activity. Professor Pitambar Mahanandia of Physics Department said, This will help in developing research activities. Bargarh DLSA judged best in Zone-2 Bargarh: The District Legal Services Authority (DLSA), Bargarh was awarded as the Best DLSA of Zone-2 of Odisha for providing excellent legal services to people. DLSA, Bargarh Secretary Subash Chandra Dhala received the certificate at a State-level Legal Services Authority function held at the Judicial Academy in Cuttack on Saturday. Orissa High Court Justice Kalpesh Satendra Javeri, Judge I Mohanty, Judge BR Sarangi and Secretaries of all 30 DLSAs were present. Tobacco de-addiction centre opens at NTPC Talcher: NTPC Talcher Kaniha CGM Santosh James inaugurated a tobacco de-addiction centre in the plant premises on Friday. James laid stress on providing publicity at the township and nearby places to involve more persons with tobacco habits for de-addiction. The doctors would counsel them for de-addiction. On the occasion, the employees and locals, who have stopped consumption of tobacco after counselling, were provided gifts as encouragement. Modern fire tender inducted in NTPC Talcher: Keeping in view safety challenges, especially controlling fire incidents at the NTPC Talcher Kaniha power station, a new modern fire tender has been pressed into service. Plant CGM Santosh James inaugurated the inclusion of fire tender, which has a capacity of 4,500 litres water, 500 litre foam tank and two nitrogen cylinder and 500 kg of chemical powder. The fire tender also has a monitor (outlet) which can be rotated 360 degree for fire fighting and reach any target at less possible time to extinguish a blaze. A 25-year-old man accused of raping and killing a minor in Dwarkapuri area of Madhya Pradeshs Indore district on October 25 was Sunday arrested. The brutal incident had rocked the commercial capital of the State after the body was recovered. Accused Honey Athwal, who has previously been arrested as a minor for rape and murder, had abducted the four-year-old girl when she was returning after attending tuition classes Thursday evening. The victim used to call the accused as maternal uncle (Mama). The victim was allegedly raped and strangulated to death before dumping in a drain. Her body was discovered in a drain under Krishnapura bridge here Saturday. Superintendent of Police (West Zone) Siddharth Bahuguna Sunday told that Athwal was arrested from Jaora town of Ratlam district, about 175 kilometres from here. Jaora City Superintendent of Police (CSP) Ashutosh Badi said that Athwal was hiding in Hussain Tekri, a religious shrine. The accused was hiding at Hussain Tekri which was crowded due to arrival of devotees on the occasion of Chehallum, Badi said. Badi said a police team in mufti arrested Athwal from Jaoras bus-stand as he was about to leave for Ratlam. He has been charged with abduction, rape and murder, police said. Officials said that Athwal was also arrested earlier in connection with the rape and murder of a seven-year old in Mandsaur but received a mild sentence as he was a minor at the time of commission of offence. To stop the 2,000 contractual staff of Delhi Transport Corporation (DTC) from staging strike on Monday, the Delhi Government after imposing Essential Supply Maintenance Act (ESMA) has again issued an order saying that the Government has restored the minimum wage of the contractual employees and will be credited to the accounts of the personnel by October 31. The Delhi Government has restored the minimum wage rates which were prevailing before August 4 and the earlier orders for reduction of minimum wage rates of contractual employees have been withdrawn. The Delhi Government has also directed to ensure that the deducted amount for the intervening period from August 4 to October 31 is credited to the accounts of contractual employees by October 31 so they can celebrate Diwali properly. Accordingly, DTC has also restored the wages of contractual workers, read the order issued by the Delhi Transport corporation on Sunday. The DTC workers have been at protest from October 22 and are planning to hold a State-level protest on October 29 demanding to put an end to the contract system in DTC. The contractual employees are not attending their duties and have gone on unauthorised strike disrupting the transport services and caused inconvenience and hardship to the general public. The Lieutenant Governor Delhi, using his discretionary powers under the Essential Services act prohibited any kind of strike by contractual drivers of the DTC. The employees who will disobey the law and order during this period or attempts to persuade any person to disobey any such order or refuses to work or to continue to work or absents himself from work without reasonable excuse shall be liable to be punished. Therefore, all the employees including the Contractual employees are directed to report to their depot for duty failing which strict action will be taken against them as per contractual terms and conditions, the DTC added. Amid concerns over rising air pollution in the national capital region, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday hailed farmers from Punjab who do not burn stubble in fields. In his monthly 'Mann ki Baat' radio address, he also said, while the world, especially the West, is discussing environment protection and trying to find new ways to adopt a balanced life style, India is also facing a similar problem. "But, for its solution we only have to look inwards, to look into our glorious past and our rich traditions and have especially to understand the lifestyle of our tribal communities," he said. Referring to the issue of stubble burning in fields which leads to massive air pollution, he referred to Gurbachan Singh, a Punjab farmer who asked his would be parents-in-law to promise that they will not burn parali or stubble in their fields. "You can well imagine the social strength this statement had. This point made by Gurbachan Singh appears quite ordinary but this reveals how tall and strong his personality is and we have seen that there are many families in our society who connect their individual matters with the benefit of the society as a whole," he said. The Prime Minister also said people of Kallar Majra in Nabha district of Punjab mix the stubble with the sand by ploughing their fields rather than burning the stubble and adopt the necessary technology for the process. "Congratulations to bhai Gurbachan Singh! Congratulations to the people of Kallar Majra and of all those places who are making their best efforts to keep the environment clean and pollution free. All of you are carrying forward the Indian tradition of a healthy lifestyle as a true successor. Just as a sea is formed by collection of tiny drops, similarly, a small constructive step, plays a vital role in creating a positive environment," he added. Data by the Punjab Pollution Control Board (PPCB) showed a decline in the paddy stubble-burning in Punjab this Kharif season. The data reflects that 7503 cases of stubble-burning have been reported until Friday in 2018. During the corresponding periods in the last two years, there were 13,364 and 19,879 cases of farm burning. The report by the Pollution Control Board shows that Amritsar witnessed a slight dip in stubble-burning cases. A little more than 700 incidents have been recorded in 2018 as compared to 785 in 2017 and little lesser than 1000 in 2016. The decline can be attributed to various factors, including awareness and farmers adhering to Governmental policies in mitigating the farm fires. With Diwali round the corner, the Delhi Police has issued guidelines for obtaining temporary fireworks licence - which can be availed from the Delhi Police licensing website and the offices of jurisdictional District Deputy Commissioners. Directions have also been issued to all police districts to ensure strict compliance with the order passed by the Supreme Court, in which only sale of green crackers, have been permitted. The Delhi Police are also making efforts to enforce the 8 pm to 10 pm time slot allotted for bursting crackers. However, it remains a Herculean task as implementing the time deadline would not be that easy, a police officer said. We are still scrutinising the list of applicants who will be able to obtain temporary fireworks license. The list will be out later next week, said a senior official from East Delhi District, adding that only 30 to 35 licenses will probably be distributed in the district. According to the issued guidelines, only Petroleum and Explosives Safety Organization (PESO) certified reduced emission firecrackers (improved crackers and green crackers) can be stored and sold up to a maximum of 600 kg by each licensee. There are several conditions for shops and temporary sheds to be able to obtain license, including the location of the shop. The shop should be on a commercial street or centre, located at a minimum of six meters wide road to make it accessible for firefighters and more according to the Explosives Act 1884, The Explosives Act 1908 and The Explosives Rules 2008. Only crackers with the permitted decibel level will be allowed to be sold according to the guidelines and bursting of fireworks is not allowed in silence zones, at least 100 metres away from hospitals, nursing homes, primary and district health-care centres, educational institutions, courts, religious places and more. To enforce the 8pm-10 pm timeslot for bursting crackers on Diwali, the official revealed that all Station House Officers (SHOs) and beat officers have been instructed to strictly monitor their areas. We are promoting Community fire cracking as far as possible. We have also informed the Resident Welfare Association (RWAs) about the guidelines, senior police official said, optimistic that the publics conscience will make an impact this Diwali. However, it has been reported that several citizens in the Capital have admitted to having bought firecrackers in bulk weeks before the Supreme Court ban. The Pioneer spoke to the senior police officers manning the districts regarding the implementation of the apex courts order vis-a-vis crackers. They said police teams will be on patrol to see that people adhere to the norms. If need by central para-military forces will be deployed to assist the local police, an officer said. The political turmoil within the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) on Sunday took a new turn with its president Sukhbir Badal offering to step down from the coveted post, apparently to put a stop to growing rebellion within the party. Under attack of the traditional and senior Akali leaders, the junior Badal made an attempt to placate the dissent within the party by offering his resignation if the party wants. However, the rebels expressed misgivings about his intentions. With the SAD facing its worst ever political crisis, the murmurs against the functioning style of the partys current young leadership have now turned into boisterous voices with its old guard raising a banner of revolt. While the taksali leadership in Majha region has openly challenged Sukhbir and his style of functioning, the two senior leaders, next to Akali patriarch and former Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal, have decided to stay away from active politics citing poor health. Rajya Sabha MP Sukhdev Singh Dhindsa, and Lok Sabha MP from Khadoor Sahib Ranjit Singh Brahmpura had recently resigned from all party posts, while announcing that they would not contest elections. Besides Brahmpura, three more senior leaders from Majha Sewa Singh Sekhwan, Ratan Singh Ajnala, and Bhai Manjit Singh have also revolted openly against the party, raising slew of issues, including questioning the Akal Takht pardon to Sirsa-based Dera set head Ram Rahim Singh, and series of sacrilege incidents. Badals, the father-son duo of Parkash Singh Badal and Sukhbir had ruled Punjab for a decade, until they were ousted by the Congress last year. When on a winning spree, everyone appreciated Sukhbirs election management skill, accrediting a shift from SADs style of traditional panthic politics to the one based on development agenda. But the series of sacrilege incidents and the related firing incidents, coupled with SAD-administered apology to Dera Sacha Sauda sect head, had hurt SADs image to a large extent, with its own leaders going against the party. Partys resounding defeat in 2017 polls was also attributed to the same reasons. Soon after Justice Ranjit Singh Commission report was tabled in the Vidhan Sabha, pointing finger at the role of the then SAD-BJP government, especially the then Chief Minister Badal, the Akali leaders started distancing themselves from the party. The report has indicted that senior Badal for his role in the police killing of innocent Sikhs, two years ago when they were peacefully protesting the desecration of the sacred Guru Granth Sahib. Facing heat from a section of senior party leaders, Sukhbir on Sunday said: Im leading the party on its direction. Im duty bound to do whatever the party asks me to do. If it demands my resignation, I am ready for it. Sukhbir said that all the veteran Akali leaders were like his father and he respects them. Earlier also, Sukhbir had stated that SAD was not a property of the Badal family and somebody else could represent it after a few years. I DOUBT SUKHBIRS INTENTIONS At the same time, rebel leaders from Majha, Ranjit Singh Brahmpura, who recently quit the party, expressed doubt on Sukhbir's intention to quit as the party's chief. If Sukhbir did not resign after SADs shameful debacle in Vidhan Sabha polls in 2017, how can one believe that he would resign now said Brahmpura. He added that Sukhbir continued on the post even after some of the senior members asked him to quit in the core committee meeting held immediately after the Vidhan Sabaha poll results. Another senior dissident leader of Majha and former Minister Sewa Singh Sekhwan, while welcoming the offer, said that Sukhbir did not fulfill the panthic criteria of taking over as head of Akali Dal according to principals of Khalsa Panth. DAMAGE CONTROL Switching into damage control mode, Sukhbir has initiated move to pacify disgruntled leaders by visiting them to readdress their grievance. However, it has been learnt that he could not succeed to much extent. On Sunday, Sukhbir visited party dissident Bhai Manjit Singh at his residence in Amritsar along with MLA Bikram Singh Majithia in a bid to assuage his hurt sentiments. After the meeting with Sukhbir, Bhai Manjit Singh said that he discussed many panthic issues but he had never raised any objection on Sukhbir being president of the party. SAD CORE GROUP MEETING TODAY SAD has convened the emergency meeting of the party core committee on October 29 in Chandigarh. During the meeting, discussions about the current internal conflict will be held. It is believed that another leader could be made vice-president with Sukhbir to look after the party affairs. Besides it has been learnt that senior leaders may be given more senior posts. Ratibad police foiled a dacoity bid and nabbed six armed miscreants near Badjhiri while planning robbery on Saturday; accused confessed 8 robberies and eight gold chains worth Rs 3 lakh were recovered from their possession, said DIG Bhopal Dharmendra Choudhary while speaking with the media persons on Sunday. He said police team flung into action after receiving information of masked armed miscreants near Agrawal petrol pump in Badjhiri and nabbed six miscreants. From their possession two sharp edge weapons, iron rod, wooden stick, chili powder and wire cutter Pliers were recovered, he added. In the initial investigation when the dacoits were questioned they confirmed that they were planning dacoity at Agrawal petrol pump late in the night but were nabbed while they were planning dacoity. During the investigation police found that the nabbed accused were involved in 8 robberies in the past 10 months in different parts of the state capital. Police have recovered 8 gold chains worth Rs 3 lakh from their possession. The six nabbed accused were identified as Hamid Khan alias Yaseen Khan (25), Mohammad Ali (31), Abuzar Ali (19), Shabbir Ali (59), Kajim Ali (25) and Mohammad Sikandar (26). All the miscreants are residents of Hoshangabad area. After the preliminary investigation the police have registered a case under sections 399 and 402 of the IPC and sections 25 and 27 of the Arms Act. The accused have committed chain snatchings from Piplani, Aishbagh ,Govindpura, Shahpura, Ayodhya Nagar police station areas. Two robberies each in Govindpura, Shahpura, Ayodhya Nagar area were committed. The students of Taurian World School were on a 10 day Educational Trip to Europe were they covered countries like Paris, Brussels, Amsterdam, Cologne and Zurich. According to school principal Dr Subhash Kumar, who was also escorting the students to the trip, The main purpose of these trips is to understand the society, history, polity and economy of different places. Since the goal of education is to impart knowledge to students, they gain knowledge and upgrade their skills by using the new concepts they learn from these educational tours. In addition, educational tours play an important role in educating our learners in a practical and interesting manner. Something that is seen in real can be easily perceived than something that we simply read in books. No doubt, that taking them to such trips will make them relate to their academics and will help them learn much better, he added. The trip started with the excited and enthusiastic children landing in Paris and without wasting much time, refreshing themselves and visiting the splendid collection of historic archives the Paris Museum. The museum was so huge that the locals said that even three months is very less to see it completely. Next was the perfume factory which was an eye opener to everyone some perfumes being purchased by the students. They later visited the historic Eiffel Tower a magnificent construction, Wonder and a Great Grandeur. The cruise provided was a great joy to the kids and we were able to see lots of old historic buildings. The next day they also enjoyed their time in Disney Land. In Brussels, they saw the Atomium a 33f ft tall structure representing the concept on an of an atom on an iron molecule enlarged 165 billion times, apart from going around the European Parliament and also seeing the Mannekin Pis, a symbol of the people of Brussels. They also visited the city which is called the Venice of the North - Amsterdam. They saw the legendary Anne Franks House and also visited the Van Gogh and the Rijks museum. In Cologne, they visited the Koln Cathedral and also took a boat ride along the Rhine Falls before proceeding to Mt. Titlis in Switzerland. They enjoyed the maximum in this snow clad mountain. The trip came to an end today with each one carrying pleasant memories, the principal said. Prime Minister Narendra Modi met his Japanese counterpart Shinzo Abe here Sunday as the two leaders seek to add new vigour to the strong friendship between the two countries. "Prime Ministers @narendramodi and @AbeShinzo meet at Yamanashi. They would be holding talks through the day on deepening India-Japan ties," Prime Minister Modi's office tweeted. Modi, who arrived here last evening to attend the 13th India-Japan annual summit, has said that his meeting with Abe will add new vigour to the strong friendship between the two countries. The two-day summit beginning Sunday will seek to review the progress in ties and deepen strategic dimension of the bilateral relationship. Abe will host a luncheon for Modi at a scenic resort by Mt. Fuji. After luncheon, they would visit a factory of industrial robot manufacturer Fanuc Corp. Before moving on to the Japanese premier's vacation home nearby. Abe will host Modi at his holiday home in the picturesque Yamanashi prefecture, west of Tokyo, for a private dinner Sunday following which both the leaders will travel to Tokyo by train. Yamanashi, at a distance of around 110 kilometres from Tokyo, is surrounded by several mountains including Mount Fuji - the country's tallest peak at around 3,776 metres. The two leaders will hold a formal summit Monday in Tokyo, during which strengthening bilateral security and economic cooperation is expected to be high on the agenda. Ahead of his departure from New Delhi, Modi described India and Japan as a "winning combination" and said the island nation was New Delhi's most trusted partner in its economic and technological modernisation. Modi said it will be his 12th meeting with Abe since he first visited Japan as prime minister in September 2014. During the summit, Modi will engage with Abe on a range of issues including defence and regional security. Besides bilateral issues, the two leaders are expected to deliberate on a range of regional and global issues including the situation in the Indo-Pacific region. It is said the prime minister's visit will reaffirm the traditional bonds of friendship between the two countries and strengthen their multi-faceted cooperation in diverse fields. India is also hoping to have some kind of synergy or integration between Modi's Ayushman Bharat scheme, which is the largest medicare programme of its kind globally, and the Japanese programme which is called Asia Health and Wellbeing Initiative. Prime Minister Modi has said projects such as Mumbai-Ahmedabad High Speed Rail and Dedicated Freight Corridors reflected the high level and "strength of our economic engagement". "Japan is also at the forefront of engaging in our national initiatives, such as 'Make in India', 'Skill India', 'Digital India', 'Start Up India'... Japanese investors have faith in India's economic future, which is marked with myriad opportunities," Modi said. Modi will also address the Indian community function in Tokyo and will attend a series of business events and address the business forum. Pakistan President Arif Alvi on Sunday ruled out establishing any kind of relations with Israel as he strongly rejected reports that an Israeli aircraft carrying some officials secretly landed in Islamabad and flew away after several hours at the airport here. Islamabad is not establishing any kind of relations with Israel, Alvi told the media before his departure for Turkey on a three-day official visit in the wee hours of Sunday. It all started when an Israeli journalist Avi Scharf tweeted on October 25 that an Israeli business jet flew from Tel Aviv to Islamabad where it was on the ground for 10 hours, before flying back to Tel Aviv. Social media users took note and flayed the Pakistan Government with the Opposition also joining in to demand an explanation about the secret Israeli mission. Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi also dismissed reports of an Israeli aircraft landing in Pakistan as fake and baseless. Qureshi said that something which is not even real does not warrant a response. Information Minister Fawad Chaudhry has also rejected the reports and said the government would not negotiate in secret with either Israel or India. He regretted such reports despite the fact that the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) had also denied reports of the presence of any Israeli aircraft in Pakistani airspace or at its airports. Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz leader Ahsan Iqbal, who earlier led the Oppositions barrage, said Chaudhrys reaction showed the Government was trying to hide something. The parliament should be taken into confidence over the issue, he demanded. BBC Urdu reported that the aircraft in question was a Canadian-manufactured Bombardier GlobalExpress with the serial number 9394. It was registered on February 22, 2017 in the Isle of Man in the UK by a company called Multibird Overseas Ltd. The Israeli journalist later said he was not 100 per cent sure if the plane had landed in Islamabad. Pakistan and Israel do not have diplomatic relations and their aircraft are not allowed to use each others airspace. 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. European Metals Holdings Limited engages in the exploration and development of mineral properties. The company explores for lithium and tin deposits. It holds a 100% interest in the Cinovec lithium/tin project covering an area of 1.27 sq km in the Czech Republic. The company was formerly known as Equamineral Holdings Limited and changed its name to European Metals Holdings Limited in February 2014. European Metals Holdings Limited was incorporated in 2012 and is based in West Perth, Australia. Read More Continental Building Products Inc (NYSE:CBPX) released its quarterly earnings results on Tuesday, November, 12th. The construction company reported $0.39 earnings per share for the quarter, topping analysts' consensus estimates of $0.38 by $0.01. The construction company earned $127.40 million during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $127.16 million. Continental Building Products had a trailing twelve-month return on equity of 18.84% and a net margin of 12.12%. The business's revenue was down 2.9% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter in the prior year, the firm posted $0.51 EPS. View Continental Building Products' earnings history. There is not enough analysis data for LoopUp Group. 5.0 Community Rank Outperform Votes LoopUp Group has received 133 outperform votes. (Add your outperform vote.) Underperform Votes LoopUp Group has received 39 underperform votes. (Add your underperform vote.) Community Sentiment LoopUp Group has received 77.33% outperform votes from our community. MarketBeat's community ratings are surveys of what our community members think about LoopUp Group and other stocks. Vote Outperform if you believe LOOP will outperform the S&P 500 over the long term. Vote Underperform if you believe LOOP will underperform the S&P 500 over the long term. You may vote once every thirty days. Previous Next The following companies are subsidiares of Marsh & McLennan Companies: 8WORKS INC., 8WORKS LTD, A. Constantinidi & CIA. 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Limited, Jardine ShunTak Insurance Brokers Limited, Jardine ShunTak Insurance Brokers Limited [Macao Branch], Jardines PF- Consultoria Em Gestao De Risco Limitada, Jelf, Jelf Commercial Finance Limited, Jelf Financial Planning Limited, Jelf Insurance Brokers Limited, Jelf Limited, Jelf Risk Management Limited, Jelf Wellbeing Limited, John Lampier & Son Ltd, Johnson & Higgins (Bermuda) Limited, Johnson & Higgins Limited, KESSLER & CO AG, Kepler Associates Limited, Kessler & Co Inc., Kessler Consulting Inc., Kessler Prevoyance Inc., Key Underwriting Pty Limited, Kroll, Lambert Brothers Holdings Limited, Lambert Brothers Insurance Brokers (Employee Benefits) Limited, Lambert Brothers Insurance Brokers (Hong Kong) Ltd, Laterlife.com Limited (in liquidation), Lavaretus Underwriting AB, Lavaretus Underwriting AB (BRANCH - Denmark), Libra Insurance Services Limited (in liquidation), Lloyd & Partners Limited, Local Government Insurance Brokers Pty Limited, Lomond Macdonald Limited, Lynch Insurance Brokers Limited, M&M Vehicle L.P., M.P. Bolshaw and Company Limited, MAG JLT SpA, MERCER ALTERNATIVES LIMITED, MM Risk Services Pty Ltd (for dissolution), MMA Mid-Atlantic Employee LLC, MMA Securities LLC, MMB Consultores S.A., MMC (Singapore) Holdings Pte. Ltd., MMC 28 State Street Holdings Inc., MMC Borrower LLC, MMC Brazilian Holdings B.V., MMC Capital Inc., MMC Cascade Regional Holdings LLC, MMC FINANCE (EUROPE) LIMITED, MMC FINANCE HOLDINGS LTD, MMC Finance (Australia) Limited, MMC Finance (Singapore) Limited, MMC France Holdings (Luxembourg) S.a.r.l., MMC GP III Inc., MMC Group Services sp. z o.o., MMC Holdings (Australia) Pty Ltd, MMC Holdings (New Zealand) ULC, MMC Holdings (UK) Limited, MMC International Finance (Barbados) SRL, MMC International Holdings LLC, MMC International Limited, MMC International Treasury Centre Limited, MMC Middle East Holdings Limited, MMC Poland Holdings B.V., MMC Realty Inc., MMC Regional Asia Holdings B.V., MMC Regional Caribbean Holdings Ltd., MMC Regional Europe Holdings B.V., MMC Regional LATAM Holdings B.V., MMC Securities (Europe) Limited, MMC Securities LLC, MMC Treasury Holdings (UK) Limited, MMC UK Group Limited, MMC UK Pension Fund Trustee Limited, MMOW Limited, MMRC LLC, MOW Holding LLC, MPIP III GP LLC, MPIP IV GP LLC, MPIP V GP LLC, MPIP VI GP LLC, Mangrove Insurance Europe PCC Limited, Mangrove Insurance Solutions PCC, Mangrove Insurance Solutions PCC Limited, Manoel Management Services Ltd, Marchant McKechnie Insurance Brokers Limited, Marine Aviation & General (London) Limited, Marsh & McLennan (PNG) Limited, Marsh & McLennan Agencies AS, Marsh & McLennan Agencies Limited, Marsh & McLennan Agency A/S, Marsh & McLennan Agency LLC, Marsh & McLennan Agency Limited, Marsh & McLennan Agency Pty Ltd., Marsh & McLennan Argentina SA Corredores de Reaseguros, Marsh & McLennan Colombia S.A., Marsh & McLennan Companies Acquisition Funding Limited, Marsh & McLennan Companies Acquisition Limited, Marsh & McLennan Companies Asia Pacific Treasury Center Limited, Marsh & McLennan Companies BVBA/SPRL, Marsh & McLennan Companies Finance Center (Luxembourg) S.a.r.l., Marsh & McLennan Companies France S.A.S., Marsh & McLennan Companies Holdings (Luxembourg) S.a.r.l., Marsh & McLennan Companies Inc., Marsh & McLennan Companies Regional Holdings S.a.r.l., Marsh & McLennan Companies Services B.V., Marsh & McLennan Companies UK Limited, Marsh & McLennan Europe S.a.r.l., Marsh & McLennan GP I Inc., Marsh & McLennan Global Broking (Bermuda) Ltd., Marsh & McLennan Holding GmbH, Marsh & McLennan Holdings (Canada) ULC, Marsh & McLennan Holdings Inc., Marsh & McLennan Incorporated (for dissolution), Marsh & McLennan Innovation Centre Holdings II, Marsh & McLennan Innovation Centre Holdings S.a.r.l., Marsh & McLennan Innovation Centre Limited, Marsh & McLennan Insurance Services Limited, Marsh & McLennan Ireland Limited, Marsh & McLennan Management Services (Bermuda) Limited, Marsh & McLennan Risk Capital Holdings Ltd., Marsh & McLennan Servicios S.A. De C.V., Marsh & McLennan Shared Services Canada Limited, Marsh & McLennan Shared Services Corporation, Marsh (Bahrain) Company SPC, Marsh (Beijing) Risk Management Consulting Co. Ltd., Marsh (China) Insurance Brokers Co. Ltd., Marsh (Hong Kong) Limited, Marsh (Insurance Brokers) LLP, Marsh (Insurance Services) Limited, Marsh (Malawi) Limited, Marsh (Middle East) Limited, Marsh (Namibia) (Proprietary) Limited, Marsh (Pty) Ltd, Marsh (Risk Consulting) LLP, Marsh (Singapore) Pte. Ltd., Marsh A/S, Marsh AB, Marsh AG, Marsh AS, Marsh Advantage Insurance Holdings Pty Ltd, Marsh Advantage Insurance Pty Ltd., Marsh Africa (Pty) Ltd, Marsh Argentina S.R.L., Marsh Associates (Pty) Ltd, Marsh Austria G.m.b.H., Marsh Aviation Insurance Broking Pty Ltd (for dissolution), Marsh B.V., Marsh Botswana (Proprietary) Limited, Marsh Brockman y Schuh Agente de Seguros y de Fianzas S.A. de C.V., Marsh Broker Japan Inc., Marsh Broker de Asigurare-Reasigurare S.R.L., Marsh Brokers (Hong Kong) Limited, Marsh Brokers Limited, Marsh Canada Limited/Marsh Canada Limitee, Marsh Company Management Services Cayman Ltd., Marsh Compensation Technologies Administration (Pty) Ltd, Marsh Corporate Services (Barbados) Limited, Marsh Corporate Services Isle of Man Ltd, Marsh Corporate Services Limited, Marsh Corporate Services Malta Limited, Marsh Corretora de Seguros Ltda., Marsh EOOD, Marsh Egypt LLC, Marsh Emirates Consultancy LLC, Marsh Emirates Insurance Brokerage LLC, Marsh Employee Benefits Limited, Marsh Employee Benefits Zimbabwe (Private) Ltd, Marsh Eurofinance B.V., Marsh Europe S.A., Marsh FJC International Insurance Brokers Limited, Marsh For Insurance Services S.A.E., Marsh Franco Acra S.A., Marsh GSC Servicos e Administracao de Seguros Ltda., Marsh GmbH, Marsh Holding AB, Marsh Holdings (Pty) Ltd, Marsh India Insurance Brokers Private Limited, Marsh Insurance & Investments LLC, Marsh Insurance Brokers, Marsh Insurance Brokers (Macao) Limited, Marsh Insurance Brokers (Malaysia) Sdn Bhd, Marsh Insurance Brokers (Private) Limited, Marsh Insurance Brokers AO, Marsh Insurance Brokers Limited, Marsh Insurance Consulting Saudi Arabia (in liquidation), Marsh Insurance and Reinsurance Brokers LLC, Marsh Intermediaries Inc., Marsh International Broking Holdings Limited, Marsh International Holdings II Inc., Marsh International Holdings Inc., Marsh Investment B.V., Marsh Ireland Brokers Limited, Marsh Ireland Brokers Limited (UK Branch), Marsh Ireland Holdings Limited, Marsh Israel (1999) Ltd., Marsh Israel (Holdings) Ltd., Marsh Israel Consultants Ltd., Marsh Israel Insurance Agency Ltd., Marsh Israel International Brokers Ltd. (in liquidation), Marsh JCS Inc., Marsh Japan Inc., Marsh Kft., Marsh Kindlustusmaakler AS, Marsh Korea Inc., Marsh LLC, Marsh LLC Insurance Brokers, Marsh LLC [Ukraine], Marsh Lda., Marsh Limited, Marsh Limited [Fiji], Marsh Limited [New Zealand], Marsh Limited [PNG], Marsh Ltd. [Wisconsin], Marsh Management Services (Bahamas) Ltd., Marsh Management Services (Barbados) Limited, Marsh Management Services (Bermuda) Ltd., Marsh Management Services (Dublin) Limited, Marsh Management Services (Labuan) Limited, Marsh Management Services (MENA) Limited, Marsh Management Services (USVI) Ltd., Marsh Management Services Cayman Ltd., Marsh Management Services Guernsey Limited, Marsh Management Services Inc., Marsh Management Services Isle of Man Limited, Marsh Management Services Luxembourg S.a.r.l., Marsh Management Services Malta Limited, Marsh Management Services Singapore Pte. Ltd., Marsh Management Services Sweden AB, Marsh Marine & Energy AB, Marsh Marine Nederland B.V., Marsh Medical Consulting GmbH, Marsh Mercer Holdings (Australia) Pty Ltd, Marsh Nest Inc., Marsh Oman LLC, Marsh Oy, Marsh PB Co. Ltd., Marsh Philippines Inc., Marsh Privat A.I.E., Marsh Private Client Life Insurance Services, Marsh Pty. Ltd., Marsh Qatar LLC, Marsh RE S.A.C. Corredores de Reaseguros, Marsh Rehder Consultoria S.A. (MRC), Marsh Rehder S.A. Corredores de Seguros, Marsh Resolutions Pty Limited, Marsh Risk Consulting B.V., Marsh Risk Consulting Limitada, Marsh Risk Consulting Ltda., Marsh Risk Consulting S.L., Marsh Risk Consulting Services S.r.L., Marsh Risk and Consulting Services (Pty) Ltd, Marsh S.A. Corredores De Seguros, Marsh S.A. Mediadores de Seguros, Marsh S.A.S., Marsh S.p.A., Marsh SA [Argentina], Marsh SA [Belgium], Marsh SA [Luxembourg], Marsh SA [Uruguay], Marsh SIA, Marsh Saldana Inc., Marsh Saudi Arabia Insurance & Reinsurance Brokers, Marsh Secretarial Services Limited, Marsh Semusa S.A., Marsh Services Limited, Marsh Services Spolka z.o.o., Marsh Sigorta ve Reasurans Brokerligi Anonim Sirketi, Marsh Spolka z.o.o., Marsh Szolgaltato Kft., Marsh Takaful Brokers (Malaysia) Sdn Bhd, Marsh Treasury Services (Dublin) Limited (in liquidation), Marsh Treasury Services Limited, Marsh Tunisia S.a.r.l., Marsh UK Limited, Marsh USA (India) Inc., Marsh USA Borrower LLC, Marsh USA Inc., Marsh Uganda Limited, Marsh Venezuela C.A. Sociedad de Corretaje de Seguros, Marsh Vietnam Insurance Broking Company Ltd, Marsh Zambia Limited, Marsh Zimbabwe Holdings (Private) Limited, Marsh d.o.o. Beograd, Marsh d.o.o. za posredovanje u osiguranju, Marsh for Insurance Services - Jordan, Marsh i-Connect (Pty) Ltd, Marsh s.r.o., Matthiessen Assurans AB, Mercer (Argentina) S.A., Mercer (Australia) Pty Ltd, Mercer (Austria) GmbH, Mercer (Belgium) SA-NV, Mercer (Canada) Limited/Mercer (Canada) Limitee, Mercer (China) Limited, Mercer (Colombia) Ltda., Mercer (Danmark) A/S, Mercer (Finland) OY, Mercer (France) SAS, Mercer (Hong Kong) Limited, Mercer (Ireland) Limited, Mercer (Malaysia) Sdn. Bhd., Mercer (N.Z.) Limited, Mercer (Nederland) B.V., Mercer (Norge) AS, Mercer (Polska) Sp.z o.o., Mercer (Portugal) Lda, Mercer (Singapore) Pte. Ltd., Mercer (Sweden) AB, Mercer (Taiwan) Ltd., Mercer (Thailand) Ltd., Mercer (US) Inc., Mercer Administration Services (Australia) Pty Limited, Mercer Africa Limited, Mercer Agente de Seguros S.A. de C.V., Mercer Asesores de Seguros S.A., Mercer Asesores es Inversion Independientes S.A. de C.V., Mercer Broking Ltd., Mercer Career Unipessoal Lda, Mercer Consultation (Quebec) Ltee., Mercer Consulting (Australia) Pty Ltd, Mercer Consulting (Chile) Limitada, Mercer Consulting (France) SAS, Mercer Consulting (India) Private Limited, Mercer Consulting B.V., Mercer Consulting Group Inc., Mercer Consulting Holdings Sdn. Bhd., Mercer Consulting Limited, Mercer Consulting Middle East Limited, Mercer Consulting S.L.U., Mercer Consulting Venezuela C.A., Mercer Corredores de Seguros Limitada, Mercer Corretora de Seguros Ltda, Mercer Danismanlik Anonim Sirketi, Mercer Deutschland GmbH, Mercer Employee Benefits - Medicacao de Seguros Unipessoal Lda., Mercer Employee Benefits Limited, Mercer Financial Advice (Australia) Pty Ltd, Mercer Financial Services Limited, Mercer Financial Services Limited liability company, Mercer Financial Services Middle East Limited, Mercer Global Investments Europe Limited, Mercer Global Investments Management Limited, Mercer HR Consulting Borrower LLC, Mercer HR Services LLC, Mercer Health & Benefits (Singapore) Pte. Ltd., Mercer Health & Benefits Administration LLC, Mercer Health & Benefits LLC, Mercer Holdings Inc., Mercer Holdings Inc. [Philippines], Mercer Human Resource Consulting Ltda, Mercer Human Resource Consulting S.A. de C.V., Mercer ICC Limited, Mercer Investment Consulting Limited, Mercer Investment Management (Shanghai) Co. Ltd, Mercer Investment Solutions (Singapore) Pte. Ltd., Mercer Investments (Australia) Limited, Mercer Investments (Hong Kong) Limited, Mercer Investments (Japan) Ltd, Mercer Investments (New Zealand) Limited, Mercer Investments LLC, Mercer Ireland Holdings Limited, Mercer Italia Srl Socio Unico, Mercer Japan Ltd., Mercer Korea Co. Ltd., Mercer LLC, Mercer Limited, Mercer MC Consulting Borrower LLC, Mercer Master Trustees Limited, Mercer Mauritius Ltd., Mercer Oliver Wyman Holding B.V., Mercer Outsourcing (Australia) Pty Ltd, Mercer Outsourcing S.L.U., Mercer Pensionsfonds AG, Mercer Pensionsraadgivning A/S, Mercer Philippines Inc., Mercer Private Investment Partners IV General Partner S.a.r.l., Mercer Private Markets AG, Mercer Private Markets Advisers (US) AG, Mercer Services Poland Sp. z.o.o., Mercer Sigorta Brokerligi Anonim Sirketi, Mercer South Africa (Pty) Limited, Mercer Superannuation (Australia) Limited, Mercer Switzerland Inc., Mercer System Services LLC, Mercer Technology Acquisitions Limited, Mercer Treuhand GmbH, Mercer Trust Company LLC, Mercer Trustees Limited, Mercer WorkforcePro LLC, Mercury Insurance Services Pty Ltd, Moola Systems Limited, Mountlodge Limited, Muir Beddal (Zimbabwe) Limited, NERA Australia Pty. Ltd., NERA Economic Consulting GmbH, NERA Economic Consulting Limited, NERA S.R.L., NERA SAS, NERA UK Limited, NERA do Brasil Ltda. (for dissolution), National Economic Research Associates Inc., NetComp Insurance Corp., Neuburger Noble Lowndes GmbH, Normandy Reinsurance Company Limited, Northern Alliance Brokers Limited (in liquidation), OWL Marine Insurance-Brokers GmbH & Co.KG, OWL Marine Verwaltungs GmbH, Oliver Wyman (Bermuda) Limited, Oliver Wyman (Hong Kong) Limited, Oliver Wyman AB, Oliver Wyman AG, Oliver Wyman Actuarial Consulting Inc., Oliver Wyman B.V., Oliver Wyman Consulting (Shanghai) Ltd, Oliver Wyman Consultoria em Estrategia de Negocios Ltda., Oliver Wyman Energy Consulting Limited, Oliver Wyman FZ-LLC, Oliver Wyman Group KK, Oliver Wyman Inc., Oliver Wyman LLC, Oliver Wyman Limited, Oliver Wyman Limited Liability Company, Oliver Wyman Limited/Oliver Wyman limitee, Oliver Wyman Ltd., Oliver Wyman Pte. Ltd., Oliver Wyman Pty. Ltd., Oliver Wyman S. de R.L. de C.V., Oliver Wyman S.A.S., Oliver Wyman S.L., Oliver Wyman S.r.l., Oliver Wyman SNC, Oliver Wyman SPRL/BVBA, Oliver Wyman Sdn. Bhd., Oliver Wyman Services Limited, Oliver Wyman Servicios S. de R.L. de C.V., Oliver Wyman sp. z o.o., Omega Indemnity (Bermuda) Limited, Organizacion Brockman y Schuh S.A. de C.V., Osbornes Insurances Oxford Limited (in liquidation), PFT Limited, PI Indemnity Company Designated Activity Company, PT JLT Reinsurance Brokers, PT Jardine Lloyd Thompson, PT Marsh Indonesia, PT Marsh Reinsurance Brokers Indonesia, PT Mercer Indonesia, PT Nexus Asia Pacific, PT Oliver Wyman Indonesia, PT Quantum Computing Services, PT Quantum Investments, PT Quantum Support Services, Pallas Marsh Servicos Ltda., Pavilion Alternatives Group (Singapore) PTE. Ltd, Pavilion Financial Corporation Holdings UK Limited, Pavilion U.S. Investments Holdco LLC, Pension Trustees Limited, Pensionsservice Benefit Network Sverige AB, Perils AG, Personal Pension Trustees Limited, Pet Animal Welfare Scheme Limited, Portsoken Trustees (No. 2) Limited, Portsoken Trustees Limited, Potomac Insurance Managers Inc., Premier Pension Trustees Limited, Premium Services Australia Pty Limited, Professional Claims Handling Limited (in liquidation), Profund Solutions Limited, Promerit AG, Promerit Hungary Kft, Promerit Schweiz AG, Pymetrics Inc., R G Ford Brokers Limited, R R B Beratungsgesellschaft fuer Altersversorgung mbh, R. Mees & Zoonen Holdings B.V., Renewable Energy Loss Adjusters LLC, Renewable Energy Loss Adjusters Limited, Resource Benefit Associates, Rightpath Reinsurance SPC Ltd., Risk Management Australia Pty Limited, Rivers Group Limited, Rockefeller Risk Advisors Inc., Rutherfoord International Inc., SAFCAR-Marsh, SBJ Holdings Limited, SCIB (Bermuda) Limited, SCM Global Real Estate Select GP LLC, SCM Infrastructure General Partner S.a r.l., SCM International Private Equity Select III GP LLC, SCM LT General Partner S.a.r.l., SCM PE General Partner S.a.r.l., SCM PE II GP Ltd., SCM PE II Scotland GP Ltd, SCM Strategic Capital Management (Luxembourg) S.a.r.l., SICAR Marsh S.a.r.l., SME Insurance Services Limited, Sail Insurance Company Limited, Scalene Re Ltd, Seabury & Smith Borrower LLC, Seabury & Smith LLC, Secure Limited, Sedgwick (Holdings) Pty. Limited, Sedgwick Consulting Group Limited, Sedgwick Dineen Group Limited, Sedgwick Financial Services Limited, Sedgwick Forbes Middle East Limited, Sedgwick Group, Sedgwick Group (Australia) Pty. Limited, Sedgwick Group (Bermuda) Limited, Sedgwick Group (Zimbabwe) Limited, Sedgwick Group Limited, Sedgwick Internationaal B.V., Sedgwick Limited, Sedgwick Management Services (Barbados) Limited, Sedgwick Management Services (Singapore) Pte Limited, Sedgwick Noble Lowndes (UK) Limited, Sedgwick Noble Lowndes Group Limited, Sedgwick Noble Lowndes Limited, Sedgwick Overseas Investments Limited, Sedgwick Private Limited, Sedgwick Re Asia Pacific (Consultants) Pte Ltd (for dissolution), Sedgwick Trustees Limited, Sedgwick UK Risk Services Limited, Sedgwick Ulster Pension Trustees Limited, Settlement Trustees Limited, Shanghai Mercer Insurance Brokers Company Ltd., Shorewest Insurance Associates LLC, Sirota Asia Pacific Pte. Ltd., Sirota Consulting UK Limited, Smith Long Term Disability Management Group Inc., Societe d'Assurances et de Participation Guian SA, Software Underwriting Systems Limited (in liquidation), Southern Marine & Aviation Inc., Southern Marine & Aviation Underwriters Inc., Sudzucker Versicherungs-Vermittlungs GmbH, Sumitomo Life Insurance Agency America Inc., Sylvite Financial Services, TBX Solutions Limited, Talent Tech Labs LLC, The Benefit Express Holdings Limited, The Benefit Express Limited, The Carpenter Management Corporation, The Insurance Partnership Holdings Limited, The Insurance Partnership Services Limited, The Positive Ageing Company Limited, The Purple Partnership Limited, The Recovre Group Pty Ltd, Thomsons Online Benefits (HK) Ltd., Thomsons Online Benefits Inc., Thomsons Online Benefits Limited, Thomsons Online Benefits Pte Ltd., Thomsons Online Benefits S.R.L, Torrent Government Contracting Services LLC, Torrent Insurance Services LLC, Torrent Technologies, Torrent Technologies Inc., Tower Hill Limited, Tower Place Developments (West) Limited, Tower Place Developments Limited, U.T.E. AMG, U.T.E. Marsh - Caja Castilla La Mancha Junta de Comunidades, U.T.E. Marsh - Salvado Reus (in liquidation), U.T.E. Marsh - Salvado Reus 2012, U.T.E. Marsh - Salvado Vila-Seca 2010, UAD BB Marsh Lietuva, Vezina & Associes Inc., Vezina Assurances Inc., Victor Insurance Europe B.V., Victor Insurance Holdings Inc., Victor Insurance Italia S.r.l., Victor Insurance Managers Inc., Victor Insurance Managers Inc./Gestionnaires d'assurance Victor inc., Victor O. Schinnerer & Co. (Bermuda) Ltd., Victor O. Schinnerer & Company Limited, Victoria Hall Company Limited, Wellnz Limited, William M. Mercer (Canada) Limited/William M. Mercer (Canada) Limitee, William M. Mercer AB, William M. Mercer Comercio Consultoria e Servicos Ltda., Wortham Insurance & Risk Management, everBe SAS, and realright GmbH. The following companies are subsidiares of World Fuel Services: AHT Services LLC, ANY-G B.V., ANY-G Services B.V., AVCARD Holding Company (BVI) Ltd., AVCARD Services (BVI) Ltd., Advance Petroleum LLC, Air Petro Corp., Alta Fuels Llc, Alta Transportation LLC, Altitude Ventures Holding Inc., Amelia Holding AB, Amsterdam Software B.V., Ascent Aviation Group Inc., Associated Petroleum Products, Associated Petroleum Products Inc, Avinode AB, Avinode Aktiebolag, Avinode Group AB, Avinode Inc., Baseops International Inc., Bergen Energi AB, Bunkerfuels, CarterEnergy Corporation, Casa Petro S.R.L., Chrome Club Inc., Colt Aviation Holdings LLC, Colt International, Colt International Europe SARL, Colt International LLC, Colt International das Americas Servicos de Aviacao Ltda., Colt Risk Management Services LLC, Ecuacentair Cia. Ltda., Energie-Tankdienstgesellschaft Bremen mbH, Falmouth Oil Services Limited, Falmouth Petroleum Limited, Gib Oil Limited, Hellenic Aviation Fuel Company S.A., Henty Oil Limited, Henty Shipping Services Limited, Indianhead Oil, JCP Brazil LLC, K T M Inc., KTM Inc, Kinect Consulting LLC, Kinect Energy AS, Kinect Energy Denmark A/S, Kinect Energy France Sarl, Kinect Energy Germany GmbH, Kinect Energy Green Services AS, Kinect Energy Hungary Kft, Kinect Energy Inc., Kinect Energy Markets AS, Kinect Energy Netherlands B.V., Kinect Energy Pty Limited, Kinect Energy Spot AS, Kinect Energy Sweden AB, Kinect Energy UK Limited, LFO Holdings Limited, Lakeside Oil Company Inc, Linton Fuel Oils Limited, MH Aviation Services (Pty) Ltd., MS Europe B.V., MS Lebanon LLC., MS Technology Solutions Costa Rica Sociedad de Responsabilidad Limitada, MSTS Consorzio, MSTS Holding LLC, MSTS Payments LLC, Marine Energy, Multi Service Aero B.V., Multi Service Comercio S. de R.L. de C.V., Multi Service Egypt, Multi Service Holding B.V., Multi Service Middle East FZ-LLC, Multi Service Pre Paid Solutions B.V., Multi Service Private Label B.V., Multi Service Pty Limited, Multi Service Singapore PTE. LTD., Multi Service Technology Solutions, Multi Service Technology Solutions Inc., Multi Service Technology Solutions Inc. / Jordan LLC, Multi Service US Holding LLC, NCS Fuel IQ Limited, NCS UK Holding Co. Limited, NCS US Inc., Nature Port Reception Facilities Limited, Nordic Camp Supply ApS, Nordic Camp Supply B.V., Nordic Camp Supply Estonia OU, Norse Bunker AS, Oil Shipping (Bunkering) B.V., Oil Shipping Korea Limited, Orchard (Holdings) UK Limited, Orchard Energy Limited, PAPCO Inc., PAX Distribution LLC, PT Oil Shipping Trans Indonesia, PT Servicios de Guatemala Limitada, Papco, PayNode AB, Pester Marketing Company, Petro Air Corp, PetroServicios de Costa Rica S.R.L., Petromundo Internacional S.R.L., Redline Oil Services Limited, Resource Recovery of America Inc., SchedAero Inc., Schedaero AB, Servicios Auxiliares de Mexico S. de R.L. de C.V., Servicios Ecuatorianos de Energia-Secsa CIA. LTDA, Servicios WFSE Ecuador C.L., Servicios de Combustible Atlanticos S.R.L, Shell Oil Gibraltar, South Minnesota Lubes, TGS Petroleum Inc, TM Hawkins Brazil LLC, Tamlyn Shipping Limited, Tank and Marine Engineering Limited, Texor Petroleum Company, The Hiller Group Incorporated, The Lubricant Company Limited, Tobras Distribuidora de Combustiveis Ltda., Tramp Group Limited, Tramp Holdings Limited, Tramp Oil & Marine (Argentina) S.R.L., Tramp Oil & Marine (Chile) Limitada, Tramp Oil & Marine Limited, Tramp Oil (Brasil) Ltda., Tramp Oil Germany GmbH, Tramp Oil-Schiffahrts-und Handelsgesellschaft mbH & Co., Trans-Tec Mundial S.R.L., U.S. Energy Engineering Inc., U.S. Energy Services Inc., UVair fuel business, WF Lubricants S.L., WFL (UK) II Limited, WFL (UK) Limited, WFL Mozambique LDA, WFS & J Company Limited, WFS (Guam) Limited, WFS Agencia de Naves Limitada, WFS Commercial Consulting (Shanghai) Co. Ltd., WFS Danish Holding Company I ApS, WFS Danish Holding Partnership K/S, WFS UK Holding Company II Limited, WFS UK Holding Company III Limited, WFS UK Holding Partnership II LP, WFS UK Holding Partnership III LP, WFS UK Holding Partnership LP, WFS US Holding Company I LLC, WFS US Holding Company II LLC, WFS US Holding Company III LLC, WFS US Holding Company IV LLC, WFS US Holding Company IX LLC, WFS US Holding Company V LLC, WFS US Holding Company VI LLC, WFS US Holding Company VII LLC, WFS US Holding Company VIII LLC, WFS US Holding Company X LLC, Watson Petroleum, Western Aviation Products LLC, Western Petroleum Company, Wilhelmsen Marine Fuels (WMF), World Fuel CX LLC, World Fuel Capital Limited, World Fuel Cayman Holding Company I, World Fuel Cayman Holding Company III, World Fuel Cayman Holding Company IV, World Fuel Cayman Holding Company V, World Fuel Commodities Services (Ireland) Limited, World Fuel Gas and Power Limited, World Fuel PG Trading Limited, World Fuel Services (Australia) Pty Ltd, World Fuel Services (Bahamas) LLC, World Fuel Services (Costa Rica) Limitada, World Fuel Services (Denmark) ApS, World Fuel Services (Hong Kong) Limited, World Fuel Services (KG) LLC, World Fuel Services (Malaysia) Sdn. Bhd., World Fuel Services (New Zealand) Limited, World Fuel Services (Panama) Limited Liability Company Sociedad De Responsabilidad Limitada, World Fuel Services (Singapore) II Pte. Ltd., World Fuel Services (Singapore) Pte Ltd, World Fuel Services (South Africa) (Pty) Ltd, World Fuel Services (Taiwan) Limited, World Fuel Services (Uruguay) S.A., World Fuel Services Argentina S.R.L., World Fuel Services Aviation Limited, World Fuel Services Belgium BVBA, World Fuel Services CZ s.r.o., World Fuel Services Canada ULC, World Fuel Services Chile Limitada, World Fuel Services Company LLC, World Fuel Services Corporate Aviation Support Services Inc., World Fuel Services Europe Ltd., World Fuel Services European Holding Company I Ltd., World Fuel Services Finance Company S.a.r.L., World Fuel Services France SAS, World Fuel Services Inc., World Fuel Services International (Panama) LLC, World Fuel Services Italy S.r.L., World Fuel Services Japan G.K., World Fuel Services Kenya Limited, World Fuel Services Mexico S. de R.L. de C.V., World Fuel Services Pakistan (Pvt.) Limited, World Fuel Services Peru S.R.L., World Fuel Services Private Limited, World Fuel Services Regulatory Holdings LLC, World Fuel Services Trading DMCC, World Fuel Services Turkey Petrol Urunleri Dagitim Ve Ticaret Limited Sirketi, World Fuel Singapore Holding Company I Pte Ltd, World Fuel Singapore Holding Company II Pte Ltd, and Yacht Fuel Services Limited. The following companies are subsidiares of Abbott Laboratories: 3A Nutrition (Vietnam) Company Limited, ABON Biopharm (Hangzhou) Co. Ltd., AGA Medical Belgium, AGA Medical Corporation, AGA Medical Holdings Inc., ALR Holdings, AML Medical LLC, APK Advanced Medical Technologies LLC, ATS Bermuda Holdings Limited, ATS Laboratories Inc., Abbott, Abbott (Jiaxing) Nutrition Co. Ltd., Abbott (UK) Finance Limited, Abbott (UK) Holdings Limited, Abbott AG, Abbott Asia Holdings Limited, Abbott Asia Investments Limited, Abbott Australasia Holdings Limited, Abbott Australasia Pty Ltd, Abbott B.V., Abbott Bahamas Overseas Businesses Corporation, Abbott Belgian Investments, Abbott Bermuda Holding Ltd., Abbott Biologicals B.V., Abbott Biologicals LLC, Abbott Bulgaria Luxembourg S.a r.l., Abbott Capital India Limited, Abbott Cardiovascular Inc., Abbott Cardiovascular Systems Inc., Abbott Delaware LLC, Abbott Diabetes Care Inc., Abbott Diabetes Care Limited, Abbott Diabetes Care Sales Corporation, Abbott Diagnostics GmbH, Abbott Diagnostics International Ltd., Abbott Diagnostics Technologies AS, Abbott Doral Investments S.L., Abbott Equity Holdings Unlimited, Abbott Equity Investments LLC, Abbott Established Products Holdings (Gibraltar) Limited, Abbott Finance Company SA, Abbott Financial Holdings SRL, Abbott France S.A.S., Abbott Fund Tanzania Limited, Abbott Gesellschaft m.b.H., Abbott GmbH & Co. KG, Abbott Health Products LLC, Abbott Healthcare (Puerto Rico) Ltd., Abbott Healthcare B.V., Abbott Healthcare Costa Rica S.A., Abbott Healthcare LLC, Abbott Healthcare Luxembourg S.a r.l., Abbott Healthcare Private Limited, Abbott Healthcare Products B.V., Abbott Healthcare Products Ltd, Abbott Holding (Gibraltar) Limited, Abbott Holding GmbH, Abbott Holding Subsidiary (Gibraltar) Limited, Abbott Holding Subsidiary (Gibraltar) Limited Luxembourg S.C.S., Abbott Holdings B.V., Abbott Holdings LLC, Abbott Holdings Limited, Abbott Holdings Poland Spoka z ograniczona odpowiedzialnoscia, Abbott Hungary Korlatolt Felelossegu Tarsasag, Abbott Iberian Investments (2) Limited, Abbott Iberian Investments Limited, Abbott India Limited, Abbott Informatics Asia Pacific Limited, Abbott Informatics Canada Inc, Abbott Informatics Corporation, Abbott Informatics Europe Limited, Abbott Informatics France, Abbott Informatics Germany GmbH, Abbott Informatics Netherlands B.V., Abbott Informatics Singapore Pte. Limited, Abbott Informatics Spain S.A., Abbott Informatics Technologies Ltd, Abbott International Corporation, Abbott International Enterprises Ltd., Abbott International Holdings Limited, Abbott International LLC, Abbott International Luxembourg S.ar.l., Abbott Investments Luxembourg S.a r.l., Abbott Ireland, Abbott Ireland Financing Designated Activity Company, Abbott Ireland Limited, Abbott Japan Co. Ltd., Abbott Kazakhstan Limited Liability Partnership, Abbott Knoll Investments B.V., Abbott Korea Limited, Abbott Laboratories (Bangladesh) Limited, Abbott Laboratories (Chile) Holdco (Dos) SpA, Abbott Laboratories (Chile) Holdco SpA, Abbott Laboratories (Malaysia) Sdn. Bhd., Abbott Laboratories (Mozambique) Limitada, Abbott Laboratories (Pakistan) Limited, Abbott Laboratories (Philippines), Abbott Laboratories (Puerto Rico) Incorporated, Abbott Laboratories (Singapore) Private Limited, Abbott Laboratories A/S, Abbott Laboratories Argentina Sociedad Anonima, Abbott Laboratories B.V., Abbott Laboratories C.A., Abbott Laboratories Finance B.V., Abbott Laboratories GmbH, Abbott Laboratories Inc., Abbott Laboratories International LLC, Abbott Laboratories Ireland Limited, Abbott Laboratories Limited, Abbott Laboratories Limited - Laboratoires Abbott Limitee, Abbott Laboratories NZ Limited, Abbott Laboratories Pacific Ltd., Abbott Laboratories Poland Spoka z ograniczona odpowiedzialnoscia, Abbott Laboratories Products B.V., Abbott Laboratories Residential Development Fund Inc., Abbott Laboratories S.A., Abbott Laboratories SA, Abbott Laboratories Services Corp., Abbott Laboratories Slovakia s.r.o., Abbott Laboratories South Africa (Pty) Ltd., Abbott Laboratories Trading (Shanghai) Co. Ltd., Abbott Laboratories Trustee Company Limited, Abbott Laboratories Uruguay S.A., Abbott Laboratories Vascular Enterprises, Abbott Laboratories d.o.o., Abbott Laboratories de Chile Limitada, Abbott Laboratories de Colombia S.A., Abbott Laboratories de Mexico S.A. de C.V., Abbott Laboratories druzba za farmacijo in diagnostiko d.o.o., Abbott Laboratories s.r.o., Abbott Laboratories(Hellas) Societe Anonyme, Abbott Laboratorios S.A., Abbott Laboratorios S.A., Abbott Laboratorios del Ecuador Cia. Ltda., Abbott Laboratuarlari Ithalat Ihracat ve Ticaret Ltd.Sti, Abbott Laboratorios Lda, Abbott Laboratorios do Brasil Ltda., Abbott Limited Egypt LLC, Abbott Logistics B.V., Abbott Management GmbH, Abbott Management LLC, Abbott Manufacturing Singapore Private Limited, Abbott Mature Products International Unlimited Company, Abbott Mature Products Management Limited, Abbott Medical (Hong Kong) Limited, Abbott Medical (Malaysia) Sdn. Bhd., Abbott Medical (Portugal) Distribuicao de Produtos Medicos Lda, Abbott Medical (Schweiz) AG, Abbott Medical (Shanghai) Co. Ltd., Abbott Medical (Singapore) Pte. Ltd., Abbott Medical (Thailand) Co. Ltd., Abbott Medical Australia Pty. Ltd., Abbott Medical Austria Ges.m.b.H., Abbott Medical Balkan d.o.o. Beograd (Novi Beograd), Abbott Medical Belgium, Abbott Medical Canada Inc./ Medicale Abbott Canada Inc., Abbott Medical Danmark A/S, Abbott Medical Devices Trading (Shanghai) Co. Ltd., Abbott Medical Espana S.A., Abbott Medical Estonia OU, Abbott Medical Finland Oy, Abbott Medical France SAS, Abbott Medical GmbH, Abbott Medical Hellas Limited Liability Trading Company, Abbott Medical Ireland Limited, Abbott Medical Italia S.p.A., Abbott Medical Japan Co. Ltd., Abbott Medical Korea Limited, Abbott Medical Korlatolt Felelossegu Tarsasag, Abbott Medical Laboratories LTD, Abbott Medical Nederland B.V., Abbott Medical New Zealand Limited, Abbott Medical Norway AS, Abbott Medical Overseas Cyprus Limited, Abbott Medical Sweden AB, Abbott Medical Taiwan Co., Abbott Medical U.K. Limited, Abbott Medical spoka z ograniczona odpowiedzialnoscia, Abbott Middle East S.A.R.L., Abbott Molecular Inc., Abbott Morocco SARL, Abbott Nederland C.V., Abbott Nederland Luxembourg S.a r.l., Abbott Netherlands Investments B.V., Abbott Norge AS, Abbott Nutrition Limited, Abbott Nutrition Manufacturing Inc., Abbott Operations Singapore Pte. Ltd., Abbott Operations Uruguay S.R.L., Abbott Overseas Cyprus Limited, Abbott Overseas Luxembourg S.a r.l., Abbott Overseas S.A., Abbott Oy, Abbott Point of Care Canada Limited, Abbott Point of Care Inc., Abbott Poland Luxembourg S.a r.l., Abbott Procurement LLC, Abbott Products (Philippines) Inc., Abbott Products (Spain) S.L., Abbott Products Algerie EURL, Abbott Products B.V., Abbott Products Distribution SAS, Abbott Products Egypt LLC, Abbott Products Limited, Abbott Products Limited Liability Company, Abbott Products Luxembourg S.a r.l., Abbott Products Operations AG, Abbott Products Operations LLC, Abbott Products Romania S.R.L., Abbott Products Tunisie S.A.R.L., Abbott Products Unlimited Company, Abbott Resources Inc., Abbott Resources International Inc., Abbott S.r.l., Abbott Saudi Arabia Trading Company, Abbott Scandinavia Aktiebolag, Abbott Sociedad Anonima de Capital Variable, Abbott South Africa Luxembourg S.a r.l., Abbott Strategic Opportunities Limited, Abbott Trading Company Inc., Abbott Universal LLC, Abbott Vascular Devices (2) Limited, Abbott Vascular Devices Limited, Abbott Vascular Inc., Abbott Vascular Instruments Deutschland GmbH, Abbott Vascular International, Abbott Vascular Japan Co. Ltd, Abbott Vascular Limitada, Abbott Vascular Netherlands B.V., Abbott Vascular Solutions Inc., Abbott Ventures Inc., Abbott West Indies Limited, Abbott drustvo sa ogranicenom odgovornoscu za trgovinu i usluge, Advanced Neuromodulation Systems Inc., Alere, Alere (Shanghai) Diagnostics Co. Ltd., Alere (Shanghai) Healthcare Management Co. Ltd., Alere (Shanghai) Medical Sales Co. Ltd., Alere (Shanghai) Technology Co. Ltd., Alere A/S, Alere AB, Alere AS, Alere AS Holdings Limited, Alere BBI Holdings Limited, Alere Bangladesh Limited, Alere China Co. Ltd., Alere Colombia S.A., Alere Connect LLC, Alere Connected Health Limited, Alere Connected Health Ltd., Alere Diagnostics GmbH, Alere DoA Holding GmbH, Alere GmbH, Alere GmbH (Austria), Alere GmbH (Germany), Alere HK Holdings Ltd., Alere Health B.V., Alere Health BVBA, Alere Health Corp., Alere Health Sdn Bhd, Alere Health Services B.V., Alere Healthcare (Pty) Limited, Alere Healthcare Connections Limited, Alere Healthcare Inc., Alere Healthcare Nigeria Limited, Alere Healthcare S.L., Alere Holdco Inc., Alere Holding GmbH, Alere Holdings Bermuda Limited, Alere Holdings Pty Limited, Alere Home Monitoring Inc., Alere Inc., Alere Informatics Inc., Alere International Holding Corp., Alere International Limited, Alere Lda, Alere Limited, Alere Limited (New Zealand), Alere Medical BVBA, Alere Medical Co. Ltd., Alere Medical Pakistan (Private) Limited, Alere Medical Private Limited, Alere North America LLC, Alere Oy Ab, Alere Philippines Inc., Alere Phoenix ACQ Inc., Alere Pte Ltd, Alere S.A., Alere S.r.l., Alere S/A, Alere SAS, Alere San Diego Inc., Alere Scarborough Inc., Alere Spain S.L., Alere Switzerland GmbH, Alere Technologies GmbH, Alere Technologies Holdings Limited, Alere Technologies Limited, Alere Toxicology AB, Alere Toxicology Inc., Alere Toxicology S.r.l., Alere Toxicology Services Inc., Alere Toxicology plc, Alere UK Holdings Limited, Alere UK Subco Limited, Alere ULC, Alere US Holdings LLC, Alere s.r.o., Alisoc Investment & Co, Amedica Biotech Inc., Ameditech Inc., American Generics S.A.S., American Medical Supplies Inc., American Pharmacist Inc., Antares S.A., Apica Cardiovascular Limited, Aquagestion Capacitacion S.A., Aquagestion S.A., Arriva Medical LLC, Arriva Medical Philippines Inc., Arvis Investments Limited, Atlas Farmaceutica S.A., Avee Laboratories Inc., Axis-Shield AD III AS, Axis-Shield AD IV AS, Axis-Shield AS, Axis-Shield Diagnostics Limited, Axis-Shield Ltd., BBI Animal Health Limited, BBI Diagnostics Group 2 Public Limited Company, Banco de Vida S.A., Bioabsorbable Vascular Solutions Inc., Bioalgae S.A., Biohealth LLC, Biosite Incorporated, Bosque Bonito S.A., Branan Medical Corporation, Brandex Europe C.V., British Colloids Limited, CFR Chile S.A., CFR Interamericas EL Salvador Sociedad Anonima de Capital Variable, CFR Interamericas Nicaragua Sociedad Anonima, CFR Interamericas Panama S.A., CFR Pharmaceuticals, California Property Holdings III LLC, CardioMEMS LLC, Caripharm Inc., Cephea Valve Technologies, Cephea Valve Technologies Inc., Colibri Medical Aktiebolag, Comercializadora y Distribuidora CFR Interamericas Honduras S.A., Concateno South Limited, Concateno UK Limited, Consorcio Tecnologico en Biomedicina Clinico-Molecular S.A., Continuum Services LLC, Cozart Limited, Dextech S.A., Diagnostik Nord GmbH, Distribuciones Uquifa S.A.S., Domesco Medical Import-Export Joint-Stock Corporation, Duphar International Research B.V., Endocardial Solutions, Epocal (US) Inc, Esprit de Vie S.A., European Chemicals & Co, European Drug Testing Service EDTS AB, European Services S.A., Evalve Inc., Evalve International Inc., FARMINDUSTRIA S.A., Fada Pharma Paraguay Sociedad Anonima, Fadapharma del Ecuador S.A., Farmaceutica Mont Blanc S.L., Farmacologia Em Aquicultura Veterinaria Ltda., Farmacologia en Aquacultura Veterinaria FAV Ecuador S.A., Farmacologia en Aquacultura Veterinaria FAV S.A., Fernwood Investment S.A., First Check Diagnostics LLC, Focus Pharmaceutical S.A.S., Forensics Limited, Forestcreek Overseas S.A., Fournier Pharma Corp., Fournier Pharma GmbH, Fournier Pharmaceuticals Limited, Framed B.V., Gabmed GmbH, Garden Hills LLC, Global Analytical Development LLC, Globapharm & CO LP, Glomed Pharmaceutical Company Limited, Golnorth Investments S.A., Gynocare Limited, Gynopharm Sociedad Anonima, Gynopharm de Centroamerica S.A., Gynopharm de Venezuela C.A., Hi-Tronics Designs Inc., IDEV Technologies Inc., IG Innovations Limited, IMTC Finance B.V., IMTC Holdings B.V., IMTC Technologies Inc., Ibis Biosciences LLC, Igloo Zone Chile S.A., Igloo Zone S.L., Inmobiliaria Naknek S.A.C., Innovacon Inc., Instant Tech Subsidiary Acquisition Inc., Instant Technologies Inc., Instituto de Criopreservacion de Chile S.A., Integrated Vascular Systems Inc., Inverness Canadian Acquisition Corporation, Inverness Medical (Beijing) Co. Ltd., Inverness Medical Innovations Australia Pty Ltd., Inverness Medical Innovations Hong Kong Limited, Inverness Medical Innovations SK LLC, Inverness Medical Investments LLC, Inverness Medical LLC, Inverness Medical Shimla Private Limited, Inversiones K2 SpA, Inversiones Komodo S.R.L., Ionian Technologies LLC, Irvine Biomedical Inc., Kalila Medical, Kangshenyunga S.A., Knoll UK Investments Unlimited, LLC VeroInPharm, Laboratoires Fournier S.A.S., Laboratorio Franco Colombiano Lafrancol S.A.S., Laboratorio Franco Colombiano del Ecuador S.A., Laboratorio Internacional Argentino S.A., Laboratorio Synthesis S.A.S., Laboratorios Lafi Limitada, Laboratorios Naturmedik S.A.S., Laboratorios Pauly Pharmaceutical S.A.S., Laboratorios Recalcine S.A., Laboratorios Transpharm S.A., Laboratory Specialists of America Inc., Lafrancol Dominicana S.A.S., Lafrancol Guatemala S.A. Sociedad Anonima, Lafrancol Internacional S.A.S, Lafrancol Peru S.R.L, Lake Forest Investments LLC, Lightlab Imaging Inc., Limited Liability Company Abbott Laboratories, Limited Liability Company Abbott Ukraine, Limited Liability Company VEROPHARM, Lung Fung Hong (China) Limited, Mansbridge Pharmaceuticals Limited, MediGuide LLC, MediGuide Ltd., Medscreen Holdings Limited, Metropolitana Farmaceutica S.A., Midwest Properties LLC, Murex Argentina S.A., Murex Biotech Limited, Murex Biotech South Africa, Murex Diagnostics Inc., Murex Diagnostics International Inc., Natural Supplement Association LLC, Negocios Denia Sociedad Anonima, Neosalud S.A.C., Nether Pharma N.P. C.V., NeuroTherm LLC, Normann Pharma-Handels GmbH, North Shore Properties Inc., Novamedi S.A., Novasalud.com S.A., Nutravida S.A., OJSC Voronezhkhimpharm, Omnilab Iberia Sociedad Limitada, OptiMedica, Orgenics France SAS, Orgenics International Holdings B.V., Orgenics Ltd., PBM-Selfcare LLC, PDD II LLC, PDD LLC, PT Alere Health, PT. Abbott Indonesia, PT. Abbott Products Indonesia, Pacesetter Inc., Pantech (RF) (PTY) LTD, Pembrooke Occupational Health Inc., Penagos S.A., Pharma International Sociedad Anonima, Pharmaceutical Technologies (Pharmatech) S.A., Pharmatech Boliviana S.A., Polygon Labs S.A., Quality Assured Services Inc., RF Medical Holdings LLC, RTL Holdings Inc., Ramses Business Corp., Recben Xenerics Farmaceutica Limitada, Redwood Toxicology Laboratory Inc., Rich Horizons International Limited, SC VEROPHARM, SJ Medical Mexico S de R.L. de C.V., SJM International Inc., SJM Thunder Holding Company, SPDH Inc., Saboya Enterprises Corporation, Salviac Limited, Scanax AS, Sealing Solutions Inc., Selfcare Technology Inc., Shandong Abbott Dairy Product Co. Ltd., Shanghai Abbott Medical Devices Science and Technology Co. Ltd., Shanghai Abbott Pharmaceutical Co. Ltd., Shanghai Si Fa Pharmaceutical Company Limited, Sinensix & Co., Spinal Modulation LLC, St. Jude Medical, St. Jude Medical AB, St. Jude Medical ATG Inc., St. Jude Medical Argentina S.A., St. Jude Medical Asia Pacific Holdings GK, St. Jude Medical Atrial Fibrillation Division Inc., St. Jude Medical Brasil Ltda., St. Jude Medical Business Services Inc., St. Jude Medical Cardiology Division Inc., St. Jude Medical Colombia Ltda., St. Jude Medical Coordination Center, St. Jude Medical Costa Rica Limitada, St. Jude Medical Europe Inc., St. Jude Medical Export Ges.m.b.H., St. Jude Medical GVA Sarl, St. Jude Medical Holdings B.V., St. Jude Medical India Private Limited, St. Jude Medical International Holding, St. Jude Medical LLC, St. Jude Medical Luxembourg, St. Jude Medical Luxembourg Holdings II, St. Jude Medical Luxembourg Holdings NT, St. Jude Medical Luxembourg Holdings SMI S.a r.l., St. Jude Medical Luxembourg Holdings TC S.a r.l., St. Jude Medical Mexico Business Services S. de R.L. de C.V., St. Jude Medical Middle East DMCC, St. Jude Medical Operations (Malaysia) Sdn. Bhd., St. Jude Medical Puerto Rico LLC, St. Jude Medical S.C. Inc., St. Jude Medical Systems AB, St. Jude Medical Turkey Medikal Urunler Ticaret Limited Sirketi, Standard Diagnostics Inc., Standing Stone LLC, Swan-Myers Incorporated, TC1 LLC, Tendyne Holdings Inc., Tendyne Medical Inc., Thoratec Delaware LLC, Thoratec Europe Limited, Thoratec LLC, Thoratec Switzerland GmbH, Tobal Products Incorporated, Topera GmbH in Liquidation, Topera Inc., Tremora S.A., Tuenir S.A., TwistDx, UAB Abbott Laboratories, UAB Abbott Medical Lithuania, Union-Madison Realty Company Inc., Unipath Limited (dba Alere International/aka Cranfield), Unipath Management Limited, Unipath Pension Trustee Limited, Veropharm, Veropharm Limited Liability Partnership, Vida Cell Inversiones S.A., Vida Cell S.A., Vivalsol, W&R Pharma Handels GmbH, Western Pharmaceuticals S.A., X Technologies Inc., Yissum Holding Limited, ZonePerfect Nutrition Company, eScreen Canada ULC, eScreen Inc., ( ), and Abbott Laboratories Baltics. AK Steel Holding Corporation, through its subsidiary, AK Steel Corporation, produces flat-rolled carbon, and stainless and electrical steel products in the United States and internationally. It produces flat-rolled carbon steel products, including coated, cold-rolled, and hot-rolled carbon steel products; grain-oriented specialty stainless and electrical steels; and carbon and stainless steel tubing products. The company also buys and sells steel and steel products, as well as other materials; and produces metallurgical coal from reserves in Somerset County, Pennsylvania. It sells its flat-rolled carbon steel products, primarily to automotive manufacturers and their suppliers; customers in the infrastructure and manufacturing markets, including the manufacturers of power transmission and distribution transformers, who produce equipment for the electrical grid, as well as electrical motors and generators; and manufacturers of heating, ventilation, and air conditioning equipment, and appliances. The company also sells its carbon steel products to distributors, service centers, and converters. AK Steel Holding Corporation was founded in 1993 and is headquartered in West Chester, Ohio. Read More Rogers Communications Inc. operates as a communications and media company in Canada. It operates through three segments: Wireless, Cable, and Media. The company offers mobile Internet access, wireless voice and enhanced voice, device and accessory financing, wireless home phone, device protection, text messaging, e-mail, global voice and data roaming, bridging landline, machine-to-machine and Internet of Things solutions, and advanced wireless solutions for businesses, as well as device delivery services; and postpaid and prepaid services under the Rogers, Fido, and chatr brands to approximately 10.9 million subscribers. It also provides Internet and WiFi services; smart home monitoring services, such as monitoring, security, automation, energy efficiency, and smart control through a smartphone app. In addition, the company offers local and network TV; on-demand television; cloud-based digital video recorders; voice-activated remote controls, and integrated apps; personal video recorders; linear and time-shifted programming; digital specialty channels; 4K television programming; and televised content on smartphones, tablets, and personal computers, as well as operates Ignite TV and Ignite TV app. Further, it provides residential and small business local telephony services; calling features, such as voicemail, call waiting, and long distance; voice, data networking, Internet protocol, and Ethernet services; private networking, Internet, IP voice, and cloud solutions; optical wave and multi-protocol label switching services; IT and network technologies; and cable access network services. The company also owns Toronto Blue Jays and the Rogers Centre event venue; and operates Sportsnet ONE, Sportsnet 360, Sportsnet World, Citytv, OMNI, FX (Canada), FXX (Canada), and OLN television networks, as well as 55 AM and FM radio stations. Rogers Communications Inc. was founded in 1960 and is headquartered in Toronto, Canada. Read More We are interested in A1 pellets supply to Europe. Send your offer with delivery terms and price list attached. There is not enough analysis data for BlackRock Enhanced International Dividend Trust. 4.5 Community Rank Outperform Votes BlackRock Enhanced International Dividend Trust has received 112 outperform votes. (Add your outperform vote.) Underperform Votes BlackRock Enhanced International Dividend Trust has received 52 underperform votes. (Add your underperform vote.) Community Sentiment BlackRock Enhanced International Dividend Trust has received 68.29% outperform votes from our community. MarketBeat's community ratings are surveys of what our community members think about BlackRock Enhanced International Dividend Trust and other stocks. Vote Outperform if you believe BGY will outperform the S&P 500 over the long term. Vote Underperform if you believe BGY will underperform the S&P 500 over the long term. You may vote once every thirty days. Previous Next The following companies are subsidiares of Bristol-Myers Squibb: 1096271 B.C. ULC, 345 Park LLC, A.G. Medical Services P.A., AHI Investment LLC, AbVitro LLC, Abraxis BioScience Australia Pty Ltd., Abraxis BioScience Inc., Abraxis BioScience International Holding Company Inc., Abraxis BioScience LLC, Abraxis BioScience Puerto Rico LLC, Acetylon Pharmaceuticals Inc., Adnexus, Adnexus a Bristol-Myers Squibb R&D Company, Allard Labs Acquisition G.P., Amira Pharmaceuticals, Amira Pharmaceuticals Inc., Amylin Pharmaceuticals, Apothecon LLC, B-MS Generx Unlimited Company, BMS Benelux Holdings B.V., BMS Bermuda Nominees L.L.C., BMS Data Acquisition Company LLC, BMS Forex Company, BMS Holdings Sarl, BMS Holdings Spain S.L., BMS International Insurance Designated Activity Company, BMS Investco SAS, BMS Korea Holdings L.L.C., BMS Latin American Nominees L.L.C., BMS Luxembourg Partners L.L.C., BMS Omega Bermuda Holdings Finance Ltd., BMS Pharmaceutical Korea Limited, BMS Pharmaceuticals Germany Holdings B.V., BMS Pharmaceuticals International Holdings Netherlands B.V., BMS Pharmaceuticals Korea Holdings B.V., BMS Pharmaceuticals Mexico Holdings B.V., BMS Pharmaceuticals Netherlands Holdings B.V., BMS Real Estate LLC, BMS Spain Investments LLC, BMS Strategic Portfolio Investments Holdings Inc., Blisa Acquisition G.P., Bristol (Iran) S.A., Bristol Iran Private Company Limited, Bristol Laboratories Inc., Bristol Laboratories International S.A., Bristol Laboratories Medical Information Systems Inc., Bristol-Myers (Andes) L.L.C., Bristol-Myers (Private) Limited, Bristol-Myers Middle East S.A.L., Bristol-Myers Overseas Corporation, Bristol-Myers Squibb (China) Investment Co. Ltd., Bristol-Myers Squibb (China) Pharmaceuticals Co. Ltd., Bristol-Myers Squibb (Israel) Ltd., Bristol-Myers Squibb (NZ) Limited, Bristol-Myers Squibb (Proprietary) Limited, Bristol-Myers Squibb (Shanghai) Trading Co. Ltd., Bristol-Myers Squibb (Singapore) Pte. Limited, Bristol-Myers Squibb (Taiwan) Ltd., Bristol-Myers Squibb (West Indies) Ltd., Bristol-Myers Squibb A.E., Bristol-Myers Squibb Aktiebolag, Bristol-Myers Squibb Argentina S. R. L., Bristol-Myers Squibb Australia Pty. Ltd., Bristol-Myers Squibb Axia Limited, Bristol-Myers Squibb B.V., Bristol-Myers Squibb Belgium S.A., Bristol-Myers Squibb Business Services Limited, Bristol-Myers Squibb Canada Co., Bristol-Myers Squibb Canada International Limited, Bristol-Myers Squibb Delta Company Limited, Bristol-Myers Squibb Denmark Filial of Bristol-Myers Squibb AB, Bristol-Myers Squibb EMEA Sarl, Bristol-Myers Squibb Egypt LLC, Bristol-Myers Squibb Epsilon Holdings Unlimited Company, Bristol-Myers Squibb Farmaceutica Ltda., Bristol-Myers Squibb Farmaceutica Portuguesa S.A., Bristol-Myers Squibb GesmbH, Bristol-Myers Squibb GmbH & Co. KGaA, Bristol-Myers Squibb Holding Germany GmbH & Co. KG, Bristol-Myers Squibb Holdings 2002 Limited, Bristol-Myers Squibb Holdings Germany Verwaltungs GmbH, Bristol-Myers Squibb Holdings Ireland Unlimited Company, Bristol-Myers Squibb Holdings Limited, Bristol-Myers Squibb Holdings Pharma Ltd. Liability Company, Bristol-Myers Squibb Ilaclari Inc., Bristol-Myers Squibb India Pvt. Limited, Bristol-Myers Squibb International Company Unlimited Company, Bristol-Myers Squibb International Corporation, Bristol-Myers Squibb Investco L.L.C., Bristol-Myers Squibb K.K., Bristol-Myers Squibb Kft., Bristol-Myers Squibb Luxembourg International S.C.A., Bristol-Myers Squibb Luxembourg S.a.r.l., Bristol-Myers Squibb MEA GmbH, Bristol-Myers Squibb Manufacturing Company, Bristol-Myers Squibb Marketing Services S.R.L., Bristol-Myers Squibb Middle East & Africa FZ-LLC, Bristol-Myers Squibb Norway Ltd., Bristol-Myers Squibb Nutricionales de Mexico S. de R.L. de C.V., Bristol-Myers Squibb Peru S.A., Bristol-Myers Squibb Pharma (HK) Ltd, Bristol-Myers Squibb Pharma (Thailand) Limited, Bristol-Myers Squibb Pharma Company, Bristol-Myers Squibb Pharma EEIG, Bristol-Myers Squibb Pharma Holding Company LLC, Bristol-Myers Squibb Pharma Ventures Corporation, Bristol-Myers Squibb Pharmaceuticals Limited, Bristol-Myers Squibb Pharmaceuticals Unlimited Company, Bristol-Myers Squibb Polska Sp. z o.o., Bristol-Myers Squibb Products SA, Bristol-Myers Squibb Puerto Rico Inc., Bristol-Myers Squibb Puerto Rico/Sanofi Pharmaceutical Partnership Puerto Rico, Bristol-Myers Squibb Romania S.R.L., Bristol-Myers Squibb S.A.U., Bristol-Myers Squibb S.r.l., Bristol-Myers Squibb SA, Bristol-Myers Squibb Sanofi Pharmaceuticals Holding Partnership, Bristol-Myers Squibb Sarl, Bristol-Myers Squibb Service Ltd., Bristol-Myers Squibb Services Sp. z o.o., Bristol-Myers Squibb Spol. s r.o., Bristol-Myers Squibb Theta Finance Ltd., Bristol-Myers Squibb Trustees Limited, Bristol-Myers Squibb Verwaltungs GmbH, Bristol-Myers Squibb de Colombia S.A., Bristol-Myers Squibb de Costa Rica Sociedad Anonima, Bristol-Myers Squibb de Guatemala S.A., Bristol-Myers Squibb de Mexico S. de R.L. de C.V., Bristol-Myers Squibb/Astrazeneca EEIG, Bristol-Myers Squibb/Pfizer EEIG, Bristol-Myers Squibb/Sanofi Pharmaceuticals Partnership, Bristol-Myers de Venezuela S.C.A., CHT I LLC, CHT II LLC, CHT III LLC, CHT IV LLC, CR Finance Company LLC, Cardioxyl Pharmaceuticals, Cardioxyl Pharmaceuticals Inc., Celem LLC, Celem Ltd., Celgene, Celgene A.B., Celgene AS, Celgene Ab (Finland), Celgene Alpine Investment Co. II LLC, Celgene Alpine Investment Co. III LLC, Celgene Alpine Investment Co. LLC, Celgene ApS, Celgene B.V., Celgene BVBA, Celgene Brasil Produtos Farmaceuticos Ltda., Celgene CAR LLC, Celgene CAR Ltd., Celgene Chemicals Sarl, Celgene China Holdings LLC, Celgene Co., Celgene Corporation, Celgene Distribution B.V., Celgene EngMab GmbH, Celgene Europe B.V., Celgene Europe Limited, Celgene European Investment Company LLC, Celgene Financing Company LLC, Celgene Global Holdings Sarl, Celgene GmbH [Austria], Celgene GmbH [Germany], Celgene GmbH [Switzerland], Celgene Holdings East Corporation, Celgene Holdings II Sarl, Celgene Holdings III Sarl, Celgene Ilac Pazarlama ve Ticaret Limited Sirketi, Celgene Inc., Celgene International Holdings Corporation, Celgene International II Sarl, Celgene International III Sarl, Celgene International Inc., Celgene International Sarl, Celgene K.K., Celgene Kft., Celgene Limited [Hong Kong], Celgene Limited [Ireland], Celgene Limited [New Zealand], Celgene Limited [Taiwan], Celgene Limited [UK], Celgene Logistics Sarl, Celgene Ltd, Celgene Luxembourg Sarl, Celgene Management Sarl, Celgene NJ Investment Co, Celgene Netherlands B.V., Celgene Netherlands Investment B.V., Celgene Pharmaceutical (Shanghai) Co. Ltd., Celgene Pte. Ltd., Celgene Pty Ltd, Celgene Puerto Rico Distribution LLC, Celgene Quanticel Research Inc, Celgene R&D Sarl, Celgene RIVOT LLC, Celgene RIVOT Ltd., Celgene RIVOT SRL, Celgene Receptos Limited, Celgene Receptos Sarl, Celgene Research Incubator At Summit West LLC, Celgene Research S.L.U., Celgene Research and Development Company LLC, Celgene Research and Development I ULC, Celgene Research and Development II LLC, Celgene Research and Investment Company II LLC, Celgene S. de R.L. de C.V., Celgene S.L.U., Celgene S.R.L., Celgene SAS, Celgene Sarl AU, Celgene Sdn Bhd, Celgene Services Sarl, Celgene Sociedade Unipessoal Lda, Celgene Sp. Z.o.o., Celgene Sro [Czech Republic], Celgene Summit Investment Co, Celgene Switzerland Holding Sarl, Celgene Switzerland II LLC, Celgene Switzerland Investment Sarl, Celgene Switzerland LLC, Celgene Switzerland Sarl, Celgene Tri A Holdings Ltd., Celgene Tri Sarl, Celgene UK Distribution Limited, Celgene UK Holdings Limited, Celgene UK Manufacturing II Limited, Celgene UK Manufacturing III Limited, Celgene UK Manufacturing Limited, Celgene d.o.o., Celgene sro [Slovakia], Celmed LLC, Celmed Ltd., ConvaTec Divestiture, Cormorant Pharmaceuticals, Cormorant Pharmaceuticals AB, Crosp Ltd., Delinia Inc., Deuteria Pharmaceuticals Inc., DuPont Pharmaceuticals, E. R. Squibb & Sons Inter-American Corporation, E. R. Squibb & Sons L.L.C., E. R. Squibb & Sons Limited, EWI Corporation, EngMab Sarl, F-star Alpha, FermaVir Pharmaceuticals L.L.C., FermaVir Research L.L.C., Flexus Biosciences, Flexus Biosciences Inc., Forbius, Galecto Biotech, GenPharm International L.L.C., Gloucester Pharmaceuticals LLC, Grove Insurance Company Ltd., Heyden Farmaceutica Portuguesa Limitada, IFM Therapeutics, Impact Biomedicines Inc., Inhibitex, Inhibitex L.L.C., Innate Tumor Immunity Inc., JuMP Holdings LLC, Juno Therapeutics GmbH, Juno Therapeutics Inc., Kosan Biosciences, Kosan Biosciences Incorporated, Linson Investments Limited, Mead Johnson (Manufacturing) Jamaica Limited, Mead Johnson Jamaica Ltd., Medarex, Morris Avenue Investment II LLC, Morris Avenue Investment LLC, MyoKardia, O.o.o. Bristol-Myers Squibb, Oy Bristol-Myers Squibb (Finland) AB, Padlock Therapeutics, Padlock Therapeutics Inc., Pharmion LLC, Princeton Pharmaceutical Products Inc., Receptos LLC, Receptos Services LLC, RedoxTherapies Inc., Route 22 Real Estate Holding Corporation, SPV A Holdings ULC, Seamair Insurance DAC, Signal Pharmaceuticals LLC, Sino-American Shanghai Squibb Pharmaceuticals Limited, Societe Francaise de Complements Alimentaires(S.O.F.C.A.), Squibb Middle East S.A., Summit West Celgene LLC, Swords Laboratories, VentiRx Pharmaceuticals Inc., Westwood-Intrafin SA, Westwood-Squibb Pharmaceuticals Inc., X-Body Inc., ZymoGenetics, ZymoGenetics Inc., ZymoGenetics LLC, ZymoGenetics Paymaster LLC, iPierian, and iPierian Inc.. 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 Shares of iShares MSCI Japan ETF reverse split on the morning of Monday, November 7th 2016. The 1-4 reverse split was announced on Friday, October 14th 2016. The number of shares owned by shareholders was adjusted after the closing bell on Friday, November 4th 2016. An investor that had 100 shares of iShares MSCI Japan ETF stock prior to the reverse split would have 25 shares after the split. Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce, a diversified financial institution, provides various financial products and services to personal, business, public sector, and institutional clients in Canada, the United States, and internationally. The company operates through four strategic business units: Canadian Personal and Business Banking; Canadian Commercial Banking and Wealth Management; U.S. Commercial Banking and Wealth Management; and Capital Markets. The company offers chequing, savings, and business accounts; mortgages; loans, lines of credit, student lines of credit, and business and agriculture loans; investment and insurance services; and credit cards, as well as overdraft protection services. It also provides day-to-day banking, borrowing and credit, investing and wealth, specialty, and international services; correspondent banking and online foreign exchange services; and cash management services. The company serves its customers through its banking centers, as well as direct, mobile, and remote channels. Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce was founded in 1867 and is headquartered in Toronto, Canada. Read More Canadian Utilities Limited and its subsidiaries engage in the electricity, natural gas, and retail energy businesses worldwide. It operates through Utilities, Energy Infrastructure, and Corporate & Other segments. The Utilities segment provides regulated electricity transmission and distribution services in northern and central east Alberta, the Yukon, and the Northwest Territories; and integrated natural gas transmission and distribution services in Alberta, the Lloydminster area of Saskatchewan, and Western Australia. It owns and operates approximately 9,000 kilometers of natural gas pipelines, 16 compressor sites, approximately 3,700 receipt and delivery points, and a salt cavern storage peaking facility located near Fort Saskatchewan, Alberta in Canada. The Energy Infrastructure segment provides electricity generation, natural gas storage, industrial water, and related infrastructure development solutions in Alberta, the Yukon, the Northwest Territories, Australia, Mexico, and Chile. The Corporate & Other segment retails electricity and natural gas business in Alberta. The company was incorporated in 1927 and is headquartered in Calgary, Canada. Canadian Utilities Limited is a subsidiary of ATCO Ltd. Read More We are looking for a reliable supplier of unrefined oil for export to Azerbaijan. Required volume - 100 tons monthly in oil cars. The following companies are subsidiares of Centene: APS Parent Inc., AWC of Syracuse Inc., Absolute Total Care Inc., AcariaHealth Inc., AcariaHealth Pharmacy #11 Inc., AcariaHealth Pharmacy #12 Inc., AcariaHealth Pharmacy #13 Inc., AcariaHealth Pharmacy #14 Inc., AcariaHealth Pharmacy Inc., AcariaHealth Solutions Inc., Access Medical Acquisition LLC, Access Medical Group of Florida City LLC, Access Medical Group of Hialeah LLC, Access Medical Group of Lakeland LLC, Access Medical Group of Miami LLC, Access Medical Group of North Miami Beach LLC, Access Medical Group of Opa-Locka LLC, Access Medical Group of Perrine LLC, Access Medical Group of Tampa II LLC, Access Medical Group of Tampa III LLC, Access Medical Group of Tampa LLC, Access Medical Group of Westchester LLC, Accountable Care Coalition Direct Contracting LLC, Accountable Care Coalition of Chesapeake LLC, Accountable Care Coalition of Community Health Centers II LLC, Accountable Care Coalition of Community Health Centers LLC, Accountable Care Coalition of Elite Providers II LLC, Accountable Care Coalition of Elite Providers III LLC, Accountable Care Coalition of Elite Providers IV LLC, Accountable Care Coalition of Elite Providers LLC, Accountable Care Coalition of Elite Providers V LLC, Accountable Care Coalition of Elite Providers VI LLC, Accountable Care Coalition of Elite Providers VII LLC, Accountable Care Coalition of Florida Partners LLC, Accountable Care Coalition of Georgia LLC, Accountable Care Coalition of Maryland LLC, Accountable Care Coalition of Maryland Primary Care LLC, Accountable Care Coalition of Mississippi LLC, Accountable Care Coalition of New Jersey Inc., Accountable Care Coalition of North Texas LLC, Accountable Care Coalition of Northeast Georgia LLC, Accountable Care Coalition of Northeast Partners LLC, Accountable Care Coalition of Northwest Florida LLC, Accountable Care Coalition of Prime Health LLC, Accountable Care Coalition of Quality Health II LLC, Accountable Care Coalition of Quality Health III LLC, Accountable Care Coalition of Quality Health LLC, Accountable Care Coalition of Southeast Partners LLC, Accountable Care Coalition of Southeast Physician Partners LLC, Accountable Care Coalition of Southeast Texas Inc., Accountable Care Coalition of Southeast Wisconsin LLC, Accountable Care Coalition of Tennessee LLC, Accountable Care Coalition of Texas Inc., Agate Resources Inc., AirLogix, Ambetter of Magnolia Inc., Ambetter of North Carolina Inc., Ambetter of Peach State Inc., America's 1st Choice California Holdings LLC, American Progressive Life and Health Insurance Company of New York, Apixio, Apixio Inc, Arch Personalized Medicine Initiative LLC, Arkansas Health & Wellness Health Plan Inc., Arkansas Total Care Holding Company LLC, Arkansas Total Care Inc., B2B Gestion Integra S.L.U., B2B Salud S.L.U., Bankers Reserve Life Insurance Company of Wisconsin, Blackcrow Asistencia Medica S.L, Bridgeway Health Solutions LLC, Bridgeway Health Solutions of Arizona Inc., Buckeye Community Health Plan Inc., Buckeye Health Plan Community Solutions Inc., CCTX Holdings LLC, CMC Real Estate Company LLC, CT Poprad s.r.o., CT Presov s.r.o., Calibrate Acquisition Company, California Health and Wellness Plan, Cantina Laredo Clayton LP, Cardium Health Services, Care 1st Health Plan of Arizona Inc., Care1st Health Plan Administrative Services Inc., Carolina Complete Health Holding Company Partnership, Carolina Complete Health Inc., Casenet LLC, Casenet S.R.O., CeltiCare Health Plan Holdings LLC, CeltiCare Health Plan of Massachusetts Inc., Celtic Group Inc., Celtic Insurance Company, Cenpatico Behavioral Health LLC, Cenpatico Behavioral Health of Arizona LLC, Cenpatico of Arizona Inc., Centene Center I LLC, Centene Center II LLC, Centene Center LLC, Centene Company of Texas LP, Centene Europe Finance Company Limited, Centene Health Plan Holdings Inc., Centene Institute for Advanced Health Education LLC, Centene International Ventures LLC, Centene Investments LLC, Centene Management Company LLC, Centene Venture Company Alabama Health Plan Inc., Centene Venture Company Florida Inc., Centene Venture Company Illinois Inc., Centene Venture Company Indiana Inc., Centene Venture Company Kansas Inc., Centene Venture Company Michigan Inc., Centene Venture Company Tennessee Inc., Centro Inmunologocia De La Comunidad Valenciana S.L., Centurion Correctional Healthcare of New Mexico LLC, Centurion Detention Health Services LLC, Centurion LLC, Centurion of Arizona LLC, Centurion of Delaware LLC, Centurion of Florida LLC, Centurion of Kansas LLC, Centurion of Minnesota LLC, Centurion of Mississippi LLC, Centurion of New Hampshire LLC, Centurion of Pennsylvania LLC, Centurion of Tennessee LLC, Centurion of Vermont LLC, Centurion of West Virginia LLC, Centurion of Wyoming LLC, Chrysalis Medical Services LLC, Clinica Santo Domingo De Lugo S.L., Collaborative Health Systems IPA LLC, Collaborative Health Systems LLC, Collaborative Health Systems of Maryland LLC, Collaborative Health Systems of Virginia LLC, Comfort Hospice of Missouri LLC, Comfort Hospice of Texas LLC, ComfortBrook Hospice LLC, Community Medical Group, Community Medical Holdings Corporation, Comprehensive Health Management Inc., Comprehensive Reinsurance Ltd., Coordinated Care Corporation, Coordinated Care of Washington Inc., Country Style Health Care LLC, Discare CZ a.s., District Community Care Inc., Dr Magnet s.r.o., Elche-Crevillente Salud, Envolve Benefits Options Inc., Envolve Captive Insurance Company Inc., Envolve Dental IPA of New York Inc., Envolve Dental Inc., Envolve Dental of Florida Inc., Envolve Dental of Texas Inc., Envolve Health, Envolve Holdings Inc., Envolve Inc., Envolve Optical Inc., Envolve PeopleCare Inc., Envolve Pharmacy IPA LLC, Envolve Pharmacy Solutions Inc., Envolve Total Vision Inc., Envolve Vision Benefits Inc., Envolve Vision IPA of New York Inc., Envolve Vision Inc., Envolve Vision of Florida Inc., Envolve Vision of Texas Inc., Essential Care Partners LLC, Exactus Pharmacy Solutions Inc., Family Nurse Care II LLC, Family Nurse Care LLC, Family Nurse Care of Ohio LLC, Fidelis Care, Forensic Health Services LLC, Foundation Care LLC, Godgrace Asistencia Medica S.L., Golden Triangle Physician Alliance, Grace Hospice of Austin LLC, Grace Hospice of Grand Rapids LLC, Grace Hospice of Illinois LLC, Grace Hospice of Indiana LLC, Grace Hospice of San Antonio LLC, Grace Hospice of Virginia LLC, Grace Hospice of Wisconsin LLC, Granite State Health Plan Inc., Growly Asistencia Sanitaria S.L., HHS Texas Management Inc., HHS Texas Management LP, Hallmark Life Insurance Company, Harmony Behavioral Health IPA Inc., Harmony Behavioral Health Inc., Harmony Health Management Inc., Harmony Health Plan Inc., Harmony Health Systems Inc., Health Care Enterprises LLC, Health Net Access Inc., Health Net Community Solutions Inc., Health Net Community Solutions of Arizona Inc., Health Net Federal Services LLC, Health Net Health Plan of Oregon Inc., Health Net LLC, Health Net Life Insurance Company, Health Net Life Reinsurance Company, Health Net Pharmaceutical Services, Health Net of Arizona Inc., Health Net of California Inc., Health Plan Real Estate Holdings Inc., HealthSmart Benefit Solutions Inc., HealthSmart Benefits Management LLC, HealthSmart Care Management Solutions LP, HealthSmart Information Systems Inc., HealthSmart Preferred Care II LP, HealthSmart Preferred Network II Inc., HealthSmart Primary Care Clinics LP, HealthSmart Rx Solutions Inc., Healthy Louisiana Holdings LLC, Healthy Missouri Holdings Inc., Healthy Washington Holdings Inc., Heritage Health Systems Inc., Heritage Health Systems of Texas Inc., Heritage Home Hospice LLC, Heritage Physician Networks, Home State Health Plan Inc., HomeScripts.com LLC, Hospice DME Company LLC, Hospinet S.L., Hospital Polusa S.A., Hospital Povisa S.A., Hudson Accountable Care LLC, IAH of Florida LLC, Illinois Health Practice Alliance LLC, Infraestructuras y Servicios de Alzira S. L., Integrated Care Network of Florida LLC, Integrated Mental Health Management LLC, Integrated Mental Health Services, Interpreta Holdings Inc., Interpreta Inc., Iowa Total Care Inc., Kentucky Spirit Health Plan Inc., LBB Industries Inc., LifeShare Management Group LLC, LiveHealthier Inc., Louisiana Healthcare Connections Inc., MH Services International Holdings (UK) Limited, MHM, MHM Correctional Services LLC, MHM Health Professionals LLC, MHM Services Inc., MHM Services of California LLC, MHM Solutions LLC, MHN Government Services LLC, MHN Services LLC, MHS Consulting International Inc., MHS Travel & Charter Inc., MR Centrum Melnick s.r.o., MR Poprad s.r.o., MR Zilina s.r.o., Magnolia Health Plan Inc., Managed Health Network, Managed Health Network LLC, Managed Health Services Insurance Corporation, Maryland Collaborative Care LLC, Maryland Collaborative Care Transformation Organization Inc., Mauli Ola Health and Wellness Inc., Medicina NZ spol s.r.o., Meridian Health Plan of Illinois Inc., Meridian Health Plan of Michigan Inc., Meridian Management Company LLC, Meridian Network Services LLC, MeridianRx IPA LLC, MeridianRx LLC, MeridianRx of Indiana LLC, Michigan Complete Health, Mid-Atlantic Collaborative Care LLC, Nebraska Total Care Inc., Network Providers LLC, New York Quality Healthcare Corporation, Next Door Neighbors Inc., Next Door Neighbors LLC., North Florida Health Services Inc., Northern Maryland Collaborative Care LLC, Novasys Health Inc., OB Care, OB Klinika, Ohana Health Plan Inc., Oklahoma Complete Health Inc., One Care by Care 1st Health Plans of Arizona Inc, Operose Health (Group) Ltd., Operose Health (Group) UK Ltd., Operose Health Ltd., OptiCare Health Systems - Managed Vision Business, PANTHERx Rare Pharmacy, Panther Pass Co LLC, Panther Specialty Holding Co LLC, Pantherx Access Services LLC, Pantherx Specialty LLC, Parker LP LLC, Peach State Health Plan Inc., Penn Marketing America LLC, Pennsylvania Health and Wellness Inc., Phoenix Home Health Care LLC, Pinnacle Home Care LLC, Pinnacle Senior Care of Illinois LLC, Pinnacle Senior Care of Indiana LLC, Pinnacle Senior Care of Kalamazoo LLC, Pinnacle Senior Care of Missouri LLC, Pinnacle Senior Care of Wisconsin LLC, Premier Marketing Group LLC, PrimeroSalud S.L., Pro Diagnostic Group A.S., Pro Magnet CZ s.r.o., Pro Magnet s.r.o, Pro RTG s.r.o, Progress Medical A.S., Prowl Holdings LLC, QCA Healthplan Inc., Qualchoice Life and Health Insurance Company, Quincy Coverage Corporation, R&C Healthcare LLC, RMED LLC, RX Direct Inc., Rapid Respiratory Services LLC, Ribera Lab S.L.U., Ribera Salud II, Ribera Salud Proyectos S.L., Ribera Salud S.A., Ribera Salud Tecnologias S.L.U., Ribera Slaud Infraestructuras S.L.U., Ribera-Quilpro UTE, Salus Administrative Services Inc., Salus IPA LLC, Secure Capital Solutions 2000 S.L.U., SelectCare Health Plans Inc., SelectCare of Texas Inc., Seniorcorps Peninsula LLC, Servicios De Mantenimiento Prevencor S.L.U., SilverSummit Healthplan Inc., Social Health Bridge LLC, Social Health Bridge Trust, Specialty Therapeutic Care GP LLC, Specialty Therapeutic Care Holdings, Specialty Therapeutic Care Holdings LLC, Specialty Therapeutic Care LP, Sunflower State Health Plan Inc., Sunshine Health Community Solutions Inc., Sunshine Health Holding LLC, Sunshine State Health Plan Inc., Superior HealthPlan Community Solutions Inc., Superior HealthPlan Inc., The Practice Properties Limited, The WellCare Management Group Inc., Torrejon Salud S.A., Torrevieja Salud S.L.U., Torrevieja Salud UTE, Traditional Home Health Services LLC, Trillium Community Health Plan Inc., U.S. Medical Management Holdings Inc., U.S. Medical Management LLC, UAM Agent Services Corp., US Script, USMM Accountable Care Partners LLC, Universal American Corp., Universal American Financial Services Inc., Universal American Holdings LLC, WCG Health Management Inc., WellCare Health Insurance Company of America, WellCare Health Insurance Company of Kentucky Inc., WellCare Health Insurance Company of Louisiana Inc., WellCare Health Insurance Company of Nevada Inc., WellCare Health Insurance Company of New Hampshire Inc., WellCare Health Insurance Company of New Jersey Inc., WellCare Health Insurance Company of Oklahoma Inc., WellCare Health Insurance Company of Washington Inc., WellCare Health Insurance Company of Wisconsin Inc., WellCare Health Insurance of Arizona Inc., WellCare Health Insurance of Connecticut Inc., WellCare Health Insurance of Hawaii Inc., WellCare Health Insurance of New York Inc., WellCare Health Insurance of North Carolina Inc., WellCare Health Insurance of Southwest Inc., WellCare Health Insurance of Tennessee Inc., WellCare Health Plans, WellCare Health Plans of Arizona Inc., WellCare Health Plans of California Inc., WellCare Health Plans of Kentucky Inc., WellCare Health Plans of Massachusetts Inc., WellCare Health Plans of Missouri Inc., WellCare Health Plans of New Jersey Inc., WellCare Health Plans of Rhode Island Inc., WellCare Health Plans of Tennessee Inc., WellCare Health Plans of Vermont Inc., WellCare Health Plans of Wisconsin Inc., WellCare National Health Insurance Company, WellCare Pharmacy Benefits Management Inc., WellCare Prescription Insurance Inc., WellCare of Alabama Inc., WellCare of Arkansas Inc., WellCare of California Inc., WellCare of Connecticut Inc., WellCare of Florida Inc., WellCare of Georgia Inc., WellCare of Illinois Inc., WellCare of Indiana Inc., WellCare of Kansas Inc., WellCare of Maine Inc., WellCare of Michigan Holding Company, WellCare of Mississippi Inc., WellCare of Missouri Health Insurance Company Inc., WellCare of New Hampshire Inc., WellCare of New York Inc., WellCare of North Carolina Inc., WellCare of Ohio Inc., WellCare of Oklahoma Inc., WellCare of Pennsylvania Inc., WellCare of Puerto Rico Inc., WellCare of South Carolina Inc., WellCare of Texas Inc., WellCare of Virginia Inc., WellCare of Washington Inc., Wellcare Health Plans Inc., Western Sky Community Care Inc., Windsor Health Group Inc., Winning Security S.L., Worlco Management Services, and nirvanaHealth LLC. Only two minuscule slivers of East Island have resurfaced since the Category 5 storm struck the region and washed away the 11-acre strip of sand and gravel that is part of the French Frigate Shoals. Charles Littnan, a conservative biologist with NOAA Pacific Islands Fisheries Science Center, said about 96 percent of Hawaiian green sea turtles, a threatened species, travel to the French Frigate Shoals to nest. As the hurricane was about to descend on the archipelago, seven researches studying endangered green sea turtles and monk seals were evacuated. They were trying to determine the age of the island and determine its future, particularly in regard to climate change. This file photo from June 2018 shows the rare sea birds on the island. A remote northwestern Hawaiian island has almost vanished after Hurricane Walaka barreled through the Pacific last month, eliminating - at least for now - a critical habitat for endangered species. Chip Fletcher from the University of Hawaii told Honolulu Civil Beat, 'I had a holy shit moment, thinking, "Oh my God, it's gone". Hurricane Walaka that is now raging in the Pacific, destroyed a remote island in the North-West of Hawaii. "The images appear to show alterations to Tern Island, and East Island appears to be under water". There are thought to be just 1,400 individual Hawaiian monk seals, which classes them as critically endangered species. Espana extraditara a ex-enfermera de Chavez Portales informativos afirman que la enfermera no queria ser extraditada de Espana hacia Venezuela porque, segun alega, sera victima de una " persecucion politica ". Epic Games raises over $1 billion in a new financing round Chinese conglomerate Tencent owns 40% of the company, which was valued by Bloomberg over the summer at between $5 billion and $8 billion. Angelique Kerber puts Naomi Osaka on brink of elimination WTA Finals The WTA explains all the permutations, as all eight players in both groups of four can still qualify for the semi-finals. World No. 6 Stephens has moved into pole position after her second straight victory. Located about 500 miles (800 kilometers) northwest of Honolulu, East Island was the second largest islet in an atoll known as the French Frigate Shoals. He said scientists realized the island had been destroyed after seeing a satellite image taken on October 18. Fletcher added that it's another issue "in the wall of the network of ecosystem diversity on this planet that is being dismantled". "We will continue to monitor the species and islands to better assess the impacts from the hurricane". Professor Fletcher said the Hawaiian green sea turtle relied on East Island for its nesting habitat. Many of them raised their young on the island. Randy Kosaki, a senior official for the Hawaii monument at NOAA, said that the "take-home message" is that climate change is real, and it is happening right now. 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 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 Freeport-McMoRan, Inc. engages in the mining of copper, gold and molybdenum. It operates through the following segments: North America Copper Mines, South America Mining; Indonesia Mining, Molybdenum Mines, Rod and Refining, Atlantic Copper Smelting and Refining and Corporate, Other and Eliminations. The North America Copper Mines segment operates open-pit copper mines in Morenci, Bagdad, Safford, Sierrita and Miami in Arizona and Chino and Tyrone in New Mexico. The South America Mining segment includes Cerro Verde in Peru and El Abra in Chile. The Indonesia Mining segment handles the operations of Grasberg minerals district that produces copper concentrate that contains significant quantities of gold and silver. The Molybdenum Mines segment includes the Henderson underground mine and Climax open-pit mine, both in Colorado. The Rod and Refining segment consists of copper conversion facilities located in North America and includes a refinery, rod mills, and a specialty copper products facility. The Atlantic Copper Smelting and Refining segment smelts and refines copper concentrate and markets refined copper and precious metals in slimes. The Corporate, Other and Eliminations segment Read More 30 minutes ago Footlocker Trips On Supply Chain Worry Supply Chain Disruption Cuts Into Footlocker Results Footlocker (NYSE: FL) shares are down more than 5.0% in premarket trading after confirming something we already knew to be true. The company says the manufacturing shut-downs in Vietnam and other parts of Asia during the 3rd quarter are going to have an impact on holiday sales. Read Article Maxar Technologies Inc. provides earth intelligence and space infrastructure solutions in the United States, Asia, South America, Europe, the Middle East, Australia, Canada, and internationally. It operates through Earth Intelligence and Space Infrastructure segments. The Earth Intelligence segment offers earth imagery products, including orthorectified imagery, imagery basemap, 3D and elevation, and information products; and SecureWatch, a subscription offering that provides online access to imagery and geospatial intelligence platform. This segment also offers geospatial information, application, and analytic services. It serves U.S. and other international government agencies, such as defense and intelligence agencies, as well as commercial customers in various markets. The Space Infrastructure segment provides space based infrastructure, robotics, sub-systems, and information solutions, including communication and imaging satellites and payloads; platforms for space exploration and hosting instruments for earth science; space subsystems for power, propulsion, and communication; satellite ground systems and support services; space-based remote sensory solutions; space robotics; and defense systems. This segment serves government agencies and satellite operators. Maxar Technologies Inc. was founded in 1969 and is headquartered in Westminster, Colorado. Read More The following companies are subsidiares of Sealed Air: A.P.S. (Holdings) Limited, AFP Trading (China) Co. Ltd., AFPTOH LTD, APS Automated Packaging Systems GmbH & Co. KG, APS Verwaltungs-GmbH, Air Ride Pallets Hong Kong Limited, Austin Foam Plastics Inc. (dba AFP Inc.), Automated Packaging Systems, Automated Packaging Systems Asia Holding Company Limited, Automated Packaging Systems Comerciale Importacao do Brasil Ltda., Automated Packaging Systems Europe, Automated Packaging Systems LLC, Automated Packaging Systems Limited, Automated Packaging Systems Southeast Asia Co. Ltd., B+ Equipment, B+ Equipment SAS, Beacon Holdings LLC, Biosphere Industries, BluPack (New Zealand), Blue Dot Packaging Pty Ltd., Cactus (Shanghai) Trading Co. Ltd., Cryovac (Malaysia) SDN. BHD, Cryovac Brasil Ltda., Cryovac Holdings II LLC, Cryovac International Holdings Inc., Cryovac LLC*, Cryovac Leasing Corporation, Cryovac Londrina Ltda., Cryovac Packaging Portugal Embalagens Ltda., Cryovac-Sealed Air de Costa Rica S.R.L., DELTAPLAM Embalagens Industria e Comercio, Diversey, Diversey J Trustee Limited, Diversey Trustee Limited, Entapack Pty. Ltd., Fagerdala (Chengdu) Packaging Co. Ltd, Fagerdala (Shanghai) Foams Co. Ltd., Fagerdala (Shanghai) Polymer Co. Ltd., Fagerdala (Suzhou) Packaging Co. Ltd., Fagerdala (Thailand) Limited, Fagerdala (Xiamen) Packaging Co. Ltd., Fagerdala Leamchabung Limited, Fagerdala Malaysia Sdn Bhd, Fagerdala Mexico S.A. de C.V., Fagerdala Mexico Supply Chain S.A. de C.V., Fagerdala Packaging Inc. (Indiana), Fagerdala Singapore Pte Ltd, Fagerdala Singapore Pte. Ltd., Getpacking.com GmbH, Invertol S. de R.L. de C.V., JSC Sealed Air Kaustik, KRIS Automated Packaging Systems Holding Company, Kevothermal LLC, Kevothermal Limited, Nelipak Holdings, Pack-Tiger GmbH, Polyrol Limited, Polyrol Packaging Systems LLC, ProAseptic Technologies S.L., Producembal- Producao de Embalagens LTDA, Reflectix Inc., SLD Air Packaging Paketleme Malzemeleri Ticaret Limited Sirketi, Saddle Brook Insurance Company, Sealed Air (Asia) Holdings BV, Sealed Air (Barbados) S.R.L., Sealed Air (Canada) Co./CIE, Sealed Air (Canada) Holdings B.V., Sealed Air (China) Co. Ltd., Sealed Air (China) Limited, Sealed Air (Israel) Ltd., Sealed Air (Korea) Limited, Sealed Air (Latin America) Holdings II LLC, Sealed Air (Malaysia) Sdn. Bhd., Sealed Air (New Zealand), Sealed Air (Philippines) Inc., Sealed Air (Singapore) Pte. Limited, Sealed Air (Ukraine) Limited, Sealed Air Africa (Pty.) Limited, Sealed Air Americas Manufacturing S. de R.L. de C.V., Sealed Air Argentina S.A., Sealed Air Australia (Holdings) Pty. Limited, Sealed Air Australia Pty. Limited, Sealed Air Australia Real Estate Pty Ltd, Sealed Air B.V., Sealed Air Belgium N.V., Sealed Air Central America S.A., Sealed Air Chile SpA, Sealed Air Colombia Ltda., Sealed Air Corporation (US), Sealed Air Cyprus Ltd., Sealed Air Denmark A/S, Sealed Air Finance B.V., Sealed Air Finance II LLC, Sealed Air Finance Luxembourg S.a.r.l., Sealed Air Funding LLC, Sealed Air General Trading LLC, Sealed Air GmbH (Germany), Sealed Air GmbH (Switzerland), Sealed Air Hellas SA, Sealed Air Holding France SAS, Sealed Air Holdings (New Zealand) Pty. Ltd., Sealed Air Holdings South Africa Proprietary Limited, Sealed Air Holdings UK I Limited, Sealed Air Holdings UK Limited, Sealed Air Hong Kong Limited, Sealed Air Hungary Ltd., Sealed Air Investment and Management (Shanghai) Co. Ltd., Sealed Air Japan G.K., Sealed Air LLC, Sealed Air Limited (Ireland), Sealed Air Limited (UK), Sealed Air Luxembourg (I) S.a.r.l., Sealed Air Luxembourg (II) S.a.r.l., Sealed Air Luxembourg S.a.r.l., Sealed Air Management Holding Verwaltungs GmbH, Sealed Air Multiflex GmbH, Sealed Air Netherlands (Holdings) I B.V., Sealed Air Netherlands (Holdings) II B.V., Sealed Air Netherlands Holdings V B.V., Sealed Air Norge AS, Sealed Air OY, Sealed Air Packaging (India) Private Limited, Sealed Air Packaging (Shanghai) Co. Limited, Sealed Air Packaging (Thailand) Co. Ltd., Sealed Air Packaging LLC, Sealed Air Packaging Materials (India) LLP, Sealed Air Packaging S.L.U., Sealed Air Peru S.A.C., Sealed Air Polska Sp. Zoo, Sealed Air Pty Limited, Sealed Air S.A S., Sealed Air S.r.l., Sealed Air South Africa (Pty.) Ltd., Sealed Air Svenska AB, Sealed Air Taiwan Limited, Sealed Air UK Limited Partnership, Sealed Air US Holdings (Thailand) LLC, Sealed Air Uruguay S.A., Sealed Air Verpackungen GmbH, Sealed Air de Mexico Operations S. de RL. de C.V., Sealed Air de Venezuela S.A., Sealed Air s.r.o., Shanklin Corp, Shanklin Corporation, TTS-Ciptec, TXAFP Asia Pacific Ltd., TXAFP GP LLC, and Trigon Industries. SociAtA GAnArale SociAtA anonyme provides financial services in Europe, the Americas, Asia, Oceania, Africa, and France. The company offers retail banking services, including deposits and loans, vehicles and asset management, corporate finance, insurance, payments, investment, and online brokerage and financial information services; Internet, mobile, telephone, and service platforms; and online banking to individual and professional customers, businesses, non-profit associations and local authorities under the Societe Generale, CrAdit du Nord, and Boursorama Banque brands. It also provides international retail banking and financial services, comprising of deposit and loan products; consumer finance and car finance; mortgage facilities; corporate and investment banking; infrastructure, renewable energies, and agribusiness financing; life, retirement savings, and personal protection insurance products; vehicle leasing and fleet management services; and vendor and equipment finance services to corporate and individual customers. In addition, the company offers capital market services, such as fixed income and currencies, equities, and securities services; mergers and acquisitions, advisory and other corporate finance advisory services, and corporate banking and investment banking, as well as capital raising solutions for debt or equity, financial engineering, and hedging for issuers; transaction and payment services, comprising of cash management, trade finance, cash clearing and correspondent banking, supply chain finance, and foreign exchange services; and export finance, aircraft finance, shipping finance, real estate finance, and structured solutions and leasing. Further, it provides financial engineering and wealth management solutions; structured products, hedge funds, mutual funds, private equity funds and real estate investment solutions; and asset management solutions. SociAtA GAnArale SociAtA anonyme was founded in 1864 and is headquartered in Paris, France. Read More 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 Textron: AAI Corporation, AAI Services Corporation, ALSTOM Gears, Able Aerospace, Able Aerospace Services Inc., Able Engineering & Component Services, Aeronautical Accessories LLC, Airborne Tactical Advantage Company LLC, Arctic Cat, Arctic Cat ACE Holding GmbH, Arctic Cat France SARL, Arctic Cat GmbH, Arctic Cat Inc., Arctic Cat Production LLC, Arctic Cat Production Support LLC, Arctic Cat Sales Inc., Arctic Cat Shared Services LLC, Arctic Cat UK Ltd., Arkansas Aerospace Inc., Avco Corporation, Aviation Service servis letal doo Ljubljana, Aylesbury Automation, B/K Navigational Equipment sro, Beech Aircraft Corporation, Beech Holdings, Beechcraft Defense Support Holding LLC, Beechcraft Domestic Service Company, Beechcraft Germany GmbH, Beechcraft International Holding LLC, Beechcraft International Service Company, Beechcraft New Zealand, Beechcraft Service Company UK Limited, Bell Helicopter GK, Bell Helicopter KK, Bell Textron Asia (Pte.) Ltd., Bell Textron Canada International Inc., Bell Textron Canada Limited/Limitee, Bell Textron Inc., Bell Textron Korea Inc., Bell Textron Miami Inc, Bell Textron Prague a.s., Bell Textron Rhode Island Inc., Bell Textron Services Inc, Bell Textron Supply Center BV, Bell Textron Technical Services Inc., Benzlers, Brazaco Mapri Industrias, Burkland, Cessna Aircraft Company, Cessna Citation European Service Center SAS, Cessna Dusseldorf Citation Service Center GmbH, Cessna Finance Corporation, Cessna Finance Export Corporation, Cessna Mexico S de RL de CV, Cessna Spanish Citation Service Center SLU, Cessna Zurich Citation Service Center GmbH, Citation Parts Distribution International Inc., Cushman Inc., Datacom Technologies, David Brown Group, Doncaster Citation Service Centre Limited, E-Z-GO Canada Limited, Energy Manufacturing, Flexalloy, HBC LLC, Hawker Beech de Mexico S de RL de CV, Hawker Beechcraft Argentina SA, Howe & Howe Inc., Howe and Howe Technologies, Industrial Technology Inc., InteSys Technologies, International Product Support Inc., KSB Annecy SAS, Kautex (Changchun) Plastics Technology Co. Ltd., Kautex (Chongqing) Plastic Technology Co. Ltd., Kautex (Guangzhou) Plastic Technology Co. Ltd., Kautex (Pinghu) Plastic Technology Co. Ltd., Kautex (Shanghai) Plastic Technology Co. Ltd., Kautex (Wuhan) Plastic Technology Co. Ltd., Kautex Corporation, Kautex Craiova srl, Kautex Germany Holding GmbH, Kautex Inc., Kautex Japan KK, Kautex Shanghai GmbH, Kautex Textron (UK) Limited, Kautex Textron Benelux BVBA, Kautex Textron Bohemia spol sro, Kautex Textron CVS Limited, Kautex Textron GmbH & Co. KG, Kautex Textron Iberica SL, Kautex Textron Italia Srl, Kautex Textron Management Services Company de Puebla S. de RL de CV, Kautex Textron Portugal Produtos Plasticos Sociedade Unipessoal Lda., Kautex Textron de Mexico S de RL de CV, Kautex Textron do Brasil Ltda., Kautex of Georgia Inc., Kaywood Products Corp., Klauke, LCI Corporation International, LLC Textron RUS, Maag, McCord Corporation, Mechtronix, Medical Numerics Inc., Midland Industrial Plastics, MillenWorks, MillenWorks Themed Technologies, MotorFist LLC, OPINICUS Simulation and Training Services LLC, OmniQuip International, Opinicus, Optical Boring Co., Opto-Electronics, Opto-Electronics Inc., Overwatch Systems Ltd., PEINER Umformtechnik, Pirelli Tyres - General Rubber Goods (GRG) division, Premiair Aviation Maintenance Pty Ltd, Progressive Electronics, Ransomes, Ransomes Inc., Ransomes Investment LLC, Ransomes Jacobsen France SAS, Ransomes Jacobsen Limited, Ransomes Limited, Ransomes Pensions Trustee Company Limited, Replacement Part Solutions LLC, Response Technologies LLC, Rotor Blades Limited, Sukosim Verbindungselemente, TRU Simulation & Training Spain SL, TRU Simulation + Training Inc., TRU Simulation + Training LLC, TekGPS Engineering Srl, Textron Airland LLC, Textron Atlantic LLC, Textron Aviation Australia Pty. Ltd., Textron Aviation Canada Ltd., Textron Aviation Defense LLC, Textron Aviation Finance Corporation, Textron Aviation Inc., Textron Aviation Prague Service Center sro, Textron Aviation Rhode Island Inc., Textron Aviation Services de Mexico S de RL de CV, Textron Capital BV, Textron Communications Inc., Textron Far East Pte. Ltd., Textron Finance Holding Company, Textron Financial Corporation, Textron Financial Corporation Receivables Trust 2002-CP-2, Textron Fluid and Power Inc., Textron France Holding SAS, Textron France SAS, Textron Global Services Inc., Textron Ground Support Equipment Inc., Textron Ground Support Equipment UK Limited, Textron IPMP Inc., Textron India Private Limited, Textron Innovations Inc., Textron International Inc., Textron International Mexico S de RL de CV, Textron Limited, Textron Management Services Inc., Textron Motors GmbH, Textron Motors North America Inc., Textron Outdoor Power Equipment Inc., Textron Realty Corporation, Textron Shared Service Centre (Canada) Inc., Textron Specialized Vehicles Inc., Textron Sweden AB, Textron Systems Australia Holding Pty Ltd, Textron Systems Australia Pty Ltd, Textron Systems Canada Inc., Textron Systems Corporation, Textron Systems Electronic Systems UK (Holdings) Limited, Textron Systems Electronic Systems UK Limited, Textron Trading (Shanghai) Co. Ltd., Textron UK Pension Trustee Limited, Textron Verwaltungs-GmbH, Turbine Engine Components Textron (Newington Operations) Inc., United Industrial Corporation, Westminster Insurance Company, Williams Machine & Tool, Wuxi Textron Specialized Vehicles Co. Ltd., and Zhenjiang Bell Textron Aviation Services Limited. The Toronto-Dominion Bank, together with its subsidiaries, provides various personal and commercial banking products and services in Canada and the United States. It operates through three segments: Canadian Retail, U.S. Retail, and Wholesale Banking. The company offers personal deposits, such as chequing, savings, and investment products; financing, investment, cash management, international trade, and day-to-day banking services to businesses; and financing options to customers at point of sale for automotive and recreational vehicle purchases through auto dealer network. It also provides credit cards; real estate secured lending; auto finance; consumer lending; point-of-sale payment solutions for large and small businesses; wealth and asset management products, private banking, investment advisory, and trust services to retail and institutional clients; and property and casualty insurance, as well as life and health insurance products. The company also provides capital markets, and corporate and investment banking services, including underwriting and distribution of new debt and equity issues; advice on strategic acquisitions and divestitures; and trading, funding, and investment services to companies, governments, and institutions. It offers its products and services under the TD Bank and America's Most Convenient Bank brand names. The company operates through a network of 1,085 branches, 3,440 automated teller machines, and 1,223 stores, as well as offers telephone, digital, and mobile banking services. The Toronto-Dominion Bank was founded in 1855 and is headquartered in Toronto, Canada. 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.. Anixter International Inc., through its subsidiary, Anixter Inc., distributes enterprise cabling and security solutions, electrical and electronic wire and cable solutions, and utility power solutions worldwide. The company operates through Network & Security Solutions (NSS), Electrical & Electronic Solutions (EES), and Utility Power Solutions (UPS) segments. The NSS segment offers copper and fiber optic cable and connectivity, access control, video surveillance, intrusion and fire/life safety, cabinet, power, cable management, wireless, professional audio/video, voice and networking switches, and other ancillary products for the technology, finance, transportation, education, government, healthcare, and retail industries, as well as telecommunications service providers. The EES Solutions segment provides electrical and electronic wires and cables, shipboard cables, support and supply products, low-voltage and instrumentation cables, industrial communication and control products, security cables, connectors, industrial Ethernet switches, and voice and data cables to the commercial and industrial, and original equipment manufacturer markets. The UPS segment supplies electrical transmission and distribution products, power plant maintenance, repair and operations supplies, and smart-grid products, as well as arranges materials management and procurement outsourcing for the power generation and transmission, and electricity distribution industries. The company serves contractors, installers, system integrators, value-added resellers, architects, engineers, and wholesale distributors in various industries, including manufacturing, resource extraction, telecommunications, Internet service providers, finance, education, healthcare, retail, transportation, utilities, and defense, as well as government customers. The company was formerly known as Itel Corporation. Anixter International Inc. was founded in 1957 and is headquartered in Glenview, Illinois. Read More Weatherford International plc, an oilfield service company, provides equipment and services for the drilling, evaluation, completion, production, and intervention of oil and natural gas wells worldwide. The company operates in two segments, Western Hemisphere and Eastern Hemisphere. It offers artificial lift systems, including reciprocating rod, progressing cavity pumping, gas, hydraulic, plunger, and hybrid lift systems, as well as related automation and control systems; pressure pumping and reservoir stimulation services, such as acidizing, fracturing and fluid systems, cementing, and coiled-tubing intervention; and drill stem test tools, and surface well testing and multiphase flow measurement services. The company also provides safety, downhole reservoir monitoring, flow control, and multistage fracturing systems, as well as sand-control technologies, and production and isolation packers; liner hangers to suspend a casing string in high-temperature and high-pressure wells; cementing products, including plugs, float and stage equipment, and torque-and-drag reduction technology for zonal isolation; and pre-job planning and installation services. In addition, it offers directional drilling services, and logging and measurement services while drilling; services related to rotary-steerable systems, high-temperature and high-pressure sensors, drilling reamers, and circulation subs; managed pressure drilling, conventional mud-logging, drilling instrumentation, gas analysis, wellsite consultancy, and open hole and cased-hole logging services; reservoir solutions and software products; and intervention and remediation services. Further, the company provides equipment and drilling tools; tubular handling, management, and connection services; equipment rental services; and onshore contract drilling and related services through a fleet of land drilling and workover rigs. Weatherford International plc was incorporated in 1972 and is headquartered in Baar, Switzerland. Read More William Lyon Homes, together with its subsidiaries, designs, constructs, markets, and sells single-family detached and attached homes in California, Arizona, Nevada, Colorado, Washington, Oregon, and Texas. It sells its homes primarily to entry-level, first-time move-up, and second-time move-up homebuyers. The company offers its services through in-house commissioned sales personnel and outside brokers. As of December 31, 2018, it owned approximately 17,649 lots and had options to purchase an additional 11,892 lots. The company was founded in 1954 and is headquartered in Newport Beach, California. Read More Journey so far has not been easy for Swara Bhasker. As beauty and appearance play a crucial role in cinema, the actress recalls her initial days when she was rejected for looking intelligent. I think everyone who comes to the industry has to face certain kind of rejection for how they look. Otherwise people would not be spending so much money on the make up. All this is a reflection of a persons mindset. In the first meeting I had when I came to Bombay, a director rejected me saying, you look too intelligent. I have still not understood what does this mean, Swara told to agency on the sidelines of Jio MAMI Mumbai Film Festival where her movie Shame was screened. However, the actress feels it is best to ignore such things and focus on work. Shame directed by Anusha Bose, is a twisted journey of a meek, vulnerable woman who emerges from the background to unapologetically reclaim her dignity, confidence and right to desire. It is about how women are often shamed for their looks. It is a story of a nice sweet girl shamed for her looks. It is a day in her life, she said. Talking about the digital platform, the Veere Di Wedding actor said that today digital platform has become an alternate medium for actors in terms of creativity. The new content that is available today on different platforms is thought provoking and it doesnt have to be lived by any formula. I am a very idealistic person and I believe art, especially the visual medium has huge potential for transformation. It is something that goes through your eyes and it goes directly to your heart and it can directly affect you, she said. For her, important is to be associated with good content and that is a rule she has tried to live by in her career. Very few smokers know there is sugar added to cigarettes, a new survey suggests. In addition, very few realize that added sugar increases toxins in cigarette smoke, the study authors wrote in the journal Nicotine and Tobacco Research. Knowledge is power and there is a clear gap in awareness, said lead researcher Andrew Seidenberg, a public health doctoral student at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Cigarettes contain natural and added sugars to reduce the harshness of smoke, making it easier to inhale. This also increases the amount of harmful chemicals in smoke and the addictive potential of smoking, Seidenberg said. Many participants told us they wanted to learn more about sugar in cigarettes, Seidenberg told Reuters Health by email. So there is an opportunity to educate the public. Seidenberg and colleagues surveyed 4,350 adult cigarette smokers by recruiting them through Amazon Mechanical Turk to participate in an online experiment on e-cigarette advertising. At the end of the experiment, survey takers answered two questions about added sugars in cigarettes: Is sugar added to cigarettes? and Adding sugar to cigarettes increases toxins in cigarette smoke. Before this survey, had you ever heard of this effect of added sugar? Participants also had the option of providing open-ended comments at the end of the study. The researchers found that 5.5 percent of survey takers knew sugar was added to cigarettes. The proportion who knew this was never higher than 10 percent when respondents were grouped by characteristics like gender, age, income, education level, race and ethnicity. And only 3.8 percent of survey respondents knew added sugar increases toxins in smoke. We were really surprised that nearly all of the smokers surveyed didnt know that sugar is added to their cigarettes, Seidenberg said. He and colleagues are developing messages about added sugar in cigarettes to determine if theyre helpful for smoking cessation programs. In a television campaign in Australia, for instance, an ad set to the popular song Sugar, Sugar by The Archies concluded with the following text on the screen: Additives such as sugar and honey can hide the bitter taste of tobacco. But the damage cigarettes do cant be hidden. Noel Brewer, who has researched cigarette pack messages about toxic chemicals, as well as public understanding of cigarette smoke ingredients, is, like Seidenberg, from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, but he isnt a coauthor of the current study. Added sugar in cigarettes creates a trifecta of death, Brewer told Reuters Health by email. It makes cigarettes more appealing, more addictive and more lethal. Smokers should be able to know what they are smoking and they dont. Cigarettes are dangerous in so many different ways that its hard for people to keep track, Brewer said. Scientists keep finding new ways that cigarettes create harm and death. Britain's Prince Harry and Meghan, Duchess of Sussex in arrive at Fua'amotu Airport in Tonga, Thursday, Oct. 25, 2018. (Photo: AP) WELLINGTON: Britains Prince Harry and wife Meghan arrived in New Zealand on Sunday for the final leg of their Pacific tour, their first international royal tour since marrying in May. The royal couple, who have already visited Australia, Fiji and Tonga, were received in the nations capital Wellington by Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern. The globally-popular Ardern marked her first year as the countrys leader earlier this week, having formed government through a coalition deal that followed an inconclusive election. In June, Ardern became only the second world leader, after Pakistans Benazir Bhutto in 1990, to give birth while in office. Harry and Meghan are expecting their first child next year. The royal couple flew from Australia on Sunday after closing the Invictus Games in Sydney last night and were accompanied by several Invictus Games athletes from New Zealand. The Invictus Games are an international paralympic-style competition for military personnel wounded in action that was founded by Harry. Meghan wore a brown checkered coat and a simple black dress, while Harry was in a dark gray suit. Both had remembrance poppy pins on their chests. On Sunday evening, the couple will attend a reception celebrating the 125th anniversary of womens suffrage. New Zealand became the first country in the world where women could vote in parliamentary elections in 1893. The assailant, J Srinivasa Rao, had attacked Jagan 'to do away with him' and caused a bleeding injury in furtherance of his attempt, the airport police said. (Photo: File/ANI) Amaravati: The recent assault on YSR Congress president Y S Jagan Mohan Reddy at Visakhapatnam airport by a restaurant employee was an attempt to murder him, according to the remand report submitted by police in a court. J Srinivasa Rao was a "staunch supporter" of Reddy, police told a metropolitan court following a preliminary probe, while seeking remand of the accused. The YSRC had claimed that the cafeteria where the assailant was employed was owned by ruling Telugu Desam Party leader Harshavardhan, who was aspiring to contest the next assembly election from the district. Also Read: YS Jagan Mohan Reddy hurt in knife attack at Visakhapatnam airport The attack on Reddy, who escaped with a "deep" cut on his left shoulder led to a political slugfest between the ruling TDP and the opposition YSR Congress. The assailant, J Srinivasa Rao, attacked Jagan 'to do away with him' and caused a bleeding injury in furtherance of his attempt, the airport police said. The report, a copy of which was made available to the media Sunday, was submitted in a Visakhapatnam metropolitan magistrate court on October 26 and it said Rao was "mentally prepared" for the attack. Had the knife slashed Jagan's neck it might have turned fatal and since he turned towards his right side, the hit landed on his left shoulder,causing a bleeding injury, it said. Rao made the attempt when a party leader was clicking a selfie with the YSR chief. The assailant took out a small knife and attacked the leader, the report said. Thefore the accused had committed the offence of attempt to murder (IPC section 307), it said. The report also mentioned the seizing of a letter from Rao, which indicated that he was worried about the grievances of poor people. Rao strongly believed that if YSRC comes to power, appropriate steps would be taken to sort out the grievances of the poor people, the report by the Investigating Officer said. The report also makes a mention about the assailant wanting to make a "representation" to Jagan on the grievances of the poor. However, it did not elaborate on why he did not make any representation and instead attacked the leader. After the attack, Rao was overpowered by CISF personnel and handed over to the state police. Reddy, who is the leader of opposition, later checked into a private hospital in Hyderabad where doctors treated him for his injury. While Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu, who also heads the TDP, had targeted the Centre over the incident, Civil Aviation Minister Suresh Prabhu had condemned the "cowardly attack" on Reddy and sought a thorough probe by all agencies. Nizamabad: Political equations will change in the Congress party in TS, especially in undivided Nizamabad district, if former PCC chief and Rajya Sabha member D. Srinivas will re-join the Congress party. Realising the speculations, the senior politician met Congress president Rahul Gandhi in New Delhi on Saturday for a courtesy call. As of now, Srinivas has not joined in Congress which may led to disqualification of his Rajya Sabha seat. Followers of Srinivas had already joined in Congress party last week at Gandhi Bhavan in Hyderabad. Srinivas alone met Rahul Gandhi and discussed several issues related to TS and the Congress party, sources said. Reportedly, Srinivas told the Congress president that he would extend his support to the party unconditionally. Srinivas meeting with Rahul Gandhi got mixed response in Nizamabad district as his followers felt happy with the development. However, political opponents of Srinivas in Congress party are worried over his re-entry into the party fold. Allegedly, a group of leaders handed over the FIR copy of criminal cases against the elder son of D. Srinivas and former Mayor D. Sanjay to Rahul Gandhi recently. Reportedly, they urged the party president not to encourage Srinivas in the Congress party. Mainly, MLC Akula Lalitha, TPCC secretary N. Ratnakar, TPCC official spokesman B. Mahesh Kumar Goud have differences with Srinivas. According to reliable sources, former MP, AICC spokesman Madhu Goud Yashki recently met D.Srinivas and discussed about the party affairs. To polarise OBC leadership in Telangana state, a section of leaders are taking initiative to invite Srinivas into the party fold. Speaking to Deccan Chronicle, a close aide to Srinivas said that Srinivas will get previous glory in the Congress party soon. The party may consider his word in the finalisation of MLA ticket for Nizamabad urban Assembly constituency, he said. India, in April this year, had officially sent the Republic Day invite to US President Donald Trump. (Photo: File | AP) New Delhi: US President Donald Trump has reportedly turned down Indias invitation to be the chief guest at the 2019 Republic Day celebrations. India, in April this year, had officially sent the Republic Day invite to the US president. In early August, White House acknowledged that Trump received an invitation. "I know that the invitation has been extended, but I do not believe that a final decision has been made," White House press secretary Sarah Sanders had said. According to reports, US presidents State of the Union address around that time is a possible reason for declining the invitation. Trump declining India's invitation comes weeks after India-US witnessed tension over a range of geopolitical issues, including Indias defence purchases from Russia and buying oil from Iran. India recently signed USD 5.2 billion deal for S-400 Triumf missile system with Russia. The deal came despite the US saying that any countries transacting with Russias defence and intelligence sector would face tough sanctions under the Countering America's Adversaries Through Sanctions Act (CAATSA). The Trump administration had also given a November 4 deadline to its allies to bring down their import of Iranian oil to zero, but India continued to import the oil. Sri Lankan President Maithripala Sirisena suspended Parliament on Saturday, a day after sacking PM Ranil Wickremesinghe and naming Mahinda Rajapaksa as new prime minister. (Photo: Twitter | @PresRajapaksa) New Delhi: India on Sunday said it was closely following the political developments in Sri Lanka and hoped that democratic values and constitutional process would be respected in the island nation. In fast-paced political developments, Sri Lankan President Maithripala Sirisena suspended Parliament on Saturday, a day after sacking Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe and naming Mahinda Rajapaksa as the new prime minister. "India is closely following the recent political developments in Sri Lanka. As a democracy and a close friendly neighbour, we hope that democratic values and constitutional process will be respected," External Affairs Ministry Spokeperson Raveesh Kumar said. Kumar said India will continue to extend its developmental assistance to the friendly people of Sri Lanka. India has been involved in a number of projects in the island nation. Sirisena on Saturday suspended Parliament till November 16 after Wickremesinghe sought an emergency session to prove his majority. Former president Rajapaksa was sworn in as the country's new PM on Friday. The political turmoil came amid growing tensions between Sirisena and Wickremesinghe on several policy matters. Reacting sharply to his sacking, Wickremesinghe asserted that the swearing-in of Rajapaksa is "illegal and unconstitutional" and he will prove his majority in Parliament. The political developments unfolded after Sirisena's broader political front UPFA announced that it has decided to quit the current unity government with Wickremesinghe's UNP. The unity government was formed in 2015 when Sirisena was elected President with Wickremesinghe's support, ending a nearly decade-long rule by Rajapaksa. Rajapaksa's return to power ends a more than three-year-old coalition government that was formed by Sirisena and Wickremesinghe on a promise to combat corruption and financial irregularities. The unity government was thrown into a crisis after Rajapaksa's new party pulled off a stunning victory in local elections in February seen as a referendum on the ruling alliance. Sri Lanka nearly faced economic sanctions from the West over Rajapaksa's military crackdown on the banned Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE). The LTTE sought a separate Tamil homeland in the northern and eastern provinces of the island nation for nearly 30 years before its collapse in 2009 after the Sri Lankan Army killed the outfit's supreme leader Velupillai Prabhakaran. Transport Minister A.K. Saseendran and Chief Executive Officer of Petronet Prabhat Singh during a meeting in Kochi on Saturday. KOCHI: A sub-committee headed by Transport principal secretary K.R. Jyothilal has been formed to study and submit a report on converting of KSRTC buses, fishing boats and passenger boats to natural gas as fuel from diesel. The decision was taken after a meeting held by Transport Minister A.K. Saseendran with top officials of the Petronet LNG Limited in Kochi on Saturday. Petronet LNG has promised to bear the cost needed for changing 100 KSRTC buses to LNG from diesel. The minister welcomed the suggestion by Petronet LNG. Diesel and kerosene are still used in fishing boats. Although the union government does not allow the use of kerosene in fishing vessels a portion of kerosene allocated to the state is given to fisher folks with a subsidy. The possibility of using natural gas in fishing boats is being examined in this background. The sub-committee will also examine using CNG or LNG in the passenger boats currently using diesel. LNG has not been used in passenger vehicles anywhere in the country. According the National Green Tribunal Thiruvananthapuram, Kollam, Kochi and Thrissur are the most polluted cities in the state. The government has taken a policy decision on shifting to natural gas as part of bringing down air pollution. The sub-committee will also examine the supply network of CNG and LNG in the state. At present steps are on to set up LNG and CNG units at Anayara in Thiruvanathapuram and Edappal and Kannur in the Malabr region. Petronet LNG CEO Prabhat Singh and other senior officials took part in the discussions with the minister. The Congress MP from Thiruvananthapuram further slammed Prime Minister Modi-led central government for its souring ties with its neighbouring countries, saying that the foreign policy cannot be made 'on a whim or impulse'. (Photo: File) Bengaluru: Congress Member of Parliament (MP) Shashi Tharoor on Sunday, quoting an unnamed Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) source, launched a sharp attack on Prime Minister Narendra Modi while likening him with a scorpion sitting on a 'shivling'. Speaking about his book 'The Paradoxical Prime Minister' at the Bengaluru Literature Festival, Tharoor asserted that the "personality cult of Prime Minister Modi has not gone down well with the RSS and has been a cause of frustration within its ranks". He elucidated, "There's an extraordinarily striking metaphor expressed by an unnamed RSS source to a journalist, who expressed their frustration to curb Modi -- 'Modi is like a scorpion sitting on a shivling. You can't remove him with your hand and you cannot hit it with a 'chappal' (slipper) either." Tharoor added, "If you try to touch the scorpion, you will be stung, but if you hit a shivling with the chappal, it undermines all the sacred tenets of the faith. That may well be an interesting clue to the rather complex dynamics that exists between the Hindutva movement and the Moditva expression on it." Continuing his tirade, the Congress leader said that he focused more on the Prime Minister's personal character rather than the Hindutva movement in his book. "He is from the Hindutva movement but hes not imprisoned by it. Moditva, that is built on Modi's cult of personality, is what I analyse more in the book because of his personal intimidation and character," Tharoor elaborated. Giving a summary of his book to the audience, Tharoor informed: "The first part of the book is a biography of PM Modi. Then, I analyse the Modi regime in four sections the Modification of India, which has been altered by the nature of forces unleashed by this government such as mob lynchings and cow vigilantism, Governments and governance, which explains the style of governance adopted by the Modi government in the last four-and-half years. This includes demonetisation without being consulted with the cabinet, the Home Minister doesn't even know that the CBI directors are being removed; the Defence Minister doesn't know that the Rafale deal for 120 aircraft has mysteriously changed to 36 aircraft and our Foreign Minister doesn't know what changes Modi is making in the foreign policy commitment." "Next is on Modinomics, which involves the disastrous demonetisation and the botched rollout of GST and lastly, his foreign policy, which I have been personally disappointed with," he said. The Congress MP from Thiruvananthapuram further slammed Prime Minister Modi-led central government for its souring ties with its neighbouring countries, saying that the foreign policy cannot be made "on a whim or impulse". "We have the worst of our relations with our neighbours. See, the Maldives, who is cocking a snook in India, cancelling impunity contracts to Indian companies, advertisement vacancies with words clearly stated - 'Indian citizens need not apply'. We have seen the shambles of relations with Nepal, our ties have soured with Nepal opening up its northern borders to the Chinese. We have seen setback after setback with Sri Lanka. And we have this peculiar relation with Pakistan. There are lots of ups and downs than a child yo-yo, Tharoor said. He further alleged that various institutions such as the Election Commission, Supreme Court, CBI and others were not freely functioning in the last five years, and that its integrity was being repeatedly undermined by the National Democratic Alliance government. Expressing concern over the current law and order situation, Tharoor asserted that Prime Minister Modi did not utter a word on the rising incidents of mob lynchings and cow vigilantism in the country. Visakhapatnam: The polices remand report submitted to the VII Additional Metropolitan Magistrate Court in connection with the attack on YSR Congress leader Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy, clearly mentioned that the accused, Janipalli Srinivasa Rao, attacked Mr Reddy in the airport lounge with the intention of eliminating him and not to gain popularity as claimed by some top police officers and the Telugu Desam government. It said the knife was aimed at the neck but Mr Reddy got up from his seat and so suffered an injury to his left shoulder. The report said if the attack had been executed as planned it would have led to the death of Mr Reddy. The remand report submitted by Inspector Malla Seshu of the Airport Police Station, stated that Protocol Inspector Vasudev was on the scene when the attack took place. While Mr Reddy was talking with his partymen in the VIP lounge of Visakhapatnam Airport last Thursday, Ramadevi, a service assistant of Fusion Food restaurant located at the airport, came to the lounge to serve tea. The accused Srinivasa Rao accompanied Rama-devi to serve bottles of water, and then remained in the lounge, standing next to Mr Reddy. When senior party leader of the YSRC Karanam Dharmasri was taking a selfie with Mr Reddy, the accused, who was standing to the left of Mr Reddy, whipped out a knife from his pocket and tried to stab Mr Reddy in the neck. Mr Reddy dodged the attempt by turning aside. As a result, the murder attempt ended in just an injury to Mr Reddys left shoulder. Protocol Inspector Vasudev and leaders of the YSRC caught the accused and took the knife from him. The police also recovered another blade from him. YSRC leaders said that the remand report highlighted that the accused had full knowledge of Mr Reddys plan to travel to Hyderabad and planned the murder accordingly. He carried two knives and a letter on his person which the police recovered. Mr Reddy told agitated partymen not to hurt the accused and insisted on handing him over to the police. The report said that though the knife was small and used in cockfights during the Sankranti season, it was very sharp and had it found its mark, it would have killed Mr Reddy. YSRC leaders have criticised the TD government and its police department and said that the investigation was not being conducted to establish the motive of the accused or to reveal the people behind the attack. Instead, the Telugu Desam government is trying to establish that the attacker was a big fan of Mr Reddy and attacked him only to get some publicity. Congress president Rahul Gandhi himself cleared the candidature of Congress MLC Mr V.S. Ugrappa, a dark horse whose selection came as a surprise, for the byelection to the Scheduled Tribe reserved Ballari Lok Sabha constituency. Mr Ugrappa's fate will be sealed in the November 3 bypoll. Mr Ugrappa pipped Ballari Rural MLA B Nagendra's brother B Venkatesh Prasad in what had narrowed down to a two-candidate race.There were political implications involved in the selection of the Congress candidate for the seat from which former party president Sonia Gandhi had contested in 1999. Mr Prasad reportedly had the support of minister Ramesh Jarkiholi, water resources minister D K Shivakumar's bete noire and to add to Ugrappa`s problems, there was lack of consensus on the candidate among party MLAs in the district. This became evident when the MLAs failed to attend party meetings in Bengaluru ahead of the candidate selection. The party finally issued the MLAs an ultimatum to attend a meeting presided over by former chief minister Siddaramaiah who proposed Mr Ugrappa's name, reportedly to checkmate both Shivakumar and the Jarkiholi brothers, who are at loggerheads. A Karnataka High Court advocate by profession, Mr Ugrappa is from Pavagada in Tumakuru district and this could prove to be a major obstacle for him in the election as the BJP is projecting him as an outsider. The BJP has fielded Ballari's Valmiki strongman, party MLA B Sriramulu's sister and former Lok Sabha member Ms J Shantha.The by-poll was necessitated because of the resignation of Mr Sriramulu who contested and won from Molakalmur assembly constituency in the recent assembly elections. Mr Ugrappa was one among the four 'manasa putras' of former Prime Minister and Janata Dal (Secular) supremo Mr H.D. Deve Gowda. Mr Ugrappa, Mr PGR Sindhia, Mr B.L. Shankar and Mr Y.S.V. Datta were considered the four four manasa putras of Deve Gowda during the heydays of the Janata Parivar. Now, Sindhia and Datta are with Deve Gowda. Mr Ugrappa was nominated to the Council first in 1995 by JD(S). He later joined the Congress and was nominated to the state Legislative Council in 2004 with his term ending in 2010. For the third time, he was nominated to the Council in June 2014; his term will last till 2020. Mr Ugrappa had unsuccessfully contested the Lok Sabha poll from Chitradurga in 1989 and 1991 as a candidate of Mr Deve Gowda's Samajavadi Janata Party then.This bypoll is his third Lok Sabha election as a consensus candidate of the JD(S)-Congress coalition in the State. Here are excerpts from an interview with him. After touring the constituency, how do you gauge the mood? Im sure of winning this election. There is no doubt about it. Voters have accepted me. A section of Congressmen say that you have been made a scapegoat in this poll? Im certainly not. Indeed, former Lok Sabha member and BJP MLA B Sriramulu is the BJP's scapegoat. How can you justify this ? There are about 10 crore people belonging to the Valmiki community in the country. The BJP government did not make Sriramulu a Central minister and forced him to contest from Badami and Molakalmuru Assembnly seats only to ensure his defeat. Is it Mr Sriramulu or Ms Shantha who is your rival in this by-poll? A Supreme Court judge has observed that democracy in the country at present is in danger. Prime Minister Narendra Modi has surrendered to silence. The country is facing danger from the BJP and PM Modi. It's not a fight between individuals, but two ideologies- Communal BJP and Secular Congress and Janata Dal (Secular). Then, on what ground are you targeting the Bharatiya Janata Party? B.S. Yeddyurappa is the only chief minister who was jailed in the state's history. He had termed Sadananda Gowda and Jagadish Shetter as corrupt chief ministers and after he quit the BJP, he had termed the party most corrupt. There were three chief ministers during BJP rulee. All these people have now come together and declared Yeddyurappa as the chief ministerial candidate. People know that they are power hungry and are least bothered about the common mans welfare. Don't you think people will elect a candidate whose party is in power in Delhi? Despite the Election Commission's directives, the Bharatiya Janata Party continues to issue false advertisements. Let them issue advertisements highlighting a chief minister and ministers who were jailed. You claim that the 'Modi wave' will not work in this by-oll? Now there is a Congress party wave in the state. Despite Prime Minister Narendra Modi and former chief minister Yeddyurappa's efforts, the BJP will face defeat. How do you react to the BJP's allegation that Ugrappa is not from Ballari, but an outsider? Sriramulu is using the outsider tag to gain political mileage and votes. People of Ballari have previously elected VKRV Rao and Basavarajeshwari. Bharatiya Janata Partys Sushma Swaraj too contested here. Voters are intelligent and they will elect appropriate candidate irrespective of such attempts to misguide them. Can the fight of the Congress party against illegal mining come to your support in this by-poll? This struggle against illegal mining can become one among several reasons for my victory. Are you sure that you will get the Congress ticket for Ballari in the 2019 general election too? The party high command will decide on this. Kochi: The Ernakulam Central police on Sunday arrested Rahul Easwar, president of Ayyappa Dharma Sena, in connection with his controversial statement that he had lined up volunteers to desecrate the sanctum sanctorum at Sannidhanam by spilling their own blood to stop young women from entering Sabarimala. He was released on conditional bail later in the evening. He allegedly made the statement at a press conference held in the city on Wednesday. The cops arrested him from his apartment in Thiruvananthapuram around 10.30 am and brought here at 4 pm. He told reporters at the central station that Kerala is facing an undeclared emergency. There is an undeclared emergency prevailing in the state, and it will be there till November 5, he said. He tweeted at 10.16 am that he was being arrested and later at 10.36 am that the police were not allowing him to eat breakfast. Police not allowed me to take breakfast, first promised that they will take me to KIMS hospital. Changed promise and taking me to central police station near high court Kochi. Is this not human rights violation, the tweet read. The case was registered on the basis of a complaint filed by a person from Thiruvananthapuram, the police said. He was booked under sections 117 (abetting commission of offence by the public or by more than ten persons) and 153 (wantonly giving provocation with intent to cause riot) of the IPC. He was previously arrested on October 17 from Sabarimala hill for unlawful assembly and obstructing police doing official duties while protesting there. On October 22, he was granted bail. New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday credited Sardar Valabhbhai Patel with uniting India after Partition and said it was his timely intervention which helped save Jammu and Kashmir from aggression. He also urged the youth to participate in large numbers in the Run for unity being organised on October 31 to mark the birth anniversary of Patel. In his monthly Mann ki Baat radio address, Mr Modi said, If we are able to see a united India now, it was entirely on account of the sagacity and strategic wisdom of Sardar Patel. The PM said this year, October 31 will be special as the statue of unity will be dedicated to the nation as a true tribute to Sardar Patel. Set up on the banks of the River Narmada in Gujarat, the structure is twice the height of the Statue of Liberty in the US. This is the worlds tallest statue. Every Indian will now be proud to see the worlds tallest statue here on Indian soil. Sardar Patel, a true son of the soil will adorn our skies too, he said. Mr Modi will be dedicating the statue on coming Wednesday. He hoped that the statue will become a new tourist destination. In his address, the Prime Minister also paid tributes to late Prime Minister Indira Gandhi on her death anniversary, which is also on October 31. October 31 also is the death anniversary of our former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi. Our respectful tributes to Indira ji too, he said. The PM pointed out that Infantry Day is observed every year on October 27 as the first Indian soldiers had set their foot in Jammu and Kashmir to take on intruders from Pakistan. Quoting late Field Marshal S H F J Manekshaw, he said Patel was irked at the delay in initiating military action to evict the aggressors. He said, in an interview Manekshaw had recalled that as a colonel then he was part of a meeting where Patel was irked on the delay in sending troops to Kashmir. During the proceedings, Sardar Patel gave him (Manekshaw) a characteristic glance and reiterated that there should be no delay in our Army operation and that a solution should be sought swiftly. And immediately after that, our troops flew to Kashmir .We've seen how our Army was successful, Modi said. CHENNAI: A couple of days after lashing out at veteran actor Rajinikanth for his political aspirations and calling him a puppet in the hands of the BJP, the DMKs mouthpiece Murasoli on Sunday almost expressed regret for the article targeting the actor. The newspaper said the editorial team has been advised to refrain from writing such pieces in future. It has been brought to our notice that the article on Superstar Rajinikanth which appeared in Murasoli has hurt some good hearts. The editorial (team) has been advised to be cautious while publishing such write-ups, the DMK organ said in its Sunday edition. It is said that this is the first time the newspaper, started by DMK patriarch M. Karunanidhi as a handwritten pamphlet in 1942, has expressed anything close to a regret for an article. The exact reason for publishing the corrective measure has not been made official. But rumour mills have it that Rajini, known for his closeness to former Chief Minister M. Karunanidhi, took up the issue with DMK chief M. K. Stalin. The satirical piece titled He is the black sheep meh meh meh a reference to a line from the actors film Enthiran, criticised the actor for disrespecting the hard work put in by his fans over the years. An upset Rajini was said to have spoken to DMK chief MK Stalin and thereafter the advisory was published in Murasoli. The DMK organ published a boxed news item with instruction from Murasoli editor S. Selvam. But for the terse statement, there was no explanation on who was hurt or why and the paper did not issue a formal regret. The organ had, in an article in its October 26 issue accused Rajini of being a puppet in the hands of some persons and being supported by communal elements, which was published in a question-answer format under the pseudonym Silanthi (spider in Tamil). Those who are speaking for you in the media are communal (elements), who want to divide the Tamil community, which exists after transcending caste and religion, it had said. It had asked Rajinikanth to be cautious, saying a group was trying to destabilise his popularity, and added that anyone dancing to the tunes of the group would lose sheen. Recently the actor had made it loud and clear that he would launch his party soon and his brother too reiterated that Rajini would announce the launch dates this December. He is sure to launch the party, Sathyanarayana Rao had said. The actor had not formally responded to the article but the change in stand had been spontaneous. Amidst this sudden development, former Union Minister and Congress senior P. Chidambaram, while speaking to a Tamil news channel, welcomed Rajinikanth to join the DMK-Congress alliance ahead of 2019 Lok Sabha polls. BJP president Amit Shah serves tea as BJYM national chief Poonam Mahajan and BJP TS president Dr K. Laxman look on at the BJYM Mahadhivesan at Parade Grounds, Secunderabad, on Sunday.(Photo: S. Surender Reddy) Hyderabad: BJP president Amit Shah on Sunday asserted that the party would form government in 2019 as well, with more than 50 per cent of the vote. He claimed that Prime Minister Narendra Modi will win with more than the present strength of members in Parliament and become the Prime Minister again. Speaking at the concluding day of the three-day BJYM Mahadhivesan at Parade Grounds on Sunday, Mr Shah called on the youth to take a sankalp (vow) to make this a reality. One surgical strike against Pakistan had taken India to the world as a nation of self-assertion and that differentiated between Mouni Baba Manmohan Sarkar and Narender Modi, he said. Now, the fight is between Modi and an unknown player at the opposite end as the Mahagathbandhan (Grand Alliance) has not identified a leader to lead it so far, he said. He said that the Congress could not be found in the country even if one searched with a magnifying glass. The BJP flag has conquered 70 per cent of the land mass of the country, he said. Referring to All India Congress Committee president Rahul Gandhis repeated question as to what Mr Modi has done for the nation, Mr Shah said that Mr Gandhi does not have any right to ask such a question because his own contribution to the nation is nothing. He told his audience that there could not be anything more disgraceful than the Telangana Rashtra Samiti (TRS) government not celebrating Liberation Day of Hyderabad, and it did this because it was under the constant fear of losing the support of the Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (MIM) party. He called Hyderabad Veer Bhumi and Dev Bhumi and said the TRS government has forgotten the sacrifices made by several people against the atrocities of the Nizam and the Razakars. He promised that if the BJP was voted to power in Telangana state, the martyrs sacrifices would be glorified in a befitting manner. On the alliance of parties coming together to defeat Mr Modi, he said that no one knows who leads the alliance. It was an opportunistic alliance with no philosophy, no morals, no scruples, only with an agenda to defeat Modi. People will not endorse such an alliance, Mr Shah said. Setting an agenda for the BJYM, Mr Shah said that from now till the votes were counted, members of the Yuva Morcha should work relentlessly and meet 25 crore families in the country. Hyderabad: Congress president Rahul Gandhi exhorted party candidate Vanteru Pratap Reddy to work hard to defeat caretaker Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao in his home constituency Gajwel in the forthcoming elections. Mr Pratap Reddy, who is aspiring for a ticket from Gajwel, met Mr Gandhi at his residence in Delhi on Saturday evening and explained the political situation in the constituency. Congress leaders are confident about winning the seat as Mr Pratap Reddy was the runner-up in the 2014 elections against Mr Chandrasekhar Rao with less than 20,000 votes when he contested on a Telugu Desam ticket. The Congress candidate then got about 34,000 votes. Senior leaders are of the view that the alliance of Congress and Telugu Desam would easily take on the caretaker Chief Minister. Speaking to mediapersons, Mr Pratap Reddy said, The Congress president is confident about victory in Telangana. Rahul Gandhi directed me to work hard to defeat KCR in his constituency. He said Mr Chandrasekhar Rao was taking credit for the Congress help in achieving statehood for Telangana. Mr Pratap Reddy added, The people are observing how his family looted the state. Mr Rahul Gandhi said that a person like KCR should not become the Chief Minister again, as it is not good for the people of Telangana state. Many believe that if what seemed like a popular government led by then Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee could be defeated in 2004, why cant the present BJP government led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, which seems equally popular, be defeated? Analysts draw various similarities in the political climate prevailing before the 2004 Lok Sabha election at present, and conclude that the Narendra Modi government is in for a tough time when it faces the electorate in 2019. The parallels and analysis being done and the conclusions being drawn are too simplistic and require a careful study. One will be making a huge error if one concludes that given the political similarities between 2004 and 2019, the electoral verdict in 2019 will be similar to that of 2004. The current political climate might look similar to what it was before the 2004 Lok Sabha election, but underlying those similarities are various differences which might make the electoral contest in 2019 different from 2004 and the Congress might face enormous difficulty in putting up a challenge for the BJP. To explain, I will offer both political argument and empirical evidence. Empirical evidence The present Congress is very different from the Congress of 2004. When the Congress went into the 2004 Lok Sabha election, it had a much bigger support base compared to what it is at present. Though the Congress suffered three successive defeats (1996, 1998 and 1999 Lok Sabha elections), but its voteshare remained intact at 28.3 per cent. The BJP, which was the ruling party, was defending its 23.7 per cent voteshare which was less than the Congress. The Congress at present has a much lower voteshare of 19.6 per cent compared to the BJP which has 31.0 per cent votes a complete reversal from what the situation was in 2004. Even if the Congress with all its effort manages to increase its voteshare in 2019 adds five to six per cent votes to its present voteshare it may not be able to win seats in three digits during the coming Lok Sabha elections. But if the voteshare of the Congress declines even by one per cent, it might lose a large number of seats. The BJP will be far less vulnerable compared to the Congress in 2019. Even if the BJP loses some votes in the Hindi heartland, it may not lose too many states as the victory margins of the BJP in many states like Rajasthan, Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Delhi, Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Uttar Pradesh and Bihar are very large. The average victory margin of the BJP was little more than 2.5 lakh votes in states like Rajasthan, Gujarat and Haryana; it was slightly more than two lakh votes in states like Madhya Pradesh and Maharashtra; while it was marginally less than two lakh votes in states like Uttar Pradesh and Uttarakhand. Even in other states the victory margin of the BJP has been very big Chhattisgarh 1.3 lakh, Delhi 1.5 lakh, Bihar 1.1 lakh, Jharkhand 1.3 lakh, Assam 1 lakh and Karnataka 1.2 lakh. There are other states like Himachal Pradesh, Goa and Jammu and Kashmir where the BJPs victory margin has been about one lakh votes. A careful look at the various state governments at present suggests that not just in national politics, but also at state-level politics, the Congress is far weaker now compared to 2004. The Congress is the ruling party only in two states Punjab and Mizoram and is sharing power in the coalition government in Karnataka with the Janata Dal (Secular). The political scenario was completely different in 2004. Not only did the Congress have a much bigger support base at the national level (28.3 per cent voteshare), but it was the ruling party in nine states and the coalition partner in three more states. Altogether, when the Congress went to polls in 2004, it was the ruling party in as many as 12 states of India. Political analysis Let me also offer the political argument why 2019 is different from 2004. There is a difference between the present leadership of the Congress and the BJP. The present leadership of the Congress (Rahul Gandhi) is seen as much weaker compared to how its leadership was perceived by the people in 2004. While it is true that the leadership of Sonia Gandhi was not seen as very formidable, but at least there was no visible sign of leaders of other regional political parties openly opposing her. At present, many leaders of regional parties have openly expressed their reservation in accepting the leadership of Rahul Gandhi. This makes the Congress look far weaker now compared to what it was in 2004. The BJP and its leadership against which the Congress contested the 2004 Lok Sabha election was different compared to the present BJP and its leadership. The BJP at present is headed by Amit Shah, who is seen as a master strategist and who knows the art of winning elections. What adds to the strength of the present BJP is Prime Minister Narendra Modi, in whom the people of this country have much greater faith than in any other Prime Minister in recent decades. This helps the BJP in mobilising votes for the party. Mr Shah and Mr Modi have demonstrated this in various Assembly elections in the recent past and the BJP will have huge advantage over the Congress in this respect during the coming Lok Sabha elections. The electoral challenge for the Congress is far more stiff compared to what it was in 2004 and it is extremely incorrect to compare 2019 with 2004. The Narendra Modi government and its RSS mentors may pretend otherwise but it is well known that the J&K police, the Army and the paramilitary forces are already doing their best in the Valley. (Representational Image | PTI) The tragedy of the death of a 22-year-old Army jawan in a stone-pelting attack in Anantnag in south Kashmir last week brings out the larger tragedy of Kashmir which underlines for us that the climbing of the death toll whether of jawans, civilians or terrorist militants, all of whom are men in the prime of their youth has not abated with J&K being brought under Governors Rule after the wilful dismissal of the elected government by New Delhi. The very basis of the dismissal of the PDP-BJP government was the dubious reasoning that then chief minister Mehbooba Muftis government couldnt provide the conditions for the security forces and the state police to operate with maximal efficiency against terrorists, whether home-grown or foreign. Around the same time as the unfortunate death of the jawan owing to stone-pelting, there have been shootings of security forces personnel in sniper attacks in the darkness of the night, which is suggestive of the fact that terrorists may have begun to operate for the first time since insurgency was recorded in the Valley more than a quarter century ago with sophisticated sniper rifles with night vision equipment mounted. The inability to check the diabolic innovations in militant techniques, which are essentially new tactics adopted by Pakistan, has to be laid firmly at the door or the Centre. Evidently, Governors Rule in Kashmir has so far failed to push back the tempo of militancy in the Valley which has been energised since July 2016. The Narendra Modi government and its RSS mentors may pretend otherwise but it is well known that the J&K police, the Army and the paramilitary forces are already doing their best in the Valley. Whats been missing is a conducive brand of politics, which can win the people over to the side of the government and disincentivise their support to the Pakistan-backed ultras. The political situation is alarming in Kashmir today. The middle ground has all but vanished. Ordinary folk, who have no love for Pakistan (and they constitute the bulk of the people), have been silenced by governmental apathy to their concerns and through the marshalling of terrorist techniques by Pakistans hard-line supporters. The situation cannot be rectified by Army Chief Bipin Rawats threatening statements to deploy non-conventional means against Pakistan if the latter does not stop supporting terrorism. Equally, calling stone-pelters over-ground workers of terrorists, and to be dealt as such, is unlikely to change the situation on the ground. The only way out is for the Centre to initiate genuine political moves. There are no signs of this yet. On two occasions, a venue was fixed, only to be cancelled a few days after booking. First it was scheduled to be held at the Art Gallery.(Representional Image) Book banning is akin to book burning, emblematic of Hitlers Germany. It assumes various forms ban under the Customs Act, 1962, to prevent its import into the country; under the Criminal Procedure Code, 1973; the extra-legal fiat by state officials to publishers and booksellers to suppress its circulation; mob violence that vandalises authors homes or publishers offices. A new form of book banning has emerged, targeting the foreign author. Not long ago, one of the most distinguished scholars on Hinduism, Wendy Doniger, had to bear the brunt of the RSS-BJP brigades onslaught on her work, The Hindus. More recently, it was the turn of the eminent indologist and sanskrit scholar Audrey Truschke for her book, Aurangzeb. Such a balanced work was long overdue, but the charge against her was that she was trying to rehabilitate Aurangzeb and whitewash his sins. Scheduled to give a talk, entitled, Unpopular stories: narrating the Indo-Islamic past and navigating present-day prejudices, in Hyderabad in August, the organiser could not find a venue in that large city known for its rich cultural past. On two occasions, a venue was fixed, only to be cancelled a few days after booking. First it was scheduled to be held at the Art Gallery. Then the B.M. Birla Science Centre was fixed as the venue, only for it to revoke permission. The venue owners likely backed out due to pressure from groups like Bajrang Dal. The director of the B.M. Birla Science Centre, B.G. Siddharth, unctuously told the press, We have received a request for the auditorium to hold the talk but we politely declined. Further, we understand that the speech would attack some Gods of India. Such controversial talks should have prior police permission. Since they dont have that, permission was denied. The convenor of the Bajrang Dal, Kalaish Sajjan, said, We do not know if her considerations are authentic, and considering her track record of being critical of Hinduism, we oppose her talk. The RSS set up the Vishwa Hindu Parishad in 1964 to capture the Babri Masjid. It, in turn, set up the Bajrang Dal as its spear arm to accomplish its nefarious ends by violence. Denial of permission for the talk reflects poorly on the political system. It installs the police as censors, which is bad enough, and bans a speech before it is delivered. Ms Truschke said that the organisers had been informed by the Hyderabad police of several letters protesting her appearance, the only letter she saw was written by an individual who claimed connections to the RSS and BJP. She described it as a sad day for the pursuit of knowledge and academic freedom. Descriptions of her work suggest that it deserves a wide readership around the world wherever Mughal history is taught. In an interview with the author in the Telegraph (India), Upala Sen writes: Ms Truschke states that the period of Aurangzebs reign was very well documented. Aurangzeb and his expansionist thirst, Aurangzeb as a pious Muslim, Aurangzeb the able administrator under whose reign the number of Hindus in the bureaucracy increased, Aurangzeb who protected temples and also destroyed them, Aurangzeb who loved music and mangoes.... But, Ms Truschke says, A major point of that (scholarship) was to make the British look better. The villainisation of Aurangzeb, projecting him to be this Islamic bigot, is bad history but it is a good storyline if you are trying to achieve a Hindu rashtra. This new form of intolerance reflects the political and religious intolerance which the RSS has spread over the last two decades. In January 2004, the Bhandakar Oriental Research Institute in Pune was vandalised by the Shiv Sena and other groups and a highly respected scholar Bahulkar was subjected to harassment by the mob. The Maharashtra government prosecuted the American indologist James Laine for his book Shivaji. The investigation was stopped by the Supreme Court. An official of the central government asserted a right to hold up a book at customs because, in his weighty opinion, It has incorrect facts on Sardar Patel. Dalvir Singh, the commissioner of Aircargo in New Delhi, was referring to The British Raj in India written by two scholars of excellent credentials civil servant during the Raj, Pakistani diplomat and professor, Samuel M. Burke, and Salim Al-Din Quraishi of the British Library. All this violates a fundamental right of the Indian citizen the right to know. The Customs Act provides no judicial tribunal to adjudicate on the ban. Section 95 of the Criminal Procedure Code provides that a ban by a state government can be challenged before a three-judge bench of the high court. This remedy must be extended to all bans official, police and ones on film. I had a conversation with an individual from an investigating agency this week who had come to raid my office. He was exactly my age, almost 50, and I was surprised by the things he said. I will tell you what they were in a bit. First, let us look at the events in the US. A man who has been identified as a member of President Donald Trumps political party has sent bombs to Mr Trumps opponents. These included former President Barack Obama, Hillary Clinton, members of the intelligence agency whom Mr Trump has criticised and a woman of Indian origin, Kamala Harris, who is likely to run for President in 2020. We are all aware of the quality of political debate in the US, especially since Mr Obama left office. Mr Trump has reduced the issues to child-like binaries. Most things are good or bad, white or black. In the language of Indias political discourse, things are either national or anti-national. On the issue of immigration, Mr Trump has been aggressive and angry in saying that it is a problem that needs to end and he will do it by force. He is putting up physical barriers, and he is separating children from the families of those who are alleged to come to the US without visas. The Democrats and the business community say that the entry of blue-collar workers from Mexico helps the US economy. Silicon Valley has been insistent that Mr Trumps proposed denial of business visas to Indian software engineers will harm the businesses there. But for Mr Trump and his supporters, the issue is clear: America needs to be kept pure. Mexicans are rapists and criminals and Indians are taking away the jobs that should rightfully go only to American citizens. Mr Trump refers to nations that are not white as shit-hole countries. This is the sort of violent rhetoric that, when injected into the political debate, inspires and produces violence. It is not surprising that if you look at the instance of such things in the West in the recent past, it is members of the Right who have been responsible. An American member of the House of Representatives (their version of our Lok Sabha), Gabrielle Giffords, was shot in the head in 2011 by an individual who identified with the Tea Party, the extreme wing o f the Republican Party. In 2016, Jo Cox, a woman in the United Kingdoms version of the Lok Sabha, the House of Representatives, was shot and killed by a man who opposed her pro-immigration policies and called her a traitor to white people. This happened in the lead-up to the vote on Brexit, when the most important issue was that of immigration. In all of these instances, and in others, there is a common theme. The individual very strongly identifies with simplistic and usually highly nationalistic positions that are drawn out by political leaders. He (and the individual is usually a he) thinks of those of different views as being traitors and enemies. It is astonishing that the debate in America has descended to such a low level that even a former President like Mr Obama is now seen as anti-national. Now let me turn to that individual who I was speaking about at the beginning. He came as part of the group that was raiding and he seemed like a calm and intelligent man. The organisation that he belonged to was from the Ministry of Finance. However, almost exclusively, their interest was in the work that we were doing that they thought of as being anti-national. One of them even used that specific word. I was astonished that this was happening now even inside the government. The nastiness and the hatred and the anger of our television debates, which reduce complex issues to very simple and childish propositions, have become not only mainstream, but a part of the establishment. I tried, calmly, to reason with him, but he stopped me. He said he was getting angry and there was no point in listening to this any more. We have come to a dangerous pass in this country and we have arrived here very quickly. We see large numbers of people, including particular communities, as enemies. But enemies of what? The answer is that it is enemies of the worldview and politics that one side holds. If you do not belong to that side, you hate your country and you are working against its interests. The lynching that we see around us so frequently these days is the same manifestation as that madman sending bombs to people he sees as Mr Trumps and his own enemies. Violence is being produced by political rhetoric and all of us are getting infected by it. We need to take a deep breath and consider what is happening around us as we head into a long and angry path to the next election. And while there is a suggestion to place an Asian (perhaps Noor Inayat Khan, who spied for the British during the second World War) on the new post-Brexit 50 pound note, isnt it time that Indians in the UK proposed photographs of other icons such as Dadabhai Naoroji, the first Indian member of Parliament in the UK, on a currency note? His achievement was a huge step forward in the 19th century, in the midst of Raj and racism. As we hope for more MPs from the Indian diaspora to be given important positions in the UK, we should remember him as someone who broke the glass ceiling, by actually entering Parliament, representing Finsbury Central. He even taught Gujarati at the University College of London! He is one of the few Indians to have streets named after him in London, Karachi and Mumbai Any other names of forgotten Indians who contributed to the UK who could be on that note? Let us add to the list, and be spoilt for choice! And this is a warning for all those who are coming to the UK do be careful with your wallets and valuables, especially on the Tube. And I would also add buses to the list , as there seems to be a gang of very efficient pick-pockets around. A special target is mobile phones. Now the top 10 pickpocketing zones have been revealed and Central and Piccadilly lines are right at the top with the favourite time to steal being the rush hours between five and seven in the evening . As my own family members have had their mobile phones snitched just after getting out of the Tube at Leicester Square and whilst getting on to a bus at Strand all one can say is that the field is wide open for the nimble fingered. We even accosted one suspect after we found the phone was gone, but backed off fast: that could have been dangerous, as the man was larger and more muscular than us. The police, to whom the case was reported, were sincere but helpless . Stay out of crowded areas and keep everything zipped up is all they can offer as an antidote A few years back, I had tried to register a case when my mobile phone was stolen, along with my credit cards. Not that anything happened. But now, with two mobile phones stolen from people I know in the last few months, it makes me think that something (or someone) rather more serious is at hand (a bad pun, but there you are !) They say that thieves look for Indians, especially at Diwali time If we thought Indian MPs can be overbearing and often badly behaved, think again. Stories have been pouring out from the British Parliament about MPs being rude towards their staff, or making them do work (including shopping for socks, and looking after pets!) they were not meant to be doing. The MPs who hire this staff from a generous allowance given to them have also been generally wasting public money as a few of them (shockingly for some) have even been caught playing computer games when they should be working. Rudeness to the staff appears to be a common ailment, and in this time of #MeToo, according to a 155 page report published by Dame Laura Cox there was ample evidence of inappropriate behaviour with women. Male MPs were accused of everything from patriarchy to landing unwanted kisses. Right now, no one has been sacked, but the message has gone through. Hopefully the perpetrators are shivering in their pants (or should it be underwear?) as sooner, rather than later, it is possible the women abused will reveal their names. John Bercow, the House of Commons speaker, has also been hauled up and there are alleged demands for his resignation or removal from the job. This may be the time for all oppressed women and men working for MPs to come together and collectively fight the system! Now I know how attached all Londoners are to their pubs, but do we really want to get married there ? Will people do anything for a tipple? According to reports, the chancellor Philip Hammond might try to earn an extra pound or two for the economy by allowing marriages in pubs, as it will boost the hospitality sector, and possibly add a bit more fizz, crackle and pop to a solemn ceremony. But wait, as dangers lurk! what will the church say if all get too merry, and who gets married to whom might become an issue, if drunken revelry takes over! I can just visualise everyone literally toasting the bride again and again. The possible financial loss as Brexit looms might make the chancellor think of ever innovative measures. Certainly pubs will earn a lot of money, and it might be rather fun Meanwhile, it is time for farewells and we have to say that the outgoing Indian high commissioner Yash Sinha brought gravitas and sincerity to the job. He and his wife Girija will be much missed not just for the connection they made with the local diaspora but for the ideas and support they gave. It has been a time of turmoil in the UK with Brexit around the corner and therefore, it was an ideal time for the UK to examine an equal partnership with India. As we well know, this has not been an easy relationship, but with his hard work and insight, Mr Sinha got many initiatives underway, and was there for local initiatives. We will not forget the support he gave to the Gandhi Statue Memorial Trust, when the Trust donated money to local charities in the UK. But he also handled difficult situations such as when the Khalistanis were trying to make their presence felt. And we are thrilled for his encouragement for the exhibitions we are putting together in the UK for the Jallianwala Bagh massacre centenary next year. Everyone who has interacted with the Sinhas feel that they have given them personal attention! The Sinhas will be missed and Delhis gain will be our loss. Congress MP and author Shashi Tharoor on Sunday said India has been rendered 'sick' by impulsive decisions of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and needs 'kichdi' opposition to heal, as he invoked the grandma wisdom to describe why opposition parties must be supported in next elections though they are in shambles. He was speaking on his book, The Paradoxical Prime Minister at Bengaluru Literature Festival. Tharoor, who had earlier described the united opposition as thali with different dishes, did not disagree when a member from the audience said the group looks more of a kichdi. #WATCH Shashi Tharoor in Bengaluru, says, "There's an extraordinarily striking metaphor expressed by an unnamed RSS source to a journalist, that, "Modi is like a scorpion sitting on a Shivling, you can't remove him with your hand & you cannot hit it with a chappal either."(27.10) pic.twitter.com/E6At7WrCG5 I will give you your grandmothers advice. When you are sick, take kichdi. Because our country has sadly been pushed into very great illness in the last four years. Coalition governments have made a better contribution for India than the rule of a single party, he said. Tharoor said his latest book was a 'fair' analysis, if not neutral one, of Narendra Modi-led BJP government's rule. The way we think about our country has been altered by the nature of the forces unleashed and condoned by Narendra Modi and his government. This includes a phenomenal rise in mob lynching and cow vigilantism. According to figures from Home Ministry, 97% of violent incidents in the name of cow protection happened in last four years, he said. Institutions ruined Tharoor said Modi's most centralised government has undermined India's key institutions that were built over a period of last 70 years. In the entire demonetisation saga, we only saw silence of the Reserve Bank of India and even Cabinet was not consulted. The empowered ministers did not know the change in Rafale deal, foreign policy regarding Pakistan or removal of CBI director, he said. Noting that the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) essentially brought down the Manmohan Singh government, but now we have not heard from CAG on what the government has or has not done. Information commissioners appointment has been delayed and millions of RTI applications have been stone walled, he added. Paradox at heart Paradox, Tharoor said, was at the heart of Narendra Modi starting from his projection as an RSS leader with modern principles before the 2014 election to the way he functions as a prime minister. Many had seen BJP as a political vehicle for old men speaking in Hindi about glories of Hindu culture. Modi was a new standard bearer, smartly attired modern man who could click a mouse on the one hand while brandishing a trishul in the other, he said, adding that the paradox was even more evident in the working of prime minister who draws his power from Parliament but remains unaccountable to it. Scorpion on Shiva linga Tharoor said Modi has managed to ensure that he was larger than RSS though his affiliation to the Hindutva movement remains strong. He said Modis cabinet travels regularly to Nagpur to take directions from RSS whose functionaries are frustrated about Modi escaping the Sanghs discipline. Theres an extraordinary striking metaphor expressed by an unnamed RSS source to journalist Vinod Jose of The Caravan to express this frustration. Modi was described as a scorpion sitting on a Shiva Ling; you cant remove it with your hand for fear of getting stung and you cant hit it with a chappal either as that undermines all the sacred tenets of the faith, he said. Also Read: Lit fest opens, sparks fly at some sessions Bangalore Literature Festival: All you need to know Lit fest opens today, set to discuss #MeToo and more Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu on Saturday said coalition governments have provided more effective and efficient administration with consensus than a single-party government. Naidu also exuded confidence that political compulsion will force all Opposition parties to come together either pre-poll or post-poll against the BJP in 2019 as some of them might be afraid now. It was a minority government (P V Narasimha Rao government (1991-1996), which brought economic reform. Coalition governments did very well. On the contrary, the Modi government, which got a massive mandate, has disappointed people. If the leader is good and effective, development will take place even in coalition. In the past, more growth and development has taken place under coalition governments, he said. Naidu played his facilitator role for Opposition unity in the national capital on Saturday. He met BSP chief Mayawati, Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, National Conference chief Farooq Abdullah veteran socialist leader Sharad Yadav and former rebel BJP leader Yashwant Sinha. Naidu, who was an NDA ally before pulling out of it in March this year, also announced that starting from Delhi, he will visit all states and meet Opposition leaders and try to forge an umbrella alliance for the 2019 general election. Pressed over his partys alliance in Telangana with the Congress, whose government decided for bifurcation of Andhra Pradesh, Naidu said it was his democratic compulsion and made it clear that no regional parties alliance can come to power in 2019 without the support of one of the two main parties. As a seasoned politician Naidu refused to go into the details of his meeting with Mayawati but underlined that there are political compulsions as well as ideological compulsions in Indian politics but all of us have to think of interests of the nation. He said, it is only (because of) political compulsion and in the overall interest of the nation, parties will join together. Some may not join before elections, some of them may join after elections. He added some of them are afraid today and slammed the Modi government for targeting Opposition leaders by misusing central investigating agencies and carrying raids on them and cited a number of cases lodged against various Opposition leaders after the Modi government came to power. After meeting Naidu, NC chief Farooq Abdullah said nobody in the Opposition camp has said that a particular person is a leader of the Opposition alliance. Even Rahul Gandhi hasn't said that he is the leader. The issue to discuss is, whether we can sit together and contemplate how to save the nation. It's not about the leader. The chief minister came to meet me. He is trying to see whether we can save the diversity of India so that everybody from poor to rich feels that he belongs to this nation. Today, the nation is in disarray, Abdullah said. Kejriwal took to Twitter to describe his and Sharad Yadavs meeting with Naidu saying they discussed national issues. He alleged that present BJP government is a threat to the nation and to the Constitution and that people across India will need to join hands to save India and the Constitution. Naidu said trained guns on Modi government on issues of job creation, corruption, GST, demonetisation and on the recent war within Central Bureau of Investigation. Its a two-year term for CBI Director, who is selected by a joint panel comprising of the Prime Minister, Leader of Opposition and Chief Justice of India. How can you create power centres within the CBI? Institutions are being demolished for personal and political gains, Naidu said. A cautious India is keeping a close watch on the political turmoil in Sri Lanka but has so far kept mum, even as China on Saturday virtually endorsed Mahinda Rajapaksa as the new Prime Minister of the island nation. The US, the UK and the European Union publicly asked all parties in Sri Lanka to adhere to the constitution of the nation. India, however, has not issued any statement so far, even as 24 hours passed after President Maithripala Sirisena replaced Ranil Wickremesinghe with Mahinda Rajapaksa as the new Prime Minister of the country late in the evening on Friday. Though the ruling BJP's Rajya Sabha MP Subramanian Swamy welcomed the appointment of Rajapaksa as the new Prime Minister of Sri Lanka, the government of India has not yet acknowledged the change of regime in Colombo. New Delhi has reservations about Rajapaksa. During his erstwhile tenure as President, as he had allowed China to expand its footprints in Sri Lanka and build strategic assets in the Indian Ocean island ignoring the security interests of India. The political parties in Tamil Nadu too have reservation about Rajapaksa regime's alleged atrocities on minority Tamils in Sri Lanka during the crackdown on the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam. Rajapaksa, however, sought to mend fences with New Delhi over the past few months. He visited New Delhi and met Prime Minister Narendra Modi last month. New Delhi, however, on Saturday took note that Rajapaksa received the first foreign endorsement to his appointment as Prime Minister when China's ambassador to Sri Lanka, Cheng Xueyuan, called on him on Saturday. India is treading cautiously over the issue of change of regime in Colombo lest it is accused of meddling in the internal affairs of the neighbouring country. Sources told DH that while New Delhi had concerns over the political turmoil in Sri Lanka, it would not like to go public with a statement that could be used to whip up sentiments against India in the Indian Ocean nation. India on Sunday called for upholding democratic values and constitutional process in Sri Lanka. New Delhi broke its silence two days after Sri Lankan President Maithripala Sirisena removed Ranil Wickremesinghe from the office of Prime Minister and replaced him with Mahinda Rajapaksa. The Ministry of External Affairs issued a statement in New Delhi saying that India was closely following recent political developments in Sri Lanka. "As a democracy and a close friendly neighbour, we hope that democratic values and the constitutional process will be respected," the statement quoted Raveeah Kumar, spokesperson of the MEA, saying. Wickremesinghe, who was in New Delhi recently for a meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, refused to leave the office of Prime Minister, claiming that Sirisena's move to replace him with Rajapaksa was unconstitutional and he still enjoyed majority in Parliament. "We (India) will continue to extend our developmental assistance to the friendly people of Sri Lanka," said the MEA spokesperson on Sunday. New Delhi broke its silence on the poitical turmoil in Sri Lanka a day after United States, United Kingdom and European Union asked all parties in the Indian Ocean nation to adhere to the Constitution. Though the ruling BJP's Rajya Sabha MP Subramanian Swamy welcomed the appointment of Rajapaksa as the new Prime Minister of Sri Lanka, the Government of India has not yet acknowledged the change of regime in Colombo. New Delhi has reservations about Rajapaksa, during his erstwhile tenure as President, as he had allowed China to expand its footprints in Sri Lanka and build strategic assets in the Indian Ocean island ignoring the security interests of India. The political parties in Tamil Nadu too has reservation about Rajapaksa regime's alleged atrocities on minority Tamils in Sri Lanka during the crackdown on the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam. Rajapaksa, however, sought to mend fences with New Delhi over the past few months. He visited New Delhi and met Prime Minister Narendra Modi last month. China's ambassador to Sri Lanka, Cheng Xueyuan, called on both Rajapaksa and Wickremesinghe on Saturday. India is treading cautiously over the issue of change of regime in Colombo lest it is accused of meddling in the internal affairs of the neighbouring country. Wickremesinghe met the diplomats of US, India, Australia, United Kingdom, Japan, Canada and European Union at the official residence of Prime Minister at Temple Trees in Colombo and briefed them about his stand on Saturday. Though India's High Commissioner to Sri Lanka, Taranjit Singh Sandhu, did not attend the briefing, the Deputy Chief of Mission Shilpak Ambule was among the diplomats, who were present at the meeting with Wickremesinghe. Wickremesinghe of late had run-ins with President Maithripala Sirisena over Indias offer of support to infrastructure projects in Sri Lanka, including on the issue of New Delhis proposal to help develop the East Container Terminal of Colombo Port. While Sirisena is not keen on allowing India to play a role in development of Colombo Port, Wickremesinghe has purportedly been arguing in favour of accepting New Delhis offer of support. The differences between Sirisena and Wickremesinghe over New Delhis offer of support for development of East Container Terminal of Colombo Port reportedly came to the fore during a cabinet meeting earlier this month. A section of media reported that it was in the same meeting that Sri Lankan President had made a remark alluding to the possibility of Indias external spy agency Research and Analytical Wing hatching a plot to assassinate him. Sri Lankan Government dismissed the media reports. Sirisena also called up Modi and stressed that the mischievous and malafide reports had been utterly baseless and false, and seemed intended to create misunderstanding between the two leaders as well as damage the cordial relations between the two friendly neighbours. A statement issued by Wickremesinghe after his meeting with Modi last week claimed that Prime Minister of India coveyed to his counterpart from Sri Lanka his disappointment over lack of progress on the proposed infrastructure projects New Delhi was keen to fund in the island nation, including a 500 MW power plant run on re-gasified Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG), an LNG terminal or floating storage re-gasification unit in Colombo or Kerawalapitiya, a 50 MW solar power plant in Sampur, industrial zones, special economic zones and the East Container Terminal of Colombo Port. The statement was apparently a move by Wickremesinghe to hold Sirisena responsible for the delay in the projects. BJP leader K S Eshwarappa on Saturday termed Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy a political goonda. Kumaraswamy is like a villain in movies. He is a political goonda, he said after inaugurating a BJP workers convention in the town. Eshwarappa said, Kumaraswamy had said that he would call for a revolt if he was dethroned. He is now saying he will die. Let him not die. Let him waive farm loan. He will live for another 10 years if he does so. Eshwarappa also criticised former chief minister Siddaramaiah and JD(S) national president H D Deve Gowda. If the Nobel prize for telling lies should be given to anybody, it should be given to Siddaramaiah. He had said that Kumaraswamy would never become chief minister. He bit the dust in the Assembly elections and led the proceedings to make Kumaraswamy as the chief minister, he criticised. The BJP is not a communal party, but a nationalist party. Its the JD(S) which lacks secular credentials. Siddaramaiah and Deve Gowda indulge in caste politics. There is a need to keep these two away from the politics, Eshwarappa said. In formulating and implementing United States foreign policy, there is often a tension between the promotion of Americas values and the protection of our interests. Toward the end of the Cold War, our espousal of democracy and free markets converged with our efforts to work with the Soviet leadership to achieve a peaceful conclusion of that conflict. But sometimes effective foreign policy requires balancing our principles and values with our geopolitical interests. That balancing act can demand painful compromises. Such is the case with the death of Jamal Khashoggi, a Saudi dissident and Washington Post columnist. If he was murdered inside the Saudi Consulate in Istanbul on the orders of the Saudi government, the affront to American values is clear. Opposition to the killing of dissidents and support for a free and robust press are fundamental American principles. On the other hand, Saudi Arabia has been an important strategic partner of the United States since President Franklin Roosevelt met with King Ibn Saud, the founder of the Saudi state, at the close of World War II. In recent years, the United States has worked closely with Saudi Arabia on issues critical to both countries. Stabilizing global oil markets, combating terrorism and countering Iranian regional adventurism are just three. We also need to engage the Saudis in areas where we are not in 100 percent agreement, such as their debilitating war in Yemen and their conflict with Qatar. In reacting to Khashoggis killing, the Trump administration should balance our values and interests. A critical first step is establishing the facts. The Saudi government should issue a comprehensive and accurate detailing of the circumstances of Khashoggis death. United States intelligence can do its part by gathering and assessing all materials necessary to determine what exactly happened to Khashoggi and on whose order. For example: What happened to his remains and why? Partner or not, if it is established that the Saudi government arranged a murder, the Trump administration should provide a swift, firm and substantial response that makes it clear that the United States condemns behavior of this sort. A good model would be the approach President George H.W. Bush took with China in the aftermath of the Tiananmen Square massacre. In June of 1989, after several weeks of peaceful protests in Beijing and elsewhere, Chinese soldiers attacked demonstrators in Tiananmen Square. Estimates of the death toll ran into the thousands. The public reaction in the United States was one of horror followed by demands that Bush punish China. Bush had to strike a balanced response, just as President Donald Trump must today. Bush wanted to safeguard the underlying geopolitical relationship between the two countries while also letting Chinese leaders know that killings couldnt be business as usual in the future. The United States could not be viewed as a cynical paper tiger on human rights. Two days after the massacre, Bush announced the first in a series of substantial penalties against the Chinese government that included suspension of military arms sales and a halt to all visits between American and Chinese military leaders. Further sanctions followed, including economic ones imposed by Congress and supported by the administration. But even as Bush punished China, he strove to keep diplomatic relations between the two countries alive. While it was important that the Chinese understood he considered their behavior abhorrent and not to be ignored, he took no joy in imposing sanctions and sought ways to ease the estrangement. Bush dispatched high-level officials to China to let its leaders know that while he would not accept what they had done, he wanted to preserve the relationship. Not being privy to intelligence reports about this matter, I cannot suggest a specific response that the White House ought to take if Saudi government responsibility is established. But it should include actions that signal clear disapproval and a message that reform, not repression, is the best route forward for Saudi Arabia. The response must also reflect a sober assessment of the substantial and abiding value of our strategic partnership with the Saudis. Few will be pleased with the administrations ultimate response to this crisis, particularly the hard-line realists on one side and the hard-line idealists on the other. Nevertheless, United States officials should consider how Bush reacted to Tiananmen Square 29 years ago. This is the time for reasoned, careful actions that fully take into account both our national interests and our principles and values. WASHINGTON In announcing his decision to withdraw from the 1987 Intermediate-range Nuclear Forces Treaty, President Trump cited Russia's repeated violations and the fact that the treaty does not bind China, which is engaged in the world's most ambitious ballistic missile development program. But Trump's withdrawal may also be designed for another purpose. It sends a subtle but unmistakable message to North Korea: If you refuse to denuclearize, we can now surround your country with short- and medium-range missiles that will allow us to strike your regime without warning. At the moment, the Trump administration appears to be making little progress in nuclear talks with Pyongyang. The threat of deployment of intermediate-range missiles in Asia could change the dynamics of those negotiations. Recall that in 1983, President Ronald Reagan announced plans to deploy hundreds of U.S. intermediate-range Pershing II missiles in Western Europe in response to the Soviet Union's deployment of SS-20 nuclear missiles. The U.S. deployment sparked mass protests throughout Europe, but it also put enormous pressure on Moscow and in so doing laid the groundwork for a series of arms control breakthroughs, including the INF Treaty. By withdrawing from the INF Treaty, Trump can now put similar pressure on Pyongyang. The treaty barred both conventional and nuclear land-based missiles with a range of 300 to 3,400 miles. Freed from the treaty's constraints, the United States can now deploy hundreds of conventional short- and medium-range missiles to bases in Asia, including in Guam (2,100 miles from North Korea) and Japan (650 miles). There would no longer be a need to send U.S. aircraft carriers on temporary deployments to waters off the Korean Peninsula as a sign of military strength. The deployment of intermediate-range missiles in the region would put North Korea permanently in our crosshairs. Pyongyang certainly does not want these U.S. missiles on its doorstep. Neither does Beijing, which knows such a deployment would restore U.S. military supremacy in the Pacific. According to Adm. Harry Harris, former commander of U.S. Pacific Command, China possesses the "largest and most diverse missile force in the world" and 95 percent of its missiles "would violate the INF (Treaty) if China was a signatory." The fact that Beijing has such missiles, while the United States does not, puts the United States at a strategic disadvantage in any conflict with Beijing. As my American Enterprise Institute colleague Dan Blumenthal pointed out in The Washington Post, our only possible response would be to strike China with intercontinental ballistic missiles an unacceptable escalation. By contrast, the U.S. withdrawal from the INF Treaty allows deployment of conventional mobile ground-based missiles in Guam and Japan, improving our ability to deter Chinese aggression. Trump can deploy Tomahawk cruise missiles on ground launchers to the Pacific almost immediately after withdrawal from the treaty. Withdrawal would also pave the way for U.S. development and deployment of new missiles banned by the treaty, as well as new hypersonic weapons which travel five times faster than the speed of sound to compete with China's massive investment in these capabilities. This would be a massive strategic setback to both China and North Korea. So by withdrawing from the INF Treaty, and clearing the way for such deployments, Trump has given the United States a massive new bargaining chip. North Korea now has a new incentive to denuclearize, and China has a new strategic interest pressuring them to do so. It still may not work. But if those negotiations fail, Trump's INF Treaty withdrawal has given the United States a fallback option that will allow Washington to more effectively deter both Beijing and Pyongyang and reassert American military primacy in the region. LEHI To Cami Adams and Sarah Payne, the act of creation may be just as important as who you're sharing it with. Self-described "small-town folks," Adams and Payne are sisters who grew up in a "tiny town in Arkansas." "We took lessons from the same lady for years, and we loved it," Adams said. "We've been painting ever since." They went to separate colleges Adams got her art degree from BYU and pursuing a career in art was never really a consideration. Then, Adams' daughter expressed an interest in doing the same thing her mom once did as a child. "My second child asked to do art lessons," she said. "I started searching, like any mom would do, and could not find anything where the price was right. And so my husband just suggested that I paint with her at home." Word spread throughout the neighborhood. Every night, Adams' basement was packed with kids looking to get their hands on some paint. Eventually, she decided she'd need a bigger space, which led her to opening her own studio in Lehi called My Little Paintbrush. Of course, Adams needed help and she turned to her sister. "We've always painted together," Payne said. "So being able to do it together again has just been a lot of fun." Adams admits that most every town in Utah has a place where people can go for a "paint night," but she wanted something different. She wanted her place to be geared toward kids from the beginning. "We wanted it to be educational," she said. "That's why we have the screen up here, so the kids can see up close what's going on." That "screen" is a large television, connected to a camera above an easel. On this particular night, it's where Payne sits, complete with a microphone and a set of plastic cat ears, as she's leading the instruction for a packed room of children looking to paint their own Halloween cat. "Every time we do a class, we pull in something a new brush technique, a new tool, a different surface," Adams said. "Watching the kids that come regularly, they excel and they learn," said Payne. "They get better every time, so we're always trying to implement something new." To Adams, the classes aren't just about painting they're about teaching children to be creative. "Creativity is in every direction your child's going to go," she said. "If they want to be a chef, if they want to be an artist, if they want to go into the tech world. To build the confidence for what you create to be accepted, I find that that's the biggest thing for kids." But even though their plans had been a success in Adams' basement, there was certainly no guarantee it would translate into a full-fledged business. "We were terrified," Payne said. "And every month we wonder, are they going to keep coming back?" On the 25th of every month, the business opens up its new schedule and so far, there's been no shortage of undersized customers. "It's just a blessing," Adams said. "From the beginning, it's kind of been placed in front of us, and every step of the way, we're just continually surprised by the support and the success of it." Because to two sisters from a small town, this is isn't just about creating it's about finding someone to share it with. "We never thought when we were younger that this would be something that we would do, but it's definitely been kind of a dream come true," Payne said. OGDEN An Ogden-based attorney accused of trying to bring drugs into a Utah jail has pleaded guilty to the charges. The Standard-Examiner reports 55-year-old Tony Miles pleaded guilty Wednesday to two felony counts of possession of a controlled substance in a correctional facility. Authorities say Miles tried to smuggle drugs into Weber County Jail in April 2017. According to court documents, he allegedly tried to bring a contact lens case containing cocaine and heroin into the jail. He also allegedly used a false name to enter the jail and meet with two incarcerated people. Miles also entered a plea in abeyance to a misdemeanor drug possession charge at the hearing Wednesday. The charge is related to separate case. Miles is scheduled to be sentenced in December. OGDEN, Utah A 48-year-old former evidence technician has pleaded guilty to charges accusing her of eating and consuming methamphetamine while working in the Weber County Sheriff's Office's evidence locker. Candice Barbara Follum pleaded guilty Tuesday to 20 counts of destroying or altering public records and 20 counts of possession or use of a controlled substance, a class A misdemeanor. Follum will be sentenced Dec. 18 by District Judge Noel Hyde. Branden Miles, chief criminal deputy attorney for Weber County, says a plea deal recommends Follum serve to six months in full-time jail custody and six months on a work-release program during which she'd leave the jail to work during the day. Follum was suspended and later terminated after sheriff's personnel found her under the influence in the evidence locker last December. SALT LAKE CITY Police are seeking four suspects following a shooting Saturday morning that left one man in critical condition. Salt Lake City Police Lt. Justin Hudson said officers responded to a report just after 10 a.m. Saturday of a shooting at a residence near 1000 South and 900 West. A 40-year-old male was found wounded by gunfire and unconscious. Hudson said the man, who has not been identified, was transported to a local hospital in critical but stable condition. Witnesses told police that up to four people fled the scene, heading both north and south from the residence. Police were only able to get a single description of a suspect who was possibly a younger male in a gray jacket, gray pants and a black hat. Hudson said a person living in a trailer behind the residence where the shooting took place rendered aid to the victim until police arrived. No firearms were found at the scene of the incident. Police said the victim did not live at the residence and have not determined how the victim knows the suspects. Dixie State volleyball won its sixth-straight match and moved a step closer toward a possible RMAC regular-season title as the Trailblazers outslugged fellow conference power Regis in a five-set thriller Saturday inside the DSU SAC. The win, coupled with a Colorado School of Mines (15-2) home loss to Colorado Mesa, vaulted DSU to tie atop the RMAC standings with Mines at 15-2 with one regular season match remaining. In addition, the Trailblazers tied the programs NCAA era record with their 20th-regular season win of the year as DSU improved to 20-4 overall. The battle between two of the RMACs best teams in 2018 did not disappoint as the two sides battled back and forth throughout the afternoon. The Rangers (18-9,13-4 RMAC) drew first blood with a 25-20 first-set lead, during which Regis led by as many as six points at 11-6. DSU mounted a furious rally to draw even at 19-19, but the Rangers scored six of the final seven points of the frame to go up 1-0 in the match. Dixie State turned the tables on the Rangers in set two as it was DSU that enjoyed an 11-6 advantage, but Regis battled back to knot the set at 18-18, only to see the Blazers outscore RU, 7-3, the rest of the way to square the match at 1-1 with a 25-21 win. Regis took the third set, 25-20, on the strength of a 13-2 run that turned a 10-7 DSU lead into a 21-12 cushion, but Dixie State answered back with a 25-18 triumph in set four to force a decisive fifth set. Trailing 6-4 in the early stages of the final frame, Dixie State rattled off five-straight points to bolt to a 9-6 advantage after a Toa Faleao-Baich solo block. The Rangers made one more push to tie the stanza at 9-9, but the Trailblazer defense took over from there, accounting for three of DSUs final six points with three crucial blocks, as Dixie State pulled away for a 15-11 match-clinching set win. Faleao-Baich (career high) and Megan Treanor each tallied 16 kills to lead the Trailblazers, with Treanor posting her team-best ninth double-double of the year with 11 assists to go with seven digs and three blocks, while Faleao-Baich finished with five total blocks. Hannah Doonan also got into the act with her seventh double-double of the year as she filled the stat sheet with 11 kills, 18 digs, three assists, two aces and two block assists. In addition, middle blocker Lauren Gammell (248) became DSUs career leader in block assists with 11 on the night, including three big block assists in the Blazers final run in the fifth set. Gammells 11 total blocks also tied her single-match records for block assists and total blocks, and she moved into third place on DSUs career total blocks list (269). Dixie State outhit Regis, .228 to .151, for the match, while DSU hit .345 and .412 in both set wins and held the Rangers to a -.077 clip in the fifth set. The Trailblazers finished with a season-high 18.0 total team blocks, which tied for the second-most in a single match in the programs four-year era. Dixie State wraps up the 2018 regular season at home against in-state rival Westminster College on Friday, Nov. 2, at 6 p.m. In a court hearing on Friday, Qualcomm said that Apple was $7 billion behind in royalty payments. Apple, in turn, argued that Qualcomm was unfairly charging for the use of its patents. The rift between the two companies which began last year is based on the disagreement on patent royalty fee. Apple has accused Qualcomm of unfair patent licensing practices, which forced Apple to pay for the same patent twice; once when the chips were used in the device and again through patent royalties. Qualcomm, in turn, says that their practices are completely legal and that after agreeing to this model for years, Apple is now only seeking to disrupt Qualcomms business. Additionally, Qualcomm has also asserted that they have evidence of Apple stealing vast amounts of Qualcomms confidential information which includes ways to improve performance on chipsets and handing them over to Intel. The Apple iPhone XS, iPhone XS Max and the iPhone XR all use Intels radio chips instead of Qualcomms. Apple and Qualcomms rift has had far-reaching consequences for the San Diego based chip manufacturer. Last year, Qualcomm went through a tumultuous time due to a loss in revenue from Apples business and the continuously escalating legal battle between the two companies. Qualcomm said that it wasnt just Apple withholding royalties, but also its partners, causing significant loss to the company. In April, the company had said that it was owed $1 Billion in royalties, a number that has grown to $7 Billion now. The company also tackled an aggressive takeover attempt by Broadcom, which had the Qualcomm board in a very tight spot. The takeover was finally shot down by the U.S. Government, citing reasons for national security. Qualcomms woes have continued into this year. Along with the escalating legal battle with Apple, Qualcomm also lost out on its acquisition of NXP, a company making chips for autonomous cars, amongst other things. Qualcomm pulled out of the acquisition process after it failed to gain approval from Chinese Authorities, a direct result of the tensions between U.S. and China. Qualcomm definitely faces a tough time ahead, given the current state of affairs. A significant shortfall in revenue coupled up with the fact that Apples A12 Bionic chip has raised the bar significantly higher means that Qualcomm has its work cut out for itself with the next generation SoC and radio chips. Scientists have covered a lot of ground when it comes to finding hints of ancient life on Mars and it seems that every discovery is making them hungry for more. US-based rocket engineers have urged NASA to dream big and push their next Mars mission, scheduled for 2020, to the limits of technological performance so that their new robot rover visits a maximum number of sites to increase chances of uncovering signs of ancient life on the red planet. According to a report in The Guardian, by this way, rock samples that could have fossils would then be left in caches on the planet which can be collected several years later and returned to Earth in a complex series of robot sample return missions costing more than $10 billion. The community prefers a mega-mission. If we are going to do a sample return, it has to be a sample cache for the ages, Bethany Ehlmann, a planetary scientist at the California Institute of Technology, was quoted as saying. The red planet has almost has no atmosphere, no liquid water but consists of intense radiation which is harmful for humans. We now think the likelihood of life existing on its surface is slim to non-existent, Matthew Golombek, of Nasas Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena, California, was quoted as saying. According to the report, the scientists are concentrating on rocks formed in watery environments billions of years ago, when the planet was reportedly Earth-like. These rocks may have preserved remnants of any life that flourished before the planets atmosphere was destroyed. The rover is expected drill into promising sediments and place them in test tubes that will then be dumped in caches. The report says that the original proposal was to create one cache but, at a meeting this month, scientists pressed for several to be created. Around 2026, Nasa plans to launch a follow-up mission that would land a rocket launcher and new robot craft, called Fetch Rover, on Mars. The Fetch Rover will be collect the caches and load them on the rocket which will deliver them to an orbiter to carry the samples back to Earth. We will have the strictest quarantine conditions enforced when we collect and store those samples. It will be worth the effort and expense, however. This is going to be our best chance of finding out if life evolved independently on another world and that life here is not just a lucky accident, Golombek noted. Sadiq Khan, London's first Muslim mayor. London's newly elected mayor, Sadiq Khan, and the first Muslim to head a Western capital, attended British Jewry's annual memorial to the millions of Jews slain in the Holocaust as his first official function in office. Khan's appearance at the north London ceremony came on May 8, days after the end of a fiery election campaign in which accusations of antisemitism Islamophobia were bandied. During the campaign Conservative Party opponents sought to portray him as an apologist for Islamic extremism and highlighted cases of alleged anti-Semitism within the ranks of Khan's Labour Party. "I'm honoured that my first public engagement will be such a poignant one, where I will meet and hear from Jewish survivors and refugees who went through the unimaginable horrors of the Holocaust, yet have managed to not only build lives here in London, but give so much back for the benefit of wider society," Khan said in a statement. Khan, the whose parents were Pakistani immigrants to Britain pledged to be "a mayor for all Londoners", and attended a reception as part of the Yom HaShoah ceremony at the Barnet Copthall Stadium in north London. Mariam Mendelsohn, 78, a widow originally from Berlin, was among those introduced to Khan. She said: "I wanted to make a decision on him, to see if he will be good to the Jewish people," Britain's Express newspaper reported. "I think he looks like a very, very kind man. He has kind eyes. "Some people have said having a Muslim mayor will mean us Jews will all have to move to Israel, but I do not think so at all....I think he will be good to all people." London's previous Labour Party mayor, Ken Livingstone, was suspended last in April from the party after he claimed that Adolf Hitler was a Zionist. The action came as a number of anti-Semitic posts by Labour Party members surfaced. Khan's father was a bus driver, his mother a seasmstress and he grew up in public housing. The new London mayor started his first day in his new job - by taking the bus to work, Sky News reported. He received a total of 1,310,143 votes - 57 percent of the total - compared to the Conservative Party' Zac Goldsmith's 994,614, after the UK capital had its largest ever turnout at 45.6 percent. Conservative Party candidate Zac Goldsmith accused Khan of giving "platform, oxygen and cover" to Islamic extremists. He also accused Khan of "hiding behind Britain's Muslims" by branding as "Islamophobes" those who shed light on his past, which was serious said the Gatestone Institute, which lobbies vehemently on behalf of Israel. Gatestone quoted Goldsmith as saying, ""The questions are genuine, they are serious. They are about his willingness to share platforms with people who want to 'drown every Israeli Jew in the sea.'" But Khan said, "They used fear and innuendo to try to turn different ethnic and religious groups against each other - something straight out of the Donald Trump playbook. Londoners deserved better and I hope it's something the Conservative party will never try to repeat." (Photo:REUTERS / Finbarr O'Reilly)Israelis attend the funeral of Aryeh Kopinsky, Calman Levine and Avraham Shmuel Goldberg in Jerusalem November 18, 2014. Two Palestinians armed with a meat cleaver and a gun killed four worshippers, including Kopinsky, Levine and Goldberg in a Jerusalem synagogue on Tuesday before being shot dead by police, the deadliest such incident in six years in the holy city amid a surge in religious conflict. Grieving with Pittsburgh's Jewish community on Sunday Pope Francis said that all of humanity were wounded as well as those directly affected by the "terrible attack" at a synagogue in the U.S.. City that left 11 people dead. World Council of Churches general secretary Rev. Olav Fykse Tveit also expressed heartfelt sympathies to the Tree of Life synagogue and to the city of Pittsburgh in Pennsylvania, saying, "Antisemitism is a sin against God and humanity." Comments from the U.S. President Donald Trump who initially strongly condemned the act and anti-Semitism ,but later said it might not have happened if there were armed guards in the synagogue, drew an angry response. "All of us, in reality, are wounded by this inhuman act of violence," Francis said, Crux reported. "May the Lord help us to extinguish the outbreaks of hate that develop in our societies, reinforcing the sense of humanity, respect for life, moral and civil values and the holy fear of God, who is love and the father of all." A man named as Robert Bowers, 46, surrendered to authorities after the Oct. 27 shooting at the Tree of Life synagogue. Legal authorities said Bowers made anti-Semitic statements during the shooting and targeted Jews in posts on social media, according to a federal law enforcement official. MOTIVE His motive was unknown, but the Jewish publication Forward's Peter Beinart wrote in an opinion piece, "Why did Robert Bowers murder eleven people yesterday at the Tree of Life Synagogue in Pittsburgh? We're unlikely to ever fully grasp his motives. But he was enraged, it sppears, by the fact that synagogues were participating in a program run by the Hebrew Immigrant Aid Society that dedicated special Shabbat services to the plight of refugees" Immediately after the atrocity, Pittsbugh's Catholic bishop, David Zubik decried "anti-Jewish bigotry" as a "terrible sin." "As we pray for peace in our communities and comfort for the grieving, we must put prayer into action by loving our neighbors and working to make 'Never again!' a reality," the Pittsburgh prelate said in a statement. The head of the United States Conference of Catholics Bishops, Cardinal Daniel DiNardo, also issued a statement of solidarity with the Jewish community and pleaded with public officials to confront "the plague of gun violence." "To our brothers and sisters of the Jewish community, we stand with you," DiNardo said. "We condemn all acts of violence and hate and yet again, call on our nation and public officials to confront the plague of gun violence. Violence as a response to political, racial, or religious differences must be confronted with all possible effort. God asks nothing less of us." The day of the shooting Bowers was charged by federal prosecutors with 11 counts of using a firearm to commit murder and multiple counts of two hate crimes. He was also charged with obstruction of exercise of religious beliefs resulting in death and obstruction of exercise of religious beliefs resulting in bodily injury to a public safety officer, authorities said, citing a criminal complaint, which is sealed. If convicted of a hate crime Bowers could face the death penalty, a measure to which the Catholic Church and many strains of Judaism officially oppose. The WCC's Tveit said in a letter of condolence, "We convey our grief and condolences to the families, the synagogue, and the city of Pittsburgh for the shocking violence and loss of life," Tveit said. FOUR POLICE OFFICERS Among the wounded were four police officers responding to the incident. "We are conscious of both the short-term trauma and the long-term grief this situation poses for you," Tveit said. "We pray that the God of life will lend you strength and wisdom and will bless the synagogue and all of Pittsburgh with comfort and consolation, healing and help in the days ahead." The attack is believed to be the worst antisemitic violence in recent U.S. history. "The WCC denounces all violence based on religion, ethnicity, race or any other dimension of a person's identity or belonging" Tveit stressed, "and this attack upon a Jewish community in a place of prayer and during a moment of celebration of their religious identity is an appalling violation of our shared humanity." U.S. President Donald Trump mourned the dead and forcefully condemned anti-Semitism after the mass shooting. Shortly after returning to Washington late Saturday, Trump ordered flags at federal buildings throughout the country to be flown at half-staff until October 31 in "solemn respect" for the victims. But he was attacked by members of the Jewish community, with his words to reporters, "This is a case where, if they had an armed guard inside, they might have been able to stop him immediately." Trump said. "Maybe there would have been nobody killed, except for him, frankly. So, it's a very, very - a very difficult situation." Jane Eisner, the editor-in-chief of the Jewish publication Forward wrote angrily, "It is time for the Jewish community in all its many facets to confront the complicity of the man in the White House, and all who support him with money, votes, political expertise and moral cover. "Because if you excuse the radical divisiveness spawned by this man, you are part of the problem. If you ignore his hateful tweets because you like his policies on Israel, you are part of the problem. If you silently cheer at the fascist-like rallies before only adoring audiences because you've got a few more dollars in your pocket, you are part of the problem. "If you want an America where every school, church, synagogue and mosque looks like a National Rifle Association convention, then you are part of the problem." She headed her column, "What has Trump done to us, America?" Eisner said, "I have one daughter who is a freelance journalist and has reported from all sorts of dangerous places in the Middle East and Africa. "I have another daughter who is a nurse practitioner and right now is delivering health care to the Rohingya, whose plight is creating the fastest growing refugee crisis in the world. "And yet today, the daughter I am most worried about is the one in Brooklyn, who takes her children to synagogue on Shabbat as often as she can." WORLD EVANGELICAL ALLIANCE The secretary general of World Evangelical Alliance Bishop Efraim Tendero who expressed WEA's heartfelt sorrow over the tragic event in Pittsburgh said, "We are deeply troubled by what has happened at the Tree of Life Synagogue." He said, "We are concerned about the increasingly polarized and hate-filled culture in many nations and regions of the world that not only marginalizes minorities but goes as far as encouraging violence against those they perceive to be different from themselves." "We believe that while we may at times disagree with people on matters of faith, opinion or tradition, every person is created by God and has inherent dignity that deserves respect. Jesus called us to be peacemakers, and in this spirit, we call on people of faith and any person of goodwill to not remain silent but speak out in opposition wherever and whenever hatred or violence is encouraged." La Paz, Oct 28 (EFE-EPA).- A runway featuring cancer survivors from all over the world will kick off next month in Bolivia, aiming to dispel the plethora of myths surrounding the disease and show attendees that the will to live is a powerful weapon to combat the illness. The "Bionic Fashion Day" - which will get underway Nov. 15 - will feature participants ages 18-25 from an assortment of countries around the globe, including the United States, Morocco, Spain, Mexico and Bolivia, Fundacion Nuestra Esperanza vice president Mary Rengel told EFE. The goal is to prove that "beauty goes beyond physical attributes," Rengel said, adding that humans are much more than just their bodies. The event is organized by the Youth Against Cancer foundation, which was created a few years ago in Ecuador and now seeks to launch its fourth edition in Bolivia. The models - who will arrive in the country Nov. 15 - sport some form of prosthetic to replace a limb lost to cancer. The organizations will carry out a series of activities ahead of the runway, including "motivational" workshops and a string of happenings in preparation for the main event, Rengel added. The show will feature creations by renowned Bolivian fashion designers, including Gloria Thaine, Ana Isabel Parra, Glenda Yanez, Liliana Mustafa and Narda Paredes, among others. San Diego, CA (October 27, 2018) -- Frailty is associated with lower likelihoods of being placed on the kidney transplant waitlist and of receiving a transplant, according to a study that will be presented at ASN Kidney Week 2018 October 23-October 28 at the San Diego Convention Center. To investigate whether frailty in patients with kidney failure may affect their likelihood of receiving a kidney transplant, Christine Haugen, MD (Johns Hopkins Hospital) and her colleagues studied 7078 potential kidney transplant candidates from 2009 to 2017. Patients were considered frail if they had 3 or more of the following components: unintentional weight loss, decreased grip strength, slowed walking speed, and low activity. Frail participants were 38% less likely to be listed for transplantation, had nearly twofold increased risk of dying while on the transplant waitlist mortality, and underwent transplantation at a 35% lower rate than nonfrail participants. "Prehabilitation may be a useful tool to increase physiologic reserve and subsequently improve access to kidney transplantation among frail patients," said Dr. Haugen. ### Study: "Frailty and Age Disparities in Access to Kidney Transplantation" ASN Kidney Week 2018, the largest nephrology meeting of its kind, will provide a forum for more than 13,000 professionals to discuss the latest findings in kidney health research and engage in educational sessions related to advances in the care of patients with kidney and related disorders. Kidney Week 2018 will take place October 23 - October 28 at the San Diego Convention Center. Since 1966, ASN has been leading the fight to prevent, treat, and cure kidney diseases throughout the world by educating health professionals and scientists, advancing research and innovation, communicating new knowledge, and advocating for the highest quality care for patients. ASN has more than 20,000 members representing 131 countries. For more information, please visit http://www.asn-online.org. ERFURT, Germany, October 28, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- The German President presented the DBU's German Environmental Prize today in Erfurt German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier thanked "thousands of people" in Germany for ensuring that "mainstream society has truly become aware" of both the environment and environmental protection. At the award ceremony for the German Environmental Foundation's (DBU) German Environmental Prize that was held today in Erfurt, he emphasized the fact that environmental issues and climate protection affect all of us, and that "every one of us can make a difference." However, we can only combat an issue of this magnitude "if we view the environment and climate protection in a global context. Environmental issues do not stop at national borders, and neither does environmental protection. The effects of climate change are already apparent around the world, and they are a matter of life and death." -Steinmeier personally handed over the richest independent environmental prize in Europe to marine biologist Antje Boetius (Bremerhaven) and an interdisciplinary team of wastewater experts from Leipzig made up of Roland A. Mueller, Manfred van Afferden, Mi-Yong Lee and Wolf-Michael Hirschfeld. "It will be fatal if one of the largest greenhouse gas emitters in the world withdraws." In front of an audience of around 1,200 guests, which included the Jordanian Ambassador to Germany, Basheer Zoubi, the Parliamentary State Secretary of the Jordanian Ministry of Water and Irrigation, Ali Subah, Thuringia's Minister of Environment, Anja Siegesmund, and previous DBU award winner and former federal minister, Klaus Topfer, Steinmeier, referring to the US, warned that it will be "fatal if one of the largest greenhouse gas emitters in the world withdraws and even goes as far as to call these multilateral partnerships into question." Even though the road to global solutions can be bumpy and we will continue to experience further setbacks, we need to "work together across all governmental and non-governmental levels in order to create a larger working alliance." President Steinmeier: "We are able to and will continue to make progress when all of us who still believe in multilateral solutions work together - and there are a lot of us around the world, even in the US!" Steinmeier calls on Germany to fulfil its international obligations The effects of climate change have not merely been calculated or predicted for the distant future. We can already see them for ourselves today: melting glaciers, greater damage from more frequent storms, and shifts in the distribution of vegetation are all tangible signs, and this year, after a record-breaking summer, the topics of water and drought have become "kitchen table issues in Germany as well." We need to work together and act swiftly, Steinmeier warned: "And, of course, we in Germany need to fulfil the international obligations that we have entered into. I feel confident that we can do it! And others are counting on us, with our strong national economy, to continue to take a leading role the way that we did when it came to the introduction of renewable energies and environmentally friendly technology." Conflicts over the climate and environmental protection, such as the recent events surrounding Hambach Forest, are becoming increasingly rancorous. But in order for us to solve the countless, urgent problems that we are facing, all societal actors need to be involved so that we can continue to find a balance between ecological, societal, economical and industrial interests. It is encouraging that that the UN's 2030 Agenda has already resulted in tremendous progress on an international level. The international community is able to agree on shared goals - also when it comes to climate protection. Like any multilateral agreement, the 2015 Paris Agreement was not perfect, but it has served as the basis for all further cooperation - "and it must continue to do so in the future." "Climate change and water scarcity are forcing more and more people to flee." Water is essential to our survival, and therefore protecting our water supply is also of central importance. In many parts of the world, more than two billion people do not have access to clean water, making survival a daily struggle. Steinmeier: "Increasingly, we are seeing regions go from receiving very little rain to no rain at all. Climate change and water scarcity are forcing more and more people to flee." For that reason, Steinmeier said, he is unsure if the Northwest Passage becoming more navigable is necessarily good news, but it is certainly proof that large-scale climate change will significantly change the conditions in the Polar Sea, and if the polar ice disappears, this would not only result in an increase in sea levels, and would not only endanger many coastal regions, but would also threaten the existence of entire island communities. Furthermore, if the polar ice melts completely, it could permanently destroy the balance of the earth's climate. "You are also giving people hope, and that is extremely important." For this reason, he was pleased to present the German Environmental Prize to scientists who are working to protect the world's fresh water supplies and oceans. Professor Boetius, for example, leaves no doubt as to how advanced climate change has already become, and on the urgency to act. But, despite this, her message is not pessimistic; rather, her optimism has the power to inspire others. For her, the hole in the ozone layer, which has evidently slowly begun to close back up now that the problem has been identified and the international community has introduced corrective measures, is an example that allows us to have hope in the rationality and accountability of our fellow man. The work of the Leipzig-based team of wastewater experts is making a significant contribution towards helping Jordan - one of the most arid countries in the world - move closer to the United Nations' goal of clean water for all, even though the country has opened its doors to more than 650,000 Syrian war refugees, and has unofficially taken on closer to twice that number. According to Steinmeier, the fact that Jordan continues to welcome these refugees is an act of generosity that "cannot be overstated." For Jordan, protecting their valuable water supply is a matter of life and death. With their decentralised, flexible wastewater management systems, they have introduced a paradigm shift with the aim of nearly doubling the amount of treated wastewater in the country by 2025. About the prize winners, Steinmeier said: "They are not only achieving breakthroughs, but are also demonstrating solutions and alternatives, ways in which we can improve our future! And that is incredibly important in this age of crises, upheaval and uncertainty. They are showing us that climate change is not simply a foregone conclusion, but rather that we can do something about it and work to change our future." Jury praises the prize winners' dedication (CONTINUA) As a member of this year's jury for the German Environmental Prize, which provides recommendations on the basis of which the DBU Board of Trustees selects the year's prize winners, Heidi Foth (Director of the Institute for Environmental Toxicology at the Faculty of Medicine of Martin Luther University Halle) and Bettina Lorenz (co-founder of the initiative "Zukunft selber machen - Junge Nachhaltigkeitsideen e.V." and DBU scholarship recipient) discussed the achievements of the 2018 prize recipients. Foth praised Boetius for being able to take a relatively complex field of research and disseminate it into the wider society. Boetius makes it clear that by breaking down methane gas, deep-sea microbes act as a sort of protective shield for us. Foth went on to say that Professor Boetius' presentation was truly eye-opening for her: "We have a lot of work to do together." About the prize winners from Leipzig, Bettina Lorenz said that they were not only able to provide the technological services required to develop wastewater treatment systems, but also install these systems in a region that is unusual for such a technology-oriented group. To succeed at all the levels required in order to implement this type of project is "incredibly impressive". Boetius: Vanishing sea ice, climate change, environmental pollution and plastic waste is "dramatic". In films that were shown during the ceremony and in discussions with the moderator, Judith Rakers, the prize winners once again made their positions clear. Antje Boetius said that the deep sea is one of the largest inhabited environments on the planet, and yet we have only researched a fraction of a per cent of it. She emphasized the importance of the microorganisms on the ocean floor that trap harmful methane gas, preventing it from escaping into the atmosphere. Boetius: "Without them, we would essentially live on a completely different planet." When it comes to the global emissions of equally harmful carbon dioxide (CO2), Boetius warned that we must act quickly: "While we sit here thinking about what we should do, if we really need to cut our CO2 emissions, everything is already changing." Boetius used the words "dramatic" and "scary" to describe not only the rapid disappearance of the polar ice and the speed at which the climate is changing, but also the significant quantity of pollutants and plastic waste that are ending up both on the ocean floor and the ocean surface. For her, "it's all or nothing, right now." We need to take the knowledge acquired by observing the deep sea and our climate and earth models and "bring it directly to our society in order to determine how we need to prepare ourselves for the future." Boetius: "This is absolutely essential!" "We can make a tangible difference in terms of conserving resources and promoting wastewater treatment." Roland A. Mueller, a member of the Leipzig-based team that received this year's prize, pointed out the fact that approximately 90 per cent of wastewater around the world is discharged into the environment either untreated or poorly treated. For that reason, it must be our goal to significantly increase the amount of clean, treated water available "for future generations." Local solutions are particularly environmentally friendly because the waste water is treated and stays in the community where it was created, and where it can be reused, explained Mi-Yong Lee. When it came to the wastewater project in Jordan and building a wastewater research and demonstration centre near the border to Israel, it was important to raise awareness among the local population through direct contact so that they could develop a personal connection the solutions being introduced, said Wolf-Michael Hirschfeld. This type of process can "help stabilise the situation and improve communication between the countries," added Manfred van Afferden. Mueller, summarising: "Naturally, as researchers we can't save the world; but I think that our work has demonstrated concrete ways in which we can help to conserve resources and promote wastewater treatment." IPTC-compliant photos are available for publication free of charge at http://www.dbu.de Contact Franz-Georg Elpers - Press Officer - Kerstin Heemann Julie Milch Gesa Wannick DBU Contact An der Bornau 2 49090 Osnabrueck Germany Phone: +49(0)541-9633521 Fax: +49(0)541-9633198 presse@dbu.de http://www.dbu.de Speaking at the meeting, Mr. Tat Thanh Cang hoped that the Cuban Womens Federation and the Vietnam Women Union in Ho Chi Minh City will have effective working sessions as well as exchange experiences in womens activities and tighten relationship between the two sides. Head delegate Teresa Maria Amarelle Boue, highly appreciated the preschool model for low-income families and vocational training programs for women of the HCMCs Cultural House that Cuba can learn from the citys experiences. She also expressed her deep impression in Cu Chi Tunnels historical site, and military strategies and tactics that Vietnamese people and armed forces carried out in struggles for independence and unity. By THUY VU - Translated by Kim Khanh Lower market appeal for risky trade-correlated currencies, as well as the Pounds recent lows, prompted investors to buy the British Pound to New Zealand Dollar (GBP/NZD) exchange rate towards the end of last week. However, Brexit fears persist so the Pounds potential for gains was and still is limited. After opening last week at the level of 1.9811, GBP/NZD spent most of the week trending in a relatively tight range. A brief boost in risk-sentiment on Thursday pushed GBP/NZD down a cent, to a monthly low of 1.9634. However, GBP/NZD recovered much of those losses before markets closed on Friday. Pound (GBP) Recovers Versus New Zealand Dollar (NZD) as Risk-Sentiment Remains Weak Despite this weeks broad Brexit fears and worsening concerns that UK-EU Brexit negotiations could fail, the Pound to New Zealand Dollar exchange rate recovered from weekly lows on Friday. This was because most of this weeks GBP/NZD movement was driven by shifts in global market risk-sentiment, as well as the strength of the US Dollar (USD). As the New Zealand Dollar is a relatively risky trade-correlated currency, its movement is often influenced by market risk-sentiment and demand for safe haven currencies like the US Dollar. While risk-sentiment was decent for much of the week, demand for riskier currencies was dampened by political uncertainties in the UK and Italy. Then on Friday, poor performance in global stock markets impacted risk-sentiment further. As global markets looked on track to see the worst week in five years, investors were hesitant to take risks and sold the risky New Zealand Dollar. Tim Kelleher, head of institutional foreign exchange at ASB Bank, said that the US Dollars strength and market developments were indeed the primary cause of the latest New Zealand Dollar movement: It's all US dollar-driven and equity-driven and risk-off driven, As the late-week Pound gains were more due to New Zealand Dollar weakness than any Pound strength, the pairs gains were limited. Investors are hesitant to buy the Pound too much, as the final stages of the Brexit process seem increasingly uncertain. Fears remain that the UK and EU could fail to reach a Brexit deal, or that UK MPs could block a potential deal even if one is reached. Pound (GBP) Forecast: Sterling Weakness Expected until Brexit Deal is Reached While many key UK ecostats and even the UK Treasurys Autumn Budget Statement are due next week, the Pound is unlikely to see a significant boost from any of this news. As October draws to a close and 2019 draws ever nearer, investors are too anxious about the possibility of a no-deal Brexit to buy the Pound much. The UK government has indicated that it will begin no-deal Brexit preparations if a UK-EU Brexit deal is not reached by the second week of November. Most analysts believe a deal can be reached even if it is later than this point, but the rising possibility that a no-deal Brexit could become reality has put a cap on Pound strength. If any kind of solid agreement is reached on the issue of Irelands border or the overall Brexit deal, that would be the most likely thing to cause a surge in Pound demand next week. UK Budget news on Monday or the Bank of Englands (BoE) November policy decision on Thursday could support the Pound if they impress, but they could also weaken the Pound further if they disappoint. New Zealand Dollar (NZD) Forecast: New Zealand Job Market Report on Thursday The New Zealand Dollar is likely to remain correlated to risk-sentiment and the strength of the safe haven US Dollar (USD) next week, but the currency could be influenced by major upcoming New Zealand data too. Wednesday will see the publication of New Zealands September building permits report, and ANZ business confidence data. This will be followed on Thursday by New Zealands key Q3 job market report, including the unemployment rate. If these results impress, they could offer the New Zealand Dollar some stronger support. If they disappoint though, it could make it easier for the Pound to New Zealand Dollar exchange rate to recover. UPDATE: The pound sterling-to-dollar exchange rate is seen trading in close proximity to recent lows (1 buys just $1.28234) as UK budget 2018 is currently being delivered. Analysts at Lloyds said "[GBP/USD] Prices are trying to dig in around the 1.2795 Fibonacci support region. A rally through the 1.2865-1.2945 intra-day resistance is needed to suggest a more significant low has actually developed, which would be part of a broader medium-term range between the 1.2660 lows and 1.3315 Autumn highs. However, while under those levels, downside risks remain, with a break of the 1.2660 lows seeing next support in the 1.2595 region and then around 1.2500." UPDATE: Analysts at Swissquote note suggest that "Long positions above 1.2810 with targets at 1.2865 & 1.2895 in extension", highlighted by their technical chart below: Above: Swissquote's GBP/USD exchange rate tech chart - The RSI shows upside momentum Despite a lack of major UK developments last week, the British Pound to US Dollar (GBP/USD) exchange rate continued to slump throughout the week on Brexit fears. The US Dollar was supported by US data and safe haven demand, but will that strength last? After opening last week at the level of 1.3072, GBP/USD spent most of the week trending lower amid Brexit jitters. GBP/USD ended up shedding around two cents, hitting a two month low of 1.2782 on Friday before recovering slightly and trending closer to the level of 1.2800 before markets closed. Pound (GBP) to US Dollar (USD) Exchange Rate Battered by Brexit Fears and Safe Haven Demand Rather than data, the Pound to US Dollar exchange rates movement was driven largely by global and political factors throughout the past week. Investors sold the Pound throughout the week as October drew to an end with still no UK-EU Brexit deal being formed. The UK and EU have been unable to agree to certain major points of a post-Brexit deal, like how Irelands border will be handled. UK Prime Minister Theresa Mays government has indicated that if no deal is reached by the second week of November, the government will begin to request that preparations be made for a potential no-deal Brexit. The rising possibility that a no-deal Brexit could become reality has weighed heavily on the Pound. Investors are hesitant to buy the British currency much until there has been some kind of breakthrough in negotiations. As Brexit fears dominate Pound movement and prevent the British currency from strengthening, this made it easier for a strong US Dollar to capitalise towards the end of last week. The US Dollar benefitted from higher demand for safe haven currencies, as the plummet in global stock markets last week made investors anxious. Global stock markets saw one of their worst weeks in 5 years. Safe haven demand was the primary cause for US Dollar strength, but some strong US data helped the US Dollar to push GBP/USD even lower. US durable goods orders beat forecasts on Thursday and the latest US Gross Domestic Product (GDP) projection beat forecasts too. However, US growth is still projected to have slowed notably from Q2 to Q3. The figure is projected to have slowed from 4.2% to 3.5%. According to Kay Daniel Neufeld from CEBR, various factors contributed to the slowdown in growth: Q3 growth surprised on the upside, showing that the US economy continues to perform with considerable momentum in the second half of the year. However, house-made problems including the deteriorating global trading conditions and the fast pace of monetary tightening spell trouble for the coming quarters. Pound Sterling (GBP) Exchange Rate Forecast: Investors Anticipate Brexit Breakthrough The Pound is unlikely to see a significant boost in demand until there is some kind of development in UK-EU Brexit negotiation deadlocks. Most of a Brexit deal has been agreed, but the issue of Irelands border remains a significant issue and has still not been agreed. While the UK Treasurys Autumn Budget will be presented on Monday and the Bank of Englands (BoE) November policy decision will be held on Thursday, they are unlikely to cause a Pound rally even if they impress. Unless there is a solid agreement on the Brexit process in the coming sessions, the Pound is more likely to see further losses than it is to see notable gains. US Dollar (USD) Exchange Rates Outlook: Major US Data in Focus Could the US Dollar continue its recent strong streak? That depends largely on upcoming US data as well as shifts in market risk-sentiment. Most of the US Dollars recent strength has been due to market demand for safe haven currencies, but strong data has helped. While analysts generally expect US growth to continue to slow towards the end of the year, if US data continues to beat forecasts it could boost expectations for Federal Reserve hawkishness to continue longer than expected. US manufacturing PMI data will be published next Thursday, with the anticipated US Non-Farm Payroll report due for publication on Friday. On the other hand, if there is more evidence that the US economy is slowing down in these upcoming stats, investors could sell the US Dollar instead. This could help the Pound to US Dollar exchange rate to recover some of last weeks losses. 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. This demonstration is one of the activities in the project Safe Preparation launched by National Traffic Safety Committee, Asia Injury Prevention Foundation (AIP Foundation) and UPS Company in ten higher education institutions in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City With the slogan Mobile phone or safe driving? Choose only one!", the project has many activities. Students will take part in popular games included with knowledge and skills of safe traffic pledging not to use mobile phone while driving. Before, the committee has carried out a survey of safe traffic. According to survey result, around 82 percent of participant students in ten universities said that they use mobile phone while driving. Moreover, just 46.6 percent of students have correct answer of wrong acts while driving while 71 percent of them thought that distracted drivers will not cause dangers. Vice head of the committee Nguyen Ngoc Tuong warned drivers using mobile phone behind the wheel will cause accidents four times higher than their concentrated peers while the number of accidents caused by distracted motorists is over 20 times higher than their concentrated peers. According to the safe traffic management board in HCMC, just 6 percent of drivers stop their vehicles in safe place to use mobile phone. Hence, it is import to nurture good traffic culture amongst young people is important to reduce accidents. Mobile phone use while driving is common, but it is widely considered dangerous due to its potential for causing distracted driving and accidents. Due to the number of accidents that are related to conducting calls on a phone and texting while driving, the use of calling on a phone while driving is made illegal. By THU TAM - Translated by UYEN PHUONG From: American Evaluation Association (AEA) For Immediate Release: Dateline: Washington , DC Sunday, October 28, 2018 Leigh M. Tolley, Assistant Professor, Secondary Education at the University of Louisiana at Lafayette, Past Chair of the PreK-12 Educational Evaluation Topical Interest Group (TIG), and member of AEAs TIG Council Group on Conference Quality and Logistics. This year will be my ninth AEA conference, and I foresee many more in my future! A big part of why I love coming to the AEA conference each year is catching up with old friends and colleagues and making new friends and connections. I have always found AEA members in all stages of their careers to be friendly, welcoming, and willing to chat with and learn from others. TIGs are an integral part of why I feel AEA is my professional home. Lessons Learned: TIGs help you grow professionally. At my second AEA conference in 2011, I decided to check out a few TIG business meetings and find ways to possibly get involved as a doctoral student. While at the PreK-12 TIGs business meeting, they asked for volunteers to be Members-at-Large, and I raised my hand. I have been a Member-at-Large or part of the Program Chair and Chair teamswe have elect, current, and past positions for each in our TIGever since. Through these roles, I have been able to develop an excellent network, gain experience in leadership, and better understand the proposal submission and review process, which all help me tremendously as a tenure-track academic and evaluation practitioner. Hot Tip: Business meetings are open to all AEA members, not just current TIG leaders. Dont let the name fool you: these are non-stuffy, collegial sessions where like-minded folks can come together to share ideas, learn more about what works in their areas of expertise, and discover ways to engage with AEA. Hot Tip: Take advantage of myriad opportunities to interact with TIG members while at Hot Tip: Members of AEA may join up to five TIGs as part of membership. To join, view, or change your TIGs, log on to the Preferences and Update TIG Selections from the far right of the top menu. Rad Resource: Check out the many different TIGs AEA has to offer on the See you soon in Cleveland! Do you have questions, concerns, kudos, or content to extend this aea365 contribution? Please add them in the comments section for this post on the About AEA The American Evaluation Association is an international professional association and the largest in its field. Evaluation involves assessing the strengths and weaknesses of programs, policies, personnel, products and organizations to improve their effectiveness. AEAs mission is to improve evaluation practices and methods worldwide, to increase evaluation use, promote evaluation as a profession and support the contribution of evaluation to the generation of theory and knowledge about effective human action. For more information about AEA, visit www.eval.org. Hi everyone! Im, Assistant Professor, Secondary Education at the University of Louisiana at Lafayette, Past Chair of the PreK-12 Educational Evaluation Topical Interest Group (TIG), and member of AEAs TIG Council Group on Conference Quality and Logistics. This year will be my ninth AEA conference, and I foresee many more in my future!A big part of why I love coming to the AEA conference each year is catching up with old friends and colleagues and making new friends and connections. I have always found AEA members in all stages of their careers to be friendly, welcoming, and willing to chat with and learn from others. TIGs are an integral part of why I feel AEA is my professional home.: TIGs help you grow professionally. At my second AEA conference in 2011, I decided to check out a few TIG business meetings and find ways to possibly get involved as a doctoral student. While at the PreK-12 TIGs business meeting, they asked for volunteers to be Members-at-Large, and I raised my hand. I have been a Member-at-Large or part of the Program Chair and Chair teamswe have elect, current, and past positions for each in our TIGever since. Through these roles, I have been able to develop an excellent network, gain experience in leadership, and better understand the proposal submission and review process, which all help me tremendously as a tenure-track academic and evaluation practitioner.: Business meetings are open to all AEA members, not just current TIG leaders. Dont let the name fool you: these are non-stuffy, collegial sessions where like-minded folks can come together to share ideas, learn more about what works in their areas of expertise, and discover ways to engage with AEA.: Take advantage of myriad opportunities to interact with TIG members while at Evaluation 2018 ! There will be TIG Tables set up during the Poster Exhibit and Meet the Authors session on Wednesday, and TIG Receptions for groups of TIGs and TIG Business Meetings will be held on Thursday evening. Information will be posted by the Registration Desk during the conference, where you can also pick up badge ribbons to represent your TIGs.: Members of AEA may join up toTIGs as part of membership. To join, view, or change your TIGs, log on to the AEA main site , then selectandfrom the far right of the top menu.: Check out the many different TIGs AEA has to offer on the Topical Interest Groups page of the AEA website . There are almost 60 TIGs, including those focused on research methods, special groups, and the theory, practice, and teaching of evaluation itself. Two new TIGs to check out this year are the Graduate Education Diversity Internship (GEDI) TIG, open to GEDI alumni as well as all AEA members interested in the program; and the Health Professions Education Evaluation and Research TIG See you soon in Cleveland!Do you have questions, concerns, kudos, or content to extend this aea365 contribution? Please add them in the comments section for this post on the aea365 webpage so that we may enrich our community of practice. Would you like to submit an aea365 Tip? Please send a note of interest to aea365@eval.org . aea365 is sponsored by the American Evaluation Association and provides a Tip-a-Day by and for evaluators. To Texans of a certain age, lets say baby boomers and their parents, the late Chicano voting-rights activist Willie Velasquez needs no introduction. No, he did not consider himself a Latino. He was, by his own definition, very much a Chicano. To younger Texans, though, Velasquez, who died in 1988, is almost completely unknown. Though, those younger Texans, and hopefully young readers far and wide, now have an introduction to Velasquez they likely will not forget, thanks to author Barbara Renaud Gonzalez. Gonzalez has resurrected him through a series of pithy, poetic and poignant letters to the world, written from his eternal home in heaven, in which she channels the spirit of the fiery and feisty man both friends and enemies called simply Willie. Still wondering why Velasquez is so important? As Juan A. Sepulveda wrote in his biography of Velasquez, the activist directed one thousand voter registration drives in over two hundred communities across the Southwest and beyond, eighty-five successful voting rights lawsuits and the doubling of the number of of Hispanic elected officials from just over 1,500 in 1974 to over 3,300 in 1988. Gonzalez points out: Most importantly, his Southwest Voter Registration Education Project Project doubled the number of Latino registered voters to five million by that (1988) as well. Dear San Antonio, Im Gone but Not Lost by Barbara Renaud Gonzalez Auris Books 101 pages See More Collapse In the introduction to her young adult book, Gonzalez coyly asserts I believe in ghosts, Santa Claus and the devil with the rooster foot. Lately, Ive been hearing from Willie Velasquez. People have been getting letters from Willie, she writes, and they bring them to me. What extraordinary letters they are, written to his mother, his father, to Vatos Locos, Brothers of the Barrio, to Dreamers, to Militants, Radicals con causa, Vanguardistas, and Left Bankers. Through those letters, Gonzalez sketches the biographical outline of Velasquez as a poor, fatherless but determined son of San Antonios West Side, who as a boy saved a man from a flooding creek and defeated a high school bully in a fair fistfight at Woodlawn Lake. From those experiences he learned he could make a difference in the lives of people. He also learned to train himself, focus and then fight with all his might. We learn from Velasquez how he applied those skills at St. Marys University, where he earned a bachelors degree in international relations and interned in the summer in the Washington, D.C., office of the legendary Congressman Henry B. Gonzalez. He intended to get a masters degree in economics and then embark upon a diplomatic career, Velasquez tells us. But all that changed on Labor Day 1966, when he joined a protest in Austin by farmworkers who had walked 321 miles over two months from the Rio Grande Valley to demand a minimum wage, only to be rebuked by then-Gov. John Connally. Being there, that day, Velasquez writes, made him listen to the signs, no matter what, and he found his vocation as an activist. Through Gonzalezs hands, informed by her extensive research, Velasquez recounts the whole arc of his life, describing the sacrifices he made so Chicanos could find their own voices and exercise their voting rights. In these letters, he is rightly proud of his accomplishments, as well as the recognition he received. That recognition included a semester teaching at Harvard University, the support of major foundations for the voter-registration project and an invitation to organize voters against Chilean dictator Augusto Pinochet. The Velasquez who lives now in heaven also is capable of expressing regret. These letters reveal his grief in recognizing the ways his nonstop activism put many pressures on his wife, Janie, and their children; his anger at his father for abandoning the family when he was little; and his frustration with Henry B. Gonzalez, who, he writes, fiercely criticized the Chicano activism Velasquez advocated. Gonzalez clearly makes Velasquez a hero, but she reveals him as a complex human being as well. She already has been introducing the book into local schools to motivate young readers to follow Velasquezs example, find their voices and get out the vote. May this book find many more such young readers. Barbara Renaud Gonzalez will sign her new book at a reception and reading on Friday at the Progreso Building at the Guadalupe Cultural Arts Center, 1300 Guadalupe. The event will feature Tejano and conjunto music and an altar to Willie Velasquez designed by David Zamora Casas. Ed Conroy is a San Antonio writer and critic. I ran across an interesting bit of San Antonio history a few years ago, an excerpt from the autobiography of San Antonio sculptor Pompeo Coppini (about an incident) dating back to around 1904. Coppini and his wife, Liz, were well-acquainted with preservationist and Daughters of the Republic of Texas founder Adina De Zavala during that time, and in one of the chapters of his autobiography, From Dawn to Sunset, Coppini describes the first meeting between Clara Driscoll and Adina De Zavala, at which he was present. I'm sure you have done columns on Coppini before but this seems particularly timely and poignant in light of the current efforts to move the Cenotaph. I fear that, over the decades, Coppini has become a very distant and remote figure and it might put a more human face on some of the current issues if the old master could speak for himself. Bill Sandidge The recent controversy over the relocation of the Alamo Cenotaph, whose reliefs of Alamo defenders and allegorical figures were sculpted by Pompeo Coppini (1870-1957) reawakened interest in the artist and his work. RELATED: City Council approves major overhaul of Alamo Plaza Although Coppinis monuments, busts and statues are still in place all over Texas, his representational style and heroic scale were passe only a few decades after his death. Few people today would recognize the name of Pompeo Coppini, Stephen Harrigan, author of The Gates of the Alamo, wrote in the October 1984 issue of Texas Monthly. Hardly anyone notices them or pauses to consider the massive physical effort and unblinking self-confidence that were needed to create them, the work of someone who wants to uplift the spirit without disturbing the perceptions. Coppini, born in Italy and academically trained in Florence, was part of the last generation to come of age before modernism shattered ideas about what art should look like and what its purpose should be. He emigrated to New York as a young man and made his way to San Antonio in 1901 to assist local marble man Frank Teich (maker of the Confederate monument covered here Aug. 12, 2017) with the sculptures for the Confederate Dead Monument erected in 1903 on the grounds of the Texas State Capitol in Austin. Coppini continued to live and work in San Antonio until 1916, so he was here during the period when the fledgling Daughters of the Republic of Texas and others wrangled over the proper use and preservation of the Alamo. In his autobiography, he claims a central role, declaring that I considered myself responsible for having saved that part of the Alamo ground that joins the San Antonio de Valero chapel, nicknamed the Alamo, from being commercialized. What follows is a highly detailed, even garrulous, account of the events that led Coppini to put the two women known as the Angel of the Alamo and the Savior of the Alamo together. It was during the autumn of 1904, when Coppini called on architect Harvey L. Page. The architect offered the sculptor a commission for something real big, a 10-foot statue to be made in Italian marble, of David Crockett. The architect, Coppini says, showed him plans for a big hotel that was to join the so-called Alamo, on the site of the Hugo & Schmeltzer building (now known as the Long Barrack or convento). The sculptor responds that it is a sacred ground. It would be sacrilege to commercialize that spot! RELATED: Alamo Plaza plan today has what 1994 plan lacked Page counters that its the citys own fault if the property goes to a Yankee syndicate for the proposed hotel since there is a not a soul in the city who would subscribe a five-cent piece to make it a shrine of patriotism. In fact, a hotel with a giant Crockett statue in the foyer would do more to call the visitors attention to the history of the Alamo. This discussion sends Coppini out of the office, making a beeline for Miss Adina De Zavalas home on Fourth and Taylor. Coppini urged De Zavala to come with him to the Menger Hotel to try to contact the Kampmanns, owners of the place. Because theirs was the only existing hotel on Alamo Plaza, he reasoned, they should be much concerned about the merciless competition those people intend to make and while protecting themselves, they could gain the unmistakable gratitude of all Texas patriots. When they got there, they find that the Kampmann family were in Paris, France. Mrs. Kampmanns sister, Mrs. George E. Eichlitz, met them on the mezzanine floor reception and lounging gallery and tells them she doesnt have the authority to commit the owners in anything of the sort we were seeking. But Eichlitz suggested that he and De Zavala meet one of the Mengers guests, a very prominent, rich and very ambitious young woman who may be of some help. This was Clara Driscoll, the Corpus Christi heiress, who would soon put up her own money (for which the state later reimbursed her) and sign personal notes for the rest. If true, this is how De Zavala, the Angel, met Driscoll, the Savior. So is it true? The how-Adina-met-Clara scenario is occasionally if not often referred to in accounts of the Alamo preservation effort, generally credited to Coppinis book. His memory at nearly 80, when he wrote the autobiography, might not have been perfect. RELATED: Bravo, San Antonio on Alamo plan Coppinis recollection of the hotel proposal is a little off, says Lewis Fisher, author of Saving San Antonio: The Preservation of a Heritage. From his research, consulting De Zavalas papers: The hotel was to be built behind the Alamo, about where the Crockett (Hotel) is now, and the convento was to be cleared away for a park to improve the hotels view of Alamo Plaza. Because more of the Alamo battle had occurred there than in the church, to De Zavala and Driscoll, Fisher said, the real Alamo was the convento. Therefore the Alamo had to be saved from being torn down. But did he introduce these two women, who had both already demonstrated interest in the plight of the historic site? Hard to tell by the time Coppinis autobiography came out, Page and Driscoll both were dead. De Zavala, however, was still living and likely to have spoken out if she had read and taken exception to Coppinis telling of this part of her story. During the four years while the Alamo Cenotaph was commissioned, made and installed not without some criticism of the design, placement and accusations of politics that got him the job Coppinis reputation as a popular and experienced maker of historic monuments was stressed but not his personal connection with the fate of the Alamo grounds. Whatever his history with the space, change is coming to whats now his best-known monument a hybrid of his reliefs (in marble, rather than the more durable bronze he wanted) on a granite structure supported by concrete. The Cenotaph needs repair but it will always stand and the Alamo project will complete it, said Bryan Preston, General Land Office communications director and a member of the Alamo Master Plan Committee. When constructed, it included several errors and it omitted several defenders names, listing 182 names although there are 189 known defenders. The project will add those missing names as the Cenotaph is also repaired, so it will stand for centuries to come. The plan also calls for the monument to be moved about 500 feet. The relocation places it back to where it was originally supposed to stand, to the south of the Alamo battlefield, Preston said. The two candidates for Bexar County district attorney stood feet apart on the makeshift stage at St. Marys Universitys School of Law, where more than 100 students, faculty and voters had gathered to see them face off. In some ways, the candidates appeared similar. Both were dressed in suits, white dress shirts and striped ties. Both have roughly 30 years experience serving as Bexar County assistant prosecutors and later as criminal defense attorneys at their respective private practices. But as the debate commenced, the differences between Democrat Joe D. Gonzales and Republican Tylden Shaeffer became apparent. Asked by the moderators whether bail reform was needed in Bexar County, the candidates diverged. I challenge anyone to tell me that theres someone whos innocent in Bexar County jail on the first offense, nonviolent, that is stuck in there because they cant afford bail, Shaeffer said. We have a program where these cases are reviewed. Minutes later, Gonzales responded: Mr. Shaeffer, Ill take that challenge because in the last 22 years, Ive had a number of clients come to us and hire us after their loved one has been sitting in jail for months because they didnt want to take a plea bargain. Gonzales, 59, has described himself as a hard worker from a family of modest means who relied on part-time jobs and financial assistance to pay for college and law school. Throughout his campaign, he has advocated for criminal justice and bail bond reform. The race, he said, is about issues and the difference in our vision. Shaeffer, 55, sees himself as a tough-as-nails prosecutor who will take violent criminals off the street and put them behind bars. He wants to create a cyber crime unit to protect individuals and businesses from telemarketing and internet scams. Both have said they intend to direct more resources toward a growing number of domestic violence cases in Bexar County and to make the District Attorneys Office more transparent. Here are the candidates positions: The decision to run: Gonzales and Shaeffer shared the same motivation to run for the office. Both believed that District Attorney Nico LaHood, a controversial first-term incumbent, was not suited for the job. Gonzales said that became clear when LaHood, while in a judges chambers, allegedly threatened to shut down Gonzales private practice. At the time, Gonzales and his partner were defending a murder suspect and told LaHood they might raise issues of prosecutorial misconduct about the case. LaHood denied he made a threat. Gonzales defeated LaHood in the Democratic primary by nearly a 20-point margin. Shaeffer, meanwhile, said he was concerned about LaHoods role in a financial services company with a partner, Gary Cain. That company did work for FourWinds Logistics, a startup oil field services company that hired Cain as a consultant. When an investor went to LaHood, while he was district attorney, to alert him to possible wrongdoing at FourWinds, LaHood didnt disclose his own connection to the firm, federal prosecutors said. They exposed FourWinds as a Ponzi scheme that defrauded investors. Cain and former state Sen. Carlos Uresti were found guilty of federal charges related to wire fraud and money laundering. Their experience: Shaeffer, who graduated from Brown University and the University of Texas School of Law, has eight years of experience as a county assistant prosecutor. For the last 19 years, Shaeffer has worked in private practice. He is board certified in criminal law a distinction that only seven percent of licensed attorneys in Texas hold. Gonzales received both his degrees from St. Marys University before serving as an assistant prosecutor in Bexar and Harris counties for eight years. He opened his private practice in 1998 and has served as a magistrate and municipal judge for the City of San Antonio. Criminal justice reform: Gonzales centers his platform on the need for bail and criminal justice reform in Bexar County. He said an overwhelming number of inmates are in jail while awaiting trial because they cannot afford to post bond. Pre-trial incarceration should be limited to those deemed too dangerous to release, Gonzales said. He supports the use of personal recognizance bonds for nonviolent offenders. A personal recognizance bond does not require the defendant to pay - he or she simply must agree to appear in court as required. Gonzales wants to establish policies and procedures focused on treating addiction and mental illness among certain nonviolent offenders. He says community-based treatment programs, rather than prison, are more effective in reducing crime and save the county money. Shaeffer has criticized Gonzales focus on bail and criminal justice reform, saying the county already has established programs that aim to divert nonviolent offenders from jail. He said its the district attorneys job to enforce the law, not pick and choose what crimes to prosecute. If criminal justice reform is needed, it should be done on the state level, Shaeffer said. Cite and release: Gonzales said he believes in a cite-and-release program to divert some people charged with low-level misdemeanors including those caught with small amounts of marijuana from jail to a pre-trial diversion program, similar to one that LaHood announced this year but has been seldom used. Shaeffer said hes not opposed to such a program but said there needs to be clear guidelines in place to guarantee the programs success. He said the initiative unveiled by LaHoods office didnt work because the District Attorneys office rushed into it. Shaeffer also said there should be some sort of consequence for individuals who are caught with small amounts of marijuana. Do you really learn anything if you get a ticket? he asked. Combatting domestic violence: Both candidates have emphasized the need to address family violence in Bexar County, which has one of the highest rates in Texas. Shaeffer said he plans to hire a full-time chief dedicated to overseeing the Family Violence Unit, thus increasing communication among assistant prosecutors who handle family violence cases. He said its also important to provide increased counseling and services for assistant prosecutors in the Family Violence Unit, many of whom experience burnout due to the difficult nature of the cases and the high caseload. Gonzales has said there are only four trial prosecutors assigned to handle misdemeanor family violence assault cases, which each one handling more than 1,000 cases a year. He would like to beef up the Family Violence Unit by reallocating personnel from other divisions. He would also like to increase training for victims advocates professionals trained to guide victims through the process and provide emotional support. Cyber crime: Shaeffer has used his campaign to highlight the problem of criminals preying on the elderly through telemarketing and internet scams. He said he would like to create a cyber crime unit to target such fraudulent activity and prosecute it. Gonzales has said he does not believe there is enough cyber crime in Bexar County to warrant a specialized unit, but he agreed such criminals should be prosecuted. Capital punishment: Shaeffer has criticized Gonzales for his response in February during a Democratic candidate forum at which Gonzales said he would not seek the death penalty knowing that minorities are more likely to be selected for death than white people. Gonzales said he thought he was being asked about whether he opposes capital punishment based specifically on racial disparity. He said he reserves the right to seek the death penalty, but only with overwhelming evidence of guilt. Shaeffer has said he would seek the death penalty but reserve it for a small percentage of the cases out there. Juveniles in adult court: Both candidates agree that juveniles should only be charged as an adult if accused of a serious, violent offense. Shaeffer has said he would like to see the age of criminal responsibility raised from 17 to 18, but ultimately that would be up to the state Legislature. Use of force cases: Both candidates have said they will not hesitate to prosecute law enforcement officers accused of excessive force or crimes. Shaeffer has pointed to his time as an assistant prosecutor during which he successfully prosecuted two law enforcement officers accused of crimes. Gonzales has said he would like to establish a community review board to look over cases involving law enforcement officers. He said a review board will help build trust and provide community input on critical cases. Shaeffer said hes opposed to such an idea, as thats the job of a grand jury, but he said he would have an open-door policy for anyone in the community who wants to discuss concerns. Financial backers: Gonzales has raised roughly $1.4 million since December 2017, when he announced his candidacy. Nearly $1 million came from the Texas Justice & Public Safety political action committee, a group funded by liberal billionaire George Soros. Shaeffer has raised about $277,000 in that same time, most of it contributions from the local business community. Shaeffer has accused Gonzales of being beholden to liberal interests, while Gonzales has warned that Shaeffer will be indebted to the local business community. Emilie Eaton is a criminal justice reporter in the San Antonio and Bexar County area. Read her on our free site, mySA.com, and on our subscriber site, ExpressNews.com. | eeaton@express-news.net | Twitter: @emilieeaton For three weeks, members of St. George Maronite Catholic Church worked in the kitchen, filling 4,000 grape leaves with meat, rice and spices. By Saturday afternoon, halfway through the churchs annual Lebanese Food Festival, most had already been eaten. The last few trays were packed tightly inside silver pots on the stovetop, ready to be cooked under Kitchen Captain Yvette Haases watchful eye. Haase pointed to another pot on the burner instead of using water, she planned to cook the grape leaves with a mixture of water, lemon juice and spices that shed drained from the previous batch, to give the next pot more flavor. One generation to the next, she said just like the way the recipes and other Lebanese traditions have been passed down through the community. Haase, who was born in San Antonio, and Marie Saleh, who moved from Lebanon as a teenager, recalled learning from the older women in the church growing up. Now, they teach the next generation, Saleh said. They start preparing food for the festival in the beginning of October, assembling and freezing the grape leaves and the kibbee, a dish made of beef, onions, cracked wheat and spices. Those are cooked during the three-day festival every year, when everything else is made fresh to order. Larry Monsour, a retired Air Force colonel now serving as Captain Falafel, molded and fried a mixture of chickpeas, which Frank Rizzo topped with vegetables and wrapped in pitas for hungry customers. The annual event, which includes music and Lebanese folk dancing, is a celebration of the traditions handed down through the generations, and a chance to share them with others, Father Charles Khachan said. Weve been part of the city for over 100 years, he said. While the festival isnt officially part of the citys tricentennial events, he said celebrating the communitys past and present alongside San Antonios history is even more special. It shows the diversity of San Antonio, he said. St. George Maronite Catholic Church was established in 1925, formed by members of the community who had previously been worshipping with other Catholic parishes. The church has been at its curent location on Babcock Road since 1974. At the festival, we bring people together as a family, and were sharing our culture, Khachan said, gesturing to the booths where lines of people waited to buy food, and the gymnasium, where dancers prepared to perform. Inside, the Lebanese Folk Dancers of St. George took the stage, while the audience clapped and toddlers too young to join in danced on their own. Jason Mery, who started dancing as a 4-year-old, watched in between his own dances with his son Keiran, 6, on his lap. He clapped for his daughter, Kalilia, 11, who skipped and spun with silver beads jingling on the hemline of her costume. Dancing is in my blood, he said, and now, its in his childrens, too. He teaches some of the younger men he performs with, and hopes to teach Keiran when hes older, he said. Its carrying on something thats very important to us, he said. As all of the dancers performed together in their final dance, some of the younger children stood on stage waving American and Lebanese flags. At the t-shirt stand, one popular purchase was a shirt printed with parts of the Texas and Lebanese flags and the words Texas grown, Lebanese roots. Were not only celebrating, Khachan said. Were inviting everybody to join us. LTeitz@express-news.net | @LizTeitz In the midst of a heated battle to push its three controversial city charter amendments across the finish line, the San Antonio Professional Firefighters Association began airing a 30-second spot this week that claims City Hall increased taxes annually over the past six years. The ad backs into the statement in a one-two punch that leads with the unions favorite target, City Manager Sheryl Sculley. How can San Antonio afford to pay the city manager more than the president and governor combined? a voice queries. They raised your taxes the last six years in a row. A photo of Sculley flashes on the screen, superimposed atop images of the White House and the Texas Capitol as $100 bills fall from the sky. Then, a mock newspaper headline declares: CITY HALL RAISED TAXES 6 YEARS IN A ROW. Sculleys base salary is $475,000. The president is paid $400,000 and the governor $150,000, for a total of $550,000. Sculley, on top of her base pay, collected a $75,000 bonus for 2018, bringing her overall compensation to $550,000. The ad is blatantly wrong, said Jeff Coyle, the citys director of Government and Public Affairs. The city has not raised the property tax rate in 25 years, including the entirety of City Manager Sculleys 12-year tenure. In fact, she has recommended and the City Council approved reducing the tax rate four times. Stephen Moody, the unions sergeant-at-arms, defended the ad. Have they raised your taxes? Yes, he said. Have they raised the rate? They didnt have to technically raise the rate. At the end of the day, I dont think its a bald-faced lie. Peoples (property) values go up, and so their taxes go up. Moody, who was instrumental in the unions effort to kill plans for streetcars in San Antonio several years ago, has been one of the unions most visible advocates for the charter amendments. Moody said the union ad strikes at the meat of the property tax issue that people have seen their tax bills increase. Tax bills have gone up in recent years as property values in San Antonio have risen. Eighty percent of property tax revenue goes to entities other than the city of San Antonio, including Bexar County and health and college districts. The city has no control over valuations set by the Bexar Central Appraisal District. The argument to that, Moody said, is the city had the ability to say, Yeah, you know what? They raised your valuation Im gonna go ahead and drop your rate. Christian Archer, who runs the opposition Go Vote No campaign, said he wasnt surprised by the fire unions ad. Its kind of more of the same no real facts, misleading information, trying to win over the public with untruths, he said. Theyre just trying to mislead the public, and theyre doing it with a splashy television ad. Voters began casting ballots on the measures Monday in early voting, which ends Nov. 2. Election Day is Nov. 6. Proposition A would make it easier to use referendums to challenge council decisions, including on tax and utility rates; Proposition B would cap the salary of future city managers and impose a term limit; and Proposition C would give the firefighters union unilateral power to decide when contract negotiations would be taken to binding arbitration. 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 If everything goes as planned, a beloved mural recklessly painted over and feared forever lost will be resurrected by technology and the advocacy of a West Side resident who stepped forward to champion it. The destroyed mural of the late Congressman Henry B. Gonzalez, one of three that once graced the concrete walls of Estelas Restaurant on West Martin, could land a meaningful spot at the Convention Center that bears his name. Ive never walked the entirety of that enormous downtown space, but according to several sources, no portrait of the legendary lawmaker hangs in it. The reproduced image will have to pass through several City Hall loops before it gets a home there but already has advocates shepherding it in a city where historic preservation is an important calling card. Earlier this year when the restaurant closed and sold its property to a local funeral home, the walls were painted before anyone could attempt to save the Henry B. mural along with two others Tejano music superstar Selena Quintanilla and accordion great Flaco Jimenez, all three iconic figures in the Mexican-American community. The murals were the work of San Antonio artist Ronald Rocha, who granted permission for their re-creation. Analy Diego, who teaches interior design and architecture at the University of Texas at San Antonio, put stylus pen to computer tablet screen to re-create the mural using a graphic design software that vectorized the image, making it printable on any kind of surface and as small or as large as space permits. But the hero of this story is Louis Escareno, whose home sits a few blocks west of the old restaurant building. (In full disclosure, Ive known him for more than 40 years.) The restaurant had become the site of Mexican-American and Democratic Party meetings and celebrations. The murals served as backdrops to quinceaneras, weddings, political gatherings, among other memorable events. Escareno, like other crestfallen fans of the murals, thought they were lost until he saw an exhibition of Diegos work at a San Antonio Hispanic Chamber of Commerce gala. Armed with more knowledge of how technology and art can meet history and culture, Escareno appealed to his city representative, District Councilman Roberto Trevino. In a letter to Trevino, Escareno said Henry B.s image had to be restored because it represented a collective history and culture and that the congressman helped enact every major piece of legislation on education, civil rights and health care that has benefited the entire nation to this day. The councilman reached out to all the city entities that had to be engaged in the process, including the arts commission, the public art committee of that body, Center City Development and Operations Department and the Convention Center, Trevino said. Trevino worked on finding a home for the mural that Diego re-created. Using a photo Escareno provided as well as images of the congressman, Diegos goal was to pay tribute to the original mural and capture the essence of Henry B., while putting her own stamp on it. She stayed true to the image by using a neutral palette of grays, whites, blacks and creams. While a pixelated image made up of dots has limited resolution and thus can only be reproduced in limited ways, Diego said vectorization is instead line art that can be reproduced at any size without sacrificing resolution. Vector art also can be printed on any kind of surface. Her works arent paintings or photographs, but computer drawings. Its the first commission piece where I preserved something that has historic value, she said. That was important to me. In my architecture profession, my concentration is historic preservation, and historic preservation is so important in San Antonio. Escareno has paid for the mural project in its entirety, including securing Rochas rights, underwriting Diegos work and the cost of mural, which will be produced on hearty vinyl. He has offered to pick up any additional costs. Its a wonderful gesture, and an incredible investment, Trevino said. He has done the hardest part of the work, the councilman added. Wed like to see this happen more often. It sets a great example. Imagine the impact of re-creating or saving other lost works, he said. Elaine Ayala covers religion and minority affairs in the San Antonio and Bexar County area. Read her on our free site, mySA.com, and on our subscriber site, ExpressNews.com. | eayala@express-news.net | Twitter: @ElaineAyala The group entered Vietnam through the forest at midnight and was discovered by local authorities at Kem slope in Xop Pu village, Yen Na commune, Tuong Duong district. Especially, they also carried AK rifles and grenades, and opened fire against the police in attempt to flee. A Lao citizen, who has yet to be identified, was killed from a gunshot wound. Two other suspects escaped. At the scene, authorised agencies seized three heroin bricks, along with 12,000 meth pills, a rifle, two grenades and 18 bullets. The case is being further investigated. One day earlier, the border guard force in the neighbouring province of Ha Tinh and authorised forces arrested two men who were smuggling 32 kg of methamphetamine and ten bricks of heroin from Laos to Vietnam. Tran Xuan Thanh (born in 1988 in Yen Thanh district, central Nghe An province and living in Vientiane, Laos) and Vo Quoc Duong (born in 1977 and residing in Dien Chau district, Nghe An province) were caught red handed with 30 kg of methamphetamine. Examining their car registered in Laos, the authorities found and seized an additional ten bricks of heroin and 2 kg of methamphetamine. The arrested admitted that they transported the drugs from Laos to Vietnam for consumption. Vietnamnews It was the 2016 Democratic Conventions most electrifying moment: Muslim lawyer Khizr Khan and his wife Ghazala stood before thousands in Philadelphia. In carefully measured words, he said, Donald Trump, you're asking Americans to trust you with their future. Let me ask you, have you even read the United States Constitution? I will gladly lend you my copy. In this document, look for the words liberty and equal protection of law. Alternately praised and vilified since then, Khan is on a national lecture tour. Local audiences can hear the Gold Star father whose son, the 27-year-old Humayun Khan, was killed in Iraq, speak on the American Constitution and other matters at Fairfield Universitys Quick Center for the Arts Nov. 14. I am a student of the Constitution and I am still learning and reading, said Khan, speaking by phone from Washington, D.C. We really have to understand the intent of the framers, how it all came together. As things have changed, it requires an interpretation of what they meant. To a student like myself, I look at the original language, the original text. Without understanding the purpose, it remains a mystery. Issues have evolved; the community and the society have evolved. Having a total understanding of the original document is absolutely necessary. Understanding is not the same as being a strict originalist, taking everything in the document literally. After all, the Constitution had, as its basic intent, nothing less than the uplifting of the people. Still, not until the 13th Amendment (1865) was slavery abolished. Not until the 14th (1868), Khans favorite, were all citizens given equal protection of the laws. Khans love affair with American ideals started in 1972, when he was in his second year of law school in his native Pakistan. I was in awe of the spirit of the Declaration of Independence: to be free from the yoke of colonialism, he said. Those forefathers were brave enough to declare their independence. I take that spirit that the people will prevail as the character of the American nation. I have read several constitutions of the world Russia, Germany, the Magna Carta. I dont find any society organizing itself in such a deliberate manner for uplifting its citizens with inalienable rights and being so particular about those dignities. Born in rural Pakistan in 1950, the eldest of 10 children, Khan met his wife when both were students at Punjab University in Lahore. (She was studying the Persian language.) Moving first to Dubai, where two of their three sons were born, they arrived in the U. S. in 1980 and became citizens six years later. The couple lived in Houston, then Silver Spring, Md., before settling in Charlottesville, Va., ironically the site of last years right-wing, anti-immigrant riots. We were told not to go out, he recalled of those threatening days. But I decided to go to the bookstore. I was stuck in traffic and, as I sat in the car, I saw people standing outside their cars, so I came out, also. I saw with my own eyes, I heard with my own ears, the ugly hatred that was displayed in Germany in the Second World War. (The procession was chanting, Jews will not replace us.) I was horrified. When I saw guns, I got back in my car and rolled up the window. Others did exactly the same thing. It was an un-American display of hatred. And I remember the thought came to my mind was, My God, we sacrificed thousands of men and women in that war. We buried it in Europe, but it has followed us. The next night, Wednesday, in Charlottesville was a different story. An email went around, citing the need to come together. I wish you would have seen that procession, said Khan. Parents came out with their children, holding their hands, singing songs, standing together, telling the kids that this is the real America, not that. That was an attack on our community. And children were heartened, families were heartened. Even future generations would be affected, he feels. If you go Khizr Khan will speaker at Fairfield University's Quick Center for the Arts, 1073 North Benson Road, Nov. 14 at 8 p.m. Tickets $27-$35. Call 203-254-4010 or visit quickcenter.com See More Collapse I continue to learn; I continue to understand, he told me. The wider we open our range, the higher we can fly. Now the world is moving toward one tribe, one kind. We are more interconnected than ever before. Tribalism doesnt serve forward-looking people. That is what gives me hope. Mankind is like a herd of animals. Some are ahead, some in the middle, some behind. But all are moving forward. I look at it through the lens of my life experience. With law degrees from the University of Missouri and Harvard, Khan specializes in the field of electronic discovery. A member of the Bar of the Supreme Court of the United States, the District of Columbia Bar, the New York State Bar and the American Bar Association, he has appeared on TV with Anderson Cooper to refute charges hes a member of the Muslim Brotherhood or advocates Sharia Law over the Constitution. Having lived under authoritarian dictators and martial law, Khan knows the ploys used to control peoples wishes and aspirations. Attacking the press and media was and is common. Once, Khan witnessed guns purposely aimed at a group of journalists. Authoritarians know that a free press is the biggest failing dictators have. He had spoken in New Jersey the night before our interview. I wish you were with me last night, he said. There was amazing enthusiasm. That was my 227th speaking engagement throughout the nation since 2016. One question I get asked is, What can I do now? Similarly, wherever he goes Oregon, Washington, Nebraska, Iowa the arc is forward, he feels. In Cedar Rapids, where half were Republicans and veterans, a lady stood up to say, Mr. Khan, we did not vote for your candidate and we dont agree on lots of issues with you. But, Mr. Khan, we want you to know that we are as concerned as you are about the direction of our country. And we are having buyers remorse. She was elegant in saying that and people were nodding their heads about being misled, misguided, misinformed. Of the thousands of letters he has received, he remembers one in particular, a six-page missive that read, in part, Mr. Khan, continue to speak. Had more people spoken during the Second World War, the crimes against our Jewish brothers and sisters could have been avoided. Such sentiments prompt Khan to quote Auschwitz survivor Elie Wiesel, who said, We must always take sides. Neutrality helps the oppressor, never the victim. Silence encourages the tormentor, never the tormented. Sometimes we must interfere. At the Democratic Convention, Khan also spoke out about his dead son, Humayun. Have you ever been to Arlington Cemetery? he asked of Donald Trump. Go look at the graves of brave patriots who died defending the United States of America. You will see all faiths, genders and ethnicities. You have sacrificed nothing and no one. Humayuns grave is in section 60, reserved for those who died in Iraq and Afghanistan. According to official records he was killed walking towards a suicide bomber after ordering his men to hit the ground. Under his name, his stone reads, top to bottom, Cpt / US Army / Sep 9 1976 / Jun 8 2004 / BSM (Bronze Star Medal) / Purple Heart / Operation Iraqi Freedom. Etched on his stone is the symbol of Islam, a crescent moon embracing a star, as if Nature were protecting the best in humans. Despite all Khan and his family have been through, he does not despair and remains active. In remembrance of their son, who graduated from the University of Virginia, the Khans established a scholarship there and, because of their support, have been dubbed the mom and pop of the schools Army ROTC, which Humayun had joined. Khan gives a pocket copy of the Constitution to visitors to his home, as well as to ROTC graduates. In 2017, he released two books, This is Our Constitution for young people and An American Family: A Memoir of Hope and Sacrifice, which the New York Times lauded as moving and written with a poets sensibility. Khan admits the present moment is difficult. But it is a moment that is an anomaly, he told me. I have felt throughout the country that the goodness of America prevails. It is exactly what took place in Charlottesville when we showed to our children the real America, moving forward with dignity. That Wednesday in August in Charlottesville is the America that is emerging. There is an amazing light I see on the other side of the mountain and we will resume being the beacon of hope for the rest of the world. David Rosenbergs column on the local theater scene appears monthly. Just in time for Halloween, a little Way Back When ghost story! The shoal that extends from Fairfield Beach is known as Penfield Reef. A lighthouse was built in 1874 to safeguard the area. Penfield Reef Light is a two-story granite-brick-and-wood structure, and was designed to accommodate a full-time keeper and assistant keeper. The light tower, which rises more than 50 feet above the high-tide line, originally featured a revolving cast-iron lantern mechanism that had to be hand-wound. On December 22, 1916, keeper Fred A. Jordan decided that despite a dangerous winter storm, he wanted to get home to his family to celebrate Christmas. He set out for the mainland shortly after noon, but did not get far before the strong winds and rough seas capsized his rowboat. He clung onto his small vessel and signaled for help. Assistant keeper Rudolph Iten saw the incident and launched another boat to rescue Jordan. Unfortunately, despite his efforts, Iten had to abandon his rescue attempt. Jordan's body was found three months later. STAMFORD Anzelmo Graziosi and Matt Blumenthal are running for the same state House of Representatives district, but campaign in different languages. The Republican Graziosi speaks big picture, and sometimes Italian. The 147th district seat is a linchpin in continued Democratic state rule, he tells voters, and if they decline to elect him, they will see more years on the fiscal cliff thanks to locked-in state spending. Blumenthal, who Graziosi assumes is seeking higher office, wont touch pensions for fear of losing union backing, Graziosi said. Blumenthal said he is focused on winning one term I dont consider being state representative small potatoes, he said. He comes off as a policy wonk, speaking with rehearsed positions on issues. Trucks passing through the state, for example, should pay tolls Stamford needs to get its fair share of state education funding. Blumenthal, 32, a Democrat, would like to focus on issues, including transportation, the economy and education, hell repeat time and again. Graziosi, 46, though, spends most of his time on only one issue: the need for public-sector unions to make concessions for the state to halt runaway spending. He wants to hold the line on taxes and eliminate a few. Outside of that, Graziosi said he agrees with Blumenthal and Democrats on otherwise polarizing issues, which makes sense he was a Democrat until last spring. He supports common sense gun laws, and a womans reproductive rights. Blumenthal said it is hard to know if the two truly agree because Graziosi isnt clear on his platform. One key difference is how Graziosi will harp on his background while Blumenthal eschews mention of his upbringing, outside of a sterling resume that includes a U.S. Marine Corps. deployment, Harvard University for college and Yale University for law school. When asked, Blumenthal wades uncomfortably into how his father, U.S. Sen. Richard Blumenthal, and other state Democrats have influenced his decision to seek public office. Ive developed my positions completely independently of any other political person, Blumenthal said. Ive gone and consulted policy experts ... Im somebody who wants to be a workhorse not a show horse. Blumenthal said the 5,000 doors hes knocked on are proof of his dedication. Graziosi has no intention of appearing a policy wonk. He instead harps on his own background, and spells out that his familys story embodies the American dream, which he hopes he can help others achieve from his office. In interviews, he speaks at length about how his father is a landscaper, and how he learned English as a second language. He and his wife are first-generation Italian-Americans, while Blumenthal, is completely from a different planet ... literally born owning a piece of the Empire State Building, you dont get more out of touch than that. Thats not entirely true, although Blumenthals family from his mothers side is a part-owner of the landmark. In another universe or really anywhere but Connecticut the well-connected and wealthy Blumenthal would be the Republican whose campaign literature calls for eliminating the estate and gift taxes and phasing out the income tax. But this fall, it is Graziosis postcard plying that party line. Graziosi, a lifelong Democrat, was pushed off the party ticket after Blumenthal moved to Springdale and filed paperwork to run in the 147th earlier this year. Within a month, Blumenthal was shaking hands with Democratic City Committee Chairman Josh Fedeli and soon became the partys nominee. Graziosi, a one-term city representative and former councilman in Long Island, had made no secret of his intention to run as a Democrat in the 147th. Still, he was sidelined by what he called Blumenthals coronation. Graziosi contends that Blumenthal is a carpetbagger who has no place in the race, having spent most of his upbringing in Greenwich. Blumenthal, who was born in Stamford and spent a third of his life in the city, said Graziosis assumption that hell be seeking higher office after a short stint in the seat is a bit rich. Graziosi, after all, is running for state representative after only a year as a city representative. It could be a close race that hinges on unaffiliated voters. According to the city registrar, more than a third of the district is unaffiliated. A near equal portion, 3,270 of the districts nearly 9,000 voters are Democrats and 24 percent, or 2,140, are Republicans. The district includes the eastern half of North Stamford, most of Springdale and a sliver of Darien. barry.lytton@stamfordadvocate.com; 203-964-2263; @bglytton The following companies are subsidiares of Archer-Daniels-Midland: ADM (Shanghai) Management Co. LTD, ADM (Thailand) Ltd, ADM Ag Holdings Ltd, ADM Agri-Industries Company, ADM Agriculture Limited, ADM Agro Iberica S. L. U., ADM Agro Indust Latur and Vizag Pvt Ltd, ADM Agro Industries India Private Limited, ADM Agro Industries KOTA and AKOLA Pvt. Ltd., ADM Agro SRL, ADM Agroinvestimentos LTDA, ADM Alliance Nutrition of Puerto Rico LLC, ADM Americas S de RL, ADM Andina Peru SRL, ADM Antwerp NV, ADM Arkady Ireland Limited, ADM Asia-Pacific Trading Pte. Ltd., ADM Australia Holdings I PTY Limited, ADM Bio Science And Technology (Tianjin) Co Ltd, ADM Bioproductos SA DE CV, ADM CZERNIN SA, ADM Caribbean Inc, ADM Chile Comercial LTDA, ADM Clinton Bioprocessing Inc, ADM DO Brasil LTDA, ADM Direct Polska SP. ZO.O, ADM Dominican Holdings Inc., ADM Dominicana SA, ADM Edible Bean Specialties Inc, ADM Europe HoldCo SL, ADM European Holdings LLC, ADM European Management Holding GMBH, ADM Export Co, ADM Food Technology (Beijing) Co. Ltd., ADM France, ADM Germany GmbH, ADM Grain River System Inc., ADM Hamburg Aktiengesesllschaft, ADM Holding (Thailand) LTD, ADM Holdings LLC, ADM Hungary Agro Trading LLC, ADM Industries Centers Ltd, ADM International Holdings Inc, ADM International SARL, ADM Interoceanic LTD, ADM Investments LTD, ADM Investor Services Inc, ADM Investor Services International LTD, ADM Ireland Receivables Company Limited, ADM Israel, ADM Japan Ltd, ADM MALBORK SA, ADM Mainz GMBH, ADM Medsofts Sarl, ADM Mexico Inc, ADM Mexico SA DE CV, ADM Milling Co, ADM Milling LTD, ADM New Zealand Limited, ADM Olomouc S.R.O., ADM Paraguay SRL, ADM Protexin Limited, ADM Pura Limited, ADM Receivables LLC, ADM Rice Inc, ADM Ringaskiddy Unlimited Company, ADM Romania Logistics SRL, ADM Romania Trading SRL, ADM Specialty Ingredients - Europe BV, ADM Spyck GMBH, ADM Szamotuly SP Z O.O, ADM Trading Australia Pty. Ltd., ADM Trading Co, ADM Transportation Company, ADM Trucking Inc, ADM Vietnam CO. LTD, ADM WILD Europe GmbH and Co. KG, ADM WILD Ingredients GmbH, ADM WILD Nauen GmbH, ADM WILD Valencia S.A., ADM Wild Netherlands BV, ADM Worldwide Holdings LP, ADMIS Holding Co Inc., ADMIS Hong Kong LTD, ADMIS Singapore Pte Limited, AOR, AT Holdings II Company, Agri Port Services Investments Ltd., Agri Port Services LLC, Agricolas Madagascar SARLU, Agrinational Insurance Co, Agriserve, Agrograin LTD, Alfrebro LLC, Alfred C Toepfer International Netherlands BV, Alimenta USA, American River Transportation Company LLC, Ameriseed, Amylum Bulgaria EAD, Amylum Nisasta Sanayi Ve Ticarek Anonim Sirketi, Archer Daniels Midland (UK) Limited, Archer Daniels Midland Asia Pacific Ltd., Archer Daniels Midland Erith LTD, Archer Daniels Midland Europe BV, Archer Daniels Midland Europoort BV, Archer Daniels Midland Nederland BV, Archer Daniels Midland Singapore PTE LTD, Arinos Unlimited, Aston Foods & Food Ingredients, Balanceados Nova SA Balnova, Barbados Mills Limited, Bela Vista Bio Etanol Participacoes LTDA, Bern Aqua, BioPolis SL, Biopolis, Campa Sued GmbH & Co KG, Cattleman's Choice Loomix LLC, Chamtor, Ci ADM Colombia Ltda., Controladora ADM Sa De Cv, Crosswind Petfoods Inc., Daavision BV, Eaststarch, Eatem Corporation, Eatem Foods, Elstar Oils, English River Pellets Inc., Epicore Bionetworks INC, Epicore Networks (USA) INC, Erich Ziegler GmbH, Evialis France, Fasco Mills Co., Filozoo SRL, Florida Chemical, Florida Chemical Company LLC, GP Blanching Inc., Global Cocoa Holdings LTD, Golden Peanut Company LLC, Golden Peanut and Tree Nut Seed SA (PTY) LTD, Golden Peanut and Tree Nuts SA, Group Lysac, Guyomarc'h - VCN Company Limited, Guyomarc'h Vietnam CO LTD, HFR Shipping Company Ltd, HRA Shipping Company Ltd, HTI Shipping Company Ltd, Harvest Innovations, Hilltop Grain and Feed, Holding P and A Asia Company Limited, Hubei Meiweiyuan Biotechnology, Ilitchevskiy Maslo Extractionniy Zavod (IMEZ), Invivo NSA Asia PTE LTD, Invivo NSA Philippines Inc, Jamaica Flour Mills Limited, Julius Meijer-Alpharma BV, LLC ADM Ukraine, Liquid Feed Commodities, Malta Industries SA de CV, Malta-Texo De Mexico SA de CV, Master Mix of Trinidad LTD, Medsofts Investment Co, Medsofts L.L.C., Medsofts Trading Co, Mepla Comercio e Navegacao Ltda, NRG Inc, Naviera Chaco SRL, Neovia, Neovia Latina SL, Neovia Nutricao E Saude Animal LTDA, North Star Shipping S.R.L., P and A Marketing SA, PJSC ADM Illichivsk, PT Wirifa Sakti, Pancosma (Shanghai) Feed Additives CO LTD, Pancosma France SAS, Pancosma SA, Premiere Agri Technologies of Mexico Inc, Pura Foods LTD, Rodelle Inc., Schokinag-Schokolade-Industrie Herrmann, Sermix, Setna Nutricion SA, Societe Industrielle Des Oleagineux, Southern Cellulose Products Inc, Soy Investors LLC, Specialty Commodities, Specialty Commodities LLC, Sul Mineira Alimentos LTDA, SzSzV Kft, Toepfer International, Toepfer International Trading (Shanghai) Co. LTD., Vantage Corn Processors LLC, WILD Amazon Flavors Ltda, WILD Flavors, Wild Flavors Inc., Wild Flavors International GmbH, Wild Flavors Singapore Pte. Ltd., Wild Intermare GmbH, Wild Russia LLC, and Wisium SA (PTY) LTD. 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 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. American Consumer News, LLC dba MarketBeat 2010-2021. All rights reserved. 326 E 8th St #105, Sioux Falls, SD 57103 | U.S. Based Support Team at contact@marketbeat.com | (844) 978-6257 MarketBeat does not provide personalized financial advice and does not issue recommendations or offers to buy stock or sell any security. Our Accessibility Statement | Terms of Service | Do Not Sell My Information 2021 Market data provided is at least 10-minutes delayed and hosted by Barchart Solutions. Information is provided 'as-is' and solely for informational purposes, not for trading purposes or advice, and is delayed. To see all exchange delays and terms of use please see disclaimer. Fundamental company data provided by Zacks Investment Research. ConocoPhillips engages in the exploration, production, transportation and marketing of crude oil, bitumen, natural gas, natural gas liquids, and liquefied natural gas on a worldwide basis. It operates through the following geographical segments: Alaska; Lower 48; Canada; Europe, Middle East and North Africa; Asia Pacific; and Other International. The Alaska segment primarily explores for produces, transports and markets crude oil, natural gas and natural gas liquids. The Lower 48 segment consists of operations in the U.S. and the Gulf of Mexico. The Canada segment is comprised of oil sands development in the Athabasca Region of northeastern Alberta and a liquids-rich unconventional play in western Canada. The Europe, Middle East and North Africa segment consists of operations and exploration activities in Norway, the United Kingdom and Libya. The Asia Pacific segment has explorations and product operations in China, Indonesia, Malaysia and Australia. The Other International segment handles exploration activities in Columbia and Argentina. The company was founded in 1875 and is headquartered in Houston, TX. Read More The following companies are subsidiares of Crown: Adularia Inversiones 2010 S.L., Angleboard Sweden AB, Bates Cargo-Pak ApS, Butimove, CMB Machinery and Technology (Shanghai) Co Ltd, CROWN AP (Thailand) Company Limited, CROWN Aerosols & Promotional Nederland, CROWN Aerosols Italia Srl, CROWN Aerosols Nederland BV, CROWN Aerosols UK Limited, CROWN Americas LLC, CROWN Arabia Can Company Ltd, CROWN Asia Pacific Holdings Pte. Ltd., CROWN Asia Pacific Investments (T) Limited, CROWN Bevcan Espana S.L., CROWN Bevcan France SAS, CROWN Bevcan Slovakia s.r.o., CROWN Bevcan Turkiye Ambalaj Sanayi Ve Ticaret Limited Sirketi, CROWN Bevcan and Closures (Thailand) Company Limited, CROWN Beverage Cans (Cambodia) Limited, CROWN Beverage Cans (Dong Nai) Limited, CROWN Beverage Cans Beijing Limited, CROWN Beverage Cans Changchun Limited, CROWN Beverage Cans Danang Limited, CROWN Beverage Cans Hangzhou Limited, CROWN Beverage Cans Hanoi Limited, CROWN Beverage Cans Heshan Limited, CROWN Beverage Cans Hong Kong Limited, CROWN Beverage Cans Huizhou Limited, CROWN Beverage Cans Malaysia Sdn Bhd, CROWN Beverage Cans Nanning Limited, CROWN Beverage Cans Putian Limited, CROWN Beverage Cans Saigon Limited, CROWN Beverage Cans Shanghai Limited, CROWN Beverage Cans Sihanoukville Limited, CROWN Beverage Cans Singapore Pte. Ltd., CROWN Beverage Cans Ziyang Limited, CROWN Beverage Packaging LLC, CROWN Beverage Packaging Puerto Rico Inc., CROWN Cans Ghana Limited, CROWN China Holdings (Hong Kong) Limited, CROWN Commercial Belgium BVBA, CROWN Commercial France SAS, CROWN Commercial Germany GmbH & Co. KG, CROWN Commercial Hungary Kft, CROWN Commercial Netherlands B.V., CROWN Commercial Vermogensverwaltung GmbH, CROWN Cork & Seal USA Inc., CROWN Embalagens Metalicas da Amazonia S.A., CROWN Emballage France SAS, CROWN Emirates Company Limited, CROWN Envases Mexico S.A. de C.V., CROWN Famosa S.A. de C.V., CROWN Food Packaging (Thailand) Public Company Limited, CROWN Foodcan (Hat Yai) Company Limited, CROWN Foodcan (Nakhon Pathom) Company Limited, CROWN Foodcan Germany GmbH, CROWN Foodcan GmbH, CROWN Imballaggi Italia Srl, CROWN Imgallaggi Italia Srl, CROWN Italy Finance srl, CROWN Khmer Beverage Cans Limited, CROWN Maghreb Can, CROWN Magyarorszag Csomagoloipari KFT, CROWN Metal Packaging Canada Inc., CROWN Metal Packaging Canada LP, CROWN Middle East Can Co. Ltd., CROWN Packaging (Barbados) Limited, CROWN Packaging Holdings LLC, CROWN Packaging Investment (H.K.) Limited, CROWN Packaging Ireland Ltd, CROWN Packaging Jamaica Limited, CROWN Packaging Polska Sp.z.o.o., CROWN Packaging Technology Inc., CROWN Packaging Trinidad Limited, CROWN Packaging UK Limited, CROWN Promotional Packaging UK Ltd, CROWN SIEM, CROWN Senegal, CROWN Societe Malgache d'Emballages Metalliques, CROWN Speciality Packaging BV, CROWN Speciality Packaging Investment Pte. Ltd., CROWN Specialty Packaging UK Ltd, CROWN TCP Beverage Cans Company Limited, CROWN Verpakking Belgie NV, CROWN Verpakking Nederland B.V., Caretex Asia Ltd., CarnaudMetalbox Engineering Ltd, CarnaudMetalbox Food South Africa (Pty) Limited, CarnaudMetalbox Group UK Limited, CarnaudMetalbox Overeseas Limited, CarnaudMetalbox Overseas Limited, Cierres Hermeticos S.A. DE C.V., Constar International, Crown Americas Capital Corp., Crown Americas Capital Corp. II, Crown Americas Capital Corp. III, Crown Americas Capital Corp. IV, Crown Americas Capital Corp. V, Crown Americas Capital Corp. VI, Crown Brasil Holdings Ltda., Crown Canadian Holdings ULC, Crown Closures Spain S.L., Crown Colombiana S.A., Crown Comercial de Envases S.L., Crown Commercial Italy Srl, Crown Commercial Polska Sp. z.o.o., Crown Consultants Inc., Crown Cork & Seal Company (DE) LLC, Crown Cork & Seal Company Inc., Crown Cork & Seal Deutschland Holdings GmbH, Crown Cork & Seal Receivables (DE) Corporation, Crown Cork & Seal de Portugal Embalagens S.A., Crown Cork Kuban, Crown Cork and Seal Receivables II LLC, Crown Developpement SAS, Crown European Holdings, Crown Food Espana S.A.U., Crown Foodcan Turkey Ambalaj Sanayi Ve Ticaret Limited Sirketi, Crown Hellas Can Packaging SA, Crown Heshan Trading Company Limited, Crown Holdings Italia Srl, Crown Holdings Spain S.L., Crown International Holdings B.V., Crown International Holdings Inc., Crown Luxembourg Holdings, Crown Mexican Holdings S. de R.L. de C.V., Crown Overseas Investments B.V., Crown Packaging Commercial UK Limited, Crown Packaging Distribution UK Limited, Crown Packaging European Division GmbH, Crown Packaging European Division Services SAS, Crown Packaging European Holdings GmbH, Crown Packaging Lux I S.a.r.l., Crown Packaging Lux II S.a.r.l., Crown Packaging Lux III S.a.r.l., Crown Packaging Manufacturing UK Limited, Crown Packaging Maroc, Crown Receivables III, Crown Services Iberia, Crown UK Holdings Limited, Crownway Insurance Company, Dacro B.V., EMPAQUE, Fabricas Monterrey S.A. de C.V., Form Koruyucu Ambalaj Sanayi Ve Ticaret Limited Sirketi, Foshan Continental Can Co. Limited, Foshan Crown Easy-Opening End Co. Limited, Glass & Silice S.A. DE C.V., Globoplastt s.r.o., Gunther S.A.S., Haloila Bulgaria EOOD, Interstrap B.V., Josef Kihlberg AB, Kiwiplan GmbH, Kiwiplan Inc, Lachenmeier ApS, Liljendals Bruk AB, Litec France S.A.S., Mezger Heftsysteme GmbH, Mima Films S.a.r.l., Mima Films Sprl, Mima Packaging Systems S.A.S., Mivisa, Nordic S.A.S., Norsk Signode AS, Oy M. Haloila AB, PT CROWN Beverage Cans Indonesia, Package Design and Manufacturing, Prolatamex S.A. DE C.V., Quandel Verpackungs- und Foerdertechnik GmbH, SMB Schwede Maschinenbau GmbH, SMP Schwede Maschinenbau Weischlitz GmbH, SPG Denmark, SPG France Holdings SAS, SPG Germany Service Management GmbH, SPG Industrial Packaging S.a.r.l, SPG Netherlands B.V., SPG Packaging Ireland Limited, SPG Packaging Systems GmbH, SPG Packaging UK Ltd, Scybele S.A.S., Shippers Europe S.p.r.l., Signode BVBA, Signode Brasileira Ltda, Signode Hong Kong Limited, Signode Industrial Group, Signode Industrial Group AB, Signode Industrial Group Colombia S.A.S., Signode Industrial Group GmbH, Signode Industrial Group Holdings Lux S.a.r.l., Signode Industrial Group Holdings US Inc, Signode Industrial Group Lux S.A., Signode Industrial Group Mexico, Signode Industrial Group Sweden AB, Signode International Holdings LLC, Signode International IP Holdings LLC, Signode International Investment LLC, Signode Kabushiki Kaisha, Signode Korea Inc, Signode NZ Limited, Signode Netherlands B.V., Signode Packaging (Qingdao) Co., Signode Packaging (Shanghai) Co., Signode Packaging Espana S.L., Signode Packaging Group (Malaysia) Sdn. Bhd., Signode Packaging Group Australia Pty Ltd, Signode Packaging Group Canada ULC, Signode Packaging Group NZ, Signode Packaging Systems Limited, Signode Pickling Holding LLC, Signode Polska sp. Z.o.o., Signode Singapore Pte. Ltd., Signode Sweden Holdings AB, Signode System GmbH, Signode System Packaging GmbH & Co. KG, Signode Systems (Thailand) Ltd., Signode US IP Holdings LLC, Silice De Veracruz S.A. DE C. V., Silice Del Istmo S.A. DE C.V., Silices De Veracruz, Societe Civile Immobiliere Rousseau-Ivry, Societe Civile Immobiliere des Baquets, Societe de Participations CarnaudMetalbox, Stopak India Pvt. Ltd, Strapex Austria GmbH, Strapex Embalagem L.d.a., Strapex Holdings Limited, Strapex S.A.S., Strapex Srl, Superior Investments Holdings Pte. Ltd., Superior Multi-Packaging Limited, TopFrame LLC, V.A.C. B.V., Vichisa S.A. de C.V., and Warehouse Automation Iberia S.L.. Bank of America Corp. is a bank and financial holding company, which engages in the provision of banking and nonbank financial services. It operates through the following segments: Consumer Banking, Global Wealth and Investment Management, Global Banking, Global Markets, and All Other. The Consumer Banking segment offers credit, banking, and investment products and services to consumers and small businesses. The Global Wealth and Investment Management provides client experience through a network of financial advisors focused on to meet their needs through a full set of investment management, brokerage, banking, and retirement products. The Global Banking segment deals with lending-related products and services, integrated working capital management and treasury solutions to clients, and underwriting and advisory services. The Global Markets segment includes sales and trading services, as well as research, to institutional clients across fixed-income, credit, currency, commodity, and equity businesses. The All Other segment consists of asset and liability management activities, equity investments, non-core mortgage loans and servicing activities, the net impact of periodic revisions Read More Saturday nights feature at Saratoga Casino Hotel was the $35,400 Gary Kamal Memorial Pacing Series Final. Young pacers had two legs to gather points towards Saturdays final and only one of the series participants swept those legs. Arch Hanover recorded 1:53.4 victories in each leg of the series and rode a five-race win streak into the final. In leg two, the Monica Krist trainee squared off in the stretch with New Zealand invader Kiwi Tintin N, who had been undefeated in three starts in the USA. Those two geldings did battle in the lane before Arch Hanover emerged victorious. Kiwi Tintin N drew post eight in that start, which served as his first defeat since the trek from Down Under. What seemed last week to be Final preview proved to be just that as in Saturdays rematch, the same two talent pacers slugged it out to the wire. Kiwi Tintin N cruised out to a relatively easy lead with Frank Coppola Jr. in the sulky. After clocking a first half in :56.3, the 2-5 betting favourite Kiwi Tintin N checked in at three-quarters in 1:25 as Arch Hanover (Billy Dobson) closed in. This week, Kiwi Tintin N had enough to hold off his rival and stopped the timer in 1:53.4 over a track labeled good. Though Arch Hanovers win streak was snapped, the four-year-old was a strong second in the final. Longshot Charlie Call Home (Pete Lancaster) came on to finish third and vaulted a chalky $7.20 exacta to a hefty $132.50 triple. Kevin Quinn owns Kiwi Tintin N, a five-year-old Tintin In America gelding. The Paul Zabielski trainee added his name to the list of previous Gary Kamal Memorial Pace winners that is now comprised of Twin B Spy, Bell I No, Stirling Electra, Carolina Beach and Kiwi Tintin N. (With files from Saratoga Casino Hotel) PT Bank Rakyat Indonesia (Persero) Tbk is a holding company, which engages in the provision of financial services. It operates through the following segments: Micro Business, Retail Business, Corporate Business, and Subsidiary Business. The Micro Business segment offers banking products and services to individual and micro entrepreneurs. The Retail Business segment provides consumer and commercial banking products and services to small and medium-sized enterprises. The Corporate Business segment caters large corporations and institutions with international banking services, treasury services, and capital market support services. The Subsidiary Business segment includes conventional banking, financing services, remittance services, life insurance, general insurance, venture capital, and securities. The company was founded by Aria Wiriatmaja on December 16, 1895 and is headquartered in Jakarta, Indonesia. 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. Come see the interactive, award-winning display EqiMania! Trotting back into Toronto for its 13th appearance at The Royal Agricultural Winter Fair, EquiMania! looks forward to once again joining in the tradition of bringing the country to the city this November 2 11. Hop in for fun with the new Hopscotch game teaching kids to be safe around horses and on the horse farm. Then weave your way over to braid a horse tail, dig the bones in the bone box, and generally indulge your enthusiasm for all things equine. Learn about anatomy and biology of horses with scale models and real bones. A giant tree of life shows the amazing journey leading up to the birth of a foal and then the first stages of life. There is plenty of hands-on fun and no one will leave without learning something new about horses. Contests, Contests, Contests before you leave EquiMania! be sure to fill in a ballot for your chance to win one of our online short courses on TheHorsePortal.ca. Kids, looking for more chances to win cool prizes? We have a contest where you could win one of five chances to take an awesome three-week online course, Horse Behaviour and Safety for Youth, Jan. 21 Feb. 8. Simply write down your name and email along with under 100 words describing the coolest thing you have learned about horses so far or the reason why you like horses and hand it in to any of the staff working in the EquiMania! booth. Equine Guelph at the University of Guelph is celebrating its 15th anniversary thanks to the support of the horse industry. In 2003, EquiMania! a youth education program, was developed and has operated on a zero-based budget for 13 years! We could not do it without our loyal sponsors and our amazing volunteers: ESSO, Greenhawk, Kubota Canada, Ontario Equestrian, Shur-Gain, SSG Gloves, Standardbred Canada, System Fencing and Workplace Safety and Prevention Services. Kids can also visit EquiMania.ca to play games online and learn more about horses. To book EquiMania! for an event, contact [email protected]. (Equine Guelph) The following companies are subsidiares of Humana: 154th Street Medical Plaza, 516-526 West Main Street Condominium Council of Co-Owners, 54th Street Medical Plaza, American Eldercare, American Eldercare of North Florida, Anvita Health, Arcadian Health Plan, Arcadian Management Services, Atlantis Physician Group, CAC Medical Center Holdings, CAC-Florida Medical Centers, CDO 1, CDO 2, CHA HMO, CHA Service Company, Care Partners Home Care, CareNetwork, CarePlus Health, CarePlus Health Plans, Cariten Health Plan Inc., Certify Data Systems, CompBenefits, CompBenefits Company, CompBenefits Corporation, CompBenefits Dental, CompBenefits Direct, CompBenefits Insurance Company, Complex Clinical Management, Concentra Managed Care, Continucare Corporation, Continucare MDHC, Continucare MSO, Continucare Medical Management, Dental Care Plus Management, DentiCare, Emphesys, Emphesys Insurance Company, Enclara Healthcare, FPG, FPG Acquisition Corp., FPG Acquisition Holdings Corp., FPG Senior Services, Family Physicians of Winter Park, Go365, HUM Provider Holdings, HUM-e-FL, Harris Rothenberg International, Health Value Management, Humana Active Outlook, Humana At Home (Dallas), Humana At Home (Houston), Humana At Home (San Antonio), Humana At Home (TLC), Humana At Home 1, Humana Behavioral Health, Humana Benefit Plan of Illinois, Humana Dental Company, Humana Digital Health and Analytics Platform Services, Humana EAP and Work-Life Services of California, Humana Employers Health Plan of Georgia, Humana Government Business, Humana Health Benefit Plan of Louisiana, Humana Health Company of New York, Humana Health Insurance Company of Florida, Humana Health Plan, Humana Health Plan of California, Humana Health Plan of Ohio, Humana Health Plan of Texas, Humana Health Plans of Puerto Rico, Humana Healthcare Research, Humana Inc., Humana Innovation Enterprises, Humana Insurance Company, Humana Insurance Company of Kentucky, Humana Insurance Company of New York, Humana Insurance of Puerto Rico, Humana Management Services of Puerto Rico, Humana MarketPOINT, Humana MarketPOINT of Puerto Rico, Humana Medical Plan, Humana Medical Plan of Michigan, Humana Medical Plan of Pennsylvania, Humana Medical Plan of Utah, Humana Pharmacy, Humana Pharmacy Solutions, Humana Regional Health Plan, Humana Veterans Healthcare Services, Humana WellWorks LLC, Humana Wisconsin Health Organization Insurance Corporation, Humana at Home, HumanaDental, HumanaDental Insurance Company, Humco, Hummingbird Coaching Systems LLC, Independent Care Health Plan, KMG America, Kindred Healthcare, MCCI Group Holdings, MCCI Holdings, MCCI Medical Group, MCCI Specialty, MCCI/Lifetime of Aventura, MD Care, METCARE of Florida, Managed Care Indemnity, Medical Care Consortium Incorporated of Texas, MetCare, Metropolitan Health Networks, Naples Health Care Specialists, North Region Providers, Nursing Solutions, OSF HealthCare, PHP Companies, Partners in Integrated Care, Preferred Health Partnership, Preservation on Main, Primary Care Holdings, Primary Care Holdings II, Primary Care Specialists of the Palm Beaches, RMA Medical Centers of Florida, RMA Medical Group of Florida, ROHC, SeniorBridge, SeniorBridge Family Companies (CT), SeniorBridge Family Companies (FL), SeniorBridge Family Companies (IN), SeniorBridge Family Companies (MO), SeniorBridge Family Companies (NY), SeniorBridge-Florida, Texas Dental Plans, The Dental Concern, Transcend Population Health Management, and Transcend Population Health Management II. iShares MSCI Switzerland ETF's stock was trading at $35.66 on March 11th, 2020 when COVID-19 reached pandemic status according to the World Health Organization (WHO). Since then, EWL shares have increased by 42.7% and is now trading at $50.90. View which stocks have been most impacted by COVID-19. American Consumer News, LLC dba MarketBeat 2010-2021. All rights reserved. 326 E 8th St #105, Sioux Falls, SD 57103 | U.S. Based Support Team at c[email protected] | (844) 978-6257 MarketBeat does not provide personalized financial advice and does not issue recommendations or offers to buy stock or sell any security. Our Accessibility Statement | Terms of Service | Do Not Sell My Information 2021 Market data provided is at least 10-minutes delayed and hosted by Barchart Solutions. Information is provided 'as-is' and solely for informational purposes, not for trading purposes or advice, and is delayed. To see all exchange delays and terms of use please see disclaimer. Fundamental company data provided by Zacks Investment Research. Lloyds Banking Group plc, together with its subsidiaries, provides a range of banking and financial services in the United Kingdom and internationally. It operates through three segments: Retail; Commercial Banking; and Insurance and Wealth. The Retail segment offers a range of financial service products, including current accounts, savings accounts, mortgages, motor finance, unsecured loans, leasing solutions, credit cards, and other financial services to personal and small business customers. The Commercial Banking segment provides lending, transactional banking, working capital management, risk management, and debt capital market services to small and medium-sized entities, corporates, and financial institutions. The Insurance and Wealth segment offers life, home, and car insurance products; and pension, investment, and wealth management products and services. It also provides digital and mobile banking, and telephone services, as well as advisory services for savings, investments, and planning for retirement. The company offers its products and services under the Lloyds Bank, Halifax, Bank of Scotland, Scottish Widows, MBNA, Schroders Personal Wealth, Black Horse, Lex Autolease, Birmingham Midshires, LDC, IWeb, and Agricultural Mortgage Corporation brands. Lloyds Banking Group plc was founded in 1695 and is headquartered in London, the United Kingdom. Read More The Hong Kong and China Gas Company Limited, together with its subsidiaries, produces, distributes, and markets gas in Hong Kong and Mainland China. It is involved in the provision of liquefied natural gas, methanol, and coal and other chemicals; conversion and utilization of biomass, and industrial and agricultural waste; and operation of natural gas refilling stations, piped city-gas projects, upstream and midstream developments, water and wastewater treatment projects, energy exploration and utilization ventures, and aviation fuel facilities. The company supplies town gas to approximately 1.9 million customers. It also provides network connectivity, and data center and cloud computing services; and engages in the software development, solution implementation, and systems integration activities. In addition, the company offers consultancy and engineering contractor services, including utilities installation, infrastructure construction, and civil and building services engineering for public and private projects; and designs and manufactures gas meters and metering systems. Further, it is involved in water supply and wastewater treatment serving 2.4 million customers. Additionally, the company manufactures polyethylene piping and fittings; and engages in the customers center, cafA, restaurant, retail sale, automatic meter reading system development, laboratory testing, payment gateway and related, project management, landfill gas project, financing, logistics, oil, research and development, property development, and securities investment activities. The Hong Kong and China Gas Company Limited was founded in 1862 and is headquartered in North Point, Hong Kong. Read More iShares MSCI United Kingdom ETF's stock was trading at $25.60 on March 11th, 2020 when COVID-19 (Coronavirus) reached pandemic status according to the World Health Organization. Since then, EWU stock has increased by 29.0% and is now trading at $33.03. View which stocks have been most impacted by COVID-19. Stanmore Resources Limited explores for, produces, and sells metallurgical and thermal coal in Australia. The company holds interests in the Isaac Plains, Isaac Downs, Belview, The Range, Lilyvale, Mackenzie, and Clifford projects in the Bowen and Surat basins of Queensland, as well as the Millennium and Mavis Downs mine located near Moranbah, Queensland. It also exports its products. The company was formerly known as Stanmore Coal Limited and changed its name to Stanmore Resources Limited in May 2021. Stanmore Resources Limited was incorporated in 2008 and is headquartered in Brisbane, Australia. Stanmore Resources Limited is a subsidiary of Golden Investments (Australia) Pte. Ltd. Read More by Sean Fitzpatrick | Sat, Oct 27th 5:00pm EDT Wilson Chandler has been ruled out for Saturday's game versus the Hornets but is reportedly close to a return. Expect Chandler to make his 76ers debut on Monday in Philadelphia. (Keith Pompey on Twitter) by Sean Fitzpatrick | Cavaliers Correspondent | Sat, Oct 27th 6:18pm EDT Kevin Love has been ruled out for Saturday's game against the Indiana Pacers with a foot injury. Love has now missed two games in a row and the team will turn to Sam Dekker to start in his place. (Scott Agnes on Twitter) The first official estimate of the 2018 harvest shows significant falls in production of both wheat and barley compared with last year. Figures released by Defra indicate that the wheat harvest for 2018 is down by 5.1 per cent compared to 2017 and the barley harvest is 7.9 per cent lower than last year. Both are below the five-year average for the United Kingdom. The provisional 2018 wheat harvest for the UK is 14.1 million tonnes, and the five year average for 2013-2017 is 14.8 million tonnes. The provisional barley production figure for the UK is 6.6 million tonnes. The five year average for 2013-2017 is seven million tonnes. Winter and spring barley both saw decreased levels of production in 2018. The Defra report said that the fall in production came despite a 1.1 per cent increase in the area. The fall was caused by an 8.7 per cent fall in the spring barley yield. Winter barley production dropped by eight per cent to 2.7 million tonnes in 2018. This was mostly explained by a fall in the winter barley area of 6.7 per cent to 394 thousand hectares, as well as a slightly lower yield of 6.9 tonnes per hectare in 2018 compared to seven tonnes per hectare in 2017, said Defra. The combined total yield for barley sits at 5.7 tonnes per hectare for 2018, which is below the five year average of 6.2 tonnes per hectare. The planted area of oats had the largest proportional increase of the major cereal crops - rising by 7.8 per cent to 174 thousand hectares. However, the UK yield decreased by 9.2 per cent to 4.9 tonnes per hectare, caused mainly by a decrease in the yield of 11.6 per cent in England. This was partly offset by smaller decreases in Scotland and Northern Ireland. The result is a small estimated production decrease of 2.1 per cent to 0.9 million tonnes in 2018. Affected by weather The provisional oilseed rape harvest is down by 5.3 per cent to 2.1 million tonnes in 2018. There was an increase of 6.8 per cent in the planted area, but there was a decrease in total oilseed rape yield of 11.4 per cent, from 3.9 tonnes per hectare in 2017 to 3.4 tonnes per hectare in 2018. This is similar to the five year average. The total area of horticultural crops decreased by 0.3 per cent to 167 thousand hectares in 2018. Vegetables and salad for human consumption made up to per cent of this area and remained virtually unchanged at 117 thousand hectares in 2018. The Defra report says that crop production this year has been affected by the weather - high rainfall in spring and a long dry spell with high temperatures during the summer. This has caused varying yields across regions of the UK, it says. This same sentiment was expressed by the NFU following its annual harvest survey. The extreme weather events of this year have caused crop yields to become increasingly unpredictable," said NFU combinable crops board chairman, Tom Bradshaw. "Despite our favourable climate and soil conditions, farmers have experienced an incredible amount of variation in this years harvest. With Brexit, the volatility of world commodity markets and the weather adding further uncertainty, farmers will be turning to the government for ways to build financial resilience into their businesses as farm payments are phased out over the next few years. It is essential that a new domestic agriculture policy is supportive of resilience in the face of short-term localised shocks while driving long-term competitiveness. Build resilience The NFU survey indicated that wheat yields were 7.7 tonnes per hectare this year, falling below the five year average of 8.2 tonnes per hectare and hitting its lowest yield since 2013. The NFU is calling on the Government to help build resilience in the farming industry to combat volatility. The harvest picture has been the same across Europe. European Union figures indicate that cereal production is eight per cent below the average of the last five years - affected by weather conditions across the continent. The EU figures show that total cereal production for 2018 is expected to be 284.3 million tonnes, which is a decrease of five per cent compared to 2017/18 and eight per cent down on the average for the last five years. The wheat harvest has suffered the most from this summers dry conditions, it says, leading to a decrease of nine per cent compared to 2017. The wheat production forecast is set at 129 million tonnes for 2018. In a harvest report, the EU said: "Overall, EU cereal area declined slightly compared with last year (-0.6 per cent). Wet conditions in autumn 2017 hampered seedings of winter crops in the north of the EU. "Winter wheat and barley areas decreased by more than three per cent compared with the previous year and triticale plantings declined by eight per cent. "The decline in winter crop area was counter-balanced by an increase of spring and summer crop area, despite delayed sowings in March due to cold and wet conditions," said the report. It said: "Continuous high temperatures in the northern part of Europe were a major concern for farmers, especially in Germany, Poland, Scandinavia and the Baltic states. Several heatwaves hit the western part of the EU, including Belgium, the Netherlands, the UK and Ireland." According to the International Grain Council, global cereal production in 2018-2019 is expected to fall slightly, to 2,072 million tonnes (-1.4 per cent from last year) due to adverse weather conditions in key growing regions. This is mainly due to a drop in wheat output, notably in the EU. This has been partly offset by increased plantings in North America. Category Select Category Apparel/Garments Textiles Fashion Technical Textiles Information Technology E-commerce Retail Corporate Association Press Release SubCategory Select Sub-Category Dalip Refused To Shoot A Rape Scene Without The Actress's Consent Dalip told Hindustan Times, "Twenty-five years ago, I was doing a similar scene. It was one of those movies that had a rape scene. The director, whose name I won't take, actually told me, When you're doing the scene, tear the girl's clothes apart, do this and that, but we won't tell her.' I flatly refused!' When He Told The Girl What The Director Was Planning To Do, She Burst Into Tears & Ran Into A Room He further revealed, "I said, Dalip This is such an immoral thing to do.' The girl was new, and she had to make a living. I went in the opposite direction: I called the girl and said, Do you know this is what they're planning to do?' The director was aghast and almost ran away. The girl was so upset, she burst into tears and ran into a room." The #MeToo Wave Recently, the actor made headlines for filming a female actor's consent before shooting a rape scene for a web series. He said that this isn't something he has done in the wake of the MeToo wave but in fact, had he done it 25 years ago. However, he revealed that he later spoke to the girl and somehow convinced her to shoot the scene by explaining what would happen in it. 'I Have Seen Exploitation At Every Level, & Not Just Sexual' He further added, "In the past also, I've never really been [a] part of it or agreed with it, but there's only that much I can do about it. I'm a part of a movie; I'm not the director or the producer. I sure have seen exploitation at every level, and not just sexual. Workers being exploited, their living conditions, people having to work for up to 20 hours without rest, no allowance, the food is awful. With the new generation of filmmakers, I'm happy and relieved to say the atmosphere is much better." Divyanka Tripathi Divyanka Tripati is a busy actress who has spent many Karwa Chauth's on the sets. Talking about the day she said, "It mostly happens that we are shooting at different locations and we wrap up at different times. But no matter what, it is one day when we ensure that we manage to meet on time, at least by the time when the moon is visible. I will be shooting this year too, and I think now I have gotten used to shooting while fasting,". Kishwer Merchant This is what Kishwer Merchant had to say about Karwa Chauth, "Being a Muslim, I was quite used to fasting without water, so staying without food and water was not a problem. The only thing is that since we don't have our families in Mumbai, we didn't really know how to do the puja, but we managed to do the same with our friends. This year, I plan to meet my friends for the puja in the afternoon and spend my day with Suyyash." Bharti Singh The Indian comedian says, "I am very excited as it's my first Karva Chauth after marriage. My love for food is known to all, my friends and fans know that I can't control my hunger, but I am going to fast as it's a part of our tradition. I would love to celebrate it in the purest way. Aur phir pyaar apni jagah hai, ye dimag aur dil ko bahut strong kar deta hai,". Pooja Banerjee While sharing the difficulties of observing the fast, Kasautii Zindagi Kay 2 actress Pooja Banerjee said, "Last year, it was raining in Mumbai. Till late in the night, I kept looking out for the moon. In the end, I did a video call with my mother-in-law in Delhi, saw the chand and ate something,". Yuvika Chaudhary The newly-wed couple Prince and Yuvika had flown down to Maldives for their honeymoon. Today, Yuvika will be seen observing her first fast for husband Prince. Talking about this Prince said, "I feel it is crucial for me to contribute in some way for my wife's first Karva Chauth fast. This Karwa Chauth I will make sure that Yuvika has a healthy and nutritious sargi". Pankhuri Awasthi Pankhuri Awasthi and Gautam Rode got married in February, 2018. She said, "I will be home and am happy that I have got time to prepare for the festival just as I wanted. I want to follow all the rituals, wear traditional clothes and put henna. For this year's fast I got to stay at home, so that's good." Rubina Dilaik Shakti actress Rubina Dilaik and Abhinav Shukla got married in Shimla this year. Both the actors have been busy with their respective shoots. Today, Rubina will be celebrating her first Karwa Chauth with Abhinav. Homes and businesses were threatened with flood waters all along the northeastern coast. The Coast Guard was searching for a man who fell off a ship in the rough seas. Beach sand mixed with rain to coat cars on the Massachusetts coast. Roads and bridges were close by flooding and fallen trees. All that and much more occurred in areas from New Jersey to Maine as the first falls noreaster raked the coast on Saturday Tens of thousands of customers lost electricity at various times as powerful winds knocked over trees and downed power lines. In Middletown, New Jersey, four people had to be rescued from a car caught in deep water on Wilson Avenue. As we went along, the waves were coming in, passenger Abby Cimmino told the newspaper. Then we thought we could reverse out of it. But when the water started coming into the car, we opened the windows up and sat on the windows. Firefighters used a large military truck to drive into the water and rescue the four people. Saturday afternoon, the U.S. Coast Guard continued searching for a man who reportedly fell overboard earlier in the day from a container ship, the Northern Jaguar, in New Yorks Ambrose Channel. The 35-year-old man was arranging a pilot ladder in rough seas. The strong winds blasted cars in along the coast in Massachusetts, with wet sand, leaving them looking as if they were covered in snow. In the village of Freeport, New York, several feet of water flowed along the Nautical Mile. Its the highest amount of water weve had since Sandy, Mayor Robert T. Kennedy explained. In other parts of Long Island, several streets were flooded in Island Park, and one intersection was flooded with 3 feet of water, the National Weather Service said. Downed trees caused hundreds of power outages on Long Island. The Peconic River spilled over into a park in Southampton, submerging cars and rising to the top of picnic tables. The Long Island Rail Road suspended the Long Beach Branch in both directions between Valley Stream and Long Beach for several about two hours because of flooding on the tracks near Island Park Station. Speed limits were dropped to 35 mph on the Goethals Bridge from Staten Island to Elizabeth, New Jersey, and the Outerbridge Crossing from Staten Island to Perth Amboy because of high wind and rain. All northbound lanes of FDR Drive were closed from East 80 Street to East 96 Street because of flooding. In New Jersey, Hoboken Terminal was flooded and several train platforms were under water. Tidal flooding also threatened homes in Ventnor City, and the Dorset Avenue Bridge there was closed. WHOA! Some crazy flooding in Avalon Manor, NJ right now. ? from my dad, @harryalba, who is down there right now with my mom. High tide for another 20 minutes or so Our 89-yr old neighbor has lived there for over 20 years and said shes never seen it this high! pic.twitter.com/FJL1Ae1hEC Matt Alba (@mattalbaPHL17) October 27, 2018 Several houses were flooded in Manasquan, and one person had to be helped from a home. A number of roads in the town were closed. Coastal flooding also was pushing water toward homes in Tuckerton Beach and Sea Bright, and they lapped at buildings in Avalon and Stone Harbor. Tidal flooding also occurred in Point Pleasant, Long Beach Township and Little Egg Harbor, along with downed trees throughout Ocean County. Water still coming up. 2.5 to 3 feet now along the nautical mile in Freeport. #nywx pic.twitter.com/wSQ0wff9EI Nicholas Isabella (@NYCStormChaser) October 27, 2018 The powerful wind gusts knocked down trees and power lines in Warren Township, New Jersey. Downed trees closed all lanes State Highway 50 in Estell Manor. The Ocean City-Longport Bridge was closed, and police were directing motorists to the Atlantic City Expressway. Numerous streets and highways were closed for hours at a time. In Connecticut, the Fairfield Fire Department helped evacuate residents of Fairfield Beach Road. A number of shorefront roads in Westport were closed because of flooding. Two ferry lines that travel between Connecticut and New York across Long Island Sound canceled some Saturday service. The Bridgeport-Port Jefferson ferry suspended all trips from 6 a.m. to 3 p.m. More than 8,000 customers lost power in Maine because of the storm. Follow us on Facebook and Twitter or become a Patron on Patreon / donate through Paypal. Please and thank you. Weather.com Noreaster Brings Flooding, Power Outages from New Jersey to Maine ERFURT, Germany, October 28, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- German Environmental Prize awarded to marine biologist Antje Boetius and a team of wastewater experts from Leipzig The German Environmental Foundation (DBU) has awarded the German Environmental Prize for the 26th time. Today in Erfurt, German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier and theHead of the Board of Trustees of the DBU and Parliamentary State Secretary at the Federal Ministry for the Environment, Rita Schwarzeluhr-Sutter, presented marine biologist Antje Boetius (51, Bremerhaven) and an interdisciplinary team of wastewater experts from Leipzig that includes Roland A. Muller (55), Manfred van Afferden (57), Mi-Yong Lee (47) and Wolf-Michael Hirschfeld (70) with the 2018 German Environmental Prize -the most prestigious independent environmental prize in Europe with a remuneration of EUR 500,000. With this year's prize, the DBU is highlighting the importance of our oceans when it comes to protecting our climate, biodiversity and food supply, while also warning of the dangers of climate change, pollution and overfishing. This year's prize also draws attention to the United Nations' call to action to provide the world's population with safe drinking water and adequate sanitation by 2030, which would serve to significantly improve living conditions around the globe. Oceans act as the most important heat stores on the planet The DBU emphasized that oceans provide an important habitat for both flora and fauna, regulate the Earth's climate and act as the most important heat stores on the planet. They have mitigated many of the effects of industrialisation and have absorbed a great deal of carbon dioxide and heat. In large part, they determine the Earth's weather patterns as well because they often serve as the source of winds, storms and precipitation. And right now, our oceans are in critical condition. The melting of the polar ice caps, global warming, industrialisation, overfishing, and unimaginable quantities of waste all pose growing threats to this ecosystem. The number of so-called "dead zones" in the world's oceans - hypoxic or low-oxygen areas that are unable to support marine life - have grown by more than one-third since 1995. There are currently 400 of these dead zones around the world covering an area of more than 245,000 km[2], which is more than two-thirds the size of Germany. A ground-breaking step for better living conditions for local populations This is also due, in part, to the fact that 80 to 90 per cent of wastewater in developing countries is discharged untreated directly into rivers, lakes and the oceans. The DBU has called the implementation a functioning, manageable, low-maintenance, cost- and energy-efficient sanitation sector in these countries a ground-breaking step in terms of improving the lives of the people currently living these countries, as well as the lives of their children and their children's children. At the same time, there is still so much we do not know about the oceans' ecosystems, and it is vital that we close these gaps in our knowledge in order to understand the connection between microbial diversity in the deep sea and global shifts such as climate change. According to the DBU, we must first understand these processes in order to understand the global climate cycle and act on these findings. Demonstrating the impact of deep-sea bacteria on the global climate Antje Boetius, deep-sea and polar researcher and Director of the Alfred Wegener Institute's Helmholtz Centre for Polar and Marine Research, was lauded as an outstanding scientist with an extraordinary talent for understanding systemic processes in the world's oceans from an interdisciplinary perspective and for conveying the relationships between them. Through her research, she has demonstrated the impact of deep-sea bacteria on the global climate: these bacteria ensure that only part of the harmful methane gas trapped in the ocean can escape into the atmosphere, thus preventing the planet from heating even faster. The marine biologist, ecosystem researcher and science communicator has repeatedly proven that human activity can be detected in the farthest reaches of the Earth. Protecting a yet-unexplored world against destructive deep-sea mining practices In Boetius' view, along with climate change, the global fishing industry has already seriously altered the world's oceans. Her aim is to ensure that the yet-unexplored world of the deep sea does not fall victim to destructive deep-sea mining practices required to mine raw materials such as manganese, iron, cobalt and rare metals. Our oceans must be understood as part of our planet and of our society as a whole, and thus as a crucial aspect of the sustainability aims of the United Nations. The biological diversity in our oceans and polar regions are also an important resource for our future and must therefore be protected. Pioneering work and capacity development in Jordan As advocates for water resource protection, the team around the group of researchers at the Environment and Biotechnology Centre of the Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research (Muller, van Afferden, Lee) and Wolf-Michael Hirschfeld, the initiator of the Training and Demonstration Centre for Decentralized Sewage Treatment, was honoured for their pioneering work in the area of capacity development in Jordan. Jordan is one of the top three countries in the world most affected by water scarcity and, in recent years, its population has grown by nearly 70 per cent from 5.6 million to 9.5 million (2016) due to the influx of refugees from Syria. The team took an interdisciplinary scientific approach, worked in an advisory capacity in terms of economics, acted as intermediaries in terms of politics, helped to inform the general public, and also took an active role in the practical implementation of the project. Water scarcity as a major cause of migration Decentralised, flexible wastewater management systems, which can also be used to supplement existing systems, allow wastewater to be treated at the point of origin while also protecting the groundwater from wastewater contamination and preserving drinking water as a resource. In order to realise this project, the team had to overcome not only the boundaries between the natural, engineering and social sciences, but above all the boundaries between research and practice. This project is crucial because around two billion people around the world are forced to use drinking water that is contaminated with faeces. Alongside poverty, a lack of economic prospects and a lack of political participation, difficult living conditions including water scarcity are one of the main causes of migration. Background information: With the German Environmental Prize, which is being awarded this year for the 26th time, the German Environmental Foundation (DBU) recognizes the achievements of persons who have contributed to the protection and conservation of the environment in an exemplary way, or who will contribute to environmental relief in Germany in the future. The prize - which is independent and, with a prize amount of EUR 500,000, the richest prize of its kind in Europe - can be awarded for projects and individual measures, as well as to honour an individual's lifetime achievements. Candidates for the German Environmental Prize are nominated to the DBU by groups such as employer's associations and labour unions, churches, environmental organisations and nature conservancies, scientific associations and research councils, as well as media, trade and commercial associations. Individuals may not nominate themselves. A jury of independent, prominent experts from the fields of industry, science and technology as well as from various societal organisations is selected by the DBU Board of Trustees and makes a recommendation on who they feel should be awarded the prize for that year. The DBU Board of Trustees then makes the final decision. For more information on the 2018 prize winners, please see: https://www.dbu.de/123artikel37810_2442.html Contact Franz-Georg Elpers - Press Officer - Kerstin Heemann Julie Milch Gesa Wannick DBU Contact An der Bornau 2 49090 Osnabruck Germany Phone: +49(0)541-9633-521 Fax: +49(0)541-9633-198 presse@dbu.de http://www.dbu.de ERFURT, Germany, October 28, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- The German President presented the DBU's German Environmental Prize today in Erfurt German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier thanked "thousands of people" in Germany for ensuring that "mainstream society has truly become aware" of both the environment and environmental protection. At the award ceremony for the German Environmental Foundation's (DBU) German Environmental Prize that was held today in Erfurt, he emphasized the fact that environmental issues and climate protection affect all of us, and that "every one of us can make a difference." However, we can only combat an issue of this magnitude "if we view the environment and climate protection in a global context. Environmental issues do not stop at national borders, and neither does environmental protection. The effects of climate change are already apparent around the world, and they are a matter of life and death." -Steinmeier personally handed over the richest independent environmental prize in Europe to marine biologist Antje Boetius (Bremerhaven) and an interdisciplinary team of wastewater experts from Leipzig made up of Roland A. Muller, Manfred van Afferden, Mi-Yong Lee and Wolf-Michael Hirschfeld. "It will be fatal if one of the largest greenhouse gas emitters in the world withdraws." In front of an audience of around 1,200 guests, which included the Jordanian Ambassador to Germany, Basheer Zoubi, the Parliamentary State Secretary of the Jordanian Ministry of Water and Irrigation, Ali Subah, Thuringia's Minister of Environment, Anja Siegesmund, and previous DBU award winner and former federal minister, Klaus Topfer, Steinmeier, referring to the US, warned that it will be "fatal if one of the largest greenhouse gas emitters in the world withdraws and even goes as far as to call these multilateral partnerships into question." Even though the road to global solutions can be bumpy and we will continue to experience further setbacks, we need to "work together across all governmental and non-governmental levels in order to create a larger working alliance." President Steinmeier: "We are able to and will continue to make progress when all of us who still believe in multilateral solutions work together - and there are a lot of us around the world, even in the US!" Steinmeier calls on Germany to fulfil its international obligations The effects of climate change have not merely been calculated or predicted for the distant future. We can already see them for ourselves today: melting glaciers, greater damage from more frequent storms, and shifts in the distribution of vegetation are all tangible signs, and this year, after a record-breaking summer, the topics of water and drought have become "kitchen table issues in Germany as well." We need to work together and act swiftly, Steinmeier warned: "And, of course, we in Germany need to fulfil the international obligations that we have entered into. I feel confident that we can do it! And others are counting on us, with our strong national economy, to continue to take a leading role the way that we did when it came to the introduction of renewable energies and environmentally friendly technology." Conflicts over the climate and environmental protection, such as the recent events surrounding Hambach Forest, are becoming increasingly rancorous. But in order for us to solve the countless, urgent problems that we are facing, all societal actors need to be involved so that we can continue to find a balance between ecological, societal, economical and industrial interests. It is encouraging that that the UN's 2030 Agenda has already resulted in tremendous progress on an international level. The international community is able to agree on shared goals - also when it comes to climate protection. Like any multilateral agreement, the 2015 Paris Agreement was not perfect, but it has served as the basis for all further cooperation - "and it must continue to do so in the future." "Climate change and water scarcity are forcing more and more people to flee." Water is essential to our survival, and therefore protecting our water supply is also of central importance. In many parts of the world, more than two billion people do not have access to clean water, making survival a daily struggle. Steinmeier: "Increasingly, we are seeing regions go from receiving very little rain to no rain at all. Climate change and water scarcity are forcing more and more people to flee." For that reason, Steinmeier said, he is unsure if the Northwest Passage becoming more navigable is necessarily good news, but it is certainly proof that large-scale climate change will significantly change the conditions in the Polar Sea, and if the polar ice disappears, this would not only result in an increase in sea levels, and would not only endanger many coastal regions, but would also threaten the existence of entire island communities. Furthermore, if the polar ice melts completely, it could permanently destroy the balance of the earth's climate. "You are also giving people hope, and that is extremely important." For this reason, he was pleased to present the German Environmental Prize to scientists who are working to protect the world's fresh water supplies and oceans. Professor Boetius, for example, leaves no doubt as to how advanced climate change has already become, and on the urgency to act. But, despite this, her message is not pessimistic; rather, her optimism has the power to inspire others. For her, the hole in the ozone layer, which has evidently slowly begun to close back up now that the problem has been identified and the international community has introduced corrective measures, is an example that allows us to have hope in the rationality and accountability of our fellow man. The work of the Leipzig-based team of wastewater experts is making a significant contribution towards helping Jordan - one of the most arid countries in the world - move closer to the United Nations' goal of clean water for all, even though the country has opened its doors to more than 650,000 Syrian war refugees, and has unofficially taken on closer to twice that number. According to Steinmeier, the fact that Jordan continues to welcome these refugees is an act of generosity that "cannot be overstated." For Jordan, protecting their valuable water supply is a matter of life and death. With their decentralised, flexible wastewater management systems, they have introduced a paradigm shift with the aim of nearly doubling the amount of treated wastewater in the country by 2025. About the prize winners, Steinmeier said: "They are not only achieving breakthroughs, but are also demonstrating solutions and alternatives, ways in which we can improve our future! And that is incredibly important in this age of crises, upheaval and uncertainty. They are showing us that climate change is not simply a foregone conclusion, but rather that we can do something about it and work to change our future." Jury praises the prize winners' dedication As a member of this year's jury for the German Environmental Prize, which provides recommendations on the basis of which the DBU Board of Trustees selects the year's prize winners, Heidi Foth (Director of the Institute for Environmental Toxicology at the Faculty of Medicine of Martin Luther University Halle) and Bettina Lorenz (co-founder of the initiative "Zukunft selber machen - Junge Nachhaltigkeitsideen e.V." and DBU scholarship recipient) discussed the achievements of the 2018 prize recipients. Foth praised Boetius for being able to take a relatively complex field of research and disseminate it into the wider society. Boetius makes it clear that by breaking down methane gas, deep-sea microbes act as a sort of protective shield for us. Foth went on to say that Professor Boetius' presentation was truly eye-opening for her: "We have a lot of work to do together." About the prize winners from Leipzig, Bettina Lorenz said that they were not only able to provide the technological services required to develop wastewater treatment systems, but also install these systems in a region that is unusual for such a technology-oriented group. To succeed at all the levels required in order to implement this type of project is "incredibly impressive". Boetius: Vanishing sea ice, climate change, environmental pollution and plastic waste is "dramatic". In films that were shown during the ceremony and in discussions with the moderator, Judith Rakers, the prize winners once again made their positions clear. Antje Boetius said that the deep sea is one of the largest inhabited environments on the planet, and yet we have only researched a fraction of a per cent of it. She emphasized the importance of the microorganisms on the ocean floor that trap harmful methane gas, preventing it from escaping into the atmosphere. Boetius: "Without them, we would essentially live on a completely different planet." When it comes to the global emissions of equally harmful carbon dioxide (CO 2 ), Boetius warned that we must act quickly: "While we sit here thinking about what we should do, if we really need to cut our CO 2 emissions, everything is already changing." Boetius used the words "dramatic" and "scary" to describe not only the rapid disappearance of the polar ice and the speed at which the climate is changing, but also the significant quantity of pollutants and plastic waste that are ending up both on the ocean floor and the ocean surface. For her, "it's all or nothing, right now." We need to take the knowledge acquired by observing the deep sea and our climate and earth models and "bring it directly to our society in order to determine how we need to prepare ourselves for the future." Boetius: "This is absolutely essential!" "We can make a tangible difference in terms of conserving resources and promoting wastewater treatment." Roland A. Muller, a member of the Leipzig-based team that received this year's prize, pointed out the fact that approximately 90 per cent of wastewater around the world is discharged into the environment either untreated or poorly treated. For that reason, it must be our goal to significantly increase the amount of clean, treated water available "for future generations." Local solutions are particularly environmentally friendly because the waste water is treated and stays in the community where it was created, and where it can be reused, explained Mi-Yong Lee. When it came to the wastewater project in Jordan and building a wastewater research and demonstration centre near the border to Israel, it was important to raise awareness among the local population through direct contact so that they could develop a personal connection the solutions being introduced, said Wolf-Michael Hirschfeld. This type of process can "help stabilise the situation and improve communication between the countries," added Manfred van Afferden. Muller, summarising: "Naturally, as researchers we can't save the world; but I think that our work has demonstrated concrete ways in which we can help to conserve resources and promote wastewater treatment." IPTC-compliant photos are available for publication free of charge at http://www.dbu.de Contact Franz-Georg Elpers - Press Officer - Kerstin Heemann Julie Milch Gesa Wannick DBU Contact An der Bornau 2 49090 Osnabruck Germany Phone: +49(0)541-9633521 Fax: +49(0)541-9633198 presse@dbu.de http://www.dbu.de J Srinivasa Rao attacked YSR Congress chief Jagan Mohan Reddy at Visakhapatnam airport on Thursday while he was heading back to Hyderabad. Amaravati: The recent assault on YSR Congress president YS Jagan Mohan Reddy at Visakhapatnam airport by a restaurant employee was an attempt to murder him, according to the remand report submitted by police in a court. J Srinivasa Rao was a "staunch supporter" of Reddy, police told a metropolitan court following a preliminary probe, while seeking remand of the accused. The YSRC had claimed that the cafeteria where the assailant was employed was owned by ruling Telugu Desam Party (TDP) leader Harshavardhan, who was aspiring to contest the next Assembly election from the district. The attack on Reddy, who escaped with a "deep" cut on his left shoulder led to a political slugfest. between the ruling TDP and the Opposition YSR Congress. The assailant, J Srinivasa Rao, attacked Jagan "to do away with him" and caused a bleeding injury in furtherance of his attempt, the airport police said. The report, a copy of which was made available to the media Sunday, was submitted in a Visakhapatnam metropolitan magistrate court on 26 October, and it said Rao was "mentally prepared" for the attack. Had the knife slashed Jagan's neck, it might have turned fatal and since he turned towards his right side and the hit landed on his left shoulder, causing a bleeding injury, the report said. Rao made the attempt when a party leader was clicking a selfie with the YSR chief. The assailant took out a small knife and attacked the leader, the report said, adding that the accused had committed the offence of attempt to murder (IPC section 307). The report also mentioned the seizing of a letter from Rao, which indicated that he was worried about the grievances of poor people. Rao strongly believed that if the YSR Congress comes to power, appropriate steps would be taken to sort out the grievances of the poor people, the report by the Investigating Officer said. The report also makes a mention about the assailant wanting to make a "representation" to Jagan on the grievances of the poor. However, it did not elaborate on why he did not make any representation and instead attacked the leader. After the attack, Rao was overpowered by CISF personnel and handed over to the state police. Reddy, who is the leader of Opposition, later checked into a private hospital in Hyderabad where doctors treated him for his injury. While Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu, who also heads the TDP, had targeted the Centre over the incident, Civil Aviation Minister Suresh Prabhu had condemned the "cowardly attack" on Reddy and sought a thorough probe by all agencies. Jammu and Kashmir policeman Imtiyaz Mir was reportedly first abducted and then shot at point-blank range by militants in Pulwama district. His body was found in the Chewa Kalan region. The bullet-ridden body of a Jammu and Kashmir Police sub-inspector was found in the state's Pulwama district on Sunday, police said. The deceased has been identified as Imtiyaz Mir from Pulwama, who worked with the Criminal Investigation Department. The body was found in the district's Chewa Kalan region in South Kashmir. According to a report in The Tribune, Mir was in plain clothes and was travelling when suspected militants attacked him. He was reportedly first abducted and then shot at point-blank range. The Jammu and Kashmir Police have registered a case, and an investigation has been taken up, officials said. Mir had shaved off his beard and changed his appearance in an unsuccessful attempt to dodge militants who had laid a death trap for him in his village, his colleagues said on Sunday. He had been warned against venturing into his village as there was a possibility of attack by militant groups, who have been targeting policemen in the state recently. "I had told him that he should not go as militants could attack. But he was desperate to see his parents who reside at Sontabugh in the interiors of Pulwama district," recalled one of his supervising officers. This morning as he was preparing to leave for home, he came with a changed appearance. He shaved off his beard and decided to use his personal vehicle to go to his native village, the officer said. "Now they (militants) will not be able to recognise me" were possibly his last words to his officer before he left for home with a smiling face as he was seeing his parents after a long time. Mir is survived by his father and mother. Son of a retired police officer, Mir, who was from 2010 batch of sub-inspector, had served in Ganderbal district of South Kashmir for five years before being transferred to Kulgam district last year. He was shifted to the CID department in March this year and his superiors recalled his dedication towards his work. Militants have been targeting policemen in the state and killed two special police officer and a constable last month, triggering an unrest in the lower ranks of the force with some SPOs declaring their resignation on social media. In fact, some militants had claimed that Mir had also submitted his resignation. When the body of Mir was being brought to Pulwama district lines by a police team from Wahibugh, it was attacked by stone pelters as security forces had launched a cordon-and-search operations in Chewa and the area where he was shot dead. The police have also launched a probe to ascertain how the information about his journey to home had been leaked to militant groups, who had been waiting to ambush him at Wahibugh. With inputs from PTI The passenger, Satyanarayana Gubbala from Andhra Pradesh was scheduled to fly from Mumbai to Hyderabad but suddenly collapsed near Terminal-2 of Mumbai Airport due to a cardiac arrest on Friday. Mumbai: Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) Assistant Sub-inspector (ASI) Mohit Kumar Sharma, along with two other CISF personnel, gave cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) to a passenger who suffered a cardiac arrest at Mumbai Airport. The man was later shifted to Nanavati Hospital in Mumbai and his condition is now stable. The passenger, Satyanarayana Gubbala from Andhra Pradesh was scheduled to fly from Mumbai to Hyderabad but suddenly collapsed near Terminal-2 of Mumbai Airport due to a cardiac arrest on Friday. The message was immediately passed on to Mumbai International Airport Ltd (MIAL) Medical team. ASI Mohit Kumar Sharma of CISF, who was deployed there as a screener, acted swiftly with other CISF personnel and gave CPR to the passenger for several minutes till the medical team arrived with their kit. Later, the MIAL Doctor attended to him and provided necessary first-aid and kept him for some time in the airport for stabilisation before shifting him to Nanavati Hospital in a GVK Ambulance. The act of providing CPR timely to the passenger by CISF personnel was appreciated by the fellow passengers as well as the MIAL medical team. Today's top stories: Narendra Modi arrives in Japan; 11 dead after synagogue shooting in Pittsburgh; Defending champions India to play Pakistan in the final for the Asian Champions Trophy, and more. Narendra Modi to meet Japanese PM Shinzo Abe today Prime Minister Narendra Modi arrived in Tokyo on Saturday night for a two-day visit. Modi will take part in an annual summit between the two nations and will engage with his counterpart Shinzo Abe on a range of issues including defence and regional security. Abe will take Modi to his personal home in Yamanashi for a private dinner on Sunday following which both the leaders will travel to Tokyo by train. "This is very special gesture PM Abe is making. We believe this is the first time a foreign leader is visiting PM Abe's holiday home," Foreign Secretary Vijay Gokhale said, referring to the dinner for Modi. In the afternoon of Sunday, Abe will host an informal lunch for Modi at a hotel with a view of Mount Fuji, and both the leaders will take a stroll at the grounds of the hotel. Then they will visit a company which is a leading manufacturer of factory automation, Gokhale said, adding Abe has taken personal interests in working out the programme for Modi's visit. On Monday evening, Modi and Abe will hold wide-ranging talks with a focus on bilateral, regional and global issues of mutual concerns which will include exploring ways to deepen cooperation in the Indo-Pacific region, boosting defence and security ties and undertaking infrastructure projects in Asia and Africa in a trilateral framework. "It goes without saying that Indo-Pacific will be a major topic for discussion between both the leaders," said the foreign secretary. This will be the 13th annual summit and the fifth one to be attended by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Gokhale told reporters. Asian Champions Trophy, 2018 final Defending champions India maintained their unbeaten run in the tournament as they beat Asian Games gold medallists Japan 3-2 in the semi-final. Manpreet Singh and Co will now face arch-rivals Pakistan in the final on Sunday. India, ranked fifth in the world, are clearly the favourites for the title against Pakistan, who are placed 13th in the FIH rankings. 11 killed in shooting at synagogue in US' Pittsburgh A gunman on Saturday opened fire at a Jewish synagogue in the US city of Pittsburgh, killing at least 11 people and injuring several others including four policemen, in the deadliest "anti-Semitic attack" in America in years. The gunman will face federal charges that carry the death penalty, the US Justice Department said. "Hatred and violence on the basis of religion can have no place in our society," Attorney General Jeff Sessions said. The shooter, Robert Bowers, 46, surrendered after he was injured during an exchange of fire with the police, according to local media reports. Before opening fire, he reportedly yelled, "All Jews must die!" FBI agents reached the 'Tree of Life' Congregation Synagogue at Squirrel Hill area in Pittsburgh, where a large number of people had gathered for a baby naming ceremony when the shooting took place. The motive was not immediately known. President Donald Trump responded to the incident to a rally crowd at an airplane hangar in rural Illinois. He said: It will require all of us working together to extract the hateful poison of anti-Semitism. The scourge of anti-Semitism cant be ignored. Chhattisgarh elections: Congress releases third list of 37 candidates The Congress Central Election Committee on Saturday released its third list of 37 candidates for the Chhattisgarh elections, who will be polled in the second phase on 20 November. According to a party statement, Chhattisgarh Pradesh Congress Committee (PCC) chief Bhupesh Baghel will contest from the Patan Assembly constituency. Baghel was embroiled in an alleged sex CD scandal involving a state minister. TS Singh Deo, the Congress Legislature Party leader, will contest from Ambikapur, while former Union Minister Charan Das Mahant will contest from Sakti. In two earlier lists, the Congress had announced the names of 18 candidates that will contest the elections in the first phase on 12 November. In the first phase polling, the Congress has fielded former prime minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee's niece Karuna Shukla from Rajnandgaon Assembly constituency against Chief Minister Raman Singh. Former Delhi CM Madan Lal Khurana passes away Former Delhi chief minister Madan Lal Khurana passed away in New Delhi on Saturday after a prolonged illness, his family said. Khurana, who was 82, is survived by his wife, a son and two daughters. A veteran of the BJP, Khurana was the chief minister of Delhi from 1993 to 1996 and was appointed the governor of Rajasthan in 2004. "He breathed his last at around 11 pm at his Kirti Nagar residence in Delhi," his son Harish Khurana told PTI. He said Khurana was suffering from a chest infection and fever from last few days and was feeling breathless since Saturday morning. He had suffered a brain haemorrhage about five years ago and was ailing since then. His last rites would be held tomorrow, his family said. Kannada actress Sruthi Hariharan files complaint against Arjun Sarja Kannada film actress Sruthi Hariharan on Saturday filed a sexual harassment case with the police against actor Arjun Sarja, a week after she had named him on social media. "We have registered an FIR (First Information Report) and booked the accused (Arjun) under various sections of the IPC on a complaint Sruthi filed at the Cubbon Park police station through her lawyer," Deputy Commissioner of Police (Central) D Devaraj told reporters. Sruthi, 29, had named Arjun, 54, in her Facebook post on 20 October, accusing him of sexually harassing her on the sets of a Kannada film in 2016. She also referred to two other incidents in November and December of 2015 in her complaint. LaLiga El Clasico, Barcelona vs Real Madrid Julen Lopetegui dismissed concerns that he is on the brink of being sacked as coach of Real Madrid as his team prepare for Sunday's Clasico against a Barcelona side missing the injured Lionel Messi. The pressure is on Lopetegui after Real went on a run of five games without a win, losing four and scoring just one goal in that time. Madan Lal Khurana died on Saturday night at his home in Delhi. He was 83. New Delhi: The Delhi government on Sunday declared a two-day state mourning following the death of former chief minister and senior BJP leader Madan Lal Khurana. "We all are deeply saddened to hear of the demise of veteran leader and former CM of Delhi Madan Lal Khuranaji. As a mark of respect to the departed soul, state mourning shall be observed by Delhi government for two days," Delhi Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia tweeted. We all are deeply saddened to hear of the demise of veteran leader & former CM of Delhi Shri Madan Lal Khurana ji. As a mark of respect to the departed soul, state mourning shall be observed by Delhi govt for 2 days. Manish Sisodia (@msisodia) October 28, 2018 Khurana died on Saturday night at his home in Delhi. He was 83. Lieutenant-Governor of Delhi Anil Baijal and Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal also expressed their condolences over the senior leader's death. "Extremely saddened to learn about the demise of former Chief Minister of Delhi Madan Lal Khurana. He will be remembered by all for his contribution to the development of Delhi. My deepest condolences," Baijal tweeted on Sunday. Born on 15 October, 1936, Khurana served as chief minister from 1993 to 1996. He resigned amid controversy in relation to a hawala scandal. Khurana also served as the Minister of Parliamentary Affairs and Minister of Tourism in late prime minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee's government. US President Donald Trump has reportedly turned down India's invitation to be the chief guest at the 70th Republic Day parade on 26 January 2019. US President Donald Trump has reportedly turned down India's invitation to be the chief guest at the 70th Republic Day parade on 26 January 2019. The Indian government was hopeful that Trump would attend but it has received information that a visit at that time won't be possible for the US president, The Asian Age reported. This comes at a time when the India-US relationship is already testing troubled waters. The US had recently issued a warning against India if it goes ahead with signing the S-400 missile system deal with Russia but India went ahead and signed the deal for five such systems when Russian President Vladimir Putin came down to the country earlier in October. Besides this, the Trump administration has been threatening India with sanctions if it continues to procure oil from Iran, however, India hasn't yet stopped its import from the West Asian country. According to an India Today report, the reason cited by the Trump administration to turn down the invite is that Trump has other pressing engagement on the same date. Trump reportedly has to deliver the State of The Union (SOTU) address and its timing coincides with the Republic Day celebrations in New Delhi. The address, according to reports, includes a budget message and an economic report of the nation, and also allows the president to propose their outlined legislative agenda and national priorities. However, in 2015 when the then US President Barack Obama visited India for Republic Day the date of the SOTU address was postponed. The date of the address is not fixed, but it has to be delivered between 22 January and the first week of February. In August, White House press secretary Sarah Sanders had confirmed that Trump had received an invitation to visit India. "I know that the invitation has been extended, but I do not believe that a final decision has been made," Sanders had told reporters then. However, according to The Times of India, Trump's decision was conveyed in the form of a letter from US authorities to NSA Ajit Doval recently. The letter is said to have comprised a regret message from the US president. Meanwhile, the foreign ministry has not given an official statement yet and the American embassy in Delhi has said that only the White House can talk on the president's travel plans, NDTV reported. While many in the Pakistan govt likely to term failure to act against Hafiz Saeed's JuD, FIF as an oversight, they give enough cause for concern to those who worry for Pakistans overall nuisance potential especially in the context of nuclear assets Pakistan is indeed a strange country beyond any sense of rationalism. Only three days ago Human Rights Minister Shireen Mazari presented a strategic conflict resolution model for Jammu and Kashmir with the intent that the international community could get India to negotiate on the alleged dispute. Since his election to office, Prime Minister Imran Khan has urged India a number of times to engage in talks without offering any commensurate commitment towards cessation of sponsored terror in Jammu and Kashmir or elsewhere in India. The Financial Action Task Force (FATF), which identifies national-level vulnerabilities with the aim of protecting the international financial system from misuse, has placed Pakistan on its grey list for its failure to take sufficient action to curb financial networks that support and assist terror-related activities. Down to just $8.5 billion in foreign exchange reserves, Pakistan, which has been struggling with a failing economy, has just been given a short lease of life in the form of a $3billion deposit and similar quantum of energy support, by Saudi Arabia. Even as Pakistan reportedly seeks a $9-10 billion bailout from the International Monetary Fund (IMF), an organisation majorly controlled by the US, on 26 October, 2018, Pakistan took the decision to lift its internal ban on the JuD and Falah-e-Insaniyat Foundation (FIF), headed by 26/11 mastermind and well-known terrorist leader Hafiz Saeed. Both the organisations and Saeed had been banned by a presidential ordinance after they came on the UN Security Council terror list. Saeed recently challenged the ordinance on grounds that the Khan-led Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) government has taken no action to convert the ordinance into law within the prescribed 120 days. The United Nations Security Council had designated JuD as a terrorist organisation under Resolution 1,267 after the Mumbai attacks. In 2014, the US administration had added JuD in the global terrorist organisations' list. Though Khans government has the option of extending the ordinance for another four months after which if not converted to law by the legislature, the ordinance will lapse, it hasn't. Most times, it's extremely difficult to understand Pakistan as a nation. At one end, its citizenry fully acknowledge that Saeed and his organisation only mean trouble for Pakistans already low international reputation, especially at a time when the nation is in dire straits on the economic front. But internally, there is, a fairly large segment which is enamoured by the JuD and FIFs social activities. The organisation under its original avatar Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) was at the forefront of rescue and relief work during the 2008 earthquake in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir and runs several charity organisations which draws to it a degree of emotional support but does not manifest into political dividend. Since the JuD creates no internal disturbances and largely focuses on terror activities in India (more specifically in Jammu and Kashmir) and to an extent in Afghanistan, it's supported by the deep state and evokes a positive response from common citizens. Fund collection drives in the name of jihad in Jammu and Kashmir are extremely popular. However, the reputation it carries internationally, especially after the 26/11 Mumbai Attacks, has placed it on watch lists and constant surveillance. Branded as friendly terrorists in the parlance of Pakistans strange internal security environment the JuDs virulent anti-India stance helps keep it afloat and accepted despite a $10 million bounty on Saeeds head. It's not as if the JuDs nuisance potential is not recognised by the deep state. A senior retired US Army officer mentioned that when the Pakistan Army Chief was once privately queried on why doesn't, in the interest of better India-Pak relations, the Pakistan Army stop the JuD from carrying out infiltration into Indian territory, the reply was that: it was a good safety valve to let out the steam. He felt that by being focused towards India, the JuD remained a strategic asset which could otherwise be an immense nuisance internally if restrained from its objectives. None can, however, explain how Pakistan runs the risk of large scale hostilities with India given that the JuDs actions lead to events that act as triggers for India to respond militarily. Pakistan appears convinced that India is unprepared to risk a nuclear conflagration and therefore feels confident that it can continue this policy within Indias limits of tolerance. A greater Indian demonstration of will could act as a restraint on Pakistans use of JuD as a strategic asset. The above notions now appear at risk. Clearly, the combined effect of national financial bankruptcy, FATF monitoring, application for IMF bailout, Indias diplomatic offensive, the lack of any commensurate Chinese initiative for economic bailout, and the questioning about the viability of coercive debt traps in nations partnered by China for the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) (Pakistan being one of the flag bearers with its CPEC), should place Pakistan under immense pressure. The only explanation for Pakistan remaining fairly unconcerned about the risk it is running for a potential meltdown financially as well as from a law and order angle is that it realises its own nuisance potential. Its geostrategic location being such it demands international attention. The US under President DOnald Trump has displayed a higher level of coercive capability against Pakistan but at the end of the day it's only Pakistans cooperation which can stabilise Afghanistan to allow the US to leave with its head held high. Its strategic nuclear assets remain a source of great worry so a meltdown is not something that the international community can ever allow in Pakistan. The deep state led by the Pakistan Army thus has its stakes high and is willing to run risks. Actions against Saeed and JuD constitute disturbing the internal balance, and drawing down from a proxy war against India that Pakistan perceives it is winning is not acceptable. So, nothing is likely to happen on the lapse of the ordinance. At the most, a second ordinance for another 120 days will be issued and a forced constitutional amendment could well be on the cards to overlook the JuD and 66 other organisations which come under the purview of the ordinance. While many in the Pakistan government will offer oversight as a reason for this lapse with supposed more important issues occupying Khans mind, it is clear that Saeed, JuD and FIF are strategic assets in more ways than just terrorists aimed at India. They give enough cause for concern to those who worry for Pakistans overall nuisance potential especially in the context of the compulsive issue of strategic nuclear assets. The more that threat is subtly played out, the greater the chances of bailout packages being made available. As stated earlier rationality is not something which can be applied in analysing Pakistan. In a message published in Indian newspapers on the day Shinzo Abe hosted Narendra Modi at his holiday home in the picturesque Yamanashi prefecture, west of Tokyo, he recalled that the first Japanese prime minister to visit India was his grandfather Nobusuke Kishi in 1957. Tokyo/New Delhi: Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe Sunday said he will be a "friend of India for life" as he and Prime Minister Narendra Modi began two days of summit talks to further deepen the Japan-India strategic partnership. In a message published in Indian newspapers on the day Abe hosted Modi at his holiday home in the picturesque Yamanashi prefecture, west of Tokyo, he recalled that the first Japanese prime minister to visit India was his grandfather Nobusuke Kishi in 1957. "At the time when Japan was not so wealthy, Prime Minister (Jawaharlal) Nehru introduced Prime Minister Kishi in front of thousands of people as the Japanese Prime Minister whom he respects," Abe noted. Following Prime Minister Kishi's visit to India in 1957, yen loans to the country began in 1958. Abe, who was elected prime minister for the first time in 2006, comes from a politically prominent family. "Engraving the history in my heart, I have devoted myself to nurturing this friendship with India," Abe said in his article. He recalled that when he visited India in 2007, he was honoured to deliver a speech in the Parliament of India, the largest democratic country in the world. He said that he spoke of the "confluence of the two seas" in his speech which would lead to the vision of a free and open Indo-Pacific. When he visited Ahmedabad, Prime Minister Modi's home state, Gujarat, in September last year, the Japanese premier said he received an "overwhelmingly warm welcome" by the people of India. "Immersed in the strong impression and thinking of my grandfather's visit to India, I swore that I would remain a friend of India for life," the 64-year-old leader of the Liberal Democratic Party said in the letter. Prime Minister Modi, who arrived in Tokyo Saturday evening to attend the 13th India-Japan annual summit, has said that his meeting with Abe will add new vigour to the strong friendship between the two countries. The two-day summit beginning Sunday will seek to review the progress in ties and deepen strategic dimension of the bilateral relationship. On his part, Prime Minister Abe said the annual mutual visits by the leaders of Japan and India are an "active driving force" for the advancement of Japan-India bilateral relations. "I am convinced that Prime Minister Modi's visit to Japan this time will also be fruitful as our previous meetings," he said. At the same time, Abe hoped that Prime Minister Modi will enjoy the beautiful autumn in Japan, including the snow-capped Mout Fuji and autumn-tinted leaves, besides experiencing Japanese cutting-edge technology. Describing Prime Minister Modi as "one of my most dependable and valuable friends," Abe said he would be greatly pleased if his guest is impressed the same way as he was in Ahmedabad." MONTHS of drought have left the Rhine river and the Danube river at a record low, dealing a blow to the economy and exposing relics from the past. THE docks are eerily quiet at Colognes main port on the mighty River Rhine, with hundreds of containers piled up and awaiting their journey north on one of Europes busiest commercial arteries. Months of scarce rainfall and hot sunny weather drove water levels on the Rhine to a record low, forcing ship operators to suspend services to keep vessels from running aground. We havent had any new ships in Cologne since last week they stop in Duisburg 80 kilometres north, Oliver Grossmann, head of shipping company CTS, told AFP. Under normal conditions, three or four of his big vessels would stop each day in the city known for its Gothic cathedral. The few barges still chugging along the river have had to drastically reduce their cargo to stay afloat. Sitting in his office overlooking the mountain of containers, Grossman said rail links can only fill part of the gap as long as river transport is paralysed because of a lack of infrastructure and train engineers. At the entrance to the port of Duisburg, a small tower houses a Rhine measuring station. On its roof are two LED panels reading 5.09 feet. This is the lowest level ever measured here, said Jan Boehme, a hydrologist with the Water and Shipping Authority. The previous low water record set in Cologne in 2003 of 81 centimetres was shattered last Friday when the level dipped to just 77 centimetres, the water authorities said. All along the Rhine, the situation looks similarly dire Since July, the water levels have been lower than we normally see in this season. This drought phase is exceptionally long. For water levels to rise again we would need a lot of rain a little shower wont do it. We need extended, intense, widespread rainfall, Mr Boehme said, noting that in October it usually fluctuates between three and four metres. Although the link is not proven beyond a doubt, German authorities say the extreme dry weather matches the models of climate change drawn up by scientists. The Rhine is hardly the only major waterway affected, with levels on the Elbe leading to Hamburg also dangerously low. Bicycles and bombs resurface The drying-up of large swathes of the Rhine marks a heavy blow to the German economy. In 2017, 186 million tonnes of goods were transported between Basel in Switzerland and the German-Dutch border amounting to around half of European river shipping, according to the Strasbourg-based Central Commission for Navigation on the Rhine. But since the dry spell began, industrial giant Thyssenkrupp has had to cut back production at its Duisburg plant because a sufficient supply of raw material cannot be assured, a company spokesman said. Chemicals giant BASF said it had adapted production due to limited deliveries to its Ludwigshafen factory, also on the Rhine. Energy group RWE is struggling to supply its Hamm power plant with coal. Meanwhile in Cologne, despite mild autumn weather, services on tourist boats and ferries has ground to a near standstill. The sinking of water levels has dramatically altered a picturesque stretch of the German landscape, exposing all manner of wrecks and detritus on the banks and under bridges. Abandoned and long-submerged bicycles have resurfaced by the hundreds. More threateningly, a 50-kilo World War II bomb emerged in the dried-out riverbed and had to be gingerly defused. Meanwhile, another majestic river, the Danube in Romania, was hit by the terribly hot summer 2018 and the resulting smallest summer precipitation over the past 70 years. Although the economy is also greatly suffering, the drying up of the mystic river has allowed a group of archaeologists from Ferenczy Muzeumi Centrum to carry out unexpected excavations, which turned out very successful. They indeed found ancient coins, gold, weapons and other artifacts. This intense drought in Europe will make history: economically and archeologically! Follow us on Facebook and Twitter or become a Patron on Patreon / donate through Paypal. Please and thank you. News. Au Germanys iconic Rhine river is at a record low Facebook Ferenczy Muzeumi Centrum Modi will pay a two-day visit to Japan from 28-29 October to hold the annual India-Japan summit with Abe, the focus of which will be to boost cooperation in the Indo-Pacific region, carry out joint infrastructure projects in third countries and enhancing defence ties, including launch of talks for a logistic support pact between the two navies. New Delhi: In a special gesture, Prime Minister Narendra Modi will be hosted by his Japanese counterpart Shinzo Abe for a private dinner at his holiday home in the picturesque Yamanashi prefecture on 28 October, which will be, perhaps, the first such reception to be extended to a foreign leader. Modi will pay a two-day visit to Japan from 28-29 October to hold the annual India-Japan summit with Abe, the focus of which will be to boost cooperation in the Indo-Pacific region, carry out joint infrastructure projects in third countries and enhancing defence ties, including launch of talks for a logistic support pact between the two navies. Foreign Secretary Vijay Gokhale said the two sides are expected to also deliberate on cooperation in areas of artificial intelligence, big data, development of unmanned ground vehicle and robotics among others. On Abe's first bilateral visit to China ahead of Modi's trip to Japan, Gokhale said, "I have absolutely no hesitation in saying that his visit to China will have no impact on our bilateral ties." "We welcome improvement of ties between Japan and China," he said. I thank Japan's Indian community for their warm welcome. We are proud of the accomplishments of the Indian diaspora. pic.twitter.com/N51w7nPJpo Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) October 27, 2018 Briefing reporters on Modi's visit, he said Abe will take Modi to his personal home in Yamanashi for a private dinner on Sunday following which both the leaders will travel to Tokyo by train. Yamanashi, at a distance of around 110 kilometres from Tokyo, is surrounded by several mountains including Mount Fuji the country's tallest peak at around 3,776 metres. "This is very special gesture prime minister Abe is making. We believe this is the first time a foreign leader is visiting prime minister Abe's holiday home," Gokhale said, referring to the dinner for Modi. In the afternoon of Sunday, Abe will host an informal lunch for Modi at a hotel, with a view of Mount Fuji, and both the leaders will take a stroll at the grounds of the hotel. Then they will visit a company which is a leading manufacturer of factory automation, Gokhale said, adding Abe has taken personal interests in working out the programme for Modi's visit. On Monday evening, Modi and Abe will hold wide-ranging talks with a focus on bilateral, regional and global issues of mutual concerns which will include exploring ways to deepen cooperation in the Indo-Pacific region, boosting defence and security ties and undertaking infrastructure projects in Asia and Africa in a trilateral framework. "It goes without saying that Indo-Pacific will be a major topic for discussion between both the leaders," said the foreign secretary. He said there will be discussions on how the two countries can collaborate in the context of the Indo-Pacific in Asia and Africa on capacity building and on infra projects in a trilateral manner. "In other words, it will be India, Japan plus one." He said there are commonalities between the vision of Modi and Abe on the Indo-Pacific, adding geopolitical situation in the strategically important area is expected to figure in the talks. Gokhale said the two leaders are expected to deliberate on regional security issues, the situation in Korean peninsula and that India will raise its concerns over terrorism. He said the two leaders are also likely to deliberate on an implementation of the dedicated freight corridor, the Delhi Mumbai industrial corridor, Mumbai-Ahmedabad high-speed rail project as well as the Chennai metro rail project. One of the agreements expected to sign is for the second tranche of the official development assistance (ODA) by Japan for the Mumbai-Ahmedabad high-speed rail project, said the foreign secretary. On Monday morning, the prime minister will address the Indian community in Tokyo. A number of Japanese leaders including Foreign Minister Taro Kono will also call on the prime minister. Then Modi will participate in a series of business events which will include meeting with top executives of Japanese venture capital companies and attending the launch of a grand start-up challenge, a new programme which encourages Indian and Japanese startups, said Gokhale. Modi will also meet the India-Japan business leaders' forum and address the honchos of the top companies. The foreign secretary said both sides will deliberate on defence cooperation and that talks on a mutual logistic support pact between the two navies may start. In the talks, the two leaders are also expected to discuss the Asia Africa growth corridor and Gokhale said something concrete may come out on it. He said India is also hoping to have some kind of synergy or integration between the Ayushman Bharat scheme, which is the largest medicare programme of its kind globally, and the Japanese programme which is called Asia Health and Wellbeing Initiative. "How we dovetail this and how we leverage Japan's strength in certain areas including medical equipment, hospitals and others is something that the two leaders can explore," Gokhale said. He said discussions will also take place on Delhi's mass rapid transit system, some hydroelectric and road projects and how Japan can help in improving infrastructure in the Northeastern states. On nuclear cooperation, a senior official said Japan was an important partner for India in the area of civil nuclear energy and specific projects are being discussed under the Indo-Japan nuclear agreement. After talks between the two sides, Abe will host a state banquet in honour of Modi. The prime minister will leave for India after the banquet. Japanese Emperor Akihito will not be in Tokyo during Modi's visit and that is why there would be no meeting between the two. Prime Minister Narendra Modi met his Japanese counterpart Shinzo Abe in Japan's Yamanashi on Sunday as the two leaders sought to add new vigour to the strong friendship between the two countries. Yamanashi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi met his Japanese counterpart Shinzo Abe in Japan's Yamanashi on Sunday as the two leaders sought to add new vigour to the strong friendship between the two countries. The Prime Minister Modi's office tweeted: Prime Ministers @narendramodi and @AbeShinzo meet at Yamanashi. They would be holding talks through the day on deepening India-Japan ties. pic.twitter.com/T9eGZ3yuVx PMO India (@PMOIndia) October 28, 2018 Modi, who arrived in Japan on Saturday evening to attend the 13th India-Japan annual summit, has said that his meeting with Abe will add new vigour to the strong friendship between the two countries. The two-day summit beginning Sunday will seek to review the progress in ties and deepen strategic dimension of the bilateral relationship. Abe will host a luncheon for Modi at a scenic resort by Mount Fuji. After lunch, they will visit a factory of industrial robot manufacturer Fanuc Corp. before moving on to the Japanese premier's vacation home nearby. Abe will host Modi at his holiday home in the picturesque Yamanashi prefecture, west of Tokyo, for a private dinner Sunday following which both the leaders will travel to Tokyo by train. Yamanashi, at a distance of around 110 kilometres from Tokyo, is surrounded by several mountains including Mount Fuji - the country's tallest peak at around 3,776 metres. The two leaders will hold a formal summit Monday in Tokyo, during which strengthening bilateral security and economic cooperation is expected to be high on the agenda. Ahead of his departure from New Delhi, Modi described India and Japan as a "winning combination" and said the island nation was New Delhi's most trusted partner in its economic and technological modernisation. Modi said it will be his 12th meeting with Abe since he first visited Japan as prime minister in September 2014. During the summit, Modi will engage with Abe on a range of issues including defence and regional security. Besides bilateral issues, the two leaders are expected to deliberate on a range of regional and global issues including the situation in the Indo-Pacific region. It is said the prime minister's visit will reaffirm the traditional bonds of friendship between the two countries and strengthen their multi-faceted cooperation in diverse fields. India is also hoping to have some kind of synergy or integration between Modi's Ayushman Bharat scheme, which is the largest medicare programme of its kind globally, and the Japanese programme which is called Asia Health and Wellbeing Initiative. Prime Minister Modi has said projects such as Mumbai-Ahmedabad High Speed Rail and Dedicated Freight Corridors reflected the high level and "strength of our economic engagement". "Japan is also at the forefront of engaging in our national initiatives, such as 'Make in India', 'Skill India', 'Digital India', 'Start Up India'... Japanese investors have faith in India's economic future, which is marked with myriad opportunities," Modi said. Modi will also address the Indian community function in Tokyo and will attend a series of business events and address the business forum. In his monthly 'Mann ki Baat' radio address, Narendra Modi also urged the youth to participate in large numbers in the 'run for unity' being organised on 31 October to mark Sardar Patel's birth anniversary New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi Sunday credited Sardar Valabhbhai Patel with uniting India after partition and said it was his timely intervention which helped save Jammu and Kashmir from "aggression". In his monthly 'Mann ki Baat' radio address, he also urged the youth to participate in large numbers in the 'run for unity' being organised on 31 October to mark the birth anniversary of Patel. Modi said, "If we are able to see a united India now, it was entirely on account of the sagacity and strategic wisdom of Sardar Patel." He said this year, 31 October will be special as the Statue of Unity will be dedicated to the nation as a "true tribute" to Sardar Patel. Erected on the banks of the River Narmada in Gujarat, the structure is twice the height of the Statue of Liberty in the US. "This is the world's tallest statue. Every Indian will now be proud to see the world's tallest statue here on Indian soil. Sardar Patel, a true son of the soil will adorn our skies too," he said. Modi will be dedicating the statue on Wednesday. He hoped that the statue will become a new tourist destination. In his address, the Prime Minister also paid tributes to late Prime Minister Indira Gandhi on her death anniversary, which is also on 31 October. "October 31 also is the death anniversary of our former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi. Our respectful tributes to Indira ji too," he said. The Prime Minister pointed out that Infantry Day is observed every year on 27 October as the first Indian soldiers had set their foot in Jammu and Kashmir to take on intruders from Pakistan. Quoting late Field Marshal SHFJ Manekshaw, he said Patel was "irked" at the delay in initiating military action to evict the aggressors. He said, in an interview, Manekshaw had recalled that as a colonel then he was part of a meeting where Patel was irked on the delay in sending troops to Kashmir. "During the proceedings, Sardar Patel gave him (Manekshaw) a characteristic glance and reiterated that there should be no delay in our Army operation and that a solution should be sought swiftly. And immediately after that, our troops flew to Kashmir.we've seen how our Army was successful," Modi said. He recalled that in January 1947, Time magazine had profiled Patel and described him as a person who possessed the capability to unite the country and "heal wounds". Mahatma Gandhi, the prime minister said, considered Patel as the only one capable of finding a lasting solution to the vexed issue of the states and asked him to act. "Sardar Patel formulated solutions one by one, weaving the warp and weft of unity on the axis of a single thread. He ensured the merger of all princely states with the Dominion of India. Whether Junagadh, Hyderabad, Travancore, or for that matter the princely states of Rajasthan, if we are able to see a united India now, it was entirely on account of the sagacity and strategic wisdom of Sardar Patel," he said. Delhi's air quality continues to remain 'very poor' for the fourth consecutive day Saturday, prompting the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) and the Centre-run System of Air Quality Forecasting and Research to issue separate advisories for people. New Delhi: Keep windows shut, wear masks, prefer short walks, minimise the use of private vehicles are among the recommendations of government bodies for Delhites who are battling dangerous pollution levels in the city. Delhi's air quality continues to remain 'very poor' for the fourth consecutive day Saturday, prompting the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) and the Centre-run System of Air Quality Forecasting and Research to issue separate advisories for people. In the NCR region, Ghaziabad recorded severe pollution level, while Gurgaon, Faridabad, Noida and Greater Noida all recorded 'very poor' air quality, according to a data by the Central Pollution Control Board data Saturday. The eight areas in Delhi that recorded severe air quality Saturday are Anand Vihar, Dwarka Sector 8, Narela, Punjabi Bagh, Bawana, Mundaka, Vivek Vihar and Rohini. The CPCB-led task force recommended the public to avoid strenuous outdoor activities and minimise the use of private vehicles to reduce exposure to toxic air. The task force also gave recommendations to the Supreme Court-appointed Environment Pollution Control Authority to deal with the deteriorating air quality. The task force also recommended closure of all construction activities involving excavation, civil construction, stone crushers, hot mix plants that generate dust pollution between 1 and 10 November. Other measures included the shutdown of coal and biomass-based industries (excluding thermal and waste-to-energy plants) from November 4 to 10, intensification of efforts by transport department to check polluting vehicles and controlling traffic congestion in Delhi-NCR between November 1 and 10, according to the minutes of the meeting. The task force also recommended efforts to provide uninterrupted power supply in NCR areas to avoid the requirement of operating diesel generator (DG) sets. The task force said that at the beginning of November, the situation may get deteriorate further on account of localised emissions during festival and regional contribution due to stubble burning. Stubble burning from Punjab and Haryana Saturday caused 32 per cent of pollution in Delhi, according to a report by the SAFAR. The report, which analysed the impact of pollutant PM2.5 (presence of particles in the air with a diameter of less than 2.5 micrometres), showed that highest contribution since 11 October by stubble burning was seen Friday at 36 percent. PM2.5 is the presence of particles in the air with a diameter of less than 2.5 micrometres, while PM10 is the presence of particles in the air with, and both are considered the major atmospheric pollutants. PM2.5, in particular, poses greater harm as its fine particles can easily be inhaled into the respiratory tract. "On Thursday and Friday more stubble was burnt in Punjab and Haryana due to which its contribution to PM2.5 pollution increased," an official said, adding that the impact of pollution by stubble burning on the national capital could be seen only a day after the stubble is burnt. "Pollution would reduce in the next couple of days if the weather condition remains same. The weather conditions include wind direction, temperature etc," he said. The report also analysed the trends of different factors causing pollution since 2010 and it said transport emission in the national capital has increased significantly at 41 percent in the last eight years. The residential bio-fuel emission declined significantly in Delhi at 64 percent since 2010, the report said. D Saha, former air quality chief at the CPCB, said meteorological factors like wind speed, solar direction and temperature are mostly responsible for increasing pollution levels in the city. "If these factors come under control, the air quality automatically improves," he said. The measures recommended by the task force are only preventive steps and not to create panic as the air pollution in Delhi is governed by meteorological conditions, he said. "One strong wind is enough for dispersion of entire pollutants load. Clear sky in the south, southeast and western part will improve ventilation coefficient and will improve situation in Delhi and NCR," Saha said. The India Institute of Tropical Meteorology (IITM), Pune, said a large number of biomass fire spots were seen in satellite imageries in the neighbouring states of Delhi. "The prevailing meteorological conditions are not very favourable for dispersal of pollutants for the next two days due to very low ventilation index and low wind speed," the IITM warned. "As per the Air Quality Forecast, the air quality is likely to be in very poor to severe category at various places in Delhi for the next two days. The dominant pollutant of AQ Index is PM2.5 and PM10," the IITM said. Meanwhile, SAFAR also gave a health advisory to public due to increasing pollution levels. The recommendations of the health advisory included people with heart or lung disease, older adults and children to avoid prolonged or heavy exertion. It also recommended people to go for shorter walks instead of jogs, keeping windows closed and wearing masks while stepping outside. In the last 12 hours, over 500 arrests was recorded at police stations in Pathanamthitta district, where the Sabarimala temple is located, as well as Thiruvananthapuram, Kozhikode and Ernakulam. Thiruvananthapuram: Over 3,345 protesters who prevented women from entering the Sabarimala temple, have been arrested since since 26 October, while 517 cases have been registered at various police stations across Kerala, authorities said on Sunday. On Sunday morning, Sabarimala tantri family member and activist Rahul Easwar was arrested in Thiruvananthapuram, taking the total number of arrests 3,346. He has been taken to Kochi. Eashwar was arrested after the police received a complaint stating that he had made provocative remarks over the issue at a press conference in Kochi last week. In the last 12 hours, over 500 arrests was recorded at police stations in Pathanamthitta district where the Lord Ayyappa shrine is located as well as Thiruvananthapuram, Kozhikode and Ernakulam. So far, only 122 are in remand, while others have been released on bail, according to the police. However, Kerala Police chief Loknath Behra has directed that no arrest should be made of those people who protested by singing hymns and prayers. These arrests were made for defying the 28 September Supreme Court order overturning the ban on women of menstrual age (10-50 years) from entering the hilltop Sabarimala temple where celibate deity Lord Ayyappa is worshipped. Defending the arrests, state Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPM) secretary Kodiyeri Balakrishnan on Sunday told the media that this was normal police action when the rule of law is breached. "During the previous Congress-led UDF rule, over four lakh cases were registered against our workers. Is it not natural for the police to act when rules are broken?" asked Balakrishnan. On 17 October, the Sabarimala temple opened for the five-day monthly puja. However, the protesters had ensured that no women in the earlier barred age group could enter the sanctum sanctorum until 22 October when the gates closed. The report by the pollution control board shows that Amritsar witnessed a slight dip in stubble-burning cases. Amritsar: Despite the deterioration in air quality in New Delhi and the adjoining areas, farmers in Amritsar continue to burn paddy-stubble and further deteriorate air quality, despite an order of prohibition. Amritsar Deputy Commissioner Kamaldeep Singh Sangha said, "According to the National Green Tribunal and the Supreme Court the Punjab government tried to spread awareness on how to incorporate paddy straw in different ways. The agriculture department also spoke to the farmers and that worked. Still, some people continued stubble burning and our team of officers had fined them according to the NGT order. One officer has been posted in every village to spread awareness on stubble burning. Things will start improving from now onwards." Data by the Punjab Pollution Control Board (PPCB) showed a decline in the paddy stubble-burning in Punjab this Kharif season. The data from the PPCB reflected that 7503 cases of stubble-burning have been reported until Friday in 2018. During the corresponding periods in the last two years, there were 13,364 and 19,879 cases of farm burning. The report by the pollution control board shows that Amritsar witnessed a slight dip in stubble-burning cases. A little more than 700 incidents have been recorded in 2018 as compared to 785 in 2017 and little lesser than 1000 in 2016. The decline can be attributed to various factors, including awareness and farmers adhering to governmental policies in mitigating the farm fires. Science and Technology Minister Harsh Vardhan expressed concerns over the increase in air pollution levels in Delhi and its neighbouring cities and assured that the Centre will make all efforts to curb the menace. "This time the Central government had appointed 41 teams from the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) to do field study of four cities - Faridabad, Ghaziabad, Gurugrama and Haryana in order to curb the issue from the grass root level. We will make efforts to curb the issue of air pollution," the minister told reporters earlier in the day. Uttar Pradesh chief minister Yogi Adityanath on Saturday said the Supreme Court should pronounce its judgement in the Ram temple case as it had done on the matter of Sabarimala temple. New Delhi: Uttar Pradesh chief minister Yogi Adityanath on Saturday said the Supreme Court should pronounce its judgement in the Ram temple case as it had done on the matter of Sabarimala temple. Describing the Ram temple issue as a matter of faith for the people of India, Yogi said the temple in Ayodhya assumes great significance in the hearts of the people. "If Supreme Court can give judgement in the Sabarimala case, it should also give its order in Ram temple case. I request the court to do so," Adityanath said at the Ideas Conclave, organised by India Foundation. At the same time, he clarified that for him and his Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) the construction of the Ram temple was not an electoral issue. His remarks assume significance as it comes at a time the Visva Hindu Parishad (VHP) has demanded that the Centre should bring a law in Parliament for the construction of the temple at the disputed site in Ayodhya. On 27 September, the Supreme Court declined to refer to a larger bench its 1994 verdict for a review over its "questionable observation" that "mosque is not an essential part of the practice of Islam", paving the way for the apex court to hear the politically sensitive main Ayodhya title suit from 29 October. Holding that the earlier observation was made in the limited context of "land acquisition" during the hearing of the Ayodhya case, the top court in a 2-1 verdict made it clear it will not have any bearing in the Ram Janmabhoomi-Babri Masjid title dispute whose outcome will be eagerly awaited ahead of the 2019 Lok Sabha polls. On 28 September, the Supreme Court paved the way for the entry of women of all ages into the Ayyappa temple at Sabarimala in Kerala. The five-judge constitution bench headed by former chief justice Dipak Misra, in its 4:1 verdict, said that banning the entry of women of menstrual age into the shrine is gender discrimination and the practice violates rights of Hindu women. At the event, Adityanath also listed various development initiatives taken by his government. He also highlighted the improvement in law and order situation in the state, especially in the context of women safety. He said the government will build a greenfield international airport in Jewar. Another international airport in Kushinagar in the state will also be constructed, he added. Anoop Skaria belonged to a generation of post-hippy flower children who refused to grow up. He supported unknown and struggling artists and sheltered many who wandered into his expanding orbit. Here is a brief telling of the story of Kashi Art Cafe in Kochi, from its inception as a dreamers den for bohemians to a chic designer art cafe. Begun by Dorrie Younger and Anoop Skaria in 1997, Kashi was initially an art cafe a space that could bring together risk-taking artworks with the financial stability of a conventional business. The couple had opened their hearts to myself and many others, connecting us to the small, but emergent art scene in Kochi in the late '90s, before the paradigm shift of the Kochi Muziris Biennale in 2012 transformed the scene forever. Back then, Kashi was a space open to conversation, notably conversations over endless roasted coffee and surrounded by the smell of cake fresh out of the oven. Foreigners, locals, artists, writers, poets and anybody else who was curious about art, environment, or even local gossip, hung around in this 'adda' that made space for art. It was simultaneously a home, a cafe and a gallery. Anoop Skaria passed away last week, he was 57. The family requested to be alone to mourn his untimely death. The name Kashi also means light and it was a dream that resulted in an odd art collective such as this, with a visionary like Anoop to lead it. The regional cultural context of Kochi had local shows and a functional art academy, but it was only after Anoop and Dorrie opened Kashi Art cafe and invited many artists to exhibit there, that made Kochi part of the national network and eventually part of the international art scene. Anoop was a tall and distinguished man, a local about town who could connect Kochi through the myth and reality of magical realism, and he could usually be spotted in a kurta, mundu and a ponytail. He looked every inch bohemian and his generosity and humaneness were well-known. He belonged to a generation of post-hippy flower children who refused to grow up. He supported unknown and struggling artists and sheltered many who wandered into his expanding orbit. The photographer Abul Kalam Azad, poet and environmentalist Ananda Sakria and painter Gayatri Gamuz were part of his core group. Dorrie Younger was the more practical of the couple and made sure that Kashi developed into a sustainable model. Her love for Anoop made her adopt Kochi as her home and this became a lifelong engagement. Remembering Anoop Skaria and our collective that helped make Kochi an international hub for art My introduction to Kashi, came when I was invited to curate a show of self-portraits called I, ME, MYSELF" in 2005 featuring 17 prominent and upcoming artists from Bengaluru. Kashi Art gallery expanded riding the wave of the art boom in 2006, and soon housed an art residency programme and had instituted an award for young artists KAVA or the Kashi Award for Visual Art. It shortlisted and awarded many young artists from different parts of India and launched them with a solo show. Existing at a time in history sandwiched between the Radical Group of the 1980s, spearheaded by KP Krishnakumar, and the Kochi Muziris Biennale begun in 2012, Kashi Art Cafe allowed for the bridge between the utopian radicalism of the former, towards a more organised and commercial structure of the latter. The founders of the Biennale themselves, and especially Bose Krishnamachari, were actively involved with Kashi, both exhibiting and organising shows there. Apart from exhibiting artworks, Kashi Art Cafe and its surrounding gang of local artists also encouraged environmental projects like the Tree Festival that greened the Fort Kochi area. There were also installations and site-specific works on the beach called "Everbody's Space" that opened the beach to art activities and engaged with the public. This event unmistakably opened conversations and curiosity and sowed the seeds of imagination and acceptance in the public eye. Kashi art cafe eventually changed hands in 2012. It was the end of a way of life, and Kashi became part of a larger chain of hotels based in Fort Cochin. Following this, Dorrie and Anoop moved to Idukki to live in the mountains. The pressures of running a business and the allied art activities had obviously taken its toll. My fondest memory of Kashi, is of one hot afternoon when I was hungry and landed there. The kitchen was closing, but Dorrie and Anoop led me to the cafe's kitchen where the workers and staff were having lunch. I helped myself to some fish curry and rice in the kitchen, the staff food was the best meal I have had there. I chatted with them and felt at home and I dont think I will have that experience again anywhere else. I miss having the freshly ground coffee but the light has gone, it has changed without Anoop, and it will never be the same again. Suresh Jayaram is an art historian and curator, founder director of 1.Shanthiroad studio, Bengaluru The 2018 Bangalore Literature Festival kicked off on the lawns of The Lalit Ashok on Saturday, 27 October, and Day One saw a lot of interesting sessions. The 2018 Bangalore Literature Festival kicked off on the lawns of The Lalit Ashok on Saturday, 27 October, and Day One saw a lot of interesting sessions. Three stages Adjust Maadi, Naale Ba (both dedicated to Bengalurean slang) and The Red Couch were where all the activity was spread. Not to mention the two venues at Narnia and Malgudi for the Childrens Literature Festival (CFL). While the day began on a quiet note of discussions, it was the voice of Shilpa Mudbi Kothakota of the Urban Folk Project singing Udhay Udhay, invoking the women deities of North Karnataka, that had everyone sit up in attention. This was her opening to a song telling the tale of Princess Renuka, a Shivbhakt and her journey to becoming Yellamma. This performance was a showcase of Yellamanaata, a ritualistic overnight festival that is performed by jogathis or the transgender followers of Yellamma. Her voice and her troupes animated performance quite literally brought in an audience from the other stages and that perhaps is a singular testimony to encouraging an interest in traditional cultural performances. There were quite a few laughs and sighs of awe when Romulus Whitaker, wildlife conservationist and founder of Madras Snake Park, and his wife, the filmmaker Janaki Lenin, took to the stage. From stories on how airport security checked Romulus twice over just to make sure he didnt have snakes on him (Rom promises he stopped carrying them a while ago!), to his adventures in the Sunderbans of Bangladesh retrieving crocodile nests, to having microphones being swallowed by crocodiles, to winning an Emmy award unexpectedly for one of their first documentaries for NatGeo, Rom and Janaki shared an easy banter on stage and had their audience intrigued. Questioning the foundations of the Indian republic, Chandan Gowda, faculty at Azim Premji University was in conversation with Anand Teltumbde, author and civil rights activist, raising pertinent questions on how political parties today have appropriated the iconisation of Ambedkar in post-colonial India. Teltumbde emphasised the fact that Dalit politics today is more about gaining political rent and that there has not been an independent Dalit voice now for a very long time! At the CLF, all eyes were on Poorna Malavath, who scaled Mount Everest at the age of 13. In conversation with Aparna Jain, author of Like a Girl, and Sharda Ugra, senior sportswriter and editor, Poorna had the youngsters in the audience glued to every word she said from her initial training in Darjeeling to convincing her crying mother that the opportunity to scale Mount Everest was worth it even though it was fraught with danger to the adventures on her 52 day expedition. Poorna said that her reason for sharing her story was to show the world that boys and girls are equal and that girls could do anything they put their mind to. Discussing narrative non-fiction and building the blocks of a story from life itself were authors Bachi Kakaria, Manu S Pillai and Shoba Narayan with VK Karthika, publisher, Westland. Manus ability to hold an audiences attention with his historical anecdotes was evident from the intense involvement one could see among people attending this session. The panellists each dealing with a different time frame and situation in history in their writing emphasised the importance of research. In fact, Manu even spoke of how detailed footnotes for reference can help a reader find something interesting and start a whole new line of discovery. Discussing whether 'India is Illiberal' were Naresh Fernandes, journalist and editor of Scroll.in and Chidanand Rajghatta, The Times of India's US-based foreign Eeditor. Drawing some comparisons between Indian and American political scenarios currently, Chidu (as he is well known) opined that currently the ideological pendulum in the country is swinging wider from the center as it happened in the US under successive governments. He added that proliferation of social media has occurred and its impact felt so quickly that it left a lot of people unnerved and unprepared for the speed of globalisation. Conversations today have become more toxic. These are some of the reasons why Rajghatta believes that we are sliding down the illiberal slope. Comparing notes on intrepid travel were Dan Morrison, journalist, photographer and author, and Rhea Saran, editor-in-chief, Condenast Traveller Middle East in conversation with Aparna Raman. Some interesting thoughts from Dan who said that any danger he faced in his line of work was more accidental than incidental. In that, he has never used a local guide or translator and has found that if you keep your heart and mind open, people will let you in. Which, Rhea echoed, is similar to luxury travel today. She explained how experiential travel is no longer a buzzword but rather 'transformative travel' is. And the one way to be transformed and touched is to be immersed in local cultures," believes Saran. And there was an overflowing house to listen to Anjali Gopalan, Indian human rights and animal activist in conversation with Alok Prasanna Kumar, head of Vidhi Centre for Legal Policy on the journey of winning the Section 377 verdict. Taking us through the high and lows of the case Gopalan said, All of us are successful at living two lives one for ourselves, one for society. While it has been decriminalised, it is yet to be legalised and that means that the battle is still not over. She added that there is a need to have more youngsters come into parliament for change to really take place. The bottom line is that we need to talk more! And there were so many more conversations that took place and will also take place on the second day of the Bangalore Literature Festival 2018. All images courtesy the writer Chhattisgarh Congress chief Bhupesh Baghel said the BJP is under the 'illusion' that the alliance between Ajit Jogi's JCC and the BSP will hurt the party in the upcoming Assembly polls. New Delhi: The alliance between Ajit Jogi's party and the BSP will hurt the BJP, which is under the "illusion" that the tie-up will hamper the Congress's prospects in the upcoming Chhattisgarh Assembly polls, state Congress chief Bhupesh Baghel said Sunday. Baghel, who is seen as one of the contenders for the chief minister's post, along with other senior party leaders like TS Singhdeo and Charandas Mahant if the Congress comes to power in the BJP-ruled state, asserted that currently, there were no claimants for the top post and the matter would be decided only after the polls. "There are no claimants (for the chief minister's post), and we will fight the election under a collective leadership. It is only after the polls that the Legislative Party and the party high-command will decide who will be the chief minister. This is not a contentious matter," he told PTI in a telephonic interview from Raipur. The Congress is seeking to oust the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), which has been governing the state since 2003, from power this time. When asked whether the alliance between the Ajit Jogi-led Janta Congress Chhattisgarh and Mayawati's Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) will cut into the Congress's vote share, Baghel said, "No, because the BSP has just about 4 percent of the vote share and Jogi's vote base is also the same as that of the BSP. So I do not think it (the alliance) will make a big difference." He claimed that the Jogi-BSP tie-up will harm the BJP, the Congress. Elaborating on his point, the state Congress chief said of the seats reserved for the Scheduled Caste (SC) category, the Congress had won just one in the 2013 Assembly polls, while the BJP had emerged victorious in nine. "Their (Jogi-Mayawati's) support base comprises mostly members of the SC community. So, even if they get a few seats, which looks unlikely, it is the BJP's tally that will come down," Baghel added. On BJP leader Saroj Pandey's remarks that the Jogi-BSP alliance will hurt the Congress more in Chhattisgarh, he said the saffron camp was under the "illusion" that the tie-up will affect the opposition party. "That is why they (the BJP) got the alliance done. Alone, Jogi was unable to harm the Congress, so the BSP was also tagged along with him. The Jogi factor will not work," Baghel added. On why the Congress failed to stitch-up alliances in the state, he said, "As far as the BSP is concerned, talks were on and suddenly, we got to know that they had aligned with Jogi's party." Baghel added that talks with the Gondwana Gantantra Party failed as the Congress offered two seats to the tribal outfit, but with a one-per cent vote share, it was asking for five-six seats. Asked if not projecting a chief ministerial face could hamper the party's chances in the upcoming polls, he pointed out that the BJP had fought the 2003 state election without projecting a chief ministerial candidate and the name of Raman Singh was announced for the top post only after the polls. There were very few instances when the Congress had announced a chief ministerial face beforehand, Baghel said. On whether the issue of chief ministership would breed ambition and factionalism within the party ranks, he said, "These days, even seers have ambitions of becoming chief minister. We are not even seers, we are in politics. So, we aspire for a political position, but we are not so ambitious that we will cross the party's boundaries. All the leaders are working unitedly." Asked about the BJP's "Mission 65", Baghel said the Congress was focussed on all the 90 Assembly seats in the state and it was confident of securing a clear majority. Taking a jibe at the BJP, he said in Gujarat also the saffron party had set a "Mission 150" target, but ended up with 99 seats. The state Congress chief has been embroiled in a controversy over his alleged involvement in a fake sex CD case. The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) had last month filed a chargesheet, naming Baghel and some others as accused in the case related to a controversial CD allegedly featuring a state minister, who had rejected it as fake. The BJP has used the issue to target the Congress, while Baghel has claimed innocence and described it as a political attack. Asked about the case, the Congress leader dismissed it as a "conspiracy" of the BJP. The Assembly polls in Chhattisgarh will be held in two phases. In the first phase, 18 seats in the Naxalism-hit areas will go to the polls on 12 November. The second phase of polling for the remaining 72 seats will be held on 20 November and the results will be announced on 11 December. Baghel will contest the polls from Patan. In 2013, the BJP had formed the government in Chhattisgarh for the third consecutive time by winning 49 seats against the 39 of the Congress, but the opposition party had succeeded in narrowing the gap in terms of vote share. It had grabbed 40.3 percent votes, while the saffron party had garnered 41 percent votes. Amit Shah in Hyderabad said on the one hand Prime Minister Modi was focussed on 'Making India', on the other the grand alliance leaders wanted to 'Break' India. Hyderabad: BJP president Amit Shah Sunday described the 'mahagathbandhan' (grand alliance) of Opposition parties as a 'dhakosla' (deception) and and accused it of "breaking India," while the Narendra Modi-led government was working for "making India." Addressing the Bharatiya Janata Yuva Morch (BJYM) national convention, Shah said on the one hand Prime Minister Modi was focussed on 'Making India', on the other the grand alliance leaders wanted to 'Break' India. "Modiji says remove poverty, unemployment, insecurity...but Mahagathbandhan leaders say remove Modi," he added. Criticising the grand alliance, the BJP leader said it "neither has a policy nor a leader nor any principles." Taking a dig at Congress President Rahul Gandhi over his comments on the recent arrest of activists by the Maharashtra government over alleged links with Maoists, Shah said, "I want to tell Rahul Gandhi that whoever raises slogans on "breaking India" will land behind bars and they will never be pardoned." Shah said the Modi government has launched several schemes and worked for the poor, farmers, women, Dalits and tribals. Asserting that the BJP was ready to fight the 2019 elections under Modi's leadership, Shah urged the Yuva Morcha members to reach out to people and create awareness about the NDA government's achievements. On the issue of National Register of Citizens, the BJP Chief said, "Rahul Baba talks of their human rights, but is not concerned about human rights of our security forces. Infiltrators explode bombs killing security forces. Are you not concerned about their (security personnel) wives and children?" he asked adding that the issue might be a vote bank matter for the Congress, but for BJP it is security of the nation. "Once the BJP is re-elected after 2019 polls, I guarantee that the party-led government will initiate the process of evicting illegal immigrants from all parts of the country," he added. Slamming the TRS government in Telangana for not celebrating the Hyderabad Liberation Day, Shah alleged it was 'scared' of MIM and its chief Asaduddin Owaisi. Hitting out at the Congress, Ajit Jogi said it was a spent force which was nowhere in the contest in Chhattisgarh. New Delhi: Former Chhattisgarh chief minister Ajit Jogi has said though he will fight the Congress tooth and nail in the upcoming state Assembly polls, he will not speak against the Gandhi family, with whom he shared warm relations during his long tenure in the grand old party. The real contest in November's state Assembly polls would be between his party, the Janta Congress Chhattisgarh JCC(J), which has formed an alliance with the Mayawati-led Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP), and the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), Jogi told PTI. "I have left the Congress and will campaign against the party in the Assembly election, but will not speak against the Gandhi family, which has always loved me," he said. Jogi was the first chief minister of Chhattisgarh after the state was carved out of Madhya Pradesh. He was then with the Congress. Jogi left the Congress in 2016 and floated his own party. Asked about the allegations against United Progressive Alliance (UPA) chairperson Sonia Gandhi's son-in-law Robert Vadra, the veteran leader said, "I will not speak anything against any member of the Gandhi family even during elections. I have shared warm relations with the family for decades." The four members of the Jogi family belong to three political parties. While Jogi and his son are in the JCC(J), Jogi's wife and daughter-in-law are in the Congress and the BSP respectively. Hitting out at the Congress, Jogi said it was a spent force which was nowhere in the contest in Chhattisgarh. "The Congress neither has any face nor any organisation in the state. It has no leader and has become useless," he said, while asserting that the fight in the upcoming polls was between his party and the BJP. "It is a one-on-one contest between the JCC(J)-BSP alliance and the ruling BJP and we will definitely win the election," Jogi said. He maintained that he was the chief ministerial face of the alliance, but added that he had still not decided whether to contest the Assembly polls or not. "We are fighting the Congress and the BJP tooth and nail and our alliance will severely harm the poll prospects of both parties," Jogi said. The former chief minister belongs to the Satnami sect, which has a decent presence in the state. The Chhattisgarh Assembly polls will be held in two phases - on 12 and 20 November- and the results will be announced on 11 December. The BJP has been in power in the state since 2003. The Congress has not denied a ticket to any sitting MLA in Chhattisgarh. However, only three women figure in the third list. Raipur: The Congress is banking on a combination of new faces and old-timers in ticket distribution to end its 15-year wait to rule Chhattisgarh, which goes to polls next month. The Opposition party, late on Saturday evening, released a list of candidates its third for 37 Assembly seats going to polls in the second and last phase of voting on 20 November. It has renominated 15 sitting MLAs and fielded 11 candidates who had lost in 2013, besides giving tickets to 11 fresh faces. No sitting MLA was denied a ticket in the third list. However, only three women figure in it. A Congress leader said the party is ensuring that representation is given to all sections of society. "It is a completely balanced list wherein the party has given representation to leaders belonging to all sections of society," claimed the head of the Chhattisgarh Congress communication wing, Shailesh Nitin Trivedi. "Candidates were selected on the basis of the party's survey and performances of leaders," he said, adding that it is a "well-planned strategy" to win the upcoming election. The two lists released earlier contained 18 names. With this, the Opposition party has, so far, announced 55 candidates in BJP-ruled Chhattisgarh, which has a 90-member House. State Congress chief Bhupesh Baghel (Patan seat), Congress Legislative Party leader TS Singhdeo (Ambikapur), senior Congress leader Satyanarayan Sharma (Raipur Rural) and prominent tribal leader Amarjeet Bhagat (Sitapur) were among the sitting MLAs who were given tickets. In the last Assembly polls, 26 Congress sitting MLAs, including prominent leaders like Rampukar Singh, Ravindra Choubey, Amitesh Shukla and Mohammad Akbar, had tasted defeat. This time, Singh (Pathalgaon-ST), Shukla (Rajim), Akbar (Kawardha) and Choubey (Saja) have been renominated from their respective seats. Chhattisgarh Congress working president Shiv Kumar Dahariya, who had lost the previous election from Bilaigarh (SC), has been fielded from Arang (SC) this time. Similarly, Guru Rudra Kumar, who had lost the 2013 election from Arang, has been given a ticket from Ahiwara (SC). A popular young Congress leader, Vikas Upadhyay, who had lost to BJP minister Rajesh Munat from Raipur West last time by a margin of 6,160 votes, has been renominated from the seat. He will take on Munat again. Among other leaders who have been given tickets despite losing the 2013 polls are Premsai Tekam (Pratappur) and Pratima Chandrakar (Durg Rural). Vinay Kumar Bhagat and Uttamdan Minj, who had lost the 2008 Assembly election from Jashpur and Kunkuri, respectively, have been fielded from the same seats this time. Vinay Jaiswal, an eye surgeon, Devendra Yadav, Ramkumar Yadav are among the fresh faces fielded by the party this time. Bhilai Municipal Corporation Mayor Devendra Yadav, a youth leader, has been fielded from the Bhilai Nagar seat, where he will take on state minister and sitting BJP MLA Premprakash Pandey. Jaiswal will contest from Manendragarh. Ramkumar Yadav, a prominent farmer leader, had contested from Chandrapur constituency as a Bahujan Samaj Party candidate in 2013 and had finished runner-up. He recently joined the Congress, which has given him ticket from Chandrapur. Voting in Chhattisgarh will be held in two phases on 12 November and 20 November and counting will take place on 11 December. The first phase covers 18 seats spread across eight naxal-affected districts Bastar, Bijapur, Dantewada, Sukma, Kondagaon, Kanker, Narayanpur and Rajnandgaon. The remaining 72 seats will see polling on 20 November. The ruling BJP has so far announced 78 candidates. In 2013, the BJP had won 49, the Congress 39, the BSP 1 and an Independent 1. The BJP has been ruling the tribal-dominated state, which came into existence in November 2000, since 2003 under the leadership of Raman Singh. Congress's Telangana president Captain Uttam Kumar Reddy says that battle has turned around and that the Congress would perform a clean sweep in the upcoming Assembly elections in all the five states including Telangana, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Chhattisgarh and Mizoram Hyderabad: Buoyed by recent media reports that the Congress has possibly surged ahead of the ruling BJP in the three states of Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh and Chattisgarh, Telangana Pradesh Congress Committee (TPCC) president Captain N Uttam Kumar Reddy predicts a larger national trend will reflect in the 2018 semi-finals, saying, Congress will sweep all the five states. Fighter pilot in fight mode A former Indian Air Force officer and fighter pilot, Captain Reddy flew MiG 21s and 23s before a near-fatal air accident left him unfit to continue with combat duty. He then worked with the Rashtrapathi Bhavan before serendipity led him into politics. As the president of Congress' Telangana unit, he is striving hard to lead Congress to a win and creating its own state government again in south India, after a series of debacles and losses left the national party with its least power representation across 29 state capitals. Dismissing the stunt of dissolving the Telangana Assembly early by Telangana Rashtra Samiti (TRS) chief and caretaker chief minister Kalvakuntla Chandrasekhara Rao also known as KCR, Captain Reddy said, I thank KCR. If his greed and superstition had not led him to dissolve the Telangana Assembly, we would have had only a 4-0 verdict. Thanks to him, the people can show their emphatic support for the Congress with a full five-finger fury." Captain Reddy claims that the battle has turned around even though opinion polls and surveys points to a TRS win. Stating that advancing poll dates do not always work, Captain Reddy gives the examples of how the NDA government lost the Lok Sabha election in 2004 despite advancing the date and the fact that all surveys predicted a comeback. "KCR knows that he has made a mistake and will be routed on 7 December. He can continue to posture till results are out on 11 December," he says. Turnaround with social coalition In the 2014 elections, TRS shocked Congress with a win. Even though it was Congress who created Telangana out of Andhra Pradesh, the party did not gain politically from the bifurcation, as per its estimations. Congress was routed in an angry post-bifurcation Andhra Pradesh. After his win, KCR poached leaders from the Telugu Desam Party and Congress, weakening them further. By the end of 2016, the Congress seemed too weak to challenge TRS, which had consolidated its position tremendously. Captain Reddy brought a turn around in Congresss fortunes to an extent that the party is now credibly challenging KCR. The turnaround, coinciding with the rise of acceptance for Rahul Gandhi nationally and, slowly increasing despair within the BJP, however, has been old-fashioned. Captain Reddy has been working with Dalits, tribals, Muslim and women, travelling across the state, and building a social coalition. The Congress had a traditional support with Dalits. The KCR government humiliated them since coming to power. The Nerella incident on 2 July, 2017, where he (KCR) had several Dalits arrested, and had them tortured when they protested against the sand mafia linked to his own family, became an emotional issue across the state. When TRS supported the police who illegally detained and tortured the Dalits, it brought to Congress its first major shot in the arm," says Captain Reddy, who, along with several other Congress leaders, have built a Dalit movement across the state since then. KCR's false promises "In what is surely a womans century, KCR has hurt women's sentiment by running the first-ever Telangana government without a single woman in the cabinet. He has stopped all funding and loans to DWCRA women's bodies. KCR will learn soon that no power can hold against the fury of women scorned, said the former Indian Air Force Captain. Captain Reddy said that the KCR govt failed to fulfil several of the promises it made in 2014. KCR promised to make a Dalit a chief minister once Telangana was formed. He promised two-bedroom houses for all Dalits, tribals, Muslims, OBCs and the poor. He also promised three acres of land to all Dalits and tribals. He promised to bring drinking water to every house and a job to every family. Not one of these have happened, he said. In fact, the troika of promises of two-bedroom houses, jobs and water were crucial to not only bringing TRS to power but were deeply ingrained into the psyche of the people as legitimate aspirations. Forget jobs for every youth or one in every family, even the over two lakh pending government vacancies have not been filled, he adds. While the Muslims in Telangana are angry that the promise of 12 percent reservations has not materialised, parents are upset that scholarships for their children have not been released. "During the Congress rule, the government used to regularly remit scholarships to all Dalit, tribal and OBC children. The TRS government has stopped paying scholarships. Far from fulfilling the promise of free education from KG-to-PG, even basic fees are not being paid," he says. Building on a promise of returning to a welfare-centric but growth-focussed government, Captain Reddy believes Congress has also succeeded in denting the Muslim vote by exposing the TRS by portraying KCR as a friend and partner of the BJP. He has the elections brought upon early so he can fight the state elections with the AIMIM, and the Lok Sabha elections next year in alliance with the BJP," Reddy said. Alliances The Congress has formed alliance with the Telugu Desam Party, some Left parties and key intellectual leaders. The Dalit-Muslim coalition, along with support of the OBCs who have historically backed the TDP, despite the party having weakened considerably since 2014, believe there are many factors which suggest Congress may have a good shot at challenging or even defeating the TRS. The simmering anger amongst Dalits and tribals, the rising suspicion amongst Muslims about TRS being an ally of the BJP, besides unemployed youth and unempowered women, are all beginning to reflect as Congress leaders campaign through the state. Wherever I go people tell me we are waiting to oust TRS and bring back Congress. It is the same in all five states. This is the beginning of the end for the Modi-KCR axis fashioned after the Hitler-Stalin pact, says Captain Reddy, heading to his next meeting with farmers, for whom his party has announced a loan waiver of Rs 2 lakh in a single instalment. The writer is the author of the bestselling novel, Autobiography of a Mad Nation, long-listed for the MAN Asian Literary prize, and The Spiritual Supermarket. His next novel, One Farmer Less, will be out next year Madhav also berated former external affairs ministers while taking a dig at an incident in which the then EAM read Portuguese minister's speech at the United Nations. Hyderabad: Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) national general secretary Ram Madhav on Sunday asserted that India's standing in the world forums has become exponentially better after Prime Minister Narendra Modi came to power. He said, "When our leaders now reach to the United Nations, the world leaders praise India and Prime Minister Narendra Modi. There was a time when our ministers weren't even noticed at such international forums including the United Nations. Today, prime minister and external affairs minister (EAM) are noticed around the world." Madhav also berated former external affairs ministers while taking a dig at an incident in which the then EAM read Portuguese minister's speech at the United Nations. "There was a time when our external affairs ministers were never noticed at international forums including the UN. There were funny instances like that of once an Indian foreign minister reading the speech of foreign minister of another country," Madhav said. The incident that Ram Madhav recalled pertained to 2011 when then external affairs minister in the UPA government SM Krishna inadvertently read out a Portuguese minister's speech at the United Nations Security Council meeting in New York. SM Krishna, who was with the Congress for decades, joined BJP in 2017. He is regarded as an influential leader in Karnataka politics. Andhra Pradesh chief minister and TDP chief N Chandrababu Naidu on Saturday expressed confidence that 'political compulsions' will bring together all non-BJP parties to fight the NDA in the 2019 Lok Sabha elections and met several Opposition leaders in a run-up to forming a formidable front against the ruling party in the upcoming general elections. Andhra Pradesh chief minister and TDP chief N Chandrababu Naidu on Saturday expressed confidence that "political compulsions" will bring together all non-BJP parties to fight the NDA in the 2019 Lok Sabha elections. Naidu, who met several Opposition leaders in New Delhi in a run-up to forming a formidable front against the BJP in the upcoming general elections, said that he will play the role of a "facilitator" in helping evolve a credible alternative. "It is only (because of) political compulsion and in the overall interest of the nation that parties will join together. Some may not join before elections, some of them may join after elections," he told reporters in Delhi. Some political parties are "afraid" to join today because of the pressure from the BJP, he said, adding he may even have to meet some leaders because of "democratic compulsions". Asserting that someone will act as a catalyst to form an alternative front, Naidu said that already leaders like TMC chief Mamata Banerjee and AAP national convenor Arvind Kejriwal are making efforts towards that direction. "Had a good meeting with Sh Chandrababu Naidu ji (sic). Sh Sharad Yadav ji was also present for a while. Discussed national issues. Present BJP govt is a threat to the nation n to the Constitution. People across India will need to join hands to save India and the Constitution," Kejriwal tweeted after meeting Naidu at the Andhra Bhawan in Delhi. Naidu also met former Uttar Pradesh chief minister and BSP supremo Mayawati on Saturday evening along with Andhra Pradesh Finance Minister Y Ramakrishnudu and some TDP MPs. Mayawati's stand against the Congress ahead of the Assembly polls in Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh is being seen as a setback to form an opposition alliance against the BJP. Recently, Jana Sena leader Pawan Kalyan, who is trying to build support of "neglected communities" in Andhra Pradesh and Telangana, also tried to meet Mayawati. However, Naidu said that the TDP is a regional party in a state having 25 Lok Sabha seats and his role will be limited. "Somebody will do, I will follow. I want to help the process to work together. If there is consensus, we will work together. I'm doing my bit. I'm acting as a process facilitator. I'm not interested in becoming the prime minister," he added. Naidu, a former BJP ally who quit the NDA early in 2018 over the Centre's refusal to grant special status to Andhra Pradesh, also met Jammu and Kashmir National Conference president Farooq Abdullah and former BJP leader Yashwant Sinha in the national capital. He, however, admitted that it would be a difficult exercise this time. On coalition government, the TDP chief said, "If the leader is good and effective, development will take place even in coalition. In the past, more growth and development has taken place under coalition governments." However, today there is "no consensus" and that is why the Central Government is committing so many mistakes, he said. Alleging that Prime Minister Narendra Modi was victimising those who oppose him, Naidu said that income tax raids are being conducted ahead of Assembly polls in several states including Karnataka and now in Andhra Pradesh. "The democracy is in danger. Institutions have collapsed. I don't want to comment on Rafale deal and the CBI. The ED and Income Tax department are being used against politicians. Tomorrow, they will attack me also. I never indulged in petty politics," he said. The minister claimed that since the TDP quit the NDA, the Central Government is neglecting Andhra Pradesh more and is not releasing funds for development as promised under the Andhra Pradesh Reorganisation Act. Even relief funds to Titli cyclone-hit districts has not been released, he claimed. "Modi should have called the meeting of Telangana and Andhra Pradesh. Wherever they committed, they should have sorted out. Even sometimes if there were differences, that should have been addressed. That is the role of a prime minister. Despite that, the prime minister is creating problems among states. It is very unfortunate," he said. Expressing concern over the "economic crisis" under the NDA government, the TDP chief claimed the implementation of demonetisation, GST, growing NPAs and frauds have derailed the economic development and investors have lost confidence. Rupee devaluation and rising fuel prices have affected the people in the country, he added. With inputs from PTI After his scorpion-Shivling comment, Shashi Tharoor said Narendra Modi's 'personality cult' has not been popular with the RSS and has been a cause of frustration within it. Congress leader Shashi Tharoor has launched a fresh attack on Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Quoting a profile on Modi in The Caravan from 2012, which in turn quoted an unnamed leader in the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), Tharoor compared him to a "scorpion sitting on a Shivling". While speaking at the Bengaluru Literature Festival on Saturday, Tharoor said the prime minister's "personality cult" has not been popular with the RSS and has been a cause of frustration within the group. Tharoor said: "There is an extraordinarily striking metaphor expressed by an unnamed RSS source to journalist Vinod Jose of The Caravan, in which they express their frustration with their inability to curb Modi. The man says: 'Modi is like a scorpion sitting on a Shivling; you can't remove him with your hand, and you cannot hit it with a chappal either.'" #WATCH Shashi Tharoor in Bengaluru, says, "There's an extraordinarily striking metaphor expressed by an unnamed RSS source to a journalist, that, "Modi is like a scorpion sitting on a Shivling, you can't remove him with your hand & you cannot hit it with a chappal either."(27.10) pic.twitter.com/E6At7WrCG5 ANI (@ANI) October 28, 2018 The Congress MP went on to call the metaphor "profound", saying you can either get stung while trying to remove the scorpion, or you can undermine all the sacred tenets of the faith represented by the Shivling by using a slipper on the arachnid. "Ultimately, you live with it with seething frustration," he said. Tharoor also said the analogy and the frustration of the RSS could be a clue to the complex dynamics shared between the Hindutva movement and the "Moditva" expression of it. However, he took to Twitter on Sunday to issue a clarification on the reports, which left out his reference to The Caravan article and only quoted him as making the scorpion-Shivling analogy. "In view of the unseemly demonisation of an out-of-context remark today involving a scorpion metaphor, my book #TheParadoxicalPrimeMinister cites and footnotes this article please see the last paragraph of this article," the Congress leader said, sharing Vinod Jose's profile of Modi from 2012. "This comment (not by me) has been in the public domain for six years. RS Prasad making an issue of a 6-yr-old quote shows how little the BJP has to offer the nation. As for the media subserving the BJP's desire for 'controversy', when will this 'profession' develop any self-respect?" This comment (not by me) has been in the public domain for six years. RSPrasad making an issue of a 6yr old quote shows how little new the BJP has to offer the nation. As for media subserving the BJPs desire for controversy, when will this professiondevelop any self-respect? https://t.co/RF8xxQLjzq Shashi Tharoor (@ShashiTharoor) October 28, 2018 Not long after reports on Tharoor's statement, Union minister Ravi Shankar Prasad had demanded a response from Congress president Rahul Gandhi, calling the MP's remarks a "horrific denunciation of Lord Mahadev." "While Rahul Gandhi claims to be a Shiv bhakt, one of his leaders has almost abused the sanctity of the Shivling and Lord Mahadev by referring to a chappal attack through unnamed sources," ANI quoted him as saying. "Please reply to this very horrific denunciation of Lord Mahadev by giving an apology to what Tharoor has done." Union minister Giriraj Singh, too, criticised Tharoor, saying he would have been "silenced" had he made such a statement on a prime minister in Pakistan. "This is India. Had he made such a statement in Pakistan, Tharoor would have been silenced. He hasn't insulted the prime minister; he has insulted crores of Hindus and Lord Shiv. All I'll say is that the Congress is crossing the line now," he was quoted as saying by ANI. ... pic.twitter.com/n9mD0nXA5L Shandilya Giriraj Singh (@girirajsinghbjp) October 28, 2018 Furthermore, according to The New Indian Express, Tharoor, at the lit fest, also criticised the Centre for being the most centralised, top-heavy government in recent memory. The newspaper quoted him as saying: "As a result, the home minister does not know that the CBI director is being changed, the foreign minister is not aware of change in the government's foreign policy, and the defence minister does not know about changes made in the Rafale deal till the last moment." Vasundhara Raje has been elected thrice from the Jhalrapatan seat in 2003, 2008 and 2013. Jaipur: Rajasthan Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje Sunday announced that she will contest the upcoming Assembly election in the state from the Jhalrapatan constituency in Jhalawar district. "I have a 30-year-old connection with the people of Jhalawar. The people here have showered love and affection. I have done whatever I could do for Jhalawar and Baran districts," she said. Raje has been elected thrice from the Jhalrapatan seat in 2003, 2008 and 2013. She said although her focus would be to win all the 200 Assembly seats in the Rajasthan Assembly, special attention would be on 100 seats. Raje exuded confidence that the BJP would form a majority government in the state once again. She said BJP workers have created a situation that Congress's prime ministerial face Rahul Gandhi is forced to hold Assembly-level public meetings. "In the 2008 Assembly election, the BJP was eight seats away from making government in the state. The BJP had won 78 seats despite tough circumstances. Also, four seats were won by the JD(U) and the BJP dissidents. The Congress had won 96 seats," the chief minister said. "Of the eight seats, six seats were from Jhalawar and Baran districts. People of Jhalawar-Baran would not make any mistake this time and saffron would bloom in the state again," she added. Rajasthan will go to the polls on 7 December. Siddaramaiah and HD Deve Gowda who have pledged to forget their past bitter relations and move on are expected to hold a few joint campaigns, introducing new dynamics to the Karnataka bypolls Former prime minister HD Deve Gowda is a political genius. Besides knowing how to invoke God to help him, he can even make his rivals to come to his side. Getting Siddaramaiah to shake hands with him after a gap of 12 years is the latest example. Gowdas first act of genius was to get the Congress to hand over the chief ministership to his family, though his party had won less than one-sixth of the total number of Assembly seats. On 15 May, 2018, when the Karnataka Assembly results were pouring in, Gowda was glued to the telly at home. The frown on his brows, which grew deeper as the BJPs seats' tally crossed the half-way mark, eased considerably when the BJPs graph took a downturn, and settled at 104. Someone present at Gowdas home heard him remark: "Now its all Gods game." It is part of history that senior Congress leaders Ashok Gehlot and Ghulam Nabi Azad rushed to Deve Gowdas residence and offered their partys unconditional support to HD Kumaraswamy to become the chief minister of the Janata Dal (Secular)-Congress coalition government in Karnataka. God, with a bit of assistance from Gowda, had fulfilled the Gowda familys wish, though the JD(S) had won a mere 37 seats in the 224-member Assembly. Former chief minister Siddaramaiah, who was crestfallen at the Congresss defeat, expressed his reservations about the deal, but he was firmly brushed aside by Gehlot, who was in constant touch with Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi. Ever since the Kumaraswamy government took oath of office on 23 May, stability has eluded it, both because of internal strife in the Congress and sporadic attempts by the BJP to lure some of the MLAs to its side. Siddaramaiah, who assumed the dual role of leader of the Congress legislature party and chairman of the coordination committee, has added his own 'spice' from time to time to keep the government on tenterhooks. Many senior Congress leaders believe that more than the personal animosity with the Gowda family, Siddaramaiahs actions were intended to protect the interests of the Congress. They reckon that it's easier to handle an external enemy like the BJP, but the JD(S) being an 'internal rival', dependant largely on the same voter base, can cause far more damage to the party in the guise of 'opposition unity'. Even as the Congress was grappling with how to respond to some of Kumaraswamys unilateral decisions, especially on loan waiver for farmers, and the rising disquiet within the party over the delay in expansion of the cabinet, the announcement of by-elections by the Election Commission came as a temporary reprieve to the leaders. The by-elections to two Assembly and three Lok Sabha seats will act as a trial run to the mega fight during the 2019 Lok Sabha elections. The JD(S)-Congress combine will be facing the elections together for the first time, and it has already caused some jitters in the BJP camp. Anitha Kumaraswamy, contesting from Ramanagaram Assembly seat vacated by her husband Kumaraswamy, is expected to win comfortably, but LR Shivarame Gowda, fighting from the Mandya Lok Sabha seat as a stop-gap candidate to make way for either Deve Gowda or his grandson Prajwal Revanna in the 2019 LS election, may require all of Gowda clan's backing to sail through. From Jamkhandi in north Karnataka, the Congress is playing the emotional card by fielding Anand Nyamagouda, the son of former MLA Siddu Nyamagouda, who died in a road accident. The BJP is banking on Srikanth Kulkarni, who had lost narrowly last time. In Bellari, the BJP has put up J Shantha, the sister of Sriramulu, who had won by a margin of one lakh votes last time. Though the Congress has five MLAs in the region, it was unable to resolve the competing demands of local leaders and has brought in VS Ugrappa, a rank outsider and a Siddaramaiah loyalist as its candidate. Yet another round of dynastic politics will be witnessed in Shivamogga as the BJP is fielding BY Raghavendra, the son of state President BS Yeddyurappa, while the JD(S)' candidate is Madhu Bangarappa, the son of late chief minister S Bangarappa. There has been a lot of heartburn within the Congress for 'surrendering' this seat to the JD(S), which it has never won and which had remained a Congress bastion until Yeddyurappa made it his stronghold. But pulling in Madhu Bangarappa at the last minute to contest from here is a masterstroke which only Deve Gowda could have come up with. Madhu has nurtured his late father's constituency, even winning once from one of the Assembly segments and S Bangarappa remains a legend in these parts, winning multiple times to the Assembly and the Lok Sabha, irrespective of the party he represented. Siddaramaiah and Deve Gowda who have pledged to forget their past bitter relations and move on are expected to hold a few joint campaigns, introducing new dynamics to the elections. How the grassroots-level workers of both the Congress and the JD(S) will view this new bonhomie and how the electorate themselves will perceive it remains to be seen. One thing is clear: Deve Gowda not only has the Congress now relying on his tactical brilliance to take on the BJP in Karnataka, but possibly, he has also ensured that the state government headed by his son will continue beyond 2019. (Reuters) - At least four people were killed and 12 shot and three officers injured responding to an active shooting incident at a Pittsburgh synagogue on Saturday, local media and CNN reported. 'There are fatalities,' an emergency responder said on local television station KDKA. The conditions of the officers were not immediately known. (Reuters) - At least four people were killed and 12 shot and three officers injured responding to an active shooting incident at a Pittsburgh synagogue on Saturday, local media and CNN reported. "There are fatalities," an emergency responder said on local television station KDKA. The conditions of the officers were not immediately known. A "bearded heavy-set white male" was in custody, KDKA said, adding that responding officers "received fire." The suspect is in custody, said Pennsylvania Governor Tom Wolf, who was at the scene of the shooting according to local media. "We are providing local first responders with whatever help they need," Wolf said on Twitter. Earlier, a police commander said the shooting resulted in "multiple casualties." Police surrounded the Tree of Life synagogue after reports of an active shooter at the building in the city's Squirrel Hill neighborhood, local TV news images showed. "Do not come out of your home right now, it is not safe," Pittsburgh police Commander Jason Lando warned local residents, in an impromptu news conference at the scene. The synagogue was holding a shabbat religious service that started at 9:45 a.m. (1345 GMT), according to the organization's website. Sam Schachner, president of Tree of Life, said in a phone call he had no comment at this time. Michael Eisenberg, former president of the synagogue, told KDKA that police were normally only present at the synagogue for security on high holidays. "On a day like today, the door is open, its a religious service, you can walk in and out," he said. Jeff Finkelstein, CEO of Jewish Federation of Greater Pittsburgh, told reporters that on a typical Saturday morning about 50 or 60 people worship at Tree of Life Synagogue. The Squirrel Hill area is a heavily Jewish neighborhood of Pittsburgh, Finkelstein said. Local TV news footage showed police at that location with rifles and wearing helmets and other tactical gear. Paramedics also were stationed near the synagogue and police vehicles were blocking some streets in the area. U.S. President Donald Trump said in a tweet he was watching developments in Pittsburgh. The Tree of Life synagogue describes itself on its website as a conservative congregation that is traditional, progressive and egalitarian. On November 5, 2017, a former U.S. serviceman with an assault rifle killed 26 people and wounded 20 in a rural Texas church during Sunday services. (Writing by Nick Zieminski; Editing by Steve Orlofsky and Chizu Nomiyama) This story has not been edited by Firstpost staff and is generated by auto-feed. BARCELONA (Reuters) - Catalan separatists marked the first anniversary of a failed independence declaration on Saturday with protests and vows to press ahead with their efforts to split from Spain. Madrid imposed direct rule on Catalonia after it declared independence following a referendum. Elections later returned a regional government favouring secession though a party supporting union with Spain won most votes. BARCELONA (Reuters) - Catalan separatists marked the first anniversary of a failed independence declaration on Saturday with protests and vows to press ahead with their efforts to split from Spain. Madrid imposed direct rule on Catalonia after it declared independence following a referendum. Elections later returned a regional government favouring secession though a party supporting union with Spain won most votes. As separatist leaders jailed for their role in last year's attempt to split from Spain go to trial, Catalan leader Quim Torra demanded their acquittal on Saturday and said independence efforts would continue. "Turning back is not an option," Torra said in a televised address, adding that he "won't accept any sentence other than a full acquittal." "If there's a conviction, we'll face it with the determination of Oct. 1 and the strength and solidarity of Oct. 3," Torra said, referring to the date of last year's referendum and a general strike held two days later. Protest rallies were due to take place later on Saturday in towns and cities across the region. Catalans in the referendum voted overwhelmingly for independence with those opposed to independence largely boycotting the vote. Opinion polls show that the region is split roughly in half between those who support secession and those favouring remaining part of Spain. Despite continued friction between Barcelona and Madrid, tensions have dropped considerably since last year. In a sign of frustration at the lack of progress towards secession, members of one pro-independence civil society group submitted a petition on Saturday calling for the Catalan parliament and regional government to publish the declaration of the Catalan republic in the official Catalan bulletin. (Reporting by Sam Edwards; Editing by Helen Popper) This story has not been edited by Firstpost staff and is generated by auto-feed. By John Altdorfer PITTSBURGH (Reuters) - A gunman killed at least eight people and injured 12 in an attack on a Pittsburgh synagogue during Sabbath religious services on Saturday, and a suspect was in custody in a possible hate crime, local authorities and media reported. By John Altdorfer PITTSBURGH (Reuters) - A gunman killed at least eight people and injured 12 in an attack on a Pittsburgh synagogue during Sabbath religious services on Saturday, and a suspect was in custody in a possible hate crime, local authorities and media reported. A "bearded heavy-set white male" was in custody, KDKA television said, citing police sources saying the gunman walked into the building and yelled All Jews must die. Responding officers "received fire" and three officers were injured, KDKA said, but it was not immediately clear if they were counted among the 12 injured. Pennsylvania Governor Tom Wolf, who was at the scene of the shooting according to local media, said in a tweet: "We are providing local first responders with whatever help they need." The University of Pittsburgh Medical Center said it was treating multiple patients at UPMC Presbyterian. Earlier, a police commander said the shooting resulted in "multiple casualties." Police surrounded the Tree of Life synagogue after reports of an active shooter at the building in the city's Squirrel Hill neighborhood, local TV news images showed. "Do not come out of your home right now, it is not safe," Pittsburgh police Commander Jason Lando warned local residents, in an impromptu news conference at the scene. The synagogue was holding a shabbat religious service that started at 9:45 a.m. (1345 GMT), according to the organization's website. Sam Schachner, president of Tree of Life, said in a phone call he had no comment at this time. Michael Eisenberg, former president of the synagogue, told KDKA that police were normally only present at the synagogue for security on high holidays. "On a day like today, the door is open, its a religious service, you can walk in and out," he said. Jonathan Greenblatt, CEO of the Anti-Defemation League, called the shooting an "anti-Semitic attack." Around the time of the shooting, three congregations would be using the building, Eisenberg said. The Tree of Life congregation would have about 40 people present, another group meeting for Sabbath services in the basement would have 30 to 40 people and a third Jewish congregation meeting for a study session would have about 15 people. A common atrium area would be busy with people milling around, he added. Most of the congregants were older people, according to a former rabbi interviewed by local media. Local TV news footage showed police at that location with rifles and wearing helmets and other tactical gear. Paramedics also were stationed near the synagogue and police vehicles were blocking some streets in the area. Shortly after reports of the shooting emerged, U.S. President Donald Trump said in a tweet he was watching what he described as a "devastating" situation. Trump told reporters later in the morning the killings might have been prevented if there had been an armed guard in the building. If they had some kind of a protection inside the temple maybe it could have been a much more different situation, they didnt," he said when asked about a possible link to U.S. gun laws. The Tree of Life synagogue describes itself on its website as a conservative congregation that is traditional, progressive and egalitarian. (Additional reporting by Alex Dobuzinskis and Steve Gorman in Los Angeles, Jarrett Renshaw in New York and David Brunnstrom in Washington; Writing by Nick Zieminski; Editing by Steve Orlofsky and Chizu Nomiyama) This story has not been edited by Firstpost staff and is generated by auto-feed. The Indian side needs to tell China in clear terms that Beijings attempts to court the Afghan Taliban are not conducive for regional peace and stability. The first part of the joint training of Afghan diplomats by India and China was concluded on 26 October at the Indian Foreign Service Institute (IFSI) in New Delhi. Indo-Chinese cooperation in Afghanistan was agreed upon by Chinese President Xi Jinping and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi during their informal summit at Wuhan in China in April this year. The Wuhan summit came after the two-month-long standoff between the Indian Army and the Peoples Liberation Army in the India-China-Bhutan tri-junction on the Doka La plateau last year. Under the joint initiative, ten Afghan diplomats were trained at the IFSI during 15 to 26 October. The launch of this unique program is indisputably a landmark achievement and represents a positive development in India-China bilateral ties. Almost coinciding with this event, New Delhi and Beijing have signed an internal security agreement which focuses on terrorism, narcotics and human trafficking, intelligence sharing and disaster management. The significance of the pact is apparent from the fact that the signatory on the Indian side was the Union Minister of Home Affairs Rajnath Singh and the Chinese Minister of Public Security Zhao Kezhi. The diplomats of both the countries seem elated over this positive turn in relations, and they should be. It has been reported that New Delhi and Beijing are in discussion on further cooperation in regional connectivity initiatives, such as International North-South Transport Corridor (INSTC) as well as India-Afghanistan-Iran transit and trade arrangement. Beijing wants the China-India Plus cooperation to be extended from Afghanistan to other countries, such as Nepal, Bhutan, Maldives, Iran and Myanmar. This desire needs to be appreciated as the operationalisation of India-China cooperation has the potential to reshape the geopolitics around Afghanistan. However, the Chinese policy towards Pakistan in the Afghan reconciliation process poses the real challenge in coordinating India-China strategies in war-torn Afghanistan. There can be no doubt that China does not want the Afghan Taliban to get emboldened in Afghanistan as this would provide material and psychological support for the Uyghur insurgents. Chinas biggest interest in Afghanistan is to ensure that the country does not become a breeding ground for jihadist extremism which could spread over to its restless Xinjiang province. In recent months, the Chinese side has taken extraordinary steps to stamp out Islamist ideas in its western province. But the Chinese desire to ensure American departure from Afghanistan seems to have made Beijing adopt the Pakistani line that the Afghan Taliban deserves a significant share of power. Chinas growing strategic tensions with the United States is likely to outweigh the shared concerns on Islamist extremism. Following a bloody civil war in Afghanistan, when the Taliban seized power in 1996, China chose to stay away from the Taliban regime which was recognized by Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and the UAE. On the other hand, Iran, Russia and India gave their support to the Northern Alliance which was led by the charismatic Ahmad Shah Massoud. However, China soon showed keen interest in doing business with the Taliban. Chinas ambassador to Pakistan, Lu Shunlin was reported to have secretly met with the Taliban leader Mullah Omar in December 2000. During the meeting, Mullah offered Lu assurances that the Taliban would not facilitate any attacks on China in return for Beijings recognition of the Taliban as the legitimate Afghan government. As mentioned by Brahma Chellaney in an article for Hindustan Times, China has always had a dubious approach toward the Taliban. When 9/11 happened, a Chinese delegation was in Kandahar signing an accord with the isolated Taliban regime. Considering the Afghan Talibans deep links with Pakistans security establishment and the all weather friendship between China and Pakistan, Beijing feels the need to accommodate Talibans demands. China is yet to reconsider its current approach of supporting the Afghan Taliban in a bid to tie down American forces in Afghanistan. Pakistan, which provides cross-border safe havens to the Afghan Taliban, is continuing to play a double game pretending to be an American ally in the war against terrorism while harbouring the Afghan Taliban. To make matters worse, a confident Afghan Taliban is fast expanding its reach in Afghanistan, while killing security forces in record numbers. Russia and Iran are also busy in further emboldening the Afghan Taliban in their bid to spread instability across the region. And there is no evidence of a reduction in discord between Afghanistan and Pakistan over their conflicting objectives. Recently held parliamentary elections are unlikely to lead to any immediate relief to helpless Afghan people. We have witnessed a multitude of initiatives with the aim of bringing about peace and stability in Afghanistan. However, the key for the future is in the hand of the important players the Afghan Taliban, Pakistan and the United States. In fact, it would not be entirely incorrect to argue that the road to peace in Afghanistan goes through Rawalpindi in terms of its capacity to put pressure on the Afghan Taliban for joining the peace process and to strengthen the Afghan economy through increased regional connectivity. No country other than China has real leverage over Pakistans security establishment in this regard. China has thus far attempted to increase its sway in Afghanistan with Pakistans help. The primary instruments have been the China-Pakistan-Afghanistan trilateral and the Quadrilateral Coordination Group (QCG), which is comprised of the United States, China, Afghanistan, and Pakistan. However, as this strategy has not yet borne results, China is keen to involve India a country with a massively positive image among Afghans in its drive to enhance its influence in Afghanistan. As the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), which is the centrepiece of the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), is strongly opposed by India on sovereignty grounds as it passes through territory under Pakistani occupation but claimed by India, China is finding other ways to engage with India in Afghanistan. However, China must be persuaded to play a positive role in paving the way for direct talks between the Afghan government and the Afghan Taliban which is the only way for the future of peace and stability both in China, Afghanistan, Pakistan and India. India has consistently pursued an anti-Taliban policy. Currently, New Delhi is not very happy with the prospects of direct talks between Washington and the Afghan Taliban as it would not only marginalise the Afghan government but also provide legitimacy to a terrorist outfit. The Indian side needs to tell China in clear terms that Beijings attempts to court the Afghan Taliban are not conducive for regional peace and stability. Chinas propensity to shield Pakistans undesirable behaviour has been the real impediment in counter-terror cooperation between New Delhi and Beijing. India-China joint efforts at capacity building of the Afghan State are also not going to achieve anything substantial as long as China does not ask Pakistan to stop hosting the Afghan Talibans safe havens in its territory. The Islamic State group has killed at least 68 US-backed fighters battling to oust the jihadists from their eastern Syria holdout of Hajin, a war monitor said on Saturday. Beirut: The Islamic State group has killed at least 68 US-backed fighters battling to oust the jihadists from their eastern Syria holdout of Hajin, a war monitor said on Saturday. IS on late Friday dispatched suicide bombers as part of a counter-attack against the Syrian Democratic Forces, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said, raising the death toll from an earlier figure of 41. The SDF fighters, who are backed by US-led coalition air strikes, were killed overnight, the Britain-based Observatory said. "The death toll has increased due to the discovery of new victims on the front line and the existence of 100 wounded," said Observatory head Rami Abdel Rahman. A spokesman for the US-led coalition said: "at this time, numbers cannot be confirmed as both sides are taking casualties as this difficult fight... continues". A "sandstorm allowed an IS counterattack, which was surprising given the conditions, but now the air is clear, the coalition will continue to increase air and fire support to assist our partners," spokesman Sean Ryan said, using an alternative acronym for IS. In a statement on the Telegram messaging app, IS said it had attacked the village of Sousa late Friday and detonated a car bomb near the village of Al-Baghuza further south, down the Euphrates river. The SDF last month launched an offensive against the jihadists in the Hajin pocket on the eastern banks of the Euphrates, in Deir Ezzor province. IS has staged a bloody fightback. Since 10 September, 270 SDF fighters and 496 IS jihadists have been killed in the offensive, the Observatory says. The coalition estimates that 2,000 IS fighters remain in the Hajin area. Last week the Observatory said coalition air strikes had killed 41 civilians in Sousa, 10 of them children, on 18 and 19 October. But the coalition said it had targeted an IS command post on 18 October, and denied carrying out any strikes in the area the following day. IS overran large swathes of Syria and neighbouring Iraq in 2014, proclaiming a "caliphate" across the land it controlled. But the jihadist group has since lost most of that territory to various offensives in both countries. In Syria, its presence has been reduced to parts of the vast Badia desert and the Hajin pocket near the border with Iraq. More than 3,60,000 people have been killed since Syria's war erupted in 2011 with the brutal repression of anti-government protests. Islamic State overran large swathes of Syria and neighbouring Iraq in 2014, proclaiming a 'caliphate' across land it controlled. But the jihadist group has since lost most of that territory. Beirut: The Islamic State group has ousted a US-backed coalition of Kurdish and Arab forces from its holdout in eastern Syria, killing dozens of fighters, a monitoring group said Sunday. A Syrian Democratic Forces commander, asking not to be named, confirmed the SDF retreat from the Hajin pocket near the Iraqi border seven weeks into an offensive. The SDF, who are backed by air strikes of the US-led coalition, launched its campaign to retake the Islamic State holdout on 10 September. But they have faced a fierce fightback from the jihadists, including under the cover of sandstorms, the Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights says. "In counterattacks since Friday to Sunday dawn, Islamic State has taken back all positions to which the SDF had advanced inside the Hajin pocket," the monitoring group's chief Rami Abdel Rahman said. The Observatory reported 72 SDF fighters killed, as IS took advantage of the storm that hampered coalition air cover and dispatched suicide bombers as part of their fightback. The SDF commander told AFP that his forces had faced a "strong dust storm" and lacked local knowledge of the terrain. Unlike Islamic State, "our forces don't know the area and can't move around in conditions of zero visibility," he said. "Military reinforcements and heavy weapons have been sent to the front and some units will be replaced by more experienced ones," the commander said. "We will launch a new military campaign as soon as those reinforcements have arrived," he said. More than 300 SDF fighters and around 500 Islamic State jihadists have been killed in the past seven weeks of fighting, the Observatory says. The coalition estimates that 2,000 Islamic State fighters remain in the Hajin area. Islamic State overran large swathes of Syria and neighbouring Iraq in 2014, proclaiming a "caliphate" across land it controlled. But the jihadist group has since lost most of that territory to various offensives in both countries. In Syria, its presence has been reduced to parts of the vast Badia desert also in the east and the Hajin pocket. A total of more than 360,000 people have been killed since Syria's war erupted in 2011 with the brutal repression of anti-government protests. Controversial strongman Rajapaksa staged a dramatic political comeback on Friday, becoming the new prime minister after Sirisena sacked premier Ranil Wickremesinghe. Colombo: Sri Lankan president Maithripala Sirisena's decision to appoint his predecessor Mahinda Rajapaksa as prime minister has raised fears about a return to past abusive practices in the island nation, the Human Rights Watch said on Sunday. Controversial strongman Rajapaksa staged a dramatic political comeback on Friday, becoming the new prime minister after Sirisena sacked premier Ranil Wickremesinghe. The sudden development came amid growing tensions between Sirisena and Wickremesinghe on several policy matters and the President has been critical of the Prime Minister and his policies, especially on economy and security. As per rule, the president may appoint a new prime minister only under certain conditions such as the death of the premier, resignation in writing, or a vote of no confidence in parliament against the government for a listed set of reasons. "Rajapaksa's return to high office without any justice for past crimes raises chilling concerns for human rights in Sri Lanka," Brad Adams, Asia director at the HRW, said. The New York-based watchdog said the current Lankan government's "failure to bring justice to victims of war crimes under the Rajapaksa regime reopens the door for past abusers to return to their terrible practices". Rajapaksa's administration was implicated in egregious violations during the final stages of the brutal civil war in the island nation and in suppression of freedoms of the media. The HRW said military forces under Rajapaksa's authority attacked civilians and executed prisoners during the final months of fighting against the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE). People with suspected links to the LTTE were subjected to arbitrary arrest, torture, sexual violence, extrajudicial killings and enforced disappearances. Journalists and activists critical of the then Rajapaksa government faced harassment, arrest and even physical attack, it said. The LTTE had run a military campaign for a separate Tamil homeland in the northern and eastern provinces of the island nation before its collapse in 2009 after the Sri Lankan Army killed its supreme leader Velupillai Prabhakaran. Since Rajapaksa was sworn in as prime minister, there have been reports that his supporters took over the state media. "The media outlets, rights organisations and victims' groups...now fear a return to anxiety and fear...It is critical that governments that helped Sri Lanka's return to a much more rights-respecting government act to ensure those gains are not lost," Adams said. Mangala Samaraweera, a senior member of Wickremasinghe's party and minister of finance and media, has described the recent political developments in the country as "an anti-democratic coup". By Idrees Ali MANAMA (Reuters) - U.S. Defense Secretary Jim Mattis said on Saturday that the killing of Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi undermined Middle Eastern stability and that Washington would take additional measures against those responsible. Washington Post columnist Khashoggi's murder has escalated into a crisis for the worlds top oil exporter By Idrees Ali MANAMA (Reuters) - U.S. Defense Secretary Jim Mattis said on Saturday that the killing of Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi undermined Middle Eastern stability and that Washington would take additional measures against those responsible. Washington Post columnist Khashoggi's murder has escalated into a crisis for the worlds top oil exporter. Saudi Arabia's allies have reacted with outrage towards a country that is the lynchpin of a U.S.-backed regional bloc against growing Iranian influence in the Middle East. But Mattis also said U.S. respect for the Saudi people was undiminished, while Saudi Foreign Minister Adel al-Jubeir said those behind the killing would be prosecuted in the kingdom and that the investigation would take time. U.S. President Donald Trump has said he wants to get to the bottom of the case, while also highlighting Riyadh's role as an ally against Tehran and Islamist militants, as well as a major purchaser of U.S. arms. "With our collective interests in peace and unwavering respect for human rights in mind, the murder of Jamal Khashoggi in a diplomatic facility must concern us all greatly," Mattis told a conference in Bahrain. "Failure of any one nation to adhere to international norms and the rule of law undermines regional stability at a time when it is needed most," Mattis said. He did not mention de facto Saudi ruler Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman by name at any point. Saudi Arabia's public prosecutor said Khashoggi's killing was premeditated, contradicting a previous official statement that it happened accidentally during a tussle in the Saudi consulate in Istanbul. Saudi officials have also said he was accidentally killed in a botched security operation to return him to the kingdom. In his remarks at the Manama Dialogue security conference, Mattis went through a list of what he described as disruptive Iranian behavior - a message most Gulf allies will view positively since they share similar concerns about Iran's increasing influence in Syria and Iraq. While these were some of the sharpest comments Mattis has made on the Khashoggi killing, he also said the two countries still needed to collaborate on stability in the region. "It's hard to imagine that this administration in particular is going to change fundamentally how it views the role of the Saudis in terms of counterterrorism, in terms of counter-Iran," said Dennis Ross, who served as top Middle East adviser to President Barack Obama in his first term. Foreign Minister Jubeir, speaking at the same conference, said Riyadh's relations with Washington were "ironclad" amid what he called "hysteria in the media" over Khashoggi's killing. In response to the killing, U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo this week announced moves against 21 Saudis to either revoke their visas or make them ineligible for U.S. visas after the Khashoggi killing. "Our Secretary of State ...will be taking additional measures as the situation is clarified," Mattis said. ALLIANCES Mattis said the presence in the Middle East of Russia - a major ally of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad - could not be a replacement for the United States, whose "long-standing, enduring, and transparent" commitment to the region he reiterated. He said that it was important to end a 16-month-old dispute between Qatar and four Arab states that analysts say has weakened regional coordination against Iran. Saudi Arabia, the Emirates, Bahrain and Egypt cut off travel and trade ties with Qatar in June 2017, accusing it of backing their archrival, Iran, and supporting terrorism. Qatar denies the charges. "The solving of internal debates among our GCC partners is vital for realizing this vision. Without it, we weaken our security," he said, referring to the Gulf Cooperation Council nations. Mattis said he continued to support partners in the region who were defending themselves against Houthi attacks in Yemen but also called for an end to fighting there. A Saudi-led coalition that intervened in Yemens war in 2015 has conducted frequent air strikes targeting the Iran-aligned Houthi group and has often hit civilians, although it denies doing so intentionally. (Reporting by Idrees Ali; additional reporting by Katie Paul; Editing by Michael Perry and John Stonestreet) This story has not been edited by Firstpost staff and is generated by auto-feed. A gunman who's believed to have spewed anti-Semitic slurs and rhetoric on social media barged into a Pittsburgh synagogue on Saturday and opened fire, killing 11 people in one of the deadliest attacks on Jews in US history Pittsburgh: A gunman who's believed to have spewed anti-Semitic slurs and rhetoric on social media barged into a Pittsburgh synagogue on Saturday and opened fire, killing 11 people in one of the deadliest attacks on Jews in US history. The 20-minute attack at Tree of Life Congregation in the Squirrel Hill neighborhood left six others wounded, including four police officers who dashed to the scene, authorities said. The suspect, Robert Bowers, traded gunfire with police and was shot several times. Bowers, who was in fair condition at a hospital, was charged late Saturday with 29 federal counts, including hate crimes and weapons offenses. It wasn't immediately known if Bowers has an attorney to speak on his behalf. "Please know that justice in this case will be swift and it will be severe," Scott Brady, the chief federal prosecutor in western Pennsylvania, said at a news conference, characterising the slaughter as a "terrible and unspeakable act of hate." The mass shooting came amid a rash of high-profile attacks in an increasingly divided country, one day after a Florida man was arrested and charged with mailing a series of pipe bombs to prominent Democrats and little more than a week before the midterm elections. The killings also immediately reignited the longstanding national debate about guns: President Donald Trump said the outcome might have been different if the synagogue "had some kind of protection" from an armed guard, while Pennsylvania's Democratic governor Tom Wolf noted that once again "dangerous weapons are putting our citizens in harm's way". Trump said he planned to travel to Pittsburgh, but offered no details. Authorities say that just before 10 am (local time), Bower entered the large synagogue with an assault-style rifle and three handguns. Three separate congregations were conducting Sabbath services in different areas of the large building, according to Michael Eisenberg, the immediate past president of the Tree of Life. The Pennsylvania attorney general's office said it was told by victims that a brit milah a ritual circumcision ceremony at which a baby boy also receives his Hebrew name was also taking place, though law enforcement officials later said no children were among the dead or wounded. "It is a very horrific crime scene," said a visibly moved Wendell Hissrich, the Pittsburgh public safety director. "It's one of the worst that I've seen." The survivors included Daniel Leger, 70, a nurse and hospital chaplain who was in critical condition after undergoing surgery, his brother, Paul Leger, told the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Daniel Leger was scheduled to lead a service Saturday morning, he said. The mass shooting raised immediate alarm in Jewish communities around the country. Authorities in New York City, Chicago and elsewhere increased security at Jewish centres. Bob Jones, head of the FBI's Pittsburgh office, said that worshippers "were brutally murdered by a gunman targeting them simply because of their faith," though he cautioned the shooter's full motive was not yet known. In a statement, Attorney General Jeff Sessions said the Justice Department would file hate crime and other charges against Bowers. Bowers, who had no apparent criminal record, expressed virulently anti-Semitic views on a social media site called Gab, according to an Associated Press review of an archived version of the posts made under his name. The cover photo for his account featured a neo-Nazi symbol, and his recent posts included a photo of a fiery oven like those used in Nazi concentration camps used to cremate Jews during World War II. Other posts referenced false conspiracy theories suggesting the Holocaust in which an estimated 6 million Jews perished was a hoax. He wrote of a Jewish "infestation," using a slur for Jews. Gab confirmed Bowers had a profile on its website, which is popular with far-right extremists. Before the shooting, the poster believed to be Bowers also wrote that "HIAS likes to bring invaders in that kill our people. I can't sit by and watch my people get slaughtered. Screw your optics, I'm going in." HIAS is a nonprofit group that helps refugees around the world find safety and freedom. The organisation says it is guided by Jewish values and history. Jonathan Greenblatt, chief executive officer of the Anti-Defamation League, said the group believes Saturday's attack was the deadliest on the Jewish community in US history. "Our hearts break for the families of those killed and injured at the Tree of Life Synagogue, and for the entire Jewish community of Pittsburgh," Greenblatt said. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said he was "heartbroken and appalled" by the attack. "The entire people of Israel grieve with the families of the dead," Netanyahu said. "We stand together with the Jewish community of Pittsburgh. We stand together with the American people in the face of this horrendous anti-Semitic brutality. And we all pray for the speedy recovery of the wounded." Thousands of people, some holding candles, gathered for a vigil in the Squirrel Hill neighbourhood on Saturday night in honor of the victims, whose names were not immediately released. A chant of "vote, vote, vote" broke out during the emotional gathering. Some attendees blamed the shooting on the nation's political climate, and said they took little solace in the planned visit by Trump. At a political rally in Murphysboro, Illinois, Trump said, "The evil anti-Semitic attack is an assault on all of us." The president who, at times, has been accused by critics of failing to adequately condemn hate, such as when he blamed "both sides" for the violence at a Charlottesville, Virginia, white supremacist rally in 2017 said that anti-Semitism must be "confronted and condemned everywhere it rears it very ugly head". He called for the imposition of the death penalty for "crimes like this". The synagogue is located in the tree-lined residential neighborhood of Squirrel Hill, about 10 minutes from downtown Pittsburgh and the hub of Pittsburgh's Jewish community. The facade of the fortress-like concrete building is punctuated by rows of swirling, modernistic stained-glass windows illustrating the story of creation, the acceptance of God's law, the "life cycle" and "how human-beings should care for the earth and one another," according to its website. Among its treasures is a "Holocaust Torah," rescued from Czechoslovakia. Its sanctuary can hold up to 1,250 people. Eisenberg, the former synagogue president, said officials at Tree of Life had not gotten any threats that he knew of before the shooting. But he said security was a concern, and the synagogue had started working to improve it. Chuck Diamond, a former rabbi at the synagogue who retired more than a year ago, said the building is locked during the week, and is outfitted with security cameras. "But on Sabbath it's an open door," he said. "You know, you're always worried that something would happen," said Myron Snider, head of the cemetery committee for New Light Congregation, which meets at Tree of Life. Snider just got out of the hospital on Thursday and missed Saturday's service. "But you never dream that it would happen like this," Snider added. "Just never ever dream that it would happen like this." Four-nation Syrian summit calls for lasting Idlib ceasefire Russian President Vladimir Putin, France\'s Emmanuel Macron, German Chancellor Angela Merkel and Turkey\'s Recep Tayyip Erdogan meet in Istanbul for the Syrian summit AFP, Istanbul : The leaders of Turkey, Russia, France and Germany on Saturday called for a political solution to Syria's devastating seven-year civil war and a lasting ceasefire in the last major rebel-held bastion of Idlib. A joint statement adopted at the end of a major summit in Istanbul said the countries were committed to working "together in order to create conditions for peace and stability in Syria". It also "stressed the importance of a lasting ceasefire" in Idlib, while hailing "progress" following a deal last month between Syrian-regime supporter Russia and rebel-backer Turkey to create a buffer zone around the northwestern province. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan spoke for several hours with Russia's Vladimir Putin, France's Emmanuel Macron and German Chancellor Angela Merkel about the Syrian conflict, in which more than 360,000 people have been killed since 2011. Their statement, read by Erdogan, called for a committee to be established to draft Syria's post-war constitution before the end of the year, "paving the way for free and fair elections" in the war-torn country. It also said there was "the need to ensure humanitarian organisations' rapid, safe and unhindered access throughout Syria and immediate humanitarian assistance to reach all people in need". The talks came after a week of escalating violence in Idlib culminated in Syrian regime artillery fire killing seven civilians on Friday, the highest death toll there since the fragile ceasefire began last month. Following the joint news conference in Istanbul, the leaders spoke separately, with Macron urging Russia to pressure the regime of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad to bring about a "stable and lasting ceasefire in Idlib". "We rely on Russia to exercise very clear pressure on the regime which depends on it for survival," he said. However Putin warned that if "radicals" were to "launch armed provocations from the Idlib zone, Russia reserves the right to give active assistance to the Syrian government in liquidating this source of terrorist threat". Merkel, meanwhile, said the leaders "have the duty to prevent another humanitarian disaster". "The challenge is to end two wars: The war against terror and the war of the regime against large parts of its own population," she said. "A solution cannot happen through military means but only through political negotiations under the leadership of the United Nations." A rival United Nations plan for a committee to write the constitution ran aground this week, with UN special envoy Staffan de Mistura, who attended the summit, saying Damascus rejected the UN having a role in the selection process. The summit also addressed the plight of the millions displaced by the grinding conflict, saying that conditions needed to be created "throughout the country for the safe and voluntary return of refugees". However whether or not those forced to flee the country would be allowed to vote in a future election was left for the separate press conferences. "We must advance with the political process at the end of which there must be free elections open to all Syrians-including those in the diaspora," Merkel said. Erdogan, a vocal opponent of Assad, agreed, saying that Syrians "inside and outside" the country must decide the president's fate. Aid groups have warned that a Syrian government military offensive in Idlib, home to three million people, could spark one of the worst humanitarian disasters of the seven-year war. With an assault by government troops seeming imminent, Moscow and Ankara agreed on September 17 to create a 15-20 kilometre-wide demilitarised zone ringing Idlib as Turkey sought to avoid an attack leading to a further influx of people across its border. On Friday, Syria's UN envoy Bashar Jaafari maintained that the buffer zone is temporary and that Idlib would eventually revert to government control. Turkey and Russia have held several talks with Iran on the Syrian conflict in efforts that have often been greeted with suspicion in the West, but Saturday's summit was the first to include the EU's two most significant national leaders. Syria's opposition, which has previously described Russia's military intervention in 2015 as an occupation, on Friday said it welcomed dialogue with Moscow. However US Defence Secretary Jim Mattis told a security conference in Bahrain that Russia was no replacement for the United States. "Russia's presence in the region cannot replace the longstanding, enduring, and transparent US commitment to the Middle East," Mattis said. Saudi Arabia's foreign minister Adel al-Jubeir said that the issue of Jamal Khashoggi's killing has become 'fairly hysterical'. He also addressed the mounting scepticism around the crown prince's alleged involvement Dubai: Saudi Arabia's top diplomat said Saturday that the global outcry and media focus on the killing of a Saudi journalist earlier this month has become "hysterical" as he urged the public to wait for the results of an investigation before ascribing blame to the kingdom's top leadership. Jamal Khashoggi, a Washington Post columnist critical of Saudi Arabia's Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, was killed by Saudi agents at the kingdom's consulate in Istanbul on 2 October. "This issue has become fairly hysterical," Foreign Minister Adel al-Jubeir said. "I think people have assigned blame to Saudi Arabia with such certainty before the investigation is complete." Some of those implicated in Khashoggi's killing are close to Prince Mohammed, who is the kingdom's heir apparent. His condemnation of the killing as "heinous" and "painful" has so far failed to ease suspicions that such a high-level operation could have been carried out without his knowledge. Al-Jubeir addressed the mounting scepticism around the crown prince's alleged involvement. He was speaking in response to questions from Western journalists at an annual conference of international officials, including US Defense Secretary James Mattis, in Bahrain. "We have made clear that we are going to have a full and transparent investigation, the results of which will be released. We have made it very clear that those responsible will be held responsible," he said, adding that the kingdom has also put in place mechanisms to ensure this does not happen again. "We're trying to uncover what happened. We know that a mistake was committed. We know that people exceeded their authority and we know that we're investigating them," he said. But he cautioned that "investigations take time." "Unfortunately, there has been this hysteria in the media about Saudi Arabia's guilt before the investigation is completed," he said. Turkey alleges a 15-member hit squad was sent to Istanbul to kill the journalist, a onetime Saudi insider who became an outspoken critic of Prince Mohammed in columns for The Washington Post. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has said the three others in the group of 18 who have been detained in Saudi Arabia were consulate employees. Saudi Arabia has said five officials, including two who worked directly under the crown prince, have been relieved of their posts. Al-Jubeir on Saturday said six in total were dismissed. King Salman has assigned his son, the crown prince, to oversee the restructuring of the kingdom's intelligence bodies in the aftermath of the killing. The Turkish president said Saturday that he's discussed the journalist's killing with the leaders of Russia, France and Germany during separate meetings in Istanbul ahead of a summit on the Syrian war. Turkey is requesting that Saudi Arabia hand over the suspects in the killing, which the kingdom has described as a rogue operation by officials who may have exceeded their orders or authority. Al-Jubeir appeared to reject that notion. "The individuals are Saudi nationals, they're detained in Saudi Arabia, the investigation is in Saudi Arabia and they will be prosecuted in Saudi Arabia," he said at the Bahrain summit. Erdogan has said that Turkey would reveal more evidence about the killing but was not in any rush to do so, indicating that Turkish authorities will methodically increase pressure on Saudi Arabia even as the kingdom floats conflicting statements in a vain and often clumsy attempt to end the quandary. After three weeks of shifting Saudi accounts around the incident, the kingdom this week acknowledged that the killing was "premeditated," citing evidence from investigating Turkish officials. Saudi Arabia originally said Khashoggi had walked out of the consulate 2 October, before offering various other narratives that President Donald Trump called "one of the worst in the history of cover-ups." CIA director Gina Haspel, who was in Turkey earlier this week to review evidence, briefed Trump in Washington on Thursday. Saudi Arabia's chief prosecutor will arrive in Turkey on Sunday as part of the investigation and will meet with Turkish counterparts, according to Erdogan. Sri Lanka is facing a political crisis after Sirisena sacked prime minister Wickremesinghe on Friday, and appointed former strongman Rajapaksa as the new prime minister. Colombo: The political crises in Sri Lanka took an ugly turn on Sunday when bodyguards of Petroleum Minister Arjuna Ranatunga, a loyalist of Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe, fired live rounds at the supporters of the new premier Mahinda Rajapaksa, leaving one person dead. "One person succumbed to his injuries and two others were hospitalised in the shooting incident and a security personnel was arrested at the Ceylon Petroleum Corporation (CPC) premises in Dematagoda following a tense situation on Sunday," police said. The incident took place when the cricketer-turned-politician visited the CPC office, with several Ceylon Petroleum Corporation workers objecting to his presence at the office. When Ranatunga entered the building the supporters of the new prime minister Rajapaksa took exception to him visiting the office and shouted slogans. When they were not allowed to move out, shots were fired which injured three persons. Unconfirmed reports said that two of Ranatunga's security personnel have been arrested. Ranatunga is a supporter of Wickremesinghe who was sacked by President Maithripala Sirisena. Wickremesinghe holds his sacking was illegal and unconstitutional. Sri Lanka is facing a political crisis after Sirisena sacked prime minister Wickremesinghe on Friday, and appointed former strongman Rajapaksa as the new prime minister. A new caretaker government is expected to be sworn in on Monday. Sirisena also suspended parliament till 16 November after Wickremesinghe sought an emergency session to prove his majority. His office also announced that with Wickremesinghe's sacking the Cabinet stands dissolved. Maithripala Sirisena on Friday night sacked Ranil Wickremesinghe as the Sri Lanka prime minister and appointed Mahindra Rajapaksato to the post, and the next day, he suspended Parliament till 16 November. Colombo: Sri Lankan president Maithripala Sirisena on Sunday said Ranil Wickremesinghe was sacked due to his "arrogant" behaviour, and asserted that former strongman Mahinda Rajapaksa has been made the new premier in strict accordance with the Constitution. In his first address to the nation after the dramatic move to sack Wickremesinghe on Friday night, Sirisena said Wickremsinghe's political conduct since the victory in 2015 was unbecoming. "He appeared to treat Sri Lanka's future as a joy ride for a coterie of people around him who had no sense of the common man's thinking," he said. "Wickremesinghe completely destroyed the concept of good governance while corruption and waste became rampant. He was making arrogant arbitrary decisions making a mockery of collective responsibility." There was a huge gap in policy agreement between the two of us. I believe the cultural and policy differences between us contributed to this political and economic crisis." Sirisena on Friday night sacked Wickremesinghe and appointed Rajapaksa the new prime minister. Next day, he suspended Parliament till 16 November after Wickremesinghe sought an emergency session to prove his majority. The president also withdrew Wickremesinghe's personal security and vehicles in order to accord them to his 72-year-old successor, who staged a dramatic political comeback on Friday. In the address, Sirisena came down hard on Wickremesinghe over the Central Bank bond scam when his appointee and friend governor Arjuna Mahendran was accused of wrong doing in the Central Bank's bond issues of February 2015 and March 2016. The country was plunged into an unprecedented economic crisis due to the bond scam," he said. Sirisena said Wickremesinghe must take the responsibility to have Singapore extradite the former Central Bank governor Mahendran to Sri Lanka to face trial as they are good friends. Sirisena also accused the UNP leader of treating very lightly the alleged plot to assassinate him. I received information that senior policemen who were doing investigations were deliberately avoiding meeting officials of the attorney general's department," he said. "Having taken into consideration all crisis, the political and economic as well as the assassination plot on me, I was only left with one alternative which was to appoint former President Mahinda Rajapaksa as the prime minister," Sirisena said. The president last week accused his unity government partner of Wickremesinghe's UNP of going slow on the investigations after a man named Namal Kumara in mid September disclosed the alleged plot to assassinate Sirisena and former defence minister Gotabhaya Rajapaksa. On incompatibility between them on economic policies, Sirisena said Wickremesinghe was relying only on foreign investment which led to the local industrialists and entrepreneurs being left in the lurch. Wickremesinghe's economic council was highly corrupt so I took action to set up a National Economic Council in its place. But he scuttled its functions," he said. Rejecting Wickremesinghe's allegation that his sacking was unconstitutional and illegal, he said, I must make it very clear that the new appointment (of Rajapaksa) was made on expert legal advice in strict accordance with the Constitution." In a letter to Sirisena, Jayasuriya questioned Sirisena's decision to suspend the House until 16 November, saying it will have 'serious and undesirable' consequences on the country. He asked the president to restore Wickremesinghe's privileges as the leader of the government who has 'obtained a mandate to secure democracy and good governance. Colombo: Sri Lankan Parliament's Speaker Karu Jayasuriya Sunday recognised Ranil Wickremesinghe as the country's prime minister in a major relief to the embattled UNP leader, who was sacked as the premier by President Maithripala Sirisena. In a letter to Sirisena, Jayasuriya questioned Sirisena's decision to suspend the House until 16 November, saying it will have "serious and undesirable" consequences on the country. He asked the president to restore Wickremesinghe's privileges as the leader of the government who has "obtained a mandate to secure democracy and good governance. The speaker said a prorogation of Parliament should be one in consultation with the speaker. "In this context continuing the prorogation of parliament until November 16 will have serious and undesirable consequences for our country and I kindly request you to reconsider the same. "I consider it is my duty to draw your attention to the convention that a prorogation should be one in consultation with the speaker," Jayasuriya said. The speaker also questioned Sirisena's decision to withdraw the security of Wickremesinghe. Jayasuriya reminded Sirisena of certain forcible takeovers of state institutions since former strongman Rajapaksa was named Wickremesinghe's successor by the president on Friday night. Hess has a large Bakken Shale position that will be a key growth driver for the company in the both the near and long term, helping to keep it moving forward until its Guyana projects start coming online in a couple of years. Those dual growth drivers make Hess a compelling oil growth stock for the long term. In this Industry Focus: Energy clip, host Nick Sciple and Fool.com contributor Matt DiLallo discuss: An overview of Hess . . Its growth rate in the Bakken, as well as its partnership with ExxonMobil NYSE:XOM) Hess Midstream Partners, an MLP formed by Hess to assist in building out its Bakken midstream infrastructure. A full transcript follows the video. This video was recorded on Oct. 25, 2018. Nick Sciple: Let's talk about another player in the Bakken region. That's Hess Corporation, HES. Hess has some plays going on in the Bakken. They're also involved in Guyana. They partnered with Exxon to drill one of the largest offshore discoveries in recent memory. Do you want to talk about what's going on with Hess? What's going on in the Bakken with them? How does the Bakken fit into their overall strategy for the business? Matt DiLallo: Hess has been an interesting name. They've really reshaped their portfolio the last couple of years. They sold off a lot of different things. They sold off their Utica shale stuff; they sold off a lot of international plays. But they've kept what they think are the best. In their case, it's the Bakken. Hess is one of the better drillers out there. They have a manufacturing process that they've taken toward it, where they're drilling wells focused on cutting costs and really manufacturing oil out there by drilling wells that they have a high probability of delivering certain production growth rates and certain returns. They're using things like the Bakken, Guyana, as the growth engine of the company. They think they can grow production of the Bakken at a 15%-20% compound annual growth rate through 2021. They have enough inventory to drill for about 15 years at $60 oil. Higher oil prices free up some more inventory. There's plenty of growth out there. They just added another rig earlier this year; they plan on adding another rig. Lots of growth out in the Bakken. That will help them in the near term while they and ExxonMobil ramp up this Guyana find, which is truly amazing. It has loads and loads of low-cost oil out there. Hess sees that as being the next growth driver, probably 2020-2021 when that'll come online. They think they can grow cash flow at a 25% compound annual rate for years to come. These two plays are so high-margin, will produce so much money. Hess, between these two, could be a really great long-term oil company, because they can do it at $60 a barrel. Really interesting long-term name. Sciple: Let's talk a little bit more about, in Guyana, Hess' partnership with Exxon, that relationship there. Exxon is the operator there. How advantageous is that for Hess? That has to be a great resource to have, partnering with such a large oil player like Exxon. DiLallo: Yeah, Exxon is one of the better companies in the business at drilling for returns. They've been phenomenal over the years at some of the interesting metrics, like returns on capital employed. Because they're so focused on returns, that's what benefits Hess here. Exxon will invest in this play because it's going to produce long-term returns and very good returns. Exxon sees this as being one of the key drivers, along with the Permian, of enabling it to double earnings by 2025. For a company the size of Exxon, that's a huge, huge growth potential. So, for Hess to be a partner on this, it's really a great deal for Hess. Exxon knows how to drill, knows how to produce oil. I like Hess specifically because it's locked in. But you add the two together, and it's a really nice company to follow. Sciple: When you look at management's presentations, they talk about that Guyana and the Bakken are their growth drivers, but they have some other plays that are more of their cash flow drivers that they use to feed those growth engines. That's their assets in Malaysia and the Deepwater Gulf of Mexico. They're saying those plays are getting them 70% of the cash from operations through 2020, but only 20% of their capex. These are things that don't require a lot of capex to keep throwing off cash, but they can really use those other assets that they have to generate cash, to really invest in those big growth drivers, like you mentioned in Guyana and the Bakken. DiLallo: Right. That's something that investors should look at when they're looking at oil companies. Some, like Continental, are just focused on shale plays. These pump in a lot of money upfront, and they produce really fast. Then there's longer-term things like offshore, oil sands, LNG. They take a lot of money upfront, and take years before they come online, but then they produce lots of cash and production for years to come. That's what Guyana will be. It's a large upfront investment, but in the future, it'll turn out to be like Malaysia, like the Gulf of Mexico, where it can produce cash flow for years to come with little long-term investment. That's another reason why I like Hess over a company such as Continental. It does have these cash flow drivers, so it'll make more steady income over the years. It just reduces the risk for, if oil prices were to collapse again, we'd see the Bakken shale probably not grow as fast, which would hurt Continental, but it probably wouldn't hurt Hess' long-term growth. Sciple: We wanted to mention, for folks that are income investors, Hess also has a midstream entity that you can buy shares in. It has a 6% yield. It's been growing distribution at 15%. Strong financials, no debt. Do you want to talk about what opportunity that Hess Midstream vehicle might be for more income-focused investors? DiLallo: If investors don't want to be exposed to oil prices, Hess Midstream is an interesting way to play the Bakken without having that exposure to oil prices. It basically builds gathering pipelines, which are the need to hook oil and gas wells to the country's midstream pipeline system. It helps Hess be able to get this production to customers. It's basically like a toll booth, and they just collect steady cash flow as volumes flow through. They're able to take that cash flow, reinvest some of it into building more pipelines, more processing facilities, that sort of thing, and then distributing it to shareholders. 6% in today's environment is pretty good, and it's a very safe 6%. They have no debt. They cover their dividend very well with cash flow. They have lots of growth ahead because they're helping Hess, with Hess growing its production over 15%. Those volumes will flow through the midstream pipelines, generating cash flow. They think they can grow that distribution by about 15% a year for the foreseeable future. Add in the potential to help third parties out, and I think it's a really interesting way to play the Bakken without getting all that exposure to oil. As the largest leaseholder in the Bakken, Continental Resources (NYSE:CLR) is a stock that investors interested in the region need to know. The company, which helped spearhead the play's development, has undergone lots of changes in recent years, to better position it to create shareholder value in those to come. In this Industry Focus: Energy clip, host Nick Sciple and Fool.com contributor Matt DiLallo discuss: An overview of Continental Resources. Its growth rate, returns, and cash flow. Its recent mineral partnership with Franco-Nevada. A full transcript follows the video. This video was recorded on Oct. 25, 2018. Nick Sciple: Let's talk about some of the players in the Bakken that investors maybe should be aware of, maybe should pay attention to, for their portfolios. To start off, let's talk about Continental Resources. It's one of the largest players in the region. They claim to be the largest leaseholder in the Bakken. They also have leading positions in Oklahoma and the SCOOP and STACK plays. What's going on with Continental Resources right now? What should investors pay attention to? Matt DiLallo: They've been the first mover out there, so they were able to gobble up a bunch land back in the early part of the drilling boom. They've been able to drill. They have so much drillable land out there that they can grow and grow and grow. This year, between their Bakken land and their STACK SCOOP play, they can grow production 20-24%, which is phenomenal for a company that size. In addition to that, they can produce cash flow. Back during the drilling boom, companies were just drilling as fast as they could. They were taking on debt, issuing new stock, whatever they could to drill more wells. Now, with returns as good as they are, companies like Continental are able to just produce excess cash and still grow fast. It's great for investors because now they're actually making profits. Continental's case, they might use that money to institute a dividend. It's crazy for shale companies to actually pay a dividend, but that's what they're looking at. They could possibly buy back stock. They're also using that money to do some creative things. They're doing a mineral partnership with Franco-Nevada, which is a gold and silver streaming company. It's a $220 million deal that will basically give them funds to drill more wells and offset the capital program. They can use this as another growth vehicle. There's a lot that they're doing out there. Well-run. Their founder has been one of the champions of shale, Harold Hamm. He's constantly on things like CNB talking about how great the Bakken can be. He's really done a good job putting together a company that's geared toward that play. Sciple: Let's talk a little bit more about this partnership with Franco-Nevada. It was really interesting to me. I saw in one of the more recent Continental Resources' earnings calls, John Hart, their CFO and treasurer, said that this is a first-of-its-kind partnership between a streaming-type resource company and a shale producer. They're partnering together to where Franco-Nevada is going to help purchase the new leases while Continental is going to work along with them to choose the new places that they're interested in drilling. They'll get some investment from Franco-Nevada to help supply that. When you look at this deal, do you think this is something that could become a trend more long-term for other shale players? What kind of opportunities do you think this provides differently than the way things have been done in the past? DiLallo: It looks like it could be a trend. It's the second type of these companies that's formed. The other is Viper Energy, which Diamondback Energy formed a couple of years ago. They've used it kind of like an MLP. They've converted it to a corporation, but where they would drop down these royalty acres or acquire these royalty acres, and they'd use that to generate cash flow that they'd pay to investors. It's kind of an income-producing vehicle. In Continental Resources' case, they're going to use this initially as a growth vehicle. They're going to try to buy up some more of these royalties and build up a company that they could turn into an IPO. They could split it off. They have a lot of options for it. It's another way to raise cash. Oil companies always need money. Even though they're generating cash flow now, oil prices take a dip, or they decide to grow faster, they'll need that cash sooner. They're always drilling more wells, and it costs lots and lots of money to do that. So, it's a way to do that and maybe free up some cash flow now that they can use to buy back stock, pay down debts, something like that. I do think it'll probably become a trend to watch for investors, especially those that like income, because that's what these are geared toward. Sciple: It's a novel way to raise cash. When it comes to the energy game, cash is king, it seems to be the case. The oil market downturn shifted the focus of oil companies from investing for the future to seeking an immediate payoff. They cut spending on long-term capital projects, diverting nearly all their investments to short-cycle ones, such as drilling shale wells that can produce in a matter of months, as opposed to the years it takes to bring a deepwater production facility on line. However, with oil prices having rebounded in the past year, oil companies are starting to sanction new large-scale projects. That's a welcome sight for oil-field service companies like Core Labs (NYSE:CLB) and Schlumberger (NYSE:SLB), as it means these projects should not only fill the industry's future production needs but also boost the companies' bottom lines in the coming year. A steady string of green lights The spending reduction on large-scale projects is starting to have an impact on global oil supplies. Schlumberger CEO Paal Kibsgaard noted on the company's third-quarter conference call that "reduced production tailwinds from new projects that were sanctioned and largely funded prior to 2014 are now uncovering the underlying weakness in the international production base." Core Labs CEO David Demshur noted the same thing on that company's conference call, pointing out that "steeply falling production in Mexico, Venezuela, Colombia, Angola, Libya, Iran, and China has tightened the global market." Because of that, both companies believe that oil producers will need to boost spending on larger international projects. This shift is already starting to happen, and there has been a noticeable increase in final investment decisions (FIDs) on large-scale capital projects over the past year. Core's CEO noted that after making 20 FIDs last year, the industry is on pace to make 25 to 30 FIDs in 2018. One notable trend among this year's FIDs is that they're for long-delayed projects. In April, for example, Royal Dutch Shell (NYSE:RDS.A)(NYSE:RDS.B) finally gave the green light to its Vito project in the deepwater Gulf of Mexico. Shell started redesigning that project in 2015 to cut cost due to lower oil prices. The project now has a break-even price of less than $35 per barrel. The company expects it to produce 100,000 barrels of oil equivalent per day when it starts up in 2021. Shell also recently made an FID on the long-delayed LNG Canada. The company initially was on track to approve the project in 2016 but delayed it due to weaker market conditions. However, with market conditions on the upswing and a projected shortfall in global LNG supplies looming, Shell is finally moving forward with this project. If everything goes according to plan, the first phase, which will cost $13 billion, should start producing by the mid-2020s. In addition, several companies are working toward making final investment decisions on newer projects by year-end. Tortue, a natural gas field discovered by Kosmos Energy (NYSE:KOS) in 2012, which straddles the border of Mauritania and Senegal, is working its way toward an FID by year-end. Kosmos brought BP (NYSE:BP) on as a partner in late 2016 to help fund additional exploration and appraisal drilling, as well as assist in the development of the Tortue project, which includes not only an offshore production facility but a floating LNG export terminal. The project could start producing as early as 2021 if BP and Kosmos Energy green-light it this year. All signs point to a brighter 2019 for service companies While these large-scale projects won't move the needle for oil companies for a few more years, they will provide a near-term boost to the financial results of oil-field service companies. Core Labs' CEO, for example, noted that the company's "revenue opportunity usually occurs three to four quarters after the FID has sanctioned as rigs need to be mobilized, wells drilled, and core and fluid samples taken and then returned to our laboratories." Because of that, he believes that "revenue from longer-cycle projects," which he points out has "been mainly absent from Core's Reservoir Description revenue streams dating back to 2015," should "start to bolster Reservoir Description revenue in 2019." As that is the company's largest segment, this rebound in its revenue should move the needle for Core's financial results next year. Schlumberger, likewise, remains bullish on 2019 due to the increasing number of large-scale project FIDs. The company's CEO stated that the positive momentum it has seen in international markets over the past couple of quarters should continue into 2019. Because of that, he is "still very confident about the north of 10% revenue growth for our business internationally in 2019." A return to normalcy in the oil market After tightening their fiscal belts in recent years, oil companies are starting to increase their investments on longer-term offshore and international projects. It's a much-needed shift since the international production base -- which supplies 80% of the world's crude -- has experienced a notable drop-off in production from key regions over the past couple of years. In light of that, oil companies need to continue sanctioning large projects to meet future supply needs. Those investments will help boost the fortunes of oil-field service companies, which haven't yet experienced the full impact of the oil market recovery. They believe that the recent string of project announcements will provide them with more work in the next year, which should fuel a noticeable boost to their financial results in 2019. Canopy Growth Corporation (NASDAQ:CGC) and Constellation Brands (NYSE:STZ) are definitely joined at the hip. They're partners with plans to market cannabis-infused beverages. Constellation owns 38% of Canopy thanks to its $4 billion investment in August. But they're still different stocks. Even with the big pullback over the last couple of weeks, Canopy's share price is still up well over 50% in 2018. Constellation, meanwhile, is down year to date. Which of these stocks is the better buy now? The case for Canopy Growth Canopy Growth has two primary growth opportunities. One is the recreational marijuana market in Canada. The other is the global medical marijuana market. You could make a strong argument that Canopy is positioned better than any other company in the Canadian recreational marijuana market. The company has 4.3 million square feet of growing space currently licensed for production. Canopy plans to add another 1.3 million square feet to that total. Perhaps more important, Canopy has places to which it can ship the cannabis that it produces. The company has lined up supply agreements with every province that's finalized supply plans. And those agreements aren't for measly volumes. Canopy's deals accounted for 36% of the total volume of all supply agreements between provinces and cannabis producers as of August. The company will have to wait for a while before it and Constellation Brands can launch cannabis-infused beverages, though. Canada won't finalize regulations for several types of cannabis products, including edibles and beverages, until next year at the earliest. Canopy is also sitting pretty in international medical marijuana markets. The company's Spectrum subsidiary operates in Germany, the biggest marijuana market outside of North America. Canopy also has subsidiaries in Denmark, the Czech Republic, Australia, Chile, Colombia, and Lesotho, as well as partnerships in other countries that either already have legalized medical marijuana or could soon do so. It's hard to overstate the importance of Canopy's relationship with Constellation -- and the cash that Canopy has as a result of it. Canopy has plenty of money to make strategic acquisitions that give it an even bigger head start over its rivals. Over the long run, the addressable market for Canopy could reach $100 billion -- and perhaps a lot more. Canopy appears set to be a major player in this market and could generate solid returns for investors. The case for Constellation Brands To some extent, all of the positives for Canopy Growth also apply to Constellation Brands. That's to be expected, since Constellation owns a big chunk of Canopy. However, Constellation's core business still focuses on alcoholic beverages. At first glance, you might think the alcohol business is going nowhere. For example, beer sales in the U.S. have been flat over the last 10 years. But the high-end and craft beer segments are enjoying growth. Constellation's strategy is to lead the high-end beer market in the U.S. The company already ranks as the No. 1 high-end beer company and the No. 1 imported beer company in the U.S. Overall, Constellation ranks as the third-largest beer company in the U.S. with brands including Corona, Modelo, and Pacifico along with craft beers Ballast Point, Funky Buddha, and Four Corners. Constellation's beers are the most popular among Hispanics, one of the fastest-growing demographics in the U.S. While Constellation's strength lies in its beer business, the company is also targeting growth for its wine and spirits business. And again, its strategy is to be the leader in the premium market -- where the growth is. Constellation thinks that it can generate attractive returns from its wine and spirits business, with top brands like Kim Crawford and Black Box leading the way. The company also sees opportunities for making strategic acquisitions to fuel growth, an area where it has a strong track record. As the company generates strong profits and cash flow, it hasn't forgotten about its shareholders. Constellation pays a dividend that currently yields 1.35%. With a very low payout ratio, the company should easily be able to increase its dividend in the future. Better buy Canopy Growth has more room to run than Constellation does over the long term. That's because the cannabis market is still in its infancy while the alcoholic beverage market is mature. Does that make Canopy the better pick? Yes and no. My view is that Canopy is the better choice for aggressive investors. There are still a lot of risks for the cannabis industry. Canopy's valuation reflects expectations of tremendous growth that could take longer than many hope. But over time, I think Canopy Growth will continue to be a big winner. For more conservative investors, though, Constellation Brands is the smarter pick. Constellation is in great shape financially. It has a solid strategy to generate sustained growth. And it has an option to buy Canopy, which I suspect will happen sooner or later. Buying Constellation stock gives investors a stake in a strong company with a way to also profit from the potential boom in global marijuana sales. That's a win-win. Investors had high hopes for Lockheed Martin (NYSE:LMT) heading into the company's third-quarter earnings report, and the aerospace giant delivered results that lived up to those expectations. The company reported earnings per share of $5.14, beating estimates by $0.87, on revenue that, at $14.32 billion, beat expectations by $1.23 billion. There was a lot to like about the quarter, with all four Lockheed Martin segments delivering top-line growth of between 11% and 20%. The company generated $361 million in cash from operations in the quarter, even after making a $1.5 billion pension contribution, and ended the quarter with a backlog of more than $109 billion. The company also updated its full-year guidance, saying it expects $5.8 billion in operating profits on sales of $53 billion. Both numbers are at the upper end of previous guidance. Lockheed Martin also expects to generate about $3.4 billion in cash in all of 2018. Expect the momentum to continue into 2019. Lockheed Martin said it expects to grow revenue next year by 5% to 6% from its current 2018 forecast and generate more than $7 billion in cash from operations. It expects to repurchase more than $1 billion in shares by the end of 2019 and pay back $900 million in maturing debt. The results validate the confidence investors have shown in Lockheed Martin as shares have soared nearly 140% over the past five years. But is there room for further appreciation? Here's a dive into where the company stands today to try to determine whether Lockheed Martin is a buy. Broadening the base Lockheed Martin today is best known for the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter, a trillion-dollar program that figures to account for at least 25% of total company revenue for the foreseeable future. There was a time when investors worried that Lockheed Martin would become overly reliant on the F-35, which has had its fair share of teething issues and is oft-criticized due to its high cost, but the company has done a great job diversifying its portfolio. One area where Lockheed Martin has excelled is hypersonics, winning more than $1.2 billion in new awards in the quarter to continue development on missiles able to travel at least five times the speed of sound and the interceptors needed to defend against them. In justifying those awards, the Pentagon said, "no other contractor has this level of design maturity," estimating that the government would have been forced to absorb more than $100 million in duplicate development costs had it gone with any bidder other than Lockheed. Lockheed is also a leader elsewhere in missile defense, maker of the THAAD anti-ballistic systems deployed along the Pacific Rim to counter North Korean threats, and builder of the PAC-3 missile used on the popular Patriot missile defense platform. Company chairman and CEO Marillyn Hewson on a call with investors following the results said that the large number of buyers of the F-35, coupled with the broad nature of the total Lockheed Martin portfolio, should counter fears about the F-35's prominence. [The F-35 is] going to continue to sell and it's broad-based. So even though it is a big program relatively speaking, when you consider the customer base, I think that helps mitigate the risk. In addition to that, we're seeing a lot of ... growth in all elements of our business. So every business area contributed to the growth for this quarter and for outlook for the year and we'll continue to see growth. We won a lot of new programs across the business, and they will help to likewise mitigate the risk of one single program. So I feel very comfortable and I'd like to see the F-35 sales continue to grow. Price discipline While the new business is exciting, a look at the commentary concerning some of the opportunities that were missed is just as enlightening. Lockheed Martin was among the losers in three high-profile awards late in the quarter that all went to Boeing, deals for a Navy tanker drone, a new helicopter, and an Air Force trainer jet. Hewson on the call said the losses were a disappointment but indicated Lockheed Martin had no interest in getting into bidding wars. She estimates that had Lockheed Martin matched the winning prices and won the contracts, the company would have incurred a cumulative loss across three programs of more than $5 billion, "an outcome that we do not feel would have been in the best interest of our stockholders or our customers." It's not unusual for losing bidders to dismiss the winners, and Boeing likely has a different view on the economics of its winning proposals. But the bottom line is that Boeing, which has had its struggles in defense, needed these wins more than Lockheed Martin did and is taking on some risk by agreeing to firm fixed-price contracts that would put it on the hook for cost overruns. Boeing has taken more than $2 billion in pre-tax charges due to cost overruns for the KC-46 tanker program, another fixed-price deal. The point for Lockheed Martin shareholders should be that the company is forecasting healthy growth without engaging in cutthroat bidding wars, and without winning everything it goes in for. Is Lockheed a buy? Despite its strong five-year run, Lockheed Martin has been a tepid performer of late, slightly trailing the S&P 500 year to date, due to worries about the F-35 and questions about whether the company can sustain its decade-high valuation. We are likely near a peak in government spending, but the company is now providing enough clarity into 2019 and beyond for me to say with confidence that I expect growth to continue into at least the early 2020s. The company's valuation relative to earnings is in line with competitors Northrop Grumman and Raytheon, despite what appears to be a superior portfolio. Meanwhile, Lockheed Martin's dividend yield, at 2.55%, is best among large defense companies, and with the levels of free cash that it expects to generate, investors are likely to see increased dividends and share buybacks in the years to come. The questions about the company's portfolio and valuation have been answered. Lockheed Martin is a buy. Shahid Afridi joins Comilla Victorians Star Pakistan all-rounder Shahid Afridi who played the previous edition of the Bangladesh Premier League (BPL) for Dhaka Dynamites has been recruited by defending champion Comilla Victorians for the upcoming season of the tournament. The player draft of the upcoming Bangladesh Premier League is currently underway at Radisson Blu Water Garden Hotel in Dhaka. Shahid Afridi was listed in the A+ category and has been picked by the Comilla Victorians in the first round of the draft for the foreign players. Madison Hubbell and Zachary Donohue of the United States, perform their free program in the ice dance competition at Skate Canada International in Laval, Quebec on Saturday. NANDAIL (Mymensingh): A rally was brought out at Nandail Upazila organised by Nandail Agriculture Extension Department on the occasion of National Rat Killing Campaign recently. Uri will be a special film in my career: Yami Actress Yami Gautam, who is gearing up for the release of her forthcoming movie Uri, says it will be a special film for her career. Its going to be one of the most special films of my career. The way Aditya Dhar has written and directed it and Vicky (Kaushal) and the entire cast has put in a lot of hard work, Yami said. She says the film had to be shown to every Indian in the country. Uri is going to be a special film. It is based on a true event which is important not just for me as an actor but as even a citizen... It was something which had to be shown. People should know what it takes to be in those shoes and do what it actually takes to keep us safe the way we are, she added. The film also stars Vicky Kaushal, who will be seen playing the role of an Indian commando who is involved in the 2016 surgical strikes. Based on the surgical strikes of 2016 carried out by the Indian Armed Forces, Uri traces the significant event. Produced by RSVP movies, Uri will hit the theatres on January 11, 2019. 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. How to fix Google Assistant no reply issues Tips Tricks lekhaka-Vishnu sasidharan Restarting your smartphone will fix majority of the issues Voice assistants have made life much easier. Google Assistant is a solid contender and has performed relatively well. From finding the best restaurants near you to opening apps, Google Assistant has an answer for everything, well, almost everything. One of the problems that have been observed in Google Assistant recently is that it does not reply to your queries out loud, instead, it displays the message as a text response. For those of you out there who have been enjoying the fact interacting with Google Assistant is almost like talking to a real person, this will certainly sound like a downer. You will definitely make progress on getting around this issue by reading further ahead. Restart your device The old-school mantra of IT is a classic because it actually works for a lot of things. While it is not guaranteed to fix the problem, there is a very good chance that the issue might just get resolved by simply restarting your device. Clear cache If restarting your phone didnt fix the issue for you, the next thing that you should try is to clear the cache from your Google app. Step 1: Open the device settings and then go to Apps/Application Manager/Apps & notifications. Step 2: Under the option called All apps, click on Google followed by Storage. Step 3: Now hit the button called Clear Cache. Clicking on Clearing Cache will not delete any data from your device. Your data will not be deleted unless you click on Clear Data/Clear Storage. Step 4: Back to this all-time favorite: Restart your device. You should now try to strike up a conversation with Google Assistant again. Check Input Mode There is a chance that you yourself might be responsible for Google Assistant not talking to you might be yourself. Because of how distracting it can be when Google Assistant speaks out loud when you are in a public place, there is an option available in Google Assistant that allows you to communicate with Google Assistant using something other than your voice and that is typing. You have the option of typing in your queries and getting responses from your Google Assistant in the form of text responses. One of the reasons that Google Assistant is not communicating with you might be because you might have changed your preferred input mode to type. If you wish to hear your answers, you will have to change this to Voice. If you want to do this, you will need to follow the steps given below. Step 1: Launch the Google Assistant app and then click on the Explore icon. Step 2: Once you get to the Explore screen, click on the three-dot icon that is on the top-right corner and then choose Settings from the menu. Step 3: Click on the option called 'Phone. Step 4: Go to the option called Preferred Input and choose it. From the menu that pops up, select Voice. Turn on Speech Output Google has two options under Speech Output, On and Hands-free only. If you wish to listen to answers, you will need to pick 'On. You will not be able to hear anything if you have picked Hands-free only. Turning up the Media volume, updating the apps, or launching the assistant with an OK Google command might also do the trick when it comes to dealing with an unresponsive Google Assistant. Best Mobiles in India NATO launches biggest war games since Cold War; Russia complains People's Daily Online (Xinhua) 08:18, October 26, 2018 OSLO, Oct. 25 (Xinhua) -- With around 50,000 participants from 31 countries, NATO on Thursday launched its biggest military exercise since the end of the Cold War in Norway, as Russia has complained the alliance's levels of military activities near its borders. All 29 NATO member nations and its partners Sweden and Finland, with around 250 aircraft, 65 vessels and up to 10,000 vehicles, will take part in the exercise, dubbed Trident Juncture 2018, from Oct. 25 to Nov. 7. NATO said the war games would test the alliance's ability to restore the sovereignty of an ally after an act of armed aggression and will also test and certify the NATO Response Force for 2019. "The participants will split into 'South forces' and 'North forces'. They will take turns playing the role of the fictitious aggressor and the NATO defending forces," NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg told a press conference in Brussels on Wednesday. Meanwhile, Russia has complained that the levels of military activities conducted by NATO near Russian borders have been higher than ever since the Cold War, according to Russia's Sputnik news agency. "NATO's military activity near our borders has reached an unprecedented level since the Cold War. The alliance's policies are aimed at strengthening its advanced military presence on the eastern flank," Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu said Wednesday at a Russia-Belarus joint military panel in Minsk. "The scale of operation and combat training next to our borders is expanding, and their intensity is growing. The countries of the bloc are training to conduct combat tasks of an offensive nature," he said. The Trident Juncture 2018 exercise takes place in central and eastern Norway and the surrounding areas of the North Atlantic and the Baltic Sea, including Iceland and the airspace of Finland and Sweden. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address U.S. Department of Defense Press Operations News Transcript Presenter: Secretary Of Defense James N. Mattis; John Chipman, Chief Executive of IISS October 27, 2018 Remarks by Secretary Mattis at International Institute for Strategic Studies Manama Dialogue SECRETARY OF DEFENSE JAMES N. MATTIS: Thank you, Dr. Chipman, and Excellencies, Ladies and Gentlemen. It's truly a pleasure to be back here at the Manama Dialogue. A special thank you for the foreign minister of Bahrain for its traditional and well-known warm hospitality to borrow the words of a former U.S. ambassador to the Court of St. James and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Admiral William Crowe, Bahrain has and I quote here, "pound-for-pound proven itself to be one of the strongest arbiters for peace and stability in the region." So, thank you very much to Bahrain for its continued leadership in this regard. Hosting the Manama dialogue is I think a prime example of Bahrain's leadership making clear that the size of a nation's territory does not determine the impact of its commitment to regional security. And now in its 14th iteration this worthwhile forum, the Manama Dialogue, brings together from across the Middle East and across the globe those committed to crafting a better future and exchanging ideas and sharing best practices. We owe thanks to IISS and to all the people of this kingdom for the opportunity to work together for peace. As I was falling asleep last night, I was thinking about what the King of Jordan's words conveyed to all of us at dinner in that very short, very succinct but very hard-hitting set of remarks that were delivered in his behalf. And he said that hope when working for sustainable peace cannot be unilateral. We must work together to offer hope to all to carry out our collective responsibility. And I think that to create peace, it's our obligation to the next generation and in the spirit of a multilateral hope that is how I want to offer my views today on the U.S. role in the changing Middle East. I think more importantly I come to listen to your perspectives because while I frequently visit this region, many of you live here and I am a good listener. When you have ideas, I take notes. So, I'll speak for a few minutes before leaving time for questions and I would look forward at that point to hearing your question but especially your insight on how we can together further bolster cooperation to meet our shared challenges in the region. Today, to quote former Secretary of State George Shultz, "The world is awash in change." The Middle East sits at the center of an increasingly complex security environment impacted by the return of great power competition and enduring threats from actors that seek to undermine the rules-based international order. While some do not share our vision for a peaceful, prosperous, and stable region, the United States remains committed. I am here today, the United States is here in the Middle East, and we are committed to working alongside like-minded partners to reinforce durable and dynamic international responses to regional challenges. For we understand a stable Middle East underpins a stable world. Instability does not respect national borders. It grows and spreads if left unchecked. This region is critical to the international economy. While America may not require Middle Eastern oil for its own internal economy, our markets rely heavily on it, and beyond economic factors, the people of this region deserve peace just like everyone else. Like-minded nations here today do not seek war or conflict, yet, we cannot ignore the malign influence and destabilizing behavior pursued by violent extremist organizations and by Iran's outlaw regime to borrow U.S. Secretary of State Pompeo's recent words. And so, therefore, today, I reiterate the United States stands against Iran's proliferation of advanced conventional weapons and its provision of financial and technical assistance to lethal militants amid proxy terrorists and others across the region they support. Their impact being on display in Yemen, in Syria, Lebanon, Iraq, and even here in the Kingdom of Bahrain. In Yemen, Iran continues to export missiles rockets and unmanned aerial systems to Houthi militants in violation of United Nations strictures. Over the past 18 months, Houthis have launched more than 100 missiles at Saudi Arabia including civilian targets like the King Khalid International Airport. Iran support, prolongs, and expands the conflict in Yemen, adds to humanitarian suffering, threatens critical waterways, and disrupts efforts for sustainable peace. In addition, al-Qaeda leadership's use of Iran as a safe haven widely acknowledged amongst extremists is unacceptable to the international community and senseless in terms of what is in the best interest of the unfortunate Iranian people saddled with the regime focused on creating pandemonium and violence beyond its borders. We stand against Iran's unsafe even reckless behavior in the maritime domain like the July attacks on international shipping by Iranian-supplied Houthis in the Bab el-Mandeb. These behaviors flout freedom of navigation and disrupt maritime security and global trade. We stand against Iran's conducting destructive and costly cyber attacks against sovereign nations and corporations. We stand against its testing and proliferation of missile systems in contravention of international mandates irresponsibly spreading these threats to Syria, Lebanon, Yemen and elsewhere. The fact they operate through proxy forces does not lessen the Iranian regime's culpability nor will it lessen their accountability by the international community. We will not stand idly by any attempt by the Iranian regime to pursue a nuclear weapon. As President Trump has made clear, the United States recognizes the Iranian regime does not speak for the Iranian people, who have a right to live and prosper in a safe, secure, and peaceful region. An Iranian regime that ignores the needs of its citizens feels free to escalate and initiate costly conflicts that serve no one's interest. Nothing is more emblematic of Iran's maligned activities in the Middle East than its support for Assad's murderous regime. This support coupled with Russia's repeated vetoes of United Nations Security Council resolutions is the leading reason Assad remains in power. Russia's opportunism and willingness to overlook Assad's criminal activities against his own people evidences its lack of sincere commitment to essential moral principles. Today, I make clear Russia's presence in the region cannot replace the long-standing, enduring, and transparent U.S. commitment to the Middle East. One that I reiterate today without reservation. We stand with our partners who favor stability over chaos and we support unity of effort among our nation's militaries in response to shared threats and challenges for in such unity is the real power to set and to maintain peace. This year, the United States released its first national defense strategy in more than a decade. In addition to prioritizing the threats we face in today's complex landscape, the strategy highlights the critical importance of strengthening existing alliances and partnerships while also forging new relationships with like-minded nations. Our logic is simple, nations with allies and partners thrive while those who view others only as vassals or dependents to be exploited wither. Within this region and beyond even in the midst of current challenges, there is immense opportunity for cooperation alongside those who share a vision for a peaceful, prosperous, and free world. One underpinned by the rule of law at home and internationally. Over more than four decades in uniform, I never fought in a solely American formation. I always served in coalitions in most cases alongside troops from the nations gathered here today. Those experiences made clear to me, we are stronger when we work together, and we can better deter maligned behavior when unified, and if conflict does occur, we can end it more swiftly when we collaborate. As Winston Churchill once said, there's only one thing harder than fighting with allies and that is fighting without them. Although, we may disagree on many issues at times, efforts to create peace are stronger when we work together building productive, reliable, and resilient partnerships. It's not always easy, but it is necessary, and I would even say it is noble work. Within this framework we see a path to stability that begins with an effective regional security architecture. One that increases cooperation and interoperability, one that builds our respective defense institutions and streamlines information sharing, and one that supports harmonious political resolution. The solving of internal debates among our GCC partners is vital for realizing this vision. Without it, we weaken our security at a time when U.N. Special Envoy Martin Griffin in Yemen and Staffan de Mistura and his successor in Syria will need our aligned full support, and they will need it most at this time. That is why the United States supports ongoing discussions to explore the formation of an inclusive Middle East Strategic Alliance, what we call "MESA." A concept born here in this region and one that brings together all partners to productively and effectively address shared challenges. The United States is committed to working by, with, and through allies and partners across the region to make this concept a reality and reinforce deterrence of hostile actions. The power of collaboration is evident and all we have accomplished and continue to achieve together to counter destabilizing behavior from the maritime, cyber, air, and missile domains, and to counter proliferation and counterterrorism. There have been successes we know. In the maritime domain, the United States will continue to work alongside your nations to ensure freedom of navigation and transit of international waters. And here I must note that Bahrain Navy's command earlier this year of the combined counter piracy Task Force 151 outside the Gulf. Our fifth fleet based here in Bahrain and our coalition maritime partners remain resolute in our determination to keep the seas free from illegal interference and illicit trafficking in weapons, in drugs, and in people by patrolling together in these waters and conducting joint maritime security operations to permit peaceful commercial use by all nations engaged in lawful pursuits. In the cyber domain, the Department of Defense will continue to share with our partners the cyber lessons that we have learned as we work together to strengthen your resilience against destructive cyber attacks on critical systems. Further, we stand ready to support our partners and allies should nefarious actors attack them in the cyber domain. In the air and missile domain, the United States will continue to strengthen partner defenses by sharing our best technology permitting these nations to defend their populations. We will help disrupt malign proliferation of missiles and related technologies, identify and share opportunities to enhance counter unmanned aerial systems efforts, and retain capable air and naval aviation aircraft in the region to detect, deter, and if necessary, confront aggression. I should note here that several nations on the frontline confronting air and missile threats have shared their invaluable lessons learned with us, so this is clearly a mutually beneficial effort. Our combined air operation center in Qatar with representatives from 17 countries serves as a sentinel against air and missile threats in the region. And we will continue to work with other parties to bolster missile defense more broadly. For in this domain like so many others, no nation can protect its population alone when a missile can swiftly pass over numerous borders to strike. In the counter-proliferation domain, the United States remains committed to working with our partners to ensure weapons of mass destruction stay out of the hands of destabilizing and your irresponsible actors far too likely to use them. Across the region, we will work to bolster the capabilities of our regional partners and allies to confront enduring and emerging terrorist threats, sharing intelligence and 14 nations that leverage terrorism, showing contempt for your sovereignty and their bid to undermine regional stability in pursuit of their radical ideologies. In that pursuit, the defeat ISIS coalition continues to make critical strides by working together in supporting the Iraqi military. They have liberated ISIS-held territory, and the physical caliphate in Syria has diminished less than 2 percent of the land - once controlled. Yet, the fight is not over, and we must not grow complacent. In Syria, the 17-nation coalition will continue to root out ISIS remnants and expand space for our diplomats to negotiate for long-term peace in that war-torn country where Assad remains in power only due to the support of Russia and the Iranian regime. We will remain engaged in the fight against extremists as long as they present a clear and present danger to our security and allied interest, but the Syrian conflict requires a political resolution, and we appreciate our partners tireless efforts to guide the Geneva process under the U.N. Security Council Resolution 2254. We are deeply aware of the sacrifices many of our partners have made in this effort and continue to make in dealing with the effects of Assad's violence against his own people. Our nation has keenly recognized that any battlefield is also a humanitarian field for the innocent caught up in war. I commend those nations particularly Turkey, Jordan, Lebanon, which have offered safe haven to millions of refugees while proactively countering radicalization among the displaced and vulnerable Syrian people. Thank you for your ongoing efforts to promote stability and to limit further human suffering among people who have suffered far too much for far too long. The United States also seeks to bolster conditions for peace in the Yemen conflict. As a step towards stabilization, we strive to build the capacity of legitimate Yemeni security forces while strengthening our regional partner's defensive capabilities. I reiterate U.S. support for our partner's right to defend themselves against Iranian supplied Houthi attacks on their sovereign territory at the same time call for an urgent end to the fighting. Going back to what the King of Jordan said past in his words last night in pursuit of this worthy and necessary goal, we resolutely support respected U.N. Special Envoy Martin Griffith's efforts to secure a political solution to the war. All wars must eventually end, and the tragedy of Yemen worsens by the day. Enough time has been spent on the subordinate issues. Now is the time to move forward on stopping this war. In November, we must start negotiating the substance of the issues, compromise must replace combat, and the people must have peace to heal. In Iraq and Afghanistan, the United States stands with NATO and the world's strongest nations, which remained committed to building national security forces capable of defending their populations against threats to their people and their sovereignty. Both nations have conducted elections this year when so-called experts said that would not happen in the face of terror, when skeptics doubted in Iraq and Afghanistan, the people prevailed in the face of it all and the terrorism's efforts. Imperfect the elections may have been, but against the odds the people still prevailed. Over many years, international troops have fought shoulder to shoulder with Iraq and Afghan forces. We witness everyday the sacrifices the combined forces make to bring security and stability to their homelands. And if the international community will continue to stand alongside them in this effort, they will continue the long hard journey to peace at home. When opposing voices can be heard in a political process adapted to each nations culture, one that permits peaceful opposition by giving voice and human rights to all, a nation becomes more secure. When people can speak and be heard calling for peace and for respect for all, the terrorist message of hatred and violence is not embraced. With our collective interest in peace and unwavering respect for human rights in mind, the murder of Jamal Khashoggi in a diplomatic facility must concern us all Greatly. As U.S. Secretary of State Pompeo stated, the United States does not tolerate this kind of ruthless action to silence Mr. Khashoggi, a journalist, through violence. Failure of any one nation to adhere to international norms and the rule of law undermines regional stability at a time when it is needed most as President Trump noted we're going to get to the bottom of it. So, within our democratic form of government in the United States, we recognized it, and President Trump has called for congressional involvement in the matter. Due to the gravity of this situation, I will continue consulting with our president and secretary of state as they consider the implications of this incident within our broader strategic framework. We will maintain our twin imperatives as stated by Secretary of State Pompeo protecting America and our interests and holding accountable those responsible for this murder. Our secretary of state has already revoked visas and will be taking additional measures as the situation is clarified. The United States shared security interest with our Arab and Israeli partners in this region remain and our respect for the Saudi people is undiminished, a respect solidified in 1945 when President Franklin Roosevelt and Saudi King Ibn Saud met in Bitter Lake aboard USS Quincy. We maintain our strong people-to-people partnership knowing that with our respect must come transparency and Trust as indicated by President Trump, Secretary of State Pompeo, and European leaders alike. These two principles are vital for ensuring the continued collaboration because we know that to remain committed and we are committed. We are going to have to have continued transparency and security for all in this region and it is necessary if we're to have a safe and prosperous Middle East. And in the King of Jordan's words from last evening, "stability and confidence go hand in hand." We are stronger when we work together for peace. The United States stands ready to continue to work by with and through our allies and partners across the region. Working alongside you, we will strengthen your efforts to refine an integrated regional security system that is inclusive of all our partners in the region. One that will serve as a comprehensive mechanism for solving conflict and preserving peace into the future. Today, I look forward to working closely with you to combat maligned influence with partnership to counter destabilizing behavior with cooperation. For without this cooperation, we only strengthen those who mistakenly see their own security in the insecurity of others domestically or internationally. Former U.S. President Ronald Reagan once remarked that lasting peace cannot be secured through the strength of arms alone. The open exchange of ideas ultimately is our greatest security, and now in that spirit, I look forward to that open exchange of ideas as I take your questions. Thank you very much, Ladies and Gentlemen. (Applause.) JOHN CHIPMAN: Thank you very much, secretary of defense, for that splendid statement. We have three or four people who wish to take the floor. I know others wish to do so as well. Make certain that you go through your three steps. If you are struggling raise your hand and IISS staff member will help you. But first from the UAE, Dr. Ebtesam Al Ketbi . Q: Thank you, John. (SPEAKING IN FOREIGN LANGUAGE) I'm going to ask in Arabic please. MR. CHIPMAN: Go ahead. Q: (Speaking in Foreign Language). MR. CHIPMAN: Thank you very much. I think we'll take a few more. Certainly, this question of how one deals with Iran's own strategy of working by with and who allies in their case, non-state actors and militias, an important question. Francois Heisbourg Q: Thank you, John. Thank you, Secretary Mattis for your remarkable (inaudible). Jim, I'd like to press you on the issue of U.S.-Turkish relations and more broadly on the role of Turkey and the security of the region in the wake of the Khashoggi murder in Istanbul. Turkey has taken on a strong indeed assertive stance. Turkey has also released an American citizen. Under these circumstances, how do you see the future of Turkey's role both as a NATO ally, indeed an ally of the United States, and as a regional power interacting with the U.S. notably in Syria but also here in the Gulf notably through the defense relationship between Turkey and Qatar. Thank you. MR. CHIPMAN: Thank you, and from the Kingdom of Bahrain, Dr. Majeed Al Alawi. Q: Thank you and thank you, Secretary of Defense for this strong commitment to the peace and security of the region. I have a question. Do you think announcing Jerusalem as the capital of Israel and moving the U.S. Embassy there contribute the security and stability of the Middle East? MR. CHIPMAN: Thank you and I'll take one more in this round from Dr. Chung Min Lee. Q: Thank you, Mr. Secretary, for your speech. U.S. efforts to control Iran's nuclear program is a cornerstone of the Trump administration's non-proliferation policy in the Middle East, but having pulled out of the JCPOA, what are the implications for ongoing U.S.-North Korea negotiations to completely denuclearize North Korea? And the U.S. also just announced its withdrawal from the INF treaty, how will this influence the U.S. force posture across the Eurasian rimlands including the Middle East. Thank you. SEC. MATTIS: Well, nobody said it was going to be easy, right, but this is exactly why I come to Manama because this is hard work. For the first question from United Arab Emirates, it is our goal to have Iran cease its calculated attacks on others. Again, we do not believe the Iranian regime speaks for the Iranian people. We know there are people -- all of us in this room know there are people in Iran who want peace, who want prosperity, who want trade, who want their children to be able to go to universities in other countries and come home and have the same freedom at home they had when they were in other nations. So, if we can see Iran rejoining the community of nations responsibly not having proxies and surrogates that they arm and spreading mischief and murder across the region and elsewhere, then, of course, the sanctions would change, but it must be conditions-based. It cannot be based on a hope or based on some deceit or denial. We know what Iran is doing and I invite all of you to come to Washington wherein an aircraft hangar, yes, it takes an aircraft hangar to hold the examples of what we have collected across the region of Iranian missiles, explosive boats, and other accoutrements of war and combat not of peace. So, based on the effort to try to bring Iran back into alignment with international law, with international principles, then and only then would you see us willing to accommodate Iran's expectations. We do not accommodate what Iran is doing today and I would just add here on the questions from our Korean colleague, the control of the nuclear programs and the nonproliferation of those programs is an international responsibility. As you know, we have international rules about this, so I think that it was the sundown aspect of the JCPOA that said we were in effect, not our intent, but we were in effect saying it's okay to go for a nuclear weapon and here's the start date. It's a couple of year down the road, then you can do this. That is what we had to address, and that in itself gives I believe more credibility to what we are doing on the Korean Peninsula, again working through the international community, but we have a responsibility to lead there was well, to ensure that these weapons do not spread and we get them under control so that we don't have a worsening situation as we tried to reduce the number of weapons in the world. On INF, we are in close collaboration with our European allies, in consultations, as recently as yesterday. And we will continue to collaborate very closely with a treaty and its implications for European security. Now, a point to remember here is two American administrations, Democrat and Republican, have worked for nearly five years to bring Russia back into compliance. Remember, there's only two nations that signed this treaty and one of them have been out of compliance for years. We have met diplomatically and it's been unproductive over two administrations. Eventually, we have to look reality in the eye. That is to mean that we are walking away from arms control. But arms control must be more than words on the paper. It must be actions, and so I believe that it actually strengthens the level of commitment, because we do not dance around noncompliance issues and look the other way as if everything is fine. On U.S.-Turkish relations, Turkey is a NATO ally and throughout this difficult period, as tensions have been introduced by the amount of violence in Syria, and remember, that is the source of the tensions that we are facing today, as we deal with those issues, we have had our military to military alliance has remained very strong, very open communications, transparent, trusted. At the same time, even on the broader issues, we have more in common with our NATO ally, than we have in uncommon ground that is simply not the case that it would in some way dominate. We do have some very vexing issues, but I see Turkey's role as we move forward here with progress that you noted in a couple of key areas, as having more traction for coming back together on those issues, where we've been apart and we are committed to doing so. Dr. Al Alawi,on Bahrain, it was about contributing to stability, whether or not the announcement of an embassy going to Jerusalem contributed to stability or not. I think the most important thing is that we have a commitment to the Middle East peace process. That is the important piece. Now, we have had a consulate in Jerusalem for a long time and I don't discount the symbolism of moving our embassy to Jerusalem. But it was in no way intended to slow the peace process. It is intended to show the reality of what Jerusalem is. It is also part and parcel, we believe, of how we move forward with the Palestinian situation, and guarantee them the hope that the Jordanian king spoke of yesterday, that hope cannot be unilateral, it must be multilateral, it must to include the future, a better future for the Palestinian people. And in that regard, I do not believe that the movement of the embassy there in any way throws off our commitment to bring in the Palestinian people home to a better future. We remain committed to that. Right now, it is a routine discussion in Washington, D.C., at the highest levels about how do we move both peoples forward toward peace and stability and a positive future. MR. CHIPMAN: Thank you very much. I'll take another round, three or four more. The first is Tobias Ellwood, parliamentary undersecretary of defense in the United Kingdom -- Tobias. Q: Secretary, really good to see you here and recommits your energies, United States' energies to this region. You spoke of the erosion of the rules-based order and you gave examples of how complex and dangerous our world is becoming, challenges from state and non-state actors. It's as if we're no longer at war, but we're certainly not at peace. We're almost at constant conflict. My question is about the organizations perhaps created after the Second World War whether they're up to date, whether they're capable of dealing with -- legally, dealing with the challenges that we face, many of the attacks that take place, cyber attacks and so forth, you could argue is being sub Article V from a NATO perspective, and the United Nations Security Council that we all look at and wants to support is thwarted in its effort to hold countries to account because of the veto. Is it time for like-minded nations to look and to update these organizations that we seek to hold nations that go rouge to account? MR. CHIPMAN: Thank you. And from the United Arab Emirates, (Rasha AlJundi . Q: Yes. Please, Secretary Mattis, I just want to ask if there is a formula regarding Yemen peace process, especially when you said, you talk about the compromises that should be done to reach peace there and with the Iranian back in the Houthis. Do you think that the Gulf countries can back a peace plan in the same time accomplishing and preserving their security from the Houthi attacks, especially Saudi Arabia? Thank you. MR. CHIPMAN: Thank you. And Betsy Mathieson based here in Bahrain. Q: Good morning. Thank you, Secretary, for your remarks. Here in the Kingdom of Bahrain, we do believe very strongly that religious freedom is the foundation towards peaceful coexistence for all people. I'm the deputy chairman of the King Hamad Global Center for Peaceful Coexistence, created this year by his Majesty King Hamad. He has also written a very powerful and no-nonsense document called "The Kingdom of Bahrain Declaration," calling for religious freedom and peaceful coexistence for all. Secretary Mattis, you've mentioned something very important, that stable and peaceful nations need people to have the right to be able to stand up and call for peace and we see hate crimes on the rise around the world, particularly religious themed hate crimes. And so, we call on all people and we ask the United States, will you work with the King Hamad Global Center for peaceful co-existence? Will you read and adopt and share the words of his majesty in the kingdom of Bahrain, calling for this right for all people? How important have you considered this as another weapon? You have nuclear weapons, we have talked about cyber threats, but we often forget that insidious cancer which is the poisonous ideology of terrorists whose voices we allowed to be louder than ours? Thank you. MR. CHIPMAN: Thank you. And I'll take two more. Nabil Fahmy from Egypt? Nabil, go ahead. Q: Thank you, Secretary Mattis. A quick comment and a question. I have to say I take issue with your explanation that moving the embassy to Jerusalem does not affect the message about your commitment to the Middle East peace process, especially that you also close the consulate in East Jerusalem, and move that to your embassy. But my question really is, could you elaborate a little bit on U.S. role in this situation in Libya, which is another problem area in the Middle East? Thank you, sir. MR. CHIPMAN: Thank you. And last from the United States, Dr. Mara Karlin . Q: Thank you, Secretary Mattis. Given the National Defense Strategy's focus on China and Russia, and in light of recent steps, like the removal of an aircraft carrier from the Gulf and key missile defense systems, could you share with us your thinking on reshaping U.S. military posture in the Middle East? SEC. MATTIS: Well, it doesn't get any easier, does it? But, first, Tobias, great to see you here. I would just point out that the United Kingdom's role continues to be essential. I'm reminded that the deputy commander of the U.S. Fifth Fleet here in Bahrain is a Royal Navy officer. It shows the collaboration the many nations exercise because as the crown prince of UAE has said, because the area is critical to the international economy, we need international support to maintain stability in the area. And U.K. has been at the very forefront of carrying that kind of commitment forward, not just on military, but also on diplomatic, and a host of other areas to include the medical collaboration that allows an exchange of the top flight technology, medical technology. Why do I bring it up? Because it's important we always expand this problem in order to truly address it, of security and stability, you don't want to address it merely and United Kingdom has been one of those with the most mature outlook on this. But as far as the post-World War II organizations, the United Nations coming out of Bretton Wood, we saw the International Monetary Fund and World Bank. It was designed for the desperate people and economic privation would not turn to Mussolinis. They could turn to the lender of last resort. There are other organizations and structures that have come out and do we need to update? Absolutely, they must be admitted. In America, we are now permitting our folks to invest, our government to invest basically differently with our foreign aid, rather than having it narrow. That allows us to more broadly address the needs of the changing world that we see. So, yes, it needs to be updated, but we must remember the first principles. Why did we have the IMF? Why did we have the World Bank? And as we update these organizations, we have to remember again going back to the very good word to the king of Jordan last night -- we have got to be able to instill hope. We do not want people feeling hopeless and then wonder why they lash out. So, we have to work together on this through many nations in the region that have been very generous and trying to help others and whether they'd be refugees, or education, that sort of thing, economic support. And I think we have to continue to update all of these organizations which means we have to define the problems of our day. If we do not define the problems well, we will not update the organizations appropriately. On the formula for Yemen -- excellent question. We have had a lot of talk, ladies and gentlemen. They were quite. They have gone on for some time. We came close to bringing everyone together and then we have someone back out -- the subordinate issues in Yemen had been talked about long enough. It is now time to go to the very crux. And for the question that's exactly fit for our time, what is the formula then? I think the first part of the formula is that we ensure the borders are demilitarized so that people don't feel they have to put armed forces along borders. There should be nothing more than customs and border police there to expedite the flow of goods and people back and forth legally. Secondly, I think the deweaponization, demilitarization on the high scale. I'm talking, there's no need for missiles anywhere down in Yemen right now. No one is going to invade Yemen. We are going to come back to the U.N.-supported government, one that gives the traditional homelands for the traditional peoples, for everyone to be in their own area, no need to take over other parts of the country and let the diplomats work their magic right now. But it has to start I think along those two lines. And if we do that, I think that the Houthis are also going to find, they will not find the better time than to engage now with Martin Griffith and his good officers at the U.N. special envoy in order to have what I believe is in their best interest and they would agree in their best interest, and that is, they're in their own area, they have some degree of autonomy or some ability to coalesce together and have their voices heard. They do not need any help from Iran to do this. The United Nations can set that framework and the formulas, so long as it involves no attacking outside its borders and we don't see Iran using other countries as highways instead of respecting their sovereignty, using them as highways to bring their destabilizing weapons in to interrupt commercial traffic in the Gulf or firing missiles to civilian targets in the kingdom. That was a great opinion, ma'am, about his majesty's statement on religious tolerance and I would just point out to all of us here something that is well-known to those of us who are familiar with the region, but Bahrain has always had that level of tolerance for people's expressing of whatever religion was intimate to them. And I think as far as the hate crimes, it's almost like we're losing our fundamental friendliness toward one another as people. We're losing a sense of calm and shared destiny on this planet. And why people are becoming more tribal, why this is becoming manifested in religious terms, I think we need to turn the countries like Bahrain and say this is not the way we have been for many, many years, and having known the king, met the king first in 1996, I would just say his reform-minded way of approaching how he listens to his people I think is part of how we find our way out of this increased tribalism and this increasingly unhelpful sort of dialogue, what you called hate crimes. And hate crimes, and also hate speech. But I think it is very important and you have our commitment that we will, of course, work, and this is so consistent what his majesty has set up with the center. This is so consistent with what America stands for. It is -- put out reservation, I say, we support that. For Nabil, I understand why you would take issue with my point about the move of our embassy and I understand it. I would just say, if you watch our actions, it is -- that is not a singular action. Watch our other actions, as we try to once again do what President Clinton tried so hard to do and nearly succeeded. Remind everyone that when Yasser Arafat walked away, that was probably the closest we had been. We had seen the king of Saudi Arabia back in the early 2000s come up with his peace plan. We know that if people of goodwill will work together that this can go forward. The Palestinian people need this and we support and President Trump supports that effort. In Libya, I would just say that the return of Ambassador Bodde this week to service, he had a family situation with his father he needed to attend when he retired from the State Department. He is back. We are working with our -- especially our European and North African partners on the Libya situation and we'll continue to do so. There again, we've got to find a way to put an end to the conflict. I don't have any good ideas on that one right now, but I think the right people are working it, to craft what the framing principles should be as we go forward. The last question about the National Defense Strategy and the focus on China and Russia. You know, as I look at my responsibility, I often see where military aspects are only part of a solution. And oftentimes, if you were to ask me what my real job is, you know, I'm the secretary of defense. I'm responsible for military options and collaboration with our partners and allies. But my real job is try to maintain the peace or what passes for peace for one more year, one more month, one more week, one more day, so the diplomats can carry out their responsibilities. And I think that right now, we had to recognize that times had changed and that Russia had chosen a different path in partnership with Europe and with NATO. There was a time when we had objective reason to believe we could continue along that path. Regrettably what has happened in Syria and Crimea and Salisbury and I can go on, has caused us to recognize that reality. With China, it is a very different situation, and there, I would just point out that strategic competition does not imply hostility. I have met with my counterpart in Beijing a month ago. I met with him again in Singapore a week ago. He is coming to Washington next week to continue our discussions. And I would tell you that we are committed to cooperating with China, with Russia, where we can, but we will not surrender freedom of navigation. We do not surrender international law and no one nation can on its own change international law. It has to be a collaboration because we're all together in this planet. So, we worked those issues with them but not as you can see from my presence here today, not through the lack of attention on our alliances and partnerships here in the Middle East. The Middle East is critical to the world's economy. The Middle East has been the source of too much strife and we are going to continue to stay committed here and in no way are we walking away from this. We didn't pivot in this administration, to put it bluntly. We're not pivoting away or towards. We're simply broadening how we look at the world without losing any focus here, and I think that you'll see that in our actions here in the future. You will not have any doubt that we are firmly committed here, is firmly committed as the other nations represented here today. MR. CHIPMAN: Thank you very much, Secretary Mattis, for your elegant command of all the strategic questions that you demonstrated today. And I think all of us in this hall wish you all the best in your enduring mission to combine cool strategy with human warmth. Thank you very much, indeed. SEC. MATTIS: Well, thank you. (Applause.) http://www.defense.gov/News/News-Transcripts/Transcript-View/Article/1674583/ NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address U.S. Department of Defense Press Operations News Release No. NR-308-18 October 27, 2018 Readout of Secretary of Defense James N. Mattis' Meeting with Secretary General of the Gulf Cooperation Council Abdullatif bin Rashid Al Zayani Pentagon Chief Spokesperson Dana W. White provided the following readout: Secretary of Defense James N. Mattis met with Secretary General of the Gulf Cooperation Council Abdullatif bin Rashid Al Zayani today at the Manama Dialogue in Bahrain to reaffirm the longstanding defense relationship between the United States and the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC). The Secretary and Secretary General discussed several pressing regional security challenges, and the continued importance of building upon progress made toward multilateral security cooperation and interoperability. Secretary Mattis thanked Secretary General Al Zayani for his leadership of this important counterpart organization and tireless work to reinforce defense partnerships within and among the United States and GCC. http://www.defense.gov/News/News-Releases/News-Release-View/Article/1674567/ NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address U.S. Department of Defense Press Operations News Release No. NR-307-18 October 27, 2018 Readout of Secretary of Defense James N. Mattis' Meeting with Bahrain King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa Pentagon Chief Spokesperson Dana W. White provided the following readout: Secretary of Defense James N. Mattis met with Bahrain King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa today at the Guadaybiya Palace to reaffirm the longstanding defense relationship between the United States and Bahrain. The leaders discussed a broad range of defense issues, the Secretary thanked his Majesty for hosting him during the IISS-chaired Manama Dialogue, and expressed deep appreciation for the support Bahrain provides the U.S. 5th Fleet in the Kingdom. Secretary Mattis underscored Bahrain's role in helping to expose regional destabilizing activity through weapons interdiction, and reiterated the need for renewed Gulf unity as a bulwark against these shared threats. http://www.defense.gov/News/News-Releases/News-Release-View/Article/1674559/ NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address U.S. Department of Defense Press Operations News Release No. NR-306-18 October 27, 2018 Readout of Secretary of Defense James N. Mattis' Meeting with German Minister of Defense Ursula von der Leyen Pentagon Chief Spokesperson Dana W. White provided the following readout: Secretary of Defense James N. Mattis met with German Minister of Defense Ursula von der Leyen October 26 at the Manama Dialogue to reaffirm the longstanding defense relationship between the United States and Germany. The leaders discussed a broad range of defense issues, including the U.S. position on the Intermediate-range Nuclear Forces Treaty and exchanged perspectives on their respective recent trips to the Asia-Pacific region. Secretary Mattis thanked Minister von der Leyen for her country's continued support to global security and stability, including in Afghanistan, the Middle East, Africa, and Europe. http://www.defense.gov/News/News-Releases/News-Release-View/Article/1674553/ NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Half of Yemen on the brink of famine: UN IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency Tehran, Oct 27, IRNA -- United Nations Emergency Relief Coordinator has warned half of the population of Yemen - nearly 14 million people in the war-torn nation- may soon be on the brink of famine and depend on humanitarian assistance to survive. 'My assessment is that there is now a clear and present danger of an imminent and great big famine engulfing Yemen: much bigger than anything any professional in this field has seen during their working lives,' Mark Lowcock said recently. He said during the last 20 years, two famines were declared in the world: once in Somalia in 2011 and once in southern Sudan last year, but the scale of famine in Yemen is 'shocking.' Lowcock noted the United Nations is currently coordinating aid transfer to nearly eight million people in Yemen and said the economic crisis and the continuing battles around the port of Hodeidah have further aggravated the humanitarian crisis. He called for a humanitarian ceasefire, safeguarding food aid and crucial supplies throughout the country, as well as larger and faster injection of foreign currencies through the Central Bank in the country, and increased humanitarian support and the engagement of the warring parties in Yemen peace talks. 'The immune systems of millions of people on survival support for years on end are now are literally collapsing, making them especially children and the elderly more likely to succumb to malnutrition, cholera and other diseases.' The UN official stressed. Since March 2015, a coalition of several Arab countries led by Saudi Arabia and the go-ahead and assistance from the United States launched assaults on Yemen, the Arab world's poorest country, under the pretext of bringing the ousted Yemeni President Mansour Hadi back to office. The Saudi incursion into Yemen has thus far claimed the lives of 16,000 innocent Yemenis and has razed the country to the ground. 9477**2044 NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address US makes biggest arms shipment to Europe since Yugoslav war Iran Press TV Sat Oct 27, 2018 03:20PM The United States Air Force has shipped about 100 munition containers into its Europe and Africa headquarters in Ramstein, Germany, making it the biggest shipment since the 1999 NATO bombing campaign in Yugoslavia, according to an official Air Force statement. Ramstein base 86th Munitions Operations chief Sgt. David Head said the record October shipment "will be used for future theater operations and the evolving US European Command presence," adding that the move aims to "support NATO's European Deterrence Initiative (EDI) and augment the Air Force's War Reserve Materiel in Europe". The statement elaborated that the EDI is a plan seeking to "increase responsiveness and readiness by pre-positioning ammunition, fuel and equipment to enhance the U.S. Department of Defense's ability to provide a rapid response against threats made by aggressive actors." The Ramstein base is located in south western Germany and has been operating since 1953 as an American and NATO air force headquarters. It has been known to have been previously housing some of the US's Europe-based nuclear arsenal and is also reportedly a vital drone operation and air transportation center for the US Air Force across the globe. No official response has yet been made by any European or Russian official concerning the large shipment. Russian analysts, however, see it as a clear indication of adding tension in the continent. "This is an indicator, a sign that Americans seriously consider the possibility of war in Europe. Consequently, they have started building up military arsenals...There is only one opponent here - the Russian Federation," explained editor-in-chief of the "National Defense" magazine Igor Korotchenko speaking to the Russia TASS News Agency. Editor-in-chief of the Arsenal of the Fatherland magazine Viktor Murakhovsky believes the move is part of Operation Atlantic Resolve, a wide range of activities seeking to modernize NATO military infrastructure, specifically in Eastern Europe in response to what is described as "Russian action" in Ukraine. "The plan envisages deploying 30 land battalions, 30 air fighter squadrons and 30 ships at NATO's 'eastern flank' within 30 days. Thus, they are creating not only infrastructure, but also stocking up ammunition, fuel and so on. This what they are doing now," he added. Tensions have been recently heightening between the US, NATO and Russia as the North Atlantic Alliance has deployed tens of thousands of troops on Russia's western border in Norway as part of ongoing military drills. Furthermore, US President Donald Trump announced last week that Washington plans to withdraw from the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty (INF) with Russia, a move that has been severely denounced by Moscow. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Palestinian Islamic Jihad movement accepts to stop firing rockets into occupied territories Iran Press TV Sat Oct 27, 2018 01:59PM The Palestinian Islamic Jihad resistance movement says it has agreed with Egyptian mediators to stop firing rockets from the Gaza Strip into the Israeli-occupied territories and restore calm in the besieged coastal enclave. "After contacts between the Islamic Jihad leadership and the brothers in Egypt, it was agreed that a comprehensive ceasefire will begin immediately," the movement's spokesman Dawood Shihab said in a press statement released on Saturday. He added, "The Islamic Jihad will abide by the ceasefire if the occupation (Israel) does the same." Earlier, the military wing of the Islamic Jihad movement, al-Quds Brigades, said it had fired dozens of rockets from Gaza into communities in the southern sector of the occupied territories in retaliation for Israel's killing and injuring a number of Palestinian protesters on Friday. It said in a statement "fire for fire and blood for blood," adding, "if the Zionist enemy wants to expand the circle of fire, we are ready to do so and ready to protect our people." In response, Israeli fighter jets carried out intensive airstrikes on military facilities, training posts and buildings, which belonged to Hamas and the Islamic Jihad, all over the Gaza Strip. The spokesman for the Gaza Ministry of Health, Ashraf al-Qidra, said one of the Israeli airstrikes on the northern Gaza Strip overnight wounded nine Palestinian civilians and badly damaged Rumah Sakit Indonesia Hospital in Jabalia, located four kilometers north of Gaza City. Palestinian security sources in Gaza said that an Israeli warplane destroyed a 4-floor building in Gaza City and leveled it to the ground, adding that the building was empty at the time and no injuries were reported. Gazan youth dies of Israeli gunfire wounds sustained in anti-Israel protests Meanwhile, a young Palestinian man has died less than a day after being shot by Israeli military forces during clashes between a group of Palestinian protesters and Israeli forces near the border between the Gaza Strip and the occupied territories. Qidra said in a statement that 23-year-old Ziad Zaki Akel, a resident of Nuseirat refugee camp, died early on Saturday at al-Aqsa Martyrs Hospital in Dayr al-Balah city, where he had been taken for medical treatment. He had been shot and wounded during "The Great March of Return" protests on Friday afternoon. More than 210 Palestinians have been killed by Israeli forces ever since anti-occupation protest rallies began in the Gaza Strip on March 30. Over 22,000 Palestinians have also sustained injuries. The Gaza clashes reached their peak on May 14, on the eve of the 70th anniversary of Nakba Day (Day of Catastrophe), which coincided this year with the US embassy relocation from Tel Aviv to occupied East Jerusalem al-Quds. On June 13, the United Nations General Assembly adopted a resolution, sponsored by Turkey and Algeria, condemning Israel for Palestinian civilian deaths in the Gaza Strip. The resolution, which had been put forward on behalf of Arab and Muslim countries, garnered a strong majority of 120 votes in the 193-member assembly, with 8 votes against and 45 abstentions. The resolution called on UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres to make proposals within 60 days "on ways and means for ensuring the safety, protection, and well-being of the Palestinian civilian population under Israeli occupation," including "recommendations regarding an international protection mechanism." It also called for "immediate steps towards ending the closure and the restrictions imposed by Israel on movement and access into and out of the Gaza Strip." NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Afghans voting in Kandahar elections delayed by violence Iran Press TV Sat Oct 27, 2018 10:26AM Afghan residents in the southern province of Kandahar are casting their ballots in parliamentary elections that were postponed for a week after a Taliban attack killed two top government officials, including a powerful provincial police chief. Independent Election Commission (IEC) deputy spokesman Aziz Ibrahimi said voting started at 7 a.m. local time (0230 GMT) throughout the southern province on Saturday, with 111 candidates vying for 11 seats in Afghanistan's 249-seat chamber. More than 522,000 people have registered to vote at the 173 polling stations across Kandahar, according to the IEC. Figures by the electoral body show around four million people voted in last weekend's parliamentary elections that were held in 32 out of 34 provinces after months of chaotic preparations. Provincial authorities said major roads throughout Kandahar were closed nearly 24 hours before polls opened to stop suspicious vehicles and individuals from entering the southern province. Election Commission officials said 4,500 observers will monitor the election process in Kandahar and 6,000 staff have been hired for the election process. Elections in Kandahar were postponed after the October 18 killing of General Abdul Raziq, who was credited with repelling successive Taliban attempts to gain a foothold in the province. Raziq was among three people killed in an insider attack on a high-level security meeting in Kandahar city that was attended by General Scott Miller, the top US and NATO commander in Afghanistan. Miller escaped unharmed, but a US general was one of two Americans wounded in the attack. During two days of voting last weekend, militants launched some 250 attacks across the country, killing at least 50 people and wounding more than 100, the Afghan Interior Ministry said. The elections in Afghanistan have been regarded as a major test for the government as the Taliban militants wreak havoc across much of the conflict-ridden country. Meanwhile, elections have yet to be held in central Ghazni Province, southwest of the capital, which is still reeling from the Taliban's takeover in August. Preliminary results of nationwide voting are not expected before mid-November. Taliban bomb attack kills six in Afghanistan On Saturday, at least six people were killed and dozens injured in a bomb attack outside a military compound in Afghanistan's central Wardak Province, south of the Afghan capital of Kabul. Local reports said the car bomb detonated in the provincial capital of Maidan Shahr as two busloads of police officers and mechanics arrived at the gate to begin their daily work. Provincial police spokesman Hekmatullah Durrani said six bodies and 31 wounded had been taken to hospitals in the city. The Taliban claimed responsibility, with spokesman Zabiullah Mujahid saying "tens of Afghan police and soldiers were killed" in the bombing. The US invaded Afghanistan in 2001 as part of Washington's so-called war on terror. The war toppled the militant group; however, some 17 years on, the Taliban are still active in two-thirds of the country and involved in widespread militancy, killing thousands of civilians as well as Afghan and US forces despite the presence of US-led foreign troops. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Macron raps Belgium's F-35 purchase as 'against European interests' Iran Press TV Sat Oct 27, 2018 07:23AM French President Emmanuel Macron has blasted Belgium's decision to purchase US-manufactured F-35 fighter jets instead of rival European planes, saying that the move "strategically goes against European interests". The Belgian government announced that it would replace a fleet of ageing F-16 jets with the F-35 Lightning II fifth-generation fighters made by Lockheed Martin, rejecting rival offers to buy Eurofighter Typhoons or Rafales from the French group Dassault Aviation. Belgian Prime Minister Charles Michel said that buying F-35 from the US was a more commercially viable option. "I regret this choice. This wasn't just the Rafale offer, it was also the Eurofighter, a real European offer," Macron said at a news conference held with Slovakian President Andrej Kiska in the capital Bratislava. "It's a decision that was the result of a process which I greatly respect and which was linked to political constraints specific to Belgium, which are not for me to comment upon, but strategically it goes against European interests," he added. "Europe won't be strong unless it is truly sovereign and knows how to protect itself," Macron said, citing a need to develop "a genuine European defense capacity." "I will do everything possible to promote European offers in future contracts," the French president concluded. Belgium said on Thursday that it would buy 34 radar-evading Lockheed Martin planes for 4.5 billion dollars to replace its F-16 jets and boost the kingdom's air force as of 2023. France, however, offered Brussels its own Rafale F3R fighter in exchange for "an in-depth and structural partnership" together with France and Germany in a bid to develop a new generation of combat aircraft by 2040 as part of a European defense initiative. The European Union is planning to vastly expand its defense budget as of 2021, allocating some 13 billion euros over seven years to research and develop new equipment, up from less than 600 million euros in the current budget. Belgium's decision to reject the French offer is viewed as a setback for Britain, Germany, Italy and Spain, who are behind the Eurofighter program. Since his election in May 2017, the 40-year-old French president has called for a more integrated European Union, with a common European defense budget and security doctrine. Washington has warned that excluding US companies could undermine NATO at a time when tensions are running high with Russia. Relations between the 28-member bloc and the US hit a deadlock following US President Donald Trump's criticism of NATO and his distancing from the military alliance. Trump says NATO member states have failed to increase military spending and that the US has to contribute too great a share of funds for the coalition. In 2014, NATO countries agreed to meet the current target of two percent of their GDP over the next decade. The US-led military alliance has estimated that only 15 members, or just over half, will be able to hit the benchmark by then. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Pentagon chief approves US troops at border with Mexico Iran Press TV Sat Oct 27, 2018 05:48AM US Defense Secretary James Mattis has authorized the use of troops and other military resources at the US-Mexico border, after President Donald Trump ordered the US military to prevent a caravan of thousands of migrants from Central America from entering the US. US officials said on Friday that Mattis' authorization was not itself a "deployment order" and did not include a specific number of troops, something that would be determined at a later point. The US Defense Department did not comment on potential troop numbers, which US officials say could be at least 800 active-duty soldiers and begin deploying as soon as Tuesday. The Pentagon said Mattis had authorized the military to provide "mission-enhancing capabilities" to US Customs and Border Protection, including engineering support to help build temporary barriers and housing. One US military official told Reuters that some of the troops would assist with traffic and crowd control on the US side of the border, potentially helping to manage protesters. Pentagon officials emphasized that US troops would not be engaged in any law enforcement activities, something that is prohibited under US law, and instead would focus on support roles in areas like infrastructure and logistics. Thousands of migrants from Central America are crossing Mexico toward the United States. Trump threatened he would deploy the military and close the US-Mexico border. Fleeing violent crime, poverty and political unrest at home, the migrants say they are determined to reach the United States, despite Trump's vows to stop them.. The caravan, which began as a march of a few hundred people from the crime-wracked Honduran city of San Pedro Sula on October 13, swelled into the thousands as it was joined by migrants from El Salvador, Nicaragua and Guatemala. The vast majority of migrants are from Honduras. Trump has made his hard-line stance on immigration an integral part of his presidency and has promised to build a wall along the US-Mexican border to curb the flow of migrants from Mexico and Central America. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Israeli warplanes conduct fresh airstrikes against blockaded Gaza Strip Iran Press TV Sat Oct 27, 2018 12:37AM Israeli warplanes have carried out fresh airstrikes against the besieged Gaza Strip, shortly after soldiers of the occupying regime shot dead several protesters from the impoverished enclave. Israel military aircraft struck several locations in the Gaza Strip late on Friday, including one in the east of Rafah town and the other in the central parts of the sliver. No reports have yet been released about possible casualties due to the airstrikes. The Israeli military claimed in a statement that the aerial aggression was in retaliation for 16 rockets fired against the southern parts of the occupied territories earlier in the day. It added that Israel's so-called Iron Dome managed to intercept at least 10 of the inbound rockets and the remaining six reportedly exploded in open areas and inflicted no damage or casualties. However, the incoming rockets triggered eight different sirens for hours across several settlements, prompting thousands of settlers to rush for bomb shelters. On Thursday, Israeli fighter jets had also hit eight targets belonging to the Hamas resistance movement near the towns of Khan Younis and Rafah, besides other targets. The airstrikes on Friday came hours after five Palestinian protesters were shot dead by Israeli military forces in the weekly anti-occupation rallies along the border that separates the Gaza Strip from the occupied territories. Tensions have been running high near the border fence since March 30, which marked the start of a series of protests dubbed "The Great March of Return." Palestinian protesters demand the right to return for those driven out of their homeland. The clashes in Gaza reached their peak on May 14, the eve of the 70th anniversary of Nakba Day, or the Day of Catastrophe, which coincided this year with Washington's relocation of the US embassy from Tel Aviv to occupied Jerusalem al-Quds. More than 200 Palestinians have so far been killed and over 20,000 others wounded in the renewed Gaza clashes, according to the latest figures released by the Gaza Health Ministry. The territory has been under an Israeli siege since June 2007. The blockade has caused a decline in living standards as well as unprecedented unemployment and poverty. Israel has also launched several wars on the Palestinian sliver, the last of which began in early July 2014 and ended in late August the same year. The Israeli military aggression killed nearly 2,200 Palestinians and injured over 11,100 others. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Last Direct Presidential Election In Georgia May Set A Caucasus First Alan Crosby October 27, 2018 Georgia may be on the precipice of being the first Caucasus nation to elect a female president in balloting this weekend to succeed incumbent Giorgi Margvelashvili, who isn't seeking a second term. French-born former Foreign Minister Salome Zurabishvili, 66, is among a record 25 candidates in a bruising race notable more for its dirty tricks and mudslinging than debate on policy. The country's 3.5 million voters head to the polls on October 28. Zurabishvili, who is running as an independent even though she has the backing of the ruling Georgia Dream party headed by former Prime Minister and billionaire Bidzina Ivanishvili, has faced personal attacks over her background and been branded a traitor for saying a brief war with Russia over the breakaway regions of South Ossetia and Abkhazia in 2008 occurred because "we yielded to Russia's provocation." The campaign has also been marked by the release of several secretly recorded audiotapes alleging bribery among state officials, a murder plot implicating former President Mikheil Saakashvili, and claims of witness tampering and torture in politically charged cases. "If there is a sufficient mobilization of Georgia Dream supporters, Salome Zurabishvili should score a first-round victory," Ivanishvili said. Independent opinion polls are hard to come by in Georgia, but party-backed surveys suggest the main challengers are Zurabishvili, Grigol Vashadze, also a former foreign minister who is running for the opposition United National Movement (UNM), and former parliamentary speaker Davit Bakradze, nominated by the opposition European Georgia party. The first-round winner needs more than 50 percent of the vote to avoid a runoff between the top two candidates. If Zurabishvili doesn't clinch a majority of votes in the first round, Ivanishvili said "there is no doubt" she will win a runoff. Georgia, which is strategically important for the West and is crisscrossed with pipelines carrying Caspian oil and gas to Europe, has pushed hard for greater political and economic integration with the European Union and other Western structures. But the former Soviet republic is also struggling to recover from a decline in exports and a plunge in the currencies of its main trading partners, which have depressed economic growth in recent years. While the president ensures adherence to the constitution by state bodies, the position's crucial function lies in foreign policy as the main negotiator of international treaties and accords. The president also appoints ambassadors and other diplomatic representatives. For a country at a crossroads in a region known for rampant corruption, some analysts fear the dominance of Ivanishvili behind the scenes could hinder Georgia's reputation as a bastion of progress and reforms. "For many years, Georgia has been one of the top performing countries in its region on anticorruption and good governance," while "the recent backsliding on democratic governance is extremely troubling," says Transparency International chairwoman Delia Ferreira Rubio. "It would be a great shame if Georgia's progress towards improved rule of law would turn instead towards kleptocracy and impunity for corruption," she added. The presidential election, Georgia's seventh since 1991, will be the last in which the head of state will be elected by direct ballot. A 2017 constitutional amendment takes effect after the vote that will see subsequent presidents elected by a 300-member College of Electors, comprising parliamentarians and local and regional political representatives. If Zurabishvili does emerge as the victor in the vote, she would become the first woman outside the Baltics to be elected head of state in a post-Soviet republic. Nino Burjanadze was twice thrust into the role of president, once just after the Rose Revolution and again when Saakashvili stepped down in late 2007 to call early presidential elections following a political crisis over a violent crackdown on opposition protesters. Burjanadze was parliamentary speaker at the time. Polls open at 8 a.m. local time and close at 8 p.m. Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/last-direct- presidential-election-in-georgia-may-set-a- caucasus-first-/29567315.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 U.S. Distortion of Facts Censured Korean Central News Agency of DPRK Pyongyang, October 27 (KCNA) -- The director of the Pyongyang Friendship Hospital gave the following answer to a question put by KCNA on Saturday as regards allegations coming out recently within the U.S., which distort the truth as to the cause of death of an American student Warmbier. American student Warmbier died after his return to the U.S. following the release on sick bail in June 2017. He was undergoing the reform through labor which he had been sentenced to on a charge of anti-DPRK hostile act committed in January 2016. However, several American doctors reportedly involved in the health check-up and treatment of Warmbier submitted "medical observation" to a federal district court in Washington D.C. on October 10 to the effect that "he had died of torture", alleging that "they had concluded his teeth were dislocated and his gum bone damaged by physical force from outside". Worse still, Haley, U.S. permanent representative to the UN, reportedly made such reckless remarks as "in north Korea, where Warmbier was tortured to death, and that was evil". As the director of the hospital directly involved in medical treatment of Warmbier, I cannot repress my indignation over the American total distortion of the truth regarding his death. As Warmbier had admitted by himself at a press conference, we provided medical care to him with sincerity from humanitarian viewpoint until his return to the U.S., though he was a criminal who had committed a hostile act against the DPRK. The American doctors who came to the DPRK to help Warmbier's repatriation acknowledged that his health indicators were all normal and submitted a letter of assurance to our hospital that they shared the diagnostic result of the doctors of our hospital. That document is still in our hands. According to an article carried in the American newspaper "USA Today" on June 21, 2017, a neurosurgeon in the University of Cincinnati admitted that medical examination of Warmbier had not found any trace of physical abuse like bone fracture or internal injury and he came home in a well-nourished condition. And also according to the American NBC news on September 27, 2017, a medical examiner from Ohio of the U.S. testified in his report that they combed Warmbier's body to find any trace of torture, but failed to do so and forensic dentists couldn't find any evidence of trauma to Warmbier's teeth. Now the question is: what is the ulterior motive of those American doctors trying to make a different story at this point in time with regard to the cause of Warmbier's death. Medical assessment of doctors should be objective and accurate, and it should not be influenced by any selfish purpose or political interest. Anyone, who values truth in sincerity, should instead ask for an investigation into the cause of Warmbier's sudden death soon after his arrival in the U.S., whose health indicators were all normal at the time of his release. The DPRK treats as ever those who are undergoing reform in conformity with the relevant international laws and international standard. -0- NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Iran has upper hand in countering US plots: President Rouhani Iran Press TV Sat Oct 27, 2018 03:09PM Iran's President Hassan Rouhani has hailed the recent "unprecedented" achievements made by the Iranian nation in the political arena, stressing that the Islamic Republic has the upper hand in countering US plots. Rouhani was speaking at the start of a parliament session on Saturday as Iranian lawmakers began deliberations to review the eligibility of four proposed candidates for ministerial posts. Rouhani nominated Farhad Dejpasand as minister of economic and finance affairs, Mohammad Shariatmadari as minister of cooperatives, labor and social welfare, Mohammad Eslami as minister of roads and urban development and Reza Rahmani as minister of industry, mines and trade. "In the past weeks and months, we witnessed the decisive and unprecedented victory of the Iranian nation against US plots," the Iranian president said. "It does not happen often that the US makes an important decision in the world against a big country and traditional allies of the US turn their back on it," he added. He emphasized that no one would have believed a year ago that Europe would stand by Iran against the US. "Our nation has today the upper hand at least in the political and legal arenas. The world public opinion recognizes Iran as a country that adheres to its commitments and the US as a country that does not live up to its promises and violates international regulations," Rouhani pointed out. US President Donald Trump announced in May that Washington was pulling out of the Iran nuclear deal, officially known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), which lifted nuclear-related sanctions against Tehran in exchange for restrictions on Tehran's nuclear program. 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 energy sector and financial transactions. The other parties to the JCPOA have repeatedly criticized the US withdrawal from the deal and have been putting together a package of economic measures to help offset Washington's sanctions. Rouhani further pointed to the US sanctions on banks that facilitate the imports of medicine and food to Iran and noted that Washington has proved that it does not only oppose the Iranian government but it is also a main enemy of the nation. He stressed the importance of increasing interaction with "good" neighboring countries to Iran. "We have many friends. Russia, China, India, the European Union and some African and Latin American countries are our friends. We have to work with them to attract investment," the Iranian president said. He explicitly announced that Iran would manage to resolve all problems it currently faces through unity and resistance in a short time. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address US sanction threat breaches Amity deal, ICJ ruling: Iran UN envoy Iran Press TV Sat Oct 27, 2018 09:57AM Iran's United Nations envoy says the United States' threat of imposing more sanctions on the Islamic Republic violates both the Amity pact between the countries and a UN court ruling against Washington. Gholam-Ali Khoshroo made the remarks to IRNA on Saturday. The 1955 Treaty of Amity established economic relations and consular rights between Tehran and Washington. On October 3, the International Court of Justice (ICJ) ordered Washington to lift sanctions it had imposed back in May targeting humanitarian trade, food, medicine, and civil aviation. Khoshroo said the US faced a restraining order, issued by the court until the decree was finalized, that obliged it to "strictly refrain from taking any measures that could exacerbate the situation." This is while Washington has said it would slap more sanctions against Iran targeting its energy sector, including oil sales. "As you know, the court is the most important legal pillar of the United Nations, and all countries should observe its rulings in line with the UN Charter," Khoshroo noted. "The US, which hosts the UN on its soil and is a permanent member of the UN Security Council practically disregards the court's rulings and even issues threats," the envoy said. "What is worse is that the US has said it does not credit any ruling issued by the court or any litigation at the tribunal in the future, considering it incompetent in whatever legal proceedings," he said. The remarks came a day after ICJ Judge Abdulqawi Ahmed Yusuf detailed the restraining order facing Washington in a report to the UN General Assembly. The US started imposing the bans on Iran after unilaterally leaving the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), a multilateral nuclear treaty between Tehran and Washington. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Saudi Arabia announces probe into what Turkey labels as "planned" murder of Khashoggi People's Daily Online (Xinhua) 10:13, October 26, 2018 RIYADH, Oct. 25 (Xinhua) -- Saudi Arabia announced on Thursday that an investigation has been launched into Turkey's information indicating the murder of the Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi was "planned," Saudi Press Agency (SPA) reported. The announcement was made by the General Attorney in a statement carried by SPA, which said the Turkish information was sent through the Joint Working Team between the two countries. Saudi Arabia said on Saturday that 18 suspects had been arrested for links to the case of Khashoggi, who was killed after a brawl inside the Saudi consulate in Istanbul on Oct. 2. Saudi King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud later ordered the re-organization of the intelligence authorities and sacked senior intelligence officials. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Saudi Arabia rejects Turkish call to extradite Khashoggi killers Iran Press TV Sat Oct 27, 2018 05:59AM Saudi Arabia has rejected Turkey's calls on the kingdom to extradite 18 Saudis wanted for the murder of dissident journalist Jamal Khashoggi as international outrage mounts over the killing. The outright rebuff by Foreign Minister Adel al-Jubeir on Saturday came a day after President Recep Tayyip Erdogan renewed his call for the 18 men to be extradited for trial in Turkey. "The individuals are Saudi nationals. They're detained in Saudi Arabia, and the investigation is in Saudi Arabia, and they will be prosecuted in Saudi Arabia," Jubair told a regional security forum in Bahrain. Saudi authorities say they have arrested the men following the international furor over Khashoggi's murder, which was reportedly carried out in the consulate by a team which flew to Istanbul. Turkish Justice Minister Abdulhamit Gul said on Friday that Istanbul's chief prosecutor had formally written the request for their extradition. "The Turkish authorities are determined and able to solve this case. We expect the extradition," he said in a statement, adding that the suspects would be tried on charges of premeditated murder and torture. A senior Turkish official said "the reasoning behind the extradition request is that Jamal Khashoggi was murdered in Turkey by Saudi nationals who traveled to Turkey for this specific purpose." But the Saudi foreign minister said the kingdom would carry out any investigation on its own. "The issue, as I said, is being investigated. We will know the truth. We will hold those responsible accountable. And we will put in place mechanisms to ensure it doesn't happen again," Jubeir said. Khashoggi, a supporter-turned-critic of Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, never left the Saudi mission in Istanbul after entering it on October 2. In a belated acknowledgement, which followed repeated denials, Saudi Arabia finally admitted that Khashoggi had been killed when "discussions" at the consulate turned into "a brawl." However, Saudi Arabia's public prosecutor said that the murder of Khashoggi, a US resident and Washington Post contributor, was premeditated. Riyadh's admission of Khashoggi's murder triggered international outcry. Erdogan has said 15 of the 18 men flew from Riyadh to Istanbul on the day Khashoggi disappeared, while the three others were already inside the consulate. Several of those behind Khashoggi's murder were from bin Salman's personal security staff, reports have said. Turkish investigators have said they are in possession of recordings that show Khashoggi was tortured before his death and his body dismembered with a bone saw by a Saudi hit squad. On Friday, Erdogan urged Saudi Arabia to disclose the location of Khashoggi's body and identify who ordered his killing. A Turkish driver, who transported some of the members of the Saudi hit squad in Istanbul, said they appeared "cheerful" on their way from hotel to the airport. "They asked me for a place to eat and I brought them to a doner restaurant. They were very cheerful. They smoked and drank alcohol in the car," he said. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Foreign Minister: The kingdom is An Ally of Western Countries, and This Alliance Will Not Change Despite the Passage of Successes and Failures Saudi Press Agency Saturday 1440/2/18 - 2018/10/27 Manama, Safar 18, 1440, October 27, 2018, SPA -- Foreign Minister Adel bin Ahmed Al-Jubier poinbtd out to the conflicts that are witnessed in the region, daying that these conflicts are led by attempts to change the regional order and control the Middle East. All this was the result of the Iranian Revolution and regime, which can be described as the dark system," He stressed that the problems facing the region currently can be overcome through good leadership, continuity and approach, expecting that it will be more prosperous, indicating that the problem is how to deal with Iran and prevent it from interfering in the affairs of states of the region. In his speech to the 14th Manama Dialogue Conference held in Bahrain, Al-Jubeir highlighted the optimistic outlook for the future in the leadership and the people of the Kingdom. The focus is now on economic growth and diversification, empowering women, achieving youth aspirations, accountability and transparency. He stressed the need to hold accountable those involved in the case of the death of Jamal Khashoggi after the end of investigations in the Saudi Arabia and Turkey, calling for not to take positions and blame on one before the end of investigations completely, stressing that the Kingdom will adopt mechanisms to prevent that incident from happening again. The Foreign Minister explained that the Kingdom has no relations with Israel, pointing out that normalization with it will be achieved through the Arab peace initiative adopted by the 2002 Arab Summit and after allowing the Palestinians to establish their state with East Jerusalem, Al-Quds, as its capital. He stressed the strength of relations between the Kingdom and the United States of America, describing the solid, and said: "The Kingdom is an ally of Western countries, and that this alliance will not change despite the passage of successes and failures" "We have a large investment in energy, we need a stable world order, an effective counterterrorism, freedom and security of navigation in the world's waterways, and we will continue to do so. We do not see any negative change in relations with the countries of the world. We have stable interests, protect our interests and work with countries to protect them. "He said. In response to a question about the various alliances in the region and the need to unify them, Al-Jubeir denied the existence of multiple alliances. He said: "The GCC has alliances with Jordan and Egypt and these alliances are governed by mutual interests between countries, but when President Trump came to the presidency he assured that he would not leave the allies of America, which is encouraged by the Kingdom, where it was able to achieve great success in eliminating the "Dae'sh" in Iraq. Trump also imposed sanctions on Iran to stop its nuclear program and interference in the countries of the region, deeming US as strategic ally. Al-Jubeir said that the GCC is the most important institution in the Gulf despite the dispute with Qatar, and working to ensure that this dispute does not affect the work of the Council. With regard to the security alliance in the region, Al-Jubeir affirmed the support of Saudi Arabia for this alliance, and the continuation of the discussions between Jordan and Egypt to clear the ideas, in order to achieve the basic objective of ensuring security for the region. On the suspension of Germany to sell arms to the Kingdom, he said: "The Kingdom has ceased to buy weapons from Germany long time ago." "The Muslim Brotherhood is the great mother of terrorism and groups such as Al-Qaeda, Al-Nusrah, Da'esh, and the Takfir and Al-Hijra groups that emerged in the era of the late Egyptian President Anwar Sadat, and we believe that the Muslim Brotherhood is a terrorist organization. Foreign Minister revealed the growing relations between Saudi Arabia and Iraq, the intensive visits, the establishment of a joint coordination council of six ministers, the opening of more consulates, the opening of the border between the two countries, and consideration of how to invest in Iraq. -- SPA 16:37 LOCAL TIME 13:37 GMT 0011 NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Istanbul summit stresses Syria's territorial integrity IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency Tehran, Oct 27, IRNA -- The final statement of Istanbul quadripartite summit which brought together leaders of Russia, Germany, France, and Turkey stressed commitment to Syria's territorial integrity and that there could be no substitute for political solution for the crisis in it. The statement, issued after a meeting between the Russian President Vladimir Putin, French President Emmanuel Macron, German Chancellor Angela Merkel, and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, also affirmed the need to facilitate the return of displaced Syrians to their homes, SANA reported. The statement said that the Astana process has become an example for the efforts seeking to find a solution for the crisis in Syria, adding that the participation of France and Germany could consolidate this process to be more effective. The statement said quadripartite summit should give momentum for the efforts to end the crisis in Syria, and all sides must support these efforts. The statement reaffirmed commitment to the Sochi agreement on Idleb, in addition to forming the committee to discuss the constitution before the end of 2018 so that it could begin work next year. 1396**1396 NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Erdoghan: Assad's fate must be decided by Syrian people IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency Ankara, Oct 27, IRNA -- Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan stressed the need for preserving Syria's territorial integrity, saying that Syrian President Bashar Assad's fate must be determined by the Syrian people. The four-nation summit on Syria between Turkey, Russia, Germany, and France ended in Istanbul on Saturday. The summit, hosted by President Recep Tayyip Erdogan at Vahdettin Pavilion in the city's Uskudar district and attended by Russian President Vladimir Putin, German Chancellor Angela Merkel, and French President Emmanuel Macron lasted two hours and 45 minutes, according to trtworld. Speaking at a joint news conference after the summit, Erdogan said the summit was aimed at reaching a full ceasefire to halt bloodshed in Syria. Regarding the political future of Syria, Erdogan said, 'The fate of Bashar Assad will not be decided by individuals, but the Syrian people.' He said the Astana peace process for the Syrian conflict had set an example to the international community in efforts to solve the crisis, adding that Turkey, Russia, Germany, and France had 'fruitful and sincere' consultations during Saturday's summit in Istanbul. 'The main reason why Syrian conflict became global menace is that the international community did not respond adequately,' Erdogan told the news conference. Calling for immediate ceasefire and cessation of bloodshed in Syria, he said, "I believe that with sincere and constructive moves, we will not dash Syrian people's hope." Erdogan said the Istanbul summit called for the completion of the establishment of the committee tasked with writing a new constitution for Syria as soon as possible. 'We have agreed to boost the cooperation between our four countries and at the international level,' Erdogan said. The Turkish president underlined that Turkey will continue to eliminate threats to its national security in the east of Euphrates as well as in its west in Syria. 'Turkey will not tolerate any terrorist group along its borders or in any part of Syria,' Erdogan said. Russian President Vladimir Putin said Russia counted on Turkey for the withdrawal of the opposition forces from the buffer zone in Syria's Idlib. He said the international community should put joint efforts for Syria, adding that Russia and Turkey invited France and Germany to hold an international conference on the crisis. Putin said Russia reserved 'right to help Damascus to eliminate terrorists in Idlib in case of any provocation.' French President Emmanuel Macron said the restructuring of an inclusive Syria is very important, adding that the Syrian people must have a say on their own future. The leaders of Turkey, Russia, France and Germany on Saturday stressed the need for a lasting ceasefire in Syria and the need to continue fighting against militants, while calling for a constitutional committee to be convened by the end of the year. In a joint communique following their four-way meeting in Istanbul, the countries also said they highlighted the need to create conditions throughout Syria for the safe and voluntary return of refugees. Putin said that a constitutional committee for Syria should start work and that Moscow would actively take part in that work. Putin also told the joint press conference he hoped that Turkey would finish creating a demilitarized zone in Syria's Idlib province soon. 8072**1396 NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Daesh terrorists kill 60 US-backed SDF militants in Syria's Dayr al-Zawr Iran Press TV Sat Oct 27, 2018 04:19PM Dozens of US-backed militants from the so-called Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) have been killed after members of the Daesh Takfiri terrorist group launched a surprise attack on them in Syria's eastern province of Dayr al-Zawr near the border with Iraq. The so-called Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR) reported on Saturday that Daesh extremists had dispatched a group of bombers as part of a counter-attack against SDF militants, killing at least 60 and wounding more than 100 of them overnight. Daesh, in a statement published on the Telegram messaging application, said it had attacked the village of al-Sousa late on Friday, and detonated a car bomb near the village of al-Bagouz further south. On September 15, the SDF said its fighters had stormed Bagouz and were close to the center of the village. The forces added that they planned to open another front in Sousa area along the Euphrates River to build up pressure on the extremists. The development came only a day after at least 20 SDF militants were killed in a Daesh ambush around the town of Hajin in Dayr al-Zawr province. "The fighters were advancing during a sandstorm, they were surrounded, Daesh members used explosives and opened fire," the SOHR said. SDF militants, mainly active in the eastern part of the Euphrates River, are purportedly fighting against the remnants of Daesh, which has already been driven out of all its urban bastions both in Iraq and Syria. However, the Damascus government regards the SDF as unwelcome armed forces occupying parts of Syrian territory without the consent of the central government. Syria has been gripped by foreign-backed militancy since March 2011. The Syrian government says the Israeli regime and its Western and regional allies are aiding Takfiri terrorist groups wreaking havoc in the country. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Constitutional committee for Syria should start work, Russia to join in: Putin Iran Press TV Sat Oct 27, 2018 03:00PM Russian President Vladimir Putin says a constitutional committee for Syria should start work in order to help put an end to the years-long bloody conflict in the Arab country, adding that Moscow would actively take part in that process. Putin made the remarks during a press conference on Saturday following a quadrilateral summit on Syria in the Turkish city of Istanbul with Germany's Angela Merkel, France's Emmanuel Macron and Turkey's Recep Tayyip Erdogan. Earlier this year, Moscow invited representatives of Syria's government and armed opposition groups to the Russian resort town of Sochi and proposed creating a committee to revise the constitution. The committee is expected to include 150 members: 50 chosen by Damascus, 50 by the opposition and the final 50 by de Mistura. It will also include civil society representatives, religious and tribal leaders, experts and women. The Russian president also told the joint press conference that he hoped that Ankara would soon finish creating a demilitarized zone in Syria's northern province of Idlib, the last major terrorist-held bastion in Syria. At the end of a summit in Sochi on September 17, Russian President Vladimir Putin and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan agreed on, among other things, establishing a demilitarized zone in Idlib that would cover an expanse of 15-20 kilometers of land. Militants would have to entirely clear that area by October 15. Presidents Putin and Erdogan had earlier, in a trilateral summit in Tehran, differed on how to resolve the issue of Idlib. Putin also said on Saturday that Turkish partners are fulfilling their obligations regarding the agreement on Idlib. He also said Russia understands the process is not easy and it plans to continue cooperating. The Russian president added that his country will take active steps if terrorists use the Idlib demilitarized zone as a cover to launch attacks on the rest of Syria. "Should radicals launch armed provocations from the Idlib zone, Russia reserves the right to give active assistance to the Syrian government in liquidating this source of terrorist threat," the Russian President vowed during a summit on Syria in Istanbul. Erdogan also said after the top-level summit that a constitutional committee for Syria should be formed as soon as possible, expressing hope that it would be formed before the end of the year. The Turkish president said that the participants of the summit discussed the return of refugees to Syria and agreed that the returns should be voluntary. The French president, meanwhile, said that the international community would be watching to make sure that ceasefire agreed in Idlib will be long lasting. "We will all be extremely vigilant to ensure that these commitments are met and that the ceasefire is stable and sustainable," Macron told reporters after the high-level summit. Macron also said any military offensive by the Syrian government would have "unacceptable security and humanitarian consequences". Merkel also said that a solution to the Syria conflict cannot simply be military and must include a political process under the auspices of the United Nations that envisages free elections as a goal. "At the end of this political process, there must be free elections to which all Syrians have access - including the diaspora," she told the news conference. In a joint statement issued ahead of individual press conferences, the four leaders stressed the importance of a lasting ceasefire, while underlining the need to continue fight against terrorism. They expressed determination to reject separatist agendas aimed at undermining the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Syria. The participants also expressed support for an inclusive political process backed by the United Nations and with the participation of all Syrian parties. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Istanbul Summit Ends With Call For UN-Backed Process To End Syrian War October 27, 2018 The leaders of Turkey, Russia, France, and Germany have discussed the war in Syria at a summit, reiterating calls for a UN-backed political process to end the war that has killed hundreds of thousands of people. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Russian President Vladimir Putin, German Chancellor Angela Merkel, and French President Emmanuel Macron gathered for the talks on Syria in Istanbul on October 27. Afterward, the four issued a final statement also calling for the convening of a committee by the end of the year to work on constitutional reform as a prelude to free and fair elections in Syria. It also supports efforts to facilitate the "safe and voluntary" return of refugees to their Syrian homes. The statement also rejects "separatist agendas aimed at undermining the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Syria as well as the national security of neighboring countries." Many obstacles to a peace agreement remain. They include divided opinions about Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, who is backed by Russia and Iran. Western countries, meanwhile, condemn Assad for what they call indiscriminate attacks on civilians and Turkey has been helping insurgents trying to remove him from power. Based on reporting by AFP, dpa, AP and Reuters Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/turkey-hosts-syria-summit-with- russian-french-german-leaders/29566986.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 Facebook makes American society better Facebook makes American society worse Worse because of the way some people use Facebook Worse because of the way Facebook itself is run Facebook has no effect on American society No opinion Vote View Results Air pollutionspecifically PM 2.5 , ozone and NO 2 could be to blame for up to 33 million emergency asthma attack visits to hospital a year, according to a new open-access study published in the journal Environmental Health Perspectives. The researchers aimed to estimate the number of asthma emergency room visits and new onset asthma cases globally attributable to PM 2.5 , ozone, and NO 2 concentrations. They used epidemiological health impact functions combined with data describing population, baseline asthma incidence and prevalence, and pollutant concentrations. They constructed a new dataset of national and regional emergency room visit rates among people with asthma using published survey data. They estimated that 923 million and 510 million annual asthma emergency room visits globally in 2015 could be attributable to ozone and PM 2.5 , respectively, representing 820% and 49% of the annual number of global visits, respectively. The range reflects the application of central risk estimates from different epidemiological meta-analyses. Anthropogenic emissions were responsible for 37% and 73% of ozone and PM 2.5 impacts, respectively. Remaining impacts were attributable to naturally occurring ozone precursor emissions (e.g., from vegetation, lightning) and PM2.5 (e.g., dust, sea salt), though several of these sources are also influenced by humans. The largest impacts were estimated in China and India. Asthma is the most prevalent chronic respiratory disease worldwide, affecting about 358 million people. This is the first global study of the potential impacts of air pollution on serious asthma attacks that cause people to visit emergency rooms in hospitals around the world. Previous research by SEI and others have emphasized the impacts of air pollution on the number of premature deaths, but many more people are affected by poor health, through impacts of non-fatal diseases. Dr Johan Kuylenstierna, co-author and Policy Director of the Stockholm Environment Institute (SEI) The international, multi-institutional research team included scientists from the University of York, George Washington University Milken Institute School of Public Health, the University of Colorado Boulder, the Stockholm Environment Institute, the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), the Japan Agency for Marine-Earth Science and Technology, the Norwegian Meteorological Institute. Other key findings include: About half of the asthma emergency room visits attributed to dirty air were estimated to occur in South and East Asian countries, notably India and China. Although the air in the United States is relatively clean compared to South and East Asian countries, ozone and particulate matter were estimated to contribute 8 to 21 percent and 3 to 11 percent of asthma ER visits in the United States, respectively. To estimate the global levels of pollution for this study, the researchers turned to atmospheric models, ground monitors and satellites equipped with remote-sensing devices. Approximately 95% of the worlds population lives in places with unsafe air. Previously, the Global Burden of Disease Study focused on quantifying the impacts of air pollution on heart disease, chronic respiratory disease, lung cancer, and lower respiratory infectionsfinding that fine particulate matter and ozone were associated with 4.1 million and 230,000 premature deaths in 2016, respectively. The research team said that one way to reduce pollutants quickly would be to target emissions from cars, especially in big cities. Such policies would not only help people with asthma and other respiratory diseases, but it would help everyone breathe a little easier. Support for the study was provided by the NASA Health and Air Quality Applied Science Team, NASA Aura ACMAP, the Stockholm Environment Institute Low Emissions Development Pathways Initiative, and the Global Environment Research Fund of the Japan Ministry of the Environment. Resources Members of the Connecticut Audubon Society have elected Southport resident Kathleen Van Der Aue, a retired lawyer, to head the organizations Board of Directors. She becomes the eighth woman in the Connecticut Audubons 120-year history to hold that position. At the Societys Annual Meeting Oct. 20, members also elected Pamela Fraser-Abder, a leading science educator and Easton resident, as vice chair. Five new board members were also elected. COLOMBO and NEW DELHI - Sri Lanka appeared on the brink of a constitutional crisis on Saturday with two men each claiming to be the country's rightful prime minister and the president suspending parliament until the middle of next month. The showdown began late Friday, when the increasingly tenuous governing coalition collapsed. President Maithripala Sirisena sacked Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe after months of tension between the two men, who lead different parties. Sirisena named as the new prime minister Mahinda Rajapaksa, a controversial former president who was in power for nearly a decade until 2015. During his tenure, Rajapaksa used brutal force to end the country's long civil war and faced allegations of corruption and political violence. Television channels showed Rajapaksa being sworn in as prime minister, but Wickremesinghe continued to occupy the official prime minister's residence and refused to step down. Wickremesinghe called for a vote in parliament to test which party controlled the chamber. "As far as the prime ministership is concerned, the person who has the majority support in parliament has to be the prime minister, and I have that majority of support," Wickremesinghe said, according to The Associated Press. "It is not necessary for us to create a crisis. It is not necessary for the people of the country to suffer." But according to an official notice signed Saturday by the president's secretary, the assembly is "prorogued" until Nov. 16 - a maneuver where the chamber is suspended for a period of time but not dissolved. Wickremesinghe's supporters have called the effort to remove him unconstitutional. "What happened was a political coup. The president had no right do this," said Minister of Megapolis and Western Development Champika Ranawaka. Harin Fernando, a member of parliament from Wickremesinghe's United National Party who is also Minister of Telecommunications, said the party was planning to launch protests on Monday. "We are ready for anything, we are ready to take our battle to the streets," Ranawaka said. Governments around the world and in the region are watching the developments closely, particularly India and China, which have engaged in a struggle for influence in the island nation. On Friday, the U.S. State Department called on "all parties to act in accordance with Sri Lanka's constitution, refrain from violence, and follow due process." Allies of Rajapaksa, the newly appointed prime minister, said the episode was a prelude to fresh elections. Namal Rajapaksa, Mahinda Rajapaksa's son and a fellow member of parliament, said his father does not intend to hold his new post for long. His father's discussions with the current president - once a bitter rival - had focused on setting up a stable caretaker government and then holding elections, Namal Rajapaksa said. "The litmus test for any government, any party is elections. The Ranil Wickremesinghe government has been postponing them. Our high-level discussions with the president centered on first creating a stable government and then going for elections," he said. But holding fresh parliamentary elections is unlikely to be a straightforward task. It will require the dissolution of parliament, and according to the Sri Lankan Constitution, either two-thirds of the members must request such a step or four and half years must have elapsed since the last election. The split between Sirisena, the current president, and Wickremesinghe, the prime minister he ousted, marks the end of the national unity coalition that has governed Sri Lanka for the last three years. Over the last six months, a wide gulf opened up between Sirisena and Wickremesinghe on a variety of issues. Political pundits believed the coalition was likely to crumble but not for several more months. The tensions between the two men peaked on Oct. 16 over the possible handover of a port development project to India: Wickremesinghe favored the move but Sirisena opposed it. Ten days later, parliamentarians loyal to Sirisena officially withdrew their support from the government, triggering the appointment of Rajapaksa as the prime minister. We've gone over Samsung's smartphones, but their success was built on the work the company did during its featurephone era. Some of the later models blurred the line between feature and smart phones, not just with the feature-full Touch Wiz but with their hardware as well. But today's story begins in 1988 with a bit of a dud. The Samsung SH-100 was available only in Korea and it only sold a few thousand units. The company did not give up, however, and in 1999 found success in Europe with the Samsung SGH-600. Samsung SGH-600 The Samsung M100 was one of the first phones that could play MP3s. Its design resembles an MP3 player (remember those?), especially with the provided wired headphones with a remote. However, storage was just 32MB and there was no card slot like the Siemens SL45 had. Time magazine named it one of the "All-Time 100 gadgets". Samsung M100 Multimedia features would continue to develop at a breakneck pace. The Samsung T100 was the first time an Active Matrix display was used on a phone. A Thin Film Transistor (TFT) control each pixel and form the so-called "active matrix". That's what the "AM" in AMOLED stands for, by the way. Older passive matrix displays had slow response times, suffered from ghosting and could not render many colors. The T100 had a 128 x 160px display that could display 4,096 colors. Note that all displays used in phones (and laptops and TVs) are Active Matrix. We see this pop up occasionally when discussing whether an "OLED" display is an "AMOLED" or not. They all are, but each company prefers a specific wording as part of its brand (e.g. Samsung Super AMOLED and LG P-OLED). Samsung T100 The Samsung Watch Phone from 2003 wasn't "smart" but it was definitely a watch. A chunky watch at 17mm thick. There was an even earlier attempt in 1999 with the SPH-WP10. Those are the forefathers of the Galaxy Watch. But before that, we got the Samsung S9110, which added a few necessities like a larger touch sensitive screen. Samsung Watch Phone The Samsung V200 and Samsung P400 were the company's first phones to include an onboard camera. They were pretty similar, however, the P400 also supports Java apps (as many as would fit on the 512KB of storage dedicated to the task). The camera had 0.1MP resolution and could be rotated to point forward or back, so you could send selfies to your friends over MMS (Snapchat was still years away from being a thing). Samsung V200 Samsung P400 The company upped its camera game with the Samsung D500. It built on the E800 design, a slider, which allowed it to carry a large (at the time) 1.9" screen in a compact body. The biggest change, however, was the 1.3MP camera with LED flash. It didn't have expandable storage, however, which was an issue. The D500 spawned several sequels including the D600 (2MP camera, microSD slot) and D900i (3.15MP camera with autofocus). Samsung D500 Samsung D600 Samsung D900i Storage was an issue back then. We know we said this is about featurephones, however we can't help but make a quick detour to the Samsung i300. It offered 3GB of storage thanks to an HDD - a hard drive with spinning platters and moving heads. Dropping one of these was always a mini heart attack. Samsung i300 The Samsung X820 was marketed as "the world's slimmest phone" at just 6.9mm thick. Its alternative name was the "Ultra Edition 6.9". Samsung X820 The Samsung F300 was a kooky device - on one side, it looked like a regular phone with a keypad and a tiny screen. The other side had a "large" 2.1" display with touch-sensitive keys below it. Note that the display itself was not touch sensitive. Samsung F300 Speaking of kooky designs, Samsung went through a swivel phase in 2007. Samsung P110 Samsung F210 Samsung F200 In 2009 there was a new trend - solar power. The Samsung S7550 Blue Earth had a 1,080mAh Li-ion battery built in and a small solar panel. An hour of sunlight could provide enough charge for a 10 minute phone call (on a 3G network) or 2 hours of standby. But a touchscreen phone was perhaps a bit too ambitious. The Samsung E1107 Crest Solar was a more traditional featurephone aimed at rural regions. It too got 5-10 minutes of talk time per hour of charge, but the smaller screen and keypad were more power efficient for other tasks. Samsung S7550 Blue Earth Samsung E1107 Crest Solar The Samsung U900 Soul had a 2.2" main screen and an unusual D-pad below it - another screen. Besides navigational keys, this D-pad adjusted to show relevant shortcuts. Samsung U900 Soul The Samsung S7350 Ultra s and S7220 Ultra b were unveiled together and they tried to do smartphone things on a feature phone platform. They had Google Maps with a GPS receiver, but no navigation. They had great cameras for the time and solid multimedia features. Samsung S7350 Ultra s Samsung S7220 Ultra b A followup to the Ultra s was the Samsugn S8300 UltraTOUCH. This time the display was touch sensitive (capacitive), an AMOLED panel (2.8", 240 x 400) covered with Gorilla Glass. It had downloadable TouchWiz widgets and multitasking that ran on a 500MHz processor. It was still very much a featurephone, however, with a slider design that concealed its keypad. Samsung S8300 UltraTOUCH The Samsung F480 inched closer - it was an all-screen phone with a 2.8" capacitive touchscreen. It sported 3G connectivity and supported Opera Mini for web browsing on the go. Samsung F480 The Samsung M8800 Pixon came with a similar design. It featured a TouchWiz interface and served as the feature phone alternative to the INNOV8 with its impressive 8MP camera with WVGA video capture. A 12MP version was introduced later, the Samsung M8910 Pixon12. It had a dual aperture, much like modern Samsung Galaxys, it could switch between f/2.64 and f/3.61. And it had a xenon flash. Samsung M8800 Pixon Samsung M8910 Pixon12 Finally, we get to what might be the most overpowered feature phone - the Samsung S800 Jet. Released in 2009, it had a 3.1" AMOLED high resolution screen - 480 x 800px. And it was powered by a Qualcomm chipset with an 800MHz processor with 8GB (or 2GB) of storage. The touchscreen was resistive, but it was almost as sensitive as as a capacitive screen. For comparison, the original Samsung Galaxy S (launched almost a year later) had a 4" 480 x 800px Super AMOLED screen and a 1,000MHz processor. Actually, some people tried to get Android to run on the Jet, but the project was never stable enough for daily use. The Jet had fancy features like 3D rendering in some menus as well as motion control that allowed you to flick the phone left and right to control the music player for example. The Dolfin browser was developed in-house and was based on WebKit (the basis used by Safari, Chrome and the Android browser). It had full Flash support, it could open up to 5 tabs and featured a built-in ad block. Samsung S8000 Jet We namechecked so many models and there are still many more to cover. Maybe we should do a roundup of all the tiny, affordable touch not-so-smart phones like the Corby, Star, Monte and others. Haiti - Health : A delegation from Brazil visits the National Ambulance Center A delegation from Brazil visited this week in Haiti, the National Ambulance Center (CAN) whose building was completely restructured at a cost of $1.6 million, funded by the Ministry of Health of Brazil and the Brazilian Cooperation Agency (ABC). https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-23898-haiti-brazil-inauguration-of-the-works-of-the-national-ambulance-center.html Thanks to this donation from the Brazilian Government, the CAN has been able to finalize among other things : the disinfection area, the construction of the garage and the ambulance washing. Following their visit, the members of the Brazilian delegation expressed their satisfaction with the layout of the space and the functioning of the CAN. Note that a representative of the United Nations Office for Project Services (UNOPS), also a partner of the CAN, was part of that delegation. Moreover, it should be remembered that, in the framework of a Brazil-Haiti-Cuba tripartite agreement, Brazil had donated 30 4x4 ambulances, all equipped with a value of 2.5 million dollars, in March 2012. https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-3623-haiti-health-30-ambulances-and-360-tons-of-medicines-donation-of-brazil.html that had helped set up the ambulance network in Haiti https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-4831-haiti-health-new-public-network-of-ambulance-to-respond-to-emergencies.html . Subsequently, in June 2018, Brazil donated 10 additional ambulances to the CAN https://www.icihaiti.com/en/news-17199-icihaiti-health-positive-assessment-of-national-ambulance-centre.html See also : https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-23898-haiti-brazil-inauguration-of-the-works-of-the-national-ambulance-center.html https://www.icihaiti.com/en/news-17199-icihaiti-health-positive-assessment-of-national-ambulance-centre.html https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-3623-haiti-health-30-ambulances-and-360-tons-of-medicines-donation-of-brazil.html TB/ HaitiLibre Haiti - Politic : OFATMA hands over 4,000 health insurance cards to the Ministry of Education Thursday Agabus Joseph the Director General of the Office of Occupational Accident Insurance, Sickness and Maternity (OFATMA) together with Pierre Josue Agenor Cadet, the Minister of National Education at a press conference on health insurance offered to the Ministry's employees, committed to facilites their access to health insurance services and to improving the quality of the medical services offered by OFATMA. Minister Cadet insisted on the need for this social security cover for education workers, recalling that it was "a claim that still comes back to teacher unions calling for improvements to the services offered under the Health Insurance Program. " In this perspective, he encourages the latest actions of OFATMA, which is part of this dynamic of change in the services offered by the health insurance program. Along the same lines, Agabus recalled in the preamble the interest of a good level of social protection, expressed by the Head of State for three categories of workers: the police, the health workers and those of the education, before passing from words to deeds, handing over to the Cadet Minister 4,000 cards for the educational and administrative staff of the Ministry. Along the same lines, Agabus recalled in the preamble the interest of a good level of social protection, expressed by the Head of State for three categories of workers: the police, the health workers and those of the education, before passing from words to deeds, handing over to the Cadet Minister 4,000 cards for the educational and administrative staff of the Ministry. The Director General of OFATMA revealed that 59,000 state employees out of 82,000 had already received their health insurance card, indicating that in the first quarter of 2019, his institution hopes to reach about 90% of employees. Recalling that to date, about sixty hospitals across the country accept the health insurance card. HL/ HaitiLibre Haiti - News : Zapping... Study opportunities in France The head of the Campus France Haiti space went to meet students from Les Cayes to inform them about study opportunities in France. He will be in Jacmel on November 6th and 7th. PetroCaribe : 65 complaints filed In the PetroCaribe file, 65 complaints were lodged with the Investigation Cabinet. The investigation of the file has already begun and the investigating judge in charge of the case Me Ramoncite Accime has already heard more than 8 complainants, 2 others were heard Friday, October 26. China : Donation of 60 tons of rice On Friday, Wang Xiangyang, Permanent Representative of the Trade Development Bureau of the People's Republic of China in Haiti donated 4,800 bags of rice (60 tons) estimated at $60,000, in solidarity with the victims of the earthquake of October 6 in the North -Where is. Words of sympathy "I learned with pain the death of our Charge d'Affaires in Bogota, Colombia, Mr. Jean C Augustave https://www.icihaiti.com/en/news-25947-icihaiti-diplomacy-death-of-the-ambassador-of-haiti-in-colombia.html . Former Professor at the National Institute of Administration, Management and International Studies (INAGHEI) and career civil servant, his departure will leave a considerable void. On behalf of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, I extend my deepest sympathies to his wife and children" Chancellor Bocchit Edmond. Installation of the new MHAVE DG Friday Marie Elise Brisson Gelin, the Minister of Social Affairs proceeded to the installation of Yvon Bonhomme as the new Director General of the Ministry of Haitians Living Abroad (MHAVE). He replaces Yolette Mengual who was dismissed the previous day by presidential decree because of a criminal charge https://www.icihaiti.com/en/news-25937-icihaiti-politic-the-director-general-of-the-mhave-revoked.html PetroCaribe : Minujusth does not intend to get involved On the occasion of United Nations Day, Helen Meagher La Lime, the head of the United Nations Mission for the Support of Justice in Haiti (Minujusth) and special representative of the UN Secretary-General, said that Minujust did not intend to get involved in the eminently political record on the use of the PetroCaribe fund. HL/ HaitiLibre Published on 2018/10/28 | Source Passengers board a hydrogen-powered bus in Ulsan on Monday. /Yonhap Korea's first regularly scheduled hydrogen-powered bus began carrying passengers in Ulsan on Monday. Advertisement According to the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy, the environmentally friendly vehicle operates on a 56-km route twice a day after the southeastern city signed a memorandum of understanding with Hyundai and the local operator of the bus. Under the MOU, the number of vehicles and charging stations in the area will be gradually expanded. The ministry aims to have 30 hydrogen-fueled buses running on regular routes in major cities on a pilot basis next year. Published on 2018/10/28 | Source Syphilis and other sexually transmitted diseases are on the rise among young Koreans as social mores change. Advertisement The Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said the spread is due to increasing promiscuity among people in their 20s and 30s as people tend to marry later. Cases of syphilis surged almost threefold from 776 in 2013 to 2,138 last year. Syphilis is transmitted via ulcers that form on the genitalia and causes fevers, headaches and eventually damage to the internal organs. It can be cured with antibiotics. People in their 20s accounted for 37 percent of all syphilis infections last year with 787, up from 258 in 2013. Data from the military shows that the number of conscripts who tested positive for syphilis rose from 38 in 2013 to 201 in 2017. The CDC said it educates new conscripts on prevention and early detection of sexually transmitted diseases. Over the same period, the number of syphilis cases among people in their 30s rose from 186 to 499 and among people in their 40s from 138 to 322. Among the over-60s it also rose from just eight to 116. Total cases of sexually transmitted diseases rose from 10,640 in 2013 to 27,277 last year. U.S. Sen. Rand Paul, R-Ky., talks today in Havre at the Duck in duing a Get Out the vote rally for Republican State Auditor Matt Rosendale's campaign to unseat U.S. Sen. Jon Tester, D-Mont. A high-profile U.S. senator was in Havre today for a Get Out and Vote event for a high profile election. U.S. Sen. Rand Paul, R-Ky., and Montana Auditor Republican Matt Rosendale spoke to more than 90 people about national issues that are being discussed in Congress and Rosendale's campaign for Montana's U.S. Senate seat. Rosendale is challenging incumbent U.S. Sen. Jon Tester, D-Mont., in his bid for re-election in this November. "The reason I'm supporting Matt Rosendale is not because he is a Republican," Paul said, "but because I think he will stand up for balancing the budget and only spending what comes in, and I think he has the guts to stand up to either party. Please sent Matt up there to help." Havre Daily News/Colin Thompson Havre Daily News/Colin Thompson Republican Montana Auditor Matt Rosendale talks in the Duck Inn in Havre during a Get Out the Voter Rally. Paul said in an interview after the event that he has not endorsed many other Republican candidates nationwide but has selected a few he believes can make a positive impact in the U.S. Congress. Rosendale, he said, is one of the few candidates he endorses and he was glad to come to Havre and show his support. Rosendale said that, in the past, he has served Montana, protecting Montanans' rights as he has promised during his past campaigns for other elected offices in the state. He added that he plans to take that same attitude with him if elected, to the U.S. Senate. "I've come before you and I said I will serve the way that I campaign, and you sent me to Helena," Rosendale said. "You asked me to reduce spending and to reduce regulations and to protect your property rights and your gun rights and the sanctity of life and I did those things and if you send me to Washington, I will do those things for you there as well." "Make sure everybody turns out, because this election will be close," Rosendale said. Watch for more in Monday and Tuesday's editions of the Havre Daily News. Vicosa, Bynum, two children dead in apparent murder-suicide Four dead in apparent murder-suicide near Ringgold include former Baltimore County Police officer, suspended officer and two children Madhya Pradesh chief minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan addressed the states youth through a video conference on Sunday. In his 75-minute speech, which was shown across the states 230 assembly constituencies, Chouhan, highlighted his governments youth-centric schemes and his governments initiative to address the issue of unemployment. We will provide jobs to 7.5 lakh youth in the coming year and 10 lakh jobs in next year. Not only this, we will monitor it to ensure if the youth are satisfied with their jobs, said Chouhan during the during a Yuva town hall event. Emphasising on self-reliance, Chouhan said besides providing employment, the government will also promote innovations by investing in start-ups. We will set up a separate fund of Rs 100 crore to provide funds to start-ups, the CM said. Criticising the Congress, the CM said, the BJP had changed the face of the state in the past 15 years since it came to power in the state. The state had poor roads while there was hardly any power supply and infrastructure when BJP came to power in 2003. But in the past 15 years, we have changed MP, the BJP leader said. Reacting to Chouhans speech, state Congress spokesperson Bhupendra Gupta said, BJP is misusing the government machinery. They brought school students in uniform to increase the crowd. We will lodge a complaint against it. CM is exposed now. No youngster believes him. Congress president Rahul Gandhi would arrive in Madhya Pradeshs Malwa-Nimad region on Monday for two-day election campaign as the party hopes to make inroads into the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)s bastion for over a decade. Six farmers were killed in police firing and lathi charge in the region on June 6 last year during a farmers agitation for higher prices for their produce. The Congress hopes to make the most of the resentment and anger among the regions farmers. The region accounts for the states 66 out of the total 230 assembly seats. They include 22 seats reserved for scheduled tribes (STs) and 9 for scheduled castes (SCs). The BJP had swept the region in 2013 winning 56 assembly seats. The Congress had managed just nine while the remaining seat went to an independent candidate. The BJP won the regions 84% seats including 17 reserved for STs and 9 for SCs. Two Congress leaders, who spoke on the condition of anonymity, said the Congress has a favourable situation in the region after the agitation but has to strive hard to convert the resentment in the region into votes. One of them said there was a strong wave in the BJPs favour in 2013 because of chief minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan and then prime ministerial candidate Narendra Modi. He said the people are now disillusioned with the state government and there was no Modi wave anymore. This happens to be the most favourable time for the party in the elections. The second leader said their downfall began in the 2003 assembly elections with the disenchantment of STs with the then Congress government. Though Congress had won as many as 12 seats from this region in 2003 out of its total 38 seats in the state, it could only win two ST seats. Later, in 2008, the party made a comeback and won 24 seats in the region including 11 seats reserved for STs and 4 for SCs. But BJP managed to win 41 seats in the region including 11 ST seats and 5 SC seats. State Congress media in-charge Shobha Oza said the Congresss prospects would increase not only in this region but the entire state to form its government after Gandhis visit. The BJP government has betrayed every section of society in the past 15 years. State BJP spokesman Rajneesh Agrawal said their government has worked tirelessly for the regions development. Recently, he (Chouhan) announced an expressway between Indore and Bhopal which will have industrial corridors along the way. Several schemes were launched for farmers, tribals, and others. That is why they have stood by the BJP for the past 15 years. Political analyst Yogesh Rathore said the parties will have to address grievances and aspirations with a holistic approach if they wish to win the confidence of the regions people. For instance, the Narmada River is the regions lifeline. Actor Arjun Rampals mother has died after a long fight against cancer. Several film celebrities paid their last respects to Gwen Rampal at her funeral in Mumbai on Sunday evening. Arjun performed the last rites for his mother and found support in his friends and colleagues from Bollywood. His co-star from Paltan, Harshwardhan Rane arrived to bid a final goodbye to Gwen. Ranes girlfriend and actor Kim Sharma also accompanied him to the funeral. Arjuns rumored girlfriend Gabriella Demetriades and his daughters Mahikaa and Myra were also seen at their grandmothers funeral. Arjuns ex wife Mehr Jessia was also spotted. Here are a few pictures from the funeral: Arjun had shared a video on Twitter a few months ago detailing his mothers fight against breast cancer. In the video he said, Cancer is becoming more and more epidemic these days. My mother underwent a treatment for it and was cured. But 10 months later, cancer metastasized into her lungs and then with the help of my friend, we went to Champali Maud Foundation research centre in Lisbon. The actor ended the video on an emotional note as his mother spoke about her experience while announcing that she is now all hale and hearty. Follow @htshowbiz for more The Delhi government has issued a legal notice to the director, producers and actors of the just released Hindi movie Badhaai Ho seeking removal of smoking scenes and promotion of tobacco products, an official said on Sunday. S.K. Arora, Additional Director (Public Health) and State Tobacco Control Officer, said there were a number of scenes in Badhaai Ho where the characters can be seen smoking. Tobacco brand promotion was also shown. This, he said, violated Section 5 of Cigarettes and Other Tobacco Products (Prohibition of Advertisement and Regulation of Trade and Commerce, Production, Supply and Distribution) Act, 2003 (COTPA). There are repeated scenes of smoking and of a tobacco shop. There are scenes displaying brands of tobacco products. The brand promotion of tobacco products -- direct and indirect -- are banned under section 5 of COTPA. Our legal notice is based on these things, Arora told IANS. The legal notice to the director, producers and actors of Badhaai Ho has been issued because there has been promotion of a tobacco brand as well as surrogate advertisement repeatedly. We demand the immediate removal of these scenes from the film, he added. It is not the first time the Delhi Health Department has urged Bollywood to axe scenes. We wrote to Bollywood a number of times regarding this. Bollywood stars and films are role models for youngsters. The youngsters follow their habits and copy it blindly. Bollywood should decide to think on moral grounds and should feel responsible for the people. The script can always be changed for the interest of the public, he added. In the past, the Department had issued notices to Ajay Devgn, Akshay Kumar and Akshaye Khanna among others. Akshay Kumar, on one hand, advertises for health awareness campaigns and in Gold movie, he was seen smoking repeatedly. These things can be avoided. The script can be changed, Arora added. The Act also prohibits the selling of videotapes containing the advertisement of cigarettes or any other tobacco products. No person shall take part in any advertisement which directly or indirectly suggests or promotes the use or consumption of cigarettes or any other tobacco products. Amit Sharmas Badhai Ho, starring Ayushmann Khurrana, released on October 18. Follow @htshowbiz for more Anil Kapoors wife Sunita Kapoor hosted the Karwa Chauth celebrations at her residence like every year on Saturday but the family and friends missed the presence of Sridevi, who died earlier this year. The actor was a part of the Kapoor familys Karwa Chauth celebrations every year along with other Bollywood leading ladies and star wives. As Sunita celebrated the festival with their close-knit friends including Raveena Tandon, Neelam Kothari, Kaykasshan Patel, Varun Dhawans mother Lali Dhawan, film producer Renu Ravi Chopra and others, she shared a post remembering Sridevi, Karva Chauth.. Miss you so much Sri. Sanjay Kapoors wife Maheeps Instagram photo also bears the same caption. Sridevis fans also left comments remembering her on the photos. Many remembered her rather distinctive looks during the last few Karwa Chauths and pictures with husband Boney Kapoor. Miss you Srideviji, read many a comment. Sridevi passed away in February this year after accidently drowning in the bathtub. She was cremated with state honours in India. The veteran actor was also honoured at the Oscars and won a posthumous National Award for her film Mom. A 12-year-old student at a government school in south Delhi attacked his teacher with an iron rod on Saturday morning. The teacher, who sustained injuries to his face, is under treatment and out of danger, police said. Police have booked a case under section 308 of the Indian Penal Code for attempt to culpable homicide against the child and efforts to apprehend him are underway, officials said. Delhi Police said the incident took place when a teacher found a metal rod in the Class 8 students bag. The teacher was threatening to inform the boys parents, police said. Police said a PCR call was received at Saket police station at 9.35am reporting that a student of a government school in the area had grievously injured his teacher. A team was rushed to the spot and it was found that the student was scolded by the teacher who had found a foot-and-a-half-long rod in the boys bag. Other teachers and students said that the teacher scolded the student for keeping the metal rod in his bag and also complained to his uncle over the phone, said deputy commissioner of police (south) Vijay Kumar. DCP Kumar said the teacher confiscated the metal rod and kept it on his table. The boy picked up the rod from the table and tried to take it back. When the teacher saw this, he tried to take it back from the student. The boy then attacked the teacher on the face and head causing injuries above the mans right eye, ear and head, the DCP said. Eyewitnesses at the school told police that after hitting the teacher, the student fled from the class and scaled the schools boundary wall, an official familiar with the matter said. The teacher was rushed to AIIMS trauma centre and is under treatment. The student was irregular and the teacher had on Saturday asked the boy the reason behind his irregular attendance. That is when he hit the teacher, a senior official from the school said. The Government Schools Teachers Association, meanwhile, said it will hold a mahapanchayat soon to discuss issues related to teachers security. Several such instances have happened in the recent past when government school teachers were attacked by either students or their kin. The government is doing nothing to ensure safety and security of teachers. We will soon hold mahapanchayat to discuss future course of action, said Ajay Veer Singh, general secretary of the association. At a time when Delhis air has already been plummeting, thousands of Delhi Transport Corporations (DTC) fleet of over 3,300 buses may be forced off citys roads if the non-permanent drivers and conductors decide to go on strike on Monday. Experts said the step that may cripple the already dwindling public network in the city. The DTC is grappling with an internal crisis as its 11,286 contractual drivers and conductors have been refusing to work for want of better wages. The DTC workers outcry grew on Saturday as the Delhi government imposed the Essential Services Maintenance Act (ESMA) on DTC to deter them from staging their planned mass strike on Monday. Under ESMA provisions, authorities can arrest workers of essential services if they go on a strike. Reacting to the move, the contractual staffs who have been protesting at the Indraprastha (IP) depot said on Saturday that they would still hold the strike on October 29. Currently, the DTCs total staff of nearly 25,000 consists of 11,380 contractual workers. These contractual workers have been sitting in protest since October 22 against the governments move of slashing salaries by nearly 25%. No one from the government or DTC has come to discuss the matter with us till now. Imposing ESMA only means the government does not want any dialogue, said Raja Ram Tyagi, advisor, DTC workers union. The Aam Aadmi Partys (AAP) had promised us during the elections that they would regularise contractual workers. But, nothing has happened till now, he said. According to the contractual drivers, until two months ago they were being paid Rs 7.10 per kilometre, which now has come down to Rs 5.5 per km. In case of break-down of a bus, we used to get Rs 648 per day which has been cut to Rs 481 per day. This is not withstanding the biasness we have to face as against the permanent drivers and conductors, said Naveen Kumar, a DTC driver who operates from the Sarojini Nagar depot. Rajesh Chopra, another driver, says he has to take a 4:25 am local train from Panipat to reach north Delhis Banda Bahadur Marg (BBM) depot. Even as he reaches the depot by 6am, it is not guaranteed that he get duty for the day. If say 100 drivers are needed in a day, DTC calls 120 drivers on duty to fill in for anyone who is absent. There are days when I come to the depot, but do not get a bus to drive. In such cases, they do not count the fact that I reported at work. I wont get paid for that day, he said. Ankit Shrivastava, a conductor, said they dont get paid by the hour if their bus route takes more than eight hours. There are routes such as 181, 544 and 592 in which we return in 10 hours or so, for which there is no extra pay. Delhis traffic is such, that by following our DTC rules of speed and driver behaviour, we simply cannot reach on time, he said. In a statement on Saturday, DTC said it has directed all its employees to report to work, failing which strict action would be initiated. Earlier this week, it had suspended eight protesting workers. On October 18, the Delhi government already approved restoring the old minimum wage slabs for contractual workers directly under it. The order is yet to reach the DTC. But, whenever it does, the matter will be resolved as the increased wages will come into effect. These slabs were shot down by the Delhi High Court on August 4. The AAP government was the first one to notify the hiked salaries, a government spokesperson said. A Delhi-based NGO has recently written to the National Highway Authority of India (NHAI) and to Haryana chief minister Manohar Lal Khattar demanding an explanation for the proposal of two link roads that will cut across Aravali Biodiversity Park in Gurugram. They should treat my letter as a legal notice. I will be filing a petition before NGT very soon, said Anil Sood, the president of the NGO, Chetna. There is no need for so many link roads. They just need to correct the design errors NHAI has committed in the past. The Aravali Biodiversity Park and trees on Dwarka expressway both need to be protected. How can they be felled to build roads? Media reports say both NHAI and Gurgaon Metropolitan Development Authority (GMDA) are proposing roads through the Aravali Biodiversity park, the letter from Chetna says. GMDA is proposing to undertake widening of Dwarka Expressway by constructing underpass and elevated roads to decongest Delhi. At the outset, it appears that the whole exercise lacks application of mind by both the authorities without even assessing the basic reasons (that are) leading to traffic congestion, the letter says. Sood points out that a person travelling from Subroto Park towards Gurugram runs into an abrupt merger and de-merger of roads to access and exit the service lane. As one moves further along, hotels and shops have encroached upon the service lane for parking vehicles. Sood gives several instances of bottlenecks and design flaws on the highway before and after the Mahipalpur flyover and the Rajokri exit as well. Other environmentalists have also started mobilising residents to campaign for cancellation of the NHAI proposal. Pankaj Gupta, a birder who has been visiting the Aravali Biodiversity Park, said: We are planning a meeting on Sunday with morning walkers, residents, cyclists, birders and joggers to demand scrapping of the road project. It is absolutely mindless to create a rich forest on a mining ravaged land and then destroy it by building a road over it. This area is a green lung. It also hosts more than 183 species of birds. We recorded Savanna Nightjar breeding here, which is very rare. Vijay Dhasmana, a naturalist who set up a nursery of local plant and shrub species of the park, said the public meeting on Sunday morning at the park will help decide on how to go ahead with the campaign. We are contemplating whether to take the legal route first. We will meet GMDA, CM, NHAI also on this, he said. The two proposed link roads are from Ambience Mall to Aya Nagar on Gurgaon-Mehrauli road (NH 236) and another from Vasant Kunj to Aya Nagar on Gurgaon-Mehrauli road. Both the roads are part of a plan to decongest Delhi, especially of highway traffic. The police on Saturday recovered five body parts near a canal in Ludhiana, suspected to be of a flour-mill owner, who was allegedly killed by a DLF 2 resident on October 14, but are yet to find his head. The victim, Jaskaran Singh, 51, was allegedly killed by a Gurugram DLF-2 resident on October 14, the police said, adding that a DNA test will be conducted on Monday. The weapon used in the murder is yet to be found. The police have also identified the man who allegedly helped 76-year-old Harnek Singh Dhillon kill the victim and chop his body. Teams are conducting raids to arrest him. Karan Goyal, assistant commissioner of police (DLF), said three police teams had left for Punjab on Friday. They collaborated with the local police there to find the body near Doraha Canal to which they were led by Dhillon. We have recovered five body parts in a polythene near the canal. The head is still missing. We have hired divers to search the canal. Dhillon has been changing statements so it was difficult for us to identify the place, said Goyal. According to the police, Dhillon had earlier told them that he had disposed of the body in a stream in Nabha in Patiala. When the teams reached there, he changed his statement and claimed he had disposed of the body in Doraha canal in Ludhiana, the police maintained. A forensic team has lifted blood samples from Dhillons car as well, the police said. Family members of the deceased were informed by the police and will be called on Sunday to identify the body. We are in shock. We are waiting for the police to return, said a relative. Dhillon, who allegedly confessed to killing Singh, had planned the murder and called Singh to his house on October 14 on the pretext of returning his money, the police said. Dhillon allegedly attacked the victim with a sword that he had got sharpened two days prior to the murder. Bahujan Samaj Party president Mayawati on Sunday urged the Supreme Court to take cognisance of BJP chief Amit Shahs comment that the courts cannot give orders that cannot be followed. She was referring to Shahs comment on the Sabarimala imbroglio in Kerala on Saturday. BJP Chief Amit Shahs statement that Supreme Court cant give orders that cant be followed (on #Sabarimala issue) is condemnable. The Supreme Court must take congnisance of his statement, ANI quoted Mayawati as saying. Shah, who was in Kannur on Saturday, had come out came out in support of Ayyappa devotees, who have been protesting against the state governments decision to implement the Supreme Court verdict allowing entry of women of menstrual age into the Sabarimala temple. Listing court verdicts which have not been implemented, including on Jallikattu (traditional bull taming sport of Tamil Nadu) and prohibiting loudspeakers in mosques, Shah said impractical directions should not be given by courts and they should pass orders that can be implemented. Meanwhile, the BJPs Kerala unit chief PS Sreedharan Pillai announced the partys protest programme against the arrest of Sabarimala devotees who defied the Supreme Court order. Over 4,000 innocent people were illegally arrested/detained. So BJP will observe a one-day fast in front of the DGPs office in Trivandrum and March to the SPs office in other districts on Oct 30. From November 8 onwards, there will be six-day Rath Yatra from Kasargod to Sabarimala, he told ANI. He claimed that leaders of the ruling CPI (M) are atheists and have decided to destroy Sabarimala. DMK president MK Stalin on Saturday led a chorus of opposition political parties in Tamil Nadu voicing concern at the overnight mysterious changes in Sri Lanka with former president Mahinda Rajapaksas swearing-in as the Prime Minister which they claimed poses a major threat to Tamils in the island who had been subjugated. They also said that New Delhi should keep an eye on the developments in the southern neighbourhood in view of Rajapaksas proximity to the Chinese. Stalin claimed that the unprecedented development in the neighbouring country has sent shockwaves through lakhs of minority ethnic Tamils still fighting for legitimate rights in Sri Lanka. In 2009, Rajapaksa as Sri Lankan president had authorised a massive military operation that eliminated the Tamil rebel group LTTE but also raised serious questions about human rights abuse by Lankan soldiers against Tamil civilians in the countrys north and northeast. Rajapaksa has denied rights abuse under his watch. At this juncture, Rajapaksa, facing international criticism for his handling of the civil war is back in the saddle as PM. The Indian Government should carefully watch these mysterious developments and ensure the security of lakhs of native Tamils in Sri Lanka as well as the Tamil Nadu fishermen who are often at the receiving end of the SL Navy, Stalin said in a statement. He also suspected Chinas hand in the Rajapaksas return from political oblivion. MDMK general secretary Vaiko also said Rajapaksas return to power is a big threat to the Tamils in Sri Lanka. During his tenure as president, lakhs of Tamils were massacred during the civil war. Sri Lankan President Sirisena who pretended to an associate of Tamils has showed his true colours, he said in a statement. Vaiko also said that China has been successful in resurrecting Rajapaksa. For Pattali Makkal Katchi founder S Ramadoss, the elevation of Rajapaksa as Sri Lankan PM is a dangerous development for India. Rajapaksas entry into the government is a big threat for India. For this, we have to blame only our vulnerable external affairs strategies, he said in a statement to the media. Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi leader Thol Thirumavalavan also faulted the Centres Sri Lankan policy and said this is a wakeup call for New Delhi as Rajapaksa has been very close to China in the past, disregarding Indian interests in the region. G Madhavan Nair, former chairman of the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) Chief joined Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in the presence of party president Amit Shah in Thiruvananthapuram on Saturday. Nair (74) who headed ISRO from 2003 to 2009 is best known for implementing Indias first mission to the moon Chandrayan 1, launched in October 2008. As ISRO chairman he also directed 25 successful missions including INSAT, Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV) and Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle (GSLV). Nair who has been a BJP follower for some time, is one of the accused in Antrix-Devas deal which allegedly caused a loss of Rs 578 crore to the exchequer. He was granted bail by a Delhi court in February. The case which the CBI is investigating, relates to leasing of S-Band, a restricted wavelength of the INSAT satellites to deliver video, multimedia and information services to mobile receivers in vehicles and mobile phones to Devas Multimedia by Antrix. Four others including former Travancore Devaswom Board (TDB) president and former Congressman G Raman Nair, former womens commission member Dr Prameela Devi, JD (S) district vice president of Karnakulam, Divakaran Nair and Thomas John from the Malankara Church. Raman Nair had been suspended by the Congress for attending a protest called by the BJP against Supreme Court verdict on allowing women of all age entry into the Sabarimala temple. The BJP which has very little presence in Kerala is trying hard to gain a foothold in Indias only left-ruled state. Shah was in Kerala on Saturday to inaugurate the BJPs party office in Kannur. Unidentified gunmen abducted a man who owns a house in Kulgam district, where seven civilians died in a blast after three militants were killed during a gunfight with security forces a few days ago, police said on Sunday. Sheeraz Ahmad Bhat, a resident of Laroo village in south Kashmir district, was abducted on Saturday evening, they said. Police said they have launched a manhunt to trace the abducted house owner. Even as the ongoing strike by Haryana Roadways employees entered the 12th day, the state government claimed that movement of buses is improving with every passing day. On Saturday, more than 3,500 buses plied across state, including around 2,405 buses of roadways, 1,059 of cooperative societies and 120 private buses. Around 4,100 roadways buses run state roads on a normal day. Stating that the Haryana government on Saturday suspended as many as 138 striking employees, mainly drivers and conductors, under the Essential Services Maintenance Act (Esma), additional chief secretary (transport) Dhanpat Singh said it had already terminated 200 striking employees who had been hired through outsourced agencies and 47 others who were still on probation and yet went on strike. Even as Esma is in force, roadways employees are on strike since October 16 in protest against the governments move to induct 700 private buses, which they allege is a step towards privatisation of the department and would benefit a chosen few. On the other hand, the government refutes the allegations saying the move is in favour of employees, people and the government. The employees have, however, extended their strike till October 29. Even as the government held talks with the roadways employees leaders twice in the past few days, the negotiations failed with both leaders and government sticking to their respective stands. As the government began action against striking employees who have extended their strike till October 29, the umbrella body of over 42 unions - Haryana Sarvkarmchari Sangh - backed their stir and even went on mass causal leave on Friday. Sangh general secretary Subhash Lamba said they would hold a meeting on Sunday to decide their next course of action. 16 striking drivers fired Thousands of commuters continue to suffer due to indefinite strike of Haryana Roadways employees. However, the Haryana government has terminated the services of 16 striking drivers, who were on probation period. With weekend in sight, the government on Saturday once again roped in buses of private schools to compensate for the roadways buses that were not plying due to roadways employees strike. The authorities said school managements wee requested to allot their buses as they would be free during fourth Saturday and Sunday. At many places, police officials were asked to drive the Haryana Roadways buses, even though a large number of commuters could be seen struggling to get buses or get into them. Commuters suffered the most during the past 12 days in Hisar, Fatehabad and Sirsa. Prakash Singh, a banker, said the passengers faced several problems ranging from delay in reaching their respective workplaces to travelling in crowded buses or rashly driven vehicles. If Nirmala Sitharamans job as defence minister gave her the opportunity to go on a sortie in a Sukhoi fighter jet, it also took away the joy of going down south to make pickle. As BJP spokesperson, she had walked up to the then party Chief Nitin Gadkari and sought permission to go home. When she told him it was to make pickle, his jaw dropped: kya Nirmala jee, achar ke liye (what Nirmala ji, to make pickle), he had then said. She actually took time to explain to him how important the ritual was to her family and she, for the life of her, would not give it a go-by. Nirmala married into a family where pickles are serious business. Like many families in Andhra Pradesh, her in-laws too followed the tradition of sending pickle to their daughters married home. The maika ka achaar, pickle from the parents home, being a big thing back home. Like a good daughter-in-law, Nirmala diligently worked on the pickle and packed off generous amounts to her sister-in-laws home. Of pickles and politics Had a friend not offered to pitch in, Nirmala would have probably walked up to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and sought pickle-leave. A friend is filling in for me to make the pickle so this time I will be in Delhi, she says. But this does not mean that she will give up on making pickle. The plan is to make it on a weekend and in lesser quantities than she normally does. This time around she has settled for pilla avvakai, or the pickle made from smaller, baby mangoes. Sometimes you handpick the kachcha, raw, ones and make pickle which is what I did this year. Since there is a combination of Tamil and Telugu in me, I often do pickle the way Tamilians do because I do not want the habit to go out of me, Nirmala says, while sipping tea - the way South Indians do coffee - from a stainless steel tumbler and dabarah or davara, the traditional container to cool the coffee. Her guests meanwhile are served in fine china. The tumbler has often surprised foreign visitors, even one from Kazakhstan, who wondered why she is not sharing what she herself is drinking. But even for the sake of protocol, Nirmala has not given up the tumbler. Like on many other things, even on this she has stood on her own. Nirmala Sitharamans home in Delhi is perhaps among the few to grow betel leaf and turmeric which comes handy during festivals. (Burhaan Kinu/HT PHOTO) During Ganesh Chaturthi, if you serve modak (sweetmeat) rolled in haldi leaf it has a distinctive aroma, she explains sitting on the jhoola, an heirloom from her mothers side of the family. Its brass may have lost its shine, but the workmanship is exemplary. From a sales girl to Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman has also travelled quite a distance from being a salesgirl in a home-store in London to being at the helm in India. She has excelled in both. As salesgirl, she even won a bottle of champagne for registering the highest sales during Christmas. When she and her husband took a conscious decision to return to India because they wanted their child to be born on Indian soil, politics was not on the radar. She had chucked up her big break job with PricewaterhouseCoopers to return to India, just like she had ditched her Ph.D. to marry Prabhakar Parakala, whom she had met during her JNU days. Also, like her mother, she stuck to her maiden name and preferred Sitharaman to Parakala. On being compared to Indira Gandhi But then many things in Nirmalas life have happened without a plan. From joining politics, to rising to the enviable position of Defence Minister and her name mentioned alongside Indira Gandhis. Whether Nirmala takes pride in that is debatable but the fact remains that she is the second woman after Indira Gandhi to hold the Defence portfolio. Nirmala Sitharaman during a photo shoot at her residence in Safdarjung, New Delhi. (Burhaan Kinu/HT Photo) Like Indira Gandhi, Nirmala has a tough exterior but encased within is a heart that beats and often bleeds. The death of her mother took away much from her. It was very painful to see her strugglingat one point she did not even know who I was. That almost killed me, she says. It was then that she became a recluse, shutting out the world and stepping out only when absolutely necessary. This may have also been the time that she lost her smile too. However, Nirmalas interactions with soldiers has somewhat restored the smile, even as she hops from border to border or spends a night mid-sea, or travels to Sir Creek, thoroughly enjoying being Defence Minister every bit. Conquering the skies Even while India rejoiced at a woman being sworn in as Defence Minister, Nirmala Sitharamans wow moment came much later. It was when she was conquering the skies onboard the Sukhoi. When she had said yeah I will do it she did not know what she was in for. At that point in time she did not even know the difference between a mirage fighter jet and a Sukhoi. It was not till she was told the dangers, that she developed cold feet. When I was cautioned about the speed and the fact that the blood flow could stop and not reach the brain, I stopped short and asked myself whether I was doing the right thing. It was then that fear replaced the initial excitement but once up in the air, she did not need anyone to hold her hand. The height tells you that it is a different horse that you are riding, adds Sitharaman. At the end of a 44-minute flight, Nirmala was a different person. More than the thrill, the feeling of having actually done it, was a proud moment for me, she says. But her real moment came when a group of kids spontaneously saluted her during one of her visits to her home state. It was being recognized for doing something completely different. Women from unexpected quarters have written in to tell me that they feel empowered because the Defence minister is a woman, she adds. Working with the men in uniform Nirmala Sitharamans life may have been full of challenges but being the lone woman at the head of the oval table amid stiff lipped officers in uniform with a chest full of medals is quite another thing. Even while saying that it was not inhibiting, Sitharaman had to break the ice more than once. When she said she wanted a daily briefing from all the service chiefs, it was seen as an overreach. When she decided to bridge the gap between the uniform and the civilian segments in the Ministry, she was seen as over-ambitious. And when she said that she wanted the Defence Acquisition Council to meet twice a month, many threw up their hands in desperation. But Nirmala being Nirmala did not give in. I told them that they could slam me or blame me, but give me the benefit of trying to set things in order, she says. At the outset, Nirmala did not come across as a Ms. know-all but to quote her, I put my ignorance on the table. The move worked to her advantage. They felt that here was a person who was willing to learn, but at the same time was not ready to give in. The combination helped and I was taken seriously from day one. That is not at all surprising because tough as she comes across to most, Nirmala Sitharaman does not allow anyone to take liberties with her. She never has. Hit by allegations relating to the Rafale aircraft deal, the BJP government seems to be facing its Bofors moment. Sitharaman dismisses the comparison. Where are the middlemen here? Where is a Quattrocchi kind of figure? Bofors is Bofors while Rafale is a government to government agreement done in national interest and keeping in mind the operational preparedness of the Air Force. I dont know what the Congress is looking for but they sure are not going to have the luck they want to. They are making allegations without any homework and this, to say the least, is highly irresponsible, says Sitharaman. Mere drop on a lotus leaf Despite her elevated stature, Nirmala believes that destiny has a major role in shaping up her life. Without providential help I cannot be where I am today. There is someone above who is working things out. It is in this context that Nirmala has described herself as a mere drop on a lotus leaf more than once. This has also helped her being detached from things she once loved. The school for the underprivileged, for instance, that she once started or her family with who she remains connected more through photographs thanks to a grueling schedule. Today I can drive past that institution without even turning my head to see it. And yes, I miss my family but remain connected through pictures. Sitharaman attributes this sense and strength of detachment to being a Krishna devotee in a Ram-obsessed party that the BJP is. There is no contradiction at all, she says as she speaks of weaving Krishnas philosophy into the crucial portfolio she has been entrusted with. I draw inspiration from Krishna who did not think war was untouchable and that it is ones dharma to fight when necessary, she says. Whether there are any lessons in this for the armed forces is difficult to say. But Sitharaman has her tasks cut out. This, despite the fact that when she set foot in the Defence Ministry, she did it defying the Pitra-paksh (an inauspicious time astrologically). But so far, the going has been good. Over 3,345 protesters who prevented women from entering the Sabarimala temple have been arrested while 517 cases have been registered at various police stations across Kerala, authorities said on Sunday. On Sunday morning, Sabarimala tantri family member and activist Rahul Easwar was arrested in Kochi, taking the total number of arrests since October 26 to 3,346. He was arrested after the police received a complaint stating that he had made provocative remarks over the issue at a press conference in Kochi last week. Meanwhile in the last 12 hours, over 500 arrests was recorded at police stations in Pathanamthitta district -- where the Lord Ayyappa shrine is located -- as well as Thiruvananthapuram, Kozhikode and Ernakulam. So far only 122 are in remand, while others have been released on bail, according to the police. However, Kerala Police chief Loknath Behra has directed that no arrest should be made of those people who protested by taking part in singing hymns and prayers. These arrests have been made for defying the September 28 Supreme Court order that overturned a ban on women of menstrual age (10-50 years) from entering the hilltop temple where celibate deity Lord Ayyappa is worshipped. Defending the arrests, state Communist Party of India - Marxist (CPI-M) secretary Kodiyeri Balakrishnan on Sunday told the media that this was normal police action when the rule of law is breached. During the previous Congress-led UDF rule, over four lakh cases were registered against our workers. Is it not natural for the police to act when rules are broken? asked Balakrishnan. On October 17, the temple opened for the five-day monthly puja. However, the protesters ensured that no women in the barred age group could enter sanctum sanctorum until October 22 when the gates closed. (This story has been published from a wire agency feed without modifications to the text. Only the headline has been changed.) PM Modi leaves for Tokyo PM Narendra Modi leaves for Tokyo by Express Train Kaiji with Japanese PM Shinzo Abe from Yamanashi, reports ANI. #WATCH: Prime Minister Narendra Modi leaves for Tokyo by Express Train Kaiji with Japanese PM Shinzo Abe from Yamanashi. #Japan pic.twitter.com/tLqcs0464n ANI (@ANI) October 28, 2018 PM Modi learns to eat using chopsticks Extremely grateful to PM @AbeShinzo for the warm reception at his home. I am truly honoured by this gesture. PM Abe also taught me the Japanese way of eating food using chopsticks! pic.twitter.com/A4Gr27rPtd Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) October 28, 2018 PM Modi at Abes holiday home In a special gesture, Japan PM Shinzo Abe will host a private dinner for PM Modi at his holiday home in the Yamanashi prefecture, which is perhaps the first such reception to be extended to a foreign leader. Modi, Abe visit factory of industrial robot manufacturer PM Narendra Modi and his Japanese counterpart Shinzo Abe visit a factory of industrial robot manufacturer in Yamanashi Prefecture, west of Tokyo. Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Japan prime minister Shinzo Abe at Fanuc Corporation in Yamanashi Prefecture. ( ANI Photo/Twitter ) . PM Modi gifts handcrafted stone bowl, dhurries to Shinzo Abe Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday presented his Japanese counterpart Shinzo Abe two handcrafted stone bowls and dhurries made from rose quartz and yellow quartz stone sourced from Rajasthan. A Jodhpuri wooden chest from Rajasthan with traditional work was also presented, an official said. The gifts were specially crafted on the occasion of Modis visit to Japan for the two-day India-Japan annual summit. Prime Minister Narendra Modi presented his Japanese counterpart Shinzo Abe two handcrafted stone bowls and dhurries made from rose quartz and yellow quartz stone sourced from Rajasthan. ( PTI Photo ) Committed to support Make in India initiative: Abe We share a big win-win potential in all areas and Japan remains committed to supporting Indias economic growth and Prime Minister Modis Make in India initiative through high-speed rail, subways and other infrastructure, mobilising Japans world-leading technologies, said Shinzo Abe . PM Modi one of my most dependable friends: Abe Japanese Premier Shinzo Abe Sunday said Prime Minister Narendra Modi was one of his most dependable friends and together with the Indian leader, he would like to strengthen bilateral cooperation to realise a free and open Indo-Pacific. PM Modi, Shinzo Abe visit lakeside of Yamanaka PM Modi and Japanese PM Shinzo Abe at lakeside of Yamanaka. ( Shinzo Abe/Twitter ) No negatives, only opportunities in India-Japan ties: PM Modi The India-Japan partnership has been fundamentally transformed and it has been strengthened as a special strategic and global partnership, Modi told Kyodo News service as reported by news agency Associated Press. There are no negatives but only opportunities in this relationship which are waiting to be seized. 13th India-Japan Annual Summit to strengthen bilateral ties The two-day summit beginning today will seek to review the progress in ties and deepen strategic dimension of the bilateral relationship. Japanese PM Shinzo Abe receives PM Narendra Modi Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe received Prime Minister Narendra Modi at hotel Mount Fuji in Yamanashi, reports news agency ANI. #WATCH: Japan Prime Minister Shinzo Abe receives PM Narendra Modi at hotel Mount Fuji in Yamanashi pic.twitter.com/FoablhOqlc ANI (@ANI) October 28, 2018 Prime Minister Narendra Modi arrived in Tokyo Saturday to a warm welcome for his 5th Annual Summit with Japanese counterpart Shinzo Abe. The two-day summit beginning Sunday will seek to review the progress in ties and deepen strategic dimension of the bilateral relationship. During the summit, Modi will engage with Abe on a range of issues including defence and regional security. Abe will host Modi at his holiday home in the picturesque Yamanashi prefecture for a private dinner on Sunday following which both the leaders will travel to Tokyo by train. Landed in Tokyo. I am confident this visit will add new vigour to the strong friendship between India and Japan, Modi tweet on his arrival in Japan. PM Modi Saturday said his meeting with Shinzo Abe will add new vigour to the strong friendship between the two countries as he arrived in Tokyo to attend the 13th India-Japan annual summit. Japan is one of the few countries that India has this mechanism of annual summits, reflecting the extraordinary depth of our engagement, external affairs ministry spokesperson Raveesh Kumar tweeted. In a statement on Friday, before leaving for Japan, Modi described India and Japan as a winning combination and said the island nation was New Delhis most trusted partner in its economic and technological modernisation. Modi said it will be his 12th meeting with Abe since he first visited Japan as prime minister in September 2014. On Sunday afternoon, Prime Minister Modi will join his Japanese counterpart for an informal lunch at a hotel. The two leaders will then visit a company which is a leading manufacturer of factory automation. Besides bilateral issues, the two leaders are expected to deliberate on a range of regional and global issues including the situation in the Indo-Pacific region. It is said the prime ministers visit will reaffirm the traditional bonds of friendship between the two countries and strengthen their multi-faceted cooperation in diverse fields. India is also hoping to have some kind of synergy or integration between Modis Ayushman Bharat scheme, which is the largest medicare programme of its kind globally, and the Japanese programme which is called Asia Health and Wellbeing Initiative. Prime Minister in his statement said projects such as Mumbai-Ahmedabad High Speed Rail and Dedicated Freight Corridors reflected the high level and strength of our economic engagement. Japan is also at the forefront of engaging in our national initiatives, such as Make in India, Skill India, Digital India, Start Up India... Japanese investors have faith in Indias economic future, which is marked with myriad opportunities, Modi said. Modi will also address the Indian community function in Tokyo and will attend a series of business events and address the business forum. Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) national president Amit Shah on Sunday expressed confidence that his party would return to power for a second term in 2019 elections by securing more than 50% of votes, irrespective of the number of opposition parties ganging up against it in the name of Mahaghatbandhan (grand alliance). Addressing the concluding session of the BJYM national convention Yuva Adhiveshan at Secunderabad parade grounds, Shah said the so-called grand alliance was not going to make any impact on the BJP even if more and more parties join it. The reason is simple. They dont have any other agenda except bringing down the Narendra Modi government, while the BJP is going to polls on the plank of development and building a strong and secure nation. While Modi called for Make In India, the Congress and its allies want breaking India. The people will obviously choose the BJP, he said. The BJP chief pointed out that his party had won elections in 14 states since 2014 general elections, decimating the Congress party and its allies everywhere. Congress president Rahul Gandhi had to look at the countrys map using binoculars to search for the states where it is in power. And after 2019, he would need more powerful binoculars, he said. He took a dig at Gandhi, saying he was dreaming of becoming the Prime Minister of the country. Unfortunately, his own alliance partners Sharad Pawar, Akhilesh Yadav and Mamata Banerjee have refused to acknowledge his leadership. Entire country knows he is not a PM face, the BJP president said. Shah said the Congress president had no moral right to ask for the progress report of the four and a half years of Modi government. We are not accountable to Rahul, as his Congress party had neither done anything for the country nor the poor in the last seven decades. Stating that the transformation of the nation, which began in 2014, was going on at a rapid pace, Shah said the 2019 elections would be a big challenge for the BJP, as the countrys fate was going to be decided. I want thousands of Yuva Morcha activists to be battle ready and work day and night for the victory of the BJP with thumping majority.You should take the programmes of Modi government to every household in the country and should not rest till the day of counting, he asserted. The BJP president recalled that during the freedom movement, Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose called upon the youth to give him blood, so that he could get them freedom. Now, we are in independent India. There is no need to give any blood nor your lives. All that you need to do is to work relentlessly under the leadership of Modi and ensure that the BJP comes to power again, he said. When Reserve Bank of India (RBI) governor Urjit Patel appears before Parliaments standing committee on finance on November 12, it would be the third time that the central bank would be facing a House panel on the contentious issue of demonetisation. The meeting with Patel would also indicate that the standing committee has restarted discussions on the issue, months after it failed to produce a report amid speculation that its members had conflicting views . Prime Minister Narendra Modis bold decision to scrap high-value bank notes on November 8, 2016, and the subsequent push for cashless or digital transactions left the Indian polity divided even as the swift moves against corruption caused a drastic impact on the economy. The parliamentary panel, headed by senior Congress leader Veerappa Moily, picked the issue for debate and on January 18, 2017, the RBI first deposed before it. After six months, on July 12, the RBI brass again appeared before it. After our meetings with the RBI chief and other senior officials of the RBI, it had given us a report. Now, we have called RBI governor Urjit Patel to come and brief us on demonetisation and a legislative bill. Some members might also want to ask him questions, Moily told Hindustan Times, explaining the rationale behind setting up another meeting with RBI. At least two senior members added that the Reserve Bank of India brass meeting the standing committee for the third time was a rare occurrence, indicating the complex and contentious nature of the issue. The notice for the meeting says, Oral Evidence of the representatives of Reserve Bank of India on (i) Demonetisation of Indian currency notes of Rs 500 and Rs 1000 and ramifications thereof and (ii) The Banning of Unregulated Deposit Schemes Bill, 2018 and issues related thereto. A few months ago, a draft report on demonetisation could not be adopted as panel members belonging to the ruling side insisted that the report cannot contain any negative comments. Moily had confirmed that no report was put out but added that some members wanted more discussion on the subject. Bhartruhari Mahtab, a senior member of the panel, said, Two years after demonetisation, we are probably now in a much better place to study its impact and related issues. Many members are hopeful that a report may finally see the light of day. The last time the RBI governor faced the panel, he explained why ATMs had run out of cash in June and why enough steps were not taken to tackle banking frauds. Patel also listed the steps being taken to address the non-performing assets (NPA) issue. So far, different wings of the finance ministry, industry bodies, home ministry officials and other entities have deposed before the panel on demonetisation and the transformation towards a digital economy. DMK mouthpiece Murasoli on Sunday regretted an article published this week that was critical of Tamil actor Rajinikanth and had called the superstar a puppet in the hands of the BJP. As we came to know that the article has hurt a few good hearts and fans of superstar actor Rajinikanth, our editorial team was advised to avoid such pieces. We regret publishing the article against Rajinikanth, the statement read. This is the first time that the newspaper, started by party patriarch M Karunanidhi as a handwritten pamphlet in 1942, has expressed regrets for an article. Rajinikanth had announced his decision to take the political plunge on 31 December last year but hasnt kept pace with the other superstar, Kamal Haasan who has gone ahead to launch his political front. Rajinikanth, who had set the balling rolling to ask people to join his yet-to-be formed political party, had recently sent out a clear message to his supporters that he intended to set the bar high. He has axed more than 100 office-bearers of Rajini Makkal Mandram in recent weeks and underlined that his fans could not expect an upgrade into the political party just because they have been around for some time. It was this messaging that the DMK mouthpiece had targeted. Apart from calling Rajinikanth a puppet in the hands of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), it also painted him as a black sheep, out to destroy Dravidian ideals, along with communal forces. Even as the actor has not responded to the article, the DMK made its mouthpiece express its regret over the piece -- for the first time in its history. When Karunanidhi started the party organ in 1942, he never used to compromise on his articles. Even though the Emergency period, he used to write political satires criticising then PM Indira Gandhis decisions, political analyst and publisher Aazhi Senthilnathan told Hindustan Times. When Karunanidhi was in good health, he used to read all the pages of Murasoli and then sent it to print, he said. Meanwhile, I dont know whether (new party chief MK) Stalin had read the article about Rajini, before it was sent for printing. DMK should take it lightly. Since Rajini partially entered into politics, he should tolerate criticism. Since Karunanidhi started his career as a journalist, he wrote each and every article carefully. Even as he was criticising someone, he never changed his stand after receiving rejoinders, Senthilnathan added. He also pointed out that Murasoli has not written any regret statements despite facing several defamation suits from late CM J Jayalalithaa. Hindustan Times tried to contact DMK spokespersons for a comment but they did not respond to calls and messages. Amid this, senior Congress leader P Chidambaram, in an interview to a Tamil news channel, welcomed Rajinikanth to join the DMK-Congress alliance ahead of 2019 Lok Sabha polls. As many as 164 young men from Jammu and Kashmir have joined terror groups till October 26 this year, security agencies have told the Centre. The count is far higher than previous years and indicates that the approaching winter months could be even more troublesome than usual in the Valley this year. Worse, the numbers signing up for militancy could likely cross 200 before the year ends, the security agencies said. This years recruits would be swelling the ranks of 350-400 militants already operating in the Valley. In 2015, only 66 young men joined terror groups. The numbers rose slightly in 2016, with an estimated 88 picking up the gun. Last year, the count was estimated to be at least 120. The number of locals joining terror groups dropped to an insignificant 3 and 7, respectively, in February and March this year, but jumped all of a sudden in June, July and August, a senior official familiar with the matter said. In August alone, an estimated 25 young men joined terror groups like Lashkar-e-Toiba (LeT), Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) and Hizbul Mujahideen, the security agencies said. The count was similar in June and July, with 24 and 25 locals respectively joining the militant ranks. According to agencies, the Bahawalpur-based Jaish seems to have drawn the maximum number of recruits. Over 60 locals have joined the Jaish since January 2018. Most of the young men who have joined the militant ranks come from the restive districts of Anantnag, Shopian and Pulwama. As many as 50 of the 164 recruits this year are from Pulwama district alone. About 30 young men are from Shopian, the security agencies said. There are several reasons why more youths are joining terror groups. The debate over Article 35A, and the splintering of the alliance between the Peoples Democratic Party and the Bharatiya Janata Party contributed to the growing tension in the state, a senior official in the security establishment, who did not want to be named, said. Article 35A empowers the Jammu and Kashmir legislature to define permanent residents of the state and confer on them special rights and privileges, including the right to hold immovable property. In line with the swelling of the militant ranks, a good number of terrorists have been killed in operations by security forces this year. The count this year, till October 26, is 180. Last year, at least 210 terrorists were gunned down, security agencies said. Continuing border encounters show that Pakistan continues with its policy to bleed India. For the people in the Valley, a carefully crafted narrative of reconciliation needs to be developed, said Avinash Mohanani, former director general of police of Sikkim who headed the Kashmir Desk at the Intelligence Bureau for many years. To stem the deteriorating political situation in the state, the Centre had suspended counter terrorism operations during the month of Ramzan (mid-May to mid-June) this year. A dip in militant violence was reported initially, but the Centre was forced to call off the suspension after journalist Shujaat Bukhari was shot dead outside his office on June 14, the eve of Id-ul-Fitr. The Centre has, however, continued efforts to engage with the people despite reverting to an aggressive military posture on the ground. Even last week, Union home minister Rajnath Singh visited the valley. Sabarimala Temple supreme priests grandson, Rahul Easwar, was arrested on Sunday as the Kerala government continued its crackdown on protests against the Supreme Courts September 28 verdict allowing women in the menstruating age to enter the hilltop shrine in the states Pathanamthitta district. Hundreds of people have been arrested for defying the verdict that overturned the centuries-old practice of barring women in the 10-50 age group from the shrine since it is dedicated to the celibate deity, Lord Ayyappa. Easwar had last week been quoted as saying his Ayyappa Dharma Sena had a contingency plan for forcing the temples closure in view of the verdict. He had, at a press meet in Kochi, allegedly said the plan involved spilling blood in case the women in the 10-50 age group managed to enter the temple to force the shrines closure for at least three days for purification rites. Easwar was booked under the Indian Penal Codes sections 153 (provoking with the intent to cause riot) and 117 (abetting commission of an offence) even as he blamed the media for misquoting him. He was earlier arrested from the temples base camp Pambha for staging a dharna when the shrines doors were opened to implement the court verdict. Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)s state president P S Sreedharan Pillai condemned the arrest. The state governments action even shames the (state of) Emergency days (when civil liberties were curbed in the 1970s). Innocent people are getting arrested from their houses at odd hours. Police said at least 3,400 people have been arrested as part of the crackdown since October 26 while 517 cases have been registered across the state. At least 122 protesters have been sent in remand. The rest have been released on bail. Kerala police chief Loknath Behra directed his force against arresting those protesting by taking part in singing hymns and prayers after the Kerala high court pulled up the government over the mass arrests. The states ruling Communist Party of India (Marxist) or the CPI (M) state secretary Kodiyeri Balakrishnan defended the arrests, calling them normal police action when the rule of law is breached. The opposition Congress and the BJP have blamed the governments affidavit in the apex court for the verdict. The BJP, which is trying to make inroads into Kerala, has announced a Rath Yatra to Pathanamthitta from November 8 to 13 and said it will observe October 30 as save Sabarimala day to protest against the arrests. Amit Shah, the BJP chief who was in Kerala on Saturday, condemned the mass arrests and warned the state government his party would not remain a mute spectator if it continued the crackdown. He said the government of non-believers cannot suppress the devotees, with whom the BJP would stand like a rock. In Delhi, the CPI (M) accused Shahs of challenging the SC order and inciting his party men to defy the verdict. In doing so, he has exposed the real hand behind the violent protests against the womens entry in Sabarimala, the CPI (M) Politburo said in a statement. Theres been increasing confusing over the legality of delta-8, a cannabis derivative that can be found in vape cartridges, tinctures and candy at smoke shops and CBD stores in Texas. While the Texas health department maintains that delta-8 is a controlled substance and is on the states list of unlawful drugs, the 2018 federal Farm Bill legalized the production of hemp, which naturally contains delta-8 and has less than 0.3% THC. In 2019, Texas also legalized hemp growing. Delta-8 retailers believed the substance was as legal to sell as hemp. Delta-8 is legal in Texas for now after a Travis County judge blocked the state from criminalizing it. Should delta-8 continue to be legal in Texas? You voted: The stubble burning phenomenon in Haryana and Punjab is linked to three unlikely factors: the (relatively) large size of landholdings of farmers in these states; the (consequent), high level of mechanisation; and, only in Punjab, a water conservation law that shortens the harvest window, HTs reporting has shown. None of the three is usually listed among the reasons for stubble burning. Unlike the decreasing landholding size at an all-India level, the operational landholding size in Punjab has increased over the years. Data from the national agricultural census 2011 show that average land-holding size in Punjab has gone up from 2.89 hectares (7.1 acres) in 1970-71 to 3.77 ha (9.3 acres) in 2010-11, much higher than the national average of 1.5 hectares (3.7 acres). In Haryana, it is 2.25 hectares (5.5 acres). The next state in terms of magnitude of landholding is Arunachal Pradesh (3.5 hectares or 8.6 acres). These relatively large land-holdings mean farmers can afford to use machines, at least for some critical functions. Crop-residue burning has intensified over the past decade because of multiple reasons, said Manpreet Singh, a farm engineering specialist at Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana. The use of mechanized harvesters, which result in loose straw, is one of the key reasons, he said. Punjabs high farm mechanisation levels have now become counter-productive. According to a report by the Environmental Information System (ENVIS) Centre, Punjab, farm mechanisation in the state has reached its saturation point and therefore no more viable, both economically and environmentally. Citing data from the Punjab State Farmers Commission, the ENVIS Centre report states that Punjab has almost the double the number of tractors it actually requires, (16% of the total in India), going by the states net-sown area. Average annual use of tractors is only 450 hours, much below the minimum 1,000 hours of productive use in agricultural operations. This is leading to over capitalisation in farm mechanisation and under-utilisation due to decrease in farm size, the report says. The state also has seen a boom in sale of mechanised harvesters (see graphic). The harvesters are designed to shave off the grainy part of paddy, leaving loose straw in their wake. Farmers find it cheaper to clear the residue by burning. Hundreds of thousands of farmers in Haryana and Punjab, where much of the regions paddy is grown, set their rice fields on fire to clear left-over loose straw after harvesting paddy to make way for wheat. A 2009 water-conservation law in the state narrows down the paddy-sowing window to cut down on irrigation rounds. Consequentially, the window available for harvesting paddy is also limited to 15-20 days. This means over 2 million farmers all grow similar varieties of paddy and harvest them all at the same time, Singh said. The area under paddy has also steadily grown because it is by far the most profitable crop. The Punjab government has announced a US$1 million global fund to hunt for new technologies to tackle paddy-straw burning by farmers that triggers north Indias toxic winter smog, as officials said current measures arent fully capable of addressing the apocalyptic problem. To curb the practice, the Centre last year announced funds totaling 1151.80 crore ( 591.65 crore for 2018-19 and 560.15 crore for 2019-20) to subsidise the use of additional farm equipment, such as the straw management system or SMS. These smaller machines, which can be attached to mechanized harvesters, shred the residue, eliminating the need to burn them. The Punjab government has banned the burning of crop residue. The state has also made the use equipment, such as happy seeder and straw management system, mandatory with mechanized harvesters. In 2017, farmers were fined 65 lakh in all for burning crop residue. Yet, these measures have been only partially successful. According to Hiren Jethva, a scientist with NASAs Goddard Space Flight Centre, satellite data has shown 5893 observed crop-fire occurrences in Haryana and Punjab between October 1 and 22 this year. Last year, Punjab reported over 44,000 paddy-straw burning incidents, while 25,000 incidents were recorded in neighbouring Haryana. My view is that machine-based technologies cant fully address the issue. We need disruptive technologies. The US$ 1 million funding has been authorised by the Punjab government. We are the implementing agency, while testing will be done by the Punjab Agricultural University, said Ajay Vir Jakhar, the chairman of the Punjab State Farmers' and Farm Workers' Commission. Last year, large parts of north India were enveloped in extreme air pollution from the winter smog, forcing authorities in Delhi to shut schools, halt construction and shutter thermal plants. In Punjab, which reports far more fire incidents than Haryana, the government has authorized the use of eight farm equipment, including the so-called happy seeder, that are capable of clearing crop residue. Individual farmers can avail 50% subsidy to buy these machines, while farmer groups are eligible for up to 80% subsidy. These machines cost between 1.40 to 1.60 lakh. The tractor-mounted happy seeder can be used to sow wheat without the need to clear the straw left from the paddy harvests. The problem is farmers still prefer burning because of lack of awareness and cost issues. Total crackdown isnt possible because farmer lobbies are very powerful, said HS Sidhu, senior research engineer of the Ludhiana-based Borlaug Institute for South Asia. Sidhu was one of the developers of the happy seeder when he was employed with the Punjab Agriculture University. Jakhar, the chairman of the Punjab State Farmers' and Farm Workers' Commission, said the Netherlands Wageningen University, one of the worlds most advanced centres for agricultural reaearch, and a UK firm have applied for the paddy-straw challenge fund to come up with solutions. Even if farmers were willing to adopt subsidised machinery to eliminate the need for straw-burning, the total funds available arent enough to cover all paddy farmers, Sidhu said. A day after the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and Janata Dal (United) agreed to contest equal number of Lok Sabha seats in Bihar, the Congress raised its stake, demanding a 20-20 seat sharing formula with its Grand Alliance (GA) ally, Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD). Positioning itself as the lead player in the 2019 electoral battle with the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance, the Congress became the first in the GA camp to pitch for 20 seats, leaving the rest for the RJD. This will allow the Congress to accommodate other allies from its share. Confirming the demand, Congress working president Kaukab Quadri said the party was ready for a role reversal in the 2020 assembly elections. As of now, the Congress should be granted the choice of accommodating its existing and prospective partners (in case of crossover from NDA) from its quota of 20 seats, he said. As per the initial understanding, RJD was planning to contest 20-22 seats and wished to allocate the rest among its allies, with the Congress getting eight, Hindustani Awam Morcha (1-2) and the three Left parties, Loktantrik Janata Dal and Samajwadi Party one each. It also wanted to keep four seats in the reserved list in case Union minister Upendra Kushwaha-led Rashtriya Lok Samata Party switched sides. Though Quadri was quick to rule out the surprise element in the demand which he claimed was just a redo of the existing scheme of things, The Congress can never be a B-team in the crucial fight. If the Congress-led United Progressive Alliance (UPA) comes to power, All India Congress Committee (AICC) chief Rahul Gandhi will be the leader. We have demonstrated our ability to run an alliance government. It has more to do with perception and the scope for dispute is almost non-existent, he said. Going on to add that such a move would send out the correct signals, provide strength and be a nice gesture, he said, Our demand changes nothing. It only adds to our responsibility for sacrifice, in case winnability on a particular seat demanded it in favour of an ally over and above the number allocated for them. However, RJD legislator and party spokesman Bhai Birendra said there was no dispute on seat sharing in the GA and everything was finalised. We dont require to hold a press conference (like the NDA) to announce it. It will be in public domain after Chhath festival or latest by November end, Birendra said. Bihar Congress president Madan Mohan Jha also met thee AICC chief in New Delhi, who is learnt to have directed him to hold preliminary discussion with allies. The GA partners have so far desisted from airing open protest. But the question remains: whether it will remain that way even after seat sharing is finalised. A Pune sessions court on Saturday remanded activists Sudha Bharadwaj, Vernon Gonsalves and Arun Ferreira, accused of having Maoist links and a role in Bhima Koregaon clashes in January, in police custody till November 6. The three were produced in the court of Additional Sessions Judge K D Vadane early on Saturday. Public prosecutor Ujjwala Pawar told the court that the activists were involved in a larger conspiracy that could harm the security and integrity of the country. The defence countered, saying that the Pune police action was in contempt of the Supreme Court and that judicial custody could not be converted into police custody. Ferreira, Gonsalves and Bharadwaj were arrested by the Pune Police after the term for their Supreme Court-ordered house arrest ended on Friday. Subsequently, the Pune court had rejected their relief plea seeking more time to approach the Bombay high court, paving way for their immediate arrest. Advocate Siddhartha Patil, who represented Ferreira, said necessary material had been seized long ago and the police had two months to check and investigate the matter. Whatever has to be recovered has already been done and they had an ample opportunity to go through all the documents. Contempt should be proceeded against them since according to Supreme Court order of house arrest (arresting post midnight according to the defence) the process of law has not been followed, Patil court told. Pawar, meanwhile, told the court that both the accused were involved in recruiting cadres from universities and sending them to the forest area. There is a need to investigate further to find out the purpose for which they were recruited. The accused have received funds and have supplied it to the frontal organisations of the banned Communist Party of India (CPI-M). There is a need to investigate as to who are the persons from whom the funding has been received and where it is being utilized. Unlawful activities by all the accused include these two entails larger conspiracy harming security and integrity of the country, prosecution said. Advocate Rahul Deshmukh, who represented Gonsalves, argued that police custody could not be granted as the Supreme Court had sent the accused to judicial custody as per the judicial order. Police arrest of the accused amounts to contempt of court and is illegal. The accused cannot be arrested post midnight, he stated. She has cordial relations with Kashmiri leaders Arrested civil rights activist and lawyer Sudha Bharadwaj was on Saturday remanded to police custody till November 6 by a Pune sessions court on charges of links with Maoists and her alleged role in the Bhima Koregaon riots in Pune early this year. Bharadwaj who was flown to Pune from Delhi was brought to the court premises in tight police security. Both DCP ( Zone I ) Suhas Bawache and investigating officer ACP Shivaji Pawar were present during the court proceedings. Prosecution lawyer Ujjwala Pawar in her remand application before the court said various incriminating materials including electronic evidence was recovered from her possession and this had been sent for forensic examination. Pawar said that Bharadwaj was a member of the banned CPI (Maoist) party and had attended various meetings with underground comrades including a chief woman comrade. Bharadwaj was accused of working for recruitment of cadres for Maoists. Letters show that she played an important role in taking the students of JNU (Jawaharlal Nehru University) and TISS (Tata Institute of Social Sciences) to the forest area for training. There is one letter where she says that there is a need to establish the branch of IAPL (Indian Association of Peoples Lawyers) in Kerala. She also attended a programme on UAPA (Unlawful Activities Prevention Act,1967 ) which was attended by underground Maoist members, Pawar stated. The prosecution argued that evidence showed that Bharadwaj had advised Maoists with tactics aimed at disturbing the law and order of the state. It is a conspiracy to threaten the integrity and unity of the nation. She has been found possessing Naxalite material. She was well connected and has cordial relations with Kashmiri leaders. Her role is prominent in the communication intercepted between the underground comrades, Pawar said. Defence Counsel Rahul Deshmukh denied all the allegations against Bharadwaj and said that prosecution has been changing stands which put a serious question mark on the investigations. Bharadwaj was in police custody for well over three months and police have recovered whatever they wanted to. The letters which the prosecution is claiming to have revealed her name have not been written by her and not found in her possession. She is not entitled to police custody and must remain in judicial custody. She is a diabetes patient, over sixty year old and needs medication and good facilities during her stay in the police custody if granted any, he argued. Punjab local bodies minister Navjot Singh Sidhu on Saturday said elected representatives cannot be held responsible for accidents in their segments, amid a growing clamour by the Shiromani Akali Dal-Bharatiya Janata Party (SAD-BJP) to register an FIR against him and his wife for the train accident on Dussehra that left 62 people dead. The SAD-BJP is trying to corner the ruling Congress leaders, especially the Sidhus, over the mishap wherein a DMU train on the Jalandhar-Amritsar route ran into Dussehra revellers on October 19. The ministers wife Navjot Kaur Sidhu was chief guest at the function. While interacting with mediapersons on the sidelines of the ninth plenary of the Indian Journalists Union (IJU) at Guru Nanak Dev University (GNDU), Sidhu said, The SAD-BJP is playing cheap politics over the deaths of people. The country has the history of such accidents. But no elected representative was ever booked in any of these cases. Former Akali minister Captain Kanwaljit Singh was killed in an accident and Simranjit Singh Mann had sought probe by a high court judge. Were they (SAD leaders) booked in the case? Also, many children died in a hospital in Utter Pardeshs Gorakhpur. Yogi Aditya Nath is a five-time MP from Gorakhpur and now serving as chief minister of the state. Was he held responsible? Then why are they holding me responsible for this mishap? he said. Thanks to more than a trillion dollars of prospective investment led by Chinas $800 billion Belt and Road Initiative linking countries stretching between East Asia and Europe the Silk Road is rising again. The series of once-legendary pathways connecting cities, from Kashgar to Paro to Constantinople, which originated at the dawn of the common era and collapsed with the fall of the Mongol empire in the early 16th century, is now being reborn as a network of highways, railways, and airports linking 65 countries. Add improved safety and easier-to-access visas, and the bazaar-filled cities of Central Asia are more accessible than ever. For travellers, this means a wealth of new destinations to explore some sprung from deserts overnight and others that have for too long been left off tourist maps. Uzbekistan is reporting a 40% year-on-year rise in tourism; Baku, Azerbaijan, has also awakened from its post-Soviet slumber to rank among the fastest-growing tourism destinations in Europe and Central Asia. The growth had been simmering for years; now its boiling hot. According to Jonny Bealby, founder of luxury travel outfit Wild Frontiers, the region is also emerging in response to people looking further and further afield to see places that are more authentic, less spoiled, and less on the beaten track. His company is just one of several tour operators including Ker & Downey, Abercrombie & Kent, and Remote Lands helping travellers realise a suddenly buzzy fantasy of travelling the Silk Road. But completing that journey end-to-end can take anywhere from six weeks to three months. Here are a few locations to prioritise if your vacation days arent quite that plentiful. For Food Lovers: Xian, China The heart of the original Silk Road was inarguably the central Chinese city of Changan, or modern-day Xian. In the eighth century, it was the largest and most cosmopolitan city in the world a beacon for traders from all corners of Asia. Now an international trade hub with 12 million residents, Xian is reclaiming its former glory as the eastern terminus of the Belt and Road perhaps no surprise, considering its the hometown of President Xi Jinping. How much time youll need: Three to five days What to see and do: While most visitors know Xian for its iconic terracotta army, there is much more to the place. Start at Tang West Market, which is said to have been the precise, historic start of the old Silk Road; today, its a shopping bonanza where youll find everything from faux antique daggers to jade-bejeweled brass pots. Make a pit stop at the Tang West Market Museum, which has one of the worlds biggest displays of relics from all sides of the Silk Road. Then make your way to the citys Muslim quarter, where narrow alleyways are lined elbow-to-elbow with traditional shops and street food stalls. Be adventurous and try foods youve never tasted before: spicy camel skewers, wholesome quarter-inch-wide biang biang noodles, and delicately sweet persimmon doughnuts. Want a glimpse of the citys modern edge? Head to Chanba Ecological Zone, a landfill thats been converted into a sparkling new urban area. Its the epicenter of Xians Belt and Road endeavors and features a massive wetland park thats perfect for boating and birdwatching. Where to stay: The five-star Gran Melia Xian offers all the comforts associated with an international brand; the Eastern House Boutique Hotel, meanwhile, offers a sleek but still local-feeling experience. For Architecture Buffs: Uzbekistan Uzbekistans ancient cities still stand remarkably intact along with their ornate, mosaic-laden monuments. As a result, this country brims with a fascinating sense of history, layers of architectural and religious heritage, and a global melange of cultural traditions forged over millennia. Quality hotels are a relatively new prospect here, says Bealby. Theres been an uptick in creatively designed accommodations tucked into old caravansaries where ancient traders would work and sleep in the old town of Samarkand and in the old walled city of Kiva. And the best newcomers have been exceptional. Theyre on par with anywhere in Paris, London, India, whatever you choose to look at, he exclaims. How much time youll need: Seven to ten days What to see and do: Though youll fly in via Tashkent, its best to connect straight through to Samarkanda 2,500-year-old city 200 miles to the capitals south. There, you can see where Genghis Khan sacked the city of Afrosiab in the 13th century, watch daily life unfold against a backdrop of mud-brick Uzbek houses in the medieval quarter, and visit such eye-popping sites as the 15th century Registan Mosque. Then its off to Bukhara, a city studded with glistening turquoise domes, ornate mosques, ancient forts, and layer upon layer of living history. Its one of the regions best-preserved medieval cities with several significant monuments, such as the Indian-influenced, four-minaret Char Minar, in close proximity to one another. If you still have time left, Khiva is your last stop. Its an incredible example of traditional Islamic urban design, and its 200-year-old inner fortress, the Itchan Kala, will send you traveling back through time. Where to stay: In Samarkand, the Grand Samarkand offers a sense of Silk Road history with modern sensibilities; in Bukhara, Bealby recommends either the Minzifa Hotel, the Bibi Khanum, or the Malika Bukhara; and in Khiva, the character-packed Orient Star Hotel and Qosha Darvoza are the best games in town. For Adventure Seekers: Azerbaijan Many Silk Road destinations claim to be the place where the east meets the west, but Azerbaijan has the best geographical claim to that title. Just as in antiquity, it remains a place where minds from all sorts of far-off lands converge though these days theyre more likely drilling for oil or shopping at fashionable boutiques than trading wares. The capital, Baku, is somewhat like Dubai: Its ripe with old world charm and modern-day glitz, but its the adventurous day trips waiting just outside the city that you might remember most. How much time youll need: Three to five days What to see and do: Bakus architecture spells the capitals history like an open book. The winding streets of the Islamic old city, a Unesco World Heritage Site, are packed elbow-to-elbow with matching stone buildings that date to the 12th century; some of the original caravansaries still stand and have been converted into fine-dining spots. The outer city, meanwhile, was built by imperial Russians with impressive Baroque, Gothic, and postmodern buildings lining massive, gridded boulevards. Downtown are skyscrapers pulled from a futuristic era. If all those contrasts leave you exhausted and feeling youre gone through several wormholes, chill along the revitalized waterfront district, which provides ample lookouts where you can sit and relax. Then get out of town. From the new port of Alat, 40 miles south, you can take a beautiful ferry ride across the Caspian Sea to Kazakhstan or Turkmenbashi in Turkmenistan. Who do you know that has ever done that? And make time to hit Gobustan National Park, an hours drive south from Baku; it has thousands of 5,000- to 20,000-year-old rock carvings, plus volcanic mud pools for therapeutic (and skin-softening) soaks. Where to stay: Fairmont, JW Marriott, and Four Seasons all have solid options in town. For Europhiles: Northern Greece History buffs who come to Greece think first of Zeus, Homer, and the Parthenon. But another claim to fame is that the country was the trailhead for one of the first iterations of the Silk Road, dating to Alexander the Greats conquests in the 4th century B.C. Glimmers of that legacy remain in the north, in such little-visited destinations as Vergina and Soufli. The new Belt and Road is emerging as an important narrative here, too, particularly in Piraeus, a bustling port city since ancient times. The port itself was purchased by the Chinese in 2016 and was subsequently built up to be one of Europes busiest marine hubsmore than quadrupling the ports container traffic since 2010. How much time youll need: A week What to see and do: Verginawhich has been inhabited since the 3rd millennium B.C.claims historic sites that are outstanding, even by Greek standards. It was the first capital of ancient Macedonia, lending it a fascinating acropolis, theater, and palace. East is Thessaloniki, a thriving urban center that served as an ancient shipment hub for silk and spices. See how that pervades Thessalonikis contemporary culture on a stroll through Modiano, the citys predominant foodie thoroughfare; sampling its souvlaki, gyros, cheese and meat-stuffed bougatsa pastries, feta-stuffed squid, and smoked eggplant will prove why this is considered the gourmet capital of Greece. Culminate in the easternmost city of Soufli, Greeces capital of viniculture and silk production. Three museums here are dedicated to the Silk Road, affirming the legacy of the trade routes that still live today. And when youre done with that, you can see the silk trade springing back to life in this charming town, where modern workshops now supply Greeces leading designers. Where to stay: In Vergina, the rustic but lovely Ktima Kalaitzi has its own winery. In Thessaloniki, stay in the grand (if slightly dated) Electra Palace Thessaloniki or right by the sea at the hyper-modern Makedonia Palace. Follow more stories on Facebook and Twitter A gunman yelling, All Jews must die, stormed a Pittsburgh synagogue during Saturday services, killing 11 worshippers and wounding six other people including four police officers, before he was arrested. Robert Bowers, 46, of Pittsburgh, was taken into custody after a shootout with a SWAT team. Federal prosecutors charged him with 29 criminal counts including violence and firearms offenses, and violating U.S. civil rights laws. The actions of Robert Bowers represent the worst of humanity. We are dedicating the entire resources of my office to this federal hate crime investigation and prosecution, U.S. attorney for western Pennsylvania Scott Brady told reporters. Earlier, U.S. Attorney General Jeff Sessions said federal prosecutors could seek the death penalty. FBI special agent Bob Jones said the Federal Bureau of Investigation, which is leading the probe, said the crime scene was the worst he had seen in 22 years with the FBI. He said he believed Bowers was acting alone, adding: We have no knowledge that he was known to law enforcement before today. KDKA television cited police sources as saying Bowers walked into the building and yelled All Jews must die. Bowers had made many anti-Semitic posts online, including one early on Saturday. In another, he slammed U.S. President Donald Trump for doing nothing to stop an infestation of the United States by Jews. Jones said Bowers was armed with an assault rifle and three handguns. He said authorities believed the suspect entered the synagogue, murdered the worshippers and was leaving when he encountered a uniformed police officer. The pair exchanged gunfire, Jones said, and Bowers reentered the building before a SWAT team arrived. After a shootout, he surrendered. Bowers was taken to a hospital where he was listed in fair condition with multiple gunshot wounds. Victims taken to area hospitals included a 61-year-old woman, a 70-year-old man, and a 55-year-old officer. No children were killed, authorities said. Three police officers were shot and one was injured by shrapnel, authorities said. Two of the six people injured were in critical condition. Raging against invaders A social media post by Bowers on Saturday morning said a Jewish refugee organization, the Hebrew Immigrant Aid Society, likes to bring invaders in that kill our people. I cant sit by and watch my people get slaughtered. Screw your optics, Im going in. The comment was posted on Gab, a Philadelphia, Pennsylvania-based social networking service created as an alternative to Twitter. In a statement, Gab.com confirmed the profile belonged to Bowers and also said it had suspended the account and contacted the FBI about it. The mass shooting prompted security alerts at houses of worship around the country. It follows a spate of pipe bombs found mailed in recent days to prominent political figures, mostly Democrats including former President Barack Obama. The Tree of Life synagogue in the citys Squirrel Hill neighborhood, a heavily Jewish area, was holding a Shabbat religious service at the time of the shooting. Police are normally only present at the synagogue for security on high holidays, Michael Eisenberg, former president of the synagogue, told KDKA. On a day like today, the door is open, its a religious service, you can walk in and out, he said. Around the time, three congregations amounting to about 100 people would have been using the building, Eisenberg said. Shortly after reports of the shooting emerged, Trump said in a tweet he was watching what he described as a devastating situation. Trump told reporters later that the killings might have been prevented if there had been an armed guard in the building. If they had some kind of a protection inside the temple maybe it could have been a much more different situation, they didnt, he said when asked if there was any link to U.S. gun laws. He also called the shooting a wicked act of pure evil, called on Americans to rise above hate, and ordered U.S. flags at the White House and public buildings to be flown at half-staff. He said he would visit Pittsburgh, but did not say when. In the city on Saturday night, mourners held a candlelit vigil for the victims under light rain. The Islamic Center Of Pittsburgh offered its deepest sympathy and condolences, and called on its community to donate blood. The Anti-Defamation League and Jewish Council for Public Affairs described it as the deadliest attack on the Jewish community in the history of the United States. On April 13, 2014, a pair of shootings occurred at a Jewish Community Center and a Jewish retirement community, both located in Overland Park, Kansas. A total of three people were killed in the shootings. In 2015, a white supremacist murdered nine African Americans during a prayer service in Charleston, South Carolina. In 2012, a neo-Nazi gunman with white supremacist ties walked into a Sikh gurdwara - or house of worship - in Oak Creek, Wisconsin, and murdered six Sikh Americans. US prosecutors have brought 29 counts of federal crimes, including those related to hate crimes, against a virulently anti-Semitic white supremacist who gunned down 11 worshippers at a synagogue in Pittsburgh in what has been called the deadliest attack on the Jewish community in America. Robert Bowers, the 46-year-old gunman, was charged with 11 counts of obstructing exercise of religious beliefs resulting in death, 11 counts of using firearms to commit murder, four counts of obstructing officers and wounding them, and three of use and discharge of firearms. The crimes of violence are based upon the federal civil rights laws prohibiting hate crimes, federal prosecutors said in a statement. All these Jews need to die, Bowers had yelled, according to police tapes, as he had shot into the congregation gathered for the regular Shabbat services and bris, a baby-naming ceremony. He had used an AR-15-style assault rifle and four handguns to kill 11 people and injure six, including four police officers. We believe this is the deadliest attack on the Jewish community in the history of the United States, said the Anti-Defamation League (ADL), a group that has monitored and battled anti-Semitism in the United States for over a century. Anti-Semitism has been on the rise in the US, with related incidents and instances shooting up by 57% in 2017 over the previous year, the league has said in a recent report. Bowerss social media postings showed him a virulent anti-Semite, who railed against Jewish people, using the vilest ethnic slurs, as he had yelled out during the attack. On social media cite Gab, a Facebook-like platform popular with right-wing extremists and conservatives, he said Jews are the children of Satan, and had used well known Neo-Nazi symbols and codes on his background photos, according to news reports, His account was taken down by the site later. And hours before launching the deadly attack Saturday, the gunman had posted this on a social media site: HIAS (Hebrew Immigration Aid Society) likes to bring invaders in that kill our people. I cant sit by and watch my people get slaughtered. Screw your optics, Im going in. Founded in 1881 in New York to help Jews fleeing persecution, HIAS has grown to work with refugees and victims of persecution around the world. Bowers had railed in some posts against HIAS accusing it of helping the caravans of asylum-seekers headed for the US from Latin America. President Donald Trump has criticized the caravans as well, but Bowers was not a supporter like Cesar Sayoc, the Florida man who mailed pipe-bombs to Trumps critics including ormer presidents Barack Obama and Bill Clinton, former vice-president Joe Biden and former Obama administration officials Hillary Clinton, John Brennan and public figures such as actor Robert De Niro. . The gunman had criticized the president, for one, for calling himself a nationalist saying the he was actually a globalist. The president, who had fielded some uncomfortable questions after Sayocs arrest, was quick to point out that Bowers was not a supporter. This was no supporter of mine. And his anti-Semitic tweets, people are seeing them, very anti-Semitic man and he, his thought process is sick. While Trump has claimed he is the least anti-Semitic person around, he has been accused of not forcefully speaking against the rising wave of anti-Semitism. He had appeared to have defended white supremacists, for instance, who had marched in Charlottesville in 2017 shouting Jews will not replace us. One man died and two others were injured when shots were fired Sunday in Sri Lanka, as a constitutional crisis over the shock sacking of Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe turned violent. Bodyguards for Petroleum Minister Arjuna Ranatunga fired live rounds as a mob loyal to Sri Lankas president besieged the cabinet member in his office, police said. One of those shot in the melee, a 34-year-old man, died shortly after being admitted to the Colombo National, hospital spokeswoman Pushpa Soysa told AFP. It was the first report of serious violence since Sirisena sacked Wickremesinghe on Friday and installed former strongman Mahinda Rajapakse as the new prime minister, triggering political chaos. Wickremesinghe has refused to vacate the prime ministers official residence since being controversially deposed, declaring his dismissal illegal and demanding an emergency session of parliament to prove he still commands a majority. Over 1,000 supporters and loyalists, including chanting Buddhist monks, massed outside the colonial-era residence in Colombo where a defiant Wickremesinghe has been holding crisis talks with allies. Elsewhere his successor Mahinda Rajapakse, a former president, sought blessings at a temple ahead of naming a new cabinet, as he jostles to consolidate his claim to the prime ministership. Officials loyal to Rajapakse said police will now seek a court order to evict Wickremesinghe from the residence, threatening to escalate the standoff. Regional neighbours and Western nations have urged all sides to exercise restraint and respect the constitution. Soldiers had been stationed near the prime ministers residence -- although his security and official cars were withdrawn Saturday -- but the shooting at the petroleum ministry was the first reported instance of violence breaking out. Embattled Wickremesinghe received a boost Sunday as Sri Lankas parliamentary speaker Karu Jayasuriya refused to endorse his sacking. The speaker backed the ousted prime ministers request to retain his privileges and security until another candidate could prove a majority, saying it was democratic and fair. Wickremesinghe called for a vote in parliament to prove his right to hold office -- but instead Sirisena shut parliament for nearly three weeks to forestall any challenge against Rajapakses appointment. Serious consequences Speaker Jayasuriya warned the president that shuttering parliament risked serious and undesirable consequences for the country. Others feared the crisis could degenerate into street violence if the president did not immediately summon parliament to end the impasse. Dont try to create a civil war in this country, party legislator Karunarathna Paranawithana told reporters at the prime ministers residence. If the president has the numbers he should immediately call parliament and prove his majority. President Sirisena is due to address the nation later Sunday, his office said. Loyalists to Rajapakse -- whose controversial decade-long rule was marked by grave allegations of rights abuses, the crushing of the Tamil Tiger uprising, and growing authoritarianism -- still control the headquarters of two state-run television channels. The controversial new prime minister travelled to a highly venerated Buddhist temple Sunday in the central district of Kandy to seek blessings from monks. Rajapakses aides said he was likely to name a few cabinet ministers before the end of the day and begin work on Monday -- he is yet to make a formal statement since being elevated to the new post. The strongman is seen as being closer to China than Wickremesinghe, who had sought to re-establish stronger ties with traditional ally and regional power India. The crisis has again put the Indian Ocean in the international spotlight following turmoil in neighbouring Maldives over its presidential election. India said it was closely following events in Colombo. As a democracy and a close friendly neighbour, we hope that democratic values and the constitutional process will be respected, Indias foreign ministry spokesman Raveesh Kumar said Sunday. The United States and European Union ambassadors in Colombo have called on the Sri Lankan rivals to follow the constitution and avoid violence. Chinas ambassador to Colombo met separately with Rajapakse and Wickremesinghe on Saturday, officials said, while Colombo-based Western diplomats met with Wickremesinghe. Constitutional coup Privately-run newspapers on Sunday described Sirisenas move as a constitutional coup. However, Rajapakse loyalist and former foreign minister G. L. Peiris said there was nothing illegal about sacking Wickremesinghe and challenged him to prove his majority when parliament returns on November 16. The falling out between Wickremesinghe and Sirisena has come to a head since the president this year backed a no-confidence motion against the man he had handpicked to lead the government. The two allied against Rajapakse in the 2015 election, but their relationship steadily soured. Sirisena initially said he would be a one-term president but has since indicated he will seek re-election next year -- pitting himself against Wickremesinghe who also has presidential ambitions. This is the second time that a president has ousted Wickremesinghe from office. In 2004, the then head of state sacked him and called snap elections. After winning the premiership a third time in August 2015, Wickremesinghe amended the constitution to remove the presidents power to sack prime ministers to prevent a repeat of his earlier ouster. Sri Lankas president said on Sunday that the main reason he decided to sack his prime minister was the alleged involvement of a cabinet minister in a plot to assassinate him. In a televised address to the nation, President Maithripala Sirisena said a person questioned by investigators had revealed the name of a minister in an alleged plot to assassinate him and a former defence secretary. He said the only choice for him under the circumstances was to dismiss Ranil Wickremesinghe and invite his former nemesis and ex-strongman Mahinda Rajapaksa to take over as prime minister and form a new government. This information (received by investigators) contains a number of details hitherto hidden to the people, Sirisena said. The informant has made a statement regarding a cabinet minister involved in the conspiracy to assassinate me. He did not reveal the name of the minister. Even though Sirisenas supporters had been talking about an alleged plot to assassinate him for weeks, Sunday was the first time Sirisena had commented publicly on it. A police informant named Namal Kumara who first came out with the alleged assassination plot told reporters on Sunday that Wickremesinghe and his cabinet colleague former army commander Sarath Fonseka were behind the assassination plot. There was no immediate comment from Wickremesinghe or Fonseka on the allegation. Meanwhile, one person died and two others were wounded on Sunday in a shooting at the Petroleum Ministry, in the first violent incident since the political turmoil began on Friday with the sacking of Wickremesinghe. Pushpa Soyza, a spokeswoman at Colombo National Hospital, said three people were admitted to the hospital following the shooting, and one of them had died. Arjuna Ranatunga, who was petroleum minister under Wickremesinghe, said one of his security guards opened fire when Rajapaksa supporters mobbed him and protested against him entering the ministry premises. Wickremesinghe has called Sirisenas move to sack him unconstitutional and said he can prove his majority support in Parliament. On Saturday, Sirisena suspended Parliament in an apparent move to give Rajapaksa time to try to muster enough support to survive any no-confidence vote. The speaker of Parliament urged Sirisena to safeguard Wickremesinghes rights. Speaker Karu Jayasuriya said in a letter to Sirisena on Sunday that the continued suspension of Parliament would have serious and undesirable consequences. Opposition lawmakers, supporting the new prime minister, asked Wickremesinghe to vacate his official residence or face a forcible eviction. Hundreds of Wickremesinghe supporters continued to gather outside his official home on Sunday for the second consecutive day, waving party flags and denouncing Sirisena and Rajapaksa. Buddhist monks performed religious rites to invoke blessings on Wickremesinghe. Jayasuriya said in the letter that he received a request to protect the rights and privileges of Wickremesinghe until any other person emerges from within Parliament as having secured the confidence of Parliament. He said the request came from two senior lawmakers from the sacked prime ministers party. This request is especially important in the context where various persons are reported to have issued threats via the media, Jayasuriya said, adding that the forcible takeovers would have serious international implications. Tensions have been building between Sirisena and Wickremesinghe for some time, as the president did not approve of some of the economic reforms being introduced by the prime minister. Sirisena was also critical of investigations into military personnel accused of human rights violations during Sri Lankas long civil war, which ended in 2009. Kalaan "KR" Walker, an actor and rapper best known for his role in SuperFly, faces nine felony charges for various incidents of sexual assault. According to a news release by the Los Angeles Police Department, Walker's crimes include luring aspiring models through social media, with false promises to aid them with their careers, but taking advantage of them instead. The release states in each case, Walker contacted and met the models in person on the premise that he would provide professional counsel, but when alone with each of the women, sexually exploited them. On October 23, 2018, Walker was arraigned at the Northwest District of the Los Angeles Superior Court and held on over $1,000.000.00 bail. It is unclear whether there may be more victims, and the LAPD has asked that the public come forward with any relevant information. "The Los Angeles Police Department Van Nuys Area is asking for the publics help in providing any information that would lead to locating additional victims of suspect Kaalan R. Walker, the release reads. Anyone with additional information is urged to call Van Nuys Area, detectives at (818) 374-9500. During non-business hours or on weekends, calls should be directed to 1-877-LAPD-24-7(877-527-3247). Anyone wishing to remain anonymous should call Crime Stoppers at 800-222-TIPS (800-222-8477). " https://www.instagram.com/p/BpdJngWly1P Tekashi 6ix9ine had just received some good news before heading to a meeting that turned bloody. A shooting resulting in one of his bodyguards being shot was reported on October 26. The details of the events that led to this violence have now been reported as well as the legal aftermath. Law enforcement sources told TMZ that the rapper's crew tried to force its way into an NYC restaurant where the rapper was planning to meet with a record executive. His security was turned away and the crew responded with violence, threatening to shoot those who were rejecting them. The dinner meeting was planned with record exec Elliot Grainge who was waiting for Tekashi at the restaurant with his two bodyguards, retired NYPD detective Efrain Vasquez and Maurice Fernandez. When the "STOOPID" rapper came through the spot with his 7-person crew, an altercation broke out. 6ix9ine called off the meeting and left the spot, but some members of his entourage stayed put and insisted they be allowed to enter. One of them is said to have yelled, "F*ck this, I'm getting inside!" Fernandez texted Vasquez who was inside, informing him of the situation. Vasquez, the former detective, came outside for backup since they feared the men had guns. Then one of these men, Shottie, allegedly threatened, "I'm going to violate you both with gunshots." Another guy chimed in, "Shoot these motherf***ers! Gunfire!" One of Tekashi's guys reportedly hit Vasquez on the head with a chair. Two witnesses claim this man was Shottie. Then Vasquez noticed another guy pulling up his shirt and reaching into his waistband. This is the moment Vasquez decided to fire 2 rounds, hitting one of Tekashi's men in the stomach. Everyone fled the scene after the gunshots, but 2 of the 3 Tekashi associates involved in the violence were tracked down by police: Faheem "Crippie" Walter and Zachary Bunce. Shottie whose real name is Kifano Jordan has not been apprehended. Lance Lazzaro, the criminal defense attorney who represents Tekashi, Shottie and the 2 men commented on the issue. "It is my understanding that Tekashi was not present when the incident occurred. Shottie has no involvement with any criminal act. The two other men were victims of an assault. The charges will be completely dismissed at some point against them both." This all went down just hours after Tekashi's sentencing. His child sex case concluded with probation. (Bloomberg) -- Donald Trump condemned all forms of evil, including anti-Semitism, after a mass shooting at a synagogue in Pittsburgh left 11 people dead in whats being investigated as a hate crime. We mourn for the unthinkable loss of life that took place today, the president told a gathering of young farmers in Indianapolis, pledging the full resources of his administration to investigate the crime. Our nation and the world are shocked. Trump pressed ahead with a campaign rally in southern Illinois Saturday night, where his roughly 70-minute remarks were more sotto voce than usual. He veered little from his usual script, though, of attacking Democrats including Senator Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts and Representative Maxine Waters of California. If you dont mind, Im going to tone it down a little bit, do you mind? Trump asked the crowd assembled at an airport hanger at Southern Illinois Airport. Its time, said Trump, to renew the bonds of love and loyalty that sustain us as Americans. Barnstorming in an effort to hold on to Republican majorities in Congress in the Nov. 6 midterms, the president has eight or more rallies planned, from Florida to Montana, over the next week. He said Saturday he would also go to Pittsburgh in the wake of the shooting. Earlier, before boarding Air Force One, Trump said the Pittsburgh incident may have ended differently had there been armed personnel inside the synagogue. The comment could reopen a bitter debate over gun-control laws and the political influence of the National Rifle Association, less than two weeks from midterm elections. If they had some kind of a protection inside the temple maybe it could have been a very much different situation, Trump said, adding that the U.S. should stiffen up its death penalty laws. Earlier, Attorney General Jeff Sessions said in a statement that the Department of Justice will file hate crimes and other charges against the defendant, including ones that could lead to the death penalty. History of Shootings We believe this is the deadliest attack on the Jewish community in the history of the United States, the Anti-Defamation League, a Jewish civil rights group, said in a statement. Trump joined his daughter Ivanka Trump, who converted to Judaism upon her marriage, and Vice President Mike Pence in condemning anti-Semitism. He told reporters on Air Force One that hed spoken to the mayor of Pittsburgh, to Tom Wolf, Pennsylvanias governor, and to his daughter and her husband Jared Kushner about the shooting. Places of worship, from churches to a Sikh temple, have been common sites of fatal shootings in the U.S. That includes the 2017 shooting at First Baptist Sutherland Springs in Texas that left 26 dead, and the murder of nine parishioners, all black, at Emanuel African Methodist Episcopal Church in Colombia, South Carolina, in 2015. Meanwhile, a movement to arm teachers took root earlier this year after the massacre of 17 students and staff members at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida. It hurts every time I see these headlines and then the political inaction, David Hogg, a Stoneman student whos become a gun-control advocate, said on Twitter. Squirrel Hill my heart is with you. We will fight for you every single day. The president is receiving regular updates on the shooting and its aftermath from Mike Burnett, senior director for counter-terrorism, White House press secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders said in a statement. A suspect, Robert Bowers, 46, surrendered and was in custody. Bowers entered the synagogue armed with a high-powered rifle and at least three handguns, Bob Jones, special agent in charge of the FBIs Pittsburgh field office, said at a press briefing. Im Going In The Southern Poverty Law Center, a civil rights legal advocacy group, produced a Twitter message from an account with the name Robert Bowers blaming HIAS, a Jewish nonprofit agency that helps resettle refugees, for bringing invaders in that kill our people, adding, Screw your optics. Im going in. Officials havent yet said whether or not there was armed security at the Tree of Life Congregation, located in the Squirrel Hill neighborhood about 10 miles (16 kilometers) from downtown. Many Jewish houses of worship and community centers in the U.S. have boosted security in recent years in response to attacks or threats. Jones, whos been with the Bureau since 1996, termed the crime scene the worst hed seen. The FBI will be taking the lead as the investigation continues. U.S. and foreign leaders decried the shooting. Israeli Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said in a video message that he was heartbroken and appalled. Officials from Netanyahus administration are headed to Pittsburgh. Former President Barack Obama, who spent eight years as griever-in-chief through a string of grisly mass shootings, said on Twitter that the U.S. needs to both fight the rise of anti-Semitism and consider new actions on guns. There is no place in our society for violence against innocent people, especially violence motivated by race, religion, or sex, Norm Coleman, a former U.S. senator from Minnesota who chairs the Republican Jewish Coalition, said in a statement. The level of hate in this country is out of control. The Simon Wiesenthal Center called on Trump to show leadership in fighting extremism in the U.S. We urge President Trump to immediately convene an emergency meeting of religious leaders to help stop the slide to extremism in American Society, Rabbi Marvin Hier and Abraham Cooper, dean and associate dean, said in a statement released Saturday night in Vienna. With U.S. elections looming on Nov. 6, Saturdays incident comes a day after a Florida man was arrested and charged in connection with mailing at least 13 suspected explosive devices that targeted high-profile Democrats including Barack Obama, Hillary Clinton, Jewish billionaire-philanthropist George Soros, and the cable network CNN. --With assistance from Jenny Leonard and Michael S. Arnold. To contact the reporter on this story: Shannon Pettypiece in Washington at spettypiece@bloomberg.net To contact the editors responsible for this story: Alex Wayne at awayne3@bloomberg.net, Ros Krasny, John McCluskey 2018 Bloomberg L.P. Rabbi Scott Hausman-Weiss has led hundreds of post-Shabbat havdalah ceremonies in his nearly two decades as a spiritual leader. Saturdays came the evening of what is believed to be the deadliest attack on the Jewish community in U.S. history. In the packed living room of Houston residents Abbie Kamin and Matt Hansel, Hausman-Weiss on Saturday opened the ceremony which marks the end of Shabbat by reading The New Colossus, Emma Lazarus sonnet engraved at the base of the Statue of Liberty. The poem, Hausman-Weiss said, is about blending in people who are different, who look different, who act different. There is so much pain tonight, particularly in Pittsburgh, Hausman-Weiss said after reading Lazarus poem. There is so much pain and suffering tonight in the Jewish community, and in the community of fair-minded people everywhere. During a brief ceremony, people clasped hands, sang prayers and openly shed tears. Others wrapped their hands around one anothers shoulders, embracing as they swayed in unison while singing. The ceremony served as a much-needed unifying force hours after a shooter killed 11 people and injured six more, including four police officers, on Saturday morning at the Tree of Life synagogue, Pittsburghs oldest Jewish congregation. The violent act rippled through Jewish communities across the world, including here in Houston, as residents learned of the shootings horrific nature. Police said Robert Bowers, a 46-year-old Pittsburgh resident, shouted all Jews must die as he opened fire with an assault rifle on the congregation, where a Jewish baby-naming ceremony was taking place. Desperation. A sense of incredible fear, Hausman-Weiss said, describing his reaction to the news. Theres something about this that is so, it feels so frightening. Not because a crazy man ran into a synagogue weve seen this before, at Jewish community centers in the U.S. and elsewhere. He continued: But I think whats truly frightening is the incredible power of social media to promulgate, exaggerate. Bowers had posted on a social media platform, Gab.com, photos of his guns, clips and shooting targets, according to multiple reports. The shooting coincides with a measurable spike in anti-Semitism, as Jewish people have been disproportionately impacted by hate crimes in recent years, FBI data show. Its coming from individuals who, for whatever reason, grew up spewing hatred toward Jews and gays and blacks and Hispanics, said Mayor Pro Tem Ellen Cohen. Its the responsibility of leaders to show kindness and compassion, and to condemn in the strongest possible way this kind of activity. Marking the local response, several Jewish people said, was an outpouring of support from other faith-based communities. Dena Marks, senior associate director of the Anti-Defamation Leagues Southwest Regional Office, recalled the immediate aftermath of the shooting. One of the first calls I got when the news broke this morning was from a representative of the Muslim community, who called not only to express condolences from the Muslim community, but to say to me that the Muslim community stands with the Jewish community, Marks said. Some were quick to tie the shooting, if indirectly, to President Donald Trump, who on Saturday said anybody that does a thing like this to innocent people should receive the death penalty. Trump also said the results would have been far better if an armed guard had been stationed inside the synagogue a statement that drew denouncement from liberals. Some agreed with the general sentiment of the comment, however. Im not against having people that are well-trained and vetted by law enforcement for proficiency. Its sad that we have to think that way, said Harris County Precinct 1 Constable Alan Rosen, a Democrat. Theres nothing worse than to have someone come in whos shooting, and you have no way to do something back other than run. But Rosen, like other left-leaning officials, believed Trump had been detrimental to a widening sense of division in the U.S. Sadly, Trumps not easing our countrys feelings, Rosen said. Hes adding to some of the divisiveness. I just dont see him being a uniter. The shooting drew swift responses from local law enforcement agencies, with Harris County Sheriffs deputies stationing vehicles outside some synagogues. Houston Police were also monitoring synagogues around the city, Mayor Sylvester Turner said on Twitter. Turner added that he would continue to seek ways to reduce gun violence in any form through his Commission Against Gun Violence. Violence in any form, whether it be individuals, a particular religious group, or religious space is unacceptable, Turner said. There is truly no place for hate. jasper.scherer@chron.com twitter.com/jaspscherer Vendors lined the path to the food tucks selling arepas, churros and Cuban sandwiches at the Puerto Rican and Cuban Festival on Saturday, vying for festival-goers attention among live music and performances. The path was a bit clearer to the big, blue trailer wrapped in photos of a multicultural America, which welcomed attendees inside for a quick lesson on genetics, precision medicine and the National Institutes of Healths $1 billion-research project, dubbed All of Us. Id never heard of precision medicine, but I think its pretty important because everybodys different, so what might work for me doesnt work for you, said Jean Carrasquillo, 28. He signed up to receive more information about participating in the study. Its important that we progress on that specificity when it comes to medicine and health. In an effort to get 1 million Americans to provide anonymous medical information, including DNA samples, the ambitious, federally funded project sent out a team to travel the country, educating the public on the projects goals and whats involved in participating. That traveling team had its first stop in Houston on Saturday, and it will be visiting local clinics, churches and community centers off and on for the next two weeks. How many mornings can you wake up and actually do something that helps humanity? asked Steve Curran, one of the tours managers. Because this is going to help people from all walks of life. Medical database to be created The detailed medical information of 1 million anonymous Americans will help researchers find patterns in participants' genes and history, making medicine more efficient and effective. That basically describes precision medicine: Its the act of treating people as individuals based on their specific ailments, symptoms and genes. The only way to learn that, perhaps, more than two types of diabetes exist, or who is most at risk for experiencing chronic pain, or who would react better to certain cancer treatments, is to gather that information from many, many individuals and analyze it, said Alyssa Cotler, the director of marketing and communications for the project. Were looking at not just the DNA but also lifestyle, environment and behaviors, to really get a better understanding of: What are all of the factors that could impact somebodys health, and how do they intersect? Cotler said. To create that biobank, or medical database, the project is looking for volunteer participants. Once creating an account on joinallofus.org, participants can choose to share their electronic medical records and prescription histories, answer survey questions, or in some cases, submit biosamples blood and urine. The Puerto Rican Festival attendees who toured the All of Us trailer on Saturday learned about most of that information through team members and interactive displays. Jackie Perry, a nurse at the Conroe Emergency Room, elected to go in because she likes to stay on top of whats new in her field. As a member of the National Association of Hispanic Nurses, shes already familiar with the lack of representation for minorities in biomedical, especially genetic, research. If you got nothing to hide, theres nothing to worry about, Perry said. Hispanics need to quit being scared of finding out whatever it is theyre worried about. Just give out the information. Its just part of research you have to do that. That goes for all Hispanics. Theyre afraid of giving out information because they are going to use it against them. In fact, one of the goals of the traveling All of Us team is to reach out to people who otherwise may not trust strangers with their medical information and include them in the future of medicine, the tour manager Steve Curran said. This is a great festival for us because its ethnically diverse, he said. But other than that, were in neighborhoods, parked on the street near a free clinic and drawing people in with community organizers. (The organizers) say, Come on. Theyre here for you. Were here so we can represent you in medical research. Were out to get the unrepresented. 100,000 have already shared All of Us is the second name for this research project. When announced by former President Barack Obama in 2015, it was called the Precision Medicine Initiative. A year later, it received congressional approval and $1.5 billion for 10 years of study. All of Us launched and started enrolling participants in May. So far, its brought in about 100,000 people who are willing to share some amount of their medical information. However, the true origins of precision medicine and All of Us lay in the Human Genome Project, Cotler said. One of the key researchers in that groundbreaking project, which finished mapping 10 percent of the human genome in 2003, was geneticist Richard Gibbs, the founder and director of the Human Genome Sequencing Center at Baylor College of Medicine. That center, in partnership with the University of Texas Health Science Center and Johns Hopkins University, is one of three lab groups chosen to sequence genes for All of Us. This is the coalescence of everything we started to think about in the late 80s, Gibbs said. We we thinking: Medicine is so empirical. We know so little about the real reason things are done theres so little science in medicine. Why dont we find one way we can change that? Our way was understand the content of the human genome. AUSTIN President Donald Trumps name appears nowhere on the midterm ballot, but he wants people to pretend hes on there. Voters in Texas are doing just that. Texans flocked to the polls at unprecedented rates last week to cast early votes in the midterm election. For the first time in more than three decades, the state has a hotly contested Senate race and at least a half dozen U.S. House seats are in play. Those races are largely competitive because of the man whos not on the ticket: Trump. Hearst Newspapers interviewed nearly 70 voters at early voting sites across the state in Houston and San Antonio, the suburbs of Austin, and in Beaumont, Laredo and Midland. Most said the highly watched Senate race between Republican incumbent Ted Cruz and Democratic challenger Rep. Beto ORourke brought them to the polls. But in explaining why they supported Cruz or ORourke, the conversation inevitably circled back to Trump. Some said a vote for Cruz will ensure that the presidents policy ideas like building a border wall can be realized. Others said their vote for ORourke was a protest against the GOP and Trump. Midterm elections tend to be backlashes against presidents and the party in power, but at least one preliminary analysis of Texas early voting data suggests that Democrats may not be causing the turnout surge. About 35 percent of those who cast a ballot in the first three days of early voting are Texans who have voted only in Republican primaries in the past, according to an analysis by Republican consultant Derek Ryan. That turnout was up about 3 percentage points compared to the same period of early voting in the 2014 midterm election. Democrats are just way more vocal and showy about voting, said 25-year-old Sophie Beckendorf, who cast her ballot for Cruz on Tuesday in Olmos Park, a northern suburb of San Antonio. Her mother, 57-year-old Karin Beckendorf, chimed in: While Republicans just quietly show up and vote. No way to tell affiliations of 20 percent of early voters Ryans analysis also found that at least 1 in 5 people who cast ballots had never voted in a primary before, so its impossible to say whether they lean toward Democrats or Republicans. Nancy Zhang, 35, an ultrasound technician and Chinese immigrant who voted in the Montrose neighborhood of Houston, believes this could be the first time she has voted in a midterm. She said Trumps negativity spurred her to vote. If more people maybe thought they could make a difference, maybe it would be different, she said. For subscribers: Find out more about the 2018 candidates Stephen Bruette, 32, registered to vote years ago but cast a ballot for the first time on Tuesday. Bruette, a San Marcos resident, suffers from a traumatic brain injury dating back to his early 20s. He can only see out of one eye and struggles to stay focused, making it difficult for him to hold a job. Bruette, who supported ORourke, receives disability benefits and said all the talk about access to health care motivated him to cast a vote. If there is something I can do to help the situation in some way, but Im not in government, he said. I like to tell the truth and that seems to be a big problem, especially in 2018 with the government. For Republicans, immigration is No.1 issue Historically, turnout in midterm elections has been fueled by issues, according to political scientist Larry Sabato. In 2006, Democrats were upset with the Iraq war. In 2010, Republicans opposed Obamacare and what they saw as uncontrolled federal spending. What issue is the center of this campaign? said Sabato, head of the University of Virginias Center for Politics. Donald Trump. The Center for Politics worked on a recent poll that showed Democrats and Republicans are concerned about very different issues. It found that 26 percent of likely Democratic voters say health care is the most important problem facing the country. No other issue got a response of more than 15 percent. For Republicans, 31 percent said immigration is the top problem. Several Republicans at the polls this week mentioned immigration and the need to secure the borders. Stephen Ripp, 67, of Kingwood was energized to defend the party. He voted straight-ticket for Republicans and said he was glad to see Trump delivering on many of his campaign promises. Its fortified my position, said Ripp, who owns an industrial manufacturing consulting business. He said the Republican tax cuts allowed him to raise salaries and benefits for his 125 employees. While waiting to vote in Leon Valley, near San Antonio, on Wednesday, Robert and Mary Lou Cruse said they were every bit as motivated as their Democratic counterparts, but want to keep Cruz in office. ORourkes opposition to a border wall upsets Robert Cruse, a Missouri native and retired Air Force sergeant. And now weve got these immigrants from where, Honduras, coming across the border, said Robert Cruse, referring to the caravan of Central American migrants traveling north on foot through Mexico. Trump has blamed Democrats for the caravan and threatened to cut funding to Central American governments. We want border security, said Mary Lou Cruse. Im not against legal immigration, but there has to be a quota. Outside the Ripley House in Houstons Second Ward, 56-year-old Bobby Balderas was another Trump supporter looking forward to casting his ballot for Cruz. He sells stainless steel and is the father of three girls. He is also the grandson of Mexican immigrants who sees a need for Trumps wall. Im going to stand with Trump on this, he said. We dont need criminals. Trump remorse for some Republicans? April Morgan, 22, also voted for Trump in 2016, largely to defeat Hillary Clinton. Now shes voting for ORourke to push back against Trump. I definitely kind of regret that now, Morgan said of her vote for Trump. He lies and he just does whatever it takes to get people in his own party just to win. She wants ORourke to work with Trump but also call him out on his bull. Shes not completely at odds with Trump she liked that he eased regulations to allow terminally ill patients to use experimental drugs if they have exhausted all other traditional and federally approved options. But Morgan wants Trump to speak out against movements that further divide people. Shes concerned about racial segregation and white supremacists who feel emboldened to express extremist views. I think its hard for the American people to really respect someone who stays quiet in times when he needs to be very loud, she said. For Morgan and many other Texans, voting is their way of loudly taking a stance. Whether they support Cruz or ORourke, embrace or denounce the president, theyre optimistic those votes will mean victory come November. Andrea Zelinski reported from Hays County. Emily Foxhall reported from Harris County. Bruce Selcraig reported from Bexar County. Kaitlin Bain reported from Jefferson County. Brooke A. Lewis reported from Fort Bend County. Rebekah Rodriguez and Maria Salas reported from Webb County. Simone Jasper reported from Midland County. After the first week of early voting, it has become increasingly clear that our community and Texas as a whole are in the midst of an unprecedented midterm election. Texans are waiting in lines for hours to cast their votes. The result has been record-breaking vote totals across the state. Here in Harris County, during the first four days of the early vote period, nearly a quarter million voters cast their ballots in person the largest four-day midterm total in county history. We still have too little data to to predict the specific election outcomes or the long-term effect of this outpouring of voter interest, but we know for certain that Texans are fired up and ready to vote. This state generally sees fewer than 40 percent of registered voters regularly participating in midterm elections. Here in Harris County, voter participation in this year is nearly three times that of the 2014 midterm and is approaching the pace set during the 2016 presidential election. Of the 30 most populous counties, which represent more than 78 percent of the states residents, voter turnout has doubled. Texans are treating this election cycle like a presidential race, not a midterm. Historically, midterms have been viewed as a referendum on the party occupying the White House. This political axiom seems magnified this go round. Donald Trumps name is not on the ballot, but the president clearly is casting a big shadow on this election. Here in Texas, according to the most recent polling, Trumps approval rating stands at 50 percent, several points higher than his national numbers. The impact the president is having on this election is clear and cannot be overstated. Recent NPR poll data indicate Trump is a significant factor for nearly two-thirds of voters, who are being driven to the polls in part to vote for or against the president. Many deride the polarization of our current politics, but that sharp split has also contributed to Americans dramatic increase in political interest. This new political passion has also fueled a dramatic rise in the number of contested and competitive races across Texas, which in turn has fired up voter interest. Texas has been a one-party state dominated by Republicans for more than two decades, with competitive races largely reserved for primaries. Texas voters will be confronted by more competitive races on their ballots than at any time since 1994, including contests for congressional house seats, state house seats and, most notably, the first competitive U.S. Senate race this century. Possibly as a result of interest in the U.S. Senate race between incumbent Republican Ted Cruz and his Democratic challenger, Beto ORouke, younger voters are voting at higher rates across the state. In Harris County, about 15 percent of all voters were between the age of 18 and 35 double the percentage of the last midterm election and their sheer number is four times as large as in 2014. If sustained, this age groups increased participation could dramatically alter the outcome of many races. If recent history is any indication, this current pace of early voting is likely to continue next week and into Election Day. While higher turnout has traditionally favored Democrats, the increased competitiveness of many races has also generated enthusiasm among Republican voters. With fewer than 25 percent of expected votes cast, preliminary data indicate the two parties are participating at near equal levels. While Texans wait to see whether a much-touted blue wave materializes, it looks thus far as if the wave may not be big enough to overcome the tall red wall of Texas. The expected margin of victory in statewide elections is likely to be closer than any midterm this century. Locally, the recent trend of blue in presidential cycles, followed by red in midterms, looks likely to be replaced with purple in midterm elections. What seems to be emerging is that the new normal in Texas politics will be greater enthusiasm, competitiveness and voting. The result may be a something we havent seen in a long time: a two-party Texas. Aiyer is assistant professor of political science and public administration at Texas Southern Universitys Barbara Jordan-Mickey Leland School of Public Affairs. iciHaiti - Education : The Minister Cadet honored by the Royal University of Haiti Saturday, October 27, Pierre Josue Agenor Cadet, the Minister of National Education, was honored by the officials of the Royal University of Haiti for his work, his knowledge and his competence and received during a ceremony a PhD "Honoris Causa" from the Rector of the University. "We Rector of the Royal University of Haiti, Considering the Ministerial Decision of October 25, 1990 authorizing the Royal University of Haiti and that of September 9, 1994 granting the license No. 00019 Attesting that on the report of the Appraisal Commission Mr. Pierre Josue Agenor Cadet, distinguishing himself in his specialty by his knowledge and competence, fulfills the conditions imposed by the regulations with a view to obtaining the post-graduate diploma devoted to scholarly knowledge, conferring on him the degree of Doctor Honoris Causa of Letters. In witness whereof, have signed the present diploma bearing the seal of the Royal University of Haiti to serve and assert that of Law. Done at Port-au-Prince, October 27, 2018 " IH/ iciHaiti iciHaiti - Terrier Rouge : Follow-up of the works of the dam and the reservoir of 10 million m3 On Saturday, Jobert C. Angrand, the Minister of Agriculture at the head of a delegation went to the construction site of the dam of the micro-hydroelectric plant on the Marion River, in the locality of Grand Bassin, Terrier Rouge (Northeast). "We are currently witnessing the necessary preparations before arriving at the concreting of the main canal," said the Minister, who said technicians are waiting for the results of analyzes from the National Laboratory for Materials, to start with the concreting process, no later than Wednesday 31 October adding "The construction of the first two dikes is already effective and there are two more to build just after concreting the main canal." Recall that in addition to the construction of the dam, a reservoir with a capacity of 10 million m3 is in progress and a pump station powered by solar energy is planned, to facilitate watering operations and ensure the availability of water for the farmers by allowing the irrigation of the vast cultivable plains of Grand Bassin, Acul Saturday, Savannah Square, Malfeti etc... See also : https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-25743-haiti-news-zapping.html https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-24264-haiti-politic-official-inauguration-of-dam-works-on-the-marion-river.html https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-23797-haiti-politic-moise-visits-the-construction-site-of-the-dam-on-the-marion-river.html https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-22357-haiti-politics-towards-a-cooperation-with-cuba-in-the-construction-of-dams.html IH/ SL/ HaitiLibre The best bang for your buck! This option enables you to purchase online 24/7 access and receive the Sunday, Tuesday & Thursday print edition at no additional cost * Print edition only available in our carrier delivery area. Allow up to 72 hours for delivery of your print edition to begin. Print edition not available for Day Pass option. Former IRS-CI Special Agent Sentenced to Prison for Filing False Tax Returns Sacramento, California - A former special agent for the Internal Revenue Service-Criminal Investigation was sentenced to serve 51 months in prison for filing false tax returns, obstruction of justice, and stealing government money, announced Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Richard E. Zuckerman of the Justice Departments Tax Division and U.S. Attorney Alex G. Tse for the Northern District of California. According to the evidence introduced at trial, Alena Aleykina, 45, who is also a Certified Public Accountant and holds a masters degree in business administration, filed six false tax returns three personal tax returns for years 2009, 2010, and 2011, and three in the names of trusts she created for years 2010 and 2011. On her personal tax returns, Aleykina fraudulently claimed the head of household filing status, listed false dependents, and claimed deductions for education expenses to which she was not entitled. Aleykina also obtained a fraudulent legal separation decree from the California Superior Court for Yolo County so that she and her husband could claim rental real estate loss deductions to which they were not entitled. Further, on a trust tax return, she falsely claimed to be paying wages to her mother and her sister to care for her son and father. Additionally, Aleykina stole government funds and obstructed justice during the investigation. She stole from the IRSs Tuition Assistance Program, a program created to allow IRS employees to take job-related classes from local colleges and educational institutions. Aleykina falsely claimed to be taking English classes from a trust registered to her sister. As a result of these fake classes, Aleykina recieved $4,000 in tuition reimbursement from the Tuition Assistance Program. When criminal investigators approached Aleykina to retrieve her government laptop, Aleykina lied to the agents about the location of the laptop and deleted dozens of files from the computer after the agents left. The total loss to the government from Aleykinas conduct is more than $50,000. Aleykina was previously convicted in June after a two-week federal jury trial in the Eastern District of California of filing false tax returns, destroying records in a federal investigation, and theft of government money. In addition to the term of prison imposed, Aleykina was also ordered to serve one year of supervised release and to pay $4,000 in restitution to the Internal Revenue Service (IRS). Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Zuckerman and U.S. Attorney Tse commended special agents of the Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration and IRS-Criminal Investigation, who conducted the investigation, and Assistant U.S. Attorney William Frentzen and Tax Division Trial Attorneys Arthur J. Ewenczyk and Charles OReilly, who prosecuted the case. Belgium To Purchase F-35 Fighter Aircraft, Reaffirming Enduring Partnership With the United States Washington, DC - The United States welcomes the decision by the Government of Belgium to purchase thirty-four new F-35 fighter aircraft. Belgium is now poised to fly the F-35 alongside its closest NATO Allies and longtime partners. The United States is proud of our enduring air partnership with Belgium, a country whose air power has contributed to the Defeat ISIS campaign in Iraq and Syria, and NATOs Baltic Air Policing mission. With Belgiums commitment to the F-35 program, its five-star aerospace industry will continue to expand as it supports this 5th generation aircraft, which was jointly developed with European partners. Belgiums participation in the F-16 program has been a cornerstone of our modern transatlantic defense partnership. We look forward to continuing this partnership for many decades to come with the F-35 program. The war in Syria has turned many of its cities into battlegrounds. Places like Aleppo, Homs and Raqqa have been reshaped beyond recognition by the destruction of architecture and the mass displacement of citizens. Residents are trapped in a war zone, struggling to cope with everyday activities. Their daily routines involve checkpoints, security zones and besieged neighbourhoods. They live between ruins and are disoriented within their own homeland. Amid mass destruction, they have lost a sense of belonging in the cities they used to know. In Syria, where the war has entered its eighth year, architects and urban planners can no longer wait for post-war reconstruction plans or peace resolution. Instead they are already working to save their heritage, preserve their identity, and protect their history from being erased by extreme violence. This is happening in a variety of ways. Some are hiding cultural artefacts in secret graveyards to protect them from demolition and looting. Some are trying to rebuild destroyed houses and souks (marketplaces), and provide shelter for internally displaced populations. Some are travelling to other countries Lebanon, Jordan and Turkey to receive training on the best ways to save their cities and heritage. The war has made it vital for architects to shift their thinking in an attempt to respond to the changing dynamics of war. As part of my own research, I have spoken to Syrian architects based inside and outside the country about how work to rebuild these cities can be supported from afar. Several ideas have emerged, including the creation of mentoring programmes, research collaborations with academics, and providing online learning materials on architecture, construction and project management. Cities have suffered widespread destruction (Reuters) One of the most common themes was the need for resources on rebuilding, on bringing communities back together to be published in Arabic. I am now working on a translation project of ten briefing papers from the Conflict in Cities project of the Urban Conflicts Research Centre (UCR) at the University of Cambridge with Professor Wendy Pullan. The Arabic materials will be openly shared in early 2019 with audiences in the Middle East to share knowledge about topics such as urban regeneration, politics of heritage and the role of cities in reducing conflicts. But we must also remember what any future reconstruction is for. Architects, academics, politicians, economists and developers each have their own agenda and interests. For some, the reconstruction is a financial opportunity to invest and make money. For others it is a place for foreign designers to experiment with new ideas. There are already fears that the last to participate in these emerging plans and conversations will be the Syrians themselves and that such plans might not put the Syrians at the heart of the reconstruction. After all, many of those interested in the reconstruction of Syria have little knowledge about the country, the way of life, and its social and cultural landscapes. We must remember that any construction that does take place will be upon land that is soaked with the blood of Syrian men, women and children. We must also be wary of a lack of balance in the plans for reconstruction and the building of urban resilience the capacity of the city, its systems and its inhabitants to adapt to different shocks and stresses. The power of building In some cities, reconstruction and resilience are only focused on a few spots of the city, and benefit only particular communities. Some disadvantaged communities are overlooked. As the urban design expert Lawrence J Vale notes, uneven resilience threatens the ability of cities as a whole to function economically, socially and politically. But there is also hope. Architecture could bring huge positives to a devastated Syrian society. It can be symbolic and powerful when architects have the opportunity to face history, instead of whitewashing it when architecture can contribute to creating spaces and places for everyone, and not only for the elite. Julia Domna Palace rebuilt in the Old City of Homs (Yvonne M Al-Abdi) (Yvonne M. Al-Abdi, Author provided) In his book, Building the Post-War World, Professor Nick Bullock explains how after World War II, rebuilding created an opportunity for the spirit of innovation and experimentation linked to the hopes of a new and better world and architecture. In Syria, with such huge loss of the fabric of cities and countryside, architects are searching for the Syrianess of Syrian architecture. Many of the architects I spoke with emphasised the need to build a new Syria, for Syrians, by Syrians. They do not want to apply an international architectural language in their cities, or a Beirut-like reconstruction plan that does not reflect the identity of the country. Instead, they are looking towards a Syrian identity through architecture architecture that can bring a sense of social justice and cohesion to all Syrians. To the displaced, to the poor, and to the disadvantaged rebuilding a Syria for everyone. Ammar Azzouz is a Visiting Scholar at the University of Cambridge. This article is republished from The Conversation (conversation.com) Thousands of people took to the streets of Taipei to march in the annual Taiwan Gay Pride Parade. This years LGBT+ event took place a month before a historic vote on same-sex marriage, which is due to take place in the country on November 24. The government ruled that same-sex couples had a legal right to marry in May. Recommended Revellers stage Pride march in New Dehli It said that the legalisation of same-sex marriage in the state would come into effect after two years. In February this year, an organisation who oppose the notion of same-sex marriage proposed that a referendum be held on the issue. In the list of questions devised by the group, they ask voters to answer whether they think marriage should be defined as being between a man and a woman. In response to the questions put forward by the organisation, a group who are in favour of same-sex marriage also put forward their own question to be included in the referendum. Best pictures from the 2018 Taipei Gay Pride March in Taiwan Show all 35 1 /35 Best pictures from the 2018 Taipei Gay Pride March in Taiwan Best pictures from the 2018 Taipei Gay Pride March in Taiwan Participants take part in the 2018 Taipei Gay Pride March in Taipei, Taiwan, 27 October 2018. AFP/Getty Images Best pictures from the 2018 Taipei Gay Pride March in Taiwan Thousands of people attended the march in Taipei, the capital of Taiwan. REUTERS Best pictures from the 2018 Taipei Gay Pride March in Taiwan Participants walk in the parade. REUTERS Best pictures from the 2018 Taipei Gay Pride March in Taiwan The march took place ahead of a landmark vote next month on LGBT+ rights in Taiwan. REUTERS Best pictures from the 2018 Taipei Gay Pride March in Taiwan On May 24 2017, the Constitutional Court in Taiwan ruled that same-sex couples have the right to marry in the state. AP Best pictures from the 2018 Taipei Gay Pride March in Taiwan After making its ruling on same-sex marriage in May last year, the court stated that its decision must be implemented in two years. AP Best pictures from the 2018 Taipei Gay Pride March in Taiwan On November 24, a public vote will be held in Taiwan on same-sex marriage. AFP/Getty Images Best pictures from the 2018 Taipei Gay Pride March in Taiwan A participant of the march poses next to a wedding studio. REUTERS Best pictures from the 2018 Taipei Gay Pride March in Taiwan A young woman from Chongqing in mainland China holds a fan reading "free writers" before the start of the march. AFP/Getty Images Best pictures from the 2018 Taipei Gay Pride March in Taiwan Participants with Pikachu-styled costumes pose as they gather at the square outside the presidential office for the start of the march. AFP/Getty Images Best pictures from the 2018 Taipei Gay Pride March in Taiwan Thousands took part in the parade in support of same-sex marriage. REUTERS Best pictures from the 2018 Taipei Gay Pride March in Taiwan Participants in the square outside the presidential office before the start of the parade. AFP/Getty Images Best pictures from the 2018 Taipei Gay Pride March in Taiwan A couple take part in the march with their baby. AFP/Getty Images Best pictures from the 2018 Taipei Gay Pride March in Taiwan Members of Tokyo Rainbow Pride walk in the parade. AFP/Getty Images Best pictures from the 2018 Taipei Gay Pride March in Taiwan The parade was awash with rainbow-coloured paraphernalia. AFP/Getty Images Best pictures from the 2018 Taipei Gay Pride March in Taiwan A participant of the march poses with a fan. AP Best pictures from the 2018 Taipei Gay Pride March in Taiwan A participant from Japan holds a banner before the start of the march. AFP/Getty Images Best pictures from the 2018 Taipei Gay Pride March in Taiwan Young women display rainbow flags. EPA Best pictures from the 2018 Taipei Gay Pride March in Taiwan A person taking part in the march waves a rainbow flag. EPA Best pictures from the 2018 Taipei Gay Pride March in Taiwan A man, decorated with balloons and a rainbow flag, takes part in the celebrations. EPA Best pictures from the 2018 Taipei Gay Pride March in Taiwan An American man and his Japanese partner, both wearing headbands saying 'Japan' in Japanese, kiss each other during the march. EPA Best pictures from the 2018 Taipei Gay Pride March in Taiwan Thousands of people attended the annual march. EPA Best pictures from the 2018 Taipei Gay Pride March in Taiwan Taiwan gay rights activist Chi Chia-wei attends the march. Chi became the first person in Taiwan to come out as gay on national television in 1986. EPA Best pictures from the 2018 Taipei Gay Pride March in Taiwan Participants take part in the march, organised by Taiwan LGBT Pride. AP Best pictures from the 2018 Taipei Gay Pride March in Taiwan Participants hold up a large rainbow flag. EPA Best pictures from the 2018 Taipei Gay Pride March in Taiwan People walking in the parade. EPA Best pictures from the 2018 Taipei Gay Pride March in Taiwan A person stands in front of a rainbow-coloured flag. EPA Best pictures from the 2018 Taipei Gay Pride March in Taiwan A Japanese couple hold a sign saying 'You Are My Safe Harbour' in Chinese. EPA Best pictures from the 2018 Taipei Gay Pride March in Taiwan A man, decorated with balloons and rainbow flags, takes part in the march. EPA Best pictures from the 2018 Taipei Gay Pride March in Taiwan The first Taiwan Pride march was held in 2003. EPA Best pictures from the 2018 Taipei Gay Pride March in Taiwan Participants display a huge rainbow flag during the 2018 Taipei Gay Pride March. EPA Best pictures from the 2018 Taipei Gay Pride March in Taiwan Two men take a selfie in front of a rainbow flag. EPA Best pictures from the 2018 Taipei Gay Pride March in Taiwan A man waves a rainbow flag during the march. EPA Best pictures from the 2018 Taipei Gay Pride March in Taiwan The annual Taipei Gay Pride March is the largest in East Asia. EPA Best pictures from the 2018 Taipei Gay Pride March in Taiwan The Rainbow City Symphonic Band performs during the march. EPA Their question asks whether votes think the Civil Code should be amended in order to allow same-sex couples to marry. The referendum will ask voters to answer a total of 10 questions on topics including LGBT+ rights, same-sex marriage, nuclear power and coal power. In order for a referendum to pass in Taiwan, at least 25 per cent of the voters must vote in favour of the question. There were approximately 137,000 people at the Taipei Gay Pride Parade, according to the events organisers. Support free-thinking journalism and attend Independent events Civil rights rights activist Chi Chia-wei was among those in attendance. In 1986, Mr Chi became the first person in Taiwan to come out as gay on national television. He made the announcement at a press conference, where he spoke about his sexuality and the importance of AIDS and HIV awareness and prevention. The first pride march in Taiwan was held in 2003. Its the eve of the most important Budget in Philip Hammonds career as chancellor of the exchequer. And with the last major throw of the financial dice before Brexit, Spreadsheet Phil may be forgiven for taking advantage of the special dispensation he has to have a drink while delivering his plans for a post-EU UK. So what measures are experts urging Hammond to adopt for the sake of the nation? And what shouldnt he meddle with? Having our major fiscal event thrown in among a calendar of critical Brexit talks is far from ideal, says Stella Amiss, head of tax policy at PwC. Its no surprise that the chancellor seemingly wants things done and dusted as soon as possible. But the continued uncertainty means there is some difficult terrain to navigate if he wants to make any significant policy changes. After committing to just one major fiscal event it seems more likely the chancellor may have to break his pledge and earmark another Budget in the spring once we have a better idea of the fiscal landscape. That leaves the prospect of an autumn Budget thats more likely to contain a couple of headline grabbers, with measures of real substance stored up until the spring, she adds. As has been the case for recent Budgets, the unsettled political landscape in which the chancellor is operating leaves little room for manoeuvre. But having committed an extra 20bn a year in NHS funding, he now faces the conundrum of how to raise taxes in ways that wont be too unpalatable to the electorate. Benefits When it comes to tax and benefits, the biggest story in the last year has certainly been the almighty hash the switch to universal credit has become. Claimants have been left destitute as their accounts have been streamlined from a series of different benefits to this single source of support, compounding the effects of cuts announced in the 2015 July Budget that meant 3.2 million households will be around 50 a week worse off on universal credit compared with tax credits most of them families with children. As new research from the Joseph Rowntree Foundation reveals almost three million children are locked in poverty despite living in a working family, the charity has urged the government to put 2bn back into universal credit to boost the living standards of almost 10 million parents and children in working families. As Britain prepares for Brexit, we need to make sure working families have a firm foundation from which they can build a better life, warns Campbell Robb, chief executive of the independent Joseph Rowntree Foundation who points to the work allowance the amount working claimants can earn before their benefits are stopped. Reforming universal credit by increasing the work allowances for families with children is one step that would help address the rising tide of in-work poverty. The work allowance is over five times more effective at getting money into the pockets of low-income working families than increasing the personal tax allowance, he adds. The Office for Budget Responsibility estimates it will cost 1.4 billion to raise the personal tax allowance (PTA) to 12,500 and the higher rate threshold to 50,000 in 2020. This money would be better spent helping to pay the lions share of increased work allowances. Personal finances Coming into the Budget announcement with some broadly positive economic news at his back means the chancellor may take a slightly more relaxed approach to certain spending commitments, suggests Richard Stone, Chief Executive of The Share Centre. The economic outlook for personal investors has improved in recent times too, most notably with the return to positive real wage growth after years of negative real wages. This should increase consumer spending power, but should also enable individuals a little more headroom to save and invest. The Household Savings Ratio published by the Office for National Statistics the proportion of our income that we set aside has fallen to a level around 4 per cent, not seen for more than 50 years. Indeed the rate is less than half that experienced over the last 50 years. This needs to recover and government needs to do more to encourage savings and investments, Stone warns. We therefore call upon the chancellor to take action in three specific areas in his forthcoming budget: improve financial education by promoting a Financial Awareness GCSE using child trust funds; increase public participation in capital markets, and; continue to encourage savings and investments. Pensions It is rumoured the UK Treasury has a small red box on the wall, with a glass lid inscribed In case of Budget emergency, break glass. Inside it keeps the UKs pensions tax relief. With spending promises for the NHS and elsewhere to be honoured, the tax reliefs handed out to pension savers are once again under scrutiny. Hammond has called out the pension system in his recent speech to the IMF conference in Bali, so he clearly has a tax raid in mind. His targets for pension tax relief savings could include scrapping the higher rate tax relief or moving to a flat rate, reducing the tax-free lump sum allowance and reducing the annual allowance for all pension savers. There are plenty of ways the chancellor can raid our pensions to help balance his Budget, warns Tom McPhail, head of retirement policy at Hargreaves Lansdown. His ideal formula would be something which is easy to implement, doesnt upset many people, raises lots of money and doesnt seriously erode the long term retirement savings system. The change which would potentially raise the most revenue is something targeted at the underlying assets in the pension system, similar to Gordon Browns infamous advance corporation tax raid in 1997. Theres around 2.1 trillion in the pension system so even a very modest transaction charge of some description could raise serious revenue. Unfortunately the mood music suggests the government is quite willing to carry on raiding from this countrys financial future to shore up the spending plans of today. Tax charges on the money people have put aside for their retirement solves a short-term problem, however it means a more impoverished retirement for millions in the future. This is not a pain-free solution and constant tinkering undermines investors confidence in the system. Property market The latest data from the stumbling housing market has made estate agents jittery, especially as they eye the economic unknowns of the post-Brexit market. Add the continued dampening of landlord enthusiasm thanks to a flurry of tax changes and the days of endless price rises regardless of the wider economy seem firmly in the past. Its no surprise that agents are crossing their fingers that the chancellor wont do anything silly when it comes to property market or taxation tinkering. The government needs to reverse home ownership decline and improve rental conditions as one third of Generation Rent may never buy, says Jeremy Leaf, an estate agent in north London and a former residential chairman for Royal Institution for Chartered Surveyors (Rics). Persuading landlords to buy or not to sell or, if so, with tax breaks for sales to long-term sitting tenants, can satisfy both and reduce upward pressure on rent. This will help aspiring first-time buyers. Mandatory three-year tenancies would probably also be acceptable to many landlords provided rents can be increased and tenants falling into arrears or damaging property can be removed more easily than under the current fault-based method. Better enforcement of existing planning regulations would increase new housing supply and housebuilders need stricter use it or lose it rules to prevent landbanking even when sales are slow without compromising SMEs further. Social/affordable housing has the potential to provide the infrastructure from which the economy can benefit. There should be more financial incentives for social and affordable housing, Build to Rent and shared ownership. Sole trading and small businesses Questions have been raised about this governments commitment to sole traders and small firms. Monday is its chance to set the record straight, Federation of Small Businesses (FSB) National Chairman, Mike Cherry said. VAT is the most time-consuming levy for small business owners to manage. A small registered firm loses six working days a year to VAT compliance on average, draining their productivity. Speculation about a drop in the 85,000 turnover threshold for registration is very concerning. Suddenly dragging more small firms into the VAT regime would be incredibly damaging, placing a huge admin burden on thousands of businesses and bringing them into the scope of making tax digital by stealth. The chancellor should maintain the current VAT registration threshold until 2022. At the same time he should consider a smoothing mechanism as recommended by the Office for Tax Simplification to address the issue of small firms bunching around the 80,000 turnover mark. Doing so would incentivise small business growth rather than stifle it. Childrens toys and baby monitors connected to the internet can be taken over by hackers, the security services have warned. The National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) has issued new guidance calling on manufacturers to ensure devices sold to British families are secure. Vulnerabilities already discovered include one that could let attackers obtain audio from a baby monitor or inject fake information about the position and temperature of an infant on an activity tracker. An international database also lists a smart toy bear with a security fault that could be used by hackers to obtain sensitive information, and a talking dinosaur that allows voice, data and video traffic to be intercepted. The NCSC has demonstrated how an interactive doll could be compromised and used to unlock a wifi-connected front door. A voluntary code of practice issued by the government urges manufacturers to increase security across the growing internet of things. Poorly secured devices can threaten individuals privacy, compromise their network security, their personal safety and could be exploited as part of large-scale cyberattacks, a spokesperson said. FBI asks people to turn their routers off after Russian malware detected Recent high-profile breaches putting peoples data and security at risk include attacks on smart watches, CCTV cameras and childrens toys. It comes after the first ever joint technical alert by the UK and US revealed that unsecured routers were being targeted by Russian hackers. They were found spying on the information passing through the routers, harvesting passwords and data. And earlier this month Russian intelligence services were accused of running 12 named hacking groups behind attacks including those on the Democratic National Committee, a British TV station, the World Anti-Doping Agency and Ukrainian transport. The Independent understands that toys have not yet been targeted by hackers. A vulnerability being found doesnt necessarily mean something has been taken over and there was an exploit, an NCSC spokesperson said. We should be better at holding companies to an account where something is reported and it doesnt get fixed. There are expected to be more than 420 million internet-connected devices in use across the UK within the next three years, but security features are rarely advertised to families investing in smart toys, monitors, virtual assistants and other technology. Dutch security services expel Russian spies over cyber plot Show all 23 1 /23 Dutch security services expel Russian spies over cyber plot Dutch security services expel Russian spies over cyber plot Russian passports belonging to (top row) Oleg Sotnikov (left), Aleksei Morenets, (bottom row) Evgenii Serebriakov (left) and Alexey Minin, who have been named as the four GRU officers who tried to hack the global chemical weapons watchdog which is investigating the Salisbury nerve agent attack PA Dutch security services expel Russian spies over cyber plot On April 13 the officers parked a car carrying specialist hacking equipment outside the headquarters of the OPCW in The Hague Dutch Ministry of Defence/PA Dutch security services expel Russian spies over cyber plot Specialist equipment intended for the alleged hacking of WiFi networks of the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW). Russia's military intelligence service has been accused of trying to hack the global chemical weapons watchdog which is investigating the Salisbury nerve agent attack PA Dutch security services expel Russian spies over cyber plot The Dutch counter-terrorism officers intervened to disrupt the operation and the four GRU officers were ordered to leave the country Dutch Ministry of Defence/PA Dutch security services expel Russian spies over cyber plot Mobile phones and a camera recovered from four GRU officers who were alleged to have hacked the WiFi networks of the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) PA Dutch security services expel Russian spies over cyber plot The four Russians arrived on diplomatic passports Netherlands Defence Ministry Dutch security services expel Russian spies over cyber plot Alexey Minin, who has been named as one of the four GRU officers who tried to hack the global chemical weapons watchdog which is investigating the Salisbury nerve agent attack PA Dutch security services expel Russian spies over cyber plot A car carrying hacking equipment used by GRU officers, travelling on official Russian passports, parked near the headquarters of the OPCW in The Hague Dutch Ministry of Defence/PA Dutch security services expel Russian spies over cyber plot Oleg Sotnikov, who has been named as one of the four GRU officers PA Dutch security services expel Russian spies over cyber plot Hacking equipment belonging to four Russian officers Dutch Ministry of Defence/AP Dutch security services expel Russian spies over cyber plot Evgenii Serebriakov, who has been named as one of the four GRU officers PA Dutch security services expel Russian spies over cyber plot Equipment found in possession of four Russian citizens Reuters Dutch security services expel Russian spies over cyber plot Photos of the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) and its surroundings taken on the 11 April, found on the phone of GRU officer Alexey Minin Dutch Ministry of Defence/PA Dutch security services expel Russian spies over cyber plot Equipment found in possession of four Russian citizens REUTERS Dutch security services expel Russian spies over cyber plot Aleksei Morenets, who has been named as one of the four GRU officers PA Dutch security services expel Russian spies over cyber plot Dutch Ministry of Defence/PA Dutch security services expel Russian spies over cyber plot A combo of a taxi bill and a map, with a ride from a street next to the Main Directorate of the General Staff of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation, GRU, to Sheremyetevo airport in Moscow, found in possession of one of four GRU officers AP Dutch security services expel Russian spies over cyber plot Yevgeny Serebryakov, an alleged Russian agent AFP/Getty Dutch security services expel Russian spies over cyber plot Netherlands Defence Ministry Dutch security services expel Russian spies over cyber plot Netherlands Defence Ministry Dutch security services expel Russian spies over cyber plot Netherlands Defence Ministry Dutch security services expel Russian spies over cyber plot Netherlands Defence Ministry Dutch security services expel Russian spies over cyber plot Netherlands Defence Ministry We want to reduce the burden on consumers, its not reasonable to expect every parent to be a cyber security expert, the NCSC spokesperson added. What we want to do is encourage companies to manage their products, keep them updated and be honest about how long theyre supported for. And to encourage retailers to consider security when they figure out what to stock. That will over time make it much easier for consumers to buy the right things. The code of practice stipulates that devices cannot have default passwords and companies must disclose any security vulnerabilities to authorities, keep software updated and encrypt sensitive data. Companies HP and Centrica Hive are among the first to have signed up. The government is now exploring options for strengthening compliance to the guidelines. There are questions about how far potential regulation could reach in a global market, or whether manufacturing giants such as China could be compelled to comply with British rules. David Lidington, a cabinet office minister, said it cannot be right that British consumers are left to make sure their own products are safe. The challenge is to encourage manufacturers to help consumers by building protections into their design, he said in a speech at the NCSCs London headquarters. As our digitally connected world has expanded at an extraordinary rate, so too has the scale of vulnerabilities and the frequency of attacks that we face. Brexit will be a disaster for the social care sector and for women Parliament does not have a legal veto over a no-deal Brexit, House of Commons officials have said suggesting MPs who want to stop Britain crashing out of the EU will have to find another route. Instead, Britain will simply crash out of the European Union in March unless an exit deal is approved or MPs find another way to force the government to act. In written guidance to a member of parliament, seen by The Independent, experts in the House of Commons library said parliament cannot legally and in isolation prevent a no-deal Brexit if it votes against Theresa Mays deal. The Commons chief clark, Sir David Natzler, confirmed that the vote MPs will take on what should happen in the event of no deal also has no statutory significance. The clarification will fuel fears that Britain is heading for a no-deal outcome, amid ongoing doubts over Ms Mays ability to command a parliamentary majority for the agreement she hopes to strike. Many MPs believe that if no agreement is reached with the EU or if parliament rejects Ms Mays deal, the Commons would be able to force the prime minister to go back to Brussels to renegotiate, or else to put the decision to the public. However, they would need to find a new mechanism to do so after Commons officials confirmed that, from a legal perspective, parliament has little scope to stop Britain leaving the EU next March regardless of whether Ms Mays planned deal is approved. The Commons library said: The European Union (Withdrawal) Act 2018 provides three possible staging posts at which point parliament will be able to have a say in a no-deal scenario, but none of them provide parliament with a legal veto over Brexit. They would give parliament an opportunity to have a vote on the governments proposed course of action in the absence of a deal, but not, as such, a vote on whether to accept or reject no deal. A historic moment: thousands march to demand Final Say on Brexit Show all 65 1 /65 A historic moment: thousands march to demand Final Say on Brexit A historic moment: thousands march to demand Final Say on Brexit An estimated 700,000 people marched through London to demand a final say on the withdrawal agreement Angela Christofilou/The Independent A historic moment: thousands march to demand Final Say on Brexit Red smoke from a canister hangs in the air as around 100,000 demonstrators march through London during a People's Vote anti-brexit demonstration savings banners and placards Anti-Brexit People's Vote March for the Future in London Rex A historic moment: thousands march to demand Final Say on Brexit Angela Christofilou/The Independent A historic moment: thousands march to demand Final Say on Brexit Mayor of London Sadiq Khan takes part in the People's Vote March for the Future in London, a march and rally in support of a second EU referendum. PA A historic moment: thousands march to demand Final Say on Brexit Final Say campaigners take part in the peoples vote march for the future in London 20/10/2018 Protesters wearing final Say shirts and holding placards Angela Christofilou A historic moment: thousands march to demand Final Say on Brexit Angela Christofilou/The Independent A historic moment: thousands march to demand Final Say on Brexit Angela Christofilou/The Independent A historic moment: thousands march to demand Final Say on Brexit Angela Christofilou/The Independent A historic moment: thousands march to demand Final Say on Brexit MP Chuka Umunna (left) and MP Vince Cable (right) as MP Anna Soubry (centre) addresses Anti-Brexit campaigners at a rally after the People's Vote March for the Future in London, a march and rally in support of a second EU referendum. PA A historic moment: thousands march to demand Final Say on Brexit Angela Christofilou/The Independent A historic moment: thousands march to demand Final Say on Brexit Angela Christofilou/The Independent A historic moment: thousands march to demand Final Say on Brexit A Peoples Vote march attendee calls for a Final Say Angela Christofilou A historic moment: thousands march to demand Final Say on Brexit Demonstrators with banners 'We're with EU' during the People's Vote March for the Future in London, Britain, 20 October 2018. Reports state that the 'March for the Future' is to be led by a column of young people and call for a Peopleas Vote on the Brexit deal. After marching through central London, there will be a rally on stage in Parliament Square, including speeches from Mayor of London Sadiq Khan. EPA A historic moment: thousands march to demand Final Say on Brexit Angela Christofilou/The Independent A historic moment: thousands march to demand Final Say on Brexit Angela Christofilou/The Independent A historic moment: thousands march to demand Final Say on Brexit Angela Christofilou/The Independent A historic moment: thousands march to demand Final Say on Brexit Protesters at Londons march for the future in October The Independent A historic moment: thousands march to demand Final Say on Brexit Editor of The Independent Christian Broughton speaks to demonstrators in Parliament Sqaure after they take part in a march calling for a People's Vote on the final Brexit deal, in central London on October 20, 2018. - Britons dreading life outside Europe gathered from all corners of the UK to London on Saturday to try to stop their country's looming breakup with the EU. AFP/Getty A historic moment: thousands march to demand Final Say on Brexit A poster at the March for the Future in October The Independent A historic moment: thousands march to demand Final Say on Brexit Anti-Brexit campaigners take part in the People's Vote March for the Future in London, a march and rally in support of a second EU referendum. PA A historic moment: thousands march to demand Final Say on Brexit Angela Christofilou/The Independent A historic moment: thousands march to demand Final Say on Brexit Final Say campaigners take part in the peoples vote march for the future in London 20/10/2018 Angela Christofilou A historic moment: thousands march to demand Final Say on Brexit Angela Christofilou/The Independent A historic moment: thousands march to demand Final Say on Brexit Angela Christofilou/The Independent A historic moment: thousands march to demand Final Say on Brexit Anti-Brexit campaigners take part in the People's Vote March for the Future in London, a march and rally in support of a second EU referendum. PA A historic moment: thousands march to demand Final Say on Brexit Angela Christofilou/The Independent A historic moment: thousands march to demand Final Say on Brexit Angela Christofilou/The Independent A historic moment: thousands march to demand Final Say on Brexit Angela Christofilou/The Independent A historic moment: thousands march to demand Final Say on Brexit Angela Christofilou/The Independent A historic moment: thousands march to demand Final Say on Brexit Angela Christofilou/The Independent A historic moment: thousands march to demand Final Say on Brexit Angela Christofilou/The Independent A historic moment: thousands march to demand Final Say on Brexit Angela Christofilou/The Independent A historic moment: thousands march to demand Final Say on Brexit Demonstrators hold placards as they take part in a march calling for a People's Vote on the final Brexit deal, in central London on October 20, 2018. - Britons dreading life outside Europe gathered from all corners of the UK to London on Saturday to try to stop their country's looming breakup with the EU. AFP/Getty A historic moment: thousands march to demand Final Say on Brexit Angela Christofilou/The Independent A historic moment: thousands march to demand Final Say on Brexit Angela Christofilou/The Independent A historic moment: thousands march to demand Final Say on Brexit Angela Christofilou/The Independent A historic moment: thousands march to demand Final Say on Brexit Angela Christofilou/The Independent A historic moment: thousands march to demand Final Say on Brexit Angela Christofilou/The Independent A historic moment: thousands march to demand Final Say on Brexit Angela Christofilou A historic moment: thousands march to demand Final Say on Brexit Angela Christofilou/The Independent A historic moment: thousands march to demand Final Say on Brexit Angela Christofilou/The Independent A historic moment: thousands march to demand Final Say on Brexit Angela Christofilou/The Independent A historic moment: thousands march to demand Final Say on Brexit Angela Christofilou/The Independent A historic moment: thousands march to demand Final Say on Brexit Angela Christofilou/The Independent A historic moment: thousands march to demand Final Say on Brexit Angela Christofilou/The Independent A historic moment: thousands march to demand Final Say on Brexit Angela Christofilou/The Independent A historic moment: thousands march to demand Final Say on Brexit Angela Christofilou/The Independent A historic moment: thousands march to demand Final Say on Brexit Angela Christofilou/The Independent A historic moment: thousands march to demand Final Say on Brexit Angela Christofilou/The Independent A historic moment: thousands march to demand Final Say on Brexit Angela Christofilou/The Independent A historic moment: thousands march to demand Final Say on Brexit Angela Christofilou A historic moment: thousands march to demand Final Say on Brexit Final Say campaigners take part in the peoples vote march for the future in London 20/10/2018 campaigner wrapped in EU flag Angela Christofilou A historic moment: thousands march to demand Final Say on Brexit Angela Christofilou/The Independent A historic moment: thousands march to demand Final Say on Brexit Angela Christofilou/The Independent A historic moment: thousands march to demand Final Say on Brexit Final Say campaigners take part in the peoples vote march for the future in London 20/10/2018 Angela Christofilou A historic moment: thousands march to demand Final Say on Brexit Demonstrators pass Trafalgar Square as they take part in a march calling for a People's Vote on the final Brexit deal, in central London on October 20, 2018. - Britons dreading life outside Europe gathered from all corners of the UK to London on Saturday to try to stop their country's looming breakup with the EU. AFP/Getty A historic moment: thousands march to demand Final Say on Brexit Demonstrators wave Union and European flags and hold up placards as they pass Trafalgar Square, taking part in a march calling for a People's Vote on the final Brexit deal, in central London on October 20, 2018. - Britons dreading life outside Europe gathered from all corners of the UK to London on Saturday to try to stop their country's looming breakup with the EU. AFP/Getty A historic moment: thousands march to demand Final Say on Brexit Demonstrators hold placards as they take part in a march calling for a People's Vote on the final Brexit deal, in central London on October 20, 2018. - Britons dreading life outside Europe gathered from all corners of the UK to London on Saturday to try to stop their country's looming breakup with the EU. AFP/Getty A historic moment: thousands march to demand Final Say on Brexit A demonstrator holds a message during a march calling for a People's Vote on the final Brexit deal, in central London on October 20, 2018. - Britons dreading life outside Europe gathered from all corners of the UK to London on Saturday to try to stop their country's looming breakup with the EU. AFP/Getty A historic moment: thousands march to demand Final Say on Brexit Anti-Brexit campaigners take part in the People's Vote March for the Future in London, a march and rally in support of a second EU referendum. PA A historic moment: thousands march to demand Final Say on Brexit Demonstrators take part in the 'People's Vote March for the Future,' in central London, Britain, 20 October 2018. Reports state that the 'March for the Future' is to be led by a column of young people and call for a Peopleas Vote on the Brexit deal. After marching through central London, there will be a rally on stage in Parliament Square, including speeches from Mayor of London Sadiq Khan EPA A historic moment: thousands march to demand Final Say on Brexit A protester brandishes an Independent t-shirt during the Brexit March Angela Christofilou A historic moment: thousands march to demand Final Say on Brexit Anti-Brexit campaigners take part in the People's Vote March for the Future in London, a march and rally in support of a second EU referendum PA A historic moment: thousands march to demand Final Say on Brexit Tens of thousands of people take part in People's Vote March for the Future in central London. The march organised by the People's Vote campaign is led by young people calling for a People's Vote on the Brexit deal Rex A historic moment: thousands march to demand Final Say on Brexit Anti-Brexit campaigners take part in the People's Vote March for the Future in London, a march and rally in support of a second EU referendum PA Under the terms of the EU withdrawal act, if no agreement is reached with Brussels or if MPs vote down Ms Mays deal, the government must inform parliament of how it plans to proceed and allow MPs a vote on this. However, the vote will be on a neutral motion that is likely to say merely that the Commons has considered the governments plan. MPs cannot, through that vote, legally compel ministers to take any particular course of action, according to officials, meaning the government could legally push ahead with its plan without parliaments support. The Commons library said the vote on the governments proposed strategy has no direct legal effects, meaning that even if MPs voted against no deal, it does not mean that voting down the motion can, legally an in isolation, prevent a no-deal Brexit. Sir David confirmed this, telling the Commons Public Administration and Constitutional Affairs Committee: What happens to the motion has no statutory significance anyway, even if it is agreed, disagreed, amended, adjourned or whatever; it just says that there will be a debate. The outcome of the debate has no statutory significance. However, some Tory MPs said the political pressure if ministers ignored the will of parliament would be so great that it would likely lead to Ms Mays government being toppled in a vote of no confidence. Keir Starmer at Labour conference: 'We do not accept that the choice is whatever the PM manages to cobble together or no deal' One former Tory minister told The Independent: Parliament could indicate by motion that it doesnt like what the government is doing and say, for example, We think the government ought to immediately apply to extend the leave date, extend Article 50 and consider its revocation. The government could then say cant, shant, wont, in which case the government would quite possibly cease to exist, either triggering a general election or installing a government that would do that. The ex-minister added: The political pressure that can be exercised is significant and could feasibly bring the government down. Potential political ramifications aside, the confirmation that parliament will likely have no legally binding vote to stop a no-deal Brexit will be seized on by Labour MPs who, as The Independent revealed earlier this month, are minded to support Ms Mays deal because they fear the only alternative is Britain crashing out of the EU. One, Stoke-on-Trent Central MP Gareth Snell, said: The confirmation that there is no legal veto over no deal confirms what I and some colleagues feared. We shouldnt blindly accept any old deal the prime minister presents, but Labour should rethink our red lines and think long and hard about whether voting down a deal which meets some of our tests is the sensible thing to do if the alternative is no deal. Labour is absolutely opposed to no deal, so if we vote down the deal we must be very clear in what we would do next to deliver a deal that protects jobs. The Labour leadership believes that if Ms Mays deal is rejected parliament could force her to either return to Brussels or call a general election or fresh referendum. Ms May has previously insisted that MPs will only be able to choose between her deal and a no-deal Brexit. However, her stance appears to have softened in recent days. Asked last week what would happen if no deal is agreed, Ms May told MPs: If, at the end of the negotiation process, both sides agreed that no deal was there, that would actually come back to this House, and then we would see what position the House would take in the circumstances of the time. And earlier this week she reportedly told the 1922 Committee of Tory MPs that she would not be able to speak for the Commons in the case of a no-deal outcome. Cross-party MPs have launched a push for a fresh EU referendum as they attempt to build momentum for a "killer amendment" on any Brexit deal Theresa May tables in the Commons. The move, backed by MPs from the major political parties, is being spearheaded by the Conservative backbencher, Sarah Wollaston, and claims to have the backing of more than 100 MPs. According to the Observer, if passed, the motion will make clear the prime minister's deal will be dependent on a public vote taking place beforehand. Those backing the call are MPs who have worked in the NHS and claim leaving the EU will have a negative impact on "health, science and the economy in ways that will touch all of our lives". Ms Wollaston told the newspaper that without a fresh public vote there is "no informed consent" to Brexit, adding: "The consequences will last for generations. "Valid consent requires the government to set out the final version of Brexit and allow people to weigh up the risks and benefits. "As a group of four current and former clinicians we feel that the principle of informed consent is as important when it comes to Brexit as it to patients when weighing up the pros and cons of surgery. "People must have the right to look at the final plans, the evidence about consequences and have the opportunity to change their mind." But the MPs believe they will only succeed in their effort if Jeremy Corbyn whips his party to vote for the measure when the prime minister seeks a vote on any deal she returns from Brussels with. At the party's annual conference in Liverpool, a Labour motion said all options would remain on the table in regards to a second vote of public opinion, but made clear its preferred option and priority would be to push for a general election. A historic moment: thousands march to demand Final Say on Brexit Show all 65 1 /65 A historic moment: thousands march to demand Final Say on Brexit A historic moment: thousands march to demand Final Say on Brexit An estimated 700,000 people marched through London to demand a final say on the withdrawal agreement Angela Christofilou/The Independent A historic moment: thousands march to demand Final Say on Brexit Red smoke from a canister hangs in the air as around 100,000 demonstrators march through London during a People's Vote anti-brexit demonstration savings banners and placards Anti-Brexit People's Vote March for the Future in London Rex A historic moment: thousands march to demand Final Say on Brexit Angela Christofilou/The Independent A historic moment: thousands march to demand Final Say on Brexit Mayor of London Sadiq Khan takes part in the People's Vote March for the Future in London, a march and rally in support of a second EU referendum. PA A historic moment: thousands march to demand Final Say on Brexit Final Say campaigners take part in the peoples vote march for the future in London 20/10/2018 Protesters wearing final Say shirts and holding placards Angela Christofilou A historic moment: thousands march to demand Final Say on Brexit Angela Christofilou/The Independent A historic moment: thousands march to demand Final Say on Brexit Angela Christofilou/The Independent A historic moment: thousands march to demand Final Say on Brexit Angela Christofilou/The Independent A historic moment: thousands march to demand Final Say on Brexit MP Chuka Umunna (left) and MP Vince Cable (right) as MP Anna Soubry (centre) addresses Anti-Brexit campaigners at a rally after the People's Vote March for the Future in London, a march and rally in support of a second EU referendum. PA A historic moment: thousands march to demand Final Say on Brexit Angela Christofilou/The Independent A historic moment: thousands march to demand Final Say on Brexit Angela Christofilou/The Independent A historic moment: thousands march to demand Final Say on Brexit A Peoples Vote march attendee calls for a Final Say Angela Christofilou A historic moment: thousands march to demand Final Say on Brexit Demonstrators with banners 'We're with EU' during the People's Vote March for the Future in London, Britain, 20 October 2018. Reports state that the 'March for the Future' is to be led by a column of young people and call for a Peopleas Vote on the Brexit deal. After marching through central London, there will be a rally on stage in Parliament Square, including speeches from Mayor of London Sadiq Khan. EPA A historic moment: thousands march to demand Final Say on Brexit Angela Christofilou/The Independent A historic moment: thousands march to demand Final Say on Brexit Angela Christofilou/The Independent A historic moment: thousands march to demand Final Say on Brexit Angela Christofilou/The Independent A historic moment: thousands march to demand Final Say on Brexit Protesters at Londons march for the future in October The Independent A historic moment: thousands march to demand Final Say on Brexit Editor of The Independent Christian Broughton speaks to demonstrators in Parliament Sqaure after they take part in a march calling for a People's Vote on the final Brexit deal, in central London on October 20, 2018. - Britons dreading life outside Europe gathered from all corners of the UK to London on Saturday to try to stop their country's looming breakup with the EU. AFP/Getty A historic moment: thousands march to demand Final Say on Brexit A poster at the March for the Future in October The Independent A historic moment: thousands march to demand Final Say on Brexit Anti-Brexit campaigners take part in the People's Vote March for the Future in London, a march and rally in support of a second EU referendum. PA A historic moment: thousands march to demand Final Say on Brexit Angela Christofilou/The Independent A historic moment: thousands march to demand Final Say on Brexit Final Say campaigners take part in the peoples vote march for the future in London 20/10/2018 Angela Christofilou A historic moment: thousands march to demand Final Say on Brexit Angela Christofilou/The Independent A historic moment: thousands march to demand Final Say on Brexit Angela Christofilou/The Independent A historic moment: thousands march to demand Final Say on Brexit Anti-Brexit campaigners take part in the People's Vote March for the Future in London, a march and rally in support of a second EU referendum. PA A historic moment: thousands march to demand Final Say on Brexit Angela Christofilou/The Independent A historic moment: thousands march to demand Final Say on Brexit Angela Christofilou/The Independent A historic moment: thousands march to demand Final Say on Brexit Angela Christofilou/The Independent A historic moment: thousands march to demand Final Say on Brexit Angela Christofilou/The Independent A historic moment: thousands march to demand Final Say on Brexit Angela Christofilou/The Independent A historic moment: thousands march to demand Final Say on Brexit Angela Christofilou/The Independent A historic moment: thousands march to demand Final Say on Brexit Angela Christofilou/The Independent A historic moment: thousands march to demand Final Say on Brexit Demonstrators hold placards as they take part in a march calling for a People's Vote on the final Brexit deal, in central London on October 20, 2018. - Britons dreading life outside Europe gathered from all corners of the UK to London on Saturday to try to stop their country's looming breakup with the EU. AFP/Getty A historic moment: thousands march to demand Final Say on Brexit Angela Christofilou/The Independent A historic moment: thousands march to demand Final Say on Brexit Angela Christofilou/The Independent A historic moment: thousands march to demand Final Say on Brexit Angela Christofilou/The Independent A historic moment: thousands march to demand Final Say on Brexit Angela Christofilou/The Independent A historic moment: thousands march to demand Final Say on Brexit Angela Christofilou/The Independent A historic moment: thousands march to demand Final Say on Brexit Angela Christofilou A historic moment: thousands march to demand Final Say on Brexit Angela Christofilou/The Independent A historic moment: thousands march to demand Final Say on Brexit Angela Christofilou/The Independent A historic moment: thousands march to demand Final Say on Brexit Angela Christofilou/The Independent A historic moment: thousands march to demand Final Say on Brexit Angela Christofilou/The Independent A historic moment: thousands march to demand Final Say on Brexit Angela Christofilou/The Independent A historic moment: thousands march to demand Final Say on Brexit Angela Christofilou/The Independent A historic moment: thousands march to demand Final Say on Brexit Angela Christofilou/The Independent A historic moment: thousands march to demand Final Say on Brexit Angela Christofilou/The Independent A historic moment: thousands march to demand Final Say on Brexit Angela Christofilou/The Independent A historic moment: thousands march to demand Final Say on Brexit Angela Christofilou/The Independent A historic moment: thousands march to demand Final Say on Brexit Angela Christofilou/The Independent A historic moment: thousands march to demand Final Say on Brexit Angela Christofilou A historic moment: thousands march to demand Final Say on Brexit Final Say campaigners take part in the peoples vote march for the future in London 20/10/2018 campaigner wrapped in EU flag Angela Christofilou A historic moment: thousands march to demand Final Say on Brexit Angela Christofilou/The Independent A historic moment: thousands march to demand Final Say on Brexit Angela Christofilou/The Independent A historic moment: thousands march to demand Final Say on Brexit Final Say campaigners take part in the peoples vote march for the future in London 20/10/2018 Angela Christofilou A historic moment: thousands march to demand Final Say on Brexit Demonstrators pass Trafalgar Square as they take part in a march calling for a People's Vote on the final Brexit deal, in central London on October 20, 2018. - Britons dreading life outside Europe gathered from all corners of the UK to London on Saturday to try to stop their country's looming breakup with the EU. AFP/Getty A historic moment: thousands march to demand Final Say on Brexit Demonstrators wave Union and European flags and hold up placards as they pass Trafalgar Square, taking part in a march calling for a People's Vote on the final Brexit deal, in central London on October 20, 2018. - Britons dreading life outside Europe gathered from all corners of the UK to London on Saturday to try to stop their country's looming breakup with the EU. AFP/Getty A historic moment: thousands march to demand Final Say on Brexit Demonstrators hold placards as they take part in a march calling for a People's Vote on the final Brexit deal, in central London on October 20, 2018. - Britons dreading life outside Europe gathered from all corners of the UK to London on Saturday to try to stop their country's looming breakup with the EU. AFP/Getty A historic moment: thousands march to demand Final Say on Brexit A demonstrator holds a message during a march calling for a People's Vote on the final Brexit deal, in central London on October 20, 2018. - Britons dreading life outside Europe gathered from all corners of the UK to London on Saturday to try to stop their country's looming breakup with the EU. AFP/Getty A historic moment: thousands march to demand Final Say on Brexit Anti-Brexit campaigners take part in the People's Vote March for the Future in London, a march and rally in support of a second EU referendum. PA A historic moment: thousands march to demand Final Say on Brexit Demonstrators take part in the 'People's Vote March for the Future,' in central London, Britain, 20 October 2018. Reports state that the 'March for the Future' is to be led by a column of young people and call for a Peopleas Vote on the Brexit deal. After marching through central London, there will be a rally on stage in Parliament Square, including speeches from Mayor of London Sadiq Khan EPA A historic moment: thousands march to demand Final Say on Brexit A protester brandishes an Independent t-shirt during the Brexit March Angela Christofilou A historic moment: thousands march to demand Final Say on Brexit Anti-Brexit campaigners take part in the People's Vote March for the Future in London, a march and rally in support of a second EU referendum PA A historic moment: thousands march to demand Final Say on Brexit Tens of thousands of people take part in People's Vote March for the Future in central London. The march organised by the People's Vote campaign is led by young people calling for a People's Vote on the Brexit deal Rex A historic moment: thousands march to demand Final Say on Brexit Anti-Brexit campaigners take part in the People's Vote March for the Future in London, a march and rally in support of a second EU referendum PA A senior Labour figure added: "There are some supporters of a second referendum who think the main push should come later, amid the chaos that would ensue from [Ms] May's deal failing to get through parliament or a no-deal. "But we believe a killer amendment like this could be our only chance," they added. "We cannot afford to miss it". Labour MP Paul Williams, who put forward the motion with Ms Wollaston, added: "Before politicians make the biggest leap that this country will make in all of our lifetimes, we should check with people to make sure this is really, really what they want to do. We now know so much more than we did in 2016. Companies are stopping investments in the UK. NHS staff are leaving because they dont feel welcome. Medical research collaboration with Europe is ending. Support free-thinking journalism and attend Independent events Our country will become poorer, have less influence and have less control with the type of Brexit deal that Theresa May is agreeing. Is this really a price worth paying? The action from MPs comes after 700,000 pro-EU demonstrators marched through central London last week, demanding a fresh vote on any deal Theresa May returns from with from the negotiations in Brussels. The Independents petition calling for a new vote also passed one million signatures on Saturday three months after the drive was launched and growing concern over the prospect of a no-deal outcome. Speaking to The Independent, the Labour MP Chuka Umunna said: Last week over 700,000 people from all over the country and from all walks of life took to the streets to demand a say over the biggest decision this country faces since the Second World War. This week sees The Independents petition for a Final Say reach over one million signatures. As the disaster of Brexit unfolds, and more and more people reach the conclusion that however you voted in 2016 no one voted for this mess, the momentum for a peoples vote just gets stronger. This cannot be ignored by the main parties. Mental health services are to be given a 2bn per year boost as part of the governments package for the NHS, Philip Hammond will announce in the Budget. The Chancellor will say on Monday the money will go towards making mental health support available in every A&E department, and include an increase in specialist ambulances across the country. The injection of funds into mental health provisions, the Treasury said, will form part of a 20bn package announced by Theresa May earlier this year to mark the 70th anniversary of the creation of the health service. No11 said mental health services will receive an investment of at least 2bn a year in real terms by 2023-24. As the chancellor unveils his Budget in parliament on Monday, he is expected to detail how the extra billions for the NHS announced in June will be funded. The earmarked cash for mental health services follows an admission from Matt Hancock, the health and social care secretary, that mental health treatment is still failing six years after the government promised dramatic change. He acknowledged there is a significant gap in services despite a 2021 act pledging parity of care with physical health saying at the time: Its still way off where we need to be. On Sunday, the Treasury added that 55,000 adults with severe mental ill health will be provided with help by the health service to secure employment through a work placement and support scheme. The 2bn is also expected to be used to create specialist teams for young people, with schools having new dedicated support units to help pupils with mild and moderate mental health problems. But Labours shadow health minister, Barbara Keeley, questioned the funding. If this announcement is simply money thats already been promised, it will do little to relieve the severe pressures on mental health services that have built up because of this Tory governments relentless underfunding of the NHS, she said. People with mental health conditions cannot afford to wait five years for meaningful action from this government: too many are already waiting many months to access the treatment. Earlier this month, the prime minister appointed the first ever minister for suicide prevention, as part of a 1.8m push to reduce the number of people taking their own lives. Support free-thinking journalism and attend Independent events In a separate announcement on Sunday, the Treasury also unveiled a 60m pledge to plant more trees across England in an ongoing drive to preserve the countrys greenery and ensure we are leaving the environment in a better state for the next generation. Two pots of cash will be unveiled including 10m for new trees in streets and urban areas, to be matched by funding contributions from local authorities, community groups and charities, officials said. On top of this, up to 50m will be available to purchase carbon credits from landowners who plant qualifying woodland, providing for an estimated 10 million new trees over the next 30 years. Americans embarking on nationwide journeys to support progressive candidates in battleground states wouldnt likely stop in Texas during any other campaign season but something is clearly happening across the Lone Star state in 2018. Julie and Tony Pierce have spent the month before the November elections on a blue wave tour, the couple tells The Independent, campaigning for Democrats across the country with their first stop arriving in the southern city of San Antonio. The retirees knocked on doors and phone banked for Beto ORourke, a Democratic El Paso congressman seeking to unseat Republican incumbent Ted Cruz in the US Senate. Were travelling from here to Georgia to support Stacey Abrams, and then were going to Florida to support Andrew Gillum, Mr Pierce says. I really think Texas is on its way This is the start of their story. The next generations are going to build from here, and maybe thats the most inspiring part of all of this. Mr ORourke is within five points of Mr Cruzs lead in the reliably red state, according to the latest polls, reflecting a surge of energy surrounding progressives across the country, including in regions typically believed to be Republican strongholds. In recent history, the polls have gotten a lot of races wrong, the candidate told reporters after an outdoor rally at San Antonios Plaza Guadalupe, a local community art venue. Everywhere we go, the reddest of places, the bluest of communities, people are turning out in record numbers. So, I dont know that Im ready to concede that were behind. I think this election is in play and as close as it gets. Along the campaign trail, Mr ORourke has sought to set himself apart from the national Democratic Party by avoiding discussion of political affiliations and attempting to focus on the issues that matter most for local voters, from immigration to healthcare. A map of the USA showing the percentage of people without health insurance (The Independent) The overriding concern throughout Texas, big cities and small towns alike, Republicans and Democrats, is our ability to be well enough to do the things were intended to do in our lives, he said at a recent rally. Texas is the uninsured capital of the country, with more than 17 per cent of residents lacking healthcare insurance (the national average is just over 8 per cent). Mr ORourke has courted voters on either side of the political aisle by vowing to expand access across the state. I agree with a lot of his positions, says Haley Smith, a San Antonio resident. My mom is a resident alien currently, so its a strong issue in my family. But Im also really concerned about our states healthcare issue, as Im a nurse, and its very, very important to me that all people can have access. The Independent goes on a ride-along with US Border Patrol Show all 15 1 /15 The Independent goes on a ride-along with US Border Patrol The Independent goes on a ride-along with US Border Patrol Texas and Mexico are connected by entry points like these. US Border Patrol in Laredo, Texas conducts daily patrols throughout the Rio Grande, snaking between the US and Mexico, where it searches for migrants and drug traffickers. The legal entry point to Mexico can be seen above the riverines frequently used by cartels to funnel narcotics into the US. Chris Riotta The Independent goes on a ride-along with US Border Patrol US Customs and Border Protection oversees its side of the entry point. US Customs and Border Protection officers oversee the processing of nearly two million trucks and three million pedestrians annually at the Laredo sector, which also processes the majority of trade between the US and Mexico. Chris Riotta The Independent goes on a ride-along with US Border Patrol The Rio Grande snakes between Mexico and the United States. The US and Mexico have bordering coastlines in Laredo Texas, where the Rio Grande's occasionally rough currents splash onto both nations' shores. For migrants attempting to enter into either country, the swim is much more dangerous than it appears. Chris Riotta The Independent goes on a ride-along with US Border Patrol Drug traffickers and migrants use "highways" to cross the border. US Border Patrol agents call worn pathways like these "highways," as they are frequently used by drug traffickers and migrants entering into the US. Chris Riotta The Independent goes on a ride-along with US Border Patrol The journey is still far from over. If they're able to make it onto land, many obstacles still remain for migrants and drug traffickers. US Border Patrol agents are equipped with high-tech security, K-9 units and aerial camera footage surveilling 40 miles of borderlands. Chris Riotta The Independent goes on a ride-along with US Border Patrol Border Patrol uses classic methods and high-tech to surveil the border. A control room at the Laredo sector headquarters is fully-manned 24/7 with a team of local employees who alert agents on the ground of border crossings in real-time. Their cameras live-stream 40 miles of the 170 mile territory the sector covers. Chris Riotta The Independent goes on a ride-along with US Border Patrol The US provides trusted traveler programs on both its southern and northern borders. Officers lead the way to Sentri offices, which runs a trusted traveller program from US and Mexican local residents who regularly cross the border for work or leisure purposes. Chris Riotta The Independent goes on a ride-along with US Border Patrol The pathway to freedom. Once travellers are processed, they walk up this ramp towards the US. Many Mexicans cross the border each day with collapsable shopping carts to buy goods while visiting the country. Chris Riotta The Independent goes on a ride-along with US Border Patrol But first, the wait. A dog waits for their owner to go through processing with US Customs and Border Patrol. On a good day, processing can take under an hour. On a bad day, well, there's just no telling how long one might be stuck inside the Laredo sector field offices. Chris Riotta The Independent goes on a ride-along with US Border Patrol The first lady of CBP. Inside the Laredo field offices, US Border Patrol agents keep a framed photo of Christine Davis, the first female agent to join the federal agency in 1975. Chris Riotta The Independent goes on a ride-along with US Border Patrol "The hall of fame." US Border Patrol also honors those who have served in the agency for over thirty years. Chris Riotta The Independent goes on a ride-along with US Border Patrol Officers inspect a vehicle in secondary processing. Outside, officers are conducting secondary inspection on a vehicle that's been pulled aside for further investigating. Chris Riotta The Independent goes on a ride-along with US Border Patrol The waiting room for detained migrants. A US Customs and Border Protection officer shows the inside of a holding room where people requiring further questioning go through secondary processing. Chris Riotta The Independent goes on a ride-along with US Border Patrol A man and his daughter go through processing. US Customs and Border Protection also regularly provides humanitarian visas and other temporary permissions for people with valid reasons seeking entry to the US. Here, a father and his daughter await to see whether they will be provided one of those visas. Chris Riotta The Independent goes on a ride-along with US Border Patrol Laredo processes over three million pedestrians annually. Thousands of legal asylum seekers, migrants and refugees seek entry to the US through the southern border annually, where they go through processing at offices like this after arriving at a legal port of entry. For many, the trip can take days, if not weeks or even months. Chris Riotta Still, Democrats like him and Gina Ortiz Jones a congressional candidate in the 23rd district who would become the first Iraq war veteran, out lesbian and Filipina-American from Texas to serve in Congress if elected face an uphill battle. In Texas, a Democrat has not been elected to statewide office since 1994. For some voters in the region, being a down-ballot Republican is just as much a way of life as shooting guns and eating barbecue. It didnt change my mind much, says Julian Rogers, a Texas voter who says he attended a rally for Mr ORourke with an open mind but intends to vote for Mr Cruz. Im not the biggest Ted Cruz fan, but he has a lot of experience. I do think Beto is a respectable guy. But the message appears to be resounding with typical non-voters and the states large Hispanic population, many of whom are seeking a change in the current political discourse. I was really taken by the unity, says Joanne Sylvania. And the fact that several times he said: You can be Republican, Democrat, independent, whatever; lets just work for the nation.' At the same time, he hasnt shied away from defending the progressive stances hes taken on issues generally considered too taboo to discuss in Texas politics, from abortions to impeaching Donald Trump. Beto O'Rourke rips into 'liar' Ted Cruz in final debate before midterm elections Mr Cruz has accused his opponent of being the only senatorial candidate across the country to publicly support the presidents impeachment, while aligning him with extreme Democrats who allegedly want open borders. The people of Texas, and I will say, especially the Hispanic community, we dont want to see taxpayer-funded, Medicaid-funded abortions, Mr Cruz said during an October debate in San Antonio. With less than two weeks until the historic election, analysts say the Texas Senate seat is anybodys game, and its fate will likely rely on typical non-voters and Hispanics. Meanwhile, Mr ORourke has broken national fundraising records in the latest three-month period, vowing to spend the whopping $38m entirely on his own race, rather than sharing some of the cash flow with other Democrats in the region. Support free-thinking journalism and attend Independent events If they want to contribute to someone else, they should do so, he told reporters. If they want to contribute to a campaign thats going to win this historic victory for Texas and the country, then Im grateful for the contribution and Im going to make the most of it, so thats what were focused on. Voter rolls across the state have grown to over 15.6m, fuelled by a record-breaking level of registrations after the 2018 primaries, while Mr ORourke leads among Hispanic voters against Mr Cruz, who maintains just one-third of the demographics support for re-election. Win or lose, the wave of energy that has swept over new voters in Texas wont end with Mr ORourke. After 2018, there simply is no turning back. I dont know whats going to happen with Beto, Mr Pierce admits. Hes certainly young and articulate enough to do who knows what, but I think whats more than that is he and others around the country him, Stacey, Andrew and others have created a national dialogue and woken a lot of people up. Ireland has voted this weekend to re-elect Michael D Higgins as president and to remove blasphemy as an offence from the countrys constitution. Both victories were entirely predictable, in a country where a strong socially liberal vision is increasingly embraced by voters. Mr Higgins, a left-wing socialist who doubles up as a poet, took 56 per cent of first preference votes - a huge rise from the 39 per cent he took in 2011, but shy of the 71 per cent that recent opinion polls had predicted. As he celebrated victory at Dublin Castle he gave a rousing speech, worthy of the office in which he had just reasserted himself. The people have made a choice as to which version of Ireland they want reflected at home and abroad," he said. "It is the making of hope they wish to share rather than the experience of any exploitation of division or fear. He appeared to be referencing the minority of voters who opposed the consensus by projecting Peter Casey into second place. A Derry born, US-based businessman, Casey came from one per cent in the polls just last week to take 23 per cent of the vote. His campaign was unexpectedly buoyed after he attacked Irelands most maligned minority, the travelling community. He took issue with their recognition as a separate ethnic group, claiming they were basically people camping on other peoples land. This appeared to perk up the ears of alt-right keyboard warriors on 4chan and older men in rural Ireland who praised him for "telling it like it is". Weve seen this all before of course, but not in Ireland. Many believe he should be ignored, but after a fifth of voters gave him their support, it would be irresponsible not to take a closer look, however briefly. Often rambling and incoherent, Mr Casey barely cuts it as a spokesperson, let alone a political leader. Yet we have seen before how such a willing mouthpiece can easily become the default hero of the disaffected, who project their array of fringe viewpoints upon him, whether or not he has expressed them personally. The task for the political establishment is not to pay attention to Mr Casey, but to those who voted for him; to ensure that genuine grievances are being heard, and that more unsavoury views are not given space to grow. Ireland's presidential candidates Show all 6 1 /6 Ireland's presidential candidates Ireland's presidential candidates Michael D Higgins PA Ireland's presidential candidates Sean Gallagher PA Ireland's presidential candidates Joan Freeman PA Ireland's presidential candidates Peter Casey PA Ireland's presidential candidates Liadh Ni Riada PA Ireland's presidential candidates Gavin Duffy PA Of the losers in this campaign, Sinn Fein will have much to think about. The election might not have happened had they not made the decision to field their candidate, MEP Liadh Ni Riada. She was a fresh, affable figure, but considering the party has a base support level of around 15 per cent, her 6 per cent result marks a dip in the partys rising prospects south of the Irish border. In an ideal scenario for them, a two horse race would have seen a Sinn Fein candidate representing the alternative to the cosy consensus of Fine Gael, Fianna Fail and Labour, who all backed the re-election of Higgins. But as the field opened up, with six candidates making the ballot paper, that protest vote split open, before appearing to have gathered behind Casey. Analysis suggests he and Higgins both won over traditional Sinn Fein voters. In one way, the party may be victims of their own success. Once proud outsiders who mopped up a fair few protest votes themselves, as Sinn Fein get closer to real power in Dublins Leinster House, they are becoming more a part of the establishment against which they have traditionally railed. As the deadline approached, it was announced that 65 per cent of voters said Yes to removing the offence of blasphemy from the constitution. This referendum result is in keeping with the numbers of voters who backed same sex marriage in 2015 (62 per cent) and abortion reform earlier in May (66 per cent). It is clear that on social issues, two-thirds of Irish society are consistently voting for progressive, liberal change - which highlights the growing separation of church and state - while a third of voters support the status quo. One interesting aspect to the voting patterns is that this division is equally spread throughout the country, with no obvious urban-rural divide between the two groups of voters. On same sex marriage and abortion, only one constituency had a majority No vote, and in yesterdays poll, all constituencies voted Yes. Opinion polls for general elections continue to show a fragmented politics, with no party enjoying more than 35 per cent of the vote, but it is clear that on the big issues, by and large, the country is moving in the same direction. Syria's National Museum in the heart of Damascus has reopened, more than six years after the prominent institution was shut down and emptied as the country's civil war encroached on the capital. The reopening of the museum was hailed as a return to normal life by Syrian officials, eager to cash in on the Syrian armed forces' military victories against armed groups. These groups had only recently shelled Damascus and threatened the seat of the government in the capital, coming only miles from the presidential palace. Over successive military advances, and with the backing of allies Russia and Iran, Syrian troops moved in on rebel holdouts on the outskirts of Damascus expelling the armed groups to the north and restoring calm. The opening of the museum is a genuine message that Syria is still here and her heritage will not be affected by terrorism, Syrian Minister of Culture Mohamed al-Ahmad told reporters and visitors. Today, Damascus has recovered. Among the antiquities on display are murals from the 2nd century Dura-Europos in Syria's east, textiles from central Palmyra and statues of the Greek goddess of victory from the south. Syria's conflict, raging since early 2011, has been detrimental for the country's rich heritage. Douma chemical attack: Syria war in pictures Show all 13 1 /13 Douma chemical attack: Syria war in pictures Douma chemical attack: Syria war in pictures A child receiving oxygen through respirators following an alleged poison gas attack in the rebel-held town of Douma AP Douma chemical attack: Syria war in pictures A child is treated in a hospital in Douma White Helmets Douma chemical attack: Syria war in pictures An image grab taken from a video released by the Douma City Coordination Committee shows unidentified volunteers spraying a man with water at a make-shift hospital following an alleged chemical attack AFP/Douma City Coordination Committee Douma chemical attack: Syria war in pictures People cover their faces after an alleged chemical attack in Douma EPA Douma chemical attack: Syria war in pictures A medical worker giving a toddler oxygen through respirators following an alleged poison gas attack in the opposition-held town of Douma. Syrian Civil Defense White Helmets via AP Douma chemical attack: Syria war in pictures An image grab taken from a video released by the Douma City Coordination Committee shows unidentified volunteers spraying a girl with water at a make-shift hospital following an alleged chemical attack AFP/Douma City Coordination Committee Douma chemical attack: Syria war in pictures A child is treated in a hospital in Douma White Helmets/Handout via Reuters Douma chemical attack: Syria war in pictures Injured victims of an alleged chemical attack in Douma EPA Douma chemical attack: Syria war in pictures An image grab taken from a video released by the Douma City Coordination Committee shows unidentified volunteers spraying a man with water at a make-shift hospital following an alleged chemical attack AFP/Douma City Coordination Committee Douma chemical attack: Syria war in pictures A Syrian man mourns after an alleged chemical attack Alamy Douma chemical attack: Syria war in pictures People stand in front of damaged buildings, in the town of Douma, the site of a suspected chemical weapons attack, near Damascus, Syria AP Photo/Hassan Ammar Douma chemical attack: Syria war in pictures Rubble lines a street in Douma, at the site of a suspected chemical weapons attack AP Douma chemical attack: Syria war in pictures Rubble fills a street in Douma, the site of a suspected chemical weapons attack, near Damascus AP Authorities shut down museums and safely stored away over 300,000 artefacts, but some sites were still destroyed by the Islamic State group, damaged by the fighting or looted. Head of the General Directorate for Antiquities and Museums, Mahmoud Hammoud, said four of the five sections of the museum will be opened to showcase hundreds of archaeological findings that date back to the prehistoric, historical, classical and Islamic eras. He said some artefacts restored or seized by Syrian authorities will also be on display. More than 9,000 artefacts were restored and reclaimed since the war began, he said, noting that the museum needs renovation and funds. He said hundreds of thousands of important artefacts and sculptures were smuggled abroad during the crisis. Visitors will be able to watch as specialists restore hundreds of artefacts reclaimed from Palmyra, which Islamic State militants overtook for months destroying some of the world's most famous monuments. Bartosz Markowski, a Polish specialist in conservation of stone sculpture and architectural detail, said he had been working in Palmyra before the war broke out. I am saving heritage, mostly in Palmyra, where I have been working before the crisis, he told The Associated Press. I came right after liberation and helped with urgent conservation and protection of destroyed objects in Palmyra... There is still a lot of damage in Palmyra. For Mr Markowski, reopening the Damascus museum was symbolic. When life is coming back, we are opening the museums, he said. Support free-thinking journalism and attend Independent events Claus Peter Hasse, the director of the Islamic Art Museum in Berlin, said he felt safe travelling between Damascus and Aleppo, Syria's commercial heart and ancient city, also damaged by the war. Of course, it's a tragic situation to see so many tragedies around, but at the moment, we don't see difficulties, he said. The former Directorate-General for Antiquities and Museums, Maamoun Abdul-Karim, who had overseen the campaign to hide artefacts in safe places, said the country needs years, major capabilities, and millions of dollars to reopen all museums nationwide. He said hundreds of artefacts will return to the classical wing inside the museum, including those relating to the Greek and Roman period, while other wings will reopen soon. In fact, this was a very big victory for the country, he said. When all museums reopen nationwide, then we can say that the crisis in Syria ended. AP It is a common trope for US president Donald Trump and Russian president Vladimir Putin to warn that relations between the worlds two leading nuclear powers face the most serious crisis since the Cold Wars darkest era. Both men have also reflected on the need to improve their relationship in the interests of peace and global stability. Unfortunately, beyond aggrieved statements and expressions of goodwill, things are not getting better. There are even moments when the positive words collapse into acrimony and the threat arises once again of a peace that is no peace. The latest warning sign has come from the announcement by the Trump administration that the US is to withdraw from the Intermediate-range Nuclear Forces treaty (INF), agreed with the Soviet Union in 1987. A Russian senator explicitly accused Trump of returning the world to the Cold War. It is clear that this undermining of the Cold War framework for detente and cooperation is dangerous for the world. Equally concerning was the escalation of the Syrian conflict in Idlib province, where regime forces, supported by the Russian military, were massing to assault the last bastion of rebels and terrorists. Meanwhile, Washington had already pre-emptively accused Bashar al-Assad of the use of chemical weapons and concentrated a naval squadron to be ready for missile strikes. The episode was reminiscent of the Caribbean Crisis of 1962, when controversy about Soviet missiles in Cuba almost led to another world war. 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. Bernard Looney grew up on a farm in Ashgrove, near Kenmare in Co Kerry. Today, the 48-year-old UCD engineering graduate is based in London and spends about half his time travelling the globe for the world's sixth-largest energy company, BP. It's quite a way from his Kerry roots, on a small dairy farm - "only about eight acres out of the 90 we had were actually arable. We had 14 cows and it was pretty much subsistence farming". While his sister went into banking, his older brothers - a garda, an electrician and a telecoms engineer - overhauled Ford tractors and sold them on to make a bit more money. Looney was "the gopher, bringing them whichever tool they needed", when not helping out with farm duties. He was the only one in the family who went to university, having been encouraged to read everything he could by his mother. "She said if I could read, I could do anything." Neither of his parents stayed in school beyond the age of 11. Finding and Producing Oil and Gas Looney, as CEO of its Upstream division, which finds and produces oil and gas, he's in charge of 18,000 people - just under a fifth of the entire workforce. Operating in 29 countries, his division spends 7bn to 8bn a year to run it, investing 11bn to 12bn on top of that. Industry watchers have noted the Kerryman's rise to the top ranks of the $240bn turnover firm, where he started out as a drilling engineer. The business pages of London's Evening Standard have suggested he's one of perhaps three contenders for the top job when CEO Bob Dudley steps down. Oilmen here in Ireland have also noted his progress. "He's hugely knowledgeable and very engaging. I've met him several times," said Providence Resources' chief, Tony O'Reilly junior. "He seems to be on the fast-track to the top," notes Ardilaun Energy founder John McKeon. Mining, diamonds, whiskey and oil tycoon John Teeling and his lieutenant David Horgan have also found him impressive. Of course, the firm would prefer not to be known as only an oil company and instead more broadly as an energy company, investing in wind farms, solar power, biofuels in Brazil, green concrete, battery technology, mobile car-chargers and a charging network, renewable alternatives to plastics and a portfolio of other tech startups. But it will forever be associated with the Deepwater Horizon oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico in 2010 - the largest in US history - where a blowout and fire killed 11 people and injured 17, harming or killing tens of thousands of birds and various marine life along the coastline of five states. It has cost the firm $66bn (equivalent to about 11 times last year's profits) in fines, legal bills, clean-up and compensation costs - paid largely through selling off assets - after a judge found the blame for the disaster was 67pc attributable to BP. Looney - who was at the time head of BP's North Sea operations - was one of many people, both inside and outside the firm, drafted in to try to come up with a solution to plug the well. "I was in Houston for 60 days straight helping out. To see what happened was very, very difficult. We will never forget what happened. We always have to have an eye on the past, because that has shaped the company. It was, without doubt, the most challenging time of my career," he says. "What you find during times like that is the depth and resources of people in the company and their extraordinary commitment. To work with Bob back then to try to rebuild the company was both enormously challenging and rewarding. "This is a company that has given me everything I have in my life. I've been with them for 28 years, and it's a company I love. It's given me experiences and a life and career that I would not have otherwise had." As we talk in Looney's glass-fronted office in the BP HQ in London's St James's Square - while press officer David Nicholas and Looney's Trinidadian executive assistant, Chan Boodhai, sit in to observe - a huge panoramic photo of a BP oil rig, Thunder Horse, that operates in the Gulf of Mexico, dominates the room. The Irishman shows us a clear plastic cube in which is a small amount of black crude oil. "Thunder Horse is the size of three Croke Parks, sits in a mile of water, and the wells are three or four miles beneath that. It's a floating rig, processing up to 250,000 barrels of oil and 200m cubic feet of gas a day - a real feat of engineering," he enthuses, as he shows us a video - in order to better illustrate the scale of the rig - that he took from a helicopter while visiting it last year. With an accent alternating between mid-Atlantic and Irish - perhaps due to the year he spent getting an MBA at Stanford University - he's diplomatic and at times understated, at others matter-of-factly holding forth to make his case. "I'm enjoying the job I have. Bob took over at a very difficult time and got the company through it. We're now in a period of growth. We all enjoy working for Bob, and I don't think he's going anywhere," he says, batting away the idea that he might be in line for the top job anytime soon. The week before our interview, Looney was at the UN General Assembly in New York, where he was meeting the President of Angola and its energy minister. He's been spending a lot of time in Mauritania and Senegal over the last two years too. For most of September he was in the US, travelling between half a dozen cities. Places like Iraq, where BP pumps 1.4 million barrels of oil a day in the huge Rumaila field, feature among his passport stamps too. "Part of the role is helping understand countries' needs and what their challenges are, and how we can help a large but very poor country like Mauritania achieve some of the ambitions it has with its resources." Being Irish Does being Irish help in any way in his role? "Diplomacy does to some extent come with being Irish. You have to know your place. There's no bad baggage, which there can be if you come from other countries. Many of us perhaps have a certain humility, and if you want to develop a relationship, a little bit of humility can go a long way. But after that it's about the individual." Challenged about the influence an oil and gas giant might have over governments and their decisions, and the invasion of Iraq being a war for oil, for example, he doesn't bristle. "We stay out of politics and don't take sides. We work with governments, but we're a guest in their countries. Our job is to work with whoever is in power to do what we can to help countries achieve their objectives. We try to do it well, but we don't always get it right." He continues describing his role. "We're drilling in Canada, starting projects in the North Sea, trying to get the Mauritania and Senegal project across the line. We're bidding for new licences in Brazil. "We've got a project taking gas from the Caspian Sea, across Azerbaijan, Georgia and Turkey into Europe. It's nine months early and about 20pc under budget. It had 26,000 people working on it at its peak. We just finished a project in Oman, with 12,000 people working on it. It's a 1bn cubic feet a day of gas, going to 1.5bn by 2020 or 2021. Being Ultra Competitive "We have to be ultra-competitive, because the cost structure of oil and gas is changing and due to competition from other energy sources. We have to drive down the break-even cost of our business to between $35 and $40 a barrel by 2021. Our response to an uncertain world is to be resilient. We've gone through a phase of adjusting and we're now in a very strong position and in a major growth phase. "At the same time, we're trying to figure out how to develop our people; how to have more women in the workplace and embrace investments in tech and renewables. "We want people like Chan to run the company, rather than people from the traditional US or UK. More than half of our production comes from outside of those countries, but that's not reflected in our leadership, so this is an agenda I'm pushing. "I don't care about people's age, gender, nationality and what have you, but I want them to have a meritocratic environment that's based on their abilities and their work. It's something I'm passionate about." Looney is equally keen to demonstrate some of the technology BP is deploying and recently spent time with its tech investment arm, BP Ventures, in California, sharing insights with car companies including Mercedes and Renault to car parts maker Bosch and the likes of ridesharing app firm Uber. On a large touchscreen on one of his office walls, live data from all the Upstream division's activities is streamed in real time, giving a picture of the performance of drilling and production around the globe as well as the related financial numbers. A video then plays, describing how, in the same way as jet engine maker Rolls-Royce monitors the performance of its engines in real time, BP models "digital twins" of all its oil and gas wells, combining historical and real time data. It can monitor, simulate and optimise production, testing variables in order to both find optimal solutions and deal with and anticipate unforeseen occurrences. It makes production more efficient and also allows oil to be produced using less water and gas. Listening for Oil Just as apps like Spotify or Shazam can distinguish between classical music and hard rock using an algorithm listening for specific sounds or acoustic signatures of specific songs or types of music, BP also lays miles of fibre-optic cable inside its wells, which act like a distributed array of microphones recording sounds deep underground. The microphones listen for sounds such as sand entering a well, or building up, or gas bubbles in oil. It can work out where it's happening, and can take necessary action early on such as adjusting pressure, clearing out a well, or shutting off part of a well. "You probably wouldn't think of us as a tech company, but this one we think could have other applications as well, we believe, beyond oil and gas, perhaps even in the medical field," Looney says. Pipelines in Alaska too are inspected in real time, with robotic crawlers that carry out 1.2 million X-rays a year, geo-tagging the exact location of each piece of data and feed it back to BP staff by satellite. At its disposal, the company also has the world's largest non-military supercomputer, capable of carrying out 9,000 trillion calculations a second. Cognitive artificial intelligence and quantum computing are other key areas of interest. A student at Stanford came up with an algorithm that helped the company interpret and process some seismic data. "With the technology that existed in 1999, it would've taken 1,000 years to do this calculation. But it took two weeks with our computer. And it meant we found an additional 200 million barrels of oil, worth about $15bn." Did the student earn a share of that? "He got a monetary bonus, but it won't be what people might think. It wasn't a percentage. People might think he'll never have to work again, but he got a bonus and a lot of recognition," he says with a laugh. Elephant in the Room Impressive technology aside, the elephant in the room is climate change and the energy transition needed to avoid the planet warming by more than 1.5 celsius. At two degrees, hundreds of millions of lives are at risk and the picture becomes extremely dystopian, to bluntly summarise it. BP employs Spencer Dale, a former deputy governor of the Bank of England, who publishes a widely-respected energy outlook every year. He paints a picture where, in one scenario for which policies are not currently in place, oil and gas demand in 2040 remains much the same as it is today due to population growth. "The Paris climate change agreement would take us to three degrees, so 1.5 is ambitious and nobody has a clue about how to get there," Looney says starkly. "The big picture is that BP is producing more gas than oil - 55pc/45pc, set to rise to 60pc/ 40pc - because it's a cleaner fuel. Dale has said that at the global level, many countries are not transitioning fast enough from coal to gas-generated electricity. This is despite the headlines we read in Europe, where city centres are beginning to ban petrol and diesel cars, for example. The latter are a key part of the transition, Looney - who doesn't own a car, preferring to take taxis or public transport - says, adding: "We believe that there is probably more oil in the world than the world will need." With climate change targets on the horizon, some governments are also scrambling to develop their resources too, however, so as not to be left with what the industry calls stranded assets, while Ireland has debated banning fossil fuel exploration and several other countries have banned it. Gas will help produce electricity for electric vehicles, but aviation, shipping and trucking - as well as especially oil for non-combustible uses for manufacturing products, lubricants and fertilisers, for example - will be key drivers of oil demand, BP says. Other key numbers are stark. Eighteen years since a 'Beyond Petroleum' rebrand, the pace of any moves 'beyond' fossil fuels appears to be glacial. BP's investments in renewables might reach $500m a year in the near future. An investment in the largest European solar firm Lightsource amounted to $200m. Set that against the $75bn of assets it sold off to cover the Deepwater Horizon costs, or the $10.5bn it spent in July buying US oil and shale gas assets of BHP. While BP has invested in biofuels in Brazil, annual production is only 4.88 million barrels - equal to about 2.2 days' oil production. In aviation fuel, despite an investment in Fulcrum Bioenergy, which makes jet fuel from household waste that cuts emissions by 80pc, current production levels are a mere 50m gallons - about 0.75pc of the 6.5bn gallons that Air BP sells annually. "Fulcrum is very much in expansion mode. Imagine if we can help aviation cut its emissions by 80pc," Looney says, believing it is scalable, and emphasising that these are at a very early stage. "Energy has brought enormous benefits to the world, and there are a lot of people in it that don't have what we have. Over a billion people still don't have access to electricity and may be cooking using manure," he points out. "Look at how average GDP has increased in the world by 30 times since 1960. Average life expectancy has increased from 52 to 72. Look at where rural Ireland came from and the impact of electrification. "The US is back at 1990 levels of CO2 emissions because they're using shale gas. The UK has radically cut its emissions as well by phasing out coal power stations. The world is going to need more energy. We care at BP. We live on the planet as well. We have to do a better job," Looney says. CURRICULUM VITAE Name: Bernard Looney Age: 48 Position: CEO, Upstream, BP Lives: Central London Education: Electrical engineering, UCD; MBA, Stanford University Previous experience [all with BP]: Drilling engineer in various locations; Senior VP at BP Alaska; MD at BP North Sea; EVP Developments; COO Production. Family: Married Pastimes: Travel; Following farming, tractor and car-related accounts on Instagram Last holiday: A weekend in Rome Recent bo x sets: House of Cards, Broadchurch, Marcella, Bodyguard Reading: Anglo Republic by Simon Carswell; The Bank that lived a Little, by Philip Augar BUSINESS LESSONS Who has inspired you during your career? My mother was a big believer in education as the route to a better life than we had on the farm. She encouraged me to read from an early age. My eldest brother, an electrician, was the brightest of us all. He couldnt afford to go to university, so I took the route he might have done. I also spent some time with the late Peter Sutherland [a former chairman of BP]. He was very supportive and a key source of inspiration as a fellow Irishman who had succeeded on the world stage. What might you be doing if you hadnt joined BP? I had a summer job in Brennans Bar in Kenmare, and Ive always liked hospitality. Perhaps I wouldnt work in a pub, but something in that sector. In a role where youre heading a division of 18,000 people, what is your management style? I try to learn everything I can. I try to keep it simple. Work hard. Make a difference in your role. And treat people well. Everything we do is about our people. If we help them to be the best they can be, we will do well. IPL Plastics, the Irish company with a listing in Canada, has appointed former Investec director Conor McCarthy as corporate development director. His main responsibility will be to oversee mergers and acquisitions activity at the company, which was previously known as One51. As previously reported in Sunday Independent, IPL is understood to be planning a large European acquisition. McCarthy was director of corporate finance at Investec, where he had worked since 2002. South African-headquartered Investec has been in talks about selling the Irish business and came close to a deal with AIB earlier in the year. IPL Plastics -headed up by CEO Alan Walsh - has also appointed Canadian man Denis Desaulnier as HR director and Martha Riveros as chief operating officer of North America. IPL raised CA$191.7m from its flotation on the Toronto Stock Exchange in June. Irish shareholders who remained with the company when it floated received new shares in IPL Plastics in return for their old stock. Six months after the stock market listing, which is in late December, these B-class shares will convert and can be traded in Canada. IPL held talks with a number of large European plastics companies earlier in the year, but potential takeover activity was put on hold during the IPO process. The company entered the North American market through the majority purchase of Canadian packaging company IPL in 2015. It has since acquired a number of businesses in that market. While IPL's focus has shifted towards North America - both through the listing and acquisitions - it is understood it plans to significantly build up European operations in the short term. Richard Barrett's Bartra Capital Property Group plans to build more than 600m worth of residential and commercial property over the coming years. The development company told the Sunday Independent it has planned the construction of 454 residential units and 1,581 bedrooms in shared living, student accommodation, and nursing homes. However, construction has been slowed by considerable levels of objections, including more than 200 over a planned development in Bulloch Harbour in south Dublin. Bartra has entered the fast-track system with An Bord Pleanala with three shared-living developments. The concept, which was approved by Housing Minister Eoghan Murphy last year, is aimed at young professionals who have their own bedrooms and cooking facilities but would also have access to shared living rooms and kitchens. The company is awaiting clearance to build 250 bedrooms at Northwood in north Dublin. A further 223 have been planned for Blanchardstown, while 193 will be in Cookstown in south-west Dublin. Under the fast-track system, large-scale developments can be put straight to An Bord Pleanala for decision, which has 16 weeks to decide. Bartra's planning and development director, Hazel Jones, said the company was responding to the housing crisis with a range of homes from social to newer forms not yet seen in Dublin. "The planning system is only lately recognising the need for a range of tenure types - the way we live our lives is changing dramatically," she said. "We need to embrace the more global and transient lifestyle lived particularly by younger people and respond to their needs. They want a more urban lifestyle, they want experiences rather than ownership. At the same time they want quality of accommodation, safety and security." Jones said the new system had hit smaller projects. "A number of our smaller but equally important residential applications, also amounting to hundreds of units, are suffering inordinate delays with a backlog at board level in An Bord Pleanala," she said. "Taking 12 months to deal with an application for 20 units is really unacceptable in the current crisis. "The backlog at board level needs to be dealt with as a matter of urgency." Bartra has also agreed a number of long-term leases with local authorities for social housing. Toronto-listed explorer Group Eleven Resources has begun a preliminary drill at its Stonepark zinc project in Limerick. The company - which raised around 3.3m through its flotation on the Canadian stock exchange last year - owns just over three-quarters of the site. The primary aim of the drill is to provide 3D geographical information to advance the firm's 'Big Think' exploration programme for next year. The programme was launched to help the company understand the Irish landscape and combine cutting-edge research with the use of long-standing historical data from the region. Group Eleven has estimated that 5.3 million tonnes of varying grades of combined zinc and lead sits in the Limerick deposit. Former Davy corporate finance boss Hugh McCutcheon and Vancouver-headquartered MAG Silver, which had success mining for silver in Mexico, are among Group Eleven's backers. The company is headed up by former Davy equity analyst Bart Jaworski, who said the company was "excited" to enter the next stage of exploration in the Limerick basin. "Despite being relatively new and under-explored, this zinc camp is already the most metal-endowed region in Ireland, outside Boliden's Navan zinc deposit," he said. The Stonepark project is located near Group Eleven's other sites in Carricklittle and Oola. Anglo-Swiss mining company Glencore also owns a deposit known as Pallas Green within the area. Jaworski said all sites are located in a "roughly concentric pattern" around the Limerick volcanic complex. "One of the exciting ideas being developed by Group Eleven as part of the 'Big Think' is that known mineralization represents merely the outer edges of the system - with its heart located towards the centre of the volcanics," he said. Group Eleven has assembled the largest zinc portfolio of Irish land of any explorer. It has licences covering more than 3,000sqkm. The funds raised by the IPO last year are to be used specifically to explore the capabilities of that land. FoodCloud is aiming to double its operation over the next three years after securing investment of 1.5m from AIB. The deal will also see FoodCloud - a social enterprise that rescues waste food and distributes it to thousands of charities - receive part-matched Government funding through the Social Innovation Fund Ireland (SIFI) of just under 1m between now and 2020. FoodCloud was set up in Ireland in 2013 by Iseult Ward and Aoibheann O'Brien. It has since created a bespoke technology platform that connects thousands of food businesses directly to local charities to donate surplus food through its three warehouse hubs in Dublin, Cork and Galway. The company has grown rapidly since its inception and has redistributed over 40 million meals to over 9,500 charities all over Ireland and the UK. "It's really fantastic news for FoodCloud," said co-CEO Ward. "It is the first time that we have had a long-term view of funding. Having this security and funding in place until 2020 really allows us to start putting the plans in place to ensure that we can continue to grow our impact but also have a long and sustainable future." The FloodCloud platform - which allows retailers, farmers and manufacturers to alert local charities to the availability of surplus food - is used by most of the major retail chains, with 3,200 supermarkets donating regularly across the UK and Ireland. FoodCloud is "barely at the tip of the iceberg" in terms of the amount of food that could be rescued, said Ward. It rescues approximately 700 tonnes of food a month across Ireland. AIB has committed to investing 500,000 a year. This will be further supported by financial and non-financial supports to the value of 330,000 a year for three years from SIFI's new Growth Fund which has been established by the Department of Rural and Community Development from the Dormant Accounts Fund. IRISH renewable energy and modular home developer WElink Group has sold a 46mw solar power plant in Portugal to Allianz Capital Partners, part of the Munich-based Allianz insurance group. Construction of the Ourika plant, which is one of the largest of its kind in Europe that operates without subsidies, began last summer with a launch event in July. It was built by WElink and its partner, China Triumph International Engineering Company (CTIEC). Instead of the subsidies the plant relies on a 20-year fixed price corporate power purchase agreement. Located near Ourique in southern Portugal, Ourika covers 100 hectares, comprises 142,000 solar panels and generates enough energy to power about 23,000 homes. Commenting on the deal, the terms of which were not disclosed, Marc Groves-Raines, head of renewables at Allianz Capital Partners, said: "We are delighted to partner with the experienced developer WElink on this project, which is our first investment in a solar project in Portugal. "Ourika is a very valuable addition to our climate-friendly portfolio, which now exceeds 90 solar farms and wind parks. We hope to invest in more subsidy free solar projects in Europe." WElink's CEO is Dubliner Barry O'Neill a former DCC executive who founded the company with Dublin engineer Breandan MacAmhlaoibh. "We are very pleased to close this transaction. It cements our transition to becoming a leading international power producer," said O'Neill. "Ourika is the first project in an ambitious investment programme we have for Southern Europe. It will be followed by a second project in Portugal in 2019." Along with its founders, investors in WElink include a mix of family offices, small funds and private investors here, in Britain and the US. Over 50pc of electricity in Portugal is generated using renewable energy. A group of pension funds which has invested in Ryanair is to seek the removal of the companys chairman, David Bonderman, and the publication of succession plans for CEO Michael OLeary at the airlines next AGM. The Local Authority Pension Fund Forum (LAPFF) has written to Michael Cawley, chairman of Ryanairs nominations committee, to say that it will seek to put resolutions regarding both demands before the meeting. It will need the support of other shareholders in order to do this and has embarked on discussions in this regard. LAPFF is a group representing the pension funds of a number of UK local authorities. Its members own around 1pc of the airline. At last years AGM, the group opposed the re-election of Mr Bonderman. However, he was re-elected with more than 70pc of votes in his favour. Ryanair said yesterday: Shareholders recently passed all AGM resolutions by a large majority, including the nomination of directors and chairman. They appreciate how fortunate we are to have an outstanding chairman like David Bonderman to guide the board and the airline. The LAPFF said it was concerned about the length of time that Mr Bonderman has been chairman 22 years. It said the recent industrial issues faced by the carrier could have been smoothed over more easily if there had been a different chairman. In his letter to Mr Cawley, LAPFF chair Cllr Ian Greenwood said: It appears that Ryanair faces a prolonged transition to a more stable employment model and improved industrial relations. As long-term shareholders, we believe that Ryanair can continue to grow and prosper, but (we) also consider that this must involve change. Mr OLearys contract as CEO is due to expire next year. At the companys 2018 AGM last month, he said he would be happy to go back onto a 12-month rolling contract, like he has had in the past. His current deal came with a five-year term. Im very happy to go on to a rolling 12-month contract, Mr OLeary said. I own 4pc of the company; its not like Im going to go anywhere. They want me to sign another contract for a period of years. Im not sure whether I want to sign up for another five years. That would take me to 62. Im not sure Mrs OLeary would be very happy if I agreed to another five years. Ryanair told the market last week that profit after tax had fallen 7pc in the first half of its financial year, despite revenue rising 8pc. Higher fuel and staff costs ate into the margin. Mr OLeary said it would be a tough winter for the industry and some carriers would go bust. I've always hated statistics being quoted at me ever since I heard Mark Twain's popularisation of the expression "there are three kinds of lies: lies, damned lies, and statistics". The modern equivalent of course being "fake news". But facts, that's a different story. The Department of Finance recently published its paper on the "Tax Expenditure Review of Three Year Start-Up Relief" and notes that "according to the Central Statistics Office (CSO), SMEs make up 99.8pc of all active enterprises in Ireland, accounting for 69pc of all employees, 39pc of Ireland's Gross Value Added (GVA), and 48pc of the total value of revenue generated by Irish-based businesses". Should we not keep these businesses out of harm's way? The report says almost 50,500 companies were net corporation tax (CT) payers in 2017, but the top 10 accounted for 39pc of net CT receipts, or almost 3.2bn of the total net CT receipts of 8.2bn. Once again, should we not be looking after SMEs given their potential to break into the charts of the top 10 taxpayers? David becoming Goliath is always a great story. The Department's report recommended extending this startup relief for a further three years until the end of 2021. That extension came in the recent Finance Bill. This provides certain startup companies (there are exclusions) with corporation tax relief in their first three years of trading. Of course, certain Ts & Cs apply and the quantum of corporation tax relief is linked to the amount of Employers' PRSI paid by a company in an accounting period, subject to a maximum of 5,000 per employee and an overall limit of 40,000. Marginal reliefs can apply. Unused relief arising in the first three years of trading, due to losses or insufficient profits, are carried forward for use in subsequent years. That's the science bit, now back to the facts. The report notes that 14,344 new enterprises "birthed" in 2011 comprising company and individual startups. Of these, 12,970 enterprises (90.4pc) survived one year in business; 11,943 (83.3pc) survived two years; 10,720 (74.7pc) survived three: 10,157 (70.8pc) survived four; and 9,535 (66.5pc) lasted at least five. Put simply, almost 5,000, or 35pc, of businesses weren't around after five years. Let that sink in. The report says the number of people remaining engaged in the survival of enterprise corresponds to the survival rates of the enterprises themselves. Okay, we're near full employment now but moving jobs doesn't increase the number of jobs in SME terms. The report also says that those that do survive go on to engage more people than they did originally, giving more employment opportunities. The startup relief cost "provisionally" 5.7m in 2016 over 1,051 claims with the "human heavy" wholesale and retail sector comprising the highest claimants followed by those in the "Professional, Scientific and Technical" sector and then in "Construction". It strikes me though that there were almost 14,000 SME "births" in 2011 (okay, some were self-employments rather than companies) but there were only 1,284 start-up claims that year notwithstanding that only 9,000 businesses survived to 2016. We should be doing more here. The report looks at "maintaining" rather than "improving" the relief. Should we not look at extending the level of assistance beyond the three-year period and maybe increasing the cap of relief available. That said, cash matters. We could, to quote Clint Eastwood in Heartbreak Ridge (1986), "improvise, overcome and adapt", to at least supplement the relief to allow businesses in their "late-early years" to keep trying to live, thrive and survive. What about a proportionate exemption from employers' PRSI linked to employment growth for say the first five years of a business thereby reducing the cost of talent in those years? One of the biggest costs facing a business is salaries, etc, and that's why more companies are looking to employee equity compensation to enhance the packages they can offer to attract talent. Last year we saw the introduction of the Key Employee Engagement Programme (Keep) to help this along and give employees a piece of the action. The Minister for Finance noted in this year's budget speech that take-up "has been less than expected". Keep is a share-based remuneration package for employees of certain SME companies. An SME is made up of enterprises employing fewer than 250 with an annual turnover not exceeding 50m, and/or an annual balance sheet total not exceeding 43m at the date of granting the share option. Therefore, if the company grows in success, the employees get to Keep the tax benefits while sharing in that success. Under Keep the employee would only suffer Capital Gains Tax (CGT) at 33pc on the disposal of the shares acquired, marking a potentially substantial saving on income tax, but that's still one of the highest rates in the OECD. That matters; it can affect investment activities generally, but that's a whole different conversation. The Minister sought to make Keep more attractive to employers by increasing the maximum value of share options that could be granted to an employee in one year to 100pc of the employee's emoluments (previously 50pc). That's still behind the UK, which doesn't restrict similar awards to a percentage of an employee's remuneration. Previously the total market value of all shares, in respect of which qualifying share options have been granted by the qualifying company to an employee, couldn't exceed 250,000 in any three consecutive income tax years but the Finance Bill replaced that with a lifetime limit of 300,000. That's an intriguing move as that could make the scheme less attractive to SMEs. Minister Paschal Donohoe didn't address companies which remain on the dark side of the relief: for example; medical, dental, architectural, accountancy and taxation companies are among many of the relief's exclusions as a professional services company. The Finance Bill process isn't over yet so there's still time. But Keep is one element of share compensation and other elements could be looked at, eg, removing the application of USC and PRSI from Revenue approved share plans to encourage greater take up of this form of remuneration. We want SMEs on our wall and we need them on our wall. This isn't a statistic or fake news, it's a truth we can handle and therefore we need to keep them from harm's way. People who work for themselves should be counting their blessings. As they file a tax return before the fast-approaching deadline, they can be content that they have secured some notable gains recently. The move that will see the self-employed workers entitled to weekly Jobseeker's Benefit payments has been questioned. Self-employed workers currently have to apply for means-tested Jobseeker's Benefit based on the previous year's income. This excludes many of those seeking unemployment benefits when their businesses collapse. The Budget also saw the self-employed get a new entitlement to parental leave. But there has been no increase in the social insurance contribution to be paid. The PRSI (pay related social insurance) contribution for the self-employed stays at 4pc. This compares with 14.85pc contribution for PAYE workers, made up of 4pc from the employee, with the rest from the employer. At same time the Government is tightening entitlement rules to the contributory pension because the social insurance fund is unsustainable. This sees the pension age increase to 68. The founder of the Askaboutmoney.com website, Brendan Burgess, said the move to give Jobseeker's Benefit and a contributory pension for life to someone who pays 4pc of their declared income in PRSI was "just crazy". "An employee, on the other hand, pays 4pc of her salary and their employer pays 10.75pc on their behalf into the Social Insurance Fund and that is not enough," he said. A social affairs officer with the Irish Congress of Trade Unions, Laura Bambrick, also questioned the move. She said a survey conducted by the Department of Social Protection showed the self-employed were prepared to pay more PRSI for better benefits. The self-employed gained in the Budget in other ways too. Those who work for themselves will be able to earn more before paying tax. The earned income credit will rise by 200 to 1,350. This is money a self-employed person can earn before they pay tax. They also gain from the increase of 750 in the income tax standard rate band for all earners. Changes to the 4.75pc universal social charge rate (USC), which is coming down to 4.5pc, will also benefit those who work for themselves. A single self-employed earner on 55,000 will be 452 a year better off from the income tax and USC changes. All of this is an attempt by the Government to shore up support ahead of a fast-approaching election. It is clear that the Government has favoured more than 310,000 self-employed workers and small business owners over PAYE employees. Question The mobile reception in my house is awful. I live in a recently-built terraced house that's over three stories. The signal is okay upstairs but terrible downstairs. I hate having to walk up two flights of stairs to make or take a call. Is there something I can do to improve it myself? Answer Yes, but it will depend on what operator you're with and possibly what your local authority allows you to do with the exterior of your house. For example, if your mobile contract is with Eir (formerly Meteor), you might be able to avail of its 'Wi-Fi calling' service. In a nutshell, this lets you make and take calls (and texts) using your home Wi-Fi service. This effectively converts the calls and texts into an Eir mobile format. You don't have to have Eir Wi-Fi to use it, either. However, you do have to be using a compatible smartphone (which is most new ones). The advantage here is that you're more likely to have a strong Wi-Fi signal in your home - especially on the ground floor, where your router is - than a strong mobile signal. The bad news is that this service isn't available on Vodafone, Three, Tesco Mobile, Virgin Mobile or any of the others. If that four-fifths of the market includes you, you could try a 'mobile repeater' device. This basically pulls an available signal from outside your house inside the walls. But this is where local authority rules come in. You need to mount a box or antenna to the exterior of your home (the roof is usually the best place to do this). A cable then runs down and through your wall into a second box inside your home, which relays the boosted mobile signal around the house. These devices cost anywhere from 250 upwards depending on how large an internal area you want to cover and how many mobile network bands you want to include. This latter element is important. You need to know what frequency (3G, 4G and so on) your outside signal is before you buy the box as some of them are custom-made for certain frequencies and bands. (In this day and age, mobile operators still don't have standardised 3G or 4G signals across their entire network.) You'll also need someone to install it unless you really know what you're doing. So it's highly advisable to tread carefully on this one. An added element of confusion rests in the legality of the boxes themselves. Up until recently, mobile repeaters were illegal to use in Ireland because they interfered with regulated mobile operator signals. Earlier this year, Ireland's telecom regulator legalised some mobile repeater devices. However, many that you see for sale from online stores - even ones targeting Irish shoppers - are still illegal under Irish law. That doesn't mean that they won't work, but it's inadvisable to buy one. One range of mobile repeaters you can buy is sold by Stella Doradus (which is based in Waterford) at StellaDoradus.com. Again, get some advice if you're not technically minded, as there are multiple options which cost up to 1,499. Because I don't know what network you're with, the one I'm recommending below covers all networks and common frequencies. But it's pricey at 899. Even if you get past all these technical and legal tests, there is one final hurdle you have to clear: your local authority. You will need to check whether you're allowed to mount a mobile repeater antenna or device on the outside of your home. Local authorities have tightened up in recent years on gadgets attached externally to personal dwellings. For example, it's common now for someone living in an urban setting to receive a letter from their council requiring the removal of a satellite dish. While alarm boxes rarely run into such problems, it's worth checking with your local authority what the rules are. If you're not in a position to use either of these technical solutions (Wi-Fi calling or mobile repeaters), you may still be able to improve your communications without a full mobile signal. If you have an iPhone, you can text and call other people with iPhones solely using your home's Wi-Fi connection. For texts, this happens almost automatically if you have 'iMessage' switched on in your iPhone's settings (and the caller has a similar set-up). For calls, there's always FaceTime, an iPhone-only feature. This Skype-like system is popular among families whose members mostly use iPhones. However, if it's another type of smartphone in use, you can still avail of universal apps such as WhatsApp. This works over Wi-Fi and can also be used for calls. If the person you're calling also has WhatsApp (in Ireland, they probably do - most phone-owners have it installed), you can text and call them without the mobile network simply by inputting their number into your WhatApp contacts list. Recommendation: StellaHome-LGW RP1002 triband repeater kit (899 from StellaDoradus.com) Email your questions to caomahony@independent.ie Tech Two Fitbit Charge 3 149 from Harvey Norman Expand Close Fitbit Charge 3 / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Fitbit Charge 3 We've all become obsessed with the number of steps we do. Fitbit's new Charge 3 adds a lot more into the skinny device. As well as steps and sleep monitoring, you can get social or SMS messaging alerts. It has seven-day battery life and the premium version (20 extra) now supports Fitbit Pay (KBC and, soon, AIB). Surface Laptop 2 1,169 at microsoftstore.com Expand Close Surface Laptop 2 / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Surface Laptop 2 We were fans of Microsoft's first Surface Laptop. The new 13.5-inch touchscreen model is a fairly standard, predictable upgrade. It has more Ram memory (8GB or 16GB), which makes it quicker. It also has an upper limit of 1,000GB of storage, although you still only get a modest 128GB with the 1,169 model. 'A permanent thorn in the fat arse of municipal pretension" is how Bob Geldof describes Frank McDonald on the cover of this memoir by the long-serving Environment Editor of the Irish Times. And McDonald certainly was that over many years as he opposed the destruction of Dublin (the title of his seminal book in 1984). If this memoir were just about McDonald's battles with councillors, officials and developers ripping down beautiful old buildings, it would be interesting enough. But it's far more than that - it's a wonderfully indiscreet romp through several decades of Dublin life which will have many people who were around at the time nervously scanning the index. Now in his late 60s and semi-retired, McDonald tells the interspersed stories of his career and his personal life with a liberating abandon - a childhood in 1950s Dublin, fiddling Christian Brothers in school, rebellious UCD in the late 60s, getting into journalism, becoming the defender of the city and, colouring everything, being gay. Growing up in a modest home in Cabra West, Frank was aware from early on that he was more attracted to boys than girls. (An early TV crush was Illya Kuryakin in The Man from Uncle!) Since homosexual acts were criminal at the time, being gay was a hidden business, conducted in public toilets and pubs like Bartley Dunne's. Yet as McDonald describes it, he had a remarkably active gay life despite the difficulties. This developed while he was a student in UCD, during breaks in the UK and later in New York where he went after graduation. He did some freelancing from the US, which led to a job in the Irish Press, from where he moved to the Irish Times after a few years. He was a general reporter at first but quickly developed a special interest in what was being done to the city he loved, talking his way into being made environment correspondent so he could investigate this full time. One description he gives of council meetings at the time is telling: "The small 'public gallery' was heaving with estate agents, developers, landowners and lobbyists, watching every move like seasoned Las Vegas gamblers. You could nearly smell it in the air, that unmistakable whiff of corruption." It wasn't just the brown envelopes he was up against because in the planning culture of the time, preserving Georgian buildings was seen as eccentric when they could be replaced by office blocks or apartments. McDonald was so concerned about corruption that he went to the gardai regularly to pass on suspicions about who was on the take. After one such meeting to discuss Ray Burke and Liam Lawlor, a superintendent told him: "What we're dealing with here is not just a few backhanders. What we're dealing with here is a nest of vipers." Much later he had a critical influence on the Flood Tribunal, briefing its barristers on who he thought had been taking bribes. When he asked Frank Dunlop what question he was most worried about being asked, Dunlop replied: "Did any politicians ask me for money." McDonald passed this on to the tribunal's barristers and it opened the flood gates. He is just as frank when he is talking about subjects other than planning corruption, like his many gay friends, or the mess made of Temple Bar where he has lived for many years. And no one is spared, including former colleagues. (The book is titled Truly Frank with good reason.) Video of the Day Other delights involve the former Supreme Court judge Hugh O'Flaherty and McDonald's visits to the retired Charlie Haughey in Kinsealy where the two old foes may not have kissed but certainly made up. All the juicy morsels and regular chortles are going to make this book a bestseller. Without doubt, it's the memoir of the year. Colm Toibin's absorbing new book gives a fascinating insight into the influence the errant fathers of Wilde, Joyce and Yeats had on their literary sons. Colm Toibin's last book of essays, published in 2012, was called New Ways to Kill Your Mother - a teasing title that wasn't strictly accurate, given that its 15 chapters ranged far and wide in considering the impact of parents on writers and of writers on their own families. The subjects included such familiar Irish figures as WB Yeats, John Millington Synge, Samuel Beckett, Brian Moore and Sebastian Barry, but also such non-Irish writers as Thomas Mann, Hart Crane, Tennessee Williams, John Cheever and James Baldwin. The result was a book as provocative as it was playful, causing the reader, as all good literary essays do, to take a fresh look at the life and work of its various authors. As it happens, his new book could fairly have been titled New Ways to Kill Your Father because its three essays directly concern the fathers of Oscar Wilde, WB Yeats and James Joyce and the influence these Victorian gentlemen, eminent or otherwise, had on their famous sons. In the case of William Wilde, that influence seems to have had the least effect, given that, as Toibin observes, Oscar "put so much energy into letting it be known that he had invented himself", and perhaps it's overstating things to say that these three fathers "created chaos" in the lives of those around them. That's argued in Toibin's absorbing introduction, in which he takes a stroll through the Dublin streets these men inhabited and past the houses in which they lived and, in doing so, conjures up a 19th century city that "exalted the idea of isolation, individuality, aloneness". And he goes on: "Leopold Bloom moves alone in the city, as Stephen Dedalus does. Wilde in his London world stood alone, too, as he suffered alone. And Yeats stayed proudly aloof, as Joyce did in his exile. Ireland offered them isolation... It was a sort of gift". Arguably the same could be said of many creative artists in many cities (Fernando Pessoa in Lisbon, Jorges Luis Borges in Buenos Aires), though in Toibin's introduction, he vividly evokes a Dublin as full of secrets and shadows today as it was when these three patriarchs moved through its streets. Given his work as a rate collector ("the perfect job for someone who was sociable and garrulous"), Cork-born John Stanislaus Joyce knew the city better than most - so well, in fact, that his son would later tell a friend in Paris: "The humour of Ulysses is his; its people are his friends. The book is his spittin' image". He would also tell loyal and long-time benefactor Harriet Weaver: "I was very fond of him always, being a sinner myself, and even liked his faults... I got from him his portraits, a waistcoat, a good tenor voice, and an extravagant licentious disposition." The man himself, though, must have been hell to live with, though his drunken and violent behaviour affected son Stanislaus much more than James, as can be observed in Stanislaus's honest and often painful memoir, My Brother's Keeper. Here was a father who burdened his wife with 10 children and whose financial recklessness necessitated nine downward house-moves in 11 years. Video of the Day It would be easy, Toibin says, "to consign John Stanislaus Joyce to the position of one of the worst Irish husbands and worst Irish fathers in Irish history", yet he doesn't do so, and neither did the errant father's famous son. Oscar Wilde had removed himself from parental peccadilloes when he decamped to London, but the story of William Wilde, the Roscommon-born son of a doctor, is fascinating in itself. An eminent eye-and-ear specialist, he was also an archaeologist and travel writer, with notable books on Austria and the beauties of the Boyne and of Lough Corrib. Knighted in 1864, he was a man with "unstable and gnarled allegiances... not accepted as fully Irish and not a wealthy landowner either". And he was not immune from scandal, fathering three illegitimate children and involved in a lengthy legal battle with a former female patient, who successfully sued William's wife, Jane, for libellous comments in a letter. As for John Butler Yeats, the Co Down-born son of a clergyman, this wayward portrait painter was "exasperating but also inspirational", though the inspiration only really registered with son William when, at the age of 67, his father left for New York, never to return in the remaining 15 years of his life. Until then, he'd been constantly in debt, partly caused by his insistence that "I can only paint friendship portraits" and thus his inability to complete other artistic commissions. From New York, however, he wrote extraordinary letters about art and life to his son, letters which deeply influenced WB in his own artistic journey towards becoming the 20th century's greatest poet. Indeed, WB came to increasingly admire his "wayward and improvident" father. These three essays originally took the form of lectures at Emory University in Atlanta, Georgia, in honour of Richard Ellmann, the great biographer of both Joyce and Wilde, but they read beautifully in their current form. And the personal saunter through Dublin that features in the introduction is alone worth the book's price. Since his death in 1991, Freddie Mercury's reputation as one of the truly great live rock performers has only grown, and is likely to be enhanced by a new biopic. Released this week and starring Rami Malek as the great showman, Bohemian Rhapsody covers the build-up to the Live Aid concert, Freddie's solo career and his Aids diagnosis. It's pretty good, for the most part, but watching it, I was troubled by a nagging question: why did Freddie, possibly the most theatrical stage performer of them all, never act? He did in videos of course, dressing up like Bet Lynch from Coronation Street to hoover provocatively in the promo for 'I Want to Break Free', but he never went near a film role, despite numerous offers. Perhaps it's because he was a contradiction in terms of being a consummate performer for whom no crowd was too vast, but a shy and rather reserved man away from the spotlight, especially with those he didn't know. Or maybe he just had more sense. Sensing perhaps his limitations, Freddie Mercury never sullied his rock god reputation with a dodgy movie, and looking at the Thespian efforts of his fellow pop stars, he might have been on to something. Because with few exceptions, pop stars have tended to be terrible actors. Expand Close Elvis Presley and actress Ann-Margret in Viva Las Vegas / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Elvis Presley and actress Ann-Margret in Viva Las Vegas If we accept that Bing Crosby and Frank Sinatra (both of whom could act after a fashion) were not pop stars, and that Elvis was the first real one, we're in trouble from the start. Presley, mainly at the behest of his rapacious manager Colonel Tom Parker, made over 30 movies, and while the early ones were ropey, the likes of Jailhouse Rock and King Creole were arthouse masterpieces next to the dross Elvis turned up in the late 1960s. Stiff as a board, and with a limited Rolodex of expressions, Presley also tended to mumble indecipherably. Which is probably just as well, because the scripts of Elvis movies were usually unspeakable. The King was not a good actor, and he set an unhappy precedent. Though The Beatles appeared in several films together, they always had the good sense to play either themselves, or versions of themselves. If only the same could be said of Mick Jagger, whose titanic ego led him towards the bright lights of movie-making in the late 1960s. In Tony Richardson's 1970 film Ned Kelly, the scrawny frontman was ludicrously miscast as the legendary Irish-Australian outlaw, who derailed trains and battled squadrons of police in 1870s Victoria. Jagger looked like he was finding it hard to stand upright in Kelly's famous tin body armour, never mind take on the cops. He was, in fairness, a bit better in Performance (1970), Nicolas Roeg's sprawling thriller starring James Fox as an East End gangster who takes refuge in the home of a reclusive rock star (Jagger). The Rolling Stone seemed more at ease in this role, which allowed him to break into song, but where Elvis had too few expressions, Mick had too many, and never seemed likely to trouble the scorers at the Academy. A stiff dose of Werner Herzog more or less cured him of the acting bug. In the early 1980s he was cast as the assistant of Fitzcarraldo, a half-mad 19th century Irish-Peruvian who decides to build an opera house in the middle of the Amazon. Herzog, of course, tried to do it for real, dragging a partly disassembled steamship through the jungles from one river to another. A number of indigenous people working on the film lost their lives. This was no place for a pampered pop star, and when the production got bogged down, Jagger departed, never to return. He has confined himself mainly to cameos and small parts since. Expand Close Not wanting it all: Mercury restricted his theatrical leanings to pop videos and gigs / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Not wanting it all: Mercury restricted his theatrical leanings to pop videos and gigs Video of the Day The late David Bowie is often cited as a popster who could act, but in truth his film career is patchy. In 1976, he starred in Nicolas Roeg's The Man Who Fell To Earth as a soft-spoken alien who arrives on our world with an ambitious plan to ship water back to his home planet. Speaking stiffly and looking dead-eyed, Dave did seem oddly extraterrestrial, but this may have had something to do with the, by his own account, 10 grams of coke he was ingesting each day. "I was actually feeling as alienated as that character was," he said later, adding that: "I'm so pleased I made that, but I really didn't know what was being made at all." Bowie was present and correct, mentally speaking, for Just a Gigolo, a 1978 film in which he played a Weimar-era demobbed soldier who turns tricks to make a living. It was very bad, and Dave, always refreshingly honest, described it as "my 32 Elvis films rolled into one". He was better in Merry Christmas, Mr Lawrence (1983), as a charismatic British PoW who bravely stands up to a bullying and sadistic Japanese camp commander. And Bowie was Marlon Brando compared to Madonna. The Michigan-born popstress's first big role was in the 1985 hit romcom Desperately Seeking Susan, in which she played a hedonistic New Yorker who inspires a lonely New Jersey housewife (Rosanna Arquette) to change her life. Madonna was actually not bad in this supporting role, but unspeakable performances would follow once she marched to centre stage. About Shanghai Surprise, the 1986 'comedy' co-starring her then-beau Sean Penn, the less said the better, and things got even worse in Who's the Girl (1987), a sickly sweet screwball caper. Comedy, it seemed, was not in Madge's repertoire: try telling her that. Bloodhounds of Broadway, Dick Tracy, Body of Evidence - the stinkers came thick and fast, and things came to a head in Swept Away (2002), an arty vanity project directed by her then-husband Guy Ritchie in which she played a rich bitch who gets stranded on a desert island with a hunky underling. "Further proof," said one critic, "that Madonna can't act." But occasionally, pop stars can. Cher, during the period when her face was still mobile, made an impressively smooth transition from pop to Hollywood. She was excellent in films like Mask, Suspect and Witches of Eastwick, and won the Best Actress Oscar in 1988 for her fine work in the irresistible romcom Moonstruck. And what of Justin Timberlake, he of the hipster shuffle and Jackson-esque vocal stylings? I suppose it might help that he's an alumnus of the Mickey Mouse Club, but he's been surprisingly competent in his cinematic outings, from his sinister turn as tech guru Sean Parker in The Social Network to comic roles in the likes of Friends with Benefits and more serious work like the Coen Brothers' Inside Llewyn Davis. He's a decent actor, but the sky would appear to be the limit for Lady Gaga after her breathtaking and surely Oscar-winning performance in A Star is Born. So there are pop stars who can act, but they tend to be the exception that proves the rule, and overall you'd have to say old Freddie knew what he was at. FLIGHT FANTASTIC: The sight of starlings taking part in mass murmurations is now less common in autumn and winter skies It is one of nature's awe-inspiring sights, but Birdwatch Ireland is trying to discover why starling murmurations are disappearing from our evening skies. Murmurations, where tens of thousands of common starlings gather to dance across the sky in unison, were once a much more frequent sight, especially at this time of year when the clocks go back, but they have become less common in recent years. Samuel Taylor Coleridge summed up the spectacle: "Some moments glimmering and shivering, dim and shadowy, now thickening, deepening, blackening." Birdwatch Ireland says they are being inundated with requests asking where they can see the autumn and winter spectacular. Now they are seeking the public's help in trying to log the murmurations to build up data on the ''sky dances''. Niall Hatch of Birdwatch Ireland said the decline of the murmurations was a mystery. One of the most spectacular has taken place each year above Lough Ennell outside Mullingar. Others occasionally take place in Wexford Town, Bettystown, Co Meath and also in central Belfast. "A hundred years ago, starling murmurations would have been common in a lot of towns around Ireland but they are getting fewer and fewer each year and we don't know why. "We know there are fewer starlings but they are still a common bird and are not in any danger but we don't know why the frequency of these amazing performances is getting less and less," he said. Mr Hatch said ornithologists cannot say definitely why starlings take part in the spectacular murmurations but it is not thought to be a courtship ritual. "It's the wrong time of year for that, but there are a number of theories. "One is that birds gather in huge numbers to avoid predators because they will not be picked off by the likes of peregrine falcons if they are in a large grouping. "Another theory is that they can tell if other birds have eaten well by the way they fly and so other birds will follow them to their source of food." Mr Hatch said that one of the most fascinating aspects of murmurations is that the birds never crash into each other during their aerial acrobatics . "As well as the obvious breath-taking scene it provides, the fact that not one of these tens of thousands of birds flying and changing direction in a split second ever hits each other is incredible. "It's an amazing aspect of the nature around us and we would love to find out more about it and that is why we are appealing to people to film or photograph murmurations if they see them in the coming weeks," he said. From November last year into the early part of 2018 crowds regularly gathered at dusk in Timoleague, in West Cork to witness a particularly large murmuration. Peter Wolstenholme of Birdwatch Ireland posted a spectacular video on Facebook which showed a peregrine falcon attempting to target the starlings Anybody who witnesses a murmuration is asked to share photos or videos to the Birdwatch Ireland Facebook page. People can email their sighting to info@birdwatchireland.ie or call on 01-2819878. THE Taoiseach has warned that the Government must be prepared for the possibility of a legal challenge to the removal of blasphemy from the Constitution but said he hopes to have the primary legislation in place to remove the Constitutional reference by the summer recess. The Government is to look at the possibility of strengthening the incitement to hatred legislation. Speaking outside Dublin Castle, Mr Varadkar said the next set of elections will be held in May, with the question of whether to extend voting rights on the Presidency to Irish citizens in the North. Plebiscites will also be held in some of our cities to see if people want a directly elected mayor and also on the agenda to have the place on women in the home debated and the waiting requirement for divorce. The Minister for Justice Charlie Flanagan said he was pleased the referendum had been carried, saying it was "reflective of a modern constitutional democracy and Im pleased that the decision has been taken in a most decisive way in all 40 constitutions in the country". He thanked everybody involved and thanked all the parties in the Dail and all the major churches, describing the result as "a very important statement in terms of Ireland and our people." From an international perspective it was important that we remove the word blasphemous from our constitution, Mr Flanagan said. There are many states who practices a form of repression, sadly, in our world and often Ireland has been cited as being one of the country with specific reference to blasphemy in our Constitution. I believe it is important therefore that that be removed. Im pleased that the question was put to the people and the people responded in a very positive way, he added. Mr Flanagan said every referendum is a challenge of direct democracy, adding that there will be people who will oppose any question put to them but said this was a most decisive victory. Alan OKeeffe and Green Party councillor David Healy above the sewage pipe in Howth. Photo: David Conachy Raw sewage flowing into a beautiful bay at Howth continues to make a mockery of environmental protection standards. A pipe channels the sewage into Doldrum Bay from upmarket homes in the area. Irish Water installed it two years ago to replace an old broken sewer which caused sewage to spew onto the rocky shore for years. The new pipe allows it to go directly into the sea close to the shoreline. "This is contrary to European environmental legislation. The EU gave Ireland a deadline to stop raw sewage pollution by 2005," said Howth-based Green Party councillor David Healy. But Doldrum Bay is one of 38 places around Ireland where untreated sewage still continues to flow into the natural environment. "It's a real shame such a beautiful place is being ruined by sewage," Cllr Healy said. He said the bay and dozens of other places in Ireland suffering from raw sewage outflows had been the victims of decades of reluctance by successive governments to properly fund sewage treatment. A planning condition for allowing the building of the giant sewage treatment plant in Ringsend was that the discharge into Doldrum Bay and other places in the region would be diverted there by December 2011. But in 2012 a council request for funding to divert the Doldrum Bay sewage to a pumping station at Sutton for transfer to Ringsend was turned down by the Department of the Environment. Meanwhile, that old broken sewer pipe was causing tomato plants to grow on the shore, said Cllr Healy. The Environmental Protection Agency insisted the waste-water pollution must be stopped, he said. Local father-of-two Patrick Jackson (51) said the sewage outflow was only 200 metres from the popular Jameson Beach and 500 metres from the 'Bailey Jumps' area, where bathers leap from cliffs. "I am ashamed that my children have to share their nearest beach with colostomy bags, tampons, urine-testing strips, suppository wrappers and medical sewage waste," he said. "I am even sadder that the myriad marine life - including seals, curlew, porpoise, shrimp, oystercatchers and lobsters - have to exist in these abhorrent conditions." A spokeswoman for Irish Water said: "Irish Water is progressing with plans to pump waste water from Doldrum Bay to the Howth network and from there to Sutton and ultimately to Ringsend. "The company is on track to deliver on our approved investment plans which will result in no areas in the country having any form of untreated waste-water discharge by 2021." A contractor shot dead as he worked with his tractor was hailed as "a hard-working, kind-hearted and honest gift" to his community. The tribute came as hundreds packed St Colman's Church in Macroom, Co Cork for the Requiem Mass of father of one Derry Coakley (58). Mr Coakley suffered fatal injuries from a shotgun blast as he worked at lands near Raleigh North, some 4km from Macroom, late last Tuesday evening. Despite being seriously injured, he was able to use his mobile phone to raise the alarm with a friend. He then tried to drive his tractor to safety but was apparently overcome by his injuries and the vehicle crashed into a wall some 300 metres from the scene where he was shot. Mr Coakley was pronounced dead at the scene before he could be transferred to Cork University Hospital (CUH). Monsignor James O'Donnell told the Requiem Mass the Macroom community was deeply shocked by the tragic death of the hard-working man who had done so much for his town over his life. He said kind-hearted Derry was always willing to help others - telling everyone after a request for help to: "just leave it with me." "Tragic death which is almost sudden and without warning is like a blackout - without a chance to prepare, you are plunged into darkness. Our whole world is turned upside down," he said. "Last Tuesday night Derry Coakley's light was suddenly and tragically extinguished." "We all have our own memories of Derry. Like his father, Sean, his name was synonymous with hard work, with long hours of work, with machinery such as tractors and diggers, with efficiency, with honesty and with a desire to help and an inability to say no." "His importance in our community was well-summed up during the week by one of his many friends who said that whenever there was a job to be done, whenever there was a problem, Derry was the go-to person." "We are all beneficiaries of Derry's skill - many parts of our town and surrounding countryside have Derry's imprint." "Every job that Derry took in hand was finished to perfection." "Derry was also a man of faith and prayer - he was in this church for 8.30am Mass every Sunday morning." "He shared his love of music with his daughter, Deirdre, and was delighted to be able to bring her and her pals to youth concerts in Killarney and elsewhere and to bring them all home safely." The Offertory Gifts reflected the loves of Mr Coakley's life - and included models of a tractor and a digger. His coffin was flanked by a photograph of his beloved family and a picture of him working on his favourite tractor. As a mark of respect, Macroom Tidy Towns and Macroom Ploughing Association provided a guard of honour at the graveside. The Coakley family are very well known and highly respected in Macroom. Mr Coakley's father, Seanie, worked in the plant hire business for decades. His mother, Joan, operates a successful taxi hire business in the town. Mr Coakley lived with his elderly mother at the family home at Castle Street. His sister, Siobhan, and his daughter, Deirdre, both also live locally. Meanwhile, a 66-year-old man appeared before a special sitting of Bandon District Court on Saturday charged in relation to Mr Coakley's death. Gerard Lynch of Curraheen, Raleigh North, Macroom, Co Cork was charged with the murder of Mr Coakley at Raleigh North on October 23 last. Judge James McNulty was told that, in reply to his caution and charge, Mr Lynch told Gardai: "No comment." Mr Lynch, a retired cabinet maker and a father of two, was remanded in custody to appear again before Bandon District Court on November 2 next. Officials at the Department of Education say they are unable to put a cost on the scale of work needed to make Celtic Tiger-era schools safe as engineering inspections are carried out over the course of the weekend. The Department told the Sunday Independent that student safety is its priority, but it was unable to provide assurances that the cost of making schools safe will not hinder other building projects. There are now concerns that spending millions carrying out urgent repairs on new schools will impede much-needed development of other school projects. "We will ensure that any necessary remedial works are undertaken at relevant schools and that costs will be met. The scale of costs is not clear at this time," the Department said. However, it failed to offer assurances that the repair works needed at schools will not eat into money set aside for future school projects. Engineers are continuing to assess some of the 42 schools built by Western Building Systems (WBS) between 2003 and 2018 after three Dublin schools were shut, or partially closed last week, amid concerns about their structural integrity. Yesterday, the Department of Education confirmed structural issues have been identified at two more Dublin schools. They were assessed by engineers as part of a nationwide review of the WBS developments. Assessments took place last Friday at 10 of the schools and continued yesterday. Further checks will be carried out throughout the Bank Holiday weekend and into next week's mid-term break to ensure the buildings are safe for children to return to class next month. Officials yesterday confirmed Gaelscoil Eiscir Riada, a 16-classroom primary school with 454 pupils in Lucan, will require external and internal intervention. They said an engineering solution will be implemented during the mid-term break to allow the ground floor of the building to reopen after Halloween. A spokesman for the Department said it is working with the school to put off-site interim accommodation in place for remaining classes when the school reopens after the holidays. Engineers have also identified structural issues at Scoil Chaitlin Maude in Dublin 24. The spokesman said these only affect the exterior cavity wall at the building. A fence will be erected around the building and protective decking put in place during the mid-term break. The assessments have also identified four schools that will be able to reopen fully after the mid-term break. Luttrellstown Community College, Gaelscoil Shliabh Rua in Dublin 18, Broombridge Educate Together National School and Scoil Choilm, Porterstown, will all be able to reopen, the Department has confirmed. Assessments remain ongoing at four of the other schools visited by engineers last Friday. WBS said the Department certified its schools and it complied with building regulations. He may be the second-richest politician in the Dail, according to reports, but Michael Healy-Rae is not a man given to ostentatious displays of wealth. There are no flash cars or jacuzzis around his home in Kilgarvan. He lives in the same modest two-storey white house on the edge of the village where he grew up. "Everybody else left and I'm still here," he jokes, as he serves me Rich Tea biscuits and slices of Cheddar cheese at the kitchen table under a portrait of John F Kennedy. "The house is nothing fancy at all. My father made the blocks himself when the house was built." On a typically busy Monday in his Kerry constituency, Healy-Rae is at his most comfortable talking about his upbringing as the youngest son of Jackie and Julie Healy-Rae. He says of his American-born mother, a consular official and trained psychologist who met Jackie Healy-Rae when she was in Kerry on holidays: "I always think it is funny that my mother could speak seven languages - including writing Arabic - and I could barely manage one." He likes to talk about his childhood in the Kerry village, and his life in politics, and the lengths he will go to to win votes and serve his constituents. When I call in to visit him, he has been organising bus trips across the border to the North for his constituents so that they can get fast hip, knee and cataract hospital operations - and bypass the chronic HSE waiting lists. Healy-Rae, who seldom walks without a phone firmly pressed to his ear and is hardly ever seen without the cap, is highly sensitive to the charge that he is the quintessential parish pump politician - to the extent that he is almost a caricature of the breed. Expand Close Michael Healy-Rae has just published 'Time to Talk'. Photo: Clare Keogh / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Michael Healy-Rae has just published 'Time to Talk'. Photo: Clare Keogh His critics would say that he only serves local interests, but he has a ready response: he sees himself as the rural version of Tony Gregory, the independent TD who was hailed a hero when he brought home the bacon for inner-city Dublin in the 1980s. "The late Tony Gregory saw all the problems in the inner-city of Dublin - he was meeting mothers living in tenements and drugs were rampant. He did a deal with Charlie Haughey as an independent, and got money to build houses and clean up the drugs problem. I never heard anybody say he was a parish pump politician - because that was in Dublin." Warming to his theme, Healy-Rae says, "If that was me looking for a bridge down in the Black Valley or a road in Ventry or Lispole, they would say 'he was only into pure gombeen politics'." The 51-year-old will talk until the cows come home about political campaigns, but he is a little more reticent when attention turns to his own business interests, which are immediately evident as you drive into Kilgarvan past the life-sized cut-out sign of his father. He owns the Maxol petrol station and the Mace convenience store, which is run by his wife Eileen and daughter Juliette. As well as being the postmaster, Healy-Rae recently won the contract to sort mail in the district, runs a plant-hire business, and has his own farm. He has a contract supplying fuel to the county council. He is reported to be the biggest landlord in the Dail, with 10 rental properties - and is also busy turning an old pub complex in Tralee into apartments. His brother Danny, the oldest in the family, also has his own plant-hire business, and owns the Jackie Healy-Rae pub. Although the brothers co-operated in the 2016 general election when they both won seats, they run their own political and business operations. Michael says, "We have the same viewpoints on the big issues, but we are not joined at the hip." Expand Close Michael Healy-Rae has just published 'Time to Talk'. Photo: Clare Keogh / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Michael Healy-Rae has just published 'Time to Talk'. Photo: Clare Keogh With such a busy life, it is hardly surprising that the politician found it hard to find time to produce his first book, Time to Talk, which has just been released. The volume is a series of short episodes from his upbringing in Kilgarvan, focusing heavily on his parents and stories from around the area. In order to produce the book, his ghostwriter Tara King was only allowed to be in contact him between the hours of midnight and 7am. Like Margaret Thatcher, Healy-Rae says he gets by on very little sleep - and when I go to his constituency office early in the morning, he has already been up and about for almost three hours. The TD runs his political operation like a mini-ministry in a small room at the back of his postal sorting office. In the somewhat cramped office, he works with three assistants including his son Jackie Junior, and visitors are ushered into the inner sanctum through the Mace shop. Phones are constantly buzzing with calls from constituents, and he is closely briefed by his secretary Martina Drew, who seems to be his eyes and ears. At one point, she prompts him with some information as he does an interview on local radio. The requests made of the TD range from the humdrum to the downright bizarre. On one occasion some years ago, he received a request to bury a constituent's amputated leg in a local graveyard in the middle of the night - and duly obliged. The man concerned might have literally had one foot in the grave, but there was also one vote guaranteed in the ballot box. The pictures on display in the constituency office reflect the Healy-Rae interests - Pope John Paul II, Charles Haughey, and Michael himself with the late model Katy French. It is a story of traditional Catholicism, an upbringing in the heart of Fianna Fail as an admirer of Haughey (before a dramatic parting of the ways under Bertie Ahern), and a touch of celebrity. The Healy-Raes stood out as pro-life TDs during the recent referendum, but his own version of Catholic belief is not laced with any kind of sanctimony. He once caused a national commotion back in the 1990s when he noted that sales of Playboy magazine were far outstripping those of the Farmers Journal in his Kilgarvan shop. In his book, he recalls how his family were friendly with Eamonn Casey when he was Bishop of Kerry, and he used to call into the pub regularly. When he met the Healy-Raes one time, the Bishop introduced his girlfriend Annie Murphy as his cousin. Healy-Rae says his mother Julie was always dubious - and had an inkling that there was something more to the relationship. "Looking back, I was upset at the way Bishop Casey was ostracised and had to go away and live in exile," says Healy-Rae. "The press did what they had to do, but in the greater scheme of things they were two consenting adults - and they didn't hurt anybody." With regards to the recent abortion referendum, there is a sense that he has moved on - and that this is not a battle that will be refought: "We live in a democracy. People were asked a question and they voted. I might not like the result, but that is what people voted for." Up in the living room of his house, Healy-Rae is keen to show off his extensive library of books, and appears obsessed by the Kennedy family. "I have read hundreds of books about them," he says, fetching down a book about the Kennedy women, and speculating that Jackie was having an affair with Bobby Kennedy after JFK was shot. Healy-Rae sees old Joe Kennedy, the patriarch of the clan, as an inspiration, and follows closely his simple advice about electioneering: "If you want people to vote for you - you have to go out and ask them to." It is a message that the Healy-Raes take to heart, and in his book, Healy-Rae recalls how his father would stop at nothing to make personal contact with voters. Jackie Healy-Rae was not to be deflected if he didn't get an answer after knocking at a constituent's home or ringing the doorbell. Getting no response at one woman's house, when he was canvassing with his son, Jackie put his head around the door and shouted, and finally got a reply from upstairs. As Healy-Rae recalls it, "Off he goes up the stairs, cap on his head, canvass cards under his arm, and straight into the bathroom where herself is sitting inside in the tub, nothing but suds covering the bit of modesty. Without batting an eyelid, my father starts canvassing her, even handing her a 'Healy-Rae for No. 1' canvass card. When there's a politician out canvassing, you're not even safe in your own bath!" When he was a boy in the late 1970s, his parents separated. He stayed living in the house with his mother, while his father lived nearby. He betrays little emotion about the split. "It was more unusual than it would be now for a woman to be bringing up children without a husband in the house. Times were different and it was not an everyday occurrence. But afterwards my parents got on fine." Healy-Rae's enthusiasm about showing off his book collection can perhaps be attributed to the fact that he himself could not read until he was 12. "I am dyslexic. There was no such thing as detecting those problems when I was young. I was 100pc written off. If you were not up to speed on reading and writing, people thought you were stupid. Your head was not considered to be as good as everybody else's." He recalls how a young nun, Sister Regina, came to his rescue just before he went to secondary school. "She told me my mind was locked up with small padlocks. And what she needed was a key for each one to open up a piece of my mind. So that is what we did - and eventually I was able to read and write." Growing up, Healy-Rae pursued his twin passions for making money in any way possible, and politics. His father was a Fianna Fail activist and councillor renowned for his organisational skills. He was drafted in to help run by-elections around the country. Healy-Rae remembers being excited when a politician died, because he would be taken out of school to go off campaigning with Jackie in some far-flung corner of the country. Taking me on a walk through Kilgarvan to his old national school, which is now a community centre, Healy-Rae ruefully reflects on how the village has changed. At 10.30 in the morning, there is nobody around on the street. Trucks honk their horns as the drivers spot the slight frame of Kerry's most famous politician as they pass. Standing near his old schoolroom, he tells me how his favourite teacher, Master Hickey, used to bring a gun into class and shoot grey crows out the back window - "blaguards with wings" he used to call them. It is a practice that would not be in line with modern health and safety norms, but Healy-Rae approved. He shows me the dozens of buildings that were once shops or pubs, recalling the people who worked in them. "When I was growing up, there were 26 shops here - butchers, bike shops, sweetshops. Now there are just two - my own shop and one at the other end of the village." Healy-Rae's schemes for making money when he was growing up were manifold. As a child, he cycled to fetch 'messages' for local people living outside the village. He sold sweets at school, collected holly at Christmas, painted houses, and worked in a piggery. And when he went to agricultural college in Pallaskenry, Co Limerick, he made healthy profits on the side by selling poitin. Before politics started to take up most of his time, his main focus was on his machinery business. With his extensive real-estate portfolio, he has little time for other TDs who give out about politicians who are into property. "They will drive every landlord out and what will happen is the homes will be sold and occupied, and less will be available. There is nothing wrong with being a landlord - you pay your taxes, and that is it." He proudly recalls how he became a teenage landlord: at the age of 19, he was doing up a property and renting it out. "I dislike politicians who get up, banging their fists, saying they represent the working man - the majority of those people never did a real day's work in their lives." As well as being one of the most prolific vote-getters in the Dail - boasting in the book how he once even managed to secure a vote after running over and killing a constituent's dog on a canvass - Healy-Rae is also one of the most accident-prone politicians in living memory. He is renowned as the cat with nine lives, having survived bad car smashes, including one which had him in a full body cast, and on crutches for four years. He has been attacked by a cow that stamped him "in the goolies department", almost choked on a chicken before he was rescued by a neighbour's Heimlich manoeuvre, and was carried out of the Dail on a stretcher after he collapsed. Even when he was in mother's womb, he was given a jolt when his she suffered an electric shock, when she touched a fridge that had gone live. So how come he gets into such scrapes? "I think if you do a lot, on a law of averages things will happen to you," he answers. Facing up to life's adversities and those of his constituents, Healy-Rae sometimes looks like he carries the weight of the world on his shoulders. He says he likes to follow advice of his mother, gleaned from her training as a psychologist. She used to tell him: "It's not what happens to you in life that matters, it's how you react." When the microphones are switched off and the camera lights dim, he is a more cerebral figure than the persona that is seen in TV studios and in the Dail. With the cap as his essential prop, at times it seems that he is playing out the role, perfected by his father over decades. He is initially wary, particularly when he wants to close off a certain line of questioning. But as the morning passes, and he has sized up the terrain, he exudes more warmth, becomes more effusive, and seems genuinely hospitable. Bertie Ahern made a rare political misjudgment when he failed to put his father on the ticket for Fianna Fail in the 1997 general election. Jackie Healy-Rae won a seat as an independent, secured Government investment in his area in return for his support, and a political dynasty in Leinster House was born. Asked if the Healy-Raes would ever rejoin Fianna Fail in the future, Healy-Rae says, "It is unlikely, but you never know - someday they might join us." 'Time to Talk' by Michael Healy-Rae is published by Gill Books at 16.99 Photos by Clare Keogh After Greeces exit from the programme, it will have the active support of the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) as it works to repair the damage of austerity policies, the Secretary of the OECD Greece Joint Steering Comittee Mario Lopez-Roldan said in statements to the Athens-Macedonian News Agency (ANA) on the sidelines of the 2018 Rhodes Forum for the Dialogue of Civilisations. I think it is a new era. Obviously there are structural issues and problems for the Greek economy that will not be easy to solve. But this is a very important moment because for the first time this government will have the opportunity to promote its own policies. Now that they are coming out of the programme, they have a new national development strategy, which is very focused on repairing the damage of austerity policies. They have the support of the OECD. We are working with Greece actively, he noted. 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 Shortfall: German Chancellor Angela Merkel may have to find an additional 4 billion per year from her country's budget to make up for the UK's missing contribution after Brexit French President Emmanuel Macron (R) welcomes Irish Prime Minister Leo Varadkar (L) upon his arrival at the Elysee Palace, in Paris, ahead of a meeting, on October 24, 2017 Talks: EU leaders, including Theresa May, (bacl row, third from left) at the the Informal Summit of Heads of State or Government in Salzburg last month. Breaking up is hard to do: Leo Varadkar and Prime Minister Theresa May during a bilateral meeting in Brussels Turning 60 can be tricky. Life reflections can tend to the gloomy side: too young for a pension, too old for big career initiatives, euphemistically-termed "health issues" creep in with intimations of mortality. But alternatives to not turning 60 are not great. So, try the phrase: 'The Worst is Never Certain'. The European Union, now aged 61, is facing several crises - including Brexit - and many of these issues have implications for everyday life in Ireland. Brexit will bring big changes for Ireland after 45 years of EU membership. Expand Close Talks: EU leaders, including Theresa May, (bacl row, third from left) at the the Informal Summit of Heads of State or Government in Salzburg last month. / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Talks: EU leaders, including Theresa May, (bacl row, third from left) at the the Informal Summit of Heads of State or Government in Salzburg last month. There is, however, one certainty about the European Union in late 2018. The bloc's leaders are already well advanced in planning for an EU without the United Kingdom. This has been evident at their leaders' summits now nearly always held at the mammoth Europa complex in Brussels. There have been more than a dozen summits since the UK voters opted for an EU divorce in June 2016, and at many of these summits Brexit has scarcely figured at all. The year 2016 was the EU's 'annus horribilis'. On June 23, UK voters opted to leave the EU after 43 years of membership; and on November 8, voters in the USA elected one Donald Trump on a tagline of 'America First'. These events catapulted incipient questions on to the international agenda about the very idea of multilateral institutions like the EU. They also brutally raised doubts about the future of the European-American alliance which has underpinned stability of a kind across the western world since the late 1940s. The 60th birthday in 2017 landed amid considerable dread about a great voter lunge to the Eurosceptic extremes of right and left. But, it turned out the worst was not certain after all. Our half-happy slogan - The Worst is Never Certain - comes from French political scientist, Corrine Deloy, in a hard-nosed stocktake earlier this year of the rise of populism sweeping mainland Europe. That's a phenomenon which is happily less evident in Ireland. Yes, pivotal elections in France, Netherlands, Germany and elsewhere, did see Eurosceptic populists right and left gain considerable political ground in 2017. But the populists did not win power and in fact there was also a less commented upon rise for pro-European parties - most notably the election of Emmanuel Macron, as an unashamedly pro-EU President of France, who on the canvass favoured the beautiful EU anthem, 'Ode to Joy', as much as the stirring 'La Marseillaise'. None of this is an effort to downplay the continuous rise of the populist right, and to a lesser extent a Eurosceptic left. It is not to deny the near-death of Social Democrats all across the EU, including Irish Labour, who for decades along with their Christian Democrat rivals, drove European solidarity. Certainly, the worst was shown not to be certain in 2017. But that is some distance from being certain that the worst, or something approaching it, is still not going to happen to the 61-year-old EU with potential fallout for Ireland. Coming to terms The UK is well on its way through EU exit portals and the only thing at issue in late 2018 is the departure terms - and especially the fate of the Irish border. Bar the UK itself, Ireland has the most interest in these divorce terms. The other member states, and especially specific sectors such as car-makers within those states, also have Brexit interests, but only up to a point. By now Brexit spends long periods in a silo of its own in the EU capital. "The interesting thing is how often Brexit is not even mentioned at various EU meetings. Sometimes it is mentioned out of politeness because there is a British, or indeed Irish, official present. But there are so many other things to be dealt with," a long-time Brussels diplomat told the Irish Independent. These is a growing conviction that the EU will do a half-reasonable Brexit deal with the UK. The EU was set up to do deals which often come late and can look rather clunky. But Brussels is the home of compromises. Far less certain is whether UK prime minister Theresa May can ever sell any such deal at home. From the outset, the EU side has been facing a London political elite at war with itself and does not know what outcome it wants. It is easy to become entombed in the details, and bewildered by the jargon, surrounding the key issue of the Irish Border. But just hold a few key thoughts on this one. When Brexit happens, and the associated transition period passes, the Border becomes a de facto EU frontier with the UK jurisdiction. Brussels, London, and Dublin all agree that they want to avoid a return to border checks for customs and product standards. Ireland succeeded in getting a thing called the 'Backstop', a minimum arrangement which will kick in, if the EU and UK cannot agree a post-Brexit trade deal, and which would avoid a return of a 'hard border'. In essence it would keep the North inside the EU customs union, and close to the single market, by mimicking EU product standards. All sides hope the Backstop will not have to be used because they believe a decent long-term EU-UK trade deal can emerge in negotiations likely to take many years. But the Backstop's existence causes big problems for ultra-Brexiteers in London, who argue it undermines Brexit, and the Democratic Unionist Party, who prop up Mrs May's minority government. It all turns on making a special case for the North - without being seen to have the North exit the EU on terms too markedly different from those of England, Scotland and Wales. On the other side of the argument, moves by the UK to extend the North's concessions to all its territory, cause further waves among those ultra-Brexiteers. The UK-wide concession idea also causes worries in Brussels who fear the UK would get big trade benefits without meeting its obligations. It will drag on... and on. But reverting to our half-happy EU slogan - The Worst is Never Certain - it is more likely that Brexit will happen with economic impacts for Ireland. Hopefully, those impacts will stop short of carnage, and can be ameliorated over time. A question of tax So, beyond the Border row, what are these many other issues which face Ireland after the departure of the UK? Well, if you promise to read on, I'll try to keep this brief, and give you a flavour of what is looming into view. Most of all, we must try to see the implications of these issues for Ireland in the context of the UK's departure from the EU. As the EU finally emerges from major economic recession, there are questions about a more ordered eurozone geared to avoid another such collapse. The EU seven-year budget regime expires in 14 months and must be recast to cover the years 2020-2027, with the added delight of funding a 12bn-per-year budget hole left by the UK's departure. The EU must also contemplate new taxation rules to cope with stateless multinational companies. These issues will impact directly on Ireland and have long ago raised red flags in Dublin. Ireland's experience in the wake of the banking collapse, with losses of some 40bn borne by the Irish taxpayer, was arguably the most bitter in the 45-year relationship. The EU's effective ban on Ireland having bank bondholders carry their share of the debt still rankles. There has been some progress on new post-collapse EU supervisory structures and creation of funds to avoid another collapse. The European Central Bank has steadied the ship and banished speculation about the death of the euro by massive bond purchases. But the departure of the UK in relation to banking and monetary issues does not have a big direct effect. As before, Ireland must face into all these battles alone, or with other allies. Equally, the future EU budget, once you get over the detail of the 12bn hole left by Brexit, also leaves Ireland fighting its corner alone. Bar the odd detail of common ground about budget controls, the UK and Ireland have always faced in different directions on the EU budget. The UK has long opposed EU farm grants, and was sceptical about regional and social grants, which for decades benefited Ireland hugely. Ireland is now a small net contributor to the EU budget to the tune of about 200m per year - but that sub to Brussels will very probably increase significantly after 2019. We must bear in mind that Germany will likely face an increase of 4bn per year and France 3bn. Expect lively times ahead here. Merely writing 'EU' and 'tax' in the one sentence has long been enough to raise hackles in Ireland. Here, the UK's departure is a big loss as London's insistence on fiscal sovereignty was a big bulwark against changes to the current position whereby taxation is the sole preserve of the member states. EU taxation issues require unanimous approval by member governments. That includes any move to change the rules to make decisions by majority vote. But, as many capitals eye our 12.5pc corporation tax rate, Ireland would be very lonely politically trying to veto EU moves to take more tax control. Equally, Ireland is already adapting to international pressures to tax multinationals more effectively, and that pressure can only grow as it is further driven by challenges in the digital world. Tax is very likely the biggest EU post-Brexit battle ahead for Ireland. In it for the long haul 'Irexit' really does not have the same ring to it - or does it? Few of us had even heard the term 'Brexit' before spring 2016 but now we utter it as automatically as we draw oxygen. Standing in the shadow of the Europa building at the most recent EU summit, Fianna Fail leader Micheal Martin made it very clear that his party was committed to Ireland staying in Europe. Inside the conference centre a few hours later, Taoiseach Leo Varadkar repeated his mantra that Ireland was fully signed up to the EU for the long haul. Even Sinn Fein, whose EU policies 30 years ago mirrored those of Maggie Thatcher, has moved a deal more towards critical engagement. It is hard to find a mainstream voice advocating that Ireland leave the EU and go it alone. The latest measure of Irish public opinion, Eurobarometer, shows that almost two-thirds of people favour the European Union and 84pc have a positive view of its future. Yet in early September 2018, the inaugural meeting of the 'Irexit: Freedom to Prosper' was held in Dublin. One of the key people behind the meeting, Hermann Kelly, said they had convened to discuss "the benefits and the necessity of leaving the EU". There are few comparisons to be made between the Irish and UK experience of EU membership since both countries joined in January 1973, along with Denmark. Many in Brussels have periodically and reflexively asked if the UK were still EU members as the "Fog over the Channel - Europe is isolated" joke was re-run. But other research shows that Irish people's support for the European Union can be fragile, and based on very limited knowledge. On two recent occasions, in 2001 and 2008, Irish voters rejected EU treaties. For the first two decades of membership, Ireland's EU involvement was often lazily sold as 'free money' in the form of farming, regional and social grants. But those grants were designed to help Ireland improve and were always temporary. It has taken a long time to get round to talking about the other manifold benefits like vast wider access to trade across the continent of Europe and beyond. We still hear too seldom about the invaluable cultural, educational and social links which have come from 45 years of EU membership. The European Union, aged 61, is in some respects a flawed and creaky edifice, facing a very challenging future. But 73 years after the end of World War II, and 29 years after the fall of the Iron Curtain, there is a degree of peace, freedom and prosperity, which is truly remarkable. Taoiseach Leo Varadkar has privately suggested he could form a coalition with smaller parties if he called a snap election, the Sunday Independent can reveal. It comes after an exit poll compiled on the eve of the presidential contest showed Fine Gael's popularity surging ahead of Fianna Fail. Buoyed by the historic re-election of President Michael D Higgins and the passing of a referendum to remove blasphemy from the Constitution, the Taoiseach is considering his options ahead of this week's confidence and supply negotiations. Mr Varadkar has privately said a series of strong poll results has opened up the possibility of a future coalition with smaller parties such as the Labour Party and Green Party after the next general election. The yesterday's exit poll results for the three parties have Fine Gael (35pc), Labour (7pc) and Greens (4pc) holding 46pc of the vote, which would open up the possibility of coalition negotiations after a general election. Asked whether he was tempted to call an election on the back of the poll, the Taoiseach said there was a "lot of talk" about middle Ireland and standing up for people who get up early in the morning during the presidential election campaign. "I have been head of a government and part of a government of the past three years which has very much being the party of people who get up early in the morning, the party for middle Ireland," he told RTE's Six One News. "What I am saying we have done a lot for middle Ireland whether it is full employment, increases in the minimum wage, benefits for the self-employed, cuts to income tax and USC. "We did that with 25pc of the vote and a minority government, imagine what we could do with a majority," he added. The development comes as President Higgins, swept back into Aras an Uachtarain with a record-breaking 55.8pc of the vote, when counting was completed last night. Mr Higgins was followed by businessman Peter Casey, who took a significant 23.3pc of the vote despite making controversial comments about the Travelling community and people in receipt of social welfare payments. Sean Gallagher was on 6.4pc, Sinn Fein's Liadh Ni Riada 6.4pc, Pieta House founder Joan Freeman 6pc, and television personality Gavin Duffy 2.2pc. Meanwhile, the exit poll carried out by Red C on behalf of RTE showed Fine Gael (35pc) is now 13pc ahead of Fianna Fail (22pc) in terms of public support. Mr Varadkar is hugely encouraged by his party's standing in the polls and has privately noted it opens up the possibility of Fine Gael forming a government with smaller parties. Senior Fine Gael figures were also last night refusing to rule out the possibility of an election before the end of the year. One Cabinet source said the option of a December election was still on the table as Fine Gael and Fianna Fail begin reviewing the confidence and supply agreement which has underpinned the Government for the past three years. Fianna Fail leader Micheal Martin has also come under pressure from within his party to abandon renewal talks and face the electorate. Mr Martin was told by TDs at a parliamentary party meeting last week that Fianna Fail members were tired of propping up Fine Gael and wanted to contest a general election. Two senior Fianna Fail TDs, Barry Cowen and Jim O'Callaghan, who were dropped from the party's negotiating team are understood to be eager to fight an election. The two parties will this week trade documents as part of the review of the confidence and supply agreement. Mr Martin told his party he expects the review to take until the end of the new year and only after that will negotiations begin on a new deal. Meanwhile, the state of the other parties is: Sinn Fein 15pc, the Labour Party 7pc, the Green Party 4pc, the Social Democrats 3pc, Solidarity/People Before Profit 2pc, Independents 4pc, Change 2pc, and Independent Alliance 1pc. Fine Gael is ahead of Fianna Fail across all demographics, including age, gender, social class and region. The poll will be of major concern to Micheal Martin - as Fine Gael's support in Dublin (34pc) is more than double that of Fianna Fail (13pc). As the presidential elections results flooded in last night, established political parties were seeking to distance themselves from controversial candidate Peter Casey. However, the RTE exit poll showed 30pc of voters who gave Mr Casey a first preference vote were Fianna Fail supporters, while 24pc were Sinn Fein voters and 17pc were Fine Gael voters, Mr Casey polled strongest among working-class voters over 45 years old. He also performed well among the farming community. More than a third of his voters said they backed him because of his stance on political and social issues. Another third said they voted for him because he had the ability to stand up for ordinary people. Only six per cent of voters said President Higgins would stand up for ordinary people. However, 34pc backed him because of his record and experience, and 21pc voted for him due to his suitability to represent Ireland abroad. Sinn Fein leader Mary Lou McDonald defended her decision to field a candidate after Ms Ni Riada's disastrous result, which saw her receive less than half of the Sinn Fein vote nationally. "I take absolute responsibility for my party and my candidate. I don't believe her performance was poor," Ms McDonald said. PETER Casey has a little black book. Every year, he writes a list of people whom he will cut from his life and this year, its about to get a whole lot longer. Sitting in a small Italian cafe, yards from where the nations media have gathered to report on the presidential election count, he considers the rough race which he has been through. People who you think are your friends turn out not to be your friends, he muses. Its like when couples get divorced. People take sides. And you suddenly realise people who you thought were your friends are not. So what I do is every year is a list of the people I want to quietly move out of my life. I dont ring them up [and tell them]... but I do make a conscious decision to spend less time with them because they are not adding value to my life. I do it every year. I think its something everybody should do. I tell my children to do it. On his 2018 hit list, he explains: Sometimes you get into a habit of hanging around with people just because its convenient. Or its habitual. But they are not your real friends. This will just probably accelerate that a little bit. Its only October. The list [will be added to] a little bit more, he laughs. Sipping a black coffee, he is slow to take any joy in the massive boost he received in the polls securing him a place as runner-up to the unbeatable President Michael D Higgins. Asked if he is celebrating his result, he says: I wasnt happy. I genuinely thought I could [do] better because theres such a large portion of the population that are frustrated. Now he has bigger plans. Not content with going back to a quiet life in business, the Derryman says a career in politics awaits him. And he isnt shy about his ultimate ambitions. I am joining Fianna Fail. I intend to run in the next general election in Donegal. And I am becoming a Fianna Fail TD with a view to becoming Taoiseach, as the head of a renewed and revitalised Fianna Fail. The businessman explains: The Fianna Fail party was always about the people of Ireland. But I believe the party has lost its way in recent years and lost this position, as the party that listens to the ordinary people of Ireland and represents their concerns. I want to be the one that leads Fianna Fail back to its natural home as the party of the people, to get it back on track and to get the party listening again to the real people, to get outside of the bubble of Dublin and Leinster House and the political and media establishment. He is in a good position. According to a poll conducted by RTE, more than 30pc of Fianna Fail voters voted for Peter Casey. It helped the candidate easily shoot clear of the 20pc mark overall. In what was seen as an outrage by many, in recent weeks his comments on the Traveller culture and ethnicity struck a chord with some people. I got over 3,000 messages of support and they are still coming in, he says. While many criticised his stance, voters around the country quietly backed him in the privacy of their voting booth. Meanwhile, reports into the Traveller community show that they are the most vulnerable and disadvantaged group in Irish society and highlight the need for certain issues to be addressed. In 2009, a report called Translating Pain into Action Gender-based Violence and Minority Ethnic Women in Ireland, which was published by the Womens Health Council, found that Traveller women are proportionately 30 times as likely as settled women to suffer domestic violence. Recent figures also show that although Travellers make up only 0.6pc of the population, they account for 10pc of the male prisoner population and 22pc of the female prison population. Last year, data from the Economic and Social Research Institutes 2017 report found that only 8pc of Traveller children reach Leaving Certificate level. Asked about these statistics, Casey says: Its tragic. He explains: If you dont do something about it, the cycle will continue on for another generation and another generation. His solution is simple: Education, education, education. Thats they key. We need to make a huge effort so that the children of the travelling community stay in school so they get an education... you need to break the cycle. During his controversial campaign, he also described Ireland as a welfare-dependent state which, he says, has led to a sense of entitlement thats become unaffordable. Speaking this weekend, he says he hopes his comments will start a conversation for the average voter. I would ask people to just look at what I have been able to do in the last couple of weeks, to start conversations about real topics. You may not agree with me, but I brought those topics to the table and started conversations where conversations clearly need to be had. And my result in this election, which saw me getting as many votes as the four other unsuccessful candidates combined, shows, clearly, that people responded to these issues being aired. To have gained so many votes against a candidate that was effectively unbeatable, and to have got so many of those votes from supporters of Fianna Fail, and indeed Sinn Fein, shows me that I have much, much more to offer the Irish electorate, he says. Asked about what his immediate priorities would be as a member of Dail Eireann, Casey identifies three specific areas: I am passionate about education. It is the single most transformative thing you can invest in for an economy and a country. So I believe we need to abolish third level [registration] fees. This will help with equality of access to third level and it will also make it easier for more students to move out of home and have a proper university experience, because college is as much about how you grow outside the lectures as what you learn in them. In return for this, I think stu dents should have to spend five of the first six years of their career working in Ireland, leaving them a year to go walkabout if they wish. If necessary, I think we should fund it from the strategic investment fund. What could be a better strategic investment than educating our young? Secondly, he says: I think we need to help the younger generation of the squeezed middle start to realise the dream of owning their own home by setting up a co-ownership model. This has been hugely successful in the past in the US, and the housing crisis is a major issue facing ordinary people. Finally, he says: I believe we should move the focus away from the seemingly impossible task of getting broadband to every home in Ireland and instead pursue the simpler task of getting 4G all over the country. This means everyone in all rural areas will have phone reception all the time, and also they will have plenty of bandwidth to work on the internet in their homes. The obsession with rural broadband is a massive con job and the Government has made mess of it anyway. One of the criticisms levelled at Casey is that he punched down when he could have aimed his platform at the rich and powerful. But he rejects the accusation. Are you suggesting for one second that I dont punch up? I demanded the resignation of two government ministers, and I have asked for an apology from the Tanaiste and the Taoiseach because they interfered in the democratic election process of a nominated person. So I take swings at whoever I see and if I see they are doing something wrong, I will come out and say it. With almost 300,000 people in Ireland giving him their backing, it seems he is just getting warmed up. 'Tariq says that when you drink Musar, it's so much more than wine, it's people's lives' I was an air hostess in the Middle East, about 100 years ago (ish), and although I lived in Bahrain, which is not a dry country, I had never tasted wine from the Middle East. I didn't know it existed. But when I returned to Ireland, it just so happened that one of the standout wines to hit my now more sophisticated palate was Chateau Musar, at a dinner before the Trinity Ball. I was astonished - I had never tasted anything like it. So when Tariq Sakr, the winemaker from Chateau Musar, was visiting Ireland earlier this year, it didn't take much persuading for me to hop in my car and head west for the wine dinner he was hosting in Ashford Castle. Yes, Musar and Ashford Castle, a bit of a treat, I know. I had been friendly with some Lebanese people when I lived in Bahrain, so it was very poignant to hear Tariq talk about the troubles they had experienced and the challenges they encountered in making wine against the backdrop of so much insurrection and unrest. He talked us through each wine at dinner, recounting tales with a wry sense of humour, one of the best being about the harvest in 2006. Bombardment had started on July 8, it escalated, and everything had ground to a halt. But the grapes were ripening in the vineyards in the Bekaa Valley, two hours across the mountains from the winery. On August 9, Tariq got a call. The grapes were mature, they were ready to be harvested. He told Serge Hochar, the owner of the vineyard, who said 'no'. It was too dangerous to harvest. But Tariq had other ideas. "I decided to go and bring the grapes, but first of all I had to convince the guy who drives the truck. I paid him four times his salary. Second, I told him 'I will be following you', because the bombardment was being done by a drone, and I said if anything happens I will take you to hospital," he recounts, laughing. "There was no work at all, I was putting my life as well as his life at stake, and I needed to do the wine. So he told me he would do it. And then there was one other thing, my wife, how would I convince her? I decided to lie to my wife. It was my first and last time." When they got to the vineyards, there wasn't a soul to be seen, so they went to the church, and rang the bell. Everyone came out to see what was happening. Tariq offered them top dollar to harvest the grapes, hoisted the Chateau Musar flag, hoping that the circling planes would not shoot at them. The harvest was successful. It was just one of many years when they battled through adversary and ensured that the wine would be made. Tariq says that when you drink Musar, it's so much more than wine, it's people's lives. It is also organic and truly wonderful. Musar Jeune Blanc 2017 25, 12.5pc, from Fallon & Byrne, Corkscrew, Deveney's, Green Man Wines, all Dublin A blend of Viognier, Vermentino and Chardonnay, this young wine from the Bekaa Valley has a crisp touch of citrus with golden notes of apples and tropical fruit. I had it paired with langoustine. Chateau Ksara Reserve du Couvent 20, 13.5pc, from Mitchell & Son, Morton's, Lotts & Co, Gibney's, The Grapevine, Doyle's, all Dublin Another wine from the Bekaa Valley, this blend of Syrah, Cabernet Franc and Cabernet Sauvignon is warm and fruity with lush red and dark fruit flavours. Perfect for Middle Eastern grilled dishes. Chateau Musar Rouge 2006 41, 14pc, from Fallon & Byrne, Corkscrew, Donnybrook Fair, Mitchell & Son, Martin's, McHugh's, Sweeney's, Baggot St Wines, Green Man Wines, The Wine Library, The Grapevine, all Dublin; JJ O'Driscoll, Cork; and O'Briens. Made in a natural style before it became a trendy thing, this is Chateau Musar's classic red wine. Aged for seven years before it is released, it is rich and textured, with aromas of violets and dark flavours of plums, damsons, cranberries and dates. Grapevine Kerry's Sheen Falls Lodge is running a Toasting & Hosting With Wine weekend on November 2 and 3. Talks, a tour and a private dinner, with a focus on entertaining with wines, the differences between Champagne, Prosecco and sparkling wines, how to open and serve a bottle like a pro, and food pairing. Presented by sommelier Jerome Torque and guest speaker Pascal Playon of Tindal Wine Merchants. 599 based on two people sharing. sheenfallslodge.ie, Tel: 064 664 1600 It's a sign of the times that in today's schools, building emotional resilience and giving children the skills to cope with the pressures of modern life are as much a part of the junior cycle curriculum as English and maths. The 60,000 first years who entered post-primary schools around the country last year were the first to have well-being written into their timetables. This summer, in a policy document on well-being, the then Education Minister Richard Bruton spelt out the ways that it was to be centre stage in schools. But just what has changed in the lives of young people in the space of a generation that has demanded such a move by schools? Colman Noctor, a child and adolescent psychotherapist who works with St Patrick's Mental Health Services in Dublin, says childhood is shrinking - and the stressors you used to see in 14 to 15-year-olds are now being seen in 11-year-olds. He says the transition from primary school to second level is huge, and the greatest difficulty pupils have during this time is what he calls the leap into a "pseudo-mature discourse" where they go from "Marvel characters to discos and short skirts" in a short space of time. Noctor also believes the 'Instagrammisation' of this generation is a great cause of stress and anxiety. "I work with children who wake up to 60 messages on their phone. It may be dross, but it's leading to this need to be always on or the need to be cool. I'm not putting it all down to social media. Our expectations have been driven through the roof in terms of being the brightest and being the fastest runner," he says. "Expectations drive this unhappiness and parents are playing their part in this too in terms of a comparative culture. We are exposed to what everyone else's kid is doing. As a culture, the sharing of information has become possible with technology. We tend to say more about ourselves that we did before," says Noctor. And he says the constant sharing of what our kids are up to can prey upon our vulnerabilities, leading us to think we're not doing enough as parents. But in trying to be "perfect" parents, we are failing to give our children a chance to psychologically build up their immunity, he says. "The epidemic of this generation is anxiety. I've never seen more anxious parents and children. We need to look at how we are relating to each other. If you're answering emails over breakfast, you can't expect a child to be any different. "There's a lot of pressure on schools and a lot of stuff has been subcontracted out to teachers to manage. The fact that we have prescribed well-being is a cultural indictment of where we are. I'm not knocking the initiative. These are all interesting strands to address the problem, but none of them is the silver bullet. "There needs to be a collective response from government, schools and parents. I think we've been seduced into the cosmetic and have forgotten what's important. It's all about external validation - what you look like, and are you clever? This initiative is a brick in a wall that needs to be built but it's only a brick. It's not a great white hope," adds Noctor. At Moville Community College in Inishowen, Co Donegal, Principal Anthony Doogan says the landscape has changed utterly since his school first opened its doors to students 17 years ago. He says an increase in families under stress or under financial pressure is leading to students exhibiting anxiety. "That is compounded by exam stress and living in an online world," he says. This year, the school's 560 students will have access to a second qualified guidance counsellor after a staff member underwent further training. "There's three aspects to their job - subject guidance, career guidance and personal guidance. The area of personal guidance has become all-consuming for them compared to 20 years ago when the focus was on education," says Doogan. So does he believe the new focus on well-being in the curriculum will equip him and his staff to deal with the issues students present with, and meet the education needs of the Junior Cert? "The function of the junior cycle is to provide appropriate junior cycle education for 12 to 15-year-olds. It cannot cure the ills of society - and it doesn't have the wherewithal to provide teachers with the tools to deal with all the issues that are now challenging them," he says. "I do believe it's a step in the right direction. I do believe the teaching methodologies being espoused by the new junior cycle will significantly improve the life skills that these students will need to pursue a successful life to a far greater extent than heretofore," says Doogan. "You regularly hear a casual flippant remark: 'This should be taught in schools'. My response to that is: 'What should we drop? What part of the maths curriculum should we drop?' The content of the curriculum is extremely wide and we are constantly being asked to expand the provision that is encroaching on curricular time," he says. Deirdre MacDonald, vice president of the teachers' union ASTI, says teachers are ambitious for the well-being programme in schools but said consultation with them on its implementation has been very poor. "There's no time given for one thing to be embedded before the next thing comes along," she says. According to MacDonald, teachers taking social, personal and health education (SPHE) classes will be a key contact group when it comes to discussing issues of well-being with pupils, but class sizes will restrict meaningful discussion. "Effective group work dealing with issues around emotional well-being and health - the maximum group size should be 16. We are dealing with class sizes of 30. This is double what would be considered best practice, and that is a very significant factor. If young people are going to speak about issues that are difficult, they're much more likely to do it in a small group. It doesn't take a genius to work out that trying to build trust and confidentiality in a group of 30 people is not achievable," she says. MacDonald, who is a maths and SPHE teacher at Colaiste Eamonn Ris in Wexford Town, says the Well-being Policy Statement and Framework for Practice published by Minister Bruton refers to a "whole school approach" and the "school community". She says teachers are often expected to function in the system for many, many decades. "There's no systematic approach to teacher welfare, which is the case in Finland, a country often quoted in education. There's a concept in health promotion called 'caring for the carers'. If you don't care for the carers, they won't be able to fulfil the potential of their role. I'm sure parents appreciate that to be a good parent, you need to be in a good place yourself. It's the same for teachers," she says. "Teachers are ambitious in their vision of well-being in schools. They are co-operative but realistic in their approach to whole school well-being. Initiative overload is a real problem in schools. They are doing amazing work with their students despite a huge lack of resources to support well-being in schools," says MacDonald. In response to questions about staff training for the well-being programme, a spokesperson for the Department of Education and Skills said some 10,827 teachers have already had continuing professional development (CPD) in the 2017/18 school year. By the end of the 2018 calendar year, all post-primary schools will have had the opportunity to avail of a whole school day on the new well-being area of learning, the spokesperson said. New six-hour workshops focusing on SPHE, civic social and political education (CSPE) and PE for junior cycle will be run throughout this academic year. As part of the well-being policy, the department also promised that more educational psychologists would be recruited to work with schools in the coming academic year. Ten new posts will bring the total number of psychologists working in the country's schools to 194 as part of the department's National Educational Psychological Service (NEPS). This represents an 8pc increase on the previous year's numbers and a 19pc increase on the number working in schools during the 2012/2013 school year. Some schools have come up with their own innovative ways to help young people cope with the pressures of life. Alan White, a teacher at Bishopstown Community School just outside Cork City, pioneered 'Changes: 30-day mental well-being challenge' in response to the struggles of students in his classroom. Other schools have also adopted the programme. "The challenge helps young people to take control of their own mental well-being. With mental well-being, I liken it to physical health - you do certain things to keep yourself physically fit. You can do pro-active things for your mental health, too," says White. "The challenge looks at things like taking a break, getting enough sleep, eating well, exercise and the amount of screen time. What I have found is that teenagers' stresses and anxieties are the same as we would have had, they're just amplified because of the culture they're living in. It's an 'always on' culture where you're always contactable," he says. 'Best self' posts White believes that social media heightens anxiety around the typical teenage angst over 'who likes me' and 'am I popular'? The programme reminds students that when someone posts something online, it's their best self - and encourages them to start setting goals and focuses on the importance of having a purpose. "When you have these, you're less likely to compare yourself to others. It's promoting the idea of personal responsibility and it's about encouraging positive decisions rather than negative decisions. Everyone understands physical fitness. I'm keen to show that you can take steps to become mentally healthy as well," says White. For Jigsaw, the national centre for youth mental health, the move to put well-being at the heart of the curriculum is a step in the right direction. However, the organisation's spokesman Mike Mansfield says the feedback from workshops they deliver in schools is that teachers need more support so that when a young person comes to them with a problem, the teacher has the tools to respond. In recent years, Jigsaw has seen a 47pc increase in demand for its services. While Mansfield says a lot of this is down to the fact that more and more young people now see it as okay to ask for help, the big issue is anxiety with 39pc of young people presenting with this. "One of our key messages is 'one good adult'. It's a really simple concept and we know that one good adult in a young person's life has a positive influence on their mental health. While the issues a young person may be going through are complex, the solutions don't always have to be," says Mansfield. "Young people tell us that one key area for them is having someone in their life that will listen to them. Through Jigsaw's new Schools Framework, currently under development, we are looking to increase the confidence and knowledge of the entire school in order to ensure a stronger listening culture," he says. School for well-being: in numbers 400 Number of hours to be allocated to well-being over the three-year junior cycle by 2020 1 in 3 young people aged 1225 who reported feelings of depression and anxiety (My World Survey 2012) 194 The number of specialist psychologists working with schools as part of the Department of Educations National Educational Psychological Service (NEPS). Entering the Old Town of Rimini through its enormous Roman arch, I am swiftly transported into a traditional Italian lifestyle that I have longed to prove true. Leisurely cyclists weave the streets as their canine companions sit upfront in baskets. Locals sit under canopies outside coffee shops. Boutique windows are lavishly decorated with the luxury wares of Prada, Margiela and Balenciaga. Forget the jostling crowds of Florence. Here, in the shoulder month of May, I can meander around cobbled streets lined with quaint, pastel-toned houses and window baskets tumbling with flowers. I'm beginning to see why Rimini provided such inspiration for Federico Fellini. The film-maker grew up here, and almost 100 years since his birth, houses and streets are decorated with murals dedicated to him, and to famous works like La Dolce Vita. It's not all about the town, however. As a beach destination, Rimini is a mainstay of Italian tourists. It also provides an excellent base from which to explore northern Italy - one reason more Irish tourists are awakening to the Adriatic resort. With Ravenna, San Marino, Bologna and Florence all just a short trip away, this is an ideal compromise for city slickers and beach bums alike. The Emilia Romagna region is famous for its home-grown cuisine, so a trip to a winery is a must. We whisk ourselves away from the fresh morning sea breeze and, after a half-hour car trip, arrive at the scenic Collina dei Poeti winery. Here, we bask in the Italian countryside, snaking through olive trees and grape vines while observing tiny lizards scurrying about the rocks. At the end of our stroll, the our guide explains the manufacturing process and, needless to say, we take a seat to sample the wares. It's the cherry on the cake for this day out. The only problem is deciding which bottle to bring back home! Expand Close A breathtaking sunset at Rimini beach / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp A breathtaking sunset at Rimini beach Our next excursion takes us slightly further afield, but San Marino is certainly worth the visit. The 61km2 Republic is in fact a micro state surrounded by Italy, governed by its own laws with a parliament resting atop its medieval walled town. Cobblestones and steep hills lead to remarkable views of the surrounding countryside - even just wandering the streets is a visual treat in itself. It doesn't stop there though - San Marino is a shopper's paradise with lower taxes making it an ideal spot to pick up some bargains along the way. From pistachio liquor to high-end fragrances, you won't be disappointed discovering each small boutique - that's if you can tear yourself away from exploring the city's many historical sites. The next day, we venture to Ravenna, again leaving the comforts of a day at the beach to delve into a new city. We begin by visiting the infamous Basilica di San Vitale, one of the most important examples of Christian Byzantine art. The octagonal church is awe-inspiring - its dome towering above our heads, every inch decorated with golden, glimmering mosaics. Everything is in perfect symmetry. Any art history buff would be at home here. After this mesmerising excursion, lunch and drinks are in order. We visit Ca' de Ven, a tavern-like restaurant that gives you a chance to imagine what it would have been like on a night out in this town a few hundred years ago. With a medieval-style structure and wooden beams supporting barrels of wine above us, the restaurant combines old world with new. Here, I am served thick Strozzapreti pasta (that's 'Choke the priest' to you or I), as my guide relays the story behind its name. It was created to deter medieval priests - who were taking advantage of their status by turning up at restaurants for a free feed every day! Expand Close The traditional dress of San Marino's Guardia / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp The traditional dress of San Marino's Guardia Over the next few days, I venture out on some more mini-excursions, immersing myself in the rich food and decadent wine of Emilia Romagna. But the simple pleasures of buying a gelato and taking a wander along the shoreline of the beach in Rimini, with my toes in the hot sand, is enough to make this break memorable. Get there Dee travelled to Rimini on the Adriatic Coast as a guest of Topflight, staying at the 3-star Hotel de France. Topflight offers packages during the summer months with weekly flights from Dublin, with prices from 529pp, including flights, bags and rep service. It also offers coastal resorts Cattolica, Cesenatico & Bellaria. (01) 240 1700; topflight.ie. Read more: Premium Eoghan Harris Opinion Misery media fails to give due credit to the Taoiseach Taoiseach Micheal Martin must drive his advisers mad. Unlike Leo Varadkar or Donald Trump, he never bigs up success stories such as the effect of Level 3 Plus on Covid or his visionary Shared Island project. Last Friday, Tony Holohan and RTE cheerleaders seemed to imply Level 5 was responsible for the improved Covid situation. Not so. Cyprus is one of the main Mediterranean competitors of the Greek tourism industry International film and audiovisual professionals (production/filming houses, producers/executive producers and local audiovisual industry professionals and associations) from Europe, India, Russia, North America and Cyprus met at the first Cyprus Film Summit, in Nicosia, to discuss the latest developments in the industry in Cyprus and witness first-hand all the country has to offer as a natural filming studio. The Summit was held by the Invest Cyprus, the Cyprus Tourism Organization (CTO) and the Press and Information Office (PIO) of the Republic of Cyprus on 10th October 2018 at the Filoxenia Conference Centre. The Cyprus Film Summit 2018 represents an ideal platform to network and learn more about Cyprus advantages as a filming destination and the local incentives scheme, which was recently approved by the Government of the Republic of Cyprus in order to encourage investors to elect Cyprus as their ideal filming production destination. Read more at pio.gov.cy 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: AyianapaProtaras License: CC-BY-SA Actress Julia Roberts, wearing Van Cleef & Arpels, receives the Donosti Lifetime Achievement Award during the 58th San Sebastian International Film Festival at the Kursaal Palace on September 20, 2010 in San Sebastian, Spain. (Photo by Carlos Alvarez/Getty Images) Julia Roberts visits "The Late Show Starring Jimmy Fallon" at Rockefeller Center on July 31, 2014 in New York City. (Photo by Theo Wargo/NBC/Getty Images for "The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon") Best Actress Julia Roberts poses with her Oscar during the 73rd Annual Academy Awards March 25, 2001 at the Shrine Auditorium in Los Angeles. US actress Julia Roberts (R) and Irish actress Caitriona Balfe pose on May 12, 2016 before leaving the Festival Palace after the screening of the film "Money Monster" at the 69th Cannes Film Festival Some things dont need a comeback: most of these examples are American sitcoms, but the sentiment remains the same. Revered gems from the past, whether near or distant, should remain exactly there; but sometimes, on rare occasion, something will return so slowly, yet so ferociously, you never knew how much you missed them. I am, of course, referring to Julia Roberts. Granted, this Oscar winning actress hasnt exactly disappeared - she wasn't cancelled like Charmed - but she has over the years, very discreetly and slowly, withdrawn from Hollywood, choosing to spend more time with her family in Malibu and New Mexico, and less time on the big screen. But Roberts is officially back, at least for now and for as long as she wants to be, for her new tv project Homecoming, an Amazon Prime Video series, receiving rave reviews for its story and its lead - which, not to mention, is her first time committing to a television series. So consuming was the role and subsequent schedule that she described it as not being "for the faint of heart". If Julia friggin' Roberts says it's a tough gig, it's a tough gig. Expand Close Best Actress Julia Roberts poses with her Oscar during the 73rd Annual Academy Awards March 25, 2001 at the Shrine Auditorium in Los Angeles. / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Best Actress Julia Roberts poses with her Oscar during the 73rd Annual Academy Awards March 25, 2001 at the Shrine Auditorium in Los Angeles. Why is she so missed though? Not only does Julia personify the movie stars of yesterday (aka the 90s), she also represents something that producers have only copped on to in the last 12 months - women can sell movies. They buy tickets and want to be fairly represented on screen. While it seems more likely now that a superhero movie is the only guaranteed blockbuster, not that long ago, a Roberts-led flick was a guaranteed smash. She was one of the most famous women in the world and all the while seemed nearly-impossibly charming while doing it. Julia is the type who has always handled this aspect of celebrity with grace. There are no tantrums about paparazzi, even when the small town of Taos, New Mexico, where her 2002 wedding to Danny Modern was held, was overrun with photographers; no complaints about her privacy. She took appropriate security measures, kept the pictures to herself and that was that. It comes with the job. She is also the narrator of her own personal storyline, with enough twists and turns to captivate the public while still retaining her 'America's Sweetheart' title. At 23, she bravely called off her wedding to ex-fiance Kiefer Sutherland, famously fleeing to Ireland to hide from the fracas. Kiefer said in 2016 that it was the best thing that ever happened to both of them. She bounced back despite the unwavering drama. Similarly, when she met husband Danny on the set of 2001's The Mexican, where he was working as a cameraman, it was rumoured that he was married at the time and she "stole" him away, a scandal she once again weathered with her head held high, never commenting a confirmation or denial on the matter. They now have three children together: Hazel and Phinnaeus (both 13) and Henry (11). The Roberts/Moders spend most of their days in their Malibu mansion, where Julia fits in movie-starring between mothering, at her choice. Expand Close The 'Pretty Woman' star Julia Roberts and the '24' actor Kiefer Sutherland were due to walk down the aisle in 1991 when she called off the wedding just days before it was meant to happen. Kiefer later said: "There was a huge connection between us but it was more like friends than the passionate relationship that she or I would have wanted. She saw that; I did not. / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp The 'Pretty Woman' star Julia Roberts and the '24' actor Kiefer Sutherland were due to walk down the aisle in 1991 when she called off the wedding just days before it was meant to happen. Kiefer later said: "There was a huge connection between us but it was more like friends than the passionate relationship that she or I would have wanted. She saw that; I did not. The work has always been aplenty for Roberts and her decision to step back has been a conscious and choreographed one as she chose to have a normal life as any A-list actress can have. She has, and will always remain, one of the most powerful women in Hollywood and with that sort of influence comes a lot of perks. There remains something steadfastly likeable about her, she is the summation of a s rising star who earned her status over decades of hard work and is arguably, one of the last great movie stars of our generation, potentially ever. A bold statement I know, but movie stars as we know them just aren't what they were 20 years ago. "I dont think I am special. Ive always been fortunate that I have always found the work I am looking for," she said on Thursday night, as she is back in the swing of select quick-interviews to promote her first big role on the small screen. And her return to the news cycle was made in spectacular fashion, specifically, on the cover of Harper's Bazaar in a dramatic pink Dior tulle gown, climbing on the side of a mountain and and sporting her signature, scene-stealing smile, with the cover line noting that her interview was being coordinated by Oprah. Her levels of fame are unfathomable to most, yet she remains famously down-to-earth, ambitious and full of appreciation for her family and her fortune. Thats what getting older is about - its about turning even more into the person your loved ones know you to be, she told Harpers Bazaar in this months issue. Expand Close Actress Julia Roberts attends the "Eat, Pray, Love" UK premiere at the Empire Leicester Square on September 22, 2010 in London, England. (Photo by Chris Jackson/Getty Images) / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Actress Julia Roberts attends the "Eat, Pray, Love" UK premiere at the Empire Leicester Square on September 22, 2010 in London, England. (Photo by Chris Jackson/Getty Images) She is also enjoying the self-assuredness that comes with age, which, by the way, she is not game for talking about until mens ages are dissected with the same scrutiny. Really, people? she told In Style last year before her milestone birthday. Are we still in that space? Did anyone go over this with George Clooney or Brad [Pitt] before their 50th birthdays? I always love my birthday. [I celebrate] with open arms and gratitudeTheres nothing different about this birthday than any other one. There are few things I love seeing more than a woman with some healthy wrinkles. Roberts is ageing like a fine wine, and seems frozen in time without looking - well, actually frozen. Her facial features are awash with a few lines, in stark contrast to the Frankly, there has been no better time in Hollywood for the resurgence of Julia Roberts, the star we never knew we needed. Meghan Markle meets guests at a reception hosted by the Governor-General celebrating the 125th anniversary of women's suffrage in New Zealand, at Government House in Wellington, New Zealand. Photo: Kirsty Wigglesworth/PA Wire Meghan Markle speaks at a reception hosted by the Governor-General celebrating the 125th anniversary of women's suffrage in New Zealand, at Government House in Wellington, New Zealand. Photo: Kirsty Wigglesworth/PA Wire Meghan Markle speaks at a reception hosted by the Governor-General celebrating the 125th anniversary of women's suffrage in New Zealand, at Government House in Wellington, New Zealand. Photo: Kirsty Wigglesworth/PA Wire Harry and Meghan meet New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern, at Government House in Wellington, New Zealand. Photo: Kirsty Wigglesworth/PA Wire Harry and Meghan meet New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern, at Government House in Wellington, New Zealand. Photo: Kirsty Wigglesworth/PA Wire Harry and Meghan meet New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern, at Government House in Wellington, New Zealand. Photo: Kirsty Wigglesworth/PA Wire Meghan Markle and her husband Britain's Prince Harry touched down in New Zealand today, and the former Suits actress was praised for using Maori in her first speech. The pair are conducting a four-day tour of New Zealand, as part of their 16-day tour of the South Pacific and Australia. Meghan (37), who stunned in a navy cocktail dress, spoke to a captive audience at Government House, where she said New Zealand was universally praised for fighting for the rights of women. The reception was a celebration of the 125th anniversary of women's suffrage in New Zealand. Meghan said: "The achievements of the women of New Zealand who campaigned for their right to vote and were the first in the world to achieve it, are universally admired." "So bravo New Zealand, for championing this right 125 years ago for the women who well deserve to have an active voice and an acknowledged vote, and for all of the people that this effort has paved the way for globally - we all deeply thank you. "In the words of your suffragette, Kate Sheppard: all that separates, whether race, class, creed or sex is inhuman and must be overcome." Meghan's dress was by New York-based Gabriela Hearst, and it was modified to include delicate cap sleeves. The original spaghetti strap dress cost around 2,130, but Meghan's bespoke version is likely to have cost more. Yonsi Marilu had not heard about the threat from American President Donald Trump to shut the US border - but the news made little difference to her plans. When you have lived in a San Salvador neighbourhood where you can be killed by a gang simply for crossing into a rival's turf, or where a gang will execute someone in front of family members to "increase the pain", the rumoured clampdown from the US president is just another problem to overcome. "We left because in El Salvador there is too much violence and no work," Ms Marilu said, walking along the main highway between the cities of Pijijiapan and Arriaga. More migrants are dropping out every day, but up to 5,000 people from Central America are still making their way northwards, hoping to enter the US and find a new life. Last Friday, it was reported that Mexican immigration authorities had raided a camp in Arriaga and several migrants were hurt. But for those who have been walking for 15 days or more, such incidents, along with Mr Trump's proposal on the eve of the US midterm elections, just add to the heat, exhaustion and poverty. Jonathan Perales, from Honduras, works in construction in the city of San Pedro Sula. He said he earned the equivalent of $8.30 (7.27) a day. This is not sufficient to take care of his wife and two young daughters, Emily (two) and four-year-old Monserrat, so he is pushing his youngsters along the road and hoping against the odds they can all cross. "We are going to keep going, and see what happens," he said. "It's the only option we have. If we get to the US, it will be better for the kids." Reports say Mr Trump is considering signing an executive order to shut the border even to asylum seekers. He has already told defence secretary Jim Mattis to send 1,000 additional members of the national guard to the border, amid what he termed an "emergency situation". Whether Mr Trump intends to push ahead with the order, or if he believes simply airing the proposal will provide political gain, is unclear. A White House official told Fox News that a wide range of options were being considered to "address the Democrat-created crisis of mass illegal immigration". The official added: "No decisions have been made at this time. Nor will we forecast to smugglers or caravans what precise strategies will or will not be deployed." Last Friday, Unicef said an estimated 2,300 children in the caravan were ill or suffering from dehydration. It called for children to be protected and said it was working with the Mexican authorities to provide drinking water and hygiene products. But Ireneo Mujica, president of the group Pueblos Sin Fronteras, which has organised previous marches for migrants but not this one, claimed the Mexican authorities were becoming frustrated with the migrants and wanted them to leave. Mr Mujica, who was detained 10 days ago while leading a demonstration for the Honduran migrants about to arrive in Mexico, said the country's immigration enforcement body had carried out two raids in Arriaga. "They beat up [the migrants] as people were fighting back," he said. "They are doing this to break up the caravan and claim people are giving up." Aurora Vega, of the National Institute of Migration, said she was not aware of the raids. "People have been abandoning the caravan because it is not safe and it leads nowhere," she added. Independent FBI and other law enforcement investigate the scene of a shooting at the Tree of Life synagogue (Andrew Stein/Pittsburgh Post-Gazette via AP) The man suspected of killing 11 people at a synagogue in Pittsburgh has been charged with obstructing the exercise of religious beliefs resulting in death. Federal prosecutors said Robert Bowers was charged on Saturday night in a 29-count criminal complaint. The charges also include 11 counts of using a firearm to commit murder, weapons offences and charges alleging Bowers seriously injured police officers while obstructing the exercise of religious beliefs. Authorities said six people, including four police officers, were also wounded during Saturdays shooting at the Tree of Life Congregation in Pittsburghs Squirrel Hill neighbourhood. Please know that justice in this case will be swift and it will be severe, Scott Brady, the chief federal prosecutor in western Pennsylvania, said at a news conference, characterising the incident as a terrible and unspeakable act of hate. The mass shooting came amid a rash of high-profile attacks in an increasingly divided country, one day after a Florida man was arrested and charged with mailing a series of pipe bombs to prominent Democrats and little more than a week before the midterm elections. The killings also immediately reignited the longstanding national debate about guns: President Donald Trump said the outcome might have been different if the synagogue had some kind of protection from an armed guard, while Pennsylvanias Democratic governor Tom Wolf noted that once again dangerous weapons are putting our citizens in harms way. Mr Trump said he planned to travel to Pittsburgh, but offered no details. Authorities said that just before 10am, the suspected gunman entered the large synagogue with an assault-style rifle and three handguns. Three separate congregations were conducting Sabbath services in different areas of the large building, according to Michael Eisenberg, the immediate past president of the Tree of Life. The Pennsylvania attorney generals office said it was told by victims that a brit milah a ritual circumcision ceremony at which a baby boy also receives his Hebrew name was also taking place, though law enforcement officials later said no children were among the dead or wounded. It is a very horrific crime scene, said a visibly moved Wendell Hissrich, the Pittsburgh public safety director. Its one of the worst that Ive seen. The survivors included Daniel Leger, 70, a nurse and hospital chaplain who was in critical condition after undergoing surgery, his brother, Paul Leger, told the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Daniel Leger was scheduled to lead a service on Saturday morning, he said. Jonathan Greenblatt, chief executive officer of the Anti-Defamation League, said the group believes Saturdays attack was the deadliest on the Jewish community in US history. Our hearts break for the families of those killed and injured at the Tree of Life Synagogue, and for the entire Jewish community of Pittsburgh, Mr Greenblatt said. Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu said he was heartbroken and appalled by the attack. The entire people of Israel grieve with the families of the dead, Mr Netanyahu said. Expand Close A crowd holds candles in the Squirrel Hill section of Pittsburgh (Gene J Puskar/AP) / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp A crowd holds candles in the Squirrel Hill section of Pittsburgh (Gene J Puskar/AP) We stand together with the Jewish community of Pittsburgh. We stand together with the American people in the face of this horrendous anti-Semitic brutality. And we all pray for the speedy recovery of the wounded. Thousands of people, some holding candles, gathered for a vigil in the Squirrel Hill neighbourhood on Saturday night in honour of the victims, whose names were not immediately released. A chant of vote, vote, vote broke out during the emotional gathering. Some attendees blamed the shooting on the nations political climate, and said they took little solace in the planned visit by Mr Trump. At a political rally in Murphysboro, Illinois, Mr Trump said the evil anti-Semitic attack is an assault on all of us. The synagogue is located in the tree-lined residential neighbourhood of Squirrel Hill, about 10 minutes from downtown Pittsburgh and the hub of Pittsburghs Jewish community. Expand Close A crowd gathers during a memorial vigil for the victims of the shooting at the Tree of Life Synagogue (Gene J Puskar/AP) / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp A crowd gathers during a memorial vigil for the victims of the shooting at the Tree of Life Synagogue (Gene J Puskar/AP) Mr Eisenberg, the former synagogue president, said officials at Tree of Life had not got any threats that he knew of before the shooting. But he said security was a concern, and the synagogue had started working to improve it. Chuck Diamond, a former rabbi at the synagogue who retired more than a year ago, said the building is locked during the week, and is outfitted with security cameras. But on Sabbath its an open door, he said. You know, youre always worried that something would happen, said Myron Snider, head of the cemetery committee for New Light Congregation, which meets at Tree of Life. ,Mr Snider just got out of the hospital on Thursday and missed Saturdays service. But you never dream that it would happen like this, Mr Snider added. Just never ever dream that it would happen like this. A lone gunman opened fire during a baby naming ceremony at a Pittsburgh synagogue yesterday, killing 11 people. At least six other people were wounded, including four police officers who dashed to the scene, authorities said. Police said a suspect was in custody after the attack at the Tree of Life Congregation in Pittsburgh's Squirrel Hill neighbourhood. A law enforcement official identified the suspect as Robert Bowers and said he is in his 40s. The official wasn't authorised to discuss an ongoing investigation and spoke to reporters on condition of anonymity. Bob Jones, the special agent in charge of the FBI's office in Pittsburgh, said Bowers was not known to law enforcement and that they believe he was acting alone. He said Bowers' full motive still isn't known. The social media site Gab.com said the alleged shooter had a profile on its website, which is popular with far-right extremists. The company said the account was verified after the shooting and matched the name of the gunman. A man with the same name posted on Gab before the shooting that "HIAS likes to bring invaders in that kill our people. I can't sit by and watch my people get slaughtered. Screw your optics, I'm going in." HIAS is a nonprofit group that helps refugees around the world find safety and freedom. The organisation says it is guided by Jewish values and history. Bowers also recently posted a photo of a collection of three semi-automatic handguns he titled "my glock family," a reference to the firearms manufacturer. He also posted photos of bullet holes in person-sized targets at a firing range, touting the "amazing trigger" on a handgun he was offering for sale. City officials said the shooting was being investigated as a federal hate crime. It comes amid a rash of high-profile attacks including the series of pipe bombs mailed over the past week to prominent Democrats and former officials. People light candles as they gather for a vigil in the aftermath of a deadly shooting at the Tree of Life Congregation, in the Squirrel Hill neighborhood of Pittsburgh, Saturday, Oct. 27, 2018. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke) A crowd gathers during a memorial vigil for the victims of the shooting at the Tree of Life Synagogue (Gene J Puskar/AP) Several people were shot at the Tree of Life Congregation in Pittsburghs Squirrel Hill neighbourhood (Alexandra Wimley/Pittsburgh Post-Gazette via AP) FBI and other law enforcement investigate the scene of a shooting at the Tree of Life synagogue (Andrew Stein/Pittsburgh Post-Gazette via AP) A group holds a sign at the intersection of Murray Ave. and Forbes Ave. in the Squirrel Hill section of Pittsburgh, during a memorial vigil for the victims of the shooting at the Tree of Life Synagogue where a shooter opened fire, killing multiple people and wounding others, including several police officers, Saturday, Oct. 27, 2018. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar) The 11 victims murdered at a Pittsburgh synagogue in the deadliest attack ever on the Jewish community in the United States were mostly older worshipers, ranging in age from 54 to 97, officials said on Sunday. The suspected gunman, 46-year-old Robert Bowers of Pittsburgh, stormed the building during a Saturday morning service and also wounded six other people including four police officers before being arrested. Bowers, who made statements about genocide and his desire to kill Jewish people during the rampage, will make an initial appearance before a judge on Monday afternoon, US Attorney Scott Brady said at a news conference. "The fact that this attack took place during a worship service makes it even more heinous," Brady said. The Tree of Life synagogue in the city's Squirrel Hill neighborhood, a heavily Jewish area, was holding a Shabbat religious service when the gunman burst in. Two brothers in their 50s and a husband and wife in their 80s were among those killed, according to the list of victims released by officials. Two people were in critical condition at area hospitals and three others, including two police officers, were in stable condition. One police officer was treated and released on Saturday. The mass shooting prompted security alerts at houses of worship around the country and condemnation from politicians and religious leaders. It followed a spate of pipe bombs found mailed in recent days to prominent political figures, mostly Democrats including former U.S. President Barack Obama, ahead of Nov. 6 congressional elections. "We'll get through this darkest day of Pittsburgh history by working together," the city's mayor, Bill Peduto, told reporters. "I'M GOING IN" Bowers had made many anti-Semitic posts online, including one early on Saturday. In another, he slammed US President Donald Trump for doing nothing to stop an "infestation" of the United States by Jews. A social media post by Bowers on Saturday morning said a Jewish refugee organization, the Hebrew Immigrant Aid Society, "likes to bring invaders in that kill our people. I can't sit by and watch my people get slaughtered. Screw your optics, I'm going in". US Defense Secretary Jim Mattis told reporters travelling with him to Prague on Sunday the gunman who stormed the synagogue was a coward and the "poorest excuse for a man you could ever come up with". Israel's cabinet stood for a moment's silence on Sunday to honour the victims. "It is hard to overstate the horror of the murder of Jews who congregate on the Sabbath and who were murdered only because they were Jews," Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu added, calling on the world to unite in the fight against anti-Semitism. Bowers was taken into custody after a shootout with a SWAT team. Federal prosecutors charged him with 29 criminal counts including violence and firearms offenses, and violating U.S. civil rights laws. US Attorney General Jeff Sessions said federal prosecutors could seek the death penalty. The Anti-Defamation League and Jewish Council for Public Affairs described it as the deadliest attack on the Jewish community in the history of the United States, something echoed by Netanyahu who called it the "the biggest anti-Semitic crime" in the annals of the United States. ASSAULT RIFLE FBI special agent Bob Jones said the Federal Bureau of Investigation, which is leading the probe, said the crime scene was the worst he had seen in 22 years with the FBI. He said he believed Bowers was acting alone, adding: "We have no knowledge that he was known to law enforcement before today." KDKA television cited police sources as saying Bowers walked into the building and yelled "All Jews must die". Jones said Bowers was armed with an assault rifle and three handguns. He said authorities believed the suspect entered the synagogue, murdered the worshippers and was leaving when he encountered a uniformed police officer. The pair exchanged gunfire, Jones said, and Bowers reentered the building before a SWAT team arrived. After a shootout, he surrendered. Bowers was taken to a hospital where he was listed in fair condition with multiple gunshot wounds. Trump said in a tweet he was watching what he described as a "devastating" situation. He told reporters the killings might have been prevented if there had been an armed guard. "If they had some kind of a protection inside the temple maybe it could have been a much more different situation, they didn't," he said. Police are normally only present at the synagogue for security on high holidays. He called on Americans to rise above hate and ordered US flags at the White House and public buildings to be flown at half-staff. He said he would visit Pittsburgh, but not when. Mourners held a candlelit vigil for the victims. The Islamic Center Of Pittsburgh offered its condolences, and called on its community to donate blood. The shooting followed attacks on other places of worship in recent years. On April 13, 2014, a pair of shootings occurred at a Jewish Community Center and a Jewish retirement community, both located in Overland Park, Kansas. A total of three people were killed in the shootings. In 2015, a white supremacist murdered nine African Americans during a prayer service in Charleston, South Carolina. In 2012, a neo-Nazi gunman with white supremacist ties walked into a Sikh gurdwara - or house of worship - in Oak Creek, Wisconsin, and murdered six Sikh Americans. Alert: US law enforcement officials respond to a suspicious package at a US Post Office facility in Manhattan last week. Photo: Getty Images A Florida man with a criminal history and a devotion to US President Donald Trump sent at least 13 letter bombs to prominent Democrats, officials said yesterday, crediting DNA, a fingerprint match and mis-spellings for the key break in a case which has spread fear of election-season violence with little precedent in the United States. Cesar Sayoc (56) of Aventura, Florida, was charged yesterday in connection with a letter bomb plot that spurred a week-long, coast-to-coast investigation which continued even after he was taken into custody last Friday as investigators scrutinised additional suspicious packages intended for Democrats. Sayoc will make his first court appearance this week, when additional details may be revealed about a motive. In the meantime, US attorney general Jeff Sessions suggested politics may have played a role and noted that Sayoc appeared to be a "partisan". Those who saw him in the Florida neighbourhood, unmistakable in a white van plastered with Trump's image and political stickers, described him as unsettling and troubled. Sayoc's social media profiles portray a deeply disaffected conservative who trafficked in online conspiracy theories, parody accounts and name-calling. He called a Florida school shooting survivor a "fake phoney," peddled theories about George Soros, the billionaire political donor targeted this week by a package bomb, and denigrated other Democrats who were later the intended recipients of packages. An amateur body-builder and former stripper who once spent time on probation for a bomb threat charge, Sayoc first registered as a Republican voter just ahead of the March 2016 Republican primary and quickly identified himself as a proud Trump supporter, tweeting and posting on Facebook videos that appear to show him at Trump rallies. He appeared to be living in his van, showering on the beach or at a local fitness centre. Sayoc's arrest was a major breakthrough in the nationwide manhunt following the discovery of the explosive devices - none of which detonated - addressed to prominent Democrats and other frequent targets of conservative ire, including former president Barack Obama, former vice-president Joe Biden, Hillary Clinton and the cable network CNN. Last Friday, new packages addressed to New Jersey Senator Cory Booker and former national intelligence director James Clapper were intercepted , both similar to those containing pipe bombs discovered earlier in the week. Investigators in California scrutinised a package sent to Democratic Senator Kamala Harris, her office said, and one sent to Tom Steyer, a billionaire businessman who has campaigned for months for Trump's impeachment. The letter bombs, coming shortly before major mid-term elections, sparked a heated national conversation about the hard-edged political climate and Trump's role in fanning the flames. The president has branded the media the "enemy of the people" and hurled harsh, personal insults at others targeted. Shortly after Sayoc was detained, Trump declared that "we must never allow political violence to take root in America" and that Americans "must unify". Speaking before leaving for a political rally in North Carolina, Trump said he knows Sayoc supported him but he himself "bears no blame." Hours earlier, Trump had complained via tweet that "this 'bomb' stuff" was taking attention away from the upcoming election and that critics were wrongly blaming him. FBI and police officials worked swiftly to untangle clues last week as the packages mounted, sometimes several in the same day. The big break came when a fingerprint found on one of the packages, intended for California Representative Maxine Waters, matched a fingerprint of Sayoc's on file with Florida authorities. A DNA sample from a device intended for Obama similarly matched the suspect's DNA, the FBI said. An additional clue: Mis-spellings from his online posts matched mistakes found on the packages, according to an 11-page criminal complaint that included the formal charges of threatening former presidents and transporting explosives across state lines. Some packages included photographs of the intended recipients marked with a red "x," the FBI said. The packages contained timers and batteries, but were not rigged to explode on opening. Officials were uncertain whether the devices were poorly designed or never intended to cause physical harm. Authorities noted that they included "energetic material". A footnote to the charging document said such explosive material "gives off heat and energy through a rapid exothermic reaction when initiated by heat, shock or friction". "These are not hoax devices," FBI director Chris Wray said. Sayoc was arrested near a car parts store in Plantation, Florida, north of Miami. Across the street, Thomas Fiori, a former federal law enforcement officer, said he saw about 50 armed officers swarm a man standing outside a white van. They ordered him to the ground, Fiori said, and he did not resist. "He had that look of, 'I'm done, I surrender,'" Fiori said. Sayoc appears to have been living on the margins, regularly running into trouble with the law and struggling to make ends meet. He was repeatedly arrested for theft in the 1990s, faced felony charges of possession of anabolic steroids in 2004 and was convicted of grand theft in 2014. In 2002, he served a year of probation for a felony charge of threatening to throw or place a bomb. His lawyer in that case said the charge stemmed from a heated conversation with a Florida utility representative. Ronald Lowy, a Miami attorney, said Sayoc showed no ability at the time to back up his threat with any bomb-making expertise. Sayoc had $4,175 in personal property and more than $21,000 in debts when filed for bankruptcy in 2012. "Debtor lives with mother, owns no furniture," his lawyer indicated. He had been an amateur body builder. More recently he was seen at an LA Fitness in Aventura, regularly showering at the gym but not working out, said Edgar Lopez (48), a therapist who works out at the gym. Marc Weiss saw Sayoc nearly every morning at 6am for the last four or five months. "I've seen the guy maybe 80 times and I never said a word to him because I had a feeling he was a little off," said Weiss, a 56-year-old building superintendent who has lived in the neighbourhood for eight years. "This guy had an air about him that was unsettling." Sayoc's political awakening appears to have coincided with Trump's rise. He registered to vote in Florida in March 2016 and has voted early since, records show. Documents released last Friday by the Broward County sheriff's office show Sayoc reported in May 2015 that more than $40,000 in goods were stolen from his van and an attached trailer, including 11 pieces of Donald Trump-brand clothing valued at $7,150. Specifics are not included, but Trump has a line of suits, shirts, ties and accessories. The report shows detectives were never able to confirm whether the theft actually happened, and no arrests were made. Most of those targeted this week were past or present US officials, but packages also were sent to actor Robert De Niro and Soros. The bombs have been sent across the country - from New York, Delaware and Washington, DC, to Florida and California, where Waters was targeted. They bore the return address of Florida Representative Debbie Wasserman Schultz, the former chairwoman of the Democratic National Committee. Associated Press Alltec, a company specialised in the development and production of high-performance parts in composite materials, said it is investing in increasing its production capacity of structural parts, based on thermoplastic composite press technology. In order to better meet the demand of the aeronautical sector globally, Alltec is now in the North American market, said a statement. The process of thermoplastic composite parts pressing provides significant gains in weight reduction and production costs. To achieve this level of maturity, the company has invested in research and development of its production process, as well as in quality control, thus guaranteeing large-scale production of thermoplastic composite parts, thus offering customers safe solutions for the production of structures with lower costs, it said. Alltecs technician director Lafaiete Mota said: Our company specialises in the development of solutions in composite materials, and we are prepared to expand our business to the demanding international market. This market is increasingly competitive, requiring fast and safe solutions to increase the efficiency of its products, he added. Rene Nardi, commercial representative in the US, Alltec, said: Our company is a great choice for the North American market due to its excellent reputation in the markets in which it has operated for the 23 years of the companys existence and for having an excellent and experienced technical staff. It also boasts a cutting-edge infrastructure in its factories and R & D laboratory. This, for a specific sector like aviation, makes all the difference. I have no doubt that Alltec will have a promising future in this new market, he added. TradeArabia News Service SAUDI Arabia and key ally Bahrain yesterday claimed they were a "beacon of light" in combating Iran's "vision of darkness". The Saudi foreign minister also reiterated that Riyadh would try "those responsible" for the murder of journalist Jamal Khashoggi's in the kingdom - a day after Turkey demanded the extradition of 18 Saudis suspected of involvement in his murder in the Saudi consulate in Istanbul. Saudi Arabia is the linchpin and financier of a US-backed regional bloc against Iranian influence in the Middle East. 'Seriously ill' Hoddle rushed to hospital Former England manager Glenn Hoddle was taken to hospital after falling "seriously ill" at the BT Sport studio yesterday. Hoddle, who spent the bulk of his playing career with Tottenham Hotspur and also played for Chelsea, Monaco and Swindon Town, works as a pundit for BT Sport and also works for ITV Sport for England games. Militants 'to halt attacks on Israel' PALESTINIAN militants said yesterday they would halt attacks on Israel from the Gaza Strip after they fired the heaviest rocket salvoes across the border in months. Islamic Jihad, one of the armed groups in Gaza, said it fired the rockets in retaliation for Israel killing four Palestinian protesters last Friday. Israel struck dozens of targets in the Gaza Strip yesterday in response. Video showed several rockets from Gaza being shot down by Israel's Iron Dome defence system. No casualties were reported. Israel took the unusual step of claiming Syria and Iran had been behind the attacks and hinted its response would not be limited to Gaza. A supporter of newly appointed Sri Lankan prime minister Mahinda Rajapaksa shouts at police officers outside petroleum ministry building in Colombo (AP) Sri Lankas president has said the main reason he decided to sack his prime minister was the alleged involvement of a cabinet minister in a plot to assassinate him. In a televised address to the nation, President Maithripala Sirisena said a person questioned by investigators had revealed the name of a minister in an alleged plot to assassinate him and a former defence secretary. The president said the only choice for him under the circumstances was to dismiss Ranil Wickremesinghe and invite his former nemesis and ex-strongman Mahinda Rajapaksa to take over as prime minister and form a new government. This information (received by investigators) contains a number of details hitherto hidden to the people, Mr Sirisena said. The informant has made a statement regarding a cabinet minister involved in the conspiracy to assassinate me. He did not reveal the name of the minister. Even though Mr Sirisenas supporters had been talking about an alleged plot to assassinate him for weeks, this is the first time the president has commented publicly on the claims. Expand Close Sri Lankan security forces are deployed near the petroleum ministry (AP) / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Sri Lankan security forces are deployed near the petroleum ministry (AP) A police informant named Namal Kumara who first revealed the alleged assassination plot told reporters that Mr Wickremesinghe and his cabinet colleague, former army commander Sarath Fonseka, were behind the scheme. Meanwhile, one person died and two others were wounded in a shooting at the petroleum ministry, in the first violent incident since the political turmoil began on Friday with the sacking of Mr Wickremesinghe. Pushpa Soyza, a spokeswoman at Colombo National Hospital, said three people were admitted to the hospital following the shooting, and one of them had died. Arjuna Ranatunga, who was petroleum minister under Mr Wickremesinghe, said one of his security guards opened fire when Rajapaksa supporters mobbed him and protested against him entering the ministry premises. Mr Wickremesinghe has called Mr Sirisenas move to sack him unconstitutional and said he can prove his majority support in Parliament. On Saturday, Mr Sirisena suspended Parliament in an apparent move to give Mr Rajapaksa time to try to muster enough support to survive any no-confidence vote. The parliamentary speaker has urged Mr Sirisena to safeguard Mr Wickremesinghes rights. Speaker Karu Jayasuriya said in a letter to Mr Sirisena that the continued suspension of Parliament would have serious and undesirable consequences. Opposition MPs, supporting the new prime minister, asked Mr Wickremesinghe to vacate his official residence or face a forcible eviction. Hundreds of Wickremesinghe supporters continued to gather outside his official home on Sunday for the second consecutive day, waving party flags and denouncing Mr Sirisena and Mr Rajapaksa. Buddhist monks performed religious rites to invoke blessings on Mr Wickremesinghe. Tensions have been building between Mr Sirisena and Mr Wickremesinghe for some time, as the president did not approve of some of the economic reforms being introduced by the prime minister. Mr Sirisena was also critical of investigations into military personnel accused of human rights violations during Sri Lankas long civil war, which ended in 2009. Saudi Arabias attorney general is scheduled to arrive in Turkey to hold talks with investigators looking into the killing of Saudi writer Jamal Khashoggi. The Washington Post journalist was killed in the kingdoms Istanbul consulate earlier this month. Turkey says the kingdoms top prosecutor, Saud al-Mojeb, is expected to arrive on Sunday. There has been no announcement by the Saudis about the visit, which comes just days after CIA director Gina Haspel was in Turkey to review evidence before briefing US President Donald Trump. Expand Close Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi was killed at the consulate in Turkey (Hasan Jamali/AP) / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi was killed at the consulate in Turkey (Hasan Jamali/AP) Turkey is seeking the extradition of 18 Saudi suspects detained in the kingdom in connection with the October 2 killing. Saudi Arabias foreign minister appeared to reject that notion in remarks on Saturday, saying the kingdom would try the perpetrators and bring them to justice after the investigation is completed. Some of those implicated in the killing are close to Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, whose condemnation of the killing has failed to ease suspicions that he was involved. Mr Khashoggi, a onetime Saudi insider and US resident who lived in self-imposed exile for almost a year before his death, had written critically of the crown prince in columns for the Washington Post. Under mounting international pressure, the kingdom again changed its narrative about Mr Khashoggis killing, acknowledging in recent days that it was premeditated, citing information from Turkey as part of a joint investigation. Saudi officials, however, continue to characterise the killing as a rogue operation carried out by agents who exceeded their authority. Saudi Foreign Minister Adel al-Jubeir on Saturday said the global outcry and media focus on the killing had become fairly hysterical. He urged the public to wait for the results of the investigation before ascribing blame to the kingdoms top leadership. Turkey is pressing Saudi Arabia for a full disclosure about the killing. Turkey alleges a 15-member hit squad was sent to Istanbul to kill the journalist. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said on Friday that his country would reveal more evidence about the killing but was not in any rush to do so, indicating that Turkish authorities will keep methodically increasing pressure on Saudi Arabia. Etihad Credit Insurance (ECI), the UAE Federal export credit company, and SACE, the Italian export credit company (CDP Group), have signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to enhance business opportunities between the UAE and Italy. The signing ceremony was part of the 6th meeting of the UAE-Italy Joint Economic Committee held recently in Rome, Italy. The signing of the MoU took place at the Ministry of Economic Development in Italy, in the presence of Engineer Sultan bin Saeed Al Mansoori, UAE Minister of Economy, and deputy chairman of the board of directors at ECI; Luigi Di Maio, Italian Minister for Economic Development; and Engineer Saed Al Awadhi, chief executive officer of Dubai Export and Development Corporation, and board member and chairman of the executive committee at ECI, said a statement. Under this MoU signed by Massimo Falcioni, chief executive of ECI; and Alessandro Decio, chief executive officer of SACE, the two national export credit companies have expressed commitment in strengthening the cooperation between UAE and Italy through the mutual sharing of expertise as well supporting the business relations of both countries. One of the main highlights of the MoU is the intention to enhance trade between the two countries with focus on Halal industry through Shariah-compliant insurance and finance solutions, it said. Furthermore, ECI and SACE have agreed to create a dedicated task force and collaborate on seven work areas: insurance, reinsurance and collections initiatives; information sharing; technical training programmes; halal industry and Shariah-compliant insurance and finance solutions; trade promotions (B2B events and workshops); investments; and SME programmes, it added. Falcioni said: Our partnership with SACE plays a strategic and important part in ECIs role as a major catalyst in supporting UAEs non-oil exports, trade, investments and strategic sectors development, in line with UAE Vision 2021 agenda. Italy is one of the major trading partners of the UAE in the European Union, while the UAE is also a major trading partner of Italy in the Arab region. Through mutual cooperation in extensive areas, this agreement is set to further cement the growing bilateral trade between the two countries, he said. Decio said: We are honoured to cooperate with Etihad Credit Insurance, a key player in the UAE, being fully aware that stronger trade and investment ties between Italy and the UAE are crucial for the future of our respective economies. Our office in Dubai, with a 5 billion ($5.76 billion) project pipeline, will play an active part in the Task Force confirming its role of Italian bridge in the UAE, he added. The trade volumes between two countries have exceeded 6 billion ($6.91 billion) in 2017. UAE ranks number one in the Middle East and North Africa (Mena) region for Italy's agriculture and F&B exports while Italy's imports from the UAE have also been growing. Other high-potential sectors for joint business exploration include steel and aluminium, ceramics, renewable energy, mechanical, waste management, industrial technologies, infrastructure and construction, jewellery and fashion, and F&B, it stated. TradeArabia News Service The first attempt of a Chinese private company to send a rocket into space failed on Saturday, the Associated Press reported. The carrier failed to reach the orbit after it was lifted off from Jiuquan Satellite Launch Centre. The three-stage rocket titled, Zhuque-1 was developed by Beijing based-landscape. The company which intended to give Elon Musks SpaceX a strong competition told media that first and the second stage of the rocket worked absolutely fine. China's first private-sector commercial launch vehicle, Zhuque-1, developed by Beijing-based private space company LandSpace, failed to send a satellite into orbit after being launched from Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in NW China's Gansu on Sat. No other details are available pic.twitter.com/DOKozEnfX3 Global Times (@globaltimesnews) October 27, 2018 However, something went wrong in its final stage. Before Zhuque carrier rocket was launched, its mission was already completed, the company said in the post on Saturday, without giving further details. Zhuque-1 was the first ever, three-stage, a private rocket that was built by China. In a video posted on microblogging site, Twitter, the 62 foot tall red and white rocket could be seen taking off amid clear skies. The rocket was carrying a satellite named Future built for state media China Central Television. Landscape said in a social media statement that cowling separation was normal but something abnormal happened after the second stage. Beijing Landscape was founded in 2015 with an aim to be the first Chinese private company to deliver a rocket into the orbit. According to media, Since coming to office in 2012, President Xi Jinping has made becoming a space flight superpower a priority for the government, which has a goal of sending a permanently manned space station into orbit by around 2022. Ricardo Ramos, a professional photographer, travelled through one of the most isolated places in Portugal to capture something the world has never seen or known before. In his Bored Panda bio, Ramos said that he visited the region of Tras os Montes in Portugal. He explains that the place means behind the mountains in English, and it's known for villages with less than 10 inhabitants. Ramos writes, "Many of those villages are untouched by technology; television and cell phones are a rarity." "People survive mainly from agricultural production and sheep farming. During winter, these elderly people spend days or even weeks without leaving the house because of the cold. But the greatest obstacle they have to deal with on a daily basis is loneliness." Ramos went on to join a team of people working towards elevating the living conditions of these elderly people who live in utter loneliness. Take a look at the moving pictures below: 1. Gracinda Facebook "Gracinda lost almost all of her family in an accident. The only daughter she has left is currently in prison. Her brother has cancer. Despite all the tragedy and difficulties, she continues to live in a village with 6 inhabitants in total and smile. The only thing that helps her to cope with everything is faith," writes Ramos 2. Marcellin Facebook "Mr Marcellin lives at his mothers house and spends days by the window with his cigarettes and a glass of wine. He has a slow life as he has had enough of living at a fast pace." 3. Sezerindo Facebook "Sezerindo lives alone in the company of his sheep and knows each one of them." 4. Maria Trash Mrs Maria (75) is one and only resident in her village. Her husband died recently and dogs are the only companions Maria has. 5. Alice Facebook "She lives in a village which has about 10 inhabitants. Because of the cold winter, she is trapped inside the house and this makes her feel lonelier than ever." Take a look at the post below: We're always interested in hearing about news in our community. Let us know what's going on! Go to form When the story of McDonald's is told, it often begins with Ray Kroc, the native Chicago milkshake mixing machine salesman who had the vision to see what the business model deployed by one of his clients, Speedee Service System, could become. Speedee Service System, launched in 1948, was the brainchild of two brothers, Richard James (Dick) and Maurice James (Mac) McDonald, who successfully utilized the "drive-in" concept to food delivery and, ultimately, franchising opportunities. Impressed by what he saw, Ray Kroc became their franchise agent in 1954, opened up the first McDonald's franchise in 1955 and, in 1961, bought out the McDonald brothers for the, then hefty, sum of $2.7 million. The rest is part of the entrepreneurial lore that is the hallmark of iconic businesses. Key Takeaways McDonald's makes money by leveraging its product, fast food, to franchisees who have to lease properties, often at large markups, that are owned by McDonald's. According to the data from their latest annual report, approximately 93% of total capacity are franchises, which is still below McDonalds long-term goal of 95%. Franchisees are lured by the impressive margins that make McDonald's franchises an almost guaranteed moneymaker. McDonald's remains committed to growth, continuing its aggressive deployment of the three growth accelerators EOTF, Delivery, and Digital in 2019 and beyond. Almost 80 years later, the enterprise has grown to about 38,000 restaurants globally that serve close to 70 million customers roughly 1% of the world's population per day, all wanting a burger, fries, and/or chicken nuggets as quickly as possible. It has, effectively, morphed into the most popular family restaurant that appeals to children and adults alike and emerged as the dominant force in the "Quick Service Restaurant (QSR)" end of the market. The QSR category contains a number of popular franchises, including McDonald's Corp (MCD), KFC and Taco Bell (YUM), and Wendys (WEN). In 2019, McDonald's emerged as the most valuable QSR (i.e., fast-food) chain with a brand value nearing 130.36 billion USD and total assets worth 47.5 billion USD. McDonald's has, consistently, led this market segment in terms of overall sales and number of restaurants worldwide, followed by Starbucks (SBUX) and Subway. On the way to serving hundreds of billions of people, McDonald's has blazed multiple corporate trails since its 1955 incorporation, such as franchising and institutionalized training. McDonald's even had a mission statement long before mission statements were a thing. "Quality, Service, Cleanliness and Value" is self-explanatory, and McDonald's has set standards for at least the first and fourth of those qualities. As legendary Michelin chef, Ferran Adria, once said of the Big Mac: "Ferran Adria and the 100 best chefs in the world cannot do better for the price." In 2018, McDonald's emerged as the most valuable QSR chain with a brand value nearing 130.36 billion USD and total assets worth 47.5 billion USD. Business Model Essentially, McDonald's makes money by leveraging its product, fast food, to franchisees who have to lease properties, often at large markups, that are owned by McDonald's. As reported in their 2019 10-K, 36,059 of the 38,695 restaurants were franchised with McDonald's operating the remaining 2,636 restaurants. So, approximately 93% of total capacity are franchises, which is still below McDonald's long-term goal of 95%. The advantage of this model is that the revenue stream (rent and royalty income received from franchisees) is far more stable and, most importantly, predictable, while the operating costs are measurably lower, allowing for an easier path to profitability. McDonald's, because it has control over the land and long-term leases, can leverage its market position to negotiate deals. As has been noted by analysts, this is akin to a subscription, where the subscriber (the franchisee) pays a fixed amount each month. According to industry analysts, McDonald's keeps about 82% of the revenue generated by franchisees, compared with only about 16% of the revenue from its company-operated locations, which is further trimmed by the costs incurred in operating these units. This would explain their pursuit of getting to the 95% franchise mark. Why Are McDonald's Franchises in Demand? McDonald's has notoriously strict criteria for its franchisees (net worth, liquidity, etc.). Additionally, the franchisees are also responsible for paying salaries, ordering supplies, and paying rent/owning the premises. So, why become a franchisee? The lure is that McDonald's provides them with an almost guaranteed moneymaker due, in large part, to the impressive margins. The restaurant industry is infamous for its turnover, and as any restaurateur will tell you, one major reason for this is that the margins can be thinner than a slice of processed American cheese. Yet, McDonald's operating margins are Double Quarter Pounder thick north of 40%! How is that possible in a business whose very purpose is providing inexpensive food? The answer lies in the fact that the food is even cheaper to prepare than one might think. Some menu items coffee, for instance sell for dozens of times their cost. Note to people who think nothing of paying $5 for an iced mocha youre drinking a few pennies worth of beans, boiled in water that's too cheap to measure, and some chocolate syrup. 93% Franchised 35,085 of the 37,855 restaurants were franchised, with McDonald's operating the remaining 2,770 restaurants. Markets & Business Segments As per their recent 10-K, effective May 14, 2020, McDonald's is operating with the following global business segments: U.S., International Operated Markets, and International Developmental Licensed Markets and Corporate. Each sector accounts for 37.2%, 54%, and 8.7% of revenues, respectively, as of the company's most recent annual report. U.S.: The largest segment, with revenues of $7.843 billion in 2019. International Operated Markets: Markets including Australia, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Russia, Spain, and the U.K. This segment had $11.398 billion in revenues in 2019. International Developmental Licensed Markets & Corporate: Comprised of developmental licensee and affiliate markets, plus corporate activities. This segment had $1.836 billion in revenues in 2019. Financial Statements According to McDonald's 10-K, 2019 free cash flow was $5.7 billion, a 36% increase over 2018, and global comparable sales increased 45.9% and global comparable guest counts increased 1%. Dubai South has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the UAE Ministry of Health and Prevention (Mohap) as part of its efforts to strengthen cooperation with the pharmaceutical sector. The agreement also aims to enable pharmaceutical companies to take advantage of the opportunities to operate within Dubai South, said a statement. The MoU is part of a shared commitment between the two entities aimed at achieving government integration in line with the UAE Vision 2021, it said. It aims to provide a single framework for developing the procedures for issuing license and registration for pharmaceutical manufacturers in Dubai South, it added. The agreement seeks to promote the implementation of legislation for the pharmaceutical and medical equipment industry. The MoU was signed by Dr Amin Hussein Al Amiri, assistant undersecretary for Public Health Policy and Licensing office, chairman of Supreme Pharmacovigilance Committee at Mohap and Mohsen Ahmad, chief executive officer of Logistics District at Dubai South. Ahmad emphasised that the new agreement is an important move towards improving the performance of the pharmaceutical sector and promote its contribution in supporting the UAEs efforts to diversify the economy and shift to the post-oil era, it stated. TradeArabia News Service The 2018 Toronto municipal election played out as most people expected it to, with John Tory cruising to a second term as mayor, writes Brian Budd. Tory easily defeated runner-up candidate Jennifer Keesmaat, Torontos former chief city planner, by more than 300,000 votes. However, despite Torys landslide victory, the Toronto mayoral election was not without controversy or public intrigue. Faith Goldys campaign for mayor sparked intense public outrage and debate throughout the election campaign. Goldy ran a platform that included a number of divisive proposals aimed at stoking ethnic tensions in Canadas most populous city. Included in her platform were promises to expel all illegal immigrants from Torontos shelter system, monitor the finances of mosques and other Islamic organizations and reinstitute the controversial police practice known as carding essentially, demanding people of colour show their ID to police officers. While Goldy, a onetime Rebel Media darling, finished in third place with a paltry 3.4 per cent of the popular vote, the fact that she accumulated 25,667 votes in one of the worlds most diverse and multicultural cities has raised concerns about the potential for a far-right populist candidate to succeed in the future. Its imperative that Torontonians and Canadians as a whole understand what Goldy represents in terms of the broader context of right-wing populist ideology, as well as how Goldys campaign may serve as a jumping-off point for other extremist parties and candidates to succeed in Canada. Canadas Donald Trump While probably unknown to the average Toronto voter, Goldy has been a prominent right-wing media figure in both the United States and Canada for quite some time. She most recently worked as a media reporter and commentator for the right-wing news website The Rebel Media. While working for the site, Goldy was an infamous promoter of the conspiracy of white genocide while producing content that rallied Islamophobic opposition against refugees and immigrants. Goldys employment at The Rebel Media was ultimately terminated in August 2017 when she appeared on a podcast published on the neo-Nazi website, the Daily Stormer. Despite her unceremonious departure from Rebel, Goldy has retained a healthy following, with more than 80,000 subscribers to her personal YouTube channel. Faith Goldys YouTube Channel. As a mayoral candidate, Goldy sought to repackage her racist, xenophobic and extremist views into a populist campaign that would appeal to Toronto voters. She framed Toronto as a city in decline, ravaged by gun crime and gang violence, deteriorating infrastructure and home to a political establishment catering to special interests. As the peoples candidate, Goldy positioned herself against the political establishment by attacking the media, the courts and private corporations over the course of the campaign. Different types of populism Goldys populist appeal to Ontario residents comes on the heels of Doug Fords ascent to power as premier of the province. Fords populist ideology and rhetoric during the Ontario election campaign proved a successful pathway to victory for the PCs, who were able to oust the Liberal Party from power after 15 years in government. However, while both Ford and Goldy share an affinity for populism, there are important ideological distinctions between them. Fords appeal to Ontario voters is rooted in a neo-liberal world view ostensibly centred on cleaning up government waste, maximizing efficiency and protecting taxpayers. His brand of populism largely eschews the cultural and social anxieties promoted by populists in other parts of the world. Goldys populist ideology, on the other hand, fits neatly within a category of populism that scholars have termed the populist radical right. These radical populists emphasize xenophobia and nativism in their appeals to voters while promising to reassert law and order by taking authoritarian measures. In other words, with her fixation on promoting ethnic nationalism, Islamophobia and racially motivated policing, Goldys campaign deviates from the neo-liberal tradition of Canadian populism to more closely mirror international examples of radical right-wing populists like Donald Trump, Geert Wilders and Marine Le Pen. Does Goldys third-place finish suggest that future far-right candidates could succeed where she failed? (Facebook) Thus, Goldys campaign has ushered in a rare instance of radical right-wing populism in mainstream Canadian politics. The question for many, even in light of a distant third-place finish, is whether the Toronto municipal election may signal the beginning of further radical right-wing populism in Canada. Normalizing radical right-wing populism The danger of a far-right politician like Goldy achieving even minuscule electoral success is that it may help to normalize xenophobia and nativism within mainstream political discourse. Both her political opponents and media organizations appear well aware of this danger. Goldy was barred from participating in electoral debates with other mayoral candidates in the lead-up to the election and Bell Media refused to run her campaign ads on their television stations. While these efforts to avoid granting Goldys messages legitimacy in public discourse should be applauded, they obscure the reality: in many ways, Goldys brand of radical right-wing populism has already been normalized within Canadian politics. Stephen Harper and the Conservative Party of Canada share some blame. During their time in power, the Harper government engaged in a number of thinly veiled flirtations with Islamophobia while actively promoting a Euro-Canadian conception of Canadian identity. In many ways, Goldys campaign can be understood as an outgrowth of the cultural populism ushered in by the Harper government that has helped radical right-wing ideologies in Canada find a place in the mainstream. Adept at social media Goldy is uniquely troubling not merely due to her commitment to a radical right-wing ideology, but also her adeptness at promoting her message to supporters. At only 29 years old and with a slew of media experience, Goldy is a skilled social media practitioner, using Twitter and YouTube to connect with supporters while circumventing traditional media outlets. And so the danger of Goldys mayoral campaign is not only that it demonstrates the increasing normalization of xenophobia and nativism within Canadian right-wing political discourse. It also shows how extremist rhetoric can spread and gain traction via the use of social media. Its important that Goldys campaign isnt laughed off or dismissed as a delusional political incursion by an extreme right-wing media figure. Rather, we ought to be wary and watchful of the potential lessons that other politicians may draw from her campaign. This article was written by Brian Budd, Ph.D Candidate, University of Guelph and was originally published on The Conversation. Read the original article here. Sunday, October 28th, 2018 (11:01 am) - Score 4,340 The UK Governments Chancellor, Philip Hammond, is reported to be planning another investment boost of at least 250 million to help further extend the availability of Gigabit capable full fibre broadband (FTTP / FTTH) links across more of the country. An announcement is expected on Monday as part of the Autumn Budget. According to the Telegraph, the extra investment will be targeted toward delivering fibre optic lines to connect more schools, libraries and other publicly-owned buildings. The idea seems to be that by establishing these local hubs then other ISPs will later be able to harness them in order to extend ultrafast broadband outward, such as into nearby homes and businesses. The newspaper doesnt add any further detail, although the proposed approach sounds like it could be an extension of the existing 200m Local Full Fibre Network (LFFN) challenge fund. The LFFN focused on testing different approaches to stimulate commercial investment in gigabit capable broadband (rural and urban) through similar methods (connectivity vouchers, anchor tenants, connecting public buildings to fibre etc.). Philip Hammond said: It is the spending on the skills of the next generation, the infrastructure, including the digital infrastructure, the broadband infrastructure. For the 21st century broadband is to roads in the 20th, railways in the 19th, and canals in the 18th. Its the network infrastructure that will make this country work. Such a boost in funding will be welcome, although 250m+ remains a drop in the ocean of what digitally disadvantaged areas (e.g. rural communities) might eventually need in order to help extend such services out to individual homes and business, which is significantly more expensive than simply connecting key public sites. Lest we forget that some operators (e.g. Openreach) have already installed fibre optic cables all the way to street cabinets or other buildings inside many rural communities. However, as stated above, extending those fibres beyond those sites and out toward individual premises remains very difficult and expensive. The Future Telecoms Infrastructure Review (FTIR) very conservatively estimated that bringing FTTP/H to the final 10% of UK premises would require public funding of around 3bn to 5bn. This is on an assumption that it could be matched by investment from elsewhere (private sector, local councils etc.). On the other hand there are many disadvantaged areas that could certainly benefit from a fibre optic hub (particularly places where such cables do not yet reach) and in those locations the proposed approach could have a very positive impact. But at this stage we only have the newspapers interpretation and so well reserve further analysis until the full announcement. Connected autonomous vehicle software company Cohda Wireless says it has demonstrated how the use of its technology can prevent accidents on city streets where the presence of tall buildings on either side make them into so-called "urban canyons". In a statement, the company said it had run a trial with two vehicles east of Adelaide's Victoria Square, one with a human driver and the other a connected autonomous vehicle with a human inside but not steering it. The vehicles were connected by the company's technology. The two cars approached a four-way intersection which showed a green light to the connected autonomous vehicle but a red light to the one driven by a human. The human did not stop for the red light but sped through; the connected autonomous vehicle detected the other vehicle approaching the intersection and stopped, even though the light was green. Cohda Wireless chief technical officer Professor Paul Alexander explained that the vehicles were connected using Cohdas V2X (Vehicle-To-Everything) technology, and hence a potential collision situation had been detected and avoided. The trial was part of the company's Smart Cars Smart City initiative and has been funded by the South Australian Department of Transport and Infrastructures Future Mobility Lab Fund. We demonstrated that when vehicles are connected to each other using our smart V2X technology, Car 1, the connected autonomous vehicle, would detect that Car 2 is approaching the red light at speed and is probably not going to stop. This allows the connected autonomous vehicle to pre-emptively identify and respond to the threat by slowing down and stopping," said Alexander. Cohdas V2X technology allows vehicles to speak to each other to extend their perception horizon. The technology provides the vehicle with an awareness of its environment and risk factors associated with it, consistently and accurately up to ten times per second, enabling it to make decisions that a human being would not be capable of making as the driver of the vehicle. In June, Cohda Wireless took ownership of two specially-modified vehicles from the US which it is using in advanced trials of its V2X technology. The two sedans were fitted with the ADAS (Advanced Driver Assistance Systems), ROS (Robot Operating System), various sensors including Lidar, Radar, cameras, GPS as well as in-vehicle compute platform and Cohdas GNSS-independent positioning technology. The fusion and co-operation of the various sensors and Cohdas V2X technology augment the perception capability of the vehicles and make the autonomous vehicles able to have threat detection, the dangers associated with blind intersections and vulnerable road users. Last year, the company demonstrated its V2X-Locate system in New York City, showing off sub-metre accuracy along Sixth Avenue, which has the tallest buildings in the city. Comparably tested GPS-based systems were often tens of metres off course, at times showing cars driving through buildings. Mobile virtual network operator amaysim has sold its fixed line broadband customer base to regional telecommunications operator Southern Phone for about $3 million in a transaction expected to be completed by the end of the month. The company said in a statement to the ASX that the decision followed a review of its broadband business was aimed at maximising shareholder returns. Chief executive and managing director Peter O'Connell said: "The broadband team has worked very hard and done an outstanding job creating industry leading products and processes. The decision to exit broadband was not easy and was made in light of unsustainably high wholesale costs, intense competition and the need to allocate the companys capital appropriately. This transaction will enable the company to simplify its operating structure, defend and grow its core mobile and energy businesses, and invest in its technology platforms. We will continue to explore additional products and services that we can offer to our significant mobile subscriber base. "However, we will do this in a way that is profitable, delivers a great customer experience and aligns with our asset-light business model. amaysim said it would enter the broadband market in July 2016 after buying the Internet service provider, Australian Broadband Services for $4 million. In June last year, the company said it would offer its customers the first month free in a bid to snag a share of the NBN market. Southern Phone is one of the larger providers of fixed line, mobile and Internet communications services in regional Australia. It plans to migrate amaysims fixed line broadband customer base onto its platform in November 2018. Customers will be notified by amaysim and no disruption is expected. amaysim said it would recognise a non-cash impairment of approximately $7 million pre-tax and write down the carrying value of the broadband assets to zero. The impairment charge will be finalised after the transaction is completed and will be removed from underlying performance in the 2019 financial year results. Sabic, a global leader in diversified chemicals, has signed two agreements worth a total of SR5.6 billion ($1.5 billion) to enable sustainable growth of downstream industries and developing national industry in support of Saudi 2030. The memorandums of understanding (MoUs) were signed during the 2nd annual Future Investment Initiative conference (FII) held in Riyadh from October 23 to 25. The MoUs were signed with the German Schmid and the Riwaq Industrial Development to establish state-of-the-art plants in Jubail Industrial City, producing silicon for semiconductors, electronics and solar cells, in additional to the batteries. The SR1.6 billion project will use Sabic materials to localize the technology for the first time in the Kingdom, and will provide 1,000 direct jobs. Sabic also committed to a SR4 billion project providing part of the raw materials needed under a project agreement with Pan Asia PET. The project will be launched in Jazan Industrial City by the Chinese company. Yousef Al-Benyan, Sabic vice chairman and CEO, said: "This is part of Sabic's commitment to localizing knowledge, technology and industry, maximizing local content and attracting foreign investment, under its role to enabling Saudi 2030." He was optimistic about the expected economic impact of these projects on the GDP and job creation in the Kingdom. "Sabic has aligned all its strategies to serve the growth and transformation programs to achieve national development priorities. We are proud to contribute to the success of the Future Investment Initiative, which is an effective hub that affirms the Kingdom's global standing as an economic powerhouse and a creator of growth opportunities in various fields around the world. Al-Benyan said. Relying on technical and cognitive data, we will achieve economic prosperity based on cooperation and integration with everyone, he added. Al-Benyan also stressed that Sabic had contributed to this step through its international partnerships, and that the company will continue to supply these projects with raw materials and logistical support, and facilitate all procedures to ensure the development of technical and operational experiences for all parties in a stimulating investment environment. For these projects, Sabic will provide coordination, logistical support, materials and products, as well as technical support, under its national initiative "Nusaned. These efforts will generate new jobs, transfer technology and promote the kingdoms national economy. The projects in Jubail will also act as a strategic nucleus for integrated silicon downstream industries that are involved in industrial areas such as transport, energy and defence systems. They will enable support industries that generate large investments and create a large number of high and medium jobs. The implementation program of the two projects includes preparing, qualifying and training Saudi youth of both sexes on these techniques to manage and operate these new plants. The commitments reinforced the companys push to enable Saudi Vision 2030 through its long-held expertise in supporting local content through localizing industry and attracting foreign investment to the Kingdom. Sabic is a strategic partner of FII, hosted under the leadership of HRH Prince Mohammad bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al-Saud, Crown Prince, Chairman of the Council for Economic and Development Affairs and Chairman of the Public Investment Fund (PIF). The event brings together international business and investment trailblazers to exchange ideas on the future of human development and explore investment opportunities. TradeArabia News Service Fall Choral Concert to Feature Guest Artist BLOOMINGTON, Ill. Illinois Wesleyan Universitys Collegiate and University Choirs will present a joint fall choral concert featuring guest artist Urmy Das, on Sunday, Nov. 4 at 3 p.m. The concert will take place at Wesley United Methodist Church (502 E. Front St, Bloomington) and is free and open to the public. Directed by Professor in the School of Music and Director of Choral Activities J. Scott Ferguson, the concert will feature compositions by Allegri, Dove, Erod, Esmail, Frde, Furman, Gyongyosi, Herzogenberg, Palestrina, Vaughan Williams and others. Special guest Indian classical dancer, Urmy Das will collaborate with the University Choir on a performance of Desh arranged by Ethan Sperry. The 50-student Collegiate Choir is dedicated to the performance of the finest sacred and secular choral music of the past five centuries. The University Choir, which consists of a wide variety of students from many fields of study across campus, performs sacred and secular choral literature of many different styles and time periods. By Vi Kakares 20 Etihad Energy Service Company (Etihad Esco) has partnered with Siemens to reduce the energy consumption of 115 mosques and two buildings through the execution of a retrofit project. Siemens will be supporting Etihad Esco), a wholly-owned subsidiary of Dewa and the Islamic Affairs and Charitable Activities Department (IACAD) to provide Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning (HVAC); and water and lighting retrofit solutions; along with the installation of control systems to further reduce the energy consumption of HVAC and lighting, within the framework of the first phase of the program. The project scope will also include measurement & verification for a six years contract period. Upon completion, Siemens will guarantee a 20.43 percent reduction in annual energy consumption, resulting in yearly savings of over Dh3 million ($816,000). The energy and equipment performance post the implementation of the current project are guaranteed for six years, with a payback period of 3.7 years. Ali Al Jassim, CEO, Etihad Esco, said: Mosques are capable of setting perfect examples of energy efficiency practices, thereby encouraging visitors to adopt the same. Installation of HVAC, water and lighting retrofit solutions, along with additional control systems will significantly lower energy consumption and generate huge savings across 115 mosques under IACADs management. We applaud the departments commitment to supporting the Dubai Strategy and contribute to reduce 30% electricity and water demand in Dubai by 2030. Smart infrastructure is the future of sustainable cities, and this project which reduces energy and water consumption at 115 mosques is a perfect example of how technology can significantly optimize performance, said Markus Strohmeier, senior executive vice president, Building Technologies Division, Siemens Middle East. Dubai and the UAE are working towards ambitious targets for resource efficiencies, and I am pleased that Siemens is playing a key role in supporting this vital endeavour. Etihad Esco, with its mission to make Dubais built environment a leading example of energy efficiency, is currently working on retrofitting over 30,000 buildings in the Emirate to ensure energy efficiency and manage rising energy demand. TradeArabia News Service Europes biggest shoe retailer Germany-based Deichmann SE has entered into a long-term partnership with regional retail giant Azadea Group to enter the Mena market in the next few years. Azadea Group is a premier lifestyle retail company that has been operating across the Mena region for the past 40 years and currently operates over 50 leading international franchise concepts in fashion & accessories, food & beverage, home furnishings, sporting goods, multimedia, and beauty & cosmetics. The opening of the first store on the Arabian Peninsula under the Deichmann brand is scheduled for 2019 in Dubai. "We are aiming for further growth and keen to open up new markets. Having opened stores in France and Belgium last year, we are now represented in almost every country in Europe. So it is time for us to develop further growth markets," says Heinrich Deichmann, chairman of the Board of Directors of Deichmann SE. "We believe that there is huge potential for our concept of 'high-quality fashion shoes at an affordable price' in this region." Deichmann SE is the largest shoe retailer in Europe and now present in 26 countries worldwide. In the 2017 financial year, the Group sold more than 176 million pairs of shoes internationally in around 4,000 stores and 36 online shops. Deichmann is striking a new path with the expansion now planned: for the first time in its more than 100-year history, the company will be working with a franchise partner. "In the Azadea Group, we are pleased to have found a partner with many years of experience in using the franchise model and at the same time with proven expertise in the fashion sector as well as in the Arabian and North African regions. We see it as a major advantage to be entering a new region closely aligned with a local partner," said Deichmann. "Together with our partner Azadea Group, we first want to gain initial experience in the region, on which the timing of further developments will depend. We are proud to announce our partnership with Deichmann and are excited about introducing an international shoe concept to the Middle East, stated Said G Daher, chief executive officer at Azadea Group. The addition of Deichmann SE to our portfolio comes to anchor once again our longstanding promise of continuously offering our customers nothing less than a great shopping experience for the whole family. TradeArabia News Service Emirates marked aviation history on October 25 as the A380 landed in Russias northern capital, St. Petersburg. Welcomed at 20:50 local time at Pulkovo International Airport (LED), this is the first time the iconic double-decker aircraft has landed in St. Petersburg. A welcome ceremony was held at the airport in attendance of Vadim Besperstov, Emirates manager for Russian Federation and CIS, Julien Franiatte, Airbus head of country Russia, and Vladimir Yakushev, chief executive officer of Northern Capital Gateway, trade officials and esteemed media members. Due to increased passenger demand, Emirates will deploy its A380 and temporarily replace the Boeing 777 aircraft that is currently operating the route. Besperstov said: It is a pleasure to share this historical moment in aviation with our partners from Pulkovo International Airport and Airbus. The arrival of our double-decker aircraft is not only a testament to the airports readiness to handle the A380 operations, but also reflects the healthy passenger demand on our Russian routes. We thank our partners at Pulkovo International Airport and Airbus who have made this temporary operational change a success. Russia is a very important market for us and we remain committed to serving the country. Yakushev commented: Pulkovo International Airport and Emirates have been partners since 2011. We are proud to see one of the worlds leading airlines grow and expand its services in St. Petersburg, offering Emirates exclusive travel opportunities from the city. The temporary A380 flights on the Dubai to St. Petersburg route demonstrates the high potential for passenger demand from both sides. Pulkovo International Airport is certified and fully equipped to handle an aircraft of such type. Should the airline decide to further use it on St. Petersburg route for the peak periods or other occasions, Pulkovo team will provide the aircraft handling and passenger services according to Emirates highest standards. Emirates operations in Russia started in 2003 and since then, has grown to serve two significant gateways across the country. The airline has also recently announced a third daily flight to Moscow Domodedovo airport, offering travellers 28 flights a week from Moscow and St. Petersburg. Passengers travelling on Emirates can continue their journey and connect to more than 160 destinations, including popular holiday routes such as Mauritius, Bangkok, Singapore, Hong Kong, Sydney, Melbourne, and others, via a seamless stopover in Dubai. Emirates flight EK 175 operated in a three-class configuration with a total of 519 seats, with 429 spacious seats in Economy on the main deck, 76 fully flat-bed seats in Business and 14 First Class Private Suites on the upper deck. The temporary Emirates A380 flights will be operating with the following schedule: EK175 will depart Dubai at 15:45 and arrive in St. Petersburg at 20:50, while the return flight, EK176 will leave St. Petersburg at 23:55 and arrive in Dubai at 06:55 the following morning.* Discover St. Petersburg Known as Venice of the North, Russias northern capital offers many museums, historical monuments and artistic galleries, including the world-renowned, Dali Museum. Visitors can marvel at the historical centre which has been listed as a Unesco World Heritage site and explore the citys past by visiting the Hermitage Museum showcasing art and culture since of 1764 and the Peterhof Palace, a series of palaces and gardens known as the "Russian Versailles." Emirates connects Russia to Dubai with 28 flights per week three times a day from Moscow and a daily service from St Petersburg. - TradeArabia News Service By Siddhant Mohan, TwoCircles.net Over the past few years, political parties have been trying every trick in the book to consolidate the vote bank against the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) for the upcoming Lok Sabha elections. But it seems that the Indian National Congress, the biggest political rival of the BJP, is actually losing the confidence of Muslims in eastern Uttar Pradesh, especially Varanasi. Various leaders and activists from Varanasi have come out in protest, alleging district as well as state Congress committees of ignoring minorities, especially Muslims. Support TwoCircles They accused the Congress party of using Muslims only for votes and not paying them enough attention within the party or before the media. The issue erupted a couple of weeks back when Anwar Ahmad Pappu, a senior Congress leader and ex-Councillor, wrote a Facebook post alleging that the Congress party is ignoring the minorities of Varanasi and using them only during the election time. The post went viral within hours and a great rift could be seen in the comments on the post. District Congress president Sitaram Keshari commented that with such posts, Ahmad can only be reduced to a politician of social media. The grievance raised by Ahmad aggravated and soon, he threatened to resign from the party after the festival of Navratri. Many Muslim leaders from the party along with the Corporators joined the chorus, exposing how Muslims were being ignored by the Congress party. Ramzan Ali, a Corporator from the Congress party and an executive body member in Municipal Corporation of Varanasi, spoke with TwoCircles.net in detail. Ali said, A few things must be kept in mindMuslims have been supporting Congress in the city and other areas around. In 2017 UP assembly elections, Muslim voted for the SP-Congress alliance and workers did their jobs at booth level. But after that, we did not get invitations for party meetings and public functions. Senior Muslim leaders of Congress party no longer get invited on the stage when party organises any meet or public function. Ajai Rai, senior Congress leader who contested against Narendra Modi in the 2014 Lok Sabha elections, lost his security deposit but the few votes he got were from the Muslim community, according to partys booth-level workers. Most of the votes from Muslim community went to Arvind Kejriwal then as he came across as a bigger alternative, but whatever votes Congress got was because of Muslim workers and voters, added Ali. At the local level, Congress party has 21 Corporators and unsurprisingly, 14 are Muslims. In the Municipal Corporation elections held last year, many Muslim candidates were elected for a second term, but the party decided not to choose any Muslim as the leader of the Congress corporators in the Municipal Corporation. Ramzan Ali further said, We put these issues before the leader of Opposition Ghulam Nabi Azad in a meeting a few months back, but we are still fighting to get our issue heard. It is not like we want a division in the party, but the party should rise above Rais, Mishras, or Sharmas of Varanasi. It should not look towards the Muslim community as a vote bank. We are mulling to form a parallel committee inside the Congress party. We will fight for our right to dissent but with all our devotion to the Congress, Ali added. It must be noted that it has always been a tough task for non-BJP political groups to consolidate Muslim votes in their favour. In a major road show by Akhilesh Yadav and Rahul Gandhi last year, both the parties tried to keep the route intact to Muslim-dominated localities of Varanasi. A senior non-Muslim Congress leader based in Lucknow told TwoCircles.net, Muslims have been voting for Samajwadi Party since the past few years, and the reason is within the Congress party. It has become a party driven by Brahmins, Thakurs, Bhumihars and other business classes. It does not see its voters as its leaders, and that is where such dissents erupt. Anwar Ahmad Pappu, the leader who posted his dissent on Facebook, deleted his post after facing pressure from senior Congress leaders. He is not working with the party anymore and is not willing to talk on the issue as well. When contacted, he said, I have no role with the Congress party anymore. I am overseeing my business and am least involved with the party. When pressed, he said, My issues have not even be addressed, let alone resolved. If the party would pay heed, then I will think about re-joining. Prajanath Sharma, district Congress president, refuted all issues saying that the Congress will not pay heed to social media posts. He further said, Those who are saying such things they are being influenced. However, Sharma did not answer the query influenced by whom? He further said, We give importance to Muslim leaders according to their eligibility. Afzal Ahmad Ansari, another prominent Muslim leader and two-term Corporator from Congress party, told TwoCircles.net, The worry is is real, and maybe many leaders will not speak up. We have non-political people as leaders holding posts, ones who do not even understand the booth structure. They will not understand our problems. Ansari further said, When you talk about repercussions, you should understand that it is Varanasithe Lok Sabha constituency of Narendra Modiwe are talking about. And if it goes on like this, the party may suffer again in 2019 general elections. 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. ROCHESTER, Minn.- Organizers at Century High School are using the holiday to raise money for programs within the district. It's called a Boofest where they have spooky activities for young kids to get into the halloween spirit. Melissa Amundson is one organizer and hopes to raise money to continue to enhance the schools curriculum. She tells me they want to maintain and add programs that will continue educating students. Primarily we look for new and innovative ideas and way to extend the existing curriculum., She said. They didn't have a specific goal of money to raise. KIMT-TV 3 NEWS Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds and Minnesota Governor Mark Dayton are ordering all U.S. and Minnesota flags at state buildings be flown at half-staff in memory of the victims of the Pittsburgh synagogue shooting. It follows a proclamation by President Trump to lower flags to half-staff immediately and to continue until sunset on Wednesday. Governor Daytons announcement says The innocent victims and their families deserve our honor, respect, and remembrance. CLEAR LAKE, Iowa On a foggy Saturday morning, the Iowa State Patrol teamed up with a North Iowa restaurant to try and help the hungry. Troopers helped wait and clear tables from 7 to 11 am at 7 Stars Family Restaurant in Clear Lake. 100 percent of the sales during that time were donated to the Hawkeye Harvest Food Bank and the Clear Lake/Ventura Food Pantry. Two waitresses also donated 100 percent of their tips while another two donated 50 percent. This is the 4th year 7 Stars and the State Patrol have come together for this good cause. Waitress Sandy Rosser says they collected $2,650 in 2017 and beat that with $3,100 on Saturday. MASON CITY, Iowa For north Iowa residents suffering from GERD and acid reflux, help and relief may be closer than you think. I used to take TUMS by the handfuls and I dont have to do that anymore, said Deb Rickard. Its all thanks to a new procedure offered at the Mason City Clinic. The procedure is a laparoscopic surgery which means minimally invasive surgery, or surgery through little incisions in the abdomen, said Doctor Matthew Fabian Dr. Fabian tells KIMT the operation is the implantation of a device providing relief to those who suffer from GERD and reflux. Theres a device that is a bracelet of magnets like a necklace or bracelet, said Dr. Fabian. It is fitted around the lower-sphincter area surgically and it is buckled into place. Deb Rickard is one of Dr. Fabians patients. I had years of reflux and came to Dr. Fabian and he had told me about the procedure, said Rickard. Shes surprised with the easy recovery process. Very little incisional pain. I t was just five or six small incisions and probably a little bit of shoulder pain for the first few days. Eating every hour or two sometimes takes some thoughtfulness, said Rickard. But shes amazed with the relief it has brought her. I now can lay flat on my back and sleep and I have not been able to do that for a long time, said Rickard. I dont wake up coughing, Im not clearing my throat all the time, less heartburn, and so I feel a lot better Im not taking the medications anymore. For those interested in learning about this procedure, there will be a seminar held in the Mercy Medical Center North Iowa lobby on Nov. 14 at 5:30 PM. Stuff reports: A convicted drug smuggler has been handed an unprecedented get-out-of-jail card: instead of being deported after serving his prison sentence, the Government has granted him New Zealand residency. Minister of Immigration Ian Lees-Galloway has made a special decision to grant the 37-year-old Czech national residency, even though he came to New Zealand on a false passport and is now serving time in Auckland South prison for importing drugs with a street value of $375,000. So he came here on a false passport, is in prison for his criminal offending and good old Labour says hey lets make him a permanent resident because we need more criminals in NZ. Karel Sroubek fled to New Zealand with a friends passport in 2003. He claimed he was on the run from corrupt cops after witnessing a murder. Under the name Jan Antolik he built a new life as a businessman, a representative-level kickboxer, and a Hells Angels associate. When the law caught up with him, he admitted his criminal ties in the Czech Republic but he seemed unable to escape old habits with several brushes with NZ Police over the past 15 years. Sroubek has faced several charges, relating to drugs and robbery. But was either acquitted or had his convictions overturned until he was found guilty of using his drink importation business as a front to smuggle 5kg of MDMA, which is used to make the drug Ecstasy. He was jailed for five years and nine months. He was refused parole last month: Parole Board panel convenor Judge Phil Gittos said he gave evasive, long-winded and in many respects manifestly untruthful responses. So the Parole Board says this guy is a liar, but Lees-Galloway says hes an upstanding chap we should give residency to. Share this: Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Reddit WhatsApp More Pinterest Print Tumblr 'Agreements with NK are open for misinterpretations' By Kim Bo-eun, Joint Press Corps Scott Snyder Bruce Klingner By Jason Lim Reuters recently published a story titled, "North Korea's box of bones: A mythical king and the dream of Korean unification." It claims that Dangun, although a myth, nevertheless has the narrative power to be the unifying cultural lynchpin for an eventual Korean reunification. Dangun, and the proto-Korean kingdom he founded named Gojoseon, makes his first literary appearance in Samguk Yusa, a collection of informal histories, stories, and fables about Goguryeo, Silla and Baekje, as well as Korean kingdoms prior to the Three Kingdoms Era. It's considered a more Korean-centric version of history than Samguk Sagi, which was a formal compilation of ancient Korean history compiled during the 918-1392 Goryeo Dynasty and has often been accused of catering to the Chinese version of Northeast Asian history. So, even from the beginning, Dangun was symbolic of indigenous Korean people's narrative autonomy against its perpetually powerful and neighboring empire in China. There's not much to indicate Dangun played a big role during the 1392-1910 Joseon period. However, as popular resistance rose against the forced takeover of Joseon by Imperial Japan, Dangun was recast as an indigenous religious figure. Na Cheol, known for his role as a leader of the Korean independence movement from Japanese rule, founded a religion based on Dangun in 1909. Called Daejonggyo, the religion dominated the ranks of independence fighters during the Japanese colonial era. It served as the sacred, foundational and indigenous Korean narrative that inspired the independence fighters against foreign invaders. "Stories are a communal currency of humanity," according to Tahir Shah in Arabian Nights. Stories around Dangun were certainly the communal currency of the Korean people yearning to be independent, free and autonomous. They not only wanted to be free from the cruel, physical subjugation of the foreigners and their own rulers but also yearned for a story that would call them to a higher purpose and meaning as Korean people, and give them a provenance along which they can trace backwards to a glorious and righteous past that could be reimagined for a brighter future. This is not unlike multiple other myths around the world. I am pretty sure every self-identified "people" has such a myth that unifies them; after all, looks and genetics have limited utility when trying to judge membership in a people. In this day and age, no people are homogenous enough (and probably have never been). So, it's the myth that defines a people. Belief into that myth is the price of communal membership. North and South Korea are different nations that have walked vastly different paths since the division in 1945. However, the trauma of Japanese colonialism is a key cultural underpinning that unites them still. And Dangun played a huge part in Korean self-empowerment during those subjugated years. While Reuters' snide criticism over a mere myth having the power to unify the Koreas is valid, it's missing the point in a way. Dangun is the narrative anchor in a defensive ethno-nationalism that both Koreas still ascribe to strongly. Note that I said defensive. Korean nationalism seems to be inwardly directly, not expansionist. It's not the Imperial Japan proclaiming noblesse oblige to justify its conquests of Asia or today's China looking to recover the glory of Han rule across every corner of its territory and beyond. Korean nationalism seems to be more about defending its ethnic identity from invaders its emphasis on homogeneity, purity and common provenance speak to this defensive tendency. We are all Dangun's children and all that. As in other Asian nations, it is important for Korean leaders to have "Heaven's Mandate" to govern, especially in a virtual monarchy like North Korea. The Kim dynasty partially claims this symbolic legitimacy from Dangun. In fact, as mentioned in the Reuters article, North Korean archaeologists have conveniently discovered the supposed royal tomb of Dangun near Pyongyang and restored it to its grandeur, in an obvious attempt to link the mystical aura of Korea's original king to the current regime. Kim's legitimacy depends largely on presenting his dynastic rule as a patriotic house that has kept Korea's people intact and pure from foreign invaders and is transitioning the country to prosperity after heroically securing the nation through nukes. For any deal with North Korea on nukes and other matters, there has to be an implicit offer of such an "honored place in history" in order to convince Kim Jong-un to compromise. When President Moon harks back to the 5,000 years of shared history based on the Dangun narrative as a key point that connects the two Koreans as one people, he's intentionally drawing the membership boundary that includes both Koreas. Without this shared narrative, any coming together of North and South Korea won't be a reunification; it would be an invasion or usurpation. Jason Lim (jasonlim@msn.com) is a Washington, D.C.-based expert on innovation, leadership and organizational culture. Iraq will halt trucking oil to Iran from the northern Kirkuk oilfield in November to comply with upcoming US sanctions, five sources familiar with Iraqi oil export operations told Reuters on Friday. "Kirkuk oil trucking to Iran will be halted in November in line with the American sanctions against Iran. (State oil marketer) SOMO plans to sell 30,000 bpd from a small oilfield near Mosul as of November as an alternative. SOMO issued the tender on Thursday," one source said, Asharq Al-Awsat reports. Kirkuk is one of the biggest and oldest oilfields in the Middle East. Last year Iraq began to ship crude from Kirkuk to Iran for use in its refineries, and Iran agreed to deliver the same amount of oil to Iraq's southern port. Currently, Iraq is exporting less than 30,000 barrels per day (bpd) to Iran via truck, the sources told Reuters. President Donald Trump's decision to withdraw the United States from a 2015 international nuclear accord with Tehran in May and reimpose sanctions has put Iraqi Prime Minister Adel Abdul Mahdi's incoming government in a difficult position as the country's economy is closely intertwined with neighboring Iran. Abdul Mahdi said on Thursday that Iraq would prioritize its own interests and independence when it comes to helping the US enforce the sanctions but Washington has said there will be consequences for countries that do not respect the sanctions. "The US has been putting pressure on Iraq to suspend shipments of oil to Iran and to resume Kurdish oil flows towards Turkey. If Turkey gets more oil from Iraq, it will be more difficult for Ankara to argue it needs a US waiver to continue buying Iranian oil," a source familiar with Iraqi oil export operations told Reuters. Former prime minister Haidar al-Abadi's outgoing federal government agreed a deal in mid-October with the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) to resume exporting crude to Turkey's Ceyhan port via the KRG, the sources said. The deal is subject to final approval by Abdul Mahdi and Oil Minister Thamer Ghadhban, they added. "Kurdish authorities reached a deal with Abadi's government to resume Kirkuk exports and it was decided that the final say should be left to the new government and oil minister to sign a final deal," one source said. Two oil officials with the North Oil Company (NOC) confirmed to Reuters that the federal government and the KRG had reached a deal but that Abdul Mahdi's signature is needed before it becomes final. Quito, Oct 26 (AFP) WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange would end his five-year stay in Ecuador's London embassy and hand himself over to British authorities if given assurances he would not face extradition to the US, his lawyer said Friday. Assange has been holed up at the embassy since 2012, concerned that a British arrest warrant would result in his extradition to the United States, where he could be tried for revealing state secrets. Assange would "face up" to surrendering to British authorities who want to arrest him for breaching bail conditions, said his lawyer Carlos Poveda. "In British justice, he could even be sentenced to three to six months' imprisonment," Poveda said. "But what is being requested from the legal team is that there is a necessary assurance that after that sentence he will not be extradited to the United States." This would be "an extremely important condition" for the 47-year-old Australian, the lawyer said. Ecuador gave Assange diplomatic protection in 2012 after a British judge ruled he should be extradited to Sweden to face allegations of sexual assault there. Sweden dropped its investigation last year, but British authorities say they still want to arrest him for breaching his bail conditions. Assange claims the accusations were politically motivated and could lead to him being extradited to the United States to face imprisonment over the release by WikiLeaks of secret US military documents and diplomatic cables in 2010. The Australian's relationship with his Ecuadoran hosts has steadily turned sour. Last week, he announced he was suing the Quito government, saying new rules imposed on his stay violated his rights to unfettered communications with the outside world. On Thursday, Eduador's attorney general Inigo Salvador told reporters that Quito has proposed that either Assange turn himself in to British justice, or continue to live in the embassy under strict rules. (AFP) KUN (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 [India], Oct 27 (ANI): In a major crackdown on organised crime syndicates involved in smuggling of gold into India, the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) has, in a series of operations in the last 48 hours across the country, seized more than 100 kgs of smuggled gold.The raids were conducted in New Delhi, Siliguri, Bengaluru, Chennai and Madurai.The seizures were a part of the continued crackdown by the DRI on gold smuggling and consequent leakage of government revenue, black economy as well as Foreign Exchange illicitly taken out of the country to make payments for such illegal import. In a major operation conducted on October 26, the officers of DRI recovered and seized 55kgs of gold bars (55 pieces), smuggled from neighbouring countries into India through the land border. Smuggled gold was seized from the possession of two persons traveling by a vehicle near Siliguri in the evening of 26th October.The smuggled gold bars were concealed in a specially prepared cavity under the drivers seat of the intercepted vehicle. The gold bars, each of which weighs one kilogram, have distinct Chinese and Australian foreign origin markings. All the gold bars are of 99.99 per cent purity. The gold bars were supposed to be delivered by the accused persons to a recipient at Siliguri for its onward transportation.Both the apprehended persons have been arrested under the provisions of the Customs Act, 1962.In another operation conducted on October 27 in New Delhi, three persons were intercepted by the DRI at New Delhi Railway station carrying 34 kgs of smuggled gold. This consignment is also suspected to have been smuggled into India through the land border with the neighbouring countries. In this operation, one foreign national was also arrested. The smuggled gold was found to be of Chinese and Swiss origin.In four other operations across the country in past 48 hours, DRI seized another 13 kg gold smuggled into India on flights arriving at Chennai, Bengaluru, Madurai and Indore airports from Colombo and Singapore. In three out of these four cases, gold was concealed under the life jacket pouch and hollow pipe under the aircraft seats. There have been series of major seizures in the past few weeks by DRI including seizures of gold smuggled into India across land borders with China, Myanmar, Bhutan and on flights arriving from Dubai and Bangkok. This has been accompanied by a series of seizures of high-value foreign currency being smuggled out of the country.Gold and foreign currency smuggling seem to be peaking due to the forthcoming festive season resulting in high demand for gold in India. (ANI) (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) During his visit to Yerevan, US National Security Advisor John Bolton urged Armenian leadership to stop purchasing Russian weapons, and buy American instead. Government is not limited in its actions. If there's a favorable offer, we will discuss it, acting Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan said today, implying that Armenia can discuss proposal to buy American weapons. Mamikon Babayan, columnist of Vestnik Kavkaza, wrote about main problems that exist between Yerevan and Washington. US National Security Advisor John Bolton visited Transcaucasia following visitis of German Chancellor Angela Merkel and French President Emmanuel Macron. Whenever any high-level Western politician visits the region, he participates in high-level meetins in Baku, Tbilisi and Yerevan. This shows that the West doesn't consider South Caucasus republics as separate countries, and believes that future of Armenia, Georgia and Azerbaijan is inseparably connected. Agenda of current visit of US National Security Advisor included discussion of the Karabakh problem. The US is worried that Russia has strengthened its influence in Syria and has established close cooperation with Turkey. Since rapprochement between Moscow and Ankara, the US plans to strengthen its position in South Caucasus. Azerbaijan is a strategic partner of the United States, which may give Washington an advise regarding the Middle East and Iran. Georgia is the conductor of American politics in the region. The US still thinks about its future cooperation with Armenia. America is unhappy with ambiguous policy of Armenia when it comes to Iran and the fact that republic is sending limited contingent of armed forces to Syria. However, issue of future strategy of work with new government and leadership of Armenia is of fundamental importance. Assistance of Armenia in the OSCE Minsk Group was highlighted in organizations annual reports, however, according to Western experts, it's not enough. This is especially true when it comes to resumption of humanitarian contacts between Armenians and Azerbaijanis, as well as support for activities of the International Red Cross Committee, which is ready to expand its activities in the region. Finally, Washington expects to see real program of step-by-step resolution of the Karabakh crisis, which hasn't been presented by Armenian side yet. The West hopes that if Nikol Pashinyan succeeds, party headed by him will receive necessary mandate that can allow it to take decisive steps in the Karabakh problem settlement. In all likelihood, Washington believes in the plan of the US Ambassador to Armenia, Richard Mills, who stated that it's impossible to resolve the conflict without returning certain occupied Azerbaijani territories. Status quo maintained by Yerevan works against Armenia: due to current situation, it became isolated. In current conditions, Armenian economy has been getting worse, which actually leads to corruption in the republic. Even if Nikol Pashinyan turns fight against corruption into a huge PR campaign, eventually it will only affect the tip of the iceberg, which will render it useless. Obviously, Yerevan is very important for resolution of the Karabakh crisis, and peace process if very important for Washington. If the US will convince Pashinyan to begin liberation of the occupied territories of Azerbaijan, the United States may be able to secure leading positions in South Caucasus, ousting Russia, Turkey and Iran from the region. Otherwise, Pashinyan will be considered a dependent figure in the West. London, October 28: Around 80 women suspected to be members of an all-female Islamic State terror cell are believed to be on their way back to the UK, many with children, after being detained in Syria following the collapse of the dreaded terror group. Two sisters from east London, a white convert daughter of a former British Army paratrooper and an IT graduate whose mother works in the state-funded National Health Service (NHS) are part of the alleged cell, which is linked to some of the world's most infamous terrorists, according to an investigation by The Sunday Times. "The vast majority of those returning to Britain from Syria are women and children," an unnamed UK security service official was quoted as saying. "The more concerning cases particularly the men have not been returning. But we will speak to everyone because they may have been involved in terrorist activity," the official said. One of the women has reportedly told relatives in Britain that as many as 80 British women and children expect to return imminently, while others will be home by the end of the year. Syria: US-led International Coalition Airlifts ISIS Terrorists in Dier Ezzor. She said she recently had her British passport handed back and that British officials had issued her child with new travel documents. She also expects to be DNA-tested to prove she is the child's mother. The disclosure comes as Britain and other European governments face growing pressure to repatriate the jihadi brides from detention camps in northern Syria controlled by Kurdish forces. The joint investigation by The Sunday Times and Sabado, a Portuguese news magazine, has identified up to six women from Britain who married into a notorious cell of fighters from east London linked to Mohammed Emwazi, known as Jihadi John. They and other female returnees face arrest on their arrival, as well as possibly having their children removed. But UK government officials concede that successful prosecutions could prove problematic because of the difficulty in "collecting evidence in theatre". At least 900 British Muslims, including up to 150 women, are believed to have travelled to join jihadist groups in Syria and Iraq. Officials say about 360 Britons remain in the region and are of "national security concern". Dhaka, October 28: The Bangladesh government and the World Bank on Sunday signed an agreement to improve the transparency and efficiency of its major cash transfer programmes. Mahmuda Begum, an Additional Secretary of Bangladesh's Economic Relations Division, and Qimiao Fan, World Bank country Director for Bangladesh, Bhutan and Nepal, signed the agreement worth $300 million here, reports Xinhua news agency. In a statement, the Washington-based lender said the "Cash Transfer Modernization Project will help the Department of Social Services (DSS) modernise the country's four major social protection programmes using cash transfers by improving beneficiary targeting, programme administration and benefit payments". World Bank, Bangladesh Sign $50 Million Deal to Improve Rohingya Healthcare. In fiscal 2018, Bangladesh spent $5.8 billion on social protection or about 2 per cent of its GDP and improving the efficiency of these programmes will help the country to use public resources more effectively. (The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Oct 28, 2018 04:06 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com). Berlin, October 28: The president of Poland repeated Sunday his country's demand for Germany to pay reparations over World War II, days before ministers from Berlin and Warsaw will sit down for bilateral talks. "In my view, reparations payments are not a topic that's been dealt with," Andrzej Duda told the Sunday edition of Germany's biggest-selling newspaper Bild. Citing two reports, one from former president Lech Kaczynski and another from the Polish parliament, Duda said that "the damage caused during the war was never compensated for". He pointed especially to the capital Warsaw, which was "razed to the ground" by German troops. "It's a question of truth and responsibility," Duda said. Berlin has often rejected claims for war reparations in the past, saying Poland officially renounced such demands in August 1953. But the conservative party that holds power in Warsaw argues that their country was forced to sign the document by the Soviet Union. World War II Bomb Defused Successfully in Berlin After Mass Evacuation. On Friday, the two governments will hold a joint meeting in the Polish capital. Chancellor Angela Merkel and several of her ministers will meet Polish counterpart Mateusz Morawiecki and his cabinet. In private, German diplomats suggest that Poland understands there is little chance of securing cash reparations. Instead, Warsaw hopes to strongarm Berlin into backing it in debates over the European Union budget or Brussels' threats to punish Poland for failing to uphold the rule of law. Vatican City, October 28: Pope Francis on Sunday called a deadly attack on a synagogue in the United States "an inhuman act of violence", expressing his "closeness to the Jewish community". A man suspected of bursting into the synagogue in Pittsburgh on Saturday during a baby-naming ceremony and gunning down 11 people has been charged with murder, in the deadliest anti-Semitic attack in recent US history. Pope Francis Lands in Ireland Amid Priest Abuse Scandal. Mexican authorities have broken up a second attempted migrant caravan near the countrys southern border, as Mexico under pressure from U.S. authorities to halt the northward flow offered temporary residency to Central Americans who would agree to remain in the country. The second caravan, numbering 200 to 300, was much smaller than the major U.S.-bound caravan and was stopped shortly after setting off on a highway just north of the Mexico-Guatemala border on Friday. More than 100 people were arrested and face deportation, a police official said. In a recorded national address, Mexican President Enrique Pena Nieto said Central Americans who applied for refugee status and vowed to remain in the southern states of Chiapas and Oaxaca would be offered provisional residency permits, work papers and access to healthcare and schools. Mexico wants to protect and help you, Pena Nieto said, addressing the migrants and outlining the new plan, named Estas en Tu Casa, or, Make Yourself at Home. Advertisement The proposal seemed designed at least in part to demonstrate to Washington that Mexico City was doing something to halt the northbound caravan, which President Trump has labeled a national emergency and repeatedly used as a campaign issue ahead of congressional elections Nov. 6. Trump has announced plans to deploy troops along the southwestern border to thwart the groups advance. Mexican authorities have eschewed police action against the caravan, which began marching north from southern Mexico last weekend. Most caravan members are Honduran nationals who entered Mexico illegally via Guatemala. Mexico, the largest source of immigrants in the United States, faces a dilemma between its pronounced commitment to human rights and pressure from Washington to stop the caravan. The number of current participants has been estimated at 3,500 to 4,000, though there is no precise count of the rag-tag group that has often stretched several miles along the highway. Many others have dropped out and returned home because of the grueling conditions, including intense heat and tropical downpours. The caravan began two weeks ago in Honduras and has since captured international headlines while drawing the ire of the Trump administration. The Mexican governments offer on Friday of temporary residence and other benefits had limited impact on caravan participants. The Mexican media reported that many in the caravan rejected Mexicos plan during an assembly held in the town of Arriaga, in southern Mexico, where the Central Americans camped out in the central square and elsewhere, as is their custom. Caravan members objected to the idea of being confined to Mexicos southern states, among the countrys poorest, and were skeptical of avoiding deportation. Caravan participants say they plan to continue their northward trek, advancing into Oaxaca state after having traversed much of Chiapas. The caravan is still some 1,000 miles from the nearest point along the U.S.-Mexico border. Reports indicate that the group plans to proceed on a route taking them through Mexico City. There, caravan representatives may seek a meeting with officials from the Mexican government and from the incoming administration of President-elect Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador, who takes office on Dec. 1. Times staff writer Kate Linthicum and special correspondent Cecilia Sanchez in Mexico City contributed to this report. patrick.mcdonnell@latimes.com Twitter: @PmcdonnellLAT This year marks 100th anniversary of founding of the State Museum of Oriental Art - Russia's only cultural center specializing in preservation, study and popularization of the art of from countries and peoples of the East. Head of exhibitions department of the State Museum of Oriental Art, Albina Legostayeva, discussed importance of preservation of heritage of Eastern peoples for development of Russian and world culture, as well as about relations with Azerbaijani museums in an interview with Vestnik Kavkaza. - The State Museum of Oriental Art signed an agreement with The Azerbaijan Carpet Museum this summer. What kind of cooperation exists between two museums? - I really love the Carpet Museum. We have close ties. Azerbaijan monitors its art exhibited outside the country in order to preserve and popularize its culture. We're currently preparing a joint project. I really hope that it will be implemented in April of 2019. The Azerbaijan Carpet Museum will bring Azerbaijani carpets from its collection, as well as jewelry items and costumes. We want to presented Azerbaijani culture here. Collection of the Carpet Museum will allow us to prepare a full-fledged exhibition. - In your opinion, how well does format of the Carpet Museum works? - Absolutely. Even architecture of the museum is unusual. It's very beautiful, immediately attracts attention. It's a great marketing move, it helps to attract more visitors. You can't just walk past this building. I like its architecture, its collection, and people who work there. - Do you plan to carry out any joint projects? - Our employees regularly visit Baku to participate in conferences, prepare reports, we exchange scientific advices. Sometimes we meet, talk about latest news. During these meetings you often get more information than when your work with sources. After all, specialists can tell you everything about the country they live in. We have very close ties. - The inventory book of your museum lists carpet made in Lankaran as the first item. How many Azerbaijani exhibits are there in your museum? - We have great textile collection, excellent carpets. Last year, during one of the exhibition, we showed carpets stored in our fund, which impressed even our colleagues from the Carpet Museum. These carpets were created by craftsmen for the annual all-Union achievements exhibition. They tell stories that are hard to find now. Ornaments play an important role in textiles, but we see them not just as ornaments, but as plot compositions. We see Soviet women, working people, Red Square, realities of that time, which is very interesting. Those are unique pieces of art. We have great art collection. Something can be seen at our permanent exhibition, something at temporary exhibitions. Artists who hold exhibitions here have been our museum's friends for many years. One of them is Farhad Khalilov, who gave us another painting last year. We have an opportunity to collect many works of the same master to show them at thematic exhibitions. It's very interesting. The Ministry of Ecology & Natural Resources of Azerbaijan and AzerGold CJSC signed the Memorandum of Understanding at the Chovdar field. AzerGold reports that the Memo was signed by Ecology Minister Mukhtar Babayev and Companys chairman of board Zakir Ibragimov. "The Memo says about study, exploration and development of ore deposits, the use of new technologies, joint activity on geological exploration of AzerGolds mineral deposits, digitization of information on non-ferrous metal fields," the Company informed, abc.az reports. The Memo covers expansion and optimization of cooperation within the new parameters, support for scientific and technological development, contribution to improvement of the legal framework in the field of geological exploration and mining. Oct 28, 2018, 12:42am ET Ford to sit out 2019 Geneva auto show The timing doesn't meet Ford's requirements. Ford will continue sitting out major European auto shows if they don't coincide with its launch schedule. The Detroit-based company has announced it won't be present at the 2019 Geneva auto show. "We looked at all the things we had to do in 2019, and we've got a lot of stuff coming. But the way our product cadence works, we didn't feel that the Geneva timing met our requirements. Rather than go to Geneva with relatively small news, we would rather do something later that would give us more bang for our buck. I don't anticipate this will be a regular thing, though," a spokesperson for Ford told British magazine Autocar. The anonymous spokesperson didn't reveal when Ford will make its product announcements in 2019. The new cars we expect to see include the face-lifted version of the Mondeo, which is sold as the Fusion in the United States. Though Ford cited the Goodwood Festival of Speed as "a more worthwhile event," the company also pointed out the shows in Detroit and Geneva remain a priority for its marketing department. It could return to Geneva in 2020 and it's not sitting out the upcoming Detroit auto show. We expect to see the 700-horsepower-plus GT500 and the long-awaited new Bronco unveiled at the Cobo Center. - The Nigerian Army will start producing combat vehicles in 2025 - This was disclosed by the chief of army staff, Lieutenant General Tukur Buratai - Buratai said this at the 77 Regular Recruits Intake passing out parade at the Nigerian Army Depot in Zaria, Kaduna state Chief of army staff, Lieutenant General Tukur Buratai, on Saturday, October 27, said the Nigerian Army would in 2025 begin the production of combat vehicles in the country. The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Buratai made this known at the 77 Regular Recruits Intake passing out parade at the Nigerian Army depot in Zaria, Kaduna state. Legit.ng notes that the army chief said that through research, the depot had already produced five patrol vehicles named TYB. READ ALSO: NAIJ.com upgrades to Legit.ng: a letter from our Editor-in-Chief Bayo Olupohunda He said: "Let me at this juncture commend the commandant, depot, Nigerian Army and his team for the uncommon research and development feat which led to the production of five patrol vehicles, named TYB Robile in my honour. By this breakthrough, the Nigerian Army is poised to become self-reliant in class `B combat vehicles by the year 2025. Furthermore, the ultra-modern industry military range which I will commission today is one of the cottage technological training aids designed to improve recruits marksmanship skills and economise use of old classes of army ammunition for training. I, therefore, urge the Depot Nigerian Army to maximise its use to enhance the quality of young soldiers trained in the Nigerian Army." PAY ATTENTION: Install our latest app for Android, read best news on Nigerias #1 news app Meanwhile, Legit.ng previously reported that the Nigerian army formally went into partnership with Nigerian indigenous motor manufacturing company, Innoson Motors Manufacturing Company, for modification of some of its equipment, local production of armoured fighting vehicles and other military hardware. This was made manifest during a meeting between the management of the company led by the chairman, Chief Innocent Chukwuma and the leadership of the Nigerian army led by the Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General TY Buratai, at the Army Headquarters, Abuja on Tuesday, January 2. President Buhari commissions first Nigerian drone | Legit TV Source: Legit - A group, the National Democratic Front accused the PDP of heating up the polity with President Muhammadu Buhari's certificate issues - NDF accused the opposition of attempting to trivialise the presidential contest by failing to address any of the numerous challenges affecting the country - Comrade Audu Auwulu, the national president of NDF, says Buhari sat for the University of Cambridge/WAEC examination where he passed the examination in the second division in 1961 The National Democratic Front (NDF) has accused the opposition of planning to divert the attention of Nigerians from the political issues facing Nigeria. The NDF said the renewed call for the presentation of President Muhammdu Buhari's Secondary School Certificate Examination result was raised by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). The group also described the dust being raised over the president's certificate as "unnecessary and a needless campaign of calumny" by the opposition PDP. In a press statement made available to Legit.ng, NDF national president, Comrade Audu Auwulu said his organisation is not surprised that instead of addressing any of the numerous challenges affecting the country, the opposition party is making attempt to trivialize the presidential contest. READ ALSO: NAIJ.com upgrades to Legit.ng: a letter from our Editor-in-Chief Bayo Olupohunda Auwulu berated the opposition party, saying it clearly does not understand the enormity of the presidential poll, and is only trying to distract Nigerians from the achievements the country has recorded under Buhari's administration. He said the certificate saga is already a rested issue and will not be a deciding factor in 2019 election, stressing that it is sad that the PDP could not come up with something new and substantial to make the discourse about the elections issues based. He said for the records, President Buhari sat for the university of Cambridge/WAEC examination where he passed the examination in the second division in 1961, with registration number: 8280002 among other notable Nigerians like former chief of staff at Supreme Court, Shehu Musa Yaradua and a former president of Court of Appeal and many others from the Provincial Secondary School, Kastina. He said besides, the constitution is very clear on the educational requirement for vying for office of the president. He explained that instead of being bogged down on a matter that has no bearing on how Nigerians will vote in next years elections, the Democratic Front proposes that the electorates should rather focus on asking pertinent questions. According to him, if there is anyone who is capable of presiding over the affairs of the country at this point in time it is president Buhari READ ALSO: 2019: Saraki, Atiku, Secondus, Obi, PDP chieftains plot to oust Buhari in Dubai Anwulu said: "NDF wants to hear real issues being discussed as it has long been settled that PMB has both his WAEC and other higher qualifications to be President of Nigeria. We would rather ask the PDP some pertinent questions." "If President Buhari can achieve the much he did in under four years in spite of the damage done to the country by the PDP how much more will he achieve in his second term after setting the foundation for prosperity in the first tenure? "Can a man like Atiku Abubakar who is insincere in declaring his income be trusted to correctly tell Nigerians how much the country is earning? "As far as we are concerned, trying to renew controversies over President Buharis academic qualification is a dead issue and a needless distraction. "Our hope is that they will learn like other patriotic Nigerians to move forward. It is a pity that rather than galvanizing Nigerians to ask probing questions from those aspiring to lead, the opposition is interested in keeping people entertained and distracted over complete non issues," Anwulu added. PAY ATTENTION: Install our latest app for Android, read best news on Nigerias #1 news app Meanwhile, Legit.ng previously reported that the chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Mahmood Yakubu, has said that if anyone is in doubt about claims made by candidates for the 2019 elections, there is room for legal action. He made the comment while addressing a press conference on Friday, October 26, in reaction to criticisms over President Buharis disclosure to the commission that his credentials are with the military. Legit.ng gathers that Yakubu stated that any doubts about information on the forms submitted by the candidates regarding their personal particulars can be challenged in court. It's Buhari vs Atiku in 2019 - on Legit.ng TV Source: Legit - PPN presidential candidate, Hamza Al-Mustapha has also failed to submit his credentials to INEC - He also blamed the military for the failure - Al-Mustapha explained that the military has refused to release his academic certificates, against a court order Hamza Al-Mustapha, the presidential candidate of Peoples Party of Nigeria (PPN), also reportedly failed to submit his academic credentials to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC). All the aspirants seeking elective positions in the country are required to submit certain documents, including their academic credentials, to the electoral body. However, Al-Mustapha, a retired major in the Nigerian Army, told the commission his documents are in possession of the military, TheCable reports. READ ALSO: Stop electing leaders without education - Sanusi tells Nigerians In his particulars submitted to the commission, the newspaper reports that Al-Mustapha said the military has refused to release his academic certificates, despite court orders asking them to do so. He said: I was a victim of persecution for 15 years over deliberate trump of charges. I was, however, exonerated and freed of the wanton charges vide court of appeal ruling on 12 July 2013. My entire personal documents including my certificates and awards were taken by the then government in 1998. Formal complaints were registered before the high court of Lagos (2000 2001) and Federal High Court, Lagos division, (2004 2007) but the government refused to obey court orders till today. However, Nigeria Army (my employer 1983 2013) is in custody of the certificates this application is asking of. He, however, indicated that he attended Hausari Primary School, from 1967 to 1974; Government Secondary School, Nguru, YBS, from 1974 to 1979; and Nigeria Defence Academy, from 1980 to 1983. PAY ATTENTION: Install our latest app for Android, read best news on Nigerias #1 news app Recall that President Muhammadu Buhari also failed to submit his academic credentials, saying they are with the military. The military is yet to issue an official statement regarding the presidents claim. The credentials of the various presidential candidates were made available to journalists on Thursday, October 25. However, Buhari is said to have submitted an affidavit, which he swore to. He stated: I am the above named person and the deponent of this affidavit herein. All my academic qualification documents as filled in my presidential form, APC/001/2015 are currently with the secretary of the military board as of the time of this affidavit. It's Buhari vs Atiku in 2019 - on Legit.ng TV: Source: Legit.ng Editor's note: Pubic affairs analyst, Abdullahi O. Haruna, writes on the reoccurring violence and sectarian crises that has been a major issue in Kaduna which recently claimed the live of a foremost traditional ruler in the state. Read below: In Kaduna state, the inhabitants positioned themselves on the axis of death, While the Muslims inhabitants waylay and kill people around Mararaba Jos, the Christian inhabitants kill travellers around Gonin Gora? The foolishness of these demented people is that they don't actually kill themselves, they kill innocent travellers who are not even inhabitants of the states and loot their wares. These are nothing but criminal elements hiding under the abused identity of Islam and Christianity. Like they did in Anambra and Kogi, where homes of kidnappers were marked and demolished, Governor El-Rufai should hold firm to his threat of relocating any community that chooses to live in terror instead of peace. It becomes very dangerous when people live only to inflict pains on others, such people should never be accorded any semblance of dignity. They don't deserve the respect and honour of civility. For every slight provocation, they rush out of their smelly prejudices to unleash unmitigated terror on people. This must stop, no society grows with this kind of perennial hangover of hate and constricted venom. We must speak to the ugliness of our people to learn from the civility of the south who use religion for development and not tool of destruction. Any religion that retards development should be discarded as even God would not be proud of adherents who spill innocent blood in his name. READ ALSO: NAIJ.com upgrades to Legit.ng: A letter from our Editor-in-Chief Bayo Olupohunda The two major religions in the north are unashamedly guilty of intolerant and hate-filled adherents. They bask in the smelly euphoria of their obstinate dogmatism, they are perpetually tied to venom for themselves. The tragedy of these groups is their embarrassing lazy traces. They are the poorest of the earth, jobless and frightening unproductive. They rely on the toils of others to gyrate in their supremacy entitlements. The things they use every day in their worship centres are not made by them, they benefit from those who carry no religion as tool of development but mere spiritual fulfillment evaluated only by the supreme being. Because they dwell in indolence, waiting on others to provide for them their paraphernalia of worships, they have more time for inanities in this case living in the opposite of what they preach. To say religion has failed us as a people is an understatement, it has left us more pained, paranoid and impoverished. It has become breeding grounds for hate and bigotry, malice and death. Never seen where adherents are pushed to embrace farming, indulge in scientific drives, encourage to live in harmony but I have seen where religion has encouraged people to live in fears of others, frightened to make neighbours enemies and reminded of the supremacy of one religion over others. Who will save us from the madness of religion in this clime? Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed here are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of Legit.ng. Your own opinion articles are welcome at info@corp.legit.ng drop an email telling us what you want to write about and why. More details in Legit.ngs step-by-step guide for guest contributors. Were ready to trade your news for our money: submit news and photo reports from your area using our Citizen Journalism App. Contact us if you have any feedback, suggestions, complaints or compliments. We are also available on Twitter. Southern Kaduna killings on Legit TV Source: Legit - Vice President Yemi Osinbajo has raised the contentious issue of restructuring again - He recalled how he fought for restructuring in court while working under Lagos state government - The vice president said the opposition partys promise of restructuring is dubious - He added that the PDP presidential candidate was one of those that opposed restructuring when he was VP Vice President Yemi Osinbajo on Saturday, October 27, reportedly named the Peoples Democratic Partys (PDP) presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, as one of those who stood against the restructuring of the country when the party was in power. Note that Atiku made restructuring a key plank of his campaign for the 2019 presidential election. But The Nation reports that Osinbajo, speaking in Ibadan, said Atiku who was vice president between 1999 and 2007, opposed every move made by the Lagos state government at that time to assert its authority. READ ALSO: 2019: PPN presidential candidate Al-Mustapha also blames military for failure to submit credentials Delivering a lecture entitled Developing the nation through youth empowerment, at the University of Ibadan, the vice president said: I am not just an advocate of restructuring as there is no other government in Nigeria that has actively pursued restructuring such as we did when I was Attorney General in Lagos state. People talking about restructuring, if you ask them what do you mean by restructuring? They wont even know what it means, and that is the problem we have and that we have to face. Let me tell you what it is. When I was the Attorney General in Lagos state, we pursued in the Supreme Court, all of the issues of restructuring. We started with fiscal restructuring, which is more of resource control. Should states control their own resources? We went to the Supreme Court. They argued that each state should control its own resources. The vice president explained that the states that argued in favour of autonomy of states to control their resources were the oil-producing states in the country and Lagos state argued on one side, while other states of the federation argued on another side because every state wants to share the oil money. So, our own argument was that each state should control its own resources. We lost at the Supreme Court. The Supreme Court said no, that you cannot control your resources. If you are an oil producing state, take 13% extra, which is a derivation. Osinbajo said Lagos state further argued that it has ports and the ports serve the entire nation, so the state should also take 13% derivation. The Supreme Court, he said, also opposed this, adding that the argument was pursued further, which has led to the introduction of the onshore and offshore law, which is fast enabling the state to share from onshore resources. All this time, this was 2000, some of those people, including the presidential candidate of PDP, who is talking about restructuring today, was the vice president then. They opposed every step that we took. Of course, we were taking the federal government to court then. They opposed every step. The next thing we did was that the states should be able to create their own local governments. So, we created 47 new local governments in Lagos. The president then, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, seized our local government funds and said we could not create new local governments. So, they seized the funds they were supposed to allocate for our local governments. We challenged the seizure by going to the Supreme Court. The Supreme Court held that the president had no right to seize the funds meant for local governments of the state and that we have a right to create local governments. But after they have created the local governments, the process is not complete. They must still bring the list of new local governments to the National Assembly and the National Assembly will then amend the whole list of the local governments in the country. So, our local governments remain. But we could not get the National Assemblys endorsement. So, we passed the LCDA Law. We created 47 and made them local council development areas. If you ask those people now talking about restructuring, none of them has done anything compared to what we have done. So, I am not a latter-day convert to restructuring. I am an active practitioner of restructuring, and I have gone to the Supreme Court 12 times to test restructuring. If today, somebody is talking about restructuring, ask him what does he mean? And where was he when we were going to court? Were they not opposing restructuring when we were going to court? We were in the opposition then. They were in the federal government, and they opposed every step that we took on restructuring. The lecture was in commemoration of the 68th anniversary of Sigma Club, University of Ibadan. PAY ATTENTION: Install our app for android, read best news on Nigeria's #1 news app Meanwhile, Legit.ng previously reported that Festus Keyamo, the spokesperson for Muhammadu Buhari campaign organisation, accused some supporters of Atiku Abubakar, of producing fake Twitter committee reports in a bid to exonerate the PDP presidential candidate of alleged corruption. The senior lawyer made the allegation via Twitter on Saturday, October 27. He also accused Atiku and former president, Olusegun Obasanjo of competing for corruption back then in 2006, when they both held power as vice president and president. Keyamo said Atiku who was claiming credits for achievements recorded by the federal government of 1999-2007, played a key role in illegally seizing the monthly local government allocations to Lagos state for a long time, even despite a Supreme Court order. Nigeria Latest News: Buhari vs Atiku - 2019 Elections | Legit TV Source: Legit.ng - Senate President Bukola Saraki has commented on the predicament of Ogun state governor, Senator Ibikunle Amosun in APC - Saraki described as unjust and unfair the unfair what the governor is been subjected to in the party - He said Amosun's poor treatment has justified the basis of their exiting the APC at the time he and his people did Senate President Bukola Saraki has described as unjust and unfair, the current predicament of the Ogun state governor, Senator Ibikunle Amosun in the All Progressives Congress (APC) Saraki said the poor treatment of Amosun has justified the basis of their exiting the APC at the time he and his supporters did. Saraki, who spoke exclusively to ThisDay, recalled the role played by the Ogun state governor in the period President Muhammadu Buhari was very sick in faraway London, the United Kingdom and proclaimed: Amosun was a true friend of the president. Saraki, who said he would not interfere in what is purely an APC affair, maintained that Amosun was not one to be treated or made to go through such torture. READ ALSO: Stop electing leaders without education - Sanusi tells Nigerians He said his respect for Amosun on his relationship with the president shot up, when Buhari was very sick and there were misgivings across the country especially on what should have been the role of the National Assembly at such a testy period, he said it was only Amosun, who was true to his relationship with Buhari as he was constantly in touch with the National Assembly members, just to make sure everything was fine. Honestly, we saw no one else but Amosun. I was surprised that of all the friends that the president had, he was the only one who kept in touch with the National Assembly, making sure nothing went wrong from our end. He would make phone calls and sometime appeared physically. He watched the presidents back at a most critical time. Of course, the president has many friends, but he proved to be more than just a friend at the time. Besides, as a thorough politician, he was smart enough to know what to do, while many of those gallivanting around today were scheming and plotting all sorts, he said. While subtly chiding the APC, he said it took the grace of God for him to be led out of the party, wondering what the new national leadership of the party would have done to him had he stayed behind. Imagine if I had stayed back in that party. These guys would have taken the party from me and chased me out. In fact, they would not have sold the Senate form to me. Can you see that my leaving the APC was Gods doing and Im thankful to God for leading me right to make the perfect decision. Who, in his wildest dreams would have thought Amsoun would be treated this way? What a party! he said. On Atikus campaign, he said they were going to roll out soon and that when they do, it would be with a bang, adding that everything was clearly in favour of the former vice-president to take over power in next years election. You know what we are capable of doing and you know we are not the type that is given to vainglory. You know we dont run our mouth. We are not just banking on the fact that everything is playing in our favour to win the election next year, we will however roll out big time, giving it all that it takes to win. We would take nothing for granted and will attack the elections with all our might, he said. PAY ATTENTION: Install our latest app for Android, read best news on Nigerias #1 news app Meanwhile, Governor Amosun has warned that the national chairman of the APC, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole, is on a mission to kill the party. Speaking through his senior special assistant (media), Opeyemi Soyombo, Amosun urged members of the public to disregard statement being credited to Oshiomhole through the national publicity secretary of APC, Lanre Issa-Onilu, where the APC national chairman insisted that gubernatorial primaries took place in the state. For the avoidance of doubt, we state for the umpteenth time that there was no gubernatorial primaries in Ogun state other than the one held on October 2 that produced Hon. Adekunle Akinlade as governorship candidate. The attempt by Mr Issa-Onilu to confuse the issues is therefore belittling of someone holding a position of publicity secretary of a reputable political party, Amosun declared. Nigeria Latest News: Buhari vs Atiku - 2019 Elections | - on Legit.ng TV Source: Legit.ng - Governor Amosun has allegedly perfected plans to leave APC - The governor reportedly planted his aides as candidates in a new party, DPP - Recall that he had earlier dismissed claims that he is planning to dump the ruling party There seems to be no end in sight for the crisis in the All Progressives Congress over its primaries as there are alleged indications that the Ogun state governor, Ibikunle Amosun, is set to defect to the Democratic Peoples Party (DPP). Despite the governors denial of defection plot, The Punch reports that its investigations revealed that Amosun had already positioned his close allies and top government officials in the state in the DPP to contest against the candidates of the ruling party. The newspaper reports that the officials and aides would be eventually unveiled as the candidates of the DPP in the guise of consensus on or before December. READ ALSO: 2019: PPN presidential candidate Al-Mustapha also blames military for failure to submit The report further states that an APC source, who claimed to be fully involved in the governors plans, said on Saturday, October 27, that the officials would move ahead of him before Amosun would eventually join them. The plan is that he may not leave now, but he (Amosun) will leave. He already has candidates for the three senatorial zones and nine House of Representatives seats in the DPP, the source was quoted to have said. Legit.ng gathers from the report that the candidate for the Ogun East senatorial district is Babatunde Ipaye, who is the current states commissioner for health. In Ogun Central, the alleged candidate is Alhaji Bolanle Adeyemi, a serving senior special assistant to the governor. For the Ogun West senatorial district, the alleged governors candidate is the current senior special assistant to the governor on energy, Taiwo Fagbemi. They (officials and aides) are to be substituted with the consensus candidates on or before the December 1 deadline for withdrawal/final substitution of candidates, The Punch states. For the House of Representatives seats, Amosuns alleged candidates in the DPP are Odebiyi Safiu-Abiodun, a former chairman, Yewa South local government area, as the candidate for the Yewa South/Ipokia Federal Constituency; and Adekunbi Fatai-Aremu for the Yewa North/Imeko-Afon Federal Constituency. Fatai-Aremu is a younger brother to the speaker, Ogun state House of Assembly, Suraj Adekunbi. The candidate for the Abeokuta North/Obafemi Owode/Odeda Federal Constituency is Olabode Taofeek-Babatunde, a former local government chairman. The special adviser and general manager, Ogun Housing Corporation, Olajumoke Akinwunmi, is the candidate for the Abeokuta South Federal Constituency. Other alleged Amosun allies are Odumosu Olugbenga for the Ikenne/Sagamu/Remo North Federal Constituency; Mojeed Ekelojumati, a commissioner in the Civil Service Commission, for the Ijebu North/Ijebu East/Ogun Waterside Federal Constituency seat; and the current Ifo local government chairman, Ariori Saheed, for the Ifo/Ewekoro Federal Constituency. The seat for the Ado Odo/Ota Federal Constituency reportedly has Lamidi Rasheed, while Shittu Olawale, the Odogbolu local government area chairman, is for Ijebu Ode/Odogbolu/Ijebu East Federal Constituency. Some of the identified candidates, who, however, reportedly spoke on condition of anonymity to one of our correspondents on Friday, October 26, confirmed that they were on their way to the DPP on the instruction of the embattled governor. Yes, it is true, the governor has said we should move to the DPP, but I cannot make any official comment now. Oga will join us later, one of them in the National Assembly reportedly said. Recall that Amosun has alleged that the national chairman of the APC, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole, colluded with some persons he described as members of the Lagos cabal to manipulate the primaries, especially that of the governorship, in the state. The APC has submitted the name of an oil magnate, Dapo Abiodun, as its governorship candidate to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to the surprise of Amosun, who had consistently maintained that a member of the House of Representatives, Adekunle Akinlade, would succeed him as the state governor. PAY ATTENTION: Install our app for android, read best news on Nigeria's #1 news app Meanwhile, Legit.ng previously reported that Dimeji Bankole, a former speaker of the House of Representatives, vowed to defeat the APC in Ogun state in the 2019 governorship election. The former lawmaker who is the governorship candidate of the Action Democratic Party (ADC) made the statement on Monday, October 22, at his official introduction as the candidate of the party's headquarters in Onikolobo area of Abeokuta. Bankole said he was confident his party would sack the APC in the poll because the ADC had the structure to emerge victorious. Femi Kuti Reveals Nigeria's Major Problem, Proffers Solutions | Legit TV Source: Legit.ng Following the glamorous wedding ceremony of Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi and his new wife, Prophetess Naomi Oluwaseyi, the royal couple have been the talk of the town. Recently, they both made their first public appearance together and the Ooni of Ife was spotted at his wife's church as she ministered and made some prophetic declarations to the congregation. It's no news that the new olori is a renowned evangelist in the town of Ondo. In fact, several clips of her performing miracles in her church surfaced online as soon as people started asking questions about the new queen. Rather than quit her calling, even as the new wife of the Ooni, the young lady can be seen still preaching the gospel and this time, she had the king by her side as she delivered the sermon for the day. The video has been making waves online, with a lot of people admiring the couple, while some still have questions. READ ALSO: Bobrisky narrates how he went to the beach with Davido in his dream (screenshot) READ ALSO: NAIJ.com upgrades to Legit.ng Some of the issues that have been arising concerning the king marrying another wife is the fact that it will be the Ooni's third marriage and while it is alright for African men to marry as they like, women don't have such liberty and in a case where a woman is moving from one marriage to another, she's often castigated by society. Yoruba actress, Fathia Balogun recently talked about how women are criticised for doing the same thing the Ooni of Ife has done concerning marriage. Asides, marriage, however, the more puzzling thing for many people who understand the Yoruba culture is the fact that the king is an unapologetic Christian who revers Jesus. A direct contrast to the practice the wearer of his crown should be doing. In fact, the new olori takes joy in leading prayer sessions at the palace. PAY ATTENTION: Read best news on Nigeria's #1 news app There is light at the end of the tunnel - Ooni of Ife on Legit TV: Source: Legit Police have detained two persons in the clash between the representatives of the ruling Georgian Dream party and the United Opposition in Imiri village, Marneuli district, InterPressNews reported. InterPressNews was informed by the Internal Affairs Ministry that the two citizens physically and verbally abused each other. Therefore, they were detained under Article 173 of the Administrative Offences Code of Georgia (Disobedience to the Legal Orders or Instructions of Law Enforcement or Military Officers). The Ministry said that an investigation has been launched under Part I of 162 (1) Article of the Criminal Code of Georgia, involving the violence inside the polling station, in the election commission placement area or the adjacent territory. Many people will argue that marriage is just and institution which validates reproduction but to a lot of couples, finding the right partner and staying committed to them has helped in propelling their careers to unimaginable heights as well as help them on their journey of self discovery. We hear stories about thousands of marriages every other day and while some are pure inspirations, some others just discourage love and sacrifice. In the typical African family, even till this day, it is expected that a man looking to marry from any family is mandated to pay a certain amount in cash or gift as bride price for his intended wife. While some tribes in Nigeria use it as an opportunity to impoverish the groom, some practice it for culture sake. It is almost unheard that a man will make away with a woman without paying her bride price except they elope or stay together against the wishes of the family. Which is the case of 84-year-old Pastor and founder of Christ Apostolic Church (CAC) Odi-Ajaye Zone, John Olusola Ojo, who has been married to his 70-year-old wife, Olabisi for over four decades. 84-year-old pastor finally pays his wife's dowry after 46 years of marriage Source: UGC According to pastor John he never paid his wife's bride price and despite that strange omission, his marriage has lasted for 46 years and he is only doing the needful now because he honours and cherishes his darling wife who he met during her youth. Speaking on the how the love affair started, 84-year-old John revealed that he was a poor bachelor at the time he met Olabisi and she was a well-to-do family. In fact, marriage between them was frowned upon by her uncle, who reacted to the news by sending her to Kafanchan in the northern part of Nigeria to keep her away from Olusola. However, she found her way back and married him without doing the necessary traditional rites. Out of respect, John Olusola kept interaction with the family open and 46 years later, he decided to pay her bride price in full, just to honour her and thank her for being his missing rib. READ ALSO: NAIJ.com upgrades to Legit.ng Speaking to Tribune, he said: "On many occasions, her uncle will beat her into coma so that she could denounce me. Because of Bisis determination to marry me, she would not change her mind even when her uncle took her to Kafanchan in the northern part of Nigeria, with the belief that distance will remove my love from her heart. One day, after serial persecutions, Bisi returned to me and assured me that even if I had married five wives, she is ready to become the sixth. When all persuasions to make my in-laws accept their daughters bride price from me failed, the General Superintendent of the Christ Apostolic Church, Nigeria, advised us to go by statutory marriage through which we were certified as husband and wife in 1972. Few years into our marriage, my in-laws had a change of heart; since then we have maintained a good rapport, In fact, the relationship with all my in-laws had been so cordial such that nobody was asking for bride price anymore but because of my belief as a Christian, bride price is a must in Gods view; so I must pay it, at least if it is just to show how much I value my dear wife Olabisi. Indeed, love is an amazing thing! PAY ATTENTION: Read best news on Nigeria's #1 news app Top-4 Nigerian Celebrities and Politician Weddings on Legit TV: Source: Legit Nigeria - A Federal High Court sitting in Port Harcourt on Friday, October 26, ordered the Nigerian Army to pay the sum of N1,250,000 to actress Ebere Ohakwe - The court also ordered that a written apology be published in at least two national dailies - This is a compensation after she was beaten up by men of the Nigerian Army in February 2017 Nollywood actress, Ebere Ohakwe has gotten justice a year after she was assaulted by men of the Nigerian Army. READ ALSO: Ooni of Ife and new wife Olori Naomi make first public appearance Ohakwe, popularly known as Jewel Infinity, was travelling in a public bus from Port Harcourt, Rivers state to Onitsha, Anambra state when operatives of the Nigerian Army stationed at Omagwa axis of the Port Harcourt Airport Road stopped the vehicle for a routine stop-and-search and, in the process, physically assaulted her. The Federal High Court presided over by Justice Adamu Mohammed had earlier ruled on the matter in March 2018. Mohammed had ordered the defendants (Nigerian Army) to pay the sum of N1m to the plaintiff as compensation for infringing on her fundamental human rights. According to The Punch, but the Nigerian Army through its counsel filed an application to the court to set aside the judgment and resume fresh hearing. Counsel for the plaintiff, Chime Chime, in a counter-application, urged the court to dismiss the defendants submission. Mohammed, however, struck out the application of the Nigerian Army, stating that it lacked merit. READ ALSO: 3 years after reaching out for help, veteran actor Lari Williams speaks on his health The judge awarded N250,000 against the defendants in addition to N1m the security outfit was expected to pay to the victim, as well as a written apology to her to be published in at least two national dailies. McDermott Interview: I Believe in Equity Nigeria Actress Ufuoma McDermott on Feminism | Legit TV Source: Legit Charlene Symia is most comfortable when she's celebrating others. But this month it was her turn to be recognized. The more-than-30-year Easton Area School District educator was named by the Pennsylvania Parent Teacher Association as the principal of the year. The Easton native is the longtime principal at Easton Area Middle School, where she oversees 2,000 children in grades six through eight. "She truly loves each and every one of those kids," said middle school PTA President Michelle Robertson, who was among those who nominated Symia for the award. Her nomination paperwork notes Symia's Remarkable Rovers program to identify outstanding students, teachers and staff. She came up with International Night, which drew more than 500 people to school in the evening to sample ethnic foods while students wore outfits from around the world. The idea spread to many other Easton Area schools. She loves participating in fund raisers, such as the "Kiss A Cow" event to benefit the Boys and Girls Club of Easton and created the Medici group, which mentors students who need help overcoming obstacles. Symia could have been nominated just about every year, Robertson said. But this year she especially rose to the forefront in the minds of PTA parents because Symia lost her husband of 42 years. Elias Symia died in December 2017 at the age of 66. Charlene Symia in 2012. Robertson was blown away by the support Symia received from the Easton community and how receptive the principal was to the condolences. "My family and I could not have gotten through the heartache without the parents the teachers, the students, the staff, the central office, the school board, everyone," Symia said Thursday. "I am so grateful for them." Through her most difficult time, Symia found peace where she always did: with her students and her community. "Following the services, her one wish was to come back to her 'home' - the Easton Area Middle School," her award nomination reads. "This was not only a testament to her work ethic, but her unwavering love and dedication to the students and staff." To receive the award Oct. 20 Symia had to travel to Erie, which is about as far away from Easton as possible while still remaining in Pennsylvania. Symia said she was touched to see Easton Area School District PTA parent Jennifer Berry made the trip with her family. Berry's husband dressed as the Easton Rover, the school district mascot. When a tribute video to Symia started to roll, the tears started to flow, Symia said. (The video is embedded above in this story.) "I was so touched by the fact that they (the Berry family) made the trip out there," Symia said. Superintendent John Reinhart acknowledged "the fabulous recognition (Symia) received as the PTA principal of the year" at the school board meeting on Oct. 23. "It was really a remarkable experience," Symia said at the school board meeting. "I'm just fortunate to be surrounded by extraordinary people all my life. I thank all of you because that honor is really our district's honor," she said. DID YOU KNOW? Biographical details about Charlene Symia She started her career as an English as a Second Language teacher. She later taught French and Spanish. She previously taught at Notre Dame High School, Bethlehem Catholic High School and Warren County Community College. She received her superintendent's letter of eligibility in 2002 and her doctorate in 2008. She became assistant principal at the middle school in 2002 and head principal in 2006. She has four daughters Source: Pennsylvania PTA principal of the year nomination application. Rudy Miller may be reached at rmiller@lehighvalleylive.com. Follow him on Twitter @RudyMillerLV. Find Easton area news on Facebook. A Slate Belt township which has not had a municipal police force for 22 years will let the residents vote on the future of policing in their municipality. Upper Mount Bethel Township Supervisors voted Monday to mail surveys to all households in the township. The survey will ask residents if the township should continue with the current state police coverage or hire municipal police for part-time coverage. In June, East Bangor Police Chief Robert Mulligan said his force would be able to provide part-time coverage in Upper Mount Bethel for $117,000 per year. Under his proposal, East Bangor police would have one officer with a vehicle patrol in Upper Mount Bethel for eight hours per day, seven days per week. There would be enough money available in the current budget to pay that amount without raising taxes, township Supervisors' Chairman John Bermingham said at that time. Bermingham said he doesn't believe a full-time department is an option right now. The township couldn't afford a full-time department without raising taxes, he said. "We don't want to raise taxes," Bermingham said. "Not one supervisor has said they want to raise taxes." Upper Mount Bethel Township's supervisors voted to disband the township police force in 1996 in favor of Pennsylvania State Police coverage. In recent years the supervisors have discussed the possibility of bolstering police coverage. Supervisors have stated they have received complaints about slow state police response times. State police began using an office at the municipal building in 2017 to help reduce response times by having troopers close at hand. There have also been many noise and other complaints from township residents but state police often do not respond to municipal ordinance issues. Bermingham said the township needs to investigate ways to respond to municipal complaints. One potential obstacle against local police coverage lies with a decades-old Pennsylvania Labor Relations Board ruling. In the late 1990s, the Upper Mount Bethel Police Department's union appealed the township's decision to disband the force. The labor board expressed concern that the township would use the disbanding as an opportunity to fire the officers and restart a department later with new officers, according to township solicitor Ron Karasek. If the township were to ever restart or hire new officers, the former officers would have to be offered their old jobs back, according to the ruling. Karasek said there are two men who are still active police officers in other departments who would need to be offered jobs. If either of the officers were to be interested, the resulting costs and complications would essentially be a deal killer, according to Supervisor Robert Teel. "If they want to come back, I don't think this will work," Teel said. Township officials would need to reach out to the two officers to find out if they would be willing to formally reject being rehired. Supervisor Martin Pinter said the board should first ascertain the will of the people before it reaches out to the former officers. Several supervisors indicated they are willing to pursue whatever most residents choose based on the survey. "We'll find out what the majority want," Bermingham said. "That is democracy." Depending on the number of returned surveys, the township may seek to enlist volunteers to go door to door to get responses, Bermingham said. There was discussion Monday about using online survey websites, however, Township Manager Rick Fisher said many in the township are not internet savvy and the potential for people with access to multiple email addresses to vote more than once could skew results. The mailed survey, which will include a stamped return envelope, will cost about $650, Bermingham estimated. John Best is a freelance writer. Find lehighvalleylive.com on Facebook. The annual Leaves Festival of Writing and Music is just around the corner, celebrating the diversity and richness in todays writing, spoken word, music, theatre and film scene. This year the weekend-long programme will be held in the Dunamaise Arts Centre and St Peters Church of Ireland. At the recent launch of the Leaves Festival Festival Curator, Muireann Ni Chonaill said: Celebrating its tenth anniversary, the Leaves Festival is a great opportunity to enjoy hearing contemporary writers and musicians, the art of conversation, film and theatre. Opening the weekend in the Dunamaise Arts Centre, on Friday, November 9, at 8pm, is spoken word artist Stephen James Smith and features musician, Enda Reilly. A Dublin poet and playwright central to the rise of the vibrant Spoken Word scene in Ireland today, Stephens poetry videos have amassed over 2.5 million views, including 2017s My Ireland. London based writer, Helen Cullen, who grew up in Portlaoise, has had great success with her debut novel, The Lost Letters of William Woolf. She will share her wisdom and experience at a special workshop for adult writers in the Dunamaise Arts Centre on Saturday November 10. The Dunamaise Art Gallery is also the venue for the launch of Growing Pains and Growing Up, an anthology of essays and articles by John Whelan representing a journalistic memoir to mark 40 years of his working in media. Saturday evenings programme will take place in the beautiful surroundings of St Peters Church of Ireland, Portlaoise, featuring a wonderful combination of conversation, music and readings by Helen Cullen, Brian Keenan, Dermot Bolger, music by Sean Ryan and Kathleen Loughnane. There will be a spoken word evening of remembrance for those who lost their lives and fought from the Mountmellick area in World War One on Sunday November 11 in Mountmellick Library at 7.30pm. Schools events include an Irish event at the Laois Shopping Centre, and Barry Keegan, the creator of the graphic novel The Bog Road, and childrens writer Caroline Busher will visit a number of schools. And Simone Schuemmelfeder, an international storyteller, will host a workshop on storytelling in Portlaoise Library on Thursday, November 8. I recently came across a heartwarming story about a missing Kildare dog that was reunited with its owners after four months. And all because it was microchipped. Alfie the golden lurcher went missing from Kilcock on June 7 last, before being spotted over 120km away, outside Ballinaloe, Co Galway on October 14. The Galway Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA) were alerted to the lurcher by a member of the public, in a very neglected state, just outside Ballinasloe town. According to the animal shelter, Alfie was emaciated, full of mange, pressure sores, fleas and worms. The pictures were horrendous. Alfies bones were protruding, and he had cuts on his body. Galway SPCA took Alfie in to try nurse him back to health. Luckily, the shelter was able to check Alfies chip numbers and track down his owners. The story went viral, sharing an important message about microchipping. Microchipping is a legal requirement in Ireland. If you dont microchip your pet, you are liable to be fined. According to Dogs Trust, of the many thousands of dogs that go missing each year, it is estimated that less than half of them are reunited with their owners. Alfies story is one with a happy ending. But the reality is, many dogs who go missing may be abandoned or go stray, and if theyre lucky, they will be taken in by one of the amazing animal shelters until they are rehomed. I recently took a trip to the Kildare and West Wicklow Society for the Prevention for Animal Cruelty for work purposes (ie, I just wanted an excuse to pet all the dogs). The work these shelters do is absolutely wonderful, run solely by volunteers. And the animals were happy as pigs in s***e, as they say. One of the volunteers, Grainne Murphy, told me that the shelter can cater for up to 26 abandoned or abused dogs. The shelter receives a grant from the government on condition that legislation is complied with but funding is primarily received through fundraisers and donations. Its very costly to run a centre, between veterinary fees, food, and homing the animals. But these volunteers do it for their sheer love for creatures. Halloween is a particularly busy time for the shelters. The holiday poses many dangers to animals. I always worry for pets coming up to Halloween between fireworks and trick-or-treaters, its a frightening time for them. According to the ISPCA, during the flurry of activity on Halloween night, it is best to keep any but the most social dogs or cats in a quiet, secure room where they cannot dart out the open door. Again, the importance of microchipping is highlighted, it being the best way to ensure that a lost pet will be returned to you. ISPCA Public Relations Manager Carmel Murray said: There are some simple steps that pet owners should consider in the run up to Halloween for example ensuring your pets always have somewhere safe and secure and preferably keep them indoors during the festivities. Noises such as fireworks, parties or trick-or-treaters can drive our pets to extreme behaviour and if they do escape, it puts extra pressure on animal rescue centres, dog pounds and veterinary practices and causes such upset for animals and owners. Unfortunately, animal cruelty cases are still a problem in this day and age. Stray animals can fall victim to abuse or cruel Halloween pranks. If you witness animal cruelty, notify your local Garda station immediately and contact the ISPCA National Animal Cruelty Helpline on 1890 515 515. Becoming a Mother: Reflections on Adoptive Parenthood is the first book by an Irish adoptive parent about the experience of adopting a child from outside Ireland. Written by Newbridge resident and Kilclare native, Mari Gallagher (nee Guckian), it tells of her longing for motherhood through to meeting with her beautiful son and daughter, in Russia and Kazakhstan respectively. The book teases out the complexity of emotions and bureaucratic hurdles in the adoptive process, drawing from Mari's own personal experience and explores the reality of becoming an adoptive parent. The book has a particular focus on intercountry adoptive parenting as well as looking at adoption from the other viewpoints: those of the adopted person and the birth parent. The book explores issues around the topic of adoption: the secrecy and silence that still pervades adoption, the primal desire to parent that drives adoptive parenting, the tumultuousness of search and reunion, the tragedy of adopted children delaying their search for the birth parent. Elsewhere in the book there are shared experiences and tips on bonding with the adopted child as well as a look at parenthood for the adopted person. Becoming a Mother: Reflections on Adoptive Parenthood is published by Orpen Press price 16 and will be available for sale at the launch in Drumshanbo Library, November 1 at 5pm and in bookshops. Mari Gallagher is a psychotherapist and adoptive parent to two internationally adopted children. Her articles have been published in Irish Medical News, Irish Medical Times, Irish Times and The Irish Journal of Counseling and Psychotherapy. Mari is a regular speaker at Barnardos post adoption training workshops. A portion of the proceeds of this book will be donated to Barnardos Post Adoption Service. AN INDEPENDENT review into Irish Waters plans to abstract 300 million litres of water daily from the River Shannon and pump it to Dublin is to take place before the project is approved by the Government. The 1.3bn project, which has been met with opposition from various groups, proposes to abstract water daily from the Parteen Basin and pump it to County Dublin in order to meet the future water needs of the Greater Dublin area. The news that the Commission for the Regulation of Utilities (CRU) has been directed to examine the project before it is signed off on was welcomed by councillor John Gilligan at a recent meeting of the Environment Strategic Policy Committee (SPC) in the Council Chambers in Dooradoyle. Major concerns have been raised about this project, Cllr Gilligan, who strongly opposes the plans, told the chamber. The utility should focus instead on replacing leaking pipes in Dublin, he added. Hopefully the idea will now be removed from the national agenda. However, the proposals have been discussed for the last 15 years, according to Fine Gael councillor Michael Hourigan. A huge amount of money has been spent on consultants, is that all pushed aside now? We have council full of reports on this, who decides where the merit lies? Irish Water plans to submit a planning application to An Bord Pleanala in 2019 and an Environmental Impact Assessment Report and Natura Impact Statement are currently being undertaken by the company. However, opposition groups such as the River Shannon Protection Alliance believe the figures used to calculate Irish Waters proposal do not make sense and that viable alternatives have not been explored by the company. The Kennedy Analysis, a forensic study carried out into the project, argues that Dublins pipes have a leakage rate of 57%. COUNCILLORS for the Newcastle West Municipal District will have a special 225,000 fund to be spent in the district in 2019, the same as in 2018. And on Friday, the six councillors agreed how this fund, the General Municipal Allocation (GMA) would be carved up. The GMA is a fund allocated to each of the three municipal districts in Limerick and the Limerick metropolitan district and is agreed as part of the councils overall budget. But the decisions on how the money is spent in the districts are made by the district councillors. At a meeting last Friday, councillors decided to change the recommendations from management and allocate 95,000 to local roads and 20,000 to community initiatives . Councillors then allocated the single biggest amount of money, 110,000, to be used for tourism, recreational and amenity projects. In effect, this gives each councillor a discretionary pot of 18,333 money to allocate to projects of their choice under any or all of the headings. The practice has been to allocate amounts ranging from 500 to 5000 to different projects, to be approved at the monthly meeting of the councillors. An application process is in place for groups or organisations who wish to benefit from this funding. Welcoming the outcome, Cllr John Sheahan said this fund resulted from the 10% added to the base rate of the property tax. Whatever about people against the property tax on principle, when it comes to dishing out the money that is available as a result, they are not shy. Principles go out the money when there is money to be spent. A FILE is being prepared for the DPP in the case of a young man who was seriously injured when he allegedly crashed a stolen car following a burglary in East Limerick. Andrew Corbett, aged 22, who has an address at Castle Park, Caherconlish appeared before Limerick District Court after he was charged with multiple offences relating to a number of incidents which happened last month. The defendant, who was using crutches and who was in obvious discomfort during his court appearance, faces a number of burglary and theft charges. Detective Garda Chris Cowan said it will be alleged the defendant broke into a house in Cappamore on September 16, last and took a Nissan Juke car which was parked outside. Mr Corbett is also charged with stealing a sum of cash from a premises in Hospital on the same day and with burglary at a house in Knocklong on September 21. It is alleged a Toyota Corolla was stolen from outside the house and that this car was located crashed near Hospital later in the day. Judge Marian OLeary was told the defendant sustained a broken sternum, two broken ribs, a punctured lung as well as extensive damage to his hip in the crash. Opposing a bail application under the Bail Act, Detective Garda Cowan expressed concerns Mr Corbett would engage in criminality and would not abide by his bail conditions if released. He added he was concerned he would not appear in court if granted bail. Solicitor John Herbert said his client would abide by all bail conditions and that there was an address available to him to live at. He said Mr Corbett will require ongoing medical treatment for his injuries and that this could be hindered if he was remanded in custody. He also submitted it will take some time for gardai to secure directions from the Director of Public Prosecutions. Noting the defendants injuries, Judge OLeary granted bail subject to him living with his parents and obeying a number of other strict conditions. The matter was adjourned to next month for directions. The issue of an administrative border between Russias North Caucasus republics of Chechnya and Ingushetia, demarcated in a bilateral agreement in late September, is now closed, Chechen President Ramzan Kadyrov told reporters. "We have made a decision to deal with this issue, that has long been discussed, once and for all," TASS quoted Kadyrov as saying. "The matter is now closed for us - the agreement has been signed, the laws have been adopted." "For me, as the leader of Chechnya, the matter is closed," he added. "There will be no conflict or quarrel between us." According to Kadyrov, the deal was signed to improve economic, cultural and political relations between the two brotherly republics. "Some people fail to understand, but they eventually will. This takes time," he said. The Chechen leader said he had no plans to unite Chechnya and Ingushetia as "the issue is irrelevant in Russia." A LIMERICK councillor has branded elements of Peter Casey's presidential campaign as "disgusting" and has hit out at the "despicable" way the candidate singled out the Travelling community. Fine Gael councillor Jerome Scanlan, who represents West Limerick, says older people feeling a sense of insecurity voted for the former Dragon's Den star. They are insecure in terms of feeling safe, policing doesnt exist in rural areas. It is very limited. Elderly people in particular who I believe came out and voted for Peter Casey are vulnerable, and they know they are, he said. Cllr Scanlan added of Mr Casey's bid to be president: Several elements of his campaign were disgusting. One of them I thought particularly bad was when Michael D Higgins was accused of lying by Peter Casey, more than once. I think it was despicable the manner he singled out the Travelling community. Shockwaves are still being felt across Limerick following Peter Caseys better than expected showing in the county in the Presidential election. From opinion poll ratings of just one and two percent, the businessman surged to claim almost 350,000 votes nationwide and 23.3% of the first preference vote. It appears his comments criticising Traveller culture was the key reason for the increase. In rural county Limerick, the controversial candidate polled at 34% way above the national figure. He had strong showings in Rathkeale and Askeaton - areas with strong Traveller communities - with tallies putting him ahead of polltopper Michael D Higgins at some polling stations. Speaking on RTEs The Week in Politics programme this Sunday, Fianna Fail frontbencher Niall Collins said he believes the media gave coverage to Mr Casey because the public were interested and awakened. Mr Casey has since suggestd that he would like to join Fianna Fail, and run for election in Donegal. But Mr Collins poured cold water on this, saying: Theres bad news for Peter in the sense that our ticket in Donegal is complete. We have Charlie McConalogue and Pat the Cope Gallagher, our two sitting candidates. Peter would want to realise that you can't just rock up to political parties and think you can get your way. "You can't just rock up to political parties and think that you can get your way" - @NiallCollinsTD pic.twitter.com/WAL5h9EIMt The Week in Politics (@rtetwip) October 28, 2018 Labour TD Jan OSullivan said people are perhaps associating rural crime with the Traveller community, and using is as an excuse for racism. If it is that people are concerned about break-ins to their homes which seems to be one of the issues, and there seems to be a putting it together with blaming all Travellers, its something we need to call out. People being broken into needs to be treated as an issue, not as an excuse for racism, she said. Sinn Fein TD Maurice Quinlivan said Mr Caseys performance must represent a wake-up call for people. I imagine a lot of people who voted for him would not have seen or heard of him one or two weeks ago., didnt know who he was. So we need to acknowledge the reasons why people voted for him, he told Live95FM News. Moscow has facts that Washington has interfered in Russias domestic affairs and US diplomats took part in opposition rallies calling for a change of power, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said in an interview with the program "Moscow. Kremlin. Putin" on Rossiya 1TV channel, TASS reported. "US diplomats have been seen many times at public events of the opposition, including the non-system opposition, with the slogans of a regime change and so on and so forth," Lavrov said. However, US colleagues are trying to joke on this, saying that the relations will normalize, but there has been no response to the facts of meddling so far. "In response, we tell them that we have not just suspicions regarding them, but they have a legislation called the Ukraine Support Act passed in 2015," Lavrov said. Under this legislation, the US State Department is ordered to spend $20 mln per year to promote democracy in Russia, including funding Russian NGOs. However, Washington claims that it tries not to meddle, Lavrov said. "All organizations, which get financing under this legislation, are now under scrutiny," the foreign minister said. Georgians are heading to the polls today to decide who will be the countrys fifth president. The president will be elected to a six-year term: this is also the last time the president will be elected by direct vote, Agenda.ge reports. Polling stations opened at 8 a.m. across the country in 73 precincts. There are 3,703 polling stations and 11 special stations opened throughout Georgia. Five polling stations are open abroad. The total number of voters on the voters list is 3,518,877. There are 14,795 voters registered abroad. The Prime Minister of Georgia Mamuka Bakhtadze has already cast his ballot. "Today, together with our citizens, we will hold free, transparent and democratic elections. I voted for Georgia's development, Georgian traditions and our European choice; the path of development which was chosen by the first republic a hundred years ago, Bakhtadze said. After casting his ballot in the presidential elections, current president Giorgi Margvelashvili said that he had voted for a presidential candidate who will be the president of all people. "I voted for the presidential candidate who will be the president of all; who will not be afraid to be the president of all, the president of all citizens of Georgia and who will be a commander-in-chief of the Armed Forces, which has an amazing centuries-old history and inspiring heroism of past years. This commander-in-chief will be proud of being the head of these heroic people, our armed forces, Margvelashvili. 25 candidates are running in 2018 presidential elections in Georgia. A presidential candidate needs 50%+1 votes for winning. If a candidate does not collect the needed number of votes, a second round of elections will be held. The two candidates who showed the best results in the first round will participate in the second round of the elections. The Georgian Central Election Commission (CEC) will appoint the date of the second round of elections if one needs to be held. The candidate who receives more votes in the second round will become president of Georgia. Halloween is a time when ghosts and spooky decorations are on public display, reminding us of the realm of the dead. But could they also be instructing us in important lessons on how to lead moral lives? Roots of Halloween The origins of modern-day Halloween go back to "samhain," a Celtic celebration for the beginning of the dark half of the year when, it was widely believed, the realm between the living and the dead overlapped and ghosts could be commonly encountered. In 601 A.D., to help his drive to Christianize northern Europe, Pope Gregory I directed missionaries not to stop pagan celebrations, but rather to Christianize them. Accordingly, over time, the celebrations of samhain became All Souls' Day and All Saint's Day, when speaking with the dead was considered religiously appropriate. All Saint's Day was also known as All Hallows' Day and the night before became All Hallows' Evening, or "Hallowe'en." Christian ghosts Not only did the pagan beliefs around spirits of the dead continue, but they also became part of many of early church practices. Pope Gregory I himself suggested that people seeing ghosts should say masses for them. The dead, in this view, might require help from the living to make their journey towards Heaven. During the Middle Ages, beliefs around souls trapped in purgatory led to the church's increasing practice of selling indulgences payments to the church to reduce penalties for sins. The widespread belief in ghosts turned the sale of indulgences into a lucrative practice for the church. It was such beliefs that contributed to the Reformation, the division of Christianity into Protestantism and Catholicism led by German theologian Martin Luther. Indeed, Luther's "95 Theses," that he nailed to the All Saints Church in Wittenburg on Oct. 31, 1517, was largely a protest against the selling of indulgences. Subsequently, ghosts became identified with "Catholic superstitions" in Protestant countries. Debates, however, continued about the existence of ghosts and people increasingly turned to science to deal with the issue. By the 19th century, Spiritualism, a new movement which claimed that the dead could converse with the living, was fast becoming mainstream, and featured popular techniques such as seances, the ouija board, spirit photography and the like. Although Spiritualism faded in cultural importance after World War I, many of its approaches can be seen in the "ghost hunters" of today, who often seek to prove the existence of ghosts using scientific techniques. A wide, wide world of ghosts These beliefs are not just part of the Christian world. Most, although not all, societies have a concept of "ghosts." In Taiwan, for example, about 90 percent people report seeing ghosts. Along with many Asian countries such as Japan, Korea, China and Vietnam, Taiwan celebrates a "Ghost Month," which includes a central "Ghost Day," when ghosts are believed to freely roam the world of the living. These festivals and beliefs are often tied to the Buddhist story of the Urabon Sutra, where Buddha instructs a young priest on how to help his mother whom he sees suffering as a "hungry ghost." As in many traditions, Taiwanese ghosts are seen either as "friendly" or "unfriendly." The "friendly" ghosts are commonly ancestral or familial and welcomed into the home during the ghost festival. The "unfriendly" ghosts are those angry or "hungry" ghosts that haunt the living. Role of ghosts in our lives As a scholar who has studied and taught ghost stories for many years, I have found that ghosts generally haunt for good reasons. These could range from unsolved murders, lack of proper funerals, forced suicides, preventable tragedies and other ethical failures. Ghosts, in this light, are often found seeking justice from beyond the grave. They could make such demands from individuals, or from societies as a whole. For example, in the U.S., sightings have been reported of African-American slaves and murdered Native Americans. Scholar Elizabeth Tucker details many of these reported sightings on university campuses, often tied in with sordid aspects of the campus's past. A ghost dance on Halloween. (Image credit: Chris Jepsen/Flickr.com, CC BY-NC-ND) In this way, ghosts reveal the shadow side of ethics. Their sightings are often a reminder that ethics and morality transcend our lives and that ethical lapses can carry a heavy spiritual burden. Yet ghost stories are also hopeful. In suggesting a life after death, they offer a chance to be in contact with those that have passed and therefore a chance for redemption a way to atone for past wrongs. This Halloween, along with the shrieks and shtick, you may want to take a few minutes to appreciate the role of ghosts in our haunted pasts and how they guide us to lead moral and ethical lives. Tok Thompson, Associate Professor of Teaching, University of Southern California Dornsife College of Letters, Arts and Sciences This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article. Follow all of the Expert Voices issues and debates and become part of the discussion on Facebook, Twitter and Google +. The views expressed are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of the publisher. This version of the article was originally published on Live Science. A man has landed behind bars for sexually abusing two children, according to Laredo police. LPD's special investigations unit launched an investigation on Sept. 26, alleging that Carlos Manzano-Rodriguez had sexually abused a child. A two-day prostitution sting on San Bernardo Avenue yielded four arrests, according to Laredo police. Samary Conde, 25, Griselda Garcia, 34, Elva Gonzalez, 18, and Ana Lee Zamora, 26, were each charged with prostitution. The Laredo Police Department narcotics and vice unit conducting the operation between Thursday and Friday with the assistance from the patrol division. READ MORE: Laredo man accused of sexually abusing 14-year-old girl They conducted surveillance in the vicinity of the 3500 block of San Bernardo. "The operation was established after receiving numerous complaints of prostitution in the area," LPD said in a statement. Police said the suspects were arrested after meeting with an undercover officer and offering sex in exchange for money. According to our observation, at this time the 2018 Presidential Elections are being held in a largely peaceful environment, - the International Transparency Georgia reported on Sunday. According to the organization, vast majority of the electoral precincts, where their static observers are stationed, have been opened on time. Our observers have reported up to 50 insignificant and relatively serious violations. We have filed 4 complaints. Nearly on all precincts the mobilization of coordinators of presidential candidates can be observed," InterPressNews informed, citing the report. Pittsburgh Mayor Bill Peduto said Sunday that armed guards in places of worship are not the solution, one day after 11 people were killed and six wounded by a gunman at the Tree of Life synagogue in the city. "I don't think that the answer to this problem is solved by having our synagogues, mosques and churches filled with armed guards or our schools filled with armed guards," Peduto said in an appearance on NBC's "Meet the Press." On Saturday, President Donald Trump had suggested that more armed guards could help prevent shootings such as the one in Pittsburgh, comments that echoed the response he has often given after mass shootings throughout the country. But Peduto argued Sunday that the focus should instead be on keeping guns out of the wrong hands. "I think the approach that we need to be looking at is how we take the guns - which is the common denominator of every mass shooting in America - out of the hands of those that are looking to express hatred through murder," he said at a news conference in Pittsburgh. Earlier Sunday, officials named the 11 people who were killed when Robert Bowers, armed with an assault-style rifle and three pistols, allegedly burst into the Tree of Life synagogue, screamed anti-Semitic slurs and began shooting. On NBC, Peduto called the shooting "one of the darkest days in our city's history." Some have called for Trump to tone down his inflammatory rhetoric in the wake of the shooting, while others, such as Vice President Mike Pence, have argued that there is no connection between such language and "acts of violence and evil." Trump has said he plans to visit Pittsburgh in the coming days. Peduto said Sunday that it was up to the families to decide whether they would like him to be present at a vigil for the victims. "You know, this is a Conservative synagogue, so the funerals will be very quickly - as soon as tomorrow," Peduto said at the news conference. "So that's really up to the families and whether they would want the president to be here." The mayor also vowed that hatred "will not have a place anywhere." "We know that hatred will never win out - that those that try to divide us because of the way that we pray or where our families are from around the world will lose," Peduto said. "And in Pittsburgh, we're pragmatic, and we find solutions to problems. We will not try to rationalize irrational behavior. We will not try to figure out ways ... to lessen the degree of crimes such as this. We will work to eradicate it." Sunday did not mark the first time that Peduto has openly differed with Trump on policy issues. Last year, after the United States pulled out of the Paris climate agreement, Peduto pushed back against the president's assertion that he "was elected to represent the citizens of Pittsburgh, not Paris." "As the Mayor of Pittsburgh, I can assure you that we will follow the guidelines of the Paris agreement for our people, our economy & future," Peduto tweeted in response. San Antonio police say they are searching for the shooter in a road rage incident on the West Side that sent a woman to the hospital overnight. A couple was leaving a party about 1:30 a.m. and were traveling toward U.S. 90 on General McMullen Drive when a black vehicle pulled up beside them and someone inside that vehicle fired a shot, hitting the woman in the head, according to police. The US 86th Munitions Squadron at Ramstein Air Base, Germany received some 100 containers with a variety of munitions during the course of October, which is the largest US ammo shipment to Europe since the operation in Yugoslavia in 1999, Sputnik reports. Master Sgt. Arthur Myrick, 86th MUNS munitions flight chief, said that the shipment will be used to "support NATO's European Deterrence Initiative (EDI) and augment the Air Force's War Reserve Materiel in Europe." According to Ramstein officials, the shipment is also expected to increase the responsiveness and readiness of US forces at the Ramstein base by pre-positioning ammunition, fuel and equipment to enable a "rapid response against threats made by aggressive actors." "We're a major airlift hub for U.S. Air Forces in Europe-Air Forces Africa, so our main job is to get munitions where they need to be on time. These are real-world munitions to fulfill real-world objectives. That's the reason we are downloading these things: to make sure we have the capability to move the fight forward if need be," Myrick said. The last time such a major shipment was delivered to Ramstein was prior to Operation Allied Force in 1999, during which the US Air Force conducted some 900 air raids against then Yugoslavia. The 78 day long aerial campaign, which was not authorized by the UN Security Council, claimed the lives of around 500 civilians, according to Human Rights Watch, and resulted in widespread destruction of the country's infrastructure. Ramstein Air Base in Germany is the largest foreign US military base and is a major center for Washington's overseas military operations. The base was home to American nuclear weapons, but they were reportedly pulled out in 2005. The air base regularly faces criticism from the German public, which demands that it be closed. One of the most recent protests against the US base took place on July 2, 2018, soon after US President Donald Trump said that he was considering a possible withdrawal of American forces from the country. Ballinasloe WW1 Heritage Group will host the launch of their book, Ballinasloe & District Remembers 1914-1918 on Tuesday, November 6 at 6pm in Ballinasloe Library. The book is the culmination of five years work by the group and is a commemoration to mark the end of the Great War which occurred on the 11th hour of the 11th day in the 11th month of 1918. The book will be officially launched by well-known Irish Times Journalist, Ronan McGreevy. The journey began with the restoration of a Roll of Honour which now hangs in Ballinasloe Librarys History Room. While researching the eighty eight names on the Roll of Honour, countless other names were discovered and documented. The book gives an insight into the lives of those from Ballinasloe and surrounding areas, who served in WW1 and the lives of their families. In addition to the military records, there are photos and information on the families and also many chapters detailing life at the time. It covers Ballinasloe town and its hinterlands from Mountbellew/Moylough, Tiernascragh, Ahascragh, Killure, Kiltormer, Laurencetown, Eyrecourt, Kilconnell, Aughrim, Moore and Taughmaconnell to name but a few. There are also documented events which include Roscommon, Longford, Athlone, Tuam, Galway, Oranmore etc. While the book launch takes place at 6pm on November 6, there will be a week-long military display in the Church Gallery of the library from 11am Tuesday, November 6 until 5pm on Saturday, November 10, closing from 1-2 for lunch. On the Tuesday and Wednesday there will be a full military display with soldiers on hand to answer any questions and give hands on experience with the memorabilia. A slide show will also run alongside the display. A prearranged short talk can be arranged on any of the days. Both primary and secondary schools are encouraged to schedule a visit, as are members of the public and admission is free. As of 12:00, 15,95% of voters, 558 755 persons cast their ballots in presidential election,- Ana Mikeladze, spokesperson of the Central Election Commission of Georgia, said at a briefing. In 2013 Presidential election, 12:00 voter turnout stood at 17,15%, InterPressNews reported. According to the CEC chairperson, the highest voter turnout was reported in Ambrolauri, where 27,4% of voters cast their ballots as of 12:00; the lowest voter turnout was reported in Kazbegi 12%. Authorities released the names of all 11 victims killed when a gunman rushed into a Pittsburgh synagogue Saturday and opened fire. WPVI in Philadelphia released the names of all 11 victims. They are: Joyce Fineberg, 75, of Oakland, City of Pittsburgh Richard Gottfried, 65, of Ross Township Rose Mallinger, 97, of Squirrel Hill, City of Pittsburgh Jerry Rabinowitz, 66, of Edgewood Borough Cecil Rosenthal, 59, of Squirrel Hill, City of Pittsburgh David Rosenthal, 54, (brother of Cecil), of Squirrel Hill Bernice Simon, 84, of Wilkinsburg Sylvan Simon, 86, (husband of Bernice), of Wilkinsburg Daniel Stein, 71, of Squirrel Hill, City of Pittsburgh Melvin Wax, 88, of Squirrel Hill, City of Pittsburgh Irving Younger, 69, of Mt. Washington, City of Pittsburgh The list shows a pair of brothers were killed along with a husband and wife. The oldest victim was 97-years-old. People were at the Tree of Life Congregation in Pittsburgh's Squirrel Hill neighborhood Saturday morning for a baby naming ceremony when Robert Bowers allegedly went in and started shooting. Four police officers were injured after responding to the scene. Bowers reportedly posted anti-Semitic messages on the gab social media site. One post read, "jews are the children of satan." Bowers reportedly screamed anti-Semitic slogans as fired shots, including "all Jews must die," according to PennLive. Authorities announced Bowers has been charged in federal court on 29 charges including hate crimes and weapons offenses. The Allegheny County District Attorney's office also filed charges against Bowers in Pittsburgh Municipal Court. He will face 11 counts of murder, six counts of criminal attempt murder, six counts of aggravated assault and 13 counts of ethnic intimidation in state court, the district attorney's office announced. With the Boston Red Sox only one game away from winning the World Series, Boston police announced several road closures and parking restrictions that will begin Sunday and remain in place until the series is over. Boston police announced the restrictions Sunday morning as the series between the Red Sox and Los Angeles Dodgers has three games remaining. Game 5 is tonight in Los Angeles. "In an effort to ensure the safety and security of fans following the Fall Classic, a number of street closures and parking restrictions will take effect for the remainder of the series at several locations throughout the city," Boston police said. "Again, this is less about who wins and more about being prepared for when the series is decided." Police reminded fans to behave responsibly. Any disruptive and disorderly behavior will not be tolerated, police said. Here is the list of traffic restrictions that will remain in place until the World Series is over: The following locations will be closed to traffic from 10:00PM to 3:00AM. Commonwealth Avenue, BU Bridge to Massachusetts Avenue, both sides Brookline Avenue, Beacon Street (Kenmore Square) to Pilgrim Road (except for garages/parking lots that have no other exit to another public way). All vehicles exiting under this condition shall turn in a southerly direction towards Park Drive. Boylston Street, Pilgrim Road to Westland Avenue Ipswich Street, Boylston Street at Hemenway St to Boylston St at Park Drive Lansdowne Street, Brookline Avenue to Ipswich Street Van Ness Street, Ipswich Street to Kilmarnock Street Jersey Street, Boylston Street to Van Ness Street PARKING RESTRICTIONS: "No Stopping Boston Police Special Event" temporary parking restrictions will be in place at the following locations. BRIGHTON AREA Beacon Street - Both sides, from Chestnut Hill Avenue to Ayr Road Brighton Avenue -Both sides, from Commonwealth Avenue to Allston Street Cleveland Circle Cassidy Playground Area - Both sides of metered area Sutherland Road Area - Both sides of metered area Harvard Avenue - Both sides, from Commonwealth Avenue to Cambridge Street KENMORE SQUARE AREA Bay State Road - Both sides, from Beacon Street to Granby Street Beacon Street - Both sides, from Massachusetts Avenue to Park Drive Boylston Street - Both sides, from Massachusetts Avenue to Brookline Avenue (including DCR areas) Brookline Avenue - Both sides, from Beacon Street (Kenmore Square) to Pilgrim Road Burlington Street - Both sides, from Brookline Avenue to the Dead End Commonwealth Avenue - Both sides, both roadways, from Massachusetts Avenue to the Boston University Bridge Deerfield Street - Both sides, from Commonwealth Avenue to Bay State Road Fullerton Street - Both sides, from Brookline Avenue to the Dead End Granby Street - Both sides, from Commonwealth Avenue to Bay State Road Ipswich Street - Both sides, from Boylston Street at Hemenway Street to Boylston Street (CVS 1249 Boylston Street) Jersey Street - Both sides, from Boylston Street to Peterborough Street Kenmore Square in its entirety - Both sides, both roadways, from Kenmore/Raleigh Streets to Deerfield Street/Beacon Streets Kilmarnock Street - Both sides, from Van Ness Street to Peterborough Street Lansdowne Street - Both sides, from Brookline Avenue to Ipswich Street Newbury Street Extension - Both sides, from Brookline Avenue to Charles Gate West Overland Street - Both sides, from Brookline Avenue to the Dead End Park Drive (DCR Roadway) - Left side, left roadway (Roberto Clemente Park side) from Aggassi Road to opposite Kilmarnock Street Raleigh Street - Both sides, from Bay State Road to Commonwealth Avenue Sherborn Street - Both sides, from Commonwealth Avenue to Bay State Road Silber Way - Both sides, from Commonwealth Avenue to Bay State Road Van Ness Street - Both sides, from Ipswich Street to Kilmarnock Street Jersey Street - Both sides, from Boylston Street to Brookline Avenue Fullerton Street - Both sides, from Brookline Avenue to the Dead End Overland Street - Both sides, from Brookline Avenue to David Ortiz Drive NORTHEASTERN UNIVERSITY AREA Gainsborough Street - Both sides, from Huntington Avenue to Hemenway Street Hemenway Street - Both sides, from Forsyth Street to Boylston Street Symphony Road - Both sides, from Saint Stephens Street to Hemenway Street Saint Stephens Street - Both sides, from Westland Avenue to Forsyth Way Opera Place - Both sides, from Saint Stephens Street to Huntington Avenue Westland Avenue - Both sides, from Hemenway Street to Massachusetts Avenue FANEUIL HALL AREA Blackstone Street - Both sides, from Hanover Street to North Street Clinton Street Both sides, from North Street to Surface Road Congress Street - Both sides, from New Chardon Street to State Street Hanover Street - Both sides, from Congress Street to Surface Road New Chardon Street - Both sides, from Cambridge Street to Merrimac Street North Street - Both sides, from Surface Road to Congress Street Union Street - Both sides, from North Street to Hanover Street State Street - Both sides, from Surface Road to Washington Street NORTH STATION AREA The bishops of the two Episcopal dioceses in Massachusetts are among the religious leaders issuing statements of support to the victims of Saturday's attack on a Pittsburgh synagogue during a baby-naming ceremony that killed 11 people and injured 6, including four police officers. The statement from Bishops Douglas J. Fisher, Alan M. Gates, Gayle E. Harris, also pushed back on President Donald Trump's statement that the "results would have been far better" if the targeted Tree of Life synagogue had hired an armed guard. "A ceremony celebrating new life has become the latest setting for the murderous intersection of bigotry, religious hatred and easy access to lethal weapons," the bishops' statement reads. "We extend our deepest condolences, solidarity and kinship to our sisters and brothers at the Tree of Life synagogue and to the wider Jewish community throughout the nation upon the massacre today in Pittsburgh." It adds in part, "As people of faith, we also decry suggestions that the solution to such violence is further violence." "For national leaders to suggest that the solution is for our houses of worship (and by extension our schools, our movie theaters, our shopping centers and our outdoor concert venues) to be armed fortresses is to abdicate responsibility for addressing the root causes of this scourge," the statement says. "We continue to insist that our grief and anger must issue not only in compassion and prayer, not only in increased vigilance and security, but also in continued advocacy for measures which will resist the religious and ethnic bigotry and easy access to lethal weapons which are among those root causes." Fisher is bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of Western Massachusetts; Gates, bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of Massachusetts and Harris, bishop suffragan of the Episcopal Diocese of Massachusetts. Pope Francis issued a statement following the attack as did the the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops. "May the Lord help us to put out the hotbeds of hate that flare up in our societies, strengthening a sense of humanity, respect for life, moral and civil values and the holy fear of God, who is love and the father of all," Francis said. Cardinal Daniel N. DiNardo, USCCB president, said, "To our brothers and sisters of the Jewish community, we stand with you. "We condemn all acts of violence and hate and yet again, call on our nation and public officials to confront the plague of gun violence," said DiNardo of Galveston-Houston, who was ordained a priest in the Pittsburgh diocese and now heads the Texas diocese of Galveston-Houston. "Violence as a response to political, racial or religious differences must be confronted with all possible effort. God asks nothing less of us," he said. "He begs us back to our common humanity as his sons and daughters." Authorities have arrested Robert Bowers as the suspected shooter, and were said to have recovered three Glock handguns and an AR-15 assault rifle from the synagogue. He is scheduled to make his first court appearance on Monday. The 46-year-old Pittsburgh resident has been charged by federal prosecutors with 29 criminal counts including violence and firearms offences, and violating U.S. civil rights laws. He is said to be in fair condition after being shot multiple times during the attack. He is reported to have an active license to own guns. A year ago, a gunman killed 26 worshipers at a church in Sutherland Springs, Tex., and in 2015, a white supremacist killed nine congregants in a church in Charleston, S.C. Saturday's attack is believed to be the deadliest attack on the Jewish community in the U.S., according to the Anti-Defamation League. According to a CNN story quoting the ADL, it comes at a time when both anti-Semitic incidents and online harassment are on the rise. Jewish leaders condemning the attack include Rabbi Elazar Muskin, president of the Rabbinical Council of America, who CNN quoted as saying "fringe elements of society" had become "emboldened by speech which is often disrespectful and hateful." The Council on American-Islamic Relations called the attack "barbaric" and "an act of terror that affects us all." Springfield Mayor Domenic J. Sarno and Police Commissioner John Barbieri said Saturday in the wake of the synagogue attack that they had reached out to area synagogues and Springfield Jewish Community Center and will add "heightened police and security procedures and presence" to these places. Email To : Multiple e-mail addresses must be separated with a comma character(maximum 200 characters) Email To is required. Your Full Name: (optional) Your Email Address: Your Email Address is required. A man wearing pajamas ran from police in one Massachusetts town after stealing the keys to a truck from inside a home. Dartmouth Police Officer Manuel Demelo was on patrol around 5 a.m. Sunday when he saw a 2007 Ford F150 fail to stop at a stop sign. The officer tried to stop the truck, but the driver hit the gas. Demelo saw the truck leave the road as the driver failed to make the turn onto Smith Neck Road. "After crashing, Officer Demolo observed a thin white male with dirty blonde hair wearing pajamas exit the vehicle and run into the woods," police said. Officers, with the assistance of a K-9, searched the area, but could not find the suspect. Police learned the suspect broke into a home in Dartmouth and stole the keys to the truck. Authorities continue to search for the suspect. During his gunfight with law enforcement inside a Pittsburgh synagogue Robert Bowers allegedly expressed hostility to people of the Jewish faith, according to a federal affidavit. The federal affidavit filed in court and police report filed in a Pennsylvania state court were posted online by the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. "During the course of his deadly assault on people at the Synagogue, and simultaneously with his gunfight with responding officers, Bowers made statements evincing an animus towards people of the Jewish faith," FBI Agent Brian Collins wrote in the federal affidavit. Bowers is accused of entering the Tree of Life Congregation in Pittsburgh's Squirrel Hill neighborhood Saturday morning and opening fire. Authorities say he killed 11 people and wounded others, including four officers. Bowers reportedly posted anti-Semitic messages on the gab social media site. One post read, "jews are the children of satan." The shooting began around 9:50 a.m. Bowers was armed with several guns including an AR-15, records show. Bowers killed 11 people then went to the third floor of the building. Law enforcement responded and exchanged gunfire with Bowers. "They're committing genocide to my people," Bowers allegedly told one law enforcement officer. "I just want to kill Jews." Authorities say he continued to make comments about genocide. Bowers eventually surrendered to police. Investigators located three .357 caliber Glock handguns and a Colt AR-15, records show. Authorities announced Bowers has been charged in federal court on 29 charges including hate crimes and weapons offenses. The Allegheny County District Attorney's office also filed charges against Bowers in Pittsburgh Municipal Court. He will face 11 counts of murder, six counts of criminal attempt murder, six counts of aggravated assault and 13 counts of ethnic intimidation in state court, the district attorney's office announced. Pittsburgh police detectives wrote in a criminal complaint that two officers found Bowers at the scene armed with an assault-style rifle. He shot at the officers and they, in turn, returned fire. One officer was shot in the hand. The second officer had cuts to his face from shrapnel and broken glass, according to the report. A SWAT team gathered and went inside the synagogue. They saw the people who were fatally shot and then found two victims, a man and a woman, who had gunshot wounds. SWAT medics and officers carried those two victims outside, the detectives wrote. The team followed Bowers to the third floor. He began to shoot at the officers. "During the gunfire, Officer 3 was shot multiple times and critically wounded," the report states. "Officer 4 was also shot multiple times by the actor." The injured officers were carried outside as SWAT team members fired at Bowers. Police said in the report that Bowers was wounded in the exchange of gunfire. "While in custody Bowers made statements to SWAT Operator David Blahut that he wanted all Jews to die and also that they (Jews) were committing genocide to his people," the report said. The Massachusetts Bar Association will provide free legal advice by phone to any Western Massachusetts resident who calls the Western Massachusetts Dial-A-Lawyer program on Tuesday, Oct. 30, from 4 to 7 p.m. Callers may ask questions on any legal topic. The program is provided by the MBA at no charge as a public service. Residents of Berkshire, Franklin, Hampden and Hampshire counties must dial 413-782-1659 during the three-hour program to get through to one of the dozens of volunteer lawyers who will be fielding phone calls. If the line is busy, hang up and try again. Normal telephone charges apply. The phone number will not be answered outside of the specified hours. "Many people in Massachusetts face unmet legal needs because their work schedules or other commitments prevent them from connecting with a lawyer, or they are unsure of where to go for help," said MBA President Christopher A. Kenney. "Our Western Mass. Dial-A-Lawyer program provides local residents with free and convenient access to a knowledgeable team of volunteer lawyers, who help us fulfill our continued commitment to increasing access to justice across the state." Springfield attorney Juan Rivera, one of the program's many volunteers, donates his time for the benefit of individuals who struggle to access legal services during the day. "It's a good service to help those people, especially elders, who wouldn't have a way of getting advice otherwise," he said. Volunteer Dorothy Varon, also based in Springfield, says the program "is a way of helping people who think there's no hope." The MBA's Dial-A-Lawyer program is co-sponsored by Western New England University School of Law, The Republican, El Pueblo Latino, the Massachusetts Association of Hispanic Attorneys and the Hispanic National Bar Association. The Dial-A-Lawyer program is co-sponsored by Western New England University School of Law, The Republican, El Pueblo Latino, the Massachusetts Association of Hispanic Attorneys and the Hispanic National Bar Association. Incorporated in 1911, the Massachusetts Bar Association is a nonprofit organization that serves the legal profession and the public by promoting the administration of justice, legal education, professional excellence and respect for the law. As we see again Democrats and liberals have a self righteous stance on politics. On the the one hand they are the party of open mindedness until conservatives or Republicans express their views or outrage on issues. I guess it's OK for Congressman Maxine Waters to use words to incite crowds to gather to bully elected officials in restaurants or just your average Americans who are just not aligned with liberal views. How about our Hollywood elite who make outrageous statement such as "I wish I could blow up the White House" and of course the no name comedian who shows a decapitated head of our president. Where are the voices of the enlightened liberals and Democrats and their condemnation of these comments or actions? Well don't hold your breath waiting to hear anything. The double standard from liberals and Democrats exist. Jim Sotiropoulos, Longmeadow MURPHYSBORO, Ill. (AP) -- President Donald Trump mourned the dead and forcefully condemned anti-Semitism Saturday after a mass shooting at a Pittsburgh synagogue that left 11 dead. But faced with another national tragedy, he could not long turn his focus away from the midterm elections or himself. Nine days from elections that will determine the control of Congress, Trump stuck to his plans to appear at an agricultural convention and a political rally. Throughout the day, he expressed sorrow, called for justice and bemoaned hate, getting regular updates on the shooting. But he also campaigned for candidates, took shots at favorite Democratic targets House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi and Sen. Elizabeth Warren and made jokes about his hair. At a massive rally in southern Illinois for U.S. Rep. Mike Bost, Trump condemned the shooting as an "evil anti-Semitic attack." But he said cancelling his appearance would make "sick, demented people important." He pledged to change his tone for the evening and did cool some of his most fiery rhetoric. The slaughter at Sabbath services followed a tense week dominated by a mail bomb plot with apparent political motivations and served as another toxic reminder of a divided nation. It also again underscored Trump's reluctance to step into the role of national unifier at tense moments as well as his singular focus heading into elections that could dramatically change his presidency. Trump acknowledged the weight these moments carry, telling reporters that experiencing such events as president, "it's a level of terribleness and horror that you can't even believe. It's hard to believe." ...This evil Anti-Semitic attack is an assault on humanity. It will take all of us working together to extract the poison of Anti-Semitism from our world. We must unite to conquer hate. Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) October 27, 2018 The White House said Trump was getting regular briefings on the attack. He spoke with the governor of Pennsylvania and the mayor of Pittsburgh. He also spoke with his daughter Ivanka Trump and her husband, Jared Kushner, who are Jewish. Trump sought to energize turnout for Bost, who is fighting to hold on to a seat that was once a Democratic stronghold, but turned out for Trump in 2016. To bolster his argument for sticking with the rally, Trump argued that the New York Stock Exchange was opened the day after 9/11, though in fact it was re-opened on September 17. Speaking to a massive, cheering crowd at an airport hangar in southern Illinois, Trump said "the hearts of all Americans are filled with grief, following the monstrous killing." He told reporters before the rally that he would travel to Pittsburgh, though he did not offer details. He also sought to distance himself from the man arrested in the shooting, calling him "sick" and saying "he was no supporter of mine." Although his tone was softer, he still targeted Pelosi and Democrats and the crowd gleefully shouted "lock her up," in reference to Hillary Clinton, one of the targets of the bomb plot. And he continued to emphasize his hardline immigration rhetoric. "Republicans want strong borders, no crime, and no caravans," Trump said. Trump's speech to a convention of the Future Farmers of America had all the hallmarks of a Trump rally, as the president riffed on trade, jobs and some of his political enemies. At one point he also joked about his hair. He said it was ruffled by the rain as he left Washington, adding "I said, 'maybe I should cancel this arrangement because I have a bad hair day." Trump offered an unsparing denunciation of anti-Semitism, which he said was the motive behind the attack, in contrast to remarks after clashes between white supremacists and counterprotesters in Charlottesville last year. Then, he only inflamed tensions by blaming both sides for the violence. Speaking to young farmers in Indianapolis, Trump called on the country to come together, before inviting a pastor and rabbi on stage to pray. Earlier in the day, Trump speculated that the death toll in Pittsburgh would have been curbed if an armed guard had been in the building. With both the number of deaths and details of the synagogue's security still to be disclosed, Trump said gun control "has little to do with it" but "if they had protection inside, the results would have been far better." But the attack did not persuade him that tighter gun controls are needed. "This is a case where, if they had an armed guard inside, they might have been able to stop him immediately," Trump said. "Maybe there would have been nobody killed, except for him, frankly. So it's a very, very - a very difficult situation." In previous mass shootings, Trump has at times said he would consider tightening gun laws but in the main has called for more armed guards in places such as schools. "The world is a violent world," he said before his speech. "And you think when you're over it, it just sort of goes away, but then it comes back in the form of a madman, a wacko. ... They had a maniac walk in and they didn't have any protection and that is just so sad to see, so sad to see." Trump said lawmakers "should very much bring the death penalty into vogue" and people who kill in places such as synagogues and churches "really should suffer the ultimate price." By CATHERINE LUCEY, Associated Press Holiday Bazaar and Lunch at Mayfield First United Methodist Church Oct. 27, 2018 By Oct. 27, 2018 The holiday season will get a head start on Saturday, Nov. 3, at First United Methodist Church on the corner of 8th and Water Streets in Mayfield. That is when the church's mission ministry will host a holiday bazaar and luncheon. The bazaar will be held from 10 am until 2 pm at the church with numerous items available to purchase for the upcoming Christmas season. Items will include Christmas crafts, knitted items, decorations, baked goods and wood-carved items. A lunch will be served from 11 am to 1 pm, featuring warm soups, pimiento cheese or chicken salad croissants, dessert and drink. All proceeds from the bazaar will help the mission ministry team with a planned 2019 trip to Jamaica. The weeklong work will involve building a home for a family in need. "The money we are raising is for the products we will use in building the house or houses in the hilly area of Jamaica," team volunteer and MFUMC member Laverne Waldrop said. Mayfield First United Methodist, along with members from other local churches, has participated in several previous mission trips to Jamaica and Africa to assist with various outreach projects. Waldrop also noted that along with the building effort, team members would also lead a bible school during the afternoons and evenings for local Jamaican youth. 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Starbucks permanently closed last Monday its store at the Ferguson Library, in downtown Stamford, following its recent announcement that it would focus growing in areas with lower concentrations of its shops. But the downsizing would not greatly affect independent coffee establishments, which are thriving in Stamford and throughout Fairfield County. Starbucks is so different from us, said Leyla Dam, owner of the Lorca coffee shops in downtown Stamford and Cos Cob section of Greenwich. Their offerings are different, especially their menu and type of coffee. Their coffee is dark-roasted; ours is light-roasted. Starbucks never affected us in a negative way. Finding a niche Independent coffee shops like Lorca accept operating in areas dominated by big chains. Within a 1-mile radius of Lorca, there are now one company-operated and three licensed Starbucks cafes and five Dunkin Donuts stores. Dam opened the 550-square-foot Bedford Street storefront in 2011, 12 years after the opening of the Starbucks shop at the library. Its nice to have cafes nearby like Starbucks, so you have concentrations of shops in one area, Dam said. That way, people recognize that this is a coffee area. Reflecting the success of the Stamford shop, Dam last year opened a Greenwich store in Fleishers Craft Butcherys shop, at 160 E. Putnam Ave., in the towns Cos Cob section. That strip has all these gourmet shops, so people will go there as one-stop shop to grab stuff for dinner and then grab a cup of coffee, Dam said. It worked out beautifully for us. Independent coffee places are also gaining traction in northern Fairfield County. In downtown Danbury, Barristers Coffee Co. opened a shop last January, at 1 West St. The establishment has quickly gained a following among local residents and workers and college students. It shares the same building as the Danbury branch of Naugatuck Valley Community College and stands a few miles from the Western Connecticut State University campus. Focusing on its young customers, it offers 20 percent discounts to Western Connecticut and Naugatuck Valley students and has set up study desks inside the shop. Our mantra has always been to do something that separates us from the likes of Starbucks. Why would people come here if it offered the exact same things as Starbucks? said Barristers General Manager Jordan Jones. Were super friendly, and were glad to have anyone, whether they grab and go or come to sit and hang out. We want to create an environment that is welcoming to everyone. In Fairfield, Candlewood Market opened last December in Sportsplex, at 85 Mill Plain Road. Our plan here was to have an upscale coffee shop, with everything and more than what a Starbucks would have, Candlewood owner Tony Inzero said in a recent interview. Were roasting fresh and were not having burnt roasts or anything like that. A number of other coffee shops have opened in the past year in Fairfield County, including Humbled Coffeehouse, at 575 Hope St., in Stamfords Springdale section, and Coffee Spot, at 24 Harbor Point Road in the Harbor Point neighborhood. Many area workers and residents frequent multiple coffee shops. Tammy Felenstein, Stamford-based executive director of sales for Halstead Real Estate, goes to the Starbucks in the High Ridge Shopping Center, which also houses her firms local office. At the same time, she is a regular at Humbled, near her home in Springdale. Starbucks is a nice place to have informal meetings with clients or work associates outside of our normal office, Felenstein said. From a real estate perspective, walkability is more and more an important factor, so Humbleds presence there definitely positively affects the property values nearby. And what better place to walk to than Humbled, with its warm and inviting atmosphere. Room for growth The Ferguson Library could bring in another coffee shop to fill the Starbucks space, but it would also evaluate other options. It is looking for a tenant with which it would partner on activities and promotions. Library officials want to hear community feedback and then send out a request for proposals. A new tenant probably would not move in until sometime next year. We loved having Starbucks there, and it was a surprise to us to learn they would be leaving, Ferguson Library President Knapp said last week. But we now see this as a real opportunity to look at the space. We just completed a strategic plan, so what we do next has to fit in with our mission and values. We want the next tenant to be a great partner with us. Meanwhile, independent shops are pursuing their own growth plans. Barristers is working on a second location, which will likely be located in New Milford. Our plan is to see where this business takes us, Jones said. Were hopeful well keep growing. Lorcas Dam plans to eventually open another shop in lower Fairfield County. Theres a lot to be said for making sure your product and staff are nailed down before moving too quickly Dam said. Ill never rush the process. Jordan Grice contributed reporting to this article. pschott@scni.com; 203-964-2236; Twitter: @paulschott The day after 11 people were killed at a synagogue in Pittsburgh, temples across the region are gathering to honor the victims. Congregations from throughout upper Fairfield County will stand in solidarity with the Tree of Life Congregation in Pittsburgh at a vigil at 1 p.m. Sunday at The Conservative Synagogue in Westport. The Federation for Jewish Philanthropy of Upper Fairfield County is organizing the event at 30 Hillspoint Road. While no words can erase the tragic loss of life and our sadness because of it, our Jewish tradition shows us the value in being together to share sorrow and to find hope, said David Weisberg, CEO of the Federation for Jewish Philanthropy of Upper Fairfield County, on the events Facebook page. In Stamford, a vigil will be held at 4 p.m. Sunday on the front lawn of Congregation Agudath Sholom at 301 Strawberry Hill Avenue. UJA-JCC Greenwich, United Jewish Federation of Greater Stamford, New Canaan and Darien, the Anti-Defamation League of Connecticut, and Stamford JCC plan to attend. At 5 p.m. Sunday, a vigil will be held at the Vine Family Auditorium in the Beckerman/Lender Community Building in Woodbridge. The Jewish Federation of Greater New Haven, Jewish Foundation of Greater New Haven, JCC of Greater New Haven and Young Emissaries of Greater New Haven will host. Bnail Israel of Southbury will hold a special prayer service at 7 p.m. Sunday. The congregation is sponsoring the service with the Jewish Federation of Western Connecticut. We mourn the deaths - our thoughts and prayers are with the victims and their families, a circle of mourners extending outside of our people, Rabbi Eric Polokoff said on the synagogues Facebook page. As Jews and their dear-ones we know a direct kinship to that congregation and community - a feeling amplified as several of our own members have close links to Pittsburgh and the synagogue. Also at 7 p.m. Sunday, Adath Israel will lead a candlelight vigil and memorial service on the South Green in Middletown. Attendees should bring their own candles, according to the events Facebook page. The Joseph Slifka Center for Jewish Life at Yale University is also hosting a vigil at 8 p.m. Sunday. The group plans to pray, sing and mourn at the Womens Table on Cross Campus. Attendees will be able to move to the Slifka Center afterward to decompress, according to the events Facebook page. Meanwhile, Temple Sholom in New Milford hosted a forum with Moms Demand Action on how to prevent gun violence from noon to 1:30 p.m. Sunday. A local family shared its experience with gun violence and organizers provided information about candidates views on gun laws. Sacred Heart University plans to hold a prayer service at 2 p.m. Monday in the Chapel of the Holy Spirit, according to the universitys Twitter. China's Sub Force Is Growing More Powerful. This Is What the US Navy Needs to Do to Stay Ahead ANN ARBOR, MI - The Ann Arbor community will mourn 11 people who lost their lives in an attack on a Pittsburgh synagogue during vigils on Sunday, Oct. 28. Michigan Hillel is planning a community-wide vigil at 5 p.m. Sunday on the UM Diag. Everyone is welcome and encouraged to come to the vigil. Another vigil will take place at 6:30 p.m. at Temple Beth Emeth, 2309 Packard St., Ann Arbor, in a community event hosted by Beth Israel Congregation and Temple Beth Emeth. The Jewish Federation of Greater Ann Arbor issued a statement following an attack from a gunman who's believed to have spewed anti-Semitic slurs and rhetoric on social media. The man barged into a Pittsburgh synagogue on Saturday and opened fire, killing 11 people in one of the deadliest attacks on Jews in U.S. history, according to the Associated Press. "Today, we are overcome with grief and heartbreak," the statement reads. "The greater Ann Arbor Jewish community mourns those who were murdered - during Shabbat services - at the Tree of Life synagogue in Pittsburgh. We send our condolences, our love and our support to the victims, their families, the brave law enforcement officers who were wounded while protecting others, and the entire Pittsburgh Jewish community." The 20-minute attack at Tree of Life Congregation in the Squirrel Hill neighborhood Saturday morning left six others wounded, including four police officers who dashed to the scene, authorities said. The suspect, Robert Bowers, traded gunfire with police and was shot several times. Bowers, who was in fair condition at a hospital, was charged late Saturday with 29 federal counts, including hate crimes and weapons offenses. The suspect in the mass shooting at a Pittsburgh synagogue told officers that Jews were committing genocide and that he wanted them all to die, according to a charging document made public early Sunday, according to the Associated Press. Jewish Family Services of Washtenaw County also released a statement regarding the shooting, offering members of the community clinical therapists available to assist them during a difficult time. "Some may benefit from someone to talk to one on one, while others might appreciate a group opportunity to process their feelings and gain a better understanding of how to manage grief emotions," the statement reads. "We are here for you in whatever capacity would be most helpful." The University of Michigan's Board of Regents and Mark Schlissel also offered their condolences following the shooting Saturday, while inviting the community to attend the vigil on the Diag. The message also noted UM has been collaborating with Hillel to offer support to Jewish students, from the Pittsburgh area and beyond. "There is simply no place in our society for violence, and violent acts motivated by religion and other identities -- like this attack on a Jewish community in Pittsburgh - are despicable," the message reads. "We are grateful to the first responders and others who bravely came to the aid of those who were targeted. "Jewish student leaders have expressed sincere appreciation for the outpouring of support they have received from students across campus," the message later stated. "It is important to stand together against hate, and to unite in assisting those who are grieving in our community. Tolerance and respect for others are foundational values of our university and they will not be compromised." Quarterly Highlights Perth, Oct 29, 2018 AEST (ABN Newswire) - Liquefied Natural Gas Ltd ( ASX:LNG ) ( OTCMKTS:LNGLY ) provides the Company's Quarterly Highlights.QUARTER HIGHLIGHTSMagnolia LNG:- On September 27, 2018, LNGL announced that Magnolia LNG and Meridian LNG Holdings Corporation agreed extension of the financial close date of their legally binding 2.0 mtpa offtake agreement to December 31, 2018. All other provisions of the governing agreements not specifically amended by this extension remain in full force and effect.Bear Head LNG:- On July 17, 2018, Bear Head LNG, LLC signed a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) with the Nova Scotia Construction Labour Relations Association Limited and Cape Breton Building and Construction Trades. The MOA ensured access to the skilled workforce needed for Bear Head's proposed liquefied natural gas (LNG) facility on the Strait of Canso in Richmond County, Nova Scotia.OSMR(R) Process Technology- LNGL continued to examine technical improvements in the OSMR(R) technology and plant modular design to further reduce costs.- The Company continues to engage with third-parties interested in using the OSMR(R) technology in their projects.Security movements and capital raising:- On August 1, 2018, LNGL announced that the Company had been granted a waiver by the ASX from Listing Rule 6.18 as referred to on page 2 of the Company's ASX announcement dated June 4, 2018, which related to the Share Placement to IDG Energy Investment Group Limited which raised gross proceeds of A$28.2 million before costs. The waiver grants IDG Energy Investment top-up rights to maintain their 9.9% investment in LNGL, subject to certain exceptions- On July 10, 2018, LNGL announced in an Appendix 3B notice to the ASX that:(i) 2,244,449 - 2015 Performance Rights lapsed;(ii) 839,750 - 2017 Retention Rights partially vested and Ordinary Shares were issued;(iii) 3,114,000 - 2018 Performance Rights were issued; and(iv) 2,076,000 - Retention Rights were issued.To view the full release, please visit:About Liquefied Natural Gas Ltd Liquefied Natural Gas Limited ( ASX:LNG) ( OTCMKTS:LNGLY) (LNGL) is an ASX listed company whose portfolio consists of 100% ownership of the following companies: - Magnolia LNG, LLC (Magnolia LNG), a US-based subsidiary, which is developing an eight mtpa or greater LNG export terminal, in the Port of Lake Charles, Louisiana, USA; - Bear Head LNG Corporation Inc. (Bear Head LNG), a Canadian-based subsidiary, which is developing an 8 12 mtpa LNG export terminal in Richmond County, Nova Scotia, Canada with potential for further expansion; - Bear Paw Pipeline Corporation Inc. (Bear Paw), which is proposing to construct and operate a 62.5 km gas pipeline lateral to connect gas supply to Bear Head LNG; and - LNG Technology Pty Ltd, a subsidiary which owns and develops the Company's OSMR LNG liquefaction process, a midscale LNG business model that plans to deliver lower capital and operating costs, faster construction, and improved efficiency, relative to larger traditional LNG projects. GRAND RAPIDS, MI -- The YWCA West Central Michigan has selected seven women who will be honored at the 2018 YWCA's annual Tribute Awards this year. The Tribute Awards have honored more than 200 women representing a distinguished sorority of leaders and trail-blazers. YWCA West Central, 25 Sheldon SE, is home to the organization that recognizes the Tribute Awards honorees. The Tribute Awards luncheon is scheduled for 11:30 a.m. Tuesday, Oct. 30 at DeVos Place, 303 Monroe Ave. NW, in downtown Grand Rapids. The seven women will be honored within several areas for their efforts in the Grand Rapids community. The areas include: Advocacy, Arts, Business, Management, Industry & Labor, Community Service, Professions, Sports, Fitness, Wellness, and Student. The YWCA is designed to help with leadership programs for girls, prevention classes, and has the Grand Rapids community's most comprehensive services to address domestic and dating abuse, sexual assault, child abuse and stalking against all people. MLive/The Grand Rapids Press reached out to the winners to ask their inspirations, hobbies, and how they felt about being selected for the Tribute Awards. Here is information about each winner: ADVOCACY AWARD Teresa Hendricks - Executive Director/Senior Litigator, Migrant Legal Aid Age: 52 "My birthday is May 23rd. If you ask me what year, I'll tell you 'every year.'" Nominator said: Teresa has advocated tirelessly and effectively on behalf of two groups of people in need of outstanding advocates - migrant farm workers and women with breast cancer - so she is most deserving of the 2018 YWCA Tribute Award for Advocacy. Teresa Hendricks has led Grand Rapids-based non-profit Migrant Legal Aid for the last 22 years as its executive director and senior litigator. Teresa and MLA have won ground-breaking cases with lasting impact for migrant farm workers, have pushed the courts to expand legal remedies for them, and have advocated for change when public policies threatened harm. As her friend and MLA board member Natalia Gomez was dying from cancer, Teresa promised her she would promote one more bill to the legislature to enact a law that would have helped Gomez's doctors to discover Gomez's hereditary cancer earlier, and would help parents make informed decisions for their children's health. Introduced just recently, the "Early Detection Matters" bill calls for family practitioners to gather and examine family histories and to refer patients for counseling about their risks for hereditary cancers. She said: "I've always been grateful for all that the YWCA does for women in this community, so when I learned that Mark Hanisch nominated me for the Advocacy award, seconded by (state) Rep. Winnie Brinks, I felt extremely honored. And, when I looked at the names of past honorees I realized that I'm standing in the shadow of many women I hold in high esteem. My own board secretary, Doretha Ardoin, was a recipient in the 1990s. I hope the awards continue to motivate women to be brave, take action and believe in themselves and their ability to make a difference." Favorite Quote: "If you can find ways without obstacles, it probably leads to nowhere." - Che Guevara Guilty Pleasures: Vinho Verde, Corn Nuts and binge watching the Netflix series Peaky Blinders. ARTS AWARD Colleen Holmes - Teacher, Ottawa Hills High School Age: 36 Nominator said: Colleen Holmes is a 10-year art teacher currently teaching at Grand Rapids Public Schools Ottawa Hills High School. Colleen has demonstrated her art leadership at a young age. Colleen reflects the values of the YWCA in so many ways. She embraces diversity and believes it is the fabric that makes us great. She searches it out in her own life and is using art as an outlet for self-expression. She knows art can change the conversation on race and opening minds of eliminating racial biases. She promotes peace, justice, freedom and dignity for all by believing in her students and using the universal language of art as a platform. She is truly committed and an innovative art teacher who values her students as individuals and immerses herself in supporting them to be successful. She exemplifies the values of the YWCA which makes her an outstanding choice for the YWCA Arts Tribute Award. She said: "I was unaware I was nominated for the award until I received the phone call that I was selected. I felt stunned, incredibly happy and overwhelmingly humbled by the news. It takes a great deal of time as well concerted effort to do one's job while actively attempting to effectuate change. To hear that someone had recognized my efforts was an incredible affirmation and I was doing something right. It made me incredibly grateful for the support system that I have that has provided me the support and encouragement to grow in my leadership throughout my life. I was also incredibly excited to have the opportunity to bring to focus the amazing things that my students at Ottawa Hills have had the opportunity to create and be a part of." Favorite Quote: I have long identified with the quote/saying "Be Here Now." There are constantly times when life seems so much bigger than we are and remembering to "Be Here Now" reminds me to tackle the challenge in front of me when the magnitude of what all needs to be done is seemingly insurmountable. Guilty Pleasures: Food from Woody's Oasis in East Lansing. I worked there throughout college at Michigan State, and since moving away, it is a constant craving. If I am anywhere within 30 miles of East Lansing, I find an excuse to make the trip, and ultimately end up continuing on to my final destination with far more food than one person should consume but will. BUSINESS, MANAGEMENT, INDUSTRY, & LABOR AWARD Jen Schottke - Vice President of Operations, Associated Builders and Contractors of Western Michigan Age: 36 Nominator said: Jen embodies YWCA's values. She is intentional about inclusion. Recognizing a co-worker's talent for photography, Jen orchestrated the 2017 ArtPrize installation titled "We Are Construction." Jen just sparkles. Her charismatic, warm and engaging leadership style draws people together and facilitates collaborations across industry and community. Her glass is perpetually half full and on its way to full. A plaque in Jen's office reads "Work Hard + Be Nice To People." She is working tirelessly to lead a Talent Revolution. She epitomizes, "You go girl." She said: "I feel shocked and absolutely honored. I love what I do. Every day, as a trade association professional, I get to act as a connector. I connect businesses to resources, people to training programs, students to careers ... and everything I do benefits someone other than me. So, to have my nominator look into our organization and say that this work matters .. it means more than I can ever express. Also, anything I can do to put women in construction at the forefront of the industry, is incredibly important to me. Young girls and young woman should look at this industry as they dream about what they want to be and know they have a place in it. Construction has been very good to me, and I am committed to seeing the growth of a diverse construction workforce." Favorite Quote: "Work hard and be nice to people." Guilty Pleasure: Dark chocolate (the higher the cacao percentage, the better), playing Exploding Kittens with our neighbors, and spending a day on the couch watching James Bond movies (Sean Connery as Bond, of course). COMMUNITY SERVICE AWARD Carolyn King - Child and Adolescent Psychiatrist, Pine Rest Christian Mental Health Services Age: 54 Nominator said: In bringing Reach Out to Youth to Grand Rapids, Carolyn has identified new communities with the area with whom to engage, including the Hispanic population in urban Grand Rapids. Carolyn created engaging and educational activity book for the program that, while first available in English, has now been translated into Spanish, French and will soon be available in Polish, Chinese and Arabic. Dr. King has been honored with inclusion in the book created by Crystal R. Emery fittingly entitled "Against All Odds" subtitled "Celebrating Black Women in Medicine." She is a woman with a mission and a vision that I believe aligns perfectly with the YWCA Tribute Award. She said: "I feel grateful for the Recognition that Reach Out To Youth is a necessary part of our community, bringing children into their neighborhood medical school to learn about the human body and reproductive functions. Demystifying the human body and inspiring them to go into STEM careers." Favorite Quote: "3 reasons we hear 'No': Asking the wrong question, asking the wrong person, asking at the wrong time." Guilty Pleasure: Cigars and moments of introversion PROFESSIONS AWARD Barbara Wynn - Physician, Emergency Care Specialist Age: 67 Nominator said: Dr. Wynn's leadership is evident in her role at the YWCA Nurse Examiner Program and also in her role as an emergency department physician. When the YWCA Nurse Examiner Program started in 1996, Barbara was the program's first choice to serve as medical director and she graciously accepted. Since that day, she has made herself available 24 hours a day, seven days a week for 22 years. Barbara is active in her synagogue and continues to care for her elderly mother. Despite significant personal loss in her life, she remains an amazing example of strength and determination. Dr. Wynn is truly an inspiration to all who know her and incredibly deserving of a Tribute Award. She said: "When I was told, I was incredibly amazed. For years, I supported the Tribute Award events and I was so impressed by the woman and students who received the awards and I'm pleased that the things I care about other people care about as well." Favorite Quote: "Go confidently in the direction of your dreams! Live the life you've imagined. As you simplify your life, the laws of the universe will be simpler." -- Henry David Thoreau Guilty Pleasure: Reading non-work-related materials SPORTS, FITNESS, & WELLNESS AWARD Dana Lee - Founder and Executive Director, EmbodyGR Age: 47 Nominator said: Dana is a teacher by trade and by heart. She has become one of Grand Rapids' most sought-after and recognized yoga professionals. Instead of opening her own studio, she decided to create a non-profit entity called EmbodyGR to combine yoga, justice and community building. Dana is a woman who is constantly asking: Who needs to be included? Whose voice do I need to be listening to in order to challenge my privilege as a white woman? These questions flow naturally out of her. Her vision for wellness extends into the realm of health science and measurable impact. Her work is being tracked by Spectrum Health. It might be hard to measure scientifically, but it is worth noting how lives are being changed and our community is being impacted ... one yoga class at a time. She said: "I felt humbling and invigorating to be nominated." Favorite Quote: "Feel Better, Do Good!" Guilty Pleasure: Massages, binging Mr. Robot on Netflix solo, watching Dancing with The Stars with my kids, drinking champagne while chatting with girlfriends, eating pizza, onion rings and local craft beer. STUDENT HONOREE & YWCA JUDY LLOYD SCHOLARSHIP RECIPIENT Lauren Hudson - Senior, Caledonia High School Age: 18 Nominator said: Lauren is by far the best candidate I can recommend for a distinction such as this. She is a young lady who has overcome many battles, but has never once faltered in her determination therefore inspiring others by her example. Lauren is a Student Council member, Homecoming Parade Coordinator, Diversity Council member and was selected to serve as our senior leader to the Positive School Climate program. Her leadership does not stop at school. Lauren serves as the youth ambassador for the Children's Healing Center in Grand Rapids and has relationships with younger students throughout the USA and the world who are battling Perthes disease. She is a 4.0 student who has dual enrolled in college coursework for the past two years. I present to you an amazing woman who has overcome so much and yet puts others before herself with deep compassion and a commitment to making life better for each individual who passes into her life. She said: "I was very shocked since I didn't know Mrs. Green nominated me. I was so excited and proud to haven been chosen for this award." Favorite Quote: "Grow through what you go through." Guilty Pleasure: Definitely Netflix and Airhead Extremes. YWCA HELEN CLAYTOR ACHIEVEMENT SCHOLARSHIP RECIPIENTS Ariana Garcia - East Kentwood High School Medina Sabic - City High School Damaris Vailmencho - Innovation Central High School Michigan State University still plans to freeze undergraduate in-state tuition for 2019-20 and roll out a "block" tuition plan that sets one price for most full-time students, according to budget guidelines adopted Friday by the MSU Board of Trustees. Under the block tuition plan, students will be billed the same for taking 12 to 18 credits hours vs. paying per credit hour. The amount is set on 15 credit hours, which means a price break for students who take more than 15 credits and a cost increase for students who take fewer. Juniors and seniors majoring in engineering and business will pay $1,084 a year more in tuition, MSU officials said, noting those students command higher starting salaries after graduation. Both the block tuition plan and the tuition freeze were initially announced at the June 2018 board meeting. At Friday's meeting, the MSU board approved a resolution calling on the state Legislature to provide additional funding for universities that freeze undergraduate tuition. Between the tuition freeze and block tuition plan, 2019-20 tuition for full-time, in-state students will be: Freshmen: $14,460; Sophomores: $14,820; Juniors and seniors: $16,650 for most students, and $17,190 for engineering and business majors. Students taking fewer than 12 credits or more than 18 will be be charged by the credit hour. Also, the block tuition plan does not apply to graduate or medical students. "The competition for new students in the future will be intense as the number of high school graduates declines in Michigan and across the Midwest," interim President John Engler said in a press release. "This budget recognizes that tuition costs can't keep rising--we need to put students first by controlling tuition and increasing student aid." The budget also includes a freeze on pay for all top administrators and deans, a reduction from 2.5 percent to 1.5 percent in average faculty pay increases and no reductions in staff compensation and no university-wide layoffs. MSU received $286.2 million for its 2018-19 state appropriation, which is 20 percent of its $1.36 million operating budget. LEONI TWP., MI - Medical marijuana, specifically the $5,000 application fee to Leoni Township, has prompted a recall election on the Nov. 6 ballot for the township's top three officials. For supervisor, Democrat Steven Casselman and Dan Gough (no party) are challenging Republican incumbent Howard Linnabary. For clerk, Republican Mark Carpenter and Izzy Medel (no party) are challenging Democratic incumbent Michele Manke. And for treasurer, Republican Patrick Clemente is taking on Democratic incumbent Lori Stack. The township board approved a policy in 2017 to distribute a percentage of the application fee funds to elected officials for their extra work. Linnabary, Manke and Stack collected a combined $19,800 in additions to their salaries before the policy changed. After approving 18 licenses, the board voted to change how it distributes application dollars. Elected officials stopped receiving extra paychecks and Linnabary returned the money he received. Application money can only be spent on marijuana-related administrative and enforcement costs. Leoni is one of three townships is Jackson County to opt into allowing medical marijuana facilities. Parma and Pulaski townships have tighter restrictions on how many businesses can get a license. Business types include growers, processors, dispensaries, safety compliance facilities and secure transporters. The township has now approved licenses for 84 medical marijuana establishments, said Marihuana Compliance Officer Sgt. Steve Stowe. Those 84 licenses are spread among 53 facilities - as some businesses have multiple licenses. Businesses must also get approval from the state. The township's top elected officials no longer deal with medical marijuana applications on a daily basis, since Stowe was hired as the compliance officer. More than 1,000 signatures were collected against all three elected officials to prompt the recall election. The next regular election for the positions is in 2020. The eight candidates were sent a questionnaire from MLive/Jackson Citizen Patriot, answering questions about their background and priorities. Democrat Steven Casselman, left, Dan Gough (no party), middle, and Republican incumbent Howard Linnabary, right, are running to become Leoni Township supervisor. Supervisor candidates Steve Casselman Casselman, 31, is a marketing representative for the Michigan Laborers Union. His top priorities, if elected, would be to approve fewer medical marijuana facilities, restore the township's image and goad the county into sharing more funds for roads. "The marijuana fee scandal has given our township a black eye throughout the state," Casselman said. "I want to live in a community where our leaders do not embarrass us because they want to enrich themselves. I will never vote to raise my own pay and I would never consider myself entitled to a raise because of new fees or taxes." Casselman said if more medical marijuana facilities are approved, the township first must have even stricter requirements for how close they can be to homes and day-care centers. Dan Gough Gough, 62, has never run for political office before. He's the building inspector and the zoning and ordinance officer in Blackman Township. He wants to reduce the salaries of elected officials while eliminating their health benefits and pensions, let an independent company run the township's sewers and change the township office hours from a four-day week to a five-day week. While Gough believes in the use of marijuana for medical purposes, he described the board's decision to personally collect some of the application fees as "unethical." "We need to get control of the medical marijuana licenses," Gough said. "This doesn't mean eliminate the ones that have been approved, just slow down and let the state of Michigan catch up with their licensing process." Howard Linnabary Linnabary, 72, was first elected supervisor in 2016. He was appointed to the board to fill a trustee vacancy in 2003 and lost a race in 2008 to become an elected trustee. Now retired, Linnabary is an Army veteran who served in Vietnam, and also worked for Ford Motor Company and Consumers Energy. If re-elected, Linnabary's top priorities would be to clean up blight, extend utilities into industrial zones and bring township ordinances and procedures up to date. The new businesses coming in will help bring in more tax dollars for schools and the community, he said. "I think the township has done a great job so far," Linnabary said. "We've brought in millions of dollars of investment into the township." Linnabary said medical marijuana needs to be scaled back if it's not a "win-win" for the whole community. Michele Manke, left, and Mark Carpenter, right, are candidates in the Leoni Township clerk recall election. Izzy Medel is not pictured. Clerk candidates Mark Carpenter Retired from owning a telecommunications business, Carpenter lost to Linnabary in the 2016 primary for township supervisor. The 60-year-old candidate's top issues to address, if elected, include getting a handle on medical marijuana businesses, settling the township's legal issues regarding the Southern Regional Interceptor and rebuilding relationships with people in the township after the recent divide from medical marijuana. "Myself, I would have opted out of it," Carpenter said of medical marijuana. "Not being on the inside, it's really difficult to get information on what's going on." He's not sure what can be done, legally, now that 84 licenses have been approved by the township. "Now we're to the point where we have to find out a way to limit it," Carpenter said. Michele Manke Manke, 45, has spent 14 years as the township clerk. She's also spent time as the deputy clerk and building clerk with the township and worked at Comerica Bank. Her top priorities, if re-elected, include adding officers to be stationed in the elementary schools, using those officers to patrol the neighborhoods in the summer and getting grant money to repair or replace aging sewer lines. Regarding medical marijuana, Manke said strict regulation have been put in place in the township, and the township has control to not renew licenses if violations are committed. "Because Leoni was one of the first townships to allow medical marihuana we had to create the wheel, there was no model to tailor our ordinance to," Manke said. "It has not been an easy road and many changes have taken place since the first draft of the ordinance was written." Izzy Medel Izzy Medel Medel, 36, is computer repair agent at Geek Squad. She's also worked in retail management, customer service and college-level tutoring. If elected, Medel's top priorities would be to find balance between public and business interests for medical marijuana, receiving a fair share of county funds for infrastructure and using technology for operational efficiencies in the township. Medel said the way the board has handled medical marijuana, so far, has been "unethical and inappropriate." "Officials being paid out of application fees may not have been illegal, but creates a conflict of interest," Medel said. "That monetary incentive made an environment where there is a market oversaturation of these type of businesses." Patrick Clemente, left, is taking on Lori Stack, right, for the treasurer position. Treasurer candidates Patrick Clemente A former Marine and current employee at Henry Ford Allegiance Health, Clemente, 44, hasn't run for office before. His priorities include reducing salaries and benefits of elected officials, limit the expansion of medical marijuana businesses in the township and make sure application money for medical marijuana businesses don't go to elected officials. It won't be determined how most of the medical marijuana money is spent until early 2019, which Clemente said will "set off a new round of resident anger." "It will be difficult if not impossible to undo what has already been done," Clemente said. "At this point, strict enforcement of the ordinance and a reduction in the number of dispensary licenses through attrition will likely be the only avenues through which Leoni Township can regain some semblance of normalcy." Lori Stack Stack, 58, has been the township treasurer for six years. She's also worked as the deputy treasurer, deputy clerk, owned a small business and worked at Comerica Bank. Stack's top priorities are adding public safety officers with additional tax dollars from new developments, devising a plan to fix local roads without asking for a millage and ensuring water rates can be kept low while preparing for future upgrades to the wastewater treatment plant. Data from the statewide medical marijuana proposal shows Michigan voters - and Leoni Township residents - are in favor of it. That's why Stack went forward with allowing such businesses in the township, she said. "Unfortunately, we did not have a playbook or instruction manual to refer to," Stack said. "We have made changes to the ordinance that have reduced the (dispensaries) from 15 down to six through attrition. We have placed a moratorium on (medical marijuana businesses locating on) agricultural land." For more on medical marijuana in Leoni Township, click here. JACKSON, MI - To celebrate its partnerships with nonprofit groups, the Jackson Host Lions Club hosted an inaugural "Parade of Checks" on Monday, Oct. 22. Seven area nonprofit organizations were treated to a special lunch at the Cascades Manor House. Checks and certificates were presented by Roberta Sexton, club president, to Toys for Tots, Salvation Army, Special Olympics, St. Luke's Clinic, Girl Scouts Heart of Michigan, Jackson Friendly Home and John George Home. The club declined to provide the amount of the donations. "The Jackson Host Lions Club is pleased to be part of the Jackson community," Sexton said in a news release. "As a Lion, we each believe our purpose is to serve above all else. The Parade of Checks ceremony for us was a great opportunity to not only provide a monetary donation but also to honor the work that is carried out each and every day by the recipients." KALAMAZOO, MI - Three Kalamazoo residents were arrested Saturday night after they were caught in the act of breaking into a local business, according to the Kalamazoo Department of Public Safety. The suspects include one 48-year-old and two 43-year-old residents, according to a news release issued by the department. The suspects' names were not released pending arraignment. One suspect was also arrested for the possession of marijuana and methamphetamine, and another had an outstanding warrant, the release reads. The investigation remains open. Kalamazoo police responded at around 10 p.m. on the evening of Saturday, Oct. 27, on a report of a breaking and entering in progress at a local business in the 2800 block of Portage Street. Upon arrival, officers located the three suspects who were taken into custody without incident, the release reads. Officers also recovered property stolen during the break-in. Anyone with information regarding the incident is asked to contact the Kalamazoo Department of Public Safety at 269-337-8994 or Silent Observer at 269-343-2100. ST. JOSEPH COUNTY, MI - A man from Leonidas Township died Saturday night in a house fire, according to the St. Joseph County Sheriff's Department. Deputies have not identified the deceased man, and the investigation is ongoing. Deputies were dispatched at around 8 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 27 to the 31000 block of Depot Street in St. Joseph County's Leonidas Township on a report of a fully involved house fire. Fire fighters entered the building once the blaze was extinguished and found the deceased man, according to a news release issued by the sheriff's office. The Michigan State Police Fire Marshal's Office, Leonidas fire and several other local fire departments assisted St. Joseph County deputies on scene. This story will be updated when more information becomes available. SAGINAW, MI - World War I ended 100 years ago, but Saginaw County's connection to the Great War lives on. "On the Home Front" is the latest exhibit at the Castle Museum, located at 500 Federal Ave. in downtown Saginaw, and it is meant to show how the war affected the county a century ago. "November 11 marks the 100th anniversary of the end of World War I," Tom Trombley, vice president and chief historian of the museum, said in a news release. "This exhibit offers visitors a window in Saginaw County's contribution and the impact of the war on the community." The exhibit features photographs, newspaper clippings, an American Red Cross bed, a Marine uniform and other artifacts. Trombley said one of the first connections to the war was the Saginaw Shipbuilding Co., located in Carrollton Township, as well as the Frankenmuth Woolen Mill Co. Both of those companies had major roles in manufacturing materials for the war in Saginaw. He said the shipbuilding company helped to send off 18 ocean vessels that were constructed during the war. The wool company, which still exists in Frankenmuth today, helped keep soldiers warm during the colder winter months by making roughly 66,000 pairs of socks. The exhibit features many photos from that time frame, and one aspect of it is hospital workers who helped fight against the worst influenza epidemic Michigan has ever seen that was occurring at the time. That's not all. "Another component of the exhibit is how Saginaw had a strong number of German ancestors that emigrated from Germany," Trombley said, "One of the few things that happened on the street where the museum is, before 1917, it was known as Germania (or German)...and that was changed during World War I." The name of the street was changed to Federal Avenue after the war. The exhibit runs until mid-January and Trombley hopes people will learn something about the area that they might not have known before. "People look at the nature of the events and see how the world was transformed, (but) the local community, it really did happen and have a profound impact," he said. Admission to the exhibit is $1 per person, 50 cents for children and free for members of the museum. Visit the museum's website to learn more or purchase tickets. Earnings, auto sales and reactions to results announcements, among others, will play a key role for the market in the forthcoming week. With around 800 BSE companies set to announce results, it will be a busy week for traders looking for cues to bet on. Automobile companies, which saw a hit in their August and September sales owing to Kerala floods impact, will hope that these figures get revived ahead of crucial festive season as well. The Nifty began November series on a negative note, but investors could take note of the fact that psychological mark of 10,000 has been held on to. The Sensex ended the session 340 points lower. For the week that ended on October 26, 2018, both Sensex and the Nifty have lost around 3 percent. "...Investors should keep liquidity on hand, but traders can take opportunities by taking short term long bets. Nifty50 ended the week at 10030, down by 2.65%," Jimeet Modi, Founder & CEO, SAMCO Securities & StockNote, said in a statement. Here are 10 factors that will keep investors busy. Nearly 800 BSE companies to declare earnings In the upcoming week, 796 BSE companies will be declaring their earnings for the September quarter. Among them, the key names to watch out would be Ballarpur Industries, BPCL, Colgate Palmolive, DCM Shriram, Granules India, Gruh Finance, HDFC AMC, Just Dial, LIC Housing Finance, Mahindra Holidays, Snowman Logistics, Supreme Industries, Union Bank of India, Bank of Baroda, Container Corporation, Dena Bank, JK Tyre, Manpasand Beverages, Motilal Oswal, Tech Mahindra, Adani Power, Canara Bank, Dabur, Tata Motors, and HDFC, among others. ICICI Bank reactions Investors could react to a fall in ICICI Banks fall in profit for the September quarter. The lender's second quarter profit fell sharply by 55.84 percent to Rs 908.88 crore compared to the year-ago period. Elevated provisions and high treasury base hit the bottom line. Net interest income, the difference between interest earned and expended, grew 12.41 percent on year to Rs 6,417.6 crore with good loan growth of 12.8 percent YoY and margin improvement. Asset quality improved during the quarter. Gross non-performing assets as a percentage of gross advances were lower at 8.54 percent against 8.81 percent in the previous quarter due to fall in slippages. Auto sales The upcoming week will see automobile majors declaring their sales data for September. After facing an impact in August due to Kerala floods, companies have doled out several offers in a bid to shore up demand ahead of festive season. Auto stocks have been caught in a bear trap in the past one week, with Nifty and BSE auto indices shedding over a percent. Subdued performance by Maruti Suzuki has also weighed on other automobile names. A few stocks are likely to be in focus on the back of corporate action such as going ex-dividend or split. For the upcoming week, names such as Asian Paints, Crisil, Cyient, TVS Motor, L&T Infotech, Hindustan Zinc, ICICI Prudential, and Hexaware go ex-dividend. These stocks could be in focus based on this action. Meanwhile, Motherson Sumi goes ex-bonus on October 30, 2018. Jindal Worldwide and DFM Foods will go ex-split on October 31, 2018 and November 1, 2018. Lastly, Cochin Shipyards shares are likely to be on investors radar as it goes ex-buyback on October 30, 2018. Technical Factors The index formed large bearish candle which resembles a 'Bearish Belt Hold' kind of pattern on weekly scale. A 'Bearish Belt Hold' pattern is formed when the opening price becomes the highest point of the trading day (intraday high) and the index declines throughout the trading day making up for the large body. The candle will either have a small or no upper shadow and a small lower shadow. The overall chart pattern of weekly is showing a sharp down trend and a next crucial lower levels to be watched at 9900-9875 for the upcoming week, analysts at HDFC Securities wrote in a report. However, upside bounce as per daily timeframe is due, but any upside bounce from the low is going to be a sell on rise opportunity in the market for near term, they further wrote. Crude Prices of crude have seen a sharp fall in the past week on the back of a global rout in equity markets. Brent Crude fell over 3.5 percent for the week gone by. Any further downward movement will be noted as a positive cue by Indian investors. A falling crude is seen to reduce import bill for a nation such as India, which relies on imported oil to fulfil its requirements. So, this movement, going forward, will be keenly watched by investors in the upcoming week. Rupee The market will also keep an eye on movements in the Indian currency, which has been largely subdued through the week. The currency has not visited its all-time low levels of 74.48 per US dollar and has traded in a narrow range around 73.40 per US dollar. For the upcoming week too, investors will eye movements on the currency as a falling crude could have a positive impact here. So, these interdependent factors will play a key role for the market, going forward. Global Cues The upcoming week could see traders eyeing any developments on the trade war front between US and China. Geopolitical tensions and issues in Italy too could weigh on the global front. What is currently pressing on Europe has been the news around Italy with the government wanting to go ahead with a budget deficit of 2.40 per cent of GDP which is not to the liking of the EU and the EU is likely to ask for a review of the same for probable reduction. This is at a time when the Italian bonds have been downgraded by Moodys to Baa3 just a notch higher than junk, as these factors gave rise to the fear of a gradually incubating Italian exit from the EU, Joseph Thomas, Head-Research, Emkay Wealth Management said in a statement. Apart from that, global markets have taken a hit on the back of fears of global growth after earnings in the US have disappointed Street estimates. The Dow managed to wipe off all gains of 2018 last week. Macro Data The beginning of the month will see some macro data being declared. So, investors could watch out for manufacturing and services purchasing managers index (PMI) back home. Indias infrastructure output will also be out on October 31, 2018 as well. Additionally, on the global front, Japanese industrial production data, Bank of Japans monetary meeting, manufacturing PMI for Japan and US jobless data will be eyed by investors. Stocks in News Nestle India Q3: Profit jumps 30 percent to Rs 446.1 crore versus Rs 343.2 crore; revenue rises 16.9 percent to Rs 2,939.4 crore versus Rs 2,514.1 crore YoY. Sintex Plastics Technology Q2: Profit rises to Rs 40.36 crore versus Rs 26.06 crore; revenue falls to Rs Rs 1,172.15 crore versus Rs 1,432.90 crore YoY. Shoppers Stop Q2: Profit at Rs 13.21 crore versus loss at Rs 21.8 crore; revenue rises to Rs 864.53 crore versus Rs 837.6 crore YoY. Eros International Media Q2: Consolidated profit rises to Rs 77.01 crore versus Rs 59.32 crore; revenue increases to Rs 292.88 crore versus Rs 217.93 crore QoQ. DB Realty Q2: Loss at Rs 16.8 crore versus Rs 12.4 crore; revenue falls to Rs 0.20 crore versus Rs 2.44 crore YoY. Jindal Stainless Q2: Loss at Rs 36.44 crore versus profit at Rs 27.30 crore; revenue jumps to Rs 3,081.4 crore versus Rs 2,607.84 crore YoY. Mawana Sugars September quarter: Loss at Rs 11.85 crore versus loss at Rs 11.13 crore; revenue rises to Rs 246.75 crore versus Rs 175.09 crore YoY. Deepak Nitrite Q2: Profit rises to Rs 28.06 crore versus Rs 22.68 crore; revenue increases to Rs 432.71 crore versus Rs 353.6 crore YoY. Mawana Sugars: Board approved the proposal for investment of Rs 40 crore for installation of incinerator at distillery plant, Nanglamal Sugar Complex, Nanglamal, Meerut; and to explore the possibility of disposing of its operating chemical manufacturing unit Siel Chemical Complex (SCC) located at Rajpura, Distt. Patiala, Punjab in order to ensure long term financial stability of the company. Axis Bank: The bank has executed an agreement for sale of 19,79,900 equity shares at Rs 825 per share with HDFC Bank, resulting in a total cash consideration of Rs 163.34 crore. HDFC Bank currently holds 5 percent of the total equity capital of NSDL, which increased to 9.95 percent after this transaction. Yes Bank: Bank said search committee has finalised the profile for a potential candidate for the post of CEO and got a representative list of candidate pool, based on initial industry mapping. Peninsula Land: Company, through its subsidiary Peninsula Holding and Investment Private Limited (PHIPL) entered into a securities purchase agreement to acquire 71 percent stake in RR Mega City Builders Limited, thereby making it a step-down subsidiary of the company. Va Tech Wabag: Parthasarathy Gopalan, Chief Financial Officer of the company has resigned from the position. Sterlite Technologies: Company launched all new FTTx MANTRATM an end-to-end FTTx-as-aservice solution which allows swift roll-out of Fibre-to-the-Point (FTTx) networks at the scale, latency and agility needed to suit all future requirements of 5G, Internet of Things (IoT) applications, for global communication service providers, data centres and citizen networks. Dr Lal PathLabs: NCLT approved the scheme of amalgamation between company and Delta Ria and Pathology Private Limited. Max Alert Systems: The adjudication proceedings vide show cause notice dated August 7, 2018 are disposed off without imposition of any monetary penalty. Sayaji Industries: ICRA assigned MA- (Stable) rating for public deposit programme (unsecured) of the company. Hindalco Industries: Company stopped mining operation at Durgumanwadi Mine since March 17, 2018. Stopping of mining operation has no material impact on operations or financial performance of the company. The Finance Ministry is planning to launch a global exchange traded fund (ETF) with a view to attracting long-term investment from overseas large pension fund houses. The new ETF, which will be constituted after studying the appetite of large investors, is being planned for launch in the next financial year, an official said. Initially, the ministry was planning to list Bharat-22 ETF in the overseas market but decided not to go ahead with it as investors expressed apprehensions over the cost associated with hedging and currency conversion. "The target is to tap the untapped investors, which is the large overseas pension funds. A new ETF is being thought of which will be constituted based on the sectors for which these investors show their interest," the official told PTI. The official further said that the CPSEs in which there is substantial scope for further dilution of government equity, like where promoter holding is above 58-60 per cent, will be included in the proposed ETF for global listing. The government has listed two exchange-traded funds -- CPSE ETF and Bharat-22 ETF-- on the domestic stock exchanges. ETFs function like a mutual fund scheme and have underlying assets of government-owned companies. The government has already raised Rs 22,900 crore through two tranches of Bharat-22 ETF and Rs 11,500 crore through three tranches of CPSE ETF. Launched in 2017-18, the Bharat 22 ETF, consist of 16 central public sector enterprises (CPSEs), three PSU banks and three private sector companies ITC, L&T and Axis Bank where Specified Undertaking of Unit Trust of India (SUUTI) holds a stake. Bharat-22 ETF basket is diversified and there should be investor demand in the overseas market, the official added. The state-owned companies or PSUs that are part of the new Bharat ETF-22 include ONGC, IOC, SBI, BPCL, Coal India and Nalco. The other central public sector enterprises Bharat-22 are Bharat Electronics, Engineers India, NBCC, NTPC, NHPC, SJVNL, GAIL, PGCIL and NLC India. Only three public sector banks -- SBI, Indian Bank and Bank of Baroda -- figure in the Bharat-22 index. The official said the ETF route is a safer mode of disinvestment as it shields investors against stock market volatility. CPSE ETF was set up in 2014 and the government has so far sold stakes in the 10 bluechip PSUs-- ONGC, Coal India, IOC, Oil India, PFC, Bharat Electronics, REC, GAIL, EIL and Container Corporation of India. The ministry is also planning a fourth tranche of CPSE ETF. The government has set a target of Rs 80,000 crore to be raised from PSU disinvestment this fiscal. So far, it has raised over Rs 9,000 crore. On November 6 2018, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath announced that Faizabad district would henceforth be known as Ayodhya. Nationalism should be the biggest religion for everyone and a collective voice must be raised against the forces of Naxalism, terrorism, corruption and those who work against the nation's interests, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath said on October 27. Speaking at an event here organised by Arya Samaj, a socio-religious organisation, he stressed that India is primarily an agricultural country in which "cow-based activities are worthy of being highlighted". A statement quoting Adityanath said his government has made substantial changes in the educational curriculum in Uttar Pradesh. In the school curriculum, the government has added information about the life of great personalities and revolutionaries of the past, the BJP leader said. "We have also discontinued the practice of giving public holidays in the name of these great people. Instead educational workshops are to be held, so that young children can be informed about them," he said. Side by side, the system of Gurukuls would be re-established in which the school day would start with vedic havans and chanting of hymns, the chief minister said. "Nationalism should be the biggest religion for everybody. Hence, we should raise our collective voice against forces of Naxalism, terrorism, corruption and the people who work against the interests of the country," he added. He also asked the Arya Samaj to inform the government if there was any encroachment on its property, so that it could be removed as soon as possible. Assam Governor Jagdish Mukhi said education was the only medium to eradicate evils from the society and Swami Dayanand Saraswati, the founder of Arya Samaj, was well aware of it. Gandhinagar: Prime Minister Narendra Modi with his Japanese counterpart Shinzo Abe ahead of India- Japan annual summit at Mahatma Mandir, in Gandhinagar on Thursday. PTI Photo(PTI9_14_2017_000045B) Prime Minister Narendra Modi met his Japanese counterpart Shinzo Abe here Sunday as the two leaders seek to add new vigour to the strong friendship between the two countries. "Prime Ministers @narendramodi and @AbeShinzo meet at Yamanashi. They would be holding talks through the day on deepening India-Japan ties," Prime Minister Modi's office tweeted. Modi, who arrived here last evening to attend the 13th India-Japan annual summit, has said that his meeting with Abe will add new vigour to the strong friendship between the two countries. The two-day summit beginning Sunday will seek to review the progress in ties and deepen strategic dimension of the bilateral relationship. Abe will host a luncheon for Modi at a scenic resort by Mt. Fuji. After luncheon, they would visit a factory of industrial robot manufacturer Fanuc Corp. before moving on to the Japanese premier's vacation home nearby. Abe will host Modi at his holiday home in the picturesque Yamanashi prefecture, west of Tokyo, for a private dinner Sunday following which both the leaders will travel to Tokyo by train. Yamanashi, at a distance of around 110 kilometres from Tokyo, is surrounded by several mountains including Mount Fuji - the country's tallest peak at around 3,776 metres. The two leaders will hold a formal summit Monday in Tokyo, during which strengthening bilateral security and economic cooperation is expected to be high on the agenda. Ahead of his departure from New Delhi, Modi described India and Japan as a "winning combination" and said the island nation was New Delhi's most trusted partner in its economic and technological modernisation. Modi said it will be his 12th meeting with Abe since he first visited Japan as prime minister in September 2014. During the summit, Modi will engage with Abe on a range of issues including defence and regional security. Besides bilateral issues, the two leaders are expected to deliberate on a range of regional and global issues including the situation in the Indo-Pacific region. It is said the prime minister's visit will reaffirm the traditional bonds of friendship between the two countries and strengthen their multi-faceted cooperation in diverse fields. India is also hoping to have some kind of synergy or integration between Modi's Ayushman Bharat scheme, which is the largest medicare programme of its kind globally, and the Japanese programme which is called Asia Health and Wellbeing Initiative. Prime Minister Modi has said projects such as Mumbai-Ahmedabad High Speed Rail and Dedicated Freight Corridors reflected the high level and "strength of our economic engagement". "Japan is also at the forefront of engaging in our national initiatives, such as 'Make in India', 'Skill India', 'Digital India', 'Start Up India'... Japanese investors have faith in India's economic future, which is marked with myriad opportunities," Modi said. Modi will also address the Indian community function in Tokyo and will attend a series of business events and address the business forum. Pinarayi Vijayan Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan on Saturday slammed BJP president Amit Shah for his remarks on the Sabarimala women entry issue, saying it was an 'attack' on the Supreme Court, Constitution and the country's judicial system. The chief minister was reacting to the BJP chief's attack against his government over implementation of the apex court verdict allowing entry of women of all age groups into the Sabarimala temple. "Shah's assertion that courts must only pronounce verdicts which can be carried out conveys the message that fundamental rights guaranteed in the Constitution are not meant to be implemented," Vijayan said. Speaking at Kannur after inaugurating the BJP's district office, Shah had also warned that BJP workers would not hesitate to pull down the state government if it continues to "suppress" the agitation of Ayyappa devotees. Shah, who threatened to oust the LDF government, must remember that the government did not come to power at the mercy of BJP, but with the support of the people of the state, Vijayan said. "It must also be noted that the BJP leader dared to threaten a democratically elected government because it stood by the supreme court verdict and its commitment to protect fundamental rights guaranteed by the Constitution," he said. "Shah's statement also reveals the true colour of RSS and Sangh Parivar," he said. The BJP chief's argument that gender equality must not be implemented through temple entry laws is a precursor to the arguments that caste-based discrimination must not be abolished by law, Vijayan said. "His ramblings also reveal their indebtedness to the obsolete views of gender equality propounded by Manusmriti," he said. "Civil society, which upholds fundamental rights including gender equality, must rise against these uncivilised ideologies," Vijayan added. Congress The Congress on October 27 night released a list of 37 candidates for the second phase of polling in the Chhattisgarh assembly election. According to a party statement, Chhattisgarh Pradesh Congress Committee (PCC) chief Bhupesh Baghel will contest from the Patan assembly constituency. Baghel was embroiled in an alleged sex CD scandal involving a state minister. TS Singh Deo, the Congress Legislature Party leader, will contest from Ambikapur, while former Union Minister Charan Das Mahant will contest from Sakti. The Congress is seeking to oust the BJP, which has been governing the state since 2003, from power this time. Assembly election in the state will be held in two phases. A total of 18 assembly seats in the Naxalism-hit areas will go to polls in the first phase of polling on November 12. The second phase of polling for the remaining seats 72 will be held on November 20 and results will be out on December 11. The Congress announced the candidates for the first phase polling in two lists on October 18 and 22. Prime Minister Narendra Modi has left social media in spilt with his comment about making tea from gutter fumes. At an event to mark World Biofuel Day, the PM claimed that he had once read about a tea seller in a small town who tapped into gas emanating from a gutter to make the beverage. Loosing on the fact, the PM unintentionally ended up inventing a new laughing gas for netizens. Narendra Modi is the "favourite" prime ministerial candidate of Muslims for next year's Lok Sabha polls as he has dispelled the "fear" that several parties instilled in the community using his name, senior BJP leader Shahnawaz Hussain said on October 28. He said the faith in Modi among Muslims had increased, especially among the women. "The favourite prime ministerial candidate for Muslims in the 2019 polls is Narendra Modi, because he sees all 132 crore people of the country just as Indians. Other parties have seen them as a vote bank," Hussain said. Muslims account for around 14 per cent of India's 130 crore population and the community plays a key role in the electoral outcome in a sizeable number of Lok Sabha seats in Uttar Pradesh, Assam, Bihar, West Bengal, Jharkhand, Karnataka, Kerala and Jammu and Kashmir. Hussain blamed the Congress for the poverty and backwardness of the Muslims in the country, saying the party had done injustice to the community and Modi had given them justice. "Some people in 2014 used to scare others using Narendra Modi's name. Today, a large number of people from the Muslim community also feel that he is a man who works day and night. Narendra Modi treats all 132 crore Indians alike," he said. Other parties used to take votes from Muslims by spreading the "fear" of Modi and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the prime minister had taken out that fear, Hussain said. Now they see that Modi is in power but there is no problem, the BJP leader added. Not a single statement was made by Modi against Muslims, he said, adding that the prime minister's "shamshan-kabristan" statement in the run-up to the Uttar Pradesh Assembly polls last year was "wrongly interpreted" as he had advocated taking care of both. "In our party, some people may be making (certain) statements, but Muslims have full faith on the statements made by BJP chief Amit Shah and Prime Minister Narendra Modi," the former Union minister said. "Our party president and our prime minister have never given any statement that would hurt Muslims," he claimed, asserting that the community would back the saffron party big time in the 2019 general election. Hussain also said Allahabad's name was changed to Prayagraj as "injustice" was done in the past" and now, "justice" had been restored. "The earlier name was Prayagraj that was changed. To correct that mistake, is it wrong? "Earlier also, Bangalore's name was changed to Bengaluru, Madras was changed to Chennai. So, how does history come into this," he said, rebutting the Congress's charge that the Modi government was trying to rewrite history. On the Ram temple issue, Hussain said for the BJP, it was a matter of faith and not a poll plank. "From October 29, there will be day-to-day hearing (in the Supreme Court). We are hopeful that this issue will be resolved soon and it will be acceptable to all the people in the country. "Some people are also demanding that a law be made (for the construction of the temple). Everybody has a right to demand, how can anybody stop that? The government has the right to decide and it has not taken any decision in this regard," he said. Talking about the upcoming Assembly elections in five states, the BJP spokesperson exuded confidence that his party would win in Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan and Chhattisgarh. "In Mizoram, the government will not be formed without our support and in Telangana, we will emerge as a big party," he claimed. Asked if the state polls will be an indicator for the 2019 general election, he said all elections are different, but in state polls also people will not let Prime Minister Modi get weakened. "When Modi enters the electoral field, people back him," the 49-year-old leader said. Hussain also slammed the Congress for linking the divesting of powers of CBI Director Alok Verma with the Rafale issue, saying two officials are making allegations against each other where does Rafale come into this. He also asserted that the BJP, the Janata Dal (United), the Lok Janshakti Party and the Rashtriya Lok Samta Party will fight the Lok Sabha polls in Bihar together. He said the alliance with the Nitish Kumar-led JD(U) had boosted the National Democratic Alliance's (NDA) prospects in Bihar and the coalition was focussed on "Mission 40" -- to win all the Lok Sabha seats in the state. Asked if anti-incumbency would be a factor in Bihar, Hussain said, "I had lost from Bhagalpur by 8,000 votes and Nitish Kumarji's candidate was third, getting 1,60,000 votes. Now those votes will be added to the BJP's kitty...we will fight together and this time, it is Mission 40 -- that we win all the 40 seats." He also claimed that issues such as rising petrol and diesel prices will not hamper the BJP's poll prospects, saying the people were aware that the fuel problem was a global one. The Modi government will come to power with a bigger mandate in 2019, Hussain asserted. Earlier this week, the Competition Commission of India (CCI) released a first of its kind policy note on "Making Markets Work for Affordable Healthcare". The statutory body, which has so far received 52 cases about anti-competitive practices in pharmaceuticals and the healthcare sector, has prescribed some policy and regulatory action to address the issues. Here are some of the key recommendations made by the CCI: Role of intermediaries in drug price build-up One major factor that CCI attributes to high drug prices in India is the unreasonably high trade margin, which is a form of incentive and an indirect marketing tool employed by drug companies. CCI further states that trade associations contribute towards high margins as they control the entire drug distribution system to reduce competition. CCI suggests that efficient and wider public procurement and distribution of essential drugs to circumvent the challenges arising from the distribution chain, supplant sub-optimal regulatory instruments such as price control and allow for access to essential medicines at lower prices. The competition watch dog also suggests electronic trading of drugs, with appropriate regulatory safeguards, to bring transparency and spur price competition. Quality perception behind proliferation of branded generics Worldwide, generic drugs are seen as a key competitive force against patent-expired brands marketed at monopoly prices. In India, CCI says the pharmaceutical market is dominated by "branded generics" that limit generic-induced price competition. The branded generic drugs enjoy a price premium owing to perceived quality assurance that comes with the brand. CCI observes that the brand proliferation is to introduce artificial product differentiation in the market, offering no therapeutic difference, but allows firms to extract rents. The competition watchdog suggests a regulatory apparatus to address the issue of quality perception by ensuring consistent application of statutory quality control measures and better regulatory compliance. Regulation and competition Due to multiple regulators governing the pharmaceutical sector at the state and centre levels, implementation of regulations is not uniform across the country. This has resulted in multiple standards of the same product and different levels of regulatory compliance requirements, CCI contends. The commission calls for a mechanism to be devised by CDSCO to harmonise the processes followed by state licencing authorities to ensure uniformity in interpretation and implementation. The commission has asked for making approvals of new drugs time-bound along with publication of detailed guidelines governing each stage of the approval process. The body advocates one-company, one-drug, one-brand name price policy. Vertical arrangements in healthcare services CCI also point out the incentive-based referral system that pervades the healthcare landscape, and recommends issuing of periodic validated data by hospitals relating to mortality rate, infection rate, number of procedures etc, which could help patients make informed choice. The commission recommends regulation of in-house pharmacies of super specialty hospitals, which are completely insulated from competition as inpatients are typically not allowed to purchase any product from outside pharmacies. The competition body has recommended the government to ensure all accredited diagnostic labs meet the same quality standards in terms of infrastructure, equipment and skilled manpower to ensure the same degree of reliability and accuracy of test results across labs. It has recommended regulatory framework to ensure portability of patient data, treatment record and diagnostic reports between hospitals. It has said that lack of portability constrains patients in switching from one hospital to another and creates a lock-in effect. Portability of patient data can help ensure that a patient is no longer locked into data silos and do not bear additional cost for switching medical services and that doctors and hospitals can have timely access to patient data. Will they be ever implemented? It's commendable for India's competition watchdog to come up with a set of policy prescriptions that impede competition and thereby make healthcare expensive. It makes a strong case for the government to act. But most of these recommendations are anything but new, healthcare policy makers and activists have been raising these issues of information asymmetry, market distortion and profiteering in healthcare for years. To be sure, there were some well-meaning efforts in the past to regulate the exploitative practices, but these attempts were diluted or nipped in the bud by well entrenched lobbies. An overwhelming 62 percent of healthcare expenses in India are met out of pocket by the individual, and healthcare expenses are cited as one of the primary reasons in India for families falling into debt traps and poverty. India needs not piecemeal but structural reforms in healthcare. Police officers guard the Tree of Life synagogue following shooting at the synagogue in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, US, October 27, 2018 (Image- Reuters) A gunman yelling, "All Jews must die," stormed a Pittsburgh synagogue during Saturday services, killing 11 worshippers and wounding six other people including four police officers, before he was arrested. Robert Bowers, 46, of Pittsburgh, was taken into custody after a shootout with a SWAT team. Federal prosecutors charged him with 29 criminal counts including violence and firearms offenses, and violating U.S. civil rights laws. "The actions of Robert Bowers represent the worst of humanity. We are dedicating the entire resources of my office to this federal hate crime investigation and prosecution," US attorney for western Pennsylvania Scott Brady told reporters. Earlier, US Attorney General Jeff Sessions said federal prosecutors could seek the death penalty. FBI special agent Bob Jones said the Federal Bureau of Investigation, which is leading the probe, said the crime scene was the worst he had seen in 22 years with the FBI. He said he believed Bowers was acting alone, adding: "We have no knowledge that he was known to law enforcement before today." KDKA television cited police sources as saying Bowers walked into the building and yelled "All Jews must die." Bowers had made many anti-Semitic posts online, including one early on Saturday. In another, he slammed U.S. President Donald Trump for doing nothing to stop an "infestation" of the United States by Jews. Jones said Bowers was armed with an assault rifle and three handguns. He said authorities believed the suspect entered the synagogue, murdered the worshippers and was leaving when he encountered a uniformed police officer. The pair exchanged gunfire, Jones said, and Bowers reentered the building before a SWAT team arrived. After a shootout, he surrendered. Bowers was taken to a hospital where he was listed in fair condition with multiple gunshot wounds. Victims taken to area hospitals included a 61-year-old woman, a 70-year-old man, and a 55-year-old officer. No children were killed, authorities said. Three police officers were shot and one was injured by shrapnel, authorities said. Two of the six people injured were in critical condition. RAGING AGAINST 'INVADERS' A social media post by Bowers on Saturday morning said a Jewish refugee organization, the Hebrew Immigrant Aid Society, "likes to bring invaders in that kill our people. I can't sit by and watch my people get slaughtered. Screw your optics, I'm going in." The comment was posted on Gab, a Philadelphia, Pennsylvania-based social networking service created as an alternative to Twitter. In a statement, Gab.com confirmed the profile belonged to Bowers and also said it had suspended the account and contacted the FBI about it. The mass shooting prompted security alerts at houses of worship around the country. It follows a spate of pipe bombs found mailed in recent days to prominent political figures, mostly Democrats including former President Barack Obama. The Tree of Life synagogue in the city's Squirrel Hill neighborhood, a heavily Jewish area, was holding a Shabbat religious service at the time of the shooting. Police are normally only present at the synagogue for security on high holidays, Michael Eisenberg, former president of the synagogue, told KDKA. "On a day like today, the door is open, it's a religious service, you can walk in and out," he said. Around the time, three congregations amounting to about 100 people would have been using the building, Eisenberg said. Shortly after reports of the shooting emerged, Trump said in a tweet he was watching what he described as a "devastating" situation. Trump told reporters later that the killings might have been prevented if there had been an armed guard in the building. "If they had some kind of a protection inside the temple maybe it could have been a much more different situation, they didn't," he said when asked if there was any link to U.S. gun laws. He also called the shooting a wicked act of pure evil, called on Americans to rise above hate, and ordered U.S. flags at the White House and public buildings to be flown at half-staff. He said he would visit Pittsburgh, but did not say when. In the city on Saturday night, mourners held a candlelit vigil for the victims under light rain. The Islamic Center Of Pittsburgh offered its deepest sympathy and condolences, and called on its community to donate blood. The Anti-Defamation League and Jewish Council for Public Affairs described it as the deadliest attack on the Jewish community in the history of the United States. On April 13, 2014, a pair of shootings occurred at a Jewish Community Center and a Jewish retirement community, both located in Overland Park, Kansas. A total of three people were killed in the shootings. In 2015, a white supremacist murdered nine African Americans during a prayer service in Charleston, South Carolina. In 2012, a neo-Nazi gunman with white supremacist ties walked into a Sikh gurdwara - or house of worship - in Oak Creek, Wisconsin, and murdered six Sikh Americans. In February 2017, when the Infrastructure Leasing & Financial Services (IL&FS) was already facing a liquidity crisis and its board of directors was probably discussing a fat, 144% pay hike for chairman Ravi Parthasarathy (taking his pay to Rs26.3 crore), he was busy settling a stock manipulation charge by the Securities & Exchange Board of India (SEBI), along with four other senior employees. And what is worse, IL&FS apparently paid for this too, although it was a paltry amount in relation to his salary. In January 2014, SEBI issued a show-cause notice to five top executives of IL&FS charging them with stock manipulation and synchronised trading in Adani Exports Ltd. The charge was against Mr Parthasarathy (erstwhile chairman), Hemang Raja (managing director) and Vimal Bhandari, Arun Kumar Saha and Vibhav Kapoor, all directors of erstwhile Investmart India Ltd (IIL). While SEBIs action remained hidden from the public, it was surely something that was serious enough to be discussed by the board, which saw it fit to reward Mr Parthasarathy even while the company faced a liquidity crisis. Typical of the shady manner in which the Indian regulator settles serious charges on payment of money and without admission of guiltthe settlement order has minimal and sketchy details of the exact charge against the officials and SEBIs findings. All it says is that SEBI's investigation in Adani Exports scrip during January 1999 and February 2001, revealed synchronised or structured and cross trades executed by IIL for its clients, "which resulted in manipulation of price and volume of the scrip of Adani Exports. It further says, "IIL also alleged to have paid Rs57 crore for the sale transactions to its clients without receiving the pay-out from the exchange. The SEBI order is available here The market regulator then issued show-cause notices to Mr Parthasarathy and the four executives who were in charge of affairs of IIL when the stock manipulation took place. All the five filed separate applications seeking to settle, without admitting or denying the findings of fact and conclusions of law, the pending enquiry proceedings initiated against them. SEBI's high powered committee (HPC), on 14 December 2016, recommended settlement upon payment of Rs34.42 lakh each from Mr Parthasarathy and Mr Raja and Rs13.77 lakh each from Mr Bhandari, Mr Kapoor and Mr Saha. After receiving the fine, SEBI, in its settlement order issued on 13 February 2017, said, "...the proceedings initiated against the Applicants for the alleged violation are settled qua the Applicants as per the above terms, by way of this order and SEBI shall not proceed with any enforcement action against the applicant for the said defaults." IIL later became IL&FS Investmart Securities Ltd and, at present, is known as HSBC InvestDirect Securities (India) Ltd, a SEBI-registered broker. October 28, 2018 These Exploitations Of The Pittsburgh Attack Deride Its Victims Yesterday's terror attack on a synagogue in Pittsburgh was committed by a man with extremely anti-Jewish and anti-immigration views. It is third attack on houses of worship in three years. Like the earlier incidents it is a heinous crime for ignominious reasons. But there is little sound reason to blame the incident on Trump. It does not justify to falsely claim "increased anti-semitism". To exploit it for a racist driven colonial cause makes a mockery of its victims. The New York Times reports: Armed with an AR-15-style assault rifle and at least three handguns, a man shouting anti-Semitic slurs opened fire inside a Pittsburgh synagogue Saturday morning, killing at least 11 congregants and wounding four police officers and two others, the authorities said. ... The assailant, identified by law enforcement officials as Robert D. Bowers, fired for several minutes and was leaving the synagogue when officers, dressed in tactical gear and armed with rifles, met him at the door. According to the police, Mr. Bowers exchanged gunfire with officers before retreating back inside and barricading himself inside a third-floor room. He eventually surrendered. From reading between the lines we learn that the killer is not a Muslim. Otherwise he would be called a 'terrorist'. We can also conclude that the killer was white. Otherwise the police would have killed him. The murderer was extremely anti-Jewish. He was a white supremacist who had the delusion that people of Jewish belief caused all the problems he perceived: The suspect in the mass shooting at a Pittsburgh synagogue told officers that Jews were committing genocide and that he wanted them all to die, according to a charging document made public early Sunday. ... Worshippers were brutally murdered by a gunman targeting them simply because of their faith, said Bob Jones, head of the FBIs Pittsburgh office, though he cautioned the shooters full motive was not yet known. Social network posts by Robert Bowers show that the immediate reason for attacking the synagogue was last week's National Refugee Shabbat ceremony by the Hebrew Immigrant Aid Society (HIAS): Hours before Saturday morning's shooting, the account posted again, "HIAS likes to bring invaders in that kill our people. I can't sit by and watch my people get slaughtered. Screw your optics, I'm going in." HIAS is 137 years old organization founded by and for Jews who were fleeing pogroms in Russia. It nowadays supports all refugees. The killers hate for HIAS points to the ideological closeness of white supremacists and Zionists: On the Jewish far right, the Zionist Organization of America has attacked HIAS and other Jewish organizations for lobbying to admit Syrian refugees to the U.S. and has accused HIAS of doing so for profit. The NYT tries to connect the incident with Trump: [The assault] also took place in the wake of the arrest Friday morning of a man who the authorities said sent more than a dozen pipe bombs to critics of Mr. Trump, including several high-profile Democrats. The pipe bombs, which could not have killed anyone, were sent by a Trump supporting loon in Florida. All were detect before they reached their intended target. The Pittsburgh killer hated Trump. He rallied against him on social networks as being controlled by Jews. He wrote that he did not vote for him. From his archived tweets (part 1, part 2): Trump is a globalist, not a nationalist. There is no #MAGA as long as there is a kike infestation. But the NYT report ignores the killer's anti-Trump stand. It goes on to blame the incident on Trump's rhetoric: The anguish of Saturdays massacre heightened a sense of national unease over increasingly hostile political rhetoric. Critics of President Trump have argued that he is partly to blame for recent acts of violence because he has been stirring the pot of nationalism, on Twitter and at his rallies, charges that Mr. Trump has denied. This ignores that Trump uses the same nationalistic rhetoric that all U.S. presidents use: At the U.S. Military Academy last year, Obama pronounced unequivocally: I believe in American exceptionalism with every fiber of my being. Nor are anti-immigration positions a Trump phenomenon. It was Obama who was called the "deporter-in-chief": More than 2.8 million undocumented immigrants have been deported over the last eight years, ... Extreme nationalism and anti-immigration positions are as American as apple-pie. Hostile political rhetoric in the U.S. is certainly not a one-sided issue. It was Hillary Clinton who spoke of citizens as "deplorable" people. It is only Trump's style, not the content, that differentiates his "stirring the pot" from that of other politicians. To blame this incident on Trump is an attempt to avert that insight. The NYT also conflates the killers anti-immigration motive with 'anti-semitism' when it cites the Anti-Defamation League (ADL) with a false statistic: [The massacre] came amid rising anxiety about illegal immigration and in a decade that has seen an uptick in hate crimes. According to an annual report by the Anti-Defamation League issued earlier this year, the number of reported anti-Semitic incidents in the United States surged 57 percent in 2017, the largest rise in a single year since the A.D.L. began tracking such crimes in 1979. The ADL does not track "such crimes", but any incident its perceives as harassment or threat or "anti-semitic". The extreme rise in the 2017 ADL statistics only appeared because the ADL fudged the numbers, as other Jewish organizations criticized, by including hundreds of threats a unstable Jewish teen made against Jewish institutions: A 19-year-old American-Israeli man was convicted of making hundreds of bomb threats to Jewish community centers and Jewish schools in the United States, as well as airlines. ... The hoax threats to the JCCs and other Jewish institutions in the first three months of 2017 forced widespread evacuations and raised fears of a resurgence in anti-Semitism. Kadars parents and lawyer have not disputed his involvement in the bomb threats but asserted in his defense that he has a brain tumor and a low IQ. The ADL not only fudge its numbers but notoriously conflates hate against people of Jewish belief with anti-Zionist activism like the Boycott, Divestment, Sanctions (BDS) movement. The alleged increase in anti-semitism ADL claims is a 'shark story': The Brandeis Centers Marcus said some recent reports of anti-Semitic incidents are what one might call shark stories, referring to media reports about shark attacks several summers ago. Many people, he said, feared that shark attacks were spiking, and experts struggled to identify the reason. At the end of the day, it turned out that such attacks were not increasing at allthere were more stories about them because the shark narrative had caught the attention of influential editors and media outlets. Robert D. Bowers was active on the social media platforms Facebook and Gab, a Twitter like service with a minimum of censorship. He posted and reposted lots of anti-Jewish slander. Gab, which is often used by people who are censored elsewhere, reacted immediately after the incident. It archived and closed the account and informed the police. Nonetheless it was immediately censored itself. Paypal, which Gab used to collect donations, shut down its account without giving any specific reason. Such unreasonable reaction will only reinforce the extreme right feeling of being persecuted. The Israeli government will send its probably most racist member, education minister Naftali Bennet, to exploit the incident for its colonization of Palestine. Bennet boasted about killing Arabs: Ive killed lots of Arabs in my life and theres no problem with that. He calls refugees who came to Israel "infiltrators". He would have applauded the killer if the target had been some other religious group: Education Minister Naftali Bennett won the backing of a leading anti-illegal immigration activist Thursday, after he vowed to block plans to legalize hundreds of Sudanese infiltrators. ... On Thursday, [..], the Jewish Home party, led by Education Minister Naftali Bennett, announced that it would block implementation of the Interior Ministrys plan to grant residency permits to the 300 Sudanese. ... "There's no justification for absorbing those infiltrators in Israel." Israel declared itself an Apartheid state. Its government holds the same extreme rightwing views against 'others' as the attacker in Pittsburgh. Like him it confuses people of Jewish belief with a race. Like him it rallies against immigration. Sending Bennet to exploit the terror attack is a mockery of its victims. Posted by b on October 28, 2018 at 17:22 UTC | Permalink Comments next page October 28, 2018 The MoA Week in Review - OT 2018-57 Last week's posts on Moon of Alabama: Erdogan still has the kompromat on Mohammad in Salman and continues to use it. He demands that the Saudis say who ordered the murder and threatens to reveal more evidence: And of course, we have other information and documents in our hands. You will collect the harvest when the sun rises. It is not meaningful to rush for now. Erdogan also asked for the extradition of the Khashoggi killers. Saudi Arabia rejected that. If Erdogan goes too far -as he is prone to do- and releases all he has, he will also loose his leverage. October 28 - These Exploitations Of The Pittsburgh Attack Deride Its Victims Fun read - Mark Ames mocks the war on Syria 'experts': ShamiWitness: When Bellingcat & Neocons Collaborated With The Most Influential ISIS Propagandist On Twitter Use as open thread ... Posted by b on October 28, 2018 at 17:58 UTC | Permalink Comments next page Some 1,500 Chinese tourists trapped by Super Typhoon Yutu in Saipan started to fly back home on Sunday. Chinese tourists pose with Chinese national flag before starting to fly back home in Saipan, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (CNMI), Oct. 28, 2018. Some 1,500 Chinese tourists trapped in Saipan by Super Typhoon Yutu started to fly back home on Sunday. [Photo: Xinhua] A charter flight of Sichuan Airlines arrived in Saipan on Sunday morning, which was the first Chinese flight inbound after local airport resumed from damage. Yutu, which hit the island territories overnight on Wednesday, caused extensive damage to critical infrastructure on Saipan and Tinian islands, and displaced many families. Local airport and port were shut down due to the damage. The airport reopened to civil airplanes on Sunday morning, but only allows six flights to pass through on Sunday due to infrastructure limitations. There were five flights of foreign airlines inbound on Sunday, according to airport schedule. Besides the flight from Sichuan Airlines, another three Chinese flights also arrived at Saipan International Airport to evacuate Chinese tourists, which were from China Eastern Airlines, Beijing Capital Airlines and Hong Kong Airlines. Chinese tourists get on board to fly back home in Saipan, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (CNMI), Oct. 28, 2018. Some 1,500 Chinese tourists trapped in Saipan by Super Typhoon Yutu started to fly back home on Sunday. [Photo: Xinhua] Chinese tourists were very excited when they heard the news last night they could fly back home on Sunday, said Tom Liu, president of Saipan Travel Inc.. "The evacuation went very well," said Liu. "Sichuan Airlines and other Chinese airline companies made good preparations for sending flights to Saipan. As soon as local airport resumed, Chinese flights flew inbound immediately." With sustained winds of over 270 km per hour, the powerful storm caused one death and several injuries, tearing up roofs and pulling down trees and power lines in the Marianas. Operators active in the Permian Basin are planning to keep activity levels steady, according to those participating in a panel discussion at the Permian Basin Petroleum Associations 56th annual meeting Thursday at the Petroleum Club. Parsley Energy is operating 16 horizontal rigs, 11 in the Midland Basin and five in the Delaware Basin, said Stephanie Reed, the companys senior vice president, land and marketing. She said Parsley, which focuses on execution and return on its development projects, intends to maintain production levels through the end of the year. David Pursell, senior vice president, planning, reserves and fundamentals with Apache Corp., said the company is undertaking a significant midstream infrastructure construction project in its Alpine High play in Reeves County, constructing a cryogenic processing plant to process natural gas liquids. When complete, he said it will be comprised of three 200 million cubic feet per day trains for a processing capacity of 600 Mmcfd. Apache has 500 contractors at work on the project, and we plan to work them through next October, Pursell said. Travis Stice, chief executive officer of Diamondback Energy, told the gathering that when he was contemplating the companys $9 billion acquisition of Energen Resources, he considered three things: Execution, execution, execution. Reed, Pursell and Stice each indicated that the stability of their operations is allowing them time to focus on their personnel, as well as the communities where they work. We dont produce one barrel of oil that a human doesnt touch, said Stice. Agreed Pursell, who referred to Stices comments about execution and said, You execute with your employees. To that end, Apache and Parsley are each in the process of completing expansions of their Midland offices. Apache is preparing to open its second building toward the end of the year, a building that will have amenities such as a cafeteria, fitness center and day care center. Things we wanted to do for our employees, Pursell said. Parsley is constructing a second building at its Midland field office on County Road 120 that will contain similar amenities, said Reed. We also have a very big focus on community, with a focus on education, she said. The companys employees work with students at Travis Elementary and they will be joining Travis students in planting 25 trees at Dunagan Park on Nov. 2 beginning at 9 a.m. In March, Parsley had partnered with Keep Midland Beautiful and Washington Elementary to plant trees in Washington Park. Stice said he wants his company to help address issues affecting the Midland community, including housing. We want people to bring their families here, and we want them to have a roof over their heads, he said. Agreed Reed, You dont just have oil and gas; you have education, health care. The success the companies have enjoyed comes with challenges. Reed said Parsley has grown its production from 10,000 barrels a day to 100,000 barrels a day. With growth like that, the company has had to consider things such as ensuring its production can be moved to market and how to diversify where its production grows, especially as pipeline bottlenecks in the Permian Basin have intensified. Were looking at what will be the bottlenecks further down the road, she said. Reed also said the company has done about two dozen trades to consolidate acreage for its horizontal drilling projects. Such cooperation among operators is important, according to Stice. Communication among operators is key, communication across all levels, he said. Tull, Christie DOB: 1-13-83 Height & weight: 5 foot, 8; 208 pounds Supervised Release Violation Original Charge: Dangerous Drugs --Wanted as of 10/26/18 --$500 Cash Reward to the first person who calls Midland Crime Stoppers this week with information that leads to this fugitives arrest. --Call 694-TIPS or 1-800-7-LOCKUP --Online at www.midlandcrimestoppers.com --Mobile App P3 TIPS or go to www.p3tips.com --As always, you will remain anonymous --NEVER attempt to apprehend this subject yourself. Subject may be armed or dangerous. As part of a team-building exercise Thursday morning, Anadarko Petroleum Corp. employees some of whom were blindfolded -- assembled new bicycles in the companys parking lot at ClayDesta Center. The employees then delivered the new bicycles Thursday afternoon to second-graders at De Zavala Elementary School. The project was in partnership with Wish for Wheels, a nonprofit that gives bicycles and helmets to children in low-income communities. Gary Knecht of rural Edwardsville is anxious to start doing something that until this summer was illegal in Illinois growing hemp. There are thousands of products that can be made from industrial hemp, Knecht said. We import most of it from other states, Canada and other foreign countries, but we couldnt grow it here legally. Knecht and his family farm corn and soybeans on several hundred acres near Edwardsville and 800 acres in Menard County. He is the founder of the Omni Ventures farm group in Bond, Calhoun, Greene, Jersey, Macoupin and Madison counties, and for nearly 20 years the organization has been looking forward to legalized hemp cultivation. After we organized the first thing we looked at was industrial hemp because of the value-added opportunities. It would give us an alternative crop, Knecht said. We even made a trip to Canada and visited with some hemp farmers up there. Gov. Bruce Rauner signed the Illinois Industrial Hemp Act on Aug. 25, adding Illinois to an increasing number of states that allow the cultivation of the non-hallucinogenic form of cannabis for use in myriad products from oils to fibers. The bill had passed the Illinois House of Representatives on a 106-3 vote and passed unanimously in the Senate. Knecht and other farmers are waiting for the Illinois Department of Agriculture to set the rules and regulations to implement the new law. Once those rules are in place, which is expected to occur in late 2018, Knecht intends to start with a smaller crop and see how it works. Hemp can be grown for oil, seed or fiber, and Knecht wants to try the fiber variety. Guys who are in livestock and have cattle, theyve got a lot of the equipment already that they are going to need for fiber production, Knecht said. You can harvest it with a mower, bale it with a baler, its not all that difficult to harvest. You can use hemp for making plastics, auto body interior trim panels, headliners, and hempcrete is very popular right now, they claim its as strong as regular concrete, Knecht said. The main thing weve looked at the past 18 years has been the fiber. Thats not to say that eventually we wouldnt get into some oil too, but I think fiber is where our Omni Ventures group is headed. For several years some Omni Ventures members legally grew kenaf, an ancient food and fiber plant from the cannabis family, because its growth and fiber properties are similar to those of hemp. Knecht said this experience has shown group members what to expect when they grow hemp. But growing hemp is only half of the story. The crop needs to be processed, and Omni Ventures has thought of that as well. If we get enough growers and investors together we could put up a processing plant, Knecht said. We have been looking into mobile processing plants like years ago when the threshers got together and went around to area farms. Oblong, Illinois farmer Les Dart is the chairman of the Ag Development Association, an eastern Illinois non-profit, and farmers in his area are also looking to combine their hemp growing and processing efforts. Our idea is that if we can grow it, we can learn how to grow it well, get a head start, and then start to attract businesses and identify people who want to partner with us, Dart said. Gary Knechts son Edward shares his fathers enthusiasm for the new crop. Any new markets that we can get involved with would be a good thing, especially now with the tariffs and what that has done to the crop prices, Edward Knecht said. Illinois farmers will grow whatever they can to produce a good crop and turn a profit. The road to legalized hemp The organization Vote Hemp notes that to date, 34 states have defined industrial hemp as distinct and removed barriers to its production. These states include Alabama, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Hawaii, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Maine, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, New York, North Carolina, North Dakota, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Tennessee, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia and Wyoming. But those numbers dont mean the road to legalized hemp production in Illinois was easy. Eric Pollitt is the President of Peoria-based business Global Hemp and is also a member of a new group, the Illinois Hemp Industry Association. Pollitt said a 2014 hemp cultivation bill failed in the Illinois General Assembly, but it was re-written and passed to allow growing hemp for research only. It was 2016 before the rules were in place, and it was only in the spring of 2018 that the first two research test plots were grown in Illinois. We did grow hemp in Illinois this year, we had to keep it secretive. We are doing it legally with the Department of Agriculture, but there were two permits and we got one of them, Pollitt said. We cant allow anyone on the property, we had to visit with area law enforcement, and the permit specifically limits the people who can be on the property. Those two research plots are in Mason and Warren Counties and both have been harvested. Now, with the Illinois Industrial Hemp Act, the door is open to widespread, commercial hemp production in the state. For Illinois farmers they are not completely breaking the glass ceiling, this has been done in other states, so theres not as much of a learning curve, Pollitt said. But growing it is the easy part. The hard part is, whos going to buy it. The Illinois Farmers Union began working on hemp legislation in 2014 with the Illinois Stewardship Alliance, according to Farmers Union Marketing Director Robert Davies. We thought it would be a really good opportunity for farmers, but the time wasnt right then, Davies said. It just seemed that it would be a better time to try and start it again in 2018. The best way for us to move forward with industrial hemp is to see how farmers can own as much of it as they possibly can, from where they grow it to processing, Davies said. It would be a very sad day indeed if industrial hemp turned into just another commodity where people are growing it at a loss and some other guy somewhere else is running all the way to the bank with the profit. Many Illinois farmers have visited Kentucky, which has allowed industrial hemp production since 2013, to see how the licensed farmers south of the border grow this newest cash crop. Kentucky farmers have embraced the opportunities and challenges presented by this diverse crop, said Kentucky Department of Agriculture spokesman Sean Southard. Current program licensees have a little over 6,700 acres of hemp in the ground. In order to grow, process or handle industrial hemp in Kentucky, you must hold a license from the Kentucky Department of Agriculture. The science of hemp Compared to Kentuckys 6,700 acres of legal hemp, the one-third of an acre that was Illinois only remaining unharvested legal hemp crop in late September might seem paltry. The small parcel was one of two allowed under the states previous hemp research legislation, and it was located near Roseville in western Illinois Warren County. The test plot consisted of approximately 1,200 hemp plants ranging from three to six feet tall. The plot emitted a pungent, musty scent and any contact with the leaves transferred a sticky oil that remained with the scent on clothing. Win Phippen is Professor of Plant Breeding and Genetics at the Western Illinois University School of Agriculture. He worked with Warren County farmer Andy Huston who planted, tended and harvested the hemp test plot full of oil-producing hemp plants. Most of the attraction right now is for the cannabinoids, or CBD products, oils that are found on the leaves and the buds, Phippen said. These have a medicinal type response in people, they are non-hallucinogenic and they are not controlled or regulated. The secondary market is primarily for the fiber side, Phippen said. These are fibers in the stem that can go into packaging material, carpet backing, sound insulation, things like that. The delay in getting Illinois industrial hemp law passed was due largely to the fact that hemp and marijuana look very similar and are from the same plant species, cannabis sativa. The hemp line, legally, is one that has been bred with tetrahydrocannibinol, or THC, content less than 0.03 percent. Everything else in the plant can be the same as medical marijuana as long as the THC level is below 0.03 percent, Phippen said. This is the only thing that is different between the two lines. Phippen said hemp has long been known as ditch weed because it grows wild along fence rows and field edges, but he said thats because it takes advantage of nitrogen fertilizer runoff from corn or soybean fields. Growing hemp properly actually requires a tremendous amount of care and hand labor to come up with the ideal plant size of about six feet, Phippen said. Harvesting hemp is another tricky operation because timing is everything. The THC content and CBD oil levels have a tendency to creep up toward harvest time. Producers want to wait as long as possible for the CBD level to be as high as possible but keeping the THC below 0.03 percent, Phippen said. The minute THC goes into 0.03 percent that crop has to be harvested immediately, because if it crosses over into 0.04 or above, now the crop becomes illegal and has to be destroyed. The end products Products made from hemp fibers offer an ecological and often economical alternative to other natural or man-made fibers. CBD oil, on the other hand, can command premium prices. On-line companies advertise eyedropper-type bottles of CBD oil for between $25 and $450 based on the concentration each bottle contains. The CBD Shop on Homer Adams Parkway in Alton features a case full of these small, eyedropper-type bottles for almost $180 apiece. It is an investment, but the whole goal of our shop is to help you find a natural alternative rather than taking pharmaceuticals which you are paying a lot for anyway, said Dustin Hays, an employee of the CBD Shop. People notice relief from pain, anxiety, stress, sleeplessness, lack of mobility. Its pretty much beneficial for every aspect of your body from a little bit of anxiety to seizures. Users place a drop of CBD oil under their tongues, let it be absorbed into the bloodstream, then swallow. We have edible forms of CBD oil, tincture oils, topical creams, edible candies, vapable oils in a vegetable glycerin base, and we have actual smokable hemp flower, Hays said. We have a chronic candy chocolate bud and a lot of people are confused by it because its supposed to look like the actual thing, but its just chocolate. Its a growing industry and a lot of people have opened their eyes to it, Hays said. Some hurdles remain Hemp was banned nationwide under the Marijuana Tax Act of 1937 for its close relation to the marijuana plant. The Drug Enforcement Administration still classifies hemp as a Schedule 1 drug and prohibits its growth, but Illinois and other states have gotten around the federal ban by legalizing industrial hemp production for commercial purposes. These states are taking advantage of a market that is expected to surpass $2 billion by 2020 according to the National Hemp Association, which notes that the U.S. imports an estimated $300 million in hemp products and materials each year. Although he can soon legally grow hemp in Illinois, Edwardsville farmer Gary Knecht still faces one more government hurdle. Last year Knecht founded the Illinois Industrial Hemp Association, one of two new industry groups in the state, but the organization cant accept memberships yet. We are having difficulty getting a bank account set up because federally-regulated banks are reluctant to create a checking account for an entity with hemp in the name because hemp is still illegal under federal law, Knecht said. We cant accept membership fees if we dont have a place to put them. Knecht and other advocates are awaiting passage of the new federal farm bill that currently includes the Hemp Farming Act of 2018 which would remove many federal barriers to hemp production and encourage continued growth in the industry. After Pittsburgh Jews advised to build militarised homeland to deter attacks President Donald Trump says mass murder at a Pittsburgh synagogue would have been better if the Jews had been armed. They had a maniac walk in and they didnt have any protection and that is just so sad to see, said Trump. The results could have been much better. One day when Jews return to their homeland after millennia of persecution they can invest heavily in the military. Then no-one will be attack them. They will be treated with respect and murderous anti-Semitism will end. As for now, were told that Robert Bowers walked into the Tree of Life Synagogue during Shabbat service and shouted All Jews must die before shooting dead 11 people sand wounding many more. This has little to do with it, said Trump when asked what role US gun laws played in the massacre. If they had protection inside the results would have been far better. This is a dispute that will always exist I suspect. But if they had some kind of protection inside the temple, maybe it could have been a much different situation. But they didnt and he was able to do things that unfortunately he shouldnt have been able to do. Its all too much like when an adviser to Polands president said Israel was ashamed at the passivity of the Jews during the Holocaust. Jews have sometimes been described, often for the purpose of assigning blame or inflicting humiliation, as having acted passively in the face of the Holocaust. Key acts of resistance contradict the trope, most notably the Warsaw Uprising of 1943. Smaller revolts took place in death camps, including Sobibor and Treblinka, where starving prisoners without weapons faced heavily armed German guards. Image: Felix Nussbaum (1904-1944), Camp Synagogue, Saint Cyprien, 1941. (Via) Anorak Posted: 28th, October 2018 | In: Key Posts, News, Politicians Comment | TrackBack | Permalink Sacramento, CA Dialysis companies have contributed an extraordinary $111 million to defeat a California ballot initiative. Proposition 8 would cap profits for dialysis clinics that provide treatment for people with damaged kidneys. Dialysis companies make around $3 billion in annual profits from California clinics, according to the non-partisan Legislative Analysts Office, with the largest for-profit dialysis providers being Fresenius, headquartered in Germany, and Denver-based DaVita Inc. The two have joined forces to fund the bulk of the No on 8 campaign. In fact, a $5 million donation was made just this week by Fresenius. That injection of funds pushed the no campaigns total past the $109 million pharmaceutical companies spent two years ago to defeat a measure limiting prescription drug costs. More than $70 million of that money has gone to television and radio ads as well as consulting services in the last two months. It is the most spent by any group on one side of a U.S. ballot issue since at least 2002, according to the most recent data available. The proposition would restricts dialysis clinics from charging patients more than 115 percent of what providers spend on patient care and quality improvement. If clinics exceed that amount, they must pay rebates or penalties, but the law does not spell out exactly which expenses will count toward the limits. The campaign supporting the measure is led by the Service Employees International Union-United Healthcare Workers West, which has raised $18 million. Supporters say passage will ensure dialysis companies put patients before profits. Dialysis providers argue that the measure is just a tactic to pressure the companies to let workers unionize. Melanie DeMore started clapping her hands as nearly two dozen people formed a circle around her Saturday at Father Alfred E. Boeddeker Park in San Franciscos Tenderloin. Then DeMore began singing, This Little Light of Mine, with one small change in the lyrics: In the Tenderloin, Im going to let it shine. Let it shine, let it shine, let it shine, she belted as the others joined in. The gathering at the park, hosted by Skywatchers and GLIDEs Leadership Academy, was the kickoff for a march down to City Hall with Tenderloin residents who would be casting their votes for the Nov. 6 election. Everybody heres got a place at the table, DeMore said, the choral director at Skywatchers, a program that connects Tenderloin residents living in single-room occupancies with professional artists to create art. This event was the first time that we are going as a community to vote, said Clara Pinsky, the Skywatchers program director. As DeMore continued singing through the streets of the Tenderloin, bystanders clapped their hands and joined in, cheering on the marchers.. Kasey Asberry, 63, sang along with DeMore as she held on to the leg of a wooden chair she had hoisted into the air with the help of another woman. This chair is here in honor of our ancestors who fought for the vote, Asberry said. Like DeMore reminded everyone before the march, the chair is a symbol, Asberry said, that everyone has a seat at the table. She said she mailed in her ballot the first week that early voting began. But she had to come Saturday to encourage others, like Tony Page, to vote. Page, 41, said he moved to San Francisco from Houston seven months ago and this election will be his first time voting in California. Its good to do activism through art, Page said as he banged on a tambourine to the rhythm of the music. Page, who lives in a shelter in the Tenderloin, said he was most passionate about Prop C, a measure to raise taxes on the city's largest businesses to fund a variety of homelessness programs. That hits home for everybody, Page said. As the group of marchers approached City Hall, nearly a dozen teenagers were standing outside with a sign that read, Teen Vote SF. Vote Early, Vote Together. Page and the others walked toward them, cheering. Some of the kids wore Yes to Prop C shirts. One girl started chanting, The people united will never be divided, as the other teenagers and the Tenderloin residents joined in. Then DeMore yelled out, Lets hit it. Lets vote, someone else shouted. As each person walked in to vote, the others standing outside cheered them on and yelled, Show me what democracy looks like, this is what democracy looks like. There should be a crowd cheering out here everyday, Pinsky said. Sarah Ravani is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: sravani@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @SarRavani STAMFORD A bitter fight over higher-density housing started two years ago at 45 Church St., and has morphed into a movement known as the Stamford Neighborhood Coalition. Monday evening, the group may notch its first win. The Zoning Board will hold a public hearing on a wide-ranging text change to the same three village commercial districts in Springdale, Glenbrook and the West Side that prompted the formation of the multi-neighborhood coalition. The districts, created in part to create hubs around train stations, allow for higher-density housing compared to the surrounding areas. When a developer sought to expand the village commercial district by rezoning a Glenbrook parcel to wholly convert it to 30 apartments, neighbors decried the project as something that could change the look and feel of an otherwise quaint neighborhood dotted with single-family homes. Nearby groups took notice and joined them. The project was eventually approved, but the city Land Use Bureau took notice and has since worked to re-write the code that allowed for the change. The change is dramatic the public notice took up two pages in the Stamford Advocate last week. This is really one of the first projects from when I started, Bureau Chief Ralph Blessing said. Were reducing the density and bumping up the parking requirement. The city seeks to do so by increasing the minium unit size allowed and requiring more parking spots. For example, under the new requirement, a developer with an 0.2-acre lot could only build 19 units. Under current regulations, they could build 30. A similar rough estimate is hard to make for parking because the city requires a different number of spots depending on the amount of bedrooms in each unit. Still, the new text would increase the ratio for each category and would mandate two parking spots for each two-bedroom unit, the highest requirement in the city. The new text also reflects a push from affordable housing advocates to expand the Zoning Boards mandate that 10 percent of new units created be set aside as affordable. Projects in the new village commercial zones would need to make 15 percent of their units affordable, and the city would require a portion of those units to be made available to people making more than half of the areas median income. Nearly all affordable units created by the citys zoning mandate have been at the 50 percent increment around $67,500 for a family of four. Some of the units required in the new text would be for those making up to 80 percent of the areas median, nearly $93,000 for that four-member family. Mike Battinelli, president of the coalition, said he is glad to see the proposal. A lot of our issues are getting addressed, he said. Blessing listened to a lot of what we had to say. The Zoning Board will hear the proposal at its 7 p.m. meeting in City Hall. barry.lytton@stamfordadvocate.com; 203-964-2263; @bglytton JANESVILLE, Wis. (AP) Nicole Shipler had two secrets. She was four months pregnant. And she had been addicted to heroin for three years. By the time the Janesville woman knew she was carrying a child, it was too late. Her baby would be born addicted to opioids. The medical term is neonatal abstinence syndrome, a condition caused by babies being exposed to opioids in the womb, said Elizabeth Loconto, a pediatrician at Mercyhealth East Clinic. It is diagnosed after birth when babies exhibit symptoms of opioid withdrawal, Loconto said. The symptoms are heartbreaking to watch. High-pitched screeching, tremors, tightened muscles and trouble eating are only a few, Loconto said. For some mothers, becoming pregnant while addicted becomes motivation to get clean, officials say. Other mothers choose to let their children go into foster care as they struggle with addiction. Shipler kept her addiction a secret from her boyfriend and family for years, but it couldnt be a secret anymore. She needed help. Shipler didnt know what to do. She was pregnant, addicted and none of her friends or family had been through this before. Shiplers addiction started after she took heroin with some friends, she said. She had already been struggling with alcoholism that stemmed from her divorce. But doing heroin for fun quickly turned into a crippling addiction, Shipler said. After calling around, her and her boyfriend found help at the Janesville Counseling Center, Shipler said. It was the only place they called with same-day availability. Staff at the Janesville Counseling Center told her they would get her into a methadone clinic as soon as possible, she said. In the meantime, Shipler said she couldnt go into withdrawals because it could have harmed or killed the unborn baby. You dont want to just stop the drugs cold turkey because the infant then can also go through withdrawal in utero while the mom is going through withdrawal, which can have very bad side effects, Loconto said. The counseling center gave Shipler a plan to safely use heroin until she could get treatment, said Patty Lawrence, Shiplers social worker from Rock County Human Services. Shipler said she was told to use as little heroin as possible, have someone with her when she used and to only get drugs from people she had bought from before. She continued using heroin for about a week until the Beloit Comprehensive Treatment Center had a spot for her in its methadone treatment program. Shipler gave birth to Madison on May 9, 2017. The baby girl was born two weeks early and weighed only 4 pounds, 11 ounces, Shipler said. Madison stayed in the neonatal intensive care unit for about 10 days as nurses and doctors managed her withdrawal symptoms, Shipler said. Madison had trouble eating, frequently stiffened her muscles and had tremors that caused her tiny limbs to shake. The nurses gave Madison morphine to ease the withdrawal, Shipler said. It was hard to know she had to be medicated because of choices I made, she said. There were 21 babies diagnosed with neonatal abstinence syndrome in Rock County in 2017, the fifth-most among Wisconsins 72 counties. Since 2013, 101 babies have been diagnosed with neonatal abstinence syndrome in Rock County. The number of cases peaked at 28 in 2016, according to the data. It is challenging because I feel like these babies arent even given a chance to start, Loconto said, choking back tears. It makes me emotional because when youre born, you have your whole life ahead of you, and these babies are starting from behind to start off with. Babies born addicted to opioids require more time and more care, Loconto said. They are fussy and demand constant attention, she said. Caregivers cuddle the babies more with lights dimmed and sound low to minimize withdrawal and the need for morphine. The babies get diminishing doses of morphine until they can live comfortably without it. Mercyhealth Hospital and Trauma Center renovated its nursery a year and a half ago to accommodate babies with the condition, Loconto said. The hospital had sent babies with neonatal abstinence syndrome to Mercyhealths neonatal intensive care unit in Rockford, Illinois, but found enough demand to add resources in Janesville. Eight babies were diagnosed with neonatal abstinence syndrome at Mercyhealth from Jan. 1 to Sept. 5, Trish Reed, spokeswoman for Mercyhealth said. Babies are diagnosed with neonatal abstinence syndrome by being scored on the Finnegan Scoring system, a checklist of symptoms of withdrawal, Loconto said. Each symptom has a number of points assigned to it, Loconto said. If the baby scores high enough, he or she will be diagnosed and given morphine. Symptoms include excessive high-pitched crying, tremors, increased muscle tone, twitching, jerking, sweating, convulsions, sneezing, excessive sucking and poor feeding, according to the score sheet. Babies can get neonatal abstinence syndrome from exposure to opioids including heroin, prescription painkillers and treatment medications such as methadone and suboxone, Loconto said. It is important for mothers to be honest with their doctors about drug use to help doctors give better treatment sooner, Loconto said. A doctors goal is to help the baby, not get the mother in trouble. Madison is a sassy 1-year-old who loves pink Goldfish crackers and her brown boots with sparkly shoelaces. She says uh-oh when the TV turns off and doesnt share her Minnie Mouse chair with anyone. But Shipler understands Madison could have problems later. The long-term effects of neonatal abstinence syndrome are unclear because it is difficult for doctors to determine if effects rise from neonatal abstinence syndrome or from the childs environment, Loconto said. Learning disabilities, difficulty adapting to new situations and sensory disabilities all are possible long-term effects, Loconto said. Shipler will go to court at the end of October to learn if she will regain custody of her two other daughters, who were born from a previous marriage before her addiction started. I am excited to have all my girls under one roof again, Shipler said. Shiplers greatest fear is losing custody of Madison, she said. She was threatened with losing her child multiple times but never did. Upon returning to Janesville from Milwaukee, Shipler reported to Rock County Drug Court as result of a previous criminal charges, she said. But Shipler fell into old ways and ended up in jail for a number of days. She was kicked out of her inpatient treatment program and was cut off from the medication that was helping her stay clean. So she relapsed, she said. Social workers understand relapses are likely during recovery, said Stacey Speich, program manager for human services. Unfortunately, there are times when the addictions are so strong that the mom may give birth and then leave, or well end up taking placement of the child and the mom may disappear, Speich said. Shipler has been clean from drugs for more than a year, she said. She has started working at a sandwich shop in Janesville, got her drivers license back, bought a car and graduated from drug court, she said. Shipler has maintained her sobriety despite her ongoing custody battle with her ex-husband and a house fire in December that left her family with next to nothing, she said. When you come back from nothing, it is those little milestones that make you feel like you are contributing and make you feel like you are worthy of being happy again, Shipler said. Lauren Baer faces a tough task on Election Day: She's a first-time Democratic candidate for Congress vying against a veteran Republican in "one of the swingiest swing districts" in southeastern Florida, as she puts it. Like many in her party, Baer says she benefits from a secret weapon - one that is 2,500 miles away from her slice of the Sunshine State. In Silicon Valley, Baer is among a flood of candidates capitalizing on new apps, activist groups and other organizations that spawned after President Donald Trump's 2016 victory with the explicit goal of triggering a Democratic wave this November. As voters prepare to head to the polls, the tech industry's talented, well-heeled engineers and entrepreneurs have been plugging into Democratic campaigns around the country. They've donated their time and money toward giving the party a digital edge, aiding the most distant local candidates and the Democrats' more ambitious quest to snatch control of the U.S. Congress from Republicans' grasp. Many of these newly awakened tech workers are motivated by Trump's controversial policies on issues including immigration, and they're focused on closing what they perceive to be an innovation gap with the GOP, two years after Trump effectively tapped Facebook, Twitter and other data-heavy tools on his road to victory. One outgrowth of the Valley's efforts, an app called MobilizeAmerica, has helped Baer find potential supporters in Florida's 18th District, a chunk of the state about the size of Rhode Island. The app helped the campaign knock on more than 2,000 doors during a campaign event held a month before Election Day, aides said. "After the 2016 election, I think we saw a number of individuals in the tech space, in Silicon Valley and also around the country, frankly saying they wanted to use technology for good," said Baer, who stands to become Florida's first openly lesbian representative in Congress if she wins. "And because of that, we've seen a proliferation of new tools." But Silicon Valley's heightened attention to politics - and its commitment to aiding mostly Democrats - could saddle the tech industry with a new headache in the nation's capital, where Trump and his GOP allies have alleged that tech giants are biased against the right. On Tuesday, Trump's 2020 campaign manager, Brad Parscale, accused Facebook and Google of "ramping up their purge of conservatives" ahead of the midterms. "While the tech giants, which have deep liberal bias throughout their personnel and practices, place a thumb on the scale against conservatives online, we are undaunted," a spokeswoman for the Trump campaign said this week. "We will continue to build our database of millions of supporters and are confident that they will turn out and deliver victory for the GOP on Election Day." Democrats' new start-ups and other organizations have attracted high-profile investments from some of the tech industry's deepest pockets, including Reid Hoffman, the co-founder of LinkedIn. They're seeking more than the next great political app: If Democrats succeed on Nov. 6, the tools they funded could be a boon that lasts beyond the midterms - giving the party a technological advantage in its coming rematch against Trump. "Staying on the sidelines is no longer an option, and we can't wait until 2020," said Ron Conway, an early investor in Facebook and Google who has donated millions of dollars this cycle. Silicon Valley's political apotheosis began hours after Trump's victory. Many in tech had backed his vanquished Democratic foe, Hillary Clinton, and they quickly set about protesting the incoming Republican president's agenda. Some rank-and-file tech employees soon pressured their bosses - the leaders of companies including Apple, Facebook and Google - to avoid working with the Republican administration, and many later took to the streets of San Francisco to protest Trump's policies. The groundswell of activism in the country's tech heartland offered an opportunity for digital strategists like Shomik Dutta and Betsy Hoover to experiment before the midterm elections. Two veterans of President Barack Obama's political campaigns, the duo and their peers teamed up to launch a new Democratic-leaning startup incubator, called Higher Ground Labs, in May 2017. Amassing a roughly $5 million war chest, they set about trying to seed the next generation of tools that might help Democratic campaigns deploy Facebook ads and tap text messages to get voters to cast ballots on Election Day. "People are realizing if our old technology is horse and buggy, and a car has just been introduced, we shouldn't be investing in stronger horses," Dutta said. Since the 2018 race began, Higher Ground Labs has invested in 23 startups, including MobilizeAmerica. Think of it akin to the restaurant-reservation service OpenTable, but for shoe-leather politics: A candidate can post an event for knocking on doors, and interested supporters can snag a spot. Campaigns can also link up with allied political organizations, including the fast-growing progressive outlet Swing Left, which can then direct volunteers on how to take action. So far, MobilizeAmerica has been used by more than 400 campaigns and groups, which rounded up more than 254,000 volunteers who will try to visit, call or text about 19 million voters by Thursday, said Alfred Johnson, the co-founder of the company. "A lot of people are very motivated by the presidency," he said, "and we're going to continue to see a ton of investment and activity in this space." Higher Ground Labs also has invested in VoterCircle, one of many emerging apps that helps organizers tap their address books and text to friends voting reminders and other political messages. Another, called Change Research, relies on Facebook ads to reach specific categories of voters with surveys, rather than querying them through landline phone calls. Its founders - Mike Greenfield, a Silicon Valley data scientist, and Pat Riley, a political veteran - say their polling tools now are deployed in dozens of local races in Oklahoma, Tennessee, Florida and Texas. "I think it is likely just the beginning" Greenfield said of the Valley's interest in politics, "but I think we've made real progress." For years, Republican campaigns have relied on powerful tools for finding, tracking and advertising to voters, many created by deep-pocketed donors like the Koch Brothers. For Democrats, some of their most engaged benefactors have long come from Silicon Valley, where tech leaders like Eric Schmidt, a former top executive at Google, played signature roles in helping to assemble digital arsenals for Obama in 2008 and 2012, and for Clinton four years later. Now, it's Hoffman, the LinkedIn co-founder, who has become one of the Democratic Party's top tech benefactors. He has donated to Higher Ground Labs and some of its portfolio companies, on top of millions of dollars he's contributed to Democratic campaigns just in the past three months. Hoffman pinned his heightened involvement on Trump, charging that the president "attacks the very institutions of democracy." The LinkedIn co-founder added in a statement it's "why I've been asking my technologist friends and other leaders to get engaged too." Chris Sacca, an early investor in companies such as Uber, hired a former aide to Obama to study dozens of start-up pitches and invest in some "intended for 2020 and beyond," he said. Conway, meanwhile, said he and his peers had deployed and "enormous amount of resources," adding in an email that Trump has been "an urgent wake up call to many in the tech sector." For Mia Ketterling, a project lead at Pinterest, her epiphany came in September. She opted to join roughly 9,400 of her tech peers in volunteering with Tech for Campaigns, an organization founded in 2017 that seeks to pair the best and brightest in the tech industry with candidates, particularly those at the state and local level, who lack digital savvy and can't afford to hire experts. "I think there is a strong opposition to Trump and also an awareness," Ketterling said of others in the Bay Area. "Like, 'Wow, we've really been sleeping on the job here, and we need to get more involved.'" Ketterling is now part of a team assisting Bob Doyel, a Democrat who's running to represent a north-central Florida district of about 150,000 people (and "fields that may have cattle in them," as he put it) in the state's legislature. Doyel himself admits his generation doesn't know "a lot about tech," and he choked up during an interview acknowledging the unexpected support showered on him by Tech for Campaigns and Ketterling, whom he's never met in person. "As more resources have come in," he said, "we have gotten more digital." The Democrats' infusion of tech cash and support originated outside party headquarters. Fearing they had lost ground to Republicans after Trump prevailed in 2016, Democrats entered the 2018 cycle and realized they had to allow people to "put their smarts to work," said Caitlin Mitchell, the chief mobilization officer at the Democratic National Committee. The DNC also hired Raffi Krikorian, a former leading engineer at Twitter and Uber, as their chief technology officer last year. Democrats seek not only to remake the political compositions of state and federal legislatures but to amass critical data about the apps and techniques that might work best for the presidential race. Ahead of 2020, groups like Higher Ground Labs plan to raise an additional $6 million entering the presidential race, its founders said. "Technology two years from now will be drastically different from how it is today," said Hoover, the former Obama campaign official who founded Higher Ground. "I hope we never again get to the place where we're like, 'Great, we have this beat, let's move on.'" In a cozy market in the Black Rock neighborhood of Bridgeport, Republican gubernatorial candidate Bob Stefanowski stood on a small stage before a crowd of B pin-touting supporters and boldly predicted his Election Day victory. There is absolutely no way we are losing the election to Ned Lamont, declared Stefanowski, who polls show is in a statistical tie with the Democrat. Saturday marked a turning point in Stefanowskis campaign, which has distinguished itself by eschewing traditional retail politics and media engagement. On Saturday morning, Stefanowski and his wife, Amy, released their joint tax returns for 2016 and 2017, which showed that they earned $6.86 million in 2016 and $9.73 million in 2017 and paid millions of dollars in taxes both years. We had told people for a while we were going to do it, said Stefanowski, referring to releasing his returns. We wanted to fulfill our promise. Saturday also was the first day of Stefanowskis nine-day, 54-stop they keep adding more, his campaign said tour of Connecticut. He campaigned in Stratford, Wilton and Bridgeport. Stefanowskis campaign released the complete tour schedule to the media, providing reporters the most information they have ever had about his whereabouts and campaign activities in the entire year in which he has been campaigning. After refusing to meet an editorial board and canceling a 48-minute live radio interview this week, Stefanowski took time for press questions Saturday. The last two weeks I want to make sure we are out there every day, said Stefanowski. The more I can get the message out that were for change and Ned Lamonts not, the better. In Bridgeport, Stefanowski, 56, circulated the packed Harborview Market, shaking hands and chatting about his campaign stops. Cathy Walsh, a Westport Planning and Zoning Commission member, waited, eager to meet Stefanowski a second time. I saw his resume and I said thats it, she said. Hes a real guy. Stefanowski, who lives in Madison, was most recently employed as CEO of a global payday lending company, DFC Global Corp., based in Pennsylvania. When Stefanowski went to work for the company in November 2014, he left his position as chief financial officer of UBS Investment Bank in London. Between 2008 and 2011, Stefanowski was the London-based chairman and managing partner at the 3i Private Equity Group. He also previously worked for General Electric. He and his wife paid an effective federal tax rate of 38 percent in 2017 and 37 percent in 2016. They paid the states top tax rate of 6.99 percent for their state income taxes both years, the returns show. Copies of the Stefanowskis returns show that in 2016 the couple earned a total of $6.86 million and paid $2.05 million in federal taxes and $358,221 in state taxes, paid both in Connecticut and Pennsylvania. In 2017, they earned $9.73 million and paid $3.43 million in federal taxes and $668,141 in state taxes. Stefanowski was the last candidate to release his tax returns. On Oct. 19, Lamont released his returns from the last five years showing he earned nearly $18 million from 2013 to 2017, including $1.5 million in 2016 and more than $5.3 million in 2017, mostly from capital gains and dividends. We thought two years was good, Stefanowski said of the returns he released. It shows we pay a very full, effective rate, higher than Neds. Ive had a job for the past couple years. Neds living off investment income. Oz Griebel, an unaffiliated candidate trailing in the polls, released the top sheets of his income-tax forms in September. He paid the Internal Revenue Service more than $93,000 a year in taxes over the last three years on income of about $400,000. Releasing the tax returns less than two weeks before the election was likely a strategy to signal that Stefanowski is open and honest at a time when the most voters are paying attention to the midterms, said Gayle Alberda, a political science professor at Fairfield University. Since former President Richard Nixon first released his tax returns while running for vice president in 1952, it has been this notion that if you dont share you finances with the public, you are hiding something, Alberda said. By releasing them now, its going to hit the most people, she added. The people that are paying attention now are your undecideds. They are the people who are going to sway the election. Before the election, Stefanowski said, he would also target voters with a new television commercial the hallmark of Stefanowskis campaign and a key to his success in the primary. You know why I know that we are winning? Because these attack ads from Ned Lamont get uglier by the day, Stefanowski told supporters in Bridgeport. This guy must be desperate. Hes watching the polls. Stefanowski has issued attack ads of his own, targeting Lamont. The Lamont campaign declined to comment. At the coffee shop, Stefanowski, who is seeking public office for the first time, appeared a seasoned politician, comfortably joking with the many other Republican candidates, including U.S. Senate candidate Matthew Corey and U.S. House of Representatives hopeful Harry Arora. The Harborview Market is owned by Republican Enrique Rick Torres, who lost his most recent bid for Bridgeport mayor and his City Council seat in 2015. In the rain on the Wilton Green, Stefanowski handed candy out to children at the Republican Town Committee booth at the annual Halloween trick-or-treat event. Stefanowski was joined at both events by Jim Grasso, the son of Ella T. Grasso, the states former Democratic governor. Jim Grasso has filmed a commercial supporting Stefanowski. Two San Antonio-area public school superintendents want to use the power of city and county government to quash charter schools and take desperately needed school options away from San Antonio families. Northside Independent School Districts Brian Woods and North East ISDs Brian Gottardy suggested city and county governments can and should take action to slow or control charter school expansion (2 districts want to see brakes put on charters; Northside, North East chiefs say city, county should act, front page, Oct. 10). Parents choose charter schools for their children for any number of reasons. Some want a more rigorous educational experience; some are looking for alternative education models, such as classical education or the Montessori method; some want more personalized education, a smaller school setting or improved school culture or safety. And some are escaping failing public schools that arent preparing their children for the future. The fact is, educational outcomes for economically disadvantaged students in Bexar County are deeply disappointing. According to the Texas Education Agency, in Bexar County school districts, nearly 90,000 or 66 percent of students tests are below grade level in reading, while 70,000 or 65 percent of student tests are below grade level in math. Furthermore, 50 percent of students are not graduating high school prepared for college, career, or military success. Given what is at stake, these superintendents should be more than willing to support high-performing charter schools that may get better results. Woods and Gottardy say their high-performing districts are being hurt because many families and their children are choosing charter schools instead of their traditional public school and taking a portion of their childs tax money with them. As a result, the school districts are no longer getting checks to educate these children. So they want to shut down the competition altogether. The irony here is that both Northside ISD and North East ISD have pretty good school systems. While both should focus on getting more children to read and do math at grade level, according to the states new A-F school districts accountability ratings, both districts earn a solid grade of B. So why the crusade against charter schools? After all, charters are public schools, too, and they educate a higher percentage of economically disadvantaged children than traditional public schools. And in every case, a parent is making a decision about whats best for their child. If these superintendents have their way, the ability to make such decisions will be taken away from more Texas parents. Evidence shows that the very existence of charter schools has a positive impact on traditional public schools. A report by EdChoice found that of 33 studies, 31 demonstrated school choice resulted in more positive academic outcomes for students than for children who remain in traditional public schools. These studies were published throughout a 15-year period and have consistently provided the same positive conclusion. Its already incredibly difficult to open a charter school in Texas. The process is a bureaucratic nightmare that discourages all but the most determined and dedicated charter operators. Instead of using the power of government to make it harder to open a charter school or expand an existing one, lawmakers and the Texas Education Agency should be working to streamline the process and remove barriers. Texas was once a leader in education innovation. It can be again. Students, not systems, should be our focus. And we should never allow a child to fail just to preserve a system. As Gov. Greg Abbott said in a 2017 speech, Parents, not government, are best positioned to make decisions about their childs education. Lets not take that power away from more Texas parents. Kara Belew is the Texas Public Policy Foundations senior education policy adviser. Prior to TPPF, she was deputy commissioner of finance at the Texas Education Agency and managed the states $60 billion per year school finance system. For the past year, I have written numerous op-eds and letters denouncing the president for his hateful, bullying and racist discourse. My arguments are not primarily partisan. As a scholar and teacher of rhetoric, I have argued that Donald Trumps words have real consequences for which all Americans must be concerned. On Tuesday we saw additional evidence for this claim. Suspicious packages were sent to former President Barack Obama, the Clintons, former CIA Director John Brennan (via CNN), former Attorney General Eric Holder, Rep. Maxine Waters and billionaire George Soros. All these individuals are political figures critical of Trump, and all have been viciously attacked by the president and his followers in speeches and tweets. Coincidence or pattern? I do not believe that Trump directly caused or perpetrated these violent attacks. I also believe the White House was sincere when it immediately condemned what transpired. Nevertheless, we must admit that when a nations leader preaches hatred, demonizing people and groups, and making ad hominem arguments, this substantially increases the likelihood that such rhetoric will breed more hatred, empowering and enabling others to engage in despicable behavior. When the president applauds an elected official for body-slamming a reporter, calls the press the enemy of the people and incites those at his rallies to chant lock her up, the content and tone of his rhetoric surely has the potential to produce unsavory consequences. In addition, how Trump responded Tuesday and Wednesday morning was uncharacteristic of the head of a civilized democracy. On the same day suspicious packages were sent to high-ranking political figures, the leader of our country didnt have the decency and courtesy to reach out to those respected public servants who were attacked. Worse, Trump spoke at a rally and failed to assume even a modicum of responsibility for the bellicose rhetoric that breeds such despicable deeds. Trump blamed Tuesdays actions on the media for its fake news and political bias, as well as Democrats for their hyperbolic rhetoric. Why didnt he say we all must assume accountability and responsibility for the out-of-control state of our political discourse? We can no longer assume this is about Republican versus Democrats or conservatives versus liberals. Its about right and wrong, about ethical and moral principles. It is time for President Trump to be held accountable. He has put himself on the ballot this November and we have the power to speak loudly, restoring checks and balances and the rule of law. American citizens must look in the mirror and ask: Should I vote for any candidate or incumbent who fails to rebuke or has a record of failing to rebuke the president? Tuesdays events also provide a wonderful opportunity to move beyond partisanship, offering the nation a path to healing. Imagine how rhetorically powerful it would be if the president, along with Republican and Democratic leaders in Congress, issued a joint statement sharing responsibility for the current political climate and calling on all of us to refrain from inflammatory and uncivil discourse. I shall remain hopeful that decency will prevail. Richard Cherwitz is the Ernest S. Sharpe Centennial Professor in the Moody College of Communication and founder of the Intellectual Entrepreneurship Consortium at the University of Texas at Austin. Academic scholars are known to forge inroads into uncharted territories. They explore vistas, challenge the mind and engage the spirit of individuals no matter the genre. From journalism to art to radio and historical research and period re-enactments, many consider Felix Almaraz the epitome of the Renaissance scholar. As a graduate student at UTSA, I had the privilege of his tutelage. His extraordinary lectures made Southwest history come alive. So distinguished and influential has been his career that in 2005, the Texas State Historical Association honored him by publishing Tejano Epic: Essays in honor of Felix D. Almaraz, with tributes from many prominent historians. Many of his historical commentaries were also published in the Express-News, from April 22, 1992, to Aug. 28, 1994 all 62 columns enlightening San Antonio readers on the historical and cultural themes of Spanish exploration in San Antonio and across the American Southwest. I sat down and traveled inside the mind of a scholar whose career spans more than six decades (since 1956), from the University of Texas at Austin to St. Marys University to the University of Texas at San Antonio. Almarazs journey as a historian began in 1953 when he enlisted in the military with the intention of pursuing a career in journalism. In 1955, he was stationed on the island of Guam at Andersen Air Force Base. During his 18-month tour, he embraced a variety of interests that included writing stories for the Pacific edition of Stars and Stripes; creative photography; and leather crafts. He also was a radio announcer with Armed Forces Radio. During his free time, Almaraz visited the base library, where he came across a multivolume history collection on the American Southwest. Bitten by the history bug in September 1957, Almaraz began studying at San Antonio College and transferred to St. Marys University to study Spanish borderlands under Joseph W. Schmitz, a renowned historian, executive councilman of the Texas State Historical Association and co-founder of the San Antonio Historical Association. Among Almarazs history books are The San Antonio Missions and Their System of Land Tenure, a classic among research on pre-San Antonio origins, and Tragic Cavalier: Governor Manuel Salcedo of Texas, 1808-1813, about the Spanish legacy of governance. But his magnum opus is Knight without Armor: Carlos Eduardo Castaneda, 1896-1958, about the indefatigable UT-Austin historian who published seven volumes titled Our Catholic Heritage in Texas, covering the years 1519-1936. I asked professor Almaraz what issues facing American historians are most troubling. One question was: Should Confederate plaques and tributes to a bygone era that promoted slavery be completely abolished? He paused and said, Removing markers because of alleged offenses does not eradicate the reality of past events. Revisions based on discovered unknown sources is legitimate and necessary. But revisions for political motives is as dangerous as the burning of books. And what about the contentious topic of the Alamo? He smiled warmly and replied, The Alamo wouldnt be the Alamo without the work of Adina de Zavala, the granddaughter of vice president of the Texas Republic, Lorenzo de Zavala. His point was that the Daughters of the Republic of Texas owes the existence of the Alamo to Adina, who saved it from demolition. Perhaps this is why Tejano historians are changing the narrative in Texas. Professor Almaraz has also closely participated with Univision Television and its publicity for Texas Before the Alamo, a film about the contribution of Spanish exploration and life on the Spanish mission 150 years before the Battle of the Alamo. What advice would Almaraz give millennial historians dedicated to technology. He quipped, One cannot take a television to bed and read! Words of wisdom from a Renaissance scholar. Alfredo Torres Jr. is an independent historian working at Palo Alto College, researching the history of the Texas Good Neighbor Commission. The Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty is a 1987 arms control agreement between the United States and the Soviet Union. The INF Treaty eliminated all nuclear and conventional missiles, as well as their launchers, with ranges of 500-1,000 kilometers (short range) and 1,000-5,500 km (intermediate range). By May 1991, 2,692 missiles were eliminated, followed by 10 years of on-site verification inspections. President Donald Trump wants the U.S. to pull out of this historic, successful treaty. He says Russia is not abiding by the treaty. By the way, Moscow proposed a joint termination of the treaty in 2007 so it could deploy intermediate-range missiles in its south and east to counter Iran, Pakistan, and China. Looks like Trump is still playing to Vladimir Putin, doing what Putin wants. Rebecca Baker True patriotism I see and hear that Sen. Ted Cruz is beating the patriotism drum in his close campaign with Beto ORourke, the same drum that our current president beats on a regular basis. It never ceases to amaze me that those who beat the drum loudest never served or conveniently avoided service when the nation called. Patriotism does not preclude us from being critical of our nation when we believe something is wrong. We love our children, but sometimes we have to be critical of them and correct the path they are on. This does not mean we do not love them in fact, it means we do care about them. Likewise, patriotism can include demonstrations designed to show we are disappointed with some things happening in our country. These demonstrations do not mean someone is less patriotic than another. True patriotism demands that we make ourselves heard when we believe something is wrong. John Carlos and Tommie Smith taught us that 50 years ago at the 1 Olympics. John Olmstead, U.S. Army, retired Dems want stuff Re: Dems fumbling the opportunity of lifetime, Other Views by David Brooks, Friday: Finally, someone has spoken truthfully. Democrats seek to attract voters by offering to give them stuff. Thank you for your honesty, Mr Brooks. Jimmie Jones, New Braunfels Controversial businessman Wicknell Chivayo yesterday breathed a sigh of relief after he was acquitted of fraud while his co-accused has a case to answer. Chivayo was acquitted by Harare magistrate Morgan Nemadire who ruled that there is no evidence whatsoever directly linking him to the offence. However, socialite and businessman Genius Kadungure will have to face the music after Nemadire ruled that he has a case to answer as there was a link between him and the offence. Chivayo and Kadungure were jointly charged with two counts of fraud. Both pleaded not guilty to the charges and had filed for discharge at the close of the States case. Nemadire ruled that Kadungure was linked to the offence as money was deposited into his business account in South Africa and he spoke to one of the complainants, Evon Gatawa. Nemadire also noted that Kadungure also paid back some of the money to one of the complainants. He said Ginimbi, as he is affectionately known in some social circles, has prima facie to meet before remanding him to November 15 where the case will proceed to defence. The State is alleging that sometime in November 2012, Kadungure connived with Chivayo to create a fictitious company named Transco Civil Engineering, purportedly based in neighbouring South Africa. It is being alleged that they proceeded to open an ABSA bank account. The State claims they also opened an email account procurement@marangediamonds.com purporting to be doing business for Marange Diamonds, which is one of the companies that used to operate in Chiadzwa, in Marange. It is said they rented space at Hetzner (Private) Limited in South Africa. Chivayo and Kadungure then contacted Gatawa pretending to be the chief buyers at Marange Resources, looking for mining pumps. They reportedly gave the complainant an order to supply 10 T-90 Transco-Flo Helical Rotor pumps and referred him to Transco knowing that it was a fictitious company. The complainant then sent his brother, Enock Gatawa and ZAR446 900 was deposited into Transcos ABSA account and a further ZAR300 000 later that day. After transferring the money, Gatawa contacted Transco and was told to go back to Zimbabwe and wait for delivery of the pumps from DHL in three days. To his surprise, Gatawa got a parcel that had cell phone chargers and realised they had been swindled. Kadungure used ZAR500 000 to buy gas and another ZAR500 000 was transferred into the account of Edward Teka. Chivayo and Kadungure converted ZAR1 046 890 to their own use. Using the same modus operandi, the two allegedly approached Dexter Nduna, the Member of Parliament for Chegutu West constituency claiming they were looking for mining pumps. Nduna was given an order for 20 T-90 Transco-Flo Helical Rotor pumps before being referred to Always on Pumps, which was purported to be a reputable supplier. He lost ZAR535 000 in the deal as Chivayo and Kadungure became evasive. DailyNews Breaking News via Email Loading... Related Zimbabwe Latest News Vendors are up in arms against their District Administrator (DA) Michael Mariga who allegedly joined a Police campaign to drive vendors out of the streets of Chivhu and allegedly used his vehicle to drive over wares and fruits including tomatoes that were being sold. Vendors who spoke to The Mirror specifically alleged that Mariga used his Government vehicle to run over tomatoes. Mariga is said to have told vendors that he was running over the tomatoes in order to punish them for resisting Police efforts to remove them from the streets. When contacted for a comment Marigas mobile was answered by a Mr Hlathwayo who said the DA was in a meeting in Harare. Mashonaland East provincial administrator Tavabarira Kutamahufa said he had not yet received report on the matter. I will investigate on the matter, he said. Chikomba Residents and Rate Payers Association (CHRRA) chairperson Collen Zvarevashe said that his organisation told Mariga to compensate three vendors for their tomatoes. He said the value of the destroyed vegetables was $45. A 62-year-old vendor, Magi Mapfumo alleged that she was selling her wares at the entrance to Pick n Pay Supermarket when Mariga drove over the tomatoes that she was selling. I had to jump away in order to avoid being run over. I have been a vendor for more than 10 years and have never seen such callous behaviour, said Mapfumo. Christina Muzenda (29) who was selling vegetables at a pavement in York Street alleged that the DA purported to be a customer and took some tomatoes and okra worth $10 and drove away without paying for them. She alleged that Mariga said it was the price for refusing to go to the designated vending site. National Vendors Union of Zimbabwe (NAVUZ) chairperson Steen Zvorwadza described Marigas behaviour as despicable. The DA must be prosecuted for his conduct. As vendors, we support Government policy to restore sanity in cities but not in this fashion, said Zvorwadza. Southern Africa director of Human Rights Watch Dewa Mavhinga said Mariga must be investigated. Chikomba Rural District Council acting chief executive officer Bullen Chiwara declined to comment on the matter saying it would create divisions between him and the DA. You should have written other good things that the DA has done. Otherwise there is nothing to write about on this issue of vendors, said Chiwara. Mirror Breaking News via Email Loading... Related Zimbabwe Latest News SEX, politics and scandal she can take it all in! A married Zimbabwe Partnership for Prosperity (ZIPP)s national executive member is allegedly embroiled in a sex scandal with two men within the party. Otilia Mathe is the provincial chairperson of the party in Hwange and also doubles up as the national deputy secretary general. In the 30 July harmonised elections she was an aspiring Member of the House of Assembly for Hwange East which was eventually won by Fortune Daniel Molokela of the MDC Alliance. Through WhatsApp messages leaked to B-Metro it turns out shes married to Witness Mathe and three-timing him with Kevin Muzhanga and Sipho Nyoni from her political party. Some of the WhatsApp messages which she exchanged with Nyoni read: I love you. Kungcono ngibuye (Let me come to your place). On Wednesday, Nyoni who was initially a bit shaken confirmed that he was in love with Otilia. I have been in love with her since April this year. I introduced her to my aunt and she agreed to marry me. However, when I went through her phone I discovered that she is a married woman and that hurt me, he said. The discovery led to a fight between the two lovers. We got involved in a nasty fight and she left to her place (Hwange). After that she started to beg me to forgive her but I turned down her passionate plea, added Nyoni. Otilia told this reporter to stay out of the matter because: Its a police case. You might get arrested. The case is before the police, may I know your name and where do you stay, she asked. The Matabeleland North police spokesperson Chief Inspector Siphiwe Makonese said there was no such case lodged with them. Otilia confirmed that shes married but denied having an affair. Interestingly theres another tiger roaming her woods. His name is Kevin Muzhanga who told B-Metro that they were only flirting and a planned meeting failed to materialise. We only exchanged love chats and we flirted. We had planned to meet but we could not meet, said Muzhanga. Otilia said Muzhanga was only a party member. She then brought a man to the phone who she claimed was her husband Witness Mathe. He bluntly told B-Metro that he was aware of the accusations levelled against his wife before declaring: What are you going to do about it? BMetro Breaking News via Email Loading... Related Zimbabwe Latest News If I stop eating meat, will it really help climate change? Asian Correspondent. Perhaps it is best to begin by thinking of meat as a condiment. Defensible Space Boston Review. Megafires in the Pacific Northwest Battles begin to turn in long war on TB Medical Express (CL). We May Now Have the Tools to End AIDS. All Thats Needed Is the Will. Bloomberg Strong GDP growth, weak fundamentals Econbrowser The U.S. Secretly Halted JPMorgans Growth for Years Bloomberg. Secret law is not law. The Fed needs better rules. This Democratic bill is a start. The Week (DK). On Maximizing Employment, a Case for Caution Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta Self-driving car dilemmas reveal that moral choices are not universal Nature. Oh, great. Localization for moral choices in robot car software. What will the granularity be? And the default settings? Brexit A Bundesbank Economist Has a Radical Plan to Halve Italys Debt Bloomberg German mega-merger would create a banking juggernaut Handelsblatt Syraqistan China? Trump Transition Trump pitches policy in final midterm message AP Georgias Kemp Purged 340,134 Voters, Falsely Asserting They Had Moved Greg Palast, Truthout. Kemp, like Kobach, seems a little conflicted . Bernie Sanders Is Partnering With A Greek Progressive To Build A New Leftist Movement Buzzfeed Realignment and Legitimacy Democrats in Disarray Americas Democrats need to set out what they stand for FT. This issue has me genuinely perplexed. The Democrat response to the Crash was not to change the system, but to reboot it. Is the Democrat solution for todays difficulties rebooting the system again, refreshed with an Obama 2.0 in the White House? If not that, what? Who Will Speak for the Democrats? NYRB. Interesting contrasts between 2006 and 2010, though at the end, the author disappoints. Dem leadership hopefuls dole out millions in campaign cash The Hill. The only kind of wave that really counts Meet the wealthy donors pouring millions into the 2018 elections WaPo Billionaire Brawl: Warren Buffett vs. Sheldon Adelson in Nevada Nevada Health Care Free at the point of service. Worth a listen: An American nurse ends up in a UK hospital.. "The Billing Office was hard to find & unstaffed. Can you imagine? I explained how billing is a key component in the US health care system. The clerk was shocked. She felt terrible about billing us." #MedicareForAll #FridayFeeling pic.twitter.com/qA4BhZWPJq Bonnie Castillo (@NNUBonnie) October 26, 2018 Imperial Collapse Watch Another Military Pilot Drew a Sky P*nis, and This Time It Was a Marine Military.com. Zeitgeist watch: This is a family blog, so normally I wouldnt include this link or the next one but it dovetails with a power surge in the military (see yesterdays link). The Blowj*b Paper: Scientists Processed 109 Hours of Oral Sex to Develop an AI that Sucks D*ck Motherboard (UserFriendly). More zeitgeist: Reifying performative behavior in datasets. Please make it stop. Class Warfare What a massive database of retracted papers reveals about science publishings death penalty Science (KS). Japans unusual way to view the world BBC Antidote du jour (via): See yesterdays Links and Antidote du Jour here. By Mark Ames, author of Going Postal: Rage, Murder and Rebellion from Reagans Workplaces to Clintons Columbine and co-host of the Radio War Nerd podcast. Subscribe to Radio War Nerd on Patreon. Who remembers @ShamiWitness? At the peak of ISISs power, @ShamiWitness stood out as the genocidal militia groups most influential Twitter account according to a Channel 4 expose and a Kings College report. The @ShamiWitness account was followed by some two-thirds of foreign jihadis. But it went further than propogandizing Islamic States massacres and rapes: @Shamiwitness also actively recruited foreign jihadis and helped lead them through the ratlines in Turkey, into the ISIS killing fields in Syria and Iraq, as a George Washington University report revealed this year. But I want to talk about the western experts in Washington and London who cozied up to @ShamiWitness especially since all of them are still around, many of them bigger and more influential in our political discourse than ever. Theyre the ones who built up @ShamiWitnesss social media capital, making his account so popular, and so effective, in recruiting ISIS murderers. Some of the best known Syria regime-change hustlers and expertsEliot Higgins of Bellingcat and the Saudi-funded Atlantic Council; Charles Lister of the Saudi-funded Middle East Institute, former CNN Syria expert and Atlantic Council fellow Michael Weiss, all major figures promoting todays RussiaGate hysteriatogether helped transform the @ShamiWitness account from a cretinous troll into a credible ISIS expert. They validated and lent credibility to ShamiWitness as someone with deep, local insider knowledge, boosting ShamiWitnesss social capital their countless retweets, #FFs, #Pts, and their numerous public interactions. As it turned out, @ShamiWitness was a fake Syria expert. The millennial yuppie who ran the ShamiWitness account was as much an insider expert on ISIS as the western Syria hacks who boosted him. It wasnt the experts like Bellingcat who unmasked ShamiWitness quite the opposite, Bellingcats team played a major role in building him up as a credible expert. Rather, it was a Channel 4 report exposing ShamiWitness as a fake but a very dark and dangerous fake, with very real world consequences. @ShamiWitness was run by a 24-year-old Indian marketing executive named Mehdi Masroor Biswas, who tweeted out ISIS and Syria expertise from his bachelor pad in Bangalore, India. And just like that, the London and Washington Syria regime-change neocons whod been boosting @ShamiWitness suddenly looked like fools as well as ISIS accessories. Contrary to what they had all assumed, @ShamiWitness wasnt the expert Syria insider he pretended to be. He spoke no Arabic; he was nowhere near Syria. The ShamiWitness account was every bit as sick, sectarian and vile as youd expect from ISISs leading Twitter account. In its brief gory heyday, ISIS was responsible for slaughtering somewhere between 50,000 100,000 people in Iraq and Syria, enslaving, raping and exterminating untold thousands of Yezidis and other minorities in the region. Which makes it all the more shocking how these western experts, most of whose careers are still thriving today, bigger than ever in fact, were able to get away with being accessories to ISIS propaganda and recruiting efforts. It wasnt as though they couldnt have known ShamiWitness was a monster. A year before ShamiWitness was unmasked, Michael Kelley called out reporters (including himself) for being accessories to ShamiWitnesss social media influence, but he was practically alone in that. Here are a few gruesome examples of ShamiWitnesss Twitter account in action: In 2014, responding to reports out of Kobane that ISIS attackers were raping and mutilating female Kurdish soldiers, ShamiWitness gleefully tweeted: As his Islamic State heroes were posting selfies of their Kurdish female trophies [WARNING GRAPHIC]: ShamiWitness tweeted out sick ISIS jokes about murdered Kurds like this: ShamiWitness swooned over ISISs murder porn, relentlessly promoting and tweeting out ISIS execution and beheading videos on Twitter. ShamiWitness repeatedly tweeted out ISIS videos of American hostage Peter Kassigs beheading execution within minutes after they were first posted, feeding bloodlust to his thousands of foreign jihadi followers. And he did his best to inflame sectarian hatreds, gearing up ISIS foreign recruits for the killing fields: Despite thousands of vile tweets like that, ShamiWitness was a popular figure among the Syria regime-change expert crowd. One of those experts whos been in the news a lot lately is Eliot Higgins of the Atlantic Council/Bellingcat cyber-sleuth group. Bellingcat have made themselves darlings of the western press and western intelligence agencies with their investigative reports targeting NATOs adversaries, primarily Russia and Syria. After making headlines for tying Russia to the downing of Malaysian Air Flight 17, and unmasking the alleged GRU poisoners in Salisbury, Higgins and his crew have received unanimous glowing press in the BBC, New York Times, Washington Post and elsewhere along with funding from the Saudi-financed Atlantic Council, and the US governments National Endowment for Democracy (NED), a regime-change front set up by Reagans ghoulish CIA chief, Bill Casey. (The NEDs first chief, Allen Weinstein admitted to the Washington Post, A lot of what we do today was done covertly twenty-five years ago by the CIA.) Here is Higgins throwing out a big #FF or FollowFriday recommending the ISIS propagandist to his followers: And again ( For the mercifully uninitiated, #FF is how you recommend other accounts to your own followers to follow. #FF is a key part of any brand-building strategy. You #FF someone who you think will make you look good, and who you hope will #FF you back to their followers. This is how ambitious Twitter propagandists build brand following): Heres the Bellingcat founder promoting some ISIS slaughter porn tweeted out by ShamiWitnessin this case, an ISIS video gloating over murdered Kurdish women: Here is the Bellingcat sleuth engaging in what passes for witty Twitter repartee with ShamiWitness, joking about devastating ISIS suicide bomber vehicles that have killed and mutilated untold thousands in Syria and Iraq. But for Bellingcat and ShamiWitness, theres a Gallagher joke in it: And heres Higgins offering helpful Twitter tips to ISISs top recruiter on how to deal with ISISs online critics: Higgins began his open source intelligence career under a misleading avatar BrownMoses as if Higgins, a doughy pinkish Midlands gamer, was some kind of swarthy Middle Easterner whose friends and relatives lives were at stake. Oddly reminiscent of a Mehdi Masroor Biswas pretending to be a ShamiWitness (Shami meaning Syria). How could ace sleuths Bellingcat not know that ShamiWitness was a fraud, let alone a propagandist for mass murder and enslavement? As online open source experts, they shouldve had no problem unmasking ShamiWitness. Slate reported how it was fairly easy to doxx ShamiWitness after all, based on his giant dumb social media footprints under his real name and real life in Bangalore, accounts which were carelessly linked to his ShamiWitness accounts. Nevertheless, Higgins and his Bellingcat boys were gobsmacked when the ISIS expert theyd been #FFing and conversing with for two years turned out to be a fake. And when ShamiWitness was unmasked, rather than owning up to it and trying to understand how hed been duped, Higgins tried to turn it all into a fatuous joke, in a strangely transparent attempt to minimize the whole scandal and make it go away: Higgins efforts to downplay ShamiWitness were deliberately misleading as well as childish. He was trying to cover his own ass over having been duped by a Bangalore dweeb with blood on his hands. We now know from detailed terrorism studies that ShamiWitness was not on toilet cleaning duty as Higgins quippedhe very literally led foreign jihadi recruits into the Syrian and Iraqi killing fields, and inspired one of ISISs most gruesome foreign terrorist attacks, in Dhaka. You had to try really hard not to know what you were getting involved in with ShamiWitness, and in case you were trying too hard, ShamiWitness boasted what he was up to, such as this tweet to another chummy Washington regime-change operative and former Vice guy, Danny Gold: Mere boasts about ISIS terrorism did not cause Gold any hesitation in brand-building with ShamiWitness: For now, lets move on to more familiar names in the DC-London regime-change swamp. Here is ubiquitous regime-change hack Charles Lister, of the Saudi-financed Middle East Institute , logrolling with Higgins and ShamiWitness like something out of a how to build your social media brand workshop: Heres a string of Lister-ShamiWitness-Bellingcat logrolling episodes: See, this is how you cross-build a community of experts on social media: tagging and referencing your circle enough times to create an impression of something happening, a self-validated community of Syria experts. All of them benefited from it, including ShamiWitness. Only the Syrian and Iraqi people suffered. But Jihad Lister (as Special Forces vet Jack Murphy calls him) went further than logrolling with ShamiWitness, blowing kisses to the ISIS propagandist/recruiter in ways that are downright sickening: Here, for example, is Lister yukking it up with ShamiWitness over a particularly brutal Saudi-led militia group, Suqur al-Izz, an ally of both ISIS and Al Qaedas al-Nusra and which carried out savage massacres of hundreds of minority Alawite civilians in Latakia province (documented in a Human Rights Watch report). To Lister and his ISIS friend, its all good for an ironic laugh: To which ShamiWitness reminded Lister: prompting a right back atcha from his chum Lister: Naturally, this sordid ISIS-neocon Twitter orgy features serial Thesaurus-abuser Michael Weiss, the Daily Beasts tenured regime-change hack. Theres a lot of love going back and forth between the two. Perhaps most astonishing is ShamiWitness declaring Michael Weiss as his favorite journalist, Weiss going wobbly at the knees in gratitude, and the ISIS recruiter blowing him a smiley: Weiss blows a smiley back at the ISIS recruiter: Incredible as it may seem, around the time of this ShamiWitness love-fest, this same groupWeiss, Zelin, and Bellingcatsoon ganged up on another and far better Syria analyst, Aymenn Al Tamimi, accusing him ofare you ready?being too friendly on Twitter with ISIS. The think-tank neocons accused Tamimi of having turned into a terrorist. In fact, Tamimis real sin was debunking an inane Michael Weiss conspiracy article that claimed Iran and ISIS were secret allies in Syria. Weiss was of course wrongbeing consistently wrong is what Weiss is paid to do for a living. This is the same Michael Weiss who posted a similar conspiracy theory claiming Russia secretly served as ISISs air force in Syria. Weiss gets things wrongs as a rule, because being wrong is his career. Its a job not many people are willing to do, or capable of doing without triggering a gag reflex. Michael Weiss gargles made-to-order shit without so much as a chaser. He is, quite literally, a tenured failure. Theres a lot of dark demand for this kind of work, and very few willing takers. You need to believe youre some kind of evil genius, pulling a fast one on all the honest rubes, to get off on this kind of work. Weiss also struck up all sorts of sleazy relationships with Syrian jihadis, and even posed for selfies in a jihadi-controlled section of Aleppo in 2012: As Max Blumenthal reported, the jihadi on Weisss left was believed to be Syrian rebel commander Yousef Ajjan Al-Hadid, who was killed shortly after Weisss selfie. And the other guy with the AK, the one who looks like Harold Ramis, is Mahmoud Sheikh al-Zour, who ran his own rebel training camp in northern Syria, and worked in Al Qaeda-dominated Idlib as well as Aleppo. So youd think Weiss and his crew would be a little more circumspect about accusing a far more serious Syria analyst like Tamimi of being a jihadist sympathizerbut hypocrisy never bothered a neocon. And anyway, their gang hit on Tamimis reputation had nothing to do with jihadi sympathies, and everything to do with making Weiss look bad. So the syndicate took a break from brand-building with ShamiWitness, to try to sink Tamimis career by smearing him as a terrorist symp. The job was handed to an aspiring young neocon larva named Armin Rosen previously known for defending a racist hate-group leaders use of Islamo-fascism who published the hit piece in Business Insider, headlined The Remarkable Story of a Rising Terrorism Analyst Who Got Too Close To His Subjects. Rosens article begins with the goal reported as fact: Aymenn Al Tamimis career came apart in public last week. A couple paragraphs down, the article explains how: almost from the beginning, his links to known jihadis including members of the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS), arguably the most ruthless of such groups and a habit of firing off tweets and social media posts appearing to sympathize with their cause raised eyebrows among his colleagues in the tightly knit, scholarly community of Western-based terrorism analysts. Next paragraph comes the bombshell evidence, in the form of a non sequitur: On July 14, Al Tamimi, who had been cited in the New York Times, the Wall Street Journal, and the Washington Post and had appeared on BBC News, published an article attempting to debunk journalist Michael Weisss evidence that Iran was aiding ISIS, which now controls a roughly Belgium-sized slice of Iraq and Syria. This is where the tightly knit syndicate comes inits not about evidence or expository logic; the evidence is what the self-appointed community decides is evidence. In this instance, it was Bellingcat that pulled the pulled open the trap door: [Tamimis] article was cross-posted to Bellingcat, the online publication launched by Eliot Higgins, the renowned investigative journalist most famous for helping to prove the Syrian regimes responsibility for the August 21, 2013, chemical weapons attack in Damascus. But within days the article had been pulled from Bellingcat and Tamimi had been dropped as a contributor to the site, a development Higgins confirmed for Business Insider by email early last week. Higgins cited serious accusations that had surfaced on Twitter after fellow terrorism analysts had aired evidence suggesting that Tamimi was discomfortingly close with some of his sources in the jihadist world. Weiss linked to a conversation in which Tamimi told an apparent ISIS supporter that it was best not openly tweeting pro-Caliphate sympathies, and that his bro, the pro-ISIS Twitter user Shami Witness, suggested I should stick to objectivity on Twitter. Daveed Gartenstein-Ross, a senior fellow at the the Foundation for Defense of Democracies, called the exchange pretty disturbing. That would be this Daveed Gartenstein-Ross: This is a classic neocon smear strategyactivate the network to create the impression that the character smear is a consensus opinion by experts from different backgrounds, and drive the stake in the heart with a retraction. In this case, Bellingcats Eliot Higgins played executioner in the Tamimi smear. Higgins and his Bellingcat crew have come a long way since this smear on Tamimi. These days, Bellingcat are media celebrities, fronting for western intelligence agencies information wars against Russia and Syria. Eliot Higgins and Bellingcat have positioned themselves as a pro-NATO Wikileaks exposing the lies and crimes of NATOs adversaries, racking up lucrative grants from Google, the Atlantic Council, and Bill Caseys old regime-change front, the National Endowment for Democracy, along the way. To Tamimis credit, he was one of the very few Syria analysts or journalists who publicly owned up to his own role in lending credibility to ShamiWitnesss Twitter account. Unlike Weiss, Zelin, Lister, Higgins or any of the other Bellingcats, who never owned up to their own role as accessories to ShamiWitness, Tamimi had the integrity to write about and explore his own mistakes, and to try to learn from those mistakes. And despite Bellingcats best efforts, Tamimi is still around, blogging at Syria Commenta site edited by one of the very few American Syria experts to actually get the Syria war rightProfessor Joshua Landis, who heads the Center for Middle East Studies at U. Oklahoma, and who appeared on Radio War Nerd early this year. Being right about Syria is, as Ive said, the only sin in this business. So you might not be surprised to learn that Michael Weiss and ShamiWitness teamed up against Landis. Actually its worse: Weiss and ShamiWitness ganged up on Landis by making menacing attacks on Landiss Syrian-born wife and her family, who are members of Syrias minority Alawite sect, which has been targeted for extermination by groups supported by ShamiWitness, Weiss and the rest of this DC-London regime-change crowd. Here is the ShamiWeiss-Landis exchange, in which Weiss tags his ISIS pal to attack Professor Landiss inlaws, many of whom still live in Syria: After Weiss tagged in ISISs top propagandist to attack Landiss Alawite wife and in-laws, he reached for his trusty Thesaurus to deliver what passes for a witty coup de grace, in what passes for the pen of Michael Weiss: Weve spent enough time on these sleazy goons. Lets name some more western experts who boosted and promoted the @ShamiWitness account: Phillip Smyth of AIPAC spinoff the Washington Institute for Near East Studies: Faysal Itani, Senior Fellow at the Saudi-funded Atlantic Council: Here is the Intercepts Micah Lee, a privacy activist who promotes US government-funded crypto technologies like Tor and Signal , offering to help ShamiWitness conceal his online communications: Oz Katerji, yet another ex-Bellingcat Team member (sensing a pattern here) Borzou Daraghi of the Atlantic Council (another pattern) and formerly Buzzfeed: Liz Sly of the Washington Post: But how could they have known? some might ask. Indeed, hownot like our Syria experts could be bothered to read the tweets of those accounts theyve helped promote or anything: In fact, they all knew, but only a very few cared to call it out, and got nothing for it. A year before ShamiWitness was unmasked by Channel 4, Michael Kelley of Business Insider (now editor at Yahoo News) published a piece, One Of The Most Popular Sources on Syria Happens To Be An Extremist Supporter calling out reporters and experts like himself for being accessories to ShamiWitness/ISIS propaganda: [H]e remains a noticeable voice in the Syria discussion. That is uncomfortable for analysts and reporters (including this author) who have directly or indirectly facilitated Shamis rise, even if the lift merely involved a citation, a retweet, or friendly banter. After ShamiWitness was exposed in December 2014, Syria journalists and experts who hadnt been part of the ShamiWitness Dupe Brigade called out the hacks whod made ShamiWitness a powerful and influential propagandist. For example, Zaid Benjamin of Radio Sawa bitterly tweeted: In the months and years since ShamiWitnesss account was unmasked and the young man behind it arrested, weve learned that ShamiWitness was more than just ISISs most influential propagandist on Twitter. Two of the ISIS Bangladeshi jihadis who carried out the gruesome 2016 Dhaka attack were avid followers of Shamiwitness. That attack left 29 dead including 9 Italians, 5 women and 4 men, all of whose bodies showed signs of gruesome torture, punishment for anyone who couldnt cite verses from the Koran. Indian authorities also discovered that ShamiWitness helped recruit Areef Majid and his group of ISIS jihadist recruits from Kalyan, near Mumbai. Majid fought for ISIS in Iraq and Syria, before escaping in late 2014like a lot of foreign recruits who started getting cold feet after the US-led coalition and Kurdish fighters made life harder for the Islamic States army of sadists and genocidaires. And this year, a report by the George Washington University Program on Extremism, titled The Travelers. American Jihadists in Syria and Iraq revealed just how intimately involved ShamiWitness was in ISIS recruiting and logistics, guiding foreign jihadis to the ISIS rape camps and killing fields in Syria and Iraq. The report goes deep into the experience of an American ISIS recruit, Mo, who was one of the first Americans to go to Syria [to fight for ISIS]. In June 2014, the FBI paid a visit to Mo after monitoring his online interactions with the likes of ShamiWitness. Shortly afterwards, Mo bought a one-way ticket to Istanbul, and made his way to a Turkish town called Urfa (or Sanlurfa in Turkish). From accounts like ShamiWitness Mo understood that to join ISIS, Urfa was the place to go. Here, the George Washington U report describes how Shamiwitness led Mo to his ISIS handlers: While analysis of @Shamiwitness activities to date paint him merely as a propaganda disseminator for IS, it seems that his role may have in fact also been one of direct facilitation for would-be Western travelers. While in Sanlurfa, Mo used Twitter to reach out to @Shamiwitness, who put him in touch with three local IS facilitators, including a British IS member called Abu Rahman al-Britani. Using Kik, the encrypted messenger of choice for IS travelers at the time, he reached out to al-Britani. Mo was then given a number for an IS smuggler and told by al-Britani that he could use him for tazkiya, a vetting process whereby a known fighter vouches for a new member to other IS members. So people in Syria and Iraq were killed, kidnapped, tortured and raped. And ShamiWitness is rotting in an Indian prison somewhere. Thats not their problem. Eliot Higgins and Michael Weiss have moved on to bigger things now. Their power network is a lot bigger too. And they can prove beyond a doubt that if you question their research, you might be working for the enemy. Why else would anyone question their expertise? Ayle Farm are celebrating huge awards at The Blas na hEireann Food Awards. Located just outside Tipperary Town, Ayle Farm is owned and operated by Peter and Lorraine Randall. They came out on top at the 2018 Blas na hEireann Food Awards. Their Brand Ayle Farm went above and beyond receiving six awards at the event in Dingle. The Blas na hEireann Food Awards has been running for over a decade. It is the biggest competition for quality Irish produce on the island of Ireland with nearly 3000 products entered in to the 2018 competition to win gold. The pair behind Ayle Farm were overjoyed with this years result. Best in Farmers Market for Tipperary four years in a row makes us extremely proud and stands to us as a small business. We also added Best in Tipperary. Not losing any momentum they added to these two awards with a top of the podium Gold for their Seville Marmalade followed by another Gold award for their Butterscotch and Brandy Sauce. A huge boost for the product which had managed to claim a Bronze award the previous year at Blas na hEireann 2017. Adding to the family run businesss already impressive run of success they rounded out the night by hauling two more awards from the event in Dingle, a silver award for their Mulled Apple Juice and another silver for their Pickled Cucumber. Peter and Lorraine were ecstatic with the success and recognition of their Ayle Farm brand but also wasted no time thanking Supervalu Ireland for their continued support through the Food Academy Programme. This gave Ayle Foods their first big break and is something they will always remember. All of their products are made in small batches on their farm in Ayle, Oola, and thanks to the encouragement of many individual store owners and store managers, their products can be found in local Supervalu stores across Tipperary, Fermoy, Castletroy Limerick and a number of local stores. A list of their stockists can be found on their website www.aylefoods.ie (Natural News) As people age, our cells naturally die due to oxidative stress. The effects of cell death include aging-related neurodegenerative disorders as well as general physical weakness. One of these aging side effects include cataracts a clouding of the eye lens which affect vision. While most cataracts are related to aging, people who use steroidal drugs due to asthma and hay fevers have a 50 percent increased risk of developing cataracts, according to a new study from the Catholic University of Korea. The study titled Association between allergic diseases and ophthalmologic diseases, including cataracts and glaucoma, using the Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 20102012: A STROBE-compliant article was authored by Young Bok Lee, Ji Hyun Lee, Min Ji Kang, Jin Young Choi, Jin-Wou Kim, Dong Soo Yu, Kyung Do han, and Yong Gyu Park. The findings of their study were published in the Journal of Dermatology. Asthma is a chronic, long-term disease that causes the lungs and the airways to become inflamed and narrowed. It affects more than 25 million people in the U.S., seven million of whom are children. Asthma does not have any cure, but treatments to control its effects are available. These include inhaled corticosteroids, which are now being linked to an increased occurrence of cataracts. The study investigated 14,776 participants who were at least 19 years old: 143 had atopic dermatitis, 417 had asthma, and 1,130 had allergic rhinitis. The tests showed that atopic dermatitis was not associated with cataracts, but asthma and allergic rhinitis was. A plausible explanation of this association was that the group of participants with asthma were older than other groups. It may also be explained by the use of corticosteroids in the nasal cavity adjacent to the oral cavity. Data from the Fifth Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey was used to in the study. The research was supported by the National Research Foundation of Korea (NRF) grant funded by the Korean government. Alternative treatments for asthma Instead of inhalers, what can asthma patients do to reduce the effects of the condition? As many as 40 percent of people with an allergic disease or asthma will have tried a natural remedy, aside from conventional medicines and inhalers that are already available. Studies show that steam baths may help in treating asthma. The steam helps alleviate symptoms such as nasal stuffiness, and assists in dilating the narrow airways which is common in both allergic disease and asthma patients. Foods such as garlic, ginger, echinacea, licorice root, turmeric, honey, and foods rich in omega-3s have components that treat cough and colds, as well as other respiratory dysfunctions. Cataracts are treatable, but treatments usually involve invasive surgery. Mild cases of cataracts can be helped with eye glasses, but severe cataracts that cause vision loss will have to be operated on. Removal of a cataract almost always involves application of an artificial lens after the cataractous lens has been extracted. Only local anesthesia is needed for the procedure, and often does not require hospitalization. The whole surgery lasts only 30 minutes to an hour. You can find more articles that link asthma medicine to other conditions at Research.news. Sources include: DailyMail.co.uk NHLBI.NIH.gov OnlineLibrary.Wiley.com (Natural News) For thousands of years, the natives of the Greek island of Crete used local aromatic plants as herbal remedies for the common cold. Three of those herbs dictamnus, sage, and thyme have drawn attention for their antioxidant properties. The three herbs were used to make a new herbal extract that could treat upper respiratory tract infections. After it passed a double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled trial with flying colors, the herbal extract was made commercially available in 2015 as a nutritional supplement. An observational study by Greek researchers followed up on the earlier trial of the herbal supplement. It sought to determine the effectiveness of the new extract a soft gel capsule diluted in extra virgin oil in ameliorating upper respiratory tract infections after its market release. The University of Crete (UoC) team conducted the new study in 16 selected pharmacies in Heraklion, Crete, Greece. Participants were patients who showed symptoms of upper respiratory tract infection specifically, fever, which indicated viral infection and voluntarily picked the extract as their mode of treatment. Follow-up observational study on recently released herbal supplement The researchers presented 185 participants with questionnaires that analyzed the severity and duration of the symptoms upon receiving the supplement. The questionnaire was based on the Wisconsin Upper Respiratory System Survey (WURSS-21) assessment test. Symptoms were recorded during the first, third, and seventh day of the study. Using a Likert scale, each patient was scored based on local symptoms, general symptoms, and the total score of symptoms. Furthermore, the UoC researchers also observed the effectiveness of the herbal remedy in the presence of fever. They also measured its effectiveness when taken alongside supplementary medicine. Finally, they documented the day patients believed they were feeling better, as well as the day when they no longer registered any symptoms. (Related: Antibiotics in the wild: Usnea, a lichen that grows all around the globe, has been used as effective natural medicine for centuries.) Cretan herb supplement proven to ameliorate upper respiratory tract illness with fever The researchers found that the mean score of general symptoms for upper respiratory tract illness dropped by 55 percent during the fourth day and 83.8 percent by the seventh day. The mean score of local symptoms was reduced by 70.9 percent and 93.7 percent on those same days. In addition, the mean total score of symptoms went down by 59.6 percent and 87 percent on the fourth and last day. Meanwhile, the number of patients who reported having fever plummeted from 82.1 percent (Day 1) to just 8 percent (Day 4) before ending with 2 percent (Day 7). Participants reported they felt better starting on the third day after taking the extract. Most or all of their symptoms were gone by the sixth day of treatment. At the end of the observation period, 81.7 percent of patients no longer felt any symptoms. Taking supplementary medicine and the like did not change this timing. Speaking of supplementary medication, the researchers noted that patients with worse symptoms displayed a tendency to use more medicines. Supplementary medicines did not have any significant effects on the total score of symptoms. Based on their findings, the UoC researchers said their work reflected the findings of the earlier study regarding the efficacy of dictamnus, sage, and thyme in treating upper respiratory tract infections. Furthermore, they also came across a new result not covered by the previous work: The percentage of people who reported fever before taking the herbal medicine dropped by more than 90 percent during the course of the trial. They added that supplementary medication intake did not appear to alter the severity of the symptoms or change the day that patients reported cessation of symptoms. See NaturalAntibiotics.news for more storage about natural approaches to treating infections. Sources include: Science.news BMCComplementAlternMed.BioMedCentral.com NCBI.NLM.NIH.gov (Natural News) Refractory vomiting is just one of many complications endured by patients confined to intensive care units (ICU) due to chemotherapy and other major medical treatments. But relief may be coming in the form of transcutaneous electroacupuncture (TEA) therapy that can alleviate the worst symptoms of persistent vomiting. Earlier studies have shown that TEA can reduce episodes of nausea and vomiting attributed to chemotherapy treatments, recently concluded medical operations, and pregnancy. It is growing popular as an alternative to anti-emetic medication. However, there are no details regarding the treatments efficacy with patients who are ill enough to require intensive medical care. Therefore, a research team investigated the anti-emetic effect of TEA therapy using the Neiguan (PC 6) acupuncture point on refractory vomiting in critically ill patients. Armed with the approval of the local ethics committee and the informed consent of all participants, the research team held the study in the Narbonne Hospital in France. The study group was small, just six men and four women in the ICU who had suffered persistent vomiting for at least two hours despite taking anti-emetic drugs. The TEA treatment consisted of two electrodes attached on either side of the Neiguan (PC 6) pressure point, also known as the pericardium meridian. The researchers employed a standard neuromuscular transmission monitor to stimulate the acupuncture point for 30 minutes. Given the rather poor state of health of the participants, rescue anti-emetic medicine would be issued following any episodes of vomiting or persistent nausea that took place. Relieving the suffering of ICU patients with transcutaneous electroacupuncture The overall incidence of nausea or vomiting within the first 24 hours after TEA was 50 percent. After the 24-hour mark, 30 percent of the patients perceived nausea, and 20 percent experienced vomiting. Ninety percent of patients reported suppression of nausea/vomiting immediately after undergoing TEA. During a six-hour period after TEA, 60 percent of patients did not sense nausea or experience vomiting. Between six to 24 hours after TEA, 60 percent of patients remained free from nausea or vomiting episodes. Two patients who experienced nausea were given a second TEA session that remedied all symptoms. Three patients eventually required anti-emetic rescue medications. Of those three, two were forced to undertake surgical treatment for secondary peritonitis and severe pancreatitis, which existed before the TEA session. TEA itself was free from any complication and side effects. (Related: Research shows acupuncture can be more effective than medication for indigestion.) The benefits of TEA, and how to improve its effects The study demonstrated that transcutaneous electroacupuncture at Neiguan (PC 6) pressure point immediately alleviated nausea and vomiting in most of the participants. The effect lasted for 24 hours for half of the patients. The electroacupuncture procedure effectively remedied post-operative nausea and vomiting or chemotherapy-related persistent vomiting. An earlier, related study showed this anti-emetic effect was due to TEA at Neiguan (PC 6) lowering serotonin and dopamine levels. One major advantage of the TEA method was its ease of application. A commercially-available neuromuscular transmission monitor sufficed for the researchers experiment. The Neiguan (PC 6) pressure point is well-described and can be located by a physician with no formal training in acupuncture. The simplicity of the treatment suggested that it could be self-administered or easily repeated. Multiple TEA sessions were shown to remedy symptoms effectively. One venue for improvement noted that using just the Neiguan (PC 6) to alleviate symptoms ran counter to traditional Chinese acupuncture, which emphasizes treating the patient. Therefore, a combination of multiple acupuncture points tailored to a patients unique condition could result in a higher success rate and longer duration. The researchers concluded that future experiments needed larger sample sizes called to determine the best modality for the anti-emetic effect of transcutaneous electroacupuncture. Read more about ancient Chinese healing therapies at ChineseMedicines.news. Sources include: Science.news ScienceDirect.com Hindawi.com AcupunctureMoxibustion.com Eleven lives abruptly ended on Saturday when a gunman stormed the Tree of Life Synagogue in Pittsburgh's historic Squirrel Hill neighborhood. On Sunday, Karl Williams, Allegheny County's chief medical examiner, released the victims' identities in a news conference. Among those killed were a pair of brothers and a married couple. The oldest was 97 years old, and the youngest 54. "To the victims' families, to the victims' friends, we're here as a community of one for you," said Pittsburgh Mayor Bill Peduto. "We will be here to help you through this horrific episode. We'll get through this darkest day of Pittsburgh's history by working together." Here are the victims of the Pittsburgh shooting: Jerry Rabinowitz Jerry Rabinowitz, 66, came from Edgewood Borough, Pennsylvania, and was a primary care physician in the area for many years, some of his patients told CNN. His nephew, Avishai Ostrin, shared a photo on Facebook of his uncle, who he said always wore a bowtie that "made people smile" and "made his patients more at ease." "You know how they say there are people who just lighten up a room? You know that cliche about people whose laugh is infectious? That was Uncle Jerry," he wrote. "It wasn't a cliche. It was just his personality." Ostrin said if there was a message his uncle would want everyone to take from the tragedy, "it would be a message of love, unity, and of the strength and resilience of the Jewish people." Susan Blackman knew Rabinowitz for at least 35 years, she told CNN. He was her family doctor and cared for her three children. She went to see Rabinowitz every quarter. "He was like a member of the family, and a member of the extended family," she said. "Like somebody you know that's always part of your community. ... Dr. Jerry was just somebody who, when you see him, your eyes light up." "I can't imagine the world without him," she said. Brothers Cecil and David Rosenthal Cecil and David Rosenthal, 59 and 54, were from Squirrel Hill. According to their obituaries posted by the Ralph Schugar Chapel, Cecil was a devoted Tree of Life congregant. David worked for Goodwill Industries, and was a hard worker who was recognized for his commitment a number of times. ACHIEVA, a Pittsburgh nonprofit that provides support for people with disabilities, posted a statement about the Rosenthal brothers, calling them "two well-respected members of our community' and "extraordinary men." "Cecil's laugh was infectious. David was so kind and had such a gentle spirit. Together, they looked out for one another," said Chris Schopf, a vice president for residential support at ACHIEVA. "They were inseparable. Most of all, they were kind, good people with a strong faith and respect for everyone around." The brothers always sat in the back of the temple and greeted people as they came in to worship, according to Suzan Hauptman, who told CNN she grew up at Tree of Life synagogue. "They were like the ambassadors because they were always there," she said. "And they will always be there in our hearts." Laura Berman, the cantor of Temple Sinai, said Cecil was a "beautiful man" and a "sweet, gentle soul." "The kindest soul you would ever meet," she said. "A smiling face. He was one of those embodiments of the community. Just open, warm, smiling, wanting to help and just in his beautiful simplicity. That's who he was." Rose Mallinger Rose Mallinger, a 97-year-old from Squirrel Hill, was the "sweetest, lovely lady," said Friedman, who told CNN that Mallinger was a secretary in her school's office growing up. Mallinger regularly attended the synagogue with her daughter, Friedman said, and likely knew everyone there. She always offered a friendly greeting, a hug and a smile. Despite her age, Mallinger was "spry" and "vibrant," Friedman said. "She had a lot of years left." Bernice and Sylvan Simon The Simons, a married couple from Wilkinsburg, Pennsylvania, were "kind, generous and good-hearted individuals," according to their neighbor, Jo Stepaniak. She lived next to 84-year-old Bernice and 86-year-old Sylvan for nearly 40 years, she said, and they were the "sweetest people you could imagine. "They wanted to give back to people and be kind," Stepaniak said, adding that the Simons always tried to help out in their small neighborhood and in the Jewish community. "They were loving and giving and kind," she said, "gracious and dignified." The other victims were identified as: Joyce Fienberg, 75, of Oakland neighborhood, Pittsburgh Richard Gottfried, 65, of Ross Township, Pennsylvania Daniel Stein, 71, of Squirrel Hill, Pittsburgh Melvin Wax, 88, of Squirrel Hill, Pittsburgh Irving Younger, 69, of Pittsburgh's Mount Washington neighborhood The renovation is complete on the tallest border fence in the southwestern region of the U.S. and the Department of Homeland Security Secretary called on Congress to move forward with funding of President Donald Trump's proposed border wall. Secretary Kirstjen Nielsen spoke Friday in Calexico, California along the repaired fence near the El Centro Port of Entry. Walls work, she said. Weve seen the success of walls in El Paso, in Yuma, in San Diego and in the past, right here in the El Centro sector. She also addressed the heightened security around the U.S. due to a series of mail bombs and her department's request for military troops along the border. This plaque now on this Calexico stretch of a border fence reads This plaque was installed on October 26, 2018 to commemorate the completion of the first section of President Trumps border wall. @nbcsandiego pic.twitter.com/ZpCl5FqFpu Danny Freeman (@DannyEFreeman) October 26, 2018 The repairs to an old, dilapidated fence made of landing mats were funded by 2018 appropriations. The construction began in February and ended on Oct. 4. "Currently, this 30-foot wall is the tallest border wall deployed along the southwest border," said El Centro Sector Border Patrol Chief Gloria Chavez. A steel bollard wall has been built in the area considered to be the most active in illegal crossings and attacks on federal agents, Chavez said. Early next year, DHS will begin construction on 11 more miles of 30-foot fence. Three more miles of fence will extend to the east and eight more miles of fence will be built to the west. The fenced area toured Friday is not part of the prototypes built last year near the San Ysidro Port of Entry. The eight prototypes that stand about 30 feet tall and 25 feet wide are made from a variety of materials. In a report released in September, some of those prototypes were breached when they underwent testing by tactical teams, including experts from CBP, U.S. Special Operations Command and the Marine Corps Special Operations Command. Nielsen called on Congress to approve funding for the proposed border wall. There are two bills in Congress that would offer amounts varying from $1.6 billion to $5 billion for funding a border wall, according to NBC News. NBC News reported in August that White House officials have suggested the entire wall project could cost $8 billion to $12 billion and internal DHS assessments suggest that the cost could be even higher - as much as $21 billion. While in El Centro, Secretary Nielsen addressed the current investigation into mail bombs intercepted in several states as well as the news this week that the Department of Defense has approved deploying troops along the U.S.-Mexico in support of President Trump. The department has heightened the security posture at federal facilities around the nation in response to the devices targeting a number of high-profile politicians, Nielsen said. If you notice a strange package or if you see something that appears out of the ordinary, do not remain silent, she said. If you see something, say something. Nielsen also addressed a question regarding the military deployment of troops to the border. We have asked for engineering support, logistics support, Nielsen said. I dont have any information with respect to particular troop numbers, thats up to DOD to meet our request. A new report from the government outlines how the border wall designs can be broken. NBC 7's Liberty Zabala is in Otay Mesa with more. State public health officials say they've identified a cluster of Legionnaires' disease in Chicago and another in nearby Lake and McHenry counties. The Illinois Department of Public Health in a news release says it is investigating possible sources of the Legionnaires' disease but says the clusters aren't connected. The department says the Chicago cluster involves two residents of the Warren Bar South Loop nursing home. It says that the possible exposure point of the second cluster was a Walmart store in Johnsburg. The department says both the nursing home and the Walmart have taken action. Legionnaires' is water-borne malady. The state is now investigating a three-year-old Legionnaires' disease crisis at a state-run veteran's home in Quincy that contributed to the deaths of 14 and sickened dozens more. Local synagogues have extra security following a shooting in Pittsburgh on Saturday morning. In New Haven, more officers are patrolling neighborhoods with synagogues and prominent Jewish establishments. The city of Bridgeport isn't taking any chances either. "We are protecting all the houses of worship, Jewish, all the mosques, all the churches. Our police officers are out there as we speak and will continue to do so. They're vigilant and they will be protecting you in your houses of worship and your homes," said Bridgeport Police Chief AJ Perez. Police in New Britain are also staying extra vigilant around local synagogues. Connecticut State Police are increasing patrol checks at all synagogues under their jurisdiction as well. Manchester Police are conducting extra patrols at the town's religious communities. They encourage the public to report suspicious activities in the community. Pittsburgh Police responded to an active shooting at the Tree of Life synagogue in the Squirrel Hill neighborhood on Saturday morning. Officials said eleven people were killed and six others were injured. Four of the people who were injured are police officers, three of whom were shot. Several law enforcement officials have identified the suspected gunman as 46-year-old Robert Bowers, of Pittsburgh. He is being charged with 29 federal counts including hate crimes and weapons offenses. Witnesses said he shouted anti-Semitic comments as he was being taken into custody. Police departments across the country said security was being increased at local synagogues in response to the attack. Members of the Jewish community in Connecticut reacted with shock and disbelief following the mass shooting at a Pittsburgh synagogue on Saturday that claimed eleven lives. The attack at the Tree of Life synagogue took place in Pittsburghs Squirrel Hill neighborhood, a historically Jewish neighborhood considered one of the largest in the country. On Saturday night, Lea Schmerler, of Manchester, had yet to reach relatives living there. Her concern for them was amplified by fear that Saturdays act of violence is just the beginning. My parents were survivors of the Holocaust, so my feeling is, here we go again, Schmerler said. Howard Sovronsky, the President and CEO of the Jewish Federation of Greater Hartford, was shocked to see his friend and counterpart Jeff Finkelstein, of the Jewish Federation of Greater Pittsburgh, on national television in the aftermath of the attack. The pair were together in Israel days earlier. I turned on the TV this morning and there he was consoling his community after eleven people have been killed, Sovronsky said. As a precaution, Sovronsky said he is working with local police departments to add security to Jewish day schools in the area when school is in session on Monday. Sovronsky said Jewish community leaders throughout the country are aware of a rise in anti-Semitic incidents, but that tensions nationwide should worry everyone. Certainly the whole tone of hatred that is permeating our society now is something that we all should be concerned about, he said. For Maxine Lerman, of Manchester, the connections to family and friends in Pittsburgh hammered home the feeling that what happened in Pittsburgh could happen anywhere. You go to the synagogue to pray and pray for peace and to have something like that happen. You hear it happens other places. You dont think it happens in your synagogue and its fairly close, Lerman said. The Jewish Federation is planning a vigil to stand in solidarity with victims of the shooting on Sunday afternoon at 4 p.m. on the steps of Congregation Beth Israel in West Hartford. About 4,000 people took part in the American Cancer Societys 24th Making Strides Against Breast Cancer Walk in Hartford on Sunday morning. NBC Connecticut and Telemundo Connecticut were proud to connect the community with the inspiring event as official sponsors. NBC Connecticut While the walk was moved last minute from Bushnell Park to the XL Center, it didnt stop survivors and their families from uniting with others in the same fight. Its inspiring for them to see the numbers of people that either have been touched by the disease and are engaged in the same type of fight or that are just out supporting, Executive Director of the American Cancer Society, Wendy Matthews, said. The 5K walk raises funds for breast cancer research and early detection, something 39-year-old Cynthia Lopez is passionate about after she found a lump during a self-breast exam last year. If you feel a little lump, a big lump, any type of lump, go and get checked because you just never ever know, Lopez said. Shirrie Henry cared for her mother as she battled the disease for years. She said losing her two years ago was devastating. Now, she volunteers in her memory. I just want to get out here and support those who are survivors, their family members, the caregivers, Henry said. So, just to walk with everybody and show support. Both women said they are finding comfort in new and unexpected ways. Its like were all in it together like a big old family, Lopez said. It just touches my heart to be here, Henry said. Im honored. BJP Minority Morcha national president Abdul Rasheed Ansari said Oppn had launched 'fear-mongering campaign' among minorities against BJP. 'Both PM Modi and Amit Shah have condemned lynching. You can't count on statements made by people, who are either not related to party or are remotely related to it,' Ansari said. (Photo: File) Kolkata: BJP Minority Morcha national president Abdul Rasheed Ansari has said the party's government at the Centre is walking the "extra mile" to gain the confidence of minorities and has been successful in changing the perception of it being "anti-Muslim" to a large extent. The opposition, he alleged, had launched a "fear-mongering campaign" among minorities against the BJP. The BJP-led NDA government has brought in development without any discrimination but the opposition has set a "separate yardstick" for the party when it came to dealing with minorities. "Political parties (opposition) have targeted us (BJP) in order to isolate us from the minorities. They had used a fear-mongering campaign among minorities in an attempt to eat into the BJP's vote-bank. This has been going on for several years. But things have changed of late and you will find the party increasing its base among minorities in various parts of the country," Ansari told news agency PTI in an interview. Minorities and backward classes, for the first time, have realised that the BJP, unlike other parties, "delivers rather than making false promises", he said. Talking about the recent incidents of lynching in the country, Ansari said the BJP leadership had spoken out against them and action has been taken against culprits. "You have to look at the intention of the government and the party. Both Prime Minister Narendra Modi and party president Amit Shah have condemned them (lynching). You cannot count on statements made by people, who are either not related to the party or are remotely related to it," he said. About the incident where Union minister Jayanta Sinha felicitated eight people accused of lynching in Jharkhand, earlier this year, Ansari contended that the gesture was not appreciated by anyone in the saffron party. "Has anybody appreciated Jayanta Sinha for felicitating them? It is not expected that Amit Shah ji or the Prime Minister will speak out on a regular basis on every single incident that is happening in the country," he said. Asked about poor representation of Muslims in the distribution of tickets by the BJP, he said, "The issue should not be seen through the prism of religion. Tickets are not given in our party on the basis of religion. It is given on the basis of eligibility and capability of an individual". Ansari was also quick to point out that the BJP had given tickets to an "overwhelming number" of Muslim candidates in the West Bengal panchayat polls. "About 850 Muslims were given BJP tickets in the three-tier rural polls in the state held in May. It only goes on to show how much we care about the community," he asserted. Criticising the erstwhile Congress government for not doing enough for the development of the community in the country, he said the BJP government has increased the budget for minorities by "leaps and bounds". "Since Independence, there has been a huge gap between what was promised to the minorities and what was actually delivered. But we are serious about the development of Muslims as we believe in the policy of 'Sabka Sath, Sabka Vikas', he said. "If you go through the history of our country of the last 60 years, you will see how many large-scale communal riots took place during the Congress regime ... But now you won't witness such a situation in the country," Ansari added. The Israeli military on Saturday struck dozens of targets across the Gaza Strip in response to heavy rocket fire and threatened to expand its air campaign to Syria after accusing Iranian forces in Damascus of orchestrating the rocket attacks. The threats toward Iranian forces in Syria added a new dimension to what was already the heaviest fighting between Israel and Gaza militants in several weeks. Opening a new front in Syria could put Israel in open confrontation with heavily armed Iranian and Hezbollah forces, along with recently deployed Russian anti-aircraft systems. Lt. Col. Jonathan Conricus, an Israeli military spokesman, told reporters that 34 rockets had been fired at Israel throughout the night. Israel's Iron Dome rocket-defense system intercepted 13 rockets, two landed in Gaza and the remainder fell in open spaces in southern Israel, he said. In response, Israel hit over 80 targets in Gaza. Conricus said Islamic Jihad, an Iranian-backed militant group, had fired the rockets under instructions from Iran's "Al Quds" force based in Syria and said that Israel was considering taking action against the Iranians in response. "We have seen and established a clear link between Gaza and Damascus," he said. "We know that the orders, incentives were given from Damascus with the clear involvement of the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Quds Force. "From our perspective, part of the address by which we will deal with this fire is also in Damascus and the Quds Force," he added. "Our response is not limited geographically." Iran has sent its forces, along with those of Hezbollah and other Shiite militias, to Syria to back President Bashar Assad in the civil war there. As the war winds down, Israel has repeatedly warned that it will not allow its archenemy Iran to establish a permanent military presence in postwar Syria. Throughout the seven-year war, Israel has already carried out scores of airstrikes in Syria, mostly against suspected Iranian weapons shipments to Hezbollah but also against the Iranians themselves. But Israel's mission could become much more complicated following Russia's decision to transfer sophisticated S-300 anti-aircraft missiles to Syria. Russia deployed the missiles after a Russian warplane was shot down over Syrian skies last month. Russia has blamed Israel for the mishap, saying that Syria accidentally shot down the plane while reacting to an Israeli air raid. Israel and Russia have maintained a hotline to prevent their air forces from coming into contact with one another over Syrian skies. Israeli media have reported that Russia has become less cooperative since the shootdown. The fighting in Gaza followed a bloody day of border protests Friday in which Israeli forces shot and killed four Palestinians protesting along the perimeter fence dividing Hamas-ruled Gaza and Israel. The sudden burst of fighting complicated the mission of Egyptian mediators who have been trying to prevent a full-blown conflict between Hamas and Israel. Conricus said that Israel had struck over 80 sites across Gaza, including training camps, weapons storage facilities and a Hamas security headquarters building. COGAT, an Israeli defense body that handles Palestinian civilian issues, said one of the rockets had hit an ambulance crossing used to transfer Gazans out of the strip in emergency humanitarian cases. "To what low have the terrorist organizations in the Gaza Strip reached?" wrote COGAT commander, Maj. Gen. Kamil Abu Rukun, in his Arabic Facebook page. In Gaza, most of the airstrikes hit open spaces used by militants for training and possibly weapons storage. But in northern Gaza, the Health Ministry said the main hospital in the area was damaged after a nearby Hamas training camp was hit. Footage showed cables and wires dropping from collapsed ceilings in the wards. In Gaza City, an airstrike hit an abandoned, unfinished building, flattening the three-story structure. That building appeared to be the one identified by Israel as a security headquarters. Although Islamic Jihad often acts independently of Hamas, Israel holds Hamas, which has ruled Gaza since 2007, responsible for all fire emanating from the territory. Conricus said there had been no signs of Hamas trying to rein in Islamic Jihad. He also criticized Hamas for escalating the border protests after Israel had tried to defuse tensions by allowing special fuel shipments into Gaza to improve the supply of electricity. The territory suffers from chronic power outages. In a statement, Islamic Jihad signaled readiness to stop the rocket fire if Israel halted its airstrikes. "If the aggression and bombing continued, we will respond to each incident," the movement said in a statement Saturday. But later, its armed wing threatened to "expand the range" of rocket fire. There were no reports of injuries on either side. Israel and Hamas have fought three wars over the past decade, and Israel and Egypt have maintained a stifling blockade on the territory to weaken Hamas. The Hamas-led weekly protests along the Israeli border have been aimed in large part at breaking the blockade, which has devastated the Gaza economy. Hamas, an Islamic militant group sworn to Israel's destruction, had previously scaled down the protests as Egypt stepped up its efforts to secure calm. Israel accuses Hamas of using the large protests as cover to stage border infiltrations and attacks. It says it is defending its border and accuses Hamas of exploiting young protesters and encouraging them to risk their lives in order to increase pressure to ease the blockade. Israel has come under heavy international criticism for what many see as excessive use of force and the large number of unarmed people who have been shot On Wednesday, Egyptian intelligence officials met representatives of Palestinian factions in Gaza, the latest in a round of shuttle diplomacy between the sides. Egypt wants to restore calm in order to pursue the broader goal of Palestinian reconciliation between Hamas and the West Bank-based administration of President Mahmoud Abbas. The internationally recognized Abbas lost control of Gaza in the 2007 takeover. Hamas has demanded a full lifting of the blockade, which has made it increasingly difficult for Hamas to govern. Widespread desperation among Gaza's 2 million residents has fueled the participation in the Hamas-orchestrated protests. Since the marches began six months ago, at least 160 Palestinians present or taking part in the protests have been killed. A Gaza militant fatally shot an Israeli soldier in July. For Dallas Chamber Symphonys concertmaster, each concert is a musical journey North Texans are no strangers to long commutes, but few endure the transpacific commute Kazuhiro Takagi, Dallas Chamber Symphonys concertmaster, makes to get to his job. Preparing for the orchestras Nov. 6 concert at the Moody Performance Hall in the Dallas Arts District involves navigating a carefully planned schedule. Its pretty tight, Takagi said. Traveling for his career is nothing new for the Tokyo-based violinist who speaks four languages. Born in Osaka, Japan, Takagi began playing the violin at age 5. After graduating from high school, he first seriously considered a career in classical music at the urging of Yuko Mori, his mentor at Conservatoire National Superieur in Lyon. She encouraged me to dive into a musical career and thats how I made that big decision, Takagi said. Eventually, the graduate of Deuxieme Academie de Musique Francaise de Kyoto spent a year in Paris, exploring the culture and participating in several competitions. At one of those competitions, he met Dr. Eduard Schmieder, a professor at Southern Methodist University. Schmieder strongly recommended Takagi study with him in Dallas. It was a great achievement to study with him because he gave me a lot of great advice. He served on the jury of many international competitions and he was a great connection, Takagi said. Takeshi Yagi Since leaving SMU, Takagi has developed an impressive international career, winning the Queen Elizabeth International Music Competition and the 54th Geneva International Music Competition. He has served as concertmaster for the Tokyo Symphony, Chicago Civic Orchestra and the solo concertmaster of the Yamagata Symphony and Wuerttembergische Philharmonie Reutlingen in Germany. He has also held positions with the Osaka Philharmonic, Osaka Symphony, Japan Century Symphony, Vietnam National Symphony and the Kansai Philharmonic. He currently works with Nagaokakyo Chamber Ensemble in Kyoto, Izumi Sinfonietta Osaka, Lilis Chamber Orchestra and an alternative music group, A Hundred Birds. He credits modern technology for bringing him back to Dallas. It was through Facebook, indeed. Takagi said. Thinking about the time I studied in Dallas or France, it was not even imaginable to have such connections through your cellphone. An SMU classmate sent him a message through Facebook Messenger, explaining that he was playing with the Dallas Chamber Symphony and the orchestra needed a new concertmaster. His classmate introduced him to Richard McKay, the orchestras conductor, through social media. Takagi has been working with the Dallas Chamber Symphony for five years. He has developed a fine-tuned routine for his Dallas visits. For the orchestras Oct. 13 concert, Takagi arrived on Thursday, Oct. 11. On Friday, he had a full day rehearsal from 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Saturday included a two-hour dress rehearsal and the concert that evening. He flew back to Tokyo on Sunday. As a concertmaster, Takagi adapts quickly to assess the conductors priorities and create the essential team to make the performance a success. The concertmaster always sits in the best position to accommodate what the conductor wants to do, Takagi said. Takagi remembers his teachers advice about being a concertmaster and communicating with musicians sitting behind him. She often said to me, If you want to be a good concertmaster, one thing which lacks in your playing is that I dont feel what you want from your back, Takagi said. My entire aura must express something. With the Dallas Chamber Symphony, Takagi enjoys the challenge of playing original scores with silent films. Its interesting to play, to participate in the movie Ive seldom seen in my life. Every time I play for movies, its a big discovery for me too and a great experience, Takagi said. Its a special experience as a musician to fit in the action of the picture. You have to have a special skill, a theater skill, not just a performer skill. Very few people master this skill because they simply dont have this experience very often. Not only do you have to fit the timing of the motion of the picture, but you have to get the feeling and texture of the sound to fit the mood. The concert on Nov. 6 promises to be another kind of voyage, featuring Bartoks Romanian Folk Dances, Bachs Brandenburg Concerto No. 2 and Tchaikovskys Souvenir de Florence. Its kind of an unusual combination of a program, very diverse, Takagi said. Its kind of like a big journey through Hungary, Germany and Russia. But music isnt the only thing Takagi will enjoy when he is in Dallas. I love American food! Its so homey, Tagaki said. Learn more about Dallas Chamber Symphony: https://www.dcsymphony.org/ Paranormal activity never stops at the Olde Park Hotel in Ballinger, TX. From full-body apparitions to cold spots, this century-old hotel is a hot spot for the hauntings. The San Angelo Standard-Times reports the two-story hotel, built in the 1880s, looks like a haunted location from a movie. Walking in, those who hope to see something spectral may even feel a spooky shift in the atmosphere. A dull, gold-lit sign from the 1950s sits above the check-in area, where owners Connie and Dan LaFave can be found most weekends. The two local teachers, who used to be paranormal investigators, acquired the hotel a couple of years ago. They now allow tours and overnight stays. The tours usually happen between 6-11:30 p.m., and most of the guests experience some kind of activity. Dan experienced just how active the spirits are the very first night. The LaFave's had just finished giving their first ghost tour and were too tired to drive back to San Angelo. "Our anticipation level was way up," Dan said. "When you are staying overnight for the first time, you're just waiting for it." The two were asleep in the first-floor bedroom when Dan felt a hand massaging his scalp. He thought it was Connie, but when he saw what it was, he jolted. "Her face was above me, looking right at me," Dan said. He jumped out of bed, and as he landed, the apparition vanished. Dan remembered the apparition was a woman in a black 1800s dress with white and red on her sleeves. Her curly black locks tumbled down her back. Dan said she was not transparent at all. "She wasn't necessarily scary looking. She was a real person," Dan said. "Looking back on it, I thought she looked like a brothel woman." He delved into researching more about the hotel and discovered it had served as a brothel twice. At the end of the first-floor hallway is a workshop, and Dan said women sometimes say they feel uneasy around that room. This workshop is believed to be haunted by a man, possibly the husband of the former owner. "I know the presence in there doesn't like women going in," Connie said. "He's just a grumpy old fart and I don't let him bother me." Once, when Dan was leading a tour of seven women, he took them to the workshop and the spirit got angry. "All of a sudden, the woman in front of the group asks, `What's that,'" Dan said. She saw a head peek out of one of the rooms and retreat. As they all talked and watched the door, it happened again. Then a small, shadowy figure, child-like in size, walked between two more rooms. "It's not over yet," Dan said. "We have a big one ... a cowboy, and his head doesn't clear the doorway. He leaned out of that same doorway the little boy came out of and followed. He blotted out the whole hallway." Dan switched on the light, and the workshop ghost hurled an object that made a loud noise. One of the women fainted and several of them fled, Dan said. Four of them remained and wanted to finish the tour. Here are the most active spirits and where to find them: -- Slim, a shadow cowboy who lurks near the steps. Enjoys whistling. -- Annie, a brothel woman on the second floor in the Traveler's Suite, possibly murdered and talks often on EVPs (electronic voice phenomenon). -- Dennis, a blond child who enjoys popping up. -- A huge shadow cowboy who "polices" the ghosts. Appears everywhere. -- Benjamin, a 9-year-old who loves to talk and play in the play room. -- Glenn, a man who stands by the downstairs bathroom. -- Little boy, 5, who loves trains and the play room. -- Old woman, wanders the halls. -- Kay Seacrest, a stoic woman in 1800s dress. "All the history of the hotel is gradually starting to come back," Connie said. On June 29, 1886 over 6,000 people gathered in the budding Ballinger square to buy lots. During the late 1800s or early 1900s the Seacrest family owned the home until the 1922 Keel family bought it. The LaFaves finally took it over in 2016. The main part of the Olde Park Hotel started as a white, two-story house in 1886, Connie said, citing photos she found doing research. It has been a restaurant, a brothel, a boardhouse and more. Connie said that they've named many of the rooms after families that have lived in and owned it, even naming a room after themselves. The LaFaves are throwing their third annual Hallo-Scream Haunted House event from 7:30 p.m. -1 a.m. Friday and Saturday night. All the proceeds go toward restoration of the hotel. "What better place to do it than an already haunted building?" Dan said. "We totally convert it. We black out the windows, have fog machines, we've got special effects. ... We've got 30 scary actors, and these guys are creepy." Dan said. "We will run hundreds of people through here each night." The couple hope to make the Old Park Hotel into a haunted bed-and-breakfast that can be shared with the world. "We hope that we can build up the place and return it to its roots," Connie said. Hundreds of people attended a Get Out the Vote rally Saturday at Fretz Park in North Dallas to hear from U.S. Rep. Beto O'Rourke (D-El Paso), U.S. Rep. John Lewis (D-GA 5th District) and Colin Allred, the Democratic challenger for Texas' 32nd U.S. Congressional District. After the rally finished, those in attendance were led to a nearby voting location at Fretz Park Library. Allred is challenging Republican incumbent U.S. Rep. Pete Sessions (R-Dallas) and O'Rourke, a candidate for the U.S. Senate, is campaigning against U.S. Ted Cruz (R-TX). The Allred campaign brought in Lewis, a civil rights leader and well-known Democrat on the national stage. "It's just amazing to have him here, two streets over from where I grew up near Fretz Park," Allred said. "It's really personal and a huge honor." Earlier this week, President Donald Trump appeared with Cruz at a rally in Houston. Trump embraced Cruz in front of an estimated crowd of 18,000 people at the Toyota Center. Germany's central region of Hesse was voting Sunday in a state election marked by discontent with infighting in the national government and its results could help determine whether Chancellor Angela Merkel's administration has a long-term future. The election for the state legislature in Hesse, which includes Germany's financial center of Frankfurt, comes as support for the country's governing parties is sliding and tensions are high in a federal coalition that has been in office only since March. Merkel's conservative Christian Democratic Union is defending its 19-year hold on Hesse, previously a stronghold of the center-left Social Democrats, the chancellor's federal coalition partners in Berlin. A disastrous result for either or both parties could further destabilize the national government and ultimately the position of Merkel, Germany's leader for the past 13 years. Two weeks ago, two of the federal governing parties the Christian Social Union, the Bavaria-only sister to Merkel's CDU, and the Social Democrats were battered in a state election in neighboring Bavaria. That has given extra significance to the election in Hessen, which is home to 6.2 million of Germany's 82 million people. Hesse's conservative governor, Volker Bouffier, complains that "the election campaign has been completely overshadowed by Berlin." Social Democrat challenger Thorsten Schaefer-Guembel says "we are experiencing a crisis of confidence that has a lot to do with the fact that too much waffling is going on and too little being done." Voters appear generally satisfied with Bouffier's government, the first coalition between the CDU and the traditionally left-leaning Greens to last a full parliamentary term, and an unexpectedly harmonious alliance. But only the Greens, who are in opposition nationally, are benefiting in polls. Recent surveys have shown support of up to 28 percent for the CDU and up to 21 percent for the Social Democrats, down from 38.3 and 30.7 percent respectively in a 2013 vote. They show the Greens as high as 22 percent, up from 11.1 percent five years ago. Gains are likely for other smaller parties, and the far-right, anti-migration Alternative for Germany party appears set to enter the last of Germany's 16 state legislatures with support of up to 13 percent. The party entered the national parliament last year and, along with the Greens, has benefited from the federal government's disarray. Such results would make various regional coalitions possible, with the Greens potentially joining parties to their right or left or even, if their results are exceptionally good, having a chance to make their local leader Tarek Al-Wazir currently Bouffier's deputy the state governor. Observers believe Bouffier losing power or a disastrous result for Schaefer-Guembel would further destabilize Merkel's federal coalition. The two men are deputy national leaders of their parties. A loss for Bouffier would make life more difficult for Merkel, who has indicated that she plans to seek another two-year term as CDU leader at a congress in December. The government's frailty has weakened her. The Social Democrats only reluctantly entered Merkel's national government in March, and many are dismayed by what has happened since. A very poor performance in Hesse could embolden critics to push for the Social Democrats to leave the federal coalition, and endanger the job of party leader Andrea Nahles. The government has been through two major crises, first over whether to turn back small numbers of migrants at the German-Austrian border and then over what to do with the head of Germany's domestic intelligence service after he was accused of downplaying far-right violence against migrants. It has failed to convince voters that it's achieving much on other matters. "If this government were to break apart now, it would come down to early elections," CDU general secretary Annegret Kramp-Karrenbauer said this week. She argued that the three governing parties should instead, after the Hesse vote, prioritize a few policies and implement them as "an important signal" to Germans of the government's effectiveness. A record number of Texans are voting early in the midterm elections. On Sunday, people were still trickling in to voting centers around North Texas. "I thought today would be a good day since it's Sunday, and it wouldn't be so crowded," said Essie Richardson, a Dallas County voter. In Dallas, a Souls to the Polls event was held near a voting center in Oak Cliff. "I'm hoping that we get a big turnout of people who go vote,' said Brittany White, with Faith in Texas. More than 20 churches participated in the event in an effort to encourage their congregations to get out and vote early. "I just left church and this was my first free time to get out and vote," said Stefanie Gunn, who came to the voting center after she attended Concord Missionary Baptist Church. In Tarrant County, Heider Garcia, the county's election administrator, said he didn't expect to see these numbers for the first week of early voting. "The numbers have been fantastic so far this has out-paced every midterm record we've had, and it's pretty close to the 2016 presidential," Garcia said. He said historically Sunday is a slow day for voting, but this year they were prepared for anything. Garcia said this midterm election, the county is not seeing typical voting behavior. He said Saturday usually has more voters than Friday, but that wasn't the case this year. "We're not seeing the usual behavior," Garcia said. We're on our feet for everyday maybe today will be the day when people who didn't go out yesterday will come out today." According to the Tarrant County elections website, 14,421 people cast a ballot in person Sunday. In total, 248,705 ballots have been cast in Tarrant County since early voting started. In Dallas County, more than 277,000 people cast their vote in person through Saturday. Janalee Roper knew something was wrong when her usually precocious 21-month old son became lethargic with a fever earlier this month. Roper took him to urgent care at Rady Childrens Hospital in Escondido on Oct. 11. Her son Jett has a 103.4 fever, rashes on his stomach, legs and ear all classic signs of Kawasaki Disease. Because the illness is so rare, doctors thought it was just another childhood illness and prescribed Motrin and Tylenol, something Roper tried before taking him to the hospital. I told him, No, we did that at home and it did not work, Roper said. Then doctors noticed Jetts hands were swollen and his rash had spread to his entire body and his eyes were bloodshot, she said. It was then, doctors decided to test of Kawasaki. I thought of a motorcycle, Roper said. I had never heard of it before. Dr. Adriana Tremoulet, who treated Jett, the disease is so rare that only 80 to 100 children in San Diego are diagnosed with it a year. Kawasaki is an inflammation disorder that affects the childrens heart and doctors dont really know what causes it, she said. Tremoulet is the associate director of the Kawasaki Disease Research Center at UC San Diego. And the disease seems to come in clusters and peaks in February and March. She said. So far this month, four children have been diagnosed with it. There seems to be some relationship between wind and storm patterns here in the San Diego area, Tremoulet said. The recent cluster came after the recent rain storm earlier this month. And the disease is also hard to diagnose. It presents with fever and rash and can look like a lot of other pediatric illnesses, she said. Symptoms of Kawasaki include a prolonged fever that cant be controlled with Motrin or Tylenol, rash on the body that spares the hands or feet, bright red eyes, swelling of the lymph nodes, trouble walking. The real issue is not all children come in with [all the symptoms], Tremoulet said. It really does take a combination of working with clinicians and families understanding theyre really worried about this to bring it up to their local pediatrician. Most parents who come to her complained of a prolonged fever and knowing that their children are sicker than they are with common childhood illnesses. The disease tends to disproportionately affect children of Asian descent, particularly Filipino and Japanese. As for Jett, he is doing better now after three treatments and an eight-day stay in the hospital. A rocket fired from Gaza struck a residential home in southern Israel early Wednesday and the Israeli military began attacking militant sites in Gaza in response after days of rising tensions. The Magen David Adom medical service said a woman and her three children, whose home in Beersheba was struck, were being treated for shock after they fled to their shelter upon being awoken by warning sirens shortly before 4 a.m. Her swift response likely saved their lives, as the home was destroyed and debris was scattered throughout the street, damaging parked cars and adjacent structures. Next-door neighbor Segev Naveh said he did not hear the warning sirens and was awoken by the massive blast. "It was very scary," he said. "If it was falling on my house I would be dead for sure." The medical service said two other Beersheba residents were injured during the panic to seek cover. The military said another rocket from Gaza landed in the sea, just off the coast of one of the larger cities in central Israel. No injuries were reported. Following the attacks, schools in Beersheba were closed and Israel's military chief was cutting short his visit to the United States to come back and manage the crisis. As a first response, Israeli military jets pounded Hamas targets across the Gaza Strip. The Gaza Health Ministry said a 25-year-old militant was killed inside one of the posts targeted. Three other people were wounded. Lt. Col. Jonathan Conricus, a military spokesman, said 20 Hamas targets were struck, including offensive tunnels, weapon workshops and naval shafts. The military released video showing militants preparing to fire another rocket toward Israel before they were targeted. The rocket attack on Beersheba was the first in months and the first that hit an Israeli home there since the 2014 summer war between Israel and Gaza's militant Hamas rulers. Beersheba, which is some 50 kilometers (30 miles) from Gaza, is the biggest city in southern Israel, with a population of around 200,000. Israel and Hamas have fought three wars over the past decade and fighting has flared up on several occasions recently, though neither side appears to be interested in another full-blown war. Egypt has been trying to mediate a long-term cease-fire to stave off another confrontation. In a rare move, seemingly aimed at easing the tensions, the "joint coordination room of resistance factions," which includes Hamas, Islamic Jihad and other groups, issued a statement distancing themselves from the rocket fire. "We reject all irresponsible attempts that try to change the direction and sabotage the Egyptian efforts, including the overnight firing of the rocket," they said. "At the same time, we emphasize we are ready to confront the Israeli aggression." The head of Egyptian intelligence, Abbas Kamel, is scheduled to visit Gaza this week to renew high-level cease-fire talks. Conricus, however, rejected the militants' denials, saying the rocket that struck Beersheba was a mid-range, locally produced weapon that was in the possession of only two groups: Hamas and Islamic Jihad. Regardless of who fired it, he said Israel holds Hamas responsible for all violence emanating from the territory it controls. The rocket attack came a day after Israeli Defense Minister Avigdor Lieberman said the time had come to deliver a "heavy blow" to Hamas after weeks of escalating violence along the border. Lieberman announced Wednesday that all crossings into Gaza were being shut in response to the attack and the fishing zone around Gaza was being limited. Hamas has held weekly border protests for the past six months, aimed in part at easing a crippling Israeli-Egyptian blockade that was put in place after the Islamic militant group violently seized power in 2007. The blockade has restricted Hamas' ability to govern and made life extremely difficult for Gaza's 2 million residents. Electricity is supplied for roughly four hours a day, unemployment stands at more than 50 percent and tap water is undrinkable. The protests have intensified as Egyptian-mediated cease-fire efforts faltered. Last week, some 14,000 Palestinians thronged to the perimeter fence, burning tires and throwing rocks, firebombs and grenades at soldiers stationed atop earth mounds on the other side. Some 20 Palestinians breached the border during Friday's protest. Seven Palestinians were killed, including four who the military said had entered Israel and approached a military position. In response, Israel halted Qatari-donated fuel shipments to Gaza's power plant and warned that if the violence didn't stop there would be series consequences. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu threatened "very painful blows," saying Israel was very close to waging a "different kind of activity." "If it has any sense, Hamas will cease its fire and violent outbursts now," he said Sunday. Since March, 155 Palestinians have been killed during the protests. One Israeli soldier was killed by sniper fire in July. Hamas seeks a cease-fire with Israel to secure an easing of the blockade but accuses its West Bank rivals, Fatah, of thwarting the effort. Repeated attempts to reconcile Hamas and the West Bank-based administration of Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas have failed, adding to the desperation fueling the demonstrations. In Israel, the fiery threats against Hamas have been coupled with concern over being dragged into an unnecessary escalation that may have more to do with Palestinian infighting. Florida's governor has ordered state troopers to increase patrols at religious institutions statewide in the wake of a mass shooting at a Pittsburgh synagogue. In a statement Saturday, Gov. Rick Scott said the shooting that killed 11 people at The Tree of Life Synagogue was "an act of pure evil and hatred." Scott said the Florida Highway Patrol would work with local law enforcement agencies to bolster community safety. He said everyone deserved to express their religious beliefs safely and peacefully. In a separate statement, Orange County Sheriff Jerry Demings said his deputies would conduct extra patrols at Jewish centers and synagogues until further notice. Demings called the Pittsburgh shooting "another senseless act of gun violence against a place of worship." Miami Beach Police Department Chief Daniel Oates said his agency is aware of the Pittsburgh tragedy, adding that though he would not discuss specific security measures as a matter of policy his agency is working "closely with our religious institutions and have taken extra security measures out of an abundance of caution." Oates told NBC 6 the protocol is a "natural precaution" the agency is taking. The Florida Chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations said that an "attack on one synagogue is an attack on every mosque, church, temple and place of peace and worship in this country." "We feel utterly sickened to learn that 11 of our Jewish brothers and sisters were killed in cold blood as they worshiped today by a man driven by hate," CAIR-Florida Executive Director Hassan Shibly said in a statement. "We offer our prayers and support to our Jewish brothers and sisters and demand elected officials take action to end the legitimization of hate in political discourse and adopt common-sense reforms to prevent such acts of terrorism from ever occurring. What to Know The confirmed cases of measles in Rockland County has risen to 33, with five suspected cases being investigated, officials said Rockland County has been grappling with a measles outbreak in recent weeks The Health Department held vaccine clinics in response to the growing cases of the contagious disease The confirmed cases of measles in Rockland County has risen to 33, with five suspected cases being investigated, officials said Sunday. Rockland County has been grappling with a measles outbreak in recent weeks even asking students who are unvaccinated to not attend school. To prevent the spread of illness, the Rockland County Health Department advises anyone who may have measles to contact their health care provider, local clinic, or local emergency department before going for care. This will help to prevent others at these facilities from being exposed to the illness. Measles is a highly contagious disease. Young children, the immunocompromised, and non-immune pregnant women are at highest risk for severe complications. Measles is transmitted by airborne particles, droplets, and direct contact with the respiratory secretions of an infected person. Measles is an acute viral illness characterized by fever and generalized rash. Infected individuals are contagious from four days before rash onset through the fourth day after rash appearance. Rockland officials encourage everyone to be up-to-date with the measles, mumps, rubella (MMR) vaccine to help protect them in case of any future exposure to measles in Rockland. The Health Department held vaccine clinics in response to the growing number of cases. This comes weeks after India-US witnessed tension Indias defence purchase from Russia and buying oil from Iran. India, in April this year, had officially sent the Republic Day invite to US President Donald Trump. (Photo: File | AP) New Delhi: US President Donald Trump has reportedly turned down Indias invitation to be the chief guest at the 2019 Republic Day celebrations. India, in April this year, had officially sent the Republic Day invite to the US president. In early August, White House acknowledged that Trump received an invitation. "I know that the invitation has been extended, but I do not believe that a final decision has been made," White House press secretary Sarah Sanders had said. According to reports, US presidents State of the Union address around that time is a possible reason for declining the invitation. Trump declining India's invitation comes weeks after India-US witnessed tension over a range of geopolitical issues, including Indias defence purchases from Russia and buying oil from Iran. India recently signed USD 5.2 billion deal for S-400 Triumf missile system with Russia. The deal came despite the US saying that any countries transacting with Russias defence and intelligence sector would face tough sanctions under the Countering America's Adversaries Through Sanctions Act (CAATSA). The Trump administration had also given a November 4 deadline to its allies to bring down their import of Iranian oil to zero, but India continued to import the oil. What to Know Gov. Cuomo ordered flags lowered to half-staff statewide after the massacre in Pittsburgh Interfaith gatherings were planned, including one with Cardinal Dolan and Mayor de Blasio at an Upper East Side synagogue Security was stepped up at Jewish centers and houses of worship across the region Jewish, Christian and Muslim leaders gathered with city officials on Sunday in a show of unity to condemn hatred and bigotry in the wake of a shooting at a Pittsburgh synagogue that killed 11 people. "This gathering sends a message," Mayor Bill de Blasio said. "New York City will never succumb to hate. We will never allow ourselves to be divided." The interfaith gathering at Temple Emanu-El included Cardinal Timothy Dolan, the Rev. Al Sharpton, Rabbi Joseph Potasnik, Imam Al-Hajj Talib Abdur-Rashid and Public Advocate Letitia James. Meanwhile, at another event Sunday in Brooklyn, Borough President Eric L. Adams pledged to bring his gun every time he enters a church or synagogue, the New York Times reported. Adams is a retired NYPD captain. State Assemblyman Dov Hikind, who represents part of Brooklyn, agreed with Adams and said he planned to register for a gun license immediately. The focus of an interfaith gathering in Manhattan focused on solidarity against hate with many calling for stricter gun laws. "Our hearts reach out to the families of those murdered and wounded and to their Temple community we grieve beside them, said Rabbi Joshua Davidson of the Temple Emanu-El on the Upper East Side. Potasnik, executive vice president of the New York Board of Rabbis, said: "We come here this morning to say we won't stop living, we won't stop loving." Potasnik said Cardinal Dolan called him shortly after the shooting with a message of solidarity. As Pope Francis said this morning in Rome, this is a wound for the entire human family," Dolan told the gathering. "Its a particular wound for the Jewish family and we love you and we give you our prayers and sympathy. Meanwhile, Gov. Andrew Cuomo ordered flags on state government buildings to be flown at half-staff. "The hate in this country has reached a fever pitch and it is bubbling over into violence," Cuomo said, citing the synagogue shooting and a shooting at a Kentucky grocery store that is being investigated as a hate crime. A person was struck and killed by a car in West Goshen, Pennsylvania Saturday morning. The victim was walking on West Chester Pike and Patrick Avenue shortly before 7 a.m. when he or she was struck by a vehicle traveling westbound. The victim was pronounced dead at the scene. The driver remained at the scene and cooperated with investigators. The scene is still under investigation by West Goshen Police, and anyone with information on the incident is urged to contact the Traffic Safety Division of the West Goshen Police Department. What to Know A gunman opened fire at the Tree of Life synagogue in Pittsburgh on Saturday morning, the Jewish Sabbath Officials said 11 people died in the attack and six others were injured, which includes four officers Suspected gunman Robert Bowers was charged with 29 federal counts, including hate crimes A 46-year-old man armed with an assault rifle opened fire at a synagogue in Pittsburgh's Squirrel Hill neighborhood on Saturday morning, the Jewish Sabbath, killing 11 people and injuring four police officers before being taken into custody, according to officials and law enforcement sources. The suspect, Robert Bowers, traded gunfire with police and was shot several times. Bowers, who was in fair condition at a hospital, was charged late Saturday with 29 federal counts, including hate crimes and weapons offenses. It wasn't immediately known if Bowers has an attorney to speak on his behalf. A prayer service was taking place at the Tree of Life synagogue in Squirrel Hill when gunfire erupted, and officials said the shooting, which officers responded to just before 10 a.m., is being investigated as a hate crime. Eight men and three women were in the attack, according to charging documents. Six people were injured, including the four male officers, three of whom were shot. One officer was described in the affidavit as critically wounded, and the two civilians were in stable condition. The Anti-Defamation League, which tracks anti-Semitism in the United States, said in a statement this "is likely the deadliest attack on the Jewish community in the history of the United States." "Please know that justice, in this case, will be swift and it will be severe," Scott Brady, the chief federal prosecutor in western Pennsylvania, said at a news conference, characterizing the slaughter as a "terrible and unspeakable act of hate." "The nightmare has hit home in the city of Pittsburgh," said public safety director Wendell Hissrich, who described the "very horrific crime scene" as "one of the worst that I've seen." The survivors included Daniel Leger, 70, a nurse and hospital chaplain who was in critical condition after undergoing surgery, brother Paul Leger told the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Daniel Leger was scheduled to lead a service Saturday morning, his brother said. if("undefined"==typeof window.datawrapper)window.datawrapper={};window.datawrapper["AjRRP"]={},window.datawrapper["AjRRP"].embedDeltas={"100":462,"200":433,"300":404,"400":404,"500":404,"700":404,"800":404,"900":404,"1000":404},window.datawrapper["AjRRP"].iframe=document.getElementById("datawrapper-chart-AjRRP"),window.datawrapper["AjRRP"].iframe.style.height=window.datawrapper["AjRRP"].embedDeltas[Math.min(1e3,Math.max(100*Math.floor(window.datawrapper["AjRRP"].iframe.offsetWidth/100),100))]+"px",window.addEventListener("message",function(a){if("undefined"!=typeof a.data["datawrapper-height"])for(var b in a.data["datawrapper-height"])if("AjRRP"==b)window.datawrapper["AjRRP"].iframe.style.height=a.data["datawrapper-height"][b]+"px"}); Authorities say that just before 10 a.m., Bowers entered the large synagogue with an assault-style rifle and three handguns. Calls to 911 began soon after, with people reporting "they were being attacked," according to charging documents Bowers was allegedly on his way out of the synagogue when police arrived, NBC News' Tom Winter reported. The gunman shot one of the first responding officers in the hand, and another officer was wounded by "shrapnel and broken glass," according to the affidavit. Police then engaged with Bowers inside the synagogue, where two more officers were shot multiple times before he surrendered. Bowers told an officer while he was being treated for his injuries "that he wanted all Jews to die and also that they (Jews) were committing genocide to his people," the affidavit said. Social media accounts under Bowers' name included anti-Semitic comments. Earlier Saturday, a post under his name made hateful comments about a Jewish-American organization that helps refugees, NBC News Pete Williams reported. Many other comments on the account also featured disparaging comments about Jews. The account also posted comments critical of President Donald Trump. Officials said he was not known to law enforcement prior to the shooting. Police departments across the country, from New York City to Los Angeles, said security was being increased at local synagogues in response to the attack. Speaking at a previously scheduled event in Indiana, Trump decried the "wicked act of mass murder" as "pure evil." He said anti-Semitism "represents one of the ugliest and darkest features of human history." Earlier, he speculated that the deadly violence would have been curbed if the building had had an armed guard. With both the death toll and details of the synagogues security still to be disclosed at the time, Trump said gun control has little to do with it but if they had protection inside, the results would have been far better. When asked if all places of worship should be armed, Trump said that "it's certainly an option in this world." The president who, at times, has been accused by critics of failing to adequately condemn hate, such as when he blamed "both sides" for the violence at a Charlottesville, Virginia, white supremacist rally in 2017 said that anti-Semitism must be "confronted and condemned everywhere it rears it very ugly head." He called for the imposition of the death penalty for "crimes like this." Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Wolf described the incident as "an absolute tragedy" and called for action to "prevent these tragedies in the future", saying, "Dangerous weapons are putting our citizens in harms way." He later ordered flags in Pennsylvania to be flown at half-staff. At least 8 people have been reported dead in the Saturday shooting. The tree-lined residential neighborhood of Squirrel Hill, about 10 minutes from downtown Pittsburgh, is the hub of Pittsburghs Jewish community. More than a quarter of the Jewish households in the Pittsburgh area are in Squirrel Hill, according to a Brandeis University study of the Greater Pittsburgh Jewish community. More than 80 percent of Squirrel Hill residents said they had some concern or were very concerned about the rise of anti-Semitism, the study said. And many also said they experienced incidents of anti-Semitism in the past year, including insults, stereotypes, physical threats and attacks. The ADL warned earlier this year that 2017 saw the largest single-year increase on record of anti-Semitic incidents, a spike of 57 percent from the previous year. The 1,986 incidents included physical assaults, vandalism and attacks on Jewish institutions. And a Friday report from the ADL said that far-right extremists have ramped up an intimidating wave of anti-Semitic harassment against Jewish people ahead of next month's U.S. midterm elections. Posts were sometimes orchestrated by leaders of neo-Nazi or white nationalist groups. We are devastated, ADL Director and CEO Jonathan Greenblatt said Saturday on Twitter. Jews targeted on Shabbat morning at synagogue, a holy place of worship, is unconscionable. Our hearts break for the victims, their families, and the entire Jewish community. [NATL] PHOTOS: Pittsburgh Reels After Shooting at Tree of Life Synagogue Leaves 11 Dead In 2010, Tree of Life Congregation founded more than 150 years ago merged with Or LSimcha to form Tree of Life*Or LSimcha. The synagogue is a fortress-like concrete building, its facade punctuated by rows of swirling, modernistic stained-glass windows illustrating the story of creation, the acceptance of Gods law, the life cycle and how human-beings should care for the earth and one another, according to its website. Among its treasures is a Holocaust Torah, rescued from Czechoslovakia. Its sanctuary can hold up to 1,250 guests. Jeff Finkelstein, of the Jewish Federation of Greater Pittsburgh, said local synagogues have done lots of training on things like active shooters, and weve looked at hardening facilities as much as possible. This should not be happening, period, he told reporters at the scene. This should not be happening in a synagogue. Tree of Life Rabbi Jeffrey Myers posted a column on the congregation's website in July lamenting Washington's inaction against gun violence. "Despite continuous calls for sensible gun control and mental health care, our elected leaders in Washington knew that it would fade away in time," he wrote. "Unless there is a dramatic turnaround in the mid-term elections, I fear that the status quo will remain unchanged, and school shootings will resume. I shouldnt have to include in my daily morning prayers that God should watch over my wife and daughter, both teachers, and keep them safe. Where are our leaders?" And just three days before the shooting, Myers noted in another column that people make time to attend funerals, but not for lifes happy occasions. He ended his column with words that now seem all too prescient. We value joy so much in Judaism that upon taking our leave from a funeral or a shiva house, the customary statement one makes (in Yiddish) is nor oyf simches - only for smachot, Myers wrote. While death is inevitable and a part of life, we still take our leave with the best possible blessing, to meet at joyous events. And so I say to you: nor oyf simches! Mass Shootings in the U.S. Since 1982 Single attacks in a public place in which four or more victims were killed. The data does not include shootings stemming from more conventional crimes such as robberies and gang violence. More on the data source. Cathie Mayers, who lives in the Point Breeze neighborhood next to Squirrel Hill, described Tree of Life as a well-known place in the area. She called the shooting "surprising" and "very, very saddening," telling NBC that "its unusual for Squirrel Hill, but this is a very, very surprising incident for Pittsburgh, especially at a place of worship." World Jewish Congress President Ronald S. Lauder called the shooting "an attack not just on the Jewish community, but on America as a whole." The Holocaust Memorial Museum in D.C. condemned the attack on the Tree of Life synagogue and called on "all Americans to actively work to promote social solidarity and respect the dignity of all individuals." Trump's daughter Ivanka Trump, who converted to Judaism ahead of her marriage to Jared Kushner, tweeted: "America is stronger than the acts of a depraved bigot and anti-semite. All good Americans stand with the Jewish people to oppose acts of terror & share the horror, disgust & outrage over the massacre in Pittsburgh. We must unite against hatred & evil. God bless those affected." Locals and officials respond to Saturday mornings shooting at the Tree of Life synagogue in Pittsburgh. The Council on American-Islamic Relations also condemned the "heinous and cowardly attack on a house of worship," saying in a statement, "This attack is on American values and principles of humanity, and we all need to come together to restore civilized values to our society." Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu tweeted that he was "heartbroken and appalled by the murderous attack on a Pittsburgh synagogue today. The entire people of Israel grieve with the families of the dead. We stand together with the Jewish community of Pittsburgh." "We are incredibly saddened to hear of this morning's tragedy at the Tree of Life synagogue in Pittsburgh. We send our thoughts and prayers to all those affected," the Pittsburgh Penguins tweeted. Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau tweeted that "Canadians hearts are with the Jewish community in Pittsburgh today." For many living near South Carolina's coast, Florence is the visitor they never wanted who now refuses to leave. Eleven days after the once-fierce hurricane arrived on the coast, and more than a week after it blew north and dissipated, rivers swollen by its relentless rains are still flooding homes and businesses in their paths as they make their way to the sea. Some residents have no idea when they will return home. One of them is Vivian Chestnut, who evacuated her home in inundated Conway, South Carolina, six days ago. The Waccamaw River, which flows through the city of 23,000, had already reached more than 21 feet (6.4 meters) far surpassing the previous record high of 17.9 feet (5.5 meters) set by Hurricane Matthew two years ago and it was still rising Tuesday afternoon. The waterway was expected to crest on Wednesday, but not to drop below 18 feet or so until sometime next week. The river floods at 11 feet (3.4 meters). "You find yourself sitting around a lot and thinking, 'What if,' or, 'I wonder what things are like right now,'" said Chestnut, who is staying with family in the area. "And wondering what you are going to find when you finally get back." It's a scene repeating itself across eastern South Carolina, where rivers are swollen from what one meteorologist calculated is the nation's second-rainiest storm in 70 years slowly make their way down the state's gentle sloping coastal plain. If that weren't bad enough, more weather was forming off the coast in a hurricane season that still has two months to go. National Hurricane Center forecasters watching a low pressure area about 260 miles (420 kilometers) south of Cape Hatteras, North Carolina, said it could become a tropical depression as it approaches the coast before moving quickly to the north. While it will likely dump some additional rain on the Florence-battered city of Wilmington, it wasn't expected to be significant enough to worsen the flooding. "It shouldn't put much of a dent in the rivers," said Reid Hawkins, a National Weather Service meteorologist in Wilmington. The storm was also having an enduring impact on the environment. A power outage at a wastewater station combined with heavy rain caused about 128,000 gallons (477,000 liters) of wastewater to spill into a river at Camp Lejeune in North Carolina, the U.S. Marine Corps reported Tuesday. The military said the spill won't threaten residential water supplies, however. Officials at South Carolina's state-owned utility were still warily monitoring two coal-ash ponds near Conway. Santee Cooper officials said floodwater from the Waccamaw River had already made it into one pond, but most of the ash had already been removed from it during an earlier cleanup project. The river is likely to flood the second pond soon, but the utility promised it has taken steps to lessen the environmental impact, such as installing silt fencing and a floating environmental containment boom. Not far from the ash ponds, engineers are keeping an eye on U.S. Highway 501, the main link to Myrtle Beach. Water is now touching a temporary barrier of sand and plastic that has been erected to keep water off the bridge. Called the Lifeline, the temporary wall will remain effective if the water doesn't rise more than an additional 5 feet (1.5 meters) from its current level, according to the state Department of Transportation. A preliminary analysis of Hurricane Florence has determined that the slow-moving storm dumped more than 17.5 inches (44 centimeters) of water on a region stretching from Fayetteville, North Carolina, to Florence, South Carolina. Hurricane Harvey delivered 25.6 inches (65 centimeters), said Ken Kunkel, a meteorologist at the National Oceanic Atmospheric Administration and North Carolina State University. In North Carolina, where Florence's floodwaters temporarily cut off the city of Wilmington and inundated several others, the rivers have stopped rising, but the recovery process is really just beginning. Gov. Roy Cooper has estimated billions of dollars in damages. In rural Jones County, between Kinston and New Bern, two of the county's six schools will have to be demolished after floodwaters left mold and mildew in their wake, School Superintendent Michael Bracy said. Housing also promised to be scarce for flood victims. In rural areas where so many single-family and one-story structures were susceptible to flooding, even those that were untouched will not provide nearly as many options for evacuees as an urban area with multiple-story apartment buildings would, noted Red Cross Vice President of Operations and Logistics Brad Kieserman. That will present a challenge for flood victims who initially fled to relatives' homes but will likely need to find other shelters before their own homes are ready for their return. "Staying with family is going to get a little old for everybody," he said. Associated Press writers Gary D. Robertson, Alex Derosier, Meg Kinnard, Sarah Rankin and Sarah Brumfield contributed to this report. A mother and child who were the subject of an Amber Alert Saturday night were found safe during a traffic stop, according to California Highway Patrol. Brandon Alexander, 31, is believed to have taken the 15-month-old child, Xavier Alexander, and his mother around 5:45 a.m. Saturday, according to the Upland Police Department. Alexander has a restraining order against him and is on post-release community supervision for domestic violence, according to a tweet from the department. After Los Angeles County residents got an automated phone call reporting a mistake was on their November ballot, county officials issued an alert to voters that there was no such error. The calls and a mailer dubbed a ballot "correction" were part of an advertising blitz by Proposition 6 supporters trying to drive home a message to voters to overcome what they see as a misleading title and summary on the ballot initiative. Proposition 6 would repeal an increase in fuel taxes and vehicle fees that is slated to fund $5 billion in transportation projects a year. Its title on the ballot begins with: "Eliminates certain road repair and transportation funding." Proponents say that doesn't convey quickly enough its mission, which is why they titled it a "Gas Tax Repeal Initiative" in large letters on their mailer. The feud over messaging comes just weeks before the election, though complaints about ballot language are hardly new. Since elected officials craft the title and summary that voters read on the ballot, Republicans frequently contend they are at a disadvantage since California's Legislature and government offices including those tasked with drafting and publishing ballot language are solidly in Democrats' hands. "We very often have these fights," said Thad Kousser, chairman of political science at the University of California, San Diego. "(The proponents) wanted it to only talk about what voters would get, not what voters would lose, and so they are well within their rights to make this their central campaign message." Proponents can challenge ballot language in the courts but didn't for Proposition 6, a constitutional amendment that also seeks to require voter approval for future fuel tax hikes. Instead, supporters have focused their efforts on branding the measure as a repeal of a gasoline tax hike they say is making California too expensive. "We know when voters know 'Yes on Prop 6' is the gas tax repeal, they are more likely to support it," said Dave McCulloch, a spokesman for proponents. "Lawyers are expensive, and we feel money is best used by educating voters." Opponents, who argue the tax revenues are critical to upgrading the state's crumbling roads and bridges, have called the advertising deceptive. They said they also would have preferred messaging more favorable to their cause and that proponents had the chance to mount a court challenge and didn't. "We find it disgraceful and deceptive that they would emulate an official voter guide with fake mailers," said Robin Swanson, a spokeswoman for the campaign against Proposition 6. "If we were writing the title and summary, we would call it, 'The attack on roads and bridges.'" We didn't get our way either, but we're not trying to deceive voters." Opponents, backed by construction industry groups and unions, are campaigning to show voters how revenues from the 12-cent-per-gallon increase in gasoline excise taxes are translating to road and transit fixes in their neighborhoods, she said. The battle over language comes as polling by the nonpartisan Public Policy Institute of California shows the repeal effort trailing. In a mid-October poll, 41 percent of likely voters said they planned to vote for the initiative, and 48 percent were opposed. A January poll showed 47 percent of likely voters favored repealing the gas tax increase. McCulloch said the shift shows ballot language matters since earlier polling didn't include the measure's official title. Swanson said it showed the campaign against the measure, which took off over the summer, has resonated with voters. Opponents also have raised $44 million, compared with $5 million raised by supporters. Keir DuBois, 41, said he received one of the correction-styled mailers in coastal Ventura northwest of Los Angeles. DuBois, who opposes the repeal, said he knew it was an ad but didn't like getting an official-looking communication that was labeled a "correction" from a political campaign. "I felt like they were trying to pull one over on people who want to believe voting against every tax is a good thing," he said. Brian Greene, who has seen the mailers posted online and wants the tax hike rolled back, said he feels just the opposite. "It is just getting the conversation started about what the phrasing actually means on the bills we're voting on," said the 25-year-old from Los Angeles. "I think the layperson doesn't understand the government rhetoric. They make it as complicated as possible." In this month's poll, the measure had more support in Orange County and San Diego County, home to Republican former councilman and initiative author Carl DeMaio. Most respondents in the San Francisco Bay Area said they'd vote against it. In addition to election mailers and calls, Proposition 6 supporters have led a bus tour and put video ads on screens at gas stations that drivers see while filling up. They also held campaign events at gas stations offering discounted fuel. Mary-Beth Moylan, professor at University of the Pacific's McGeorge School of Law in Stockton, thinks proponents went too far in mimicking election announcements. "I don't have a problem with them putting a mailer out," said Moylan, who teaches a seminar on initiatives. "It is another thing to say, 'We're going to masquerade as an official state actor and tell you that there is a correction to your ballot.' Adding that level of manipulation to the process, I think, is problematic." A vigil was held in Boston Sunday for the victims of the Pennsylvania synagogue shooting. Eleven people were killed and four police officers were injured when a 46-year-old man armed with an assault rifle opened fire at the Tree of Life synagogue in Pittsburgh's Squirrel Hill neighborhood on Saturday morning, the Jewish Sabbath. Authorities identified the 11 victims Sunday morning, saying they ranged in age from from 54 to 97 and included brothers and a husband and wife. "When an act of violence takes place in a house of worship it impacts every single person," said Robert Trestan, executive director of Anti-Defamation League of New England. "When we go to a synagogue, to a church or to a mosque we consider them to be safe places. Suddenly those places that seem to be safe make us the most vulnerable." Sunday's event started at 2 p.m. at the Parkman Bandstand on the Boston Common. Massachusetts Gov. Charlie Baker and Boston Mayor Marty Walsh addressed the crowd. "We're standing here today to fight back on what's happening," Walsh said to the gathering. Baker said, "I do believe, as I'm sure you do as well, that good always triumphs over evil." Baker also tweeted a photo of the vigil, saying in part, "The Commonwealth stands with the Tree of Life Synagogue family and the entire Pittsburgh community." The Commonwealth stands with the Tree of Life Synagogue family and the entire Pittsburgh community. Our shared American values of inclusion rise above the hate behind the violence. pic.twitter.com/MGVWh9Mfq0 Charlie Baker (@MassGovernor) October 28, 2018 Sen. Ed Markey also addressed the crowd Sunday, saying, "More guns are not the answer." Other speakers who attended included Congressman Joe Kennedy, Treasurer Debra Goldberg, Boston Police Commissioner William Gross, Cardinal Sean OMalley, Jeremy Burton of the Jewish Community Relations Council, Shayk Yasir Fahmy of the ISBCC, Anthony Barsamian of the Mass Council of Churches, Rev. Liz Walker of Roxbury Presbyterian Church, Consul General of Israel to New England Zeev Boker, Marc Baker of CJP and Trestan. The vigil was held by the CJP, JCRC, the Synagogue Council of Massachusetts, and the ADL. A New Hampshire lawmaker has pleaded guilty to assaulting a 16-year-old girl. The Eagle-Tribute reports that Republican Rep. Eric Schleien, of Hudson, and prosecutors agreed to capped sentence of a year in the House of Corrections, with half of it suspended based on good behavior. After serving 30 days, Schleien would be eligible to serve the remainder under house arrest. He was charged last year with one misdemeanor count of sexual assault and two misdemeanor counts of simple assault. Schleien denied the allegations. In June, a judge denied a proposed plea agreement because it gave him a chance to avoid jail time. He pleaded guilty Friday. Republican House Majority Leader Dick Hinch says Schleien should resign immediately. Schleien, who is not seeking re-election, didn't immediately return an email seeking comment. Two people have died in a fire at a vacant house in Rutland, Vermont. The fire broke out just after 4:20 p.m. Saturday at 41 Baxter Street. The Rutland City Fire Department posted on its Facebook page that when firefighters arrived at the fire they found two people on the second floor and they were "moved to an area of refuge while the fire was fought.'' The fire department wrote in its post that despite their "very best efforts'' the two people died. "Our thoughts and prayers are with their families and friends for this tragic loss," the department's post went on to say. Both bodies were transported to the Office of Chief Medical Examiner. The victims' names have not been released. A second fire was reported at another vacant structure in the city a short time later. The fires are under investigation by Rutland Fire Department, Rutland Police Department and Vermont State Police. Norfolk comes out top in churches heritage survey Norfolk comes out top in churches heritage survey Norfolk has been revealed as the top county in the country for church interiors and social history in a study about church heritage and numbers visiting churches and chapels. The first group of 278 Chinese tourists stranded by Super Typhoon Yutu in Saipan safely landed in Shanghai Sunday afternoon, Sichuan Airlines said. The first group of 278 Chinese tourists stranded by Super Typhoon Yutu in Saipan safely landed in Shanghai Sunday afternoon, Oct. 28, 2018.[File Photo: CCTV] The flight took off at 10:44 a.m. Beijing Time from Saipan and landed in Shanghai Pudong International Airport at 3:09 p.m. The second flight is scheduled to depart Shanghai at about 7 a.m. on Monday. A passenger onboard the flight surnamed Zhou said her original plan of returning on Thursday was disrupted by the typhoon and she had to stay in Saipan for another three days. "Power and network remained normal. Accommodation was also arranged during the typhoon days," she said. "But still I hoped to return home as soon as possible. And I was grateful that I was among the first group to be picked up by our country's plane." The Consulate General of China in Los Angeles confirmed Friday that some 1,500 Chinese tourists were trapped in Saipan. Yutu, one of the strongest super typhoons in history, slammed the islands of Tinian and Saipan Wednesday, bringing sustained winds of 289 kph that damaged local infrastructure. The Saipan airport was also badly damaged. 'India is closely following the recent political developments in Sri Lanka,' MEA spokeperson Raveesh Kumar said. Sri Lankan President Maithripala Sirisena suspended Parliament on Saturday, a day after sacking PM Ranil Wickremesinghe and naming Mahinda Rajapaksa as new prime minister. (Photo: Twitter | @PresRajapaksa) New Delhi: India on Sunday said it was closely following the political developments in Sri Lanka and hoped that democratic values and constitutional process would be respected in the island nation. In fast-paced political developments, Sri Lankan President Maithripala Sirisena suspended Parliament on Saturday, a day after sacking Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe and naming Mahinda Rajapaksa as the new prime minister. "India is closely following the recent political developments in Sri Lanka. As a democracy and a close friendly neighbour, we hope that democratic values and constitutional process will be respected," External Affairs Ministry Spokeperson Raveesh Kumar said. Kumar said India will continue to extend its developmental assistance to the friendly people of Sri Lanka. India has been involved in a number of projects in the island nation. Sirisena on Saturday suspended Parliament till November 16 after Wickremesinghe sought an emergency session to prove his majority. Former president Rajapaksa was sworn in as the country's new PM on Friday. The political turmoil came amid growing tensions between Sirisena and Wickremesinghe on several policy matters. Reacting sharply to his sacking, Wickremesinghe asserted that the swearing-in of Rajapaksa is "illegal and unconstitutional" and he will prove his majority in Parliament. The political developments unfolded after Sirisena's broader political front UPFA announced that it has decided to quit the current unity government with Wickremesinghe's UNP. The unity government was formed in 2015 when Sirisena was elected President with Wickremesinghe's support, ending a nearly decade-long rule by Rajapaksa. Rajapaksa's return to power ends a more than three-year-old coalition government that was formed by Sirisena and Wickremesinghe on a promise to combat corruption and financial irregularities. The unity government was thrown into a crisis after Rajapaksa's new party pulled off a stunning victory in local elections in February seen as a referendum on the ruling alliance. Sri Lanka nearly faced economic sanctions from the West over Rajapaksa's military crackdown on the banned Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE). The LTTE sought a separate Tamil homeland in the northern and eastern provinces of the island nation for nearly 30 years before its collapse in 2009 after the Sri Lankan Army killed the outfit's supreme leader Velupillai Prabhakaran. 13th India-Japan annual summit seeks to review progress in ties and deepen strategic dimension of bilateral relationship. Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who is in Japan to attend 13th India-Japan annual summit, has said that his meeting with Abe will add new vigour to strong friendship between two countries. (Photo: Twitter | @PMOIndia) Yamanashi/New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi met his Japanese counterpart Shinzo Abe in Yamanashi on Sunday as the two leaders seek to add new vigour to the strong friendship between the two countries. "Prime Ministers @narendramodi and @AbeShinzo meet at Yamanashi. They would be holding talks through the day on deepening India-Japan ties," Prime Minister Modi's office tweeted. PM Modi, who arrived in Japan last evening to attend the 13th India-Japan annual summit, has said that his meeting with Abe will add new vigour to the strong friendship between the two countries. The two-day summit beginning Sunday will seek to review the progress in ties and deepen strategic dimension of the bilateral relationship. Abe will host a luncheon for Modi at a scenic resort by Mount Fuji. After luncheon, they would visit a factory of industrial robot manufacturer Fanuc Corp. before moving on to the Japanese premier's vacation home nearby. Abe will host the Indian Prime Minister at his holiday home in the picturesque Yamanashi prefecture, west of Tokyo, for a private dinner Sunday following which both the leaders will travel to Tokyo by train. Yamanashi, at a distance of around 110 kilometres from Tokyo, is surrounded by several mountains including Mount Fuji - the country's tallest peak at around 3,776 metres. The two leaders will hold a formal summit on Monday in Tokyo, during which strengthening bilateral security and economic cooperation is expected to be high on the agenda. Ahead of his departure from New Delhi, PM Modi described India and Japan as a "winning combination" and said the island nation was New Delhi's most trusted partner in its economic and technological modernisation. PM Modi said it will be his 12th meeting with Abe since he first visited Japan as prime minister in September 2014. During the summit, Prime Minister Narendra Modi will engage with Abe on a range of issues including defence and regional security. Besides bilateral issues, the two leaders are expected to deliberate on a range of regional and global issues including the situation in the Indo-Pacific region. It is said the Prime Minister's visit will reaffirm the traditional bonds of friendship between the two countries and strengthen their multi-faceted cooperation in diverse fields. India is also hoping to have some kind of synergy or integration between Modi's Ayushman Bharat scheme, which is the largest medicare programme of its kind globally, and the Japanese programme which is called Asia Health and Wellbeing Initiative. Prime Minister Modi has said projects such as Mumbai-Ahmedabad High Speed Rail and Dedicated Freight Corridors reflected the high level and "strength of our economic engagement". "Japan is also at the forefront of engaging in our national initiatives, such as 'Make in India', 'Skill India', 'Digital India', 'Start Up India'... Japanese investors have faith in India's economic future, which is marked with myriad opportunities," PM Modi said. The Prime Minister will also address the Indian community function in Tokyo and will attend a series of business events and address the business forum. Tharoor asserted that the 'personality cult of the PM has not gone down well with RSS and has been a cause of frustration within its ranks'. The Congress MP from Thiruvananthapuram further slammed Prime Minister Modi-led central government for its souring ties with its neighbouring countries, saying that the foreign policy cannot be made 'on a whim or impulse'. (Photo: File) Bengaluru: Congress Member of Parliament (MP) Shashi Tharoor on Sunday, quoting an unnamed Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) source, launched a sharp attack on Prime Minister Narendra Modi while likening him with a scorpion sitting on a 'shivling'. Speaking about his book 'The Paradoxical Prime Minister' at the Bengaluru Literature Festival, Tharoor asserted that the "personality cult of Prime Minister Modi has not gone down well with the RSS and has been a cause of frustration within its ranks". He elucidated, "There's an extraordinarily striking metaphor expressed by an unnamed RSS source to a journalist, who expressed their frustration to curb Modi -- 'Modi is like a scorpion sitting on a shivling. You can't remove him with your hand and you cannot hit it with a 'chappal' (slipper) either." Tharoor added, "If you try to touch the scorpion, you will be stung, but if you hit a shivling with the chappal, it undermines all the sacred tenets of the faith. That may well be an interesting clue to the rather complex dynamics that exists between the Hindutva movement and the Moditva expression on it." Continuing his tirade, the Congress leader said that he focused more on the Prime Minister's personal character rather than the Hindutva movement in his book. "He is from the Hindutva movement but hes not imprisoned by it. Moditva, that is built on Modi's cult of personality, is what I analyse more in the book because of his personal intimidation and character," Tharoor elaborated. Giving a summary of his book to the audience, Tharoor informed: "The first part of the book is a biography of PM Modi. Then, I analyse the Modi regime in four sections the Modification of India, which has been altered by the nature of forces unleashed by this government such as mob lynchings and cow vigilantism, Governments and governance, which explains the style of governance adopted by the Modi government in the last four-and-half years. This includes demonetisation without being consulted with the cabinet, the Home Minister doesn't even know that the CBI directors are being removed; the Defence Minister doesn't know that the Rafale deal for 120 aircraft has mysteriously changed to 36 aircraft and our Foreign Minister doesn't know what changes Modi is making in the foreign policy commitment." "Next is on Modinomics, which involves the disastrous demonetisation and the botched rollout of GST and lastly, his foreign policy, which I have been personally disappointed with," he said. The Congress MP from Thiruvananthapuram further slammed Prime Minister Modi-led central government for its souring ties with its neighbouring countries, saying that the foreign policy cannot be made "on a whim or impulse". "We have the worst of our relations with our neighbours. See, the Maldives, who is cocking a snook in India, cancelling impunity contracts to Indian companies, advertisement vacancies with words clearly stated - 'Indian citizens need not apply'. We have seen the shambles of relations with Nepal, our ties have soured with Nepal opening up its northern borders to the Chinese. We have seen setback after setback with Sri Lanka. And we have this peculiar relation with Pakistan. There are lots of ups and downs than a child yo-yo, Tharoor said. He further alleged that various institutions such as the Election Commission, Supreme Court, CBI and others were not freely functioning in the last five years, and that its integrity was being repeatedly undermined by the National Democratic Alliance government. Expressing concern over the current law and order situation, Tharoor asserted that Prime Minister Modi did not utter a word on the rising incidents of mob lynchings and cow vigilantism in the country. Sorry! This content is not available in your region On September 28, the Supreme Court paved the way for entry of women of all ages into the Ayyappa temple at Sabarimala in Kerala. Lucknow: BSP president Mayawati Sunday condemned BJP chief Amit Shahs remarks on the Sabarimala verdict, saying the court should take cognisance of the irresponsible and provocative statement. In a statement here, the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) supremo said that Mr Shahs remarks showed the democracy of the country is in danger. Addressing a gathering in Keralas Kannur on Saturday, Mr Shah listed court verdicts which have not been implemented, including on Jallikattu (traditional bull taming sport of Tamil Nadu) and prohibiting loudspeakers in mosques, and said impractical directions should not be given by courts and they should pass orders that can be implemented. The statement of the ruling party president is condemnable and irresponsible. Court should take cognisance. It shows the democracy of the country is in danger. Autonomous institutions such as CBI, CVC, ED and RBI are facing crisis due to wrong perspective of the government and ego, Ms Mayawati said. On this serious matter of Sabrimala temple, BJP leaders speech is provocative and an attempt to take political mileage in Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh and Rajasthan polls, she said, terming it unconstitutional and unparliamentary. If the BJP is not satisfied with the SC decision allowing womens entry into the temple, they should approach court and not create chaos on roads or threaten to dismiss elected government, Ms Mayawati said, adding that the BJP wanted to divert attention of the people from core issues by raking up religious matters. On September 28, the Supreme Court paved the way for entry of women of all ages into the Ayyappa temple at Sabarimala in Kerala. A five-judge Constitution bench headed by Chief Justice Dipak Misra, in its 4:1 verdict, said that banning the entry of women of menstrual age into the shrine is gender discrimination and the practice violates rights of Hindu women. Yameen had challenged the outcome of the elections, alleging the vote was rigged but the countrys Supreme Court upheld the results. New Delhi: India played a positive role in restoration of democracy in the Maldives by "exerting pressure" on the ruling regime, and the new government in the island nation would be sensitive towards New Delhi's concerns, former Maldivian President Maumoon Abdul Gayoom said on Sunday. Nearly a month after he was released from jail, Mr Gayoom, who ruled the Maldives for three decades until 2008, said the government of President Abdulla Yameen inflicted huge damage on the Maldives but democratic forces have prevailed over their enemies. Joint Opposition leader Ibrahim Mohamed Solih came out victorious in the September 23 presidential election, handing a shock defeat to incumbent Yameen and capping months of political upheaval in the tourist paradise. The political turmoil was triggered by imposition of emergency in February and jailing of several of Opposition leaders, including Gayoom, a half brother of Yameen. Yameen had challenged the outcome of the elections, alleging the vote was rigged but the countrys Supreme Court upheld the results. The transition of power is due on November 17. The last few years did erode the credibility of Maldivian constitutional bodies as well as confidence of the Maldivian people in the state, 80-year-old Gayoom told PTI in an exclusive interview. However, the people have themselves taken remedial action as the election results have shown. There was huge damage done, but the constitution, the constitutional bodies and the citizen rights given by the constitution will be safe and strong under the new coalition government, he added. Mr Gayoom had ruled the Maldives for 30 years till he was defeated in the country's first multi-party elections in 2008. He was arrested in February as part of crackdown on Yameen's political opponents. Asked whether Yameen drew his strength from strong backing by China, Mr Gayoom, credited with forging strong ties with India, hoped that China would respect the will of the Maldivian people. New Delhi: The Directorate General of GST Intelligence (DGGI), Pune Zonal Unit, arrested a man on October 26 in Mumbai for evasion of GST amounting to Rs 79 crore. The accused identified as Modsingh Padamsingh Sodha has been sent to 14 days judicial custody by a Pune court, reported news agency ANI. On October 24, a Chartered Accountant (CA) and two of his associates were arrested for allegedly evading Rs 50 crore of Goods and Services Tax (GST) from Noida. The three were arrested from their office in Noida Sector 63 and were produced before a special chief judicial magistrate court in Meerut. They were remanded to judicial custody after having been booked under 2017's GST Act's Section 132 (1) A. Further details awaited For all the Latest Business News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. New Delhi: Taimur Ali Khan, who is a national obsession since his birth because he is getting used to being in the limelight at such a young age. Aged just about two, he has a staggering fan base who always keep themselves updated about his whereabouts and the paparazzi never miss out on clicking him at any event or even a casual outing. During a promotional event for his recently released film Baazaar, the Dil Chahta Hai actor expressed concern over the growing paparazzi culture in India. He wondered how people could be so interested in his two-year-old son Taimur Ali Khans life. With media paps hovering around him all the time, Saif revealed that every film producer he is working with half-jokingly had tried to cash in on Taimur's popularity. Saif joked that Kareena has told him to not be so cheap and sell his son. But, Saif further quipped, that he is open to all nappy ads for Taimur. Here's what he said, Every producer I am working with is half-jokingly say, "Haha can we put him (for promotions)". My wife (Kareena Kapoor Khan) says, "Don't be so cheap. You can't sell your son (Taimur). I am like, "Why not? Let's sell him." Seriously yaar, he is anyway there on the internet. I am just using this platform to say if anybody has any good nappy ads or anything... at a very reasonable price...it's not reasonable, it's quite expensive actually. And, I won't give him the money also. I'll give him some cash for his education, I am already giving it to him. And I'll spend the rest! Saif's co-star from Baazaar, Chitrangda Singh instantly quipped On what? To which Saif replied, On Swiss vacations! Reacting to peoples never-ending interest in Taimurs life, Saif said On one level, it is nice that he makes people laugh and smile; but on another level, why is so much attention given to a kid? Why are we so interested in a little kid so much? I dont understand it. Time and again, Taimur has taken social media by storm with his adorable pictures from a play date, vacations with his parents and casual outings enjoying a walk or a sport with his dad Saif. And each time, he has melted thousands of hearts with his innocence and cute looks. Saif Ali Khan's recent film Baazaar has received a mixed response from the critics and has opened on slow note earning a low Rs 3.07 crore on its opening day. The actor has been a part of films like Hum Tum, Kal Ho Naa Ho, Salaam Namaste, Omkara and Race. Of late, he has featured in movies like Happy Ending, Rangoon, Chef and Kaalakandi. The actor is one of the early Bollywood biggie who has migrated to Netflix with his powerful stint in Sacred Games. For all the Latest Entertainment News, Bollywood News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. New Delhi: The air quality in Delhi-NCR is on a constant decline over the past days since Dussehra when there was a sharp increase in the air pollution level due to the bursting of firecrackers even as authorities appealed to have eco-friendly celebrations. However, the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) said that this was not the only reason and some other factors, including vehicular pollution, construction activities, fall in wind speed and direction of the wind were also responsible for the increasing air pollution. The latest satellite images released by NASA showed an increasing trend in stubble burning cases across Punjab and Haryana over the past 15 days. According to news agency PTI, authorities have predicted further deterioration of air quality in the coming days. Read More | Pakistan Supreme Court reimposes ban on TV broadcast of Indian content Prime Minister Narendra Modi, in the 49th edition of his monthly radio programme Mann Ki Baat on Sunday, addressed the issue of stubble burning in Punjab. He said instead of burning it, it should be cultivated in the field itself. This will not only increase the soil strength but will also help prevent air pollution. He talked about a farmer from Punjab, Gurbachan Singh, who during his wedding had put one condition before the brides family that they would stop burning stubble in the farm. There was strength his Gurbachan Singhs statement, the prime minister said. He set an example for everyone to follow. The prime minister also referred to Kallar Majra, a village near Nabha in Punjabs Patiala district where farmers mix the stubble with the sand by ploughing their fields rather than burning those. They also adopt the necessary technology for the process. Also Read | AB de Villiers to play for Rangpur Riders in Bangladesh Premier League Lauding Gurbachan Singh and the farmers of Nabha, PM Modi said that these are the people who are doing their bit to keep the environment clean and everyone should try to emulate them. The past week, Union Environment Minister Harsh Vardhan had announced that a criminal case will be lodged against those who violate air pollution standards. He said that initially a warning would be given in the first 48 hours following which a criminal case would be lodged. He said that the decision on the recommendation of the CPCB would be taken if there is no significant improvement in air quality. Delhi and the National Capital Region, last year struggled with the menace of air pollution right after Diwali. Now that the festival is round the corner and the winter months are approaching, pollution watchdogs and the government are leaving no stone unturned to prevent the city from turning into a gas chamber like it did in November 2017. For all the Latest India News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. New Delhi: The Supreme Court of Pakistan has reimposed a ban on Indian films and television shows being broadcast on the countrys local TV channels terrestrial, satellite, according a report in the Dawn on Saturday. The apex court was hearing a case filed by the United Producers Association pertaining to the broadcast of foreign content on Pakistani television channels. With this, the apex court overturned the 2017 order by the Lahore High Court. During the hearing, Chief Justice of Pakistan Mian Saqib Nisar ordered a shut down and made it clear that authorities should only air appropriate content. They are trying to (obstruct the construction) of our dam and we cannot even ban their channels? India is shrinking the flow of water into Pakistan. Why shouldn't we close their channels?" Nisar reportedly said. Read More | Goa Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar has pancreatic cancer: State health minister In 2016, Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority had imposed a ban on airing Indian content on local television and FM radio channels. However, the Lahore High Court lifted ban in 2017, declaring it null and void as the Pakistan government had no objections regarding the same noting that "the world has become a global village", lifted the PEMRA-imposed ban, declaring it null and void as the federal government had no objections, the report added. Also Read | Shah Rukh Khan has 'similar dimples to Bauua, but needs to work on his dressing sense' Khalid Arain, the chairman of Pakistan Cable Operators Association, confirmed the verdict, but said his group opposed the ruling. "Ban on the all the Indian content is not the solution -- rather we should try to better the quality of Pakistani TV shows," he told the AFP news agency. Pakistan had imposed bans on Indian films and TV content since the 1965 India-Pakistan war. The ban has been periodically lifted, but all Indian radio and TV content was barred again after India cracked down on protests in the disputed region of Kashmir in 2016. For all the Latest India News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. New Delhi: The Supreme Court has indeed addressed the issues that recently pushed the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) into an unprecedented crisis. Instead of confining itself to only persons or its warring officers Alok Verma and Rakesh Asthana and their grievances, the top court unlike the Government tried to address the wider and more crucial issues that confront the premier investigating agency and peoples faith in it. ALSO READ | NASA's Parker Solar Probe moves towards Sun; sends view of Earth home This turned out to be so on the first day-October 26, of hearing of the CBI case moved first and mainly by Verma despite the fact that quite a few issues may well be interlinked with the matter brought before the court. And largely it is related to impartiality, independence and a free mandate for the CBI without Governments unjustified interference as fears about this have only been growing. The events of the past days dogging the probe agency greatly cried for an urgent need for redemption after grave doubts were created in public mind about its fair and nonpartisan functioning. The Government had obviously proved woefully short of its duty to keep CBIs image in the public unscathed. The South Blocks intervention in the wake of serious charges, including those of bribery, traded between Verma and Asthana had pushed the agency into the hands of an officer junior to both the embattled officers in what was described as a midnight coup. So much so that about a dozen officers were transferred with great flourish through the night of change of the CBIs top guard though it was and still remains a temporary arrangement. ALSO READ | Fuel prices see a fall for 11th day; petrol at Rs 80.05 per litre, diesel at Rs 74.05 in Delhi A three-judge bench of the Supreme Court led by Chief Justice Ranjan Gogoi took all such ineptness under the sway of its Fridays order. And the main highlight of it is that the officiating CBI Director M Nageswar Rao has been barred by the top court from taking any major or policy decisions as he has been ordered to confine himself to only routine administrative matters till the next hearing of the case by the court on November 12. And in the meantime, or within two weeks to be exact, Rao has been asked to provide all the decisions taken by him since his takeover on October 23 to the court in a sealed cover. Besides, the Governments drastic steps taken in the wake of the crisis via Central Vigilance Commissioner KV Chowdary the court ordered that the probe against Verma on complaints made by Asthana to be completed in a couple of weeks by the CVC under the watch of a retired Supreme Court judge Justice AK Patnaik. Both the Government and the CVC have been given notices by the apex court. Their viewpoint vis-a-vis the entire crisis will be taken up by the court when the case is heard again on November 12. ALSO READ | OnePlus 6T: What to expect at tomorrows launch event? Thus, the steps taken by the Government and CVC to tackle the crisis faced by the CBI have come under the sagacious gaze of the highest court instead of any of the Governments move being revoked, reversed or stayed by the SC bench that included Justices SK Kaul and KM Joseph besides the Chief Justice. And that is how the Government could take a sigh of relief on Friday after the worrisome past few days, or ever since the fate of its decisions had landed up in the hands of their lordships because of the CBI Director Alok Verma who challenged the Government move to send him on compulsory leave though a similar action was also taken against his bete noire Rakesh Asthana. Nevertheless, the clumsiness that accompanied the Governments decisions vis-a-vis the crisis in the CBI is going to be under intense focus both in the court and also outside its confines. Both the lawmen and laymen were completely flummoxed by the Governments actions that brought fears regarding the fate of not only the CBI but also similar other top level institutions given the Governments proclivity pointing to kneejerk reaction in the wake of a crisis. And in case of the CBI it has been more so since the crisis is said to be triggered by Governments preference for Asthana who has been the officiating head of the agency before Verma was appointed. The fact that the two could not get along was palpable for about a year and throughout this the Government had preferred to look the other way. ALSO READ | PM Modi to attend 13th India-Japan annual summit in Tokyo Once the entire gamut of issues is seen from the legal or judicial point of view it becomes all the more glaring. The Supreme Court has already dealt with the procedure for the appointment of the top brass of the CBI. In the wake of infamous Hawala case and on the plea of journalist, activist and petitioner Vineet Narain the top court had laid down the procedure for the selection of the CBI Director. Verma and quite a few of his predecessors were appointed according to the process laid down by the Supreme Court way back in 1997. Yet, this time, the procedure for the removal of the director, though temporarily, has become a point of bitter contention. And it cannot be so without the susceptibilities of the system and procedures which are often subjected to indelicate use and, thus, may lead to glitches. More so since some of them could well be caused by whimsical fiats that often fly in the face of norms and rules. Both India and China are jostling for influence in the island nation. New Delhi: In a veiled message to Sri Lankan President Maithripala Sirisena, India expressed its unhappiness over the recent political developments in the island nation and hoped democratic values and the constitutional process will be respected. New Delhis first reaction on the political drama in Sri Lanka came two days after Mr Sirisena sacked Ranil Wickremesinghe as Prime Minister and appointed former President Mahinda Rajapaksa in his place apart from suspending Parliament on Saturday. In a statement, the ministry of external affairs said, India is closely following the recent political developments in Sri Lanka. As a democracy and a close friendly neighbour, we hope that democratic values and the constitutional process will be respected. We will continue to extend our developmental assistance to the friendly people of Sri Lanka. The sudden sacking of Prime Minister Wickremesinghe, who was widely considered to be pro-India, and his replacment with pro-China Mr Rajapaksa has been seen as a setback for New Delhi and a huge boost to Beijing. Both India and China are jostling for influence in the island nation. Mr Wickremesinghe was sacked just about a week after his visit to New Delhi. Ironically, Mr Rajapaksa had earlier been defeated in Presidential polls by the same man Mr Sirisena who has now appointed him Prime Minister. The rapprochement between Mr Rajapaksa and Mr Sirisena had taken even Sri Lankans by surprise. It remains to be seen whether Sri Lanka, under its new dispensation, distances itself politically from New Delhi and moves closer to China. The countdown to Fridays developments began with differences widening between Mr Sirisena and Mr Wickremesinghe in the past few weeks. There was speculation in Sri Lankan media circles when President Sirisena was suddenly seen to be making anti-India statements. But matters reached a head with reports that Sri Lankan President Sirisena had accused an Indian intelligence agency of being involved in a plot to assassinate him. The media reports were denied later. President Sirisena had also, in what was seen as a damage-control exercise, swiftly called up Prime Minister Narendra Modi to personally deny the reports. But the episode had left New Delhi worried since it was seen as a fallout of rivalry between Mr Sirisena and Mr Wickremesinghe that threatened to drag New Delhi into it. New Delhi: By all accounts, the forthcoming mid-term election holds the card to Americas political future. It will set the tone up for the 2020 presidential election, which Donald Trump will contest for his second term in office. Therefore, in plain words it is going to be referendum on the leadership of Trump whose flip-flop actions on political, economic, international and strategic issues have severely hurt Americas international standing as a powerful country. ALSO READ | NASA's Parker Solar Probe moves towards Sun; sends view of Earth home If Republicans dont perform well in the election to the 435 House of Representative seats and the 35 Senate seats, there are chances Trumps impeachment on the issue of the 2016 presidential polls could become a reality. Thus the November 6 mid-term election is going to be highly watched affairs in the US and the world. However, it would have turned disastrous had US authorities not intercepted crude pipe bombs sent to several prominent Democrats like former President Barack Obama, former Vice President Joe Biden, former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and CNNs New York based headquarters, George Soros and others. Since the development took place just ahead of US Congressional election, it has set many tongues wagging with people questioning the motive behind the selective nature of targeting by not so-far identified bombers. In fact, those targeted by intercepted pipe-bombs belonged to a group which has no love lost for President Trump and his rash and unbecoming behaviour. ALSO READ | Assam govt gave Rs 1 crore for Village Rockstar Oscar promotions Already some critics have begun to attribute the development to current violent political environment in America where, under the Trump administration, liberals, Blacks, Latinos, Asian migrants and women feel threatened and marginalized. His anti-migrant policy which has led to forcible separation of thousands of crying, hapless children from their parents who crossed into the US without documents, is a dark, chilling example of inhumanness. While refusing to put on hold this policy, he brazenly said: There have to be consequences for entering the US illegally. His anti-Muslim rant and retweeting of anti-Muslim videos from a far-right British account in the name of national security awareness campaign, has been seen as a trenchant divisive move. Worrisome part of his ongoing presidential inning is lack of consistency in his thought and action. Soon after his inauguration as the US President in January 2017, he announced withdrawal of America from the Climate Change talks. A few days ago when leading environmental scientists warned that the world is heading towards a temperature rise of 3C, Trump in his usual pouting style said scientists have a political agenda. For women, his stand is well known. At least 22 women have accused him of the sexual misconduct. In the recent memory, he is going to be the first US President who is a few months away from possible impeachment on the issue of hacking of the 2016 presidential election. In August, Trumps long-serving attorney Michael Cohen and ex-campaign manager Paul Manafort were found guilty of financial misdemeanor by courts in New York and Virginia. This has further fueled the demand for Trumps impeachment. If it has not happened so far, it is because of the fact that the House of Representative and the Senate are controlled by Republicans. In the lower chamber of the US Congress, which is the House of Representative, 235 seats are held by Republicans, while Democrats have a control over 193 seats. Similarly in the upper chamber of the US Congress, which is Senate, Republicans have 51 seats, Democrats have a control over 47 seats. Democrats also enjoy support of two Independents in the Senate. Of the total 35 Senate seats going for the polls, 24 are held by Democrats, nine by Republicans and two by Independents. Hence on the face value, the partisan risk for Republicans is low in comparison to Democrats as they will have to win back not only all 24 seats they currently hold, they will also have to see that they bag 4 more seats to gain majority in the Senate. Similarly to gain simple majority in the 435-member House of Representative, the Democratic Party will have to win 218 seats, which means 24 more than what it currently holds in the House. Critics say that since the magic touch of President Trump has waned and he is more and more seen as a liability than asset, there is possibility Republicans dont perform well in the election for both Houses. Going by some international watchers analysis even if Republicans win more seats in one house and lose in another, President Trump may not find it easy to have his agenda a smooth sailing. In that way to say that he may face tough days ahead for himself after the mid-term polls will not be at all a cynical analysis of unfolding situation in America. For this, President Trump is himself to be blamed. He is the first ever US President against whom bureaucrats working in the White House have no positive views. Top ranking officials have already left the President. Even those who carry on in the job, have not very high opinion about Trump. ALSO READ | Former Delhi Chief Minister Madan Lal Khurana passes away The September 5 anonymous New York Times Op-Ed page editorial was below the belt remark against his leadership. It detailed a quite resistance at work in the White House. Also, some of the top ranking Republican leaders are not comfortable with Trumps attitude and style of functioning. John McCain, the highly celebrated Republican Senator and Vietnam War hero, who died recently, was one of the most outspoken critics of Trump. He was not invited by McCains family members for the dead Senators funeral ceremony in Washington on September 1, indicating it clearly that within hardcore Republican families too, the incumbent President is not an adorable face. In this background, it will be foolhardy to say that the November 6 mid-term election will not be a decisive one for Trump and his party. New Delhi: NASA's Parker Solar Probe, which started its journey towards the Sun to unravel many mysteries, has captured from about 27 million miles away a view of Earth, the US space agency said. The image was captured by the WISPR (Wide-field Imager for Solar Probe) instrument, the only imaging instrument on board the Parker Solar Probe. On 25 September, the Parker Solar Probe captured a view of Earth as it sped toward the first Venus gravity assist of the mission, NASA said in a statement. ALSO READ | Assam govt gave Rs 1 crore for Village Rockstar Oscar promotions The hemispherical shaped feature in the middle of the right-hand image is a lens flare, a common feature when imaging bright sources, which is caused by reflections within the lens system. In this case, the flare is due to the very bright Earthshine, NASA noted. Earth is the bright, round object visible in the right side of the image, it added. The view from Parker Solar Probe's WISPR shows Earth, the bright sphere near the middle of the right-hand panel. The elongated mark toward the bottom of the panel is a lens reflection from the WISPR instrument. It also shows what appears to be a bulge on our planet's right side the Moon, NASA said. The image also showed some objects like Pleiades, to the low-left of Earth in the right-hand image and the two bright objects. Betelgeuse and Bellatrix, near the bottom of the left-hand image appeared elongated because of reflections on the edge of the detector. Launched on 12 August, Parker Solar Probe, NASA's historic small car-sized probe will journey steadily closer to the Sun, until it makes its closest approach at 3.8 million miles. ALSO READ | US President Donald Trump turns down India's Republic Day invitation: Reports Earlier this month, the probe successfully completed its first flyby of Venus at a distance of about 1,500 miles. Throughout its mission, the probe will make six more Venus gravity assist and 24 total passes by the Sun. During science phases, WISPR sees structures within the Sun's atmosphere, the corona, before they pass over the spacecraft. Close passes by Venus and Mercury may occasionally create similar patterns in the future, but these are limited cases and do not affect the science operations of the instrument, NASA said. (With inputs from agencies) For all the Latest Science News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. New Delhi: Chinese smartphone maker OnePlus is all set to launch its new handset OnePlus 6T in India on Monday. The launch will simultaneously take place at events in New York and New Delhi. The smartphone was recently spotted on Geekbench website ahead its official launch. OnePlus started with the 'T' model of smartphones from the OnePlus 3T since 2016 and has produced two phones every year. The OnePlus 6T is the successor to the OnePlus 6 launched in May of this year. ALSO READ | NASA's Parker Solar Probe moves towards Sun; sends view of Earth home Earlier, OnePlus rescheduled the launch event of OnePlus 6T to October 29, a day ahead of its planned schedule. The company says the move was necessary as sticking to the original date would've meant the OnePlus 6T launch would be overshadowed by Apple, which is also hosting an event in New York on the same day. Apple is expected to introduce new iPad and Mac models. OnePlus 6T: What to expect? Key improvements in the OnePlus 6T include an in-display fingerprint sensor and reduced 'Waterdrop' screen notch. The listing on the Geekbench website shows OnePlus A6013 is considered to be the OnePlus 6T. The website reveals the presence of Android 9.0 Pie instead of Android Oreo. OnePlus 6T is likely to have USB-C audio headphone jack. OnePlus 6T is likely to come in multiple colour options like White, Black and Red. The company CEO Pete Lau also released a low light camera sample from the device earlier. The image shared by Lau on his Weibo account shows us the low light camera capability of the smartphone. According to a report, what he says in the post translates to Bring your own filter. ALSO READ | PM Modi to attend 13th India-Japan annual summit in Tokyo OnePlus 6T: Expected Specifications Display: 6.41-inch full-HD+ (1080x2340 pixels) AMOLED display along with a 19.5:9 aspect ratio. Processor: Qualcomm Snapdragon 845 SoC RAM: 8 GB Internal storage: 64GB of inbuilt storage on the smartphone Camera: 25 MP front camera with contrast detection autofocus and 4000 x 3000 Pixels resolution OnePlus 6T: Expected Price OnePlus 6T in India is likely to be priced around Rs. 34,999 for the base variant. New Delhi: US prosecutors slapped the gunman who killed 11 people in a synagogue with 29 counts of federal crimes of violence and firearms offenses on Saturday, after he carried out the deadliest anti-Semitic attack in recent US history. The charges against shooter Robert Bowers include 11 counts of obstruction of exercise of religious beliefs resulting in death; and 11 counts of use of a firearm to commit murder during a crime of violence, the US Attorney's Office of the Western District of Pennsylvania said in a statement. ALSO READ | Fuel prices see a fall for 11th day; petrol at Rs 80.05 per litre, diesel at Rs 74.05 in Delhi "The crimes of violence are based upon the federal civil rights laws prohibiting hate crimes," the statement said. President Donald Trump said he has been monitoring the shooting. In a tweet, Trump encouraged people to shelter in place and said looks like multiple fatalities. "Monitoring reports of a shooting at Tree of Life Synagogue in Pittsburgh. Praying for the fallen, the injured, all the families impacted, and our courageous first responders. God bless them all," Vice President Mike Pence said. According to Michael Eisenberg, past president of Tree of Life Synagogue the shooting happened during weekly Shabbat services at the Jewish synagogue. At the time, three simultaneous congregation services were taking place. ALSO READ | NASA's Parker Solar Probe moves towards Sun; sends view of Earth home Earlier, Pennsylvania Governor Tom Wolf described it as a tragedy. "The shooting in Pittsburgh this morning is an absolute tragedy...These senseless acts of violence are not who we are as Americans. My thoughts right now are focused on the victims, their families and making sure law enforcement has every resource they need," he said. "We cannot accept this violence as normal," Wolf said. For all the Latest World News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. Contributed Photo / Danbury Police Department DANBURY Danbury police are hoping to track down the suspect in a purse snatching that happened earlier this week. The Detective Bureau is investigating a purse snatching that involved an elderly female victim, police said. The robbery happened Monday around 7 p.m. on Center Street near St. Peters Church. WASHINGTON - While much of the White House is obsessed with the midterm elections, Melania Trump is taking a pass on the campaign trail. In the weeks leading up to the consequential elections, the first lady is spending her time visiting infants in a neonatal ward in Philadelphia, hosting schoolchildren at the White House for a movie screening and preparing for the holiday season. Meanwhile, President Donald Trump is in full-throttle campaign mode, presiding over raucous rallies, tweeting his support for candidates and referring to Democrats as a "mob." First ladies have been not-so-secret weapons in previous midterm elections. And Melania Trump's immediate predecessors attended fundraisers to help fill their party's coffers and worked to get-out-the vote even when their husband's names weren't on the ballot. So why isn't Trump - who is more popular that her husband - offering words of support at rallies or standing beside congressional candidates? "Due to her schedule as a mother and first lady, especially with the holidays coming up, there are no plans for her to campaign at this time," her spokeswoman, Stephanie Grisham, said in an email. Former White House press secretary Sean Spicer said potential demand for FLOTUS on the trail would be high - "if she was willing. The list would be endless." That's the view both parties have traditionally taken of the first lady, whose position typically affords her high visibility, public approval, and a role as the rare White House surrogate who can remain above the political mire of the day. "First ladies are too valuable not to be recognized and used as scarce resources," said MaryAnne Borrelli, a government professor at Connecticut College and the author of "The Politics of the President's Wife." "Their messaging, their fundraising has proven of extraordinary value to the president." But Melania Trump's decision to stay out of the midterms isn't surprising to some. She isn't a natural campaigner, and her role in her husband's 2016 campaign was more limited than that of other candidates' spouses. She has seemed nervous when delivering public remarks, unlike her husband, who relishes the attention of chanting crowds and reporters with outstretched microphones. "If the first lady wasn't a massive presence on the presidential trail, it's not likely she would be in the midterms," said Republican strategist Doug Heye. "It appears that she isn't terribly interested in campaigning." Trump has also been thrown off message because of missteps, said Jennifer Lawless, a politics professor at the University of Virginia, recalling the controversial pith helmet the first lady wore in Africa and the "I Really Don't Care, Do U?" jacket she wore as she boarded a plan to visit shelters on the border. "In some ways, she's a wild card - we don't know what she's going to say or do," Lawless said. "And in the days before an election, candidates want to minimize unknowns and minimize uncertainty." Story lines that inevitably follow the Trumps could prove a distraction on the campaign trail, too. Heye said that the media often parses the first lady's words, looking for distinctions between the often-silent Melania Trump and her bombastic husband. "Anytime she speaks, the focus is all about trying to draw a contrast with her and her husband," he said. "That would become one of lead stories of the day - and that's what [campaigns] are trying to avoid." Modern first ladies have taken varying approaches to midterms, with some holding back in the earliest cycle of their White House tenure. "First ladies have traditionally had a lower profile in the first midterm of their husband's presidency" Borrelli said. "For a lot of reasons people mention - maybe they're saving their political capital for the presidential reelection, or the West Wing is making sure they think they are sufficiently seasoned." In 2010, Michelle Obama went on a late pre-election sweep, stumping for endangered Senate candidates and headlining a Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee fundraiser in a cycle when Democrats were particularly concerned about connecting with female voters. In her stump speech, she sought to strike a less partisan note than typical political combatants, often referring to herself as the "mom-in-chief." In the hours before the polls opened, she joined a rally in Las Vegas for then-Majority Leader Harry Reid and made get-out-the-vote pitch to students in Philadelphia. In 2014, with poll numbers notably higher than her husband's, she made appearances on the campaign trail, including in Georgia and Iowa, and she worked on get-out-the-vote efforts and fundraisers. "Make no mistake about it: Barack's last campaign was not in 2012, Barack's last campaign is this year, 2014," she said at a fundraiser in Chicago. Laura Bush mostly shied away from the campaign trail in 2002, but she hit the trail hard and early in 2006, when she, too, was far more popular than her husband. According to an analysis by Roll Call, Mrs. Bush had headlined more than a dozen events for congressional Republicans by May of that year. She also did solo appearances and joined her husband in making closing arguments for the GOP in the waning days of the campaign. "People should ask, 'Who is responsible? Who has a responsible view, who of the people that you have the choice to vote for would be the most constructive?'" she said in an interview with C-SPAN following a rally for congressional candidates in New York. "And of course I think that's the Republicans." That's a sentiment some in the party these days would probably like to hear coming from Melania Trump's lips, too. A spokesman for the National Republican Congressional Committee referred questions about demand for the first lady to her office. Rather than spending her time on the campaign trail, Trump has been slowly raising her own profile - using her own playbook. This week, she introduced her husband during an event at the White House marking the passing of legislation aimed at easing the opioid crisis, an issue she has focused on as part of her Be Best initiative. Such forays follow her inaugural solo trip overseas to Africa earlier this month, where she sat down with ABC, the first such interview since before her husband was elected. "I'm staying true to myself," she told ABC. "I want to live meaningful life. And that's the most important to me. I know what my priorities are." Her recent willingness to step into the spotlight seems designed to shore up her own platform and causes rather than the GOP's. "It's clear that it's planned and methodical," Heye said of the first lady's rollout. "She's trying to do this on her own terms." Erected on the banks of the Narmada in Gujarat, the structure is twice the height of the Statue of Liberty in the US. New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday credited Sardar Valabhbhai Patel with uniting India after Partition and said it was his timely intervention which helped save Jammu and Kashmir from aggression. He also urged the youth to participate in large numbers in the run for unity being organised on October 31 to mark the birth anniversary of Mr Patel. In his monthly 'Mann ki Baat' radio address Mr Modi said, If we are able to see a united India now, it was entirely on account of the sagacity and strategic wisdom of Sardar Patel. He said that this year, October 31 will be special as the statue of unity will be dedicated to the nation as a true tribute to Mr Patel. Erected on the banks of the Narmada in Gujarat, the structure is twice the height of the Statue of Liberty in the US. This is the worlds tal-lest statue. Every Indian will now be proud to see the worlds tallest statue here on Indian soil. Sar-dar Patel, a true son of the soil will adorn our skies too, said Mr Modi. He hopes that the statue will become a new tourist destination. In his address, the Mr Modi also paid tributes to late Prime Minister Indira Gandhi on her death anniversary, which is also on October 31. October 31 also is the death anniversary of our former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi. Our respectful tributes to Indira ji too, he said. Mr Modi pointed out that Infantry Day is observed every year on October 27 as the first Indian soldiers had set their foot in Jammu and Kashmir to take on intruders from Pakistan. Quoting late Field Marshal S.H.F.J. Maneks-haw, Mr Modi said that Mr Patel was irked at the delay in initiating military action to evict the aggressors. He said, in an interview Mr Manekshaw had recalled that as a colonel then he was part of a meeting where Mr Patel was irked on the delay in sending troops to Kashmir. During the proceedings, Sardar Patel gave him (Manekshaw) a characteristic glance and reiterated that there should be no delay in our Army operation and that a solution should be sought swiftly. And immediately after that, our troops flew to Kashmir .We've seen how our Army was successful, Mr Modi said. Mr Modi recalled that in January, 1947 the Time magazine had profiled Mr Patel and described him as a person who possessed the capability to unite the country and heal wou-nds. He said that Mahatma Gandhi considered Mr Patel as the only one capable of finding a lasting solution to the vexed issue of the states and asked him to act. Sardar Patel formulated solutions one by one, weaving the warp and weft of unity on the axis of a single thread, said Mr Modi. KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia - In many countries, Anwar Ibrahim would have been counted as a political pariah long ago. He had been jailed twice in the past two decades on accusations widely believed engineered by opponents. The current prime minister, Mahathir Mohamad, ousted Anwar in the late 1990s when he was the elder statesman's deputy. But Malaysia is no ordinary nation when it comes to shifting political fortunes. Political figures have fallen hard and some have bounced back even stronger. Take the case of Anwar, who is now something of Malaysia's heir apparent. Anwar is seen as just a step away from replacing the 93-year-old Mahathir, who regained the prime minister's office in May elections after a campaign that included a promise to hand over power to Anwar within two years. Anwar's rise comes as the country faces critical decisions - righting its debt-burdened economy, taking steps toward human rights such as abolishing the death penalty and trying to stand up to China's growing influence in Southeast Asia. "There was a powerful sense that we were making history," said Fahmi Fadzil, a member of Parliament and strategic communications chief of Anwar's People's Justice Party. "Anwar, from deputy prime minister to political prisoner, and now on the cusp of the prime ministership." But - in a sign of the political plotting also common in Malaysia - opponents may be continuing to work behind the scenes to upset Anwar's political ambitions yet again, analysts say. The future of the hodgepodge coalition governing Malaysia hangs in the balance. Washington and Beijing - among others - are watching closely. Neither want another spate of political friction in Malaysia, for different reasons. China wants to get back to making major investments in Malaysia and calm its quarrels with Mahathir and his allies. The United States, one of Malaysia's top trading partners, also seeks to maintain its commercial links in Southeast Asia as a buffer to China's ambitions. Anwar took an important step toward power this month. He glided to victory at a by-election in the seaside town of Port Dickson and was sworn into Malaysia's Parliament on Oct. 15. It is a surreal turn of events. Anwar, 71, was dismissed by Mahathir in 1998 and later jailed in Kuala Lumpur for corruption and sodomy after trials widely seen as politically motivated. He was also later jailed under the leadership of Prime Minister Najib Razak, who allegedly stole billions from Malaysia. Najib's alleged corruption was so egregious that it prompted a remarkable reunion. Mahathir came out of retirement to team up with Anwar and lead the opposition to victory in May elections. On Thursday, Najib and two top government officials were charged with misappropriating states' funds - new allegations on top of previous corruption counts already filed against the former prime minister. Meanwhile, Anwar is flexing his political muscles as if in a hurry for the promised transition to power. Though now just a backbencher in Parliament, Anwar met with senior Communist Party leaders in Beijing this week, including Chinese foreign minister Wang Yi. They "hope to strengthen ties between Malaysia and China," he wrote in the tweet. Critics say his moves to secure his place at the forefront of politics is unnecessarily rocking the boat at a time when Mahathir has mammoth tasks ahead, including securing corruption charges against Najib and others in the previous government. Mahathir also has moved to cancel or renegotiate billions in projects in Chinese projects, some rife with accusations of corruption, and his government has freed ethnic Uighur Muslims detained under the previous administration and sent them to Turkey - angering Beijing, who wanted them returned. Anwar continues to battle widespread rumors that Mahathir still opposes the idea of him as Malaysia's leader and is working behind the scenes to thwart his rise. "Of course, there are questions raised . . . on whether there are people conniving on the sidelines to try to frustrate this," Anwar told The Washington Post in a recent interview at his party's headquarters in Kuala Lumpur. "Of course, this is politics. I'm aware of some of these measures, but I don't think I am unduly concerned." When Mahathir decided to return to politics earlier this year, Anwar had to watch events unfold from his prison cell. He was released later in May. "It was painful for me [and my family]," Anwar said in the interview. "It was very emotional, and very tough." But, he said, "Mahathir took the initiative to come and see me, and then we started discussions." The elder statesman, he said, was "preoccupied" with changing the government and ousting Najib, who is at the center of a multibillion-dollar graft scandal involving a state fund. "Without our effort together to collaborate on this," Anwar said, both men realized that they "may not succeed." Since these groundbreaking meetings, however, tensions have resurfaced. "Their relationship still looks strained and forced, much like in the months leading up to the showdown in 1998," said Oh Ei Sun, a Malaysian political analyst. Mahathir also has tried to wiggle out of the two-year timeline to hand power to Anwar, and continues to be coy whenever the question of succession is raised. In an interview with The Post, he promised that Anwar will take his place, but has not given a specific date. This has "fed the sense of conspiracy and insecurity that are part of the culture here," said Bridget Welsh, an expert on Malaysian politics at John Cabot University in Rome. "There's a history of this - you can't assume that it is going to be a smooth transition." Anwar insists that he will not take a cabinet role and is happy to support Mahathir without pushing for a timeline to succeed him. China, he said in an interview later with Nikkei Asian Review, wants to meet with him to "know what the future is like" under his leadership. "If I have waited 20 years, I'm sure I can wait a bit more," he added with a laugh. "But, the other way you can say it is I have waited long enough." MANCHESTER, N.Y. (AP) -- An annual Mormon pageant that drew thousands of visitors to upstate New York will be staged for the last time in 2020 as The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints moves away from large-scale productions. The Salt Lake City-based church released a statement Saturday saying its local leaders and members are being encouraged to focus on gospel learnings in their homes and participate in Sabbath worship and church programs. The statement says large productions such as the Hill Cumorah Pageant in Ontario County are being discouraged. Last summer's 81st pageant, held on a large outdoor stage in the town of Manchester, drew 25,000 attendees. Mormons believe that their faith's founder, Joseph Smith, found metal plates in the hills of nearby Palmyra in 1823 that became the Book of Mormon. Hyperloop Transportation Technologies (HyperloopTT, HTT) and Dar Al-Handasah (founding member of the Dar Group) will bring the Abu Dhabi commercial hyperloop system to reality in 2019. Construction of the Hyperloop commercial track is targeted to begin in Q3 2019. Dar Al-Handasah joins the project as design lead and as the latest investor in HyperloopTT. Dar Al-Handasahs team includes Dar Group members: Perkins+Will (architects, USA), T.Y. Lin International (engineers, USA), GPO Group (engineers, Spain) and Currie & Brown (cost management consultants, UK). About HyperloopTT In 2016, HTT had investments totaling more than $100 million, including an equity investment of $31.8 million, and total in-kind and land value investments of $77 million. HTT has not publicly demonstrated a speed record. HTT has not said how its 720 mile-per-hour levitating train would handle curves and braking. Hyperloop TT is still building its first test track in Toulouse, France. HTT announced a prototype of a commercial passenger pod, covered in sensors to enhance safety. HTT received an investment from international design group Dar Al-Handasah, which will help build the HyperloopTT commercial track and peripheral buildings. In July, 2018, HyperloopTransportation Technologies signed a deal in China. HyperloopTT and Tongren Transportation and Tourism Investment Group will make a hyperloop in China. This is the first hyperloop agreement with China and marks the twelfth agreement for HyperloopTT and the third commercial agreement for HyperloopTT following announcements in Abu Dhabi and Ukraine earlier in 2018. The China effort will start with a 10-kilometer test track. Hyperloop Transportation Technologies (HyperloopTT) is an innovative transportation and technology company focused on realizing the Hyperloop, a system that moves people and goods at unprecedented speeds safely, efficiently, and sustainably. Through the use of unique, patented technology and an advanced business model of lean collaboration, open innovation and integrated partnership, HyperloopTT is creating and licensing technologies. Founded in 2013, HyperloopTT is a global team comprised of more than 800 engineers, creatives and technologists in 52 multidisciplinary teams, with 40 corporate and university partners. Headquartered in Los Angeles, CA, HyperloopTT has offices in Abu Dhabi and Dubai, UAE; Bratislava, Slovakia; Toulouse, France; Contagem, Brazil; and Barcelona, Spain. HyperloopTT has signed agreements in the United States, UAE, Brazil, France, India, China, Korea, Indonesia, Slovakia, Czech Republic, and Ukraine. The BMC officials stated that most of the seizures have taken place from the godowns of plastic manufacturers and it largely consist of plastic bags. Mumbai: The Brihanmumbai Mun-icipal Corporation (BMC) has collected around 31,000 kilograms of plastic till October under the plastic ban, said BMC officials. During the seizures, the civic body has levied fines to the tune of Rs 1.4 crore. The BMC officials stated that most of the seizures have taken place from the godowns of plastic manufacturers and it largely consist of plastic bags. In the recent crackdown on possession of banned plastic on October 25, the civic body seized 212 kilograms of plastic items and levied fine of Rs 1.05 lakh. The same day, the BMC visited 2,547 establishments. The data by the BMC also reveals that since the implementation of plastic ban on June 23 till October 25, the BMC team visited 3.12 lakh establishments and collected 31,579 kg of plastic. Some establishments have failed to pay the fine, for which they are being prosecuted, said a BMC official. As per the BMC record, 288 establishments have refused to pay the levied fines. The BMC has formed a team of over 310 inspectors from three departments market, license and shops and establishments to take action against banned plastic in the city. These officials have been given jackets and also authorisation letters from the BMC. OSAKA, Japan - As the 2020 Tokyo Olympics and Paralympics approach, attempts are being made to introduce traditional performing arts in kamigata (the Kansai region) to the increasing number of foreign tourists to the area. Performers consider the inflow of foreign visitors a good opportunity to cultivate new fans of kamigata's traditional arts, such as rakugo storytelling and bunraku puppet dramas. On Sept. 28, about 70 audience members burst into laughter when Shofukutei Ginpei, 51, a rakugo storyteller, used a folding fan instead of chopsticks to noisily slurp up udon noodles. His performance was part of a vaudeville-type show at the Osaka Museum of Housing and Living in Osaka, a place popular with foreign tourists for recreating the look of a town in the Edo period (1603-1867). Rakugo storytelling in English, Chinese and Korean was being conducted there for the first time. Ginpei, who has South Korean roots, performed the classic rakugo story "Toki Udon" in Korean. It is about a customer who conspires to get out of paying for udon noodles. Katsura Jakki, 49, gave a performance in Chinese of "Dobutsuen" (The zoo), a story about a man who becomes the talk of the town after donning a tiger pelt. Katsura Asakichi, 48, performed the same story in English. Both renditions used humorous body language to clearly convey the story. "It was my first time watching rakugo. The way the performer eats udon made me laugh," said a 26-year-old tourist from South Korea. In addition to rakugo, visitors to the museum can also enjoy bunraku and Kyogen, a form of traditional theater that developed as a comic intermission between noh acts. An estimated 360,000 foreigners visited the museum last fiscal year, an about 35-fold increase from around 2010, when the museum launched a popular attraction in which visitors can don kimono and take pictures in front of the historic town. Unlike bunraku, which can be enjoyed visually, rakugo is a storytelling art and therefore difficult for foreigners to enjoy. Many even leave in the middle of performances. The project on Sept. 28 featuring rakugo storytellers performing in foreign languages was envisioned as a way to overcome this language barrier. "Rakugo's comic essence is universal. I'd like to convey to people overseas how funny rakugo is," said Ginpei, who has been performing rakugo in Seoul. As for noh, many measures are being taken to help people better understand storylines. The Yamamoto Noh Theater in Osaka developed an app that displays English subtitles on smartphones or tablet devices. The theater had been displaying English or Chinese subtitles on a screen beside the stage, but the new app offers added benefits such as allowing English subtitles to be accessed at other theaters as well. "We've received positive feedback from foreigners about this app," an official of the theater said. "We'll work harder to convey information in foreign languages to cultivate new fans." Subtitles in three languages - Chinese, Korean and English - were displayed above the stage during a joint performance featuring bunraku puppetry and musume gidayu - female shamisen three-stringed lute players - at the Osaka Museum of History in the city on Saturday. The performance will be a kind of test run to determine the proper display speed and amount of subtitles. After the show, the museum will listen to opinions about the system from travel agency employees, students from overseas and audience members chosen from the public. "I want to know which part of my performance foreigners are interested in," said Hinafumi Toyozawa, one of the musume gidayu shamisen players. The parallels and analysis being done and the conclusions being drawn are too simplistic and require a careful study. Many believe that if what seemed like a popular government led by then Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee could be defeated in 2004, why cant the present BJP government led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, which seems equally popular, be defeated? Analysts draw various similarities in the political climate prevailing before the 2004 Lok Sabha election at present, and conclude that the Narendra Modi government is in for a tough time when it faces the electorate in 2019. The parallels and analysis being done and the conclusions being drawn are too simplistic and require a careful study. One will be making a huge error if one concludes that given the political similarities between 2004 and 2019, the electoral verdict in 2019 will be similar to that of 2004. The current political climate might look similar to what it was before the 2004 Lok Sabha election, but underlying those similarities are various differences which might make the electoral contest in 2019 different from 2004 and the Congress might face enormous difficulty in putting up a challenge for the BJP. To explain, I will offer both political argument and empirical evidence. Empirical evidence The present Congress is very different from the Congress of 2004. When the Congress went into the 2004 Lok Sabha election, it had a much bigger support base compared to what it is at present. Though the Congress suffered three successive defeats (1996, 1998 and 1999 Lok Sabha elections), but its voteshare remained intact at 28.3 per cent. The BJP, which was the ruling party, was defending its 23.7 per cent voteshare which was less than the Congress. The Congress at present has a much lower voteshare of 19.6 per cent compared to the BJP which has 31.0 per cent votes a complete reversal from what the situation was in 2004. Even if the Congress with all its effort manages to increase its voteshare in 2019 adds five to six per cent votes to its present voteshare it may not be able to win seats in three digits during the coming Lok Sabha elections. But if the voteshare of the Congress declines even by one per cent, it might lose a large number of seats. The BJP will be far less vulnerable compared to the Congress in 2019. Even if the BJP loses some votes in the Hindi heartland, it may not lose too many states as the victory margins of the BJP in many states like Rajasthan, Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Delhi, Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Uttar Pradesh and Bihar are very large. The average victory margin of the BJP was little more than 2.5 lakh votes in states like Rajasthan, Gujarat and Haryana; it was slightly more than two lakh votes in states like Madhya Pradesh and Maharashtra; while it was marginally less than two lakh votes in states like Uttar Pradesh and Uttarakhand. Even in other states the victory margin of the BJP has been very big Chhattisgarh 1.3 lakh, Delhi 1.5 lakh, Bihar 1.1 lakh, Jharkhand 1.3 lakh, Assam 1 lakh and Karnataka 1.2 lakh. There are other states like Himachal Pradesh, Goa and Jammu and Kashmir where the BJPs victory margin has been about one lakh votes. A careful look at the various state governments at present suggests that not just in national politics, but also at state-level politics, the Congress is far weaker now compared to 2004. The Congress is the ruling party only in two states Punjab and Mizoram and is sharing power in the coalition government in Karnataka with the Janata Dal (Secular). The political scenario was completely different in 2004. Not only did the Congress have a much bigger support base at the national level (28.3 per cent voteshare), but it was the ruling party in nine states and the coalition partner in three more states. Altogether, when the Congress went to polls in 2004, it was the ruling party in as many as 12 states of India. Political analysis Let me also offer the political argument why 2019 is different from 2004. There is a difference between the present leadership of the Congress and the BJP. The present leadership of the Congress (Rahul Gandhi) is seen as much weaker compared to how its leadership was perceived by the people in 2004. While it is true that the leadership of Sonia Gandhi was not seen as very formidable, but at least there was no visible sign of leaders of other regional political parties openly opposing her. At present, many leaders of regional parties have openly expressed their reservation in accepting the leadership of Rahul Gandhi. This makes the Congress look far weaker now compared to what it was in 2004. The BJP and its leadership against which the Congress contested the 2004 Lok Sabha election was different compared to the present BJP and its leadership. The BJP at present is headed by Amit Shah, who is seen as a master strategist and who knows the art of winning elections. What adds to the strength of the present BJP is Prime Minister Narendra Modi, in whom the people of this country have much greater faith than in any other Prime Minister in recent decades. This helps the BJP in mobilising votes for the party. Mr Shah and Mr Modi have demonstrated this in various Assembly elections in the recent past and the BJP will have huge advantage over the Congress in this respect during the coming Lok Sabha elections. The electoral challenge for the Congress is far more stiff compared to what it was in 2004 and it is extremely incorrect to compare 2019 with 2004. A 26-year-old Edison man is charged with murder and related offenses stemming from the fatal shooting of another man Friday night in New Brunswick. But authorities have yet to track down Christopher "C-Dub" Thompson, who in addition to murder also faces charges of attempted murder and possession of a weapon for an unlawful purpose, the Middlesex County Prosecutor's Office said in a Saturday night statement. Authorities said they were alerted to a shooting about 8 p.m. Friday in the area of Robeson Village. They arrived and found Larenz Ogarro, 23, of New Brunswick, lying in a parking lot on Van Dyke Avenue. He was suffering from multiple gunshot wounds and was rushed to Robert Wood Johnson Memorial Hospital, where he was pronounced dead. "The Middlesex County Medical Examiner determined that the cause of death was multiple gunshot wounds - manner of death was homicide," the prosecutor's office said. An unidentified 19-year-old North Brunswick man was also assaulted in the incident in which Ogarro was shot. The prosecutor's statement did not indicate the nature or severity of the 19-year-old's injuries. An investigation revealed Thompson's involvement and also implicated a second suspect - Eric "E-Z" Inman, 25, of New Brunswick - in the incident. Inman is in custody and faces charges of aggravated assault and possession of a weapon for unlawful purposes. He is being held at the Middlesex County Adult Corrections Center in North Brunswick, pending his first court appearance. Anyone with information is asked to call Detective Kenneth Abode of the New Brunswick Police Department at (732) 745-5217 or Detective David Abromaitis of the Middlesex County Prosecutor's Office at (732) 745- 4436. Nick Falsone may be reached at nfalsone@lehighvalleylive.com. Follow him on Twitter @nickfalsone. Find lehighvalleylive.com on Facebook. "Violated" was one of the first words that came to mind for Rabbi Clifford Kulwin when he first heard about the Pittsburgh synagogue shooting that killed 11 during a Saturday morning Shabbat service. For the hundreds of people who gathered to hear Kulwin, Gov. Phil Murphy and other religious leaders speak at a quickly-organized vigil at Temple B'Nai Abraham in Livingston Sunday morning, it was a harsh reminder of the presence of anti-Semitism in the United States. "It's not a catastrophe or an unfortunate event," Kulwin, the leader of B'Nai Abraham, said. "It was slaughter. Let's be clear about that." Mark Wilf, chair of the Jewish Federation of North America, added, "It's horrifying for Jewish people to be targeted during worship on a Saturday morning. The peace of the Shabbat was shattered." As the names of the victims were read out loud, they were met with gasps from members of the congregation, some of whom had just been hearing them for the first time. The 11 names had just been released by authorities early Sunday morning, a couple of hours before the vigil. The oldest victim was 97-year-old Rose Mallinger, of the Squirrel Hill neighborhood of Pittsburgh, and the youngest were two brothers, David and Cecil Rosenthal, 54 and 59. Murphy, a former U.S. ambassador to Germany, said anti-Semitism has been on the rise in both Europe and the U.S. in recent years. .@GovMurphy addresses the crowd at BBai Abrahams tribute to the Pittsburgh shooting victims, says anti-Semitic acts are on the rise in the U.S., even in New Jersey too. pic.twitter.com/f0VkznN7t8 Gianluca D'Elia (@gianluca_delia) October 28, 2018 The Anti-Defamation League (ADL) said in an early 2018 study that anti- Semitic incidents rose nearly 60 percent. ADL also reported that such incidents had gone up by 32 percent in New Jersey. "We must find the courage, even through tears and heartbreak, to reverse this trend. We cannot allow the normalization of hatred," said Murphy, who wore a black yarmulke with his suit. The Jewish Federation of North America was quick to take action in response to the shootings. Dov Ben-Shimon, CEO of the federation's Greater MetroWest branch in New Jersey, said it has begun security consultations with local sheriff's departments and Homeland Security, and plans to train synagogues, schools and Jewish community centers on active shooter preparedness. The Federation has also started an emergency notification system to send out notices about threats, Ben-Shimon said. "Pittsburgh is us; their community looks like us," he said. "Our response is the same response. Strong, resilient communities don't give up in the face of terror." Kulwin said he thinks it's not a coincidence that the country's most severe anti-Semitic attack took place in 2018, given the current political climate. The gunman, identified by police as Robert Bowers, 46, acted alone when he stormed the Tree of Life Congregation and shot into the crowd, but Kulwin insisted that he wasn't alone his hatred of Jews. "The Pittsburgh shooter was no lone crazy," he said. "He acted with the confidence of someone who knew they were part of something bigger than themselves." Bowers' social media pages were rife with racist and anti-Semitic comments and memes, including a one with a doctored image of the Auschwitz concentration camp where the gate read, "Lies Make Money." He was active on Gab.com, a social media platform that advocates for free speech and puts almost no restrictions on the content users post. Following Saturday's mass shooting, President Donald Trump condemned the incident, calling it "pure evil." "This evil Anti-Semitic attack is an assault on humanity," he tweeted Saturday. However, religious leaders said Trump's rhetoric could have played a role in sparking the attack. Kulwin reminded the crowd of when Trump defended white nationalist protestors in Charlottesville in August 2017, saying they included "some very fine people." As hugs and words of support for one another were exchanged outside the synagogue, conversations lamenting the country's toxic political climate were also frequent among the congregation. Sheryl Harpel, a Millburn resident, shared in that sentiment. "I think leaders in this country are preaching hate when they need to preach love and inclusion," Harpel said after the vigil. "Now, we're seeing the results of that kind of rhetoric. It's been going on for so long that it's cultivating these kinds of horrible incidents." She said she's always felt safe and comfortable practicing Judaism in New Jersey, and was thankful that Murphy showed his support for the state's Jewish population. Kulwin encouraged the packed synagogue to stay united against discrimination. "Jews are a family," he said. "You hurt one part of us, the rest of us feel it. If you hurt my people, my family, my community, then you hurt me." Gianluca D'Elia may be reached at gdelia@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @gianluca_delia. Find NJ.com on Facebook. In a recent editorial, The Philadelphia Inquirer declined to endorse the Republican Congressional candidate for New Jersey's 2nd District because, among other things, he said that Kwanzaa is a "phony" holiday. Where did Seth Grossman get that idea? From me. In one of my columns, I noted that the organizer of Kwanzaa, Maulana Karenga, once said of Kwanzaa, "People think it's African, but it's not." It certainly makes me feel good to have a candidate citing my writings. But I'm afraid history shows that agreeing with me is usually the kiss of death for a politician. I'm not up for election, so I can say what I want. The 69-year-old Grossman is that rare politician who keeps saying what he wants - even after he wins his party's nomination and heads into the general election. The received wisdom among New Jersey Republicans these days is that a a candidate doesn't want to be seen as too close to President Trump in this "blue" state. Grossman didn't get the memo. He's 100 percent behind Trump and he wants everyone to know it. Typical was a recent debate at Stockton University against his Democratic opponent Jeff Van Drew, an affable, moderate state senator from Cape May County. Grossman began that debate by saying, "I support President Trump, that's why I'm running. I want to give him a strong majority of Republicans in Congress to punish, not support, sanctuary cities." He kept that up throughout that debate, adding some of his favorite one-liners such as this nugget on carbon-dioxide emissions: "The climate's been changing for 5 billion years. Go ask Noah!" Seth Grossman His tone didn't change at another debate Thursday before the Atlantic City chapter of the NAACP. At that one, he hit hard on the issue of immigration. "The national NAACP does not want to curb immigration, despite the lack of jobs for African-Americans caused by illegal immigration," he said. When asked about whether he would support cuts in the SNAP program, formerly known as food-stamps, he again turned to immigration. "If we enforce immigration laws, just think how much money would be freed up," he said. He then channeled the Ronald Reagan of 1980 on the issue. "How many times have you seen people ahead of you paying for all these luxury food items you can't afford, then go to parking lot and they're getting into a better car than you have?" he asked. This is not the sort of thing a normal politician says to an African-American audience. But Grossman is no normal politician. The lawyer and sometime radio talk-show host has always been known as a quirky character in a city known for its quirky characters. He got elected to the Atlantic City Council and the Atlantic County Freeholder Board despite his outspoken ways. Now he's betting the house on the former casino owner who's well known to the locals. "All I know is this district is a Trump district," he told me. "All I know is, by embracing Trump in my district I don't think I lost a single vote but what I gained is the passion and intensity of Trump supporters," Grossman said he's counting on that passion and intensity to make up for what are at the moment some very negative polling numbers. A Stockton University Poll released last week had him losing to Van Drew by a 55-38 margin. That looks bad, but Grossman said he took heart in the fact that he had picked up six points since the last poll while Van Drew was stuck at 55 percent. On the other hand, 55 percent is a nice place to be stuck. The one bright spot in that poll for Grossman is the race at the top of the ticket. The Stockton poll showed that in the 2nd District, Republican challenger Bob Hugin is beating Democratic incumbent Bob Menendez in the U.S. Senate race by a 10-point margin. "I think that's gonna impact my race. I think there's gonna be large Republican turnout," he said. Perhaps there will be. The current representative, Frank LoBiondo, won as a Republican for years before bowing out of this race. LoBiondo is a moderate, however, and he didn't seem to like his chances with Trump in the White House. Grossman figures Trump is an asset and that his unwavering support for him will fire up the base and give him the turnout to defy the polls. But even if he loses, he seems to be having a lot of fun. I certainly am. In fact I've got a whole lot more columns I'd like him to bring up. That's never worked for a candidate before. But there's always a first time By Karen Tumulty "This wicked act of mass murder is pure evil, hard to believe, and frankly, something that is unimaginable," President Donald Trump said of the carnage that took place Saturday in a Pittsburgh synagogue where worshipers had gathered to celebrate the dawn of a new life. Unimaginable? If only that were true. To anyone who has been paying attention, the slaughter that took place at the Tree of Life Synagogue seemed not only imaginable but also inevitable. It was not inevitable just because anti-Semitic activity, including hate crimes in schools and bomb threats against Jewish institutions, has been soaring -- up an unprecedented 57 percent last year, according to the Anti-Defamation League. That is the symptom. The cause is a climate in which the sentiments of white nationalists and other hate groups are no longer suppressed. Hate groups feel emboldened to show their faces in public, as they did when they marched last year in Charlottesville, Virginia, chanting: "Jews will not replace us." That, too, had a deadly result. But the president of the United States insisted there had been moral equivalency between the neo-Nazis and those who had shown up to protest them: "There are two sides to a story. I thought what took place was a horrible moment for the country, but there are two sides to a story." In the Trump era, people who should be shunned are embraced, and made practically mainstream. Some who call themselves our political leaders even go out of their way to do it. This month, Rep. Steve King, R-Iowa, ventured into Canadian politics with an endorsement of Faith Goldy, a white-supremacist fringe candidate running for mayor of Toronto. Faith Goldy, an excellent candidate for Toronto mayor, pro Rule of Law, pro Make Canada Safe Again, pro balanced budget, &...BEST of all, Pro Western Civilization and a fighter for our values. @FaithGoldy will not be silenced. https://t.co/uqkeaUjm7i Steve King (@SteveKingIA) October 17, 2018 He later said he was not aware of her white-nationalist sentiments, which included a recommendation that her followers read a 1937 book that called for the elimination of Jews. But King was the same guy who took a free trip in August to visit Holocaust sites in Poland, and capped it off by going to meet with a right-wing Austrian party that has historical ties to the Nazis. As The Washington Post's Mike DeBonis reported: In an interview with a website associated with the party, King, R-Iowa, declared that "Western civilization is on the decline," spoke of the replacement of white Europeans by immigrants and criticized Hungarian American financier George Soros, who has backed liberal groups around the world. King spoke to the Unzensuriert site Aug. 24 in Vienna, a day after concluding a five-day journey to Jewish and Holocaust historical sites in Poland, including the Auschwitz-Birkenau death camp. The trip, including airfare to and from Europe, was financed by From the Depths, an international nonprofit group that seeks to educate lawmakers about the Holocaust. What was the reaction of other Republicans to this? Silence. Then again, Trump himself has set this tone, going back to the way he campaigned for president in 2016. As my colleague Dana Milbank observed in the closing days of that election season: Donald Trump and his surrogates have been playing footsie with American neo-Nazis for months: tweeting their memes, retweeting their messages, appearing on their radio shows. After an Oct. 13 speech in which Trump warned that Hillary Clinton "meets in secret with international banks to plot the destruction of U.S. sovereignty" and that "a global power structure" is conspiring against ordinary Americans, the Anti-Defamation League urged Trump to "avoid rhetoric and tropes that historically have been used against Jews." Well, Trump just gave his reply. On Friday, he released a closing ad for his campaign repeating offending lines from that speech, this time illustrated with images of prominent Jews: financier George Soros (accompanying the words "those who control the levers of power"), Fed Chair Janet Yellen (with the words "global special interests") and Goldman Sachs CEO Lloyd Blankfein (following the "global power structure" quote). The ad shows Hillary Clinton and says she partners "with these people who don't have your good in mind." None of that, of course, is a license for what happened Saturday in Pittsburgh. But it is a dangerous game to play. Now, what Trump claims to have been unimaginable has actually happened on his watch. He is right to denounce an act so vile -- but he and others in his party must quit giving hatred the oxygen and sunlight it needs to grow. Karen Tumulty is a Washington Post columnist covering national politics. Bookmark NJ.com/Opinion. Follow on Twitter @NJ_Opinion and find NJ.com Opinion on Facebook. BEDFORD, N.H. -- U.S. Sen. Cory Booker, in his first public comments after pipe bombs were mailed to his office and those of other Democrats, and a shooting at a Pittsburgh synagogue left 11 people dead, said officials need to be "mindful of what we're saying." "We need to understand that words matter and that we all need to be mindful of what we're saying," Booker told reporters Sunday after speaking to a group of New Hampshire Young Democrats on the University of New Hampshire campus. Booker, D-N.J., said the majority of terrorist attacks since 9/11 have come from white supremacist and other right-wing groups. "A lot of them are using the rhetoric of leaders in this country in their propaganda," Booker said. "We should be doing so much more to be condemning hatred and to be calling towards life and live and unity in our country." Booker was one of several prominent Democrats who had pipe bombs mailed to them after being attacked by President Donald Trump at his political rallies. The suspect in the bombing, Cesar Sayoc Jr., was a strong supporter of the president. On Saturday, 11 people were killed at a Pittsburgh synagogue, allegedly by Robert Bowers, who the New York Times said had a history of anti-Semitic comments. "This is a vile act of hatred," Booker said. "Clearly there was individual blame here. But shouldn't this be a moment where leaders call upon all of us to take some responsibility. All of us should be thinking to ourselves, 'What can we be doing more to be antidote to the rise of hatred in our country?'" Since he took a very visible role opposing U.S. Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh as the Senate Judiciary Committee considered Kavanaugh's nomination, Booker has been a frequent foil of the president, who repeatedly has called him out at his political rallies as a failed mayor of Newark. Trump, Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Charles Grassley of Iowa and Senate Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif., are among the Republicans attacking George Soros, a Jewish financier and supporter of progressive causes who also had a pipe bomb addressed to him. Soros was one of several Jews mentioned in Trump's closing campaign ad in 2016 as one of "these people that don't have your good in mind." He was falsely accused of funding anti-Kavanaugh demonstrators and the caravan of Central American migrants heading north in search of asylum. A National Republican Congressional Committee ad in Michigan tried to link the Democrat to Soros, which the Anti-Defamation League cited after warning that "Anti-Semitism is being normalized in public life." NRCC Chairman Steve Stivers, R-Ohio, defended the ad on NBC's "Meet the Press," saying it was "factual" and had "nothing to do with calling for violence." Vice President Mike Pence told NBC News in an interview that such rhetoric was part of "the political debate" and "you cannot connect it to acts or threats of violence." Still, former Assistant U.S. Secretary of State Tom Malinowski, who is running against Rep. Leonard Lance, R-7th Dist., took aim at such comments. "Our highest national leaders are legitimizing rhetoric once confined to the paranoid extremes of our society - railing against 'globalists,' who all happen to be prominent Jews, complaining about 'white genocide,' attacking immigrants for 'threatening our culture,' and spreading crackpot conspiracy theories to advocate imprisoning their political opponents," Malinowski said. "These words are like sparks to the gasoline of disturbed minds," he said. "These words can kill." My heart is broken over the horrific anti-Semitic acts in Pittsburg and for all affected by the evil shooting at The Tree Of Life Synagogue. We must counter this hate with love and love's public face which is justice - tireless work for justice and peace. Cory Booker (@CoryBooker) October 28, 2018 Anti-Semitic incidents rose sharply in the first year of Trump's presidency, the Anti-Defamation League reported. When the report was released in February, ADL National Director Jonathan Greenblatt said the president's tweets and rhetoric had "given encouragement to the worst anti-Semites and bigots." Trump also was criticized for saying there were some "very fine people" among the white supremacists and neo-Nazis who marched in Charlottesville, Virginia, in August 2017. Booker spent Sunday trying to get out the vote in New Hampshire, site of the first 2020 presidential primary. He also is up for re-election that year, and legislation moving through the state Legislature in Trenton would make it clear that he could seek both the presidency and a Senate seat simultaneously. The current mayor of Newark, Ras Baraka, has rebutted Trump, inviting him to "see the amazing things happening here with his own eyes." Booker himself was criticized by Republicans for calling those who supported the confirmation of Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh were "complicit in evil." He later backtracked, saying, "I take responsibility and have learned to be more precise." Jonathan D. Salant may be reached at jsalant@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @JDSalant or on Facebook. Find NJ.com Politics on Facebook. New Orleans police have arrested four people, including two juveniles, in the investigation of an auto theft in New Orleans Easts Plum Orchard neighborhood, NOPD reports. Police issued two search warrants during its investigation of a stolen car in the 4500 block of Francisco Verrett Drive (map) on Oct. 19 and found three guns and property reported stolen during recent burglaries, police said. David Shearod, 25, was arrested and booked for felon possession of a firearm and on a court capias. Tyrian Lebeaud, 20, was arrested in connection with possession of stolen property and was issued a summons for simple possession of marijuana, police said. A 16-year-old boy, wanted by East Baton Rouge Parish for escaping a juvenile detention facility, was also booked with possession of firearm, police said. Additionally, a 15-year-old boy was booked for being a juvenile in possession of firearm, possession of a stolen firearm, auto theft and auto burglary. Detectives are investigating possible connections between the two arrested juveniles and auto thefts and auto burglaries recently reported in the 7th and 3rd districts, police said. Anyone with information on these incidents is asked to contact NOPD Seventh District detectives at 504-658-6070 or anonymously call Crimestoppers at 504-822-1111 or toll-free at 1-877-903-STOP. Being pro-India and pro-West as Wickremasinghe was seen to be, he was always bound to be suspect in the eyes of Sinhala hardliners. There has been an extraordinary turn of events, undesirable even, in Colombo where a political coup detat staged by President Maithripala Sirisena has led to former President Mahinda Rajapaksa becoming the new Prime Minister. There are huge constitutional issues involved in the unseating of Ranil Wickremasinghe as a specific 19th Amendment brought in 2015 prohibits the dismissal of a Prime Minister unless he resigns or loses a trust vote. With the Supreme Court not due to meet till Monday, late Friday evening seemed to have been convenient for the coming together of old colleagues of the Sri Lanka Freedom Party in Mr Sirisena, who served under him in the Cabinet, and Mr Rajapaksa. While the defiance of a scared democratic institution like Parliament by illegal means in changing PMs may be an internal matter, Mr Rajapaksas return represents Indias diplomatic failure as it was India that had brokered the alliance between Mr Sirisena and Mr Wickremasinghe after Mr Rajapaksas ouster in the 2014 general elections. The change, which might be to Indias dislike unless there is something to be read in the frequency at which Mr Rajapaksa met PM Narendra Modi even when out of power, is detrimental to the balance India had been seeking to restore in ties with Sri Lanka, which had swung into Chinas sphere of influence. He was once deemed a national hero for ending the war with the Tamils even if he did so through gross human right violations by the Army, which got rid of Velupillai Prabhakaran in a mysterious climax. Mr Rajapaksa lost power in 2014 in the wake of serious corruption charges. Being pro-India and pro-West as Mr Wickremasinghe was seen to be, he was always bound to be suspect in the eyes of Sinhala hardliners. What we have now is a leader back in the saddle who was pro-China and anti-India, much to the chagrin of the northern Tamil areas of the island nation that suffered destruction in the civil war. The abrupt regime change would not only endanger the most recent negotiations Mr Wickremasinghe had with India on a number of infrastructure projects but also upset the strategic balance in a sudden pro-China twist. Having fallen out with him, President Sirisena is said to have backed the impeachment move last April against Mr Wickremasinghe and the relationship soured further after what was claimed to be a plot to assassinate the President surfaced. The coup may have a higher aim in controlling the outcome of the December 2019 elections in which Mr Rajapaksa of SLPP, which is essentially a breakaway faction of SLFP, is not eligible to contest for President as the Constitution stands now. Much manoeuvring can be expected as the Sirisena-Rajapaksa alliance aims to knock Mr Wickremasinghes UNP out of the equation. Indias headaches in its immediate neighbourhood from north to south just got worse even as the West worries over violence and the cavalier treatment of the Constitution and Parliament (prorogued now by President Sirisena) in the country often described as a teardrop in the Indian Ocean. The most well-known portrait of the Louisiana sugar country comes from Solomon Northup, the free black New Yorker famously kidnapped into slavery in 1841 and rented out by his master for work on plantations. In his memoir, Twelve Years a Slave, Northup recounts the hectic and barbaric scene that unfolded during harvest season, when enslaved people were pushed around the clock to gather and process the highly perishable sugar cane before it rotted. Northup writes: The hands are not allowed to sit down long enough to eat their dinners. Carts filled with corn cake, cooked at the kitchen, are driven into the field at noon. The cake is distributed by the drivers, and must be eaten with the least possible delay. The harvesters worked relentlessly in blistering heat, hacking down 10-foot cane with machete-like knives and transporting it to the plantation mill to be processed, until they passed out from what appeared to be heat stroke. Then, Northup tells us, they were dragged into the shade, doused with buckets of water and ordered back into their places in the cane. The suspect, Robert Bowers, was charged with 29 federal counts, including hate crimes and weapons offenses. The mass shooting raised immediate alarm in Jewish communities around the country. Authorities in New York City, Chicago and elsewhere increased security at Jewish centers. (Photo: AP) Pittsburgh: A gunman whos believed to have spewed anti-Semitic slurs and rhetoric on social media barged into a Pittsburgh synagogue on Saturday and opened fire, killing 11 people in one of the deadliest attacks on Jews in US history. The 20-minute attack at Tree of Life Congregation in the Squirrel Hill neighbourhood left six others wounded, including four police officers who dashed to the scene, authorities said. The suspect, Robert Bowers, traded gunfire with police and was shot several times. Bowers, who was in fair condition at a hospital, was charged late Saturday with 29 federal counts, including hate crimes and weapons offenses. It wasnt immediately known if Bowers has an attorney to speak on his behalf. Please know that justice in this case will be swift and it will be severe, Scott Brady, the chief federal prosecutor in western Pennsylvania, said at a news conference, characterizing the slaughter as a terrible and unspeakable act of hate. The mass shooting came amid a rash of high-profile attacks in an increasingly divided country, one day after a Florida man was arrested and charged with mailing a series of pipe bombs to prominent Democrats and little more than a week before the midterm elections. The killings also immediately reignited the longstanding national debate about guns: President Donald Trump said the outcome might have been different if the synagogue had some kind of protection from an armed guard, while Pennsylvanias Democratic Governor Tom Wolf noted that once again dangerous weapons are putting our citizens in harms way. Trump said he planned to travel to Pittsburgh, but offered no details. Authorities say that just before 10 am, Bower entered the large synagogue with an assault-style rifle and three handguns. Three separate congregations were conducting Sabbath services in different areas of the large building, according to Michael Eisenberg, the immediate past president of the Tree of Life. The Pennsylvania attorney generals office said it was told by victims that a brit milah a ritual circumcision ceremony at which a baby boy also receives his Hebrew name was also taking place, though law enforcement officials later said no children were among the dead or wounded. It is a very horrific crime scene, said a visibly moved Wendell Hissrich, the Pittsburgh public safety director. Its one of the worst that Ive seen. The survivors included Daniel Leger, 70, a nurse and hospital chaplain who was in critical condition after undergoing surgery, his brother, Paul Leger, told the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Daniel Leger was scheduled to lead a service on Saturday morning, he said. The mass shooting raised immediate alarm in Jewish communities around the country. Authorities in New York City, Chicago and elsewhere increased security at Jewish centers. (Photo: AP) Bob Jones, head of the FBIs Pittsburgh office, said that worshippers were brutally murdered by a gunman targeting them simply because of their faith, though he cautioned the shooters full motive was not yet known. In a statement, Attorney General Jeff Sessions said the Justice Department would file hate crime and other charges against Bowers. Bowers, who had no apparent criminal record, expressed virulently anti-Semitic views on a social media site called Gab, according to an Associated Press review of an archived version of the posts made under his name. The cover photo for his account featured a neo-Nazi symbol, and his recent posts included a photo of a fiery oven like those used in Nazi concentration camps used to cremate Jews during World War II. Other posts referenced false conspiracy theories suggesting the Holocaust in which an estimated 6 million Jews perished was a hoax. He wrote of a Jewish infestation, using a slur for Jews. Gab confirmed Bowers had a profile on its website, which is popular with far-right extremists. Before the shooting, the poster believed to be Bowers also wrote that HIAS likes to bring invaders in that kill our people. I cant sit by and watch my people get slaughtered. Screw your optics, Im going in. HIAS is a non-profit group that helps refugees around the world find safety and freedom. The organization says it is guided by Jewish values and history. Jonathan Greenblatt, chief executive officer of the Anti-Defamation League, said the group believes Saturdays attack was the deadliest on the Jewish community in US history. Our hearts break for the families of those killed and injured at the Tree of Life Synagogue, and for the entire Jewish community of Pittsburgh, Greenblatt said. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said he was heartbroken and appalled by the attack. The entire people of Israel grieve with the families of the dead, Netanyahu said. We stand together with the Jewish community of Pittsburgh. We stand together with the American people in the face of this horrendous anti-Semitic brutality. And we all pray for the speedy recovery of the wounded. Thousands of people, some holding candles, gathered for a vigil in the Squirrel Hill neighbourhood on Saturday night in honour of the victims, whose names were not immediately released. A chant of vote, vote, vote broke out during the emotional gathering. Some attendees blamed the shooting on the nations political climate, and said they took little solace in the planned visit by Trump. At a political rally in Murphysboro, Illinois, Trump said the evil anti-Semitic attack is an assault on all of us. The president who, at times, has been accused by critics of failing to adequately condemn hate, such as when he blamed both sides for the violence at a Charlottesville, Virginia, white supremacist rally in 2017 said that anti-Semitism must be confronted and condemned everywhere it rears it very ugly head. He called for the imposition of the death penalty for crimes like this. The synagogue is located in the tree-lined residential neighbourhood of Squirrel Hill, about 10 minutes from downtown Pittsburgh and the hub of Pittsburghs Jewish community. The facade of the fortress-like concrete building is punctuated by rows of swirling, modernistic stained-glass windows illustrating the story of creation, the acceptance of Gods law, the life cycle and how human-beings should care for the earth and one another, according to its website. Among its treasures is a Holocaust Torah, rescued from Czechoslovakia. Its sanctuary can hold up to 1,250 people. Eisenberg, the former synagogue president, said officials at Tree of Life had not gotten any threats that he knew of before the shooting. But he said security was a concern, and the synagogue had started working to improve it. Chuck Diamond, a former rabbi at the synagogue who retired more than a year ago, said the building is locked during the week, and is outfitted with security cameras. But on Sabbath its an open door, he said. You know, youre always worried that something would happen, said Myron Snider, head of the cemetery committee for New Light Congregation, which meets at Tree of Life. Snider just got out of the hospital on Thursday and missed Saturdays service. But you never dream that it would happen like this, Snider added. Just never ever dream that it would happen like this. The first fruit of the Synod was "a synodal style that does not have as its main objective the drafting of a document, which is also valuable and useful. More than the document, however, it is important that a way of being and working together, young and old, in listening and discernment, to reach pastoral choices that respond to reality, is spreading ". Vatican City (AsiaNews) - Pope Francis expressed "closeness" to the city of Pittsburgh and in particular to the Jewish community of the city, hit yesterday by an attack. Following the Angelus prayer the Pope expressed "closeness to the city of Pittsburgh, in the United States of America, and in particular to the Jewish community, hit yesterday by a terrible attack in the synagogue. May the Most High welcome the dead in His peace, comfort their families and support the wounded. In reality, we are all wounded by this inhumane act of violence. May the Lord help us to extinguish the outbreaks of hatred that develop in our societies, strengthening the sense of humanity, respect for life, moral and civil values, and the holy fear of God, who is Love and Father of all ". Before the recitation of the Marian prayer, speaking to the 10 thousand people present in St Peter's Square, in spite of the rain, Francis had spoken of the Synod assembly. "It was a time of consolation and hope, precisely through demanding and even tiring work. First of all it was a moment of listening: in fact, listening requires time, attention, openness of mind and heart. But this commitment was transformed every day into consolation, above all because we had among us the lively and stimulating presence of young people, with their stories and their contributions. Through the testimonies of the Synodal Fathers, the multifaceted reality of the new generations has entered the Synod, as it were, on all sides: from every continent and from many different human and social situations ". "The fruits of this work are already 'fermenting', as does the grape juice in the barrels after the harvest. The Youth Synod was a good harvest, and promises good wine. But I would like to say that the first fruit of this Synodal Assembly should be precisely in the example of a method that we have tried to follow, right from the preparatory phase. A synodal style that does not have as its main objective the drafting of a document, which is also valuable and useful. More than the document, however, it is important that a way of being and working together, young and old, in listening and discernment, to reach pastoral choices that respond to reality, is spreading". Viewed 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. The predominantly Jewish Squirrel Hill neighborhood has a bucolic-sounding name, and it fits. It is bounded on two sides by huge, wooded parks. The streets of mostly single-family homes are lined with lush trees; there is easy access to universities, civic institutions, playing fields and excellent schools. I was reared in a Jewish paradise a.k.a. America, my Promised Land. Not the one God gave us (though I love that one, too), but the one we chose for ourselves. I was taught in Squirrel Hill that we were in the one country that was an exception to the history of the human race in general and the Jews in particular. Founded on Enlightenment principles of individuality, freedom, tolerance and justice, the United States was the only place besides Israel where Jews could live at one with their nation, unburdened by fear or confusion about identity. Now I must wonder: If Pittsburgh isnt safe for Jews, if Squirrel Hill isnt safe, if the Tree of Life isnt safe, what place is? Without diminishing anyone elses suffering and death, its a sad fact that the Jews often are the canaries in the coal mine of social and political collapse. So, what does the bloodshed in the Tree of Life mean? It is a sign that hatred of The Other is poisoning our public life. Its always been a vivid strain in America, stimulated by the stress of immigrant waves, but one we have overcome time and again. Although we often honor it in the breach, our founding idea remains: that each person here is precious and born with unalienable rights. Now, political enemies in America deny each others humanity. Nine people were killed at a historic black church in South Carolina in 2015 In 2015, a white gunman killed nine black parishioners at a historic black church in downtown Charleston, S.C. Dylann S. Roof, a self-radicalized white supremacist, confessed to the killings. Mr. Roof, then 21, entered through an unlocked side door of the Emanuel African Methodist Episcopal Church and took a seat at a weekly Bible study meeting. He had brought with him a semiautomatic pistol that he concealed in a pack on his waist. When the congregants closed their eyes for a familiar benediction, the sound of gunfire roared through the fellowship hall. Churchgoers dove below tables but Mr. Roof kept firing, striking the victims at least 60 times. Mr. Roof was charged with 33 counts, including hate crimes resulting in death. He was found guilty in 2016 and sentenced to death last year. At Emanuel A.M.E. Church, a bedrock of black Charleston that was founded in 1791, doors that were once left open have had to be locked since the shooting. The church has used retired military and on- and off-duty police officers for security. Willi Glee, a member of the church, said last year that religious spaces offer an added attraction for some attacks because defiling them is the ultimate taboo. Everybody expects that a house of worship is a safe place, he said. PITTSBURGH Saturday morning in Squirrel Hill has for more than 100 years meant certain familiar rituals. The handing out of prayer books as latecomers quietly arrive at temple, the genial shouts of Shabbat shalom across neighborhood streets as friends spot old friends after services. This is the heart of Jewish Pittsburgh, one of the most deeply rooted Jewish neighborhoods in America. And on this Saturday morning, it was the site of what one of the citys chief federal law enforcement officers called the most horrific crime scene I have seen. Tree of Life, an understated temple on a rising street of tidy brick houses and pumpkin-decorated front porches, was a revered and historic Jewish institution in a neighborhood full of them. After Saturdays massacre, this meant a grief deep and wide. Everyone knew someone, or someone who did. The Jewish Community Center, a few blocks away from Tree of Life, became a command post of sorts, with grief counselors, law enforcement officials, Red Cross volunteers, extended families, members of various synagogues and food, lots and lots of food. The document also acknowledged the churchs shortcomings amid new revelations on clerics sexual abuse of minors, a continuing global scandal that has damaged the churchs credibility in recent years and that risks undermining attempts to engage younger generations. The Synod of Bishops, as the assembly is known, recognizes that dealing with the question of abuse, in all its aspects, with the precious help of young people, can really be an opportunity for an epochal reform, the document said. It praised those who had called out their abusers, and admitted that many past cases had been badly handled. Several of the participants said throughout the three-week gathering that the abuse issue had weighed on the discussions. But some said a more appropriate venue for discussing the topic would be a meeting at the Vatican that Francis has called for February with the presidents of more than 130 bishops conferences. Many had hoped for more from the document. Its kind of the same old stuff, said Francis DeBernardo, executive director of New Ways Ministry, an advocacy group for gay Catholics, who said the Vatican would have had a better understanding of the complexities of the issue had one of the 34 young lay auditors at the synod been gay. Now and then journalists will resort to the L-word, lie, as The New York Times has done on occasion. Other frequent targets of the presidents disdain, CNN and MSNBC, have debunked his claims with onscreen headlines and endless panel discussions. Such good-faith efforts, however, seem increasingly ineffectual. The president has succeeded in casting journalists as the prim foils on his never-ending reality show, much to the delight of those who cheer him on at rallies. He has succeeded in creating a daily narrative in which he is the central figure, Steve Coll, the dean of the Columbia University School of Journalism and a staff writer at The New Yorker, told me. And he uses props and invented opposition whether they are migrants hundreds of miles from the U.S. border or the press right in front of him to pursue this kind of idea he has about how his populism works. Mr. Trumps communications director for 10 days, Anthony Scaramucci, was matter-of-fact when he told Bloomberg TV on Thursday, Yes, the president is lying, but hes doing it intentionally to incite certain people, which would include left-leaning journalists and most of the left-leaning politicians. By engaging with his ceaseless attacks and baseless claims, are journalists falling into a trap? Thats the view of Steven Pinker, a Harvard professor of cognitive science, who has described the president as a promoter of a counter-Enlightenment ideology. Even with its saturation coverage of the pipe bombs, Mr. Pinker argued on Twitter, The press gets gamed again. In a telephone interview, he said the news media had read too much into the acts of one disturbed person. Its not a reflection, in itself, of the mood of the country, Mr. Pinker said. He conceded, though, that the news media cannot ignore Mr. Trump. And theres the conundrum. This president speaks a lot and tweets a lot without his material being vigorously vetted, and there are many more factual inaccuracies that we have to deal with, said Glenn Kessler, the longtime Fact Checker columnist at The Post. Julie Michelle Silverbrook and Dr. Adam Scott Footer were married Oct. 27 at Hotel Monaco in Washington. Rabbi Arnold Saltzman officiated. The bride, 31, is the executive director of the Constitutional Sources Project, a nonprofit organization in Washington that provides historical sources related to the creation, ratification and amendment of the Constitution. She graduated summa cum laude from George Washington University, where she received the Distinguished Scholar Award, the highest award given to a student graduating from the arts and sciences college. She also received a law degree from William & Mary. She is a daughter of Dr. Randi M. Kodroff of Bethesda, Md., and Dr. Robert M. Silverbrook of Richboro, Pa. The brides father is an internal medicine doctor at Robert Wood Johnson Medical Associates in Hamilton Township, N.J. Her mother is a practicing primary care doctor for Comprehensive Primary Care, a primary care medical practice in Chevy Chase, Md. The commissioner at the time, William J. Bratton, apologized three days after the attack for the police role in airing investigators doubts publicly. But Mr. ONeill went further, saying they were wrong to doubt her in the first place. Sonia Ossorio, the president of the New York City arm of the National Organization for Women, called the apology unprecedented. Its meaningful to all survivors, and it sends a message, she said. You cant move forward until you recognize and acknowledge what has been failing. And it really is our greatest hope that this translates into a new era for the N.Y.P.D. and police departments across the country. The case became a flash point after police officials told the columnist, Mike McAlary, that the woman had made up the attack to promote a rally for lesbian and gay rights. At the time, the woman said she was a lesbian. She now describes herself as bisexual. Nora Ephron explored the case in the play Lucky Guy, which ran on Broadway in 2013 with Tom Hanks playing Mr. McAlary. The doubts raised in 1994 about the account by the survivor of the Prospect Park rape drove a wedge between the police and the overlapping communities of sexual assault victims and lesbian and gay people. Mr. ONeill lamented that divide in his letter, singling out the hoax accusation as egregious. I firmly believe that no one in the N.Y.P.D. would draw such an implausible and ridiculous conclusion today, he added. The Police Department reopened the investigation a year ago after accusations of sexual assault against the movie producer Harvey Weinstein were published, fueling the rise of the #MeToo movement, which has felled the careers of more than 200 powerful men and forced a national reckoning about consent, sexual assault and believing women who make complaints. Its really up to you how youre going to react to them, because theyre nothing menacing, Mr. Bellov said, adding that he addresses the ghosts whenever he enters and leaves the house. The Haunting of 136 Clinton Avenue A few weeks before Christmas in 1878, Edward F. Smith was at his home at 136 Clinton Avenue, in Brooklyn, when the doorbell rang, according to a contemporaneous report in The New York Times. Smith opened the door, but found no one outside. The ringing continued throughout the night and was eventually joined by a violent banging at the back door, but, still, Smith could not identify a source. The commotion became a nightly occurrence. At first, Smith enlisted the help of his family. But even with people stationed throughout the house and in the yard, they couldnt pinpoint the cause. He sprinkled ash and flour along the path to the door, expecting to find footprints left behind, but the substances were undisturbed and the noises continued. Eventually, Smith persuaded the authorities to look into the matter. A police captain and detective visited the house one night, but they were utterly unable to fathom what was going on, according to The Times. So they returned the next night, with reinforcements. That second night, a brick flew through the dining room window. It could only have been thrown from a path near the house, but officers stationed outside swore they had seen no one near it. The house was thoroughly searched for hidden wires or anything else that might solve the mystery, but the police found nothing. The Times reporter wrote that he himself ventured out to the house, whistling to keep his courage up, but found only a small, curious crowd gathered outside. Smith himself was skeptical at first that supernatural activity was taking place, but after weeks of torment he could think of no other explanation. He is now convinced that the invisible cause of all the phenomena is no less a personage than his Satanic Majesty himself, The Times reported in a follow-up story. The Rev. Thomas Keating, a Trappist monk and a pioneer in the worldwide Christian contemplative prayer movement, died on Thursday at St. Josephs Abbey in Spencer, Mass., where he had once been abbot. He was 95. His nephew Peter C. Jones confirmed the death and said Father Keating had been in declining health for several years. The arc of his life took Father Keating from riches to rags and back to riches again, Mr. Jones said in a telephone interview: He was born into affluence and privilege in Manhattan, walked away from it all when he entered an austere monastic community in Rhode Island, and was rewarded with spiritual riches. Father Keating played a major role in popularizing what is now known as centering prayer, a method of silent prayer that allows one to rest in the presence of God. Over the years, his thoughts crystallized into what friends said became one of his favorite sayings: Silence is Gods first language. Everything else is a poor translation. What does HIAS mean today? To refugees around the world, its become an international word for hope, in dozens of tongues and for numerous faiths. To me, it symbolizes America and Judaism at its best. And its easy to see how HIAS stands for everything white supremacists hate: tolerance, understanding and empathy. And who does HIAS bring into this country? I could easily rattle off a list of refugee all-stars: celebrity actors, Olympic athletes, pathbreaking inventors, acclaimed musicians and writers and artists. You might not know they were once refugees, but I can assure you you know who they are. But that would be missing the point. HIAS didnt help them because they could sing or write code; it helped them because they needed help. The majority of HIASs clients arent famous, and while you probably dont know their names, theyre part of your world nonetheless. They are people who used to be merchants and goat herders and professors. Some have stayed in their fields in America; many did not. They drive your taxis, dress your wounds, clean your houses. They watch over your businesses while you sleep. They know that the United States can give you a new life, but they also know it comes with a cost. Two weeks ago, Ive had a chance to reflect on just who it is that HIAS brings to this country after another HIAS client passed away: my mother. Mom, like many older immigrants, had discovered firsthand that theres a steep admission price to America. For 30 years, she had been a doctor in Ukraine, but the language barrier made that impossible when she came to America. The first few years here were awful: She felt she went from being a physician to being useless. It wasnt until she began working as a night security guard that she finally felt happy again. Immigration left my family strewn across three continents, which meant that more than half of those attending Moms funeral were native-born Americans. And so on a sunny fall afternoon, I watched a small caravan of Russian and English speakers wind across a patch of forest next to the office park in suburban New Jersey that Mom used to guard. I watched these people honor Moms last wish: scatter her ashes at the place where she was reborn in America. I watched them celebrate the life of an immigrant who had every reason to be bitter at her lot in this country, and yet loved it and worked in it with honor. And I silently thanked HIAS for the strength and the grace it imports to America. Thats what HIAS stands for. Thats who HIAS brings to this country. Lev Golinkin is the author of the memoir A Backpack, a Bear and Eight Crates of Vodka. To the Editor: Re Is I.N.F. Treaty So Important That Its End Could Set Off an Arms Race? (news article, Oct. 24): The Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty establishes a norm against missiles with ranges between 500 and 5,500 kilometers (over 300 miles and less than 3,500), and keeping the treaty would help extend its limits to other countries. First, North Korea agreed to eliminate missiles with ranges over 500 kilometers during an unfinalized deal with the Clinton administration. The Trump administration could ask Pyongyang to accept the same limits, removing the Korean missile threat to Japan. Second, missile talks with Iran could seek to limit it to 500-kilometer- range systems; this would take away the Iranian missile threat to Israel. Third , India, Pakistan and China could agree not to nuclearize missiles with ranges below 500 kilometers. This would keep their short-range conventional missiles distinct from nuclear systems, reducing the destabilizing ambiguity in such missiles. To the Editor: Re Rampage Kills 11 at a Synagogue in Pittsburgh (front page, Oct. 28): Last Monday a new Holocaust memorial was dedicated in Philadelphia . I thought that another memorial to one of the 20th centurys greatest tragedies was not needed. On Saturday one of the deadliest anti-Semitic attacks on American soil occurred. I guess I was wrong. Paul L. Newman Merion Station, Pa. To the Editor: In demonizing the other, President Trump incites the acts of hate that he professes to deplore, such as the Pittsburgh synagogue shootings and the pipe bombs directed at political opponents. He can express condemnation of such acts all he wants, but his calls for harsher punishments fail to address remedies that might actually work to prevent hate crimes: stricter screening for buyers of firearms and explosives and a toning down of his divisive rhetoric. Mary Lewis Grow Northfield, Minn. To the Editor: The first duty of government to its citizens is to safeguard them from acts of violence. Instead, President Trump suggests that worshiping Jews bear the responsibility and costs of hiring private armies to protect our people and our institutions. And here, last year, David Zubik, the Catholic bishop of Pittsburgh, and Aaron Bisno, the rabbi at Rodef Shalom Congregation, boarded a plane together at Pittsburgh International and led a trip to Rome and Jerusalem. They called it the Pursuers of Peace Pilgrimage. Nobody thought it was the least bit remarkable. In recent weeks, when Cardinal Donald Wuerl of Washington, Bishop Zubiks predecessor at the Diocese of Pittsburgh, came under fire in the church abuse scandal, some of the deepest expressions of sadness about his role came from Pittsburgh Jews who remembered him as a constant presence in their pews. When, on this cursed Saturday morning, gunfire broke out in Tree of Life, just three blocks from my home, the Jewish rhythms that are a part of the citys beat seemed to take over the soundtrack of Pittsburgh. Hundreds gathered hours later at the corner of Murray and Forbes, where a clock tower with Hebrew letters has kept time for the Squirrel Hill neighborhood for a generation. There were, to be sure, rabbis in the crowd, but the vigil was dominated by the students from nearby Taylor Allderdice High School. For decades the few students in attendance in their school on Yom Kippur spent the day in study halls. There was no use teaching class during the High Holy Days. There was no debate in our offices at the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette where for years the reporter Steve Levin, gray beard drooping from his chin, black cap sitting on his skull, wrote luminous tone poems about whether to describe Saturdays massacre as a hate crime. The man charged with perpetrating it, who in his own online biographic profile asserted that Jews are the children of Satan, reportedly shouted anti-Semitic epithets as his gun spewed bullets. Around here angry shouts are reserved for the Cleveland Browns, bitter rivals to the north but a team that traveled to Heinz Field for a Sunday confrontation that suddenly seemed to lose its urgency. In all of this, racing around town and then to the office to join my colleagues in chronicling this sad chapter in our citys history, I could not repress a line that the presidential chronicler Theodore H. White wrote in the commemorative edition of Life magazine in the days after the assassination of John F. Kennedy: One wished for a cry, a sob, a wail, any human sound. And during the day of Pittsburghs suffering so many of us not only Jews like me wished for that cry, or any human sound, or perhaps even some shard of routine to ward off the certainty that the day was anything but routine. Now a confession on this time of surpassing sin: Amid it all I dropped by my home, within the sound of the sirens, and took the wet laundry out of the washer and placed it in the dryer. Something about cleanliness amid the sordidness made me need to do it. This has been a very difficult 24 hours for the Jewish community and for America. What started as a normal Sabbath for Jews a time to be with family and community, celebrate bar and bat mitzvahs, hold baby namings, pray to God ended with news of the massacre at the Tree of Life synagogue in Pittsburgh. This was the deadliest anti-Semitic attack in American history. While the horror of this massacre is shocking, it is not entirely surprising. At the Anti-Defamation League, we have been tracking and fighting anti-Semitism for over a century. And while Jews have enjoyed a degree of acceptance and achievement in the United States perhaps unrivaled in our peoples history, recent trends have been alarming. While the overall trend in anti-Semitic incidents has been a downward one, last year we saw the largest single-year increase since the A.D.L. began this annual audit in 1979 a 57 percent increase in anti-Semitic incidents in 2017. These incidents include high-profile ones such as neo-Nazis marching in Charlottesville, Va., chanting Jews will not replace us, physical assaults, vandalism and attacks on Jewish institutions. Part of this sharp rise comes from a large increase in anti-Semitic incidents in grade schools and on college campuses, which nearly doubled for the second year in a row. The latest F.B.I. statistics corroborate what our researchers found: a 5 percent increase in reported hate crimes, with more than half of faith-based hate crimes 53 percent against Jews. In the exploded America of the medieval Now, where buffaloes mate with butterflies and give birth to buffalowings, grotesque is apparently the latest compliment. Ill try to bear that in mind. But Thunderbodies, a play by Kate Tarker that opened on Saturday at Soho Rep, is so stuffed with cute word twists and tiresome satire it must mean to be grotesque in the old-fashioned way as well. To begin with, the central character is named Grotilde. Having recently completed her lifes work of losing either 10 or 610 pounds, she is planning a divorce from the extravagantly medalled Gen. Michail Itterod even though they are not married. Before the grand celebration can start, she wants her son, who was born from her anus, to come home from the war. Ah yes, the war: Where would satire be without one? In this case, America, having defeated a vague enemy in one week, is closing down its military for lack of funds. Peace, a sorry alternative, is declared; the armys new slogan is less is more. Mr. Sayoc has a protracted history of largely minor skirmishes with the authorities, but he now faces an especially grave array of charges in connection with the wave of attempted bombings, including illegal mailing of explosives and threats against a former president. Mr. Sayoc will eventually be prosecuted in Manhattan, and could be sentenced to a maximum of nearly 50 years in prison if convicted. He is not expected to enter a plea on Monday afternoon when he appears before Judge Edwin G. Torres in Federal District Court in Miami. Sarah Baumgartel, a federal public defender in New York who was appointed to represent Mr. Sayoc, declined to comment on Sunday. It is not clear how, or even whether, Mr. Sayoc will contest the charges against him, which the authorities brought after matching forensic evidence to him. Relatives like Ms. Villasana have begun to depict him as a man who has led a fractured life, beginning when Mr. Sayoc was a boy and his father left the family. He grew into an introverted teenager who liked to collect things, eat in his room and fall asleep with the television on, Mr. Sayocs family said, and they came to believe that he struggled with dyslexia. He clashed with his parents over his behavior, and Ms. Villasana said that her brother spent at least some time at a boarding school. After he left college, apparently without completing a degree, the siblings maternal grandmother, who lived nearby in Hollywood, Fla., took Mr. Sayoc in against the wishes of his mother, who thought he was old enough to be on his own. By then, Mr. Sayoc was an enthusiastic bodybuilder, Ms. Villasana said; once she opened her grandmothers refrigerator and found what she believed was Mr. Sayocs stash of steroids. She confronted him, telling him that he could get himself and their grandmother in trouble. I said, What are you doing? she said. He was always in the kitchen. Loved his protein shakes. Even so, Mr. Sayocs life was relatively stable while he was with his grandmother, Ms. Villasana said, but after he stopped residing there, his life became more nomadic, traveling the country working with male revue shows. His sister lost track of him periodically; until a reporter asked her about Mr. Sayocs 2004 divorce in Oklahoma, she did not know about his brief marriage. Anne Caravone, 73, and her husband Albert, 74, who live in Hillsboro, said that recent political protests in Portland, some of which grew violent or destructive, had disturbed and frightened them, and left them questioning Democratic control of so many offices across the state. Ms. Caravone, who said she tends to vote for Republicans, said she was undecided in her vote for governor, but had ruled out Ms. Brown. Mr. Caravone said he was leaning toward Mr. Buehler, but in the end might leave that part of his ballot blank. Ms. Brown, some voters said, has also suffered by comparisons to her once popular predecessor, Mr. Kitzhaber, who was the longest-serving governor since Oregons statehood in 1859. Mr. Kitzhaber resigned in 2015, a few weeks after starting his fourth term, amid accusations that his fiancee, Cylvia Hayes, had used her access to gain consulting contracts. No criminal charges were filed against either Mr. Kitzhaber or Ms. Hayes, who had been an unpaid policy adviser to the governor, but the Oregon Ethics Commission concluded that both of them had violated conflict-of-interest laws. Mr. Kitzhaber had an unquestioned, if sometimes mocked, star power, often looking like he had stepped out of a Ralph Lauren ad, wearing an almost constant uniform of cowboy boots, jeans and a sport jacket. By contrast, Ms. Brown, who is 58 and the nations first openly bisexual governor, leans toward what one supporter called a Portland anti-style, plain clothes, sensible shoes and clunky glasses that tend to slide down her nose. As secretary of state, Ms. Brown was first in the line of succession to Mr. Kitzhaber since Oregon has no lieutenant governor. Then Ms. Brown won a special election in 2016. This is her first time seeking a full four-year term. Ive heard people say, I dont feel energized by her, said Ms. Howard, who said she plans to vote for Ms. Brown. People dont say that about male candidates, Ms. Howard added. Mr. Buehler, an orthopedic surgeon, has made the pitch to voters that he would be a pragmatist governor, aiming to address Oregons problems the way he was trained as a doctor diagnosing issues and addressing them with logic, not partisanship. His television ads have attacked Ms. Browns performance on everything from the states handling of mental health to child welfare. In another post, he wrote: You like to bring in hostile invaders to dwell among us? We appreciate the list of friends you have provided. Alongside it was a link to information on the National Refugee Shabbat Event, celebrated on Oct. 20 at more than 300 Jewish congregations in 33 states. Mark Hetfield, the president of HIAS, said the climate of political rancor over immigration gave impetus to the national refugee event. We felt that at a time when the U.S. is doing less and less for refugees, that we must demonstrate, as a refugee people, that it is more important than ever to continue to welcome refugees as a community, he said. At a gathering at Congregation Shir Hamaolot in Irvine, Calif., Jackie Menter, a co-founder of the Orange County Jewish Coalition for Refugees, shared her experience working with Middle Eastern and African refugees on the Greek island of Chios last year. She spoke of a Syrian girl who had watched a land mine kill her mother as they were fleeing captivity by the militant group Islamic State, and a man named Mustafa, who returned home to his apartment in the Syrian city of Aleppo to find the entire building bombed out and his wife, children and mother dead. Citing biblical passages about welcoming the stranger, Ms. Menter urged congregants to get involved with HIASs efforts to support refugees and asylum seekers. On Saturday night, after the attack on the synagogue in Pittsburgh, she said, Evil, hatred and racism will not keep justice and mercy from prevailing. The Trump administration has sharply reduced the number of people fleeing violence and persecution who are admitted to the United States as refugees, lowering the annual ceiling from the 110,000 set before Mr. Trump took office to 45,000 in the 2018 fiscal year, which ended Sept. 30, and to 30,000 for fiscal 2019. Delays caused by extra levels of screening ordered by the Trump administration targeting especially people from 11 countries, 10 of them predominantly Muslim meant that only 22,491 refugees actually arrived in fiscal 2018. David and Cecil Rosenthal, brothers in their 50s, were almost always in the synagogue, greeting everyone who came with a Good Shabbos and a ready prayer book. Joyce Fienberg, 75, prayed there every day after her husbands death. And Melvin Wax, 87, took on so many tasks from leading services to changing light bulbs that one friend described his role there as everything but the cantor. The shooting rampage at the Tree of Life synagogue left 11 people dead, including the Rosenthal brothers, Ms. Fienberg and Mr. Wax. Many of those who perished were advanced in years. Some, like Rose Mallinger, who was 97, were alive while the Holocaust was devastating Jewish communities around Europe. They were the steady anchors of a faith community that had changed over the years but persisted as a source of devotion, camaraderie and memory. The people who were there are the ones who kept this community going, who made things happen, said Diane Rosenthal, a sister of the Rosenthal brothers. I imagine they probably greeted this guy. This place was so part of their lives, a place where they could go and be welcomed at any time and where they were part of the fabric. The dead included three women and eight men ranging in age from 54 to 97. Among them were an accountant, a teacher, a dentist and a husband and wife, Bernice and Sylvan Simon of Wilkinsburg, Pa., who were 84 and 86. Daniel Stein, 71, had recently become a grandfather. Jerry Rabinowitz was a doctor and lived in the town of Edgewood Borough, and Irving Younger, 69, in Mt. Washington. Everyone with ties to Tree of Life knew the Rosenthal brothers, who turned up every week and always stood at the back. Theyve been fixtures there for as long as anyone can remember, said Jeffrey Solomon, the chief executive of Cowen Inc., a New York-based financial services company, and a lifelong member of the Tree of Life congregation. They were what we call shomerim, people who guard the religion even for the rest of us who dont go all the time, said Mr. Solomon, who is related to the brothers by marriage. David Rosenthal, who was 54, and Cecil Rosenthal, 59, had developmental disabilities but lived independently. They often spent their days at the nearby Jewish Community Center, where they spoke warmly to anyone they met. Ive said this many times, having nothing to do with this tragedy: You can feel what is good in the world when you talk to them, because they only talk to you about good things, Mr. Solomon said. To say that everyone in the Pittsburgh Jewish community knows them is not even a remote exaggeration. They were both active participants in so much of life. Image Melvin Wax. Mr. Solomon said he grew up in the community with the brothers, who were together constantly and often spoke joyfully about their extended family. Today we talk about inclusion, but they were just part of the community, and I didnt think anything about it," Mr. Solomon said. It was my introduction to the fact that there are people like that and they are just like the rest of us. It doesnt make any sense to me," he added. "They didnt deserve this. Another victim, Richard Gottfried, 65, of Ross Township, Pa., was remembered as a loyal congregant and a dentist who would serve patients who did not have insurance or were underinsured, performing root canals, installing crowns on teeth and doing other preventive and restorative work. He was very devoted to community and to service, said Susan Kalson, 59, the chief executive of the Squirrel Hill Health Center. He loved working with our patients, underserved patients, including a lot of refugees and immigrants. Dr. Gottfried, described as a quiet, kind and unassuming man, was a dentist in the Pittsburgh area for decades after starting a private practice with his wife, also a dentist, in 1984. Seven years ago, he was looking for a way to give back to the community, and started working about once a week at the Squirrel Hill center, where he found a way to do for others, Ms. Kalson said. She said Dr. Gottfried was deeply devoted to Judaism. He and his wife, who was not Jewish, both worked part time at the center and were very close. They had no children, Ms. Kalson said, adding, They were just one of those couples that is just so interwoven. Another victim, Daniel Stein, was a jack-of-all-trades, said his nephew, Steven Halle. Mr. Stein was a substitute teacher, who over the years had also worked at a plumbing supply store and a funeral home. But the place where Mr. Stein, 71, spent most of his time in recent years was at the synagogue, Mr. Halle said. On almost every Saturday morning, he attended services. Sometimes he went with his wife, Sharyn, but on Saturday, he went alone. It was like clockwork, for years and years, said Mr. Halle. He didnt miss it for anything. The synagogue was his life. Image Daniel Stein. His congregation, the New Light Congregation, had moved into the Tree of Life synagogue about two years ago because their numbers had dwindled and they could no longer afford their own building, Mr. Halle said. Mr. Steins daughter-in-law recently had a child, and Mr. Stein was delighted to be a grandfather for the first time. This is going to be a horrible loss for the child growing up without a grandfather, he said. Although he enjoyed traveling he had taken a Caribbean cruise with his wife and had also visited Israel Mr. Stein was usually not away for too long from Pittsburgh. He died within a few miles of where he was born, Mr. Halle said. Ms. Fienberg was also known for her warmth and generosity. In the more than 40 years that Dodie Roskies knew her, she would come to count herself as one of Ms. Fienbergs many best friends. During that time, she would also come to know how, after the death in 2016 of Ms. Fienbergs husband, Stephen E. Fienberg, who was a pre-eminent statistician at Carnegie Mellon University, Ms. Fienberg would go every day to the synagogue to pray for him. She was a wonderful wife, mother and grandmother, said Ms. Roskies, the director of a genetic education and screening program for Jews whose families came from Central and Eastern Europe. Ms. Fienberg raised her family in Squirrel Hill, Ms. Roskies said. Ms. Fienberg has two sons, one living in Washington and one in Paris, and six grandchildren. Ms. Fienberg was bright, charitable and devoted, Ms. Roskies said. She worked for years at the University of Pittsburghs Learning Research and Development Center. She was the gentlest of people, Ms. Roskies said. Mr. Wax, another victim, was often at the synagogue three or four days a week, performing even the smallest tasks to ensure things went smoothly. He was part of the fabric, said Bill Cartiff, 56, one of his friends. As he aged, Mr. Wax had become hard of hearing, and in recent years, he did not speak much. He was kind, quiet, gentle, sincere and devout, said Mr. Cartiff. Image David Rosenthal, left, and Cecil Rosenthal. Since his wife died two years ago, Mr. Wax had lived simply, with few possessions, in a Squirrel Hill apartment building where most of the residents were elderly and Jewish. It was a community within a community, said Mr. Cartiff. He is survived by a daughter, Jodi Kart, 52, and a grandson. Mr. Wax was a lifelong fan of the Pirates, a baseball team that for much of the past 25 years has been mired in mediocrity. They have not won a World Series since 1979, one of baseballs longest droughts. But Mr. Wax was patient, even when the teams owners over the years have drawn the ire of fans for not spending enough to keep the team competitive. The Pirates are always criticized for not spending money, said Mr. Cartiff. But he would say, Oh, they dont need to spend more millions. He was happy to just watch them. He didnt care if they won or not. Suzan Hauptman, among those at a vigil for the victims on Sunday, recalled one of them, Dr. Rabinowitz, who was her fathers doctor when he was stricken with a serious illness. He helped save my fathers life and really helped me and my mother and brother get through a difficult time for us, Ms. Hauptman said. He was an amazing human. Dr. Rabinowitz was also the physician for Marie Jo Marks and her mother for about 30 years. Ms. Marks is 74; her mother, Helen Nothwang, is 102, and until recently, she lived alone in a house about two blocks from the doctors office. When Ms. Marks would call with information about her mother, Dr. Rabinowitz would pledge to walk up and see her, whenever his day at the office was over. He would take her blood pressure but hed basically just sit up there and talk with her, Ms. Marks said. And that is something I will never ever forget. In an interview, Jerry Schmitt, another longtime patient of Dr. Rabinowitz, recalled a conversation with the doctor earlier this year. He had asked Dr. Rabinowitz, who was 66, whether he had plans to retire. He said, Oh, I dont think Ill ever retire, Mr. Schmitt recalled. And I pointed right at him and I said, Dont you ever retire. I just could not imagine going through the rest of my life without him. And now, he added, here we are. PITTSBURGH As gunfire shattered the prayerful morning stillness of the Tree of Life synagogue, Barry Werber was hiding in a darkened storage room. In front of him was Melvin Wax, a longtime member of the New Light Congregation whose body now lay on the floor. Then a man stepped through a swinging door into the room. Mr. Werber saw that he was carrying a long gun. He walks in, Mr. Werber said of the killer. He steps over Mels body. The man seemed to look around for a brief moment, but couldnt seem to see in the darkness. He walked back out. Mr. Werber escaped with his life. But 11 others in the synagogue on Wilkins Avenue on Saturday morning did not. The massacre unfolded over about an hour in individual acts of endurance and courage Mr. Werber holding his breath in the darkness, police officers who rushed in while the gunfire was still raging to confront the killer, congregants who put aside their terror to help one another. His company at the time, Giles Parscale, took in more than $90 million from the campaign, the bulk of which went to online advertising a sum that enraged Mr. Trump, at least before he won. Since then, Mr. Parscales new company, Parscale Strategy, has received six- and seven-figure payments by the Trump campaign, the Republican National Committee and the super PAC supporting the president. It is not clear how much money goes to Mr. Parscale directly; he maintains it is a small percentage. None of Mr. Parscales critics were willing to speak on the record, a reflection of the power that he now wields. By contrast, top Republicans wanted to demonstrate support: The Republican National Committee chairwoman, Ronna McDaniel, said she was in lock step with him, and Representative Kevin McCarthy of California, the No. 2 House Republican, called himself a big fan and said that Mr. Parscale had shown it was time to abandon the orthodoxy of how campaigns should be run. He tends to think in headline-making concepts, but sometimes Mr. Parscale has failed to consider the potential problems of an unconventional approach. When Roseanne Barr was fired from her ABC show over a racist Twitter post, Mr. Parscale mused about the possibility that she be invited to appear alongside Mr. Trump at his campaign rally later that night. Others quickly rejected the idea. When the acrimonious relationship between Mr. Trump and his attorney general, Jeff Sessions, reached one of its lowest points, Mr. Parscale jumped into the fray on Twitter, denouncing the cabinet secretary in deeply personal terms and calling for his dismissal, to the dismay of some White House officials. Yet Mr. Parscale also sees the benefits at times of a more conventional approach. He was unnerved by Mr. Trumps recent Twitter post describing Stephanie Clifford, the pornographic film star known as Stormy Daniels, as Horseface, according to several people. And Trump allies say Mr. Parscale, like his boss, is far less confrontational in person than the Twitter persona he has created. Mike Shields, a veteran Republican strategist and a former chief of staff of the Republican National Committee, cautioned that the political establishment was making a mistake by waiting for Mr. Parscale to slip up. People in the political sphere are going to underestimate him, and that really benefits him, Mr. Shields said. In South Florida, not far from the mass shooting in Parkland in February, voters absorbed a week of gun violence and pipe bombs with a kind of grim resignation. Again? asked Karenn Durand, 27, mid-shift at a restaurant in North Miami on Saturday, pondering the mass murder at a Pittsburgh synagogue. She said she held President Trump personally responsible if not for the shooting itself, then at least for the nations deep divisions that the shooting reflected in horrific reality. In Milwaukee, Eric Pfeiler, an electrician who was walking downtown with his son on Saturday, saw more of a systemic breakdown than any one person to blame. Theres just so much turmoil everywhere, its just sad, Mr. Pfeiler said. Everyones lost their vision and has just started pointing fingers. And at Mr. Trumps rally on Saturday afternoon at an airport hangar in Murphysboro, Ill., people expressed anxieties over the violence and discord they saw in American society. But they had come for a Trump rally performance, and that was what they wanted to see. When he begged their forgiveness and asked them at one point, If you dont mind, Im going to tone it down just a little, many people roared a resounding No! With nine days left in an already divisive election season, the campaigns finale is unfolding amid a cascade of horrors and rounds of finger-pointing that reflect the deep fault lines in dozens of competitive House races and a handful of Senate races nationwide. If many voters appear set to back politicians from their own parties, according to interviews and polling, they also often defended or blamed politicians particularly Mr. Trump based on the same partisan lines. On Friday, Cesar Sayoc Jr., 56, was charged with sending explosive devices to at least a dozen of Mr. Trumps political foes. On Saturday, Robert Bowers was arrested and charged with 29 criminal counts in connection with the assault on a Pittsburgh synagogue that left 11 dead. Near Louisville, Ky., in an episode almost immediately forgotten, Gregory Bush, 51, was charged with murder after fatally shooting two black shoppers at a Kroger store on Wednesday after first trying to get inside a black church. Mr. Bush is white and the case is being investigated as a possible hate crime. In Florida on Saturday, hours after the synagogue shooting, Eric Gooden, a Democratic voter, hoped for an electoral solution to the turmoil. The only way this will end is by the voting box, he said. COLUMBIA, Mo. Senator Claire McCaskill isnt subtle in reminding voters what her campaign is all about. Shes rechristened it the Your Health Care, Your Vote tour. The turnaround could not be more startling. After years of running as far as they could from President Barack Obamas health care law, Ms. McCaskill and vulnerable Senate Democrats in Florida, West Virginia and other political battlegrounds have increasingly focused their closing argument on a single issue: saving the Affordable Care Act. Now, with Republicans desperate to reposition themselves and come up with their own health care pitch, and with the elections roiled by gale-force winds on immigration and Justice Brett M. Kavanaughs confirmation hearings, the question is whether health care will be enough to save her and Democrats in other key Senate races. Most recently, the mail bombs sent from Florida and the fatal synagogue shooting in Pittsburgh on Saturday have added jagged new pieces with the potential to further disrupt both parties strategies. Ms. McCaskill and her Republican opponent, the Missouri attorney general, Josh Hawley, clashed sharply over health care once again at their final debate on Thursday. She lambasted him for participating in a lawsuit that challenges the constitutionality of the Affordable Care Act and would end its protections for those with pre-existing conditions. He said he supported a program that would protect patients with high medical costs outside the current health care law. In all, Uganda has as many as 1.25 million refugees on its soil, perhaps more, making it one of the most welcoming countries in the world, according to the United Nations. And while Ugandas government has made hosting refugees a core national policy, it works only because of the willingness of rural Ugandans to accept an influx of foreigners on their land and shoulder a big part of the burden. Uganda is not doing this without help. About $200 million in humanitarian aid to the country this year will largely pay to feed and care for the refugees. But they need places to live and small plots to farm, so villages across the nations north have agreed to carve up their communally owned land and share it with the refugees, often for many years at a time. Our population was very few and our community agreed to loan the land, said Charles Azamuke, 27, of his villages decision in 2016 to accept refugees from South Sudan, which has been torn apart by civil war. We are happy to have these people. We call them our brothers. Jair Bolsonaros climb to power has been marked by divisive rhetoric and offensive speech that has thrilled followers and appalled critics in equal measure. The far-right former army captains rise has left some baffled. Mr. Bolsonaro served seven consecutive terms in Congress, with little to show for his time there; very few of his bills were approved. But many Brazilians, angered by their countrys economic crisis, soaring violence and corruption scandals, interpreted his long list of caustic remarks as blunt but bracingly honest talk from a man willing to say and do whatever was necessary to bring about the change they craved. On Women, Race and Sexual Orientation Mr. Bolsonaro has described having a female child as a weakness, and has said he would not treat or pay women the same as men in the workplace. Because women get more labor rights than men, meaning they get maternity leave, the employer prefers to hire men I would not employ [women equally]. But there are a lot of competent women out there. In 2014, he told a fellow lawmaker: I would not rape you because you are not worthy of it. In 2013, he said that he would rather have a son who is an addict than a son who is gay, and that he was proud to be homophobic. Copacabana. This world-class beach is now party central for Brazils far right. Weekly rallies here celebrate the movements rising star and and now future president, Jair Bolsonaro. If you know anything about Bolsonaro, you likely know that hes made some pretty outrageous remarks, such as calling a fellow lawmaker too ugly to rape and supporting torture. You may also know that women have come out en masse to oppose Bolsonaro, taking to the streets across Brazil under the banner of Ele Nao, or Not Him. But what may be surprising is that almost as many women support Bolsonaro. Hes polarized the entire country, but women seem especially divided about him. His signature gun gesture here hints at a key reason why. In 1964, women marched against communist reforms, setting the stage for a military coup. Twenty-one years of dictatorship followed. Hundreds of dissidents were killed, and thousands were tortured. Jair Bolsonaro, a former Army captain, is an open admirer of the dictatorship. His only criticism: They didnt kill enough people. At Bolsonaro rallies, people reminisce about the role women played in calling for the coup. Crime and especially violent crime is a huge problem in Brazil. Last year, nearly 64,000 people were murdered. Bolsonaro himself was stabbed in the stomach while campaigning. His popularity surged afterward. To understand how fear of crime is driving Bolsonaros popularity, we went to meet Sara Winter. She used to be a pro-choice activist. Now shes pro-life, and describes herself as a cured feminist. Shes been mobilizing her Facebook followers to show their support for Bolsonaro. Walking the streets of Rio, we hear similar views. Sofia Caputo voted for the left in the last four elections and now supports Bolsonaro. Bolsonaro has seized on peoples fears to justify iron-fisted policing tactics. His pitch isnt exactly new. The military already polices Rios poorest neighborhoods. We embed with Lt. Commander Enrique Amaral as he prepares to lead soldiers through the Babilonia favela. His battalion is part of a federal intervention started earlier this year to crack down on crime. Soldiers are looking for guns and gang members. But really anyone can be a suspect. Its like stop and frisk with M-16s. They see a young man who turns away. The young man stops. Hes standing right outside his house. His name is Renan, and his mother is fuming. Renan was let go. But his mother has reason to be scared. Security forces have killed over 1,000 people in Rio since the federal takeover began. Thats a 42% increase from last year. And those killed are mostly young men. Its why many women here many mothers fear Bolsonaro. He wants to ramp up the militarys role, give police and soldiers more power with less accountability. Her son was 14 years old. He was shot on his way to school. Whats at stake in this election for you? But outside the war zone in the favelas, theres less concern about the cost of fighting violence with more violence. Bolsonaro also wants to make it easier to buy guns, and that resonates with a lot of middle and upper class people worried about a spike in robberies. One woman, Katia Sastre, became a poster child for self-defense. In March, Sastre was with her daughter at a school Mothers Day event standing outside when a young man walked up and tried to rob them at gunpoint. Sastre, off duty at the time, was recorded on CCTV shooting the gunman three times point blank. He died. The video went viral, and she became an overnight sensation. Soon after, Sastre ran for Congress and won by a landslide. The gunmans family is now suing Sastre for replaying the moment of their sons death in her campaign. His name was Elivelton Neves, I believe. He was 21. His family has responded. Do you regret using that video at all? Fear, crime and security. Like Donald Trump in the U.S., Bolsonaro has campaigned on these issues. Bolsonaro wants people to believe that his militaristic some say fascist agenda can solve all of Brazils problems. Bolsonaros supporters want change. They want a new approach. But at what cost for Brazls democracy? Enough women, and men, appear willing to find out. COLOMBO, Sri Lanka Sri Lankas escalating political crisis turned deadly on Sunday when the bodyguard of a former cabinet minister fired on a crowd, killing at least one person and wounding two others, the police said. The former petroleum minister, Arjuna Ranatunga, was a member of the cabinet that President Maithripala Sirisena suspended on Saturday, one day after ousting Ranil Wickremesinghe as prime minister and swearing in the former strongman Mahinda Rajapaksa. Many lawmakers and government ministers have denounced the move as unconstitutional, and mobs have attacked government officials, deepening concerns that this island nation is headed for more turmoil. The gunfire broke out when Mr. Ranatunga tried to enter his office at the state-run Ceylon Petroleum Corp. and was confronted by a group of workers loyal to the president. The guard opened fire, a police spokesman, Ruwan Gunasekera, said, killing one person and injuring two others, one critically. The guard was arrested. But remember: Its just one poll, and we talked to only 421 people. Each candidates total could easily be five points different if we polled everyone in the district. And having a small sample is only one possible source of error. The Ossoff race minus Ossoff. We made 31658 calls, and 421 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. McBath has an uphill fight in this traditionally Republican district, but the National Republican Congressional Committee recently announced new TV commercials supporting Ms. Handel, a sign of a closer race. Ms. Handel has received an A rating from the N.R.A.s Political Victory fund. She voted for the G.O.P. tax overhaul and said, It is a myth that tax reform only benefits the rich. In her stump speech, a recent Times article said , Ms. McBath recounts the 2012 murder of her son, Jordan Davis, a black teenager who was shot and killed by a white man at a gas station when the 17-year-old refused to lower the volume of the rap music playing in his car. Ms. McBath, through her strong connection to the Black Lives Matter movement, may be able to draw higher black turnout than Mr. Ossoff received. She may also be able to benefit from higher black turnout related to Stacey Abramss run for Georgia governor . is the incumbent, who defeated Jon Ossoff by four percentage points in a special election last year that drew national attention and set a record as the most expensive House race. 47% favorable rating; 40% unfavorable; 13% dont know Each dot shows one of the 31658 calls we made. If sampling error were the only type of error in a poll, we would expect candidates who trail by two points in a poll of 421 people to win about one out of every three races. But this probably understates the total error by a factor of two . 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. Assumptions about who is going to vote may be particularly important in this race. Our poll under different turnout scenarios Who will vote? Est. turnout Our poll result The types of people who voted in 2014 210k Handel +6 People whose voting history suggests they will vote, regardless of what they say 274k McBath +1 Our estimate 276k McBath +2 People who say they are almost certain to vote, and no one else 286k McBath +11 People who say they will vote, adjusted for past levels of truthfulness 292k McBath +4 The types of people who voted in 2016 295k McBath +1 Every active registered voter 417k McBath +9 In these scenarios, higher turnout tends to be better for Democrats. 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 4 7 6 4 4 6 1 in 104 11% 11% 30 to 64 1 7 4 1 9 2 7 6 1 in 63 66% 64% 65 and older 4 4 7 3 9 9 1 in 45 24% 25% Male 1 2 2 7 8 2 2 3 1 in 55 53% 47% Female 1 4 3 8 4 1 9 8 1 in 73 47% 53% White 1 7 8 7 6 2 8 7 1 in 62 68% 67% Nonwhite 6 1 7 9 1 0 0 1 in 62 24% 23% Cell 1 7 6 2 0 3 0 1 1 in 59 71% Landline 9 0 4 2 1 2 0 1 in 75 29% Pollsters compensate by giving more weight to respondents from under-represented groups. Here, were weighting by age, primary vote, gender, likelihood of voting, race 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 Weight using census data instead of voting records, like most public polls McBath +3 Dont weight by education, like many polls in 2016 McBath +2 Our estimate McBath +2 Dont weight by primary vote, like most public polls McBath +1 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. Our poll is a good result for Democrats. But remember: Its just one poll, and we talked to only 503 people. Each candidates total could easily be five points different if we polled everyone in the district. And having a small sample is only one possible source of error. Can an incumbent put enough distance between himself and Trump? We made 22095 calls, and 503 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: Mr. Malinowski, who immigrated from Poland when he was 6, was assistant secretary of state for human rights in the Obama administration. He has harshly criticized the president's coziness with Russia, as well as Mr. Lances ties to the Koch brothers and efforts to bust public employee unions. He has been outraising his opponent. Mr. Lance, who said the tax bill could hurt voters in this high-tax state , has also tried to distance himself from the presidents tone, saying, My personality is vastly different than Donald Trump's. He voted against both the Republican tax bill and the effort to repeal the Affordable Care Act. The district includes all of Hunterdon County and parts of five other counties in northwestern New Jersey. Mr. Lance, a moderate, won re-election in this district by 11 points in 2016 even as it swung toward a narrow victory for Hillary Clinton. is a former Obama administration official who was a top official at Human Rights Watch. 47% favorable rating; 23% unfavorable; 29% 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 The types of people who voted in 2014 196k Malinowski +4 People whose voting history suggests they will vote, regardless of what they say 271k Malinowski +8 Our estimate 275k Malinowski +8 People who say they will vote, adjusted for past levels of truthfulness 292k Malinowski +7 People who say they are almost certain to vote, and no one else 346k Malinowski +7 The types of people who voted in 2016 361k Malinowski +8 Every active registered voter 492k Malinowski +3 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 1 9 6 9 6 5 1 in 30 13% 11% 30 to 64 1 2 4 5 1 3 0 3 1 in 41 60% 62% 65 and older 4 6 2 6 1 3 5 1 in 34 27% 27% Male 8 1 3 1 2 3 2 1 in 35 46% 48% Female 1 0 9 4 1 2 7 1 1 in 40 54% 52% White 1 3 2 9 0 3 4 3 1 in 39 68% 70% Nonwhite 3 4 4 3 1 0 1 1 in 34 20% 18% Cell 1 1 0 7 8 3 0 4 1 in 36 60% Landline 7 9 9 4 1 9 9 1 in 40 40% Pollsters compensate by giving more weight to respondents from under-represented groups. Here, were weighting by age, party registration, gender, likelihood of voting, race 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. Even after weighting, our poll does not have as many of some types of people as we would like. 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 Malinowski +10 Our estimate Malinowski +8 Dont weight by party registration, like most public polls Malinowski +7 Weight using census data instead of voting records, like most public polls Malinowski +7 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. BJP stands for Jandhan, Aadhaar and Mobile but SP is for Jinnah, Azam and Mukhtar: Amit Shah Amit Shah to chair 29th meeting of Southern Zonal Council in Tirupati today, 26-point on agenda- Details here Amit Shah's Sabarimala remarks provocative, court should take cognisance: BSP India oi-PTI Lucknow, Oct 28: BSP president Mayawati Sunday condemned BJP chief Amit Shah's remarks on the Sabarimala verdict, saying the court should take cognisance of the "irresponsible and provocative statement". In a statement here, the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) supremo said that Shah's remarks showed "the democracy of the country is in danger". CM Vijayan attacks Amit Shah over Sabarimala remark, says BJP's agenda stands exposed Addressing a gathering in Kerala's Kannur on Saturday, Shah listed court verdicts which have not been implemented, including on 'Jallikattu' (traditional bull taming sport of Tamil Nadu) and prohibiting loudspeakers in mosques, and said "impractical" directions should not be given by courts and they should pass orders that can be implemented. "The statement of the ruling party president is condemnable and irresponsible. Court should take cognisance. It shows the democracy of the countryis in danger. Autonomous institutions such as CBI, CVC, ED and RBI are facing crisis due to wrong perspective of the government and ego," Mayawati said. BJP is with Lord Ayappa devotees, Kerala CM 'anti-Hindu': Amit Shah "On this serious matter of Sabrimala temple, BJP leader's speech is provocative and an attempt to take political mileage in Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh and Rajasthan polls," she said, terming it "unconstitutional and unparliamentary". "If the BJP is not satisfied with the SC decision allowing women's entry into the temple, they should approach court and not create chaos on roads or threaten to dismiss elected government," Mayawati said, adding that the BJP wanted to divert attention of the people from core issues by raking up religious matters. A five-judge constitution bench headed by Chief Justice Dipak Misra, in its 4:1 verdict, said that banning the entry of women of menstrual age into the shrine is gender discrimination and the practice violates rights of Hindu women. PTI For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications Story first published: Sunday, October 28, 2018, 17:29 [IST] Big concern raised in Valley after terrorists resort to sniperattacks India oi-Vicky Nanjappa Jammu, Oct 28: Security officials have raised concerns about the rise in sniper attacks in Jammu and Kashmir. Early Saturday morning, a CISF official was killed in a suspected sniper attack at Nowgam on the outskirts of Srinagar. [Kashmir: Two terrorists gunned down in Nowgam encounter] While at first it was said that the official was killed in a stand off fire by terrorists, it is being suspected that the incident could have been a sniper attack. If confirmed then this would be the first time that terrorists are resorting to sniper attacks in the Valley. On October 18 and 21, two such incidents were reported from Newa Pulwama and Midoora Tral. In the first attack, two CRPF personnel were wounded while in the second, an SSB jawan was killed. [Kashmir continues to be 'core unresolved agenda', says Pak Army chief] While the Jaish-e-Mohammad has claimed responsibility for the attack, the concern is that this new strategy by terrorists would require an overhaul of the security mechanism. The Sunday Express while citing a letter written by Kashmir IGP, S P Ani says that there is a concern over sniper attacks by terrorist groups. The letter also suggests safety measures such as raising the height of the walls around security camps. Further the letter also states that there is a need to sensitise the forces to this new trend. For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications Story first published: Sunday, October 28, 2018, 6:33 [IST] Chhattisgarh: Congress workers begin celebrations as Raman Singh's 15-year rule comes to end Chhattisgarh election results: Which exit poll came the closest? 25 candidate lost election by less than 2000 votes in 3 states Chhattisgarh polls: Only 4 winners won with more than 30% of margin of victory Chhattisgarh Assembly elections 2018: Congress releases another list of 17 candidates India oi-Deepika S Raipur, Oct 28: Congress on Sunday released a list of 17 more candidates for Chhattisgarh Assembly elections 2018. The Congress is seeking to oust the BJP, which has been governing the state since 2003, from power this time. Congress releases list of candidates for 17 seats for the upcoming Assembly elections in #Chhattisgarh. pic.twitter.com/dhE6MYLRUc ANI (@ANI) October 28, 2018 Congress had earlier on Saturday released another list of 37 candidates. According to a party statement, Chhattisgarh Pradesh Congress Committee (PCC) chief Bhupesh Baghel will contest from the Patan assembly constituency. Baghel was embroiled in an alleged sex CD scandal involving a state minister. Chhattisgarh Assembly Election 2018: Congress releases another list of 37 candidates Congress on Saturday evening released a list of 37 candidates for Chhattisgarh Assembly elections 2018. This is the second list that Congress has released for Chhattisgarh. According to a party statement, Chhattisgarh Pradesh Congress Committee (PCC) chief Bhupesh Baghel will contest from the Patan assembly constituency. Baghel was embroiled in an alleged sex CD scandal involving a state minister. TS Singh Deo, the Congress Legislature Party leader, will contest from Ambikapur, while former Union Minister Charan Das Mahant will contest from Sakti. Assembly election in the state will be held in two phases. A total of 18 assembly seats in the Naxalism-hit areas will go to polls in the first phase of polling on November 12. The second phase of polling for the remaining seats 72 will be held on November 20 and results will be out on December 11. For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications Story first published: Sunday, October 28, 2018, 21:40 [IST] Collapse of Kabul will go down as one of the greatest defeats in American history: Donald Trump Thousands of terrorists might have been airlifted out of Kabul: Trump slams Biden Never in history has withdrawal from war been handled so badly: Trump Donald Trump turns down Indias invite for Republic Day celebrations India oi-Madhuri Adnal New Delhi, Oct 28: US President Donald Trump on Sunday has turned down India's invitation to be the chief guest during the Republic Day Parade. India, in April this year, had officially sent the Republic Day invite to the US president. The US authorities reportedly sent a letter to NSA Ajit Doval confirming that the US President Donald Trump won't be in India to be part of 26th January parade. Also Read | While US cancels 2+2 talks at will, India invites Trump for Republic Day celebrations: Why? This comes at a time when relations between the countries are not in the best of health. The US had recently issued warning against India if it goes ahead with signing the S-400 missile system deal with Russia. India recently signed USD 5.2 billion deal for S-400 Triumf missile system with Russia. The deal came despite the US saying that any countries transacting with Russia's defence and intelligence sector would face tough sanctions under the Countering America's Adversaries Through Sanctions Act (CAATSA). Also Read | Republic Day parade 2018: ITBP receives best marching contingent trophy for sixth time The Trump administration had also given a November 4 deadline to its allies to bring down their import of Iranian oil to zero, but India continued to import the oil. For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications Story first published: Sunday, October 28, 2018, 12:46 [IST] Hyderpora encounter: Bodies of two civilians exhumed, to be handed over to families Four highly-trained snipers active in Kashmir since Sep: Security officials India oi-PTI Srinagar, Oct 28: Sniper attack by Jaish-e-Mohammed terrorists has emerged as a new source of worry for security agencies in Kashmir with three personnel having been killed since mid-September, prompting the law enforcement agencies to re-calibrate their strategy to thwart such strikes by the Pakistan-based group, officials said. The first such attack took place at Newa in Pulwama on 18 September when a CRPF personnel was injured. Security officials thought it to be a one-off strike till the recent spate of sniper attacks that claimed the lives of a Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB) jawan and an Army personnel in Tral, and a CISF jawan in Nowgam. Big concern raised in Valley after terrorists resort to sniperattacks Based on intelligence inputs, security agencies believe that at least two separate 'buddy' groups of the proscribed Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) comprising two terrorists each have entered the Valley in early September and have entrenched themselves in South Kashmir's Pulwama district with the help of some overground supporters of the outfit. These terrorists, according to the officials, have been thoroughly trained by Pakistan's external snooping agency Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) for carrying out sniper attacks in Kashmir and have been armed with M-4 carbines, used by the US-led allied forces in Afghanistan. Kashmir: Two terrorists gunned down in Nowgam encounter "There is a possibility that these weapons may be part of the arms and ammunition captured by the Talibans, with whom the JeM cadre were fighting the allied forces in Afghanistan," security officials in the state said. However, they said that the weapon was also being used by the special forces of Pakistan Army. In all the instances of sniper attacks, the terrorists used a nearby hillock to carry out strikes on a security force campus when unsuspecting jawans were using their mobile phones to talk to their family or friends. "These attacks have been precise, even while targeting a personnel inside a sentry post as he uses his mobile phone. They pick up the light of the mobile phone to carry out the attack on jawans," said one of the officials. Former Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah has reacted to the rising cases of sniper attacks. "We've dealt with snipers on the border/LoC regularly and have SOPs to deal with those but never in the hinterland. This will force a rethink of all manner of security and protection procedures." "The M-4 carbine is mounted with a telescope and the terrorists are using night vision devices to locate their potential targets," the officials said. The weapon can fire at its target up to 500-600 metres with precision. The security agencies, including army, CRPF and Jammu and Kashmir Police, have already issued fresh guidelines to their jawans and officers located in camps in the militancy-hit areas. Maintaining a silence over the change in tactics, the officials said that more combing operations would be carried out around the security camps. They said that Jaish cadres were likely to carry out more such attacks in the future, but added that some modules had been identified and these cases were likely to be cracked soon. The security agencies had been observing that while pushing the terrorists into the Valley from the LoC, ISI meticulously planned to send in Jaish-e-Mohammed cadre along. "Those terrorists were armed with the best possible arsenal including bullets with steel core - with the capability to pierce a static bullet proof bunker used during counter-terrorism operations," the officials said. The first such incident was noticed on the New Year eve when JeM terrorists had carried out a suicide attack on a CRPF camp in Lethpora in South Kashmir. "Five personnel of the para-military force were killed in the attack and one of them was hit by a bullet fatally despite using a static bullet-proof shield provided by the Army," officials said. A thorough inquiry into the attack showed that the bullet fired by the terrorist from the assault AK rifle was of steel core with the capability of piercing through the static bunkers used by security personnel during encounters with terrorists. "Generally, the AK bullets used in the armoury have a lead core covered with mild steel which cannot penetrate a bullet proof shield but after the 31 December, 2017 encounter and subsequent findings, the rules of the proxy-war changed," the officials said. A detailed analysis of the previous suicide attacks was carried out during which ballistic analysis of the terror attack on district police lines of Pulwama in South Kashmir in last August showed that 'steel core' bullets had been used by the terrorists in that encounter with security personnel. Eight security personnel had lost their lives in the terror strike. The ammunition, according to the officials, is being modified from across the border with the help of Chinese technology of encasing the bullet with hard steel core. At the United Nations, India has been seeking a ban on the JeM terror group and designation of its chief Maulana Masood Azhar as global terrorist, but its efforts have been blocked by China four times so far. PTI For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications Story first published: Sunday, October 28, 2018, 17:50 [IST] Bright pillar of glory of modern India coming up in form of Ram Mandir: PM Modi Sardar Patel gave message to world that no one can destroy India's unity and integrity: Amit Shah Gujarat: Meet the man who sculpted Sardar Vallabhbhai Patels Statue of Unity India oi-Madhuri Adnal New Delhi, Oct 28: Ram Vanji Sutar, a name synonymous with perfection, art and beauty in the world of architecture, carries the weight of over 50 monumental sculptures on his shoulders, including soon-to-be-inaugurated Sardar Vallabhbbhai Patel's Statue of Unity in Gujarat. Ram Vanji Sutar, born 19 February 1925, is an Indian sculptor. He has created more than fifty monumental sculptures in the last forty years of his career. He is the recipient of Padma Bhushan in 2016 and Padma Shri in 1999 for his contribution in the field of arts. Sutar was born into a poor family, on 19 February 1925, in the village of Gondur, in Dhulia district of Maharashtra. In 1952 he got married to Pramila and like him their only son Anil Sutar (born in 1957) is also a sculptor. Also Read | Biography: Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel - The iron man of India In 1999, he received the Padma Shri award and later in 2016 he received Padma Bhushan award from the Government of India. In October 2018, Ram Vanji Sutar received the Tagore Award for cultural harmony of 2016. Statue of Unity, India's ode to Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel and the Indian freedom struggle, will be the world's tallest statue, twice the size of the Statue of Liberty. The Statue of Unity will be unveiled by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on October 31, which also marks the 143rd birth anniversary of Sardar Patel, the Ironman of India. The world's tallest statue dedicated to independent India's first Home Minister stands at 182 metre (597 feet) tall. The monument is touted to become one of the most important tourist places of India. 2018 to be remembered as most turbulent in Sri Lanka's political history 'Lanka didn't arrest citizens who joined IS as joining terror outfit not against law' 'Hope democratic values, constitutional process respected,' says India on Sri Lanka crisis India oi-Madhuri Adnal New Delhi, Oct 28: Two days after Sri Lankan Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe was sacked by President Maithripala Sirisena, India has responded to the development, saying "democratic values and constitutional process" should be respected. Official spokesperson of the Ministry of External Affairs Raveesh Kumar said,'' India is closely following recent political developments in Sri Lanka. As a democracy & a close friendly neighbour, we hope that democratic values & constitutional process will be respected. We'll continue to extend our developmental assistance to friendly people of Sri Lanka.'' Also Read | Change in the government in Sri Lankan has larger regional implication Ousted prime minister Wickremesinghe has insisted that he had a majority in the 225-member legislature and his sacking is illegal. "I have the majority and I remain as the prime minister and I will function as the prime minister," he said. Rajapaksa later said "the people" had requested his party take over the government and called on Mr Wickremesinghe's supporters to respect democracy and the rule of law. India has long seen Sri Lanka as part of its area of influence and had been concerned about Rajapaksa's wooing of China. For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications Story first published: Sunday, October 28, 2018, 13:27 [IST] ISI wants to instil terror in minds of non-Muslims in Jammu and Kashmir Man held in ISI spy case shared information on Indian Army India oi-Vicky Nanjappa Lucknow, Oct 28: The investigations being conducted following the arrest of a spy has revealed that he had visited Pakistan in 2014, when he first came in contact with the ISI. The Bulandshahr police arrested Mohammad Zahid Ansari, 35 and charged him under the Official Secrets Act. [BrahMos spy case: Why India must not ignore the US role in it as well] During the interrogation, it was revealed that he had visited Pakistan in 2014 as some of his relatives were settled in Karachi. He was contacted by the ISI, who then told him to pass on sensitive information in exchange for money. After he returned to India, he began sharing information on WhatsApp and Skype. He was paid money in return for the information. The police is yet to ascertain the information that he had passed on. The police said that they had recovered sensitive documents relating to the Army, a cellphone, voter identification card and Rs 2,450 in cash. [BrahMos spy case gets bigger: To stem leak to Pakistan, several places raided] Zahid, a resident of Khujra was working in a factory as a labourer for the past two decades. His family however claims that he has been falsely implicated in the case. They also said that his maternal uncle and aunt live in Pakistan. They live in Karchi and Zahid had visited them twice. He would talk with them on phone, but never shared any sensitive information, his family also claimed. For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications Story first published: Sunday, October 28, 2018, 6:45 [IST] Mann Ki Baat: Modi remembers Sardar Patel, urges youth to join Run for Unity India oi-Madhuri Adnal New Delhi, Oct 28: The 49th episode of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's monthly radio address to the nation 'Mann ki baat' began at 11 am Sunday. The programme is also being live streameded on the YouTube channels of the Prime Minister's Office, Information and Broadcasting Ministry, AIR and DD News. Here are the Highlights: PM Modi hailed India's tribal and indigenous people for their sustainable lifestyle in harmony with nature. "The Bishnoi community in the desert land of Rajasthan has shown us a way of environment protection. Specially, in context of serving trees, they prefer laying down their lives but cannot tolerate any harm to single tree," Modi said. 31st October marks the birth anniversary of Sardar Vallabbhai Patel, & like every year, the youth of our nation is geared up to 'Run for Unity'. I appeal each one of you to participate in 'Run for Unity' in largest possible numbers: PM Modi in Mann Ki Baat. Sardar Patel's Jayanti this yr will be even more special as on this day, we'll pay him true homage by dedicating 'Statue of Unity' to the nation. Located by the banks of river Narmada, the height of this idol is twice that of America's renowned 'Statue of Liberty'. I was privileged to meet the talented para-athletes who participated in Asian Para Games held in Jakarta. Their spirit to overcome all adversaries is exemplary and inspiring. India created a new record in these games by winning 72 medals. In his previous address, the prime minister had emphasised on the issue of world peace and said that India is committed to the cause and will do everything to encourage it but not at the cost of the nation's self-respect and sovereignty. He also pointed out that India is one of the largest contributors to various United Nations Peace Keeping Forces in terms of sending its personnel. For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications Story first published: Sunday, October 28, 2018, 11:36 [IST] In secret, behind locked gates, our Nation's Oldest City dumped a landfill in a lake (Old City Reservoir), while emitting sewage in our rivers and salt marsh. Organized citizens exposed and defeated pollution, racism and cronyism. We elected a new Mayor. We're transforming our City -- advanced citizenship. Ask questions. Make disclosures. Demand answers. Be involved. Expect democracy. Report and expose corruption. Smile! Help enact a St. Augustine National Park and Seashore. We shall overcome! 800M use internet, 750M use smartphones, cryptocurrency: Key points from PM Modi's speech at Sydney Dialogue PM Modi to attend the 56th DGP Conference at Police Headquarters in Lucknow on Nov 20-21 Banks need to adopt partnership model; can give great push to economy, says PM Modi Narendra Modi meets Japan's Shinzo Abe, regional security on agenda in talks India oi-Madhuri Adnal New Delhi, Oct 28: Prime Minister Narendra Modi met his Japanese counterpart Shinzo Abe in Japan's Yamanashi on Sunday as the two leaders seek to add new vigour to the strong friendship between the two countries. "Prime Ministers @narendramodi and @AbeShinzo meet at Yamanashi. They would be holding talks through the day on deepening India-Japan ties," Prime Minister Modi's office tweeted. Modi, who landed in Yamanashi on Saturday evening to attend the 13th India-Japan annual summit, has said that his meeting with Abe will add new vigour to the strong friendship between the two countries. Also Read | PM Modi-Shinzo Abe summit: Defence, trade ties, connectivity on agenda The two-day summit beginning Sunday will seek to review the progress in ties and deepen strategic dimension of the bilateral relationship. On Sunday afternoon, Prime Minister Modi will join his Japanese counterpart for an informal lunch at a hotel. The two leaders will then visit a company which is a leading manufacturer of factory automation. Modi said it will be his 12th meeting with Abe since he first visited Japan as prime minister in September 2014. During the summit, Modi will engage with Abe on a range of issues including defence and regional security. Abe will host Modi at his holiday home in the picturesque Yamanashi prefecture for a private dinner on Sunday following which both the leaders will travel to Tokyo by train. Yamanashi, at a distance of around 110 kilometres from Tokyo, is surrounded by several mountains including Mount Fuji - the country's tallest peak at around 3,776 metres. Besides bilateral issues, the two leaders are expected to deliberate on a range of regional and global issues including the situation in the Indo-Pacific region. It is said the prime minister's visit will reaffirm the traditional bonds of friendship between the two countries and strengthen their multi-faceted cooperation in diverse fields. India is also hoping to have some kind of synergy or integration between Modi's Ayushman Bharat scheme, which is the largest medicare programme of its kind globally, and the Japanese programme which is called Asia Health and Well-being Initiative. (with PTI inputs) For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications Story first published: Sunday, October 28, 2018, 12:56 [IST] Telangana elections: Seat sharing deal done, Cong to contest 90 India oi-Vicky Nanjappa Hyderabad, Oct 28: The grand alliance in Telangana appears to have sorted out the seat sharing issue. [Why Telangana is keeping a close watch on Chhattisgarh election phase 1] Out of the 119 seats, it has been decided that the Congress would contest 90 and the Telugu Desam Party will fight in 16 seats, which includes 3 in the Old City of Hyderabad. The TJS has been offered 10 seats and the CPI, 3. After holding detailed discussions, it was also decided that if the grand alliance wins the elections, then one leader from each party would be accommodated in the Cabinet. It was further decided that the TDP, TJS and CPI would be given some seats in the MLC polls as well. [Telangana elections: Seat sharing bug hits Congress led grand alliance] The seat sharing bug had hit the grand alliance as a result of which the announcement of candidates had been delayed. It was agreed that no announcement would be made until the final decision was taken. The TPCC chief, Uttam Kumar Reddy has rushed to Delhi to finalise the issue. Once he returns a formal announcement would be made, sources tell OneIndia. The first list of candidates is expected to be announced on November 1. Centre will repeal all three farm laws, PM Modi announces in his address to the nation UP village mourns death of a loyal bull; to build tomb for it India oi-Shubham Ghosh Lucknow, Oct 27: We have seen stories of pet dogs remaining loyal to their owners till the last breath of their lives. The story of Hachiko in Japan continues to leave our eyes wet. But when we say that a bull exhibited a similar emotion when his master died? Sounds incredible but it is true and reaffirms the love and loyalty that all pets exhibit towards their owners, irrespective of their forms. The bull, named Khadak Singh, gave up eating after his master Chottelal, the man who raised him, passed away on October 23 in Uttar Pradesh's Lakhimpur Kheri district, Times of India reported. And then when the bull died, it was the turn of the local people to exhibit their respect for the animal. Over 200 villagers assembled for the bull's funeral and even a music band performed during the final procession. The local people also contributed money for building a tomb in the memory of Khadak Singh, an animal which was popular for its calm temperament. Also Read | This 69-year-old former NRI fills drinking water pots every morning to serve people "Khadak Singh was like a family member for us. We will build a small mausoleum at the place of its burial. We will also organise a meal for all residents of the village," ToI quoted village head of Khairhani, Santosh Lodhi, a saying. For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications Story first published: Sunday, October 28, 2018, 11:53 [IST] Will fight Congress, but won't speak against Gandhi family: Ajit Jogi India pti-PTI New Delhi, Oct 28: Former Chhattisgarh chief minister Ajit Jogi has said though he will fight the Congress tooth and nail in the upcoming state Assembly polls, he will not speak against the Gandhi family, with whom he shared warm relations during his long tenure in the grand old party. The real contest in next month's state Assembly polls would be between his party, the Janta Congress Chhattisgarh(J), which has formed an alliance with the Mayawati-led Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP), and the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), Jogi told PTI. Assembly polls in five states 2018: Important dates "I have left the Congress and will campaign against the party in the Assembly election, but will not speak against the Gandhi family, which has always loved me," he said. Jogi was the first chief minister of Chhattisgarh after the state was carved out of Madhya Pradesh. He was then with the Congress. Jogi left the Congress in 2016 and floated his own party. Asked about the allegations against United Progressive Alliance (UPA) chairperson Sonia Gandhi's son-in-law Robert Vadra, the veteran leader said, "I will not speak anything against any member of the Gandhi family even during elections. I have shared warm relations with the family for decades." Chhattisgarh elections 2018: The interesting case of Kanker district The four members of the Jogi family belong to three political parties. While Jogi and his son are in the JCC(J), Jogi's wife and daughter-in-law are in the Congress and the BSP respectively. Hitting out at the Congress, Jogi said it was a spent force which was nowhere in the contest in Chhattisgarh. "The Congress neither has any face nor any organisation in the state. It has no leader and has become useless," he said, while asserting that the fight in the upcoming polls was between his party and the BJP. "It is a one-on-one contest between the JCC(J)-BSP alliance and the ruling BJP and we will definitely win the election," Jogi said. BSP forges alliance with Ajit Jogi's Janta Congress Chhattisgarh He maintained that he was the chief ministerial face of the alliance, but added that he had still not decided whether to contest the Assembly polls or not. "We are fighting the Congress and the BJP tooth and nail and our alliance will severely harm the poll prospects of both parties," Jogi said. The former chief minister belongs to the Satnami sect, which has a decent presence in the state. The Chhattisgarh Assembly polls will be held in two phases -- on November 12 and 20 and the results will be announced on December 11. The BJP has been in power in the state since 2003. PTI PM Modi: We have decided to withdraw all three agricultural laws PM Modi-Shinzo Abe summit: Defence, trade ties, connectivity on agenda International oi-Deepika S Tokyo, Oct 28: Strengthening of ties in key areas of defence, trade and infrastructure will top the agenda when Prime Minister Narendra Modi meets his Japanese counterpart Shinzo Abe in Japan today. In a special gesture, Modi will be hosted by his Japanese counterpart Shinzo Abe for a private dinner at his holiday home in the picturesque Yamanashi prefecture on October 28, which will be, perhaps, the first such reception to be extended to a foreign leader. PM Modi arrives in Japan to attend 2-day summit with Shinzo Abe Modi will pay a two-day visit to Japan from October 28-29 to hold the annual India-Japan summit with Abe, the focus of which will be to boost cooperation in the Indo-Pacific region, carry out joint infrastructure projects in third countries and enhancing defence ties, including launch of talks for a logistic support pact between the two navies. Abe will take Modi to his personal home in Yamanashi for a private dinner on Sunday following which both the leaders will travel to Tokyo by train. Yamanashi, at a distance of around 110 KM from Tokyo, is surrounded by several mountains including Mount Fuji -- the country's tallest peak at around 3,776 metres. In the afternoon of Sunday, Abe will host an informal lunch for Modi at a hotel, with view of Mount Fuji, and both the leaders will take a stroll at the grounds of the hotel. Then they will visit a company which is a leading manufacturer of factory automation, Gokhale said, adding Abe has taken personal interests in working out the programme for Modi's visit. On Monday evening, Modi and Abe will hold wide-ranging talks with a focus on bilateral, regional and global issues of mutual concerns which will include exploring ways to deepen cooperation in the Indo-Pacific region, boosting defence and security ties and undertaking infrastructure projects in Asia and Africa in a trilateral framework. The PM's visit is crucial as it comes in the backdrop of both the countries working on forging closer ties in maritime domain awareness in the Indian Ocean and also in providing mutual logistic support in the Indo-Pacific region, the report said. During the summit, the two leaders of Asia's biggest economies are expected to sign many MoUs on a host of issues. According to a report in Hindustan Times, defence and connectivity with an eye on China will be top on the agenda when Modi and Abe will hold talks. An announcement regarding signing two pacts on allowing closer naval cooperation between India and Japan are likely when the two issue a joint statement. Kenji Hiramatsu, Japan's ambassador to India, said that the special strategic and global partnership that India and Japan share is expected to get a further impetus. "Cooperation in the Indo-Pacific region and development aid under Japan's Official Development Assistance (ODA) programme, of which India is the largest recipient, will be the key focus areas during the summit," Hiramatsu said. "Trade and investment have dominated relations. Defence and security now need to catch up," the ambassador added. There will be discussions on how the two countries can collaborate in the context of the Indo-Pacific in Asia and Africa on capacity building and on infra projects in a trilateral manner. In other words it will be India, Japan plus one. The two leaders are expected to deliberate on regional security issues, situation in Korean peninsula and that India will raise its concerns over terrorism. The two leaders are also likely to deliberate on implementation of the dedicated freight corridor, the Delhi Mumbai industrial corridor, Mumbai-Ahmedabad high speed rail project as well as the Chennai metro rail project. One of the agreements expected to sign is for second tranche of the official development assistance (ODA) by Japan for the Mumbai-Ahmedabad high speed rail project. On Monday morning, the prime minister will address the Indian community in Tokyo. A number of Japanese leaders including Foreign Minister Taro Kono will also call on the prime minister. Then Modi will participate in a series of business events which will include meeting with top executives of Japanese venture capital companies and attending launch of a grand start-up challenge, a new programme which encourages Indian and Japanese start-ups. Modi will also meet the India-Japan business leaders' forum and address the honchos of the top companies. Reportedly, both sides will deliberate on defence cooperation and that talks on a mutual logistic support pact between the two navies may start. In the talks, the two leaders are also expected to discuss the Asia Africa growth corridor and Gokhale said something concrete may come out on it. India is also hoping to have some kind of synergy or integration between the Ayushman Bharat scheme, which is the largest medicare programme of its kind globally, and the Japanese programme which is called Asia Health and Wellbeing Initiative. Discussions will also take place on Delhi's mass rapid transit system, some hydro electric and road projects and how Japan can help in improving infrastructure in the Northeastern states. OneIndia News (with PTI inputs) For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications Story first published: Sunday, October 28, 2018, 5:45 [IST] Sri Lanka won't be allowed to be used for 'any activity' against India: President Rajapaksa Sri Lankan human trafficking case: Victims were lured with promise of jobs in Canada Sri Lanka Crisis: Speaker recognises ousted Ranil Wickremesinghe as PM International oi-Madhuri Adnal Colombo, Oct 28: Sri Lankan Speaker Karu Jayasuriya on Sudnay, 28 October, recognised Ranil Wickremesinghe as Prime Minister, three days after he was sacked by the President. Speaker Karu Jayasuriya on Sunday said Wickremesinghe's request to retain the security and privileges of prime minister was fair until another candidate could prove a majority in parliament, news agency AFP reported. "I consider the said request to be a democratic and fair request," Jayasuriya said in a letter addressed to President Maithripala Sirisena, who dismissed Wickremesinghe on Friday. Jayasuriya also warned the president that shutting parliament for nearly three weeks would exacerbate the political crisis gripping the Indian Ocean nation. The country's President Maithripala Sirisena sacked the prime minister and his Cabinet and replaced him with a former strongman - creating what some observers said could be a constitutional crisis in the South Asian island nation. The president also suspended Parliament on Sunday morning, adding to the growing political crisis in the South Asian island nation. Our website uses cookies to improve your experience. Learn more Schneider, Itron, Siemens Profiled in Smart Electric Meter Market Report 2024 - skraemco, Circutor, Apator, Kamstrup, Aclara, Neptune, Sensus, Badger Meter, Honeywell International, Osaki, Schneider & More smart electric meter https://www.marketstudyreport.com/request-a-sample/312371/ https://www.marketstudyreport.com/check-for-discount/312371/ https://www.marketstudyreport.com/reports/smart-electric-meter-market https://www.marketstudyreport.com https://www.marketstudyreport.com/blog/ The study on the global market for Global Smart Electric Meter evaluated the historical and current performance of this market, especially highlighting the key trends and growth opportunities. According to the study, the rising demand for this product is driving the global market for Global Smart Electric Meter significantly. 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Monitoring and Metering have been an essential tool for the efficient energy management and measurement. Further, these provide building operators & owners with the information to improve the building energy performance.Increasing acceptance of renewables across the decentralized and centralized grid infrastructure will propel the AMI smart electric meter market share. Several countries have passed distinct legislations mandating the installation of Advanced Metering Infrastructure meters as a part of their energy conservation initiatives. In 2011, the Government of UK designed a policy framework and initiated a rollout strategy toward the adoption of smart meters. The Smart Metering Implementation Programme involves the upgrade and replacement of over 50 million gas and electricity meters by the end of 2020.Request a discount on standard prices of this premium report at:In 2017, China accounted for over 70% of the smart electric meter market share across the Asia Pacific region. Shifting focus toward energy efficient technologies coupled with increasing penetration of smart technologies will complement the industry landscape. In the 13th five-year plan of China, introduced several smart city projects that involves the adoption of smart meters across the electric and water networks.Table of Content:Chapter 1 Methodology & ScopeChapter 2 Executive SummaryChapter 3 Smart Electric Meter Industry InsightsChapter 4 Smart Electric Meter Market, By ApplicationChapter 5 Smart Electric Meter Market, By TechnologyChapter 6 Smart Electric Meter Market, By PhaseChapter 7 Smart Electric Meter Market, By RegionChapter 8 Company ProfilesMore Details on this Report At:About Us:Marketstudyreport.com allows you to manage and control all corporate research purchases to consolidate billing and vendor management. You can eliminate duplicate purchases and customize your content and license management.Contact Us:Market Study Report4 North Main Street,Selbyville, Delaware 19975USAPhone: 1-302-273-0910US Toll Free: 1-866-764-2150Email: sales@marketstudyreport.comWeb site:Blog: LOS ANGELES - Curiosity is Susan Orlean's superpower. Hundreds of L.A. firefighters fought the devastating fire at downtown Los Angeles' Central Library on April 29, 1986. Thousands of people contributed to the Save the Books campaign afterward. Millions heard the news that the library was burning and then that it was caused by arson. But more than three decades later, only Orlean was asking who did it and why, and wondering whether anyone today should care. In a reverse "Fahrenheit 451," Orlean took a fire and turned it into a book. Titled - aptly and ingeniously - "The Library Book" (Simon & Schuster, 336 pages, $28), it tells the story of the mysterious fire that burned 400,000 books while also tracing Orlean's love of libraries, from trips with her mother to taking her son. Along the way, she relates the unexpectedly colorful history and future of the L.A. Public Library. Orlean reads from the book at 7:30 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 4, at Powell's City of Books, 1005 W. Burnside St. "My first interest was writing a book about the day-to-day life of a big city library. I could have done that anywhere," she said. "I liked the idea of doing it in L.A. out of this contrarian idea that people don't associate libraries with L.A., which made it kind of delectable." That said, the 1986 fire (forgive me) was the spark. A longtime staff writer for the New Yorker and a onetime staffer at Willamette Week in Portland, Orlean had begun living in Los Angeles part of the year (she and her husband also maintain a home in New York). While exploring the city's institutions, she visited the flagship of the L.A. Public Library and learned of its catastrophic fire. Although no people were seriously injured, the fire destroyed 400,000 books and damaged an additional 700,000, causing $22 million in damage - more than $50 million today. It remains the largest library fire ever in America. The fire started in the stacks. Built as two secure concrete chutes within the original 1926 building, the stacks held hundreds of thousands of books and were connected by a catwalk for librarians. After the fire started - leaping across the catwalk from the first stack to the second - the chutes served as dual furnaces, books trapped inside with the fire. "Their covers burst like popcorn. Pages flared and blackened and then sprang away from their bindings, a ream of sooty scraps soaring on the updraft. The fire flashed through fiction, consuming it as it traveled," Orlean writes in her book. "It reached for the cookbooks. The cookbooks burned up. The fire scrambled to the sixth tier and then to the seventh. Every book in its path bloomed with flame." Orlean is a lifelong journalist, known for her careful, in-person research, showcased in her New Yorker pieces and books, including "Rin Tin Tin," a history of the Hollywood dog; "The Bullfighter Checks Her Makeup"; and (despite Charlie Kaufman's fabrications in "Adaptation") "The Orchid Thief." So I was surprised to hear what she said next. It was so mystical. "I think we have some association with books that feels like there was a soul in there," Orlean said. "That there's a being in there, whether it's because writers have poured themselves onto the pages, whatever it is, I think there's something ineffable, mysterious about what makes books special, and I'm glad of that." This is one of the underlying ideas of "The Library Book" - that books, as both objects and ideas, are essential to the human project; that libraries are a vital destination that holds them safe. So who would want to torch one? That was a question L.A. authorities thought they had answered on Feb. 27, 1987, when they arrested 28-year-old Harry Peak on suspicion of arson. Peak was released three days later after the district attorney declined to file charges against him. It is a fine mystery: Fire officials said there was an arsonist; Peak claimed, then disavowed, responsibility for the fire; no one else has ever been arrested in connection with the blaze. Whether Peak was the actual culprit is one of the central questions of Orlean's book. Orlean describes Peak as "the consummate storyteller." Handsome and underemployed, he was a little bit rootless and quite a big talker; some news reports called him a part-time actor. He matched a sketch of the suspect. According to some (but not all) accounts, he was downtown at the time. "There were two big storytellers in the book," Orlean says. "One was Harry Peak and the other was Charles Lummis, who was an incredibly admirable and important figure in the history of L.A." It's an unexpected pairing. Lummis was the first city editor of The Los Angeles Times and founded the Southwest Museum; more pertinent to this story, he was also L.A.'s city librarian, a tenure Orlean details in the book. His hand-built stone home, which is now a museum on the southern edge of Highland Park, was known for the rowdy parties - "noises" - he threw there. By any measure, Lummis was a significant figure in the history of Los Angeles, while Peak, apart from being an arson suspect, passed through barely leaving a mark. But, Orlean says, Lummis "was a bit of a fabulist, and he would tell stories that his friends didn't always believe." So did Peak. For generations of Angelenos, this will be the first they've heard of the fire, the massive fight to contain it, the thousands of books frozen in an effort to preserve them, the water damage, the stop-start effort to restore and expand the library where its visionary architect put it at the corner of 5th and Flower in downtown L.A., of the man who may have set it aflame, maybe even of libraries around the world destroyed by fire through the ages, taking untold stories with them. It's all there. They just have to borrow "The Library Book." --Carolyn Kellogg, The Los Angeles Times Ensuring that people with preexisting health conditions can get and keep health insurance is the most popular part of the Affordable Care Act. It has also become a flashpoint in this fall's campaigns across the country. And not only is the ACA, which mostly protects people who buy their own coverage, at risk. Also, potentially in the crosshairs are preexisting condition protections that predate the federal health law. Democrats charge that Republicans' opposition to the ACA puts those protections in peril, both by their (unsuccessful) votes in Congress in 2017 to "repeal and replace" the law, and via a federal lawsuit underway in Texas. "800,000 West Virginians with preexisting conditions in jeopardy of losing their health care," claimed Sen. Joe Manchin, D-West Virginia. Republicans disagree. "Preexisting conditions are safe," President Donald Trump declared at a rally in West Virginia for Manchin's GOP opponent, Patrick Morrisey. Morrisey, West Virginia's attorney general, is one of a group of state officials suing to overturn the ACA. Who is right? Like everything else in health care, it's complicated. What is clear, however, is that voters want protections. Even majorities of Republicans told pollsters this summer that it is "very important" that guarantees of coverage for preexisting conditions remain law. Here are some key details that can help put the current political arguments in perspective. GRAB BAG TERM Preexisting conditions are previous or ongoing medical issues that predate health insurance enrollment. The problem is that the term is a grab bag whose limits have never been defined. It certainly applies to serious ongoing conditions such as cancer, heart disease and asthma. But insurers also have used it to apply to conditions like pregnancy or far more trivial medical issues such as acne or a distant history of depression. The Kaiser Family Foundation estimated in 2016 that more than a quarter of adults younger than 65 about 52 million people have a preexisting health condition that likely would have prevented them from purchasing individual health insurance under the pre-ACA rules. (Kaiser Health News is an editorially independent program of the foundation.) But what protections people with preexisting conditions have depends on how they get their coverage. For that reason, it's not right to say everyone with health problems is potentially at risk, as Democrats frequently suggest. For example, Medicare, the federal health program for seniors, and Medicaid, the federal-state health plan for low-income people, do not discriminate in either coverage or price on the basis of preexisting conditions. The two programs collectively cover roughly 130 million Americans nearly a third of the population. The majority of Americans get their coverage through work. In 1996, Congress protected people with preexisting conditions in employer-based coverage with the passage of the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act, known as HIPAA. HIPAA was intended to eliminate "job lock," or the inability of a person with a preexisting condition (or a family member with a preexisting condition) to change jobs because coverage at the new job would likely come with a waiting period during which the condition would not be covered. HIPAA banned those waiting periods for people who had maintained "continuous" coverage, meaning a break of no more than 63 days, and the law limited waiting periods to one year for those who were previously uninsured. In addition, it prohibited insurers from denying coverage to or raising premiums for workers based on their own or a family member's health status or medical history. HIPAA was less successful in protecting people without job-based insurance. It sought to guarantee that people with preexisting conditions leaving the group market could buy individual coverage if they had remained continuously covered. But the law did not put limits on what individual insurers could charge for those policies. In many cases, insurers charged so much for these "HIPAA conversion" policies that almost no one could afford them. The Affordable Care Act, passed in 2010, built on those 1996 protections, and specifically sought to help people buying their own coverage. It barred all health insurers from excluding people due to preexisting conditions, from charging them higher premiums and from imposing waiting periods for coverage of that condition. CHANGES TO EMPLOYER MARKET While the protections were mostly aimed at the individual insurance market, where only a small portion of Americans get coverage, the ACA also made some changes to the employer market for people with preexisting conditions, by banning annual and lifetime coverage limits. In 2017, the GOP-controlled House and Senate voted on several versions of a bill that would have dramatically overhauled the ACA, including its protections on preexisting conditions. Under the last bill that narrowly failed in the Senate, states would have been given authority to allow insurers to waive some of those protections, including the one requiring the same premiums be charged regardless of health status. In February, 18 GOP attorneys general and two GOP governors filed suit in federal court in Texas. They charge that because Congress in its 2017 tax bill eliminated the ACA's penalty for not having insurance, the entire federal health law is unconstitutional. Their argument is that the Supreme Court upheld the ACA in 2012 based only on Congress' taxing power, and that without the tax, the rest of the law should fall. The Trump administration, technically the defendant in that case, said in June that it disagreed that the entire law should fall. But it is arguing that the parts of the law addressing preexisting conditions are so tightly connected to the tax penalty that they should be struck down. Clearly, if the lawsuit prevails in either its original form or the form preferred by the Trump administration, preexisting protections are not "safe," as the president claimed. Even more complicated, the protections written into HIPAA were rewritten and incorporated into the ACA, so if the ACA in whole or part were to be struck down, HIPAA's preexisting conditions protections might go away, too. Republicans in Congress have introduced a series of proposals they say would replicate the existing protections. But critics contend none of them covers as many situations as the ACA does. For example, a bill unveiled by several Republican senators in August would require insurers to offer coverage to people with preexisting health conditions, but not require coverage of the conditions themselves. That hasn't stopped Republicans from claiming that they support protections for preexisting conditions. "Make no mistake about it: Patients with preexisting conditions should be covered," said Wisconsin GOP Senate candidate Leah Vukmir, who is running to unseat Democratic Sen. Tammy Baldwin. Health care has been a major issue in that race, as well as many others. Yet Vukmir was recently hailed by Vice President Mike Pence as someone who will vote to "fully repeal and replace Obamacare." Meanwhile, Democrats who are chastising their Republican opponents over the issue are sometimes going a bit over the top, too. An example is Manchin's claim about the threat to coverage for 800,000 people in West Virginia. West Virginia's population is only 1.8 million and more than a million of those people are on Medicare or Medicaid. That would mean every other person in the state has a preexisting condition. A recent study found West Virginia has a relatively high level of preexisting conditions among adults, but it is still less than 40 percent. Julie Rovner | Kaiser Health News Kaiser Health News is a nonprofit news service covering health issues. It is an editorially independent program of the Kaiser Family Foundation, which is not affiliated with Kaiser Permanente. By Allison Klein, The Washington Post Lisa Nagengast's plane touched down in Tampa on Saturday evening, and the first thing she did before getting out of her seat was listen to her voice mail. That was when panic set in. It was her brother, Greg Holeman, an Army veteran, whom she had just returned from visiting in Nebraska following his back surgery. He was in extreme pain, something was wrong with his incision site, and he couldn't feel his left leg, he said. He was alone with no one to call for help. He couldn't afford a taxi, and he didn't know if his veteran's insurance would pay for an ambulance. "I'm going to drive myself to the hospital," Holeman, 48, said on the voice mail. Nagengast immediately called him back and forbade him from driving. Give me the name and number of your social worker, she said, and I'll call her and she'll send help. He dictated a number for Pam, his social worker, and Nagengast, 50, wrote it down on a napkin. She dialed Pam as she started walking off the plane, where there was a lot of background noise. When someone answered the line, Nagengast quickly and forcefully said who she was and that her brother needed a ride to the hospital. He didn't have money for a cab, and there were no ride-sharing services in his small town of Columbus, Nebraska. "Let me get my manager for you," the voice on the other end said. When the manager picked up, Nagengast told her story again. "I need you to help me. If you need me to pay for it, I will. We have to get this done." The manager said that he had some drivers and that he could send one to help her brother. He'd call her back in 15 minutes. By then, Nagengast, an IT consultant, had walked her way through the airport and into her husband's waiting car. "Was I mean to him?" she asked her husband. She felt extra pressure to help her brother, she said, because both of their parents and their sister were deceased, so the two siblings had only each other for support. Her husband assured her that, no, she wasn't mean, she had merely conveyed that it was an emergency. A few minutes later, Nagengast's phone rang, and a man identifying himself as Zach said he was ready to take her brother to the hospital. Zach just needed her brother's name and address, he said. "Don't you have it in his file?" Nagengast snapped at him incredulously. Zach responded: "You called Jimmy John's." Nagengast was silent for a moment. "You mean, like, the food place Jimmy John's?" she asked, realizing that she must have dialed the wrong number. Zach confirmed that she had called the sandwich chain, not Pam, the social worker. "I was like, 'I'm so sorry, I called the wrong number,' " Nagengast said. "I'm so sorry." Zach, whose last name is Hillmer, assured her it was no problem. "I'll take your brother to the hospital," he said. "You just need to give me his name and address." Hillmer, also a military veteran, is familiar with post-traumatic stress disorder and asked whether Holeman would be okay getting into his car. "I will call him and make him get in the car with you," she said. Thirty minutes later, Nagengast called her brother's phone, and he confirmed that he was at the hospital. It turned out that his bandage needed changing and his medication an adjustment. He went home later that evening in a cab - which the hospital paid for. Jason Voss, the 19-year-old Jimmy John's manager with whom Nagengast spoke, said it was pretty clear she had no idea she'd misdialed. He said he was making sandwiches that evening when his girlfriend, who also works at the shop, answered Nagengast's call. Confused, she handed him the phone and he listened to Nagengast's story. "I was pretty sure she had no idea it was Jimmy John's," Voss said. "I didn't think I needed to say anything. It didn't seem relevant at that moment." He said he listened to her story and could hear the desperation in her voice and thought he could be of service. "Somebody needed help, and I got on it as quick as I could," Voss said. "I was going to go myself, but I was manager and I didn't think that was the best option." Since local media reported the story, Voss said he has been interviewed several times, including on live radio. "I feel like stuff like this happens all the time, and it's interesting people are taking an interest in it now. People feel like they need something, anything good right now," he said. "Something like this is really small, but if it helps people, that's good." The chaos of the fledgling Affordable Care Act era has given way to something closer to stability. Insurers are seeking the smallest rate increases in three years for 2019. And premium prices will actually decline in the small group market for several carriers. Though several of Oregon's biggest insurers lost money in the first half of 2018, most are financially strong. Even the weak sister, Moda Health, is back from the financial brink after raising $155 million in fresh capital. But stability doesn't equate to affordability. Consumers continue to feel the sting of higher costs, whether they get their coverage through the individual market or an employer. It's not just rising premiums; deductibles, co-pays and maximum-out-of-pocket expenses (the dreaded MOOPs in insurance parlance) are high and getting higher. All this adds up to some eye-popping sums, particularly for the approximately 150,000 Oregonians who buy insurance on the individual market. One Portland-area woman just got word from Providence Health Plan that the monthly premium for her and her spouse and two grown sons will jump 24 percent, from $1,270 to $1,577 a month. Their deductible will go from $7,350 to $7,900, a 7.5 percent increase. Advocates had hoped the Affordable Care Act would end the days when a medical diagnosis could bring financial ruin. But eight years since its passage, even ardent backers of the landmark legislation admit that affordability remains elusive. "Even those who have health insurance often find themselves unable to afford care or bankrupted by high deductibles and copays and surprise billing by out-of-network services," said Bruce Goldberg, former head of the Oregon Health Authority, who is now a senior fellow at the Center for Health Systems Effectiveness at Oregon Health & Science University. The affordability gap has spawned some controversial alternatives. The Trump administration has issued new rules promoting the purchase of short-term insurance and so-called "association" policies, which offer limited coverage and premiums at a fraction of traditional health plans. Gov. Kate Brown dismissed the rule changes as a calculated effort to sabotage the individual market. With her blessing, Oregon insurance regulators rejected the new rule promoting short-term policies. "I think the Trump administration is on a mission to destroy the stability of the state's health care system and the Affordable Care Act," Brown said. "It's absolutely unacceptable to me." THE OPTIONS When open enrollment begins Nov. 1, Oregonians will find a market still dominated by five major carriers Kaiser, Providence, Regence BlueCross BlueShield, Moda and PacificSource. Health Net, Samaritan, United Healthcare and Bridgespan, an affiliate of Regence, also submitted rate proposals to the Oregon Insurance Division last spring. In July, state regulators made their final rate decisions. In the individual market, the rate changes range from a 9.6 percent decrease for PacificSource to a 10.1 percent increase for Providence. For a single person buying silver standard coverage, that will mean monthly premiums of $415 to $486 a month. In the small group market, the new rates ranged from a 4 percent decrease for Health Net to a 7.2 percent increase for United Healthcare. A single 40-year-old buying silver-level coverage will pay monthly premiums of $295 to $387. Those numbers are nondescript compared with 2016 and 2017, when companies were still struggling to adjust to the new landscape wrought by Obamacare. Moda raised its individual market rates about 25 percent in 2016 and nearly 30 percent in 2017. In the same period, Providence's rates climbed 13.8 percent and 29.6 percent respectively. Mark Griffith, a health policy analyst at the Portland-based consumers group OSPIRG, said the state's new reinsurance program helped keep the 2019 rate increases low. Oregon was the third state in the country granted federal dollars $54 million to start to create the fund that protects insurance companies from hugely expensive claims. The reinsurance fund kicks in when an individual patient's claims exceed $95,000 and will cover half the patient's costs beyond that with a cap of $452,500. "It is genuinely working and that's pretty cool," Griffith said. "I was happy to see that Oregon was following up on this." During open enrollment, which runs from Nov. 1 to Dec. 15, some Oregonians will have far fewer choices than the nine aforementioned carriers. Insurance companies can pick and choose which counties they'll do business in and many are avoiding rural areas. Residents in rural areas tend to be heavier users of health care than their urban counterparts and are therefore less profitable for insurance companies. In several rural counties, just two carriers offer policies. In Lincoln and Douglas counties, Health Net is the only game in town. AFFORDABILITY CRISIS As a business owner, Portland bankruptcy attorney Ann Chapman knows firsthand the pain of rising health insurance costs. But she said the problems of one of her clients powerfully illustrated the profound cost-shifting going on in today's insurance market. The woman has a good job and decent insurance. But after a series of health issues and medical procedures, Chapman's client and her husband faced out-of-pocket medical bills in excess of $20,000 two years in a row. "The numbers are just staggering," Chapman said. "The thing is, they weren't even life-threatening problems some dental work, a hip replacement. The medical is just killing them." As health care costs rise, insurers are increasingly taking steps to limit their exposure and shift some of the expense to consumers. The average deductible for a single person who gets health coverage through an employer jumped from $303 in 2006 to $1,221 in 2017, according to new data from the Kaiser Family Foundation. In the individual market, the rise of deductibles has been particularly dramatic. The average deductible for a low-end bronze plan has gone from zero in 2015 to $5,000 in 2019, according to information compiled by the state insurance commission. Similarly, low-end silver plans in Oregon had no deductible in 2015. Four years later, it is $2,500. Family coverage multiplies the deductible. For example, the deductible for Providence's silver plan in the family market will hit $5,700 in 2019, up 14 percent from $5,000 this year. Nevertheless, high-deductible plans have come to dominate the market. The National Center for Health Statistics reported last month that among adults 18 to 64 who get coverage through their employer, 43.4 percent are enrolled in a high-deductible plan, compared with 14.8 percent in 2007. Insurers contend they have little choice but to spread the costs, which continue to increase, particularly pharmaceuticals. Insurance carriers are simply passing along the inexorable price hikes, said Cathy Donaldson, a spokeswoman for America's Health Insurance Plans, a trade group. But some consumers simply can't afford to pay their deductibles and copays. Todd Trieweiler, a Portland bankruptcy attorney, said medical-related bankruptcies made up 35 to 40 percent of his business before the passage of the Affordable Care Act in 2010. Those without insurance would rack up enormous health care debt, then turn to bankruptcy court after maxing out their credit cards. Such bankruptcies plummeted after Obamacare dramatically reduced the number of uninsured. But now, medical bankruptcies are on the rise, this time by people who have health insurance but can't afford the deductibles and other out-of-pocket expenses. "It's hitting the middle and upper middle class," Trieweiler said. "They have insurance through their employer, but it's crappy coverage with huge deductibles. They might as well not have insurance." NEW ALTERNATIVES In response to rising prices, some companies are entering the market with cheaper, non-traditional products. Short-term and so-called "association" plans offer limited health coverage at a fraction of the price of traditional insurance. The Trump administration implemented new rules in 2017 and 2018, making these alternatives more practical and easier to get. For instance, the administration lengthened the maximum coverage timespan for short-term insurance from three months to three years. "These alternatives are getting increasingly popular," said Chris Wang, an insurance broker with the Portland Benefits Group. "You can save $15,000 a year for a minimum essential coverage plan." These insurance alternatives are controversial. ACA advocates contend the new rules are part of an effort to torpedo Obamacare. They fear younger, healthier Americans will dump their traditional insurance, leaving older, sicker people in the Obamacare pool. That would force insurers to raise premiums further. Oregon regulators don't share Trump's enthusiasm. Insurance Commissioner Andrew Stolfi rejected the extension of short-term coverage durations, choosing to stick with the state's existing three-month limit. Politics aside, the lower premiums are resonating with consumers. Diane Faligowski, owner of Health Plans in Oregon, a Portland-based insurance brokerage, recounts the experience of one of her customers a young, healthy woman who was paying $226 a month for a bronze-level plan in the individual market. Her traditional policy had a huge deductible, $6,500, and a $7,350 maximum out of pocket. The customer wanted to pay less and pressed Faligowski for a solution. They settled on a short-term plan from National General. Faligowski warned her client that the short-term plan didn't cover prescriptions, maternity care or mental health. "It's basically catastrophic coverage," Faligowski said. "And the price is not fixed. It can go up after three months." But the price tag was right. The woman's new coverage cost her $92 a month with a $2,500 deductible and a $4,000 maximum out-of-pocket. Association plans are seen as primarily for trade groups, business owners and religious organizations, which could join together to purchase coverage. Trump signed new rules into place in June, making it easier to sell and buy this kind of insurance. Trump predicted big things. "We've created associations, millions of people are joining associations. Millions. That were formerly in Obamacare or didn't have insurance. Or didn't have health care. Millions of people," he told The New York Times. "That's gonna be a big bill, you watch. It could be as high as 50 percent of the people. You watch. So that's a big thing." OSPIRG's Griffith warned consumers to shop carefully. "While the low monthly premiums may be tempting for individuals who don't have ongoing health issues, once you need to make a claim, you may find the plan doesn't cover much at all," he said. "It's junk insurance, and not worth the premiums." Jeff Manning | 503-294-7606 | @JeffmanningOre Q: In the last few months, I have received collection calls and emails for payment, sometimes before I even got the invoice and in every case before payment was due. For example, on Sept. 25 I was emailed for the second time for payment on an invoice with an Oct. 17 due date. Some but not all of these communications relate to medical bills. Is this legal? A: Probably. Most companies wait until a bill is seriously overdue before turning it over to collections. Some hire collection agencies much sooner, however, and a few including some medical providers turn over their whole accounts receivable process. That means the collectors are responsible for regular billing, not just debt collection. It's unpleasant to hear from collectors, especially on an account that isn't overdue, but you're not likely to face credit score damage as long as the bill gets paid on time. Even if it's past due, there is now a 180-day waiting period before unpaid medical debts can show up on people's credit reports. (The clock starts on the bill's first due date.) Collectors may justify their "outreach" calls and emails by saying many people are confused by medical billing and put off paying because they think insurance will take care of the bill. That doesn't make such contacts less annoying for those who pay on time. Consider letting the medical providers and other companies know that you don't approve of these tactics. Some may care enough about customer service to change their billing approach, or require the collection company to stop the premature contacts. Q: I have a question about my late husband's pension. He was with a company for 25 years and retired early with a defined benefit pension of about $3,700 per month. When he died four years ago, the pension stopped. The company said it was a "single life" pension, but when I tried to get records proving that, they said they had no records. Do you think I have any recourse to petition for some kind of pension? Should I find a lawyer and if so, what kind of lawyer handles this type of thing? A: Traditional pensions typically give workers two options: a single life annuity, whose payments are higher but cease when the recipient dies, or a joint-and-survivor annuity that continues for a surviving spouse's lifetime. When someone is married, the default option is supposed to be the joint-and-survivor annuity unless the spouse signs a waiver giving up rights to lifetime income. If the company can't or won't provide proof of such a waiver, then you'd be smart to get legal help to pursue the issue. You may be able to get free legal assistance through the U.S. Administration on Aging's Pension Counseling and Information Program, which currently serves 30 states. If you live in one of the states that isn't served, you may be able to get help by visiting PensionHelp America, a site run by the nonprofit Pension Rights Center. Q: You recently answered a question about whether someone 65 or older with employer-provided health insurance needs to sign up for Medicare Part B, which covers doctors' visits and requires paying premiums. Your answer was correct for an employee of a large employer. If the employer has 20 or more employees on a typical business day, then the group insurance coverage is primary when the employee has both Medicare and group insurance. So the employee does not need to purchase Medicare Part B. However, if the employer has fewer than 20 employees on a typical business day, then Medicare is primary for the employee. In that situation, the employee should buy Medicare Part B. The group health plan will not pay what Medicare should have paid had the employee elected Part B. Your answer needs the appropriate clarification. A: The question was from a spouse who wanted to make sure that the rules covering her husband the employee also applied to her, which they do. The employee was told by his employer that he would not need to purchase Medicare Part B until he retired (and even then, there is an eight-month grace period before penalties start to accrue). That applies to spouses covered by the health insurance as well. But you're correct that smaller companies have different rules. It's always a smart idea to seek clarification directly from a company's human resources department and the health insurer as well as from the Medicare helpline at (800) MEDICARE ([800] 633-4227). Liz Weston is a certified financial planner and personal finance columnist for NerdWallet. Question? Use the "Contact" form at asklizweston.com. The first three years of the Affordable Care Act were a roller coaster not just for customers but also for insurance carriers. No local carrier has traveled as turbulent a road as Moda Health, the Portland company that jumped headlong into the new market created by Obamacare and almost didn't live to tell the tale. Moda's near-death experience came Jan. 27, 2016, when Oregon regulators took the company into supervision. State officials said allowing the company to continue to do business as usual would be "hazardous to the public or to its insureds." But Moda is nothing if not a survivor. It fended off state regulators, then cut a deal in August with a San Francisco dental insurance company that it says will replenish its depleted reserves and eliminate debt. The company sold half of itself to Delta Dental for more than $155 million. The Moda saga offers a glimpse of both the promise and the chaos wrought by the 2010 passage of the Affordable Care Act. Company officials contend Moda was a victim of its own idealism. Eager to make the Affordable Care Act work, Moda officials moved aggressively into the new markets the legislation created. It expanded its presence in Alaska and Washington. Thousands of new customers flocked to the company, attracted by the relatively low premiums it offered. Moda had about 320,000 medical members in 2013. A year later, that number was 450,000 and still rising. "When the company stepped up to do the right thing and offer individual plans on the ACA market all across Oregon (as many other companies studiously looked the other way), membership rose to about 450,000 in 2014 and then on to about 470,000 in 2015," said Jonathan Nicholas, Moda spokesman. But the company priced its policies too aggressively. And the new customers were sicker and more expensive than anticipated. The red ink flowed, and company lost more than $64 million from 2014 to 2016. The federal government worsened Moda's financial straits when it reneged on a promise to give millions of dollars' worth of financial assistance to Moda and other insurers that agreed to participate in the new ACA markets. The new customers vanished as rapidly as they appeared. Moda now is back at 330,000 insureds, Nicholas said. It narrowly averted a state takeover after agreeing to raise hundreds of millions of dollars in new capital. Insurance Commissioner Andrew Stolfi declined to comment for this report. But state officials confirmed that with the $155 million in new capital, Moda has satisfied the state's requirement that it bolster its financial reserves. Delta will leave current Moda management in place, and the company will remain based in Portland, Nicholas said. There's an interesting footnote to the Moda sale. Back in the desperate days of 2015, Moda borrowed $50 million from Oregon Health & Science University. OHSU and Moda are strategic partners. OHSU officials said the alliance is rooted in Moda's participation in the individual and small-group markets created by Obamacare. "Moda, like OHSU, stepped forward and played a critical role in the rollout of the Affordable Care Act," Lawrence Furnstahl, OHSU's chief financial officer, said shortly after the loan was made. "We were very proud that they did that. They didn't sit on the sidelines until the thing sorted itself out." OHSU made the $50 million loan. It neither asked for nor got any collateral as security. The notion of a quasi-public institution that receives taxpayer support propping up a private insurer infuriated some Oregonians. Moda has yet to repay the money, though it has tried to return a portion. State regulators have denied Moda's requests that it be allowed to make $6 million in interest payments due to OHSU. Tamara Hargens-Bradley, an OHSU spokeswoman, said this was to protect Moda customers. Stolfi thought it imprudent for Moda to make the payments given its financial weakness. "We are hopeful that the insurance commissioner will soon approve the resumption of interest payments," Hargens-Bradley said. "However, it is entirely up to the insurance commissioner to decide. Again, this is not a concession to benefit Moda, but rather to protect Oregonians with Moda insurance policies." OSPIRG insurance analyst Mark Griffith said it's good news for Oregonians, particularly rural Oregonians, that Moda survived. While some carriers have pulled out of less populated areas, Moda operates out of every Oregon county but two. "Moda is a big player," Griffith said. "It's good to see they've found a funding solution. We have few enough options already." Jeff Manning | 503-294-7606 | @JeffmanningOre Oregon's epidemic of chronic absenteeism grew even worse last school year, especially among high school students, calling into question whether graduation rates will rise significantly in the next few years, new figures show. Chronic absenteeism, defined as missing at least one-tenth of the school year, is a leading factor in students leaving school without diplomas, research in Oregon and nationally has shown. In 2017-18, 20.5 percent of Oregon students missed that much school, up from 19.7 percent the year before, according to state figures released Friday. Oregon already had one of the worst rates in the nation. The problem worsened most noticably in middle schools and high schools, the new data shows. The Oregon Department of Education had been scheduled to release its annual report on absenteeism more than a week ago. But the department recently moved the release date back to Nov. 1, without explaining why. And department spokesman Marc Siegel refused to say last week whether the information would in fact be released that day. But without warning Friday afternoon, the department released complete data on Oregon school performance and, with it, the absenteeism data. The release came after public blowback caused a sudden reversal of the department's decision, made with the assent of Gov. Kate Brown, to hold back public school performance ratings from public view until after the Nov. 6 election. Oregon schools chief Colt Gill declined to comment on the rise in chronic absenteeism Friday. His spokesman reissued a news release from earlier in the week about the department's new website, flyer and other tools designed to fight chronic absenteeism. There was a notable bright spot in the data: Chronic absenteeism decreased, although only modestly, for one racial group: Native Americans. That's an encouraging sign that a small state-backed partnership with tribes to decrease absenteeism at 17 schools serving a concentration of tribal students paid off in in its second year. Statewide, absenteeism rates were worst among kindergartners and high schoolers, particularly seniors. But they were even higher this year: 21 percent of kindergartners and 40 percent of seniors missed at least a tenth of the school year, or three to four weeks of school. When students are chronically absent, it's not just bad for them, it's bad for their classmates, research at Johns Hopkins University has found. Some districts had rates far below the state average, even though they serve many students from economically struggling families, who tend to miss the most school. They include Ontario (13 percent of students were chronically absent), McMinnville (15 percent) and North Clackamas (also 15 percent). Most of the districts with the worst absenteeism problems were small and very small rural districts. Big districts with the worst rates included Santiam Canyon, which operates the state's largest online charter school, Oregon Connections Academy. Half of that school's 3,260 students were chronically absent last year. Other large districts with serious attendance problems included Centennial (29 percent), Coos Bay (28 percent) Salem-Keizer (28 percent) and Reynolds (28 percent). In the news release, Gill said, "Reducing chronic absenteeism requires all of us to do our part. Schools need to make sure students are welcomed and engaged, families need to recognize the importance of attendance and every community needs to look at local barriers that can impact student attendance." -- Betsy Hammond "We're here to talk to students," Joey Gibson told me Tuesday before his Patriot Prayer rally at Washington State University Vancouver. And that's exactly what he did. For two hours, I watched challenging, inquisitive, respectful conversations happening on the campus plaza between people of different political persuasions. Instead of the violence predicted, Gibson brought something we need more of: talk that leads to increased understanding about opposing thoughts and the people behind them. It was the kind of conversation that helps people find common ground. (Disclosure: I'm a WSUV adjunct professor who had a lot of interest in seeing how things went down on campus.) There was zero violence at the rally, as no groups showed up to offer it. Just in case, 15 Clark County sheriff's deputies were there alongside campus police. I saw a Washington State Patrol trooper, as well. The deputies I spoke with before the rally were comfortable with the situation and told me they felt very supported in their law-keeping efforts. "That's why we work over here," one Clark County deputy said. Contrast that with what has occurred at recent protests in Portland. The violence there prompted Daryl Turner, the president of the Portland police union, to call on Portland City Council members "to quit sitting on their hands," decry violence, hold people accountable and "support our officers when we act to preserve public safety." Turner also wrote in a recent Facebook post, "Our officers and our community face those who believe they can harass, assault and victimize Portlanders at will with no threat of arrest, indictment or conviction." After discussing the balance needed for protecting free speech and ensuring safety, Turner called the city out for a "culture of enablement" that's partly responsible for putting Portland in national headlines. Mayor Ted Wheeler and the Portland City Council need to make it clear that Portland's streets are not open for takeovers and violent behavior. Free speech can happen without hijacking other citizens' ability to move about safely. The Patriot Prayer rallies in Vancouver this week were refreshing and productive, even if not well-attended. At Tuesday's rally, I counted about 100 people, a mix of curious students, supporters, media and the police. That's not surprising. Antifa didn't show. Concerned about students' safety, the university's chancellor and some professors advised students to ignore the speakers and avoid the event. It was left up to individual professors whether to hold class that day, and some canceled. During the question-and-answer time Gibson facilitated, there was disagreement about Initiative 1639, a gun-control proposal on Washington state's ballot. Some, like the Patriots, think its passage -- and storage guidelines it would require -- would undermine the ability to have guns in homes for self-defense. Supporters of the initiative said that any effort to prevent gun violence should overrule concerns. Everyone I talked to, however, agreed that the rally itself was tame and respectful. Student Julianna Christian said concern about Patriot Prayer "was blown out of proportion" and much of it biased. She said the warnings and worry made campus "a ghost town." "The guy who walked up to us and gave us information was super nice," student Agnes Moldovan told me. "I thought it'd be crazy. But it was just a good conversation." A.J. Alonzo, a former student of mine who had been in the area of a recent Portland protest, was at the WSU rally. He echoed Union President Turner's concerns about police protection in Portland. Contrary to what Alonzo had been told to expect, he said he didn't see or hear a message of white supremacy or racism. "Students were asking why there would be white supremacists on campus." He shook his head and exclaimed, "This is a protest about gun rights!" Patriot Prayer, by the way, is led by guys who aren't white, and there wasn't a racist word in the leaders' speeches on Tuesday. Quite the opposite, in fact. Connecting and having conversations -- even with racists that Gibson says he disagrees with -- is a main practice of Gibson's and one he talked about at length Tuesday. You have a better chance of changing someone's opinion that way, Patriot Prayer leaders argued. If more regulations aren't the answer to address a violent society, asked one student, what is? In his answer, Gibson sounded like a modern-day prophet. "The answer is spiritual," he said. Those words echoed his earlier speech. He said that for himself, freedom was second only to God. "The reason I do what I do is I believe in God. I believe in Jesus, and I believe he is the answer to some of the biggest problems that we have in this country." Gibson didn't look like the harasser and violent bully I've been reading about, even if he attracts white nationalists and violent counter-protesters. I'll keep watching, but I think he's far more unique in this region: Gibson has unpopular thoughts about freedom, guns, abortion and spirituality, and he voices them on a public stage. Before the rally, students made signs and wrote words like "love" and "unity" in chalk where Gibson would appear. Much of the political activist's talk incorporated that message. He was standing on a lot of common ground. Elizabeth Hovde's column appears on the fourth Sunday of the month. The Oregonian/OregonLive Editorial Board endorsement of Rep. Greg Walden is extremely disappointing. Despite a 2008 campaign pledge to make health insurance more affordable and more available, Walden -- at least five times -- voted to deny health care coverage for Oregon's low-income children. In 2009, the program he opposed awarded more than $31 million to Oregon community health centers. These centers were then able to provide health care to an additional 70,000 low-income kids. Because of these gains, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services awarded Oregon an additional bonus of more than $15 million in early 2011. Meanwhile Walden's only accomplishment has been more than 50 inane votes to repeal or defund The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act. Walden has clearly demonstrated he believes health care is merely a commodity, available only for those who can afford it. More shamefully, he contends health care should be available only for those children with rich parents. As the Oct. 24 endorsement states, "Walden's constituents deserve better." -- Larry Tibbles, Heppner Share your opinion Fired up? ! Submit 250 words or less and please include your first and last name, hometown and a phone number for verification. The Most Extensive and Reliable Source of Information Related to the Mexican Drugs Cartels. You will not find this level of coverage anywhere else, join us! Send information, pictures or videos, you remain 100% anonymous. Envia fotos, videos, notas, enlaces o informacion todo 100% Anonimo. Want to be a contributor or citizen reporter for Borderland Beat? We love to have you in our team, send Sol Prendido or HEARST an email! WARNING: Posts may contain strong violent material, discretion is advised. COMMENTS: We do not publish all comments, and we do not publish comments immediately. Update: 8:17 p.m. The Brody Theater in Northwest Portland will close its doors in November, according to a post on their Facebook page. The Brody has been a mainstay of comedy in Portland. The theater hosts shows and classes in improv, sketch and stand-up comedy. "I flat out would not be a comedian without Tom Johnson and the Brody Theater in Portland," Portland comedian and head writer of "The Late Late Show with James Corden," Ian Karmel said on Twitter Sunday. "Bittersweet to hear it's closing after a two decade run. I'll miss it, but glad Tom is finally getting some time off!" I flat out would not be a comedian without Tom Johnson and the Brody Theater in Portland. Bittersweet to hear its closing after a two decade run. Ill miss it, but glad Tom is finally getting some time off! big karma (@IanKarmel) October 28, 2018 "More info will follow, but we have a month of special shows coming up to celebrate the Brody and everyone who has made it so special since 1996," the post said. This post originally contained inaccurate details of the closing based on an old page on The Brody Theater website. -- Lizzy Acker 503-221-8052 lacker@oregonian.com, @lizzzyacker Adapted from a recent online discussion. Dear Carolyn: My brother is having a destination wedding that's going to require a minimum of a 12-hour flight and flying over an ocean. My husband and I have a small child, but no kids are invited, which I have no issue with. The wedding will be in a foreign country where we don't speak the language, so neither one of us is keen on trying to find a baby sitter we've never met prior. Most importantly, I don't want to want to be that far apart from my child while she's this young. I do travel for business frequently but it's not far and not that long. How horrible is it if we don't go? My brother and I aren't that close, so I imagine he won't care, and the bride met us briefly twice, so she hardly knows us. But my parents are getting really antsy about this and "how it looks." Well, how it looks is that a couple picked a very faraway destination for a wedding and banned kids. I don't think it gets simpler than that. Is this something wedding guests and future in-laws really worry about? I don't think my husband and I have ever worried about such details at weddings we go to. -- Destination Wedding Drama If "how it looks" is the only argument you or they have in favor of going, then, yeah. Don't go. Depending on your definition of "really antsy," I don't even think this even meets the definition of wedding drama. Maybe I'm projecting too much, and certainly in the United States of Selfies and Curated Social Media, it wouldn't be unheard of for people to mistake appearances for values -- but I wonder if your parents aren't worried about something bigger and not finding the words for it. It would make more sense to me, at least, for them to be worried that their kids aren't close and that their family is drifting apart. If that's true, it probably would still be true even if you, say, paid a baby sitter to travel with you so you could actually attend the wedding (the deluxest deluxe destination plan) -- and either way it would be hard for parents to witness such a drift after hoping for your entire childhoods that you sibs would look out for each other long after they're gone. So, stretching this projection to a new paragraph and the brink of absurdity, maybe it would help your parents accept your absence if you assured them you care and committed to investing in the relationship in other ways. Say you love your brother (right?) and would be there under different circumstances (right?), but the logistical problem of a small child and an adults-only wedding and 24 hours in round-trip flight is too big to work around, so you'll go out of your way to spend time with them soon after they return. Maybe even host something (relatively) local for others who can't make the trip. In my own name and on behalf of the whole Polish nation, I convey expressions of deep sympathy over the anti-Semitic attack committed at a synagogue in Pittsburg, Polish President Andrzej Duda wrote in a condolence message to US President Donald Trump. "We join the American nation in prayer and sadness," Sunday's message continued. Saturday's attack on a synagogue in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, killed 11 and wounded six, including four police officers. The suspected shooter, 46-year-old Robert Bowers, allegedly entered the Tree of Life synagogue armed with four weapons during a child-naming ceremony and opened fire on worshippers. "Both I and my Countrymen are shaken by news coming from the United States," Andrzej Duda wrote in his message to President Trump. "I convey in my own name and on behalf of the whole Polish nation expressions of deep sympathy over the occurrence of an attack of anti-Semitic nature committed at the 'Tree of Life' synagogue in Pittsburgh, in which the lives were taken of many innocent people gathered to pray." "I offer you, Mr President, the most sincere condolences for the families and loved ones of the victims of this great tragedy. I would like to offer wishes of the swiftest return to health to all those harmed as a result of the actions of a deranged attacker," the president wrote. "We join the American nation in prayer and sadness." On Saturday evening, the suspected attacker heard 29 charges of federal crimes including 'use of a firearm to commit murder' and hate crimes. (PAP) ej/ Back in September Patently Apple posted a report wherein it noted that Samsung was hinting that they might present their first foldable smartphone design to developers at their conference in San Francisco on November 7, 2018. Whether they'll present it on stage or behind the scene to top developers only is unknown at this time. Then on Friday Patently Apple covered news that Samsung was going to be very aggressive in 2019 with 5G and a foldable smartphone being a priority in an effort to challenge Apple and their Chinese competitors. On October 11th the U.S. Patent & Trademark Office (USPTO) published a patent application from Samsung covering a foldable device, never referring to it as a smartphone in any shape or form. There were no points of reference pointing to wireless connectivity. This week USPTO published another patent-pending foldable display device from Samsung, displaying the most common design in recent months. In this patent application Samsung revealed an interface on the front display that is a part of what is known in the industry as a 'fold out' design. Patently Apple posted a report back in January 2017 with a photo of a Lenovo 'fold out' smartphone prototype as noted below, along with a similar Samsung form factor patent figure. In this latest patent filing, Samsung revealed an interface clearly illustrating a 'Mail' app which would confirm that the foldable device could at least support a wireless data plan even though Samsung's patent filing doesn't provide a reference to any wireless technologies whatsoever. Samsung's patent filing further notes that they're currently developing flexible display members capable of being folded or rolled. A flexible display apparatus is designed to be folded, rolled, or bent like paper, unlike a rigid or non-flexible flat display apparatus. The flexible display apparatus is capable of varying in shape may be easily carried and enhance users' convenience. Samsung goes on to describe an embodiment of their inventive concept providing a display apparatus including: a display module configured to display an image and to be folded about a folding axis at a folding area defined on a plane; a support member below the display module; and a protective member between the display module and the support member. To read more details and see more patent figures illustrating their fold-out styled foldable form, check out our full Samsung patent report on Patently Mobile here. PAWTUCKET, R.I. (AP) -- Rhode Island State Police have apprehended a man wanted in connection with a shooting in Pennsylvania earlier this month. State police say 24-year-old Clifton Kelvin Hunter was arrested on a fugitive from justice charge Friday while sitting in a vehicle outside an apartment in Pawtucket where he was thought to be staying. Hunter waived extradition and was ordered held in Rhode Island pending his return to Pennsylvania. It could not immediately be determined if he had a lawyer. Hunter was one of three people wanted in connection with an Oct. 16 shooting in Lancaster. He faces several charges including attempted homicide. Lancaster police say the victim suffered a gunshot wound to the abdomen. One of the three men charged is still at large, ABC27 reports. Update The Lancaster County Coroner has identified the Warwick High School student who was killed in a multi-vehicle crash Friday afternoon as 16-year-old Jack R. Nicholson of Lititz, according to WGAL-TV. Four others were hurt in that crash and two of them were students. The names of those individuals has not been released. A Go Fund Me account has been set up to help his family. The Lancaster District Attorney's Office said on Friday a 63-year-old woman driving recklessly caused the crash that involved seven other cars on the 200 block of West Orange Street, near Warwick High School. Police said an officer observed the woman driving at an unusually slow speed on Route 772 and she speeded up when he turned on his lights and siren. The woman's car then hit a school bus carrying students. None of the students were injured. Her car proceeded on Route 772 to where it becomes West Orange Street and struck numerous vehicles before colliding into one carrying three high school students around 3:15 p.m., around the time school was letting out for the day. The FBI is providing an update at a 9 a.m. news conference on its investigation into the mass shooting at a Pittsburgh synagogue on Saturday morning during Shabbat services. LIVE: Officials release more information about the investigation and victims of the shooting at a synagogue in Pittsburgh's Squirrel Hill. Posted by PennLive.com on Sunday, October 28, 2018 A gunman identified as 46-year-old Robert Bowers barged into the synagogue, yelling "All Jews must die" before opening fire, killing 11 people in one of the deadliest attacks on Jews in U.S. history. The attack at Tree of Life Congregation in the Squirrel Hill neighborhood of the western Pennsylvania left six others wounded, including four police officers, authorities said. Bowers is facing 29 charges. Pittsburgh Mayor Bill Peduto told CBS television station KDKA that when the list of the victims killed in the incident is released it "will rip your heart out." He said he knew some of them personally. Children attending classes on Sunday at Ohev Sholom Temple in Harrisburg were assured they were safe there in the aftermath of Saturday's deadliest attack on Jews who gathered for worship services at a Pittsburgh synagogue. Lillian Rappaport, the temple's educational director, said she visited classrooms to talk with students and hear what they had to say about the hate crime-motivated mass shooting at a Pittsburgh synagogue that left 11 people dead and others wounded. "I went around telling the children they are loved and they are safe and underscored that for the children," she said. She found the children she visited were all aware of what had happened on Saturday at another Jewish synagogue nearly 200 miles away that authorities have now labelled as a hate crime. "All of them understood that there are people in this world who hate and unfortunately, that's part of the world we are living in. But we underscored the fact that here they are safe and here they are loved. That was my message," Rappaport said. To help ensure that, the synagogue had hired a security firm to monitor activities around its North Front Street building. Saturday evening, Rabbi Peter Kessler of Temple Ohev Sholom said the first thing he did upon learning of the shootings in Pittsburgh was to ensure the temple was safe. The facility does have security, including cameras and armed guards who are not obvious to the public, he said. But he augmented that security, he said, for a special healing service held there Saturday night. "We are quietly prepared for any event that we hope never happens," he said. Rappaport said she imagined every Jewish institution in the world is revising its security protocol in the wake of Saturday's mass shooting by 46-year-old gunman Robert Bowers of Baldwin, who interrupted worship services making statements of genocide and "all Jews must die" and fired off his weapon. Meanwhile, Gov. Tom Wolf's administration announced the state Department of Human Services has set up a victims assistance center at the Jewish Community Center in Pittsburgh to help those impacted by this tragedy. Federal services also are available for victims, survivors, their families, and first responders. "We now know the names of those lost in this horrifying act and that makes this tragedy even more personal for many," Wolf said in a statement. It goes on to say, "Please know that you are not alone. There are services. Reach out for resources if you are struggling. It is ok to ask for help." The suspect in a shooting Saturday in a Pittsburgh synagogue is facing federal criminal charges. The shooting, which started just after morning services began in the Squirrel Hill neighborhood temple, killed 11 people and left six injured, including four police officers. Some of the injuries have been described as life-threatening. Suspect Robert Bowers, 46, of Pittsburgh, is in custody at a hospital after a shootout with police. A man with the same name has posted anti-Semitic statements on social media. KDKA in Pittsburgh reported that U.S. Attorney Scott Brady has filed federal hate crimes charges against Bowers: 11 counts, obstruction of exercise of religious beliefs resulting in death 11 counts, use of a firearm to commit murder during and in relation to a crime of violence 4 counts, obstruction of exercise of religious beliefs resulting in bodily injury to a public safety officer 3 counts, use and discharge of a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence U.S. Attorney General Jeff Sessions released a statement saying the charges could lead to the death penalty: "Hatred and violence on the basis of religion can have no place in our society. Every American has the right to attend their house of worship in safety. Today 11 innocent people were suddenly and viciously murdered during religious services and several law enforcement officers were shot. These alleged crimes are reprehensible and utterly repugnant to the values of this nation. Accordingly, the Department of Justice will file hate crimes and other criminal charges against the defendant, including charges that could lead to the death penalty." PITTSBURGH -- Authorities have released the names of the 11 people killed by a gunman during worship services in a Pittsburgh synagogue. Officials said at a news conference Sunday that the victims ranged in age from 54 to 97 and included brothers and a husband and wife. Authorities say gunman Robert Bowers, 46, of Baldwin, made statements about genocide and killing Jewish people. Officials previously said three women and eight men were killed. Those killed were: Joyce Fienberg, 75, of Oakland Richard Gottfried, 65, of Ross Township Rose Mallinger, 97, of Squirrel Hill Jerry Rabinowitz, 66, of Edgewood Cecil Rosenthal, 59, of Squirrel Hill David Rosenthal, 54, of Squirrel Hill Bernice Simon, 84, of Wilkinsburg Sylvan Simon, 86, of Wilkinsburg Daniel Stein, 71, of Squirrel Hill Melvin Wax, 88, of Squirrel Hill Irving Younger, 69, of Mt. Washington Bowers has been arrested and is being treated for gunshot wounds at a hospital. The U.S. attorney's office has charged Bowers with 29 federal counts, 11 of them for murdering victims exercising their religious beliefs. All of them are punishable by death. Bowers is scheduled to make his first court appearance Monday. State authorities have also leveled charges. At the news conference, Pittsburgh Mayor Bill Peduto referred to the rampage that took place at the Tree of Life Congregation as "an episode that will forever go down in the history of this city as one of the worst moments." "We know that we as a city, we are better than this," Peduto said. "We know hatred will never win out. That those who try to divide us because of the way we pray ... will lose." U.S. Attorney Scott Brady said they are treating the incident as a hate crime and that there is no indication Bowers was working with anyone else. "This was an attack upon our neighbors and upon our friends and one that we felt very deeply," Brady said. Authorities said it will take up to a week to process the crime scene and that bullet casings were everywhere in the synagogue. Bowers' home has already been searched and they were in the process of searching his vehicle. They praised the work of emergency responders from federal, state, county and local agencies who came together to assist at the scene as well as provide emergency services to the rest of the city. Pittsburgh police Chief Scott Schubert said, "We're going to get through this. We're going to continue on and show what Pittsburgh is made of." Update: The crash is still under investigation A second Warwick High School student died from injuries received in a fatal multi-vehicle crash Friday afternoon in Lititz, the school district announced on Sunday. That student was identified by the school district as Meghan Keeney. The other student who died in the crash was 16-year-old Jack Nicholson. The investigation continues into the crash police say was caused by a 63-year-old woman who had been reported driving recklessly around 3:15 p.m. in the 200 block of West Orange Street, near the high school. In addition to the two students who died, three other people, including another student, were injured. All five were transported to an area hospital. Both students died at the hospital. Several others were treated at the scene of the crash. Warwick School District administrators issued this statement: The Warwick School District is saddened to announce the death of a second student, Meghan Keeney, who was one of the... Posted by Warwick School District - Lititz, Pennsylvania on Sunday, October 28, 2018 There were eight vehicles involved in the crash, including a black Hyundai driven by a 63-year-old Lancaster County woman. Police said the woman's car struck vehicles while it was traveling east on Orange Street. After it struck a black Chevrolet -- the vehicle in which the students were riding -- the Hyundai became airborne and overturned onto its roof. A few minutes earlier, police began getting 911 dispatches reporting a reckless driver about two miles west on Route 772, which becomes Orange Street in Lititz. A Northern Lancaster County Regional police officer saw the vehicle traveling slowly and activated his lights and sirens in an attempt to pull over the Hyundai. Instead, the Hyundai accelerated and the officer, at directive of his patrol supervisor, immediately ceased attempts to stop the vehicle. The Hyundai struck a school bus on Route 772 in Warwick Township before traveling into Lititz. The school bus contained students and a driver; no one was injured. Police continue to investigate why the woman was driving recklessly and did not stop for police. Anyone with information about the crashes is asked to contact Northern Lancaster County Regional police (717-733-0965), Lititz Borough police (717-626-6393). Tips can also be submitted via this CrimeWatch page or via direct message on social-media platforms. MURPHYSBORO, Ill. (AP) -- President Donald Trump mourned the dead and forcefully condemned anti-Semitism Saturday after a mass shooting at a Pittsburgh synagogue that left 11 dead. But faced with another national tragedy, he could not long turn his focus away from the midterm elections or himself. Nine days from elections that will determine the control of Congress, Trump stuck to his plans to appear at an agricultural convention and a political rally. Throughout the day, he expressed sorrow, called for justice and bemoaned hate, getting regular updates on the shooting. But he also campaigned for candidates, took shots at favorite Democratic targets House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi and Sen. Elizabeth Warren and made jokes about his hair. More: At a massive rally in southern Illinois for U.S. Rep. Mike Bost, Trump condemned the shooting as an "evil anti-Semitic attack." But he said cancelling his appearance would make "sick, demented people important." President Donald Trump speaks to the media at Air Force One at Andrews Air Force Base, Saturday, Oct. 27, 2018, before traveling to Indianapolis to speak at the 91st Annual Future Farmers of America Convention and Expo. The slaughter at a baby-naming ceremony followed a tense week dominated by a mail bomb plot with apparent political motivations and served as another toxic reminder of a divided nation. It also again underscored Trump's reluctance to step into the role of national unifier at tense moments as well as his singular focus heading into elections that could dramatically change his presidency. All of America is in mourning over the mass murder of Jewish Americans at the Tree of Life Synagogue in Pittsburgh. We pray for those who perished and their loved ones, and our hearts go out to the brave police officers who sustained serious injuries... Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) October 27, 2018 ...This evil Anti-Semitic attack is an assault on humanity. It will take all of us working together to extract the poison of Anti-Semitism from our world. We must unite to conquer hate. Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) October 27, 2018 Trump sought to energize turnout for Bost, who is fighting to hold on to a seat that was once a Democratic stronghold, but turned out for Trump in 2016. To bolster his argument for sticking with the rally, Trump argued that the New York Stock Exchange was opened the day after 9/11, though in fact it was re-opened on September 17. Speaking to a massive, cheering crowd at an airport hangar in southern Illinois, Trump said "the hearts of all Americans are filled with grief, following the monstrous killing." He told reporters before the rally that he would travel to Pittsburgh, though he did not offer details. He also sought to distance himself from the man arrested in the shooting, calling him "sick" and saying "he was no supporter of mine." Trump promised to change his tone for the Saturday night rally given the events of the day. While he avoided some of his most fiery rhetoric, he still targeted Pelosi and Democrats and the crowd gleefully shouted "lock her up," in reference to Hillary Clinton, one of the targets of the bomb plot. Continuing to emphasize his hardline immigration rhetoric, Trump said: "Republicans want strong borders, no crime, and no caravans." Trump offered an unsparing denunciation of anti-Semitism, which he said was the motive behind the attack, in contrast to remarks after clashes between white supremacists and counterprotesters in Charlottesville last year. Then, he only inflamed tensions by blaming both sides for the violence. Speaking to young farmers in Indianapolis, Trump called on the country to come together, before inviting a pastor and rabbi on stage to pray. Just now: President Trump invited Rabbi Benjamin Sendrow to offer a prayer for the victims of the attack in Pittsburgh. pic.twitter.com/7xSUm9y7QL The White House (@WhiteHouse) October 27, 2018 Earlier in the day, Trump speculated that the death toll in Pittsburgh would have been curbed if an armed guard had been in the building. With both the number of deaths and details of the synagogue's security still to be disclosed, Trump said gun control "has little to do with it" but "if they had protection inside, the results would have been far better." But the attack did not persuade him that tighter gun controls are needed. "This is a case where, if they had an armed guard inside, they might have been able to stop him immediately," Trump said. "Maybe there would have been nobody killed, except for him, frankly. So it's a very, very - a very difficult situation." In previous mass shootings, Trump has at times said he would consider tightening gun laws but in the main has called for more armed guards in places such as schools. This post has been updated to include information about an event planned for Sunday evening. The York faith community will hold a vigil against hate at York City Hall on Monday following Saturday's mass shooting at a Pittsburgh synagogue that left 11 people dead and six injured. The vigil, organized by the Rev. Christopher Rodkey of St. Paul's United Church of Christ in Dallastown, will begin at 8 p.m. It will be moved to the Unitarian Universalist Congregation of York on South George Street past Rathton Road in the event of inclement weather. The announcement on St. Paul's Facebook page said more details will be posted there about this service being held to speak out against hate and show support for the Jewish community. "The faith community of York County will not be silent in the face of growing hatred and antisemitism in our country and community," Rodkey commented on the Facebook page. "Please invite your friends and promote this event widely and bring candles." A prayer and moment of silence for the victims will be offered during a previously scheduled event Sunday hosted by the Jewish Federation of Greater Harrisburg and the York Jewish Community Center. That event begins at 7 p.m. at the Waldner Performing Arts Center at York College of Pennsylvania. A post from the federation on the Facebook page promoting the event notes that there will be security. A vigil was held at Temple Ohev Sholom in Harrisburg on Saturday evening. The Jewish community is planning another vigil later in the week, said Hank Butler of the Pennsylvania Jewish Coalition. Police have arrested 46-year-old Robert Bowers of Baldwin in the shooting. He faces 29 federal charges, all punishable by death, after police say he barged into the Tree of Life Congregation in Pittsburgh on Saturday and began making statements about genocide and killing Jewish people as he unleashed a barrage of gunfire. Among those dead were two brothers and a husband and wife. The 11 victims ranged in age from 54 to 97. Four police officers were injured and three of them were still hospitalized on Sunday morning, authorities reported at a Sunday morning news conference. READING, Pa. -- Paula Hass, as one former American president so often says, is fired up and ready to go. Standing in her doorway in Reading's Spring Street neighborhood on a rainy and chilly Saturday, Hass, a registered Democrat, says she "always votes." "I've voted all my life," she says with a grin. "I've been voting since I was 18 years old. The only Republican in my family is my little brother - we have no idea where he came from." Becky Ellis, Christian Cortes, and Raya Abdelaal, canvassers for Planned Parenthood Pennsylvania Votes, the political wing of the women's reproductive health organization, smile back and thank Hass for her time. Then they're down the steps, back into the rain, and onto the next door. They've been at this for about an hour. With 30 doors to knock on this late October afternoon, they'll be at it for another hour, at least. From house to house, Ellis, Cortes and Abdelaal repeat a single task over and over again: They pull a voter's name from a tablet computer; ask that voter how excited they are to be voting, ask them if they know where their polling place is, and ask them if they have a plan to vote. If they answer "no" to any of those questions, the volunteers identify a local polling place and then and offer to help get that voter to the polls on Election Day. It's exacting work. And, sometimes, people don't want to talk. "You never feel like you're doing enough," Ellis, 40, of Reading, says. The Stakes With control of the Governor's Office, United States Senate and the U.S. House on the line, activist groups like Planned Parenthood Votes are leaving nothing to chance. Democrats need to flip 23 seats to retake control of the U.S. House in 2019. With competitive contests across the state, Pennsylvania could hand Democrats up to a third of the seats they need to reach that critical tally. Meanwhile, Planned Parenthood Pennsylvania Votes is spending $2.5 million to re-elect Democratic Gov. Tom Wolf and other down-ballot Democrats. Working with other advocacy organizations, the group plans to knock on some 775,000 doors in 32 counties statewide between Oct. 23 and Election Day in an effort to turn out the vote. This sort of effort might not seem like much in a sophisticated age of television and social media campaigning these kind of one-on-one contacts with voters can help move numbers in a tight race. As the late U.S. House Speaker Thomas P. "Tip" O'Neill once remarked: People like to be asked. And they're being asked. "With a more conservative Supreme Court, abortion access and reproductive rights in this country are in danger. It is critical that we elect champions for reproductive health care who will protect these freedoms in Pennsylvania," Sari Stevens, the executive director of Planned Parenthood Pennsylvania Votes, said. "Through Get Out the Vote, we want to turn people's interest in these issues into action and make sure that Pennsylvanians get to the polls on Election Day." The canvassing effort on this Saturday afternoon is focused on a particularly important voting bloc: Latino voters whom Democrats count as a critical constituency. By the Numbers Latino voters are a growing - and increasingly youthful - voting bloc that will make up an ever greater share of the electorate in years to come. And that means the competition to claim them is intense. Reading is 68 percent Latino, which means it's rich in potential Democratic votes. And the push here is "the only LatinX outreach program in the northeast," Stevens said. Planned Parenthood Votes Executive Director Sari Stevens (left) talks with "Orange is the New Black" actress Laura Gomez (center) and volunteer Becky Ellis (right) during a canvassing event in Reading on Saturday, 10/27/18 (PennLive photo by John L. Micek). Reading is a microcosm of a broader change that's taking place across Pennsylvania. At 834,000 people, Pennsylvania had the 13th largest Latino population in the country as of the 2016 campaign, according to data compiled by the Pew Research Center. More than half of that population, 440,000 people, were eligible voters, the 10th largest Latino eligible voter complement in the country. California ranked first with 6.9 million, according to Pew data. Democrat Hillary Clinton took more than two-thirds (66 percent) of Latino voters nationwide in 2016, handily beating Trump. Still, Clinton's performance among Latinos was about the same (67 percent) as candidate Barack Obama's in 2008, but less than President Barack Obama's 2012 tally, when 71 percent of Latinos voted to re-elect him, Pew data indicated. But even as the number of eligible Latino voters has grown, their turnout at the polls has not kept pace. That's due, in part, to the fact that, as Roll Call reports, almost half of the 27.3 million Latinos eligible to cast ballots are millennials, who don't turn out at the same rate as older voters. Republicans are making a similar outreach effort. Jason Gottesman, a spokesman for the Pennsylvania Republican Party, said in August that the Keystone GOP planned to "[contact] hundreds of thousands of voters throughout Pennsylvania--many of whom are Hispanic voters that share the Republican Party's principles of religious freedom, and who have also benefited from the booming economy that has resulted in record low Hispanic unemployment." 'Being a woman is a political act' The staging ground for the Planned Parenthood effort is the headquarters of a local outreach group called "Save Our Inner City Lives." As a disc jockey spins vibrant Latino music, volunteers hold plates heapd with rice and beans, jerked chicken and roasted plantains -- fuel for the afternoon's work. "My family was involved in politics," says Juan Zabala, who owns the space. "If we solve the problems in our community, we can scale up and solve things on the grander level." To further motivate the volunteers, actor Laura Gomez, of the Netflix series "Orange is the New Black," has traveled down from New York City to lend her voice. As a young immigrant from the Dominican Republic without health coverage, Gomez says she took advantage of the breast cancer screenings and other health services that Planned Parenthood offers to its mostly low-income clientele. "This feels very personal to me," she said. "Every woman has a Planned Parenthood story." Revving up the crowd, Gomez says, given her celebrity, ethnicity and gender, that she feels a particular responsibility to speak up this election season. "Being a woman is a political act," she said. "Every day, you're fighting* for your rights." Ellis, the canvassing volunteer, has one of her own. As a college student, then newly married to a Chilean man, Planned Parenthood helped out when she suddenly discovered she was pregnant. Her daughter, Katarina, now 17, was born healthy and is a freshman in college. "Planned Parenthood was there for a girl who didn't have medical insurance," she said. Then she's off. There are still plenty of doors to knock. And not a lot of time to do it. By Victoria Shineman On Nov. 6, voters in Florida will consider a ballot measure that would restore the right to vote to 1 million citizens who are currently not able to vote because they have felony convictions. Victoria Shineman (The Conversation, photo) My research finds that when Virginia restored voting rights, ex-offenders became more trusting of government and the criminal justice system. These attitudes are known to make it easier for citizens to re-enter society after being released from prison and decrease their tendency to commit additional crimes. The results from my study in Virginia might give a glimpse of what would be expected if the Florida measure, called Amendment 4, passes. Florida's felony disenfranchisement laws More than 6 million U.S. citizens do not have the right to vote due to state laws that limit the voting rights of those convicted of a felony. All but four states automatically restore voting rights to people after they are released from prison, or after completion of parole or probation. In Florida, however, voting rights are never automatically restored. They can only be restored by an application to the Executive Clemency Board - a four-member panel including both the governor and the attorney general. Citizens must wait at least five years after completing their sentence before applying. The clemency board is able to reject applications for any reason, including traffic violations. Under current Gov. Rick Scott, the clemency board approved fewer than 2,000 restorations of voting rights over six years. There is a current backlog of more than 10,000 applications. Given these strict laws, more than 1.6 million voting-age citizens in Florida do not have the right to vote - including more than 1 out of every 5 black citizens statewide. Amendment 4 would change the Florida State Constitution. If the referendum passes, voting rights will automatically be restored to all citizens who finish probation. This change would apply to all felonies except for murder and sex crimes. New research from Virginia In Virginia, an ex-offender can only regain their right to vote if the governor signs an executive order personally restoring their civil rights. Typically, previous governors waited for people to apply and considered individual applications for restoration with varying scrutiny. But in 2016 and 2017, former Gov. Terry McAuliffe made the unprecedented move to proactively restore voting rights to more than 150,000 ex-offenders - more than any other governor in U.S. history. Former Virginia Gov. Terry McAuliffe. AP Photo/Steve Helber I went to Virginia during the November 2017 statewide election, shortly after many new restoration orders had been processed. I recruited a sample of 93 citizens with felony convictions to complete two surveys - one before the election, and one after. More than 70 percent of these individuals already had their voting rights restored by the governor, but many of them were not aware of their newly restored rights. I randomly divided them into groups. After the first survey and before the election, individuals in one group were informed about whether their voting rights had been restored. Individuals in another group were not provided with this information. I then compared the attitudes within the two groups before and after the election. Since many subjects were unaware that their voting rights had already been restored, the study randomly increased information about their voting rights. Because the two groups being compared are similar in every way - except for the information they received about voting rights - I am able to measure the effects of learning that your right to vote has been restored. The results? Citizens who were told whether their voting rights had been restored became more trusting of government and the criminal justice system compared to those who were not provided with this information. They also viewed the U.S. government as more fair and representative. And they became more trusting of the police and more willing to cooperate with law enforcement. These findings corroborate results from another study I conducted in November 2014. The earlier study similarly informed some citizens with felony convictions in Ohio that their voting rights had been restored. Compared to another group who was not provided with this information, subjects who were informed that their voting rights had been restored reported higher trust in the government and the police. These trusting and pro-democratic attitudes are known to help citizens reintegrate into their communities upon release from prison. Research suggests citizens returning from prison reintegrate more successfully if they are able to transition from an identity as a "criminal" to an identity of a "law-abiding citizen." Not being allowed to vote creates a lasting stigma that makes it harder for them to see themselves as valuable members of society. On the other hand, being encouraged to vote causes people to become more informed and more trusting. Research on crime also suggests that people are more likely to obey laws when they believe those laws were created through a fair process. Individuals who were informed about their voting rights also perceived the government as more fair and representative. Thus voting rights might make it easier for returning citizens to reintegrate into society, while also reducing the incentives to commit further crimes. Lessons for Amendment 4 Policies regulating the voting rights of ex-offenders have historically been a partisan issue, with Democrats supporting voting rights and Republicans supporting voting restrictions. But Amendment 4 has had strong bipartisan support. One argument that increases support on both sides is that restoring voting rights would decrease crime. There are other studies that have found a relationship between voting rights and lower crime. But none of them have yet been able to test whether restoring voting rights causes crime to decrease as mine does. My research provides the first causal evidence that restoring voting rights causes ex-offenders to the very develop attitudes and behaviors that make them more likely to successfully reintegrate into society and avoid returning to crime and prison. Amendment 4 could not only affect voter turnout and electoral outcomes - it could also decrease crime and the costs of the criminal justice system. The Conversation Victoria Shineman is an assistant professor of political science at the University of Pittsburgh. She wrote this piece for The Conversation, where it first appeared. myStrength app offers resources for those with stress and anxiety North Country Community Mental Health offers an app with tools to deal with mental health issues, as well as tips on how to be mindful. 400 SHARES Facebook Twitter Whatsapp Pinterest Reddit Print Mail Flipboard By Joseph Tanfani, Jason Lange and Letitia Stein INDIANAPOLIS, Indiana (Reuters) The commercial opens with an appeal to fear: a hoodie-wearing man prowling an alley, knife in hand. His face remains hidden but the ad makes it clear: Hes an illegal immigrant. We need tough immigration enforcement to keep dangerous criminals out, says the ad by a national conservative political group, part of an effort to help a Republican challenger, Mike Braun, oust a Democratic incumbent in Indiana and capture a U.S. Senate seat in Novembers congressional elections. As they try to hang on to control of Congress, Republican candidates are following the lead of President Donald Trump and turning to rhetoric about immigrants as a tactic to motivate voters. The scope of that strategy emerges in a nationwide Reuters examination of ad buys, candidates social media posts and polling, as well as dozens of interviews with candidates, voters and campaign strategists. The trend is especially visible on Twitter. Congressional Republicans seeking re-election have dramatically increased the number of tweets they post about immigration since Trumps election, a Reuters/Ipsos analysis of social media shows. (https://tmsnrt.rs/2EIPef5)Immigration messaging has surged across the spectrum of Republican-held districts highly competitive swing seats and reliably Republican ones, in places with immigrant populations both large and small. The shift also shows up in the campaign ad wars. In races from Florida to California, in border states and ones with few immigrants, Republicans have poured millions of dollars into advertising that depict illegal immigrants as criminals and vowed enthusiastic support for Trumps proposed wall at the Mexican border, the Reuters review shows. This year, 20 percent of pro-Republican ads in congressional races have cited immigration, according to an analysis of broadcast advertising data through Oct. 15. Thats up from 8 percent in the same period of the 2014 congressional elections and 5 percent in the 2010 races. The analysis was conducted for Reuters by Kantar Media/CMAG, which tracks political ads. Spending on Republican ads that mention immigration has more than doubled to $62.4 million this year from the 2014 elections and has quadrupled since the 2010 races, the Kantar Media/CMAG data shows. (https://tmsnrt.rs/2EEKveE) Immigration ad spending has also surged in state-level races. (Kantar Media/CMAG estimated earlier this month that total political ad spending for broadcast television would rise to $2.7 billion this year from $2.1 billion in 2014.) In February, as Braun vied for the partys nomination for the Indiana Senate seat, he ran a commercial highlighting a deadly highway crash involving a drunk driver who was in the country illegally. There are lives at stake, Braun said in the ad. In an interview with Reuters, he said he was not trying to demonize immigrants but was making a point that border security is important. In Indiana, only about 5 percent of the states residents are immigrants, compared with 13.6 percent in the United States as a whole. But in the last two months, nearly a third of television ads sponsored or partially sponsored by Braun have mentioned immigration, said Michael Franz, co-director of the Wesleyan Media Project, a nonpartisan group tracking televised political advertising. Trump won Indiana by nearly 20 points in the 2016 election. The attack ad featuring the knife-wielding immigrant was produced by One Nation, a political nonprofit. Spokesman Chris Pack said in a statement that the group works independently of campaigns and strongly supports the efforts of the President and congressional leadership to reform our broken immigration system. A number of Republican ads link illegal immigrants to crime, but statistics paint a more nuanced picture. While people in the United States illegally have in some instances committed high-profile crimes, multiple studies including ones from conservative groups like the Cato Institute have found that immigrants commit crimes at lower rates than native-born Americans. National Republican Congressional Committee spokesman Matt Gorman declined to comment on the overall Republican messaging on immigration, but he did say he sees benefits in opposing so-called sanctuary cities, largely Democratic-run metropolises which offer safe harbor to illegal immigrants. Dozens of localities, including New York, Los Angeles and Chicago, have joined the growing sanctuary movement. The issue of sanctuary cities is an issue we have used in several ads this cycle. Its a potent issue, he said. Its a commonsense thing that many folks are against. Trump won the White House on a promise to crack down on illegal immigrants. He has tried to end a program that gave protection for illegal immigrants who were brought to the United States as children. He has ordered more aggressive enforcement and longer detention. One policy, to separate children from their parents at the southern border, set off an uproar and the president ended the policy in June. Trumps administration has also limited legal immigration, imposing more restrictions on work visas and sharply cutting the number of refugees allowed into the United States. A thousands-strong group of immigrants now heading north toward the United States from Central America has inflamed the debate over illegal immigration just days before Americans head to the polls. The caravan has riled up Trump, who is intensifying his efforts to frame the Nov. 6 elections around the threat he says illegal immigrants pose to Americans safety. Trumps nationalist tone echoes sentiments rising in parts of Europe since the arrival in 2015 of more than a million people fleeing war and poverty in the Middle East, Africa and beyond. Hungary built a border fence along its southern border with Serbia, and anti-immigration politics have roiled Germanys parliament. A DRAMATIC EVOLUTION The anti-immigration rhetoric, advertisements and campaign events, combined with the partys embrace of Trumps immigration crackdown, represent a dramatic evolution of Republicanism under Trump. Anti-immigration themes now dominate a party that for decades was defined by fiscal, social and national security conservatism. As recently as 2013, when the Senate passed an immigration bill with bipartisan support, a significant portion of the Republican Party backed immigration reform including a path to citizenship for some of the 12 million people living in the United States illegally. But those voices have been mostly silenced since the rise of Trump, drowned out by his statements decrying amnesty for illegals and chain migration, his term for the longstanding U.S. policy that allows legal immigrants to bring family members into the country. Immigration is now seen as the top issue for likely Republican voters, especially among those who are older and without a college degree, Reuters/Ipsos polling shows. Twenty-three percent of Republicans said this month immigration was the most important problem facing the country, up from 4 percent in January 2012. By contrast, Democrats are far more focused on healthcare, the polls show. Immigration is literally number one with a bullet in every survey we do, said Brandon Moody, a Republican consultant at Axiom Strategies working in the Montana Senate race. Moody says the issue also serves as a kind of shorthand, signaling loyalty to Trumps agenda. GREATEST THREATS The Reuters/Ipsos analysis of Twitter data shows that the number of Republican lawmakers tweeting about immigration has risen sharply since Trumps election. Reuters and Ipsos searched for immigration-related terms in tweets by Republican federal lawmakers who are seeking re-election in November and have actively tweeted since 2016. Across 156 official Twitter accounts of Republican lawmakers and tens of thousands of tweets, the analysis identified 1,409 posts in the first nine months of 2018 which included immigration-related terms and phrases such as immigrant, build the wall or border. Thats a nearly 80 percent increase from 795 posts in the same months of 2017 and more than triple the number from the same period in 2016. Reuters reviewed every tweet, weeding out those unrelated to immigration or which were entirely critical of Trump and his policies. The messages varied widely, from statements supporting Trumps policies to nuanced calls to build a border wall while also reuniting families separated by border authorities. The tweets ranged in tone. Some linked immigrants to threats of violence against Americans, like Texas Representative Randy Webers Jan. 30 tweet: President says fix the border so gangs cant get in & Americans wont be murdered. Webers office declined to comment on the tweet. Others praised Trumps get-tough stance. Illegal incursions way down, rule of law restored, wrote Rod Blum, a Republican in Iowa facing a difficult re-election. He tweeted about immigration at least 14 times between January and September. Reuters did not find any tweets by Blum on the subject in 2016 and only a handful in 2017. Blum did not respond to requests for comment. Reuters/Ipsos polling indicates that Republican lawmakers are largely preaching to the converted: 77 percent of Republican likely voters in a Sept. 8-17 survey said they supported policies to deport more illegal immigrants. An equal number backed building a wall on the southern border. Across the 156 Republican Twitter accounts, Reuters identified only 37 tweets between 2016 and 2018 unambiguously critical of Trumps immigration policies almost all criticizing the separation of families at the border. The critical tweets came from 20 lawmakers who had also posted other tweets supporting strengthening border security or cracking down on illegal immigration. Some conservatives, while backing stringent curbs on immigration, say the harsh tone has potentially far-reaching consequences adding to political polarization, spawning harsher enforcement and potentially limiting the partys appeal to Americas growing minority population. Trump has remade the Republican Party into a blood and soil national political party that is hostile to immigration, said Steve Schmidt, a former Republican political consultant. He left the party in June in part because of the policy of separating mothers and children at the southern border. Schmidt said the countrys growing Hispanic population ultimately will render the immigration issue a death knell for the Republican Party. White House spokesman Hogan Gidley said in a statement that Trump supports an immigration system based on the merit of the applicants, which has nothing to do with race. CONFLICTED HISTORY While Trump has thrust immigration to the center of the partys identity, the roots of this transformation began years ago. In Indiana, the states Republicans have made a journey that mirrors that of the national party. In 2006, Republican legislators pushed a plan in the state legislature that would deny public health services to immigrants who had entered the country illegally. Mike Murphy, a Republican representative from Indianapolis, rose to speak in the glass-domed statehouse. Murphy had long worked to bring more Latinos into the party. Since many of the bills backers were conservative Christians, Murphy quoted verses from the gospel of Matthew about charity to outcasts and strangers. I just turned it against them how do you guys profess to be Christians? Murphy said. The bill was defeated overwhelmingly. That year, Mike Pence, a U.S. congressman from Indiana at the time, was considered a rising conservative star. He waded in with a plan to allow illegal immigrants a path to achieve legal status though he said they would have to leave the country first. Pence pitched his plan in moral terms, calling immigration reform a test of the character of the conservative movement. Pence was pilloried by hardliners, who labeled the plan a stealth amnesty. The bill went nowhere. As the far-right Tea Party movement rose in the Republican Party in 2010, resentment toward immigration increased throughout the state. When a new immigration-related bill came before Indiana lawmakers in 2011, they passed it, granting police the authority to detain people suspected of being illegal immigrants. A federal judge later threw out much of the law. SCARY TO THINK ABOUT In 2015, Pence, then Indianas governor, signed an order that aimed to block Syrian refugees from coming to Indiana, a harbinger of Trumps later ban on immigration from mostly Muslim countries. Pence, now Trumps vice president, saw his order overturned by a federal appeals judge. Pences spokeswoman, Alyssa Farah, said Pence has always been for a strong, secure, enforced border and upholding the rule of law, and that Indianas move to reject Syrian refugees was fundamentally different from the issue of illegal immigration in the southern border. Conflating the issue of illegal immigration from our southern border with whether or not a state accepts refugees from Syria is comparing apples and oranges, she said. During the 2016 presidential campaign, Trump returned frequently to Indiana. At nearly every rally, he hit hard at illegal immigration, reprising crimes committed by people in the country illegally. Raped, sodomized and killed, he said at a rally in South Bend on May 2, 2016. This is all over the country. Were not taking it any more. Trumps runaway win in Indianas presidential nominating contest a day later sealed his conquest of a crowded Republican field. Since the rise of Trump, Murphy said, it has become nearly impossible to have a civil debate about immigration. Donald Trump made it ok to hate, said Murphy, who is still a Republican but no longer in the state legislature. The White House declined to comment on Murphys comments. In sparsely populated Montana, almost 90 percent of the population is white and illegal immigrants are estimated to number only in the few thousands. Voter Sandy Shumaker says she was ignorant about how illegal immigration was affecting the country before listening to Trump. Wearing an American flag hat with the slogan Keep America Great, the 70-year-old retired nurse said immigration is now one of her top concerns. She did not single out any specific campaign ad as a source of her thinking. Yet she echoed concerns about illegal immigrants voting for Democrats, as Trump has claimed without proof, and that Americans are being taken advantage of. She was the first person in line for a campaign rally last month headlined by Donald Trump Jr., waiting hours to hear him stump for Matt Rosendale, the Republican challenging Democratic Senator Jon Tester. Open borders are scary, Shumaker said. Who knows what else is getting in? Drugs, I could imagine. I dont know, Middle Eastern people that do not have our best interests at heart? Its just scary to think about it. (Reporting By Joseph Tanfani, Jason Lange and Letitia Stein; Additional reporting by Chris Kahn; Editing by Jason Szep, Ross Colvin and Michael Williams) 334 SHARES Facebook Twitter Whatsapp Pinterest Reddit Print Mail Flipboard In the first year of Donald Trumps presidency anti-Semitic incidents in the United States increased nearly 60% a report from the Anti-Defamation League (ADL) showed earlier this year. In its annual Audit of Anti-Semitic Incidents, @ADL_National found that the number of anti-Semitic incidents in the US rose 57% in 2017 the largest single-year increase on record and the second highest number reported since ADL started tracking such data In its annual Audit of Anti-Semitic Incidents, @ADL_National found that the number of anti-Semitic incidents in the US rose 57% in 2017 the largest single-year increase on record and the second highest number reported since ADL started tracking such data https://t.co/WegNxSB6A1 Evan Rosenfeld (@Evan_Rosenfeld) October 27, 2018 In a press release issued in February the ADL said that the 2017 increase was the largest year-on-year increase since the Jewish civil rights group began collecting data in 1979. There were nearly 2,000 cases of harassment, vandalism and physical assault against Jews recorded in 2017, the highest number of antisemitic incidents since 1994. At the time the report was issued it was speculated that the rise in violence was attributed to the climate of rising incivility which has emboldened hate groups. There have been many documented cases of race-based violence where the perpetrators said they felt that Donald Trumps language made it acceptable. ADLs national director, Jonathan Greenblatt said another factor was the increase of divisions within American society. A confluence of events in 2017 led to a surge in attacks on our community from bomb threats, cemetery desecrations, white supremacists marching in Charlottesville, and children harassing children at school, Greenblatt said. Rising numbers were in part due to the fact that more people were reporting incidents than ever before, the ADL said, adding that its staff independently verify the credibility of each claim. Anti-Semitic incidents have been reported in all 50 U.S. states, with higher numbers reported in areas with large Jewish populations. Donald Trump has been accused of failing to condemn religious bigotry which a president is supposed to do. Jewish groups criticized the president last year when he issued a statement about the Holocaust but did not mention Jews or anti-Semitism. In the August 2017 violence in Charlottesville, Virginia, white supremacists waved insignia from Nazi Germany and yelled Jews will not replace us. After that Trump infamously said, You had people that were very fine people on both sides. Trump was rightfully slammed for implying there is a moral equivalency between members of the far right who march to promote hate, and the counter demonstrators who marched to promote tolerance and human rights. The ADLs report said schools and colleges in the United States have been hit very hard with anti-Semitic incidents. The number of such incidents has almost doubled since 2016. There has been a large increase in swastikas being drawn on school facilities or Jewish students notebooks and other property. There have been many reported cases of offensive graffiti and vandalism, including the writing of phrases such as Hitler was not wrong and white power. There were 204 such incidents on university campuses in 2017, more than double from the year before. A separate ADL study found a more than 250% increase in the distributing of neo-Nazi fliers, on college campuses. Also there has been a significant increase in the number of Jewish graves and cemeteries that have been damaged and desecrated. According to the ADL, since Donald Trump became president there is an increasing feeling that the American Jewish community is under siege. The number of anti-Semitic incidents reported by the ADL during 2018 will not be available for several months. It is clear, however, after the murder of 11 Jews yesterday in their house of worship, that the Jewish community is indeed under siege. When certain ethnic and religious groups are targeted for violence by white supremacists, and the President of the United States is seen as encouraging such behavior, it is not just these minority groups that are under siege. In the current environment, where hate seems to be tolerated, the entire American value system is under siege. This, as much as any other single thing, will be the legacy of the Trump presidency. 248 SHARES Facebook Twitter Whatsapp Pinterest Reddit Print Mail Flipboard The U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Pennsylvania, Scott W. Brady, announced late Saturday that his office had formally filed 29 criminal charges against Robert Bowers, the alleged shooter who killed 11 people at the Pittsburgh Tree of Life Synagogue Saturday morning. Please know that justice in this case will be swift and it will be severe, Brady said at a news conference, describing the massacre as a terrible and unspeakable act of hate. Bowers 29 federal criminal counts include 11 counts of using a firearm to commit murder and 11 counts of obstruction of the exercise of religious beliefs resulting in death. Bowers exchanged gunfire with law enforcement officials who arrived at the scene and he was injured. Pittsburgh Public Safety Director Wendell Hissrich told reporters six people were injured by Bowers in the attack, including four Pittsburgh police officers. The alleged murderer surrendered to police inside the Jewish temple and was transported to the hospital via ambulance with gunshot wounds but officials say hes in fair condition. In a news conference after the shooting took place, a visibly shaken Hissrich said it was a very horrific crime scene. Its one of the worst that Ive seen and Ive been on some plane crashes, Hissrich added. Its very bad. Before Bowers walked into the house of worship with murderous intent he went online and posted on his Gab internet page that jews are the children of satan. He also ranted against Jews for bringing in hostile invaders to dwell among us, which would lead to certain extinction. As he entered the synagogue and encountered members engaged in worship, he reportedly shouted all Jews must die before he opened fire. The FBI special agent in charge of the bureaus Pittsburgh office, Bob Jones, said that the FBI investigation into the shooting is still in the early stages. He also said that his agents will be looking at every little detail of the suspects life, including his social media activity, his known associates, and his movements over the past few days. 860 SHARES Facebook Twitter Whatsapp Pinterest Reddit Print Mail Flipboard Our nation is on edge, and according to The Washington Post, this may be because President Donald Trump has fostered the toxic environment. While every American yearns for a president who will calmly provide leadership and promote unity, we have a president who instead stokes fear and incites violence through his hateful rhetoric. Over the past week we have had: And what has the president done? He has continued to attempt to use fear of a Central American caravan of refugees as a wedge issue to help Republicans in next weeks midterm elections. In other words, at a time when the nation needs to be brought together he is continuing to try to tear us apart for his own political gain. Of course Trump has mouthed the right words, denouncing the attacks. But after reading words from a teleprompter he then goes to hold more rallies where he inflames the white supremacist passions of his unhinged supporters. According to The Post: The president and the GOP, in a cynical pursuit of political power, have gone beyond partisan political combat into outright demagoguery against racial minorities, foreigners and prominent Jewish political figures. The article mentions that Jewish Democratic donor George Soros, has become a major focus of Republican attack ads ahead of the midterms. Even after a bomb was found in Soros mailbox last week, and even after the horrific massacre in Pittsburgh yesterday, right-wing commentators, as well as Trump, have continued their anti-Semitic attacks. For example, with no evidence, Trump and many right-wing media personalities have accused Soros of paying for protesters at his rallies and paying for the Central Americans in the caravan coming to the U.S. Experts believe that this kind of rhetoric and the presidents actions provide approval to fringe elements who are considering violence. The numerous statements hes made, calling himself a nationalist, crowds at his rallies chanting threats against George Soros its all connected, said Cecilia Wang, deputy director of the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU). The alleged synagogue gunman, Robert D. Bowers, posted on the Gab social media site many anti-Semitic postings. In one such post he connects the Central American caravan to the Hebrew Immigrant Aid Society (HIAS), which helps resettle refugees in American communities. HIAS likes to bring invaders in that kill our people. I cant sit by and watch my people get slaughtered. Screw your optics, Im going in, Bowers wrote just before he entered the Tree of Life synagogue and murdered 11 Jews. From the beginning of his campaign Trump has used incendiary language that directly appeals to violent and nativist impulses of certain elements of the U.S. electorate. At one point he was even endorsed by former Ku Klux Klan leader David Duke. According to The Post: Trump has shown no inclination of toning down the rhetoric. At rallies in the past few days, he has aimed his ire on the media, accusing reporters of unfair coverage and negative attacks that only serve to drive people apart and to undermine healthy debate. And the ACLUs Wang believes that Trump will continue to attack and smear immigrants and refugees. All the violence we see is the extreme and radical version of what he is implementing on a policy and legal front as president of the United States, she said. Donald Trump and his allies will deny hit but there is no question that the president has incited and will continue to incite political violence. It is no accident. It is exactly what he intended. It is through such hateful words and actions that he has been able to obtain and to keep his political power. 4k SHARES Facebook Twitter Whatsapp Pinterest Reddit Print Mail Flipboard Nearly $50,000 has been raised through a Muslim crowdfunding site for the victims of the shooting at a Pittsburgh synagogue on Saturday. The site was started by two Muslim nonprofit organizations. The fundraising campaign was launched on the site LaunchGood, which is a crowdfunding site specifically designed for Muslims. It reached its initial goal of $25,000 in less than six hours, and is now working to raise its new goal of $50,000. The Muslim-American community extends its hands to help the shooting victims, whether it is the injured victims or the Jewish families who have lost loved ones, the website description reads. We wish to respond to evil with good, as our faith instructs us, and send a powerful message of compassion through action. The fundraiser was started by two Muslim-American nonprofit groups, Celebrate Mercy and MPower Change. They say they are working in partnership with the Islamic Center of Pittsburgh who will assist them in distributing the money to the victims and their families. The website language also makes direct reference to the 11 people who were killed at the Tree of Life synagogue in Pittsburghs Squirrel Hill neighborhood on Saturday. According to the Anti-Defamation League, this was the deadliest anti-Semitic attack in United States history. The suspected gunman has been charged on 29 federal counts. The funds will go to help families of victims pay for funeral expenses and medical bills, according to the LaunchGood page. Through this campaign, we hope to send a united message from the Jewish and Muslim communities that there is no place for this type of hate and violence in America, the page reads. We pray that this restores a sense of security and peace to the Jewish-American community who has undoubtedly been shaken by this event. This is a good move for the Muslim community. There is no question that the current political environment, thanks to Donald Trump, fosters a toxic environment for violence. Most of this violence is directed toward racial and religious minorities in the United States. This weekend the target of the violence was Jews. Next weekend a gunman armed with an assault weapon may enter a Muslim Mosque and do the same thing. Now is the time for all Americans no matter what race or religion to come together in the cause of unity. This is the only way we will save our country and protect our democratic values. In this regard, more language from the Muslim crowdfunding site may serve to inspire and guide us in the difficult days ahead as we try to heal from this senseless tragedy: While these senseless acts have filled us with sorrow, we reflect on the message of unity, tolerance, and mutual protection found in the Constitution of Medina: a historic social contract between the Medinan Jews and the first Muslim community. We are also inspired by the example of our Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him, who stood up to pay respects for a passing Jewish funeral procession. When questioned on why he stood for a Jewish funeral, he responded, Is it not a human soul? [Source: Bukhari]. A Message of Unity Through this campaign, we hope to send a united message from the Jewish and Muslim communities that there is no place for this type of hate and violence in America. We pray that this restores a sense of security and peace to the Jewish-American community who has undoubtedly been shaken by this event. 112 SHARES Facebook Twitter Whatsapp Pinterest Reddit Print Mail Flipboard By Jessica Resnick-Ault and Chriss Swaney PITTSBURGH (Reuters) The 11 victims murdered at a Pittsburgh synagogue in the deadliest attack ever on the Jewish community in the United States were mostly older worshipers, ranging in age from 54 to 97, officials said on Sunday. The suspected gunman, 46-year-old Robert Bowers of Pittsburgh, stormed the building during a Saturday morning service and also wounded six other people including four police officers before being arrested. Bowers, who made statements about genocide and his desire to kill Jewish people during the rampage, will make an initial appearance before a judge on Monday afternoon, U.S. Attorney Scott Brady said at a news conference. The fact that this attack took place during a worship service makes it even more heinous, Brady said. The Tree of Life synagogue in the citys Squirrel Hill neighborhood, a heavily Jewish area, was holding a Shabbat religious service when the gunman burst in. Two brothers in their 50s and a husband and wife in their 80s were among those killed, according to the list of victims released by officials. Two people were in critical condition at area hospitals and three others, including two police officers, were in stable condition. One police officer was treated and released on Saturday. The mass shooting prompted security alerts at houses of worship around the country and condemnation from politicians and religious leaders. It followed a spate of pipe bombs found mailed in recent days to prominent political figures, mostly Democrats including former U.S. President Barack Obama, ahead of Nov. 6 congressional elections. Well get through this darkest day of Pittsburgh history by working together, the citys mayor, Bill Peduto, told reporters. IM GOING IN Bowers had made many anti-Semitic posts online, including one early on Saturday. In another, he slammed U.S. President Donald Trump for doing nothing to stop an infestation of the United States by Jews. A social media post by Bowers on Saturday morning said a Jewish refugee organization, the Hebrew Immigrant Aid Society, likes to bring invaders in that kill our people. I cant sit by and watch my people get slaughtered. Screw your optics, Im going in. U.S. Representative Adam Schiff, a Democrat who is Jewish, said on Sunday the country needs to combat a climate of hatred and division that he said Trump helped foster. Honestly I think this presidents whole modus operandi is to divide us. He gets up in the morning with new and inventive ways to divide us, Schiff said on CNNs State of the Union. On Saturday, Trump called the shooting an act of pure evil and called on Americans to rise above hatred. Bowers surrendered after a shootout with a SWAT team. Federal prosecutors charged him late on Saturday with 29 criminal counts including violence and firearms offenses, and violating U.S. civil rights laws. Several of the charges could carry the death penalty. The Anti-Defamation League and Jewish Council for Public Affairs described it as the deadliest attack on the Jewish community in the history of the United States. In Israel, cabinet ministers stood for a moment of silence on Sunday to honor the victims of the shooting. ALL JEWS MUST DIE KDKA television cited police sources as saying Bowers walked into the building and yelled All Jews must die. FBI Special Agent Robert Jones said Bowers was armed with an assault rifle and three handguns. Jones added that he did not know why Bowers picked the particular synagogue for his attack. He said authorities believed the suspect entered the synagogue, murdered the worshippers and was leaving when he encountered a uniformed police officer. The pair exchanged gunfire, Jones said, and Bowers reentered the building before a SWAT team arrived. Bowers was taken to a hospital where he was listed in fair condition with multiple gunshot wounds. At one point on Saturday. Trump told reporters that the killings might have been prevented if there had been an armed guard. Synagogue officials said police would only normally have been present there for security on high holidays. Peduto said at Sundays news conference that armed guards would not have prevented the violence. Were dealing with irrational behavior. There is no way that you can rationalize a person walking into a synagogue during services and taking the lives of 11 people. (This version of the story corrects paragraph 7 to show two police officers, not one police officer, among the three people in stable condition) (Additional reporting by Suzannah Gonzales in Chicago, Doina Chiacu and Susan Cornwell in Washington, and Rich McKay in Atlanta; Writing by Meredith Mazzilli; Editing by Alison Williams and Daniel Wallis) 876 SHARES Facebook Twitter Whatsapp Pinterest Reddit Print Mail Flipboard A leading Jewish rabbi expressed the feelings of millions of Americans when he appeared on CNN and criticized President Donald Trump for some of his remarks which followed the mass murder in Pittsburgh on Saturday. Rabbi Joshua Stanton directly responded to Trump who had blamed the death toll in the synagogue massacre to a lack of security. This is a case where if they had an armed guard inside, they might have been able to stop him immediately, Trump said when talking to reporters after the shooting. If they had protection inside, the results would have been far better. Stanton said this on CNN about Trumps ill-considered remarks: The words that I heard from our president today were deeply disappointing. He had one job, to provide comfort for those that were mourning, and instead, his words sounded to me like an advertisement for gun companies In our tradition that is seen as one of the highest acts of kindness is to be with those who are heartbroken and grieving, and instead, we just heard more empty rhetoric from a person who is already engaged in anti-Semitic dog whistles. I was hurt. I was offended, and I was deeply saddened as a human being, a Jewish person, and an American, and a rabbi. He also said that Trumps comments felt like blaming of the victims, which was absolutely true. It felt like victim blaming to me, Stanton said. I was appalled and I was saddened. His job was to comfort victims. Not to blame victims. Many on social media expressed their support for the words of Rabbi Stanton. One person tweeted: Listened to Rabbi Stanton on #CNN in the wake of the #synagogueshooting The world needs more people like Rabbi Joshua Stanton. Lets all fight to defeat right wing terrorism and republicans who support hate. Listened to Rabbi Stanton on #CNN in the wake of the #synagogueshooting The world needs more people like Rabbi Joshua Stanton. Lets all fight to defeat right wing terrorism and republicans who support hate Farayi Chiro (@MasikaTech) October 27, 2018 The truth is that Donald Trump cares more about NRA and its members than he cares about stopping gun violence in America. The rabbi was correct: Trumps remarks sounded like a commercial for gun manufacturers, who are currently making obscene profits in a divided America. The nation is still in shock and we have not heard many new calls for gun control legislation over the past 24 hours. However, the midterm elections are fast approaching, and there is no question that gun control will be in the forefront of the minds of many millions of Americans as they head to the polls. 4.2k SHARES Facebook Twitter Whatsapp Pinterest Reddit Print Mail Flipboard Actor Will Ferrell has been spotted in Georgia going door to door canvassing for Democratic candidates and Stacey Abrams. The Georgia Democrats posted a video of Farrell: Will Ferrell has arrived in Atlanta to fire up young #GaDems! Weve got just 11 days to #GetItDone for @staceyabrams, @SarahRiggsAmico and Dems across the state. Sign up for a volunteer shift, and together WE will #TurnGaBluehttps://t.co/ncHl5WVslH pic.twitter.com/62JO9Perqk Georgia Democrat (@GeorgiaDemocrat) October 26, 2018 Here are some pictures of Ferrell volunteering: Will Ferrell was canvassing door to door for @staceyabrams in Georgia -awesome pic.twitter.com/nW9S1NLOzH laney (@misslaneym) October 28, 2018 Will Ferrell spent yesterday in Plains encouraging voters to vote early for @staceyabrams, @SarahRiggsAmico, and all #GADems. Find your early vote location here: https://t.co/aTVXrxPO8E After you vote early, sign up to volunteer: https://t.co/jGIScpYhl8 pic.twitter.com/df7g6gvrOO Georgia Democrat (@GeorgiaDemocrat) October 26, 2018 Stacey Abrams and Georgia Democrats need all the help that they can get as Republicans are using every voter suppression tactic imaginable to keep Democrats from winning. The Georgia governors race should be very close. If Ferrell can inspire voters to go to the polls and support Abrams it could have bigger implications than an election for governor. An Abrams victory would mean that one of the vilest voter suppression machines in the United States would be dismantled, and Georgians could finally begin to realize the progress that they have been working toward for years. For more discussion about this story join our Rachel Maddow and MSNBC group. Follow Jason Easley on Facebook. Food editor and chief critic Eating all of the chicken livers just as fast as I can. Get the SC business stories that matter. Our newsletter catches you up with all the business stories that are shaping Charleston and South Carolina every Monday and Thursday at noon. Get ahead with us - it's free. The heart of Lincolnville is most visible inside a church, where spirituality mixes with historical research and racial integration. On a recent Monday, warm light filtered through the yellow stained glass windows inside New Vision Cathedral. It was just after noon and the regulars had filed in: a couple of sisters, a husband and wife and a woman with three young children. With their eyes closed, hands clapping and hips swaying, they prayed in a call-and-response. Lincolnville (population 1,139) is nestled in a forested area just south and west of U.S. Highway 78 in Charleston County, among North Charleston, Ladson and Summerville. It was founded by freed slaves in the days immediately after the Civil War. Now, 151 years later, the town's history will be commemorated on an official S.C. historical marker. Efforts to obtain the marker were led by New Vision Cathedral's Rev. Edward Johnson. During his research into the town's history, the Goose Creek native was surprised to learn the town has an immediate connection to Emanuel AME in Charleston heightening its importance, he said, past, present and future. Johnson will unveil the marker on Jan. 5 a celebration timed with the Emancipation Proclamation that was issued on Jan. 1, 1863, by President Abraham Lincoln, the town's namesake. Many of the town's oldest black residents attended segregated schools. But even they don't know the full story behind the town's creation because it was never documented in history books, Johnson said. "All of that history has been under wraps," Johnson said. "Our goal is to help get the town on the map." 'The gift of love' Like many freedman communities in the South, Lincolnville was formed shortly after the end of the Civil War, which freed the slaves. But the town's unique history long predates its 1867 origins. The story begins with Denmark Vesey. In 1822, Vesey, a free black man, was arrested for an alleged plot to capture the arsenal on Meeting Street and kill the governor and white slaveholders. Before that, however, Vesey founded Hempstead AME church in Charleston as a place of worship for enslaved Africans. After Vesey and 34 others were captured and hung for treason, Hempstead AME was burned to the ground. Around this time, a young minister named Harvey Cain was rising within the AME church as a pastor in Brooklyn, N.Y. In 1865, after slavery ended, Cain was given a special order: move to Charleston, find the fledgling members of Hempstead AME and create a new house of worship. If You Go What: An unveiling of an official South Carolina historical marker at the corner of Broad and Lincoln Avenues in Lincolnville. When: 11 a.m. Saturday, Jan. 5 Where: Meet at Lincolnville Town Hall 141 W. Broad St., Lincolnville, 29485 More information: Contact the Rev. Edward Johnson by phone at 843-330-7807 or by email at dr.edwardleejohnson@gmail.com. Together, Cain and Vesey's parishioners founded a new church. They named it "Emanuel" Hebrew for "God was with us." The church eventually relocated to Calhoun Street, where it stands today. Unlike Vesey, Cain did not believe in violence as a means for redemption. He used his influence as Emanuel's pastor to launch a successful political career. As one of South Carolina's earliest black representatives, Cain established a newspaper and helped revise South Carolina's constitution. Cain purchased a large tract of farmland in rural Berkeley County. In 1867, Cain and six African-American leaders Daniel Adger, Marc Buffett, Hector Grant, the Rev. Lewis Ruffin Nichols, the Rev. M.B. Salters and Walter Steele founded Lincolnville. They named the town in honor of Lincoln. Cain built Ebenezer AME church at the town's center. Johnson believes that Lincolnville was among the first towns settled by freed blacks, if not the first community black or white established immediately after the Civil War. A haven for families Officially incorporated in 1889, Lincolnville quickly became a place where formerly enslaved families flocked during Reconstruction. In these early years, community leaders built a one-room jail, established a small school and formed more churches. There is one living resident who, along with her sister, has attempted to document the town's history. Rosalee Washington was born in 1935 in a house behind a cow pasture near Summerville. Her father worked there as a sharecropper until the family saved enough money to purchase land in nearby Lincolnville. There, they joined other African-American families on the winding, pine tree-lined Dunmeyer Hill Road. Washington and her sister played in the front yard, where a lemon tree grew. On Sunday mornings, the family sang in the pews of Ebenezer AME church the church founded by Cain. And on weekday mornings, the two sisters walked to Lincolnville Elementary, a school founded by the community for its black children. "I thought we had arrived," Washington said of her family's move to the town. Washington got married in Lincolnville, raised her children in the town and taught for 31 years in an integrated elementary school. In 2004, she and her sister, Christine Hampton, published a book based on the history they had collected about Lincolnville. Washington stitched a quilt that included each piece of the historical timeline. But even their book and the quilt, Washington said, did not contain the details Johnson recently unearthed about Cain. "It is such a unique community," she said. "Teachers cared a lot about the children. ... After integration, black people expanded their horizons, and we lost that connection." A site for a new 'brotherhood' Like neighboring Summerville, Lincolnville is on the cusp of massive residential growth as the housing market in Charleston continues to boom. A $25 million multi-family housing complex will soon accommodate up to 300 families, Johnson said. Another development, dubbed Lincolnville Square, will include 30 new single-family homes designed by the same developer. The town still has a black mayor, but its population has grown more diverse. According to the U.S. Census, its 1,139 population is 49 percent black and 45 percent white. Racial integration in churches, schools and small towns is exactly what Cain had envisioned for the South, Johnson said. "Cain said, 'I look for the day when there will be no more black or white, but one common brotherhood and one united people going forward in the progress of the nation,'" Johnson said. "When Cain spoke of a 'brotherhood,' he sounded like Martin Luther King." After the historical marker is installed in the town early next year, Johnson hopes to work with Emanuel AME and the city of Charleston to encourage downtown tourists to consider a short side trip to Lincolnville's historical sites. The town's oldest remaining structure, the one-room stone jail dating back to the late 1800s, could be restored and turned into a museum, Johnson said. Washington said she hopes to see a historical marker added to the former school, which now serves as Lincolnville Town Hall. "Harvey Cain's story may have been all forgotten by the masses," Johnson said. "But historic Lincolnville, from this period forward, will forever be a constant reminder of the gift of love for fellow man that was deposited into him by the Holy Spirit and the help of good parents." A gunman enters a house of worship and opens fire a tragic and familiar set of events that has now occurred at a Pittsburgh synagogue. When the gunfire stopped inside the Tree of Life Congregation, a synagogue in Pittsburgh's historically Jewish Squirrel Hill neighborhood, on Saturday, 11 people were dead. Authorities arrested Robert Bowers, who is in his 40s, and are investigating the incident as a federal hate crime. Six other people, including four police officers, were also wounded in the attack. For many in Charleston, memories of the June 17, 2015, shooting at Emanuel AME Church that left nine dead are still raw. The news of another deadly incident that appears to be motivated by hate has left many in the local Jewish community and beyond struggling to process this most recent incident. Hateful rhetoric Sandra Brett, Filmfest coordinator for the Charleston Jewish Community Center, said she grew up in nearby Johnstown and lived for a time in Squirrel Hill. While she did not attend the Tree of Life Congregation, she was familiar with its role in the community. "Growing up, I would go there for youth events," Brett said. "These are people that are just living life like you and me. It's devastating that (this) happens to anybody. So many of us have forebears that were running away from persecution." For many American Jews, coming to the U.S. was a chance to escape that persecution and live with unprecedented freedom, she said. To see some of that freedom being threatened by harmful rhetoric and hate crimes is disheartening. Brett urged others not to dwell on actions motivated by hate, but to focus on how most people are good. Rabbi Stephanie M. Alexander, of Charleston's Kahal Kadosh Beth Elohim congregation, called Saturday's shooting a "gut-wrenching tragedy," and "an act of domestic terrorism." "Our hearts and prayers for strength and resilience go out to all in the Tree of Life family," Alexander said. "It should not be an act of bravery to gather for prayer. It should not take courage to enter a house of worship for study. It should not require armed security guards (though we have, and will continue to have them) to stay the tears and fears of students before they can engage in religious study." The violence and hate evident in the Pittsburgh shooting were meant to instill fear, she said. The community needs to stand up to that fear and have the resolve to not tolerate "the hateful rhetoric fanning flames of violence in this country." 'Immensely troubling' In South Carolina, there have been a handful of threats referencing race or religion since the Emanuel shooting, including a letter sent to a Charleston resident in July 2016 threatening an attack against a local mosque unless now-convicted shooter Dylann Roof was released from custody. In November that year, Charleston police received nine reports of anonymous letters containing general threats of racially and religiously motivated violence, with one note mentioning Roof by name. In 2017, the FBI arrested 29-year-old Benjamin Thomas Samuel McDowell for allegedly planning an attack inspired by Roof. McDowell pleaded guilty on federal charges earlier this year and was sentenced to nearly three years in prison. The Rev. Eric Manning, pastor at Emanuel AME, said he heard the news on Saturday as he was wrapping up a conference at his church reflecting on the Charleston shooting. "You think about the similarities," Manning said. "It's immensely troubling. We've come so far from a growth perspective, but we have taken so many steps backward in terms of civility and in terms of working with each other." The pastor said he has spoken about the shooting in Pittsburgh with some members of his congregation and knows the tragedy will resonate with his flock. He planned to continue to ponder the subject of mass shootings, senseless violence and the aftermath of events like the shootings in Charleston and Pittsburgh as he prepares his sermon for Sunday. "I pray that God will quiet our spirit," Manning said. "Even in tragedy, even in trauma, even in terror he is still there." The pastor pledged that he and his congregation would continue to stand in solidarity with members of the Jewish community, and call for an end to hateful and evil speech. Searching for a beacon Founded more than 150 years ago, the Tree of Life Congregation is located in the tree-lined residential neighborhood. The attack lasted 20 minutes and took place during a baby-naming ceremony, authorities in Pittsburgh confirmed. Officials later said that no children were hurt. It also reignited the national debate over guns. President Donald Trump called the shooting "far more devastating than anyone thought," saying "it's a terrible thing what's going on with hate in our country." He also said synagogues and churches should have armed guards. Meghan Alexander, founder of Arm in Arm, a South Carolina organization that advocates for responsible gun ownership, said the heated rhetoric surrounding debate over gun reform efforts is harmful and doesn't solve the core problems. "This cannot be a divisive conversation," she said. "We cannot solve this as a reaction. Until we can have a conversation about preventative measures where we're not retreating into corners, it's not going to get better and, in fact, it will get worse." Manning said he hoped that Charleston could be a model for re-establishing civility as the baseline. "Remember, that there is more that unites us than divides us," the pastor said. "I'm reminded of the fact that love casts out all fear. I would hope and pray that Charleston does hard work in becoming truly a beacon of light that this country so desperately needs now." Editorials represent the institutional view of the newspaper. They are written and edited by the editorial staff, which operates separately from the news department. Editorial writers are not involved in newsroom operations. For voters, the stakes are high on Nov. 6. With GOP incumbent Mark Sanford's defeat by Katie Arrington in the June primary, the election will chart the course of the region for years to come as a new face will take care of the 1st Congressional District. It's clear the two people who want to be Charleston's next member of Congress don't see eye to eye on a lot of the issues expected to pop up in Washington, D.C., in the months ahead. Both Republican Arrington, 47, a one-term state lawmaker from Summerville, and Democrat Joe Cunningham, 36, a Charleston attorney making his first run for office, say they would be the best voice to represent the Lowcountry. But they differ on how to do it. What's also clear is that while both have policy goals, they run short on specifics on how to get there, be it in health care, addressing mental health or fixing transportation woes. Here are highlights of the questions given each candidate by The Post and Courier. Read their full quoted submitted answers online at postandcourier.com/politics. Infrastructure: The differing perceptions of each other as they see it began immediately. Arrington touted her Statehouse experience, saying she has a proven track record of working across the aisle to get the job done. Cunningham said the district needs to elect someone who knows how to work across the aisle, and threw back at Arrington her words that she's called the election a race between good and evil. Being a Republican, Arrington noted she'd have a leg up in Washington where Republicans are in charge. Her top priority is securing resources for local flooding mitigation projects, followed up by widening and expanding existing roads and bridges. Cunningham was near identical in his infrastructure targets, naming funding for ports, flooding and drainage projects, bus rapid transit and completing Interstate 526 and widening Interstate 26. Neither offered a new detailed plan to make this happen or get money flowing. Offshore drilling: This was a significant point of difference, with their answers tied to geography. Arrington said she has already spoken with the president, vice president and senior administration officials to advocate for an exemption for South Carolina, saying the future of whatever happens will be determined by a Republican administration and Congress. She said the issue is one of local control but that she would advocate North Carolina and Georgia follow a South Carolina lead in saying "no." Cunningham said he is adamantly opposed to expanding offshore drilling to the Atlantic coast and that any offshore accident or disaster wouldn't respect state lines. A spill in North Carolina or Georgia would be just as detrimental to the South Carolina coast, he said. Abortion rights: The two couldn't be more diametrically opposed on the question whether Roe v. Wade should be overturned. Sign up for updates! Get the latest political news from The Post and Courier in your inbox. Email Sign Up! Arrington answered in the affirmative: "Yes. I am strongly pro-life." Cunningham was briefer: "No," was his answer. Period. Reducing gun violence: This question was asked in the context of the Oct. 3 shooting of seven police officers in Florence. Two of the officers were killed. The alleged shooter was found to be in possession of more than 125 guns. Arrington said she would never waver on the Second Amendment, and opposes any additional restrictions on gun ownership. The federal government needs to enforce the laws on the books, she said. Additionally, she said "we" need to provide better resources for the treatment for mental illness. Cunningham said it is impossible to legislate away evil but "we" can take common sense steps to keep criminals and the mentally unstable from legally purchasing weapons. He backs universal background checks, a ban on bump stocks and closing the Charleston loophole identified as how Emanuel AME Church shooter Dylann Roof acquired his weapon despite his arrest record. Making college cheaper: Both candidates were in partial agreement in their answers to this question in saying that obtaining a college education is no longer the road to success it used to be and other paths are just as honorable. Many current members of Congress have also made this call. Arrington said the federal government should reprioritize education dollars and provide more opportunities for vocational education and technical colleges to better prepare young people to enter the workforce. Cunningham mirrored this approach, saying post high school education goals shouldn't always have to focus on traditional, four-year colleges, saying Congress needs to increase incentives for apprenticeships and trade school options. Making health care more accessible: The candidates had diverging suggestions here. Arrington called for repealing and replacing Obamacare while keeping protections for those with pre-existing conditions. Some of her ideas include allowing interstate competition in the insurance market, greater transparency in health care billing and expanding the tax benefit for health insurance to individuals. Cunningham said the Affordable Care Act wasn't perfect but is worth keeping what has worked. His ideas included encouraging the federal government to negotiate with drug companies to lower medication prices for people on Medicare, allowing more middle-class families to qualify for tax breaks to reduce their health care costs and exploring lowering the Medicare age requirement from 65 to 55 over the course of 10 years. Trump, good or bad for South Carolina? Not much of surprise here: They are split about the president. Arrington spoke in glowing terms of the administration's accomplishments, from the low unemployment rate, including for minorities, to the tax cuts putting thousands of dollars into the pockets of families and the continued push for deregulation. The state's political power is also in play, she pointed out, with Republicans like Sens. Lindsey Graham and Tim Scott friendly with Trump, who has backed her campaign. Cunningham said the nation's politics was in bad shape long before Trump came on the scene, adding that his election has only exacerbated the "us-versus-them mentality" in America. | BY Ricki Green | News Corp Metro and Regional Marketing has appointed The Works, Sydney as lead agency for its metro and regional titles following the agencys successful subscriptions direct acquisition and engagement campaigns. The Works, which was appointed to the News Corp roster in July last year, will now manage creative strategy for retail and content marketing for News titles including The Daily Telegraph, Herald Sun, The Courier-Mail, The Advertiser and regional publications. Since being appointed, The Works have helped grow inbound subscriber sales from marketing channels by +45% year-on-year. Says Bettina Brown, GM of marketing communications, News Corp: The Works have proven themselves as a valuable partner on our subscription business and were confident that a full service partnership with them will be hugely beneficial to us meeting our all-of-marketing KPIs. Says Damian Pincus, founder and creative partner, The Works: We have been working very closely with the News team over the last year and have achieved some great results for the business, so its always fantastic when you are awarded new opportunities based on the teams performance, News is on an exciting path and its great to be part of the journey. The Post and Courier sent the two candidates for the state's coastal 1st Congressional District, which spans five counties from Charleston to Beaufort, a list of questions on issues facing Washington. We requested each candidate offer specifics in their answers and not include broad, vague statements used in stump speeches. Each side did OK in keeping down political rhetoric but did not always focus on details. To help voters better understand the candidates, here are their answers edited for punctuation and brevity. Candidates are listed alphabetically. They are Republican state Rep. Katie Arrington of Summerville, and Democrat Joe Cunningham, a Charleston attorney. 1. You have pegged infrastructure as a top priority to the 1st District. What would you do to get the tens of millions of dollars needed for the district to begin moving in this direction? And what 2-3 projects should be a priority? Arrington: I have a proven track record in the State House of working across the aisle to get the job done. But more importantly, I already have the ear of House leadership, the White House and the secretary of transportation. Much of the money has already been allocated but we need someone who can fight to make sure it comes back to the Lowcountry. I have already told Republican leadership that my first choice of committees will be a seat on Transportation and Infrastructure. My top priorities will be to first secure the resources for local flooding mitigation projects every neighborhood is different, and I will work with local elected officials to meet their needs. Second, we need federal funding to help pay for common-sense traffic solutions widening and expanding existing roads and bridges. This isnt a top-down approach. Its working with local leaders to identify critical needs. Cunningham: First we have to elect someone who knows how to work across the aisle. Im proud to have endorsements from Republican mayors, council members and other local leaders who know my commitment to putting the Lowcountry over my party. My opponent calls people in the other party evil. How is she going to secure funding for Lowcountry infrastructure projects if she calls people in the other party evil? We spend enough in taxes, its time for that money to come home. Ill fight for every penny I can get from Washington to fix our roads, bridges, flooding and infrastructure challenges. The most important projects for me would be funding for our ports, flooding and drainage projects, bus rapid transit, completing Interstate 526 and widening I-26. 2. Please define your position on offshore drilling. Are you for or against it expanding anywhere along the Eastern Coast or just off of South Carolina? How would you enact protections for our coast if it does come here? Or if North Carolina or Georgia were to allow it to happen? Arrington: I oppose drilling off of South Carolinas coast, and I have already spoken with the president, vice president, and senior administration officials to advocate for an exemption for South Carolina. I have also met with congressman Tom Rice from Myrtle Beach, and we will be working closely together on the issue. I strongly believe in local control but I will advocate that North Carolina and Georgia follow our lead in saying no to offshore drilling. This is a decision that will be made by a Republican president and predominantly Republican members of the House and Senate. A strong Republican with the ability to work closely with the administration gives South Carolina the best opportunity to stop offshore drilling. Cunningham: I am adamantly opposed to offshore drilling and my first priority in Congress will be to reinstate the ban on offshore drilling off the Atlantic coast. Oil spills dont respect state lines. A spill in North Carolina or Georgia would be just as detrimental to our coast as a spill off of South Carolina. As a former ocean engineer, I know how devastating just one spill could be to the Lowcountry economy and I wont let it happen on my watch. 3. The Supreme Court appears headed toward a more conservative philosophy and may lean even more so under President Trump. Should Roe v. Wade be overturned? Yes or No? Arrington: Yes. I am strongly pro-life. As the mother of a child born with special needs, I understand and will always protect the sanctity of all human life. Sign up for updates! Get the latest political news from The Post and Courier in your inbox. Email Sign Up! Cunningham:. No. 4. Authorities are still piecing together the details of the October shooting of seven police officers in Florence. The accused shooter possessed more than 125 guns. What should or can the federal government do, if anything, to stave off incidents like this from happening again? Arrington: I will never waver on the Second Amendment, and I oppose any additional restrictions on gun ownership. The federal government needs to enforce the laws that are on the books, and we need to provide better resources for the treatment for mental illness. Cunningham: As a gun owner and CWP holder, I respect and support the Second Amendment. We cannot legislate away evil in this world but we can take common sense steps to make sure criminals and mentally unstable people cant legally purchase weapons. Congress should pass a bill requiring universal background checks and a ban on bump stocks. We should also close the Charleston loophole. 5. What can the federal government do to make higher education more affordable? Arrington: Too many young people are burdened by onerous student loan debt but still cant find high enough paying jobs to afford it. The idea that a four-year degree is the only way to success couldnt be further from the truth. I am proof of that. I have no college degree, but I have successfully owned and operated businesses, created jobs and made a better life for my family. The federal government should reprioritize education dollars to provide more opportunities for vocational education and technical colleges to better prepare young people to enter the workforce. Cunningham: My wife and I pay the equivalent of a mortgage every month in student loans. For me, this is personal. Congress should pass legislation that allows people to write off more of their student loan debt, not just the first $2,500 of interest. Also when were talking about higher education, we shouldnt just be focusing on traditional, 4-year colleges. Congress should work to incentivise apprenticeships and trade school options so young people are prepared for the workforce after their high school graduation. 6. Both candidates have mentioned their exposure to health care needs, be it the birth of a child or hospitalization. What are specific ideas to make health care accessibility greater and cheaper for residents of the 1st District? Arrington: We need to repeal and replace Obamacare, while keeping protections for those with pre-existing conditions. Then, Congress needs to pass legislation that will cut costs while increasing patient choice, including allowing for interstate competition in the insurance market, greater transparency in health care billing and expanding the tax benefit for health insurance to individuals. Cunningham: I believe every American should have access to quality health care no matter their income level. One of the many ways we can improve our current health care system is by encouraging the federal government to negotiate with drug companies to lower medication prices for people on Medicare, similar to how the Veterans Affairs Department does. Another possibility is allowing more middle class families to qualify for tax breaks to reduce their health care costs. We should also explore lowering the Medicare age requirement from 65 to 55 over the course of ten years. I disagree with my opponent who wants to go back to the days when insurance companies could discriminate against people with pre-existing conditions. The ACA wasnt perfect but we should keep what worked, throw out what didnt, and fix everything else. 7. How has the Donald Trump movement affected South Carolina politically and economically? And is that good or bad in your view? Arrington: The lowest unemployment rate in decades. Tax cuts putting thousands of dollars into the pockets of South Carolinian families. Black, Hispanic and female employment at record highs. The stock market soaring. South Carolina is greatly benefiting from the deregulations and tax cuts put forth by the president and Republican leadership. From appointing several South Carolinians to key administration positions and empowering our delegation including Sens. Tim Scott and Lindsey Graham, President Trump has increased the political power of South Carolina. That is certainly a good thing. I am proud to have the support of President Trump, and I look forward to working with him to secure our border, cut taxes, create jobs, support our military and veterans, and rebuild our infrastructure. Cunningham: Our politics was in bad shape long before Donald Trump. But his election has only exacerbated the us-versus-them mentality that many people, including my opponent and many in my party, embrace. That mentality causes people to see politics as nothing more than a war. I do not believe politics is a war and this election is not a battle between good and evil, as my opponent says. Its an opportunity to present voters with competing solutions to fix problems facing our community. Politicians in both parties should put down their partisan armor and starting working together for a change. 8. Give voters one reason why they should vote for you that they have not heard of. Arrington: In a time when border security and national security are at the forefront, I have earned the support and endorsements of all five elected sheriffs in the district because I am the only candidate who will secure our border, build the wall and support law enforcement. Cunningham: I plan to continue Congressman Sanfords satellite office hours where he frequently goes to locations throughout the district and allows voters to come discuss any issue with him. Constituent service will be a top priority in my office and residents of the Lowcountry will always have full access to me and my staff. Bradnick is one of the most awarded and respected creative leaders in New Zealand. DDB Auckland was New Zealands most awarded agency at Cannes and has just been named Effectiveness Agency of the Year. Bradnick has created some of New Zealands most loved work for brands including Steinlager, Speights, McDonalds, Lotto, AA Insurance and Sky NZ. He was named one of the best Executive Creative Directors and Art Directors in the world by The WON Report and has been consistently ranked a Campaign Brief Top 3 ECD. He has won hundreds of awards in his career across Cannes, D&AD, Spike, One Show, AWARD, Axis, Effies, Webbys and the Facebook Awards. Bradnick was with TBWA in South Africa before joining M&C Saatchi Sydney, then moving to BMF. In 2013, he moved to New Zealand to join DDB as Executive Creative Director helping to consistently drive the agencys rankings to first or second at local and international Effectiveness and Creative award shows. Here, Bradnick fell in love with New Zealand and now calls it home. Says Catherine Harris (pictured with Bradnick), Managing Director of TBWA Group: We thank Christy Peacock for all he has done for the agency over the past three years and we wish him all the best. We know clients want growth, not ads. Shanes delivery of brand platforms, his breadth of work across data and digital and the impact his work has on brand performance is exceptional. He is one of the best creatives in the country and has delivered some of New Zealands most iconic and effective work. Shane is hugely successful and brings a very modern outlook to what creative companies can deliver for clients. He is a big believer in the power of TBWAs disruption philosophy and I cant wait to partner with him. Further new appointments will be announced shortly. Bradnick says he is moving back to TBWA to join forces with Harris who has done an outstanding job of leading the agency in a new direction over the last 18 months. Says Bradnick: I have really enjoyed my time at DDB, made good friends and some great work. Ive also learned a lot about the New Zealand market and what clients are looking for from a modern agency. I am looking forward to partnering with Catherine. We share a simple philosophy when it comes to advertising make stuff that people love, with people you like. We are excited to build on TBWAs 35 years of Disruption, which is about finding new space for brands to grow and what this means for agencies and clients today. It will be a fun next chapter. Says Paul Bradbury, CEO TBWA Group Australia and New Zealand: Creativity is the last and most powerful differentiator for brands now and into the future, which is why we have made this investment to secure one of the very best creative leaders in New Zealand. Catherine and Shane will be a formidable leadership team for many years to come. Says Justin Mowday, CEO, DDB NZ: Shanes been a part of DDB for 5 years and were sad to see him go. Its been an absolute privilege and pleasure to work with Shane. Hes a mate, hes a talent, and we wish him nothing but success in the future. Keith Ellison is Minnesotas incumbent Fifth District congressman, deputy chairman of the Democratic National Committee and DFL candidate for Minnesota attorney general. He was a long-time apostle of hate on behalf of Louis Farrakhan and the Nation of Islam, though the local Minnesota media havent gotten around to revisiting the issue as Ellison seeks statewide office. Now he is an apostle of hate on behalf of the causes of the increasingly mainstream far left of the Democratic Party. Speaking last week at a debate with GOP candidate Doug Wardlow, Ellison explained that he had operated under the impression that Farrakhan had some things to offer. Well, thats the problem. As an advocate of Farrakhan and active member of the Nation of Islam hate cult, Ellison never dissented from a single doctrine of the creed according to Farrakhan. When Ellison won the primary contest for the DFL attorney general nomination in August, I thought Ellisons support for cop killers and terrorists peculiarly unfitted him for the office. Drawing on contemporaneous press accounts as well as his 2000 National Lawyers Guild speech in support of Symbionese Liberation Army terrorist Kathleen Soliah/Sara Jane Olson the terrorist in my neighborhood I took a look back at this aspect of Ellisons career in the Weekly Standard column Can Keith Ellison turn lawman? In his National Lawyers Guild speech Ellison spoke favorably of cop killers Mumia Abu-Jamal and Assata Shakur (Joanne Chesimard), who is wanted for the murder of New Jersey state trooper Werner Foerster in 1973. Chesimard was convicted of that murder but escaped from prison in 1979 and has been on the lam in Cuba since 1984. Bryan Burroughs Days of Rage has a riveting account of Chesimards terrorist career. In 2013, the FBI made Chesimard the first woman named to its Most Wanted Terrorists List. The FBI has offered a reward of up to $1,000,000 for her capture. Ellison prayed for Chesimard in his National Lawyers Guild speech: I am praying that Castro does not get to the point where he has to really barter with these guys over here because theyre going to get Assata Shakur, theyre going to get a whole lot of other people, he told the crowd. I hope the Cuba[n] people can stick to it, because the freedom of some good decent people depends on it. In 2006 Greg Lang dug up the text of Ellisons speech as edited by Ellison himself and posted it on a site Lang dedicated to the Soliah case. Fearing that the site might disappear, as it has, I posted the speech in its entirety here on Power Line. To say the least, it reveals Ellison to be hostile to impartial enforcement of the law and indifferent to the lives of police officers. It is a shocking speech that betrays his unfitness for any public office, let alone attorney general. Then Star Tribune metro columnist Katherine Kersten devoted a column to Ellisons National Lawyers Guild speech at the time Lang dug it up. When she sought out Ellison he declined to comment on his current view of Soliah/Olson or Chesimard/Shakur and he has not been asked about it since. The Minnesota media have proved remarkably incurious about Ellisons past. This weekend the St. Paul Pioneer Press takes a deep dive into Wardlows early teenage years in a story alleging he harassed a gay high school classmate. The contrast in the media treatment of the candidates is sickening. The Minnesota media have declined to hold Ellison to account. They have left it to Doug Wardlow to draw attention to this unsavory and highly relevant aspect of Ellisons career. Confident that he will never be called on it, Ellison continues to lie about it with, well, audacity. In the video below, Doug tells the still too little known truth about Keith Ellison. The Report focuses on Dental Implants Market Asia Pacific Market, especially in China, Japan, Taiwan, Korea, Southeast Asia, India and Australia. As well as United Kingdom. Dental Implants PR-Inside.com: 2018-10-28 19:07:16 Press Information Polaris Market Research 30 Wall Street 8th Floor, New York City, NY 10005, United States Mr.Neel Corporate Sales Manager 1-646-568-9980 email https://www.polarismarketresearch.com/ # 626 Words 30 Wall Street8th Floor, New York City,NY 10005, United StatesCorporate Sales Manager1-646-568-9980 Dental implants are known as replacement of artificial tooth-root or entire tooth which is implanted surgically in lower or upper jawbone. A dental implant is generally made of material such as titanium or zirconium which are surgically placed into the mouth gums. Once the implants are placed into the jawbone, they allow the dentist to mount the replacement teeth over them. According to the World Health Organization (WHO) 2016, approximately 150,000 cases in the U.S. were filed to suffer periodontal diseases. Moreover, According to the National Center for Health Statistics, in 2011 and 2012, approximately 91% persons in the U.S. with the age of 20 to 65 years had dental caries in their teeth. Thus, dental implants provides an alternative for people who have lost their tooth due to periodontal diseases, injuries or others. Similar to natural teeth, dental implants are durable, stable, and accessible in different sizes as well as shape.Download PDF Sample: https://bit.ly/2RilUNV Increasing medical tourism and growing consciousness for oral care boosts the dental implants market.The global dental implants market is primarily driven by factors such as increasing demand for preventive and cosmetic dental procedures, rising awareness for oral care, growing geriatric population and technological advancements in the implant materials. Moreover, high cost of dental implants surgery in the developed economies such as the U.S. and the U.K. supports the growth of medical tourism in different portion of the world including India, China, Malaysia, and Costa Rica where the dental implant is at the economic expenses. In addition, rising prevalence of tooth loss due to accidents and periodontal diseases, availability of high-quality dental infrastructure and products, and increasing number of dentists offering dental implants, further propelling the growth of the global dental implants market.However, reimbursements issues, high cost for dental implants, and risk of total tooth loss associated with dental bridges and implantation are some of the factors hampering the global dental implant market.Geographically, the global dental implants market is categorized into North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, Latin America, and Middle East & Africa.Technological advancement in dental implants and favourable reimbursement policies to lead the global market in Europe.On the basis of geography, Europe is expected to dominate the global dental implant market over forecast period. According to Europa, over 25% of the population in Europe is anticipated to fall below geriatric age group by 2020-2021. Consequently, rising geriatric population requiring dental care is one of the major factor driving the market in this region. Furthermore, rising awareness for self-care, favourable reimbursement scenario, and increasing government expenditure towards healthcare are another factors developing lucrative dental implant market in the Europe. However, Asia Pacific is expected to dominate the market in the forecast period. Increasing number of dental implants procedure at economic costs in countries such as China, India, and Japan is the major factor anticipated to govern the global market during upcoming years.Key players in the global dental implant market are:DENTSPLY ImplantsStraumann AGBicon Dental ImplantsAnthogyr, KYOCERA Medical CorporationLifecore Dental ImplantsZest AnchorsImplant Innovations IncBioHorizons IPH, Inc.Neobiotech USA. Inc.Sweden & MartinaTBR Implants GroupGlobal DMOZO-GRAU, S.A.For More Information and TOC: https://bit.ly/2CIt3mI About Polaris Market Research:Polaris Market Research is a global market research and consulting company. We strive to provide our customers with updated information on innovative technologies, high growth markets, emerging business environments and latest business-centric applications, thereby helping them always to make informed decisions and leverage new opportunities. The company specializes in providing exceptional market intelligence and in-depth business research services for our clientele spread across different enterprises.Contact us:Mr. NeelCorporate Sales, USAPolaris Market ResearchPhone: 1-646-568-9980Email: neel@ polarismarketresearch.com Web: https://www.polarismarketresearch.com/ PR-Inside.com: 2018-10-28 19:09:02 Press Information Polaris Market Research Contact us- Mr. Neel Corporate Sales, USA Polaris Market Research Phone: 1-646-568-9980 Email: sales@polarismarketresearch.com Web: www.polarismarketresearch.com Mr. Neel Manager 1-646-568-9980 email https://www.polarismarketresearch.com/ # 733 Words Contact us-Mr. NeelCorporate Sales, USAPolaris Market ResearchPhone: 1-646-568-9980Email: sales@polarismarketresearch.comWeb: www.polarismarketresearch.comManager1-646-568-9980 According to the new market research Essential Oil Market [By Product Type (Lemon, Lime, Orange, Corn Mint, Eucalyptus, Peppermint, Citronella, Clove Leaf, Others); By Distribution Channel (Offline Stores, Online Platforms); By Application (Healthcare and Pharmaceutical, Cleaning, Food and Beverages, Spa and Wellness, Others); By Region]: Market Size & Forecast, 2017 2026", The Essential Oil market is expected to reach USD 16,172.2 million by 2026 from USD 6,829.5 million in 2017, at a CAGR of 10.1%.The essential oil market is anticipated to reach USD 16,172.2 million by 2026. In 2017, the orange essential oil segment dominated the global market, in terms of revenue. Europe is expected to be the leading contributor to the global market revenue during the forecast period.Speak to our analyst and gain crucial industry insights that will help your business grow: https://www.polarismarketresearch.com/industry-analysis/essential-oil-market/speak-to-analyst A significant increase in disposable income, changing lifestyles, and initiatives by market players to promote healthy lifestyles drive the growth of this market. Other driving factors include increasing incidences of stress and anxiety, growing inclination towards use of natural and organic products, and increasing awareness regarding physical and mental health. The use of essential oils in various applications such as food and beverages, healthcare, pharmaceutical, cosmetics, and aromatherapy further propel the market growth. Increasing demand in developing nations is expected provide numerous growth opportunities to the market players during the forecast period.Major Key Player: -Cargill (U.S.)E.I. du Pont de Nemours and Company (U.S.)Koninklijke DSM N.V. (Netherlands)Givaudan SA (Switzerland)Doterra International LLC.Rocky Mountain OilsLLCNaturals TogetherRobertet SANow Health Group, Inc.Biolandes SASFalcon Essential OilsUngerer LimitedThe Lebermuth CompanyFlavex Naturextrakte GmbHFarotti Srl.There has been a shift towards e-commerce and consumers are increasingly purchasing essential oils through online platforms. The variety of choices available coupled with ease of purchase offered by online platforms encourages consumers to buy essential oils online, supplementing the growth of the market.Request for Free Sample Report @ https://www.polarismarketresearch.com/industry-analysis/essential-oil-market/request-for-free-sample Improvement in lifestyle due to rise in income level, especially in the developing countries of Asia-Pacific fuels the demand for essential oils market. Factors such as increase in per capita income and changes in consumer behavior towards physical and mental health are expected to accelerate the adoption of essential oils in the coming years.Europe generated the highest revenue in the market in 2017, and is expected to lead the global market throughout the forecast period. The high geriatric population in the region coupled with high disposable income drives the market growth. The high demand of essential oils in food & beverages and cosmetic products support the market growth in the region. Asia-Pacific is expected to grow at the highest CAGR during the forecast period owing to increasing disposable incomes in developing countries of this region, rising awareness about benefits of essential oils, and rising demand of essential oils from healthcare sector in this region.For More Details about this report: https://www.polarismarketresearch.com/industry-analysis/essential-oil-market/ The different types of essential oils in the market include lemon, lime, orange, corn mint, eucalyptus, peppermint, citronella, clove leaf, and others. In 2017, the orange essential oil segment accounted for the highest market share. The increasing demand for orange essential oil is owing to properties such as anti-inflammatory, antidepressant, and antispasmodic. Use of orange essential oil has a calming effect on mind and body, and is used in various cosmetics products. It is also used in various foods and beverages to enhance flavor.About Polaris Market ResearchPolaris Market Research is a global market research and consulting company. The company specializes in providing exceptional market intelligence and in-depth business research services for our clientele spread across different enterprises. We at Polaris are obliged to serve our diverse customer base present across the industries of healthcare, technology, semi-conductors and chemicals among various other industries present around the world. We strive to provide our customers with updated information on innovative technologies, high growth markets, emerging business environments and latest business-centric applications, thereby helping them always to make informed decisions and leverage new opportunities. Adept with a highly competent, experienced and extremely qualified team of experts comprising SMEs, analysts and consultants, we at Polaris endeavor to deliver value-added business solutions to our customers.Contact us-Mr. NeelCorporate Sales, USAPolaris Market ResearchPhone: 1-646-568-9980Email: sales@ polarismarketresearch.com Web: www.polarismarketresearch.com A World Bank vice president, Arunma Oteh, is to leave her position on December 1 to join Oxford University. Ms Oteh, a former director general, Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), will be joining St Antonys College of the university as an academic scholar in January, Reuters reports. The news wire service quoted two sources it said were well positioned to know as saying Ms Oteh will be departing her current position before the end of her tenure as treasurer and vice president of the World Bank. Ms Oteh joined the service of the bank in 2015 shortly after her stint at SEC. Since then, the report noted, she and her team have been responsible for managing the World Banks $200 billion debt portfolio. In a note sent to staff, the World Bank president, Jim Kim, thanked Ms Oteh for her committed service to the World Bank Group, its mission and clients around the world. Mr Kim wished Ms Oteh the best at Oxford. A 26-year-old Nigerian, Hauwa Ojeifo, has been nominated for the Generation Change Award at the 2018 MTV Europe Music Award. The MTV EMA Generation Change Award is a new category created to elevate and empower the fearless, original young people who are changing the world. The Generation Change Award would be presented during the MTV EMA Awards, which holds in Bilbao, Spain, on November 4. Ms Ojeifo is the creator of a walk-in and mental health crisis helpline and an anonymous women-only mental health support group, called Safe Place. She has been nominated alongside four other persons namely Xiuhtezcatl X Martinez, Sonita Alizadeh, Mohamed Al Jounde and Ellen Jones. Martinez is a climate activist/ hip-hop artist leading an environmental movement while Mohamad is a 17-year-old Syrian refugee who built a school in a refugee camp in Lebanon when he was just 12 years old. Sonita uses her rap lyrics and powerful voice to help end child marriage while Ellen is a 20-year-old LGBTQ+ rights activist from the UK. The organisers noted in a statement that the nominees are tackling some of the worlds toughest problems in substantial ways. Hauwa would also join Nigerian music superstars, Davido and Tiwa Savage, who have been nominated in the Best African Act category at the MTV EMA. Speaking ahead of the awards ceremony, executive vice president and managing director for Viacom International Media Networks and BET International, Alex Okosi, said young people around the world are stepping up and playing a huge part in driving solutions to make the world a better place. We are excited for Hauwa Ojeifo to be representing Africa among this amazing group of nominees for this powerful and important award, he said. The 2018 MTV EMA will air live on November 4 at 9:00 p.m. CET in nearly 180 countries across the globe. Eighteen Saudis are being investigated on the charge of intentional homicide with premeditation and torture over the killing of Saudi journalist, Jamal Khashoggi. A senior Turkish official with knowledge of the investigation informed CNN on updates regarding the journalists death. Mr Khashoggi was assassinated on October 2 at the Saudi Arabian consulate in Turkey when he had gone to receive some documents for his planned marriage. A team of assassins were reported to have flown into Turkey from Saudi Arabia to kill the journalist. The journalist had departed Saudi Arabia, his country, for the United States, following growing fears about his safety, but was killed in what has been described by officials as premeditated murder. Mr Khashoggis death has drawn global criticism of the Saudi Arabian monarchy, especially the countrys crown prince, Mohammed Bin Salman, who is accused of ordering the attack. Saudi Arabia initially said Khashoggi had left the Saudi consulate in Istanbul alive on October 2, then claimed he had died in a fistfight there with Saudi officials. According to CNN, the Saudi attorney general, Suood bin Abdullah Al Mojab on Thursday said Mr Khashoggi was killed in a premeditated murder. On Friday, the Turkish President, Recep Erdogan, demanded that Saudi Arabia reveal the location of Mr Khashoggis body and hand over the suspects. Also, the Istanbul prosecutors office has submitted an extradition request to Saudi Arabia for the 18 suspects, who have not been charged. But Saudis Foreign Minister Adel Al-Jubeir indicated Saturday the request would be denied. The individuals are Saudi nationals, he said. Theyre detained in Saudi Arabia, and the investigation is in Saudi Arabia, and they will be prosecuted in Saudi Arabia. Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman said earlier this week in Riyadh that the kingdom would implement all necessary rules and investigate deeply in order to achieve results; and to bring to justice those who are responsible for this heinous crime, and they will be put before courts. Although there have been controversies that the Saudi crowned prince is in the murder, U.S. officials also said such a mission, including 15 men sent from Riyadh, could not have been carried out without the authorization of the prince, the countrys de facto ruler. Speaking at the International Institute for Strategic Studies Manama Dialogue in Bahrain, Adel Al-Jubeir urged the public to wait for a complete investigation. There has been a hysteria in the media about Saudi Arabias guilt, People have assigned blame on Saudi Arabia with such certainty before the investigation is complete. We have made it very clear that we are going to have a full and very transparent investigation, the results of which will be released. Were trying to uncover what happened, he said. We know that a mistake was committed, we know that people exceeded their authority, and we know that we are investigating them. Mr Al-Jubeir said those responsible would be punished and prosecuted in Saudi Arabia and that mechanisms will be put in place to ensure this doesnt happen again. Meanwhile, U.S. Defense Secretary, James Mattis, at the same event in Bahrain, said Mr Khashoggis murder should concern us all greatly. As US Secretary of State Pompeo stated, the US does not tolerate this kind of ruthless action to silence Mr. Khashoggi, a journalist, through violence, he said. Failure of any one nation to adhere to international norms and rule of law undermines regional stability when it is needed most. Mr Mattis said U.S. President Donald Trump said the United States would get to the bottom of it. In Nigeria, activists under the platform of the Coalition of Nigerian Media and Civil Society Groups demanded justice for Mr Khashoggi at a protest at the Saudi embassy on Friday. U.S. President Donald Trump, First Lady Melania Trump, and Vice President Mike Pence have strongly condemned the shooting on Saturday inside a Pittsburgh Synagogue, killing at least 11 worshipers. Former presidents Barack Obama and Bill Clinton as well as former first lady, Hillary Clinton, also joined to condemn the massacre, described as among the deadliest against the Jewish community in the U.S. The shooter, identified by law enforcement officials as Robert Bowers, stormed into the Tree of Life Congregation, where worshipers had gathered in separate rooms to celebrate their faith. Armed with an AR-15-style assault rifle and at least three handguns, Bowers fired indiscriminately into the crowd for several minutes, before he was wounded four police officers, who sustained injuries. Trump said: This wicked act of mass murder is pure evil, hard to believe and frankly something that is unimaginable. The nation and the world are shocked and stunned by the grief. The president added that Anti-Semitism and the widespread persecution of Jews represent one of the ugliest and darkest features of human history. The vile, hate-filled poison of anti-Semitism must be condemned and confronted everywhere and anywhere it appears. There must be no tolerance for anti-Semitism in America or for any form of religious or racial hatred or prejudice. Vice-President Mike Pence also strongly condemned the massacre, describing it as not just criminal it was evil an attack on innocent Americans and an assault on our Freedom of Religion. Theres no place in America for violence or anti-Semitism, and this evil must end. The first lady, condemning the incident said: My heart breaks over the news out of Pittsburgh. The violence needs to stop. May God bless, guide and unite the United States of America. In his statement, Mr Obama said: We grieve for the Americans murdered in Pittsburgh. All of us have to fight the rise of anti-Semitism and hateful rhetoric against those who look, love, or pray differently. And we have to stop making it so easy for those who want to harm the innocent to get their hands on a gun. Also, former president Clinton mourned those murdered and wounded at the Synagogue, calling for strong action to end violence and hatred in America. Barack Obama We must all send an unequivocal message that the violence and hatred that has been unleashed and fanned across America will not be tolerated. It wont end until we stop it, Mr Clinton said. His wife and former first lady, Hillary, also sent her thoughts to everyone affected by the horrific shooting saying: We can and must put a stop to this violence and this hate. It should have no home in America. Mr Bowers was charged with 29 criminal counts by federal officials, including 11 counts of using a firearm to commit murder and multiple counts of two hate crimes: obstruction of exercise of religious beliefs resulting in death and obstruction of exercise of religious beliefs resulting in bodily injury to a public safety officer. The crimes of violence are based upon the federal civil rights laws prohibiting hate crimes, U.S. Attorney Scott Brady and Bob Jones, Federal Bureau of Investigations special agent in charge of Pittsburgh office said in a statement. He also faced state charges, including 11 counts of criminal homicide, six counts of aggravated assault and 13 counts of ethnic intimidation. Mr Bowers could face the death penalty if he is convicted of a hate crime. (NAN) The World Health Organisation (WHO), says it is working out strategies to better combat air pollution and its effect on health currently causing over seven million deaths globally annually. The organisation stated on its website on Saturday that it would hold a conference on Air Pollution and Health in response to a World Health Assembly mandate to combat air pollution, one of the worlds most significant causes of premature deaths. The UN body noted that at present, air pollution in most cities exceeded recommended WHO Air Quality levels, adding that household air pollution was a leading killer in poor rural and urban homes. According to WHO, one third of deaths from stroke, lung cancer and heart disease is due to air pollution. Air pollution also causes one in nine deaths worldwide. Affordable strategies exist to reduce key pollution emissions from the transport, energy, agriculture, waste and housing sectors. Health-conscious strategies can reduce climate change and support Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) for health, energy and cities. Lets act together because the cost is far too high; air pollution claims seven million lives every year, it is a major driver of the Non-communicable Disease (NCDs) epidemic and it accelerates climate change. The solution to air pollution however is affordable and clean urban, transport, waste and household energy strategies and the health, environment and development sectors can lead the way to change. WHO said that it would hold the three days conference from October 30 to November 1 in Geneva, Switzerland with the theme Improving Air Quality, Combating Climate Change Saving Lives. It said that the conference would be held in collaboration with UN Environment, World Meteorological Organisation (WMO) and the Secretariat of the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC). Other collaborating organisations are Climate and Clean Air Coalition to Reduce Short-Lived Climate Pollutants (CCAC) and the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE). WHO said that it hoped to push for a call to action by all participating organisations, governments and individuals with an agreement on a target to reduce the seven million deaths due to air pollution by 2030. It said that the conference would underline the links between air pollution and the global epidemic on NCDs and position the health sector to catalyse actions for health-wise policies on clean household energies, transport and waste. The UN body said that participants at the conference would include ministries of health and environment and other national government representatives including representatives of intergovernmental agencies. Other participants, according to WHO are health professionals, and individuals from other sectors such as transport and energy as well as from research, academia and civil society. (NAN) Governor Rochas Okorocha of Imo on Saturday announced N250 million as the start-up capital for health insurance scheme in the state. He described health insurance scheme as a necessity for quality life and should be embraced by individuals, governments, and corporate organisations. Mr Okorocha made the announcement at the official flag-off ceremony of Imo State Health Insurance Scheme (IMSHIS) held at the Trade and Investment Centre, Owerri. The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the flag-off was at the instance of the Imo State Ministry of Health in collaboration with the World Health Organisation (WHO). The governor said the health insurance scheme would enable one to access health care services at all times as somebody somewhere had already paid for the services and urged all to embrace it. He described health sector as one of the key social infrastructure which provided the pivot on which life of the people and their environment revolved. Health and education are interwoven. Health is key to the existence of human beings, yet people pay very little attention to this aspect of life. One of the health challenges in the state is health education. If you eat right, live in a clean environment, do a little bit of exercise with enough rest, you have a good health, yet majority of people neglect these areas, he said. Mr Okorocha said the programme would be taken to the grassroots as it was needed by the down trodden. There are diseases the people, the family cannot carry, but which could be handled by these scheme. Imo government knew the importance of health, hence we built the Imo Foundation, the Ochiedike Diagnostic Centre and the 27 general hospitals in the state for the helath benefit of the people, he said. The Minister of Health, Isaac Adewole, represented by the Chief Medical Director of the Federal Medical Centre, Owerri, Kinsgley Ashiegbu, described the take-off of the scheme as an epoch making event which would redefine health care in Imo. He said the programme would impact on the human development indices of the state, create employment and wealth. The minister promised to give it all the necessary support for it to succeed. The WHO Country Representative, DWondimagegnehu Alemu, also commended the state government for the launch of the scheme. He said it would help protect the population of the country and ensure that the best primary health care was provided with subsidy for the poor who would not be able to pay. Angela Uwakwen, the state Commissioner for Health, expressed appreciation to the state government and WHO for making the programme launch a reality. She said that with the flag-off of the scheme, qualitative and affordable health care for Imo citizens were set for full realisation and enjoined the people to key into it as some hospitals would be accredited for the purpose. John Onyeokoro, the Executive Secretary, Imo State Health Insurance Agency (IMSHIA), said that increased investment in health and human capital development were drivers of economic development. He described Universal Health Coverage (UHC) as a well thought out strategy by the federal government to achieve improvement in the health of the greater number of Nigerians as well as citizens of other nations. He said the Presidential Summit on UHC, held in March 2014 in Abuja, laid the foundation for the ongoing focused actions directed towards empowering states to develop social health insurance. Mr Onyeokoro said the state governor had signed the Imo State Health Insurance Law in April 2018 which provided for a mandatory health insurance scheme for every person resident in the state. Health insurance is the best way to keep ordinary Nigerians out of poverty through the guarantee of basic quality healthcare services for a minimum fee. The World Health Organisation is currently supporting the state to develop a system of State Health Accounts to empirically guide us in the development of appropriate technical tools needful for the smooth implementation of the scheme, he said. Mr Onyeokoro said the agency would soon intensify a statewide stakeholders sensitization and public awareness to enlighten the general populace on the importance of the scheme. Chinasa Agwunobi, the South East Zonal Coordinator of National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS), commended the Imo government for keying into the programme, which she said, would ensure that the state benefited from the N5 billion mapped out for the scheme. She urged all concerned to give attention to the scheme for its survival, adding that health insurance is the way to go as the government alone cannot carry the burden of quality health for the people. (NAN) Uh-oh! It could be you, or it could be us, but there's no page here. | BY Ricki Green | Vaalia yoghurt is both tasty and full of goodness. The trouble is, nobody believes a yoghurt can be both of these good things. Naturally, the only way to prove this was in the Court Of Yoghurt. Created by The Monkeys, part of Accenture Interactive, this is the first spot for Vaalia under the new brand positioning Full Of Feelgoodness, which will continue to find memorable and entertaining ways to deliver product benefits in a category overloaded with slow-motion yoghurt swirls, smiling spokes-models and weird digestive diagrams. Directed by Photoplays Gary John, Court of Yoghurt launched recently across broadcast television. Says Barbara Humphries, creative director, The Monkeys: This new platform shows Vaalia has a key ingredient mostly missing in the yoghurt category a sense of humour. We wanted to have some fun, while still making sure the brand stays top of mind. Says Angela Burr, marketing director, Parmalat Australia: For years Vaalia has been bringing Australians a range of yoghurts that taste indescribably good and are full of dairy goodness. This new campaign celebrates that Vaalia feeling Full of Feelgoodness. Client: Parmalat Creative Agency: The Monkeys, Sydney Chief Creative Officer & Co-Founder: Scott Nowell Executive Creative Director: Vince Lagana Creative Director: Barbara Humphries Senior Copywriter: Tim Pashen Senior Art Director: Scott Zuliani Business Strategy Director: Kit Lansdell Group Content Director: Ciaran Miller-Stubbs, Kelly Spence Content Director: Shannon Duhig Senior Content Manager: Demi Nielsen Head of Production: Thea Carone Producer: Sally Lankshear Production Company: Photoplay Director: Gary John Executive Producer: Oliver Lawrance Producer: Bonnie Fay Post Production: The Editors The controversy surrounding President Mubammadu Buharis school certificate and the alleged plot to remove APC National Chairman, Adams Oshiomhole, dominated political discourse last week. Other major stories include the bail granted ex-Ekiti State governor, Ayo Fayose, and the defection of Kaduna senator, Shehu Sani. PREMIUM TIMES brings you a round up of the major political stories last week. Sunday Oshiomhole attacks APC chiefs plotting his removal The National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Adams Oshimhole, on Sunday raised the alarm over what he described as a plot against him by unnamed party members. The alarm was sequel to news reports that some high ranking party members, including some close associates of President Muhammadu Buhari and some unnamed state governors were plotting to ease him out. Mr Oshimhole alleged that the members were mostly party members who were unonfortable with his positive reforms. The national chairmans allegations were contained in a statement signed by his Chief Press Secretary, Simon Ebegbulem. Mr Ebegbulem later sent another statement withdrawing the first. Monday Fayose arraigned, remanded in EFCC custody The immediate past governor of Ekiti State, Ayodele Fayose, was arraigned before a Lagos Division of the Federal High Court over an 11-count charge of conspiracy and money laundering. Mr Fayose, and his company, Spotless Limited, pleaded not guilty to all the charges. The judge, Mojisola Olatoregun, ordered that he be remanded in the custody of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission and then adjourned till October 24 for hearing of his bail application. File photo of Former Ekiti governor, Fayose, in court for his trial According to the EFCC, Mr Fayose received 1.2 billion to fund his 2014 gubernatorial campaign in Ekiti State, a sum they said he ought to have known formed part of the proceeds of an unlawful act. I have support of majority governors Oshiomhole Mr Oshiomhole, said he believes he has the support of the majority of his partys state governors. APC National Chairman, Adams Oshiomole Photo: DailyPost He was reacting to the reported plot by some APC governors to remove him from office. 2019: Peter Obi meets Ebonyi governor The vice presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Peter Obi, said Igbo leaders and governors of the zone never disagreed with his nomination but disagreed with the process. Mr Obi who visited Governor David Umahi in the Government House, Abakaliki, said he was in the state to seek the support of Mr Umahi. Umahi is our leader, he is a man of impeccable character. He was at the centre of the storm but I want to tell the people that Umahi and Igbo leaders were misrepresented badly. Former governor of Anambra state, Peter Obi. [Photo credit: Emmanuel Ngini] Igbo leaders never disagreed with my nomination as VP candidate but disagreed with the process; but I am here to solicit for your support, he said. APC Crisis: Amosun accuses Oshiomhole of fraud The Ogun State Governor, Ibikunle Amosun, continued his protest against the outcome of the All progressives Congress (APC) primaries in his state as he accused the National Chairman of the party, Adams Oshiomhole, of colluding with a cabal in Lagos to write fake results which produced Dapo Abiodun as the partys governorship candidate for the 2019 election. Mr Amosun made the allegation in an interview with journalists shortly after swearing-in the new chief judge of the state, Mosunmola Dipeolu, at the governors office in Abeokuta, the state capital. He alleged the involvement of former governors Bola Tinubu (Lagos) and Segun Osoba (Ogun) in the alleged fraud, citing their silence on the matter as evidence of their consent to it. Tuesday 2019: Donald Duke picks running mate The presidential candidate of the Social Democratic Party (SDP), Donald Duke, picked Junaid Mohammed as his running mate for the 2019 presidential election. Mr Duke, a former Cross River State governor, disclosed this in on his twitter handle @Donald_Duke, describing Mr Mohammed as a well-known academic scholar with a political firebrand background. Kaduna Senator, Shehu Sani, joins PRP Shehu Sani, the senator representing Kaduna Central Senatorial District, joined Peoples Redemption Party (PRP), three days after he left the All Progressives Congress (APC). Mr Sani made this known in a statement by his Special Adviser, Political and Ideology, Suleiman Ahmed, in Abuja. Senator Shehu Sani He said It has become impossible for the senator to continue to co-habit with reactionaries and their perfidious and inimical style of politics. Sen. Shehu Sani has returned to the PRP. PRP represents our socialist revolutionary ideology. Sen. Sani is now free from the toxicity and infamy APC existentially represents. We left the APC for the emperors and their lackeys. APC members accuse Akeredolu of plotting against Oshiomhole Amidst continued crisis in the All Progressives Congress (APC), some members of the party accused Ondo State Governor, Rotimi Akeredolu, of leading a group of conservative governors to sabotage the partys electoral prospects. The group made the allegation on Tuesday during a protest at the national secretariat of the party in Abuja. According to the coordinators, Ibrahim Sikiru and Gbenga Bojuwomi, the protesters were drawn from different groups. They include members of the Buhari/Osinbajo Movement, Forum of Buhari Support Groups, Love to Love Foundation for Buhari 2019, Niger Delta Women for Buhari, Buhari/Osinbajo Destiny Group, Women for Buhari and Osinbajo, and Farmers Congress Group for Buhari. Im still in PDP Ekweremadu The Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu, denied reports he is considering leaving the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). Mr , who was out of the country, took to his Facebook page to make clarification on his political future Wednesday morning. The politician said even though his path is in the hand of God, he is still a member of the PDP. Ike Ekweremadu, PDP, Deputy Senate President He wrote, I am presently out of the country on a prescheduled engagement. In the past 24 hours, I have been inundated with calls from friends and political associates seeking clarification on the rumours of my departure from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), which has dominated the media. Let it be known that my path in politics is in the hands of the Almighty God, who has indeed been very faithful and gracious to me. Im very grateful to God for this.. Please, rest assured that I am still in the PDP. There were reports on Monday that Mr Ekweremadu was under pressure to leave the PDP. Wednesday Incompetent Oshiomhole shouldnt be APC chairman Gov Akeredolu The Governor of Ondo State, Rotimi Akeredolu, reacted to allegations that he was in cahoots with some governors of the All Progressives Congress to remove the partys national chairman, Adams Oshiomole. While denying any involvement in any attempt to remove the former Edo State governor, Mr Akeredolu accused Mr Oshiomhole of exhibiting incompetence in the handling of the partys recently concluded primaries across the country. In a statement by his Senior Special Adviser on Special Duties and Strategy, Doyin Odebowale, Mr Akeredolu said APC primaries exposed the incompetence of Mr Oshiomhole. He described the exercise as a political charade and a revelation of a shocking proclivity towards banditry and impunity. Judge grants Fayose bail A judge of the Lagos Division of the Federal High Court, Mojisola Olatoregun, granted bail to the former governor of Ekiti State, Ayodele Fayose. The judge granted bail to Mr Fayose in the sum of 50 million with two sureties who must issue a 50 million bond in a reputable bank as well as possess three years tax clearance. She also directed that the former governor deposit his international passport with the court. Mr Fayose could, however, not not meet the bail condition on time and was still in detention Sunday. Amosun is bad loser; weve no governorship candidate in Imo yet APC The All Progressives Congress said the grievances and outburst of some of its leaders including one of its governors who lost out at the recent primaries is a result of their inability to accept their losses. The partys national publicity secretary, Lanre Issa-Onilu, during a session with journalists on Wednesday said these persons were taking their losses at the polls very badly, and looking for who to blame. Following the controversial results of the ruling partys primaries, there have been agitations and plans to remove the national chairman of the party, Adams Oshiomhole, from office by aggrieved governors and officials. The Governor of Ogun, Ibikunle Amosun, and that of Zamfara, Abdul-aziz Yari, have openly expressed their dissatisfaction with the national leadership of the party. Thursday 2019: INEC publishes details of candidates The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) published the forms and particulars of political parties candidates submitted for 2019 general elections at its offices across the federation, for the purpose of claims and objections. The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that in Abuja the list was displayed outside the INEC Federal Capital Territory office. 2019: Buhari to INEC: My academic credentials with military President Muhammadu Buhari has failed to submit his academic credentials to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) ahead of his bid to seek re-election in 2019. Mr Buhari, a retired major general, instead told the electoral body that his credentials are still with the military, Punch newspaper reports. INEC on Thursday pasted names of 70 out of 91 political parties fielding candidates for presidential elections in 2019, including Mr Buhari. A list of candidates made available to journalists on Thursday indicate that Mr Buhari failed to attach necessary documents as requirement for his re-election bid. Instead, he insisted the documents are in custody of the military. He attached an affidavit to support his claim. Meanwhile, the candidate of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Atiku submitted relevant documents, with a Diploma in Law in 1969 from the Ahmadu Bello University being his highest qualification. Buharis second term will ensure power returns to South-west in 2023 Fashola The Minister of Power, Works and Housing, Babatunde Fashola, on Thursday, urged the people of South-west to vote for President Muhammadu Buhari in the 2019 elections to guarantee a return of power to the region in 2023. The minister stated this at a special Town Hall Meeting on infrastructure organised by the Ministry of Information and Culture and the National Orientation Agency. The Minister of Information and Culture, Lai Mohammed, led three other ministers including Mr Fashola, Ministers of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi, and Water Resources, Suleiman Adamu, to the town hall meeting. Mr Fashola said besides the massive investments by the Buhari administration in infrastructure across the country and in South-west in particular, the South-west would benefit more politically by voting for Mr Buhari. Nigerias Minister of Works and Housing, Babatunde Fashola. [PHOTO CREDIT: Energy Mix Report] The minister, who spoke in Yoruba language and with a proverb said: Did you know that power is rotating to the South-west after the completion of Buharis tenure if you vote for him in 2019? Your child cannot surrender her waist for an edifying beads and you will use the bead to decorate another childs waist. A vote for Buhari in 2019, means a return of power to the South-west in 2023. I am sure you will vote wisely. #GandujeGate: Video showing Kano governor receiving bribe authentic The Publisher of the online Daily Nigerian newspaper, Jaafar Jaafar, appeared before lawmakers at the Kano State House of Assembly investigating the bribery allegation against Kano State Governor Abdullahi Ganduje. PREMIUM TIMES published stories from the videos, sourced from Daily Nigerian, which showed the Kano governor receiving bribe in dollars at different instances. The total bribe is said to be about $5 million from persons believed to be contractors to the state. Jaafar Jaafar Although the state government has claimed the video was cloned our experts confirmed the authenticity. Mr Jafaar also stood by the content of the videos when he appeared before the lawmakers at a public hearing on Thursday. Friday 79 political parties submit names of candidates for Nigerian presidential election Ahead of the 2019 general elections, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) revealed that 79 political parties have submitted names of their presidential candidate. The chairman of the commission, Mahmood Yakubu, said this during a press briefing with journalist at the headquarters of the commission in Maitama, Abuja. The chairman also said aside the 79 presidential candidates, 89 parties fielded 1,803 candidates for the 109 senatorial seats and 4,548 for the 350 federal constituencies. 2019: We want more than SGF, South-west PDP tells Atiku Abubakar The South-west zone of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) urged the partys presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, to give more key positions to the zone if he emerges as president. The South-west Vice-Chairman of the party, Eddy Olefeso, made the demand in Lagos at a meeting of key members across the six states in the zone. Atiku Abubakar The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the meeting, which lasted hours, had in attendance a former Deputy National Chairman of the party, Olabode George; the current Deputy National Chairman (South), Yemi Akinwonmi; and a former National Vice Chairman of the party, Tajudeen Oladipo. The vice-chairman said the zone had been schemed out in the power arrangement of the party for the past few years. Saturday Again Osinbajo tackles Atiku on restructuring Vice President Yemi Osinbajo accused Atiku Abubakar of plotting to turn Nigerians against against the present government on restructuring of the country. Yemi Osinbajo The vice president spoke against the backdrop of statements attributed to Mr Abubakar, the presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in next years general elections that he would restructure Nigeria if Nigerians elected him as president. Nnamdi Kanu attacks Ohanaeze, South-east govs Nnamdi Kanu, the leader of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra, lambasted South-east governors and Ohanaeze in a live broadcast which was aired on Radio Biafra Facebook page. He called for the boycott of the 2019 general elections. Mr Kanu said that the real power resided with the people and they were the only ones, who could change their fortunes. He also had a word for Southern leaders. He asked them to demand the countrys restructuring before the 2019 elections. The Vice President, Yemi Osinbajo, has again taken a swipe at one of his predecessors, Atiku Abubakar, accusing him of championing a cause he once opposed. PREMIUM TIMES reported how Messrs Osinbajo and Abubakar earlier sparred on restructuring Nigeria with each claiming to be more committed to it. Mr Abubakar, the presidential candidate of the main opposition party, PDP, has promised to restructure Nigeria if elected president. He has also listed the specific areas where he believes Nigeria needs to be restructured. Speaking on Saturday at the University of Ibadan, Mr Osinbajo said some of those clamouring for it were those who opposed his and others efforts on restructuring years back when they were in government. Let me explain my position clearly. I am not just an advocate of restructuring, there is no other government in Nigeria that has actively pursued restructuring such as we did when I was Attorney General in Lagos State, Mr Osinbajo said. People talking about restructuring, if you ask them what they meant by restructuring? They wont even know what it means and that is the problem we have to face, he said. The vice president, who spoke at the 9th Public Lecture of Sigma Club at the International Conference Centre, University of Ibadan, narrated how he pursued issues of restructuring to the Supreme Court when he was the Attorney General in Lagos State. According to him, We started with fiscal restructuring, which is more of resource control. Should states control their own resources? We went to the Supreme Court. They argued that each state should control its own resources. The states that argued in favour of autonomy for states to control their resources were the oil producing states in the country and Lagos State, while some others argued on the other side because they want to share oil money. We lost at the Supreme Court. The Supreme Court said no, that you cannot control your resources. If you are an oil producing state, take 13 per cent extra, which is derivation. He said that Lagos State further argued that it had ports and the ports served the entire nation, so the state should also take 13 per cent derivation which the Supreme Court objected. Mr Osinbajo said that further argument led to the introduction of onshore and offshore law, which enabled the state to share from onshore resources. The vice president then took a direct swipe at Mr Abubakar. All this time, this was 2000, some of those people, including the presidential candidate of PDP, who is talking about restructuring, (and) was the vice president then, they opposed every step we took. Of course, we were taking the Federal Government to court then. They opposed every step. The next thing we did was that the states should be able to create their own local governments, which is autonomy of states. So, we created 37 new local governments in Lagos. The president then, Chief Obasanjo, seized our local government funds and said we could not create new local governments, he said. former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar He also narrated how they challenged the seizure at the Supreme Court and the court ruled in their favour. If you ask those people now talking about restructuring, none of them has done anything compared to what we have done. So, I am not a latter day convert to restructuring. I am an active practitioner of restructuring, and I have gone to the Supreme Court 12 times to test restructuring, Mr Osinbajo added. While Mr Osinbajo has a history of championing restrucutring, he has been careful to avoid discussing the stance of his principal, Muhammadu Buhari. Mr Buhari is believed to be opposed to restructuring and has publicly stated his opposition to allowing states have their own police, a stance supported by Mr Osinbajo. The Peoples Democratic Party presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, has issued a swift reply to Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, insisting that history must not be distorted for political expediency. Mr Osinbajo on Saturday accused Mr Abubakar of being disingenuous with his campaign on restructuring Nigeria, saying he was amongst the earliest proponents of restructuring even at a time Mr Abubakar was frustrating the cause. Mr Osinbajo, who spoke at the University of Ibadan, said Mr Abubakar was amongst those who opposed every step which himself and other restructuring elements took to give states more control over generated revenues, especially from oil and other natural minerals proceeds. Of course, we were taking the Federal Government to court then. They opposed every step, Mr Osinbajo said while specifically alluding to Mr Abubakar. The latest shot comes weeks after Mr Osinbajo sparred with Mr Abubakar over the matter, with both accusing each other of being insincere and politicising the debate. Mr Osinbajo had accused Mr Abubakar of being a latter-day proponent of restructuring, saying he sought creation of state police during his tenure as attorney-general of Lagos State. Mr Osinbajo also said he repeatedly took Nigerian government under Olusegun Obasanjo and Mr Abubakar to court to enforce fundamental elements of true federalism. In his response, which came to PREMIUM TIMES Sunday morning, Mr Abubakar decried Mr Osinbajos allegation against him, saying he has an unblemished track record as a restructuring Nigeria advocate. Mr Abubakar has prioritised restructuring among his campaign promises to Nigerians, despite little evidence that even his party subscribes to the idea. Mr Abubakar says restructuring would help the countrys federating units (states) chart their individual course towards prosperity, saying it is more effective than the current practice that appears to put the federal government in firm control of virtually everything. Yemi Osinbajo Many Nigerians, especially from the North, view restructuring with suspicion, amidst fears that it could lead to the countrys disintegration. Read the full statement from Mr Abubakars campaign office below: PRESS RELEASE Again, Professor Osinbajo Is Being Economical With The Truth The Vice President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Professor Yemi Osinbajo (SAN), is being economical with the truth in his statement that former Vice President Atiku Abubakar was against restructuring while in office between 1999 and 2007. Speaking at a public lecture, entitled: Developing the Nation through Youth Empowerment, as part of activities marking the 68th anniversary of the Sigma Club, University of Ibadan, Professor Osinbajo said: All this time, this was 2000, some of those people, including the presidential candidate of PDP, who is talking about restructuring, was the vice president then; they opposed every step that we took. Of course, we were taking the Federal Government to court then. They opposed every step. Given that restructuring has become the major issue in the 2019 elections and given that Prof Osinbajo and his boss have been speaking discordant tunes on restructuring, we can understand their desperation to revise history, however, it is impossible to revise documented history. Professor Osinbajo needs to be reminded that there are well documented accounts in the Nigerian media chronicling Atiku Abubakars support and struggle for restructuring. To set the records straight, we recommend to Professor Osinbajo the article Nigeria: 6-1 Onshore-Offshore Jurisdiction Verdict written by Jide Ajani, then the Political Editor ofVanguard Newspapers and published on July 13, 2001. In that piece, which is still available online (see linkhttps://allafrica.com/stories/200107130417.html), Vanguard newspapers chronicled the successful efforts of His Excellency, Atiku Abubakar, to restructure the revenue allocation formulae to allow littoral states of the federation benefit from off shore oil proceeds. Ironically, it was precisely Mr. Osinbajos boss, Muhammadu Buhari, who as military dictator, cheated these states of their just due by military fiat. It is also common knowledge that the six geopolitical zones structure which all parts of Nigeria benefit from today is the fruit of the collaborative efforts of His Excellency, Atiku Abubakar, the late Alex Ekwueme and other patriots. Their efforts at restructuring Nigeria are captured in the Hansard of the 1995 Constitutional Conference, which is a public document and is still available at the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation. Professor Osinbajo may want to familiarise himself with that document. The question we want to ask Professor Osinbajo is this why do he and his boss constantly resort to rewriting history? Why can they not campaign on their achievements? Is it that they are forced to campaign on subterfuge because they have no achievements to campaign on? President Buhari and Vice President Osinbajo promised to make 1 equal to $1. They vowed to create three million jobs per annum. They promised to pay the unemployed a job seekers allowance. They said subsidy was a scam. They also said that they would defeat Boko Haram. Nigerians want to know if these promises have been kept. They are not interested in fairy tales about how Atiku Abubakar did not support restructuring because they know that he is and was and will always be an active promoter of restructuring. Everywhere he goes to campaign, Atiku Abubakar has used temperate and respectful language on both President Buhari and Vice President Osinbajo. He has campaigned on his record of achievements, which include the 50,000 jobs he has created in his private capacity, and on his policies and plans to Get Nigeria Working Again. We recommend this form of decent politicking to Prof. Osinbajo, even as we urge him to remember that as Vice President, his words matter. The Nigerian Army has confirmed the death of one soldier and severe injuries sustained by four others in yet another Boko Haram attack on a military base in Borno State Saturday. The Army said in a statement on Facebook the tragedy occured when troops repelled attempts by Boko Haram insurgents to overrun a battalion in Gashigar, a Nigerian community near the border with Niger Republic. Boko Haram fighters were completely routed when they stormed the 145 Battalion in Gashigar Saturday, the Army said. They fled in disarray due to superior firepower by the gallant troops and support from the Nigerian Air Force. The Army did not immediately disclose the identity of the soldier that was killed in action during the attack, nor did it say how many suspected terrorists were gunned down by soldiers, promising to provide more details of the attack later. The statement, however, disclosed that the wounded were immediately evacuated to Maiduguri for treatment using a Bell 412 helicopter. The Nigerian Air Force confirmed the attack on Sunday afternoon, saying Boko Haram elements arrived in 13 gun trucks and made attempts to down military helicopters. Air Force spokesperson, Ibikunle Daramola, said the insurgents were engaged several times between Saturday night and Sunday morning, amidst attempts to drive them away from the general area. Nigerian soldiers have repeatedly come under attack by Boko Haram in the North-east, with scores of soldiers being killed in action in the last three months. These attacks are recurring despite claims by the Nigerian government that it had defeated the insurgency. The military has said it recorded tremendous gains over the past three years, especially for its success in confining the insurgents to the fringes of Nigerian territories, as against the years before when the deadly Islamists were holding vast Nigerian lands across its North-east stronghold. A former works minister, Tony Anenih, is dead. His death was confirmed by multiple sources including his son who said the family would release a statement later tonight. Mr Anenih, 85, died on Sunday evening at Cedarcrest Hospital, Abuja, where he was receiving treatment for an undisclosed ailment, a family source said. Born in Edo State, Mr Anenih was one of the most influential politicians of his era. He was nicknamed Mr Fix It for his ability to manipulate the electoral process. Mr Anenih was a state chairman of Nigerias then ruling party, NPN, between 1981 and 1983. He is believed to have played a major role in the controversial 1983 general elections including in his home state of Bendel (now Edo State) where he helped Samuel Ogbemudia to victory. Mr Anenih was also the national chairman of the Social Democratic Party in 1993 under whose platform Moshood Abiola won the June 12, 1993 presidential election. Mr Abiola was later imprisoned by the Sani Abacha dictatorship with many of his supporters accusing Mr Anenih of betraying the June 12 cause. Upon return to democracy in 1999, Mr Anenih was also a founding member of the Peoples Democratic Party and was appointed works minister by then President Olusegun Obasanjo. He was accused of masterminding the mismanagement of tens of billions of naira while he held sway as works minister. Details later At least three herders have been killed and seven others injured after gunmen opened fire in a market in Taraba State on Saturday, police and witnesses said. The attack occurred at Mararraban Kunini, a major livestock trading community in Lau Local Government Area. The police in Taraba told PREMIUM TIMES the killers are still at large as of Sunday afternoon. The Mararraban Kunini Market was recently opened following an ethno-religious conflict that engulfed Mayo-Lope town, which was formerly home to the central cattle market. The violence forced most of the traders in Mayo-Lope to flee the community. Witnesses who spoke with PREMIUM TIMES on the latest attack said the gunmen stormed the market at the peak of business Saturday afternoon. People were busy buying and selling cattle, sheep and goats and farm produce when gunmen suddenly appeared and opened fire, a witness said. Three traders were killed instantly and 11 others injured as I am talking to you now, Mallum Kawu, a cattle dealer who said he narrowly escaped the attack, told PREMIUM TIMES. Josiah Bante, a used clothes trader, said people fled in different direction to escape the violence. The attackers did not steal cows or any other merchandise at the market, indicating they only came to wreak havoc, Mr Bante said. The police confirmed the attack on Sunday, with David Misal, an assistant superintendent of police, saying the police were informed of three deaths while seven persons sustained injuries. No arrests have been made, but security measures in the area have been intensified to avoid further bloodshed, the police spokesperson said. The attack followed an indiscriminate killing of cows in Taraba-Abbare town in the same local government area on Thursday. At least 150 cows were killed during the attack, according to community leaders who are now demanding urgent intervention by the Nigerian military and other security agencies. The attackers were said to be clad in military fatigues, a claim that security agencies have not disputed. Dozens of cows that were injured in the attack were later taken to food markets in Jalingo, the state capital. Some herders reportedly took their injured cows to a market in Mayo-Belwa in the neighbouring Adamawa State. We want military authorities and sister security agencies to investigate the alleged involvement of the military in the attacks, a community leader told PREMIUM TIMES. The police also acknowledged the incident occurred, but said it was not reported to security agencies. No one came to us and forwarded his or her complaint on the matter but the state command had since deployed more police to area while the divisional police officer in charge of the area had been directed to investigate and forward findings to the headquarters. The Nigerian Army did not return requests for comments about the attacks and claims that perpetrators dressed as soldiers. The Ukraine ambassador to Nigeria, Valerii Alesandruk, says the Embassy has issued 3,670 visas to Nigerian travelers in the last two years. Mr Alesandruk told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja on Sunday that the number of visas issued to Nigerians increased by 45 per cent in 2018. In 2017 we issued 1,642 visas to Nigerians going to Ukraine; among these we have 821 visas for students that wanted to study in the Ukraine. In the last ten months of 2018 we had already issued 2,028 visas to Nigerians and among them we have 1,193 student visas. Currently, we have more than 4000 Nigerians studying various courses in Ukraine. This is good for our cooperation as young people from Nigeria go to Ukraine to study medicine and ICT high tech, among others. According to him, the number of people seeking visa to Ukraine has increased by 45 per cent, adding that the country is making efforts to make it more stable. He said that Ukraine would enhance its bilateral relations with Nigeria especially in the area of education and defence, technology, among others. Education is vital in the country and Ukraine is a good destination for young Nigerians to study. Other areas that we want to improve is the military cooperation and also very promising is the cooperation in space technology. Ukraine is very good at space technology and Nigeria is a big country in the continent that needs to develop its space sector. Nigeria needs to establish itself and launch more into the space and become hub for Africa in space development, the ambassador said. He said that Nigeria and Ukraine had cooperation in the frame of international organisations and Nigeria had supported Ukraine in some instances. On March 2014 Ukraine became an object of international discussion and Nigeria supported Ukraine. Ukraine on its part also supported Nigeria in the course of fighting the Boko Haram insurgency. Ukraine was among the few countries which supported Nigeria in the supply of military weapons to fight the insurgents, Alesandruk said. (NAN) A 42 years old man has been arrested by the Ogun State Police Command for allegedly raping his 16-year-old housemaid. The incident happened at the familys house at the Government Reservation Area (GRA),Ibara, Abeokuta, the state capital. The Ogun police spokesperson, Abimbola Oyeyemi, who confirmed the incident on Sunday, said the suspect, Abiodun Amosun, a website designer, committed the crime on October 25 while his wife was away in Lagos. His arrest followed the complaint lodged at Ibara Police Division by the Benue State born victim (name withheld) who was accompanied to the station by a member of Committee for the Defence of Human Rights (CDHR). The victim told the police that the suspect forcefully dragged her into his bedroom and raped her. She said when she started making noise after the man had his way; the suspect beat her up and sent her out of the house. Mr Oyeyemi said a member of the CDHR saw her and took her to the police station to report after which the suspect was arrested. On interrogation, the suspect initially denied the allegation, but when confronted with the blood stained bedsheet in his bedroom, he admitted to the commission of the offence, Mr Oyeyemi stated. The victim who claimed to be a virgin before the incident has been taken to General Hospital for medical attention and the medical report has confirmed that victim was actually sexually abused, the police said. The Commissioner of Police, Ahmed Iliyasu, has directed that the case be transferred to the Anti-Human Trafficking and Child Labour Unit of the State Criminal Investigation and Intelligence Department for proper investigation and prosecution of the suspect. The national programme for Infrastructure Companies (InfraCos) to increase broadband penetration in the country has been planned to kick off later this year. Current broadband penetration in Nigeria is 22 per cent, up from four per cent in 2012. To achieve increased broadband penetration, the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has developed a Licensing Framework and instituted a subsidy scheme to enable Infrastructure Companies (InfraCos) to roll out fibre in all the zones of the country. Specifically, the project, one of the key high-level interventions of the Nigeria Industrial Policy and Competiveness Advisory Council, is to increase broadband penetration across all geopolitical zones of the country, such that at the end of the four-year intervention, all the 774 Local Government Areas will be provided with fibre connectivity. That implies the deployment of at least one fibre Point of Access (PoA), with the capacity of 10 Gbps, in each LGA across the country. According to the Executive Secretary of the Council, Edirin Akemu, the difficulty of using a single Infraco to achieve the desired broadband penetration because of the sheer size of the country, topographic challenges and socio-economic factors necessitated the use of the more companies. To address those difficulties and fast track broadband penetration, the National Communications Commission, which is executing the project, has developed a structure to licence six InfraCos for the geopolitical zones and an additional one for Lagos because of its peculiarities, she explained. The licenced Infracos are Infraco Nigeria Limited (for Lagos zone); Brinks Integrated Solution Limited (North-East); Fleet Networks Nigeria Limited (North-West) and Zinox Technologies Limited (South-East). Others are Raeanna Technologies Limited (South-South) and Oodua Infraco Resource Limited. Efforts are underway to licence an Infraco for the North-Central zone, following the withdrawal of the licenced Infraco. In the presentation of the NCC at the last Council meeting, it has engaged the National Economic Council and the Nigerian Governors Forum on its broadband initiatives and has also reviewed the submission of the six licensed InfraCos relating to the Capital cost (Capex) for the project, subsidy requirement, and network design. Following the review, they were requested to submit revised financials, network design and rollout plan based on, one PoA per LGA only for subsequent review. At the end of the exercise, negotiation of percentage subsidy is to be considered for the respective zones. According to Okechukwu Enelamah, Vice Chairman of the Council, who is also the Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Based on the speed of re-submission received from the respective InfraCos and the conclusion of the subsidy agreement, it is expected that the project will kick-off before the end of 2018. He said the commission also presented challenges like difficulty of securing the Right of Way and multiple taxation in the states, which the National Council, headed by Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, is helping to address. In attendance at the meeting were Aliko Dangote; a Vice Chairman of the Council, Kola Jumodu; the new president of the Manufacturers Association of Nigeria Mansur Ahmed; Latif Busari, MD of the National Sugar Development Council; Lazarus Agbanzo, CEO of GE Nigeria; Louis Edozien, Permanent Secretary Ministry of Power; Abdulsamad Rabiu, Chairman of BUA Group; Kamarudeen Yusuf, Chairman KAM Industries; and representatives of TCN and the Nigerian Communications Commission; among others. The Dangote Flour Mill has reportedly broken the Guinness Book of Records for the Worlds Largest Puff-Puff pyramid, as it fried two metric tonnes of flour to celebrate the 2018 World Puff-Puff Day on 27 October. Anthony Chiejina, Group Head, Corporate Communication, Dangote Group, said on Sunday that the company broke the record of 200kg, which equals to four bags of flour recorded to have been fried at a location. Puff- Puff is a delicious street food made by deep frying flour, yeast, sugar, water, salt. Ghanaians call it Bofrot (togbei) , Cameroonians and Nigerians call it Puff-Puff (Puff) or beignet in French. To beat the record, Dangote Flour at the event, fried two metric tonnes of flour, which is over 40 bags of 50kg, Mr Chiejina said. According to him, to celebrate the maiden edition of World Puff-Puff Day, over 50 confectioners engaged to produce over 30,000 pieces of the local snack, as part of activities marking the day. He said that the event at Muri Okunola Park, in Victoria Island, Lagos had in attendance the President of Dangote Group, Aliko Dangote, and over 1,000 people, including school children drawn from various schools. Managing Director Dangote Flour Mills, Thabo Mabe, said that World Puff-Puff Day, was an initiative of the flour miller to celebrate the confectioners who fry the delicacy, the consumers who enjoy the snack and the sellers who make a living from selling it. Mr Mabe said that the event was organised to celebrate Nigerias creativity in the local delicacy, as well as further create awareness for the companys 1.5kg size flour launched in March. The Executive Director, Dangote Flour Mills, Halima Aliko-Dangote, said that following the success of the maiden edition, the company decided to celebrate the World Puff Puff day on October 27. This is giving back to the community. Through this event, we have been able to empower the confectioners and all the puff puff fried in relation to this program are given out free to feed the community, she said. She said that the 2019 edition would be in collaboration with other flour manufacturers in the country to further enlighten Nigerians on the various ways to use flour, as well as its nutritional value. Funmi Bolarinwa, Group Marketing Executive, Dangote Flour, said through the programme, it was identified that over 4,000 people were making a living through frying puff-puff, while over 100,000 are into other pastries businesses. She said the company experimented with various flavours including vanilla, coconut, fried chili and classic to show Nigerians different ways they could enjoy the snack. We are showcasing our delicacy and also exporting one of the exciting products we love to the rest of the world, Ms Bolarinwa said. (NAN) The highly publicised unveiling of the Nigerian Army University in Borno State has been postponed. The Army announced in a statement on Sunday morning that the event would no longer hold as previously scheduled for October 30, although it did not immediately cite reasons. The Chief of Army Staff, Tukur Buratai, had earlier announced President Muhammad Buhari as one of the headliners for the opening ceremony in Biu, home to the new university about 200 kilometres southwest of Maiduguri, the state capital. This to kindly inform you that the Ground Breaking Ceremony of Nigerian Army University Biu earlier scheduled for Tuesday 30 October 2018 has been postponed, the army said on its Twitter page. New date will be communicated. All inconveniences are regretted. The university has already started taking its first set of students for its takeoff academic year. The Federal Executive Council gave the army final approval for the establishment of the university in April, months after construction of major buildings on campus had either been completed or near completion. Mr Buratai said the institution was designed to tackle unique challenges, especially on specific security crises the military faces in its war against Boko Haram and armed banditry. Mr Buratai expressed satisfaction with the progress of infrastructure at the university earlier this year, anticipating it would be opened by September. The Vice President, Yemi Osinbajo, on Saturday downplayed the chances of a youth becoming the president of Nigeria. The law professor said this while explaining the rationale behind the high cost of nomination forms of the All Progressive Congress (APC) for the office of the president. The APC charged N45 million for its presidential nomination forms, and comparatively high fees for other offices, a move condemned by activists and civic groups. Mr Osinbajo spoke during the 9th Sigma Club Public Lecture held Saturday at the International Conference Centre, University of Ibadan. His lecture was titled, Developing the nation through youth empowerment. Mr Osinbajo advised young people to start from grassroots and gradually move up the ladder. But as for the federal level, dont worry yourself about running for president; it will take a while, he said. He added that: Anybody who wants a career in political positions should also make an attempt to get involved in public service. Since there are less than 2000 of such (political) positions. Get involved in public service, he said. Mr Osinbajo called on the youth to always hold the government accountable. He stressed that though the governments role is to create an enabling environment for the youth to be empowered, but for this to happen, the youth must take time to scrutinise their [the governments] arguments. You are the leaders of tomorrow. No one should doubt that. However, that future would only be guaranteed if you hold your leaders to account, he said. While admitting that the poverty in the country is a major concern to the government, he faulted the grand corruption and high rate of borrowing of the past administration despite earning more. The most important drain to our public revenue is grand corruption: which is simply going to the treasury and withdrawing money stealing it in short, he stressed No nation can possibly prosper when its commonwealth is spent in that manner. So, we need to deal with grand corruption if we are to move forward as a nation. Mr Osinbajo then advised the youth to focus on technology saying that was the future of job creation. Everybody must pay attention to the nations growth. No nation is built by one person. The future of jobs is in technology and innovations. It is where the real opportunities are. Young people have an edge where technology is concerned, he said. Also speaking at the event, the Vice Chancellor of the University of Ibadan, Idowu Olayinka, said funding of education should not be left to the government alone. Represented by the universitys Deputy Vice Chancellor (Administration), Kayode Adebowale, the don said the paucity of funds was a major challenge of the institution. One of the challenges we face is funding. When the concept of university was been conceived, how it will be funded was designed. It is 70% will come from Nigeria and 30% from the British. He called on the private sector to assist Nigerias tertiary institutions. The public and private sectors must come together to fund the university, he said. Private universities constitute less than six per cent of total enrolment of university students. This means that the private sector has a lot to do. He however called on the management of universities to ensure graduating students are good enough to be employed. The challenge to the university is to be able to develop students so that when they graduate they will be able to be independent, he advised. The Army has confirmed that three members of the Islamic Movement of Nigeria (IMN) or Shiite, died on Saturday, while two solders sustained injuries when the sect clashed with troops at Zuba in the FCT. The Commander, Army Headquarters Garrison, Abuja, James Myam confirmed the development in a statement on Sunday. Mr Myam, a major general, said troops of the Garrison were attacked at about 3 p.m. at Zuba bridge by the sect as they escort ammunitions and missiles from Abuja to Army Central Ammunition Depot in Kaduna State. The sect who were supposedly in a procession, established an illegal road block denying motorists free passage. When the troops convoy attempted to clear the road block, they met stiff opposition from the sect. Members of the sect used various objects to barricade the road and also pelted the troops with stones and other dangerous items. They smashed both military and civilian vehicles windscreens and windows. They also attempted to overrun the escorts to cart away the ammunition and missiles the troops were escorting. This led to the troops opening fire to extricate themselves. Consequently, troops of 102 Guards Battalion in whose Area of Responsibility the incident occurred rushed to the convoys rescue, Myam said. He, however, said normalcy had been restored in the area and advised members of the public especially those plying the Abuja-Zuba road, to go about their normal activities. The commander assured the public that no individual or persons would be allowed to disturb public peace or provoke attacks against military convoys. (NAN) Depot and Petroleum Products Marketers Association (DAPPMA) on Sunday said the unpaid subsidy arrears of over N650 billion by the federal government posed huge financial challenges to the downstream operations. DAPPMA Executive Secretary, Olufemi Adewole, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos that the settlement of the debts owed them would save their assets from being taken over by banks. Mr Adewole said the downstream segment of Nigerias petroleum industry was fast becoming unattractive to lending institutions owing to rising debt profiles of its players on account of unpaid subsidy arrears by government. This is posing a huge financial challenge to oil marketers and threatening business survival, he said. He said over 60 per cent of marketers had been forced out of business as banks had taken over their assets (depots and other investments) due to their inability to pay back funds borrowed. According to him, aside marketers that have been forced out of business, others are struggling to survive due to the governments inability to settle the subsidy arrears. The development, he said, had been threatening investment in the downstream sector. The DAPPMA scribe said although the federal government had made an arrangement to clear the debts, payment had not been received by marketers. He said: It has had very adverse effects on our operations. I am aware of four depots that have been forcibly taken over by banks because they got injunctions from the courts. They did so the moment they heard that the National Assembly had approved payment to marketers. Unfortunately, as at today, the money has yet to get into our accounts. Some marketers had to lay off more than 90 per cent of their staff because of financial challenges. Mr Adewole, however, said government had promised that part of the money would come as promissory note and cash. According to him, the information gathered is that government may pay only in promissory note. It means you have to go back and discount this promissory note in the bank. This means we are losing because the money has been delayed and this adds up the interest to be charged on our accounts. Really, what was approved to be paid is not the actual amount the government owes us. The interest came about as a result of devaluation of the naira from N197 to N285 to a dollar, he explained. It would be recalled that the Chairman of the Major Oil Marketers Association of Nigeria (MOMAN), Andrew Gbodume, had on October 18, said that over N130. 7 billion was owed to the association as unpaid subsidy arrears. Mr Gbodume said that the unpaid debts was posing serious financial challenges to the downstream sector coupled with its inability to attract more funds from banks which had yet to get back their loans. With the fast eroding goodwill of the sector and inaction of government to effect payment of cleared subsidy arrears, most downstream players are currently experiencing contraction of operations occasioned by reduced capacity. We appreciate the efforts of the National Assembly, but the non-payment creates a significantly negative impact on the operational efficiency of the downstream sector of the oil industry. Mr Gbodume added: We cant pay salaries and staff reviews in terms of emoluments cannot be done because of this sum owed us. He said the current business model in the downstream sector was unworkable and unsustainable, adding that the future system of product supply needed to be looked at. (NAN) Yusuf Mugu, a senior lecturer at the Faculty of Education, University of Jos, has picked the PDP ticket to contest for a seat in the Kaduna State House of Assembly. The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Mr Mugu, who teaches Special Education and Rehabilitation Sciences, is to contest for the Kaura State constituency seat in the 2019 general elections. NAN also reports that Mr Mugu floored five other contestants to pick the ticket during the partys primary elections held recently. Mr Mugu, who spoke with NAN on his political ambition, said that he was not running away from the class. I have been a university lecturer for 25 years and cannot run away from teaching because I love it so much; but my interest in politics appears irresistible, he told NAN on Sunday in Jos. Mr Mugu said that he was merely taking a break from the class into a vacation that was after his heart, so as to continue service to humanity in another capacity. Most of the time, lecturers complain about the quality of people in political positions, but after months of strikes over the neglect of the education sector, it is the same `incompetent people we run to. So, my feeling is that professionals must be part of the political realm to ensure quality service, he argued. Mr Mugu said that politics had come to stay and challenged professionals to participate instead of complaining from outside. If you run away from politics because it is dirty, then you should not complain when `dirty people do dirty things and drag the nation into further mud, he said. The candidate said that he would focus on boosting infrastructural growth to shore up the economic fortunes of his generally rural Kaura constituency, if elected a legislator. He also promised to work toward improving the quality of schools in the area, adding that he would collaborate with the executive arm of government to build more schools to ensure more educational opportunities. Mr Mugu also promised to collaborate with local and international investors to explore the vast economic potential of Kaura, and regretted that the attractive climate, arable land and water were not being utilised. He particularly regretted the lack of access roads in the area, saying that the situation had made it difficult to access hospitals, markets and schools. Very often, pregnant women lose their lives or pregnancies before they reach hospitals, while most agriculture produce are left to waste because of the lack of access roads to the right markets. We cannot continue like this, he said. Mr Mugu said that the situation was worse during the raining season because of the lack of bridges over rivers and streams. The university lecturer also promised to pay special attention to people living with disabilities because they form a large chunk of Nigerias population. Leaving them unattended to infringe on their fundamental human rights. Sometimes, taking care of such people appears stressful, but it is very rewarding and interesting because many of them are very intelligent and have lots of initiatives, he said. Mr Mugu, however, said that he had a strong attachment to visually impaired persons because he had been involved with blind people in various activities in the university. He promised to initiate bills for laws and policies that would assist people living with disabilities to enable them explore their potential for the benefit of the larger society. (NAN) The Kaduna State Government has relaxed the curfew on Kaduna metropolis and environs with immediate effect. Residents are now free to pursue their legitimate activities from now till 5 p.m. from today. According to a statement signed by Samuel Aruwan, Governor Nasir El-Rufais spokesperson, the curfew is relaxed from 6 a.m. to 5 p.m., daily, starting from October 29. Residents of Kaduna metropolis, Kasuwan Magani, Kajuru, and Kateri now join the people of Kachi in having free movement during daytime hours. Banks and markets are expected to reopen and deliver services as usual. The Kaduna State Government has also requested the airlines and the Nigerian Railway Corporation to promptly resume normal services to Kaduna. Nighttime curfew hours will continue to be enforced from 5 p.m. to 6 a.m., until further notice, Mr Aruwan said. The Kaduna State Government urges residents to remain peaceful, law-abiding and vigilant. El-Rufai relaxes curfew on Kaduna metropolis, environs El-Rufai relaxes curfew on Kaduna metropolis, environs The curfew was imposed in parts of Kaduna State due to the violence and reprisals in those areas. At least 77 people have been killed in different parts of the state in the past fortnight due to the violence which turned into ethnic and religious clashes. Dozens of people have also been arrested in connection to the violence. Governor Seriake Dickson of Bayelsa on Saturday said that schools shut on September 29 because of flooding in the state would only reopen when it was safe to do so. Mr Dickson, who spoke on a live radio programme monitored in Yenagoa, said that this was because of the need to protect the vulnerable children from water-borne diseases. He said that the Ministry of Education was, however, working toward ensuring that the closure of the schools would not affect the overall performance of students in the forthcoming West African Examination Council-conducted examinations. The governor said that while the flood had started to recede, the government was more concerned about the health and safety of the children. He said that the government was taking steps to ensure proper sanitation of all the schools, including the ones that were converted to camps for displaced persons, before children were allowed into them. We ordered a forced closure of all schools about a month ago to ensure the safety of the children. But now that the flood is receding, we will do everything possible to make our schools habitable before announcing the resumption of schools. But let me assure you that, that will not be too long from now. The State Ministry of Education is monitoring the water level and making daily reports to me. We are not in a hurry to push children who are vulnerable to be exposed to food-related ailments. On the issue of the performance of our students in national examinations, I want to assure you that government will encourage all schools to make some adjustments to enable them to make up for lost time, he said The governor, who commended the flood victims for their resilience, said the government would do its best to ameliorate the plight of displaced persons and ensure their resettlement into their communities He called for collaboration in proffering long term solutions to address the flood issue through the dredging of the major rivers, tributaries, shore protection as well as construction of sea walls and shelters. The governor also announced that he had offered automatic employment to all indigenes of Bayelsa who graduated with first class in their respective areas of studies. Dickson called on all first class graduates who did not pick the form for the employment process for the 1000 vacancies announced earlier to approach the civil service commission for enrolment into the service. He said that the automatic employment of first class graduates would be in addition to the 1000 graduates awaiting oral interview to be conducted by the Civil Service Commission. The governor said that his desire to bequeath a vibrant and productive civil service inspired the decision to engage the first class graduates in the state. (NAN) A former President, Olusegun Obasanjo, on Sunday worshipped with Governor Udom Emmanuel of Akwa Ibom at Qua Iboe Church, Uyo, and urged the people to support the governors second term ambition. Mr Obasanjo said the governor was a good product that could take the state to the promised land. He said that of the attributes of truth, forgiveness, love and continuity that God shares with man, continuity has been in existence since God created the world. The former president said that God created man to tell the truth, to love and to forgive, and that was why He gave His son so that the world does not perish. You have to be a strong Christian to be able to say, God will find for me a successor that will do to me what I have done to my predecessor. This man believes in his character, he believes in his value, he believes in his service to humanity and to God. I always cherish the attributes of God. The wonderful God that we worship kept some attributes to Himself He doesnt share with anybody: Omnipresence, Omnipotence and Omniscience. He has other attributes that he shares with us kindness, generosity, compassion, truth, forgiveness, love and continuity. God is a God of continuity since he created the world. I always say to myself and my family: if something is good, keep it. We have a good product in our hand and if I have a good product in my hand, I will not change it, I will keep it. This is a good product, lets have him for continuity. I can assure you, this governor has no fear; he will stand still. Please stand with him and he will take us to the promise land, Mr Obasanjo said. Earlier, Governor Emmanuel said Mr Obasanjo was in the state on a solidarity visit, adding that the presence of the former president always brought about something good. Whenever you see him move, know you that something is about to happen. As you see him move today, something good is about to happen in Akwa Ibom. He has spoken concerning Nigeria and Im sure something good is about to happen in Nigeria. Baba just came on a father-son solidarity visit and he chose to worship in my own local church. I want to thank him for this show of love, this show of solidarity and I also thank God for everything, Mr Emmanuel said. (NAN) Barely a week after the Bishop of Ekiti Catholic Diocese, Felix Ajakaye, criticised the administration of former governor Ayodele Fayose, another bishop again on Sunday described the ex-governors four-year second term as a waste. The News Agency of Nigeria, (NAN) reports that Bishop of the Diocese of Ekiti, the Church of Nigeria, Anglican Communion, the Christopher Omotunde, gave the verdict at a thanksgiving for the new deputy governor, Bisi Egbeyemi, in Ado Ekiti. Mr Omotunde said Ekitis progress was stunted in the last four years of the former governor. He described the tenure as four wasted years in which life became unbearable for the people and in which hunger ravaged the land without any concrete effort to alleviate peoples poverty. The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) had a golden chance to make a difference in the lives of Ekiti residents but abused the opportunity to the extent that the people became slaves under them, he said. He therefore warned the new All Progressives Congress (APC) administration to learn from the mistakes of the immediate past government and never disappoint the teeming masses looking up to it for meaningful governance. Mr Omotunde who delivered his sermon at the Emmanuel Anglican Cathedral, Okesa, Ado-Ekiti, said Mr Fayose should be particularly blamed for all that went wrong during his tenure The bishop said Mr Fayoses daily criticisms and opposition to President Muhammadu Buhari, for instance, denied Ekiti of many benefits. He said while Mr Fayose was busy abusing the president, other wiser PDP governors were busy attracting projects to their states and financial support from the federal government because of their good relationship with the President. The bishop, who described himself as a father of all politicians, said members of his church belong to all political parties, and that he was duty bound to speak the truth when the need arises. Mr Omotunde said God had given Governor Kayode Fayemi another chance to make the difference in the lives of Ekiti people and he must therefore not fail to do that because the expectations are very high. He advised Mr Fayemi to choose people who will be faithful in translating his dreams for the development of the state into reality and not those who would be advancing their personal and selfish interests. The bishop said now that Mr Fayemis party, APC, is in power at the federal level unlike what obtained during his first tenure, the federal government must grant all the requests of the governor to repair Ekiti and assist the state financially for its people to be relieved. According to the bishop: This our God is a God of another chance. He gave PDP another chance also but unfortunately they abused the chance to the extent that people became slaves under them, they rendered everybody hopeless under them. They bewitched everybody that our eyes were closed. They bewitched us that we called evil good and the few that their power of bewitchment had no effect upon prayed and God looked down from heaven and visited this state again opening another door for Fayemis government Your party (APC) is in power now, let them know that I said, its a government of another chance and God will try you again and see whether you will be faithful or not. It is left for you to prove yourself. Tell me of one youth that the immediate past government empowered? Even though they called it a government of Okada riders; how many Okadas did he buy for the youths? I was watching the television recently and Ebonyi State governor was listing his achievements in agriculture. He gave the federal government credit for his success and my (former) governor was also a PDP governor. In many states, Buhari had many achievements and successes to show but the only achievement here was the repair of Ado-Itawure Road. But our (former) governor would not give him room to work. The whole four years (under Fayose) was wasted; we were retrogressing, going backward. Many states were given opportunities in agriculture, nothing was given to Ekiti and all we needed was for the governor to give them land and banks were ready to finance the projects. With hunger ravaging the land, the former governor was collecting N1,000 from each pupil. What did he use the money to do? We did not see what they did with the money. Our people are hungry and they are suffering financial difficulties. They have been thrown into poverty so that they will become slaves to the rock but God brought somebody who knows how to break the rock into pieces, he said. Addressing the congregation, Mr Egbeyemi called for the prayers and support of Ekiti people for the new government saying: the welfare of the people remains the focal point of this administration. NAN reports that the service was attended by the wife of the governor, Bisi Fayemi; wife of the deputy governor, Margaret; Speaker, Ekiti State House of Assembly, Adeniran Alagbada and his wife Kike. Others are former deputy governor, Dupe Adelabu; Secretary to the State Government, Biodun Oyebanji; Chief of Staff, Biodun Omoleye; Ewi of Ado-Ekiti, Adeyemo Adejugbe and other traditional rulers. (NAN) For the New World Order, a world government is just the beginning. Once in place they can engage their plan to exterminate 80% of the world's population, while enabling the "elites" to live forever with the aid of advanced technology. For the first time, crusading filmmaker ALEX JONES reveals their secret plan for humanity's extermination: Operation ENDGAME. Jones chronicles the history of the global elite's bloody rise to power and reveals how they have funded dictators and financed the bloodiest warscreating order out of chaos to pave the way for the first true world empire. Watch as Jones and his team track the elusive Bilderberg Group to Ottawa and Istanbul to document their secret summits, allowing you to witness global kingpins setting the world's agenda and instigating World War III. to Ottawa and Istanbul to document their secret summits, allowing you to witness global kingpins setting the world's agenda and instigating World War III. Learn about the formation of the North America transportation control grid, which will end U.S. sovereignty forever. Discover how the practitioners of the pseudo-science eugenics have taken control of governments worldwide as a means to carry out depopulation. View the progress of the coming collapse of the United States and the formation of the North American Union. Never before has a documentary assembled all the pieces of the globalists' dark agenda. Endgame's compelling look at past atrocities committed by those attempting to steer the future delivers information that the controlling media has meticulously censored for over 60 years. It fully reveals the elite's program to dominate the earth and carry out the wicked plan in all of human history. Endgame is not conspiracy theory, it is documented fact in the elite's own words. WASHINGTON, Oct. 28, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Below is a statement by U.S. Conference of Mayors President Columbia (SC) Mayor Steve Benjamin on the shooting at the Tree of Life Synagogue in Pittsburgh: "The horrific, anti-Semitic attack on worshippers at the Tree of Life Synagogue in Pittsburgh on Saturday breaks our hearts. The Anti- Defamation League believes this to be the deadliest attack on the Jewish community in U.S. history and the fact that the attack occurred on the Jewish Sabbath makes it even more painful. "America's mayors mourn the dead and express their condolences to the victims, their families, and their community. Once again we recognize the bravery and quick action of the police and other first responders. We stand with Pittsburgh Mayor Bill Peduto as he works to comfort the victims and heal his City. "Our nation has seen a rise in hate crimes and anti-Semitic incidents in recent years. As mayors we speak out against hate crimes wherever and whenever they occur in our nation and in our own cities and try to find ways to build understanding, compassionate and inclusive communities that bring people together." About The United States Conference of Mayors -- The U.S. Conference of Mayors is the official nonpartisan organization of cities with populations of 30,000 or more. There are nearly 1,400 such cities in the country today, and each city is represented in the Conference by its chief elected official, the mayor. Like us on Facebook at facebook.com/usmayors, or follow us on Twitter at twitter.com/usmayors. SOURCE U.S. Conference of Mayors Related Links https://www.usmayors.org Passionate response Praises for Sichuan's tourism characteristics A wide range of panda elements, mesmerizing photos of tourism in Sichuan, electrifying bianlian face-change and Sichuan opera performances...On October 24 local time, the "Beautiful Sichuan, More than Pandas" global tourism promotion campaign commenced inside the Hotel Kamp in the Finnish city Helsinki. Speeches were delivered by Deputy Secretary Deng, Culture Counsellor at the Chinese Embassy in Finland Guo Xiaoguang and Kristiina Hietasaari of the country's tourism body Visit Finland. Other participants at this promo event included well-known local tourism service providers and media. Deputy Director Song and representatives of Sichuan travel agencies provided an in-depth introduction about Sichuan tourism resources and tourism products. Local industry attendees showed an intense interest in Sichuan tourism products, and expressed the wish to head to Sichuan for on-site investigations in order to further strengthen rapport with Sichuan tourism and roll out tourism routes and products for Sichuan as soon as possible. Deputy Secretary Deng Xiaogang and Kristiina Hietasaari of Visit Finland jointly "painted the eyes" for the colorful panda artwork. As a testimony to the mutual understanding and friendship between the two parties, Deputy Secretary Deng Xiaogang presented to Visit Finland painted panda artwork. Thereafter, a contract-signing ceremony was held for Sichuan and Finnish tourism enterprises, signifying the official start of cooperation in fields such as international inbound tourism market. During the promo campaign, the score of panda mascots from Sichuan captivated the attention of local folks and tourists, many of which actively participated in the painting of blank panda models. Following the materialization of unique panda artworks one after another, all of which represent qualities and characteristics of "Sichuan in my eyes," the Finnish public was able to garner a deeper understanding about tourism in Sichuan. Mutual Benefits Promote Cooperation in the Fields of Tourism and Culture Under the backdrop of stable progress in Chinese-Finnish relations and the framework of the "One Belt One Road," exchanges and cooperation between Sichuan and Finland have continued to deepen in recent years. In 2015, under the auspices of the 65th anniversary of the founding of the Chinese-Finnish diplomatic relations, Sichuan provincial capital Chengdu and the Finnish city of Rovaniemi jointly signed a memorandum of understanding for the formation of sister cities relations. In March this year, a memorandum of understanding for the formation of friendly cooperative relations was inked between the Sichuan city of Dujiangyan and the Finnish city of Ahtari. The two thereby became friendly cooperative cities and will focus their efforts on engendering exchanges and cooperation in areas such as tourism, culture, education and environmental protection. On the day of October 24, the Sichuan tourism promotion group met with the Town Manager of Ahtari Jarmo Pienimaki and chairperson of the Ahtari Zoo, among others, in order to speak extensively about Sichuan's international inbound tourism market. During this meeting, the Sichuan tourism promo group catered to the preferences of Ahtari tourists in explaining and analyzing their resources, and the two sides also discussed agendas such as local marketing and international promotion that target the Ahtari market, support policies and service assurance measures that Sichuan needs to provide, as well as how to sufficiently perform product research and development in concert with Chinese domestic travel agency partners. On October 25, the Sichuan tourism promo group visited officer Teemu Ahola, Asia Marketing Director with Visit Finland and provided introductions about Sichuan Province's plethora of tourism resources and international inbound tourism reward and support policies. The two sides also traded opinions with regards to mutual assistance on tourist supply, and proceeded to establish a long-term partnership. People involved with relevant matters have remarked that as one of the most innovative and internationalized Chinese cities today, Chengdu has already attracted and will continue to attract an increasingly larger number of Finns, Finnish organizations and companies to come to the city for vacation and business purposes. This promo activity was able to enable the Finnish public to acquire a deeper comprehension about Sichuan tourism, elevated the reputation of Sichuan tourism in Finland, propelled the growth of the Sichuan international inbound tourism market and opened up a new gateway into the international inbound tourist market of Northern Europe. SOURCE Sichuan Tourism Administration Hilliard states, "The CP4 is the heart of the engine. In the US, every single CP4 is starved of lubrication because of the viscosity of American diesel fuel. As a result of the lack of lubrication in American diesel, the design of the CP4, and the low volume of fuel moved by the CP4, the CP4 starts to shed tiny pieces of metal shards almost immediately, sometimes as early as mile one. By a hundred thousand miles, all truck owners see the costly results. Their engines self-destruct, the CP4 disintegrates and sends thousands of metal shards into the fuel injection system and every part of the engineresulting in $8,000-$20,000 worth of repairs." "The truck manufacturers, Ford, General Motors, FCA (Chrysler) and VM Motori plus Bosch allegedly all knew this CP4 high pressure fuel pump was not designed for and could not safely operate on US diesel fuel and should not be put into American vehicles. Yet, they put it in millions of trucks anyway." Hilliard states, "The CP4 is a high pressure fuel injection pump, mounted in the engine bay, which directly feeds high pressure to the common rail and draws fuel from the tank. As a fact, the CP4 will destroy the entire fuel system of 100% of the trucks it is installed in. It is in Ford 6.7L PowerStroke engines from 2011 to present and GM 6.6L Duramax LML Diesel engines from 2011 to 2016, 3.0 L EcoDiesel Jeep Cherokees and Ram trucks, and various ambulances, delivery vans, and other vehicles. The CP4 was a cost saving measure, using fewer parts and less fuel, replacing the very reliable CP3. "It is never 'if' when it comes to CP4 failure. It is only 'when'. The failure is always catastrophic because it destroys the injectors and leaves metal shavings in the fuel linesrequiring a replacement of the entire fuel injection system and disassembly of the engine." "Every truck owner with a CP4 should be entitled to recover the cost of replacement and repair as well as economic and other monetary damages. Hard working Americans rely on their work trucks, as do many small business owners. This defect puts their trucks in the shop for weeks and costs thousands of dollars to repair, and the car companies always deny warranty coverage. Also, if the CP4 catastrophically fails at highway speeds and the engine suddenly won't respond, there is a real safety and loss of life issue as well." Click here for more information: https://www.hmglawfirm.com/cp4fuelpump/ ABOUT HMG http://www.hmglawfirm.com/ Hilliard Martinez Gonzales LLP (HMG) specializes in mass torts, personal injury, product liability, commercial and business litigation, and wrongful death. Hilliard Martinez Gonzales LLP has been successfully representing clients in the United States and Mexico since 1986. Bob Hilliard obtained the Largest Verdict in the country in 2012 and the #1 verdict in Texas, he currently is co-lead counsel in the single biggest litigation in US history, GM's ignition switch defect litigation, currently pending in the Southern District of New York. SCHEDULE AN INTERVIEW WITH BOB HILLIARD Contact Lauren Gomez at 361-960-3146 SOURCE Hilliard Martinez Gonzales LLP Related Links http://www.hmglawfirm.com Mogadishu, Oct 28 : Armed men shot dead a radio journalist outside Mogadishu on Saturday evening, police and the journalist union confirmed. A police officer who requested not to be named confirmed the killing to Xinhua but noted that details regarding the shooting were still scanty. "We have the information that a journalist was killed at Elasha Biyaha. We are trying to gather more information about the incident," the officer said. The National Union of Somali Journalists (NUSOJ) condemning the attack. "NUSOJ condemns the killing of Abdullahi Mire Hashi, 26, a journalist and director of Darul Sunna FM, a private radio which mainly broadcasts religious issues," NUSOJ said. "He was shot dead by unidentified gunmen on Saturday outside Mogadishu." Mohamed Deeq, a resident, told Xinhua by phone the gunmen fled the scene after the killing. "Gunmen brandishing pistols shot dead the man whom we were told is a journalist. They fled the scene immediately after gunning him down," Deeq said. There was no immediate claim of responsibility. Oslo, Oct 28 : Rallies were held in Norway on Saturday to protest against NATO's biggest military exercise since the end of the Cold War in the Nordic country. In Norway's capital city Oslo, about 1,000 protesters gathered at the Eidsvoll Square in the city centre to voice their opposition to the ongoing Trident Juncture 2018 exercise, which involves around 50,000 participants from all 29 NATO member nations and its partners Sweden and Finland. Most of the demonstrators were from a group called "Oslo for Action against NATO," which comprises 27 affiliated organisations, including some left-wing political parties and the Oslo chapter of Norway's largest trade union confederation LO. "The exercise is actually not good for the security of the Norwegian people," Geir Hem, organiser of the event, told Xinhua. "It's part of the militarization and escalating the danger of war," Hem said. "It's kind of preparing Norway to be a battlefield and not to defend the people in Norway." Anti-NATO protests were also organised on Saturday in Bergen, Norway's second largest city, and the southern city of Kristiansand. A similar demonstration was held last week in Trondheim in central Norway. The Trident Juncture 2018 exercise takes place from October 25 to November 7 in central and eastern Norway and the surrounding areas of the North Atlantic and the Baltic Sea, including Iceland and the airspace of Finland and Sweden. Russia has said the NATO drills in Northern Europe are obviously anti-Russian and they lead to deterioration of military and political situation in the region, according to Russia's Sputnik news agency. "It is obvious that this fighting capabilities demonstration has a distinct anti-Russian character," the Russian Foreign Ministry's Information and Press Department was quoted as saying in a statement on Thursday. "It has a negative effect on the security of all the neighbouring countries," it said. Srinagar, Oct 28 : A special police officer (SPO) was critically injured after he was shot at by militants in Jammu and Kashmir's Badgam district, authorities said on Sunday. The incident took place in Charar-e-Sharif area on Saturday night. "The injured SPO Muhammad Hafiz was shifted to Srinagar for specialised treatment," police sources said. Toronto, Oct 28 : Indo-Canadian expatriates have donated more than $7 million dollars to a Toronto-based non-profit organisation which builds and runs education hostels in rural India. The non-profit AIM for SEWA (Canada) builds hostels in far-flung, rural areas of India to educate children from poor families. At this year's annual gala dinner here attended by former Miss India Pooja Batra, many Indo-Canadians pledged donations to AIM for SEWA to take its collections to over $7 million dollars to promote education of poor rural kids in India. The non-profit, started by famous Toronto dentist Terry Papneja, has already built 26 hostels in rural India. "At these hostels, we are taking care of over 4,000 children - from the age of eight to 18 - on an on-going basis. For full 10 years, these children are given free accommodation, food, clothing and education so that their families get out of the cycle of poverty. We also cover all their other expenses," said Papneja. Hailing from a Punjabi family which settled in Kareli, Madhya Pradesh, after they were uprooted from Pakistan during the Partition, Papneja said: "As a young boy, I saw poverty at close quarters in my hometown and read how Gandhi made service to God's creation as his mission after reading the holy Gita. I always wanted to do something for the needy." Each hostel costs about $290,000 to build and most donors sponsor hostels in the areas of India where they come from. Toronto businessman Inder Sharma has committed to donate $2 million dollars to build many hostels in rural India. Indo-Canada Economic Council president Arun Srivastava and his wife Anu also announced almost half a million dollars to build a girls-only hostel near Kanpur to educate girls from poor rural families. "Our donation is the continuation of my family's long tradition of serving the underprivileged. My grandfather Mahashai Chitra Sen Nigam was a great freedom fighter who worked with Lala Lajpat Rai. He was also the founder-member of DAV College in Kanpur and instrumental in setting up the local orphanage, widows' home and the Hindu temple," said Anu Srivastava, who also heads Panorama India which is the umbrella organisation of over a hundred Indo-Canadian associations. Another Indo-Canadian couple - Neelam and Kris Shah - announced to give scholarships worth $100,000 to 20 children over a period of 10 years. According to Papneja, they have just opened a chapter in Montreal to raise money from the local Indian community. Latest updates on Gandhi Jayanti 2019 Manama, Oct 28 : US Defence Secretary James Mattis said here that Washington was committed to "holding accountable" those responsible for killing Saudi Arabian journalist Jamal Khashoggi, whose death "undermines regional stability". Mattis, speaking to an international security conference on Saturday, never mentioned Saudi Arabia directly in connection with the October 2 killing of Khashoggi, a Virginia resident who was a columnist for The Washington Post, at the Saudi Consulate in Istanbul, reports The New York Times. But he said that Secretary of State Mike Pompeo had revoked the visas of Saudis suspected in the killing and that Trump had vowed "to get to the bottom of it" and get Congress involved. "Failure of any one nation to adhere to international norms and the rule of law undermines regional stability at a time when it is needed most," Mattis said. Saudi Arabian Foreign Minister Adel al-Jubeir, who also attended the conference, told the media later that an inquiry into Khashoggi's death would take time and denounced what he described as "media hysteria" over the killing. In his remarks here in Bahrain, home to the Navy's Fifth Fleet, Mattis also sought to tamp down increasing concerns that if Washington reduces its security role in the Middle East, Russia would move quickly to fill the vacuum. The US has not had an aircraft carrier in the Persian Gulf since March, and the Pentagon is pulling Patriot missile-defence systems out of Jordan, Kuwait and Bahrain as part of a strategic realignment of firepower away from the Middle East and toward Russia and China. "Russia's presence in the region cannot replace the longstanding, enduring and transparent," he said. Even before Khashoggi's disappearance, relations between Washington and Riyadh had been on edge, The New York Times said. This month, President Donald Trump said Saudi Arabia's King Salman might not last two weeks without the US, escalating pressure on the Saudis to curb rising oil prices and to pay for military protection. Trump has condemned Saudi Arabia's shifting account of the killing of Khashoggi as "the worst cover-up ever". New Delhi : (Attn Editors: Shashi Tharoors new book "The Paradoxical Prime Minister" has just arrived at the stands. Presented below is an exclusive extract from the book) The New India I want is a country where you won't get lynched for the food you eat, marginalized for the faith you hold dear, criminalized for the person you love and imprisoned for making use of fundamental rights guaranteed by your own Constitution. Instead, we must look forward to a New India that celebrates and welcomes pluralism, an idea vindicated by history itself. To me, this New India must be fundamentally rooted in the idea of India that our founding fathers believed in. After all, as I've asked in a different context, if you don't know where you are coming from, then how can you know where you are going? This nebulous 'Idea of India' -- though the phrase is Rabindranath Tagore's -- is, in some form or another, arguably as old as antiquity itself. Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru saw our country as an 'ancient palimpsest' on which successive rulers and subjects had inscribed their visions without erasing what had been asserted previously. We not only coexist, but thrive in our diversity which is our strength. Swami Vivekananda spoke of a Hinduism that not merely tolerates other faiths but accepts them as they are. This acceptance of difference has been key to our country's survival, making 'unity in diversity' the most hallowed of independent India's self-defining slogans. India, as I have long argued, has always been more than the sum of its contradictions. I write in the introduction about the Indian idea, which is that a nation may endure differences of caste, creed, colour, conviction, culture, cuisine, costume and custom, and still rally around a consensus. And that consensus is around the simple idea that in a democracy you don't really need to agree -- except on the ground rules of how you will disagree. It is the idea of an ever-ever land -- emerging from an ancient civilization, united by a shared history, sustained by pluralist democracy.... For New India to succeed and indeed thrive, it will have to embrace this inclusive vision and draw its inspiration from the key tenets of the core 'Idea of India'. Only by maintaining a commitment towards a democratic and pluralistic ethos can New India be able to fulfill the aspirations of all Indians. Interestingly, the need for our government to preside over a harmonious plural society springs not just from the core values of our country and need for insaniyat (or humanity), to use Mr Vajpayee's phrase, to guide our leaders' actions, but also from good old-fashioned economics. An eye-opening report, first published on Indiaspend.org, a public interest NGO, pointed out that 'if India discards religious beliefs that perpetrate caste and gender inequalities it could more than double its per capita GDP growth of the last sixty years in half the time.' Did someone say, 'sabka saath sabka vikas'? At the same time, we must also be conscious that preserving our ideological commitment to pluralism, acceptance and the freedom provided by our democratic systems is only one-half of the battle. Providing a decent standard of living to the people of India, particularly those from economically vulnerable groups, is the second commitment that we must undertake in our blueprint for a New India. Our inclusive vision of New India must be complemented by inclusive development as we move forward. We can talk of a New India, and yet, many of the battles India has been fighting -- and must continue to fight -- continue to centre around our principal basic problems of roti, kapda, makaan and now, sadak, bijli and paani, plus no doubt broadband (to most people in our mobile phone age, 4G is more important than Modi-ji). The prestigious Forbes magazine list of the world's top billionaires had to make room for 119 Indian dollar billionaires in 2018, with a combined net worth of $440 billion, greater than the GDP of a majority of member states of the United Nations. But at the same time we have 363 million people living below the poverty line. And it's not the UN/World Bank's poverty line of $1 a day, now revised to $1.25, but the Indian poverty line, which in the rural areas is Rs 32 a day -- in other words, a line that's been drawn just this side of the funeral pyre. This is our reality and this is what our blueprint for a New India must address -- creatively, quickly, and securely. New India must be built on the liberalization we embarked upon in 1991. Economic growth remains vital to pulling people out of poverty. But the fruits of that growth -- the revenues that come from it -- must be shared with those who are excluded from its benefits. The magic of the market will not appeal to those who cannot afford to enter the marketplace. As India navigates its development, we must focus on ensuring that the benefits of growth are shared across the nation -- by our youth, who are struggling to find jobs, and by our poorest, for whom true development would be life changing... You can choose a New India that embodies hope, or one that promotes fear. You can support a New India united in striving, or an India divided by hatred. I believe we can look forward to a New India with confidence, if not with optimism. But we must build this New India on solutions to our major challenges. We have to overcome our poverty. We have to deal with the hardware of development, the ports, the roads, the airports, all the infrastructural progress we need to make, and the software of development, the human capital, the need for the ordinary person in India to be able to have a couple of square meals a day, to be able to send his or her children to a decent school and to aspire to work a job that will give them opportunities in their lives to transform themselves. We have to tackle and end corruption. We need to conquer these challenges, real challenges which none of us in India can pretend don't exist. But it must take place in an open society, in a rich and diverse and plural civilization, one that is open to the contention of ideas and interests within it, unafraid of the prowess or the products of the outside world, wedded to the democratic pluralism that is India's greatest strength, and determined to liberate and fulfil the creative energies of its people. We must remain faithful to our founding values of the twentieth century if we are to conquer the challenges of the twenty-first and build the New India that we seek. Our New India will shine. But it must shine for all. (Shashi Tharoor is a Congress MP, representing the Thiruvananthapuram constituency, and a bestselling author. Published with permission from Aleph Book Company) New Delhi : The Whos Who of Indian literary circles assembled at a five-star hotel here earlier this week to attend the announcement of the winner of the inaugural edition of the JCB Prize for Literature -- conceptualised on the lines of the Man Booker Prize -- at a specially curated dinner. It was a saga steeped in hypocrisy. This correspondent confirmed his presence at the last moment and was allotted a seat. Next to me was a Public Relations executive from Britain, who had flown in to explore ties with the prize, seeking to establish opportunities for the shortlisted books -- Perumal Murugan's "Poonachi or The Story of a Black Goat"; Shubhangi Swarup's "Latitudes of Longing"; "Amitabha Bagchi's "Half The Night Is Gone"; Anuradha Roy's "All The Lives We Never Lived"; and Benyamin's "Jasmine Days" -- in the UK. Or so he said. Fortunately for me, he had attended the Booker Prize dinner, which is touted globally for its extravagance and the luminaries who attend it year after year. "But even by Booker standards, this is too grand," he said, adding that nobody in the UK would spend this kind money on such an event. On seeing the name inscribed on the table card of the person to my left, I realised we had exchanged several emails and had engaged in conversations over telephone but never met in person. He was earlier a publicist and was now writing for a leading website. I introduced myself -- and we laughed at the coincidence of finding ourselves next to each other. The lady sitting across me was a known face too -- a regular on the festival circuit -- and looked at me curiously. I could sense that she wanted to initiate a conversation but just then a well-dressed man in an extravagant outfit, walked up to the stage to begin the evening's proceedings. He was the British Indian novelist and essayist Rana Dasgupta, the Literary Director of the prize. He welcomed the audience, introduced the prize and left everyone in suspense, saying the prize would be announced when the main course was served. Most people in attendance had not known who he was before the announcement of this prize, but he was surely the one in limelight and journalists seeking to interview him had a tough time as requests were not entertained. Dasgupta had his own company to keep, and was surrounded by bigwigs for most of the evening. Back at the table, the lady sitting across me, finally said: "Have we met before?" I reminded her that I had interviewed her on the sidelines of the Serendipity Arts Festival in Goa two years ago -- and that we had just been introduced by, let's call him "the man of books", before the doors of the hall were opened for the evening, about half an hour ago. How could she forget so fast? Let's rewind. The time stated on the invitation was 7.30 p.m. and proceedings began a little after 9. The period in between was when wine did all the talking and informal networking ruled the roost. Debutante Shubhangi Swarup walked around graciously in the company of a reader or two; her proud publisher, Udayan Mitra of HarperCollins, waxed eloquently on publishing her; Poulomi Chatterjee, Editor-in-Chief of Hachette India represented Anuradha Roy, who could not make it to the evening due to a prior commitment; and several other literary heavyweights graced the evening. NITI Aayog CEO Amitabh Kant could be seen interacting with Lord Bamford, Chairman of JCB, ensuring that he was well in the camera frames. Writer Perumal Murugan, on the other hand, seemed out-of-place. So were several others, but they didn't show it. Murugan's dicomfiture was evident. So what were the top notch of Indian literary circles discussing over wine? That the #MeToo movement has derailed many, that there is a need to separate art and the artist, that literary festivals could not, and should not, single out people on the basis of mere allegations, and that such a glamorous event was long awaited for Indian writing. Ironically, most of these very same personalities have an altogether different outlook on social media and when on stage. Just as the main course arrived, the winner was announced -- Benyamin for "Jasmine Days". My phone buzzed with twitter notifications almost instantly while I hurriedly emailed a brief report to the newsroom. When I looked up, the crowd was gone, but the food was not. Hardly had anybody finished their meal, drinks had done all the talking all evening. There is nothing wrong with cocktail evenings, but the suggestion these define the Indian literary space is absurd; and yet they have become synonymous with almost every literary gathering of our times. A literary prize like the JCB should first look at the vast magnitude of Indian writing arising under acute circumstances -- in poverty, stress and in unfavourable conditions. One can well bet that the amount spent on the publicity of the Prize exceeded the amount paid to the winner. Turn towards the Sahitya Akademi awardees and the futility of the concept will be evident. All of this may have been because the Prize is a mere excuse, and not the actual goal. The goal, it seems, is brand building -- and that was exactly what was achieved on that glittery evening in the National Capital. If it was not so, the conceptualisation of the Prize must have been a lot different than what it was. The Man Booker Prize is not an ideal formula to imitate, particularly in the Indian context that is so full of diversity and comprising mostly ignored writers (barring the privileged few, who hover from one festival to another). The JCB Prize did not break this mould, instead it once again underlined the biggest problem for a majority of writers in India -- that just a handful rule the roost through a strange monopoly of literary agents, publishers, festival organisers as well as major awards. The JCB Prize for Literature is a new member of the same gang. And lastly, did the Prize boycott Penguin Random House India, or did the publisher boycott the prize? No one will say a word, (for now) but something fishy surely happened within. (Saket Suman is a Principal Correspondent at IANS. The views expressed are personal. He can be contacted at saket.s@ians.in ) Mumbai, Oct 28 : It was barely three months ago that a US-returned medico started a small cafe in upscale Juhu as a unique venture -- employing mostly those who suffer from various developmental disabilities. Now, Cafe Arpan has gained huge popularity -- among patrons, many of whom have become regulars, and among the 19 specially-abled staffers who love to slog 30 hours over six days a week to make this trendsetter eatery a super success. "It was like a dream and in planning for nearly a year, but only after getting a proper place and crowdfunding that we finally opened the doors on August 2. I have 19 staffers, mostly full-timers, including my elder daughter, all suffering from some or the other form of developmental disability," the founder-owner, Dr. Sushama Nagarkar, told IANS. A psychologist and single mother of two daughters -- Aarti (32), who suffers from autism, and Divya (30), settled abroad -- Nagarkar wanted "to do something different, and empower people suffering from developmental disabilities". Initially, she started with a tiffin service, around one-and-half years ago, which proved to be a hit and had over a dozen staffers with afflictions like autism and Down Syndrome, as also under-developmental and intellectual disabilities, all of which are incurable but impact normal life among all age groups. Situated opposite the SNDT Women's University Juhu Campus in Santa Cruz West, Cafe Arpan is specially designed for them. "With a limited yet distinctive menu, there is ample space for the staffers to move around conveniently and everything functions on electricity for their safety. They can comfortably work around five hours a day and take home salaries comparable with industry standards," Nagarkar told IANS. In the age group of 23-50, most are barely literate, but they have learnt to handle everything "with complete dedication and focus", said Nagarkar, who opened the eatery under the auspices of Yash Charitable Trust (YCT) of which she is Managing Trustee, and which carries out multifaceted social activities. "I returned to India after 15 years in the US and started the YCT in 2014 to bring people with developmental disabilities into the social and national mainstream, and make them responsible and contributing citizens," she smiled. Nagarkar feels these specially-abled people have great potential but severely lack opportunities -- and that the Cafe Arpan and the tiffin services have started to contribute in a small way, helping them become independent and capable of supporting themselves and even their families. Initially, there was a communication gap between the staff and patrons, but the latter proved very understanding and now the going is smooth, with customers appreciating the initiative. Open for 12 hours from 8 a.m., Cafe Arpna offers a simple but specially-designed menu of barely 30 items like burgers, pizzas, hot/cold beverages and the like, which the specially-abled staffers can themselves handle without complications or calamities. "During a visit for a snack, I was surprised when one of the staffers took my order, unusually quiet, but apparently efficient, and then served it gracefully. Later, I realised that all the staffers here are specially-abled and the experience was amazing," said an awed customer, Mini P. Menon. She feels the venture would help commoners view people with developmental disabilities in a new light and open up new avenues for them to become valued members of the community. Cafe Arpan's hand-picked special team includes: Nazneen Kagalwala, Sudha Chhabria, Pratibha Kamath, Ashritha Shetty, Nandini Rajwade, Abuli Mamaji, Aaron Colaco, Samvit Desai, Chetan Jawale, Nikhil Sharma, Shefali Gundecha, Saurabh Kambli, Shonali Menon, Bunny Aman, Ram Bhiwandikar, Raees Shaikh, Anand Jangir, Gaurav Vanvari and Aarti Nagarkar. She urged people and the society to come together and create more such gainful opportunities that can enable people with developmental disabilities become self-sufficient and lead a dignified life. On her part, Nagarkar said that all the staffers here have come through word-of-mouth publicity and the demand of the specially-abled job-seekers is increasing. "I briefly considered a similar venture in the US where I could have got ample state funding. However, I decided on the option here as the need is more in India, though I had to start from scratch. But we are satisfied with the results and may consider expansion plans soon," Nagarkar concluded. (The weekly feature series is part of a positive-journalism project of IANS and the Frank Islam Foundation. Quaid Najmi can be contacted at q.najmi@ians.in ) Patna, Oct 28 : A college teacher was shot dead on Sunday in Bihar's Nalanda district, police said. "Arvind Kumar, a professor at the PMS college, was shot dead near Elite hotel in Bhagan Bigha area by unidentified assailants when he was on a morning walk," a district police official said. The police have lodged a case and started a probe. San Francisco, Oct 28 : Tech major IBM and Symrise, one of the top global producers of flavours and fragrances, have created industry's first Artificial Intelligence (AI)-designed perfumes for sale. The AI-based system named "Philyra" can learn about perfume formulas, raw materials, historical success data and industry trends, IBM Research said in a statement late on Saturday. "Building on previous IBM research using AI to pair flavours and for recipe creation, as well as our new IBM Research AI for Product Composition, we created Philyra," said Richard Goodwin, Principal Research Scientist, IBM Research. The AI tool uses new and advanced Machine Learning (ML) algorithms to sift through hundreds of thousands of formulas and thousands of raw materials, helping identify patterns and novel combinations. "Philyra does more than serve up inspiration - it can design entirely new fragrance formulas by exploring the entire landscape of fragrance combinations to discover the whitespaces in the global fragrance market," Goodwin added. When it comes to new perfume design, "Philyra" learns a distance model to identify fragrances that are close in smell to existing fragrances. The larger the distance between a fragrance and its neighbours, the more novel the perfume is predicted to be. Symrise has used "Philyra" to design two perfumes, scheduled to launch in mid-2019. Symrise's long-term goal is to introduce this technology to their master perfumers around the globe and continue to use the solution for the design of fragrances for personal care and home care products. The company also plans to introduce "Philyra" into their Perfumery School to help train the next generation of perfumers, firmly embedding AI into the heart of its organisation. "Our research continues to push the boundaries of augmenting human expertise using AI and demonstrating how AI can assist in domains where creativity is key," said Goodwin. Now, perfumers can have an AI apprentice by their side that can help make them more productive, and accelerate the design process by guiding them towards formulas that have never been seen before, he added. Dhaka, Oct 28 : A 48-hour nationwide strike in Bangladesh called by transport workers demanding amendments to the "Road Transport Act 2018" threw normal life out of gear across the country on Sunday. No buses plied in capital Dhaka, leaving hundreds of thousands stranded, reports Xinhua news agency. However, rickshaws, autos and private cars were seen on the city roads. On Saturday night, workers announced they would suspend transport operations for two days beginning from Sunday morning. The Road Transport Act 2018 was passed last month with provisions for stringent punishment to traffic offenders. The Act, which awaits presidential approval before it officially becomes a law, stipulates that traffic offenders will risk being sentenced up to five years or fined 500,000 Bangladeshi taka ($5,910) or both. The country's existing transport law entitled the maximum penalty of three years behind bars with the provision of bail. The move comes in the wake of countrywide student protests after two students died and nine others were injured after they were run over by a bus in July. Chandigarh, Oct 28 : Committing to protecting farmer's interests, Punjab Food and Civil Supplies Minister Bharat Bhushan Ashu on Sunday warned 'arthiyas' (commission agents) of action if farmers were paid less or payment was delayed for the paddy procured from them. "Action will be taken against the 'arthiyas' giving lesser value against MSP (minimum support price) to farmers," Ashu said in a statement here. He said that in accordance with the Punjab Agricultural Produce Market Rules Act, 1962, it was the duty of the state government to make payment within 48 hours and the amount was forwarded to the farmers through cheques. Some of the 'arthiyas' in the state were not transferring the payment of paddy to the farmers through cheques. Rather they were indulging in cash payments, which was in violation of the rules, the Minister said. "Besides this, it has also been noticed that even the MSP is not given to the farmers. "Any kind of forging and cheating with farmers will not be tolerated and they should be given the full price of their produce," Ashu said. He also directed the officials of procurement agencies to make sure that payments, in the stipulated time frame, were made and ensure that all the norms regarding procurement process were followed. Government agencies and private mill owners procured nearly 75 lakh tonne of paddy in Punjab this kharif season. The procurement started on October 1, though the bulk stocks started coming after October 10. The state government has already made payments of over Rs 9,075 crore to 'arthiyas' and farmers in their accounts. Over 99 per cent of the procurement had been done by government agencies. The Central government had sanctioned a Cash Credit Limit (CCL) amount of Rs 29,695.40 crore for procurement of paddy in the kharif marketing season 2018-19, against a demand of Rs 40,300 crore raised by Punjab. Punjab has made arrangements for a bumper procurement of 200 lakh tonne of paddy this season. In 2017-18, a total of 179.34 lakh tonne of paddy was procured in the state. Agrarian Punjab contributes 50 per cent of food grains (wheat and paddy) to the national kitty despite having just 1.54 per cent of the country's geographical area. New Delhi, Oct 28 : Hasan Minhaj found global fame when he gave words to his story through the stage production turned comedy special "Homecoming King". The Indian-American comedian is now thinking about making a feature film on it. "People have approached me with the idea of making 'Homecoming King' film. We will see about that. But right now, I am focused on my own show 'Patriot Act' on Netflix," Hasan told IANS over the phone. After doing some gigs, Hasan got his big break when he became a part of "The Daily Show". But he found worldwide fame with his "Homecoming King", which debuted Off-Broadway in October 2015. He then recorded a version of that show in January 2017 for his first Netflix special. Growing up in the US as a Muslim from Aligarh was a bumpy ride for Hasan. He told his story to the world through "Homecoming King", filled with anecdotes of his struggle to search for his identity. Hasan feels things are changing for South Asian actors in the West. "The change is coming from behind the camera to in front of the camera. As writers and performers, we are starting to write, direct and produce our own narrative. The voice of the actual project is becoming very authentic," he said. Hasan says "people are starting to see a more nuanced approach in take of the South Asian identity". "And because of that people are saying 'ohh South Asians can be so much more than an engineer or a lawyer or a doctor. They can be spies, they can be someone's boyfriend, they can be lovers, they can be jerks, they can convey every spectrum of human emotion'. "That for me is really interesting," added Hasan, who also featured in Lionsgate Films' "The Spy Who Dumped Me". Beijing, Oct 28 : A team of archaeologists said on Sunday that they have unearthed Bronze Age ruins including the remains of ancient houses and ash pits along with animal bones, bronze ware and stone tools in China's Jilin province. The finds were discovered on a sand dune near Dajinshan village in Shuangliao city, according to the School of Archaeology of Jilin University. Fang Qi, the archaeologist who headed the excavation, said researchers speculate that the ruins might serve as evidence of a living and fishing place for ancient people near the Eastern Liaohe river based on large quantities of unearthed life utensils, animal bones, fishbones, mussels and shellfish, reports Xinhua news agency. The ruins are around 150 metres long and 100 metres wide. Jointly launched by researchers from countries including China, France and the US, the ongoing excavation started in July and is covering around 1,000 square metres. After the excavation is completed, the archaeologists will send 20 carbon samples to the University of Oxford for more precise age testing. "The new discovery will shed some light on the living and working conditions of ancient people along the Eastern Liaohe river basin, and enrich people's understanding of ancient life in the region," Fang said. New York, Oct 28 : Offering help to a struggling co-worker or employee on the job can backfire, according to a new study. The study explored that extending a helping hand was just as likely to make the situation worse, while simply making job resources available had a more consistent positive effect. "Not all support is good support. Reaching out to offer help to a co-worker could end up insulting them," said Michael Mathieu, graduate student at San Francisco State University in the US. Simply making support available is often better than overtly discussing it. Offering job-related support such as a new equipment or career counselling performed roughly the same role as providing emotional support, like listening to a co-worker's problems. "Sometimes offering support makes things worse, sometimes it makes it better," said Mathieu. Results showed that support coming from a superior has a bigger impact than when it comes from a co-worker. The study, published in the Journal of Occupational Health Psychology, reviewed 142 studies. The team from the varsity used a wide variety of measurements -- from job satisfaction to job performance and even stressors like "role overload" (when an employee's workload is too large to handle). "Before providing support, think about whether it is needed and whether it is wanted. "If it is not, maybe step back and do not provide that," Mathieu warned. Thiruvananthapuram, Oct 28 : The BJP will continue to stand by devotees opposed to the entry of all women to the Sabarimala temple, Kerala BJP President P.S. Sreedharan Pillai said on Sunday. Pillai also announced a series of protests to ensure that Sabarimala's uniqueness -- keeping away women in the age group of 10 to 50 -- was kept intact. The temple closed after five days of monthly puja on October 22. It will now open at 5 p.m. on November 5 and close the next day at 10 p.m. "We will be in full strength and will support the devotees' wishes when the temple opens on the 5th," Pillai told the media. "The situation in Kerala is worse than the Emergency days," he said. "People are being arrested at midnight just because they protested in a peaceful manner, fighting for the rights of the devotees of Lord Ayyappa." An estimated 3,345 protesters who prevented women from entering the Sabarimala temple have been arrested since October 26 while 517 cases have been registered at various police stations across the state. Pillai said that across the country there were many temples dedicated to Lord Ayyappa but the temple at Sabarimala was unique. He said he would stage a day-long protest outside the office of the Kerala Police chief. A 'rath yatra' will start from a temple in Kasargode on November 8 and reach Pathanamthitta - where the Sabarimala temple is located -- on November 13." Dublin, Oct 28 : Michael D. Higgins was on Sunday re-elected as the Irish President after receiving 56 per cent of the election vote. Businessman Peter Casey came second in the polls on Saturday with 23.1 per cent, while none of the other four candidates polled more than 10 per cent, reports the BBC. Earlier on Saturday, Sinn Fein party leader Mary Lou McDonald said she was "disappointed" the party's candidate had not polled better. Voters also supported the proposal to remove blasphemy as an offence from the Constitution, with 64.85 per cent voting yes. Higgins, the first incumbent in 50 years to face a challenge in his bid for a second term, won with 822,566 votes. Speaking after his win, Higgins said he accepted his mandate with "humility, determination and excitement". Rome, Oct 28 : Actress Sigourney Weaver, who worked with Roman Polanski in the 1994 drama "Death and the Maiden", says she would work again with the filmmaker, who pleaded guilty to unlawful sexual intercourse with a minor in 1977. Amid the #MeToo wave which began in Hollywood, more accusations have come out against Polanski. In an interview for The Hollywood Reporter, Weaver was asked if she regrets working with Polanski at all. She said: "I don't know about more accusations. I didn't really get a chance to read a paper frankly. No, I mean I have to say that having lived a little bit in the 1970s that, obviously what he did was wrong. He admitted his guilt because the judge was going to throw the book at him. But, it's still unresolved. "I have to say, looking back, and I wasn't really in Hollywood then, but things that I would hear, it was a much different time and that's no excuse for what he did at all but all I'm saying is it stands out more now than it did at the time because people were desperate to be in movies and I think it's unimaginable now for a mother to drop off a 13-year-old with someone like Roman. "The story we were telling was a very personal story. He had been the accused, he had been the victim in Poland and he been the absolutely helpless husband. So, I felt that a lot of what his feelings about this issue were going right into this film, ('Death and the Maiden')." Weaver pointed out that Polanski has changed his life and is now taking a plunge into a new film, for which he was getting flak. "He's doing this film about the Dreyfus affair, a very important story to tell. Apparently he's getting some push back about that. It's tricky, but I learned a lot from Roman, and I loved the experience of telling one continuous story so that we would run the movie up until that point of the scene we were doing that day. Obviously, I think it's exactly what #MeToo is about. As sisters and mothers and daughters, we are all aligned so that this kind of thing, putting a young girl in harm's way, just simply wouldn't happen." Would she work with him again? "Yes, I think I would. To be quite honest I think I would. He's now happily married; he has two children. I'm sure that he and the children have had some interesting conversations about it. He pleaded guilty. Does he regret it? I'm sure he does. "The #MeToo movement asks that we listen to those who've experienced sexual harassment or assault - really listen. So when Roman's victim asks us all to move on with understanding and compassion, I choose to listen to her," Weaver told The Hollywood Reporter. Polanski, 84, has been a fugitive since he fled to France in 1978 on the eve of sentencing in an unrelated case for sexually assaulting a 13-year-old girl. He splits his time between France, his native Poland and Switzerland. Tawang (Arunachal Pradesh), Oct 28 : The Arunachal Pradesh government on Sunday signed a MoU with The British Council here to strengthen educational and cultural cooperation. "I am very happy that we signed this MoU with the British Council which will enhance the opportunities for young people in Arunachal Pradesh and connect them to international expertise and ideas," Chief Minister Pema Khandu said. The MoU was signed by Tayek Talom, Director of Higher and Technical Education of Arunachal Pradesh, and Alan Gemmell, Director, British Council India, on the sidelines of the Tawang Festival. Talking about the initiative, Debanjan Chakrabarti, Director of the British Council in East and North East India said: "We will help create capacity-building programmes for faculty and senior administrators of higher education institutions and civil servants in Arunachal Pradesh. "Over the past few years, we have worked continuously with state governments to help develop the potential of the people of the northeast, and promote cultural exchange between the UK and the northeast." As per the MOU, as many as 50 faculty members from government higher education institutions will be trained by the British Council every year, starting from December. Further, 50 students of higher and technical education institutes will be trained in English language skills annually. Srinagar, Oct 28 : Militants pulled out a police sub-inspector from his vehicle in Jammu and Kashmir's Pulwama district on Sunday, dragged him away and shot him dead from close range, police said. The private vehicle driven by the officer, Imtiyaz Ahmad Mir, was halted in Wahibugh area where he was killed. Mir, who was with the intelligence department, died instantly, a police officer said. The police said a hunt had been launched to trace the killers. New Delhi, Oct 28 : President Ram Nath Kovind will attend the first convocation of the Dr. Rajendra Prasad Government Medical College in Kangra during a two-day visit to Himachal Pradesh from Monday, it was announced on Sunday. On Monday, he would confer degrees on students of the medical college. The next day would see him preside over the convocation ceremony at Himachal Pradesh University, Shimla. This will be Kovind's second visit to Himachal Pradesh after becoming the President. He was in the state on a four-day trip in May. New Delhi, Oct 28 : A day after BJP President Amit Shah criticised the Supreme Court verdict allowing women of all ages to the Sabrimala temple, the opposition hit back saying his "frivolous and ignorant" comments not only insulted the apex court but also exposed who was behind the violence in the temple area. While the Congress accused the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leadership of gradually "diluting and decimating" India's institutions, the CPI-M said Shah's threat to throw out the Kerala government was another display of his anti-democratic and authoritarian attitude. The Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) urged the Supreme Court to take cognisance of the BJP chief's comments while the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) accused him of creating anarchy. Congress leader Abhishek Manu Singhvi said that Shah, along with Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his government, had only one objective -- "to progressively, slowly, surely, steadily, but 100 per cent certainly, decimate, dilute and truncate institutions which have been built up by careful nurturing of over 70 of our Independence. "Attempts are being made to make loose, uninformed, ignorant comments... These frivolous, trivial, almost puerile comments, which insult the Supreme Court and insult the intelligence of our electorate, should be desisted from but I'm sure it will keep on happening," he said at a press conference in response to a question. Shah had on Saturday said the Supreme Court should not pass verdicts that go against the religious faith of the people and "can't be implemented" on the ground. He also warned Kerala that the BJP would not mind throwing out the Kerala government if it tried to tinker with the issues of faith. The Communist Party of India-Marxist said the BJP President's comments exposed who was behind the violence in the temple area. "Shah has challenged the Supreme Court order on the entry of women to the Sabarimala temple and incited his partymen to defy the verdict. In doing so, he has exposed the real hand behind the violent protests against women's entry into Sabarimala," the CPI-M politburo said. In a statement, the party said such incitement had also led to the "highly condemnable" arson attack on the ashram of Swamy Sandeepananda Giri. Accusing Shah of blatantly ridiculing the apex court ruling, the CPI-M, said it was in keeping with the RSS-BJP's contempt for the Constitution and the Supreme Court. "The threat of toppling the Kerala government if it continues to uphold the Supreme Court judgement is another display of the anti-democratic, authoritarian attitude typical of Amit Shah," it said. BSP president Mayawati urged the Supreme Court to take cognisance of the BJP chief's "condemnable" comment that the courts should not give orders that cannot be followed. Delhi Cheif Minister Arvind Kejriwal accused Shah of creating anarchy and encouraging people to violate the orders of the Supreme Court. "Amit Shah actively encouraging people to violate SC orders. Creating anarchy. Hopefully, SC will take cognisance," Kejriwal tweeted. New Delhi, Oct 28 : The Congress on Sunday demanded the resignation of Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Raman Singh, saying that the government had no moral right to rule as it was not able to protect the security forces from terrorists and Maoists. Congress MP and Spokesperson Abhishek Manu Singhvi attacked the Centre as well as the Chhattisgarh government for failing to curb terrorism and Maoism. "There are innumerable parameters to show that neither the central government nor the state government can deal with such extremism. Be it Jammu and Kashmir, be it Chhattisgarh Naxalism or be it the entire Naxal belt beyond Chhattisgarh," he said at a press conference here. Hi comments came a day after Maoist guerillas fired upon a CRPF convoy in Chhattisgarh's Bijapur, killing four and injuring two. Calling the Chhattisgarh government "directionless", he demanded Singh's resignation. "We call upon this cowardly, frustrated, scared, clueless and directionless Raman Singh government to leave because he has no moral, political and legal right to continue for one minute. They (central and state governments) buckled down to their knees before terrorists and Naxals. They have ceded all governance to extremist elements," he said. He also said the Chhattisgarh government has forfeited its right to rule. "If you cannot give security to your own jawans, you have forfeited your right to rule and I know that there are only a few days left for Chhattisgarh to get its freedom from such a tyrannical, oppressive government. There are only a few months left for the same path to follow for the central government," he added. Hyderabad, Oct 28 : BJP President Amit Shah on Sunday said that the grand alliance of the opposition parties neither has a leader nor a policy and its only agenda is to remove Prime Minister Narendra Modi. He said that Congress President Rahul Gandhi was neither acceptable as a PM candidate to other leaders of his parties, nor to the other parties that constitute the 'Maha Gathbandhan'. Shah was speaking here at the conclusion of a 2-day conclave of the Bharatiya Janata Yuva Morcha (BJYM), the youth wing of the BJP. Shah said that wile Narendra Modi was working to remove poverty, the only agenda of the 'Maha Gathbandhan' was to remove Modi. Stating that the grand alliance would have no impact on the 2019 general election, he said Modi would once again become the Prime Minister. "2019 elections will be a challenge for all of us and for the country. May 2019 will decide the direction in which the country will head," he told BJYM workers gathered from across the country. Stating that the youth played a key role in ushering in a change in 2014, he urged BJYM workers to double their efforts in 2019 to once again make Modi the Prime Minister with a huge majority. "You make 50 per cent of the efforts. We will make the remaining 50 per cent," he said. Claiming that various schemes launched by the Modi government had helped 22 crore families, Shah appealed to BJYM workers to reach out to all these families with Modi's message. The BJP President said that after the BJP returns to power next year, it would drive every intruder out of the country. "From Kashmir to Kanyakumari and from Assam to Gujarat, we will throw out every intruder," he said and alleged that Congress and other opposition parties raised a hue and cry over BJP government in Assam identifying 40 lakh infiltrators. BJYM President Poonam Mahajan exhorted the workers to dedicate themselves to help the BJP win next year's elections. Union Ministers Rajnath Singh, Nitin Gadkari, Piyush Goyal, Chief Ministers of BJP-ruled states and top leaders of BJP addressed the conclave over the last two days. Guwahati, Oct 28 : Organisations such as the All Assam Students Union and the Assam Sanmilita Mahasangha have opposed the Centre's move to authorise 16 Collectors across seven northeastern states to register as Indian citizens minorities from Pakistan, Afghanistan and Bangladesh. Alleging that the Bharatiya Janata Party-led government in Assam is deceiving the people, the AASU on Sunday asked the state and the Centre to make their stand clear over the issue. The organisations are opposing the Foreigners (Amendment) Order, 2015, Passport (Entry into India) Rules, 2015 and Citizenship (Amendment) Bill, 2016. "We are going to start an agitation if the Centre goes ahead with its decision to appoint the Collectors in the seven states. The order is contrary to the provision of the Constitution," said AASU President Dipanka Nath and General Secretary Lurinjyoti Gogoi. The Assam Sanmilita Mahasangha condemned the order and said it is politically motivated. Tehran, Oct 29 : Iran's First Vice President Eshaq Jahangiri has said that Iran is prepared to frustrate the US November 4 sanctions on its crude exports. The Iranian government has prepared plans to counter the impacts of returning US sanctions by maintaining oil exports above one million barrels per day, Jahangiri was quoted as saying by Press TV, Xinhua news agency reported on Sunday. "Iran exported as much as 2.5 million barrels per day of oil over the past months," he said, adding that "there had been a decline of a few thousand barrels per day. But we have always emphasised that Iran's exports should not decline below one million barrels per day." Earlier in October, Jahangiri said that the US was seeking to cut Iran's oil exports to zero and prevent Iran's imports of basic commodities, including raw materials. Trump's goal by exerting energy sanctions on Iran was to minimize the country's sources of income in the current economic war against Iran, he said. Jahangiri said that Iran has no concerns over the potential impacts of returning US sanctions on its oil exports given that it is already selling its crude oil higher than the price tag it has set in its annual budget plan. Following US President Donald Trump's decision to quit the historic Iran nuclear deal on May 8, the US vowed to reimpose sanctions lifted under the accord against Iran and inflict punishments like secondary sanctions on nations that have business links with Iran. The US State Department has set November 4 as the deadline for international oil buyers to stop all their oil purchases from Iran. New Delhi, Oct 29 : For Bob Odenkirk, the world of small screen is same as the silver screen. The "Better Call Saul" star says there is not much qualitative difference between the content on TV and films. "Every project is different, and I don't think there is so much qualitative difference between TV and film as there is simply differences in every project from any other," Odenkirk told IANS in an email interview. "Small films tend to move faster than TV shooting -- they are often budget strapped. TV seems to need a bit more time -- also because in TV the final creative choices are left more for producers in the editing room, and in film the director, on set, is often making final choices and then moving on, faster. "These are generalisations, though," added the actor, who is gaining popularity with his portrayal of James "Jimmy" Morgan McGill in the "Breaking Bad" spin-off prequel series "Better Call Saul". The show, which is aired in India on Colors Infinity, follows the story of con-man turned small-time lawyer McGill, six years before the events of "Breaking Bad". It shows his transformation into criminal-for-hire Saul Goodman. When it comes to film, Odenkirk has been part of "Dr. Dolittle 2", "Girlfriend's Day", "The Post" and "Incredibles 2". The actor has made appearances in shows like "Everybody Loves Raymond", "How I Met Your Mother", "Breaking Bad" and "The Office". He will soon be seen in Greta Gerwig's "Little Women". A $14 million house sale in Sunshine Beach has been struck. The 2 Belmore Terrace beachfront house is close to the village shops. It sold on the very first inspection just prior to hitting the market. While Nic Hunter and I were still putting the finishing touches on the marketing material we invited an interstate buyer to have a preview inspection," Tom Offermann at Tom Offermann Real Estate said. "They flew up, loved what they saw and signed an unconditional contract on the spot. The house is on a 1258 sqm lot with 41 metre ocean frontage. It is five bedrooms, six bathrooms, and a stunning 23m pool. The sale follows other records Tom Offermann Real Estate negotiated in Sunshine Beach for $15.2 million and $18 million earlier this year. "Our company has sold nine of Noosas top 10 sales this year which we attribute largely to the connections we have with affluent clients who recognise the unique beauty of Noosa. "Our companys Sept Qtr sales volume grew 58% compared to the same Qtr in 2017, and enquiry levels are showing no signs of slowing and listings remaining tight with just 3.5% of properties on the market. Lately there has been some uncertainty amongst buyers and sellers due to reports about southern markets cooling, mainly from tightening of lending by banks. "The relatively minor price falls in Sydney and Melbourne include sales from the inner city to outlying suburbs, so what relationship does the Parramatta market have to Noosa? None, we think. said Tom Offermann. As our team and our footprint grow across the country, we remain fully committed to our home state and helping make it an even better place to live and work. Southern Current has been named the fastest growing company in South Carolina for 2018 by SC Biz News and its Roaring Twenties awards. Headquartered here, Southern Current operates in 10 states and is a market leader with nearly $450 million in investments for 500 MW to date. In the past year, Southern Currents team has doubled in size to nearly 100 members. Twenty large companies and 20 small companies gathered last night at an event in Columbia to recognize the finalists at the Roaring Twenties presentation. This honor recognizes the states fastest-growing companies based on both dollar and percentage increases in revenue from 2016-2017. We are honored to be named the fastest growing company in South Carolina, a state with such a robust collection of organizations, said Jon Downey, President and CEO. As our team and our footprint grow across the country, we remain fully committed to our home state and helping make it an even better place to live and work. In order to qualify for the Roaring Twenties designation, companies must have a physical presence in South Carolina and be a for-profit entity or a unique, non governmental nonprofit organization. Company size was determined by gross revenue and percentage growth, year over year. Southern Current was selected as the fastest growing among all 20 finalists. About Southern Current: Founded in 2016 with the merger of Sustainable Energy Solutions and Solbridge Energy, the company creates solar energy infrastructure in 10 states. The company focuses on large-scale, commercial and residential solar development and deployment. To date, Southern Current has invested $450 million in 500 MW to date, with $2 billion additional investment committed. Welcome to the Pulse Community! We will now be sending you a daily newsletter on news, entertainment and more. Also join us across all of our other channels - we love to be connected! "Warm congratulations to benkoku on being named 2017 Journalist of the Year. Thoroughly well-deserved. Congratulations also to all award winners," the president tweeted on Sunday. He added: "I urge the media to remain active in tackling the social ills of our country, and advocating for investment that will contribute to Ghanas development." His show, the "Citi Breakfast Show," was also voted as the best morning show in Ghana. READ MORE: See the full list of winners at the 2017 GJA Awards ece-auto-gen The 15-year-old girl is said to a pupil of Markaz Islamic Junior High School at Abirem-Wamasi in the Kwabre East Municipality, Ashanti Region. Ghanaian laws do not permit people under 18 years to marry as moves to clampdown on marriage intensifies. The father of the victim has been arrested, caution statement taken from him and detained, according to the Ashanti Regional DOVVSU Coordinator, DSP Prince Odom Kwaku Duah. We had the information that two families were preparing to give out the girl who is 15 years of age. The laws of the land says that before a girl is given out in marriage, she should be 18 years. Fortunately, we were able to get the girl and arrest her father who is in our custody now and a statement is being taken from him, he said. ece-auto-gen DSP Kwaku Duah says police believe the victim's father is not alone and that both families are complicit in a secret crime. He also revealed that the 40-year-old man was on his way from Mali to Ghana and that he will be arrested as soon as he steps foot in Ghana. We believe that he is not alone It is a secret crime and both families are equally guilty and for that matter, they do not want to disclose whatever they want to do," he said. ece-auto-gen They are: Christians are winners On October 27, 2018, the Presiding Bishop and founder of the Living Faith Church Worldwide, also known as Winners' Chapel, shared a great short sermon on Facebook. He said, "You are saved to become a winner. You are not saved to suffer defeat, shame, and reproach. You are saved to command victory and shine forth as a star." ALSO READ: 5 major things Pastor Adeboye and Bishop Oyedepo have in common Don't take God for granted That same day, the popular preacher warned people not to take God for granted. "You wake up each day because God has been sustaining you. Refuse to take God for granted, so you do not get grounded in life," he wrote. Try giving Bishop Oyedepo shared a word of encouragement on October 25, 2018. "Life operates fundamentally on the law of seedtime and harvest. This means that you can never get out of life more than what you put into it," he said. Fast Facts on Bishop Oyedepo The popular cleric is the founder and presiding Bishop of the megachurch known as Living Faith. He is also a Christian author, and architect. According to Forbes, he is worth $150 million, making him the richest pastor in Nigeria. Gov. Abubakar Bello of Niger made the appeal on Saturday at the Night of Supernatural Connection with the God of Wonders crusade in Suleja. News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the crusade was hosted by the General Superintendent of the Deeper Christian Life Ministry, Pastor William Kumuyi. The governor, who was represented by the Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Alhaji Danjuma Sallau, called on religious faithful to live in peace and to shun religious intolerance. Bello said that the Nation would achieve the desired development and greatness when citizens make religion a binding force in their lives. He extolled Kumuyis virtues and described the popular cleric as a man of God indeed with uncommon commitment to the people and the Nation. The governor stressed the need for Christians and Muslims to love one another because the two religions revolves around the same God. The crusade attracted about 60,000 participants from all walks of life in the North central Nigeria. The crusade lived up to its billing with harvest of diverse miracles as Kumuyi ministered at the one-day revival programme. Speaking on the topic: The Hour of Supernatural Connection, Kumuyi who took his text from Matthew 8:5, 10, 13 called on the participants to make peace with God in order to experience supernatural connection. The cleric while calling on his audience to live a life of faith maintained that: God is a sure helper in every situation. The late Mrs Irumudomo, a.k.a. Mama Lee, 43, was a Tanzanian married to Mr Jackson Igbinosa Irumudomo, a native of Ekpoma in Edo. Her husband told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on the telephone from Pretoria, South Africa, that Mama Lee was shot on Oct. 26, in Soweto. He said that prior to her death, a Tanzanian who worked in the same mall with his wife had sent threat text messages to her. My wife and her fellow Tanzanian worked together in the same mall and because of misunderstanding in their work place, the same lady sent her threat messages. A docket was opened at Pretoria Central Police Station on the threat to her life by her colleague, who is also a Tanzanian, he said. Irumudomo said that the death was painful and that he and their children would miss his wife sorely. Mr Adetola Olubajo, President of the Nigerian Union in South Africa, said that the body was saddened by the death of Mama Lee. She was an amiable business woman and a blessing to friends and family. She will be greatly missed because of the vacuum her absence has created, he said. Olubajo, however, said that the union was worried that killing was now fashionable within the Nigerian community. The quietness of our government officials is of great concern to us. A Nigerian was shot dead in Hillbrow, Johannesburg, last week, nothing has been done to bring the perpetrators to book. People are now bold to kill one another just by the slightest disagreement because the killers of Nigerians and their family members are not brought to book, he said. Dogara gave the advice in an address to his supporters at a rally in Bogoro, on Saturday. He said that youths should not allow themselves to be used by politicians to carry out such act or engage in violence of any kind in the coming general elections. Dogara reminded the youth that they are leaders of tomorrow, who had the potential to influence the society positively. The speaker, who was represented by his Senior Special Assistant on Media, Mr Iliya Habila, charged them to act as tools and vanguard of development, not destruction. Also at the event, Comrade Sanusi Adamu, Coordinator of Yakubu Dogara Support Group and Awareness Campaign, said the Speaker had made a political mark, having been in the National Assembly consecutively for 12 years. He said it was a feat that had given him an edge over many others, expressing confidence that come 2019, Dogara will be reelected under the platform of the PDP. The Support Group Coordinator assured that they would not rest on their oars until Yakubu Dogara was reelected to the National Assembly in 2019. He promised that all other candidates of the PDP would also enjoy the support of the Group during the campaigns for the general elections. In a remark, Mr Moses Bar, Chairman of the rally, commended the Group for the efforts put in place for the reelection bid of Yakubu Dogara. According to him, the awareness created has reawakened the interest of people of the area in PDP. According to Premium Times, he said The certificate saga is a dead issue, only idle people will consider it. It is something that had been laid to rest before the 2015 general elections. Those raising the issue (PDP and others) are idle and they have run out of ideas. They see defeat staring them in the face and they are desperate to cling to any straw. This issue was resolved before the 2015 election. This is coming as Buhari failed to submit his credentials to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), saying that they are with the Secretary of the Military Board. The President was supposed to submit them to the electoral agency as part of the requirements. He however swore to an affidavit: I am the above-named person and the deponent of this affidavit herein. All my academic qualification documents as filled in my Presidential form, APC/001/2015 are currently with the Secretary of the Military Board as of the time of this affidavit. Military lost it Adesina also said that the military has admitted that they lost Buharis credentials. It is a matter of fact that when President Buhari and others joined the military, they took their original certificates from them. The military knew where they kept the original certificates of the president. In fact, a former Chief of Defence Staff, Gen. Alani Akinrinade, corroborated that the military collected the original certificates of all its officers. The PDP believes it is going to lose the elections, and they will lose, and it is raising dust over a dead issue. The military already said they lost the certificates. But does it mean that it did not exist that the president went to school, sat for examinations and passed; attended military courses and War College? It does not change the fact that the president rose through the ranks to become a Major-General in the Nigerian Army and a Military Head of State. Didnt those opposed to President Buhari go to court over his certificate and lost before? They will still lose this time around. It is a dead issue. This is in reaction to a comment made by the IPOB leader during his broadcast on Sunday, October 21, 2018. Kanu, during his speech, described Nigeria as a zoo and promised to return with hell. Cheap blackmail Speaking on the IPOB leaders comments, the President of the group, Yerima Shettima described them as noise. Shettima also said that Nigeria has grown beyond the level of cheap blackmail. He said We have gone beyond this, Nigeria is too civilized and too big for that kind of cheap thread. This country is a nation where an individual cannot undermine its harmony and I do not believe that Kanu was in Jerusalem because I saw the Israel comment. However, if truly he is there, he doesnt need to talk from there he should come to Nigeria and say it let us know if he is that powerful. Nigeria has gone beyond that level, we cant be falling for such cheap blackmail by an individual or group of people who are actually doing there own thing and want to make it a business venture as far as Im concern. He should come to Nigeria and stay in Israel and be making unnecessary noise. FGs reaction In his reaction, the Minister of Information and Culture, Lai Mohammed described Kanus re-emergenceas a distraction to the country. He said this after photos of the IPOB leader praying at the Wailing Wall in Jerusalem surfaced on social media. According to Mohammed, Nigeria has more pressing issues that requires the governments attention. Disqualify Buhari The AYCF President, Shettima also called for the disqualification of President Buhari from the 2019 presidential election if he does not present his West African Examinations Council (WAEC) certificate. He said this following reports that the President did not submit his WAEC certificates to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC). The Commander, Army Headquarters Garrison, Abuja, Maj.-Gen. James Myam confirmed the development in a statement on Sunday. Myam explained that troops of the Garrison were attacked at about 3 p.m. at Zuba bridge by the sect as they escort ammunitions and missiles from Abuja to Army Central Ammunition Depot in Kaduna State. The sect who were supposedly in a procession, established an illegal road block denying motorists free passage. When the troops convoy attempted to clear the road block, they met stiff opposition from the sect. Members of the sect used various objects to barricade the road and also pelted the troops with stones and other dangerous items. They smashed both military and civilian vehicles windscreens and windows. They also attempted to overrun the escorts to cart away the ammunition and missiles the troops were escorting. This led to the troops opening fire to extricate themselves. Consequently, troops of 102 Guards Battalion in whose Area of Responsibility the incident occurred rushed to the convoys rescue, Myam said. He, however, said normalcy had been restored in the area and advised members of the public especially those plying the Abuja-Zuba road, to go about their normal activities. According to the Commander Army Headquarters Garrison, Major General James Myam, members of the group mounted a road block and tried to attack a convoy carrying ammunitions. Myam, in a statement issued to Vanguard, said that the incident occurred at Zuba bridge in Abuja on Saturday, October 27, 2018. The commander also alleged that the group destroyed vehicles and attempted to cart away the ammunitions. He said Troops of Army Headquarters Garrison on official duty, escorting ammunitions and missiles from Abuja to Army Central Ammunition Depot in Kaduna State were attacked by some members of the Islamic Movement in Nigeria (IMN) sect at Zuba bridge, of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) at about 3.00pm on Saturday 27th October 2018. The sect who were supposedly in a procession, established an illegal roadblock denying motorists free passage. When the troops convoy attempted to clear the road block, they met stiff opposition from the sect. Members of the sect used various objects to barricade the road and also pelted the troops with stones and other dangerous items. They smashed both military and civilian vehicles windscreens and windows. They also attempted to overrun the escorts to cart away the ammunition and missiles the troops were escorting. This led to the troops opening fire to extricate themselves. Consequently, troops of 102 Guards Battalion in whose Area of Responsibility the incident occurred rushed to the convoys rescue. Unfortunately, during the encounter 3 members of the sect were killed while 2 soldiers sustained various degrees of injuries and are being treated at a military medical facility. Meanwhile, normalcy has been restored in the general area and members of the public especially those plying the Abuja Zuba Road are requested to go about with their normal activities with the assurance from the Nigerian Army that no individual or persons would be allowed to disturb public peace and unprovoked attacks against military convoys. December clash In December 2015, a clash also ensued between members of the sect and the Army in Kaduna state following an alleged attempt to assassinate the Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Tukur Buratai. The clash led to the arrest of the sects leader, Ibrahim El-Zakaky. Due to the reported reprisal attack by soldiers which led to the killing of many people in Zaria, the international communitycalled on the Federal Government to carry out a transparent probe on the incident. Confirming the incident to NAN in Gusau on Saturday, the Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) in the state, SP Mohammed Shehu, said the bandits numbering about 100 attacked the community at about 10 p.m of Friday night. He said three other persons were severely wounded and had been taken to hospital where they were receiving treatment. He sided that: 11 vehicles including a police vehicle, three motorcycles and five kiosks were set ablaze by the hoodlums. The command spokesman said the bandits who were suspected to have come from Dumburum forest were engaged by a combined team of counter terrorists, comprising police Mobile Force, Federal Special Anti-Robbery Squad (FSARS) personnel stationed in the area, which repelled the criminals. He said however that the footpath of the bandits were being trailed in the bushes and assured that the perpetrators would be arrested and brought to book. Similarly, while speaking to journalists on the matter, the Vice Chairman of Zurmi Local Government Council, Alhaji Abubakar Dauran, said a total of 13 shops were burnt while 15 vehicles were set ablaze. The presidents condolence message is contained in a statement by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Mr Femi Adesina, in Abuja on Sunday. President Buhari also commiserated with the government and people of Edo State and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) on the passing of their illustrious son and former Chairman, Board of Trustees. He described the deceased as a frontline figure in the annals of the countrys political history. The president attested that Chief Anenih had lived a life of service, as State Chairman of the defunct National Party of Nigeria (NPN), National Chairman of the Social Democratic Party (SDP), chieftain of the PDP, and a former Minister of Works. He also affirmed that across the political spectrum of Nigeria, late Anenih was known for his strong views on issues pertaining to the unity and stability of the nation. The President, therefore, prayed almighty God to grant Chief Anenihs soul eternal rest and comfort all who mourned the octogenarian. Anenih, 85, died at a private hospital in Abuja on Sunday. Buratai made the remarks while inaugurating the Map Reading area of the Nigerian Army School of Infantry (NASI) Jaji, named after late Maj.-Gen Timothy Tache, a foremost instructor in the school. According to him, map reading as a subject constitutes an important part of any practical promotion examination in the military. Failure in the subject automatically translates to outright failure of the entire exams regardless of how well one scores in the remaining subjects. The army chief said late Tache had impacted positively on the careers of soldiers by making the subject easy because of his simplified way of teaching. Tache was an exceptional map reading instructor and gentleman per excellence. We can therefore appreciate what I meant when I credited him with playing a crucial role in our professional development and career, Buratai said. The army chief said map reading area would enhance training conducted at NASI and other military institutions in Jaji and environs. He said the army would from time to time use the facility during the conduct of army level exercises. One could therefore understand the significance of this training area to achieving the Nigerian army training objectives. I believe that it is a worthy honour to such a fine officer, a gentleman and a great teacher. It is hoped that all those men and women that would use this place would be inspired in much the same way as the person that it is named after, the army chief said. Buratai said while Tache may not be around physically, the ideals that he extolled all through his life as well as the knowledge that he impacted to generation of Nigerian army officers means that he lives for ever. After all, it is said that, to live in the hearts of men and women is never to die, but to live forever, he said. Earlier the Commandant, NASI, Brig.-Gen Ali Keffi, said the institution now has world class structures following the restructuring programme introduced by the chief of army staff to ensure high quality training. NASI would soon be rather than later, among top military training schools in the world, Keffi added. In his condolence message on the death of the elder statesman, Daniel stated that Anenih was a hugely endowed political leader and foremost nationalist who served the country in various capacities during his lifetime. "As one of the founding fathers of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Chief Anenih was among those who sustained the nation's fledging democracy by his immense contributions in the process that laid a solid foundation for democratic ideals and political ethics in the modern politics. In his demise, the counrty, he stressed, has lost an illustrious son and colourful politician whose administrative prowess and political sagacity remain a benchmark and history will report him positively for his exemplary roles and great ideas in nation building, he added. According to Premium Times, he died at the age of 85 on Sunday, October 28, 2018, at an Abuja hospital where he was receiving treatment. The report also said that his son confirmed the report adding that a statement will be released soon. Anenih also served as the Board of Trustees (BOT) chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). The former minister was referred to in some quarters as Mr. fix it. Survived major heart surgery In 2016, the former minister survived an eight hour heart surgery which was carried out in the UK. Referring to it in his autobiography titled: My Life and Nigerian Politics , Anenih said There is nothing God cannot do if you believe in him sincerely. I had a problem with my heart. So I was subjected to eight hours of surgery and seven doctors were carefully selected to do that because of their experience. Before the operation, the seven doctors told the people that accompanied me (to the hospital) that I wouldnt make it. I heard them. Poor state on Nigeria In July 2018, the former PDP BOT chair cancelled his birthday celebration reportedly over what he described as the sad state of Nigeria. According to Premium Times, he said There is no doubt that attaining a milestone of 85 years on earth is a privilege enjoyed by a few; and, it is, therefore, an occasion worth celebrating with loved ones and friends, Mr Anenih said. On reflections, however, whilst I remain grateful to God for His unfailing love and sustenance that have kept me all through the years, I am, sadly, unable to fulfill this earnest desire to celebrate the milestone because of the unfortunate recent losses that befell my family in quick succession, the condition of my health and the sad state of the nation that has witnessed so much losses, bloodshed and apprehension. Nonetheless, I sincerely appreciate the effort being made by government and some influential Nigerians to restore peace. I believe that with prayers and faith in God, there is hope for restoration of peace and good neighbourliness in Nigeria soon and in the years ahead. In 2016, the Edo state chapter of the PDP dispelled rumours that he had died. The theme of the event was tagged: 3 Years of service to Humanity. Awards were also be presented to deserving Nigerians who contributed to better the society. The Senior Special Assistant (Administration) in the office of the wife of the President, Dr Hajo Sani, said the aimed of the magazine was showcase activities of Future Assured Programme in the last three Sani said the Future Assured programme was born out of Mrs Buharis passion to improve the health and physical wellbeing of women and children in Nigeria. She said that the Future Assured and the Aisha Buhari Foundation had over the years champion the course of the helpless and voiceless Nigerians. According to Sani, the wife of the President also presented awards to few Nigerians who contributed to the success of the Project. She said the wife of the President also encouraged Nigerians to stand against all forms of abuse. In his remark, the National Coordinator of Future Assured Programme, Dr Mohammed Kamal, said the NGO had impacted on the lives of women and children through partnership with other development partners. Air Commodore Ibikunle Daramola, NAF Director of Public Relations and Information, in a statement on Sunday said the operation was carried out on Saturday. The operation was carried out overnight of October 27 and early morning of October 28, following a report from troops at Gashigar that their location was under attack. Accordingly, a Nigerian Air Force (NAF) Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR) platform that was on a mission at another location was immediately redirected to Gashigar, he said. The NAF spokesman said that In addition, a pair of Mi-35 helicopter gunships were scrambled to the location. Overhead Gashigar, the NAF ISR platform was joined by another from the Nigerien Air Force and they both were able to identify the location of the BHTs, in 13 Gun Trucks, as they advanced towards the camp from two different directions. They subsequently directed the fire of the helicopter gunships and ground troops support weapons towards the terrorists, he said. Daramola said that the combined fire forced the BHTs to retreat from the camp. However, the BHTs attempted to regroup at a location outside the camp but were again engaged by the helicopter gunships and sent scampering in different directions, with several of them killed or injured in the process, he said. According to him, the ISR platform and helicopters remained within the location providing necessary air support for the troops until the situation was stabilised and threats neutralised. The Head, Public Affairs Division of NAHCON, Mrs Fatima Usara, made this known in a statement on Saturday in Abuja. She stated that NAHCON gave the directives during post Hajj joint meeting with chief executives of the boards and agencies on Thursday, Oct. 18, 2018. She noted that the meeting reviewed salient challenges faced during the 2018 Hajj, with a view to finding solutions to them. She explained that late registration of pilgrims was identified as a major setback in the success of the 2018 Hajj operations, hence, it was resolved that all state welfare boards should commence online registration of intending pilgrims. Usara noted that the meeting agreed to tentatively peg the 2019 Hajj fare at N1.5 million, pending final calculation of the total fare. She added that it was agreed that installment payments should be concluded by Feb. 2019. Intending pilgrims are to note that Hajj registration is to be done online, cost of which is N500, and these charges are already included in the total fare. No extra amount is to be charged for purchase of Hajj form because the form is obsolete. She said that the meeting also resolved that as part of measures to safeguard timely planning, state welfare boards should propose tentative dates for transportation of their pilgrims and submit such resolutions to NAHCON within 30 days from date of the meeting. She noted that some State chief Executives who spoke on accommodation challenges had commended the Madinah pilgrims accommodation and appealed to NAHCON to sustain the feat. On the issue of catering services, Usara stated that it was agreed that each state should negotiate feeding of pilgrims directly with the caterers and bypass any intermediary in the name of agents. She said that state pilgrims boards were also counseled to look at the possibility of exporting and supplying the caterers with Nigerian variety of foodstuff to be used in preparing Nigerian pilgrims meals. She explained that doing this will form part of revenue generation avenue for the states. However, such export must be done strictly under Saudi Arabian guidelines and permit. She said that all state boards would join hands with NAHCON and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia in ending cases of pilgrims absconding during Hajj and Umrah, which nevertheless had been on the decline in recent years. According to reports, Anenih, aged 85, died at an Abuja hospital on Sunday, October 28, 2018, where he was receiving treatment. Speaking to Punch, the PDP National Chairman, Uche Secondus said Nigeria will miss the former minister of works. Secondus, who said that death has robbed the nation of an experienced man, also added that he lived a fulfilled life. His death came to me as a rude shock. Though he was advanced in age, as human beings, we wanted him to be around us for a longer period. This is because we loved him. He was a nationalist who wanted the best for the country. We would miss him. We pray to God almighty to grant him eternal peace, the PDP chairman added. Saraki speaks Also, the Senate President, Bukola Saraki, in a statement issued on Twitter, described Anenih as a consummate elder. Saraki said "Chief Tony Anenih, was a consummate elder statesman who played several defining roles throughout Nigerias democracy. He will be remembered for his great patriotism and his insight into national issues. He will be dearly missed. Rest in Peace, Chief." Atiku expresses sadness The PDP presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar also expressed sadness over the news of the former BoT chairman. He said "The passing away of Chief Tony Anenih, one of the founding fathers and elder statesmen of is a sad news to me and everyone who had a close & personal relationship with him. I pray for strength and comfort for his family. May God grant his soul a peaceful repose." Buhari expresses his condolences In a statement on issued on Twitter, President Buhari also expressed his condolences to Anenih's family. The President said "My heartfelt condolences to the Anenih family on the death of its beloved patriarch and elder statesman, Chief Anthony Anenih. Condolences also to the government and people of Edo State, and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), where he was a former Chairman, Board of Trustees. "Chief Anenih was for decades a frontline figure on Nigerias political landscape: State Chairman of the National Party of Nigeria (NPN), National Chairman of the Social Democratic Party (SDP), chieftain of the PDP, and a former Minister of Works. "I pray that the Almighty God will grant his soul eternal rest, and comfort his family, friends, political associates and all who mourn him." Three Shiite members were killedand two soldiers were wounded in a clash between members of the Shiite sect and soldiers around Zuba axis in Abuja. According to reports, the clash occurred around noon on Saturday, October 27, 2018. Road block In a statement issued to Vanguard, the Commander Army Headquarters Garrison, Major General James Myam said Troops of Army Headquarters Garrison on official duty, escorting ammunitions and missiles from Abuja to Army Central Ammunition Depot in Kaduna State were attacked by some members of the Islamic Movement in Nigeria (IMN) sect at Zuba bridge, of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) at about 3.00pm on Saturday 27th October 2018. The sect who were supposedly in a procession, established an illegal roadblock denying motorists free passage. When the troops convoy attempted to clear the road block, they met stiff opposition from the sect. Members of the sect used various objects to barricade the road and also pelted the troops with stones and other dangerous items. They smashed both military and civilian vehicles windscreens and windows. They also attempted to overrun the escorts to cart away the ammunition and missiles the troops were escorting. This led to the troops opening fire to extricate themselves. Consequently, troops of 102 Guards Battalion in whose Area of Responsibility the incident occurred rushed to the convoys rescue. Unfortunately, during the encounter 3 members of the sect were killed while 2 soldiers sustained various degrees of injuries and are being treated at a military medical facility. Shiites deny According to Daily Post, the spokesman of the Shiite sect, Ibrahim Musa said the Army lied to Nigerians just to justify the killing of their members. Musa said they were on a peaceful procession when they were attacked by the Army. The groups spokesman also claims that there are video recordings of what happened. Musa issued a statement saying Our attention has been drawn to a false, unsubstantiated and mischievous press statement by the Nigerian army, signed by one Major General JAMES MYAM, the Commander Army Headquarters Garrison to justify the bestiality they meted the innocent, unarmed members of the Islamic Movement yesterday, while carrying out their solemn religious duty of Arbaeen mourning procession at Zuba. We categorically refute the storyline of the Nigerian Army. These age long worn-out malevolent storylines are no longer being believed by members of the public because over time, the Islamic Movement has convincingly demonstrated its peaceful disposition while conducting its religious obligations, even in the face of extreme official persecution. What was witnessed last Saturday was done in broad daylight and in full glare of the public. Video clips of both the procession prior to the unprovoked, brutal attacks and of the fierce attacks by soldiers at unarmed people scrambling for cover while the soldiers take deliberate steps to seek them and shoot them dead are all in the public domain. Therefore, the government and its Army cannot confuse members of the public by going further with their plans of campaign of calumny and false propaganda with a view to malign the Movement and its leadership. The public is led to believe that the government and its Army are resorting to these vicious campaigns in desperation. Yet, they would never wish away or bury their crimes against humanity. 2015 clash Members of the Shiite sect have been holding protests for the release of their leader, Ibrahim El-Zakzaky. The South-West Vice-Chairman of the party, Dr Eddy Olefeso, made the demand in Lagos on Friday night, at a meeting of key members across the six states in the zone. The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports the meeting, which lasted hours, had in attendance a former Deputy National Chairman of the party, Chief Olabode George; the current Deputy National Chairman (South),Chief Yemi Akinwonmi; and a former National Vice Chairman of the party, Alhaji Tajudeen Oladipo. ALSO READ: Atiku feeling confident about next year's presidential polls after endorsement Also present were former Minister of State for Defence, Mrs Sola Obada; a former Deputy Governor of Ogun State, Alhaja Makanjuola Badru; and a member of the National Assembly, Sen. Abiodun Olujimi. The partys governorship candidate in Oyo State, Mr Seyi Makinde; the governorship candidate in Ogun, Mr Ladi Adebutu; and a former governorship aspirant in Osun State, Chief Akin Ogunbiyi, were also at the meeting, among others. Olafeso said though the promise of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF) slot by Atiku was a good development, the zone deserved more key political and government positions. The Vice-Chairman said that the zone had been schemed out in the power arrangement of the party for the past few years. READ ALSO: Presidential candidate Atiku donates N10m to Special Eagles Olafeso said for Atiku to give the zone a sense of belonging and compensate for the years of abandonment, he should zone key positions of the Chief of Staff to the President and Attorney-General of the Federation to the South-West in addition to the SGF. He said the South-West had the second highest voting population in the country and would demand its fair share of political positions if PDP wins in 2019. We have been denied for too long. In 2011, the country under the control of our party zoned the position of the Speaker of the House of Representatives to the zone and it was taken away. And from 2011 to 2015, we were left just like that and the reverberating effect of that abandonment is the reason why we are still having the hangover of neglect till today. Now we are here again, the party is working with a zone with 14million votes, the second largest in the country. We refuse and we will not accept where we finish the job in the next election and for one reason or the other, we will not be considered. We dont have to wait till after the election before we say what we want. We want to let the party and our candidate know that certain positions are strategic to governance and we want them. Yes, the SGF is great, but there is nothing wrong with having the Chief of Staff and Attorney-General on top of it to compensate us for the denials of the past, so that all of us can work as a united front. We will continue to fight for it, we will speak with a loud voice. We give so much, so the zone deserves a lot, he said. While congratulating Abubakar on his emergence as presidential candidate, Olafeso said the zone was pleased with the choice of Obi, a former governor of Anambra State, as his running mate. He said the country was faced with serious economic challenges, and Obi had the pedigree that could realise the partys economic vision for Nigeria. Olafeso said the zone was concerned about the travails of former governor of Ekiti State, Mr Ayodele Fayose with the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), over a case. He urged members of the party to stand with Fayose at his trying moment, saying the former governor was paying for being truthful and standing against injustice. I was in the court the last time and I am glad to tell you that he has been granted bail. We will do our best to ensure that he perfects his bail conditions and he is released soon, he said. Olafeso also said he was confident that the verdicts of the Osun and Ekiti governorship elections, where the All Progressives Congress was declared winner in both polls, would be upturned at the tribunal. Olafeso urged members to be leave behind post-primaries disagreements and work together to ensure the partys victory in 2019. He said the party had come out of its recent factional crisis to emerge strong, expressing the confidence that it would dislodge APC in 2019. Akinwonmi, on his part, said the party was working assiduously hard to wrestle power from the APC in 2019. According to Daily Post, Oshiomhole, through the APC spokesman said that the governorship primary election held in Ogun state. In his response, Governor Amosun described the APC chairman as a liar. The Ogun state Governor also alleged that the APC chairman was sent to weaken and kill the ruling party. In a statement signed by his media aide, Opeyemi Soyombo said For the avoidance of doubt, we state for the umpteenth time that there was no gubernatorial primaries in Ogun State other than the one held on October 2 that produced Hon. Adekunle Akinlade as governorship candidate. The attempt by Mr Issa-Onilu to confuse the issues is therefore belittling of someone holding a position of publicity secretary of a reputable political party. Call Oshiomhole to order The Ogun state Governor also called on leaders of the party to call Oshiomhole to order. According to Amosun, nothing will make him change his mind from supporting President Buhari. He said The people of Ogun State will not allow willing tools in the partys national secretariat to hand over the state to some expansionist adventurers who are indesperate search for additional territories for their insatiable economic exploitation. No provocation by Oshiomhole and his co-travellers who are working against the interest of President Buhari and the overall interest of the party will make him change my mind, he added. There has been calls for Oshiomhole to be removed following the outcome of the partys primary elections held across the country. Senate President Bukola Saraki recently said that the APC chairman has started a civil war that has left the ruling party confused and disorganised. Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, October 28) After suffering severe damages from the onslaught of Typhoon Ompong in September, Cagayan Province is taking steps once again as another typhoon makes it way to northern Luzon. To prepare for Typhoon Rosita's expected landfall on Tuesday, the Cagayan provincial government and its Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council are on red alert status. Cagayan Governor Manuel Mamba ordered Sunday the preemptive evacuation of residents in the province starting tomorrow, Oct. 29. Mamba had also declared the suspension of classes in all levels and work starting in the afternoon on the same day. The provincial engineering's office, barangay aid agency Task Force Lingkod Cagayan, police and military are also on red alert. Mamba told his constituents to prepare for Rosita, saying this is the "new normal" for the province after being hit by three internationally-recognized super typhoons in the last two years. Sea travel is now prohibited, as weather officials raised gale warnings over Cagayan's eastern and northern coasts, with waves possibly reaching 2.6 to 4.5 meters in height. Storm surge is also likely to hit eastern sections of the province, where wave may go as high as 5 meters. Storm Signal no. 4 may also be up in the province on Tuesday and Wednesday. Typhoon Rosita was last spotted 760 kilometers east of Aparri, Cagayan, bearing maximum sustained winds of 200 kilometers per hour (kph) and gusts of up for 245 kph. It is moving west at 20 kph, and is expected to exit the country on Thursday, Nov. 1. This was made know in a statement issued by the President of the group, Alhaji Yerima Shettima on Sunday, October 28, 2018, according to Daily Post. Constitutional requirements According to LegalNaija, Section 131 of the 1999 constitution states that A person shall be qualified for election to the office of President if 1.He is a citizen of Nigeria by birth; 2. He has attained the age of forty years. 3.He is a member of a political party and is sponsored by that political party; and 4. He has been educated up to at least School Certificate level or its equivalent. Buhari fails to submit WEAC results Buhari recently did not submit his WAEC results,as required by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC). According to reports, the President only swore to an affidavit claiming that his credentials are with the the Secretary of the Military Board. According to Daily Post, Buharis affidavit reads: I am the above-named person and the deponent of this affidavit herein. All my academic qualification documents as filled in my Presidential form, APC/001/2015 are currently with the Secretary of the Military Board as of the time of this affidavit. Buhari's certificate was issued in the 60s However, The Cable reports that a former registrar, West African Examination Council (WAEC), Alex Ajayi, claims to have issued Buharis WAEC certificate along with those of Generals Sani Abacha and Ibrahim Babangida. His words: I joined the West African Examination Council as a pioneer staff. I was the first substantive Nigerian Assistant Registrar. I took over the control of the examination from the University of Cambridge. I took examiners to Cambridge for training across 10 years and trained them in Nigeria. I had the opportunity of issuing WAEC certificates to three former Heads of State: Buhari, Abacha and Babangida in the 60s. Bad example According to Shettima, Buhari will be setting a bad example if he is allowed to contest without presenting his WAEC certificate. The AYCF President said it will make youths not pay attention to education in the future. According to him, Its not right, what this tells you is that we are going to set a very bad precedence in the nearest future, which means that we are telling the younger generation that there is no need to go to school before becoming what they want to be and this is a total set back to us as a people and a nation. We were told Buhari is a man of integrity and as such, he should be able to convince us about his certificate and if there is no certificate he should honourably do the needful because this saga will send a very terrible signal to the younger generation who without certificate will decide to use whatever manner to become that they desire. The refusal to disclose his certificate is counterproductive and must not be encouraged. To me, Im not still convinced that he doesnt have certificate but to clear the doubt of Nigerians he should be courageous enough and do the needful. And if he refused to do the needful and tender the certificate, then that has totally disqualified him from being in that office for even a day, he should resign, then let us see now whether INEC has started considering people without a certificate to contest for political office. If we dont summon courage now to solve all this, in the nearest future you will wake up and discover a total collapse of our system. In the nearest future, you can wake up to tell a candidate or an aspirant that he is not qualified to contest based on this document he does not fit the basic requirement and you set an example of what happened during the Buharis administration and what happened to the President then and what did INEC do. Nigeria is far bigger than any individual. Being a man of integrity that everyone knows him to be, Im sure Buhari knows what to do, he is an honourable somebody that we expect should live by example so he knows the needful and what to do. I think we will mobilize and protest that the military release Buharis certificate so as to prevent all this unnecessary embarrassment. The Lawyer, who doubles as the founder of Egalitarian Mission for Africa, an NGO, said that for qualifications for elective position, the Nigerian Constitution recognises primary Six Leaving Certificate and Public/Corporate Service Experience as School Certificate Equivalents. Ajulo told NAN in Lagos on Sunday that the controversy and arguments over the presidents certificate were far fetched as he meets all legal requirements to contest. What the constitution says Patently for lack of knowledge of the Constitution, most people do not know what the Constitution provides as equivalents of School Certificates because they are hidden in the Interpretation of the material Section as PART IV, Section 318. It states that one does not even require any certificate to be President of Nigeria, Ajulo said. He said that the issues of the 2019 elections, whose lives and spaces relied on the constitution to thrive cannot be subjected to pontifications for substance or logic. The academic qualifications or suitability of Nigerias incumbent President Muhammadu Buhari has been one of the scathing issues that have engulfed the space, particularly the media, wherein the issue has received exponential attention and review. In 2015, the same certificate question was raised and was highly controverted. It became a near albatross to the presidential ambition of President Buhari. Even now that the president seeks re-election, the ghost of the certificate question that resurrected to hunt itself has continued to generate endless controversies. Section 131 (d) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended) has been cited in support of the contention by proponents of that view to support their position. The said Section (Section 131) provides: a person shall be qualified for election to the Office of President if- (d) he has been educated up to at least school certificate level or its equivalent. Section 177 (d) prescribes that candidates contesting election into the office of State Governor must have been educated up to at least School Certificate Level or its equivalent. By virtue of Sections 142 (2) and 187 (2), the provisions on educational qualification of President and State Governors also apply to the Offices of Vice President and Deputy Governors, respectively. Sections 65 (2) (a) and 106 (c) of the Constitution prescribe that candidates contesting elections as National Assembly and State House of Assembly members, respectively, must also have been educated to at least School Certificate Level. Breakdown of Section 138 of the constitution According to Ajulo, in Section 318, School Certificate or its equivalent means:(a) a Secondary School Certificate, or Grade II Teachers Certificate, the City and Guilds Certificate; or (b) education up to Secondary School Certificate level; or (c) Primary Six School Leaving Certificate or its equivalent and (i) service in the public or private sector in the Federation in any capacity acceptable to the Independent National Electoral Commission for a minimum of 10 years. Also (ii) attendance at courses and training in such institutions as may be acceptable to the INEC for periods totalling up to a minimum of one year, and (iii) the ability to read, write, understand and communicate in the English language to the satisfaction of the electoral commission, and (d) any other qualification acceptable by INEC. This means INEC has also been empowered by the Constitution to accept any piece of employment paper as School Certificate equivalent to be President of Nigeria. The provision of Section 318 (1) was construed by the Court of Appeal in the case of BAYO v. NJIDDA (2004) 8 NWLR (Pt. 876) page 544 at 629H-630D, where Ogbuagu, J.C.A (as he then was) held: the above provisions, are conjunctive and they qualify or mean school certificate or its equivalent. Therefore, if any one of them is not present/available, then, the candidate is out. Even if (i), (ii), (iii) and (d) are accepable by or satisfactory to INEC and therefore, cannot be questioned in a tribunal as being final, the absence of (c), also disqualifies the candidate, he said. Buhari is qualified to run He noted that while the President may or may not win re-election bid on other grounds, the question of certification and the position of the law on it is that he is qualified. It is the duty that lawyers must take on to educate the society of the truth, he added. NAN reports that the Ortom administration had earlier accused the Benue APC of staging a political campaign at one of the Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) camp in Daudu where they had deceived the IDPs to gather and collect relief materials. We understand that the duo of Akume and Jime lied to the displaced persons that they were visiting the camp to give them relief materials, only for the IDPs to discover that it was a campaign rally, Akase, Ortoms spokesperson said. But the APC in its reaction to the statement said the accusation was infantile to have emanated from a sitting governor and described it as not only shameful but a display of immaturity from a panicky government. We read a comical statement from the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor of Benue State, Mr Terver Akase, wherein he alleged that our party had organized the IDPs for distribution of relief materials and ended up tagging same as a campaign rally. This accusation is too infantile to have emanated from the spokesperson of a sitting governor but since we are used to the many lies of the Ortom administration in close to four years, the APC can at most describe the action as shameful and a display of immaturity from a panicky government. According to the statement, Benue APC on Oct. 26 organized a defection ceremony at Daudu, Guma where a former Speaker of the state, Mr Stephen Tsav, and over 3,000 PDP members from Nyiev, Mbagwen and Mbawa defected to APC. Everyone who witnessed that event would be forced to commiserate with the Benue State Governor since it marked the end of PDP in Guma, his home local government. Rather than mourn this gross deflation of the PDP in one of its strongholds in Benue, Governor Samuel Ortoms image maker has opted to ridicule himself with careless words that clearly expose the governors insomnia over this gathering. Ornguga in the statement said the APC governorship candidate, Mr Emmanuel Jime, has overtime made serious efforts in finding national lasting solutions to the farmers/herders crisis, adding that he had also genuinely supported the IDPs. The CPS could not even recall Jimes superlative visit to IDPs early this year where he donated genuine relief materials to the displaced and not just to hold a mere dance session with them as it has become Gov Ortoms cosmetic displays. Well, a government that cannot ascertain its actual wage bill in four years cannot pay attention to activities of the people it claims to govern. Both the APC governorship candidate and Senator Dr George Akume have relentlessly invested genuine efforts in ending this crisis overtime without resorting to media propaganda to curry cheap favours. The party further challenged the governor to showcase his scorecard, stop blaming past governors for his failures and commission projects if they exist. Yes, the APCs gathering yesterday would not have been complete without a mention of the many failures of the current Benue State Government which by all human parameters is the worst in the history of the state. "Wim Kok was a driven champion for the cause of the everyday man. A prime minister for everybody in the Netherlands," Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte said at the service. "His biggest asset was the ability to view a problem from all sides. He was the man of sensible compromise," Rutte said at the service. Born into a humble background -- his father was a carpenter -- Kok rose through the ranks of the Dutch labour union movement and eventually became the first leader of the umbrella FNV labour federation in 1976. Kok was elected prime minister in 1994 and his first cabinet was a mix of his left-leaning Labour Party, the rightist, business-friendly VVD party and the progressive Democrats 66. Bringing together diverse viewpoints, Kok's government pulled the Netherlands from a deep recession -- to the admiration of many of his peers including then US president Bill Clinton and British prime minister Tony Blair. It was during Kok's second tenure from 1998-2002 that the progressive Netherlands became the first country to legalise same-sex marriage and euthanasia. "Wim Kok was a giant who carried everyone on his shoulders," Labour Party leader Lodewijk Asscher told mourners. Earlier this week Clinton said Kok's leadership "was an example of how to effectively solve problems in the world today." Srebrenica's shadow But the 1995 Srebrenica massacre which happened during Kok's first government eventually led to his resignation seven years later. Dutch soldiers on a United Nations mission to protect the "safe area" of Srebrenica during Bosnia's bloody civil war were overrun by Bosnian Serb troops in June 1995. What followed was the slaughter of almost 8,000 Muslim men and boys in the worst bloodshed on European soil since the Second World War. In 2002, the Netherlands Institute for War, Holocaust and Genocide Studies issued a scathing report over the incident. Kok took responsibility by resigning -- followed by his entire cabinet. He never returned to active politics, but worked as a lobbyist for the European Union as well as serving on the boards of many big Dutch companies and organisations such as ING bank, the KLM national carrier, Shell and the Anne Frank Foundation. Speaking shortly before his death, Kok admitted he still lived in Srebrenica's shadow. "It's a book that will never close. For some it's probably much harder than for me. But it's hard for me too," he said. His appointment on Friday night as the new premier was as controversial as his decade in power. Rajapakse crushed Tamil rebels in a no-holds-barred military campaign to end the country's long-running civil war in May 2009. His decisive military action sparked allegations that at least 40,000 minority Tamil civilians were killed by government forces while putting down the 37-year conflict that had claimed at least 100,000 lives. Despite being cold shouldered by the West, he is a charismatic leader hugely popular among the majority Sinhalese community for crushing the Tamil Tiger rebels who were known for their trade mark suicide bombings. Rajapakse's success in overseeing an end to the war propelled him to a huge election victory and a second term in office in 2010. Soon after his 2015 defeat, he blamed it on the minority Tamil community which voted overwhelmingly for Maithripala Sirisena who pledged accountability for alleged war-time atrocities by the military. Ironically, it was Sirisena who made Rajapakse his prime minister after his surprise sacking of Ranil Wickremesinghe whose United National Party (UNP) helped Sirisena win the 2015 election. Rajapakse, a lawyer by profession, also accused India's external intelligence agency, the Research and Analysis Wing, of being behind his stunning defeat. Traditional ally India was angry over Rajapakse allowing Chinese submarines to dock at Colombo during his last year in office as president. But recently, he appeared to have mended fences with India and met with Prime Minister Narendra Modi in New Delhi last month. Street-fighter politician Political commentator Kusal Perera said Rajapakse remained the most popular Sinhala-Buddhist leader in the country and his dramatic return to power was historic. "Rajapakse, as the most charismatic Sinhala Buddhist leader... has made a formidable comeback never known in Sri Lankan electoral history," Perera said. Critics say Rajapakse lost elections in January and August 2015 because of nepotism and failure to deal with huge corruption under his rule. He oversaw a period of growing prosperity with average growth rates of 7.5 percent, built Sri Lanka's first expressway and rolled out new highways and railroads. But his ambitious infrastructure projects ended up as white elephants and left the country facing a mountain of debt, including commercial loans from China. Unable to service the debt, the government last year leased a Chinese-built deep sea port in the south of the island to a Beijing company for $1.12 billion. Another loss-making airport built with more than $300 million in Chinese loans is up for privatisation. The new government launched several investigations into charges Rajapakse and his family siphoned off billions of dollars, but prosecutions were extremely slow. His family members are facing criminal prosecutions but Rajapakse has defended them, claiming a political vendetta. A veteran street-fighter politician who entered parliament aged 24, he had no qualms about falling out with the West -- even when some world leaders boycotted a Commonwealth summit that he hosted in November 2013 over his rights record. When the United States and the European Union cut off aid, Rajapakse leaned heavily on China, Iran and Libya as well as other Asian nations for cash and arms to fight the Tamil Tigers during the war. Among the locations hit was a facility where labourers were packing vegetables, the United Nations said. But the bombings went largely unnoticed by statesmen around the world. Saudi Arabia and its allies are mired in the conflict in Yemen, which has struggled to garner international attention even as 14 million of its citizens face imminent famine. In September alone, the country was hit by at least 154 air raids, according to the Yemen Data Project. Children have been killed in air strikes, while blockades and corruption leave entire cities unable to find food and clean water. AFP Saudi Arabia is now under nearly unprecedented scrutiny following the murder this month of Khashoggi, the former royal court insider-turned-critic who wrote a column for the Washington Post. But analysts say it is unlikely the Khashoggi killing will turn the spotlight on Saudi Arabia's broader policies -- leaving Yemenis fighting to survive war, famine and a failed economy that may prove as fatal as the violence. Killing, maiming children "Saudi Arabia has been called out on the murder of Jamal Khashoggi more than they have been over the past years of the Yemen war," said Farea al-Muslimi, associate fellow at Chatham House. "For a government, it's an easy public relations play -- even if you yourself have been involved for years in Yemen," Muslimi said. Under the order of Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman -- now heir to the Saudi throne, then his country's defence minister -- Saudi Arabia led a regional coalition into Yemen in 2015 to aid the government in its fight against the Huthis. AFP While both sides stand accused of acts that could amount to war crimes, Riyadh and its allies have been blacklisted by the UN for the killing and maiming of children. The Saudi-led alliance also controls Yemen's airspace and has imposed a blockade, fluctuating in severity, on the country's ports, a measure they say is aimed at curbing the smuggling of Iranian arms to the Huthis. But it is unlikely the crown prince -- whose country is also the world's top donor to Yemen -- will be called out for his role in the war there, analysts say. "Jamal's murder is a clear-cut scenario... Western states had no immediate role in this," Muslimi told AFP. "Yemen, however, is complex. There's no black and white. It requires thinking." Since the Saudi-led coalition intervened in the conflict, nearly 10,000 civilians have been killed, according to the World Health Organization. Other rights groups estimate the toll could be as high as 50,000. Each victim 'worthy' Europe and the United States supply over 98 per cent of weapons imported by Saudi Arabia, according to the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute. AFP While Germany last week said it had suspended its arms sales to Saudi Arabia over the Khashoggi murder, French President Emmanuel Macron initially dismissed the idea as populist. Macron later said he backed a "coordinated European position" on potential sanctions. Washington has likewise refused to let go of Saudi Arabia as a trade partner which had, according to President Donald Trump, bought "$110 billion" in arms from the United States. In August, reports emerged that US firm Lockheed Martin had manufactured the laser-guided Mk 82 bomb that hit a bus in rebel-held northern Yemen, killing 40 children. Under Trump's predecessor Barack Obama the US military expanded its operations in Yemen, home to Al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula. AFP And since Saudi Arabia and its allies intervened in Yemen in 2015, US armed forces have provided aerial targeting assistance, intelligence sharing, and mid-flight aerial refuelling to the Saudi-led coalition. Khashoggi's role writing for one of the US' most high-profile newspapers gave his murder global prominence. But rights groups fear those trapped in a war in which Saudi Arabia plays a central role will remain relegated to the margins. "Each victim of an unlawful Saudi coalition strike in Yemen is as worthy of concern as a Washington Post columnist," said Kristine Beckerle, Yemen researcher for Human Rights Watch. "A groom and his wedding party. A child locked in jail. Villagers digging a well. Crowds shopping at a market. All killed or wounded in bombings by the Saudi-led coalition," she said. Former Immigration Minister Michael Woodhouse says a drug dealing immigrant, granted New Zealand residence while serving a prison term, should be deported. Karel Sroubek, also known as Jan Antolik, arrived in New Zealand on a false passport in 2003, saying he was fleeing corrupt cops after witnessing a murder. He built a successful career as a kickboxer, but was recently jailed for importing MDMA. On Sunday it emerged Sroubek had been given permanent New Zealand residency, so at the end of his prison sentence he won't be deported back to the Czech Republic. He was denied parole last year, after giving "evasive, long-winded and... manifestly untruthful" answers. Immigration Minister Iain Lees-Galloway said he could not publicly say why Sroubek was given permanent residency, citing privacy and legal reasons. I don't think anybody honestly believes that this fellow should remain in New Zealand Nationals Immigration spokesman and former Minister of Immigration Michael Woodhouse says the Minister needs the power of absolute discretion in the role, but the public deserves to know more. Every case is different, but, on the face of it, it looks like a pretty clear case for deporting him, if indeed, the minister has that power. Now hes been here for 15 years, despite coming in on a fraudulent passport. It is possible that the law doesnt give the minister that power. If thats the case he should say so. Speaking with Mark Sainsbury on RadioLIVEs Morning Talk, Michael Woodhouse says nobody wants Sroubek here. I dont think anybody honestly believes that this fellow should remain in New Zealand. Sroubek should be "exported" to the Philippines to be dealt with by President Rodrigo Duterte, according to one immigration lawyer. Marcus Beveridge of Queen City Law says granting Sroubek residency was a "very odd decision". "I think the minister's going to have to front-foot this decision and explain why he's come to this," he told The AM Show on Monday. "At the moment we're kind of speculating. We don't know exactly what did happen. Does he have a New Zealand partner? Does he have New Zealand-born children?" Sroubek has had many brushes with the law since arriving in New Zealand and has gang associations, but avoided conviction and jail time until the drug importing charge stuck. Sroubek says he was framed by the corrupt cops back in his home country. "What we should be doing is probably exporting him to the Philippines and President Duterte could meet him at the border," said Mr Beveridge. Rodrigo Duterte has cracked down on drugs since becoming President in 2016, urging police and vigilantes to shoot drug users in the streets and questioning whether drug users are even human beings. "Crime pays - you've got a guy, a convict in jail - the university of crime - learning probably more criminal activities," said Mr Beveridge. "The Parole Board actually know what they're doing. Next they'll offer him a KiwiBuild first-home loan or something when he gets out, or whatever else. Possibly a New Zealand passport. [Then we'll have] Escobar Pablo and everybody down here." But another immigration lawyer says we don't know the whole story, so shouldn't be so quick to judge. Alastair McClymont of McClymont and Associates says it wouldn't have been an easy decision for Mr Lees-Galloway and Associate Immigration Minister Kris Faafoi to make. "You need a lot of information, you need a lot of evidence," he told Newshub. "It's likely that Immigration NZ would have considered all of the facts carefully. They would have provided a very detailed report. The minister would have to weigh up all the balancing factors." Mr McClymont said it's likely Sroubek's personal safety would have been considered, but it's hard to tell since we know so little about the case. "The minister would have gone through a very long process in considering everything, and it would have been a very tough decision to make." Mr Beveridge said it's likely some of the information looked at would be classified, and called Mr Faafoi a "good decision-maker" most of the time. Listen to the full interview with Michael Woodhouse above. Morning Talk with Mark Sainsbury, 9am - 12pm Weekdays and streaming live on 'rova' channel 9 - available on Android and iPhone. Newshub/RadioLIVE. Anyone who grew up watching cop shows on TV knows that even Hollywood police spend as much time writing in their notebooks as they do shooting at the bad guys And thats a real problem. Because the more time police staff spend on paperwork the less time they have to prevent and solve crimes. That's all about to change thanks to a new app created for NZ Police, which will wipe out 1.5 million forms per year. The app is called Family Harm. Co-creator Reuben Bijl from Smudge Apps joins RadioLIVE's Vaughn Davis to discuss how the app works, and how it will change the procedures of New Zealand Police. Listen to the full interview with Reuben Bijl above. Sunday Social with Vaughn Davis, 7pm - 8pm on RadioLIVE and streaming live to the Rova app on Android and iPhone. RadioLIVE. With primary school teachers ready to strike in November, National's education spokesperson Nikki Kaye has defended the previous Government's response to teachers' demands for better pay and workloads. Speaking to RadioLIVE on Sunday, Ms Kaye said the previous National Government - for which she was Education Minister in 2017 - couldn't provide the same amount of money to teachers as the current government can. Ms Kaye said the current government's $5.5 billion surplus could be put good use by increasing its current offer to teachers of an annual 3 percent pay rise over three years. Regularly asked online why she didn't do more while she was office, she tells people surpluses are a luxury her Government didn't have for most of its time in charge, due to dealing with the global financial crisis and Christchurch earthquakes. "Of all the areas of Government - when you've got billions of dollars in surplus - that should get a decent pay rise, in my view it's the teachers," said Ms Kaye. Teachers went on strike in August, demanding the Labour-led Government do more to address pay issues, high workloads and poor resources. The teachers union New Zealand Educational Institute (NZEI) want a 16 percent pay rise over two years. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has reaffirmed his commitment to the ultimate destruction of al-Khan al-Ahmar. But already it can be said that a small group of unarmed, ordinary human beings, appalled by the injustice about to be inflicted upon innocents and prepared to face reckless violence without flinching, have achieved a moral victory that cannot be measured in purely instrumental terms. Even a transient victory of this kind has meaning and gives reason for hope. Perhaps al-Khan al-Ahmar will be remembered as the place where the Israeli descent into self-destructive savagery was checked, at least for a crucial moment. 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 By Elizabeth Kwiatkowski, 10/28/2018 ADVERTISEMENT ADVERTISEMENT Elizabeth Kwiatkowski is Associate Editor of Reality TV World and has been covering the reality TV genre for more than a decade. couple Jonathan Rivera and Fernanda Flores are sharing the story of their love on TLC's currently-airing sixth season.Jonathan, a 32-year-old from Lumberton, NC, is engaged to Fernanda, a 19-year-old from Mexico.During a vacation to Mexico with his best friend, Jonathan, a real estate broker, fell hard for Fernanda. Jonathan called Fernanda a showstopper and said the world stopped when he first met her.While Jonathan is a lot older than his partner, he was apparently the person in the relationship who was hesitant about leaving his bachelor lifestyle behind. Despite Fernanda's concerns about Jonathan wanting to settle down, however, she accepted his marriage proposal after dating for three months.Fernanda's visa was subsequently approved, and so Jonathan headed out to Mexico to pick her up. The premiere of 's sixth season ended with Fernanda arriving in America and getting settled in Jonathan's apartment.During an exclusive interview with Reality TV World via email, Jonathan and Fernanda talked about their relationship and the obstacles they must overcome together. Below is what they had to say.I was certain that I loved Fernanda and that I was willing to do whatever it took to spend the rest of my life with her. I feared that Fernanda was not going to enjoy living in Lumberton and that pressure of keeping her happy here and away from her family would become extremely difficult.We discussed that if she was not happy here that I would change what I envisioned as the foreseeable future here in the U.S. and move to Mexico.I was willing to make that commitment because I knew that she was my everything, and as she has sacrificed for me, I was willing to do the same for her. I didn't know how it was going to play out but I was going to marry my best friend.I always had interest in business, fashion, makeup and fitness. I love to help others and I would love helping women to love themselves as an influencer. I will probably go back to school.I have been making crazy decisions in my life, some of them my family has not completely agreed with. They miss me so much and it's hard for them like it is for me to live long distance, but at the end of the day, they have my back and if I'm happy, they are too.I know Fernanda and have never questioned her motivations. Never once has Fernanda asked me for anything. I have no doubts that Fernanda is with me because she loves me.I will support Fernanda in every way that I can to help her build/reach her personal and professional dreams and continue to grow our love together. There is nothing wrong with supporting the person you love. If she wins, I win.Everyone has an opinion about our relationship and it is easy to judge, but Jonathan and I know our reasons and that's good enough for me.To other people it's a big deal; to us, it's just a number. I have a mature personality and Jonathan has a young soul and that's a perfect match for us.I wasn't 100 percent ready, I don't think no one is completely ready for that. But when you know you know. And there is no book for what a marriage should be or what age you should get married everyone lives at their time.I'm not necessarily sure that we were 100 percent ready to get married, but that was a risk I was willing to take. Fernanda has showed me unwavering love since the moment we met. I knew after going back to Mexico that Fernanda was the one I wanted to spend the rest of my life with.I'm too young to have children right now. I want to enjoy our life together. We love to travel and I would like to get started on my professional career. There is no doubt that we want to have children some day, but just not now. And if we ever do, it will be just one.Visit the website section of Reality TV World for more exclusive interviews with Season 6 cast members! , We're sorry, this article is not currently available This article originally appeared in RECOIL ISSUE 35 Not only was the Chickamauga and Chattanooga Military Park the site of the battles that marked the beginning to the end of the Civil War, the U.S. military also uses it as an outdoor classroom for commanders to study the conflict and to keep prepared for an all-out war. For any admirer of rare guns or student of the firearms that made this country, theyll find a gem at the Chickamauga Visitors Center in the form of the Fuller Gun Collection. Dont be misled by its free admission. The amount you can learn from the battlefield and see in the gun collection is limited only by your curiosity and the time you have to spend. The Civil War was The watershed moment in our nations history, said Jim Ogden, National Park Service historian for the battlefield. Because the United States that comes out of the Civil War is very different than the United States that entered that war. The guns in the parks collection are no exception. Rows of Guns A semicircle of cannon greets people walking up to the visitor center located in the northwest corner of Georgia. Take a right past the front desk and pass through a room with the usual displays explaining key points of the battle. The Fuller Gun Collection rests in a dimly lit room, with lights on timers in order to preserve the guns from light exposure. The collection is one of the few displayed study collections of firearms in the nation. Often, museums will only show pieces in their collection that help tell the story theyre trying to say, said Ogden. With the Fuller Collection, everything is displayed. The earliest guns stand to the left of the rooms entrance, and are organized in rough chronological order clockwise around the room. Overall, they show the guns 400-year evolution from matchlock boomsticks to the bolt actions of World War I. Along the way, there are experimental guns that represent the various ways gunsmiths converted flint-fired guns to percussion, for example. The gun collection has been displayed at the visitor center since July 4, 1954. In 2000, the National Park Service renovated the display so each gun rests vertically. The locks rest level with each other so they can be easily studied. The result is it is really the displayed study collection that Claude Fuller envisioned it to be, Ogden said. Fuller and his wife, Zenada, rummaged through estate sales and auctions to build the collection in the early 1900s. Despite having a seventh-grade education, Fuller published several books on firearms, and became one of the foremost firearm scholars of his time. The collection boasts of a large number of Confederate-made firearms, and the near-identical guns churned out by northern factories during the Civil War. The collection tells the story of American manufacturing. It shows how it rose from making one gun at a time to creating interchangeable parts, Ogden said. So, when America built its arms for World War I, the country entered the muddy fields of France, a world power thanks to its manufacturing might. The key guns, Significant markers in the history in the development of firearms, Ogden said, are highlighted with more information about each piece. Exploring the Park Theres a whole battlefield to explore beyond the visitor centers doors, and one you shouldnt miss. Ogden suggests people view the displays and watch the 26-minute movie explaining the battle to get an overview of what happened on the parks 9,036 acres. What you do next depends on how much time you have and what kind of money you want to spend, Ogden said. By touring Chickamauga, you can stand where thousands of Confederates rushed through a gap in the Union line and caused the Union Army to retreat, for example. The NPS produced a free audio tour and schedules tours with park rangers. Private groups offer tours and guidebooks for sale. Afterward, Ogden suggests visitors make the 12-mile trip up Lookout Mountain to the small NPS visitor center there. Then people can pay a $5 entrance fee to Point Park, the only section that requires a fee. There, you can walk the pathways and see the cannons overlooking the best view of Chattanooga and get a sense of the scope of the siege for the city. That is, if a cloud hasnt rolled over the mountain, mimicking the conditions in which solders of the blue and gray fought when they battled across the slopes of Lookout Mountain. Then, if you want extra credit, check out where soldiers struggled for control of Missionary Ridge. The NPS maintains a series of pocket parks dotting the crest of Missionary Ridge, which has since filled up with residential neighborhoods. Ogden said this is the most underappreciated and overlooked portion of the battlefield. As with everything, preparation is valuable, he said. To explore, Ogden recommends buying a private guidebook or join a scheduled tour. Just like the Fuller Gun Collection, many people skim through the park, but theres a sea of information for those who linger. Chickamauga & Chattanooga National Military Park Address 3370 LaFayette Rd. Fort Oglethorpe, GA 30742 Hours Most of the park: 6 a.m. to sunset Chickamauga Battlefield Visitor Center: 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Lookout Mountain Battlefield Visitor Center: 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Point Park (a.k.a. Lookout Mountain Battlefield): 8:30 a.m. to sunset Park open daily except for Christmas and New Years Day, though some portions of the park, such as Wilder Brigade Monument, remain closed Dec. 1 to March 15. Admission Free, except for Point Park Adults (16 and older): $5 and ticket remains valid for seven days Children (15 and under): Free Phone (706) 866-9241 URL www.nps.gov/chch A line of Athens-Clarke County citizens wait outside of the Board of Elections Office for their turn to cast an early vote on Monday, Oct. 22, 2018, in Athens, Georgia. Early voting is a way for citizens to cast their votes at a time and place other than in person on election day and can be done in place of sending in an absentee ballot. (Photo/Gabriella Audi, www.gabbyaudi10.wixsite.com/mysite-1) Joseph E. Brown Hall as seen on Oct. 26, 2018 in Athens, Georgia. Located on the corner of South Lumpkin and Baldwin Streets, this building is home to the University of Georgias Comparative Literature and Germanic and Slavic Studies programs; some of the Romance Languages are also taught in this building. (Photo/Julian Alexander) WINSTED Jane Williams of Winsted has been named to the executive committee of the Women & Girls Fund of the Northwest Connecticut Community Foundation. The funds priority is to support, through annual grant awards, women and girls in the development of economic self-sufficiency by means of education, financial literacy and social services. Williams is the Workforce Development Coordinator for the Center for Workforce Development at Northwestern Connecticut Community College, where she works in the development of education and training services for public and private employers across Northwest Connecticut. She also launched the Entrepreneurial Center of Northwest Connecticut in 2017, which helps to develop vibrant and connected communities of entrepreneurs in Northwest Connecticut. Prior to that she was the Workforce Development Coordinator for the Board of Regents for Higher Education. She also she worked as a Resource Associate at the Department of Labor, a Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor at the Department of Rehabilitation Services, and a Community Service Representative at the Department of Labor. Williams received her master of science in Psychology from Central Connecticut State University. She has is a member of several committees, including the Connecticut Training and Development Network and the Connecticut Learns and Works Conference. She is involved in many workforce partnerships, including the Northwest Chamber of Commerce, Northwest Workforce Investment Board, and Northwest Council of Government. Established as a giving circle in 1999 by a small group of women who shared a concern for the real-life needs of local women and girls, the Women & Girls Fund has awarded more than $70,000 to organizations that serve local women and girls in the development of economic self-sufficiency by means of education, financial literacy and social services. The fund has awarded grants to support local child-care scholarships for working mothers, assisted local unemployed women to enter the workforce, provided transportation to working women, enhanced community economic opportunities and promoted self-sufficiency for women leaving abusive relationships, and funded leadership and assertiveness workshops for girls. For more information about the Women & Girls Fund or to learn how to support its mission, visit www.northwestcf.org/womenandgirls Salisbury VNA named a Top Agency SALISBURY Salisbury Visiting Nurse Association has been named a Top Agency of the 2018 HomeCare Elite, a recognition of the top-performing home health agencies in the United States. For 13 years, HomeCare Elite has annually identified the top 25 percent of Medicare-certified agencies and highlighted the top 100 and top 500 agencies overall. The ranking is developed by ABILITY Network, a leading information technology company helping providers and payers simplify the administrative and clinical complexities of healthcare. It is sponsored by DecisionHealth, publisher of Home Health Line and the Complete Home Health ICD-10-CM Diagnosis Coding Manual. I would like to congratulate the team at Salisbury Visiting Nurse Association and thank them for their commitment to providing consistently high-quality care, said Christine Lang, senior director for ABILITY Network. During a time of increasing demands on home health professionals time and attention, these caregivers and leaders have demonstrated that they have prioritized their patients and created a solid foundation for serving their communities and partnering with other healthcare providers. Michele Kearns, Executive Director, SVNA, credits the SVNA teams commitment to their patients and to the mission of SVNA with the agencys ability to achieve recognition as one of the HomeCare Elite. HomeCare Elite is not an easy accomplishment, I am very proud of each team member for achieving this wonderful honor and thank each one of them for their devotion to our patients and their families. Our employees change peoples lives for the better - each and every day - and this award recognizes exactly the positive impact they have. Congratulations to Salisbury Visiting Nurse from all of the staff at DecisionHealth, said Marci Geipe, product manager for Decision Health. Your leadership and staff have placed a premium on the patient care your agency provides as showcased by your quality outcome scores. The entire community benefits from the compassion that your staff shows toward your patients, leading to cost savings for the entire healthcare system. HomeCare Elite agencies are determined by an analysis of performance measures in quality outcomes, best practices implementation, patient experience (HHCAHPS), quality improvement and consistency, and financial health. In order to be considered, an agency must be Medicare-certified and have data for at least three outcomes in Home Health Compare. Out of 8,898 agencies considered, 2,223 are recognized on the 2018 HomeCare Elite winners list overall. The entire list of 2018 HomeCare Elite agencies can be downloaded by visiting the ABILITY Network website at abilitynetwork.com/hce. Salisbury, SCORE to hold business seminar LAKEVILLE Salisbury Bank and the Dutchess County Chapter of SCORE will offer a free seminar to discuss the steps in creating a business plan, Thursday, Nov. 8, 5:30-7 p.m. at the banks Millerton, NY office at 87 Main St., Millerton. Simply put, a business plan is a written document that describes your business, its goals and how you intend to meet these goals. While this seems simple enough, creating a business plan may seem daunting to many new business owners. By the end of the presentation all attendees will be provided with a SCORE business plan template to use in developing their own business plan. Presenter Al Hechler has been a SCORE mentor for nearly 10 years. He is a retired IBM Project Executive with skills in project management, business planning and marketing. Reservations are suggested, but not required. To reserve a spot, contact Genia Wilson by calling 860.453.3496 or emailing at evwilson@salisburybank.com and type Business Plan in the subject line. Ice House to demonstrate living in a freezing home HARTFORD Operation Fuel will give people an opportunity to experience what it is like to live in a freezing home when they unveil their Ice House on Thursday, January 24, 2019 at the Old State House in Hartford. The Ice House will be built the night before by a professional ice sculptor. This inaugural event is believed to be the first of its kind in Connecticut. We are going to be sitting on ice. We are going to be sitting within ice walls and we are going to feel what it is like not to have the heat and lights on, said Brenda Watson, Executive Director of Operation Fuel. Eversource Energy is the Presenting Sponsor. The Ice House will be open from 9:30 am to 5 pm on January 24 and people will have an opportunity to step inside the home to experience its freezing temperatures. There are currently more than 320,000 Connecticut households that cant afford their energy bills. This includes working families with young children and the elderly who are living on a fixed income. In addition to Eversource Energy, sponsors will include iHeart Media; the Connecticut Energy Marketers Association (CEMA); Empire Industries; and the Connecticut Power and Energy Society (CPES). Sponsorships are available and volunteers are needed. For more information, contact Kim OBrien Green at 860-243-2345, ext. 3303, or at icehousect@operationfuel.org. Additional sponsor and event information can be found by visiting http://www.operationfuel.org/ice-house/ Operation Fuel provides emergency energy assistance throughout Connecticut to lower-income working families and individuals, the elderly and disabled individuals who are not eligible for energy assistance from government-funded programs. Individuals who need energy assistance should call 211. For more information on Operation Fuel, or to make a donation, go to www.operationfuel.org TORRINGTON Torringtons McDonalds celebrated a grand reopening celebration on Oct. 17 with a ribbon-cutting ceremony. New Milford ALDI debuts new look, chance to win free food Guests included state Rep. Michelle Cook, D-Torrington, state Rep. Jay Case, R-Winsted, and owner/operator Scott Taylor. The Torrington High School chorus also attended the celebration and performed. The restaurant hosted a raffle that included a flat screen TV, iPad and 20 complimentary value meal coupon cards good for free meals for a year. The event provided free prizes and childrens ice cream cones all day. McDonalds recently announced that the company and its franchisees are investing approximately $84 million in Connecticut throughout 2018 and 2019 on the construction and modernization of 90 McDonalds restaurants, transforming the customer experience inside and outside the restaurant, according to a news release. In total, McDonalds and franchisees are investing $6 billion to modernize most U.S. restaurants by 2020, including most restaurants in Connecticut, the company said in a statement. TORRINGTON The co-owner of the Christmas House plans to work late into the night this week to keep his decorating schedule on track before the official holiday kicks off Nov. 23. Ron Merriman said he has about half of the display pieces in place so far, for whats almost certainly going to be the last year of the light show and house tour. The home is the subject of a foreclosure auction on Nov. 3, which is being held to collect a mortgage debt of $11,350. Records show that no mortgage payments have been made since spring 2017. Asked what hell do if he, his mother and sister, who are also co-owners, lose the house, Merriman said, I dont know where Ill live. It will take a lot of fixing up, Merriman said of the house that was built in 1900. If they want it they can take it, he added. Merrimans sister, Donna, said she also doesnt know where she and her 87-year-old mother, Alice, will live. Donna Merriman said the family had mortgage problems a few years back, after she lost her job, and the mortgage holder, Webster Bank, was going to work with us. The family also talked about selling the house, Donna Merriman said. Her brother, she said, was against the idea. Foreclosure proceedings began in Aug. 2017. According to court records, the family repeatedly refused to enter into mediation proceedings. A transcript of a mediation hearing in March shows that Ronald Merriman expressed his unwillingness to complete or submit any documentation. Mr. Merriman expressed his discontent with Webster Bank... Ronald Merriman also expressed his discontent with his sister. He said he recently filed an eviction notice against her. However, Donna Merriman said she was never served with the papers. You cant evict an owner of the house, she said. The three family members had paid equal shares of the mortgage, Donna Merriman said, since they bought the property in 1987. She said her mother paid all of the other bills over the years as well. A dispute over who paid for what expenses seems to be at the core of the siblings fractious relationship. He wouldnt sign off on the idea of selling the house, Donna Merriman said. So now theyll take it. My mistake was buying a house with my family. A neighborhood business owner said this week that he wont miss the display. He asked that his name not be used. I cant wait until its gone, he said. The traffic is terrible. I cant get out of my parking space to go home. Everybody enjoys it. I think the town will miss it, said another employee, who declined to give her name. She added that the sheer number of lights has caused the breaker to blow a couple of times. Ronald Merriman has installed 20 light switches in the entry hall to wire his mega-watt display. Ive gone inside twice. Its a little creepy. Its overwhelming, said an unnamed employee. However, she added, the kids like it. Its too bad, but you have to pay your mortgage, said another neighbor. She said she recently checked Ronald Merrimans GoFundMe account. It has $100 in it. The fundraising goal is $35,000. On the day of the auction, attorney J. Michael Schonyers of Ackerly Brown LLP in Bantam said he will arrive at the house at 10 a.m. I knock on the door and tell them I wont bother you. I just wanted to let you know Im here, he said. Schonyers serves on the committee hired to supervise the auction process. I think a lot of people will show up, just to see what happens, he said. An interested party could buy the house for as little as $30,000, Schonyers noted. But he said that at the recent auctions hes overseen, the only bid has been from the bank that owns the mortgage. The lack of bidders, in Schonyers opinion, is because if you cant see inside, you dont know what youre getting. At the Christmas House, the buyer will be getting a lot of memories, but not rooms full of holiday decor. I wont sell my collection, Merriman said. It took years to collect it. I might set it up out of state. Photo: The Canadian Press Debra Gureghian, manager at New River Pizza, and former co-worker of Cesar Sayoc, poses for a portrait on Saturday, Oct. 27, 2018, in Fort Lauderdale, Fla. Thirteen years ago, mail bomb suspect Cesar Sayoc travelled the country leading a mixed-race troupe of male exotic dancers he ran scams and had a temper, but a fellow dancer who is African-American said he never expressed racism or homophobia. Years later, working as a pizza driver, Sayoc would often express hatred for minorities, Jews and gays, his manager said. He drove a van plastered with stickers supporting President Donald Trump, criticizing media outlets and showing rifle crosshairs over liberals like Hillary Clinton and filmmaker Michael Moore. But she kept him around, even though she is a lesbian, because he was honest, dependable and never got into fights. Why Sayoc changed so radically over the years remains a mystery, but to those who know him, there seems little question that he did. "We were friends, we were boys, we travelled in the same van, slept in the same room," said former dancer David Crosby, who is black. "When I think of the guy I knew and the guy I see now on MSNBC, CNN and at Trump rallies, I think, 'Did he really slip?'" He thinks Trump's sometimes bombastic criticism of liberals may have pushed Sayoc over the edge . "He really wasn't a bad guy," a puzzled Crosby said. But former pizza restaurant manager Debra Gureghian said that while Sayoc originally came across as respectful, articulate and polite, within days a dark side emerged and he told her he was disgusted by her sexuality. "I was an abomination, I was God's misfit ... I was a mistake," Gureghian said of her former employee, who quit his job earlier this year. Sayoc thought she "should burn in hell with Ellen DeGeneres and Rachel Maddow... and President Obama and Hillary Clinton." Sayoc, 56, was arrested Friday near Fort Lauderdale and is charged federally with mailing at least 13 mail bombs to prominent Democrats and other frequent targets of conservative ire, including former President Barack Obama, former Vice-President Joe Biden, Hillary Clinton and the cable network CNN. He is scheduled to make his first court appearance Monday. That radicalism is a stark contrast to the mid-2000s, when Sayoc managed and performed with two male-dance revues "Men of Steel" and "American Hunks." He never expressed political views back then, Crosby said. "I don't know if he was a Democrat or Republican," said Crosby, who now runs a gym and is a comedian near Minneapolis. Along with three or four other chiseled men, Crosby and Sayoc travelled the country by van, stripping to G-strings for screaming women in honkytonks and nightclubs. They would check into a motel, perform, bring women back to party, sleep a few hours and then get up early the next morning to drive several hours to the next gig. "It's a hard life," Crosby said, quite seriously. The partying, bad food and lack of exercise takes a toll, he said. Sayoc hosted, then danced last. Crosby said he and the other all-but-naked dancers would bring women up on stage, make them and their friends laugh and do some sexual innuendo except Sayoc, who wasn't a good performer. He said Sayoc would have women sit in a chair, get between their legs and drive his pelvis into theirs hard "bang, bang." "The chair is bouncing off the wall, their head is bouncing off the wall," Crosby said. Sometimes, he would bite the women's exposed skin hard enough to leave teeth marks. Crosby said women would complain to the other dancers that Sayoc was too rough, but no one ever called the police. He said Sayoc had a "zero to 100" temper and would sometimes use his 6-foot, 250-pound (1.8-meter, 113-kilogram) frame to intimidate other men. "If he wasn't happy about something, he would definitely let you know," Crosby said. Still, he never saw Sayoc hit anyone and he treated his employees well though he would sometimes scam the shows' financial backers. For example, Crosby said Sayoc would sometimes drive separately in his own older van, though not the now infamous one he was arrested with. He would then take parts from the troupe's newer van, which was owned by an investor, and swap them with dying parts from his clunker, Crosby said. Sayoc would then ask the investor to pay for the troupe van's now-needed repairs. Twelve years later, however, when Sayoc worked for Gureghian at New River Pizza in Fort Lauderdale, honesty and reliability were his job-saving attributes. He never stole and customers never complained, Gureghian said. But until he quit earlier this year, he regularly subjected co-workers to fiery political rants. Gureghian called his views "pure hatred." He detested liberals, blacks, Jews and especially gays, who he called slurs, Gureghian said. Gureghian said Sayoc used his van for deliveries and one rainy night he offered her a ride home. "The first thing I did was kind of look to make sure God forbid if something happened, can I open that door to get out and how do tuck and roll?" she said. Sayoc lived in the van and Gureghian said it was a mess. There were empty containers from fast-food restaurants, men's fitness supplements and alcoholic beverages. Dirty clothes were everywhere. And, ominously, there were dolls with their heads cut off. "He told me he was fixing them for his two nieces," Gureghian said. PRAGUE -- The Czech Republic has marked 100 years since Czechoslovakia gained independence from the Austro-Hungarian Empire with the biggest military parade in its postcommunist history. More than 4,000 military personnel took part in the October 28 event, which saw tanks and artillery roll down Prague's Evropska Street. Troops from NATO allies Britain, France, Italy, and the United States joined the parade, which was attended by U.S. Defense Secretary Jim Mattis. Czechoslovakia was made a country at the end of World War I and fell under four decades of communist rule after World War II. That came to an end following peaceful demonstrations in 1989 in what became known as the Velvet Revolution. Since their split in 1993, the Czech Republic and Slovakia have both joined NATO and become members of the European Union. Based on reporting by Reuters Syrian authorities have reopened part of the National Museum in Damascus to the public, more than six years after it was shut down amid the countrys civil war. Culture Minister Mohamed al-Ahmad said the October 28 reopening of the world-renowned antiquities museum sent "a message of security and safety" for the conflict-wracked country. The museum closed in 2012 to protect its ancient artifacts from damage, and most of the collection was evacuated and kept at secret locations. The decision to reopen part of the museum comes as the Syrian government maintains normality is returning to the country. Syrian President Bashar al-Assad's forces secured Damascus earlier this year, but fighting has continued in some areas of the country. Russia and Iran have given Assad crucial support throughout the 7 1/2-year war in Syria, which began with a government crackdown on protesters in March 2011. The conflict has left more than 400,000 people dead, displaced millions, and devastated many historic sites across the country. Based on reporting by the BBC, Reuters, AP, and AFP TBILISI Neither of the two front-runners in Georgia's presidential election was likely to win enough votes to secure victory in the first round of voting, the first officials results show. The Central Election Commission (CEC) said that according to results from 14 percent of the polling stations, Salome Zurabishvili secured 40 percent of the vote and Grigol Vashadze won nearly 38 percent. Zurabishvili, a French-born former foreign minister, has the backing of the ruling Georgian Dream party. Vashadze, also an ex-foreign minister, is running for the opposition United National Movement (UNM). Their closest challenger, former parliament speaker Davit Bakradze, who was nominated by the opposition European Georgia party, was a distant third with 10.8 percent of the votes. He had earlier conceded defeat and said his party will support Vashadze in the event of a runoff. Turnout stood at 46.7 percent, according to the CEC, nearly the same figure as during the 2013 presidential election. The presidential election, Georgia's seventh since 1991, will be the last in which the head of state will be elected by direct ballot. In 2017, the constitution was amended so that future presidents would be elected by a 300-member College of Electors, comprising parliamentarians and local and regional political representatives. Prime Minister Mamuka Bakhtadze congratulated Georgians after polls closed, saying the vote was held in a "peaceful, free, and democratic environment." "We are serving all the nation," outgoing President Giorgi Margvelashvili, who is not seeking a second term, said after casting his ballot. "We are serving every Georgian, no matter what their political orientation is." Some 3.5 million were eligible to cast ballots in the election, which is being monitored by observers from the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE). Transparency International Georgia said its observers had reported up to 90 insignificant and relatively serious violations, including alleged vote rigging and vote buying. Dirty Tricks And Mudslinging There was a record 25 candidates in a bruising race notable more for its dirty tricks and mudslinging than debate on policy. Zurabishvili, 66, is running as an independent even though she has the backing of Georgian Dream, headed by former prime minister and billionaire Bidzina Ivanishvili. She has faced personal attacks over her background and been branded a traitor for saying a brief war with Russia over the breakaway regions of South Ossetia and Abkhazia in 2008 occurred because "we yielded to Russia's provocation." The campaign has also been marked with several releases of secretly recorded audio tapes alleging bribery among state officials, a murder plot implicating former President Mikheil Saakashvili, and claims of witness tampering and torture in politically charged cases. "If there is a sufficient mobilization of Georgian Dream supporters, Salome Zurabishvili should score a first-round victory," Ivanishvili said. And if Zurabishvili doesn't clinch a majority of votes in the first round, Ivanishvili said "there is no doubt" she will win a runoff, becoming the first woman outside the Baltics to be elected head of state in a post-Soviet republic. A woman has previously served as acting president, however. Nino Burjanadze was twice thrust into the role of president, once just after the 2003 Rose Revolution and again when President Mikheil Saakashvili stepped down in late 2007 to call an early presidential election following a political crisis over a violent crackdown on opposition protesters. Burjanadze was parliament speaker at the time. With reporting by RFE/RL correspondent Alan Crosby, Reuters, AFP, and Interfax Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov has said Moscow was drafting responses to a list of questions recently presented by the United States concerning a key Cold War-era arms control treaty. Lavrov made the comments on October 28, days after President Donald Trump announced that the United States would withdraw from the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces (INF) Treaty, repeating longstanding U.S. accusations that Moscow had violated the agreement. The 1987 accord prohibits the United States and Russia from possessing, producing, or deploying ground-launched cruise and ballistic missiles with a range of between 500 and 5,000 kilometers. "Just a week ago, a couple of days before they announced their intention to withdraw from the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty, the Americans via their embassy in Moscow sent the Russian Foreign Ministry an extensive list of questions which are a concern to them," Lavrov said in an interview aired on Russian television. "It is better to come to terms with Russia on an equal basis and it is not necessary to be friends," the Russian minister also said. "We are not forcing a friendship." U.S. threats to withdraw from the INF Treaty came amid persistent tension between the West and Moscow over issues including Russia's seizure of Crimea in March 2014, its role in wars in Syria and eastern Ukraine, its alleged election meddling in the United States and Europe, and the poisoning of a Russian double agent and his daughter in Britain in March. Trump said on October 22 that he was pulling out of the 1987 treaty because Russia has been violating it since at least 2014 and because it does not apply to China, which has been developing the kind of short and intermediate-range missiles eliminated by Russia and the United States under the treaty. START Under Threat? In the wake of U.S. threats to withdraw from the INF Treaty, Lavrov said that the "fate of the New START Treaty is unclear." The New START Treaty limits strategic nuclear weapons. It was signed in 2010 and is due to expire in 2021, although the two sides could agree to extend it for another five years. Russian President Vladimir Putin has warned that Washington's withdrawal from the INF Treaty could lead to a new "arms race." Meanwhile, European members of NATO have urged Washington to try to bring Russia back into compliance with the nuclear arms control agreement rather than quitting it, diplomats say. Speaking on October 28, U.S. Defense Secretary Jim Mattis said the United States was in consultation with its European allies on the INF Treaty. When asked whether he could rule out placing intermediate-range missiles on the ground if Washington left the INF Treaty, Mattis told reporters travelling with him to Prague, "I never rule things out like that, I also don't rule it in." "There are a number of ways for us to respond [to the alleged Russian violation], it does not have to be symmetric and it'll be in close consultation with allies," he also said. Mattis met in Prague with Czech Prime Minister Andrej Babis, who said that relations with Russia "aren't ideal and we're returning to Cold War times." "It would be good for the superpowers to cooperate," Babis also said at a joint news conference. With reporting by Reuters, Interfax, and TASS The media-freedom representative of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) has condemned an "exceptionally high" fine imposed on October 26 by a Moscow court against the independent The New Times online news outlet. In an October 27 statement, OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media Harlem Desir called on the Russian authorities to protect freedom of the media and pluralism of opinion. The previous day, Moscow's Tverskoi District Court imposed fines of 22,250,000 rubles ($339,000) against The New Times and 30,000 rubles ($457) against the website's editor, Yevgenia Albats, for allegedly failing to comply with financial reporting obligations under Russia's controversial "foreign agents" law. "The exceptionally high fine imposed on The New Times is an unprecedented decision, which is detrimental to freedom of the media in the Russian Federation," Desir was quoted as saying. He expressed hope that the decision would be overturned on appeal and called on Moscow to revise the foreign agents law, 2015 legislation aimed at restricting "organizations performing the function of foreign agents." Under the law, Russian organizations labeled as foreign agents must comply with lengthy and onerous financial-reporting requirements. In an interview with RFE/RL, Albats said prosecutors had been looking into The New Times for some time now, but that the court made its decision in a matter of hours. She said she believed the hasty decision was intended to punish her for an interview she conducted on the Ekho Moskvy radio station earlier in the week with opposition politician Aleksei Navalny. Albats said she would appeal the verdict. Police in Moscow and St. Petersburg have detained at least 68 people taking part in unauthorized protests against a criminal case filed against 10 Russians accused of extremism. Several dozen protesters gathered outside the headquarters of the Federal Security Service (FSB) on Moscow's Lubyanka Square on October 28. Police detained 18 of them as the demonstrators began a march in the center of capital. Some 50 people were also detained during a demonstration in the center of St. Petersburg, including two journalists who were later released. Small protests were held in other Russian cities and towns, including Rostov-on-Don in the south, Novosibirsk in Siberia, and Penza, some 600 kilometers southeast of Moscow. The protests were held to support 10 defendants accused of extremism in a case over a group called New Greatness. Protesters believe the case was a provocation by the authorities. The New Greatness defendants say they were participating in an online chat group critical of the government when one participant proposed creating a political movement. It was later revealed that the person who proposed the idea, wrote the movement's charter, and rented premises for its gatherings was an agent of the FSB. "I would never have believed that such a thing could happen to me and my child. And that means it could happen to anybody," said Julia Pavlikova, who says she is the mother of a girl charged in the case. "One morning they knocked on the door and took away my child," she told the AFP news agency while protesting in Moscow. A man suspected of conducting a shooting rampage that killed 11 people in a synagogue in the U.S. state of Pennsylvania has been charged with 29 criminal counts. Prosecutors on October 27 said Robert Bowers, 46, had been charged with crimes that included the use of a firearm to commit murder and obstructing the exercise of religious beliefs. Attorney General Jeff Sessions said federal hate crime charges that could lead to death penalty would be filed. Police say Bowers, armed with a semiautomatic rifle and three handguns, entered the Tree of Life Congregation in Pittsburgh early on October 27, yelling, All Jews must die as he opened fire. At least six other people, including four police officers, were wounded before the man was arrested. Authorities said the suspect was hospitalized in fair condition with gunshot wounds, apparently inflicted by responding officers. Officials said Bowers had made anti-Semitic posts on a right-wing social media platform, including one shortly before the attack. Posts referenced false conspiracy theories that suggested the Holocaust in which 6 million Jews died was a hoax. President Donald Trump told reporters during a visit to Illinois for a political rally that he would travel to Pittsburgh but did not provide details. Trump condemned what he described as an act of "hate," and praised the actions of law enforcement for doing "an outstanding job." He said such shooters should receive the death penalty and "suffer the ultimate price." UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, French President Emmanuel Macron, and German Chancellor Angela Merkel were among world leaders to condemn the attack and offer condolences. Based on reporting by CNN, AP, and Reuters The leaders of Turkey, Russia, France, and Germany have reiterated calls for a UN-backed political process to end the war in Syria that has killed hundreds of thousands of people. German Chancellor Angela Merkel said after a summit in Istanbul on October 27 that "the meeting demonstrated there is common determination to solve the problem. "A joint solution can be achieved, not through military means, but only through political effort under the UN aegis," she added. Along with Merkel, Russian President Vladimir Putin, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, and French President Emmanuel Macron gathered for the talks in search of an end to the seven-year civil war in the Middle East country. Following the summit, the four leaders issued a statement calling for the convening of a committee by the end of the year to work on constitutional reform as a prelude to free and fair elections in Syria. "We need transparent elections, that will be held under supervision of international observers. Refugees should take part in this process as well," Merkel said. Macron said a constitutional committee needs to be established and should hold its first meeting by the end of the year. This is what we all want." "Creating it will become a part of the political settlement in Syria," Macron said. The summit's final communique also supported efforts to facilitate the "safe and voluntary" return of refugees to their Syrian homes. The final statement rejected "separatist agendas aimed at undermining the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Syria as well as the national security of neighboring countries." Many obstacles to a peace agreement remain. They include divided opinions about Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, who is backed by Russia and Iran. Western countries, meanwhile, condemn Assad for what they call indiscriminate attacks on civilians and Turkey has been helping insurgents trying to remove him from power. Putin told a news conference that a settlement in Syria cannot be reached without consultations that include Syria and "our Iranian partners," describing them as "a guarantor country of the peace process, the cease-fire, and the establishment of demilitarized zones." Asked about the possibilities of a second summit of the four countries, Putin said the countries have "not negotiated this yet, but everything is possible." With reporting by AFP, dpa, AP and Reuters Photo: Contributed Kelowna's Chabad Okanagan Centre will hold a solidarity service following the mass shooting at a Pittsburgh Synagogue on Saturday. "An attack on one Jewish community is an attack on all of us," says Kelowna's Rabbi Shmuly Hecht. "Our hearts are broken and saddened by the terrible and brutal murderous attack on the Etz Chayim Tree of Life Synagogue. We mourn the 11 who were killed and pray for the injured for a full recovery. "How do we explain this senseless hate? What do we tell our children?" The attack is being reported as the deadliest attack on any Jewish community in the history of the United States. "We will continue to walk to our synagogues proudly. Today, more than ever, we need to unite with love and continue to spread a message of tolerance and acceptance of all," says Hecht. A vigil and prayers will be offered at the Monday service, 7 p.m. at the Chabad Okanagan Centre for Jewish Life and Learning, 2597 Richter St. All are welcome. "While as a community we will take steps to enhance our security measures and overall vigilance, we must also take practical personal steps, too. We must unite against hate by resolving to show more kindness, tolerance and love, all while always remaining proud and upstanding Jews who stand for all that is good and moral in our world," says Hecht. He asks that anyone who is fearful or who needs to talk contact him at [email protected] or call 250-575-5384. U.S. Defense Secretary Jim Mattis attended an October 28 military parade in the Czech capital, Prague, to commemorate the 1918 declaration of Czechoslovak independence. Czechoslovakia was established at the end of World War I thanks in no small part to support from the United States and other powers, which advocated the right to self-determination for Czechs, Slovaks, and other nations living in the then Austro-Hungarian empire. Czechoslovakia split into the Czech Republic and Slovakia in 1993. TASHKENT -- When Tashkent's sumptuous Oqsaroy (White Palace) was converted into a museum devoted to autocratic Uzbek President Islam Karimov after his death in 2016, successor Shavkhat Mirziyoev needed a fresh new base from which to rule Central Asia's most-populous country. A palatial mansion was quickly built on a plot of land next to the Chirchik River in the small village of Baytqorqon, outside of the Uzbek capital. Unfortunately, the land around the new presidential palace was already dotted with dozens of houses inhabited by hundreds of people. Now many of those unfortunate Uzbeks are angry after their homes were razed and they were displaced to make way for Mirziyoev's new residence and a "presidential highway" leading to it. Many of those forced from their houses by the construction told RFE/RL that they were still waiting for the government's promise of compensation or a new home. "My house was demolished last week, but no other housing was provided," a 56-year-old housewife, who requested anonymity, told RFE/RL. "We are already cold. Where am I going to live with all my things now?" "We have neither money nor a new house! Help us," a 35-year-old entrepreneur from Baytqorqon, asking to remain anonymous, wrote to RFE/RL. The man said Miragzam Mirqosimov, the governor of Tashkent's Qibray district, had promised the affected families that they'd be given new homes. But he said district officials later told him, "We are unable to provide you with a new house now, stay with your relatives for the time being." Uzbek officials have told those who have lost their homes to either shelter themselves or get rooms in a local health facility. 'Brazenly Deceived' "Residents of demolished houses are temporarily placed in a sanatorium or the homes of their loved ones," an official in the Qibray district told RFE/RL, adding, "They will receive a new home or monetary compensation by the end of the year." One man said he and another family displaced by Mirziyoev's project were moved to new houses near the village of Yangibozor. But they weren't exactly free. "Two families' houses in our neighborhood were razed as they turned out to be in the way of the [new president's] residence," he told RFE/RL. A former governor of Qibray, he said, promised to provide new houses and "asked me to sign a couple of documents, which I did." "But today we learned that those papers were mortgage agreements," the man said. "The house 'given' to us turned out to be...only a mortgage loan. The authorities have brazenly deceived us." An official from the Qibray district denied that allegation, saying the mortgage loan covered the difference between the promised compensation and the cost of the new house, which he said was more valuable. "The amount [of the mortgage loan] is quite small," he said. To complicate matters, some of the razed homes included large extended families living together, and the state is in some cases providing three-or four-room apartments as compensation. "Some residents of demolished homes are taking advantage of the moment and are trying to snatch more money from the state," the Qibray government official told RFE/RL, suggesting that people were lying about the number of residents who had been living in a demolished house. "In one old house they managed to register 10 of their relatives, [and] their married daughters are also registered in their father's house," said the official. "The owners of such houses are asking us to give each of the people registered in their house an apartment." The main part of Mirziyoev's new residence was officially opened on July 24, 2017 -- the president's birthday -- with a fireworks show and Russian entertainers. Blue Marble, Swarovski Crystals An engineer who worked on the residence described some of its opulence to an RFE/RL reporter. "During the interior decoration of the residence, blue marble was brought from Argentina, one square meter of which costs $500, as well as Swarovski crystals," he said. "The building was decorated according to the latest design trends." The presidential compound covers several hectares of land and is encircled by a four-meter-high protective wall. But the destruction of villagers' houses is not over yet, as construction continues to widen the road between central Tashkent and the new presidential compound. An activist in Qibray told RFE/RL that around 200 families in the villages of Argin, Qibray, and Baytqorqon have been told their homes will be razed in the next two months to clear space for the "presidential highway." The long-serving, palace-loving Karimov also had a suburban mansion, Kuksaroy (Green Palace), and a country residence at Durmen in addition to his main Oqsaroy in central Tashkent. Uzbek villagers are likely hoping Mirziyoev is satisfied with his new palace and doesn't try to emulate his predecessor by building other mansions. Written by Pete Baumgartner in Prague based on reporting by RFE/RL's Uzbek Service in Tashkent. Georgians are voting in their country's presidential election. Incumbent president Giorgi Margvelashvili, who is not seeking a second term, said he voted on October 28 "for a commander in chief that is proud of the men and women serving under the Georgian flag." Former Georgian Prime Minister Bidzina Ivanishvili, a billionaire who leads the ruling Georgian Dream party, said he hoped that the election outcome will set Georgia on its "true path toward Europe and culture." Both Margvelashvili and Ivanishvili voted in the capital, Tbilisi. The change of political leadership in Angola has generated justified hopes that the closed club of diamond beneficiaries of this country is transforming into a rough sales system more accessible for the market. The eagerness not to miss this lucky break made many diamantaires buy tickets to Luanda and heated up their commercial interest towards the Angolan diamond industry. No one escaped the overall fuss involving dealers, world diamond hubs, mining giants, banks and brokers. Actually, this is justified. Angola produces about 9 million carats of diamonds per year worth more than $ 1 billion. The largest contribution to this cake, about 7 million carats per year, comes from diamond mining giant Catoca. This companys produce is known to everyone, as the diamond sorting pattern does not change for years and customers are willing to buy these goods blindly. The local price tag has always been more attractive compared with those offered by diamond producers from other countries. The rest of this countrys diamond goods are of alluvial origin and boast of top quality at the lowest cost of production. Prices for these goods do not even depend on a sober assessment, but on ones ability to bargain. On average, the fair price of rough diamonds produced by Catoca in the current market, taking into account the growing content of fluorescent goods, can be said to be between $94 and $ 100 per carat. It should be borne in mind that the buyer is obliged to pay a commission, which previously was 6.5% and now it is over 10.5%. In this case, the seller, be it Catoca or some other company, is also obliged to pay a commission for this transaction, although it is incommensurably lower, reaching only 2.5%. Forget the "blessed" times of the past, when the price was $80 per carat and less, when in fact only one person made decisions to whom diamonds would be sold and to whom not. The system is gone along with the era of Eduardo dos Santos. What was born instead? Today, national diamond mining corporation Endiama and state diamond trader Sodiam have become independent companies. Endiama's goal is to double diamond production and attract investment to this sector of the economy. Sodiam is assigned the function of "commercializing" diamond products, that is to form a client base for the sale of diamonds. Sodiam organizes direct sales of rough to its customers from the countrys diamond producer, for which it charges a commission, and at the same time Sodiam purchases rough on its own account for subsequent sales on the market. In this case, prices for consumers are higher, but there is no need to pay a commission. There is nothing wrong with the division of competences for diamond production and sales. As a matter of fact, De Beers DTC also buys diamonds for further sales. Problems start to arise from mixing the immiscible functions. This year, Angolas diamond producers have been granted the right to sell up to 60% of their goods independently. Objectively, diamond miners are always more interested in maximizing prices than in the stability of their client base. There are many examples of this, and one of them is the case of De Beers headed by Philippe Mellier, when it gave in under the pressure from its new giant shareholder, Anglo American and squeezed out all the juice from its non-conflict-prone sightholders, who were used to that this former monopoly left some margins to its customers anyway. Today, Russias ALROSA keeps exorbitant prices, eating all the cream "off the top" for the sake of maintaining revenue performance. This is always bad, because later it is followed not by a price correction, but by a nervous decline in prices, stimulating jewelry brands to search for substitutes to avoid expensive diamonds, which further increases the psychological pressure on the market prone to excessive emotions even without it. Catoca decided to go the same way, having inflated prices for its goods by more than 15% since the end of last year. However, diamond goods are bought not only by the market, but also by state-owned Sodiam guided by the logic of a diamond trader. Having failed to withstand a sharp increase in prices, Sodiam practically doubled the commission for buyers, effectively halting sales. The final price of goods from the countrys producer has exceeded $ 127 per carat. Of course, it is possible to buy diamonds above the market, then spend three months for manufacturing polished goods, spend another eight months to sell them, pay bank interest and sell the rough goods not used by manufacturers at a loss. It is possible, but who will do it? In fact, we are witnessing a war between the right and left pockets of the same jacket, whose owner is the State of Angola. In the absence of an arbitrator, this has resulted in a dead end: no one sells, no one earns, everyone looks at each other and shrugs. In the absence of sales, Catoca may not pay dividends to shareholders and try to sell goods at the maximum price to the largest of them Russias ALROSA. Not being a diamond trader, ALROSA has habitually been expressing its readiness to buy goods from Catoca for a long time, offering rather high prices. If Endiama will decide that this is its last chance in the conflict with Sodiam, then the company may force ALROSA to act in the spirit of the latters statements. It is impossible to rebuke ALROSA that it is not familiar with the realities of the market, but to buy Catocas goods in excess of $ 125 per carat means to put them in stock with a prospect of selling at a loss. Of course, one can follow the example of a well-known literary hero and make a fuss saying, I dont know about any commission, but the outcome will be appropriate. In my opinion, the problem of difficult relationship between Sodiam and Endiama does not have to be resolved by the rule that only one of them must stay and there is no need to return to a single vertical pattern of management. In contrast to such countries of Southern Africa as Botswana, South Africa and Namibia, a fairly large amount of diamonds in the Angolan diamond sector is mined by the so-called garimpeiros or artisanal miners. And Sodiam today is the only company capable of technologically ensuring the entire process of preparing and selling such goods, including sorting, evaluation, security, transactions and transportation. Moreover, in theory, Sodiam is able to handle not only the rough diamonds mined by garimpeiros in Angola itself, but also in the neighboring countries, such as the DRC. It is exactly Sodiam that is able to civilize the unbridled trade in rough diamonds and provide the control required by the Kimberley Process. Of course, Endiama should and will be interested in raising its prices for rough goods in order to secure investments in the mining sector. But in the case of Angola, there is no direct relationship between the high price per carat and investment attractiveness. It is quite the contrary. Unlike Canada and Russia, the cost of production in Angola is lower and Angola does not face the problem of maintaining the level of diamond output by mining poor diamond deposits, whose economic viability is possible only if diamond prices are high. Angola needs predictable rules, not high prices - only in this case, the goal set by Endiama to double diamond production looks realistic. The interest to invest in the diamond sector of Angola on the part of professional market stakeholders is high precisely because of its main competitive advantage - the economic opportunity to conduct flexible pricing. The issue is not the price, but the margin. The quality characteristics of rough, the relatively low cost of production, the very good prospects for new commercially significant geological discoveries, the growth of the countrys regional political influence - all this gives Angola high chances to become one of the worlds leaders in diamond mining. The market will eventually force the two Angolas companies to move to realistic pricing. It is obvious that the level of commission and other additional payments from transactions involving rough diamonds should not change several times a year. Sodiam, acting as a state trader and currently having a priority in purchasing diamonds, may act as a guarantor for the preservation of production in the event of a sectoral crisis, as Russias Gokhran did this for ALROSA in 2008. In turn, there is no economic need for Endiama to boost prices sky high and try to sell goods at such prices to Sodiam in order to secure mining investments. The current dizziness with success in the diamond mining sector of Angola requires obvious administrative intervention of the Angolan government. There is no doubt that it will follow in the near future. No matter what kind of decision will follow, in my opinion, it should without prejudice rely on two main points. The first is that the economics of Angolas diamond mining sector is able to provide price advantages in comparison with other producers, while maintaining a high margin at a lower cost of goods. Secondly, this allows Angola to guarantee the attraction of investors, being professional market stakeholders, to its diamond mining sector retaining full control over the diamond industry. Segey Goryainov, Rough&Polished (pro.rbc.ru) - According to the Ministry of Finance of the Russian Federation, the number of instances with synthetic diamonds passed off as natural diamonds has increased dramatically in the jewelry market. However, this is a problem not only for Russia. This last August, the Gemological Institute of America (GIA) received a parcel of small diamonds, in which only one turned out to be natural, while the remaining 1092 stones were synthetic. The GIA called this a precedent, as previously it received parcels where artificial stones were admixed to natural stones, and not vice versa. Until recently, neither the state agencies, nor the jewelry community held forth the problem, said Alexander Shaburkin, General Manager of Rough&Polished. - In any case, there was actually no information about such incidents in mass media. The fact that there are more and more attempts to pass off lab-made rough and polished diamonds as natural and that there is no widespread access to devices, which can identify counterfeits, has started to be discussed quite recently. However, the authorities, jewelers and diamond miners can be understood in this regard, because if consumers will get wary of buying fakes and thus refuse to buy anything at all, this could be catastrophic for the industry taking into account the declining sales since 2014. However, the situation changed literally in the course of the past six months, as the synthetic theme was initiated by De Beers, the worlds most famous diamond mining company, which controls 40% of this market. In May this year, De Beers announced that it would be selling not only natural diamonds, but also lab-made stones. To do this, De Beers has launched a separate brand, Lightbox, which started to sell jewelry with synthetic diamonds. The company is positioning such trinkets as bijouterie, which can be worn every day or be given as gifts to children on holidays. In Russia, this news caused not only heated discussions in the professional environment, but also made the authorities and diamond mining monopolist ALROSA to stir their stumps. At the same time, Russian jewelers not only highly appreciated the prospects of De Beers new initiative, but also spoke openly for the first time about fakes, as well as about the threat to the mining industry. The development of diamond synthesis techniques and the reorientation of synthetics producers from industrial diamonds to jewelry in the medium term create a deadly threat to Russias ALROSA, which, unlike De Beers, almost completely ignores the new trend in the diamond market, said Sergey Goryainov, analyst at Rough & Polished. About 80% of ALROSAs product mix consists of small-sized rough, which will be squeezed out of the market by cheaper synthetics in the coming years. In this case, the profit-earning capacity of ALROSA will decrease significantly and most likely the company will cease to exist in the form in which it exists today. It can be said that at this stage the world jewelry community and diamond miners almost lost the fight with their shadow, that is with synthetics. Perhaps, only De Beers will be able to withstand, however only if it is supported by other players - jewelers and government agencies. Meanwhile, according to the news coming from the United States, synthetic diamonds were finally legalized. In July this year, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) expanded the definition of diamond, and now a cut diamond of artificial origin has also become a diamond for the FTC. Earlier, this definition included only natural cut diamonds. Speaking at the Moscow Financial Forum held in September, Alexey Moiseev, Deputy Minister of Finance of the Russian Federation said that complaints about admixing synthetic diamonds were more and more frequent. I am not against synthetics as such, but my position has been and remains unchanged: consumers must know what they are buying. It is absolutely unacceptable to sell synthetics under the guise of natural stones, said Alexey Moiseev expressing the position of the regulator on this issue. At the end of May, the Ministry of Finance proposed to control the circulation of synthetic stones, and the draft of a new federal law was published on the federal portal of draft regulatory acts. The new law intends to introduce control over the circulation of synthetic stones in the jewelry market, as well as to regulate their importation into the territory of the Eurasian Economic Union and prohibit the use of the classification applied to natural stones for grading synthetics. Man-made diamond producers suggest that lawmakers follow the path of De Beers. We need to form a new direction, we need to form a marketing strategy, we must openly enter the market with synthesized stones, so that this is not a threat to natural stones, but on the contrary, a niche and a business, which will make it possible to generate additional profits, says Maxim Bord, CEO of AdamasInvest from Belarus. However, Russian diamond miners still more rely on state aid. ALROSA, the countrys diamond mining monopolist was pro-active in joining the experiment initiated by the Ministry of Finance aimed at strengthening the control over the circulation of precious metals and gems and offered the ALROSA Diamond Inspector the first domestic device capable to detect synthetics - to the Assay Chamber. As an experiment, the Assay Chamber will take on lease a few dozens of diamond detecting machines from ALROSA to carry out inspections. In this way we want to protect the market from admixing, said Alexey Moiseev in his speech at the Moscow Financial Forum. Delhi Sikh Gurudwara Management Committee Spokesman News Service, New Delhi (28th Oct'18): The Delhi Sikh Gurudwara Management Committee (DSMGC) will organise a two day-long free career guidance fair 2018(Education Langar) for Students on 2nd and 3 rd November next at the Bhai Lakhi Shah Vanjara Hall in the Gurdwara Rakabganj Sahib New Delhi . The objective is to connect punjabi youths with all possible job opportunities in new-age career programmes in Digital Marketing, Data Analytics, IT, banking and Finance & Accounting and Business Analytics. etc in a transparent and effective manner through the use of technology and counselling as well as training said Manjit Singh G.K.President Delhi Sikh Gurdwara Management Committee here today. Advertisement This is largest annual career counselling fair organised for Sikh Youths at centrally located air condition halls in 40,000 sq feet under one roof in national capital new delhi. About 100 premier education institute from India and Abroad like US education USIEF( U.S.Embassy) ,British Council, Campus France under french embassy ,IGNOU,State Bank of India , Axis Bank ,Ministry of Minorities Affairs ,Amity University,Ansal University ,SGT university , Lovely University and colleges affiliated to Delhi University have partnered with the event this year for the purpose of identifying the courses corresponding to the job roles in demand, designing the course curriculum and skill assessments while 85 education institute and universities and more than 12000 students had participated in fair held last year. This is the seventh such fair being organized by DSGMC in a row in which Around 20,000 students are likely to attend the fair to find a career best suited for them based on their aspirations and aptitude and Delhi Sikh Gurdwara Management Committee volunteers will provide complimentary meal for all visiting students and their parents said Manjit Singh G.K.President Delhi Sikh Gurdwara Management Committee here today. Manjit Singh G.K Advertisement A dedicated team of expert professionals like Dr Gurpreet Singh DU, Dr Sarabjit Singh PAU Ludhiana and Sardar Kulvinder Singh will extend services to the younger generation in finding jobs in both national and international job markets through various govt agencies and corporate houses while DSGMC will act as as Inspiring Mentor to these students DSGMC has tied up with reputed Indian and foreign universities , corporate, small and medium enterprises (SMEs), industrial bodies and skilling centres to participate in the fair to help Sikh Students identify and explore various career options for them. This fair will be organised between 11 a.m. and 4 p.m. for students of the schools , colleges and universities and the Ministry of Minority Affairs, the Ministry of Commerce and the Ministry of Human Resources Development etc., will set up their exhibition stalls to guide students about the emerging trends in the job market and how to get admissions to education institutes affiliated with them. He said that the fair will bridge the gap between the training institute and the industry as the youth will be able to get first-hand information about the emerging trends in the job market. Each student or applicant will be assessed according to their aptitude, interest and capability. The parents and students, particularly those belonging to the minority communities, will also be educated about soft loan opportunities available to them from various central government institutions and other organizations on lower interests rates for various academic courses. Advertisement Presently, approximately 4 5,000 sikh students are enrolled in CBSE-affiliated chain of Guru Harkrishan Public Schools, aided schools , four sikh colleges affiliated to Delhi University and other institutions of higher education, affiliated to Guru Gobind Singh Inderprastha University. The problem of choosing a suitable career is more acute in India as the concept of career counselling is still not very commonly accepted. Parents even now force their kids to pick their future only from three or four conventional options including engineering, medical, and MBA. TEAM OF BRAHM MOHINDRA, NAVJOT SIDHU, SARKARIA AND DHARAMSOT ENQUIRED ABOUT THE HEALTH OF INJURED Spokesman News Service, Chandigarh (28th Oct'18): As part of the Punjab Governments resolve to rehabilitate the families of the victims of the Amritsar Rail Tragedy and lend helping hand to the injured, a joint team of Punjab Cabinet Ministers under the leadership of Health Minister Mr. Brahm Mohindra today visited various 5 hospitals to enquire about the recovery of the injured persons who are under treatment in these hospitals after Rail Tragedy. Advertisement Financial help by way of cheque of Rs. 50 thousand was given to each of such injured person. Another cabinet colleagues who were accompanying Mr. Brahm Mohindra included Mr. Navjot Singh Sidhu, Sukhbinder Singh Sarkaria and Sadhu Singh Dharamsot. Expressing his satisfaction over the prompt delivery of quality medical care and treatment to the victims of the Rail Tragedy, The Health Minister Mr. Brahm Mohindra announced to grant financial help to the tune of Rs. 10 lakh to the Civil Hospital, Amritsar and Guru Nanak Hospital for his discretionary fund. This amount would be spent for purchasing the machines required for the urgent treatment of the patients. Mr. Brahm Mohindra called upon the administrative heads of all the hospitals where the injured of Rail Tragedy are under treatment, to discharged these patients after their full recovery. Health Minister showered words of high praise over all such doctors and para medical staff who worked 24X7 with missionary zeal to mitigate the miseries of the victims by providing medical care and treatment at the crucial hour. Advertisement He reiterated that Punjab Government would ensure that all the victims are getting free medical treatment and their families are rehabilitated. He expressed satisfaction over the announcement of Amritsar Corporation to give job to family members of the victims and said that this goodwill action would provide livelihood to the affected families. Mr. Navjot Singh Sidhu said that all these affected families are just like my own family and I would leave no stone unturned for the welfare of these families especially for the education of the children of these familes. Mr. Sarkaria also used high words of praise for the timely actions taken by the Punjab Government for the rehabilitation of these Rail Tragedy stricken families. If you've ever seen hot sauce from the Southeast Side of Chicago, you know it's a color not found in nature. It's a synthetic orange, existing in traffic cones and Photoshop, as organic a hue as neon relish on Chicago hot dogs. First, though, is the acknowledgment that there is a hot sauce specific to the Southeast Side, along the Indiana border. The first time I sampled this was at Loncar's, the South Chicago bar on 92nd Street famous for its Wednesday special of $1.50 deep-fried beef tacos. Advertisement When I asked the cook about its content, he brought out a gallon jug labeled "Quality Brand Hot Sauce." The listed ingredients were water, vinegar, mustard seed, salt, turmeric, spices and oleoresin capsicum. That last name was unfamiliar until I ran a Google search: It's the active ingredient in pepper spray. Squirted over Loncar's fried chicken, this hot sauce looks like a child with paint went nuts at the Sherwin-Williams store. As its ingredients suggest, its flavor was a predominance of mustard. Unlike South Carolina mustard sauce where honey mellows its pungency, this hot sauce had that unmistakable pepper-vinegar zing on top of an already sharp layer of yellow mustard. Balance was not the goal; the sauce is designed to hit between the eyes, and it succeeded. Advertisement "You really don't find it anywhere else in Chicago except on the Southeast Side," said Domingo Chavez, who began cooking at Loncar's in the late '70s. Thing is, around these parts customers call it Hienie's hot sauce. Though it bears the name of a competing restaurant, the words "Hienie's hot sauce" are so dyed in the neighborhood's wool that it's become like Kleenex a brand name that has entered into the vernacular. "People come in, sometimes from out of state, and ask for Hienie's hot sauce," Chavez said. "I tell them no, it's Loncar's hot sauce. Then we have a laugh." As it turns out, Hienie's hot sauce wasn't invented by its namesake restaurant. Hienie's has offered it for 60-some years, and the two are inextricably linked. Before double entendres existed ("Grab some Hienie's," staff T-shirts read today), the name Hienie was the Germanic version of Henry. Henry McCarthy was a Southeast Side steelworker who decided in 1947 to open a restaurant with his sons Bob and Eddie. The first store at East 91st Street and South Mackinaw Avenue was so popular it spawned a second across the street. After several moves, a franchising and an expansion into the suburbs, Hienie's today is an Orland Park store and the flagship at East 104th Street and Torrence Avenue. Like so many fry houses on the South Side, the olfactory senses get a workout even before stepping inside Hienie's. Beginning about 12 feet from the restaurant with growing intensity as you near the door, the thick scent of frying oil fills the sinuses. A whiff of that anywhere would never incite an anticipatory mmmmmm, only a sense of crispy foreboding. There are a few things Hienie's does well, but chief among them: Flouring chicken, gizzards, fish, shrimp, then dunking them in hot beef tallow and vegetable shortening until they emerge golden. It's an art, I tell you no kitchen timers here, just gauging doneness by eyeballing. It's a beautiful product, too aggressively seasoned, achieving a crisp-crunch equilibrium, leaving your fingers slick and salty. They may have a decent burger or Italian beef, but it's something I'll never find out. You don't order fried foods here by choice but out of obligation. The owners today are Larry and Denise Dal Santo, who took over the family business 11 years ago. Denise is the daughter of Bob McCarthy; Larry was a baker for Gonnella bakery. They're too modest to admit, but the Dal Santos are something of a power couple on the Southeast Side. Hienie's established name in the area has engendered enough good will that trouble has largely eluded the restaurant knock on wood. Unlike many restaurants in this area, there is no bulletproof glass here, no protected Lazy Susan to deliver food from cook to customer. Advertisement Dal Santo used to deliver orders to the mid-rise housing complexes between East 106th and 109th Streets. He'd be on the receiving end of curious, sometimes menacing stares, until he got close enough and residents would cheerfully say, "Hey, you're the guy from Hienie's!" "There's been respect from our 65 years of business," Dal Santo said. "You treat people the way they deserved to be treated, and they leave you alone." This is the high regard Hienie's has earned from the neighborhood: One evening about a month ago, Dal Santo said, a Hienie's driver delivered an order to a home near the restaurant. The first sign of trouble should've been that the address was a boarded-up house. A teenager appeared, held up the driver and took his money. Dal Santo decided to stop food delivery to that area after dark. A few weeks later, the Dal Santos received a call from the police that a suspect had been arrested. They told Dal Santo that the suspect's associates were upset Hienie's stopped delivering to the area. So they turned the teen in. Now, Dal Santo said, Hienie's has resumed nighttime delivery to the area. About that beloved hot sauce: It originated as an accompaniment to Vitner's pork rinds some 60 years ago, said Danny Friedman of Food and Paper Supply Co., the company that manufactures the sauce. Their version for Hienie's is a tweaked recipe of what's commercially available, a spicier and thicker version. Advertisement Henry McCarthy was buying potato chips from Vitner's when he sampled the sauce. He took a liking to the mustard taste and deemed it an ideal complement to their fried chicken and seafood. The hot sauce has endured. Ask customers today, and they'll say they use it on scrambled eggs, pizza even in bags of potato chips and Cheetos. Every day at Hienie's, 10 gallons of orange hot sauce goes out the door in plastic condiment containers and pint tubs and jugs. This is not an incidental figure. Clearly there's nostalgia and affection on the Southeast Side, so much so that when a Hienie's Facebook page appeared, it wasn't in recognition of the restaurant, but the sauce. The Dal Santos didn't start the page they don't know who did but they're taken aback by its popularity. At last count, the "Hienie's Hot Sauce" fan page was 39 "likes" away from 6,000 people. kpang@tribune.com Hienie's 10359 S. Torrence Ave.; 773-734-8400 Advertisement Established: 1947 Known for: Hot sauce, fried chicken and seafood, "Godfather sandwich" (Italian beef on garlic bread with mozzarella) Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, October 28) China's Foreign Minister Wang Yi arrived in Davao City on Sunday for his two-day official visit to the country. The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said Wang Yi was welcomed by DFA Undersecretary for Policy Enrique Manalo, Ambassador to China Jose Santiago Sta. Romana and Davao City Vice Mayor Bernard Al-ag. The Chinese official will hold bilateral talks with DFA Secretary Secretary Teodoro "Teddyboy" Locsin, Jr. on Monday, Oct. 29, to be followed by the signing of bilateral documents on law enforcement, humanitarian assistance and infrastructure. The agency earlier said the two officials will discuss joint exploration in the West Philippine Sea. Wang's visit was initially scheduled for Sept. 16 to 18, but was postponed because of Typhoon Ompong. Then Foreign Secretary Alan Peter Cayetano - who resigned to run for Senate - invited Wang to the country. Wang said he looked forward to having a "close personal friendship" with Locsin. "The two sides are also expected to continue discussions on oil and gas cooperation, with the view of coming up with a framework of cooperation that conforms to respective rules and regulations and international laws," the DFA said in a statement in September. The DFA said Wang would also discuss infrastructure projects under the government's "Build, Build, Build" program. Wang's trip preceded that of Chinese President's Xi Jinping who will visit the Philippines in November. This is the second time the Chinese diplomat visited the country. He also had bilateral talks here with Cayetano in July last year. Today in Prep School: Part I of "Foods That Rhyme With 'Sheesh.'" In this episode, we'll cover everyone's favorite egg pie: quiche. Stay tuned next year for Part II. Why you need to learn this Advertisement Quiche is easy to make, especially if you use a food processor for the crust. And it's versatile, like an eggy pizza: Just about anything tasty goes great inside. Also, it's perfect make-in-advance food that you can reheat quickly in a hot oven for a last-minute, elegant lunch, brunch or dinner. The steps you take Advertisement Quiche is comprised of three parts: crust, custard (what some chefs call "royale") and filling. The crust arguably is the most challenging component, but, between you and me, I think that challenge is overhyped by egomaniacal food writers (like me) trying to impress you with their subtle appreciation of the doughy arts. Pie dough is simply flour, fat, ice water and salt. Now, there are many approaches to pie dough, particularly when it comes to quiche. You'll hear terms like "mealy" and "flaky," pate brisee (pronounced "pot bree-zay"), puff pastry and so on. All of these are excellent, but, for my money, the easiest is what's called a "3-2-1" dough: three parts (by weight) of flour to two parts fat (butter is best, but also shortening or lard or any combination thereof) to one part ice water. Oh, and when we say "ice water," we mean just the water, not the ice. Now, I know what you're thinking, but trust me, I'm a culinary instructor: I've witnessed a lot of "imaginative interpretations" of recipes. Today, we'll make enough dough for two quiches. If you're only making one, freeze half the dough for next time. We'll start with 12 ounces flour (by weight, remember?), 8 ounces butter and 4 ounces ice water. We'll also throw in a teaspoon of salt. Now, if you don't have a kitchen scale (sigh) you know, criminy, you should really get a scale. They're cheap. Still, if you're a committed scale non-owner (perhaps you've joined a volume-worshiping cult or taken up residence on the orbiting International Space Station), figure about 2 1/2 cups flour to 2 sticks of butter and 1/2 cup of ice water. Here's what you do: Pulse the flour and butter in a food processor until it resembles coarse meal. If you don't have a food processor oy, here we go again use your fingers or a pastry cutter. Add the water and salt and form by hand into a ball. Wrap it in plastic and refrigerate for at least half an hour. While the dough is chilling, make the filling (hey, that rhymes!): Crisp bacon, saute mushrooms, blanch broccoli, grate cheese, dice ham whatever sounds good. How much is up to you, but figure 1 to 2 cups of filling per quiche. Advertisement Use your down time waiting for water to boil or bacon to crisp to make the custard. Custard is a combination of egg and dairy. A common ratio for quiche is 2 eggs per cup of dairy. Cream is traditional, but you can use milk, half-and-half, yogurt, creme fraiche, anything. The more fat, the silkier the final product. For one quiche, 3 eggs and 12 ounces of dairy should suffice. Divide the dough in half. (If you're making one quiche, freeze half.) Roll the dough into a 12-inch circle, about 1/8-inch thick. Place it in a 9-inch pie tin or tart pan. Take a fork and stab the bottom of the crust about 10 bazillion times, so it has more holes than Sonny Corleone's corpse. Lay foil or parchment over it and cover it with pie weights (dried beans or small, clean stones; anything to prevent the bottom of the crust from blistering like a sunbathing vampire). Bake in a 375-degree oven until the edges are lightly golden, about 20-ish minutes. This blind baking helps prevent the crust from getting soggy when you add the custard. When the crust is done, remove the pie weights and foil or parchment (bearing in mind that those pie weights are hotter than Satan's baked potatoes). Now, listen up: You don't absolutely need to blind bake. I've gotten great results without it, though the crust isn't as crisp. Scatter a cup or two of filling(s) around the crust and ladle custard over to fill the shell. Set the quiche on a parchment-covered sheet tray and bake at 375 until it's done, say, 30-ish minutes. The custard should be set (a toothpick stuck into the middle comes out clean). There'll also be some color on the top. It's your call: The longer you leave it, the darker it gets, but it also gets drier and tougher. Advertisement James P. DeWan is a culinary instructor at Kendall College in Chicago. Filling it Some good combinations. Set your own amounts and make sure everything is bite-size or smaller and precooked: Sauteed mushrooms, leeks and spinach Browned Italian sausage, roasted red pepper and Parmesan Blanched broccoli and grated cheddar Advertisement And two classics: Quiche Lorraine: crisped bacon and optional shredded Gruyere Zewelwai (from Alsace): caramelized onions and pinch of nutmeg The fires come at peak vulnerability. Wooden joists, studs and rafters are piled high. No flame-resistant Sheetrock or sprinkler system is installed. Its the dead of night, and the stairwell is a ready-made chimney. With a few simple ingredients heat, accelerant, oxygen a construction site that took years to plan and months to build is demolished in a matter of hours. Absent arrests or proclamations of responsibility, talk of a motive behind a recent string of arsons and suspicious fires at housing projects is just speculation. But after the destruction of six unfinished townhouse buildings at the Ice House project last week in West Oakland, politicians and developers are more convinced than ever that its not just a series of random events, but the work of a sophisticated individual or group determined to stop the East Bays building boom. Were seeing a concerted effort by anti-housing terrorists, said Oakland developer Andy Ball, who now builds only with steel after his 360-unit project in San Franciscos Mission Bay neighborhood was partially destroyed by a fire in 2014. This is an organized group going around burning down new housing sites. They always torch them exactly when they top out, when there is maximum fuel. There have been six major fires at housing developments in the East Bay since May 2017, most in or near Oakland. Todd Trumbull / The Chronicle There are ripple effects to the fires, and many of them trickle down to struggling families. Security costs and insurance rates soar for builders, and are passed on to future renters and homeowners. The destruction has displaced residents who live near project sites. And the blazes are doing nothing to deter the builders. Demand for housing is so high that theyre willing to take the risks, hire the guards and push forward. One of the Ice Houses would-be homeowners said he understands the frustration people have with changes in Oakland, but burning houses is not a solution. And Matthieu Kaminski bristles at the assumption that the scorched buildings catered only to the wealthy. Kaminski and his wife are both immigrants he from France, she from Singapore who saved up for years to buy a home. For three years, he earned minimum wage as a medical transport technician in Oakland, and the couple has been living with roommates in a downtown Oakland apartment. They were planning to move into an Ice House unit in December, and were looking forward to at last having some space of their own. We are regular people, we struggled a lot, but we also saved back everything we could to be able to afford a house, Kaminski said. The couple felt they got lucky with the price. Because the developers released the first units at slightly below market value, and because it was offered at a fixed price, free of bidders, it fell within their range. Kaminski praised his future home for its diversity. These are not rich people from Silicon Valley, he said. The majority of the people are from Oakland, Berkeley, Emeryville and also San Francisco. All these people were somehow locals. For others, the image of flames dancing on that neighborhood symbol of division unchecked development, racial division, rising inequality is gratifying on some level. Its punching back. To the person setting these buildings on fire: The condos near Whole Foods need to go next! one Twitter user posted. The gross expensive condos going up by my boyfriends house got torched last night. I do love Oakland, another said. I think it is because of gentrification, said Jai Motley, a Lyft driver who lives in the Dimond District. Its not just the fires, he said, but smaller acts of vandalism busted windows and graffiti at the new buildings. Motley said he disagrees with the execution, but understands the frustrations of natives who feel theyre being pushed out. He thinks the vandals are sending a message to developers. You just put in new windows and things like that, and boom, you got a big piece (out of) your windows, he said. Now you have to think about, Do I really want to be here? The rapid pace of development in Oakland is unparalleled in recent history. The vast majority of new projects were put on hold during the recession and for several years that followed, but now the city boasts one of the hottest markets in the country. Tales of the housing crisis Housing is the Bay Area's most troubling issue. Whether you are a buyer, a seller, a renter, a landlord, a builder or an investor, the availability and affordability of housing are everyday concerns. As part of its continuing coverage, The Chronicle wants to hear the story of your housing experience. Tell us your story: www.sfchronicle.com/housingstories See More Collapse Last year, permits were issued for more than 4,000 housing units six times the annual average during the previous decade. There are more than 8,600 units under construction and 8,000 more going through the approval process. By 2024, Mayor Libby Schaaf wants Oakland to have built 17,000 new units of housing and protected 17,000 existing affordable units. Its not just the pace and scale of construction that has caught some off-guard. Its the type. In 2016 and 2017, just 6 percent of new units were considered permanent affordable housing. The boom has continued despite rising construction costs and a shortage of labor in the Bay Area. Even with new anti-arson expenses motion sensors, round-the-clock guards, dogs, cameras, lights, fences, fire-retardant lumber developers are determined to build in Oakland. When people are faced with a building burning down, theyre more determined than ever to rebuild, Ball said. We cannot back down in the face of this, or be deterred from building the housing we desperately need. On Wednesday, Oaklands police chief and fire chief, Alameda County sheriffs officials and federal agents stood before a bank of news cameras and vowed an exhaustive investigation: City officials asked the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives to send its National Response Team to the incident. Twenty federal agents are now assisting city firefighters with the probe. In an interview last week, Schaaf called the West Oakland fire a heinous crime. The question that got raised was, Is this some sort of political statement? Schaaf said. If so, endangering lives is a pretty sick way to make a political statement. Schaaf said the city will meet with public safety and building experts to reassess whats working and whats not. Wednesday, Halloween, will mark two years since an arsonist gutted Athan Magganas first attempt at a 41-unit complex near Lake Merritt. His second has about two months until completion. Its heart-wrenching, he said of the destruction. You need to be able to come to the conclusion; to complete your task. Magganas is certain he fell victim to a misplaced sense of civic duty. They confront you on the street, Magganas said of his detractors. The general sentiment: Get out of our neighborhood, Why are you coming here? Youre responsible for higher rents. 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. Magganas said they dont consider the funds developers are forced to pour into their projects: Theres the water connection, building permits, city fees, not to mention now the bloated builders risk. Magganas bought insurance on his first building for $10,000. This one cost $100,000 for one year, and another $100,000 for the four months needed to complete it. They have not given this a lot of thought, Magganas said. They need more education. Cat Brooks, a community activist and candidate for Oakland mayor running against Schaaf, said most of those who talk to her about the fires have a nuanced perspective. I think that overall, people do not condone arson; theyre not happy with it, she said. But Brooks said theres a brewing frustration with how the city is handling the construction of affordable housing. Dont use this to say that This is why we cant solve our housing crisis, Brooks said. Because were not building housing people can afford. Many feel that the citys reaction to the development fires misses the big picture, Brooks said. The feds are called in when market-rate housing is torched, but not when a homeless encampment burns down. She said getting people out from under freeways is just as urgent. When this stuff happens, people of color lose their jobs, their air quality is garbage, Brooks said. Residents arent cheering the arsons, she said. They just dont want the city to scapegoat the crisis. Limited data on arson suspects just 1 in 5 is arrested indicate they are mostly men, typically in their late adolescence or early adulthood, often unmarried, said Joshua Carroll, a medical doctor and fellow in forensic psychology at UCSF. Carroll said most people convicted of arson crimes are not diagnosed with pyromania, a fire-setting disorder. Most already have some kind of criminal history. Compared with the general population, they are more likely to be living alone and unemployed, with less education. Substance use disorders and mental illness, particularly schizophrenia, are more common in arsonists, too. That attribute, however, may not be the case in the East Bay cases, Carroll said. To not be caught, to use an accelerant, to be targeting specific developments, he said, that requires organization of thought. The assumption by local politicians that the fires are connected and the work of an arsonist is not helpful to investigators, said Ed Nordskog, a detective and arson profiler for the Los Angeles County Sheriffs Department. A mayor gets in the ear of the fire chief, who can put pressure on an investigator and send the probe down the wrong path, he said. When you have a large construction site you have dozens of companies, contractors and subcontractors involved, Nordskog said. You could have anti-gentrification. You could have a dispute between companies. Or you could have random events that arent even a series. If investigators conclude that a serial arsonist is responsible for recent fires, Nordskog said, then they are dealing with a totally different breed compared with one-time offenders. Theyre usually motivated by anger, frustration and power, he said. Theres a little bit of excitement in there. Megan Cassidy and Kimberly Veklerov are San Francisco Chronicle staff writers. Email: megan.cassidy@sfchronicle.com, kveklerov@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @meganrcassidy, @kveklerov Melanie DeMore started clapping her hands as nearly two dozen people formed a circle around her Saturday at Father Alfred E. Boeddeker Park in San Franciscos Tenderloin. Then DeMore began singing, This Little Light of Mine, with one small change in the lyrics: In the Tenderloin, Im going to let it shine. Let it shine, let it shine, let it shine, she belted as the others joined in. The gathering at the park, hosted by Skywatchers and GLIDEs Leadership Academy, was the kickoff for a march down to City Hall with Tenderloin residents who would be casting their votes for the Nov. 6 election. Everybody heres got a place at the table, DeMore said, the choral director at Skywatchers, a program that connects Tenderloin residents living in single-room occupancies with professional artists to create art. This event was the first time that we are going as a community to vote, said Clara Pinsky, the Skywatchers program director. As DeMore continued singing through the streets of the Tenderloin, bystanders clapped their hands and joined in, cheering on the marchers.. Kasey Asberry, 63, sang along with DeMore as she held on to the leg of a wooden chair she had hoisted into the air with the help of another woman. This chair is here in honor of our ancestors who fought for the vote, Asberry said. Like DeMore reminded everyone before the march, the chair is a symbol, Asberry said, that everyone has a seat at the table. She said she mailed in her ballot the first week that early voting began. But she had to come Saturday to encourage others, like Tony Page, to vote. Page, 41, said he moved to San Francisco from Houston seven months ago and this election will be his first time voting in California. Its good to do activism through art, Page said as he banged on a tambourine to the rhythm of the music. Page, who lives in a shelter in the Tenderloin, said he was most passionate about Prop C, a measure to raise taxes on the city's largest businesses to fund a variety of homelessness programs. That hits home for everybody, Page 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. As the group of marchers approached City Hall, nearly a dozen teenagers were standing outside with a sign that read, Teen Vote SF. Vote Early, Vote Together. Page and the others walked toward them, cheering. Some of the kids wore Yes to Prop C shirts. One girl started chanting, The people united will never be divided, as the other teenagers and the Tenderloin residents joined in. Then DeMore yelled out, Lets hit it. Lets vote, someone else shouted. As each person walked in to vote, the others standing outside cheered them on and yelled, Show me what democracy looks like, this is what democracy looks like. There should be a crowd cheering out here everyday, Pinsky said. Sarah Ravani is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: sravani@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @SarRavani One of the people most surprised by San Francisco Fire Chief Joanne Hayes-Whites announcement that she was retiring on May 5 was Mayor London Breed. For weeks, Room 200 and Hayes-White had been holding talks on the date of the long-standing chiefs exit. And the two sides were far from a deal. The chief initially wanted to stay on until January 2020 to coincide with the end of her good friend, the late Mayor Ed Lees, second term. Breed wanted to start moving on a new chief by the end of this year. As both a fire commissioner and supervisor, Breed had been a regular critic of the chiefs management style. Meanwhile, Firefighters Union Local 798 which backed Breeds mayoral campaign big time has repeatedly called for Hayes-Whites ouster. Hayes-White, however, is a force unto herself. Not only is she San Franciscos first female and longest-running chief, she is one of he citys most popular officials especially in the Irish enclaves west of Twin Peaks. Both sides knew the score, and neither wanted a blood-bath. Talks were going back and forth when, out of the blue, Hayes-White announced she was leaving under her own steam and that her ideal exit date was May 5, 2019 Lees birthday. In effect, Hayes-White split the difference between when she wanted to go and when the mayor wanted her gone. In a subsequent memo to the Fire Department, Hayes-White was less emphatic on the exit date saying only that she was leaving in the spring. She also said she was committed to a smooth transition for the department and for my successor. Whatever the case, Hayes-White will walk out with her head high and with an estimated $307,000-a-year pension. 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. Breed comes out a winner as well. She promptly announced the start of a selection process for a new fire chief, while stating Chief Hayes-White can continue to focus on what matters most to all of us keeping our residents and visitors safe. Whether Hayes-White actually hangs on until May remains to be seen. Breed has asked the Fire Commission to start the search for a new chief, with the goal of presenting the mayor with qualified applicants by the end of January or early February of next year. Breed will then decide who will serve as the next chief and when. San Francisco Chronicle columnists Phillip Matier and Andrew Ross appear Sundays, Mondays and Wednesdays. Matier can be seen on the KPIX TV morning and evening news. He can also be heard on KCBS radio Monday through Friday at 7:50 a.m. and 5:50 p.m. Got a tip? Call 415-777-8815, or email matierandross@sfchronicle.com. Twitter: @matierandross Oaklands long-touted program to help black and brown pot entrepreneurs succeed alongside bigger marijuana businesses is dead. Officially, its around still. But it may as well not be. The program was crafted so Oakland natives and longtime residents, especially those arrested and jailed for marijuana-related offenses during the failed war on drugs, could get a stake in the legitimized cannabis industry. For two years, the city sold a dream to hundreds of hopeful people: 616 applicants sought assistance under the equity program as of last month, city records show. Ive tracked several of those applicants and have watched them struggle as theyve been misled and let down. Just about anybody you would ask if you did a poll on the streets of Oakland would say they believe in social, racial and economic justice, said Robert Selna, an Oakland land-use attorney who represents marijuana businesses, including equity applicants. Few can argue against the program that claims to promote those things, but the program only says those things. It doesnt actually do those things. The equity program was born in May 2016 when the City Council unanimously approved laws to regulate the citys medical cannabis industry, while promising to revisit the debate over the tacked-on program. Now Playing: Oakland Cannabis Equity Program obituary Video: San Francisco Chronicle The cannabis ordinances required the city to give at least half of all available cannabis permits to equity applicants. To qualify for the equity program, applicants had to be city residents earning less than 80 percent of the city average. And they had to either live in a specified high-crime zone for at least 10 of the past 20 years or have been convicted of a cannabis crime in Oakland after Nov. 5, 1996. General applicants could also apply under the equity program by agreeing to incubate equity applicants by providing 1,000 square feet of free space for three years. Several factors understaffing in the city managers office, the flawed partnerships Oakland forced general and equity applicants to form, and the lack of supportive resources provided by the city to equity applicants led to the programs demise. Many equity applicants havent even moved into their spaces yet. Some are mired in disputes with their incubators about theft at their spaces. Several incubators blame city departments for the slow approval process of building plans and inspections. The nails in the programs coffin will be hammered in the coming weeks when a big part of the program expires. Thats the part that limits how many general pot business permits the city can hand out. The limits were designed to even the playing field for equity applicants. It makes me angry to think that across America people are calling out the Oakland model when the Oakland model isnt what they think it is, Matt Hummel, a member of Oaklands Cannabis Regulatory Commission, said at the commissions Oct. 4 meeting. To me, the meeting felt like a vigil for the equity program. More than a dozen equity applicants pleaded for the limits to stay in place. It is painfully evident just how unprepared the city was to manage the program. No day-to-day data are available. What does the city know about the program beyond who has submitted an application? Not much at all. If something goes awry, unless the applicants reach back out to us, we dont necessarily know whats taking place, Greg Minor, an assistant city administrator, said at the meeting. 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. Selna told me the city should have done better. If this was a priority for the city, then put some real leadership and resources behind it, he said. If it was a priority, the city shouldve demonstrated some leadership and prioritized it and they havent. And if this really was about reparations for the war on drugs, the city should have incubated equity applicants itself, because it was the citys Police Department that perpetuated the war. I dont want to tap-dance on the programs grave, but two years ago I wrote that the program was a half-baked plan. In reality, these programs are giving the people of underserved communities false hopes of self-empowerment, said Alexis Bronson, an equity applicant whose uphill journey Ive followed. Some will persevere, but the majority will not. Yes, businesses fail. But at least most businesses get a chance to succeed first. San Francisco Chronicle columnist Otis R. Taylor Jr. appears Mondays and Thursdays. Email: otaylor@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @otisrtaylorjr After she had her second child, Meghan Litchfield had trouble finding clothes the right size. A former Gap strategy manager, she knew that fit was the top reason for people not buying clothes and for online returns. Sizing is a broken system, she said. It assumes womens bodies are standard, which theyre not, and its also really arbitrary. So she and a partner started a San Francisco company, RedThread, to create custom-fitted clothing for women, promising delivery within a week of ordering. Its among a bevy of startups that harness the internet and emerging technology for made-to-fit clothing. Their pitch: Custom garments, long the province of the rich, can now be affordable for the masses. The internet opens up the entire world for customization, said Marshal Cohen, chief retail analyst for the NPD Group. He estimates that made-to-measure clothing sales have doubled over the past five years and now account for almost 1 percent of the $215 billion U.S. apparel market. Custom fit is going mainstream. One driving factor, he said: new technology that makes it possible to measure people without a tape measure. RedThread, for instance, asks customers to take four iPhone photos of themselves (clad in something tight-fitting) using an app from San Francisco startup Cala, which generates a 3-D body model with 15 key measurements. Customers also take a fit quiz. The idea of having a sizeless brand is emotionally liberating, said Oakland resident Laura Alanis, who was among RedThreads pilot customers (the company came out of its testing phase this month). Being on the tall side, shes used to jackets with sleeves that are 3 inches too short. By contrast, with her custom order, the sleeves fit me perfectly, she said. But success isnt a sure bet. It used to be that custom and scale were mutually exclusive terms, said Helen Bulwik, senior partner at Newport Board Group, which does consulting for major companies. The danger with custom fit is that you could end up with more returns than sales. So its fraught with peril, but nevertheless there is huge demand and huge success waiting for those that can accomplish it. Most of the new custom clothiers aim at men. One reason, Cohen said, is that mens physiques dont have as many variations as womens. Another reason, said Eric Powell, CEO of Denvers Ratio Clothing, which makes custom mens shirts: Because our styles dont changes as much and as rapidly as womens, theres more emphasis on fit. Ratio Clothing, started in 2011, is one of the few custom clothiers that manufactures its products in the U.S.; most use Asian factories for obvious cost-saving reasons. RedThread has a hybrid model. Factories in Indonesia produce what the company calls blanks garments that are four-fifths finished and come in up to 28 variations for different sizes and body shapes. Then a contract sewing factory in Brisbane called SFO Apparel does the final tailoring. These are cropped pants, Litchfield told Ken Kwok, lead patternmaker at SFO Apparel, as they huddled over a printed form specifying a customers measurements and order. He cut the blank and turned it over to Pian Pian Zhou, lead sample maker, who put black thread into her sewing machine and then quickly adjusted the waist, length, calves and thighs. RedThread is starting with three options: black pants ($138), a T-shirt in off-white, teal or black ($78) and a jacket in either black or white ($168). By contrast, most customer clothiers offering a broad variety of choice on everything from fabric to color to style. Vancouvers Indochino, which most point to as the industrys largest custom clothing maker, offers more than 50 ways to customize and personalize its mens suits, blazers, shirts and pants, plus hundreds of fabric choices, said CEO Drew Green. It plans to add womens apparel in the near future. Indochino started in 2007 as an online-only retailer, but in recent years has opened showrooms where style guides measure customers and help them sort through the numerous options; the clothes, which are made in China, arrive within two weeks. We wanted to provide a more immersive and engaging experience, Green said. Air Quality Tracker Check levels down to the neighborhood Ratings for the Bay Area and California, updated every 10 minutes It has 35 showrooms in the U.S. and Canada, including one in San Franciscos Union Square, and plans to open 20 a year in 2019 and 2020. Still, 40 percent of sales are generated online. Whether customers measure themselves or visit a showroom, Indochino takes their dimensions with a good old-fashioned measuring tape, he said. Indochino says its return rate is less than 1 percent; RedThread said last week that it has not had any returns, but it is brand new, having processed only about 140 orders. Besides customization (made-to-measure clothes), a related trend is personalization (the ability to pick fabric, style and various adornments). Levis, for instance, offers a broad array of ways for customers to personalize jeans and jackets such as adding monograms, patches, embroidery, stencils and studs. Some of the San Francisco companys stores offer tailoring to adjust pants length and waist size. It also has a small business called Lot 1 Made to Order jeans, available only in San Francisco, New York and London. Those custom jeans start at $700. Cohen, the NPD analyst, thinks its natural that custom clothing will stay the province of smaller operations rather than retail giants. Customization on a big scale defies their models, he said of the mass retailers. Even though Nike and Levis offer some customization, they do it more as a market tool rather than profit generation. Big companies are built around mass production and efficiencies of scale; personalization breaks that model. Carolyn Said is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: csaid@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @csaid Ulysses Grant was once second only to Warren Harding on the list of bad presidents, but his enforcement of the rights of new black citizens in the South helped crush the first incarnation of the Ku Klux Klan, winning him more favorable historical assessments in recent years. Yet he also precluded treason charges for Robert E. Lee and other Confederate generals in the surrender at Appomattox. Chernow noted, There was no legal and historical reckoning for that deep racial divide in the nation. The result is that white supremacy has remained a virus in the body politic. In Denver, two construction workers died in March when a partially built wood apartment building erupted in flames. Several other workers were injured as they jumped from the second and third floors to escape. Dozens of cars melted from the heat. Last year, three fires in the Boston area destroyed three unfinished housing projects and forced evacuations of hundreds of people in nearby buildings. And last week, a fire destroyed half-built Oakland townhouses, in the ninth destructive inferno at an East Bay construction site since 2012. Alameda County had more suspicious fires than any other region, said Robert Solomon, director of building fire protection at the National Fire Protection Association. But its far from alone: Large fires have destroyed 45 major housing projects nationwide since 2009, according to M-Fire Suppression Inc., which sells a fire-suppressing spray. More than half of those fires occurred over the past three years, and seven significant construction fires have caused over $100 million in damage in 2018 alone. Some fires have been accidents, while others were found to have been intentionally set. Fires are doing more financial damage as developers build denser projects to accommodate housing demand in cities. The rising number of fires has not only destroyed thousands of unfinished homes around the country, but its had a broader effect of increasing insurance premiums and security costs by hundreds of thousands of dollars on some projects. Those cost increases, along with a national construction labor shortage, could lead to higher rents and sales prices passed on to tenants in already expensive areas, according to developers. Longtime Oakland builder Madison Park Financial Corp. experienced a relatively small fire on Tuesday at its Hollis Oak project that is 10 blocks from the townhomes that burned down. The fire damaged only one room. But the companys insurance premiums, which cover the cost of repairs for fires, have risen about 10 to 15 percent in the last year because of the other fires in the area, according to Simon Chen, the chief financial officer. Chen said it now costs about $300,000 to insure a 100-unit housing project for 20 months. The company also spent $200,000 for taller fences and $60,000 a month on security including guards. Those rising costs, along with other expenses like impact fees and the labor shortage, mean that Madison Park has no plans to propose more housing projects in Oakland. Its instead focusing on cities such as Portland, Ore. We would likely not go out and buy a piece of land at full land price in Oakland, Chen said. For developer Trammell Crow Residential, a project in a hot spot city where fires have happened could cost $400,000 to $450,000 to insure for a year, up from $150,000 to $200,000 in 2015, according to Scott Woodward, Trammell Crows risk management and legal director in Dallas. Some insurance carriers are refusing to insure any housing projects in the wake of fires, Woodward said. Other insurance companies require that a sophisticated camera system be installed. He declined to identify the companies. In all of my years, Ive never seen that before, said Woodward, who has worked in real estate since 1982. Countrys toll 22,500: U.S. fires intentionally set in 2017, excluding fires with unknown causes, up 13 percent from the previous year 280: Number of U.S. civilian deaths in 2017 from fires, down 10 percent from the previous year $582 million: Property losses from fires in 2017, up 23 percent from the previous year Source: National Fire Protection Association See More Collapse Trammel Crow developments have not had any fires, but its Alexan Webster project in Oakland is across the street from developer Wood Partners Alta Waverly project, which burned down in July 2017. Trammel Crows site wasnt damaged, but it has increased its security. A side benefit is that other incidents, like theft of building materials like copper, have stopped, Woodward said. Woodward declined to speculate on motives for arson, but said that more fires are also a byproduct of more construction activities and denser apartment projects, especially in cities with high job growth. The escalation coincides with the boom in multifamily construction coming out of the recession, Woodward said. Air Quality Tracker Check levels down to the neighborhood Ratings for the Bay Area and California, updated every 10 minutes All of the projects in Oakland and most of those around the country that have burned down have been made mostly of wood. Its the most popular building material for mid-rise projects seven stories and under because its cost-effective and a renewable resource. Taller buildings, those with more than eight stories, typically use more expensive steel and concrete frames, which are needed to support additional floors and dont burn as easily. No partially built steel or concrete towers in Oakland have had fires. Woodward said its very unlikely that many developers would abandon wood in mid-rise projects, because using steel and concrete is far more expensive and requires costlier worker wages. Fire is a danger for all buildings and construction sites, regardless of building material, said Heather Stegner, vice president of communications at the American Wood Council, which promotes the building material. The council and 60 other organizations have teamed up to develop safety standards, she said. Completed wood-frame buildings that have drywall and sprinklers installed are generally safe from fires, said Solomon from the National Fire Protection Association. But if a fire does spark in a wood-frame building that doesnt have additional materials built, firefighters are relatively helpless and focus on saving adjacent buildings. Theres no stopping it, Solomon said. Roland Li is a Chronicle staff writer. Email: roland.li@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @rolandlisf You should not push your sister, but you should be honest with her regarding your own feelings: I know you are private, and I know our family can be overwhelming, but I want you to know that your favorite nephew and I care so much about you, and Im waiting in the wings to help you in any way you might want or need, now or later. One afternoon in July 1985, President Ronald Reagan met with his domestic policy council in the White House. The question: Should he keep pushing legislation to offer amnesty to undocumented migrants? Many Reagan aides wanted to drop his bid for amnesty, the term for granting legal status to people in the country illegally. Reagans pollster had told him that the public opposed amnesty. And the presidents championing of amnesty legislation had produced bitter defeats in 1982 and 1984. But amnesty had one stalwart supporter in the room: Ronald Reagan himself. Recently, at Reagans presidential library, I read the records on the legislation that became the 1986 Immigration Reform and Control Act. Today, IRCA doesnt get much respect; its long been dismissed across the political spectrum as the failed amnesty law. Its central idea, of broad forgiveness and legal status for undocumented immigrants, is completely out of political fashion today. But while studying the records, I was struck by how different the reality of amnesty was in 1986 versus its reputation in 2018. The 1986 law was carefully conceived, realistic and humane reflecting the practical wisdom of a California president. The records show Reagan was personally engaged on immigration. When aides talked about the supposed dangers of immigration, Reagan shifted the conversation to specific stories of undocumented immigrants in California who suffered because of their lesser legal status. Reagan and the legislations sponsor, Sen. Alan Simpson, R-Wyo., determined to go forward with the legislation for two big reasons. First, they saw legalization as essential to protecting and integrating immigrants. The work to be done is to avoid seeing this nation populated with a furtive illegal subclass of human beings who are afraid to go to the cops, afraid to go to a hospital or afraid to go to their employer, Simpson later wrote Reagan. Second, and more important, both men were worried that immigrants would be used as political scapegoats if they werent legalized. If we do not choose to have immigration reform in the near future, the alternative will not just be the status quo, Simpson said while reintroducing the legislation in 1986. No, the alternative instead will be an increased public intolerance a failure of compassion, if you will toward all forms of immigration and types of entrants. The bill did pass, and it forestalled Simpsons nightmare but only for a while. Today, immigration restrictionists blame the 1986 law for our bitter conflicts over immigration. But they have it backward. Todays immigration problems result from our collective failure to understand what made the 1986 law important and successful. The law actually had two big pieces. One the more successful piece was amnesty. Under the two-step amnesty process, more than 3 million people applied for temporary residency, which lasted 18 months. In the second phase, 2.7 million people received permanent residency as a result of the law. Still, 2 million people did not legalize their status. Why not? The law was not generous enough. It covered only immigrants who had arrived before 1982, excluding newer immigrants. Some undocumented immigrants feared making themselves known, while others didnt know about the program, because outreach came late in the window for legalization. Some were discouraged by the federal governments bureaucratic legalization process of security checks, document checks, and English and civics requirements. In retrospect, the process should have covered all immigrants and established a regular amnesty process every few years, because the demand for labor was certain to keep attracting new immigrants. But in many ways, amnesty was a success story it gave millions of people the legal status they required to have a better life. It even turned a $100 million profit for the government (through the fees it charged applicants). And while immigration restrictionists still claim that amnesty encouraged more undocumented immigrants to come, studies show the opposite: Amnesty produced a decline in the number of illegal entries into the country. Reagan, in signing it, predicted these successes: The legalization provisions in this Act will go far to improve the lives of a class of individuals who now must hide in the shadows, without access to many of the benefits of a free and open society. Very soon many of these men and women will be able to step into the sunlight and ultimately, if they choose, they may become Americans. But the laws other big piece drew more debate in 1986, and was more influential in turning immigration into an American quagmire: a new enforcement regime that prohibited hiring and employing the undocumented. That regime didnt stop undocumented immigration. Neither have the ensuing 30 years of new enforcement and restrictions of all kinds of undocumented immigration. Instead, such laws have made it nearly impossible for undocumented persons to legalize their status, thus adding to the numbers of people who stay in America but live in the shadows. Even immigrants who arrive legally and apply for legal status are effectively turned into lawbreakers by the laws and bureaucracy. American immigration policy is now Kafkaesque: In the name of stopping illegal immigration, we make all immigrants illegal. President Trump has extended this obsession with criminalizing immigrants to refugees and children. Today, both advocates and opponents of immigration follow the same script: prioritizing increased spending on border security and increased illegalness. If they offer a path to legal status, it is so long and bureaucratic as to be worthless. Its time to flip that script. Make amnesty, not border security, the starting point on immigration. The stance should be: not one penny for enforcement until we have an amnesty that covers all our undocumented neighbors. Amnesty is wise policy for reasons that go beyond immigration. The United States is not just anxious and polarized now: Its downright unforgiving. In our public sphere, we never forgive a single sin of those who trespass against us. Americans need amnesty not to forgive our immigrants. We need amnesty so that we might forgive ourselves. Joe Mathews writes the Connecting California column for Zocalo Public Square. To comment, submit your letter to the editor at SFChronicle.com/letters. The horror inflicted on a Pittsburgh synagogue Saturday was not, as President Trump suggested, the consequence of worshiping without the presence of an armed guard. It for all the world appeared to be the act of a hate-filled man who saw validation of his anti-Semitism in white nationalist conspiracy theories and whose arsenal included an AR-15-style assault rifle, which has become the weapon of choice in murderous rampages. Eleven Jewish Americans were shot and killed as they worshiped at the Tree of Life synagogue. Its heartbreaking, outrageous and cause for all Americans to ask what is going so awry in our nation. Four armed and trained police officers were wounded as they confronted the suspect, making a mockery of the presidents claim that the results would have been far better if only the synagogue had an armed guard. Its absurd to suggest the answer to a shooter with an AR-15 is to put an armed guard at every place of worship, movie theater, school and workplace that could become the next scene of an American expression of madness. Its not enough to extend thoughts and prayers after the fact, and allow this continuous loop to spin with greater frequency and carnage. Its ludicrous to suggest that the death penalty might deter such attacks, when history shows that many assailants are killed on the scene, often with their own gunshots. There is no escaping the vitriol behind the synagogue massacre with the shooter making anti-Semitic statements as he opened fire in the context of a rise of hate speech and political violence in the country. The suspect had found a forum for his anti-Semitism on Gab, a network popular with white nationalists. He frequently lashed out about the migrant caravan of several thousand Honduran refugees headed to the United States. He echoed Trumps unsupported warning that dangerous criminals were lurking in their midst. Just hours before the attack, the suspect blamed the humanitarian nonprofit Hebrew Immigrant Aid Society for assisting refugees who will do violence against others. Screw your optics, Im going in, he wrote. The attack of the synagogue came one day after the Florida arrest of Cesar Sayoc, a fervent Trump supporter accused of mailing pipe bombs to prominent Democrats who had been favorite targets of the presidents rhetoric. This domestic terrorism is not happening in a vacuum. It is being whipped up by political rhetoric designed to divide, riven with resentments and portraying those who dare to challenge it whether by ideological differences or a dedication to pursuit of the truth as evil, or as enemies of the American people. There is a sickness in this nation that is being nurtured when it needs to be acknowledged, confronted and disavowed in no uncertain terms. 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. Sen. Bernie Sanders stop in Berkeley Saturday was billed as a rally for Oakland Rep. Barbara Lee, but the independent Vermont senator sounded more like he was warming up his 2020 presidential campaign with a blistering attack on President Trump. Sanders spent much of his 45-minute speech before 2,500 people at the Berkeley Community Theater ripping Trump as weak in the presence of dictators like Russian President Vladimir Putin and so ill-informed that he gets his science information from Fox News. During his campaign in 2016, Trump said a whole lot of things which on the surface sounded reasonable, Sanders said, addressing the people who voted for Trump. The only problem is that this guy is a pathological liar and it doesnt matter what he says because the next day he is going to change his view. Sanders said Trump promised during his campaign that everyone would have health care. But once elected, He lied, Sanders. Trump supported gutting the Affordable Care Act, which would have thrown 32 million Americans off of the health care they had. Thank God that the Senate, with the vote of the late (Arizona GOP Sen.) John McCain, we were able to defeat that. Paul Chinn / The Chronicle Trump likes to consider himself a tough guy, Sanders said. If youre such a tough guy, why did you collapse in front of Vladimir Putin, who is trying to destroy American democracy? But Sanders said there is something that goes even deeper in Trump that I detest. Trump doesnt understand that his sacred duty as president is to bring us together, not divide us up. Trump is trying to divide us up by the color of our skin, by the country we come from, by our sexual orientation, by our religion or even by our gender, the senator said. Sanders gave himself a retroactive pat on the back, saying that even though his 2016 presidential campaign wasnt successful, the ideas we were talking about like raising the minimum wage and single-payer Medicare-for-all that seemed so radical, so fringey, so extreme ... they are now part of the mainstream conversation. Lee didnt endorse Sanders during the 2016 Democratic primary, despite holding similar progressive views. Nor did she back Hillary Clinton, fearing that she would dampen Democratic turnout by picking a side. Lee, who won 99 percent of the vote in the June primary, faces Green Party member Laura Wells in November. Sitting on stage with Lee and Sanders but not speaking was Jovanka Beckles, the Richmond City Council member running for the open 15th Assembly District seat against fellow Democrat Buffy Wicks. Both Lee and the Sanders-inspired progressive organization Our Revolution have endorsed Beckles, but Sanders did not mention her by name Saturday. After the event, top Sanders adviser Jeff Weaver said the two had a great conversation but Sanders was not endorsing Beckles at this very moment. Joe Garofoli is The San Francisco Chronicles senior political writer. Email: jgarofoli@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @joegarofoli TAPANATEPEC, Mexico Thousands of Central American migrants took a break Sunday on their long journey through southern Mexico, but vowed to press ahead toward the U.S. border roughly 1,000 miles away, with Mexican government agencies seeming to waver between helping and hindering. Some rested in the shade of tarps strung across the town plaza, or picked up trash. Others went to soak themselves in the nearby Novillero river. The tensions of a long trek through searing heat with tenuous supplies of food and other goods spilled over Saturday night when a dispute over a food line evolved into the beating of a man falsely accused of snatching a child. Raul Medina Melendez, security chief for the tiny municipality of Tapanatepec in Oaxaca state, said the town was distributing sandwiches and water to migrants camped in the central square Saturday night. When a man with a megaphone asked people to wait their turn, some men hurled insults at him. Finally people got really angry and those below began to attack the guy, Medina said. As the man ran, a false rumor spread that he had grabbed a child for protection and he was caught and beaten. Police rescued him and took him to a hospital for treatment. On Sunday, several in the caravan took to microphones to denounce the attack. Is that the way were going to always behave? a woman from Honduras asked. Anytime theres a rumor everyone is going to run to beat up someone? Others complained of a few smoking marijuana or complained that images of litter and uneaten food made them appear disrespectful. On Saturday, an arm of the Mexican federal government for the first time seemed to be directly helping the migrants advance rather than trying to inhibit the caravan. Grupo Beta, Mexicos migrant protection agency, gave rides to stragglers and passed out water. 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. There are people fainting, there are wounded, said Martin Rojas, an agent of Grupo Beta who spoke after dropping off a group of women and children in Tapanatepec after spotting them on a highway trudging through temperatures approaching 104 degrees. Other agencies, however, have periodically tried to impede or erode the mass migration, whose progress has led President Trump to threaten action against Mexico. Christopher Sherman is an Associated Press writer. Peter Calthorpe says Silicon Valley has it all wrong. He rejects the ideas of tech industry visionaries who say personal autonomous vehicles will soon be the solution to urban problems like traffic congestion. The Berkeley urban planner is one of the creators of New Urbanism, which promotes mixed-use, walkable neighborhoods. His designs emphasize the proximity of housing, shopping and public space. He is not opposed to autonomous vehicles. Calthorpes quarrel is with the idea that the widespread adoption of personally owned self-driving cars will solve transportation problems. In fact, he worries it will lead to more urban congestion and suburban sprawl. One thing is certain: Zero- or single-occupant vehicles, even ones that can drive themselves, are a bad thing, he and transportation planner Jerry Walters wrote in an article last year in Urban Land, an urban planning journal. They cause congestion, eat up energy, exacerbate sprawl and emit more carbon per passenger-mile. Calthorpe says that in trying to solve a very hard technical problem, Silicon Valley is ignoring an easier application for autonomous technology that has the potential to quickly change mass transit and help solve the Valleys housing crisis. It starts with backing away from solo car trips. A popular claim by the advocates of self-driving cars is that they will not only be safer than human-driven cars but will also lead to fewer cars, faster commutes and a radical rethinking of cities where finding a place to park is no longer a priority. But Calthorpe, citing a range of transportation studies, has simulated through computer models the effects of self-driving vehicles in urban settings. He argues that if they are used the way todays vehicles are carrying a single individual in most cases they will lead to more congestion. The key distinction is the number of people per vehicle, said Walters, a principal at Fehr & Peers, a transportation consultancy in Walnut Creek. Without pretty radically increasing the number of people per vehicle, autonomous systems will increase total miles traveled. When it is easier to travel in a city in self-driving cars, Calthorpe said, everyone will want to do so. And when self-driving vehicles are more affordable which could take years to happen people who currently rely on public transit while running their errands will instead send their cars to pick up the groceries and the dry cleaning, adding significantly to what Walters and other urban planners call total vehicle miles. This year, Calthorpe challenged tech firms to take another look at the housing and transportation problem in a proposal in which he asked, Can one street solve the San Francisco Bay Area housing crisis? In addition to his planning consultancy, Calthorpe has created Urban Footprint, a company that offers a software design tool for planners, architects and environmental analysts who want to model different kinds of development in urban and regional settings. He used his software to show that by changing commercial zoning to permit higher density along El Camino Real a main West Bay thoroughfare it would be possible add more than a quarter-million housing units. The regions housing crisis can be explained in data that shows that since 2010, it has added 11 jobs for every new home built; the median home price has reached $934,000; and rents have gone up 60 percent since 2012. One of the consequences of the growing imbalance between housing and jobs is the increasing traffic and congestion, according to an Urban Footprint report. To avoid congestion, the plan requires efficient mass transit. Calthorpe has proposed an alternative autonomous rapid transit, or ART using fleets of self-driving vans in reserved lanes on main arteries like El Camino. Those lanes would allow the vehicles to travel faster and require a lower level of autonomous technology. And the vans could travel separately or be connected together. A recent study that Urban Footprint did in collaboration with Fehr & Peers determined that an autonomous rapid transit system, which could be built today, would be twice as fast as a conventional bus and cost slightly more than half as much to operate. Calthorpes plan is an evolution of the concept of transit-oriented development he pioneered while teaching at UC Berkeley in the late 1980s. It focuses on designing urban communities that encourage people to live near transit services and decrease their dependence on driving. The idea has attracted the attention of public transit activists in Southern California. Autonomous rapid transits greater capacity combined with lower cost could really be the stimulus for the housing development, said Denny Zane, executive director of Move LA, a group that has built broad community support for funding improvements in transportation. We need to integrate autonomous technologies in a setting that will enhance transit use. Zane said the autonomous rapid transit technology would dovetail nicely with a planning idea called Grand Boulevards, which has been funded by two ballot propositions in the Los Angeles region and has until now been focused on a human-driven system known as bus rapid transit. Most recent Silicon Valley startups have focused on personal vehicles rather than mass transit. But in July, Waymo, the self-driving car unit of Googles parent company, Alphabet, announced a partnership with Valley Metro in the Phoenix region to develop a transportation system that would look very much like Calthorpes ART concept. To gain broad acceptance for his idea, however, Calthorpe has to convince city officials like Lenny Siegel, the mayor of Mountain View, where Google has its headquarters. Siegel is a veteran community activist whose focus is on the imbalance between jobs and housing and the impact of the long commutes made by people who work in the city. He also has expressed concerns about anything that will affect the flow of conventional automobile traffic. Mountain View is trying to plan for a future that will require moving as many as 40,000 people back and forth each day from the Caltrain railroad corridor that runs between San Francisco and San Jose to workplaces like Google. Currently, city planners envision an autonomous system like the one that Calthorpe does, but on an elevated track. Calthorpe insists that planners must take bold steps and argues that rethinking major boulevards like El Camino by filling in with denser housing and adding a more efficient autonomous transit system is the best place to start. You have to redesign the street itself, he said. You need to add autonomous transit, and you need to get rid of parallel parking and put in bikeways and better sidewalks. John Markoff is a New York Times writer. Imagine a society in which everyone more or less agrees with you. You wake up in the morning to online greetings from people who share your views on guns, religion and country. Your news feed contains only posts from like-minded politicians or articles from like-minded news outlets. You can safely post your own comments without fear of vitriol from trolls or challenges from naysayers. This is the insular world in which tens of thousands of Americans who use conservative political apps are experiencing the midterm election season. Amid a chorus of conservative complaints that Facebook and YouTube have become hostile to right-leaning views, a few Republican consultants have begun building a parallel digital universe where their political clients set the rules. One startup has built an app for the lobbying arm of the National Rifle Association that has been downloaded more than 150,000 times. Supporters of President Trump can download an app from Great America, a big-spending pro-Trump political action committee, or America First, Trumps official 2016 campaign app, which has some features that remain active. Many backers of Sen. Ted Cruz of Texas use Cruz Crew, an app built for his re-election campaign. The apps deliver partisan news feeds on what are effectively private social media services, free from the strictures and content guidelines imposed by Bay Area giants. Many apps have video-game-like features where users can earn points for making campaign donations or contacting their legislators. Amass enough points and a supporter can attain increasing status levels like BigLeague or Patriot or even gain a spot on the apps leaderboard. Proponents are positioning these apps as durable communities that offer conservatives viable alternatives to mainstream social networks. People with center-right views feel like the big social platforms, Facebook and Twitter, are not sympathetic to their views, said Thomas Peters, CEO of uCampaign, a startup in Washington that developed the NRA, Great America and Trump campaign apps. Its creating a safe space for people who share a viewpoint, who feel like the open social networks are not fun places for them. Sheltered from the broader public, however, the services can intensify political polarization and social divisiveness, or circulate disinformation. Anyone in the United States may download uCampaign apps, Peters said, but they give a campaign the ability to bar interlopers who post messages challenging the campaigns positions. The Great America app juxtaposes a mix of enthusiastic posts about Trump and photos of puppies with anti-immigrant memes like Todays illegals, tomorrows Democrats. One recent post, with an image depicting nooses, read: Noose flash: Treason still punishable by death. Is this the beginning of the political Balkanization of digital engagement technologies? asked Michael Slaby, a communications strategist who oversaw technology for President Barack Obamas national campaigns. Given the tribalism of current American politics, its possible. Dan Backer, general counsel for the Great America PAC, said the app is a place for like-minded Trump supporters to socialize and entertain themselves. It has also enabled the campaign to quickly and inexpensively engage supporters. Since 2017, the Great America PAC has paid uCampaign about $108,000 for development and monthly service fees. Backer added that the apps user policy prohibits abusive comments and those that incite criminal activity. But, he said, I dont think we want to be in the business of trying to censor peoples political views. Democratic candidates have also used consumer-facing apps to promote their political campaigns and advocacy. But the main election apps currently used on the left such as MiniVAN, built by NGP VAN, a leading technology provider to Democrats are geared more narrowly for campaign volunteers engaging in door-to-door canvassing. Many are not designed to create lasting social communities. Peters, a Catholic blogger and former web developer, said he hadnt set out to become the go-to app maker for conservatives. In 2012, he was working as a conservative activist in Washington and grew frustrated with the success of the Obama campaigns digital outreach efforts. The Obama campaign had a smartphone app that supporters could use to follow campaign news, volunteer, canvas voters and promote campaign messages on social media. Mitt Romney, the Republican challenger, had an app whose central feature was a photo filter allowing supporters to take selfies with the slogan Im with Mitt. Peters was not impressed. It did not do the one thing I wanted it to do, he said, which was to help win the election for Mitt Romney by asking me to donate money to them, to post things to social media, to invite my friends and family to register to vote to do all of the things, basically, that the Obama app did. In 2014, Peters started uCampaign with $150,000 in startup capital. The money came from Sean Fieler, president of hedge fund Equinox Partners and a well-known donor to conservative groups. Since then, uCampaign has developed dozens of campaign apps, including for Republicans like Gov. Larry Hogan of Maryland, the Republican National Committee and organizations like the Family Research Council, a Christian group that opposes abortion and same-sex marriage. Campaigns pay the company a one-time fee to develop an app and then monthly service fees. In the United States, apps developed by uCampaign have been downloaded more than 500,000 times. A Republican polling company, WPA Intelligence, is behind Cruzs campaign app. The NRA and Great America apps, which enable users to friend and message one another, have developed cultures with their own parlance and rituals. In their posts, users sometimes greet one another as deplorables or fellow patriots and refer to liberals as enemies, libtards or traitors. Conspiracy theories including memes against financier George Soros abound. They all seem very patriotic to me, Ken Kumerle, a car rental agent in South Carolina who has earned more than 366,000 points on the NRA app, said of other community members. I go in every day and try to do something, post or send a tweet. By tracking their users activities, political apps can collect a wealth of data about them. Apps from uCampaign and WPA Intelligence, for instance, ask users for their name, address, phone number and email address. Both uCampaign and WPA have ties to AggregateIQ, a political technology company in Canada. AggregateIQ is under investigation by the British government over its handling of voters personal data and connections to the parent company of Cambridge Analytica, a voter profiling company that improperly harvested the information of millions of Facebook users. In 2016, AggregateIQ paid uCampaign to create the campaign app for Vote Leave, the secessionist side of the British referendum on leaving the European Union. More recently, WPA hired the Canadian company to develop the underlying software used in the Cruz app. The Times tested several of the apps privacy practices and found that, when a user invited a friend to join uCampaigns NRA app, the app did not send the friends information to itself or to other companies. But The Times found that a similar feature on WPAs Cruz app sent a friends contact details to an AggregateIQ domain. Chris Wilson, CEO of WPA Intelligence, said his company, not AggregateIQ, received and controlled app users information. Some political apps, including from uCampaign, also ask users who want to send friends campaign messages to share their contacts. Peters turned some of those features, like inviting friends, into a way for users to collect points and gain status within the group. He began incorporating game-like features into his companys apps in 2014 as a way to get supporters to participate in political activities. In July, for instance, the NRA app began offering users 100 points for tweeting a slogan urging their senators to support Judge Brett Kavanaughs confirmation to the Supreme Court. The messages have since been have tweeted more than 13,300 times. The Cruz app similarly awards points to users for tweeting campaign messages, volunteering and taking part in other activities. The Obama campaign proved, and Democrats continue to prove, the value of continuously engaging supporters via an app like this, said Wilson of WPA Intelligence, the company behind the Cruz app. It is critical Republicans keep up with tools of our own. Natasha Singer and Nicholas Confessore are New York Times writers. Christopher Savoie, founder and CEO of a startup called Zapata, offered jobs this year to three scientists who specialize in an increasingly important technology called quantum computing. They accepted. Several months later, the Cambridge, Mass., company was still waiting for the State Department to approve visas for the specialists. All three are foreigners, born in Europe and Asia. Whether the delays were the result of tougher immigration policy or just red tape, Savoies predicament was typical of a growing concern among U.S. businesses and universities: Unless policies and priorities change, they will have trouble attracting the talent needed to build quantum technology, which could make todays computers look like toys. It is a story that is being told repeatedly in the tech industry in the United States. As companies push into new technologies, they are finding it harder to identify qualified engineers and researchers. They are also facing tougher immigration rules for foreign-born tech experts and competing with tech centers in other countries, like Montreal, London, Paris and Beijing. International competition is a particularly thorny issue in quantum computing, because one of these machines in theory could crack the encryption that protects sensitive information inside governments and businesses around the world. If a quantum computer can be built, it will be exponentially more powerful than even todays supercomputers. Last month, the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy invited experts from government, industry and academia to Washington for a daylong policy meeting dedicated to quantum technologies. Several attendees, including Savoie, expressed concern that the Trump administrations immigration policies could affect quantum research in academia and corporations. The concern is: Are we still the destination for the best and the brightest in science and engineering and technology? said Roger Falcone, a UC Berkeley professor of physics who attended the meeting in Washington. It is a greater problem when there are not that many people who understand the technology. In a type of artificial intelligence called deep learning, for example, fewer than 25,000 people, by some estimates, can be considered genuine experts. The labor pool in quantum computing is even smaller. By some accounts, fewer than 1,000 people in the world can claim to be doing leading research in the field. The number of international students applying to physics doctoral programs in the United States fell by an average of 12 percent this year, according to a study from the American Physical Society. Universities on the coasts have maintained their numbers, the study said, but the drop is noticeable in the middle of the country. For decades, quantum computing was purely experimental. When it was first proposed in the early 1980s, the goal was to build a system based on the seemingly magical principles of quantum mechanics. During the last several years, scientists have shown that they can build these machines, if only on a small scale. With traditional computers, transistors store bits of information, and each bit is either a 1 or a 0. Those are the fundamental slices of data that tell a computer what to do. When some types of matter are extremely small or extremely cold, they behave differently. That difference allows a quantum bit, or qubit, to store a combination of 1 and 0. Two qubits can hold four values at once. As the number of qubits grows, a quantum computer becomes exponentially more powerful. Scientists who build these systems specialize in the physics of those very small or cold things, which is nothing like the physics we experience from day to day. There just arent that many people who know how to do this, said Steven Girvin, a professor of physics at Yale University. These machines are quasi-hand-built by people with doctorates in physics. Over the last few years, some of the countrys largest tech companies, alongside a growing number of startups, have begun building quantum machines for commercial customers. They believe a quantum computer that can surpass what computers can do now is just years away. Because these machines could eventually break todays encryption, some believe there are reasons to be careful as large numbers of foreigners move into the field and to find ways of building a larger pool of American-born talent that can handle sensitive breakthroughs. We need to be cognizant of the potential for academic and industrial espionage, said Paul Scharre, a senior fellow at the Center for a New American Security, a Washington think tank. The answer is not to shut down the flow of people from abroad, but to find ways of better protecting intellectual property. As U.S. firms like Google, IBM, Intel and Microsoft accelerate their quantum computing efforts, work is speeding up in China and Europe as well. The Chinese government is working on a $10 billion national lab for quantum research in Hefei, set to open in 2020, and Chinese e-commerce giant Alibaba is building a lab of its own. In 2016, the European Union invested $1.2 billion in quantum computing. Could those efforts race past progress in the United States and possibly threaten national security? If you are talking about a quantum computer in Russia or China or anywhere else, you are talking about a weaponized technology, said Arthur Herman, a senior fellow at the Hudson Institute, a think tank in Washington. The good news is no one has been able to build a commercially viable quantum computer so far, so there is time to fix the talent problem. Lawmakers and government officials are exploring strategies to help ensure that the pool of available talent grows. Jacob Taylor, a veteran quantum researcher who oversees quantum strategy at the Office of Science and Technology Policy, played down concerns that other countries could beat the United States to quantum computing. We have been the leader in this world for a long time, he said. Cade Metz is a New York Times writer. Our hearts are with the people of Pittsburgh, the Jewish community, the law enforcement community, and the families of each of the victims, in the wake of this terrible tragedy, the statement read. While there are no threats to religious institutions in Chicago at this time, the Chicago Police Department is closely monitoring this situation and providing special attention to all synagogues throughout Chicago. This article, In Amazon Go, no one thinks I'm stealing, originally appeared on CNET.com. I was still in pigtails and barrettes when my mother told me the rules of shopping. Don't touch anything. Don't put your hands in your pockets. When you get old enough to carry a purse, don't dig through it while you're in the store. Always get a receipt. Always get a bag. I thought she was overreacting. I just wanted to get a Berenstain Bears or Little Critter book from the magazine-and-school-supply aisle at Kroger, or a Barbie from the Toys R Us on our end of town. I knew I wasn't supposed to misbehave in public, especially when we were in a store, or I wouldn't get a special treat during our shopping trips. But I was too young to realize that my mother wasn't paranoid; she was just trying to protect me from a world that isn't always kind to black people. This conversation about how I was supposed to conduct myself in stores is one that has taken place in many an African-American household. It's a similar version of the talk we have with our children about how to conduct yourself during interactions with police. I learned at an early age that I would be perceived as a thief the moment I walked into an establishment, and the onus was on me to mitigate the situation by policing my own behavior. The lessons my mother taught me boiled down to a simple objective: Don't give retail employees any more reason to suspect you of stealing than they already have, because if they do think you've stolen something, even if they're wrong, no one will believe you. My mother didn't have the phrase "implicit bias" to explain how people could have biases against me that are so deeply rooted in the subconscious that they don't even realize that they're prejudging me. Yet she knew that these attitudes existed and that it was her job to protect me from harassment, arrest or worse. This isn't paranoia: shopping while black is real. We get profiled as soon as the door chimes and announces our arrival in a store. Oscar-winning actor Forest Whitaker was once falsely accused of shoplifting and patted down in a store on the Upper West Side of Manhattan. A store associate in Switzerland wouldn't let Oprah, the billionaire media mogul, see a handbag because she thought Oprah wouldn't be able to afford it. Ninety-two percent of African-Americans said discrimination against black Americans exists today, according to a 2017 study commissioned by NPR. And with black people being harassed, attacked and killed for doing regular stuff -- having a barbecue, sitting in a car, chilling in their own apartment -- it's not too wild of a notion to believe that shopping can be dangerous, too. (I'd be remiss if I didn't mention that two black people were killed in a Kroger in Louisville, the city in which CNET Smart Home is based, in an attack that could be racially motivated.) There are no cashiers at Amazon Go stores -- you just walk out with your stuff, and the store charges you through an accompanying app. James Martin/CNET I've carried this fear of unjust prosecution while shopping into my thirties. It was the only thing I had to counter the shop owners who pay more attention to me than any other customer, who keep an eye on every trinket I pause to examine or piece of clothing I hold up to my frame. But one thing that has changed since my youth is technology that can eliminate the implicitly biased middle man. In January, megaretailer Amazon opened its first cashierless convenience store in Seattle called Amazon Go. You use the Amazon Go app (which is connected to your Amazon account) to scan yourself into the store, grab what you want (be it a bottle of wine or premade sandwich) and walk out without needing to check out at a register. That's because a combination of algorithms and computer vision-enabled cameras keep track of what you're grabbing off the shelves as you shop, and automatically charges your Amazon account for what you took out of the store. There are now six stores open to the public: three in Seattle, two in Chicago and one in San Francisco. "The Amazon Go shopping experience is designed for all customers to get good food fast," an Amazon spokesperson told me. I was dubious at best when I first heard about Amazon Go, and not just about the technology. The idea of walking into a store, taking an item or several off the shelves and strolling right back out again boggled my mind. It ran counter to everything I had learned about being black and shopping. Technology is great and all, but could I really put aside my decades of baggage and become comfortable enough to just literally grab and go? I hesitated to accept the idea of Amazon Go for me, because it would force me to trust a system I couldn't see. I would have to believe that I had the freedom to take things, even though it's completely legit, and leave without fear. So I decided to give Amazon Go a try during a recent work trip to Seattle for the Smart Kitchen Summit. I visited the original store on the bottom floor of Amazon's Seattle headquarters. I knew a little bit of what to expect from my colleague Shara Tibken, who got a first look at the store in January. I downloaded the Amazon Go app and connected it to my Amazon account. With the app open and a QR code ready, I held my phone to the turnstile's scanner and let myself into the store. Though Amazon Go's concept is all about not having cashiers, there were still plenty of Amazon employees in the store, easy to spot in their orange shirts. Their presence initially made me pause. Would they give me the stink eye as I walked through the store putting bottles of water and bags of chips into my bag? I grabbed one of the orange Amazon Go bags and began to make my way around the perimeter of the store. I was studying the various bottled waters and debating whether to get fizzy or still, or a bottle of kombucha, when I realized what I was really doing: I was stalling. The fear I had carried with me for decades reared its head as I stood in front of the refrigerated display. I was afraid to make a choice, remove it from a shelf and put it in my bag. I was afraid someone would pop out from behind a display of Amazon-branded merch and scream, "Get your hands off that!" And I was mad that this fear couldn't even let me fully enjoy an experience that's designed for everyone to grab and go, no questions asked. Eff this, I thought. I'm getting some Vitamin Water. Once the plastic bottle hit the bottom of my reusable bag, I glanced around to see if anyone noticed. The Amazon employees shuffled around the small store and restocked shelves. Tourists chatted in small groups as they pointed and looked for the sensors that were keeping track of our every move. One guy with his phone on a selfie stick recorded himself as he selected snacks. And then there were the folks for whom the novelty had worn off and just wanted a vegetarian banh mi sandwich. No one cared what I was doing. Is this what it feels like to shop when you're not black? I went on to buy a weekend's worth of hotel room snacks -- a meat and cheese plate, some pretzels and almond butter, two cans of wine. It was the wine that prompted my only human interaction in Amazon Go: An employee who stood in front of the shelves of alcohol asked to see my ID before I could get my hands on my rose. He warned me that my license was about to expire, then stepped aside so I could continue shopping. No hassle. Amazon Go isn't going to fix implicit bias or remove the years of conditioning under which I've operated. But in the Amazon Go store, everyone is just a shopper, an opportunity for the retail giant to test technology, learn about our habits and make some money. Amazon sees green, and in its own capitalist way, this cashierless concept eased my burden a little bit. Nappily Ever After on Netflix: Getting to the root of my black experience. Amazon Key took over my door for 3 months: It wasn't as creepy as I expected. UPDATE: The California Highway Patrol has canceled this Amber Alert after 15-month-old Xavier Alexander was found safe. --- An Amber Alert was issued Saturday in Southern California for a 2015 gray Jeep Renegade with California plates and license plate 8DQT883, according to the California Highway Patrol. Call 911 if you see the vehicle. Police are searching for 15-month-old Xavier Alexander. The boy is described as 2-foot-6, 30 pounds with brown hair and blue eyes. Authorities believe that Xavier may be with Brandon Alexander, 31, who is 5-foot-10, 240 pounds with brown hair and blue eyes. This is the second Amber Alert issued in California on Saturday. Earlier, the CHP issued an Amber Alert for 4-year-old Aranza Maria Ochoa Lopez, who was abducted from Vancouver, Wash. SAN FRANCISCO Silicon Valley parents are increasingly obsessed with keeping their children away from screens. Even a little screen time can be so deeply addictive, some parents believe, that its best if a child neither touches nor sees any of these glittering rectangles. These particular parents, after all, deeply understand their allure. But its very hard for a working adult in the 21st century to live at home without looking at a phone. And so, as with many aspirations and ideals, its easier to hire someone to do this. Enter the Silicon Valley nanny, who each day returns to the time before screens. Usually a day consists of me being allowed to take them to the park, introduce them to card games, Jordin Altmann, 24, a nanny in San Jose, said of her charges. Board games are huge. Almost every parent I work for is very strong about the child not having any technical experience at all, Altmann said. In the last two years, its become a very big deal. From Cupertino to San Francisco, a growing consensus has emerged that screen time is bad for kids. It follows that these parents are now asking nannies to keep phones, tablets, computers and TVs off and hidden at all times. Some are even producing no-phone contracts, which guarantee zero unauthorized screen exposure, for their nannies to sign. The fear of screens has reached the level of panic in Silicon Valley. Vigilantes now post photos to parenting message boards of possible nannies using cellphones near children. Which is to say, the very people building these glowing hyper-stimulating portals have become increasingly terrified of them. And it has put their nannies in a strange position. In the last year everything has changed, said Shannon Zimmerman, a nanny in San Jose who works for families that ban screen time. Parents are now much more aware of the tech theyre giving their kids. Now its like, Oh no, reel it back, reel it back. Now the parents will say No screen time at all.' Zimmerman likes these new rules, which she said harken back to a time when kids behaved better and knew how to play outside. Parents, though, find the rules harder to follow themselves, Zimmerman said. Most parents come home, and theyre still glued to their phones, and theyre not listening to a word these kids are saying, Zimmerman said. Now Im the nanny ripping out the cords from the PlayStations. The Nanny Contracts Parents are now asking nannies to sign stringent no-phone use contracts, according to nannying agencies across the region. The people who are closest to tech are the most strict about it at home, said Lynn Perkins, CEO of UrbanSitter, which she says has 500,000 sitters in the network throughout the United States. We see that trend with our nannies very clearly. The phone contracts basically stipulate that a nanny must agree not to use any screen, for any purpose, in front of the child. Often there is a caveat that the nanny may take calls from the parent. We do a lot of these phone contracts now, Perkins said. Were writing work agreements up in a different way to cover screen and tech use, said Julie Swales, who runs the Elizabeth Rose Agency, a high-end firm that staffs nannies and house managers for families in the region. Typically now, the nanny is not allowed to use her phone for any private use. This can be tricky. These same parents often want updates through the day. If the mom does call and the nanny picks up, its, Well what are you doing that you can be on your phone?' Swales said. Damned if you do, damned if you dont. She said that at least wealthy tech executives know what they want no phones at all. The harder families to staff are those that are still unsure how to handle tech. Its almost safer to some degree in those houses because they know what theyre dealing with, she said, as opposed to other families who are still trying to muddle their way in tech. Narcing Out Nannies Some parents in Silicon Valley are embracing a more aggressive approach. While their offices are churning out gadgets and apps, the nearby parks are full of phone spies. These hobbyists take it upon themselves to monitor and alert the flock. There are nannies who may be pushing a swing with one hand and texting with the other, or inadvertently exposing a toddler to a TV through a shop window. The nanny spotters, the nanny spies, said Perkins, the UrbanSitter CEO. Theyre self-appointed, but at least every day theres a post in one of the forums. The posts follow a pattern: A parent will take a photo of a child accompanied by an adult who is perceived to be not paying enough attention, upload it to one of the private social networks like San Franciscos Main Street Mamas, home to thousands of members, and ask: Is this your nanny? She calls the practice nanny-outing. What Ill see is, Did anyone have a daughter with a red bow in Dolores Park? Your nanny was on her phone not paying attention,' Perkins said. The forums, where parents post questions and buy and sell baby gear, are now reckoning with public shaming and privacy issues. Main Street Mamas has recently banned photos from being included in these nanny spotted posts, Perkins said. We follow and are part of quite a large number of social media groups around the Bay Area, and weve had families scout out nannies at parks, said Syma Latif, who runs Bay Area Sitters, which has about 200 nannies in rotation. Itll be like, Is this your nanny? Shes texting and the child is on the swing.' Sometimes a parent will step in to defend the nanny and declare that the phone use at that moment was allowed. Theyll say, Actually it was my nanny, and she was texting me but thank you for the heads up,' Latif said. Of course its very, very offensive on a human rights level. Youre being tracked and monitored and put on social media. But I do think it comes from a genuine concern. Commenters will jump in to defend someone or to point out that no one can be sure whether the perpetrator is a parent or a nanny. The standards are different. There is this thought that the moms can be on their phones, Latif said. They can be texting, because its their child. Others say it shouldnt make a difference. Anita Castro, 51, has been a nanny in Silicon Valley for 12 years. She says she knows she works in homes that have cameras set up to film her. She thinks the nanny outing posts cross a line and feel like an invasion. I use the forums to find jobs, but now just reading the titles: I saw your nanny ...' Castro said. Who are these people? Are they the neighbors? Are they friends? A few weeks ago at the Los Altos library, another nanny told Castro about quitting after one mom followed her around parks to snoop. Shed pop up and say, Hey, youre not on your phone, are you? Youre not letting him do that, are you? Castro recalled. So she finally just said, You know, I dont think you need a nanny.' This article originally appeared in The New York Times. PITTSBURGH Armed with an AR-15-style assault rifle and at least three handguns, a man shouting anti-Semitic slurs opened fire inside a Pittsburgh synagogue Saturday, killing at least 11 congregants and wounding four police officers and two others, authorities said. In a rampage described as among the deadliest against the Jewish community in the United States, the assailant stormed into the Tree of Life Congregation, where worshipers had gathered to celebrate their faith, and shot indiscriminately into the crowd, shattering what had otherwise been a peaceful morning. The assailant, identified as Robert Bowers, fired for several minutes and was leaving the synagogue when officers, dressed in tactical gear and armed with rifles, met him at the door. According to police, Bowers exchanged gunfire with officers before retreating back inside and barricading himself inside a third-floor room. He eventually surrendered. Bowers, 46, was wounded by gunfire, although authorities said it was unclear whether those wounds were self-inflicted or whether police had shot him. He was in stable condition at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center. Federal officials charged Bowers with 29 criminal counts. They include obstructing the free exercise of religious beliefs a hate crime and using a firearm to commit murder. Attorney General Jeff Sessions said the charges could lead to the death penalty. The attack struck the heart of the citys vibrant Jewish community, in the leafy Squirrel Hill neighborhood that is home to several synagogues, kosher restaurants and bakeries. Hours later, hundreds gathered at three separate interfaith vigils on a cold, rainy evening to mourn the dead and pray for the wounded. Bay Area residents also gathered in a demonstration of solidarity Saturday night at the Contemporary Jewish Museum in San Francisco. The assault on the synagogue struck during a bitter, vitriolic midterm election season and against the backdrop of what appears to be a surge in hate-related speech and crimes across America. It also took place in the wake of the arrest Friday morning of a man who authorities said sent more than a dozen pipe bombs to critics of President Trump, including several high-profile Democrats. Calling it the most horrific crime scene he had seen in 22 years with the FBI, Robert Jones, special agent in charge in Pittsburgh, said the synagogue was in the midst of a service when congregants were gunned down and brutally murdered by a gunman targeting them simply because of their faith. The anguish of Saturdays massacre heightened a sense of national unease over increasingly hostile political rhetoric. Critics of Trump have argued that he is partly to blame for recent acts of violence because he has been stirring the pot of nationalism, on Twitter and at his rallies, charges that Trump has denied. About Saturdays attack, Trump said: Its a terrible, terrible thing whats going on with hate in our country and frankly all over the world, and something has to be done. The results are very devastating, he said, adding that if the temple had some kind of protection then it could have been a much different situation. The massacre Saturday came amid an uptick in hate crimes. According to an annual report by the Anti-Defamation League issued earlier this year, the number of reported anti-Semitic incidents in the United States surged 57 percent in 2017, the largest rise in a single year since the ADL began tracking such crimes in 1979. The attack also was a deep and painful blow to the Jewish community in the United States, and came just days after George Soros, the billionaire philanthropist and major donor to Democratic candidates, who is Jewish and who survived Nazi occupation in Hungary, received a pipe bomb in the mail. On Saturday, the Tree of Life Congregation was holding services for three separate congregations when the gunman stormed in with the assault rifle, a Glock, and two other handguns, and began shooting. Police dispatchers received the first emergency calls at 9:54 a.m., Jones of the FBI said, and police officers, including a SWAT team, were dispatched a minute later. Bowers had already shot and killed 11 people and was on his way out of the synagogue, Jones said, when he encountered police officers and shot at them. He went back into the synagogue to hide from SWAT officers who were moving in, Jones said. He was in the synagogue for about 20 minutes, law enforcement officials said. On Saturday night, authorities were still piecing together a portrait of Bowers and had searched his apartment with a robotic bomb detector and police dogs. Rep. Mike Doyle, who represents Pennsylvanias 14th district, where the synagogue is located, said Bowers had 21 guns registered to his name. Anti-Semitism appeared to run deep for Bowers. Before it was deleted Saturday morning, a social media account believed to belong to him was filled with anti-Jewish slurs and references to anti-Jewish conspiracy theories. In January, an account under his name was created on Gab, a social network that bills itself as a free speech haven. The app, which grew out of claims of anti-conservative bias by Facebook and Twitter, is a popular gathering place for alt-right activists and white nationalists whose views are unwelcome on other social media platforms. Early members included right-wing provocateur Milo Yiannopoulos and Andrew Anglin, the founder of the neo-Nazi Daily Stormer website. Several weeks ago, Bowers account posted a link to the website of HIAS, a Jewish nonprofit organization, which was planning a shabbat ceremony for refugees in locations around the country. The caption read: Why hello there HIAS! You like to bring in hostile invaders to dwell among us? HIAS said in a statement Saturday: There are no words to express how devastated we are by the events in Pittsburgh. Campbell Robertson, Christoper Mele and Sabrina Tavernise are New York Times writers. The Justice Department has sent a sweeping request to every Roman Catholic diocese in the United States not to destroy documents related to the handling of child sexual abuse, a sign that the federal investigation into the church could grow far more extensive. Reports recently revealed that the Justice Department has opened an investigation into all eight Catholic dioceses in Pennsylvania, and the diocese of Buffalo in New York. The move marked the first time the federal government had undertaken an investigation of the churchs handling of abusive priests. Both the Trump and Biden visits are part of the final-weeks push by big-name politicians to help candidates in tough races. U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio will be in Downers Grove on Monday to fundraise for Republican U.S. Rep. Peter Roskam of Wheaton in his race against Democratic businessman Sean Casten of Downers Grove. Do you have a work contract that offers you a generous settlement in the event the company that employs you decides you are no longer needed, let alone deciding you grossly violated commonly accepted workplace behavioral standards? I doubt it. Most of us are at-will employees, people who can be fired for almost any reason at any time. If we do decide to take the matter to the courts or a private arbitrator, it's unlikely we will see a six-figure payday, never mind one as generous as the one Kelly is poised to receive. According to a survey conducted by payroll firm XcelHR, the typical employee who believes he or she was done wrong and files a claim of some sort will receive $40,000. On the one hand, Jews as a category are thus far shielded from the state violence that a lot of other groups are experiencing. Immigration and Customs Enforcement is not seeking us out as a group; we are not being barred from the military or being singled out in a travel ban. Although of course there are Jews of all levels of economic security in this country, American Jews as a collective do have a lot more social and cultural capital than many other groups, and we are not as vulnerable as other communities under attack. The reasons are various; a big one, though, is that many American Jews' families have been established here for a century or more and, over that time, Ashkenazi Jews were able to assimilate into the broader culture and "become white." CONCORD (BCN) The Concord City Council on Tuesday will host presentations from the U.S. Navy and from three regulatory agencies - and host a panel discussion - about ongoing cleanup efforts at the former Concord Naval Weapons Station. These presentations, scheduled for the Concord council's special meeting Tuesday, come partly in response to city requests not only for regular updates on the general process, but also after concerns about one of the firms contracted to do soil testing and cleanup on the weapons station land. Concord officials hope for some clarity about whether the discovery of contaminated soil from the Hunters Point Naval Shipyard area taken earlier this year to the Keller Canyon Landfill in Pittsburg could also be an issue on the Concord land. In May, two former employees of Tetra Tech, the company doing some Concord Naval Weapons Station work, pleaded guilty to falsifying records for similar work at Hunters Point. Both technicians were sentenced to eight months in federal prison. Questions about whether the Concord cleanup will present similar issues may well come up Tuesday. There also will be a public comment period after the presentations. Concord's Reuse Project Area Plan for the former naval weapons station calls for building up to 12,200 housing units and 6.1 million square feet of commercial space on about 2,300 acres on Concord's east side. Plans are for the former weapons station to also host a 2,600-acre Concord Hills Regional Park. Tuesday's meeting will start at 6 p.m. at Concord City Civic Center, 1950 Parkside Drive at Willow Pass Road. Copyright 2018 by Bay City News, Inc. Republication, Rebroadcast or any other Reuse without the express written consent of Bay City News, Inc. is prohibited. A San Jose man suspected of posing as an Uber driver was arrested this week in connection with a sexual assault of a passenger in August along state Highway 92, police said. Brandon Sherman, 40, was arrested during a traffic stop Thursday and booked on suspicion of kidnapping with intent to sexually assault, rape and assault with a deadly weapon, authorities said in a news release. The assault was reported at 7 p.m. Aug. 14, when a woman near the 1400 block of Fashion Island Boulevard called to report she had accepted a ride from a man who said he was with a ride-share service, police said. The woman told officers she saw both Uber and Lyft stickers on the car's windshield. He then drove her to a secluded area and sexually assaulted her, police said. The woman was able to escape and called police with help from a passerby. Information was compiled from the victim's statement, a sketch of the suspect, search warrants and eventually a profile of the suspect. The victim later identified Sherman, police said. A search warrant was served at Sherman's home in the 700 block of Calero Avenue in San Jose, where evidence was collected, police said. Detectives are continuing to investigate whether the suspect may be connected to any other crimes. Anyone with information is asked to call (650) 522-7700 or email police@cityfsanmateo.org Anonymous tips may be submitted at http://tinyurl.com/SMPDTips or by calling the SMPD Secret Witness Line at (650) 522-7676. John Haley, director of transit for the San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency since 2010, is retiring, the agency announced Friday. Projects accomplished during Haley's tenure include replacing and expanding the Muni bus and train fleet; increasing Muni service by more than 10 percent; and growing Muni ridership, according to a news release from SFMTA. "John has played a significant role in improving transit for San Francisco, including making Muni more reliable and transforming one of the oldest fleets in the nation to the newest," said Ed Reiskin, SFMTA director of transportation. Haley's three decades in transportation have included stints as general manager of the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority, deputy executive director of the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, and deputy general manager at BART. The San Francisco Interfaith Council will host a gathering beginning at noon today at Temple Emanu-El, 1 Lake St. in San Francisco, designed as a gathering of people of all faiths to mark the killing of 11 people Saturday morning at the Tree of Life synagogue in Pittsburgh. Vigils were held Saturday night in both San Francisco and in Oakland in observance of the killings. The San Francisco event was held at the Contemporary Jewish Museum, 736 Mission St.; the Oakland vigil took place at Lake Merritt near the intersection of Euclid and Grand avenues, on the northeast side of the lake near the pergola. San Francisco police Officer Giselle Linnane said Saturday that police presence has been increased around the city's synagogues in light of the Pittsburgh tragedy. There were no known threats late Saturday afternoon, she said. Two women were seriously injured early Saturday morning when a third-floor balcony collapsed in San Francisco's Outer Sunset District, according to fire officials. Fire crews were called to the 2000 block of Lawton Street just after midnight, according to the San Francisco fire department. The injured women were taken to San Francisco General Hospital and listed in serious condition late Saturday. Building inspectors were called to the scene. One man was killed and another wounded Saturday afternoon in a double shooting at a trucking terminal in the "Iron Triangle" neighborhood of Richmond, police said. Richmond officers were called to 1170 Hensley St. at 4:06 p.m. Saturday, said police Lt. Matt Stonebraker. They found two men who had been shot; both were taken to a nearby hospital, where one was pronounced dead and the other treated for non-life-threatening injuries, Stonebraker said. It wasn't known Saturday night whether the shootings were part of a robbery, a gang-involved shooting or something else, Stonebraker said. The trucking terminal is adjacent to the Union Pacific railroad tracks, which were closed for about five hours, disrupting some Amtrak service. A bicyclist was killed in Pittsburg late Friday night when he was struck by a car at the intersection of Kirker Pass Road and Castlewood Drive, Pittsburg police said Saturday on social media. Neither the name nor the age of the victim was available late Saturday. Police said the cyclist was crossing Kirker Pass Road at Castlewood, going west, at about 11:25 p.m. Friday, when he was hit by a northbound car. The bicycle was in the crosswalk, police said, but the vehicle driver had the green light. Officers arrived to find the bicyclist lying in the southbound lanes of Kirker Pass Road, having suffered head injuries. The bicyclist was taken to John Muir Medical Center in Walnut Creek, where he was pronounced dead, Pittsburg police said. The vehicle driver remained on scene and was cooperative with police. The driver was apparently neither distracted nor impaired when the accident occurred, police said. Anyone with additional information is asked to call the Pittsburg Police Department Tip Line at (925) 252-4040. In another vehicle-versus-bicycle accident, a 12-year-old boy was listed in stable condition Saturday after being hit while riding a bicycle Friday evening in Oakley, police said. The crash happened at 6:30 p.m. Friday at the intersection of Neroly Road and Lavender Way, where a Ford F-150 truck hit the bicyclist, said Oakley police Sgt. Robert Roberts. The boy was flown by helicopter to UCSF Benioff Children's Hospital Oakland. The driver of the truck stayed at the scene and was cooperating with investigators. There was no indication that alcohol or drugs contributed to the collision, police said. Copyright 2018 by Bay City News, Inc. Republication, Rebroadcast or any other Reuse without the express written consent of Bay City News, Inc. is prohibited. Vigils will be held beginning at 8 p.m. tonight in San Francisco and in Oakland in observance of the killing of 11 people this morning at the Tree of Life synagogue in Pittsburgh. In San Francisco, the vigil will be at the Contemporary Jewish Museum, 736 Mission St. At the same time, a vigil will be held at Lake Merritt near the intersection of Euclid and Grand Avenues, on the northeast side of the lake near the pergola. Participants at the Oakland vigil also will call for an end to the political rhetoric of anti-Semitism and white nationalism that has increasingly targeted Jewish and other communities in the run-up to the midterm elections. On Sunday, the San Francisco Interfaith Council will host a gathering beginning at noon extends at Temple Emanu-El, 1 Lake St. in San Francisco designed as a gathering of people of all faiths to mark Saturday's tragedy. San Francisco Police Officer Giselle Linnane said today that police presence has been increased around the city's synagogues in light of the Pittsburgh tragedy. There were no known threats late Saturday afternoon, she said. Copyright 2018 by Bay City News, Inc. Republication, Rebroadcast or any other Reuse without the express written consent of Bay City News, Inc. is prohibited. This is our first time coming to this and when I told Marshall about what we were doing, he was a little confused as he thought we were going to go knock on doors, Thompson said. But now hes going into these restaurants and stores himself to get candy and hes pretty excited. Staff will also recommend keeping the tax rate flat. During the past several years, the city has not captured incremental increases in the value of Naperville property. As a result, most homeowners have seen a slight decrease in the city portion of their tax bills in the last three years, city spokeswoman Linda LaCloche said. You want to be open and allow people to come in and join you, she said. And, at the same time, you have to keep in mind the threats that can take place. Boracay (CNN Philippines, October 28) Just a day after its much-hyped reopening, officials noted violations of Boracay's new guidelines. Tourists were given notice of new rules being implemented on the island as part of the efforts to ensure the results of the clean-up are sustained. Boracay reopened to visitors on Oct. 26, but a day later, there is vehicle traffic at the beachfront despite specific instructions from Environment Secretary Roy Cimatu. Earlier this month, Cimatu said they would not allow vehicles on the shore once Boracay reopens. Sandcastles are also supposed to be banned since builders use chemicals that tend to discolor the white powdery sand which Boracay is famed for, the DENR said. Ambulant vendors, which also have been disallowed in the beachfront, continue to sell their wares, though discreetly. DENR called out tourists, who left trash on the beach, and there has been at least one robbery incident reported on the island with two foreign tourists falling prey. The Boracay Inter-agency Task Force, which will stay on to carry out the rehabilitation for about two more years, have been made aware of the guideline violations. DENR Undersecretary Benny Antiporda said, "Well as of the moment, pinagbibigyan sila. Hindi natin strictly inenforce kaagad 'to. But basically bago dumating yung Nov. 1, definitely, lahat 'yan ma-enforce na 'yan." [Translation: As of the moment, we are cutting them slack. We are not strictly enforcing these for now. But we will enforce it before Nov. 1.] Antiporda said the local government has yet to act on the implementation of the new guidelines, especially since Malay town, which has jurisdiction over Boracay, has an acting mayor. The Office of the Ombudsman recently placed Malay Mayor Ciceron Cawaling under preventive suspension over pending graft complaints. As of Sunday noon, more than 8,111 tourists have arrived in Boracay since its reopening. The number is expected to surge as airlines increase the frequency of domestic and international flights to Caticlan. CNN Philippines senior correspondent David Santos contributed to this report. Former Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice sold her four-bedroom abode on the Stanford University campus at the tail end of June for $1,962,500. Rice, who holds faculty positions at the university, purchased the 2,300-square-foot home in 2008 for $1,375,000, leaving her with a small profit. In other parts of the country, these facts wouldn't raise an eyebrow. However, this particular part of the Bay Area is nestled right up against two of the most expensive ZIP codes in the country. Palo Alto has plenty of claims to fame, but cheap real estate isn't among them. So how did Rice sell at a price that ignored the laws of supply and demand? Stanford cuts faculty a deal As a Stanford professor, Rice benefited from a program for eligible faculty to buy on-campus housing discounted (by Bay Area standards), which is then bought back by the university should they choose to leave. Stanfords housing website explains that the universitys founders, Leland and Jane Stanford, specified that campus land could never be sold. As a result, ownership interests in homes on the (highly desired) Stanford campus are transferred by a residential ground lease. So a Stanford homeowner doesnt own the land underneath the house, which gives Stanford control over the (ever-more valuable) properties. This provides buyers a major price break. However, the homes dont appreciate at market rate and cant be passed down to heirs. The homes can only be sold to eligible faculty and staff, or sold back to the university. In fact, all ownership records for these homes show both the name of the faculty member and Leland Stanford Jr. University. But the benefits of home ownership in the Bay Area make the lower appreciation worthwhile. Faculty members can receive mortgage help, equity, and, yes, a modest profit when they eventually sell, even at the below-market rate. Pricey Palo Alto land Stanford sits on valuable land, and is surrounded by a number of wealthy communities. According to realtor.com, the median sales price in Palo Alto is $2,800,000, and the city has an average price per square foot of $1,300. Given that college professors dont pull down salaries to compare with private industryand would have to compete for housing with employees of nearby Apple and Facebookthe housing program serves as a recruiting tool and a lifeline for academics from outside the Bay Area who dont see a $2 million house as any sort of bargain. These Stanford homes are only made available to a very limited pool of buyers. Affordability is a problem nationwide, but it is an acute problem in the Bay Area, because its so expensive, says listing agent Penelope Huang, who currently has a Stanford listing on the market. She notes that the low appreciation rate of the Stanford homes comes with pros and cons. "This house Im selling is half of much as what it would go for in Palo Alto. Thats part of the overall plan, to keep Stanford housing inexpensive. Its good for a new buyer, but its not good for a seller whos exiting. A Stanford condo for sale realtor.com Hugest home owner in the Bay Area? According to the Stanford faculty housing website, about 900 ground leases are held jointly by the university and faculty members in the area. Our records indicate that this number might be even a little larger, with the university listed as an owner (or co-owner) on over 1,000 properties in Santa Clara County. Homes on campus typically sell for about 20%-30% less than similar homes in Palo Alto, Menlo Park, or Los Altos, says Chris Iverson, an agent who has represented many properties on campus over the years. He's currently representing two sellers on university land, an estate priced at $4.7 million, and another at $2.4 million. Stanford campus home for sale realtor.com The properties are differentiated only in the listing details, which note that the homes are "eligible to Stanford faculty only." The other big difference? The too-good-to-be-true prices. While the prices still soar way, way above the national average for a house, these lower-market rate homes are meant to cushion the blow for out-of-towners looking to live among the academics. A midcentury modern Stanford property realtor.com Many faculty members, especially those coming from college towns, want to live on campus surrounded by other faculty," says Iverson. "The combination of the two helps Stanford recruit new faculty to our high-cost area." Iverson sees the program as a net positive for the area, Homes on campus, the housing purchase programs for faculty, and some of the new Stanford developments are all ways that the university is being proactive in combating the high cost of housing in the area. While it's a convenient way for faculty to buy into an area in the throes of a housing shortage, its less of an incentive to ever sell for an owner who's locked into the program, and Stanford continues to amass real estate for the ever-present housing need. In 2017, the university made headlines by constructing a 17-acre housing development with about 180 condos, aimed at first-time homeowners who are full-time faculty. According to a San Francisco Business Times story, the university provides homes for about 37% of its faculty, and continues to build more. The post Condoleezza Rice Strikes a Deal With Stanford to Sell Her Home appeared first on Real Estate News & Insights | realtor.com. STATEN ISLAND, N.Y.-- Police have arrested two teenagers in connection with a chaotic home invasion Friday night inside an Arden Heights home. Isaac Argro, 19, and Isaiah Argro, 19, face charges of robbery, assault, burglary and criminal possession of a weapon in connection with the incident, according to an NYPD spokeswoman. The defendants are twins, originally from the New Brighton area, with a more recent home address in Brooklyn. Isaac was arrested at about 4 a.m. Saturday inside the 120th Precinct station house, 78 Richmond Terr. in St. George, while his brother remained at Staten Island University Hospital, Ocean Breeze, police said. Police previously said one of the suspects -- now identified as Isaiah -- was treated for a gunshot wound suffered the same night as the home invasion. Although it is not yet clear exactly when and where the shooting occurred, sources said police initially responded to a report of gunshots at about 9 p.m. inside the downstairs apartment of the multi-family dwelling. It also remained uncertain, as of Sunday, who fired the shot. The home invasion victim, a 39-year-old male, suffered lacerations to the head after being struck with an unknown object, police said. STATEN ISLAND, N.Y.-- NYPD counter-terrorism officers were stationed outside Temple Emanu-EL on Sunday, while members of the Jewish Community mingled with borough officials inside the Port Richmond synagogue. The annual Council of Jewish Organizations (COJO) Legislative Breakfast was held less than 24 hours after the slaughter of 11 people inside a Pittsburgh synagogue by a man who reportedly screamed All Jews must die." It was reported Sunday the victims ranged in age from 54 to 97. Multiple police officers also suffered non-fatal injuries. When you go through the whole long history of the Jewish community in North America... nothing like this has ever happened, said Rabbi Gerald Sussman. The impact that it makes is very deep. I think myself and many others feel, that our sense of safety has somehow been shattered. NYPD Assistant Chief Kenneth Corey, borough commander, addressed those concerns. He said the NYPD received news of the mass shooting as it was reported by national news outlets, not knowing if this was the act of a single deranged individual, or part of a larger coordinated effort. Officers trained in counter terrorism were immediately assigned to posts outside local synagogues, and began taking those posts within about an hour of shots reported in Pittsburgh, said Corey, who previously served with the Office of the Deputy Commissioner of Intelligence and Counterterrorism. Weve seen a lot of hate over the past few weeks, he said. We need you to tell us whats going on in your community. When something doesnt seem right in your community. U.S. Congressional candidates Rep. Daniel Donovan and Max Rose also spoke at the annual event, where politicians typically address questions and concerns from the Jewish community. Both acknowledged the importance of civility on political matters, in the face of multiple terrorist attacks in recent weeks on domestic soil. My opponent is Max Rose, and hes is a good man," said Donovan. We both want to serve you in Congress, but were not enemies." Keeping an eye on things throughout the event were members of Staten Island Shmira, an unarmed emergency service formed a few years ago to assist with security, emergency aid and search and rescue throughout the borough. Moments before taking the podium Sunday, Staten Island COJO President Mendy Mirocznik said he has faith in his neighbors on Staten Island to rally behind the Jewish Community- referencing the response to Hurricane Sandy. Whether its a storm beyond our control, or a horrific act human beings can control....people of Staten Island are great people who rally together to do the right thing. STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- When Hurricane Sandy tore through Staten Island six years ago this month, St. Christopher's School in Grant City was spared major damage. But many families of St. Christopher's parish weren't so lucky as the storm surge flooded their homes. The school on Lisbon Place, just a block below Richmond Road, became a safe haven for the neighborhood and a distribution center for donations. The sixth grade gathers for a photo outside their classroom at St. Christopher's School. Their teacher, Sharon Rigatti, is at center in the back. (Staten Island Advance/Claire Regan) "The day after the storm, the children were hugging each other as they gathered in the gym," recalls Catherine Falabella, principal. "They were taking care of each other." That's not unusual at St. Christopher's, which Falabella says operates as one big family. "It was a tough year" she adds. "But the archdiocese, the school, the parish, the alumni - we all came together" to make it through. The Rev. Joseph McLafferty, pastor, and Principal Catherine Falabella join the 9-year-old Ferrante quintuplets in the school lobby. Standing are Ella, Emily and Amanda. In front are Matthew and Alessia. (Staten Island Advance/Claire Regan) Enrollment dipped slightly following the storm, but has since climbed back up to a healthy 257. "We're growing," the principal happily reports. St. Christopher's pre-K program accommodated only six students when Falabella was named principal over a decade ago. Today the Universal Pre-K program boasts 43 children in three classes. Elizabeth Vaccarino enjoys learning in her kindergarten classroom at St. Christopher's School. (Staten Island Advance/Claire Regan) The school also offers a pre-K program for three-year-olds, with 25 children enrolled this year. SUPPORTIVE PASTOR Principal Falabella is grateful for the support she receives from the Rev. Joseph McLafferty, pastor of the combined parishes of St. Christopher's and St. Margaret Mary's. Affectionately called "Father Joe," the pastor visits the school often and teaches religion in grades 2 and 8 - sacramental years for Holy Communion and Confirmation. Alessia Ferrante and Leonard Bilali enjoy fifth-grade science class at St. Christopher's School. (Staten Island Advance/Claire Regan) They started their positions within months of each other and have worked closely since. When Falabella noticed a need for special-education services in the school, she consulted with Father Joe and established occupational therapy, physical therapy and speech therapy as part of the curriculum. The school has also made art education a priority with a dedicated art teacher and art room. Self-portraits created by Susan Paradiso's students are arranged as colorful mosaics on walls throughout the building. Third-graders join their teacher, Rita Takach, in the blended learning lab. (Staten Island Advance/Claire Regan) As a blended-learning school, St. Christopher's offers desktop computers and Chromebooks to students in kindergarten to grade 3. Blended learning combines digital media with traditional classroom methods. After the teacher presents a lesson and introduces a concept by traditional methods, students use computers to work independently and in small groups until they are comfortable with the material. The teacher guides and evaluates each child before moving on. Cristiano Oliva and Jason Macchia, fifth-graders at St. Christopher's School, stand in front of their self-portraits displayed outside their classroom. (Staten Island Advance/Claire Regan) One-to-one differentiated instruction with iPads is offered in grades 4 to 8 and a partnership with St. Joseph by-the-Sea High School enables middle-school students to participate in the Seamless Online Learning Experience, or SOLE. Children already know how to use technology for play, Principal Falabella points out. "We teach them how to use it for academics." "We offer opportunities that enable our students to be prepared for high school and beyond," she adds. PASSIONATE EDUCATOR Born in Brooklyn, Catherine Falabella moved to Staten Island with her parents and five siblings and attended the former St. John Villa Academy School in Arrochar through grade 5, followed by St. Mary's School in Rosebank through grade 8. The Rev. Joseph McLafferty, pastor of the combined parishes of St. Christopher's and St. Margaret Mary's, joins eighth-graders as they proudly display their new school rings. (Staten Island Advance/Claire Regan) "My parents sacrificed a lot to put all of us through Catholic schools," she notes. She graduated from St. Joseph Hill Academy High School in 1984 and earned bachelor's and master's degrees in education from St. John's University, Grymes Hill. Falabella worked her way through high school and college at the former Pathmark supermarket on Forest Avenue, climbing the ladder from cashier to Islandwide human resources director. The success inspired her to briefly consider a career in business. Principal Catherine Falabella joins sixth-grader Preston Alicandri outside his classroom. (Staten Island Advance/Claire Regan) She has spent all of her 30 years as an educator at St. Christopher's, and most of the first 20 years teaching third grade. Falabella can't see herself working anywhere else. She calls St. Christopher's "a true parish school" because of its deep connection to the community. "These are my kids. I know them by name. We all know who they are and they know we take care of them," she says. "The children feel happy and safe here. And that's why they learn so well." STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- Students at Gaynor McCown Expeditionary Learning School in New Springville gave back to their community for the schools 10th annual Day of Service. We honor the memory of Gaynor McCown, our schools namesake, each year by heading out across Staten Island, Brooklyn and Manhattan to give back to our community, said Traci Frey, principal of the school. All 430 students at the school participated in service projects, which were designed by staff. Students were able to choose from 16 different opportunities, including: cleaning local parks; reading to preschoolers; mentoring students at elementary schools; painting the Staten Island Pride Center; making care packages for families with babies in the newborn intensive care unit at Richmond University Medical Center; hosting a Halloween party for students at the Richard Hungerford School, and more. The day highlights the character traits upon which the school is founded -- citizenship, integrity, perseverance, respect and responsibility. View the gallery above to see students during their service projects. As part of our education column, In Class, we are highlighting some of the activities Staten Island students are engaged in -- both inside and outside the classroom. Heres a look at some additional recent education-related happenings. FUNDING FOR SCHOOLS Councilman Joseph Borelli (R-South Shore) announced he allocated $550,000 in funding for Staten Island elementary and middle schools in fiscal year 2019. The funds will go toward new initiatives and upgrades for schools in Borellis district. We have the highest performing public schools in New York City right here on the South Shore of Staten Island and its my privilege to augment the hard work of principals, parents and PTAs by providing them with the resources they need to maintain their edge and continue producing outstanding students, Borelli said. The enhancements will include major technology upgrades, including smart boards and laptops at 12 local schools: PS 4, Arden Heights; PS 6, Richmond Valley; PS 8, Great Kills; PS 37, Great Kills; PS 42, Eltingville; PS 53, Great Kills; PS 55, Eltingville; PS 58, New Springville; PS 62, Rossville; Barnes Intermediate School (I.S. 24), Great Kills; Totten Intermediate School (I.S. 34), Tottenville; and Rocco Laurie Intermediate School (I.S. 72), New Springville. We at PS 53 are very grateful and thankful to Councilman Joe Borelli for allocating $50,000 to support our technology program, said Beth Albano, principal of PS 53. In an effort to provide our students with the tools necessary to be innovative in an ever-changing society, this funding will help facilitate our students growth. Pam Malloy, PTA president of PS 55, said: Words cannot express how lucky and happy everyone at PS 55 is for the technology funding were receiving this year. SCHOLARSHIP AWARD Staten Island Academy senior Samantha Trimboli was named the 2018 winner of the Michael Gordon Foundation Inc. Scholarship Award. The award is presented to a high school student who is academically gifted, an exemplary leader and demonstrates strong citizenship in the community. Samantha is a scholar, a leader, an athlete and is certainly not afraid to try something new and unfamiliar or take on a challenge, said Eileen Corigliano, assistant head of school. She is intellectually curious and always looking to better herself and help others. Since she began Staten Island Academy as a freshman, Trimboli has acquired several academic awards, and was inducted into both the Spanish and National Honor societies. She was also elected by her peers as the vice president of the Student Advisory Council. Samantha embodies all of the characteristics that we value here at Staten Island Academy, said Albert Cauz, head of school. The Michael Gordon Foundation Inc., was established by Michael Gordon a famous handbag designer to help young people in the areas of education, health and welfare. Schools can apply to the foundation for grants, with the funds awarded to students as scholarships. Staten Island Academy senior Samantha Trimboli was named the 2018 winner of the Michael Gordon Foundation Inc. Scholarship Award. (Photo courtesy of Teresa Pelosi) Do you have a story idea for the In Class education column? Email education reporter Annalise Knudson at aknudson@siadvance.com. FOLLOW ANNALISE KNUDSON ON FACEBOOK AND TWITTER. Rep. Dan Donovan Six years later, Superstorm Sandy may be in the annals of history but her impact is very present in our community as we still continue to rebuild from this disaster. We all remember the October days leading up to Superstorm Sandy. I was Staten Island district attorney at the time and remember the uncertainty our borough faced when this storm came racing up the east coast. Many of us ran to our local ShopRite to gather every last bottle of water and canned food, and waited on long lines for gas. We checked on our loved ones and neighbors as the storm roared towards us. As we tried to sleep that night, we all heard the howling winds, unaware of the extent of destruction awaiting us. Little did we know that we would awaken to a living nightmare. New York suffered an astronomical $19 billion in damages, nearly 1.2 million without power, and 90,000 buildings in the inundation zone. We lost 43 New Yorkers - 24 of them in Staten Island and several more in Brooklyn. Parts of Staten Island and Brooklyn were unrecognizable. Houses and buildings were destroyed, whole communities remained flooded, and our streets blocked by fallen trees and covered with the personal belongings of our neighbors washed from their battered homes. Small businesses - many of them family owned - were lost or hurt so badly that they couldn't ultimately recover. But lurking beyond this rubble was another disaster in and of itself: a dreadful recovery process that affected so many, including my neighbors, friends, and members of my own staff. Residents suffering from this merciless storm were fed wrong information through this flawed process. Neighbors of similar financial standing facing similar levels of damage were directed to varying financial options to rebuild their homes. Some were saddled with tens of thousands of dollars in Small Business Administration (SBA) loans, while others received free grants from the Build It Back program. For some, surviving the storm was easier than surviving the aftermath. I am sure that people reading this right now are in this category. Thankfully this confusion and frustration in the recovery process never has to happen again. Earlier this month, President Trump signed into law my provisions that overhauls it. I am thankful it is finally rectified. In Congress, I have been co-leading the bipartisan charge with the Army Corps of Engineers for our Staten Island Seawall. This massive project takes time but I have been able to help expedite it by resolving bureaucratic hurdles that have come our way. The process to get it constructed is on schedule and I am fighting to ensure it stays that way. One of the biggest reliefs is on the horizon. Come this December, Congress is slated to pass measures effectively mandating that the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) revise its payment schedule to a monthly basis instead of having to pay a large sum on the front end. This is a huge win for our beleaguered community. Next month, the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) is due to expire. Such action would leave those with coverage in financial limbo and trigger delays for New York real estate deals. While this program is in desperate need of a path to fiscal sustainability, I will fight for its reauthorization and believe Congress will do so. Ever since my election to Congress in 2015, Sandy recovery has been a paramount priority of mine. In fact, my dedicated staff has worked with hundreds of homeowners on cases involving the recovery process from rebuilding to flood insurance and continues to do so until this very day. I am proud of how New York has persevered in the last six years. On this solemn anniversary, know that we remain committed to serving our community to alleviate the pain of yesterday, resolve the hardships of today, and prevent the burdens of tomorrow. (Dan Donovan is a United States congressman representing Staten Island and part of Brooklyn.) STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- Staten Island has the fastest-growing senior population in the five boroughs, and the nations largest advocacy organization for older Americans warns that the city must be more prepared to meet skyrocketing need for people over age 65. AARP New York leaders presented their concerns, with a particular focus on supportive services for family caregivers, at a New York City Department for the Aging public hearing held last week at the Staten Island JCC. As New York Citys senior population skyrockets, we must increase funding and expand services to meet the needs of this vulnerable population, said Chris Widelo, Associate State Director of AARP for New York City. That includes meeting the needs of even more New Yorkers who are finding themselves in the critical role of caregiver for a loved one. The group says funding for services that aid caregivers is key in allowing seniors to age at home, which the AARP calls more cost-efficient than institutionalized care, an option that is largely funded by taxpayers. According to the AARP, in a 2016 survey, family caregivers said its very important for the city to provide more funding for in-home respite services where someone would come to the home to provide a break for the caregiver. They want more adult day care services, increased and improved transportation service for older adults, more services to help caregivers manage healthcare, and increased help with household chores related to the care of a loved one. A 2017 study by city Comptroller Scott Stringers office projected that Staten Islands senior population will grow to almost 78,000 by 2020, a nearly 30 percent increase over 10 years. There were 59,344 Staten Islanders over 65 years old in 2010, and 71,184 in 2015 -- a nearly 20 percent bump. A recent report from state Comptroller Thomas DiNapolis office also noted Staten Island has the highest median age (40.4) of the five boroughs. The AARP is also calling for additional investments for case management, homecare, NORCs (Naturally Occurring Retirement Communities), and addressing food insecurity, in the NYC FY2020 budget, the organization said in a statement. SOUTH SHORE FUNDING BOOST In addition to supportive services, a growing senior population means elected officials will have to grapple with how to manage the cost of providing a range of services and programming, in addition to senior housing. South Shore Councilman Joseph Borelli just last week announced $300,000 in funding for seniors in his district, largely for cultural programming. Included on the list of funded organizations was Community Agency for Senior Citizens (CASC) for enhancements to its transportation program. With the ever-increasing senior population on Staten Island and the limited public transportation availability in many neighborhoods, CASC Senior Transportation fills the need to assist seniors continue to be independent by providing fixed routes to grocery stores, banks, pharmacies, neighborhood senior centers, recreational trips and some limited medical transportation for seniors who do not qualify for NYC MTA Access-A-Ride, said Nikki Odvilak, CEO of CASC. The $300,000 will also go to fitness, safety, nutritional and horticultural programs. The South Shore has the largest number of seniors on Staten Island, with 28,331 in 2015 -- or 17 percent of the areas population -- versus 21,285 on the North Shore and 21,452 in the Mid-Island district. "Jing Yang Zhong," the first 3D Kunqu Opera, won the Award for Best Artistic Contribution at the 31st Tokyo International Film Festival on Friday. Produced by the Shanghai Center of Chinese Operas and Shanghai Kunqu Opera Troupe, it is the first time that a traditional Chinese opera film has entered the Tokyo International Film Festival and won an award. Along with the Shanghai International Film Festival, the Tokyo International Film Festival is one of Asia's biggest competitive film festivals. Koichiro Matsuura, the former director-general of UNESCO, presented the Award for Best Artistic Contribution to "Jing Yang Zhong." Matsuura is connected to Chinese Kunqu as Kunqu Opera was featured in one of the first batches of "Intangible Cultural Heritage Lists" by UNESCO. As Xinhua News Agency reported, Koichiro Matsuura felt very happy and honored to be the award presenter when "Jing Yang Zhong" won. "It has been 17 years since Chinese Kunqu Opera was listed on the 'Intangible Cultural Heritage Lists' by UNESCO on 2001. Over the past 17 years, China's excellent traditional culture has been better protected and developed in the new era," said Gu Haohao, a producer of the film and president of Shanghai Center of Chinese Operas. "I hope to attract a young audience to the theater to appreciate the excellent traditional Chinese culture, as shown through a more international and high-tech cinematic style," Gu added. "Jing Yang Zhong" is adapted from a famous traditional opera about the end of the Ming dynasty. Since it was adapted, the traditional opera has become a new Kunqu Opera film, which features Chinese culture and martial arts. According to the Southern Daily, in general, there are three modes for shooting traditional opera films, including live shooting, shooting in a studio and recording on stage. "Jing Yang Zhong" compressed the stage version, which runs more than two hours, down to 100 minutes and made the main plot more compact while using cinematic techniques to give it more of a visual impact. In 2017, "Jing Yang Zhong" won the "Best Opera Film" and the "Best Director" at the Canada Golden Maple Film Festival and participated in the film panorama of the 21st Shanghai International Film Festival in 2018. To continue, please log in, or sign up for a new account. We offer one free story view per month. If you register for an account, you will get two additional story views. After those three total views, we ask that you support us with a subscription. A subscription to our digital content is so much more than just access to our valuable content. It means youre helping to support a local community institution that has, from its very start, supported the betterment of our society. Thank you very much! The crash sparked several inquiries as well as the investigation by CASA. The Australian Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB) is yet to make a determination on the crash. The Queensland police are still investigating the crash and a Coronial Inquiry is expected to be held early next year. CASA the body that licences pilots and oversees safety launched its own investigation into the crash and released findings that suspended their pilots' licences just 17 days after the crash. The finding was delivered the day after another light plane went down in Perth killing two passengers. CASA said it had "reason to believe that the decision of Mr Woodall to pilot aircraft VH-WTQ at an impermissibly low level and his subsequent mishandling of the emergency landing were significant contributing factors to the accident which occurred on 10 January 2017." Mr Rhoades claims CASA's investigation raises serious questions of procedural fairness and was flawed by sub-standard evidence. Bruce Rhoades, in his Bathurst home, Credit:Phil Blatch It said the plane exceeded its maximum take-off weight. Yet a load and balance sheet produced by Mr Rhoades says the plane was 15kg below the limit. Jason Lonnon, a passenger in the aircraft travelling behind the crash plane whose son was one of the survivors, was asked if he recalled being weighed and he said he couldn't remember, but might have been. He said "weight had nothing to do with the plane coming down." CASA claimed the plane's fuel was contaminated, based on evidence collected in a used Coca Cola bottle some days after the accident. A 29-year-old British backpacker died and two of the three other passengers, including pilot Les Woodall, were seriously injured when the Cessna 172 crashed near Middle Island. It also said the pilot, Mr Woodall, should not have tried to land on the beach, an assessment disputed by a number of aviation experts, who were shown the video by the joint media investigation. Like many of the experts, former CASA employee Kenneth Pratt, who worked as an airworthiness inspector for 20 years before retiring in 2008, said after watching the video, landing in water could have been even more disastrous. I dont imagine that the passengers have vests or life preservers on so there would have been a potential for them to drown in an accident like that, he said. Mr Pratt said if the water was more than four, five, six feet deep, the wheels would have dug in and the thing probably would have flipped which means it would have been upside down in the water. Bruce Rhoades whose aviation business had its licence taken away. Mr Rhoades was on the scene of the crash within minutes and said the water was more than one metre deep. Mr Rhoades said from engine failure to the crash was 27 seconds. From 180 feet with a failed engine choices are very limited.he [Woodall] made an impossible choice and saved three lives in 27 seconds, in some part due to the fact that he and I had discussed a water landing scenario and probable outcome many times, he said. CASA refused to be interviewed but responded to a series of questions. It said "based on available evidence, CASAs position is that the pilot had a preferable option available and should not have attempted to perform a 180 degree turn back to the beach at the point in the flight when the alleged engine failure occurred." It said "the matter at hand is not about the potential risks involved in a water landing, but rather about the safest way to manage an aircraft in an emergency situation to avoid an aerodynamic stall". CASA also alleged that the plane was flying too low, which significantly and unnecessarily raised the level of risk associated with the flight because it meant that, in the event of an unanticipated in-flight upset (such as an engine failure) he would have only minimal altitude, and therefore time, to safely manage the upset. Mr Woodall, the pilot who was flying the plane gave evidence to CASA and said he was inspecting the beach for debris prior to landing something the company had approval from CASA to do. Pilot Les Woodall. Mr Woodall, who has an unblemished record, had planned to use some of this evidence to appeal the cancellation of his pilots licence in the Administrative Appeals Tribunal. But in August CASA offered him a confidential settlement if he dropped the legal action. It is understood the settlement did not require any admissions of wrongdoing or negligence. It also allows Mr Woodall to reapply for his pilots licence. It is understood Woodall accepted the settlement offer and the action was dropped. He declined to comment. The settlement was made before the police, a coronial inquiry or the official investigator, the ATSB, have finished their separate investigations into the accident. Mr Rhoades, who has been given weeks to live after being diagnosed with an aggressive cancer in the brain, said his life had fallen fell apart after crash. The flashes I get the most, and I, I guess the thing that disturbs me the most, is doing CPR on that girl for so long. And, uh, that, I guess, is the thing that comes back, if you like, to haunt me, he said. There's Woody (Les Woodall) and myself being able to hold our heads up amongst our peer group in our own industry and the second reason is that, the family of the dead girl in particular and I want to make sure that they know the truth. "And a third reason, I just can not allow this culture of CASA to go on, without speaking up very, very loudly against it." When CASA cancelled his licence, he said it not only financially ruined him, but destroyed his reputation. Mr Rhoades has been flying since he was 18. He bought Wyndham Aviation in 2008 and said over the years about 30,000 people had taken his chartered flights. He said in the early days he clashed with CASA, which didnt like his adrenalin flights. In 2007 - when Mr Rhoades worked for another company, CASA grounded him which resulted in him pleading guilty in the Magistrates Court to four charges. He pleaded guilty to administrative issues with his pilot's log book and maintenance sheets. He also pleaded guilty to a charge of unauthorised commercial operations. Mr Rhoades said he did charter flights but the company he worked for didn't have a charter licence - something Mr Rhoades said he didn't know and rectified once alerted. He also let a tourist get a shot touching the controls mid-flight, which is not allowed. He said he never did it again. The passengers on the back of the aircraft were far more severely injured because they did not have over shoulder seat-belting. Bruce Rhoades He was directed to undertake theory and flight examinations to demonstrate that he had the necessary knowledge and skill to continue to hold those licences. Mr Rhoades said passengers enjoyed rock and roll flights but they werent aerobatic and before each flight passengers were asked to fill in a form if they wanted a flight which included a demonstration of a light aircrafts ability within normal procedures. Passengers signed the form on January 10, before setting off. But Mr Rhoades believes if CASA was serious about safety it would implement lessons learnt from his companys accident. The passengers on the back of the aircraft were far more severely injured because they did not have over shoulder seat-belting in the back of the aircraft, he said. Jason Lonnon was one of the first people on the scene of a fatal plane crash. His son survived. If they mandated that all of those older aircraft be fitted with that over shoulder seatbelt immediately They've not done that. Shortly before federal authorities arrested Cesar Sayoc Jr. a registered Republican with a criminal record whose social media accounts were filled with right-wing conspiracy memes the president was back on Twitter. "Republicans are doing so well in early voting, and at the polls, and now this 'Bomb' stuff happens and the momentum greatly slows news not talking politics," he wrote in a 10:19 a.m. post Friday. By referring to likely domestic terrorism as "this 'Bomb' stuff" and tying it to the coming midterm elections, Trump was making the not-so-veiled suggestion that the media was exaggerating the story because of some political motivation. Even in a national crisis, he was sticking with his anti-media strategy. The question is, is it working? The short answer is yes. Increasingly, the president's almost daily attacks seem to be delivering the desired effect, despite the many examples of powerful reporting on his presidency. By one measure, a CBS News poll over the summer, 91 per cent of "strong Trump supporters" trust him to provide accurate information; 11 per cent said the same about the media. Trump was open about the tactic in a 2016 conversation with Lesley Stahl of CBS News, which she shared earlier this year: "I do it to discredit you all and demean you all, so when you write negative stories about me, no one will believe you," she quoted him as saying. And with the president settling on "fear and falsehoods" as an election strategy, as The Washington Post put it last week, the political information system is awash in more misleading or flatly wrong assertions than reporters can keep up with. It's as if Trump has hit the journalism industry with a denial-of-service attack. Loading We have seen gross distortions aplenty during political low moments in the United States. But something like the "Swift Boat" campaign against Democratic presidential nominee John Kerry in 2004 with its accusations that the candidate had faked his war record seems almost quaint in retrospect. That attempt drew scrutiny from major media organisations, and eventually led to broad condemnation, even from the candidate it was intended to benefit, President George W. Bush. Now, partisan smears are a staple of every single news cycle. As crude pipe bombs were discovered at CNN headquarters and in mailboxes across the country, Trump's supporters like Fox Business host Lou Dobbs, Rush Limbaugh and conservative writer Ann Coulter asserted that the crime was a frame job by Democrats. Before pipe bombs and the Pittsburgh synagogue shootings dominated the news, the main story was the migrant caravan and it was accompanied by wild speculation on talk radio, social media and from opinionated personalities on Fox News. A myth went viral: The thousands of desperate Hondurans making their slow way toward the US border were players in a drama hatched by Democrats and funded by the right's all-purpose villain, Soros, a notion Trump seemed to nod to at a rally in Montana. Trump has used the media to unite his supporters, say experts. Credit:AP Reporters respond by pointing out that these assertions have no basis in fact, just as they attempt to knock back Trump's manufactured content by producing running tallies of his false statements more than 5,000, says The Washington Post's Fact Checker column. Now and then journalists will resort to the L-word, "lie," as The New York Times has done on occasion. Other frequent targets of the president's disdain, CNN and MSNBC, have debunked his claims with on-screen headlines and endless panel discussions. Such good-faith efforts, however, seem increasingly ineffectual. The president has succeeded in casting journalists as the prime foils on his never-ending reality show, much to the delight of those who cheer him on at rallies. "He has succeeded in creating a daily narrative in which he is the central figure," Steve Coll, the dean of the Columbia University School of Journalism and a staff writer at The New Yorker, told me. "And he uses props and invented opposition whether they are migrants hundreds of miles from the U.S. border or the press right in front of him to pursue this kind of idea he has about how his populism works." Trump's communications director for 10 days, Anthony Scaramucci, was matter-of-fact when he told Bloomberg TV on Thursday, "Yes, the president is lying, but he's doing it intentionally to incite certain people, which would include left-leaning journalists and most of the left-leaning politicians." By engaging with his ceaseless attacks and baseless claims, are journalists falling into a trap? That's the view of Steven Pinker, a Harvard professor of cognitive science, who has described the president as a promoter of a "counter-Enlightenment ideology." Even with its saturation coverage of the pipe bombs, Pinker argued on Twitter, "The press gets gamed again." In a telephone interview, he said the media had read too much into the acts of one disturbed person. "It's not a reflection, in itself, of the mood of the country," Pinker said. He conceded, though, that the media cannot ignore Trump. And there's the conundrum. This president "speaks a lot and tweets a lot without his material being vigorously vetted, and there are many more factual inaccuracies that we have to deal with," said Glenn Kessler, the longtime Fact Checker columnist at The Post. But by so often putting his words under a microscope, journalists may give the impression to Trump's supporters and even some undecided voters that they are out to get him. Loading "It signals that there is a different issue at play here, which is a desire to constantly portray Trump and everything he and his administration says as lies," said Danielle Pletka, a senior vice president at the American Enterprise Institute, a conservative research organisation. She added that the media should stop picking at his every rhetorical nit and focus, instead, on his biggest whoppers. But the idea of letting falsehoods and lies go unchallenged for the sake of public relations goes against the average reporter's reason for getting up in the morning. So what to do? I turned to an expert in rhetoric, David Zarefsky, professor emeritus at Northwestern University. Reporters must adjust themselves to someone who has thrown out the classical rules of debate, he said. "Logic and argument is built upon a set of assumptions, and Trump largely rejects those assumptions," he said. "One of those assumptions has to do with the importance of facts and the power of generally accepted beliefs." As he sees it, a common mistake reporters make is "holding on to conventional standards of judgment that he has just cast aside." In practical terms, then, journalists should ignore Trump's tactic of using false narratives to divert their attention away from real crises, he said. The Chinese Cultural Week kicks off in Bucharest on Saturday with a brilliant, spectacular show performed by the Chinese artists from Henan art troupe. Organized by the Confucius Institute in collaboration with the Chinese Cultural Center in Bucharest, capital of Romania, the initial performance held in the Aula Magna of the Law School enchanted the public and was a great success. "Everything was extraordinary. I didn't see so much professionalism in a long time," Irina Cajal, Undersecretary of Romania's Ministry of Culture, told Xinhua. "My only regret is that it's the only performance in Bucharest, it should have been seen by more people. We have to strengthen a long-lasting friendship and to have more cultural exchanges," she added. Indeed, the experience was unique for the Romanian public, as teachers and students, officials and representatives of Chinese companies crowded here and enjoyed the Chinese dances, traditional folk music and Shaolin monk's thrilling demonstrations of kung fu art with applause. Besides, the public was touched by two Romanian songs performed by the Henan ensemble, "Ciocarlia (The skylark)," a folk tune, and "At the mirror," composed on Romanian famous poet George Cosbuc's lyrics, which were specifically prepared for the event. "It was a wonderful evening, a splendid experience to understand the vibrant culture of the Chinese people. I was extremely moved when the artists performed two beautiful Romanian songs," said Vasile Marta, a school teacher. "In that moments, I recalled what a great, warm friendship our nations cherished and a friendship I hope we will pursue." The nearly two hours' show were marked by the friendly atmosphere between the Romanian and the Chinese people. The new report found that most temporary migrant workers, who represent 11 per cent of the Australian labour market, have little confidence in trying to claim unpaid wages. It said 46 per cent of underpaid survey participants would not even try to recover unpaid wages. Reasons included the fear of job loss, fear of consequences regarding their temporary migrant visa or citizenship and pessimism about the outcome. UTS law lecturer Laurie Berg and study co-author says "the system is broken". "The system is broken," study co-author Laurie Berg, a senior law lecturer from UTS, said. "It is rational for most migrant workers to stay silent. The effort and risks of taking action aren't worth it, given the slim chance they'll get their wages back," she said. The researchers have found that almost a third of people surveyed earned as little as $12 per hour or less even thought they were entitled to at least $22.13 per hour as casual workers. These group of workers excluded 457 visa holders. A spokesman for the Fair Work Ombudsman said it is considering the report. "It is a priority for the Fair Work Ombudsman to assist any migrant workers with concerns about their wages or entitlements," the spokesman said. "The Fair Work Ombudsman is also focused on increasing awareness among migrant workers of their workplace rights and the resources available to them." Jay (not his real name) was paid as little as $11 an hour. Credit:James Brickwood An international student who worked in a Sydney retail shop for six years who spoke to the Herald on the condition of anonimity said he was paid $11 per hour for the first two years. He said he was required to work seven nights a week and studied during the day. In 2013 he was paid $12 per hour and promoted to a management role. More than four years later he was sacked after asking for a pay rise for his staff. The Redfern Legal Centre calculated that Jay* was underpaid $270,000 taking into account his underpaid base rate of pay, penalty rates for night work, annual leave, sick leave, long service leave and superannuation. Redfern Legal Centre sent the business a letter of demand requesting the payment of this money but it wrote back and accused the worker of stealing from the shop. The worker said the allegations were baseless. The Redfern Legal Centre prepared an application to the Federal Circuit Court to claim the unpaid employment entitlements and to also seek penalties against the employer but the worker was too scared to take his action to court because he feared his citizenship could be revoked and that the employer could tarnish his reputation in the community. Redfern Legal Centre Employment Solicitor Sharmilla Bargon said underpayment for migrant workers is endemic in New South Wales. "The report, Wage Theft in Silence, confirms many of our observations from providing free legal advice and representation to international students and backpackers at RLC," she said. We frequently see workers paid as little as $12 per hour. Thats almost half the minimum wage." Ms Bargon said the study had identified key barriers that prevented people from coming forward. More than a quarter of study particpants said they would not speak up because of fears of losing their visa. Ms Bargon said one of her clients Kirin* was unfairly dismissed and underpaid for 18 months of work at a bar. Loading "The employer had been paying Kirin $12 an hour cash in hand, well below the correct hourly wage," she said. "RLC helped Kirin lodge an unfair dismissal claim in the Fair Work Commission, and represented him in a conciliation. Because Kirin* came forward about his experience, he received $25,000 worth of compensation for his underpayment of wages and unfair dismissal." Ms Bargon said Kirins former employer threatened to report him to the Department of Home Affairs for working more than 40 hours a fortnight, in breach of his student visa. He has since become a permanent resident. "If his visa situation had not changed, Kirin would have had to decide between recovering his lost wages and the risk of deportation. Because of this, we were able to push back on the employer and they ended up paying Kirin for the hours he had worked," Ms Bargon said. Many international students who find out they have been underpaid do not pursue their wage claims because of the risk that they could be sent home halfway through a hard earned and expensive degree." A worker who arrived in Melbourne on a student visa in 2014 said he was not aware of minimum wage rates when he received $14 dollars per hour to work in a cafe. He said he did not taken any action against the employer for his underpayment because he thought it would be a "waste of time". "I kept quiet," he said. "I didn't want to draw attention to myself on a student visa. "At the time, I thought the amount was good compared to what I would get in Malaysia," he said. "I resigned after aboue one month as I found out that $14 was too low for what I was doing." * Not their real names Unions NSW Secretary Mark Morey said migrant workers on temporary visas should be given a fireproof amnesty from deportation if they report wage theft. "Migrant exploitation is a national shame that Australia must confront and fix," he said. "All too often the people cleaning our offices or serving us food are illegally ripped off. Many of us in education, and within the great mass of parents and grandparents, really are over all this argument and so-called debate about the merits or otherwise of NAPLAN. Arent there more important education issues we should be discussing? Yes, its important to score well in Maths and English. And, I guess its important to be internationally competitive on PISA, and probably competitive on a statewide basis. But really, do we need to devote so much media space to these measures and our apparent competitive failures? Do we need to feel so troubled about our failure to top the most recent list? Maths and English are important, but so are many other subjects that help set up children for life. Student performance in the social sciences - the arts and humanities - are equally important. But when was the last time we had public discussion of these learning areas? What are the measures being developed to profile international standards in these areas? History, geography, visual art, technology, music are creative, issues-based subjects that explore our humanity. They examine why we are as we are, consider alternative futures and are intended to nurture our emotional intelligence (EQ). EQ is an essential skillset for navigating the complexities of the world today. Many of the curriculum subjects and the important hidden curriculum (the non-quantifiable subtleties of the playground and the sportsfield) together directly impact the development of EQ. EQ is a predictor of effectiveness, relationships, wellbeing and quality of life. The World Economic Forum now identifies it as one of the essential skills of the future. The 2018 findings from one of the most extensive pieces of research on global trends in Emotional Intelligence, State of the Heart, 2018, expresses concern for the general state of EQ and calls for more attention to EQ at all levels of education. Maybe its time we discussed developing and mandating a subject in the science and technology field. Or possibly world history and geography? Ive heard argument for a world arts subject which explores creative works art making, music and writing - from the different regions of the world. How about some public discussion of these options? If there has been one obvious anecdotal finding from my years in education it is that families moving to Australia often do so because they want access to our education. They want schooling which is less prescriptive, less regimented, more discussion-based, more diverse. Incoming families want more creative thinking, debate of world issues and flexibility. They want their children to be exposed to the writings of great thinkers, to be given an opportunity to develop innovation, creativity and risk taking, more than the rigidity of many of the systems they leave behind. Our schools and our Australian curricula are prized and highly valued globally. We should appreciate all subject areas, recognising the advantages of each and the value of the totality. MUSIC KYNETON MUSIC FESTIVAL St Paul's Park, Kyneton, October 26-27 The joy of a good small music festival like Kynetons is that it's a chance to see new (and established) local talent in one hit. After an intimate Friday night at the Bluestone Theatre, Saturday's main event in St Paul's Park saw locals, part-time locals and weekenders drinking $6 wines in the sunshine to the dirty rockabilly of Emilee South, the dreamy pop of Amaya Laucirica and more. The park is actually a square set back from the street and into the hill at the side of the bluestone St Pauls Anglican Church, which every other Saturday hosts a farmers market. Free-range kids scuttled around the churchyard and the adjacent venue Major Toms a petite bar with American-style diner seating hosted a second stage, where long lines in the latter half of the day due to licensing restrictions made it difficult to get inside. But with the main attractions outdoors, it hardly mattered. Fitting timeslot: Sonny and the Sunsets. Credit:Lazlo Evenhuis As the sun went down and the minors were whisked off to dinner and bed, the crowd thickened and the volume went up. The summer-happy sounds of Sonny and the Sunsets ushered in the evening, their unkempt guitar pop, vocal harmonies and classy lyrics (dum de dum dum de dum dum oh yeah ooh etc) setting the tone. (Their band name is a genius ploy to play the coveted sunset slot at festivals, if nothing else.) A major housing project on Sydney's south-western fringe will remove koala habitat with the developer using an existing council parkland to compensate for the destruction. Lendlease's 216-hectare Gilead development will leave about 30 hectares of woodland, with the company permitted to offset vegetation removal by improving habitat on the adjoining Noorumba Reserve. Koalas in Sydney's south-west are under threat from rising population in the region. This marsupial was photographed in St Helens Park. Credit:Nick Moir Conservationists, though, say the project will increase pressure on one of the state's healthiest koala populations as colonies shrink statewide because of destruction of habitat and disease. Campbelltown City Council should be responsible for enhancing the reserve, they said. "The Campbelltown koalas are a precious wild koala colony virtually on Sydney's backdoor step," Sharyn Cullis, secretary of the Georges River Environmental Alliance, said. "Their continued protection and welfare should be a matter of pride for the whole of Sydney." Hospital emergency department staff are dealing with mental health overcrowding issues on a"frighteningly regular basis", says a senior doctor. Staff were last week anticipating a tough weekend after several days he described as ugly. Perths mental health system was under such stress last week that a 'code yellow' was called, reflecting an internal emergency relating to overcrowding and the lack of mental health beds in the system to accept patients who had presented at an emergency department. A code yellow for mental health beds is called when there are 15 patients waiting for secure mental health beds within the metropolitan public health system. Mental health patients who were not able to be moved to appropriate beds outside of the emergency department ended up spending long periods in emergency departments. The ACT government will offer 151 homes to community housing providers under its plan to address housing affordability and homelessness in the capital. Chief Minister Andrew Barr and Housing Minister Yvette Berry will on Monday issue the government's long-awaited housing strategy, more than two years after it was promised as part of its pitch for re-election in 2016. Under the plan, 151 dwellings will be made available to community housing providers through an open tender process. Housing Minister Yvette Berry will on Monday release the ACT Government's long-awaited housing strategy. Credit: Jamila Toderas The properties will include a mix of existing public housing stock and dwellings to be built as part the Dickson Section 72 development and a public and community housing project in Kaleen, Belconnen. Late in the afternoon of the second Thursday of a parliamentary fortnight, a stunning sense of quiet settles over Parliament House. The moment Question Time ends, the desperate scramble for the airport begins. Within two hours, the corridors fall silent. Most people leave the building. Those who remain are sluggish, totally spent. The madness of the previous fortnight already seems like a dream. But within days, the madness begins again at least for the prime minister. Parliament has just risen for a few weeks, and with two state elections and one federal election ahead, there will be those watching the PM to see how vigorously he hits the campaign trail. As Laura Tingle points out in her recent Quarterly Essay, Follow the Leader: Democracy and the Rise of the Strongman, such habits, with their constant motion, are a modern symptom of having little to say. For those judging, its the right metric, but in the wrong direction. The strongest sign of how serious Scott Morrison is about winning the next election is not how much we see of him in coming days, but how little. Back in his days leading Tourism Australia, Morrison reportedly kept a photo of John Howard in his office. The prime minister should make time this week to read his idols introduction to a new edition of his speeches. Morrison can take heart from Howards praise for his belief in the partys broad church. But if he is being honest with himself he might allow his attention to be snagged by another line. Politics, Howard writes, is not a public relations tournament. The state Finance Minister says he will demand the slashing of targets for new housing in his electorate, in a dramatic escalation of anti-development rhetoric by a senior member of the Berejiklian government. The Member for Ryde, Victor Dominello, has been campaigning against the scale of development in his local area even though the requirement to build thousands of new homes in the area is set by his own government. Mr Dominello has already helped secure a two-year freeze on new rezoning applications for residential housing in Ryde the only council area in which such a freeze applies. Finance Minister Victor Dominello with Premier Gladys Berejiklian. Credit:AAP But the Finance Minister is also pushing for a longer-term reduction in the volume of new homes to be delivered in the area. In March, the Greater Sydney Commission set a five-year housing target for Ryde of 7600 new dwellings. NSW has the strongest budget in Australia but on access to housing it is lagging every other state, a report card on state performance has found. The analysis, which comes months before the NSW election, reveals significant variation between states in key areas including health, education, energy, transport, housing, tax and economic management. On access to housing, NSW is lagging every other state. Credit:Louise Kennerley Victoria is outperforming other states in the crucial area of health services, the largest single component of state expenditure. Patients in Victoria wait 24 days less for an elective procedure than patients in NSW and the average cost per patient treated in Victoria is about $350 less in NSW. We have witnessed on our TV screens over the past week daily reminders of the cost of war. We have cheered on participants in the Invictus Games, mostly injured veterans of the wars in the Middle East. Returned men and women straining every surviving nerve in feats of athleticism and endurance. The limbless, the wheelchair bound, and those scarred in body and mind, have all emerged as astonishingly brave and resilient. Of course, among those not seen are the dead, the totally incapacitated, the victims of suicide since deployment, and, of course, all those hundreds of thousands whose lives have been similarly crushed on the other side. Loading What is the real lesson in all of this? Surely it is this: that the political decision to deploy our service men and women in war should be taken out of the hands of a handful of ministers and given to the parliament. Those going to war in our name deserve nothing less than the incontrovertible support of our nations supreme democratic body, before they go. World political and corporate leaders highlighted the multilateralism and cooperation approach to cope with the globalization backlash and its threat to the sustainable development goals (SDGs) during the World Investment Forum (WIF) in Geneva this week. As a high-level biennial conference organized by the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) for addressing investment-related issues, the 2018 WIF attracted 6,000 participants, 12 heads of state and more than 50 CEOs of private companies. For UNCTAD Secretary-General Mukhisa Kituyi, the pace of innovation and technological change is altering the way in which goods and services are designed, produced, transported and consumed globally, and this will have profound and far-reaching implications for trade, investment and development. "We are seeking to counter uncertainties and an inward-looking perspective, to refocus political attention and corporate leadership on the opportunities rather than the pitfalls that the global economy can offer," said Kituyi. Milo Djukanovic, president of Montenegro, said that Montenegro was a team player in the multilateral system and committed to building a progressive and transparent investment climate based on clear rules. This approach was bearing fruit, with 5.5 billion U.S. dollars invested in Southeast Europe, including Montenegro, in 2017, he said. He also told the audience that his country has "definitely" benefited from Chinese investment, adding that the European Union (EU) should focus its efforts to help the Southeast Europe develop its infrastructure. Calling that huge highway project with Chinese companies "the most expensive infrastructure project that Montenegro has ever had", Djukanovic refuted criticism and suspicion on Chinese participation in the project, underlining that it is impossible for his own country to implement such a project with national budget. Paul Bulcke, chair of Nestle, also defended globalization by saying that "an integrated world is better than a disintegrated world," while it was clear not everyone had benefitted, the project of free trade and globalization "was not done yet". Nestle had 450 factories in almost 100 countries and regions. It was making billion-dollar investments all over the developing world, with a commitment to creating shared value, he underscored. Hage Geingob, president of the Republic of Namibia, echoed the concerns of his fellow leaders and made a special appeal on behalf of African countries, particularly concerning investment in infrastructure. Inclusivity spelt peace and prosperity, and the reverse was true, he said, leading to the inexorable conclusion that multilateralism, midwifed by the United Nations, was the only course his country would pursue. Kocho Angjushev, Deputy Prime Minister of the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, meanwhile said his government was committed to improving trade and infrastructure links with Europe and the world. The World Federation of Exchanges' chief executive officer, Nandini Sukumar, said that her members -- stock, commodities and derivatives exchanges -- was home to 45,000 companies which were participants in the "real economy". High on the agenda for international investors were regulatory coherence across borders, now under threat from nationalism, cybersecurity and systemic risk, she said. Roland Chalons-Browne, Siemens Financial Services chief executive officer, said that tit-for-tat tariff tensions were not helping the investment climate, and investing in developing countries was critical not least to create opportunities for people who might otherwise migrate to find better conditions elsewhere. The President of the UN General Assembly Maria Fernanda Espinosa highlighted the multilateralism as a way to solve global issues such as climate change, the fight against tuberculosis and HIV/Aids, natural disasters and disarmament or migration. She stressed that her Presidency is very strongly guided by "a commitment to multilateralism". "I think that the need to strengthen multilateralism, to make it worthwhile, to make it more relevant, more efficient, to deliver more and better, is much needed nowadays," she noted. Botswana's President Mokgweetsi Masisi said that with the proactive involvement of multilateral institutions, "the attainment of the Sustainable Development Goals is not as far-fetched as we might imagine". Lesotho's Prime Minister Motsoahae Thomas Thabane said his country was "open for business" and enhancing its institutional and regulatory frameworks to make it easy to invest there. "As a landlocked country, investment is not an option but a must for sustainable economic growth," he said. World Economic Forum President Borge Brende said that since 1990, global GDP had doubled, and the proportion of the Planet's population living in extreme poverty had dropped from 42 percent to 12 percent, which was an effect of globalization and trade. "I think it's a bad idea to stop globalization. But I think we should improve it. We should make sure that globalization is more equitable and fair, job-creating, sustainable, and that it fights inequalities," he said. Mouhammad and Pamela Tabbaa are facing a million-dollar legal bill after they lost a major defamation action against the Nine Network over a 60 Minutes program which accused the couple of allowing the kidnapping of their 13-year old daughter Nadia, holding her against her will in Syria where she was forced to marry a cousin 15 years her senior. In December, after only a days deliberation, a Supreme Court jury found that the claims made in the 60 Minutes program, titled Forced Marriage: An Extraordinary Story of Kidnap, Survival, Escape and Hiding, were substantially true. Mouhammad Tabbaa. Credit:AAP Justice Des Fagan was scathing about the Tabbaas case and, after the jury delivered its verdict, he described Mrs Tabbaas evidence as just absolutely appalling. Scott Morrison, as we all know, has higher engagements on Sunday mornings. This was handy, because otherwise you might leap to conclusions about why he wasnt anywhere to be seen when Matthew Guys Liberals gathered to launch their election campaign. On the other hand, the state Liberals had enough unwelcome visitors disrupting their show without anyone from Canberra muscling in and reminding everyone the senior branch of the family had gone barking. Matthew and his Liberal team who, unlike their Canberra cousins, have not had a leadership coup for four whole years had gone to much trouble to keep secret from all but invitees the venue for their launch. Almost 13 degrees in the city now ahead of a sunny top of 19. It's climbing steadily this week, hitting a top of 33 on Thursday. Cricket Australia will release the findings of a wide-ranging review into the culture of the sport today. The review was sparked by the sandpaper debacle in March. That's it from us today. Check back tomorrow for your chance to win Circus Oz tickets. Have a delightful day. Two police officers acted on instinct to drag a drowning kangaroo out of the water on Melbourne's Mornington Peninsula. The kangaroo was struggling in the water, blood and froth coming from his nose and mouth, when Sergeant Christopher Russo and Senior Sergeant Kirby Tonkin arrived at the beach. "There was no conversation at all, we both knew that's what needed to be done so we just got to it," Sergeant Russo said. The officers from Rosebud Police Station were called to Safety Beach about 5pm on October 27 for the dramatic wildlife rescue. As the Duke and Duchess of Sussex boarded their plane ending the Australian leg of their royal tour just before 10am, they told dignitaries: "We can't wait to come back." At a blustery Sydney airport Prince Harry, in a grey suit, and Meghan in a mid-calf length burgundy dress, and both wearing poppies, boarded a Royal New Zealand Air Force flight bound for Wellington. Travelling with them on the Boeing 757 were several members of the New Zealand Invictus team. Just before boarding they chatted to NSW Planning Minister Anthony Roberts, representing the premier of NSW and Julian Leeser, MP, representing the Prime Minister. Mr Roberts said afterwards: "Almost three years to the day I was here to meet Prince Charles with my week-old baby who is almost three now. Meghan said she loved the place. They both said they adored Australia and Australians. Both said they couldn't wait to come back. Bright young students with an interest in policy work are increasingly choosing to join consulting firms instead of the Australian Public Service, a public policy expert warns. Professor Glyn Davis, who is a member of the panel reviewing the APS, also said a drop in quality of government services and contracting had contributed to a decline in trust in the government, as well as concerns around the ethics of for-profit companies providing government work. Glyn Davis is a member of the APS review panel. Credit:Louie Douvis Professor Davis said contracting policy work out meant the public service was not necessarily the first choice for people wanting to work on policy, and this was creating a challenge. "If youre a bright young honours student thinking about your next career are you going to apply to the graduate entry program for the APS or are you going to apply for one of the big consulting firms? And increasingly I think its the latter," he said. The Morrison government has announced $2 million of funding for an Origin Energy study into the proposed expansion of its Shoalhaven pumped hydro scheme, a project that could provide baseload power for up 80,000 homes. The proposal, which would nearly double the station's capacity from 240MW to 475MW should it go ahead, is to pump water from Lake Yarrunga to Fitzroy Falls Reservoir via a new underground pumped power station. The funding for the feasibility study, costing up to $6.8 million and expected to be completed by 2019, will be provided by the Australian Renewable Energy Agency and has been touted by Energy Minister Angus Taylor as beneficial to pumped hydro projects nationally. Origin is examining doubling the output of the Shoalhaven hydro power station. "This project is a great example of the governments commitment to delivering reliable and more affordable electricity," Mr Taylor said in a statement. Deputy NSW Labor leader Michael Daley says hes stuck to a rule of never drinking alcohol when Parliament is in session since being accused of inebriation in the chamber six years ago. And he has hit back at plans by senior ministers to make him, as well as Opposition Leader Luke Foley, a target for personal smear, claiming voters are absolutely repulsed by the tactics. Deputy opposition leader Michael Daley says he no longer drinks on parliamentary sitting days. Credit:AAP The Herald reported over the weekend that senior Liberals were preparing to go on the warpath against Mr Daley should he replace Mr Foley as Labor leader before next years state election in March. One senior minister claimed Mr Foley was cooked, while upper house Liberal Dr Peter Phelps warned that full use would be made of footage allegedly showing Mr Daley slurring his speech during parliamentary debate on WorkCover reforms in the early hours of the morning in 2012. Jeremy Buckingham has not cut a stone benchtop for more than seven years, ever since he won a seat in NSW Parliament. But recently, memories of his stone-cutting days have left him fearing for his life. Amid public warnings of an impending lung disease crisis in the artificial stone benchtop industry, the Greens MP has been recalling memories of being coated in "talcum powder-like" dust and wearing useless cotton masks. Greens MP Jeremy Buckingham was as stone cutter for 14 years. Credit:Jessica Hromas "The dust would get into your hair, eyes, teeth and down the back of your neck. You'd go home, have a shower, blow your nose and it'd come out like hard glue," he says. "We were worried, but we were told just to sweep it up using a dust pan or broom. No one ever said 'you need to be careful'." A Queensland family whose baby girl died at a rented home in 2010 have welcomed a government proposal to introduce minimum standards for rental properties in the state. Lyn and Ken Diefenbach have been advocating for prescribed minimum standards for rental properties since their seven-week-old granddaughter Isabella died in an accident involving a rotten floorboard on a deck. Isabella was being held by her father when the floorboard gave way and the infant fell from his arms. Seven-week-old Isabella Diefenbach fell from a balcony and died in May 2010. The Diefenbachs say the tragedy "could have been avoided" and believe the government including minimum standards as part of a proposed reform to the Residential Tenancies and Rooming Accommodation Act will prevent future accidents. Huawei Technologies Co Ltd is aiming to ship 200 million smartphones globally this year, its top executive said recently, which will be roughly the same number as Apple's annual shipment of 200 to 210 million units. Yu Chengdong, CEO of Huawei's consumer business group, said in a group interview that the overall shipment of Huaweis smartphones is likely to exceed 200 million this year. It shipped 153 million units in 2017. We are not pursing to rank first in the market scale. For us, to be the first in user experience and the ability to innovate are most important, said he. He also disclosed that the company is stepping up developing folding smartphones, which will be launched in 2019. Bigger smartphones are needed as the digitalized development poses a higher requirement of handsets, but meanwhile, they dont fit pockets. To this end, smartphones that can be folded will be a future trend, he added. Yu made the remarks after Huawei finally introduced its latest Mate 20 series smartphone with a tantalizing price in China on Friday. The new series includes the Huawei Mate 20, Mate 20 Pro, Mate 20 RS Porsche design and Mate 20X in its lineup, which is said to be its biggest push to rival Apple Inc. The newly-unveiled Huawei Mate 20 Pro, designed to compete with the iPhone XS Max and Samsung Technology Co's Galaxy Note 9, was priced lower in the country, starting at 5,399 yuan ($777). The handset comes with a plus, an on-screen fingerprint sensor, which allows users to unlock their handsets either way. With three rear-facing cameras, the Mate 20 Pro also has an artificial intelligence engine that can scan real-life objects and turn scans into an animated emoji. Different from other smartphones, the latest gadget also can charge other phones wirelessly by using its back. According to market research company International Data Corp, the company had a record high share of 15.8 percent of the global smartphone market and more than Apple in the second quarter of this year. Former prime minister Malcolm Turnbull and Indonesian President Joko Widodo during the ASEAN-Australia Special Summit in Sydney in March, prior to Mr Turnbull's ousting. Credit:AAP The former prime minister is a close friend of Mr Widodo, widely known as Jokowi, and his trip comes less than two weeks after Mr Morrison flagged Australia could move its embassy in Israel from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem, and recognise Jerusalem as that nations capital. Mr Turnbull landed in Bali late on Sunday evening, at the request of Prime Minister Scott Morrison, to lead an Australian delegation attending a global conference on how to protect and preserve the worlds oceans. Malcolm Turnbull speaks to the media at his hotel in Bali ahead of his meeting with Indonesian President Joko Widodo on Monday. Credit:Amilia Rosa Denpasar : Former prime minister Malcolm Turnbull will attempt to repair damaged Indonesia-Australia relations during a meeting with President Joko Widodo on Monday. The shock proposal ahead of the Wentworth byelection prompted an angry response from Indonesia, Malaysia, and large swathes of the Arab world because of the perceived snub to the Palestinian cause, even leading to suggestions the Indonesia-Australia free trade agreement which has been agreed but not signed could be axed. Several senior Indonesian government ministers have publicly dismissed that suggestion and even as Indonesias April 2019 presidential election, which will likely feature a strong dose of economic nationalism approaches the countrys main opposition parties have declined to buy into the dispute so far. Malcolm Turnbull and Joko Widodo, pictured here in a selfie with their wives, are known to get along well. Credit:Instagram/turnbullmalcolm But in an acknowledgement that the relationship between the two countries had taken a hit, Mr Turnbull said on Sunday night that he would directly address bilateral ties with Indonesia when he met Mr Widodo. Of course it will [be discussed], he said. I am very pleased that the friendship that President Jokowi and I have was able to see our relations reach, I think, a real high point. Washington: This is what they had long been fearing. As the threats increased, as the online abuse grew increasingly vicious, as the defacing of synagogues and community centres with swastikas became more commonplace, the possibility of a violent attack loomed over America's Jewish communities. People embrace along the street in the Squirrel Hill district of Pittsburgh where a shooter opened fire during services at the Tree of Life Synagogue. Credit:AP On Saturday, the worst of those fears was made real as a gunman stormed a Pittsburgh synagogue, killing at least 11 of its members and injuring many more, reportedly shouting "All Jews must die" during his rampage. It is the worst single attack on American Jews in the history of the country. And it is one that many who have been monitoring anti-Semitic activity in the United States have been dreading. "Unfortunately, in the atmosphere we are in, as shocking as these incidents always are, they are not surprising," said Oren Segal, director of the Anti-Defamation League's Centre on Extremism. "Anti-Semitism is the lifeblood of extremism, and violence is never that far behind." In its annual Audit of Anti-Semitic incidents in the United States, the ADL chronicled a 57 per cent rise of incidents in 2017 over the previous year. That included everything from bomb threats and assaults to vandalism, desecration of cemeteries and the flooding of college campuses with anti-Semitic posters and graffiti. Brasilia: Former Army captain Jair Bolsonaro won Brazil's presidential election on Sunday, riding a wave of frustration over corruption and crime that brought a dramatic swing to the right in the world's fourth-largest democracy, official results show. With 94 per cent of the ballots counted, Bolsonaro had 56 per cent of the votes in the run-off election against left-wing hopeful Fernando Haddad of the Workers Party (PT), who had 44 percent, according to the electoral authority TSE. Bolsonaro's rise has been propelled by rejection of the leftist PT that ran Brazil for 13 of the last 15 years and was ousted two years ago in the midst of a deep recession and political graft scandal. Laura Chinchilla, the former president of Costa Rica who is head of the Organization of American States' Electoral Observation Mission, said the vote had been calm and orderly across the country, which has suffered a spate of partisan violence during the campaign. Six major powers moved closer Monday toward a draft resolution tightening sanctions against Iran over its controversial nuclear program, Britain's UN ambassador said. "We've made substantial progress," Emyr Jones Parry told reporters after envoys of the six nations held two hours of informal talks here. "Our expectation now is that the fruit of our discussion will be sorted out by our experts this evening, sent back to our capitals and we will meet again tomorrow morning to see how we take it forward," he added. The two-hour informal session involving envoys of the UN Security Council's five permanent members (P5) -- Britain, China, France, Russia and the United States -- plus Germany followed up on bargaining sessions they held throughout last week. Jones Parry said the P5 would be able to report Tuesday their progress to the Security Council's 10 non-permanent members. Forestry authorities in southwest China's Sichuan Province have issued a notice banning visitors from getting close to giant pandas, including the prevalent practice of paying to have pictures taken with them. The notice, issued by the Sichuan provincial forestry bureau, said that facilities that keep captive pandas in the province should not organize activities that allow people to get close to pandas for commercial purposes, such as feeding or taking pictures with them, the Xinhua News Agency reported Thursday. "This answers the call that panda supporters in China have been making for a long time to ban such commercial activities for the sake of protecting pandas," Zhao Huawen, founder of the Eudemonia Bank, a Chengdu-based organization dedicated to protecting panda habitats, told the Global Times on Friday. Since surveillance cameras have been installed at the Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding, which livestreams 24/7, many panda fans were infuriated when they saw visitors taking pictures with pandas, Zhao said, adding that there have been constant appeals to ban tourists or celebrities from getting close to the endangered animals, because they may pass on diseases. In January 2015, a captive panda died at a research center in Northwest China's Shaanxi Province, after it became infected with an unidentified disease, Xinhua reported. In early January, pictures posted online showing some visitors posing for pictures with pandas at the Chengdu base sparked heated discussion online. Some netizens posted that the center charged 1,000 yuan (143 US dollars) per person to take photos with pandas. However, the base previously denied the claims to the Global Times, saying it did not allow the practice. Only breeders, veterinarians and researchers are allowed to get physically close to pandas, it said. The State Forestry Administration issued a notice in 2015 stipulating that tourists are forbidden from having close contact with endangered animals. The notice said that these facilities must put pandas into quarantine for more than 60 days if an animal has been transferred from another facility or rescued from the wild. These pandas will not be introduced into feeding areas until they have passed the quarantine period. Scientists revel in exploring mysteries, and the bigger the mystery, the greater the enthusiasm. There are many huge unanswered questions in science, but when you're going big, it's hard to beat "Why is there something, instead of nothing?" That might seem like a philosophical question, but it's one that is very amenable to scientific inquiry. Stated a little more concretely, "Why is the universe made of the kinds of matter that makes human life possible so that we can even ask this question?" Scientists conducting research in Japan have announced a measurement last month that directly addresses that most fascinating of inquiries. It appears that their measurement disagrees with the simplest expectations of current theory and could well point toward an answer of this timeless question. Their measurement seems to say that for a particular set of subatomic particles, matter and antimatter act differently. Matter v. Antimatter Using the J-PARC accelerator, located in Tokai, Japan, scientists fired a beam of ghostly subatomic particles called neutrinos and their antimatter counterparts (antineutrinos) through the Earth to the Super Kamiokande experiment, located in Kamioka, also in Japan. This experiment, called T2K (Tokai to Kamiokande), is designed to determine why our universe is made of matter. A peculiar behavior exhibited by neutrinos, called neutrino oscillation, might shed some light on this very vexing problem. [The 18 Biggest Unsolved Mysteries in Physics] Asking why the universe is made of matter might sound like a peculiar question, but there is a very good reason that scientists are surprised by this. It's because, in addition to knowing of the existence of matter, scientists also know of antimatter. In 1928, British physicist Paul Dirac proposed the existence of antimatter an antagonistic sibling of matter. Combine equal amounts of matter and antimatter and the two annihilate each other, resulting in the release of an enormous amount of energy. And, because physics principles usually work equally well in reverse, if you have a prodigious quantity of energy, it can convert into exactly equal amounts of matter and antimatter. Antimatter was discovered in 1932 by American Carl Anderson and researchers have had nearly a century to study its properties. However, that "into exactly equal amounts" phrase is the crux of the conundrum. In the brief moments immediately after the Big Bang, the universe was full of energy. As it expanded and cooled, that energy should have converted into equal parts matter and antimatter subatomic particles, which should be observable today. And yet our universe consists essentially entirely of matter. How can that be? By counting the number of atoms in the universe and comparing that with the amount of energy we see, scientists determined that "exactly equal" isn't quite right. Somehow, when the universe was about a tenth of a trillionth of a second old, the laws of nature skewed ever-so-slightly in the direction of matter. For every 3,000,000,000 antimatter particles, there were 3,000,000,001 matter particles. The 3 billion matter particles and 3 billion antimatter particles combined and annihilated back into energy, leaving the slight matter excess to make up the universe we see today. Since this puzzle was understood nearly a century ago, researchers have been studying matter and antimatter to see if they could find behavior in subatomic particles that would explain the excess of matter. They are confident that matter and antimatter are made in equal quantities, but they have also observed that a class of subatomic particles called quarks exhibit behaviors that slightly favor matter over antimatter. That particular measurement was subtle, involving a class of particles called K mesons which can convert from matter to antimatter and back again. But there is a slight difference in matter converting to antimatter as compared to the reverse. This phenomenon was unexpected and its discovery led to the 1980 Nobel prize, but the magnitude of the effect was not enough to explain why matter dominates in our universe. Ghostly beams Thus, scientists have turned their attention to neutrinos, to see if their behavior can explain the excess matter. Neutrinos are the ghosts of the subatomic world. Interacting via only the weak nuclear force, they can pass through matter without interacting nearly at all. To give a sense of scale, neutrinos are most commonly created in nuclear reactions and the biggest nuclear reactor around is the Sun. To shield one's self from half of the solar neutrinos would take a mass of solid lead about 5 light-years in depth. Neutrinos really don't interact very much. Between 1998 and 2001, a series of experiments one using the Super Kamiokande detector, and another using the SNO detector in Sudbury, Ontario proved definitively that neutrinos also exhibit another surprising behavior. They change their identity. Physicists know of three distinct kinds of neutrinos, each associated with a unique subatomic sibling, called electrons, muons and taus. Electrons are what causes electricity and the muon and tau particle are very much like electrons, but heavier and unstable. The three kinds of neutrinos, called the electron neutrino, muon neutrino and tau neutrino, can "morph" into other types of neutrinos and back again. This behavior is called neutrino oscillation. [Wacky Physics: The Coolest Little Particles in Nature] Neutrino oscillation is a uniquely quantum phenomenon, but it is roughly analogous to starting out with a bowl of vanilla ice cream and, after you go and find a spoon, you come back to find that the bowl is half vanilla and half chocolate. Neutrinos change their identity from being entirely one type, to a mix of types, to an entirely different type, and then back to the original type. Antineutrino oscillations Neutrinos are matter particles, but antimatter neutrinos, called antineutrinos, also exist. And that leads to a very important question. Neutrinos oscillate, but do antineutrinos also oscillate and do they oscillate in exactly the same way as neutrinos? The answer to the first question is yes, while the answer to the second is not known. Let's consider this a little more fully, but in a simplified way: Suppose that there were only two neutrino types muon and electron. Suppose further that you had a beam of purely muon type neutrinos. Neutrinos oscillate at a specific speed and, since they move near the speed of light, they oscillate as a function of distance from where they were created. Thus, a beam of pure muon neutrinos will look like a mix of muon and electron types at some distance, then purely electron types at another distance and then back to muon-only. Antimatter neutrinos do the same thing. However, if matter and antimatter neutrinos oscillate at slightly different rates, you'd expect that if you were a fixed distance from the point at which a beam of pure muon neutrinos or muon antineutrinos were created, then in the neutrino case you'd see one blend of muon and electron neutrinos, but in the antimatter neutrino case, you'd see a different blend of antimatter muon and electron neutrinos. The actual situation is complicated by the fact that there are three kinds of neutrinos and the oscillation depends on beam energy, but these are the big ideas. The observation of different oscillation frequencies by neutrinos and antineutrinos would be an important step towards understanding the fact that the universe is made of matter. Its not the entire story, because additional new phenomena must also hold, but the difference between matter and antimatter neutrinos is necessary to explain why there is more matter in the universe. [5 Mysterious Particles That May Lurk Beneath Earth's Surface] In the current prevailing theory describing neutrino interactions, there is a variable that is sensitive to the possibility that neutrinos and antineutrinos oscillate differently. If that variable is zero, the two types of particles oscillate at identical rates; if that variable differs from zero, the two particle types oscillate differently. When T2K measured this variable, they found it was inconsistent with the hypothesis that neutrinos and antineutrinos oscillate identically. A little more technically, they determined a range of possible values for this variable. There is a 95 percent chance that the true value for that variable is within that range and only a 5 percent chance that the true variable is outside that range. The "no difference" hypothesis is outside the 95 percent range. In simpler terms, the current measurement suggests that neutrinos and antimatter neutrinos oscillate differently, although the certainty does not rise to the level to make a definitive claim. In fact, critics point out that measurements with this level of statistical significance should be viewed very, very skeptically. But it is certainly an enormously provocative initial result, and the world's scientific community is extremely interested in seeing improved and more precise studies. The T2K experiment will continue to record additional data in hopes of making a definitive measurement, but it's not the only game in town. At Fermilab, located outside Chicago, a similar experiment called NOVA is shooting both neutrinos and antimatter neutrinos to northern Minnesota, hoping to beat T2K to the punch. And, looking more to the future, Fermilab is working hard on what will be its flagship experiment, called DUNE (Deep Underground Neutrino Experiment), which will have far superior capabilities to study this important phenomenon. While the T2K result is not definitive and caution is warranted, it is certainly tantalizing. Given the enormity of the question of why our universe seems to have no appreciable antimatter, the world's scientific community will avidly await further updates. Originally published on Live Science. Don Lincoln is a physics researcher at Fermilab. He is the author of "The Large Hadron Collider: The Extraordinary Story of the Higgs Boson and Other Stuff That Will Blow Your Mind" (Johns Hopkins University Press, 2014), and he produces a series of science education videos. Follow him on Facebook. The opinions expressed in this commentary are his. Don Lincoln contributed this article to Live Science's Expert Voices: Op-Ed & Insights. The Gravity Assist Podcast is hosted by NASA's Chief Scientist, Jim Green, who each week talks to some of the greatest planetary scientists on the planet, giving a guided tour through the Solar System and beyond in the process. This week, he's joined by Alex Young, a solar scientist from NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center, to discuss the mechanisms behind the Sun's violent outbursts. You can listen to the full podcast here, or read the abridged transcript below. [Stunning NASA Image Lets You Watch the Sun Explode in Real Time] Jim Green: What do we mean when we use the term, 'space weather'? Dr. Alex Young of NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center. (Image credit: NASA) Alex Young: Well, space weather is this environment in the Solar System that's created by the Sun and the energy and matter that it puts out, and how that interacts with all the bodies in the Solar System. [There is] this sort of somewhat steady wind that's coming off the Sun, we call it the solar wind, and that's the Sun's hot atmosphere that is streaming out into space. It carries away the Sun's magnetic field and sometimes we even get these explosions, and they're huge almost like tsunamis that ride on top of the solar wind, and these are the more energetic phenomena that make up space weather. Jim Green: So these are things like flares and coronal mass ejections? Alex Young: Right. The Sun has a very strong magnetic field and that magnetic field gets twisted up inside of it, much like rubber bands get twisted; they have tension, they have pressure, [and] sometimes they get twisted enough and they snap violently, releasing energy [in the form of] a flash of light that we call a solar flare. And sometimes they spit out these huge blobs of material. Those are called coronal mass ejections (CMEs), and both [flares and coronal mass ejections] can create shock waves that excite particles to [high] speeds and so we get this storm of energetic particles. Jim Green: Those particles can affect instruments on our spacecraft, ands also have implications for human exploration not only on the [International Space] Station but for when we go beyond low-Earth orbit too. Alex Young: Exactly, and they are creating this very, very dynamic but hazardous and hostile environment [not only] for humans out in space, but [also for] all our technology, because all this stuff is electromagnetic and interacts with technology, which is electric in nature. Jim Green: Alex, what's the worst solar flare you've ever seen from the missions you've been involved in? Alex Young: Well, the biggest one that I know of and it actually happens to be the biggest one that was ever been recorded in the Space Age happened during a time period of about two weeks. [During a period between] the end of October to the beginning of November 2003 [there were the] Halloween storms, and one of those flares that occurred just as the flaring region was rotating out of view on 4th November created what we call an X-class flare, and this one was off the charts. It was bigger than anything we'd ever seen, and in fact our instruments couldn't even record it, so we had to estimate how big it really was. Jim Green: When these flares take off and they start accelerating particles does that happen in all directions, or is it very directional? Alex Young: The light from flares is not directional, it's pretty isotropic. So if you see it anywhere that region is visible on the Sun. But the particles, those are very directional. They are created by jets and those particles are actually slamming into the Sun, creating the light, [and] then streaming out into space. The Sun released one of the fastest and largest CMEs ever recorded (the giant cloud on the right of this image) on 22 July 2012. The glare of the Sun is blocked out by a coronagraph. (Image credit: ESA & NASA/SOHO) Jim Green: What's the worst CME you've ever seen? Alex Young: Well the worst CME I've ever seen also happens to be the biggest we've seen in the Space Age. In July 2012 there was an event that actually happened on the side of the Sun. It was caught by one of our spacecraft, STEREO, which [is actually two spacecraft] orbiting the Sun, and we measured this CME moving at a phenomenal 3,500 kilometers per second. It's the biggest, fasted one we've ever recorded. Jim Green: So these are bubbles of reconnected magnetic field and in those bubbles are all the atmosphere that the bubbles capture, and they just sort of lift off and fly at us? Alex Young: Exactly. And the crazy thing is that they're really huge they start off bigger than Earth in size and they quickly expand as they're moving away from the Sun, and very quickly they can then fill huge portions of the inner Solar System. And they're carrying billions of tons of material as well as the magnetic field of the Sun inside of them. Jim Green: Now a CME may or may not hit the Earth, but when they do, we're in for a beautiful dazzling display of auroral lights. Alex Young: And it's amazing. But there's so much more that happens when all of that stuff is interacting with Earth's magnetic field and the tear-shaped bubble around the Earth we call the magnetosphere. A magnetically-intense active region on the Sun. Such areas are the starting points of solar flares and coronal mass ejections. (Image credit: NASA/SDO) Jim Green: Have we seen everything the Sun can put out in terms of space weather? Alex Young: Most definitely not. We have not seen even a blink of an eye of the life of the Sun. When the Sun was younger it was far more active, and we've really only seen a little bit [of that]. We know, by looking at historical records of aurorae that there [have been] huge storms. But we also see signatures in radioactive elements carbon-12, beryllium-10. These are left by nuclear reactions in the atmosphere with particles [from the Sun] and we can see these traces in things like ice cores and tree rings, so we know there have been much bigger events in the past. Jim Green: What are some of the big historic solar storms that we've been studying? Alex Young: There have been a few in the modern age. There's one that I talked about, the Halloween storms, [which were a] whole series [of events] during October/November 2003. A very famous one, in March 1989, caused a power outage in Quebec in Canada. But the big one that most people refer to is what's called the Carrington Event. That was seen by Richard Carrington in England in September 1859. There were a series of events and he saw the first white-light flare, [which is] a solar flare visible in white light with a telescope, and then a few days later, they observed aurorae here on Earth. That's the first time they made the connection between these magnetic eruptions on the Sun, the flare, and something occurring here on Earth. Jim Green: Carrington saw the flare and then a coronal mass ejection lifted off. Seventeen hours later, there was the aurora. Now coronal mass ejections typically take 80 hours to reach here from the Sun, and so this thing was really moving. It had an enormous amount of mass and then the aurora was observed cutting right through the United States, through Mexico, and down into Central America. So a pretty spectacular event. Alex Young: t was a really cool event for a lot of reasons and we've seen similar things. Even with the July 2012 event, the speeds were comparable about 17 hours for it to reach about the distance from the Sun to the Earth. Jim Green: Now that one didn't hit the Earth. Alex Young: That one didn't hit the Earth, it hit a spacecraft to the side of the Earth, STEREO. But that spacecraft was at about the same distance. [Anatomy of Sun Storms and Solar Flares (Infographic)] A close-up of a coronal mass ejection. (Image credit: NASA/SDO) Jim Green: Now, they [CMEs] come from really big sunspots. Alex Young: We're talking sunspots that are many times the size of the Earth. And these sunspots, the bigger they get, the more complex they get. We can see how much energy they have contained inside them, which gives an indication of what sort of activity might we see. Jim Green: Are there other events like the Carrington Event even further back in the past? Alex Young: There's one that's been talked about recently, called the Charlemagne Event because it's estimated to be within a period of about 774 or 775AD, somewhere in that period during the time of Charlemagne, and it was recorded in carbon-14 in tree rings. This event was 10 to 20 times bigger than the Carrington Event. And that's just massive. Jim Green: What would happen to our technological infrastructure if an event like that occurred today? Alex Young: It could be quite catastrophic. There have been studies by the National Academies that estimate that there would certainly be billions of dollars of damage, there are even estimates of up to trillions of dollars because it would have such a global impact on our technology infrastructure. We could see power outages across the globe and in interconnected power grids especially. There would also be impact to communications and we would possibly lose many satellites. We're now in an age of technology that we didn't have even in 2003, and certainly not in 1989. So we don't really know what a massive or strong solar event would do to the infrastructure that we have today. Jim Green: Now that we're becoming more aware of how active the Sun could be, how can we protect our technology here on Earth? Alex Young: There are a lot of things we can do. One is simply prediction; that is, trying to make some sort of estimate of when an event is going to occur. Now as you mentioned, CMEs take some time to get here. But for a solar flare, there's not a lot you can do. Once you see it, it's here. [In that case] you just have to be prepared and have a fast reaction time. Another thing that we can do, when we talk about the impact on the power grids, is that we can improve the power grids themselves, improve the infrastructure, and even when we know an event is coming, we can do simple things like turning the power grid off for a short amount of time. It's just like if you knew there was a lightning storm coming to your house, the first thing you would do is unplug your stereo. Sunspots seen on the disk of the Sun in white light. Sunspots are formed in active regions, and their magnetic fields are the source of solar flares and CMEs (Image credit: NASA/SDO) Jim Green: In fact, how it affects our power grids is really because of the aurora. The aurora has huge currents that are in the ionosphere, so as they pass overhead, they induce other currents in our power grid that aren't usually there, and therefore they can overload the transformers, burn them out, and that's what causes the massive power-outages. Alex Young: Exactly, because these currents are looking for large conductors to travel through. Jim Green: Do you think there's a connection between space weather and its importance to the formation of life in our Solar System? Alex Young: Absolutely! One of the things we know is the Sun has changed over time. It was much dimmer in the past, spinning much faster, but it was also much more active. We estimate the early Sun was producing many Carrington-like events on a daily basis. Also the spectrum of that Sun was different. [Back then] there was much more ultraviolet, much more X-rays, so all the planets were being bathed by huge amounts of radiation. This had an impact on how atmospheres themselves formed. This radiation is interacting with these atmospheres, changing how they evolve, and it could have had an impact on the energy source needed to spark life. Jim Green: One of the things that I love to do when I talk to my colleagues is to try and understand how they got into this field. What were the events in their life that really got them excited about their science, gave them that gravity assist that propelled them forward to become the scientist they are today? So Alex, what's your gravity assist? Alex Young: Well, it's a multi-part assist. It's a couple of little pushes and then one giant push. When I was a young kid I saw the original Star Trek in syndication, and I was fascinated by this idea of exploring space and especially the character of Mr. Spock, so I thought this would be so cool to be able to do that. Then around the same time I saw a show by Carl Sagan called Cosmos, [in which he took the viewer] around the Universe in a space ship. I started to see, hey, I can actually do this. I can actually be an explorer like Mr. Spock, but I can do it in real life and study the Universe from here with telescopes and spacecraft. It was an exciting time because it was the early 1980s, so the Voyager results were coming out. I was writing to NASA and they were sending me pictures from Jupiter and Saturn. At the same time I was getting specs for the space shuttle, they were just beginning with the launch of that, so all this was happening as I slowly slipped into high school. And my dad was an art professor, and one of his colleagues was a physics professor, so they made a deal. The physics professor's daughter wanted to study art. And I wanted to study physics. So they said, if we can swap and in the afternoons they go and meet with each other and learn. So I went and met with the physicist while his daughter studied with my dad, and I learned about physics. He helped me, I built a laser and went to the science fair and really got into all this. This sort of came together finally, and that was the piece that just shot me out. That was the really, really serious assist. This story was provided by Astrobiology Magazine, a web-based publication sponsored by the NASA astrobiology program. This version of the story published on Space.com. Follow us on Twitter @Spacedotcom or on Facebook. Artist's illustration of how rocky, potentially habitable worlds elsewhere in our galaxy might appear. Data gathered by telescopes in space and on the ground suggest that small, rocky planets are common. (Placing them so close together in a line is for illustrative purposes only.) The tally of potentially habitable alien planets may have to be revised downward a bit. To date, NASA's prolific Kepler space telescope has discovered about 30 roughly Earth-size exoplanets in their host stars' "habitable zone" the range of orbital distances at which liquid water can likely exist on a world's surface. Or so researchers had thought. New observations by the European Space Agency's (ESA) Gaia spacecraft suggest that the actual number is probably significantly smaller perhaps between two and 12, NASA officials said today (Oct. 26). [Photos: Gaia Spacecraft to Map Milky Way Galaxy] Gaia launched in December of 2013 to create an ultraprecise 3D map of the Milky Way. So far, this map includes position information for about 1.7 billion stars and distance data for about 1.3 billion stars, according to NASA officials. Gaia's observations suggest that some of the Kepler host stars are brighter and bigger than previously believed, the officials added. Planets orbiting such stars are therefore likely larger and hotter than previously thought. The "hotter" issue is straightforward: A larger, brighter star pumps out more heat. The "larger" correlation stems from Kepler's planet-hunting strategy, which is called the "transit method." Kepler notices the tiny brightness dips caused when a planet crosses its parent star's face from the telescope's perspective. Estimates of such planets' sizes are derived from the percentage of the stellar disk they block during these "transits." So, if the stars' diameter is revised upward, so is that of the planet. "The whole issue has always been, how well do we understand the star?" Eric Mamajek, deputy program chief scientist for NASA's Exoplanet Exploration Program, said in a statement. "This is just another chapter of that ongoing story." The new results shouldn't discourage folks hoping that Earth life isn't alone in the galaxy; there's still a lot of potentially habitable real estate in the Milky Way, NASA officials stressed. But the Gaia data reinforce that astronomers, astrobiologists and planetary scientists still have a lot to learn about exoplanet habitability. "We're still trying to figure out how big a planet can be and still be rocky," Jessie Dotson, an astrophysicist at NASA's Ames Research Center in Silicon Valley, said in the same statement. Dotson is the project scientist for Kepler's current, extended mission, which is known as K2. And then there's the concept of the habitable zone. Basing habitability solely on orbital distance ignores important planetary characteristics, such as mass, which influences a world's ability to hold onto an atmosphere. Then, there's atmospheric composition, which greatly affects a planet's temperature. Also, who's to say that life requires liquid water on the surface? A number of frozen-over moons outside our own solar system's habitable zone, such as Jupiter's Europa and Saturn's Enceladus, have buried oceans that may be capable of supporting life as we know it. (And we haven't even gotten into the possibility of life as we don't know it, which may depend on something other than water as a solvent.) The $600 million Kepler mission launched in March 2009. During Kepler's four-year primary mission, the telescope stared at about 150,000 stars simultaneously, watching for planetary transits. This work ended in May 2013, when the second of Kepler's four orientation-maintaining reaction wheels failed. In 2014, Kepler began K2, during which the craft observes a variety of cosmic objects and phenomena over shifting 80-day "campaigns." Some of these campaigns involve planet hunting; indeed, 354 of the spacecraft's 2,681 confirmed alien-world discoveries to date have come during K2. Kepler's total tally represents about 70 percent of the roughly 3,800 known exoplanets. And the Kepler count will continue to grow; nearly 3,000 planet "candidates" await confirmation by follow-up analysis or observation, and history suggests that most of these will end up being the real deal. But Kepler's observing days are drawing to a close. The spacecraft is extremely low on fuel and recently went into a "no fuel-use" sleep mode. Mike Wall's book about the search for alien life, "Out There," will be published on Nov. 13 by Grand Central Publishing. Follow him on Twitter @michaeldwall. Follow us @Spacedotcom or Facebook. Originally published on Space.com. BBC Pictures Episode: 11.03 "Rosa" Directed by: Mark Tonderai Written by: Malorie Blackman and Chris Chibnall Air date: 21 October 2018 1. Rosa: "Education makes you unstoppable." 2. Yaz: "I can be a police officer now because people like Rosa Parks fought those battles for me. For us. And in fifty-three years, they'll have a black president as leader. Who knows where they'll be fifty years after that? That's proper change." 3. Krasko: "Blue box in the alley. Is it a TARDIS?" The Doctor: "Might be. What's it to you?" Krasko: "Could be worth a lot." The Doctor: "Nah. Not that one. Second-hand. Huge mileage. One careless owner." 4. The Doctor: "Is anyone excited? Because I'm really excited." Graham: "You won't be if it's a bomb." The Doctor: "Don't kill the vibe, Graham!" 5. Graham: "We will stop somewhere else to eat, now won't we?" The Doctor: "No time, Graham!" Graham: "Have you noticed that happens a lot? I need regular food." This week, the Doctor and her friends find themselves in Montgomery, Alabama, in the year 1955. They're confronted with the painful reality of the past and experience the racial segregation of the United States. They also meet a seamstress by the name of Rosa Parks and realize someone is trying to change the history. The man called Krasko, a serial killer from the future, recently released from the Stormcage Containment Facility, punished with a neural restrictor into his brain is no longer able to harm anyone, so he decides to alter little things that led to the famous protest and the arrest of Rosa Parks and make sure these events never happen. In the end, the Doctor, Graham, Yasmin and Ryan are able to stop him and keep the history intact, while also experience a powerful journey of their own.It was one of the most powerful and moving episodes of Doctor Who in years. The hour also turned out to be much scarier than I expected. There was no terrifying monster or a potential world-ending event. This time the real threat of the week were people. Ordinary human beings living in Montgomery, Alabama in 1955. The scariest part? The people from the story weren't just an echo of the past but still a part of our everyday reality, still making the same wrong choices all around the world. The realism, the historic value and the impact on the present certainly make this hour one to remember. The focus of the episode is Rosa Parks, not a president, a king or any leader that we've encountered on Doctor Who in the past, but a true icon, historical figure and an extraordinary woman, beautifully portrayed by Vinette Robinson. I imagine her story to be much better known in US than it was for me before seeing the episode. Though I was familiar with Rosa Parks I certainly didn't know all these details from her life. That is why I'm especially grateful for an hour like this. The episode was powerful, educational and sadly still very needed. It's beyond terrible to see such intolerance and cruelty on screen, not to mention it continuously happening in real life. I will never understand what can lead people to such behavior and I will always admire the people who stand up and fight against it. An inspiration like Rosa Parks has the power to make the world a better place and her appearance on Doctor Who may seem unexpected but is definitely most welcome. It was a very different story than one might expect from the show, yet still following the same themes that the series was built on years ago. A lesson in tolerance, in human nature and the importance of each life and the choices we all make. With the new showrunner there does seem to be a new tone in the story, a more serious but character driven one, and I can't wait to see where it's going to lead us next.I continue to love Graham's character. He's such a wonderful addition to the show, it's easy to relate to him even though he doesn't actually remind me of anyone we've met on the series before. I also really appreciate him always mentioning Grace and keeping her spirit alive. That's probably why I felt especially bad for him when both he and the viewers realize the role he's forced to play in Rosa Parks' story. He's exactly the sort of person who would stand up against such behavior and yet he has to stay quiet and let the things play out like they were meant to, without any interference. This was such a terrible moment for Graham, but he understood exactly what's at stake and accepted his only choice in this situation. As great of a companion as Graham is, this time the person at the center of the events was definitely Ryan. I'm glad we got to see another side of him. Our introduction to the reality of Alabama in 1955, with him getting hit in the face for a simple act of kindness was such a brutal wake-up call. Nightmare barely started there, Ryan is forced to truly experience exactly what Rosa Parks (and millions of other people) had to survive on a daily basis - the awful treatment in the restaurants, hotels, the buses... He's horrified but not entirely surprised and the reason why is wonderfully explained in his scene with Yasmin when the two have to hide during a police inspection at the hotel. Though the world has certainly evolved since those years, racism is still a part of our reality and still something we have to stand up against, more and more openly in the recent years. What's important is to find your strength and inspiration in those who continue to fight against all odds and Ryan getting an opportunity to meet both Rosa Parks and Martin Luther King Jr. was nothing short of an experience of a lifetime. Hopefully Ryan will also continue to develop his relationship with Graham, they seemed to be getting along better during this hour, but they're still disconnected at times and I think it's one of the things that doesn't allow me to fully embrace his character. Another would be Ryan's attitude towards the weapons and fighting. Call of Duty reference in the last episode was funny, but this time his confrontation with Krasko made me think whether this could become a problem between Ryan and the Doctor. It's a well known fact that the Doctor stays away from weapons and refuses to use them. Hopefully this isn't a beginning of the recurring behavior for Ryan but only a one time choice he was forced to make, not to harm exactly, but to send Krasko away using a weapon, to help save the day.Next there's Yasmin. Though Ryan wasn't very familiar with the story of Rosa Parks before their meeting, it's very clear who much it meant to Yaz. She knows little details from the life of Rosa Parks and is grateful for her fight that allowed for someone like Yaz to become a police officer. Yasmin admits to Ryan that even when things aren't great, every time she's called "Paki" at work or labelled a terrorist after leaving a mosque, she's still hopeful, looking at the progress made around the world during the last few decades. She's positive that thanks to the people like Rosa Parks her life is so much better today and can be even greater in the future. Really loved seeing Yaz's perspective during the episode. Especially considering that the color of her skin placed her in a strange, confusing situation, different with each person and place on her way. She was allowed to sit in the "white section" on the bus, but was thrown out of the restaurant and not accepted at a hotel. Her hesitation on the bus really stood out for me, like she couldn't find a place for herself in this reality. Ryan's presence was not wanted, hers was confusing for the people. Clearly not a lot of place for Pakistanis in Alabama decades ago. She was dismissed, mistaken for a Mexican, yet she continued to remain calm and show kindness to those around her. So glad we finally got a closer look at her character during the hour. Yaz is certainly growing on me with each episode. Surprisingly I also think we might expect a potential romantic connection between her and Ryan. I wasn't really considering it before, but I think it's becoming clearer with every hour. Let's see how this one plays out.Finally, the Doctor. This story made me wonder how many times the Doctor was forced to be a part of events that were going against everything she/he's always stood for but she's forced to allow them to happen anyway. There's something definitely unique about Thirteen but I can't quite describe her well at this point. Her conversations with Krasko were very interesting. She practically challenged him to attack her just to prove her theory about him not being able to hurt anyone. But I don't think there's been a moment when she was really afraid so far. Of course without the TARDIS the Doctor seemed a bit lost, maybe less confident than normally, but still, most of the time she feels in control of the situation. I think I'm waiting for a true challenge, a monster or a tragedy that will really define Jodie as the Doctor. Everything she's been doing till now is great of course, but still somehow incomplete from my perspective. I did really love the scene on the bus, though. The look on the Doctor's face was pretty much perfect. She absolutely hated what was done to Rosa and others, but she carried the importance of this event, the weight of it on her shoulders and couldn't be herself. Doing nothing is so much harder for her, in any situation to be honest, but felt especially painful here. Wonderful performance by the entire cast in this moment. The music and the writing also fit perfectly. Kudos to everyone for all their fantastic work on this memorable hour.1. What did you think about Krasko? I didn't really focus on him in the review, cause even though he was the main obstacle for our heroes, he didn't seem especially threatening and his motives were unclear. It made his character seem rather unfinished and I'm wondering whether he might still show up in a future episode. I do like the actor who portrayed him, so I would be open to learn more. How about you?2. How familiar were you with the story of Rosa Parks before watching the episode? Did you enjoy the way the events were presented on the show? What other historical figure or event would you like to see on Doctor Who? The first things that come to my mind would be either the Gladiators fighting at the Colosseum or a return to World War II.3. Is it just me or all the guest characters of this season seem to be disappearing at the end of each story? It happened to Tzim-Sha, then Angstrom and Epzo were teleported off the planet in the last episode and now Krasko. Strange or a coincidence?4. I've heard some voices that this episode didn't actually feel like Doctor Who and I both agree and disagree with the statement. Each showrunner changes the tone of the story in a way but the themes remain the same if you ask me. Also, as a fan of Broadchurch, I was expecting a bit of darker, more serious storylines on the show. What did you think? The Magic Rake was written by Matt Ward and was directed by John Murray. At the heart of the episode was a fairly familiar tale. Human rights violations are highlighted when sweatshop workers are killed in a factory making clothing for first world countries. Whats most interesting about this episode is the focus on Chinese Foreign Minister Chen and Francis Jue, who Ive long enjoyed on the show really delivers a terrific performance.We get a few humorous moments as Elizabeth (Tea Leoni) has to get out of jury duty where she is mistaken for a Real Housewife. Blake (Erich Bergen) is given the unenviable task of having to keep juggling the Secretarys very busy schedule. Blake, naturally, would love to see Elizabeth attend Fashion Week in Milan, but Elizabeth refuses to take a boondoggle on the taxpayers dime.Henry (Tim Daly) is ready to take the Ethics Advisor job with Dalton (Keith Carradine) and is ready to ditch his administrative position at the War College. He finds it slightly more difficult to extricate himself than he thought he would.Mike B (Kevin Rahm) is pressuring Elizabeth to come up with campaign positions, especially on domestic issues. Hes trying to tie up donors, but she digs in her heels and reminds him she has declared shes running yet! On the way out of the court house, Elizabeth runs into literally Katelyn (Grace Rex), who is about to go to jail because of a series of unfortunate events. If she goes to jail, shell lose her job and have a hard time finding another. She has kids and is divorced and is also trying to put herself through school. Her public defender has told her to take this terrible deal. Elizabeth tells her to ask for a continuance and gives her the number of a legal aid foundation who represent people for free. And when the legal aid foundation cant help her Elizabeth puts Mike B on the case!Elizabeth has her mind changed about Milan over the factory fire. She wants to revive the fair work and trade agreement while there is traction from the fire. Jay (Sebastian Arcelus) agrees that showing up at Fashion Week might be enough to pressure the other leaders to sign on. The Italian Prime Minister Enzo Moretti (David Pasquesi) passes the responsibility from Italy to China. He insists that Elizabeth needs to secure Chinese cooperation.I once again loved the smart way the show examined this issue, particularly Chinas place in the world economy and how they can dominate the labor markets because they dont have to abide by the same labor or environmental standards as the rest of the world and thus can produce clothing a lot more cheaply among other industries. Dalton is distracted by being in the Oval office which is a nice reminder of previous events and a nice signifier that time has passed. Elizabeth is going to start by filing a complaint with the World Trade Organization.Dalton approves the plan, but wants the WTO complaint and her remarks in Italy to be measured. Alison (Katherine Herzer) is thrilled that Elizabeth is going to Milan and offers to help her find American designers with good labor records and Elizabeth has to do some serious back-peddling on calling the design industry sillyMeanwhile, Chen is getting orders from home that his assistant, Wen Lin (Fang Du) doesnt agree with. He thinks that Chen should at least be able to place wreaths for the victims. He insists that it only shows respect for the victims it doesnt admit responsibility, but Chen must do as hes told. And the Chinese government issues massive tariffs in retaliation to the WTO complaint.Meanwhile, we see that Daisy (Patina Miller) is working through some issues of her own. She passes up the opportunity to go to Milan. When Jay presses her, she tells him she doesnt want to be apart from her baby.Chen takes a hard line in a call with Elizabeth. He calls the WTO complaint provocative and the tariffs measured! Elizabeth sees that Chen is not telling her the whole story and tries to get him to talk honestly with her. I loved how this was shot with both Jay and Wen standing in the wings.Russell (Zeljko Ivanek) is ready to blame Elizabeth, but Dalton reminds him that he signed off on it. Mary Wilford (Starla Benford) helps determine the US tariffs for a response, but Elizabeth doesnt want to keep escalating. Russell wants to hit back, but Elizabeth wants to continue with the Milan plan. Dalton agrees to hold off on the tariffs until after Milan so that Elizabeth can try to get an agreement on the labor agreement. Russell thinks there might be some motivation due to the leader situation in China.Daisy ends up getting shaken out of her funk by Sister Anne (Diana Maria Riva) who has brought a group of underprivileged kids who one a civic engagement contest to see the Secretary of State. The Sister understands that schedules change but the kids deserve to meet someone and she wants Daisy!Daisy digs in her heels they might not want to hear what she would say right now. Daisy knows that its important for kids to see someone like her in a position of respect and power. Daisy admits to Sister Anne that she is having trouble leaving her daughter because of the recent attack on the White House. I really like how they have let the attack play out on multiple levels. Daisy decries a country in which someone would rather blow people up than share the world with brown people like her. She also mentions five unarmed black men shot by police. Daisy insists that she wishes she was the inspiring person the Sister needs she doesnt trust herself not to kill someone elses dreams.Sister Anne tells Daisy that she wanted her kids to win this contest so that they could feel that someone saw them and realized that they had a dream. Daisy promises to see what she can do.We get a really lovely scene with Chen reading Alice in Wonderland to his daughter, Ai (Emma Hong). The passage of growing larger and smaller and having to obey orders from others is a delicious metaphor for what he is expected to doHe insists that she speak English but she ends the scene by wishing him good night in Spanish which he is clearly very proud of. This is a side weve never even had an inkling of.Chen seems to be gathering support for his own leadership bid, and goes to talk to Elizabeth. Chen uncharacteristically agrees with Elizabeth that the new tariffs are going drive people further apart. He tells her that the situation will become clear in the next few days and Elizabeth realizes that hes on the short list to become President. He begs her to proceed with discretion just for a few more days for a bigger payoff in the future. I love that this show manages to humanize the other side of the political table rather than simply portraying them as the bad guys.I loved Mike B showing up to defend Katelyn. Mike B proves that hes actually a good lawyer even if he cant resist a little grandstanding. Even though he gets the jail time thrown out and the fine reduced, Katelyn still cant pay it but Mike can! I loved that when she asked who he was, Mike be told her usually just a DC Hack but today an avenging angel of justice. Elizabeth clearly thought this would be a distraction and maybe a bit of payback for Mike B hounding her, but in the end, its put him back in touch with what Elizabeth is all about and what her campaign should be and will be about. Justice.Moretti tells Elizabeth that the EU is pulling out of the agreement because they dont want to piss off China and lose them as trading partners or be hit with tariffs. I loved Elizabeth turning to Benjamin Franklin for support If we do not hang together, we shall surely hang separately. She tells Moretti to just come to the signing shell take care of China.Meanwhile, Daisy steps up and delivers an inspiring talk to the students. She tells them that its not going to get any easier but she tells them that on the bad days, they just need to find the belief within themselves of themselves to keep going. Daisy disappoints them by saying the Secretary is out of the country but shes got them Dalton! Daisy thanks Sister Anne for inspiring her. And Sister Anne tells her that she finds inspiration in the kids and of course, Daisy has her own child at home to help her keep going and find hope in the future.I also loved Elizabeth being asked who she is wearing something we never thought wed see or that shed be able to answer but here, when she needs to she nails it. And you can hear Alison briefing her! The designer is from Brooklyn and the suit it 100% union and American made. She even knows the names of the very people who made it! I also loved that those names are clearly Latin-American.Elizabeth holds the press conference for the agreement with an empty seat beside her because China chose not to be there The Italian Prime Minister is sitting beside her not looking happy. She says that China prides itself on being a leader in the textile industry among many others. But when it comes to taking responsibility for their workers they are nowhere to be found. She then says that if China wants to be a leader in the 21st century, its time to come and join them and start acting like one. Its not the measured response Chen was hoping for and it crushes his chances at the Presidency. He needed to be able to show that he could bring the US to heel.Jue is fantastic as he receives the news. He is clearly crushed but he remains fiercely loyal to his country and tells a disappointed Wen that he will continue to serve as long as he is asked to. He goes to see Elizabeth and tells her that China will engage on the agreement if she stops shining a spotlight on working conditions in China. She agrees to modify the language. He says there needs to be no more stunts referring to the public shaming of China. However, Elizabeth did concede Chinas economic superiority, so theres no more need for the tariffs.Before Chen can leave, Elizabeth tells him that shes met a lot of heads of state and he would have made a fine one. She tells him that shes really sorry especially if her stunt played any role in it. He confesses that he suspects what happened was always going to happen and he hopes for everyones sake that Elizabeths chances are better than his. He comes back to shake her hand.Elizabeth isnt as happy about the agreement as she should be. Henry tells her that politics is the art of the possible, but she feels like she is always almost solving the problem. She also worries about what would have happened to Katelyn if she hadnt just happened to walk down that hallway. She sees that the system is broken. The tools they have to fix it are a magic rake and thats the significance of the title. Its an imprecise tool but she wants to try to help level the playing field.When Elizabeth thanks Mike B, he cant even remember Katelyns name but hes thrilled when Elizabeth finally says shes running. He tells her that she has it in her to be one of the most consequential Presidents in history. He tells her she needs to get serious right away. She tells him that shes found her signature domestic issue criminal justice reform. He isnt thrilled. But this also dovetails from the global issue in the episode they condemn others for how they treat their citizens and her are Americans being locked up unjustly. Her reason for running is to lift people up at home AND around the world.I love Mike B getting stuck on the rake conversation Elizabeth tells him its not time to start raising funds, however.The final scene focuses on Chen, putting on the bespoke Italian suit that he had made and going under cover of darkness to lay a wreath at the site of the warehouse fire. He takes his daughter with him hes clearly instilling values in her that may be more in alignment with Elizabeth than his own President. Yet he maintains his respect for his own country. Again, this is not the usual simplistic depiction of so many shows. Its an important message in the current global climate.I really liked this episode. What did you think? Let me know your thoughts in the comments below! STAMFORD In the registrars office, the phones are ringing. People are calling to find out how they can register to vote on Nov. 6. We have a record number of new voters 69,508, Democratic Registrar Ron Malloy said. It will be more than that by Election Day. For perspective, the number of registered voters for the 2016 presidential election was 67,183. Historically, more voters come out for presidential elections, yet this year already has 2,325 more voters than 2016. And thats just so far. In the clerks office, requests for absentee ballots are pouring in. So far, 1,036 have been returned, City and Town Clerk Lyda Ruijter said. More than twice that number 2,093 have been requested. We dont know how many we will issue between now and Nov. 2, and how many will be returned, Ruijter said. By last years Election Day, 898 absentee ballots were returned, she said. This year has surpassed that by 138 ballots, and thats with more than 1,000 ballots still out there and several more days for voters to request them. The spike in voter interest is nationwide, despite the usual drop in years when there is no presidential election. According to a recent survey by the Pew Research Center, turnout in states with early voting is at its highest for any midterm election in more than 20 years. All the more reason to alert Stamford voters to something different about this years ballot, Malloy said. You have to fill out both sides. Some other towns have had double-sided ballots recently, but I cant remember the last time Stamford had one, Malloy said. Im concerned that, because most people in Stamford have not seen double-sided ballots, they will vote for governor and whatever else is on the front side and not be aware that they have to turn it over. The main reason is that Connecticut voters this year are being asked to choose whether the state constitution should be changed in two ways one to secure a fund thats supposed to be spent on infrastructure and another to protect public lands. First, voters must decide whether the constitution should be amended to ensure that all money in the Special Transportation Fund be used solely for projects to improve roads, rails, bridges, buses and other forms of public transit. Its known as the lockbox measure because Connecticut has a long history of raiding the fund and using the money on things that have nothing to do with transportation. Second, Connecticut voters must decide whether to amend the constitution to require a public hearing before any state land is sold, swapped or given away; to require special legislation to authorize a transfer of state land; and to require that at least two-thirds of the General Assembly approve any transfer of land owned by the Department of Agriculture or Department of Energy and Environmental Protection, which includes state parks. The two questions take up a chunk of the front page of the ballot. The rest of it has the boxes containing the names of candidates for governor, lieutenant governor, U.S. senator, U.S. representative, state senator, state representative, and secretary of the state. The back page of the ballot has the boxes containing the names of candidates for state treasurer, state comptroller, state attorney general, probate judge, and Stamford Board of Education. I called the registrars in Norwalk and Greenwich, where theyve had two-sided ballots. I told them Stamford has always been able to fit all the candidates on one page, and I asked what they do to make sure voters know there is a second page, Malloy said. They told me they put up signs in the polling places. We will do that, and we are meeting with the moderators to emphasize that they have to tell voters when they check in at the polling places. Malloy said he is concerned people will vote for governor and whatever else is on the front side, and not be aware they have to turn it over. Voters cant count on the ballot readers to alert them, he said. The reader will not spit back a ballot that has no markings on one side. But the reader can scan both sides at the same time, so voters only place it in the reader once. The number of new voters has been a bit of a surprise, Malloy said. People are visiting the registrars office at the Stamford Government Center, registering online at voterregistration.ct.gov, and registering through the Department of Motor Vehicles when they renew licenses and registrations. Online registration ends at 11:59 p.m. Tuesday, Malloy said. In-person registration in the registrars office ends at 4 p.m. the same day. But state law allows new voters to register at the registrars office between 6 a.m. and 7 p.m. on Nov. 6 so they can cast a ballot on Election Day, Malloy said. Malloy said he does not yet have data on how the new voters break down by party. Are people energized? Yes, he said. But which way, I dont know. acarella@stamfordadvocate.com; 203-964-2296. BRIDGEPORT - A 16-year-old city gangster is facing up to 40 years in prison after he pleaded guilty Thursday to killing a young mother who had been parked outside an East Main Street restaurant. Yeah, Sebastian Bash Serrano answered when asked by Superior Court Judge Robert Devlin if he was admitting to killing 26-year-old Elianna Cruz of Stamford. Several rows behind Serrano sat Cruzs mother, Elaine Legato-Mar, tears running down her face. Justice has not been done yet and Im not sure it will ever be, she said later. They need to get rid of the gangs and guns in Bridgeport. The 5-foot-tall Serrano stood staring down at the defense table as he pleaded guilty to murder and carrying a pistol without a permit. The judge told him that under a plea bargain he will impose a maximum of 40 years in prison but allow Serranos public defender to argue for a lesser term when Serrano is sentenced Jan. 12. Serranos mother, Keya Martin, declined comment as she left the courthouse. I would like to speak to Sebastian just to find out why he did it, said Legato-Mar. But for now my attention has to be with my grandchildren. On Jan. 7, Cruz, the mother of three young children, was sitting in the front passenger seat of her boyfriend, Kelvin Sotos Nissan Altima, outside the El Flamboyan restaurant on East Main Street shortly after 9 p.m. when she was shot in the head. The car was riddled with bullets but neither Soto, who was in the drivers seat nor three other men in the backseat, were injured, police said. Soto then drove Cruz to Bridgeport Hospital where she died four days later. States Attorney John Smriga told the judge surveillance video of the area showed two men, the taller wearing a grey hooded sweatshirt and the shorter man wearing a red hooded sweatshirt, approach Sotos car from the alley behind El Flamboyan. The shorter man then pulled out a handgun and began firing multiple times at the car. The two men then fled. On Jan. 11, the Gang Task Force pulled over a car in which Serrano and 18-year-old Hykeem Peterson were riding in. Inside the car police said they found a loaded 9mm pistol that was later determined to be the same gun used to kill the young mother. The 6-foot-tall Peterson has pending trials for guns and drugs. As a result of a subsequent interview with the defendant with his mother present it was determined the defendant had some grievance with an individual in the car and was trying to kill that individual not Elianna Cruz, Smriga said. L ife rarely slows in the big City and is not to be attempted on an empty stomach. Rolling up into Liverpool Street station puts you at the heart of the beast, with the skyscrapers of the City on one side and the outer fringes of Londons hipster central Shoreditch on the other. Whether youre rushing to meeting at one end of the station, or heading for some vintage retail therapy in the other, either activity requires substantial sustenance. No time to stop and look? This is your guide to eating well in Londons busiest bits, without spending more than a tenner. Croquetas at Jose Pizarro - 6.50 Paul Winch-Furness / Photographe Lets start off with a particularly pleasing little something. The post-work bite doesnt get much better than the snacks offered by Spaniard Jose Pizarro, the Bermondsey-based chef who added a Broadgate Circle restaurant to his repertoire in 2015. The Tapas del dia menu offers Pizarros superb croquetas which come in a different flavour everyday. Incarnations include black squid ink and prawn, spinach and manchego, as well as good old jamon. 36 Broadgate Circle, EC2M 1QS, josepizarro.com Classic ahi bowl at Island Poke - 7.85 Food fad fanatics will know that poke is the new sushi largely because its not unlike deconstructed sushi. You can your health kick the Hawaiian way at Island Poke, where bowls of goodness are served with a sushi rice base, topped with Pacific flavours. Pick up a house bowl for 7.85 and get yours with ahi tuna, pineapple chilli salsa, wakame seaweed and spring onions. Unit 42, Ground Floor Level, Broadgate Circle, EC2M 2QS, broadgate.co.uk Katsu wrap at Katsu Wrap - 4.50 While there are no prizes for guessing what Katsu Wrap sells, your pocket will be celebrating a big win when you get there. Tired of curry with your katsu? This Petticoat Lane Market stall does its Japanese fried chicken with a difference. Slices of super crunchy chicken are served with a veritable mountain of salad, topped with hummus and chilli oil, and wrapped in a tortilla. Yes there are about five different cuisines in your lunch, but when it tastes good, is roughly the size of your forearm and only costs 4.50, were not complaining. 41 Goulston Street, E1 7TP, katsuwrap.co.uk Le Bacon butty with fried duck egg at Le Swine - 6 On the more difficult mornings in life, you just cant beat a bacon sandwich and Le Swine is coming to the rescue. Served out of a old sixties ambulance parked up on Bishops Square, Le Swine cooks up old fashioned middle bacon with yolk-heavy duck eggs, and serves the two together in a toasted milk bun. Condiments are king here, with the bun arriving slathered in bacon butter and with your choice of Le Swines homemade ketchups. Bishops Square, E1 6FQ, leswine.co.uk Prawn wontons in chilli oil at Dumpling Shack - 6.50 Some like it hot, and some like it Sichuan hot. Dumpling Shack are of the latter, and you can currently find them firing things up in Old Spitalfields Market. This version of its superlative dumplings comes with more than a hint of heat: delicate and delicious prawn wontons are doused in a healthy portion of peppery Sichuan chilli oil. Old Spitalfields Market, Brushfield Street, E1 6BG, dumplingshack.co.uk Reuben sandwich at Montys Deli - 9.50 If you like your sandwiches to have fillings measurable by the inch, youve come to the right place. Fellow Old Spitalfields Market resident Montys Deli has serious its sarnie-stuffing prowess, to which its Reuben is testament. Choose between pastrami and salt beef, and watched slices come stacked a dozen high in between two pieces of barely coping bread, with kraut, mustard, cheese and Russian dressing. Old Spitalfields Market, Brushfield Street, E1 6BG, montys-deli.com Rolas charred chicken naan Rola Wala - 5.95 Rola Wala are taking your sandwich game intercontinental with this Indian street food incarnation. A sourdough naan yes, there is now such a thing comes filled with overnight-marinaded chicken thighs, which are then grilled until charred, but still juicy. You can also pick from filling including Bengali spiced beef and vegan red daal, or pop your elected spice-fix on top of grains or cauliflower and kale. 36 Brushfield Street, E1 6AT, rolawala.com The best dishes near Liverpool Street under 10 - In pictures 1 /11 The best dishes near Liverpool Street under 10 - In pictures Le Bacon butty with fried duck egg at Le Swine - 6 On the more difficult mornings in life, you just cant beat a bacon sandwich and Le Swine is coming to the rescue. Served out of a old sixties ambulance parked up on Bishops Square, Le Swine cooks up old fashioned middle bacon with yolk-heavy duck eggs, and serves the two together in a toasted milk bun. Condiments are king here, with the bun arriving slathered in bacon butter and with your choice of Le Swines homemade ketchups. Croquetas at Jose Pizarro - 6.50 Lets start off with a particularly pleasing little something. The post-work bite doesnt get much better than the snacks offered by Spaniard Jose Pizarro, the Bermondsey-based chef who added a Broadgate Circle restaurant to his repertoire in 2015. The Tapas del dia menu offers Pizarros superb croquetas which come in a different flavour everyday. Incarnations include black squid ink and prawn, spinach and manchego, as well as good old jamon. Paul Winch-Furness / Photographe Classic ahi bowl at Island Poke - 7.85 Food fad fanatics will know that poke is the new sushi largely because its not unlike deconstructed sushi. You can your health kick the Hawaiian way at Island Poke, where bowls of goodness are served with a sushi rice base, topped with Pacific flavours. Pick up a house bowl for 7.85 and get yours with ahi tuna, pineapple chilli salsa, wakame seaweed and spring onions. Eccles cake and Lancashire Cheese at St John Bread and Wine - 8.90 Sweet-and-savoury sorts can find their ideal pudding at St John Bread and Wine, the Shoreditch offshoot of Clerkenwells world famous St John. The Eccles cakes are a classic dish from legendary chef Fergus Henderson, and some stuffed to the brim with currants. Henderson recommends them, quite specifically to be consumed with a slice of Lancashire cheese. Who are we to turn down such an offer? Tacos at Club Mexicana in Dinerama two for 7, three for 10 A junk food run doesnt have to mean a tower of meat Club Mexicana is making sure of that. The vegan connoisseurs cook up some of the best meat-free, dairy-free food in the capital, souped up with Mexican spice. Head to its stall in Dinerama and tuck into the tacos, on which you can double up at 7, and triple up for 10. Fillings include fiery jackfruit carnitas (tastes like pork, definitely isnt pork) or tofish (tofu that tastes like fish, and tastes good). Reuben sandwich at Montys Deli - 9.50 If you like your sandwiches to have fillings measurable by the inch, youve come to the right place. Fellow Old Spitalfields Market resident Montys Deli has brought its sarnie-stuffing prowess down from Hoxton and yes, that means the Reuben has come for the ride. Choose between pastrami and salt beef, and watched slices come stacked a dozen high in between two pieces of barely coping bread, with kraut, mustard, cheese and Russian dressing. Katsu wrap at Katsu Wrap - 4.50 While there are no prizes for guessing what Katsu Wrap sells, your pocket will be celebrating a big win when you get there. Tired of curry with your katsu? This Petticoat Lane Market stall does its Japanese fried chicken with a difference. Slices of super crunchy chicken are served with a veritable mountain of salad, topped with hummus and chilli oil, and wrapped in a tortilla. Yes there are about five different cuisines in your lunch, but when it tastes good, is roughly the size of your forearm and only costs 4.50, were not complaining. Prawn wontons in chilli oil at Dumpling Shack - 6.50 Some like it hot, and some like it Sichuan hot. Dumpling Shack are of the latter, and you can currently find them firing things up in Old Spitalfields Market. This version of its superlative dumplings comes with more than a hint of heat: delicate and delicious prawn wontons are doused in a healthy portion of peppery Sichuan chilli oil. Chettinad pulled duck with oompatha at Gunpowder - 5 Cooking up a slightly more refined take on Indian cuisine is small-plates sensation Gunpowder. While you may end up spending more than a tenner overall, almost all the dishes come in under budget here. One of the best bargains on the roster is this delightful handful of Chettinad-style spiced pulled duck, which is served in a folded piece of oompatha bread for just 5. Two of these to yourself and youll be very pleased indeed. AB messy fried chicken burger at Absurd Bird - 9.65 Cant decide between a cheeseburger and fried chicken? Have a bit of both. Absurd Bird is putting its all into this very messy burger, where the restaurants Southern-style house fried chicken comes towered high with onion rings and slathered with a decidedly untidy dose of hot cheese. Doesnt sound chicken-y enough for you? Absurd Bird also tops it with a portion of pulled chicken, for good measure. Any pizza at Pizza Union - Under 10 Still feeling the pinch of your pocket? This last option is the cheapest on the menu and its also pizza. Pizza Union serves its pies Romana-style, making it the perfect pitstop for the thin and crispy brigade. Prices here go as low as 3.95 for a 12 inch margherita and only climb as high as 6.95 for a Carne pizza, which comes topped with not one, but three types of meat chicken, beef and pepperoni, if youre curious. Chettinad pulled duck with oompatha at Gunpowder - 5 Cooking up a slightly more refined take on Indian cuisine is small-plates sensation Gunpowder. While you may end up spending more than a tenner overall, almost all the dishes come in under budget here. One of the best bargains on the roster is this delightful handful of Chettinad-style spiced pulled duck, which is served in a folded piece of oompatha bread for just 5. Two of these to yourself and youll be very pleased indeed. 11 White's Row, Spitalfields, E1 7NF, gunpowderlondon.com AB messy fried chicken burger at Absurd Bird - 9.65 Cant decide between a cheeseburger and fried chicken? Have a bit of both. Absurd Bird is putting its all into this very messy burger, where the restaurants Southern-style house fried chicken comes towered high with onion rings and slathered with a decidedly untidy dose of hot cheese. Doesnt sound chicken-y enough for you? Absurd Bird also tops it with a portion of pulled chicken, for good measure. 54 Commercial Street, E1 6LT, absurdbird.com Tacos at Club Mexicana in Dinerama two for 7, three for 10 A junk food run doesnt have to mean a tower of meat Club Mexicana is making sure of that. The vegan connoisseurs cook up some of the best meat-free, dairy-free food in the capital, souped up with Mexican spice. Head to its stall in Dinerama and tuck into the tacos, on which you can double up at 7, and triple up for 10. Fillings include fiery jackfruit carnitas (tastes like pork, definitely isnt pork) or tofish (tofu that tastes like fish, and tastes good). 19 Great Eastern Street, EC2A 3EJ, streetfeast.com Eccles cake and Lancashire cheese at St John Bread and Wine - 8.90 Sweet-and-savoury sorts can find their ideal pudding at St John Bread and Wine, the Shoreditch offshoot of Clerkenwells world famous St John. The Eccles cakes are a classic dish from legendary chef Fergus Henderson, and some stuffed to the brim with currants. Henderson recommends them, quite specifically to be consumed with a slice of Lancashire cheese. Who are we to turn down such an offer? 94-96 Commercial Street, London E1 6LZ, stjohnrestaurant.com Any pizza at Pizza Union - Under 10 Still feeling the pinch of your pocket? This last option is the cheapest on the menu and its also pizza. Pizza Union serves its pies Romana-style, making it the perfect pitstop for the thin and crispy brigade. Prices here go as low as 3.95 for a 12 inch margherita and only climb as high as 6.95 for a Carne pizza, which comes topped with not one, but three types of meat chicken, beef and pepperoni, if youre curious. N ova Scotia is undoubtedly one of Canadas prettiest provinces. Located in eastern Canada, bordered by the Atlantic Ocean and fellow maritime province, New Brunswick, it is known for delighting visitors with its rich, autumnal colours come October. Autumn is the prime time to visit this rugged coastal province, with the winding Cabot Trail in Cape Breton being an Instagrammers dream, offering stunning views at every turn. Yet, besides the aesthetically pleasing countryside and fishing towns, Nova Scotia has another, lesser-known draw: its abundance of lobster. Fresh and plentiful, lobster in Nova Scotia is unsurprisingly rather cheap. Seafood is the focus for many boltholes and pit stops along the coast and throughout the province, with a number of variations on the area's favourite crustacean on offer. Here are five of the best lobster dishes we found... Nova Scotia, Canada - in pictures 1 /13 Nova Scotia, Canada - in pictures Lunenburg Supplied Peggy's Cove Scott Munn Lunenburg Scott Munn Halifax Supplied Peggy's Cove Supplied Hall's Harbour Nova Scotia Tourism Hall's Harbour Nova Scotia Tourism Halifax Supplied Halifax R. Matina Halifax Supplied Halifax Supplied Halifax Supplied Autumn colours in Nova Scotia Five Fisherman, Halifax What to order: the Lobster pot pie Halifax is a small, but vibrant city with all the action happening on the waterfront. Spend the afternoon walking through town, inhale the sea air, laze about in the leafy parks and stroll along the historic waterfront to learn about the history of the Haligonians (Halifax locals). Once its time for dinner, make sure you have a booking at the Five Fisherman one of the more upmarket places in town. Seafood is the cuisine of choice and you can get a classic lobster dinner one and a half pounds of lobster, baby potatoes, butter and vegetables for just 49 CAD (28). Yet, we recommend opting for the lobster pot pie. The light, airy pastry is filled with Atlantic lobster, cream sauce and vegetables and the result is a rich and warming dish, perfect after a day spent by the sea. The Grand Banker Bar & Grill, Lunenburg What to order: the Lunenburger Lunenburg is a must-visit when in Nova Scotia. The first British settlement outside of Halifax, Lunenburg is a UNESCO World Heritage site, and the town is as picturesque as they come. Colourful houses and buildings line the streets winding up the hill and the town is best seen from across the harbour for a postcard-perfect view. Settled in mainly by Germans, Swiss and Protestant French, Lunenburg residents are proud of their heritage and will rightly tell you so. Take a walking tour through the town with a tenth-generation Lunenburg resident or, if you dare, go on one of the haunted tours come nightfall. The Mariner King Inn, where we spent the night, was apparently home to a ghost called Mary, yet she didnt bless us with a sighting. Food-wise, The Grand Banker Bar & Grill overlooking the harbour is the best spot to watch the sunset over the glistening bay come dinnertime. While the menu is extensive, be sure to order a Lunenburger and watch as a beef burger with smoked mozzarella, smoked bacon, baby spinach, garlic aioli, topped with Nova Scotian lobster and tarragon butter sauce is placed in front of you with a bacon-wrapped scallop on top. You certainly wont need a side but save room for the dessert they serve the best brownies in town. Oh My Cod, Mahone Bay What to order: the Lobster poutine Between Halifax and Lunenburg, past Peggys Cove, youll find the quaint village of Mahone Bay. Like Lunenburg, its filled with picturesque colourful houses by the seafront, gently bobbing sailboats and is surrounded by lush woodland. A seafront stroll will lead you directly to Oh My Cod, a seasonal restaurant open during the spring and summer months. Opt for their Lobster and Chorizo poutine a twist on the classic Canadian poutine (fries, cheese curds and gravy). The homemade fries in this dish are topped with lobster, chorizo, green onion, cheese sauce and cheese curds. If youre after something a little lighter, choose the lobster crossantwich (a lobster-filled croissant) or the seafood chowder with lobster, scallops, mussels, haddock and cod. This homely restaurant is a seafood lovers nirvana. Domain de Grand Pre Winery, Grand Pre What to order: the Lobster roll From Lunenburg, head across to the other side of Nova Scotia, through winding, tree-lined country roads, to Grand Pre and the Domain de Grand Pre Winery. Take a tour of the winery and be sure to sample the Pomme d'Or Apple Cream Liquor, an apple and cream Baileys-type liqueur, perfect for pouring over ice or with ice cream. After your tour, stay for a bite to eat at their on-site Le Caveau Restaurant. Here, sample the Le Caveau Lobster Roll, made with fresh Nova Scotia Lobster, celery root, chives and mayonnaise and bask in the sun streaming through the vine-covered wooden beams above. Capt. Kat's Lobster Shack What to order: the Lobster Fondue Located near Shelburne, the Lobster capital of Canada and just an hour and a half drive from Lunenburg, you'll find Capt. Kat's Lobster Shack. And, as the name suggests, you're in for a lobster treat. The standout here is their Lobster Fondue, which serves up fresh Atlantic lobster on skewers with garlic toast and lobster dipping cream. Order this with the bacon-wrapped potatoes drizzled in Nova Scotian honey as your side and your tastebuds will be more than content If the fondue isn't calling you name, try the lobster-topped nachos, lobster spinach dip, lobster chowder or lobster and haddock bake - any of which will satisfy your lobster cravings. O ne of the best things about travelling is the escapism that comes with booking yourself into a luxury hotel room . Leaving behind your small, cold London flat for super King-sized four-poster beds, private pools and lavish bathrooms is what holidays are made for. Luxury travel booking site Mr & Mrs Smith know the cream of the hotel crop and to celebrate their fifteenth year, they have rounded up their pick of the bunch into an alluring coffee table tome. Titled 'The World's Sexiest Bedrooms', the 295-page hardcover book features 35 spreads shot by in-demand art photographer Polly Brown and will satisfy your deepest wanderlust. Travel the world through Brown's lens and visit some of the most tempting bedrooms in Paris, the Cotswolds, the Maldives and Phuket, among others. The cover of Mr & Mrs Smith's new book (Mr & Mrs Smith) / Mr & Mrs Smith With over 200 photos, the spreads are a visual feast with each accompanied by an insider guide to the hotel and the surrounding area. What's more is each copy comes with a 30 voucher towards a Mr & Mrs Smith hotel and there are five 'golden tickets' which give the recipients 1000 to spend on hotels. The book contains detailed guides for each hotel (Mr & Mrs Smith) / Mr & Mrs Smith Click through the gallery above to see some of the stunning hotel bedrooms featured in the book. T he man suspected of killing 11 people at a Pittsburgh synagogue has been named and charged with obstructing the exercise of religious beliefs resulting in death. Federal prosecutors said Robert Bowers was charged on Saturday night in a 29-count criminal complaint, which includes 11 counts of using a firearm to commit murder. Other charges include weapons offences and charges alleging the 46-year-old seriously injured police officers while obstructing the exercise of religious beliefs. Six people, including four police officers, were also wounded during the shooting at the Tree of Life Congregation in Pittsburghs Squirrel Hill neighbourhood. "Please know that justice in this case will be swift and it will be severe," Scott Brady, the chief federal prosecutor in western Pennsylvania, said at a news conference. He said the incident was a "terrible and unspeakable act of hate". Robert Bowers, the suspect of the attack at the Tree of Life synagogue / AFP/Getty Images The killings immediately reignited the longstanding national debate about guns, as President Donald Trump said the outcome might have been different if the synagogue "had some kind of protection" from an armed guard. Asked by CNN about gun laws after the attack, the president said legislation "has little to do with it". Pennsylvania's Democratic governor Tom Wolf noted that once again "dangerous weapons are putting our citizens in harm's way". Mr Trump said he planned to travel to Pittsburgh, but offered no details. Authorities said that just before 10am, the suspected gunman entered the large synagogue with an assault-style rifle and three handguns. Three separate congregations were conducting Sabbath services in different areas of the large building, according to Michael Eisenberg, the immediate past president of the Tree of Life. The Pennsylvania attorney general's office said it was told by victims that a brit milah - a ritual circumcision ceremony at which a baby boy also receives his Hebrew name - was also taking place, though law enforcement officials later said no children were among the dead or wounded. "It is a very horrific crime scene," said a visibly moved Wendell Hissrich, the Pittsburgh public safety director. "It's one of the worst that I've seen." Armed officers in Pittsburgh / Getty Images The survivors included Daniel Leger, 70, a nurse and hospital chaplain who was in critical condition after undergoing surgery, his brother, Paul Leger, told the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Daniel Leger was scheduled to lead a service on Saturday morning. Jonathan Greenblatt, chief executive officer of the Anti-Defamation League, said the group believes Saturday's attack was the deadliest on the Jewish community in US history. "Our hearts break for the families of those killed and injured at the Tree of Life Synagogue, and for the entire Jewish community of Pittsburgh," Mr Greenblatt said. Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu said he was "heartbroken and appalled" by the attack. "The entire people of Israel grieve with the families of the dead," Mr Netanyahu said. "We stand together with the Jewish community of Pittsburgh. We stand together with the American people in the face of this horrendous anti-Semitic brutality. And we all pray for the speedy recovery of the wounded." Vigil participants hold candles and sing a Jewish prayer / Getty Images Thousands of people, some holding candles, gathered for a vigil in the Squirrel Hill neighbourhood on Saturday night in honour of the victims, whose names were not immediately released. A chant of "vote, vote, vote" broke out during the emotional gathering. Some attendees blamed the shooting on the nation's political climate, and said they took little solace in the planned visit by Mr Trump. At a political rally in Murphysboro, Illinois, Mr Trump said "the evil anti-Semitic attack is an assault on all of us". The synagogue is located in the tree-lined residential neighbourhood of Squirrel Hill, about 10 minutes from downtown Pittsburgh and the hub of Pittsburgh's Jewish community. Police in the aftermath of the Pittsburgh shooting / AP Mr Eisenberg, the former synagogue president, said officials at Tree of Life had not got any threats that he knew of before the shooting. But he said security was a concern, and the synagogue had started working to improve it. Chuck Diamond, a former rabbi at the synagogue who retired more than a year ago, said the building is locked during the week, and is outfitted with security cameras. "But on Sabbath it's an open door," he said. "You know, you're always worried that something would happen," said Myron Snider, head of the cemetery committee for New Light Congregation, which meets at Tree of Life. ,Mr Snider just got out of the hospital on Thursday and missed Saturday's service. "But you never dream that it would happen like this," Mr Snider added. "Just never ever dream that it would happen like this." A married couple, two brothers and a 97-year-old woman were among those gunned down during the mass shooting at a Pittsburgh synagogue, US officials said. Names of all 11 victims - eight men and three women - were released by medical examiner Dr Karl Williams during a news conference Sunday, all of them middle-aged or elderly. The victims include a pair of brothers and a husband and wife, with their ages ranging 50 to 97. Those who lost their lives in the anti-Semitic attack included Irvin Younger, 69, Rose Mallinger, 97, Daniel Stein, 71, Sylvan Simon, 86, Bernice Simon, 84. Jewish communities hold candlelight vigils for Pittsburgh victims 1 /26 Jewish communities hold candlelight vigils for Pittsburgh victims Pittsburgh281018a People hold candles in the Squirrel Hill neighborhood as they gather for a vigil AP Pittsburgh281018i Members and supporters of the Jewish community come together for a candlelight vigil AFP/Getty Images Pittsburgh281018 Vigil in front of the White House for the Pittsburgh victims AFP/Getty Images Pittsburgh281018i A young boy holds a sign at the intersection of Murray Avenue AP Pittsburgh281018b Community in Pittsburgh gathers after hate attack AP Pittsburgh281018c Candlelit vigil in Pittsburgh AP Pittsburgh281018d Members of the Squirrel Hill community come together for a student-organized candle vigil AFP/Getty Images Pittsburgh281018e People hold candles in the Squirrel Hill section of Pittsburgh AFP/Getty Images Pittsburgh281018f Amy Gilligan hugs her daughter at the intersection of Murray Avenue and Forbes Avenue AP Pittsburgh281018g People gather for a interfaith candlelight vigil a few blocks away from the site of a mass shooting Getty Images Pittsburgh281018h People gather for a interfaith candlelight vigil in Pittsburgh Getty Images Pittsburgh281018j A couple embrace near the scene of the mass shooting AP Pittsburgh281018k A crowd gathers at the intersection of Murray Ave. and Forbes Ave AP Pittsburgh281018l Memorial vigil for the victims of the shooting at the Tree of Life Synagogue AP Pittsburgh281018m A crowd holds candles on the lawn of the Sixth Presbyterian Church AP Pittsburgh281018m In Washington, participants hold candles and sing a Jewish prayer during a Havdalah vigil Getty Images Pittsburgh281018o Members and supporters of the Jewish community come together for a candlelight vigil AFP/Getty Images Pittsburgh281018p Members and supporters of the Jewish community come together for a candlelight vigil AFP/Getty Images Pittsburgh281018q A heavily armed gunman opened fire during a baby-naming ceremony at a synagogue AFP/Getty Images Pittsburgh281018r Vigil in front of the White House in Washington AFP/Getty Images Pittsburgh281018s The shooting killed 11 people AFP/Getty Images Pittsburgh281018t Members and supporters of the Jewish community come together for a candlelight vigil, in remembrance of those who died earlier in the day AFP/Getty Images Pittsburgh281018u A heavily armed gunman opened fire during a baby-naming ceremony AFP/Getty Images Pittsburgh281018v Vigil in Washington AFP/Getty Images Pittsburgh281018w A woman holds a candle as members and supporters of the Jewish community come together AFP/Getty Images Pittsburgh281018x Candlelit vigil in Washington AFP/Getty Images Brothers Cecil and David Rosenthal, 59 and 54, were also among those named, alongside Jerry Rabinowitz, 66, Richard Gottfried, 65, and Joyce Fineburg, 75. Another victim was 88-year-old Melvin Wax, who was always one of the first to arrive at synagogue and among the last to leave. "He and I used to, at the end of services, try to tell a joke or two to each other," said Myron Snider, a fellow member of New Light Congregation, which rented space in the basement of Tree of Life. "Most of the time they were clean jokes. Most of the time. I won't say all the time. But most of the time." Mr Snider said "Mel," a retired accountant in his late 80s, was unfailingly generous and a "sweet, sweet guy." Vigil participants hold candles and sing a Jewish prayer / Getty Images The man suspected of carrying out the horrific shooting has been named and charged with obstructing the exercise of religious beliefs resulting in death. Federal prosecutors said Robert Bowers was charged on Saturday night in a 29-count criminal complaint, which includes 11 counts of using a firearm to commit murder. Other charges include weapons offences and charges alleging the 46-year-old seriously injured police officers while obstructing the exercise of religious beliefs. Six people, including four police officers, were also wounded during the shooting at the Tree of Life Congregation in Pittsburghs Squirrel Hill neighbourhood on Saturday. According to charging documents made public on Sunday, Bowers expressed hatred of Jews during the rampage. It also said he told officers that Jews were committing genocide and he wanted them all to die. Robert Bowers, the suspect of the attack at the Tree of Life synagogue / AFP/Getty Images Calls began coming in to 911 from the synagogue just before 10 am on Saturday, reporting "they were being attacked," court documents said. Bowers, 46, shot one of the first two officers to respond in the hand, and the other was wounded by "shrapnel and broken glass." A tactical team found Bowers on the third floor, where he shot two officers multiple times, the affidavit said. One officer was described as critically wounded but the document did not describe the other officer's condition. Two other people in the synagogue, a man and a woman, were wounded by Bowers and were in stable condition, the document said. Armed police in Pittsburgh after the shooting / AP Bowers, who was armed with an AR-15 rifle and three handguns, told an officer while he was being treated for his injuries "that he wanted all Jews to die and also that they were committing genocide to his people," the affidavit said. He was charged late Saturday with 11 state counts of criminal homicide, six counts of aggravated assault and 13 counts of ethnic intimidation in what the leader of the Anti-Defamation League called the deadliest attack on Jews in U.S. history. Bowers was also charged in a 29-count federal criminal complaint that included charges of obstructing the free exercise of religious beliefs - a federal hate crime - and using a firearm to commit murder. US Attorney General Jeff Sessions said the charges "could lead to the death penalty". It wasn't clear whether Bowers had an attorney to speak on his behalf. Community comes together after Pittsburgh shooting / AP The nation's latest mass shooting drew condemnation and expressions of sympathy from politicians and religious leaders of all stripes. With the midterm election just over a week away, it also reignited a longstanding and bitter debate over guns. Pope Francis led prayers for Pittsburgh on Sunday in St. Peter's Square. "In reality, all of us are wounded by this inhuman act of violence," he said. H istoric England has called on Londoners to help protect the citys seven incredibly special Victorian cemeteries. The so-called Magnificent Seven, which includes Highgate Cemetery, were built on the outskirts of the capital in the mid-19th century as burial spaces moved away from the city centre. But many were neglected during the 1900s as they became overgrown and deteriorated, while the families of those buried there moved away, forcing some to shut their gates. Becky Barrett, Historic Englands Principal Adviser for Heritage at Risk London, told the Standard that the future of the Magnificent Seven looks brighter today than it has done, but stressed that public support is still vital. Nunhead Cemetery in south-east London / Tom Powell Those responsible for the upkeep of our Magnificent Seven cemeteries today are facing a backlog of repairs and unchecked vegetation, she said. Their upkeep relies on the generous support and time of so many individuals. Magnificent Seven Cemeteries Abney Park Brompton Highgate Kensal Green Nunhead Tower Hamlets West Norwood She described the cemeteries as valuable windows into the past, as well as being important green spaces in densely built-up areas. They provide an insight into the fashions and practices of Victorian London, they illustrate a breadth of craftsmanship and architectural styles, and, perhaps most poignantly, they are biographies of our communities with countless stories to tell, she said. Often its only the design of the monument that hints at the status and interests of the individual interred - from royalty, to circus performers, suffragettes and novelists. Six out of seven cemeteries have been transferred to local authorities or charitable trusts over time, with only Kensal Green remaining in private ownership. Three of the cemeteries are included on Historic Englands at risk register. Many of the cemeteries became overgrown and neglected during the 1900s due to high maintenance costs / Tom Powell However, the fortunes of our Magnificent Seven cemeteries are definitely on the up, adds Ms Barrett. More people are discovering their charm, raising awareness of their importance and getting involved in their day-to-day care, she says. Cemetery managers are also recognising and valuing these cemeteries as important green spaces. The Heritage Lottery Fund is also a generous supporter of historic cemeteries. West Norwood, Abney Park and Brompton cemeteries are all recent recipients of significant lottery funding. The grave of Karl Marx in highgate Cemetery / PA Archive/PA Images Ms Barrett is urging those who want to help protect their local Victorian cemetery to look out for volunteering opportunities. Many allow people to spend a day clearing ivy from vulnerable monuments or helping with social media and fundraising. People can also contribute by helping to complete patchy cemetery records by recording individual monuments and inscriptions, and trying to trace descendants responsible for their upkeep. U nearthed archive photos reveal the history of London's upmarket Connaught Village as it celebrates 150 years of being a "hidden gem" for boutique shopping. The owners of the protected area, Hyde Park Estate have released these Then and Now photographs, depicting how the area has changed over the decades. The historic shopping area has been a destination for Londoners for over a century - it was once a regular haunt for Charles Dickens - but more lately attracts the likes of David Beckham, Madonna, Claudia Winkleman and Ellie Goulding. And as the owners celebrate its 150th year under their stewardship, the photographs record the vibrant identity of one of Londons most popular areas for retail and living today Connaught Square South Side 2018 / Connaught Village James Parker, Assistant Asset Manager of the Hyde Park Estate said: Connaught Village is such a destination because its a bit of a hidden gem. Its got that real village feel, which is rare in London, because it was built when this was all still green fields in the 19th century, so the builders had that ability to lay it out how they wanted. And the fine selection of high-end and boutique shops have not come together by accident, he added. 39-41 Connaught Street 1974. 41 Connaught Street, the building on the right of the image, is the restaurant where Delia Smith, the celebrated chef and author began her career. / Connaught Village The streets are littered with 50 niche, creative and unusual boutiques, including Lucy Choi, Ritva Westenius bridal boutique, Buchanans Cheese, Kokoro. We play a very active role in the management of the estate, and weve always looked for the right businesses. Theres always been a lot of fashion here, but for instance weve always made sure theres also been a cheese monger. Connaught Street South Side 2018. Today, although there are different tenants, with the noticeable exception of Markus Coffee, Connaught Street still provides a diverse offering of restaurants and shopping. / Connaught Village Businesses in Connaught go far and once upon a time, Richard Branson started his Virgin empire from a flat in the village, Mr Parker said. The course of its history changed, like much of London, during the Blitz. Numerous Georgian homes were destroyed, giving rise to higher buildings in the late 20th Century. But the estate has been working to re-imagine some of the lost history. Connaught Street South Side 1970s / Connaught Village Said Mr Parker: 59 Connaught Road was totally gutted, and last year worked to replace the basement and the frontage back to the original Georgian style. Today, much of the original 1820s architecture is still intact. Sussex Place is one of the few entirely unchanged streets, looking back over images from the 1940s apart from changing from the original bare-brick to the Italianate stucco fronts seen today. Connaught Street South Side 2018. Today, although there are different tenants, with the noticeable exception of Markus Coffee, Connaught Street still provides a diverse offering of restaurants and shopping / Connaught Village Connaught was originally known as Tyburnia - named after the notorious 12th century public execution gallows known as the Tyburn Tree. Sir Randolph Churchill, the son of Winston Churchill, lived in Connaught Place, in one of the first private houses to have electricity in London. The area was home to the socialite Mrs Milner Gibson, a friend of Charles Dickens who lived at 5 Hyde Park Place, and whose fashionable parties were reported on in the newspapers. Its been called home by Viola Bonham Carter, retail mogul WH Smith, ballerina Marie Taglione, and the great engineer Robert Stevenson. It has nine blue plaques around its streets, and Blue Badge Guide Rachel Kolsky is set to give a lecture on the history of the area on Monday October 29 in St Johns Church. H undreds of Uber drivers and other 'gig economy' workers are to stage a protest march through London on Tuesday. This is to be ahead of a Court of Appeal hearing linked to the employment rights and status of drivers working through the app. The demonstration, which is part of nationwide action, has been named "rise of the precarious workers". The Independent Workers Union of Great Britain, which is involved in the case, expects it to be the biggest ever protest of its kind in the UK. There has been an ongoing argument over the employment status of Uber drivers / AFP/Getty Images The protesters will march to the Royal Courts of Justice, then go to the University of London before passing NHS contractor The Doctors Laboratory, where medical couriers say their pay has been cut. Couriers, riders, outsourced cleaners, restaurant workers and others will be involved and rally will also be held in Glasgow. Uber case co-claimant and IWGB United private hire drivers branch chairman James Farrar said: "What is clear from the different kinds of workers supporting us in this demonstration is that unity among precarious workers has never been stronger and together we will defeat the dishonest bosses that are trying to do away with our most basic employment rights." The GMB, which is also involved in the case, said Uber drivers are on average of 18,000 out of pocket, according to estimates, two years after the company lost an employment tribunal case over the employment status of drivers. The march will go to the Royal Courts of Justice (Picture: Google Street View) Last year, Uber took the case to the Employment Appeals Tribunal and lost. Sue Harris, the GMB's legal director, said: "These figures lay bare the human cost of Uber continuing to refuse to accept the ruling of the courts. "While the company are wasting money losing appeal after appeal, their drivers are up to 18,000 out of pocket for the last two years alone." An Uber spokesman said: "Almost all taxi and private hire drivers have been self-employed for decades, long before our app existed. "Over the last two years we've made many changes to give drivers even more control over how they use the app, alongside more security through sickness, maternity and paternity protections. We'll keep listening to drivers and introduce further improvements." A n additional 2billion each year is expected to be allocated for mental health crisis services in the upcoming budget announcement. Philip Hammond will use the Budget, to be outlined on Monday, to set out the start of a long-term plan to achieve "parity of care" between physical and mental health. This extra money is set to pay for the provision of "comprehensive" mental health support in every major NHS A&E department. It is hoped this would ensure anyone experiencing a mental health crisis can get rapid specialist help. The additional funding forms part of the extra 20 billion-a-year by 2023 for the NHS in England which Theresa May announced in June. This announcement was welcomed by Paul Farmer, chief executive of the mental health charity Mind. Stating services had been underfunded for decades, he said: This commitment ahead of the long-term plan indicates that mental health is rightly high on the Government's agenda, and has the potential to improve access to care, once detailed plans are clear. However, he expressed concern the Government had yet to provide assurances no claimants receiving benefits due their mental health making it difficult to work would lose income in the transition to Universal Credit. "This has not yet been forthcoming," he said. "If the Government is really intent on prioritising the nation's mental health, it needs to guarantee nobody with mental health problems will be left without their income as a result of moving to Universal Credit." Shadow health minister Barbara Keeley expressed scepticism about the promise of extra funding. The Budget will be outlined on Monday / Getty Images She said: "If this announcement is simply money that's already been promised, it will do little to relieve the severe pressures on mental health services that have built up because of this Tory Government's relentless underfunding of the NHS. "People with mental health conditions cannot afford to wait five years for meaningful action from this Government: too many are already waiting many months to access the treatment." Officials say the new funding will be backed up with more mental health ambulances along with the establishment of dedicated mental health teams in schools. Callers to NHS 111 will be directed to support services 24 hours a day while there will be greater access to services in the community. L eaving the European Union without a deal would leave Philip Hammond with no choice but to rip up his plans for the economy and would require a new Budget, he admitted today. On the eve of the Budget, Mr Hammond warned that a new economic strategy would have to be adopted if there was no Brexit deal agreed upon when the UK leaves in March 2019. If we were to leave the European Union without any deal [] then we would need to take a different approach to the future of Britains economy, he told Sky News Sophy Ridge on Sunday. He said that he believes leaving without a deal is an extremely unlikely situation but of course we have to prepare and plan for all eventualities as any prudent government would. Philip Hammond will deliver his budget on Monday / Getty Images In the event of a no-deal, Mr Hammond said the Government would need to look at a different strategy and frankly wed need to have a new Budget that sets out a different strategy for the future. We would want to see how markets and businesses and consumers responded to that, he added. "Then, as any responsible government would, we would take appropriate fiscal measures to protect the economy, to prepare us for the future and to strike out in a new direction that would ensure that Britain was able to succeed, whatever the circumstances we found ourselves in." The Chancellor also hinted he would use his Commons statement on Monday to provide additional funding to smooth the transition to Universal Credit amid warnings low-income families are being driven into debt. "I've already put over 2 billion pounds, over the last two Budgets, into smoothing that transition," he said. "We continue to look at how this process is working and if we find cliff edges and difficulties, frictions in the move from the old benefits system to Universal Credit then of course will always try to smooth those out and be pragmatic about it." Phillip Hammond / Getty Images On Sunday, Shadow Chancellor John McDonnell accused Mr Hammond of "callous complacency" over the Budget and the future as he called on the Government to halt the roll-out of Universal Credit. He told the Sophy Ridge on Sunday programme: "I'm saying to other political parties that if he doesn't halt the roll-out of Universal Credit we've got to vote this Budget down, we've got to stop him forcing people into poverty in this way." Mr McDonnell said he was "really shocked" about the Chancellor's comments on Brexit, adding: "He's gone back to what he said some time ago, which is basically he seems to have accepted a no-deal Brexit and he does want us to be like Singapore, a tax haven which will undermine our manufacturing base and, I think, put people's living standards at risk." S ir Philip Green has described the past few days as a horror story as he rejected allegations of racial abuse and sexual harassment of staff after being named in Parliament. The Topshop boss, who was identified as the businessman at the centre of #MeToo claims, complained that he had been used for target practice. In an interview with The Mail on Sunday, the business tycoon said the controversy was injuring his business before he described the past days as a horror story. It comes after Labour cabinet minister Lord Hain used parliamentary privilege to name the businessman as the individual behind a legal injunction against the Daily Telegraph. Sir Philip Green was named as the businessman behind a privacy injunction preventing the media publishing allegations by former employees / AFP/Getty Images The newspaper was banned from publishing confidential information from five employees by the Court of Appeal. The businessman, who was recently confronted by camera crews at a health resort in Arizona, acknowledged that during his years in business he had engaged in some banter. However, he said that there was never any intent to be offensive. Im very, very upset. Im being used as target practice. Its injuring my business, all the people potentially working in the business, and its injuring me and my family, he told The Mail on Sunday. "I've been in business for more than 40 years. There has obviously from time to time been some banter and a bit of humour, but as far as I'm concerned there was never any intent to be offensive. "I believe I have a good relationship with all my staff. In all that time, until the recent issues, I've not had one litigation or complaint. "If anything I've said has caused offence, I'm happy to apologise. Nothing I've said was ever meant to be offensive. "The whole thing is distressing. I repeat I have never, ever sexually harassed anybody. It's nonsense." Lord Hain speaking in the House of Lords on Thursday / PA Sir Philip has said he intends to lodge a formal complaint with the House of Lords authorities over Lord Hain for failing to declare he was a paid adviser to the law firm representing the Telegraph when he made his intervention. Lord Hain said he was unaware that the firm, Gordon Dadds, was involved in the case when he spoke and dismissed Sir Philip's allegation as a "malevolent diversion". "I stand resolutely by what I've said and neither retract nor apologise for standing up for human rights," he said. Lord Hain has been criticised by some lawyers and legal experts for what they say was an abuse of parliamentary privilege, although he has been backed by many MPs. A dozen animals were rescued from a private zoo on Sunday amidst fears they were malnourished. Albanian authorities forced their way into the complex and 12 animals - three lions, a bear, a waterbuck, four deer, a fox, a zebra and a turtle. Vets and animal welfare charity workers sedated the animals and took them for treatment at Tiranas public zoo. Four Paws spokesman Martin Bauer, involved in the rescue, said that they will try to relocate the animals to sanctuaries. One of the lions being carried out / EPA He said they wish to re-home the "three lions to our big cat center FELIDA in the Netherlands and the three-legged bear to our Bear Sanctuary Muritz in Germany." They will also work on solutions to take the remaining animals to other places. However, this will happen only after the animals regain their health at Tirana zoo park which may take weeks. Workers break open a door at the zoo / EPA/MALTON DIBRA Albania's environment and tourism ministry said the animals were taken because their living quarters were too cramped and some were sick. Police and conservation officials pried open the main gate at the Safari Zoo Park in Mbrostar, some 60 miles south of the capital, Tirana. The zoo was closed by owners after criticism emerged surrounding the treatment of its animals. The owners have denied that the animals were sick or malnourished. A lawyer speaking on their behalf, Elvis Sulejmani, said they had filled out all the necessary documentation for the animals. Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, October 28) President Rodrigo Duterte will give Certificates of Land Ownership Award (CLOA) to Ati tribe in Boracay next month. This was confirmed to CNN Philippines by Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) Undersecretary Emily Padilla and DAR Region 6 Director Stephen Leonides, who said the distribution would happen on Nov. 8. Some 3.1 hectares of land in Barangay Manocmanoc would be distributed next month. Last week, DAR Secretary John Castriciones said the tribe could occupy the land. This is in line with President Duterte's previous statement that he wants to place the world-famous island under land reform. Officials are now working with the Registry of Deeds for the issuance of a CLOA to some 48 members of the Ati tribe. Ownership will be collective, as requested by the tribe. The government is also looking into the eligibility of around 60 members from the Tumandok tribe. Department of Environment and Natural Resources Undersecretary Jonas Leones, however, said a bigger area will be given to 31 indigenous people families. He said 7.8 hectares of land may be distributed before Christmas. The Foreign Affairs Ministry (MAE) informed that the Romanian sailor kidnapped on 22 September from a ship off the Nigerian waters was released along with all the other crew members. According to a release of the MAE sent to AGERPRES on Sunday, the Romanian citizen will be repatriated in the coming days and he is currently being assisted by a mobile consular team within the Embassy of Romania in Bern. "The family of the Romanian citizen, who is in permanent contact with representatives of the MAE crisis cell, was informed in this regard by the Swiss shipowner. The MAE crisis cell, through the six diplomatic missions involved (the Embassies of Romania in Abuja, Bern, London, Manila, Ljubljana and Zagreb), has always maintained contact with the Nigerian and Swiss authorities, the shipowner, the Romanian citizen's family, the central authorities of the states of residence of the other kidnapped persons," the press release showed. "From the beginning, liberal hegemony was destined to fail, and it did," writes John Mearsheimer, an esteemed professor of international relations, in his new book, Liberal Delusions. "This strategy invariably leads to policies that put a country at odds with nationalism and realism, which ultimately have far more influence on international politics than liberalism does." Prescient words, and, put simply, mean American policymakers ever since 1993 have never understood the importance of nationalism as a political force, and how much it constrains foreign policy. While American relative power was enormous, it was possible to shape global policy across the world, something which is increasingly becoming difficult day by day. The prescription, therefore, is simple. Restraint in foreign policy, understanding that other powers have their valid interests, understanding that there are toxic regions that are not modern or liberal enough to allow any foreign concept such as representative democracy to be imposed upon tribal allegiances or laws or culture. Any attempt to do so, will always tend to produce a backlash, which cannot be dealt with liberal ideas like persuasion, but will need a stricter method that liberalism will not allow. In short, liberal hegemony, as Mearsheimer terms it, is bound to fail. It's unlikely, that this book has been read by any policy makers in the Trump administration, as it has only just been published. However, it virtually coincided with the biggest setback occurred in the ongoing American war in Afghanistan. Afghanistan's controversial police chief of Kandahar, Abdul Raziq, often noted for human rights violations but also the most successful policeman in the region, was shot by a rogue fanatic working as one of his bodyguards. Raziq, as is known in the region was a man of unusual methods, but he managed to bring peace in the city of Kandahar, notorious as the birthplace of the Taliban. With the death of Raziq, however, peacekeeping suffered a deadly blow, one of the hardest in the last 17 years, with the entire top leadership of a city being wiped out in one go. The Taliban insurgency is nowhere near defeated, in fact it now controls more territory than it has ever done since 2001. The Taliban knows the Americans are looking for an honorable exit, and that it's only a matter of time before the last American soldiers leave the land. Afghanistan is a land often occupied and conquered, but never dominated. The pattern continues. The Taliban knows this, as does America. The American-funded and supported government's writ only runs in the main cities, so that outside of Kabul, Herat and Kandahar, tribal laws still have the final say. Imagine how different the history would have been if the Americans had left in, say, 2003? The Taliban decimated and toppled, and the Northern warlords controlling and ruling the country. A land that, since mid-12th century, has been clearly divided along ethnic lines, would have fallen back onto the old ethnic lines, and divided according to the balance of power as of old. Something Asians understand, and Euro-Americans forget, is that there are regions deeply steeped in a unique culture, with a unique sense of history and ideology and, most importantly, special laws. It is prudent to let it evolve in its own pace. Americans and liberals in general, with their internationalist humanitarian ideology, are unwilling to accept this simple truth. As in Greek history, nemesis comes after hubris, and Afghanistan underscores the failure, which Mearsheimer so eerily predicts in his book. The reality is that America will leave Afghanistan. However, its importance in the region will not decline. It provides a central focal point, between Pakistan, India, Iran, Russia and China. Life will continue, even after Taliban or whoever wins after the Americans leave. Trade will continue, and Afghanistan shouldn't be allowed to be a breeding ground for terror to be exported to neighboring great powers. Yet, how to control that, is a million-dollar question. The original war highlighted by 9/11 to reshape the world is over, and the U.S. lost. That doesn't mean the war or conflict will stop anytime soon. Soon Americans will be out of Afghanistan. How to manage that vacuum, is a matter for policy makers to urgently ponder on, hopefully avoiding the idealistic mistakes of the British, Soviets and Americans. Sumantra Maitra is a columnist with China.org.cn. For more information please visit: http://www.china.org.cn/opinion/SumantraMaitra.htm Opinion articles reflect the views of their authors only, not necessarily those of China.org.cn. The biggest warmongers are generally the biggest cowards. They hide behind rhetoric and other peoples blood, sweat and toil to advance their personal agenda. John Boltons arrival in Moscow with, as he said, no olive branches in hand, should come as zero surprise because Bolton is nothing if not a coward. Warmongers like Bolton bomb, invade and ruin some poor country that is in their way, the entire time claiming they themselves, or the people they represent, are the victim. Its vain and narcissistic. US foreign policy is suffused with the neoconservative strain of narcissism, an offshoot of Trotskyite interventionism, which sees everything in Manichean terms. You are either our friend, and in the case of the US Empire subservient to our needs, or you are our enemy. When Bolton is talking about taking us out of the UN I think hes useful. When hes arguing for a freer hand in developing ballistic missiles I think hes a danger to humanity. This is how National Security Advisor John Bolton sees the world. Its not tough to parse in the end. And the sad truth is that this is likely exactly why he was hired by President Trump. Bolton has been shaping US foreign policy along these lines for decades. He is one of the architects of the disastrous Iraq and Afghanistan wars as well as the post 9/11 surveillance state. Hes a cheap shill for Israeli expansionism and continues to argue against peace in North Korea, Japan and Syria. Like Bolton, Trump is a bully; a fundamentally weak person who blusters and blows hard in service of a simplified narrative of good and evil. America good and anyone who disagrees with her, bad. When it comes to foreign policy the Trump Administration looks an awful lot like a those SJW NPCs memes on Twitter. Make no mistake, in Boltons case, his agenda is born of spite, hate and opportunity. Trump, on the other hand, Im not so sure about. It is one of the few things leaving me with some hope in all of this. While John Bolton may be a US patriot, his brand of patriotism is of the most toxic variety. It is one where everyone else has to suffer to advance America. It is a Hobbesian view of the world in which for the US to win, everyone else has to lose. Because without the US, the Superman of Human Society, the world would sink into barbarism. At the end of the day paranoid schizophrenics like Bolton see threats to their well-being everywhere. They can only see the world through the lens of nation-state power politics. Meanwhile the world is thrown off its axis and decent people must suffer for Boltons ends which always justify the means no matter the disastrous results. Think about the millions who continue to suffer because of his view of Iran. Real Iranians are beneath contempt because they wont overthrow the Theocracy on John Boltons timeline. He exemplifies the adage that the beatings will continue until morale improves. People like Bolton believe some peoples lives are worth more than others. Theirs is a solipsism so complete that anyone who refuses to throw off the yoke of their oppressors deserve whatever fate true-believers and cowards like Bolton concoct for them. They are simply collateral damage on the way to building a better world. This is why I invoke Trotsky when I speak about neocons. People like Bolton are Commies who dont realize it. Boltons pushing President Trump to renege on the 1987 INF Treaty with Russia is born of his paranoia about China. China is the USs real threat. So, while Bolton has never met a war he didnt like he also hasnt ever met a treaty the US has signed he did like. Im a huge fan of a non-interventionist foreign policy. I agree with Bolton on having no entangling alliances. But, Im also no fan of unilaterally abrogating treaties which limit the development of ballistic missiles. Because this is not an entangling alliance but rather an expression of trust and mutual self-defense. If the US government is to have a role in foreign affairs it should be to sign treaties with other nations that limit the kind of damage people like John Bolton can do. And ones which limit the use and development of truly terrifying weapons should be lauded not thrown aside at the first opportunity. The US and Russia should be leading the world on this front towards cooperation and peace. Putin would welcome that dialogue. His call to Japan to sign a peace treaty first then work out the territorial dispute over the Kuril Islands is a perfect example of this. To Putin, rightly, trust is built with agreements over the easy stuff first then you work on the hard stuff. Bolton wants it all his way or he wants to take his toys and go home. Typical narcissist. Typical bully. There should be a dialogue with China and any other country developing the missiles banned by the treaty that both Bolton and Putin are bound by. If limiting nuclear weapons is Trumps goal why is he pulling out of this treaty rather than organizing summits? Why is his State Dept. so unutterably backwards that it wont even pick up the phone to talk with Iran? By springing this on the world at this moment Bolton and Trump are signaling to everyone that they are simply weak-minded bullies who have neither the patience nor the temperament to confront difficult problems in constructive ways. And in his interaction with Russian President Vladimir Putin, Bolton confirmed Putins suspicions that there will be no olive branches offered to Russia while hes on the job, only more belligerence and posturing by cowards who threaten and demean, bully and provoke hoping to get what they want. But when men like Bolton are confronted with men like Putin who see them for what they truly are, they always walk away empty handed and outmaneuvered. Putin is the opposite of Bolton. No one will make a deal with the US as long as John Bolton is on the scene. And now Trump is rightfully under attack for continuing to back both Israel and Saudi Arabia, neither one bastions of temperance and tolerance. Both are increasingly seen as brutal and intractable to the rest of the world, including, finally the US electorate. The shaky edifice of Trumps foreign policy goals of isolating Iran, driving a wedge between Russia and China and securing a subservient Europe via NATO is failing. The exact opposite is happening. So, unless Trumps prepared to meet Putin with a whole lot of olives when next they meet (presumably in November) the best he can hope for is a handful full of stones. China-Japan ties will thrive in the future, Kazuo Ogura, former Japanese ambassador to France, said in his speech at this year's Beijing-Tokyo Forum in mid-October. His words represent the aspirations of insightful Japanese people for continued friendship between the two countries. After nearly a decade of "chill", China-Japan ties took a turn for the better this year. In early May, Chinese Premier Li Keqiang paid an official visit to Japan; in late October, Shinzo Abe made the first visit to China by a Japanese prime minister in seven years. A commentator seeking an appropriate metaphor for this resumption of high-level visits described it as pressing the "reset button" for healthy development of China-Japan relations. Abe's China visit occurred at particularly symbolic moments, described in Chinese as the three "coincidences." First, this year marks the 40th anniversary of the signing of the China-Japan Treaty of Peace and Friendship. Second, it is also the 40th anniversary of China's reform and opening up. Third, the visit took place at the very moment when escalating trade tensions between China and the United States were creating changes in the world geopolitical landscape. By calling them three "coincidences", the author employs exaggeration to make the article more appealing. Actually, as the English poet Alexander Pope (1688-1744) once observed: "all chance, direction, which thou canst not see". Abe's China visit and the warming of China-Japan relations are, above all, inevitable results of changes in the international environment. Over 40 years ago, thanks to the extraordinary political courage and wisdom of Mao Zedong, Zhou Enlai, Deng Xiaoping, Kakuei Tanaka, Takeo Fukuda and other members of the old generation of state leaders of the two countries, the confrontation and outright hostility between China and Japan came to an end, bilateral ties were normalized and returned to a pathway of peace and cooperation. The signing of the China-Japan Treaty of Peace and Friendship not only ensured the maintenance of peace in Asia, and, indeed, in the wider world, but also created a favorable external environment for China's reform and opening up. Two months after the signing of the treaty, the 3rd Plenary Session of the 11th Central Committee of the Communist Party of China was held, launching the reform and opening-up policy. Over the past four decades, the bilateral trade volume has increased from some US$4 billion to over US$300 billion. Meanwhile, personnel exchanges have risen from merely tens of thousands to more than 10 million in 2017. Driven by reform and opening-up, China has enjoyed robust economic growth to become the world's second largest economy, laying a firm foundation for China-Japan relations in the new era. Without the improvements in Sino-American and Sino-Japanese relations, a favorable external environment for promoting reform and opening up would not have existed; without economic development and higher international status brought about by reform and opening-up, China would not have been able to become both Japan's real partner as well as a competitor. Abe's visit took place when the international environment was experiencing significant changes. Since it came to power, on the pretext of defending "America First", the Trump administration has been pursuing unilateralism and trade protectionism, with tremendous impact on the existing multilateral cooperation system, international economic order and international relations. To further deepen reform and open its door wider to the outside world, China firmly opposes any form of trade protectionism and a focus on unilateralism. Japan, with its economic structure dominated by imports of raw materials, manufacturing and exports, equally treats trade protectionism and unilateralism as totally unacceptable. Although some territorial and historical issues have created friction and even conflicts between China and Japan, they are dwarfed by the threat to the international order brought about by moves opposing globalization and in favor of trade protectionism that go against the general direction and development of the two countries. The two governments and peoples are very clear in their minds as to which is most important. This is indeed the reason for Abe's visit to China and the warming of bilateral ties. Improving bilateral ties is a rare opportunity for both China and Japan. The two sides should make efforts towards achieving positive momentum and putting China-Japan ties back on normal track. To understand the significance of such an improvement, there are several aspects to focus on: First, the China-Japan relationship is not simply a bilateral one. China and Japan, as major countries in Asia and also the second and third largest economies in the world, play a vital role in Asia-Pacific and global affairs. The confrontation of these two countries, with such huge economic aggregates, would not only impact the harmony and security of Asia, but global peace and development as well. Therefore, to properly handle the China-Japan relationship is of a significance going far beyond the bilateral level. Second, we should consider mutual benefits, win-win cooperation and the promising prospects. Once the two parties are transformed from being competitors to becoming better partners based on the solid complementarity of market and technology, they can expand the range of the areas of cooperation to include third parties. China has strong processing and manufacturing capabilities, while Japan leads in management, science and technology. Once they meet each other in the international marketplace, competition is inevitable. No one will emerge as a winner in such a competitive situation. It will not only be harmful to the companies of both countries, but also degrade service level and quality. During Abe's visit to China, a delegation of Japanese business leaders took part in the China-Japan Third Party Market Cooperation Forum, showing the growing convergence of interests in this regard. Third, they jointly oppose trade protectionism and seek to safeguard the free trade system and WTO rules. Over the past two years, the United States has been withdrawing from international collaboration in regard to several vital international issues, pursuing unilateralism and trade protectionism. It has not only posed a threat to the existing international trade order, damaging the interests of China and Japan, but also had a serious impact on overall international relations and the existing world pattern. China and Japan are the beneficiaries and defenders of the multilateral trading system. They have every reason to join hands to oppose trade protectionism, and jointly establish and maintain an open world economy system through the promotion of the China-Japan-South Korea Free Trade Agreement and other multilateral mechanisms. Fourth, we should never forget the existence of over 2,000 years of links between China and Japan, as well as the bitter lessons brought by the past wars they have fought. The bilateral ties are both complex and special, and we cannot always expect smooth sailing. The two sides should adopt a long-term vision and a broader mindset to look at the China-Japan relationship with a rational and pragmatic attitude in order to handle any issues that emerge. They cannot be constrained by emotions and the problems that cannot always be solved in a timely way. Only in this way, can we promote China-Japan ties to a new phase, improve the wellbeing of people of the two countries and boost world peace and development. After all, the future is more important than history. The author Wang Xiaohui is editor-in-chief of China.org.cn. Back when the NEW START, the ams control treaty currently awaiting ratification by the US Senate, was being put together, Washington attempted to deny the obvious fact that the reduction of strategic nuclear arsenals and the missile defense were interlocking themes. It should be credited entirely to the efforts of the Russian negotiating team that the text of the New Start does reflect the connection. On November 30 The Wall Street Journal quoted unnamed US officials as saying that last spring Russia had moved tactical nuclear warheads to its Kaliningrad exclave. Given that the tactical missile range is limited to 500 km, the US has no reasons to regard the purely hypothetical deployment as a direct threat to its security, but Washington seems worried that thus Russia might be responding to the siting of Patriots in Poland. The Patriots being integrated into the US missile shield, the issue clearly acquires a strategic dimension. The unnamed officials cited by The Wall Street Journal are therefore making things look as if Moscow is putting obstacles in the way of the New Start ratification by deploying the tactical nuclear-armed missiles at Russia's western frontier. At least, the above shows that the US is fully aware of the missile defensestrategic arms reductions link when its own interests are at stake. At the moment Washington is in line with its usual diplomatic practice simply trying to bounce additional concessions out of Moscow. Chief of the Russian army's general staff N. Makarov stated on November 30 that no strengthening of Russia's missile potential in the Kaliningrad exclave had taken place, though from a broader perspective the step would not have put the country in breach of any of its arms control obligations. Russian president D. Medvedev said in 2008 that Russia would consider deploying the Iskander tactical missiles in the Kaliningrad exclave as a reaction to the US plan to build missile defense infrastructures in Poland and the Czech Republic. For some reason, later the Russian defense ministry dropped the idea and even withdrew some of its forces from the region. In contrast, as revealed by WikiLeaks, the US is maintaining its tactical nuclear forces in Europe at the previous level. The list of US military bases in Europe where nuclear warheads are admittedly stored is: Kleine Brogel Air Base in Belgium (20 warheads), Fogel base in Holland (20 warheads), Buechel Air Base in Germany (no data), Aviano Air Base (50 warheads), the base at Udine (40 warheads) and the base of Ghedi Torre (40 warheads)in Italy , and the Incirlik US Air Base in Turkey (90 warheads). As for the claims contained in the The Wall Street Journal paper, they were made by unidentified officials who invoked no evidence and, moreover, accused Moscow of unfair play, hinting that the alleged tilting of the strategic balance by Moscow may prompt the US to put the ratification of the New Start on hold. The truth is that the US and Russia agreed to address the issues in the opposite order, that is, to take care of the tactical nuclear arms problem upon the New Start's entering into force. In this light, the The Wall Street Journal's paper is a provocation which, sadly, epitomizes Washington's approach to security talks with Russia. Moscow was quick to realize what was brewing. As the Russian president said in his annual address, One of the following two things will happen within the next ten years: either we reach an agreement on missile defense and create a full-fledged cooperation mechanism, or (if we cant come to a constructive agreement) we will see another escalation of the arms race. We will have to make a decision to deploy new attack forces. Russian premier V. Putin reaffirmed in his interview to CNN on December 1 that the US failure to ratify the New Start would force Russia to build up its nuclear arsenal. "That's not our choice. We don't want that to happen. But this is not a threat on our part. We've been simply saying that this is what all of us expects to happen if we don't agree on a joint effort there". In the meantime prospects for the US ratification of the New Start seem increasingly dire as on top of the allegations of the deployment of additional Iskander tactical missiles in the Kaliningrad exclave critics of the treaty are calling its overall feasibility into question based on the fact that it says nothing about the tactical nuclear warfare. It is clear that any US-Russia missile defense deal will face an indefinite delay if the New Start does not go through. Even regardless of the future of the New Start, the expectations concerning an agreement on missile defense are fairly low. The Russian president suggested combining missile defense potentials in the framework of a new European missile defense architecture at the Russia NATO summit in Lisbon. Formally, Brussels welcomed the idea, but no practical steps followed apart from the decision to review available options at the 2011 meeting of defense ministers. To make things worse, the US is pressing ahead with its own missile defense plan, Russia's fears to see its nuclear deterrent eroded notwithstanding. Putin stressed in the interview to CNN that as of today the Iranian missile threat which Washington cites to justify its missile defense initiative is nonexistent. In contrast, the new threats bred by Washington's far-reaching plans are quite real from Russia's perspective, and the country will have to implement a rearmament program if the New Start is not ratified. Washington should understand that no full-fledged cooperation mechanism is going to materialize unless a radical solution to the problem of the US missile defense in Europe is found. Moscow has no intention to intimidate its partners but, should it take a new arms race to ensure Russia's security, the country is ready to pay the price. On October 11 a Russian Soyuz rocket failed as it was attempting to take two men (a Russian and an American) to the ISS (International Space Station). The two passengers survived because of the emergency recovery system that is part of the manned rocket. But the failed Soyuz rocket was another example of the continued management and quality control problems in the Russian space program. Previously there had only been two failures of a Soyuz manned capsule, in 1975 and 1983. The 1983 failure involved a rocket catching fire on the launch pad and the crew rescue system saved the passengers, as was the case during the 2018 failure. There have been 1,209 launches of a Soyuz rocket since 1966 and the success rate has been 97 percent. The failures include the inability to reach correct orbit. The Soyuz FG rocket, used to carry passengers, has been used 55 times since entering service in 2001 and all were successful until the October failure. The Soyuz FG is a more advanced and, until the recent failure, more reliable version of the Soyuz rocket design. There have been some recent problems with the Soyuz models used to launch satellites. Russia insisted that Soyuz FG was different but the personnel and management problems in the Russian space program could not be completely avoided. In addition, the Soyuz passenger capsule that reached the ISS in June 2018 was later found to have a tiny leak, which was apparently created during manufacture and not detected by quality control. The growing number of manufacturing defects in Russian spaceflight equipment is compounded by the growing failure to catch and repair defects. Thus the problems with the two most recent Soyuz passenger vehicles are not just rare events but part of a trend that is getting worse. Russia says they will have another Soyuz FG ready to go by early December. The implication is that if the December Soyuz FG works the ISS wont have to operate without a crew for several months. The Soyuz FG problems also reinforce the belief that more than one nations must be able to get people to and from the ISS. SpaceX has a passenger capsule design (Dragon) that will have its first test flight in 2019. Boeing also has a manned capsule design (Starliner) ready for test in 2019. One or both of these could be certified ready for service by 2020. That means Soyuz FG still is the only human transport to ISS for at least the next two years. Russians have looked on with growing dismay as their space program, once a close competitor with the Americans, slips into bankruptcy and insignificance. But the Russians were already falling way behind when the Soviet Union collapsed in 1991 and since then the government has, with increasing frustration, sought to revive Russian space efforts and restore that program to its former fame and glory. The latest major move towards that goal occurred at the end of 2015 when Russia abolished its government federal space agency and transferred all the assets and responsibilities to a new state-owned corporation (called Roscosmos). Over the next two years, it became obvious that the problems remained, seemingly beyond solution. To make that failure obvious by the end of 2017 Russia had fallen to third place, behind the Americans and Chinese in space efforts. This was not a surprise because over the last decade Russian space efforts have struggled to meet military space needs, often at the expense of civilian needed. Currently, there are only 134 Russian satellites in orbit and 60 percent of them are military. The Russian space efforts have become a money-losing operation sustained mainly for propaganda purposes. But even that backfires. This was demonstrated in February 2018 when Roscosmos officials were asked for their reaction to the recent successful launch of the American SpaceX Falcon Heavy rocket. The official response was that the SpaceX launch was a nice trick. This was in reference to the SpaceX Falcon Heavy using 27 rockets operating in unison to launch very heavy loads into orbit. Also notable was two of the three booster rockets returning and landing (nearly simultaneously) for reuse. This and many other innovations made SpaceX Falcon Heavy much (by over 70 percent) cheaper than competing American designs (and foreign ones as well). Finally because the first SpaceX Falcon Heavy launch was a test the SpaceX owner used, for a payload, an electric car (a convertible) with a crash test dummy in a space suit in the drivers seat and the dashboard having an iconic Dont Panic sign on it as well as two high tech storage devices with massive data about earth and its inhabitants (in the event that extraterrestrials find the car in the future). Most Russians appreciated the humor in all this and the reality that it meant Roscosmos was in a hopeless position because Roscosmos lacked the cash and talent to operate as effectively as SpaceX. This was an old story for Russians and now even the Chinese had passed them by. SpaceX offers lower prices and more flexibility than most government (usually military) developed launchers. As a privately owned company, SpaceX has less bureaucracy and is quicker to adapt new technology for launch services. Many existing and potential SpaceX customers see this as the future of space transportation. In mid-April, Russia confirmed the obvious and admitted they had lost their huge market share of commercial satellite launches. As recently as 2013 Russia had half that market. Five years later their market share had fallen to about ten percent and Russian showed no signs of regaining their dominance and expected their share of the commercial market to sink to as low as four percent. After 2013 Russia faced growing competition from cheaper, more reliable Chinese satellite launch services. But what really accelerated the Russian decline was the surprising emergence of new American launch technology, mainly the SpaceX reusable launchers (that can regularly return and land intact). This is particularly annoying because it was another unexpected new American technology (fracking) that drove down and the world price of Russias main export; oil and natural gas. Fracking also made the United States the major producer of oil and gas and a new competitor for Russia in export markets. Meanwhile, Russian space industry officials said they would put more emphasis on satellite design and manufacturing, which is much larger (by about three times) market than launch services. But even there Russia is having problems competing, mainly because of a shortage of skilled engineers and reliable manufacturing capabilities. So while Russia has lost about $2 billion a year in launch business they will probably lose ground on the satellite side of the business as well. A fundamental problem with the Russian space program was that, unlike in the West and now with China, the Russian efforts were a spinoff from the military program that concentrated on weapons (ICBMs and the like). In the West commercial space operations generated a lot more activity (launches, R&D, competition and demands for technical and operational efficiency). With the collapse of the Soviet Union, there was less money for space operations and better career opportunities elsewhere for the Cold War era Russian space program talent. Russia is keeping up in the design and construction of ICBMs, but even there the loss of all that talent forced to work for the Soviet space program and equipment manufacturing has led to a decline, since the 1990s, in quality for all rockets built. Thus all those embarrassing failures in new Russian ICBMs over the last two decades. Many of the details of the military rocket failures are kept secret. Not so on the commercial side. Examples of these Russian shortcomings occur regularly. In November 2017 there was another failure by a Russian satellite launcher to get its valuable cargo into orbit. This failure was traced to a software error in the third stage that carried one large weather satellite and 18 tiny cubesats. The control software for the third stage was programmed for launch from the Balkinor launch facility but the failed launch was from the new Vostochny space center. It, in fact, was only the second launch from Vostochny, which became operational in 2016. The Russian engineers did not change the flight control software to indicate a launch from Vostochny (in the Russian Far East) rather than the Cold War era Balkinor which, since the Soviet Union dissolved in 1991, belongs to the new Central Asian state of Kazakhstan. It was a stupid, very expensive and very avoidable mistake. But the quality of engineers and managers that would have prevented that sort of thing no longer want to work for the space program, especially one that is in third place and getting worse. This mishap was disappointing but not unexpected because Russia saw its defense and space-related technology efforts rapidly deteriorate in the 1990s. After 1991 Russia was much smaller and with half the population of the Soviet Union and with a new economic and political system. Skilled technical talent could no longer he kept confined to jobs and neighborhoods determined by the government. After 1991 the talent was set free and most, especially the managers, wanted to work anywhere but the state-owned (or controlled) defense industries. This should have been anticipated because half the Soviet population left to form new nations (or revive old ones). Then there was China. Since the 1980s China has set its people free to get rich as long as they did not challenge the communist dictatorship that is still in charge. China has not yet been able to produce something like SpaceX but the Chinese space program has since the 1980s matched and surpassed what the Russians ever did. And China has the kind of economic system and entrepreneurs that could create another SpaceX operation. The Russian problem was that they did not nurture entrepreneurs as the Chinese did. In 1991 Russians were free to work where they wanted and few of the technically skilled Russians wanted to work for the government anymore. A lot of them left Russia and never returned. At the same time, China was attracting talent to its space program by allowing entrepreneurs to create a lot of the technology they needed. Meanwhile, the Russians were putting fewer satellites into orbit and a growing number of those launches were failures because the talent to make that happen was no longer around. This loss of talent was felt throughout the Russian defense industries and since the mid-1990s there were growing complaints from military commanders about quality control problems with the new (post-1991) weapons. This was especially true with nuclear submarines, ballistic missiles and aircraft. The problems seemed to be worst, and most embarrassing, in the space program. It was just the opposite in China and this annoyed the Russian government even more. Now the Americans are launching electric cars into orbit at half the price anyone else can do it. The failure of the Russian space program was not a sudden thing. It took time and it was a painful process. In 1999 a new Russian government came into power and has been trying really hard to fix the problem, with only limited success. For example in mid-2013 the government issued a formal reprimand to the director (Vladimir Popovkin) of the Russian Space Agency (RSA), which handles all of Russias satellite launches. The government later clarified that the reprimand was not for several recent disasters but for the fact that since 2010 the RSA has only been able to launch 47 percent of Russian satellites. The reprimand, which in Russia is usually the last warning for someone about to be dismissed, was about the continued inefficiency of the RSA and the inability of Popovkin to reform and revitalize the RSA. This failure was worse than it appeared. Vladimir Popovkin took over RSA in March 2011. Eleven months later he was hospitalized for exhaustion. There were rumors that he had been worn down by his many subordinates working against the new anti-corruption measures. He was out of the hospital in twelve days and denied the many rumors (like the corruption struggle) swirling about him. Vladimir Popovkin should have been an ideal candidate for the RSA job, as he was a career army officer and scientist who rose to command the Russian Space Forces and several other military operations dealing with large rockets and space operations. Popovkin held on his job despite continued problems because he was qualified to do the job and encountered a lot of problems with corruption and decades of bad management. Russian politicians and state-controlled media, both heavily involved in corrupt activities, were not eager to make a big deal of how corruption was crippling the RSA. What Popovkin also had to deal with was a chronic shortage of competent and reliable technical people. No matter how talented and capable Popovkin it was not enough to turn the space program around. The problems were frequent and expensive. In 2010 there was the inability to put expensive mapping satellites into orbit. In one case a flawed launch attempt left the Russian GEO-IK-2 earth mapping satellite in a useless (too low) orbit for 17 months until it entered the atmosphere and the 1.4 ton satellite completely burned up. The GEO-IK-2 was designed to measure the shape of the earth and monitor planetary movement (land, tides, ice). The satellite also had a military use, to measure the planet's gravitational field, which helps make missile guidance systems (and commercial ones) more accurate and reliable. GEO-IK-2 was the second major satellite loss in three months for Russia. There were repercussions. A month before GEO-IK-2 burned up on reentry, Russia fired two senior managers of the RSA, plus some lesser managers, because of the December 2010 loss of three navigation satellites. That incident involved a Proton satellite launcher that failed due to poor management and supervision. It was a stupid mistake. The rocket malfunctioned and caused the satellites to crash into the Pacific. The Proton rocket had been fueled incorrectly, causing the imbalance and failure to achieve orbit. This was poor management at its most obvious. The prompt dismissal of so many senior managers was actually pretty typical. Russia has a long tradition of the "vertical chop," where several senior leaders in the same chain of command are dismissed (or even executed, at least in the old days) when there was a screw up in their area of responsibility. This approach has fallen out of favor in the West, where the tendency is to fire as few people as possible when there is a major failure. After September 11, 2001, for example, no one got fired. In Russia, the vertical chop was never a magic bullet because even during the Soviet period corruption was a big problem and a major reason for the 1991 collapse. Because of this Soviet legacy, Russian satellite launchers have never been the most flawless, but they got the job done. Including the partial failures, the Proton has about a ten percent failure rate. However, the Russian launchers and Russian launch facilities are cheaper than those in the West and nearly as reliable. But the higher failure rate of the Proton rocket causes some concern among potential customers. Nevertheless, the Proton is so cheap that you can afford to pay more for insurance. And there is some comfort in knowing that the RSA suits put their jobs on the line every time one of those rockets is launched. The repercussions continued in the wake of all the sloppy decisions and stupid mistakes that have led to the loss of launchers and satellites. Another shake-up of the space effort was expected if the government could find someone more qualified than Vladimir Popovkin to do the deed. Senior government officials knew that Popovkin was not the problem and that the corrupt environment he had to work in was. Cleaning that up means cleaning up the corruption throughout Russian society. That requires more than the vertical chop, it takes time and persistence. In 2013 Russian space efforts were reorganized once more and Roscosmos was created. This rearranged management but did not solve any of the underlying problems. Another problem Russia has was where to launch its satellites from. On April 28th, 2016, Russia carried out its first satellite launch at its new Vostochny space center (Cosmodrome). A Soyuz rocket put three civilian satellite into orbit. This Cosmodrome is in the Russian Far East (Amur Province, just north of Manchuria), unlike the Soviet era site in what is now the independent state of Kazakhstan. Construction of the Amur site began in 2010 as Russia realized Kazakhstan was becoming a very difficult landlord. Construction of Vostochny moved quickly in part because the site used to be Svobodny 18, an ICBM base that was shut down in 1993 as part of the START disarmament treaty. Amur Province was ultimately selected because of weather (it averaged only 50-60 overcast days a year, had a dry climate and calm winds) and the absence of earthquakes. Everything went according to schedule as first launches were planned to begin in 2016. This was made possible by the government acting quickly when signs of corruption periodically surfaced. Three construction executives were arrested for corruption and many others threatened. Construction continues, mainly to build equipment and facilities for handling heavier cargoes, including supplies and components for space stations. This worked for the completion of Vostochny but not for the rockets and satellites that were sent to Vostochny to be put into orbit. Military launches will largely remain at Plesetsk, near the Arctic Circle. While Plesetsk's location is good for some types of launches (high inclination, polar, and highly elliptical orbits), the place is frozen most of the year and more expensive to operate because of the climate. Meanwhile, Baikonur has not been abandoned, In 2013 Russia agreed to remain in Baikonur after the Kazakh government agreed to reduce its demands for higher rent. Russia had threatened to cut launches at Balkinor from 75 percent of the Russian total to ten percent by the end of the decade. Kazakhstan originally demanded a lot more money and threatened to shut down Balkinor if the Russians did not pay. In 2012 Russia paid Kazakhstan $115 million a year for the use of Balkinor, in addition to the $50 million a year spent to maintain the facility. Many Kazakhs saw Balkinor as an ATM and anytime there was a cash shortage, they could make a withdrawal and the Russians would be forced to pay. The Russians convinced the Kazakhs that plans to leave Balkinor were real. It was pointed out that Balkinor where the commercial satellites were launched and Russia sold these launch services to a growing list of foreign customers. If Russia paid the higher fees the Kazakhs were demanding the foreign customers would have to pay more than other competitors charged and Russia would have to abandon Balkinor as uneconomical. Russia had already moved all military launches to the smaller space center at Plesetsk. Russia can turn Baikonur into a big cash cow via commercial launches but the Kazakhs were finally convinced about this when construction of Vostochny began and moved ahead with unusual speed and agreed to more reasonable rent and, for the moment, Russia's largest satellite launch site was still in Kazakhstan. With Vostochny now operational the Kazakhs have to pay more attention to being a good landlord. But with a failing space program, Russia is unlikely to generate enough business to make all those launch centers profitable. This is a sad end to a space program that, in the 1950s, was actually first in many areas. By the 1960s the Americans had moved ahead and the Russians tried but never could pose a serious threat. Bay of Plenty We are looking for a storeman with an OSH forklift license. You will need to be physically for as the job is about 70% forklift... View or Apply on GoodWork.co.nz The city centres new 30km/h speed limit starts this Monday 29 October, 2018. The speed limit will apply between First Avenue and McLean Street, and between Cameron Road and the waterfront. Cameron Road will remain at 50km/h. The introduction of a temporary speed limit is a result of the significant growth and development occurring in the city centre. Tauranga City Council is creating one consistent speed limit to help simplify construction sign requirements and to keep things simple for people who are driving and safer for people who are walking and biking. The 30km/h speed will run as a trial for the first year, and then Council will review. The trial has been approved under the code of practice for temporary traffic management. If the change is to be made permanent, there will be a formal consultation process. A permanent 30km/h speed limit has been successful in Mount Maunganui and other city centres including Auckland and Christchurch. For further information visit www.tauranga.govt.nz Flash A three-meter-high arched chrome yellow door studded with metal studs motifs is the entrance to a restaurant located in the Medina of Tunis, a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1979. A Chinese family of three were sitting in the Arabian-palace-decorated dining hall, looking through the menu. "The food here mixes Mediterranean, Arabic with North African flavors, delicious and exotic," said Feng Shuo, a 45-year-old engineer from southwestern China's Chongqing Municipality. The Chinese family already finished a five-day self driving tour in Tunisia. Wang Xiaofei, Feng's wife, said "besides the food, we are also amazed by the archeological sites, beaches and deserts." With a history of over 3,000 years, Tunisia is renowned for its rich tourism resources, lying at the north point of the African continent, bordering the Mediterranean Sea. "Although the blur of French and Arabic language here is a little bit tricky for us who speak English, we embrace our adventure," laughed Wang, "Tunisia features its variety, which exceeds our expectations." Tunisia has become an increasingly popular destination for Chinese tourists. As of Oct. 20, a total number of 21,873 Chinese tourists have visited Tunisia in 2018, with a significant growth of 43.3 percent year on year, according to the data released by Tunisian government. Tunisian Minister of Tourism and Handicrafts Salma Elloumi Rekik said Tunisia attaches great importance to China's tourists market and hopes to strengthen tourism cooperation with China. "We are trying to draw more Chinese tourists, by upgrading payment methods, setting up Chinese logos, launching direct flights, as well as running Chinese restaurants, to make Chinese visitors' trips in Tunisia more convenient and enjoyable," said Rekik. Wang Wenbin, Chinese ambassador to Tunisia, pointed out that tourism is one of the prioritized sectors of cooperation between China and Tunisia. "The bilateral tourism collaboration has been promoted in recent years," said Wang. "For further strengthening tourism cooperation, we would like to work together with Tunisia in diverse forms, such as holding tourism forums and cooperative film and TV programs." In 2017, Tunisia began to offer visa-free entry to Chinese tourists and the number of Chinese tourists rocketed to around 20,000 last year, 12,000 more than 2016. China has become one of Tunisia's fastest-growing tourism markets. Karim Jatlaoui, representative of Tunisian National Tourism Office Beijing Bureau, expected Chinese tourists to increase to 50,000 by 2020. Tunisia witnessed a slump in its tourism since 2015 when three major terrorist attacks claimed the lives of more than 70 people, mostly foreign tourists and security forces. Accounting for about eight percent of the country's GDP, tourism sector started to revive in 2017. Earlier this year, Rekik pointed out that Chinese market would be a significant segment to revive Tunisian tourism industry. According to the United Nations World Tourism Organization, China is considered as the world's fastest growing tourism market. In this year's China week-long National Day holiday in October, Chinese travelers have traveled to over 100 countries and Tunisia ranked as one of the top ten outbound destinations for Chinese tourists, with a 50 percent year-on-year growth, according to the data from online travel agency Ctrip. "Tunisia values cooperation with China in tourism and looks forward to a higher level of cooperation," emphasized Dhia Khaled, Tunisian ambassador to China. An abundance of great music will be coming to Central New York this week, so be sure to grab a ticket. At The Haunt in Ithaca The Haunt at 702 Willow Street in Ithaca will host four shows this week week, starting with Australian psych-pop band Pond on Wednesday, Oct. 31 at 8 p.m. (Details here). Funk-tastic Cory Henry & The Funk Apostles will be bringing down the house on Thursday, Nov. 1 at 8 p.m. (Details here). Starting the weekend off with a bit of sense is the Talking Heads tribute band, Start Making Sense, on Friday, Nov. 2 at 8 p.m. (Details here). Finally, Deafheaven, DIIV, and Chastity will rock the Haunt with a mix of post-metal, indie, and rock on Saturday, Nov. 3 at 8 p.m. (Details here) . Sorry, but for all you Lake Street Dive fans out there, the show at The State Theatre of Ithaca on Saturday, Nov. 3 is sold out. Whitechapel Hardcore death metal outfit, Whitechapel, is celebrating their 10th anniversary with the "This Is Exile" tour. Although formed in Tennessee, the band decided to name themselves after the location in London where Jack the Ripper disposed most of his victims' bodies. Whitechapel thrashes their way through sets with an intensity and ferociousness that will have audiences feeling the heaviness with their every beat. Joining Whitechapel will be CNY-based metal and deathcore bands Plastic Warriors, Malignant, and So This Is How It Ends. Where: The Westcott Theater, 524 Westcott St., Syracuse When: 7 p.m., Friday, Nov. 2. How much: Tickets start at $23. Details here. Subdudes Hailing from New Orleans, the Subdudes take note of their roots by blending expertly crafted harmonies with a handful of genres including blues, funk, and gospel. Interestingly, the Subdudes do not include a full drum set in their music. Rather, a tambourine is featured as the main percussion instrument. The band has been performing together since the late 1980s, and their music has only gotten richer in feeling and depth since. Where: Earlville Opera House, 18 E Main St, Earlville, NY. When: 7 p.m., Friday, Nov. 2. How much: Tickets start at $10. Details here. The Odyssey: from Vietnam to America - Stories of the Boat People Emmy Award winning composer and performer Van-Anh Vanessa Vo will be presenting "Odyssey: from Vietnam to America - Stories of the Boat People" on Friday, November 2 at Hendricks Chapel on the Syracuse University Campus. Vo, an expert on the dan tranh zither, dan bao, monochord and other traditional Vietnamese instruments, created this work to reflect upon the experiences of the "boat people" of Vietnam, connecting her piece with the experiences of refugees from across time and space. Where: Hendricks Chapel on the Syracuse University Campus, Syracuse When: 7:30 p.m. Friday, Nov. 2.. How much: Tickets are $20 for adults; $15 for seniors and students; $40 for families; free for students, staff, and faculty of Syracuse University. Details here. Big Church Night Out The Landmark Theatre will be hosting the Big Church Night Out, featuring performers such as Sarah Reeves, Crowder, and Jordan Feliz. This is a night to celebrate the diversity of worship across the world with music, art, and reflection. Where: The Landmark Theatre, 362 South Salina St., Syracuse When: 6 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 3. How much: Tickets start at $20. Details here. Enter the Haggis Are you a Haggis Head? Enter the Haggis has been infusing contemporary Celtic music with rock n' roll for over 20 years. Alongside critical acclaim from the likes of The New York Times and The Washington Post, Enter The Haggis is fan favorite at festivals like Milwaukee Irish Festival and Vancouver Island Musicfest. Enter the Haggis will be joined by Syracuse's folk-punk group, Participation Trophy. Where: The Westcott Theater, 524 Westcott St., Syracuse When: 8 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 3.. How much: Tickets are $15. Details here. Upstate NY 2-Week Concert Guide A boil water order has been issued for residents of the Village of Jordan and parts of the Town of Elbridge by the Onondaga County Health Department. Test results from routine sampling confirmed the presence of coliform bacteria, the health department said in a Saturday night release. The health department says not to use water without boiling it first. All water should be brought to a boil and allowed to cool before use, the health department said. The health department also suggests that residents could use bottled water for drinking, making ice, brushing teeth, washing dishes and food preparation until "further notice." The health department did not say how long the order will be in effect. Below are other recommendations from the health department: If you use bottled water, be sure it comes from a safe source. If you do not know the source, boil or treat the water before you use it. Use only bottled, boiled, or treated water until your water supply is tested and found to be safe. Boiling water when practical is the preferred way to get rid of harmful bacterial and parasites. Bringing water to a boil for one minute will kill most organisms. You can treat water with chlorine tablets, iodine tablets, or unscented household chlorine bleach (5.25% sodium hypochlorite). If you use chlorine tablets or iodine tablets, follow the directions that come with the tablets. If you use household chlorine bleach, add 1/8 teaspoons of bleach per gallon of water if the water is clear. If the water is cloudy, add 1/4 of bleach per gallon. Mix the solution thoroughly and let it stand for about 30 minutes before using it. While drinking water contaminated with coliform bacteria does not always cause illness, residents in the affected areas that experience gastrointestinal upset, abdominal cramps, and diarrhea should contact their healthcare provider. The Onondaga County health department asks residents with more questions about the boil water order call the Onondaga County Health Department's division of environmental health at 315-435-6600. More than a dozen pipe bombs mailed to prominent figures in the Democratic Party -- all fierce critics of President Donald Trump -- set off a conversation about civility in politics. The president was accused of fanning the flames as he conducted campaign rallies around the country. Trump blamed the media. Other topics in the cartoons include the caravan of migrants making their way to the United States from Honduras through Mexico; Megyn Kelly's dismissal from NBC after making a remark about blackface; the midterm elections; the Saudi royal family's shifting storyline about the murder of journalist Jamal Khashoggi; and the administration's intention to define sex as "a biological, immutable condition determined by genitalia at birth," which alarmed people who consider themselves transgender. Cartoons were drawn by Bill Bramhall, Chan Lowe, Dan Wasserman, Dana Summers, Drew Sheneman, Scott Stantis, Walt Handelsman, David Horsey, Phil Hands and Joel Pett of Tribune Content Agency; Tim Campbell, Mike Lester, Signe Wilkinson and Jeff Danziger of the Washington Post Writers Group; and Tom Toles of Andrews McMeel Syndication. U.S. Rep. John Katko holds a 14 percentage-point lead over Dana Balter heading into the final days of their campaign for Congress, according to a new poll made public Sunday. Katko, R-Camillus, leads Balter, a Syracuse Democrat, 53-39 percent among likely voters, according to the Syracuse.com/Spectrum News/Siena College poll. About 8 percent of voters are undecided ahead of the Nov. 6 election. The poll showed that despite almost $8 million in spending by both sides to win votes, there's been no significant change among voters since late August. The same poll showed Katko leading 54-39 percent two months ago in the 24th Congressional District. The new poll of 500 likely voters was conducted by live operators who called land lines and cell phones Oct. 18-22. The poll has a margin of error of plus or minus 4.6 percentage points. One reason Balter failed to gain ground, the poll found, is that voters now have an unfavorable view of her -- one that increased as people became more familiar with the first-time candidate. In August, voters had a favorable view of Balter (32-23 percent) but about 45 percent of voters said they didn't know enough about her to have an opinion. In the new poll, voters had an unfavorable view of Balter (33 percent favorable, 42 percent unfavorable) and 25 percent said they didn't have an opinion. "There is no question that the campaign has taken a toll on her," said Steve Greenberg, a spokesman for the Siena College Research Institute. "Her unfavorable rating over the past eight weeks has gone up 19 points. Clearly, the campaign has had an effect on the way the electorate views Balter." Katko and independent groups that support him have paid for negative ads over the past two months that portrayed Balter as radical and extreme in her political views. The ads also portrayed Balter, who teaches at Syracuse University, as an outsider who is not familiar with Central New York or the issues that people care about. As of Oct. 17, Katko had spent more money the campaign than Balter, $2.3 million to $1.74 million, according to Federal Election Commission records. Independent political groups have spent nearly $4 million on the election, almost evenly split between the two candidates, as of Friday. Katko continues to run strong in a year when Republicans in swing districts like the 24th were viewed as endangered nationwide, part of a predicted blue wave that could turn the House over to the Democrats. Katko is one of only 25 Republicans to represent a district Hillary Clinton won in 2016. The poll found Katko held his lead by receiving support from outside his own party. The second-term Republican has emphasized his bipartisan work. Independent voters who are not enrolled in a political party favor Katko (53 percent) over Balter (40 percent), according to the poll. Katko also has more crossover support among Democrats (20 percent) than Balter does among Republicans (10 percent). Greenberg, the Siena pollster, said Balter could still make up ground in a district where enrolled Democrats (34 percent) outnumber Republicans (33 percent) by about 5,000 voters. About 25 percent of the district voters are not enrolled in a political party. "It seems to me the Balter campaign has to do three things - win back Democrats, find a way to win independent voters, and find a way to turn out Democrats in a way they don't turn out historically in midterm elections," Greenberg said. Despite the enrollment advantage for Democrats in the district, more Republicans voted (41 percent) than Democrats (37 percent) in the last midterm election four years ago. Katko won that 2014 race by about 20 percentage points over former Democratic Rep. Dan Maffei. Katko won by the same margin in 2016 over Democrat Colleen Deacon. Central New York voters told pollsters in the past week that they would prefer to see Republicans keep control of Congress, 49-44 percent. But voters are split on their approval of the job done by President Donald Trump (48-48 percent). Katko, who did not endorse or vote for Trump, has walked a fine line with Trump supporters. He has criticized the president on some issues, but also welcomed Vice President Mike Pence and Trump daughter, Ivanka, to Syracuse for joint appearances with him. Katko and Balter have disagreed over the impact of federal tax cuts that took effect in January. Katko says the cuts have helped local companies and their employees. Balter says the cuts have disproportionately helped corporations and wealthy individuals. When the poll asked voters if their financial position had changed in the past two years as a result of the federal government's work, 48 percent said they had seen no change. An additional 31 percent said their financial situation had improved, and 19 percent said it had worsened. The poll found Balter continues to draw her base of support from the city of Syracuse, where she leads by 64-26 percent. Katko leads in the Onondaga County suburbs by 15 percentage points (53-38 percent) and in Cayuga, Oswego and Wayne counties by 17 points (50-33 percent). The 24th Congressional District covers all of Onondaga, Cayuga and Wayne counties, and the western half of Oswego County, including the cities of Fulton and Oswego. Contact Mark Weiner: Email | Twitter | Facebook | 571-970-3751 Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said he was "heartbroken and appalled by the murderous attack on a Pittsburgh synagogue" after a gunman killed at least 11 people and injured six others during religious services on Saturday morning. "The entire people of Israel grieve with the families of the dead," he said in a video message posted to Twitter after the massacre on Saturday. "We stand together with the Jewish community of Pittsburgh, we stand together with the American people in the face of this horrendous anti-Semitic brutality, and we all pray for the speedy recovery of the wounded." Naftali Bennett, Israel's education minister who also oversees diaspora affairs, tweeted that he was on his way to Pittsburgh "to be with our sisters and brothers on their darkest hour." "When Jews are murdered in Pittsburgh, the people of Israel feel the pain," he wrote. As The Washington Post reported on Saturday, Robert Bowers, 46, was taken into custody on Saturday engaging in a gun battle with police at the Tree of Life synagogue in the western Pennsylvania city, where witnesses told police he shouted anti-Semitic slurs and then opened fire with an assault rifle. The attack is being investigated as a hate crime. The Anti-Defamation League said the shooting was "likely the deadliest attack on the Jewish community in the history of the United States." The Jerusalem Post quoted Dov Khenin, a member of the Joint List Arab faction in the Knesset, as saying that he suspects "the attack is an expression of the growth of dangerous antisemitism in American society - a part of the racist and violent wave during the presidency of [Donald] Trump. A leadership that gives way to incitement." Various Israeli leaders offered messages of solidarity with the Pittsburgh Jewish community. Israeli President Reuven Rivlin tweeted that "We are thinking of 'our brothers and sisters, the whole house of Israel, in time of trouble,' as we say in the morning prayers." Danny Danon, Israel's ambassador to the United Nations, was quoted in the Jerusalem Post as saying "we will stand together like a rock against hatred and against those who try to harm Jews all over the world." In Tel Aviv, the municipal building was lit up to resemble the American flag in the aftermath of the shooting. Authorities have named the 11 people killed Saturday when a man armed with three pistols and a semiautomatic assault-style rifle attacked a synagogue in Pittsburgh - the deadliest attack on Jews in the history of the United States. The dead include a 97-year-old woman, a husband and wife, and two brothers - all of whom were at services inside the Tree of Life synagogue when Robert Bowers allegedly burst in through an open door, screaming anti-Semitic slurs and shooting. The 46-year-old Pittsburgh resident is also accused of wounding six other people, including three police officers shot during a firefight. The victims are: Joyce Fineberg, 75, of Oakland, City of Pittsburgh Richard Gottfried, 65, of Ross Township Rose Mallinger, 97, of Squirrel Hill, City of Pittsburgh Jerry Rabinowitz, 66, of Edgewood Borough Cecil Rosenthal, 59, of Squirrel Hill, City of Pittsburgh David Rosenthal, 54, (brother of Cecil), of Squirrel Hill Bernice Simon, 84, of Wilkinsburg Sylvan Simon, 86, (husband of Bernice), of Wilkinsburg Daniel Stein, 71, of Squirrel Hill, City of Pittsburgh Melvin Wax, 88, of Squirrel Hill, City of Pittsburgh Irving Younger, 69, of Mt. Washington, City of Pittsburgh "They're committing genocide to my people," the suspect told a SWAT officer after being shot and captured, according to a federal criminal complaint released Sunday. "I just want to kill Jews." Pittsburgh Mayor Bill Peduto called the attack the "darkest day of Pittsburgh's history," after the victims' names were read out Sunday morning, and disputed President Donald Trump's suggestion that the synagogue should have had armed guards. "We will not try to rationalize irrational behavior," he told reporters. "We will work to eradicate it. We will work to eradicated it from our city, and our nation, and our world. Hatred will not have a place anywhere." The mass shooting targeted a congregation that is an anchor of Pittsburgh's large and close-knit Jewish community, a massacre that authorities immediately labeled a hate crime as they investigated the suspect's history of anti-Semitic online screeds. The FBI said Bowers was not previously known to law enforcement. He was charged with 29 counts of federal crimes of violence and firearms offenses, federal prosecutors said late Saturday. A man with Bowers' name had posted anti-Semitic statements on social media before the shooting, expressing anger that a nonprofit Jewish organization in the neighborhood has helped refugees settle in the United States. In what appeared to be his final social media post hours before the attack, the man wrote: "I can't sit by and watch my people get slaughtered. Screw your optics, I'm going in." Bowers allegedly burst into the synagogue's regular Saturday 9:45 a.m. service with an AR-15-style rifle and three handguns, authorities said. Witnesses told police he shouted anti-Semitic statements and began firing. The synagogue, in the Squirrel Hill neighborhood of Pittsburgh, did not have armed security guards. Police received calls about an active shooter at 9:54 a.m. and dispatched officers a minute later. Police said Bowers left the building and encountered the responding officers, shooting one before retreating into the synagogue to hide. Officers pursued Bowers to the synagogue's third floor, according to a criminal complaint. He allegedly opened fire, shooting two officers multiple times and critically wounding one of them before he was wounded in the gun battle and captured. According to the complaint, while Bowers was in custody with multiple gunshot wounds, he told a SWAT operator "that he wanted all Jews to die and also that they (Jews) were committing genocide to his people." Bodies lay throughout the synagogue - three women and eight men killed, and two other worshipers wounded. Four police officers were wounded during the response - three shot and one hit by shrapnel - and were in stable condition late Saturday. It was unclear late Saturday whether Bowers was speaking with authorities or had an attorney. Federal prosecutors filed 29 counts against Bowers, charging him with federal civil rights crimes. Bowers was charged with obstructing exercise of religious beliefs resulting in death, using a firearm to commit murder during a crime of violence, obstructing exercise of religious beliefs resulting in an injury to a public safety officer, and using a firearm during a crime of violence. The charges were announced in a statement released by Scott W. Brady, U.S. attorney for the western district of Pennsylvania, and Robert Jones, special agent in charge of the FBI's Pittsburgh office. Court documents were not immediately available and were expected to be released Sunday morning. The Pittsburgh massacre is yet another example of the homicidal fury and bigotry on the fringes of American society. It weaves together elements of many other active-shooter incidents that have horrified Americans in recent years, and highlighted the unusual frequency of mass casualty events in this country in comparison with almost every other nation in the world. Once again the suspect was a man armed with a semiautomatic assault-style weapon - as was, for example, the gunman who killed 49 people in Orlando's Pulse nightclub in 2016. Once again the crime scene was a house of worship, a classic "soft target," as was the First Baptist Church in Sutherland Springs, Texas, where a disturbed gunman hoping to kill his mother-in-law slaughtered 26 people during a Sunday service last November. And once again the victims were members of an ethnic or religious minority with a long history of persecution - as were the nine African-American worshipers killed three years ago when a white supremacist invaded a Bible study session at the Emanuel African Methodist Episcopal Church in Charleston, South Carolina. "This was the single most lethal and violent attack on the Jewish community in the history of the country," said Jonathan Greenblatt, CEO and national director of the Anti-Defamation League. "We've never had an attack of such depravity where so many people were killed. ... When you go into a synagogue, saying 'I want to kill all the Jews,' that's a hate crime." Political, religious and civic leaders condemned Saturday's massacre and vowed to support the Jewish community. "We simply cannot accept this violence as a normal part of American life," Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Wolf, D, said during an afternoon news conference, his voice shaking. "These senseless acts of violence are not who we are as Pennsylvanians, they're not who we are as Americans." Trump denounced the massacre and said something needs to be done about such crimes, suggesting a more frequent and speedier use of the death penalty, saying it should be "brought into vogue." "It's a terrible, terrible thing, what's going on with hate in our country and frankly all over the world," Trump said before boarding Air Force One on Saturday afternoon for a flight to Indianapolis. The president made a full-throated denunciation of anti-Semitism at a rally in Murphysboro, Illinois, later in the day: "This evil anti-Semitic attack is an assault on all of us. It's an assault on humanity. It will require all of us working together to extract the hateful poison of anti-Semitism from our world." He said the massacre could have been prevented if the synagogue had armed security guards. Trump has frequently suggested that more armed people could deter mass shootings, making such comments after shooting rampages in Parkland, Florida, and Orlando in recent years. Armed law enforcement officers were, in fact, present at both of those mass shootings. Trump ordered flags flown at half-mast at public grounds until sunset Wednesday in "solemn respect" for the victims, the White House said in a statement. The Anti-Defamation League, founded more than a century ago, has documented numerous murderous attacks on Jews in the United States, such as the assault by a white supremacist on the U.S. Holocaust Museum in 2009 that killed a security guard. The previous deadliest anti-Semitic attack, the ADL said, was actually a case of mistaken religious identity that claimed four lives. It happened in 1985, when a racist attacked Charles Goldmark and his family in Seattle, thinking they were Jewish. The ADL said Saturday that anti-Semitic incidents rose 57 percent in 2017, with 1,986 documented events, a spike the league attributed to an increase of such incidents in high schools and on college campuses. Carl Chinn, president of the nonprofit Faith Based Security Network, said Saturday's massacre was the 15th mass murder - defined as four or more fatalities - in a house of worship in U.S. history. The first was the 1963 Birmingham, Alabama, bombing of the 16th Street Baptist Church that killed four African-American girls, he said. On Saturday, members of the Tree of Life synagogue gathered at a makeshift grief center nearby to learn the fate of loved ones. On social media, synagogue members quickly relayed news of who was safe. But there would be 11 names - all adults - missing from the check-in. Synagogue member Arnold Freedman, 91, a psychologist, had intended to go to Tree of Life at 10 a.m., but he stayed home because a repairman was working in his basement. He began getting calls from friends as soon as the shooting began. "Our climate in the country now is really troubled. You see these hate crimes, and anybody on either side of the spectrum, right or left, are going to blame the other. It's terrible," Freedman said. "Unfortunately, there's too many people like that, and they have too much access to guns." Chuck Diamond, who grew up in Squirrel Hill and was a rabbi at Tree of Life for seven years, said he had always feared a day like this. "When I was leading the congregation, I always had in the back of my mind that something like this will happen," Diamond said. "It's a terrible thing to feel. When you come into our sanctuary, you want it to be a place that you feel safe in." As news of the shooting spread, police locked down the nearby Rodef Shalom Congregation. Police also raced to synagogues in Washington, New York City, Chicago and Los Angeles to provide additional security. "It could have just as easily been our congregation," said Rabbi Aaron Bisno of Rodef Shalom. "We don't know what motivated the shooter, but when something like this strikes, the randomness of it terrifies." The Tree of Life building houses three synagogues and has multiple communities that worship simultaneously, Bisno said, calling it the "center of Jewish life on Shabbat morning." In recent years, Pittsburgh brought on a former FBI agent to act as a security point person, according to Bisno. His congregation recently went through an active-shooter training. Saturday was the first time there was a community need to put it into practice. "It's frightening," he said. "It could happen anywhere at any time." The FBI said Saturday that authorities believe Bowers acted alone. Authorities who entered the crime scene described it as stunning in its savagery. "This is the most horrific crime scene I've seen in 22 years with the Federal Bureau of Investigation," said Jones, the FBI special agent in charge. Attorney General Jeff Sessions called the shooting "reprehensible and utterly repugnant to the values of this nation" and said the Justice Department will file hate crime and other charges "that could lead to the death penalty." "The actions of Robert Bowers represent the worst of humanity," said Brady, the prosecuting U.S. attorney for the Western District of Pennsylvania. "Justice in this case will be swift and it will be severe." The Pittsburgh attack came days after the arrest of a Florida man who allegedly sent more than a dozen pipe bombs to prominent critics of Trump, and amid feverish midterm-election campaigning rife with attack ads. Several leaders have said the nation's political rhetoric has become too polarizing, perhaps inspiring recent violence. Gab, a social media platform that has attracted many far-right users, said Saturday that the company had suspended an account that matched the alleged shooter's name, turning the messages over to the FBI. The account included repeated attacks on Jews, references to white supremacist and neo-Nazi symbols, and attacks on the Hebrew Immigrant Aid Society, known as HIAS, which works with the federal government to resettle refugees in American communities. Mark Hetfield, president and chief executive of HIAS, said his agency has seen plenty of hate and actively works to help people who are fleeing such hate. "But the United States is supposed to be a place of refuge, and a synagogue is supposed to be a place of refuge," Hetfield said. Tom Malinowski, a Democratic congressional candidate in New Jersey who served as assistant secretary of state for democracy, human rights and labor in the Obama administration, posted a statement on his website saying that deranged people have always been around but that the political climate has changed. "Our highest national leaders are legitimizing rhetoric once confined to the paranoid extremes of our society - railing against 'globalists,' who all happen to be prominent Jews, complaining about 'white genocide,' attacking immigrants for 'threatening our culture,' and spreading crackpot conspiracy theories to advocate imprisoning their political opponents," said Malinowski, who long served as the Washington director for Human Rights Watch. "These words are like sparks to the gasoline of disturbed minds. These words can kill." The recent spate of mass shootings led Tree of Life Rabbi Jeffrey Myers to write on the synagogue's blog, lamenting the lack of national action to address gun violence in the wake of the Parkland school shooting. "Unless there is a dramatic turnaround in the midterm elections, I fear that the status quo will remain unchanged, and school shootings will resume," Myers wrote. "I shouldn't have to include in my daily morning prayers that God should watch over my wife and daughter, both teachers, and keep them safe. Where are our leaders?" (c) 2018, The Washington Post. Avi Selk, Mark Berman, Joel Achenbach wrote this story. Flash Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Saturday said the four-way summit ended with a call for a full-scale cease-fire to halt the bloodshed in Syria. "We had a fruitful and sincere consultation during the summit," Erdogan said at the joint press conference following the quadrilateral summit in Istanbul. Russian President Vladimir Putin, German Chancellor Angela Merkel, and French President Emmanuel Macron joined the summit hosted by Erdogan to discuss the ways for a long lasting political solution for Syria. Erdogan noted that the leaders called for the completion of the constitution committee's process in Syria as soon as possible. Syrian constitutional committee will be functional by the end of the year, Putin noted. The leaders in their joint statement also reaffirmed their strongest opposition to the use of chemical weapons by any party in Syria. Macron said for his part that the use of chemical weapons both in the region and other parts of the world is unacceptable regardless of the users. He also noted that an attack conducted by the Syrian government in Idlib would be unacceptable, as it will enhance risks for terrorists to flee and spread and create a new influx of refugees. Merkel underlined the necessity of initiating a political process which aims for a free and fair election in Syria that is open to all Syrians, including the diaspora. "We committed ourselves to doing everything to achieve a sustainable, permanent cease-fire in Idlib," Merkel said. Following a freedom of information request by Labour MP and former education minister, David Lammy, it has been revealed that in 2015, 10 out of 32 Oxford colleges did not admit a single black British A-Level student, with Oriel College notably only offering one place to a black British A-Level student in six years. Speaking to The Guardian, Lammy said that this is social apartheid and is utterly unrepresentative of life in modern Britain. Data released by Cambridge shows that, in the same year, six colleges did not admit any black British students. In total, only 1.5% of offers from both universities to UK students went to black candidates. The last time such data was released was in 2010, which showed that in the previous year, twenty-one Oxbridge colleges made no offers to black candidates for undergraduate courses. Figures also revealed that in 2009, 89% of Oxford students are from the upper and middle classes, whilst Cambridge was not far behind this with a figure of 87.6%. Only three Oxford colleges and six Cambridge colleges made at least one offer to a black British A-Level student in each year between 2010 and 2015. Lammy, who was the first black Briton to attend Harvard Law School, argued that difficult questions have to be asked, including whether there is systematic bias inherent in the Oxbridge admissions process that is working against talented young people from ethnic minority backgrounds, noting that approximately 400 black students achieve three As at A-Level, but few apply to Oxford or Cambridge. Also speaking to The Guardian, a spokesperson from Cambridge said that offers are made on an academic basis alone, with the greatest barrier to participation at selective universities for students from disadvantaged backgrounds is low attainment at school. We assess the achievements of these students in their full context to ensure that students with great academic potential are identified, Widening participation further will require government, schools, universities, charities, parents and students to work closely together. We will continue to work hard with all parties to raise aspirations and attainment to improve access to higher education. Oxford initially refused Lammys request for a break-down on the data on ethnicity in 2016, whilst Cambridge immediately provided the information. Lammy labelled Oxford as defensive and evasive, stating, I have been pressuring the University of Oxford to publish this data for over a year and they have only begrudgingly decided to partially publish it now. Attention has recently been drawn to the lack of black male students at Cambridge when 14 black, male students posed for a photo earlier this year, highlighting how only 15 black, male undergraduates were accepted into Cambridge in 2015. A hot potato: After the battle over net neutrality was lost, California bravely decided to take the matter into their own hands and craft what is known as the golden standard net neutrality bill. Following hot on their heels was the Department of Justice at the direction of the FCC plus a coalition of powerful telecom companies. They joined forces and through a lawsuit, brought development of the bill to a crawl. Now, California Attorney General Xavier Becerra has bitterly signed an agreement with them to delay the release of the bill, until a separate lawsuit against the FCC is concluded. The lawsuit against the FCC is led by Mozilla and the Attorney Generals from 22 states, and their goal is to reverse the FCCs decision to remove net neutrality on the grounds that the FCC does not legally have the power to make such a decision. That case, which is in the US Court of Appeals in the Washington DC Circuit, is months ahead of the one against California. Importantly, if the judge in that case finds that the FCC was erroneous in removing net neutrality, then California neednt introduce their own bill. If the result is in the FCCs favour, however, then it will be harder for California to introduce their bill. It makes sense why Californias bill is being delayed, but its still sad to see. It was originally going to come into effect at the start of next year. Becerra promises that hes just as committed as ever to net neutrality. "Every step we take, every action we launch is intended to put us in the best position to preserve net neutrality for the 40 million people of our state," he said. "We are fighting the Trump Administration's attempt to repeal net neutrality in the DC Circuit Court and we will vigorously defend California's own net neutrality law." Unfortunately, this set back could take a long time to resolve. The best-case scenario, where the Court of Appeals decides in favour of net neutrality, still might not result in net neutrality being restored. The Trump administration could decide to take it to the Supreme Court and drag the process on for several more years. If the FCC wins in the Court of Appeals, then California still has a long battle with the lawsuit against it. FCC Chairman Ajit Pai is pleased with the delay which is a bad sign. He seems to be expecting the Court of Appeals to side in his favor. California state Senator Scott Wiener, who wrote the golden standard net neutrality bill himself, is confident that somehow California will win in the end. "After the DC Circuit appeal is resolved, the litigation relating to California's net neutrality law will then move forward. Particularly in light of the Trump Administration's decision to end federal net neutrality protections, California has the power indeed, the responsibility to protect access to the internet by our residents, businesses, first responders, healthcare providers, and others. This fight is about protecting the health, safety, and vitality of our state. Net neutrality ensures open access to the internet and guarantees that each of us can decide for ourselves where to go on the internet, as opposed to internet service providers making that decision for us. I look forward to successful litigation on this issue and to the restoration of strong net neutrality protections in our state. " The agreement between California and the Department of Justice and the coalition of Telecoms still requires a judge to sign off on it, but theres little doubt they will. Even if you dont live in California, there are so many people and organizations fighting on your behalf, so support them and dont give up on net neutrality. The mystery source behind the continued emissions of an already-banned ozone-depleting substance is finally discovered. Instead of declining after the ban, emissions are even found to have increased in certain regions. Ozone-Depleting Emissions It was in 2010 that the production of carbon tetrachloride was banned worldwide because of its destructive properties on the Earths ozone layer, which protects us from harmful ultraviolet radiation. However, recent studies revealed that despite the ban, there are still about 40,000 tons of the substance still being emitted into the atmosphere every year. The source of the emissions was a mystery to scientists, so researchers from the University of Bristol, along with researchers from the United States, South Korea, Switzerland, and Australia collaborated to quantify the emissions in East Asia using both ground-based and airborne atmospheric concentration data from 2010 to 2016. Mystery Source Revealed What researchers found was that there are still ongoing significant emissions coming from eastern China which accounts for a large sum of the missing global estimates. In addition, the carbon tetrachloride emissions from east Asia were even found to be significantly larger than previously thought. Furthermore, they also found no evidence of decrease in emissions in the region since 2010. In fact, the data even shows a slight increase in emissions from the region since 2010, as well as a new source of emissions from Shandong province in China after 2012. Gaps In Knowledge Coauthor Dr. Matt Rigby notes that while their research answers a big question, there are still gaps in knowledge that need to be addressed, such as the exact industries that are responsible. In addition, it is still unknown whether the emissions were produced intentionally or inadvertently, perhaps as a byproduct of producing other chemicals such as chlorine. Studies such as this show the importance of continued monitoring of ozone-depleting gases. There is a temptation to see ozone depletion as a problem that has been solved. But the monitoring of man-made ozone-depleting gases in the atmosphere is essential to ensure the continued success of the phase-out of these compounds, said lead author Dr. Mark Lunt of the University of Bristol. The study is published in Geophysical Research Letters. 2021 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. Scientists in Hawaii discover a tiny baby octopus on plastic marine debris while conducting coral reef monitoring. It is so small that it's just the size of a pea. Tiny Octopus On Plastic Debris Last August, scientists at the Kaloko-Honokohau National Historical Park in Hawaii posted several photos of a tiny baby octopus that they discovered while taking a break from coral reef monitoring. Evidently, they also picked up plastic debris along the way, and noticed the tiny creature among the pile. The scientists note in their post that they released the baby octopus in their next dive, leaving it in a small protected space. Soon after, however, the team discovered another baby octopus in another pile of plastic debris, but this time showing its fierce side as the baby octopus was found attacking and killing a baby crab. Naturally, the photos got a lot of attention, that even the U.S. Department of the Interior tweeted about it. But apart from the adorable nature of the sightings, the find also highlights how marine creatures are being affected by the plastic debris and garbage that is polluting the planets waters. Day Octopus Or Night Octopus? According to the parks marine ecologist, Sallie Beaver, it is possible that the baby octopus was either a day octopus or a night octopus. Both species are found in the waters of Hawaii, and both grow to smaller sizes compared to other octopus species, reaching a maximum arm span of up to 2 or 3 feet, and a maximum weight of 10 lbs. The day and night species are actually the two most common octopus species in Hawaii. As the name suggests, the day octopus is active during the day and spends nighttime in its den. It was and still being eaten. On the other hand, the night octopus is nocturnal, which means that it is active during the night and stays in its shelter during the day. This species, however, is rarely eaten but is still hunted by some to be used for traditional medicine. 2021 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. University students in South Africa have developed a way to create environmentally friendly bricks using human urine. Urine From Men's Toilets The engineering students at the University of Cape Town involved in the project first gathered urine from men's toilets. They then combined the urine with sand and bacteria in a process known as microbial carbonate precipitation. The bacteria produce urase, an enzyme that breaks down urea in urine, forming calcium carbonate that then binds the sand into bricks. Strength Of Bio-bricks Is Scalable Dyllon Randall, the lead supervisor of the students, explained that the process is essentially the same as how corals are made in the ocean. The strength of the bio-bricks, however, can be scaled up and down depending on how the bacteria are allowed to grow. Randall said that the longer the bacteria is allowed to make the cement, the stronger the product becomes. He also said that when the process was started, they only achieved the same compressibility strength as 40 percent of a limestone brick. They eventually doubled the strength by just changing the materials that they put in the mold and allowing the bacteria to cement the particles for a longer time. The bricks can now be made to be as hard as a limestone, albeit the strength of these bricks would depend on the needs of the client. "If a client wanted a brick stronger than a 40 percent limestone brick, you would allow the bacteria to make the solid stronger by 'growing' it for longer," said Randall. "The longer you allow the little bacteria to make the cement, the stronger the product is going to be. We can optimise that process." Process Produces Zero Waste Most of the bricks produced worldwide are still made using the rudimentary process that involved getting the materials kiln-fired at temperatures around 1,400 C, which produces copious amounts of carbon dioxide. The process involving the bio-bricks, on the other hand, produces zero waste because the by-products are nitrogen and potassium, elements that are used in commercial fertilizers. 2021 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. This Central American country resigned from being part of an organization through which the United States tries to impose its hegemony and overwhelm the will of the peoples. | Read More You are here: World Flash China handed over 1,000 prefabricated houses worth 15.9 billion kyats (10.3 million U.S. dollars) to Myanmar authorities for displaced people in Rakhine state at Myanmar Thilawa Port on Saturday. Speaking at the ceremony, Union Minister U Kyaw Tint Swe of the State Counselor's office thanked China for its efforts in the rehabilitation process in Rakhine state. Chinese Ambassador Hong Liang pledged to continue assisting the Myanmar government in view of the friendship between the two countries. China had donated about 100 prefabricated houses for conflict-displaced people in Rakhine state in early January this year. GONZALES A federal probe into the barge crash that has closed the Sunshine Bridge is still in its early stages but is driving toward answering a key question. +31 Sunshine Bridge crash an 'act of negligence,' governor says; span won't reopen until 2019 CONVENT Gov. John Bel Edwards said Wednesday the Sunshine Bridge over the Mississippi River won't reopen this year following an "act of negl Why did a 200-foot-long crane barge owned by Cooper Consolidated and moved upriver by Marquette Transportation smash into the 1.5-mile Mississippi River span even though the height of the crane and the bridge were both knowable? While that "root cause" inquiry gathers steam, towboat captains, barge industry executives and Coast Guard officials say the bottom line is the towboat captain bore the ultimate responsibility of ensuring the barge did not hit the bridge. "In the end, once that boat hooked up to the barge and departed, the captain ... took sole command of the barge and all equipment on it," said Capt. David Whitehurst, a semi-retired Bayou Sorrel towboat captain with 45 years as a licensed mariner. The crash -- which occurred sometime in the morning darkness before 2:23 a.m. Oct. 12 -- has shut the critical river crossing while repairs are made, which state officials estimate will take until January. In the meantime, people who relied on the bridge to get to work or transport goods must keep driving 40 to 50 miles out of the way, adding at least an hour to their travel. The U.S. Coast Guard, which oversees the nations navigable waterways and is part of the probe, does not require captains of towboats and other vessels to receive advanced approval for large loads passing under the bridges and power lines crossing rivers and canals. Our Views: Sunshine Bridge debacle should bring reckoning for Coast Guard negligence We suspect that most Louisiana residents think highly of the U.S. Coast Guard, which is best known in this part of the world for efficiently p But Whitehurst and several others said towboat captains are expected to develop a voyage plan that ensures the safe travel of their vessel and cargo. Vessel captains are responsible for ensuring their vessels do not exceed the height of a bridge when transiting underneath it, Lt. Cmdr. Travis S. Collier of the Coast Guard's New Orleans sector said in a written response to questions last week. Z. David DeLoach, a former longtime licensed captain and owner of DeLoach Marine Service in Port Allen, said captains must calculate the available clearance using published bridge clearance heights and accounting for shifting river levels, tidal movements and the known height of their cargo. For the height of the cargo, he said, captains often must rely on the barge owner to provide the correct figure. DeLoach said he was part of a special Coast Guard committee a few years ago that helped establish a best practice that barge owners should be responsible for providing accurate height information to the captains who are moving their vessels. "He can't just say, 'Oh, it'll clear,'" DeLoach said of barge owners. +2 Working on Sunshine Bridge: How bridge in Florida could help spur this repair job Louisiana highway officials said Friday they might have to spend up to $5 million to repair the Sunshine Bridge and believe repairs made to a According to bridge and river data, the bridge's center span was likely about 151 feet above the surface of the river the morning of the crash. But the western span, which the crane barge went under, was closer to 143 feet above the water at the time. That span is lower due to the bridge's arch. Known as the Mr. Ervin, the crane barge is described by Cooper Consolidated in promotional literature as one of its larger and stronger cranes, though its height isn't described. Cooper, a joint venture of Cooper/T. Smith and Consolidated Grain and Barge Enterprises, bought and refurbished the crane in late 2017 after it had been used for more than a decade in a Colombian coal operation. Erik Cooper, executive director of Cooper Consolidated, did not answer questions submitted last week about what his company told Marquette or the captain of the towboat about the crane's height. He noted his company was not operating the barge at the time of the crash. Whitehurst, DeLoach and others in the industry said having barges pass under the bridge's far western span isn't unusual. The span is away from the main river traffic and water there has weaker currents. Can't see video below? Click here. 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 Several in the industry also said moving heavy cargo so early in the morning, in the dark, isn't unusual for the busy maritime corridor on the Mississippi. "We operate 24/7," said Capt. Steve Hathorn, a river pilot who is president of the New Orleans Baton Rouge Steamship Pilots Association. "You dont shut down because the sun goes down." Capt. Tom Kaminski, chief of prevention for the 8th Coast Guard District in New Orleans, said Friday that the probe, which also includes the National Transportation Safety Board, remains in its preliminary phase. During that phase, investigators keep facts close the vest, but investigators could be crossing a key threshold soon, he said. "By the end of next week, Kaminski said, "they will have completed enough of their preliminary (investigation) to make the determination on exactly what level of involvement that we'll have." +4 Sunshine Bridge closure causing turmoil to workers, businesses on both sides of the river On the west side of the Mississippi River in Assumption Parish, the Lula Westfield sugar mill has added a dozen more trucks to its rotation in He added that the Coast Guard will also probably be able to describe how intensive of an investigation it will pursue. The most serious category, known as a formal investigation, most often results in identification of the parties involved and often public hearings. Details on the incident have been in short supply. No one has yet made public the name of the towboat captain, the identity of who was piloting it at the time of the crash, where the vessel was headed and where it was coming from. Still, some facts have emerged. A report by the St. James Parish Sheriff's Office from the first day of the crash said deputies were told the crane "was up." Late last week, Marquette and Cooper Consolidated spokesmen and Kaminski all said the "boom" -- or arm of the crane -- was down and in its cradle, as other industry executives have said should be expected for passage under a vertical obstruction. Kaminski, the Coast Guard official, added a large, fixed pedestal on the crane called an A-frame is actually what is believed to have hit the bridge. 32 collisions and no apparent fines: Closer look at operator in Sunshine Bridge crash Before ramming the Sunshine Bridge with a barge crane Oct. 12 and shuttering the 1-mile long span, Marquette Transportation vessels had smash A Port of South Louisiana incident report The Advocate obtained last week through a public records request also sheds more light on the aftermath of the crash. The report says the crane remained under the Sunshine Bridge for nearly four hours after the crash as tugs kept it position against the Mississippis currents. The report described the crane as being stuck under bridge. The barge crew pumped water into the barge to lower it and they were able to free the crane barge from the bridge, the report says. By adding water, the crew made the barge sit lower in the water, reducing the cranes overall height. The barge was free of the bridge by 6:01 a.m., the port report says. The Advocate reporter Sam Karlin contributed to this story. The chairman of the local groundwater commission says he isn't going to let "absurd" state laws prevent Ascension Parish from having a say in managing the area's main aquifer. Earlier this year, the Capital Area Ground Water Conservation Commission voted to include Ascension Parish into its district and give the local government a seat at the table. The commission ran the decision by the state Attorney General's Office for an opinion on the legal consequences of the move. The Attorney General's Office recently released its opinion, which said that while the commission has authority to bring new parishes into the district and those parishes must have representation, the board's overall number of commissioners is set at 17 by state law. Giving Ascension Parish a spot would require an 18th seat. "Because the language of the statute regarding the number of members is mandatory, and historically the Legislature amends the statute to increase the number of its members, this office is of the opinion the Legislature would need to amend the law to allow for the Board to have eighteen members instead of seventeen," the opinion stated. Groundwater commission Chairman Barry Hugghins -- noting that attorney general opinions are advisory and don't have the effect of law -- said the board will keep going down the path it's on. Hugghins said the law makes no sense. "It's poorly written, and the consequences are never thought out," he said. The commission could give each parish a voice and stick to 17 seats, but to do so would have to boot a utility company, industrial corporation or agricultural representative -- all parties with an interest in the region's underground water supply. Other members represent the state's Department of Environmental Quality and Office of Conservation. 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 Hugghins said he won't toss any of them off; if somebody has a problem with an extra member, they can take it up in court. The chairman said he's got cover from legal staff in the Legislature and from the governor's office, which confirmed Ascension Chief Administrative Officer Kenneth Dawson to represent the parish. Dawson did not respond to multiple interview requests. Some questioned the inclusion of Ascension into the groundwater commission in the first place. The entire parish lies south of the Southern Hills Aquifer, but Ascension residents drink its water, which is piped in via the Baton Rouge Water Company. As fresh water is pumped out of the aquifer, salt water leeches across an underground fault line which runs roughly along Interstate 10. Amid discussions about protecting the groundwater, most conversation has centered on limiting the amount that can be drawn by companies such as Georgia Pacific, ExxonMobil and Entergy, though a few people have called for restrictions on sales out of the district to which Ascension now belongs. Hugghins said he's looking for legislators to sponsor a new bill in the upcoming session to do away with any cap on the number of commissioners, so long as every seat is warranted. Historians give Louisiana's General P.G.T. Beauregard credit for designing the Confederate Battle Flag, which seems bound to be his most enduring legacy. His fine equestrian statue, unveiled by the entrance to City Park in 1915, ain't there no more, but the flags are flying off the shelves, retailers tell The Washington Post. And demand is by no means limited to the Southern states; a leading dealer, Dixie Outfitters of Georgia, says that customers in the north and west now account for 20 percent of its Confederate flag sales, up from five percent 20 years ago. Opinions vary as to why business is so brisk, although a favorite theory, at least among Democrats, is that it results from President Donald Trump's crusade to make America racist again. But what causes most puzzlement, according to the Post, is that the Confederate Battle Flag has come to be identified, in some white circles, as a symbol of American patriotism. Dixie Outfitters reports that its sales of Old Glory are up too, and the flags of both sides in the Civil War can often be seen flying alongside each other. Unless Americans have taken up vexillology as a hobby, this may seem a tad illogical. As the Post has it, Historians wrestle with how a flag that stood for treason can be seen as patriotic. Around here, we've been seeing it that way almost before the ink was dry at Appomattox. The transformation of Johnny Reb into a defender of the U.S. Constitution is part of what then-New Orleans Mayor Mitch Landrieu called the cult of the Lost Cause in his Gallier Hall speech explaining why the Confederate monuments had to be removed from the streets. Sales of the battle flag were boosted then too; lots of Landrieu's constituents had rushed out to buy theirs as soon as he took up that cause. Such was the scale of death and suffering in the Civil War that neither side could ever be expected to question the nobility of the principles to which so many heroes were sacrificed. Thus, in the somewhat fanciful Southern version, the war was fought in defense not of slavery but of the Tenth Amendment. The Federals and the Confederates were all patriots; they just happened to read the constitution differently. That interpretation was not so easy to maintain for the first two years after the Civil War, when Confederate President Jefferson Davis was in prison, charged with treason. But by the time his statue was unveiled on the newly renamed Jefferson Davis Parkway in 1911, he had been transformed into a patriot. The statue, draped in Confederate and American flags, was unveiled on Feb. 22, which, not coincidentally, was George Washington's birthday. Speaker after speaker hammered home the patriotic point, and Gov. Jared Sanders declared that, although no part of the United States is more loyal than Dixieland, Louisiana retained a sweet love and reverence for the Confederacy. Robert E. Lee, the first Confederate leader to get a statue in New Orleans, and Beauregard, the last, were similarly lauded as patriots. Divided loyalties may be nothing new, and Lee and Beauregard were admirable fellows, but their statues went up at the heart of Jim Crow, and many of the battle flag's latter-day fans have been unabashed racists. It was much in evidence every time David Duke staged a rally at the other Confederate icon, since purged from the streets, the Liberty Monument. Now the flag is now being raised, the Post reports, over houses in such unlikely states as New Jersey, Ohio and Oregon after being spotted many times at Trump rallies. Its popularity has risen just as Confederate symbols have been disappearing from the public square in many cities besides New Orleans. The disaffected white voters who are said to have propelled Trump into the White House evidently have their own ideas about which aspects of Americana should be revered. That does not make them all racists, of course, but there is no denying that the battle flag is inextricably linked with white supremacy. It won't be disappearing any time soon. Email James Gill at Gill1407@bellsouth.net. Key conservative funder Lane Grigsby sounds like hed rather drink weed killer than support a run by U.S. Sen. John N. Kennedy for Louisiana governor. That cant be good news for Kennedy. The junior senator said Tuesday that he would announce his intentions Dec. 1, which set off dozens of Will he? headlines and Yeah, probably copy. Kennedy hasnt passed any legislation yet, a snippet that no doubt will be the theme of a good many commercials in the coming months should he decide to challenge the reelection of Democratic Gov. John Bel Edwards, Grigsby told The Advocate Thursday. Grigsby supports his friend and fellow Baton Rouge contractor Eddie Rispone, who is the only officially announced Republican candidate. Louisiana needs leadership, not another politician looking for another lily pad, Grigsby said. He hasnt done much yet but appear on Fox News. Arriving Wednesday night after a pipe bomb delivered to CNN forced employees onto the streets of New York, Kennedy talked with Chris Cuomo about the harsh politics that divide the nation. On Thursday night, Kennedy waxed with Foxs Tucker Carlson on whether the FBI should investigate lawyer Michael Avenatti, who represents Julie Swetnick, an accuser of U.S. Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh. Publicly Kennedy has said how much he likes his Senate job. But, its hard to stomach what is happening to Louisiana right now, Kennedy said in prepared statement. Private sector job growth is among the lowest in the country. Too many of our kids cant read their diplomas. Armed with an internal poll showing that he could beat Edwards, Kennedy is making the rounds of funders to say he agrees with them that Edwards policies are bad for Louisianas economic future, then adding that Rispone is largely unknown and cant beat the Democrat. Kennedy sat in Grigsbys office recently as the contractor told him that Louisiana would be better served if the junior senator stayed in Washington and accumulated power. In the meantime, as long as the formidable Kennedy was considering a run for governor, he was freezing the field for other potential GOP candidates. He said he wouldnt take his name off the table, Grigsby recalled. A longtime supporter of conservative causes, Grigsby and his family have given more than $3 million to mostly Republican candidates at every level from state Treasurer John Schroder to Shreveport Rep. Alan Seabaugh to Ascension Parish Assessor Mert Smiley, according to disclosures filed with the Louisiana Board of Ethics. He has given Kennedy close to $20,000 over the years and $10,000 to Attorney General Jeff Landry, who is waiting while Kennedy makes up his mind. Grigsby gave another $371,904 to GOP congressional candidates during the past year and more than $150,000 to the various funds that U.S. House Majority Whip Steve Scalise, R-Jefferson, uses to support the reelection of Republican congressmen around the country, according to the Federal Elections Commission. But more than his personal largesse, Grigsby is a member of the construction contracting fraternity that, along with the Lafourche Parish shipbuilders, gave Bobby Jindal and David Vitter the money they needed to get their campaigns going in what then was a Democratic state. Rispones another member of that krewe. Political professionals have questioned whether a rich businessman embarking on his first elective office can be successful on the campaign trail. You mean is he going to be smooth talking? Hes not a polished politician, Grigsby said of Rispone. The real question is does he have the savvy to become governor and to govern effectively? Louisiana voters are looking for a nonpolitician with the skills to successfully tackle the states systemic problems, Grigsby said. 'Outsider' launches challenge to John Bel Edwards for governor, but GOP heavyweights remain mum on plans A year out from election day, Gov. John Bel Edwards has drawn his first official Republican opponent in the 2019 governor's race, but other po Rispone has built three businesses from scratch, then used his position and riches to quietly help the underprivileged, he said. Rispone studies issues then acts, Grigsby said, noting that he recently brainstormed with sheriffs to figure out how best to provide education and training so that when nonviolent offenders are let out of prison early, they have the tools to join society. Rispone has hired a professional team, led by nationally known Blake Harris, that helped other business leaders in Iowa, Kentucky, Arizona and Tennessee make the jump from private enterprise to the top echelons of elective government. Louisiana voters historically havent embraced businessmen who head for the top office first, but Grigsby points out that Mike Foster only pit-stopped in the state Senate before, as a relatively unknown businessman, catapulting into the Governors Mansion. If Grigsby is any indication, then Kennedys bid for governor may not be the cakewalk many have predicted. Email Mark Ballard at mballard@theadvocate.com. The constitutional amendments that make their way to Louisiana voters dont usually create much political drama. For the most part, proposed changes to the states constitution are dull provisions dealing with the fine print of tax policy and local governance. One obvious exception is Amendment No. 2 on the Nov. 6 ballot, which would make a big change for the better in how juries decide the fate of criminal defendants. The amendment has drawn wide support among liberal and conservative leaders and is now the center of some last-minute courtroom intrigue. Regardless of the twists and turns, we hope this story ends with a thumbs-up for Amendment 2 among the states voters. Louisiana is almost alone among the states in allowing nonunanimous jury verdicts to convict defendants of a felony. Oregon is the only other state that allows such verdicts if just 10 of 12 jurors agree. Louisianas odd 10-2 jury rule originated in the Jim Crow era, when white leaders feared that requiring unanimous jury verdicts would give black jurors too much power. A yearlong Advocate review of felony trials in Louisiana found that the 10-2 rule disproportionately disadvantages black defendants. But allowing a lower bar for convictions than just about everywhere else in the country undermines American liberty for everyone, which is why institutions as varied as Louisianas Democratic and Republican parties are supporting the amendment. Many others, including several leading Louisiana district attorneys, are backing the amendment, too. Now, a Sabine Parish judge has struck his own blow against the 10-2 rule by declaring it unconstitutional. The ruling by 11th District Court Judge Stephen Beasley applies only to court cases in Sabine, which gets few trials, and of course his ruling is subject to appeal. Sabine Parish judge rules Louisiana's split-jury law unconstitutional, citing Advocate research; impact unclear Less than a month before Louisiana voters weigh in on the future of the states unusual split-jury law, a Sabine Parish judge has issued a swe We hope Beasleys ruling doesnt diminish the urgency among voters to nix the 10-2 rule at the ballot box. If voters dont eliminate split juries and the courts eventually do it for them, change could come much more slowly, and with less predictable results. When voters take care of their own business, courts are less likely to get involved. Thats why we urge a yes vote for Amendment 2 on Nov. 6. With so much going wrong in politics, so many issues on which the two sides are not only at odds but utterly unwilling to even acknowledge potential common ground, criminal justice reform stands out as a rare exception. We saw that in Louisiana last year, when the Republican-majority Legislature joined with Democratic Gov. John Bel Edwards to pass a criminal justice reinvestment package of bills designed to reduce Louisianas nation-leading incarceration rate, give nonviolent offenders a second chance and help heal the communities that a disproportionate share of the people affected call home. The coalition behind the change was genuinely impressive, ranging from social justice advocates on the left to libertarians and religious conservatives on the right. It even included former U.S. Sen. David Vitter, Edwards runoff opponent, whod run an intentionally frightening ad opposing it during his losing campaign in 2015. Of note here is that different players may have had different top priorities, but didnt use that to stoke divisions. Its perfectly possible to care more about racial disparities and the damage to communities than the high cost to taxpayers of locking so many people up, or vice versa. But its also entirely reasonable to believe that both are a problem. It was easy to see a carry-over effect this year, when the push to change Louisianas nearly unique jury rules suddenly became a big cause. Even the measures author, Democratic New Orleans state Sen. JP Morrell, initially thought that proposal to require criminal convictions to be unanimous was a long shot. Yet lawmakers voted to put the question on next months statewide ballot with surprisingly little opposition, after airing arguments about the nature of crime, punishment, and fairness that echoed the previous debate over other criminal justice reforms. Just as important to the issues momentum, in hindsight, is that the broad coalition that wound up behind the measure was already basically in place. Relationships and political infrastructure had already been built, and trust and comfort were already established. And so we once again have major players from different ends of the ideological map on the same side. Some are focusing on the current laws Jim Crow origins, and evidence that is continues to create harsher outcomes for African-American defendants. Others are zeroing in on the idea of small government; locking up someone while one or two jurors still hold reasonable doubt, the argument goes, is the ultimate government overreach. Again, these beliefs are not mutually exclusive. There are other examples too. Many of the same groups have backed the ban the box movement, which gives ex-offenders a chance to put in a job application, and clear the first hurdle, without disclosing their criminal records up front. The next step is to see whether most voters are in the same place. The first test will come in early November, when the constitutional amendment on jury unanimity appears is up for voter approval. Theres little official or interest group-level opposition to it, with the one exception of Attorney General Jeff Landry, but the real measure is what people decide to do in the privacy of the voting booth. Other tests of the movements underlying strength are looming as well. One could come next year, if U.S. Sen. John Kennedy, R-Madisonville, decides to run against Edwards for governor. Kennedy has been a critic of criminal justice reform, and he raised it as a potential red flag in his preliminary statement on the gubernatorial race recently. His focus on the issue points to the reform movements potential fragility, and pretty much sets up the possibility that hell exploit any crimes committed by people who are released early under the new law. Its easy to do. All it takes is one frightening, Willie Horton-style story to call the whole premise into question, no matter how many people quietly take advantage of their second chance. Kennedys early volley is a reminder that it takes courage for politicians to support these efforts, despite the risk of attack. I think so, anyway. Well soon know whether most voters do too. Email Stephanie Grace at sgrace@theadvocate.com. A landmark $1.1 million settlement between a sexually assaulted student and one of the nation's most elite private schools could unleash a wave of court action against institutions that have made modest payments to victims of shocking abuse. The settlement is expected to have significant implications for the Catholic Church, which settled hundreds of cases of clerical abuse with ex gratia payments of less than $75,000 on the condition that victims waived their right to sue the church. Geelong Grammar School. Credit:Fairfax Media Former Geelong Grammar School student Peter (not his real name) agreed in 1998 to a confidential $32,000 settlement with the prestigious Anglican school. He was abused as a nine-year-old at the school's Glamorgan campus in Toorak. Peter's lawyers recently claimed the settlement was not binding because the school had not acted in good faith when it insisted it was unaware the teacher was a paedophile. The proposed Victorian mental health royal commission will be enormously challenging for our community. Policy and advocacy to date have tended to focus on different parts of the system and it will be fascinating to see whether the royal commission can cut through and fully describe what "good" actually looks like. This will be no mean feat. "The system" is hugely complex. Treatment, rehabilitation and support services are provided in primary and specialist settings, by health and community organisations, in homes, offices and hospitals across the state. Illustration: Matt Davidson Credit: They are supplemented by mental health promotion and prevention initiatives and funded by local, state and commonwealth governments, private insurers and individuals and their families. The workforce includes peers and support workers, as well as clinicians. The needs of children, families and youth must be considered alongside those of adults and older persons and their voices must be heard. It was not always like that. Loading When Gillard announced the royal commission in 2012 critics in the media slammed her. Paul Kelly in The Australian described it as an example of the dismal, populist and doomed quality of Australian governance. The cruellest irony of Gillard's prime ministership was the chasm that existed between public perceptions of the first female prime minister and the views of those who worked with her closely as I did. To those who knew her at a personal level, she was regarded as warm, good-humoured, dignified, hard-working and courageous. But among the shock jocks, and much of the population, she was viewed as a godless, childless, unmarried, lying, backstabbing witch. To understand this brutal disjuncture, a balanced appraisal is needed of Gillard's ability as a politician and the historical context of her period as prime minister. As prime minister, she ran a disciplined, professional office. Cabinet process was strictly upheld and the massive flow of administrative and policy paperwork that moves between government departments, the prime minister's office and the PM's desk was dealt with efficiently. She was impeccably courteous to staff, MPs, public servants and stakeholders every person entitled to a view was given a chance to express it before a decision was made. She was generous with her time and did not rush people in the way busy leaders often do. She was never rude and never raised her voice, unless for humorous purposes. She was a genuinely affectionate person and had a quick wit that could be deployed to lift the spirits of those around her. At her instigation, birthdays were the subject of office celebration. This would involve Gillard turning up for cake and delivering a very personal speech to even the most junior staff. Significantly for a national leader, Gillard had no major personality defects. She is probably the most normal, down-to-earth person to have served as prime minister of Australia in the modern era. She was good at remembering people's names, knowing their story, understanding their motivations and being able to see a situation from another's perspective. In short, she was the best close-quarters politician the Federal Parliament has ever seen. And these attributes were well suited to the endless negotiating that was needed in the fraught circumstances of the 43rd Parliament with Gillard leading a minority government and a Labor caucus that was split. The policy achievements of the period include the national broadband network, putting a price on carbon, education reform, children's dental care, the national disability insurance scheme and the Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse. In federal-state relations, there was the negotiation of health reform with the conservative premiers and in foreign affairs there was a strengthening of relations with our major partners, particularly China and the US. Not a roll call like the Hawke-Keating years but a very solid three years, especially given the circumstances. Loading So why did public opinion run so strongly against Gillard? The first problem was the way she became prime minister. The toppling of Kevin Rudd came as a complete shock to most Australians. There was no proper explanation of the reasons given at the time. And when it eventually came, it was too late. The events of June 2010 also sparked a long-running war against Gillard, prosecuted from inside the Labor caucus. Beginning with the leaks during the 2010 election campaign, it managed to rear up and stymie her. One consequence of this was the hung parliament. The constant deal-making to pass legislation was a steady drain on her political capital. Then there was the carbon tax. Gillard won the policy debate but badly lost the political debate to Abbott. She was the best close-quarters politician the Federal Parliament has ever seen. A further problem was the unrelenting storm of issues that arose through a combination of bad luck and what Gillard's enemies described as a lack of judgment. Kerryn Phelps has accused the Morrison government of breaking commitments to voters during the Wentworth byelection campaign, in an outbreak of tensions between the Coalition and Australias newest federal MP. As the government grapples with the fallout from last Saturdays record-breaking swing against the Liberal Party, Dr Phelps also told Fairfax Media the Coalition would be naive to believe concerns over climate change are restricted to voters in progressive seats. The independents shock win in the blue-ribbon electorate once held by Malcolm Turnbull has robbed the government of its majority in Parliament, and suggests the Coalition is on course for a crushing defeat at next years election. While the Wentworth campaign was dominated by anger over Mr Turnbulls removal as leader, Australias offshore refugee processing regime, and discrimination against gay students in religious schools also emerged as key issues. The $1.24 billion rooftop solar scheme promised by the Andrews government has been attacked by a leading public policy think tank as a waste of taxpayers' money. The Grattan Institute has urged Labor to abandon its key re-election pledge to subsidise rooftop solar installation for an estimated 650,000 Victorian homes, arguing that the bold scheme could force up power prices for those not fortunate enough to buy into it. A Labor promise to subsidise rooftop solar panels for 650,000 homes has been slammed as economically wasteful. Credit:Craig Abraham The government has committed to pay half the cost of rooftop solar installation for Victorian households on a combined income of less than $180,000, saving them up to $2225 on installation costs and about $890 a year on power bills. But the Grattan Institute says that the scheme is a return to the bad old days of excessive solar subsidies, which will benefit only a minority of Victorians while leaving taxpayers worse off overall. Labors re-election campaign for 2018 has been launched with over $1 billion worth of promises aimed at Victorians health, the sector that helped the party sweep to power four years ago when paramedics and nurses campaigned for them en masse. Federal Opposition Leader Bill Shorten (left) applauds as Victorian Premier Dan Andrews arrives to the Victorian Labor Party's official state election campaign launch event at Monash University Credit:AAP In a $1.38 billion pledge, Labor promised on Sunday to employ an additional 1100 nurses and midwives, employ 90 more paramedics and buy 23 new ambulances, build or expand 10 new community hospitals and fund 500,000 extra specialist medical appointments. Before a crowd of hundreds of Labor faithful inside Alexander Theatre at Monash University, Premier Daniel Andrews promised to raise nurse-to-patient ratios in public hospitals and boost regional care so fewer sick people have to travel to inner Melbourne for specialist treatment. Mr Andrews said the promised boost to specialist care in the regions would mean 75,000 extra appointments for heart conditions, 30,000 for arthritis care, 50,000 for people with chronic pain and 40,000 for cancer sufferers. Washington: The website where the suspected Pittsburgh synagogue gunman posted anti-Semitic views said on Sunday it was "working around the clock" to stay online after being cut off by payment processors and forced to switch web hosts. This image shows a portion of an archived webpage from the social media website Gab. Credit:AP The 46-year-old suspect Robert Bowers posted on Gab.com just hours before murdering 11 people on Saturday in the deadliest attack ever on the Jewish community in the United States, saying a non-profit that helps Jewish refugees relocate to the country was helping to kill "my people." PayPal Holdings Inc banned the website from using its money-sending services on Saturday. Gab said on Saturday it received notice it would be blocked by another payments website, Stripe Inc, and had switched to a new web-hosting service after Joyent Inc warned it would cut off the website. New York: The United States has been rocked by the killing of 11 people at a synagogue in Pittsburgh, an attack that came just over a week before the midterm elections and a day after the arrest of a Trump supporter for sending pipe bombs to prominent political opponents of the President. Police secure the area after a man opened fire at a synagogue in Pittsburgh. Credit:Pittsburgh Post-Gazette The shooting at the Tree of Life synagogue at Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, on Saturday local time was one of the deadliest anti-Semitic attacks in American history and occurred at a particularly febrile time in national discourse. A Pennsylvania Department of Motor Vehicles ID picture of Robert Bowers, the suspect in the attack. Credit:Tribune News Service The alleged gunman, Robert Bowers, 46, stormed the synagogue about 9.45am brandishing a semi-automatic assault-style rifle and yelling "All Jews must die." A man with his name had posted anti-Semitic slurs on social media before the shooting. Automotive News Digest; Week Ending October 27, 2018 Edited By Larry Nutson AUTO CENTRAL, CHICAGO - October 28, 2018; Every Sunday Larry Nutson, Senior Editor and Chicago Car Guy along with fellow senior editor Thom Cannell from The Auto Channel Michigan Bureau, give you The Auto Channel's "take" on this past week's automotive news, in easy to "catch up" with news nuggets. See Also all links to the past 25 year's millions of (Indexed By Bing) pages of automotive news, automotive stories, articles, reviews, archived news residing in The Auto Channel Automotive News Library. TV viewers, you can now enjoy The Auto Channel TV Network On Amazon TV, Google TV, BOOKU, Tooku, SCHMOOKU; HULU, ROKU, Pookoo, Eyekoo and Old Fashioned "Free and Clear" Over the air TV in Boston and South Florida as well as local cable systems. The Auto Channel Automotive News In Digest Format - Week Ending October 27, 2018 Executive Editor Larry Nutson *According to Consumer Reports (CR) latest Annual Auto Reliability Survey, things are not good, based on data from its members about their experiences with more than half a million vehicles. Every U.S. automaker landed in the bottom-half of CRs latest reliability rankings, which covers 29 brands this year - two more than 2017. Ford ranks the highest at 18, down three spots from the previous year. Right below Ford on the list is Buick, which was in the top 10 last year. Cadillac is the worst-rated domestic manufacturer and ranks near the very bottom at 28. Asian brands, led by Lexus, Toyota, and Mazda continue to be the best for new car reliability. Seven of the top 10 brands in this years reliability rankings are from Japan and South Korea, including Subaru, Kia, Infiniti, and Hyundai. Three European brands, Audi, BMW, and Mini, round out the top 10. Porsche, Volkswagen, and Mercedes-Benz finished mid-pack. Volvo finished last overall. * Collisions are up by about six percent in states that have legalized recreational marijuana use, according to new research from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety and the Highway Data Loss Institute. There are now 30 states that have legalized the use of marijuana for medical purposes, with Oklahoma the most recent. Nine states and the District of Columbia have legalized the recreational use. * Ford celebrated the rebirth of the Ford Ranger giving journalists an early peek at, and ride in, the much-anticipated mid-size pickup this week at the Wayne, MI plant where Rangers full producing is just beginning. Customers can order them now and Ford expects customer deliveries to begin in January. Only one powertrain is offered, a 2.3-liter turbo four-cylinder EcoBoost making 300 pound-feet of torque. The Ranger has been made and sold in other parts of the world for a few years. A new version of the Bronco will come about a year later. * A new Intel study finds consumers look forward to a self-driving car future even while harboring fears and uncertainty now. The survey of U.S. consumers found that only 21 percent of Americans would swap their cars for self-driving cars today, even though 63 percent expect such vehicles to be the norm in 50 years. Intels 2017 Passenger Economy report found that self-driving vehicles have the potential to save 585,000 lives from 2035 to 2045. But Intels new study found consumers conflicted about this promise. Nearly half of consumers surveyed (43 percent) said they dont feel safe around autonomous vehicles (AV) with women more fearful than men. * BMW says it is expanding a recall to cover 1.6 million vehicles worldwide due to possible fluid leaks that could result in a fire. In some diesel vehicles coolant could leak from the exhaust gas recirculation module, part of the emissions reduction system. The leaks could combine with soot at high temperatures and lead to a fire. Vehicles made between 2010 and 2017 are affected with 54,700 vehicles in the U.S and Canada. * Nearly 1.3 million Ford Focus compact sedans are facing a recall related to engine stalling resulting from the possible deformation of the plastic fuel tank. It seems a surge valve in the fuel system is the culprit. The defect may occur is 2002-18 Focus with the 2.0-liter GDI and GTDI engines. Neither Ford nor NHTSA noted any accidents or injuries related to the problem. Your Ford dealer can tell you if your car is affected. * Tesla reported a $312 million profit for the third quarter, as the result of a surge in production and sales of its Model 3 sedan. Its third-quarter earnings were helped by cost-cutting, deferring spending on future models, and rushing to sell as many cars as possible. Model 3 currently sells for $46,000 to $64,000 before federal and state tax incentives. Tesla produced more than 53,000 Model 3 cars from July to September, nearly twice as many as in the previous three months. * Experian Automotive shared EV market data this week showing Tesla solidly leading in market share for electric vehicles. The total share of the light vehicle market held by EVs is just below 1%. Teslas mainstream, compact Model 3 that struggled to get into nearly full production now has an impressive 37.5% share of that followed by the Model S at 16.1% and Model X in third place at 12.7%. Chevy Bolt had 12.1% and Nissan Leaf was fifth at 9.6%. * Well, this doesn't suck. Or, does it? British vacuum maker Dyson's upcoming new electric car will be built in Singapore, and not in the UK. The facility, which will begin construction later this year, will start producing cars by 2021. * The Trump administration is trying to end Californias ability to set its own fuel efficiency rules for vehicles and its mandate for electric cars, citing savings in societal costs and mitigating highway deaths. Auto industry officials and even some EPA staff question these arguments. GM is proposing a nation-wide rule at least on the sale of electric vehicles to begin in 2021 that is essentially based on Californias zero emissions sales mandate. GMs executive VP Mark Reuss said, We know that the industry can do better . . . * And to that point, General Motors says it will ask the federal government for a requirement that a percentage of auto companies sales be zero-emissions vehicles. Mark Reuss, GMs executive vice president of product development, said the company will propose a national requirement to ensure that zero-emission cars compose 25 percent of automaker fleets by 2030. The company has promised to introduce 20 new all-electric vehicles globally by 2023. If you give this some thought, it looks like GM wants the government to prescribe what it sells, and not sell what vehicles buyers want. * In addition to replacing their China boss this week Ford is stepping up talks with VW aimed at helping out with sales in Europe and South America. The company is struggling in all those markets.The talks with VW are about sharing development costs and both companies made it clear that the collaboration isnt being limited in any way. Ford is also negotiating with Mahindra & Mahindra on developing products for the Indian market. Fords positive Q3 profits contributed to a surge in share prices. * NASCAR moved into its final eight, third round of playoffs. Of note, there are five Fords, one Chevrolet and two Toyota's. All four Stewart-Hass Racing Fords made it. One one Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet is in. * We are saddened to report that IndyCar driver Robert Wickens, who was severely injured in a serious crash at Pocono Raceway on August 19, has confirmed that he is paralyzed from the waist down. There had been hope that Wickens could return to racing but the reality is he is in a serious battle to regain the use of his legs. Sahle-Work Zewde. Photo: EDUARDO SOTERAS/AFP/Getty Images Ethiopia unanimously appointed its first female president on Thursday, a week after approving a nearly 50 percent gender balanced Cabinet. Sahle-Work Zewde, a veteran diplomat and former United Nations official, is Africas only current female head of state; the regions first female president, Ellen Johnson Sirleaf of Liberia, left office earlier this year. I am a product of people who fought for equality and political freedom in this country, and I will work hard to serve them, Sahle-Work said in her acceptance speech to Parliament. In a patriarchal society such as ours, the appointment of a female head of state not only sets the standard for the future, Fitsum Arega, the chief of staff for Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed, said on Twitter. But also normalizes women as decision-makers in public life. In Ethiopia, women have long endured the effects of gender-based discrimination. Women and girls in Ethiopia are strongly disadvantaged compared to boys and men in several areas, including literacy, health, livelihoods and basic human rights, according to U.N. Women. But a record number of women are now taking on positions of power, with 50 female ministers including the countrys first female defense minister among its newly approved Cabinet. Few countries in the world have governments in which at least half of ministerial positions are made up of women. Two days after Ethiopia appointed its Cabinet, Rwanda followed suit, announcing its Cabinet members would be made up of 50 percent women as well. The African continent is leading the way in showcasing that womens engagement and leadership are crucial to lasting peace, U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said on Twitter. Sahle-Work, who was the first director-general of the U.N. Nairobi office and recently served as the U.N. secretary-generals special representative to the African Union, said she will focus mainly on achieving peace in a country rife with ethnic conflict. After months of anti-government protest, Ethiopias recent transfer of power to Ahmed seems to be allowing for more progressive change. Sahle-Work calls the shift exemplary, and promises to work on improving womens rights in the country. She added in her acceptance speech, If you thought I spoke a lot about women already, know that I am just getting started. In case you missed the (kinda hilarious) news over the weekend, 50 Cent bought out a section at a Ja Rule concert so it would appear empty - the latest stunt in their decade-long feud. Lol ~petty goals~ amirite. Ja Rule has now responded and if you were expecting some MGK/Eminem beef then you may be a little disappointed. Ja Rule was mature about it, it turns out. He tweeted to his 222,000 followers: 97-Year-Old Woman Among Those Killed in Pittsburgh Synagogue: Reports Correction: Rose Mallinger was not a survivor of the Holocaust. The Epoch Times regrets this error. A 97-year-old woman was among those killed in a mass shooting at a Pittsburgh synagogue on Oct. 26, according to reports. Rose Mallinger was identified initially by The Associated Press as a survivor of the Holocaust. However, it appears that this was corrected in a later report. Joyce Feinberg, 75; Richard Gottfried, 65; Jerry Rabinowitz, 66; Cecil Rosenthal, 59; David Rosenthal, 54; Bernice Simon, 84; Sylvan Simon, 86; Daniel Stein, 71; Melvin Wax, 88; and Irving Younger, 69, were identified as 10 other victims in the shooting. A pair of brothers and a husband and wife were among those killed. He was very active and he did everything, Steins nephew Steven Halle was quoted by the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review as saying. He was there every Saturday for services. He said Stein recently became a grandfather. He was always willing to help anybody, Halle told the Tribune-Review. He was somebody that everybody liked, very dry sense of humor, and recently had a grandson who loved him. He was such a kind, kind person, Myron Snider, a friend of Wax, told AP. When my daughters were younger, they would go to him, and he would help them with their federal income tax every year. Never charged them. He and I used to, at the end of services, try to tell a joke or two to each other. Most of the time they were clean jokes. Most of the time. I wont say all the time. But most of the time, said Snider. Snider said Wax was a pillar of the synagogue. He went Friday night, Saturday, and Sunday, when there were Sunday services, said Snider. If somebody didnt come that was supposed to lead services, he could lead the services and do everything. He knew how to do everything at the synagogue. He was really a very learned person. Mayor Bill Peduto said it was the darkest day of Pittsburghs history, AP reported. Suspect Details The suspect was identified by officials as Robert Bowers, 46, who had posted anti-Semitic statements online and had recently derided President Donald Trump for not having similar anti-Semitic views. Trump is a globalist, not a nationalist, Bowers wrote on social media website Gab.ai days before the attack. There is no #MAGA as long as there is a [racial slur] infestation. Bowers is slated to make his first court appearance on Oct. 28, officials said. Hes been charged with 29 federal crimes, and Attorney General Jeff Sessions said he could face the death penalty. When he was arrested, he told an officer that he wanted all Jews to die and also that they (Jews) were committing genocide to his people, an affidavit said, AP reported. We are going to get through this, Police Chief Scott Schubert said on Oct. 27, People magazine reported. We are going to continue on and show what Pittsburgh is made of. Dispatch Audio Released: Police Respond to Pittsburgh Synagogue Shooting A deadly shooting on Oct. 27 at a Pittsburgh synagogue left 11 dead and 6 injured. Four of the six injured were police officers who were shot by the suspect. Police in Pittsburgh surrounded the Tree of Life synagogue after reports emerged that an active shooter had opened fire in the Squirrel Hill neighborhood. A call between a police dispatcher and a patrol officer on the scene reveals the initial police efforts to gather details about the shooter, as well as their efforts to safety free what appeared to be multiple hostages. Authorities said that just before 10 a.m., a suspect had entered the synagogue with an assault-style rifle and three handguns. The following is a recording of the dispatch audio that has since been released by authorities. Patrol: Patrol at the front door, we gotta evacuate some of these hostages. Dispatch: Received, request for patrol at the front door. Evacuating hostages. Patrol: We have a spent magazine, looks like a high powered AK, middle hallway of the 1-4 corner. Patrol: I have a description. Dispatch: Go ahead, send it. Patrol: Tall white male, short hair, light blue shirt, jeans. Again thats tall white male, short hair, light blue shirt, jeans. Patrol: I got one alive. Patrol: Were evacuating one right now, still alive. We have at least four down in the atrium. DOA at this time. Dispatch: Was there earlier intel that he may be in the basement? Patrol: I had a report of at least one victim in the basement. Patrol: I have an additional four victims, four victims in the back of the atrium hall, total 8 down. One rescued at this time. Dispatch: Whats your status in the basement? Patrol: Were probably at the bottom of the stairwell cleared to the left. Working room to the right, we have rifle cases in here with blood. In a statement on the horrific shooting, Attorney General Jeff Sessions said: I want to thank the FBI, ATF, Pittsburgh police, and especially the heroic officers who were so quick to respond to the shooting, including the multiple officers who were shot. These officers ran to danger to save others, which reflects the highest traditions of policing in this country. There can be no doubt that they saved lives today. Suspect Robert Bowers The suspect of Pittsburgh shooting has been identified as 46-year-old Robert Bowers of Castle Shannon, Pennsylvania. Bowers has been arrested and hospitalized. The full motive for the shooting is still unclear at this time, although a police source told KDKA that the suspect had walked into the synagogue yelling All Jews must die before he opened fire. Bowers also appears to have been active on the social media website Gab, which is popular with people who have been banned or censored from other social media sites. Bowers Gab profile said, Jews are the children of Satan. Less than an hour before the shooting spree, Bowers posted on the website, saying: HIAS likes to bring invaders in that kill our people. I cant sit by and watch my people get slaughtered. Screw your optics, Im going in. HIAS is a nonprofit that describes itself as helping refugees rebuild their lives in safety and sanity. Bowers also made or shared multiple anti-President Donald Trump posts. In one, he called Trump a globalist and said that Trump was not winning. In a comment on another, he said: For the record, I did not vote for him. Browsing through the Pittsburgh Synagogue shooter's social media uncovered by @nickmon1112 https://t.co/45dcoEzWiZ Anti-Trump, anti MAGA, jew hater, anti Qanon, anti refugees, white supremacist pic.twitter.com/aEnW0JrKBe Reliable / Unreliable (@Narrat_o_r) October 27, 2018 Condemnation Following the horrific shooting, President Trump told the media: Its a terrible thing whats going on with hate in our country. The President said that in his view, the country needed to stiffen up the law and bring back the death penalty for those responsible for killing innocent lives in similar crimes. They should pay the ultimate price, Trump said. Trump added: They didnt have protection. They had a maniac walk in and they didnt have any protection. If they had protection inside, the results would have been far better. If they had some kind of protection inside the temple, maybe it could have been a very much different situation. Events in Pittsburgh are far more devastating than originally thought. Spoke with Mayor and Governor to inform them that the Federal Government has been, and will be, with them all the way. I will speak to the media shortly and make further statement at Future Farmers of America. Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) October 27, 2018 Trump made the comments at Andrews Air Force Base before traveling to Indianapolis. He told reporters that the violence has to stop. BREAKING: President Trump orders flags to be flown at half-staff on federal buildings pic.twitter.com/6SdEuWzZcW Breaking911 (@Breaking911) October 28, 2018 Israel is expressing its shock and concern and offering assistance to the local community following the shooting. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has condemned the attack. I was heartbroken and appalled by the murderous attack on a Pittsburgh synagogue today: pic.twitter.com/NBMO31lMU2 Benjamin Netanyahu (@netanyahu) October 27, 2018 I was heartbroken and appalled by the murderous attack on a Pittsburgh synagogue today, Netanyahu said in a video message posted on Twitter shortly after the attack, which has killed at least two people and injured six. Netanyahu says all of Israel is grieving with the families of the dead. We stand together with the Jewish community of Pittsburgh. We stand together with the American people in the face of this horrendous anti-Semitic brutality. And we all pray for the speedy recovery of the wounded, he added. Netanyahu posted the same message in Hebrew on Twitter minutes later. Charlotte Cuthbertson, Allen Zhong, and Zachary Stieber from The Epoch Times, and The Associated Press contributed to this report. Drowning Kangaroo Rescued by Rosebud Police Officers in Australia Two Australian police officers jumped into the sea to rescue a drowning kangaroo. Sgts. Christopher Russo and Kirby Tonkin responded to numerous calls that a kangaroo was in the water in the Mornington Peninsula area, south of Melbourne, on Oct. 27, according to Belinda Batty of the Rosebud Police. The kangaroo had made it back to the beach upon their arrival and had been covered in a blanket by a member of the public, Batty said. But as the officers were monitoring the animal, it decided to turn around and hop back into the surf. It began to swim but got into difficulty in the swell and breaking waves, she said, adding that the kangaroo went underwater several times and began to drown. The officers dragged the unconscious animal out of the water and performed CPR in an effort to resuscitate the animal. The kangaroo is now recovering after the dramatic rescue. Sgt. Tonkin said it was a good feeling, according to the Herald Sun, adding, Every life is worth saving and we just did what we could. The kangaroo was wrapped in blankets and taken to Rosebud Police Station, where it was assessed by a local Wildlife Centre. We will let him recover at his own pace but he has a paddock full of grass and lots of water to drink and he seems very happy with that, said Michelle Thomas, director of the local Animalia Wildlife Shelter, according to the Herald Sun. Local resident Mia Grant saw the kangaroo bounce across the road toward the beach. I saw him swimming and started filming but he suddenly got caught in the backwash of the waves so we got him out and waited for police, she said, according to the report. Back in the Surf For some reason the animal became frightened and bolted back into the sea. He had less than a minute he went under and as he came up you could see foam coming out of his nose. He was drowning, Sgt. Russo said. I grabbed his tail and Kirby cradled his head and dragged him onto the beach and cleared his lungs to get the water out of him. Then we just started to push on his chest and he started breathing again and I could feel a heartbeat, said Russo. Grant was full of praise for what the officers did. You see a lot of bad things and to see someone so instantaneously race in after an animal gives you faith in humanity, she said. Officers took the marsupial to the local police station. The roo is currently being cared for but is said to be in good spirits and lucky to be alive given the amount of saltwater he inhaled, Batty said. The animal is recovering in a shelter. Employees in Facebook's "War Room" in Menlo Park, Calif., during a media demonstration on Oct. 17, 2018. (Noah Berger/AFP/Getty Images) Facebook Shuts Down Iranians Meddling in US Politics Facebook removed 30 pages, 33 accounts, and three groups, as well as 16 Instagram accounts, belonging to Iranians trying to sneakily influence U.S. and UK politics, the social media company announced Oct. 26. The Page administrators and account owners typically represented themselves as US citizens, or in a few cases UK citizensand they posted about politically charged topics such as race relations, opposition to the [U.S.] President, and immigration, Facebook stated in a release. Despite attempts to hide their true identities, a manual review of these accounts linked their activity to Iran. At least one of the nixed Facebook pages had more than 1 million followers, while about 25,000 users had joined at least one of the groups. At least one of the scrapped Instagram accounts had more than 28,000 followers. The Iranians spent less than $100 on Facebook ads and created several events, though its unclear if any of the events actually took place. Inauthentic The purge was a part of Facebooks move against coordinated inauthentic behavior ahead of the Nov. 6 midterm elections. The company previously described such behavior as using fake accounts or multiple accounts with the same names and networks of accounts or Pages working to mislead others about who they are, and what they are doing. Facebook has been pressured by some lawmakers to take down operations run on its platform by foreign governments trying to influence the American public. The Russian government allegedly ran a Facebook troll farm ahead of the 2016 election focused on intensifying conflicts in American society and sowing discord. In the most recent case, however, Facebook found no ties to the Iranian government. We cant say for sure who is responsible, it stated. A Facebook spokesman told The Epoch Times the Iranians engaged in coordinated inauthentic behavior, which violates our policies. The action we took was based on this behavior, not the nature of the content they posted, he wrote in an email. Election Purge Facebooks targeting of inauthentic behavior has drawn criticism as the company also shut down hundreds of accounts and pages of Americans who posted political content. In at least some cases, the affected people didnt appear to have engaged in any nefarious activity. Brian Kolfage, an Air Force veteran who lost three limbs in the Iraq War, lost his page, Right Wing News, which had more than 3.1 million followers. He ran multiple pages where he and his reporters posted articles with sensational headlines and a mix of news and commentary. He said there was nothing inauthentic about it and that Facebook had never notified him that there was any problem. He provided emails showing he was actually in regular contact with the company to ensure all his activities passed muster. Chaotic Enforcement Former senior Facebook engineer Brian Amerige said the companys content rules were chaotically, almost randomly enforced and mistakes would be occasionally reversed only after scrutiny from by the media. Amerige left the company after failed efforts to change what he called a political monoculture. He specifically disagreed with Facebooks insistence on fighting hate speech. He argued defining what is hateful is too subjective to penalize in a principled manner. Hate speech cant be defined consistently and it cant be implemented reliably, so it ends up being a series of one-off pragmatic decisions, he said. He eventually reached an impasse with Facebook leadership on this point and decided to quit. An Illinois Link card, an electronic debit-like card used to draw on food stamp benefits in Skokie, Ill., on June 24, 2004. (Tim Boyle/Getty Images) Food Stamp Program Fraud Masked by Administrators, Report Says Food stamps overseers report a mere 1.5 percent fraud rate in the program, but thats flawed and deceptive, according to a report by the Government Accountability Institute (GAI). GAI personnel interviewed about two dozen federal and state fraud investigators, and discovered that none of them believed the low figure. Food stamps, officially called the Supplemental Nutritional Assistance Program (SNAP), give some 39 million low-income Americans about $150 a head for food and other necessities every month. The program cost more than $68 billion in 2017. The program is administered by the Agriculture Departments Food and Nutrition Service (FNS). And it was FNS that has hidden systemic fraud and allowed large-scale waste and abuse to go unabated for years, the conservative think tank stated (pdf). An entire room of some 300 fraud investigators erupted in laughter when a senior FNS official referred to the one percent fraud rate at a conference held by the United Council on Welfare Fraud, the GAI report said. The real rate of fraud is undoubtedly much higher, said GAI President Peter Schweizer in a statement to The Epoch Times. Pinning down a definitive total is difficult, but its safe to say that its well into the billions. He said the interviewed SNAP fraud investigators estimates of fraud rate ranged from 20-30 percent. There are several ways people abuse SNAP. Some lie about their income or the number of people in their household to get higher benefits. Others exchange the benefits for cash. In the latter case, the beneficiary would, for example, pretend to buy $50 worth of groceries. The store owner would give the beneficiary $25 in cash, charge $50 to the government, and pocket the difference. In many states, investigations by both law enforcement and media have uncovered common SNAP fraud in small grocery stores. In 2017, 12 store owners were indicted in Florida for siphoning $20 million from the SNAP programthe biggest bust in its history. You can go into just about any one of these corner stores and sell your food stamps for 50 percent of the value, a small store owner in Philadelphia, who stopped accepting SNAP, told WTXF in 2017. If 10 people come in here with a SNAP card, eight of them want to sell me their food stamps the other two want to use them. Prosecutors have uncovered cases where fraudsters used taxpayer dollars extracted from SNAP to buy drugs, arms, and even to fund terrorists overseas, including Al-Qaeda. Whos Stopping Them? States are mostly responsible for discovering the fraud, but its a waste of money for them, according to the GAI. SNAP is set up in such a way that if money is saved thanks to uncovering fraud, most is retained by or returned to the Treasury. Additionally, states get federal grants for making SNAP more accessible, processing SNAP applications the fastest, and delivering benefits with the greatest payment accuracy and fewest errors. A states financial interest is better served by shoveling out food stamp benefits rather than fighting waste and fraud in the program, the report states. Moreover, there are too few fraud investigators to probe all potential transgressions. In California, 400 state investigators police 4.4 million SNAP participants, according to the report. In Florida, 49 state investigators oversee 3.4 million SNAP recipients. Floridas responsible agency, the Division of Public Assistance Fraud, received nearly 24,000 suspected fraud referrals in fiscal year 2017, but investigated fewer than 2,000 of them, the report stated. Some states are doing better. New Jersey had about 1,500 households on SNAP per investigator in 2013. But even when the investigators detect potential fraud, they have to prove the actors committed it intentionally. Errors? If the investigators discover, for instance, that somebody reported false income and thus inflated their benefits, an applicant may simply deny wrongdoing and what may otherwise be fraudulent activity is classified as an improper overpayment, the report said. Such an overpayment is then labeled an inadvertent household error (IHE) and doesnt count toward fraud statistics. The evidence for fraud and intent needs to be so strong that right now it is easier to arrest a recipient than to disqualify them from SNAP, said Mike Carroll, Florida secretary of Department of Children and Families, during a 2016 congressional testimony. Thus, most of IHEs involve willful attempts to take advantage of SNAP and are not in fact honest mistakes, GAI learned after interviewing two dozen state-level investigators. In addition, if the government clerk issuing SNAP could have or should have known that an applicant was committing fraud, the clerk would then be blamed, not the recipient. The incident is then labeled an Agency Error. California reported over $121 million in Agency Errors in fiscal 2015, the report stated. Not only is the fraud masked as an error, but the error is sometimes masked too. Because the FNS gives states bonuses for low error rates, at least some states falsified their error data. Shortly after the change of administration in 2017, a cover-up reaching back to at least 2010 started to come to light. Virginia, Wisconsin, and Alaska were forced to pay back to the federal government a total of about $16.6 million they previously received for their fraudulently low error rates. What Would GAI Do? GAI proposed fixing and tightening SNAP rules and giving states financial incentives to fight fraud. Reforming the programs rules and enforcing them should provide significant savings from reduced fraud and theft, the report states in conclusion. The Department of Agriculture didnt respond to a request for comment. Update: The article was updated with comments from Peter Schweizer, president of the Government Accountability Institute. Megyn Kelly Tweets for the First Time Since Blackface Fallout Megyn Kelly, the former host of NBCs Megyn Kelly Today, has tweeted for the first time since the networks executives announced she would be cut from the show. Kelly took to Twitter on Saturday, Oct. 27, to express condolences for the Tree of Life Synagogue massacre. Prayers for the victims and their suffering loved ones at the Tree of Life Synagogue, she wrote. Lord, help us heal, said Kelly. Prayers for the victims and their suffering loved ones at the Tree of Life Synagogue. Lord, help us heal. #TreeOLifeSynagogue Megyn Kelly (@megynkelly) October 28, 2018 Eleven people were killed in a 20-minute attack at a Pittsburgh synagogue on Oct. 27, and six people wounded. Federal prosecutors have charged the suspected gunman, Robert Bowers, with 29 charges, including 11 counts of using a firearm to commit murder. Numerous people responded to Kellys post, some echoing her condolences for the shooting victims. Our hearts and prayers go out to all the victims and their families at this very sad time, tweeted one commenter. Our hearts and prayers go out to all the victims and their families at this very sad time. And my wish for you Ms. Kelly, that you hang in there, be strong and know that you are loved and respected by many! See u on the airwaves again! This I am sure! Judyk858 (@judyk858) October 28, 2018 Prayers for all the people & their families. Prayers for peace for you too Megyn. Dont let the haters get you down. coviluvs#9 (@coviluvs24) October 28, 2018 NBC Cancels Megyn Kelly Today NBC has canceled Megyn Kelly Today amid speculation about the shows future, and reruns were aired on Thursday and Friday. Megyn Kelly Today is not returning, an NBC News representative said on Oct. 26. Next week, the 9 a.m. hour will be hosted by other TODAY co-anchors. The cancellation was ostensibly over comments Kelly made earlier in the week questioning whether blackface or whiteface is racist, but a number of other reasons have emerged or been known for a while, such as the shows mediocre ratings and Kellys clashes with network executives. A number of reports have said Kelly will definitely leave NBC entirely but wants the remainder of her three-year contract, which owes her approximately $50 million. Kelly signed an approximate 3-year, $69 million contract with the network in late 2017, and ended up making about $25 million a year. She has around one year and 10 months to go in the contract, and wants $50 million to sever ties with NBC, sources familiar with the negotiations told TMZ. Kellys exit from NBC isnt completely official, but NBCs Today show confirmed the news on Friday morning, and a report from NBC said that Kelly and the network were discussing her exit. This morning, NBC News host Megyn Kelly is in talks with the network about her imminent departure, according to a source familiar with the situation, revealed a tweet from the Today shows Twitter account. This morning, NBC News host Megyn Kelly is in talks with the network about her imminent departure, according to a source familiar with the situation. pic.twitter.com/4Ter7kP0LT TODAY (@TODAYshow) October 26, 2018 Kellys lawyer Bryan Freedman was scheduled to meet with executives to negotiate an exit, though it wasnt clear when the meeting was scheduled for. Background Kelly has also not commented on her contract or possible break with NBC publicly. She last appeared on her show on the network on Oct. 24, apologizing at the top of the segment for her comments the previous day about blackface and whiteface. She said she wasnt clear on why some consider the practices racist. In her apology, she said she listened to the criticism and has decided that the practices are racist. I defended the idea saying as long as it was respectful and part of a Halloween costume it seemed okay. Well, I was wrong and I am sorry, she said. I learned that given the history of blackface being used in awful ways by racists in this country, it is not OK for that to be part of any costume, Halloween or otherwise. Kelly also apologized via email to colleagues, according to Variety. One of the wonderful things about my job is that I get the chance to express and hear a lot of opinions, she wrote. Today is one of those days where listening carefully to other points of view, including from friends and colleagues, is leading me to rethink my own views, she wrote, adding This is a time for more understanding, love, sensitivity and honor, and I want to be part of that. I look forward to continuing that discussion. Women hold a banner with the portraits of three men kidnapped by the FARC guerrilla, during a protest outside at the Special Jurisdiction for Peace (JEP) headquarters in Bogota on July 13, 2018. (Raul Arboleda/AFP/Getty Images) More Prepared to Die Than to Live: Colombian Victims Testify Against FARC BOGOTA, ColombiaVictims kidnapped by Colombias now-demobilized guerrilla group, the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC), have started to formally present their testimonies to the extrajudicial court system set up to look into the atrocities perpetrated during the half-a-century long Colombian conflict. The 38 dedicated judges who make up the Special Jurisdiction for Peace (JEP), which was founded out of the peace agreement to offer restorative justice for victims, must attempt to establish the truth surrounding the war crimes committed and hold those responsible to account. On Oct. 22, ex-politicianssome of whom were held by the FARC for several yearsformally presented their accounts in over three hours of oral testimony. Several victims described the maltreatment and hatred they received at the hands of the leftist rebels. They chained us up, emanated all their resentment against us, mocking when one couldnt march anymore, said former Congressman Luis Eladio Perez. Kidnapping victims often were held in remote jungle camps and had to follow the strict military routine of the FARC: grueling marches with heavy backpacks and the constant fear that their camp could be hit by one of the armys devastating aerial bombardments. More painful than any treatment on the part of the FARC, said the victims, was being held for years on end in remote corners of the country, not knowing whether they would ever see their families again. We were more prepared to die than to live, said Perez. Another former congressman, Oscar Tulio Lizcano, recalled that the loneliness and harsh reality of hearing the messages of his wife, relatives, and students over the radio was the hardest part of the experience. The FARC have laid down their guns as part of the peace agreement championed by former Colombian President Juan Manuel Santos and now operate as a political party, but they were once principal actors in half a decade of war against the Colombian state. During their violent campaigns, kidnapping for ransom was employed as a business model to fund their activities. Ingrid Betancourt The highest profile testimony was given by Ingrid Betancourt on Oct. 24 via video-link. Betancourt was kidnapped while campaigning for the presidency in southern Colombia in 2002at the height of the FARCs power. Betancourt was finally rescued six years later, but her kidnapping was immortalized in her memoir, Even Silence Has an End: My Six Years of Captivity in the Colombian Jungle. During her testimony, the French-Colombian ex-politician blamed the government for not assigning her adequate protection on the campaign trail and described her experience as a descent into hell. She alleged that offensive, vulgar, and disrespectful guerrillas spat at her and took pleasure in her suffering. As many as 90 percent of the 27,000 people who were abducted between 1970 and 2010 in Colombia were taken by the FARC, according to the general prosecutor. At its strongest, the FARC had around 80 different fronts in operation across the country; this structure led to variations in the groups operations and thus varying accounts from victims of their time in captivity. The former-insurgency apologized for the great pain caused by kidnapping during peace negotiations in 2016. Despite a form of rebranding, the FARCs political efforts have been limited by its legacy in the conflict, securing less than 1 percent of votes in Marchs presidential elections. During Colombias conflicts, more than 220,000 people were killed and some 7 million were displaced by forces including the army, paramilitaries, and guerrilla groups. Names of Pittsburgh Synagogue Shooting Victims Released Officials have released the names of those shot and killed at a Pittsburgh synagogue on Saturday, Oct. 27, in the deadliest attack on the Jewish community in U.S. history. The Allegheny County medical examiners office released the victims names on Sunday. The victims include eight men and three women. They ranged in age from 54 to 97. The 11 people killed in the synagogue included a married couple, Bernice and Sylvan Simon; and two brothers, Cecil and David Rosenthal. Among the dead were also Joyce Fienberg, Richard Gottfried, Jerry Rabinowitz, Daniel Stein, Melvin Wax, Irving Younger, and Rose Mallinger. The names of the six wounded have not been released. Suspected Gunman Charged Suspected gunman Robert Bowers is being treated for gunshot wounds and is due in court Monday. Officials said Bowers entered the Tree of Life synagogue armed with a rifle and three handguns. He left after about 20 minutes and exchanged gunfire with law enforcement outside. The attack took place as Saturday Shabbat services were underway. Three different congregations were holding services at the Tree of Life synagogue. A U.S. attorney in Pennsylvania filed 29 federal charges against Bowers Saturday night, according to the Post-Gazette. The federal charges include 11 counts of obstruction of exercise of religious beliefs resulting in death; 11 counts of use of a firearm to commit murder during a crime of violence; four counts of obstruction of exercise of religious beliefs resulting in bodily injury to a public safety officer and three counts of use and discharge of a firearm during a crime of violence. Bowers had made numerous anti-Semitic statements on social media, including claims that Jews were the enemy of white people. A police source told KDKA Bowers yelled All Jews must die as he began his killing spree. Events in Pittsburgh are far more devastating than originally thought. Spoke with Mayor and Governor to inform them that the Federal Government has been, and will be, with them all the way. I will speak to the media shortly and make further statement at Future Farmers of America. Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) October 27, 2018 President Donald Trump has called for the death penalty in the wake of the massacre. They should pay the ultimate price, he told the press on Oct. 27. Its a terrible thing whats going on with hate in our country. Trump also said that shooters in similar cases involving innocent victims of hate crimes should receive the death penalty. The President added from Andrews Air Force Base on the way to Indianapolis: If they had protection inside, the results would have been far better. If they had some kind of protection inside the temple, maybe it could have been a very much different situation. They didnt have protection. They had a maniac walk in and they didnt have any protection. He told reporters that the violence has to stop. World leaders including German Chancellor Angela Merkel and Pope Francis have expressed their condolences. The Associated Press contributed to this report. Pittsburgh Synagogue Shooter Robert Bowers Wrote Im Going In Just Hours Before the Attack Days before shooting, he slammed Trump Pittsburgh synagogue shooting suspect Robert Bowers, who allegedly killed 11 people and injured several more, ranted online about killing Jews and complained about the president. Trump is a globalist, not a nationalist, Bowers wrote on social media website Gab.ai. There is no #MAGA as long as there is a [slur for Jewish people] infestation. He said that President Donald Trump was also not supportive enough of white nationalists who attended the Charlottesville Unite the Right rally. According to screenshots of his Gab account, he also slammed the Qanon phenomenon to get patriots that were against martial law in the 90s to be the ones begging for it to drain muh swamp. Hours before the shooting, he apparently indicated on social media that he would carry out an attack. Screw your optics, he wrote, Im going in. Robert Bowers, the Pittsburgh shooting suspect named on the police scanner, has a GAB posting history of deranged anti-Semitic conspiracy. Two days ago he claimed Trump was controlled by Jews, this morning he posted "Screw your optics, I'm going in"absolutely chilling https://t.co/lsm0P0Y7tl Saagar Enjeti (@esaagar) October 27, 2018 Then, The Associated Press reported, he went into Pittsburghs Tree of Life synagogue and opened fire. Witnesses said he yelled, All Jews must die when he entered. In the wake of the deadly shooting, Trump, Vice President Mike Pence, and Ivanka Trump released statements on the matter. The president wrote on Twitter that all of America is in mourning over the mass murder of Jewish Americans at the Tree of Life Synagogue in Pittsburgh. We pray for those who perished and their loved ones, and our hearts go out to the brave police officers who sustained serious injuries. He added that this this evil Anti-Semitic attack is an assault on humanity. It will take all of us working together to extract the poison of anti-Semitism from our world. We must unite to conquer hate. America is stronger than the acts of a depraved bigot and anti-semite, wrote Ivanka Trump, who is married to Trumps senior advisor, Jared Kushner, who is Jewish. All good Americans stand with the Jewish people to oppose acts of terror & share the horror, disgust & outrage over the massacre in Pittsburgh. We must unite against hatred & evil. God bless those affected. Bowers was taken into custody after a shootout with a SWAT team. Federal prosecutors charged him with 29 criminal counts including violence and firearms offenses and violating U.S. civil rights laws. The actions of Robert Bowers represent the worst of humanity. We are dedicating the entire resources of my office to this federal hate crime investigation and prosecution, U.S. attorney for western Pennsylvania Scott Brady told reporters. FBI special agent Bob Jones said Bowers was armed with an assault rifle and three handguns. Attorney General Jeff Sessions said federal prosecutors could seek the death penalty. He told reporters the killings might have been prevented if there had been an armed guard. If they had some kind of a protection inside the temple maybe it could have been a much more different situation, they didnt, he said. Reuters contributed to this report People gathered to mourn the loss of life as they hold a vigil for the victims of Pittsburgh synagogue shooting in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, U.S., October 27, 2018. REUTERS/John Altdorfer Pittsburgh Synagogue Victims Include 97-Year-Old Woman, Pair of Brothers PITTSBURGHA 97-year-old woman, two brothers, and a couple in their 80s were among the 11 worshippers slain at a Pittsburgh synagogue, in the deadliest attack on the Jewish community in U.S. history, officials said Oct. 28. The suspected gunman, 46-year-old Robert Bowers of Pittsburgh, stormed the building during a morning service on Oct. 27. He also wounded six others, including four police officers, before being arrested. Bowers, who had made anti-Semitic posts online and shouted about killing Jewish people during the attack, has been charged with federal hate crimes and could face the death penalty. He will appear before a judge on Oct. 29, U.S. Attorney Scott Brady said at a news conference. The fact that this attack took place during a worship service makes it even more heinous, Brady said. The Tree of Life synagogue in the citys Squirrel Hill neighborhood, a heavily Jewish area, was holding a Shabbat religious service when the gunman burst in. Five of the victims lived in Squirrel Hill, and the rest were from other Pittsburgh neighborhoods and communities surrounding the city. The mass shooting prompted security alerts at houses of worship around the country, and condemnation from politicians and religious leaders. Well get through this darkest day of Pittsburgh history by working together, Mayor Bill Peduto told reporters. The 11 people killed were identified as Rose Mallinger, 97; David and Cecil Rosenthal, 54 and 59-year-old brothers; Sylvan Simon, 86, and his wife, Bernice Simon, 84; Joyce Fienberg, 75; Richard Gottfried, 65; Jerry Rabinowitz, 66, Daniel Stein, 71, Melvin Wax, 88, and Irving Younger, 69, according to officials. President Donald Trump told reporters in Illinois on Oct. 27 that the country feels terribly about the anti-Semitic attack and encouraged Americans to not let the attack change their lives. You cant let these evil people change your life, change your schedules, change anything. Its too important. What you do has to stay that way and you cannot let them become important. You just cant do it, Trump said. This is just a horrible, horrible event, he added. Its a level of terribleness and horror that you cant even believe. Its hard to believe. The president said that Bowers, and killers in similar cases, should get the death penalty. They should pay the ultimate price, he said. Its a terrible thing whats going on with hate in our country. Trump ordered that the U.S. flags at the White House and public buildings be flown at half-staff. He also said he would visit Pittsburgh. Officers responded to a call about an active shooter within minutes and encountered Bowers as he exited the building. Synagogue officials said police would only normally have been on premises for security on high holidays. U.S. Homeland Security Secretary Kirstjen Nielsen told Fox News Sunday that DHS officials visited the Pittsburgh synagogue in March to provide training on active-shooter responses. FBI Special Agent Robert Jones said Bowers was armed with an assault rifle and three handguns. Jones added that he didnt know why Bowers picked the particular synagogue for his attack. Authorities believed the suspect entered the synagogue, opened fire on the worshippers and was leaving when he encountered a uniformed police officer, Jones said. The pair exchanged gunfire, Jones said, and Bowers re-entered the building before a SWAT team arrived. Bowers surrendered and was taken to a hospital, where he was listed in fair condition with multiple gunshot wounds. Federal prosecutors charged Bowers late on Oct 27 with 29 criminal counts, including violating U.S. civil-rights laws. Several of the charges could lead to the death penalty. Im Going In Bowers had made many anti-Semitic posts online, including one early on Oct. 27. In another, he slammed Trump for doing nothing to stop what he called an infestation of the United States by Jews. A social media post by Bowers on the morning of Oct. 27 said a Jewish refugee organization, the Hebrew Immigrant Aid Society, likes to bring invaders in that kill our people. I cant sit by and watch my people get slaughtered. Screw your optics, Im going in, he wrote. On Oct. 27, Trump called the shooting an act of pure evil and called on Americans to rise above hatred. KDKA television in Pittsburgh cited police sources as saying Bowers walked into the building and yelled, All Jews must die. The Anti-Defamation League and Jewish Council for Public Affairs described the attack as deadliest on Jews in the history of the United States. On April 13, 2014, a pair of shootings occurred at a Jewish Community Center and a Jewish retirement community, both located in Overland Park, Kansas. A total of three people were killed in the shootings. In 2015, a white supremacist murdered nine African-Americans during a prayer service in Charleston, South Carolina. In 2012, a neo-Nazi gunman with white supremacist ties walked into a Sikh gurdwaraor house of worshipin Oak Creek, Wisconsin, and murdered six Sikh-Americans. In Israel, cabinet ministers stood for a moment of silence on Oct. 28 to honor the victims of the shooting. By Jessica Resnick-Ault and Chriss Swaney. Epoch Times reporters Jack Phillips, Tom Ozimek, and Ivan Pentchoukov contributed to this report. Secretary of the Interior Ryan Zinke at Camp Nelson, Kentucky on Oct. 27, 2018. (Tami Heilemann/Department of the Interior) Recruitment Site for Civil War African-American Soldiers Made National Monument For the first time in its 226-year history, Kentucky will have a national monument. President Donald Trump used his power under the Antiquities Act to give Camp Nelson federal designation on Oct. 26. It was the first time the president has used his executive powers to create a national monument since taking office. Camp Nelson, located in Jessamine County, Kentucky, was originally established as a hospital and Union supply depot during the Civil War. It later became the largest of eight recruitment centers for African American soldiers and served as a refugee camp for their wives and children. Today, the camp is one of the best-preserved sites associated with Civil War-era U.S. Colored Troops recruitment. The exhibits and stories highlight the transformation of African-Americans from enslavement to citizenship. Camp Nelson, and all the patriots who have ties to it, holds an incredible place in Americas history, and President Trumps action to designate Camp Nelson as a National Monument will ensure the ongoing protection of the site and the story, U.S. Secretary of the Interior Ryan Zinke said in a press release. The Camp tells the story about Americans who risked absolutely everything they have and everyone they love to fight for their freedom, the cause of liberty, and to preserve the Union. The designation will protect three separate locations in Jessamine County totaling approximately 380 acres. They include the main encampment area and sites associated with the Home for Colored Refugees. Pastures, open fields, and earthen fortifications from the Civil War-era also will be included as well as entrenchments, building foundations, historic road remnants, and springs. The process for Camp Nelson to become a national monument has been relatively short. In late 2017, Zinke sent a report to Trump suggesting it be made a national monument. In April, Rep. Andy Barr of Kentucky, with support from the Kentucky Congressional delegation, introduced the Camp Nelson Heritage National Monument Act. It was never passed but supported by the Trump administration. In August, the National Parks Service opened public input on making the camp a national monument. The decision to make the designation was made with congressional and public input and involved extensive consultation with private landowners. Camp Nelson will be the 418th site the National Parks Service oversees. Shooting Victims Remembered: The Loss Is Incalculable A day after the shooting that left 11 dead at a Pittsburgh synagogue, friends and family members recalled the victimsprofessors and accountants, dentists and beloved doctors serving their local community. Officials released the names of all 11 victims during a news conference on Oct. 28, all of them middle-aged or elderly. The victims of synagogue included a pair of brothers and a husband and wife. The oldest was 97. Said Stephen Cohen, co-president of New Light Congregation: The loss is incalculable. Here are some of their stories: Melvin Wax: A Sweet, Sweet Guy Melvin Wax was the first to arrive at New Light Congregation in Pittsburghs Squirrel Hill neighborhoodand the last to leave. Wax, who was in his late 80s, was among those killed when a gunman entered the synagogue Saturday and opened fire at Sabbath services. Fellow members of the congregation, which rented space in the lower level of the Tree of Life Synagogue, says Wax was a kind man and a pillar of the congregation, filling just about every role except cantor. Myron Snider spoke late Saturday about his friend who would stay late to tell jokes with him. He said Mel, a retired accountant, was unfailingly generous. He was such a kind, kind person, said Snider, chairman of the congregations cemetery committee. When my daughters were younger, they would go to him, and he would help them with their federal income tax every year. Never charged them. He and I used to, at the end of services, try to tell a joke or two to each other. Most of the time they were clean jokes. Most of the time. I wont say all the time. But most of the time. New Light moved to the Tree of Life building about a year ago, when the congregation of about 100 mostly older members could no longer afford its own space, said administrative assistant Marilyn Honigsberg. She said Wax, who lost his wife Sandra in 2016, was always there when services began at 9:45 a.m. I know a few of the people who are always there that early, and he is one of them, she said. Snider said Wax, who was slightly hard of hearing, was a pillar of the congregation, filling just about every role except cantor. He went Friday night, Saturday and Sunday, when there were Sunday services, said Snider, a retired pharmacist. If somebody didnt come that was supposed to lead services, he could lead the services and do everything. He knew how to do everything at the synagogue. He was really a very learned person. Cohen recalled Wax, along with victims Richard Gottfried, 65, and Daniel Stein, 71, as the heart, the religious heart of New Light. They led the service. They maintained the Torah. They did what needed to be done with the rabbi to make our services happen. Snider had just been released from a six-week hospital stay for pneumonia and was not at Saturdays services. He called my wife to get my phone number in the hospital so he could talk to me, Snider said. Just a sweet, sweet guy. Jerry Rabinowitz: Trusted Confidant, Healer Former Allegheny County Deputy District Attorney Law Claus remembered Jerry Rabinowitz, a 66-year-old personal physician and victim in Saturdays shooting, as more than a physician for him and his family for the last three decades. He was truly a trusted confidant and healer, he wrote in an email to his former co-workers on Sunday. He said Rabinowitz had an uplifting demeanor and would provide sage advice. Dr. Jerry Rabinowitz could always be counted upon to provide sage advice whenever he was consulted on medical matters, usually providing that advice with a touch of genuine humor, Claus said. He had a truly uplifting demeanor, and as a practicing physician he was among the very best. By Claudia Lauer A Chinese worker at a port in Qingdao, China on July 13, 2017. The Chinese are an obstacle to free trade and President Trump is using risky methods to solve the problem. (STR/AFP/Getty Images) The Road to Free Trade Every trade, before it takes place and without exception, benefits both sides. I buy a shirt for $15. How much do I value it at, upon my purchase? Is it $14 or less? If so, I would lose $1 or more on the deal, and would never engage in it. Is it a tie for me between the shirt and the $15? Am I indifferent between the two? If so, I wouldnt bestir myself to acquire this product, since there would be no gain in it for me. If you guessed that I valued this clothing at more than $15, then go to the head of the class. If I assessed it at $20, then I made a $5 profit on the deal. What about the seller? You can bet your boots that he gauged it at less the sale price, otherwise, he never would have allowed me to have this article of apparel. If he pegged it at $3 (he has lots of them, and wants to reduce his stock), then he earned $12 from the commercial interaction. Most socialists would now say that we exploited each other. Did we not each earn a profit at the others expense? No, no, no, we both helped each other. Thanks to the trade, we are both necessarily better off than if it hadnt occurred. What about after the fact? While in this case, there is no absolute necessity of gains from trade, it is rare when regrets occur (a lemon car, with no insurance). I may decide that this shirt is no longer in style, and the vendor might come to believe that theres gold in the yarn thats worth more than the $15. Apart from unusual cases such as these, trade is always and ever mutually beneficial. Free Trade Independent of Location And this holds true if one party to the trade is in New Orleans, and the other in New York City; it matters not where they are. This insight even obtains if one trading partner is located in China, and the other in the United States. Mutual gain, mutual gain, mutual gain! Self-sufficiency sounds good. But only in psychology, not economics. In the former field, it depicts people who arent desperately in need of others, who can stand on their own two feet. But in the dismal science, it spells anguish. If a nation is self-sufficient, that means its residents trade with no one but each other. If Nevada is self-sufficient, their trades are limited to each other. Ditto for Las Vegas. Taken to its logical conclusion, 99% of us would perish if we had to rely upon only ourselves, and couldnt buy or sell, rent, borrow, or lend with other people. Chinese Threat This is why what the Chinese are doing with their high tariffs and other non-tariff trade barriers is so economically devastating. They want to have their cake and eat it, too, and their China 2025 plan has the goal to reach economic autarky. The Chinese regime is artificially reducing our cooperation with each other. They are playing havoc with specialization and division of labor. They want to be jacks of all trade, and they are masters of none. President Donald Trump, however, proposed to drop all tariffs to zero at the G7 meeting last June, which was rejected by the other participants. And it may well be that he favors fully free trade, despite his protectionist rhetoric. It could be argued that hes only objecting to other nations interfering with the untrammeled movement of goods and capital investment. Now, he is paying them back in their own coin and with the objective to make them lower their tariffs. Trade War Escalation Danger There is a danger to this strategy: There are two men in a rowboat, and one of them shoots a hole in the bottom of the boat. Lets say that man is Chinese and the hole is a tariff. The argument for full free trade with all nations, despite their own tariffs and quotas, is that it would be silly to shoot a second hole in the boat. However, to extend the analogy a bit, Trump may shoot a second and even a third hole in the boat, so as to get the first shooter to plug up the first hole. The trade-war escalation may be one way to achieve international economic freedom. It might be even more effective than the traditional means toward this end, espoused by economists Ludwig von Mises, Milton Friedman and other free-marketeers: a unilateral declaration of free trade with all nations on the part of the United States, despite their own policies of shooting holes in rowboats. The danger with this procedure is retaliatory tariffs. The United States raises them against the importation of foreign goods, and there is a response. The end point is no trade at all, and mutual impoverishment. However, a unilateral declaration of free trade also has shortcomings: It is an attempt to lead by example and necessitates much freer domestic trade. Only if the United States gets rid of domestic impediments to trade such as taxes and regulations, will it be competitive enough to ward off protectionist and hostile countries such as China. The Trumps administration is already moving into this direction, albeit ever so slowly. In the meantime, if the president succeeds with his trade-war strategy and the world moves toward more free trade internationally, he will have accomplished two important objectives and we should thank him for taking the risk. Walter Block is the chairman in economics at Loyola University, New Orleans. He also is an adjunct scholar at the Mises Institute and the Hoover Institute. Views expressed in this article are the opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of The Epoch Times. Defense Secretary James Mattis listens as President Donald Trump (not pictured) speaks to the news media while gathering for a briefing from his senior military leaders in the Cabinet Room at the White House in Washington, U.S., Oct. 23, 2018. (Leah Millis/Reuters) US Coordinating With NATO Allies on Exit From INF Treaty The United States is coordinating with European allies on its exit from a nuclear arms treaty with Russia, according to Defense Secretary James Mattis. Mattis told reporters in Prague on Oct. 28 that the United States is consulting with NATO defense ministers as it negotiates an off-ramp from the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces (INF) treaty with Russia. The treaty, signed by President Ronald Reagan and Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev in 1987, prohibits the possession and testing of short- and mid-range ground-launched ballistic missiles. President Donald Trump announced on Oct. 20 that the United States is withdrawing from the treaty. Washington hasnt yet served a formal notice. We are in consultations with our European counterparts, Mattis said. I was speaking about it the day before with the German defense minister, and so, as I said, the consultations continue. As part of a brief visit to Prague, Mattis was expected to meet with the Czech defense minister, as well as Czech Prime Minister Andrej Babis. Mattis expected the conversations about the INF to culminate in December, when NATO defense ministers meet in Brussels. The United States has for years accused Russia of violating the treaty with the deployment of a banned missile system. Moscow, for years, has ignored the accusations, before admitting that the missile system exists and demanding that Washington prove that the system violates the treaty. Russia has also accused the United States of violating the treaty; Washington has addressed each accusation promptly with an explanation of how the weapons in question were compliant. National security adviser John Bolton said in Moscow on Oct. 23 that, given Russias violations, the only nation now bound by the INF is the United States. Meanwhile, China, Iran, and North Korea have made significant strides to develop and produce missiles banned by the treaty. Impact on Europe The INF treaty affects the military theater in Europe. The United States had missiles deployed on the continent prior to the treaty, and Mattis wouldnt rule out a redeployment once Washington exits the arms pact. I never rule things out like that, I also dont rule it in, Mattis said. There are a number of ways for us to respond. It does not have to be symmetric and itll be in close consultation with allies. NATO placed the blame on Russia for Washingtons planned exit from the accord, saying that its highly likely that the Kremlin violated the treaty. Mattis said he asked his European counterparts to come up with ideas for bringing Russia back to compliance, but none have come back with a proposal. Now, a point to remember here is two American administrations, Democrat and Republican, have worked for nearly five years to bring Russia back into compliance, Mattis said on Oct. 27. We have met diplomatically and its been unproductive over two administrations. Eventually, we have to look reality in the eye, Mattis added. That is not to mean that we are walking away from arms control. But arms control must be more than words on the paper. It must be actions, and so I believe that it actually strengthens the level of commitment, because we do not dance around noncompliance issues and look the other way as if everything is fine. Questions for Moscow Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said Oct. 28 that Moscow has started preparing answers to the questions related to the INF treaty posed by U.S. officials. Just a week ago, a couple of days ahead of the announcement of the aim to leave the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces treaty, Americans via their embassy in Moscow sent the Russian Foreign Ministry an extensive list of questions which are a concern to them, Lavrov said. Russias Defense Ministry and other agencies are working on answering the questions, Lavrov said, but complained that the short notice on which the questions were served does not contribute to the sustainable dialogue and predictability. Reuters contributed to this report. Who Is Robert Bowers? Pittsburgh Synagogue Suspects Trail of Hate Robert Bowers, the alleged gunman in Saturdays mass shooting at a Pittsburgh synagogue, is the focus of intense FBI scrutiny, including his trail of hateful online posts and outbursts. Anti-Semitic Messages The 46-year-old mass shooting suspect shared anti-Semitic posts on a social media platform where he claimed that Jews were the enemy of white people. Bowers appears to have been active on alternative social media website Gab, which is popular with people who have been banned or censored from other social media sites. Bowers Gab profile said, Jews are the children of Satan. Less than an hour before the shooting spree, Bowers shared a post on the website: HIAS likes to bring invaders in that kill our people. I cant sit by and watch my people get slaughtered. Screw your optics, Im going in. HIAS is a nonprofit that describes itself as helping refugees rebuild their lives in safety and sanity. All Jews Must Die The Oct. 27 shooting occurred at the Tree of Life Synagogue in Pittsburghs Squirrel Hill neighborhood during a Shabbat religious service. The full motive for the shooting is still unclear at this time, although a police source told KDKA that the suspect had walked into the synagogue yelling All Jews must die before he opened fire. The gunman was was inside the synagogue for about 20 minutes, officials said at a news conference on Saturday, CNN reported. He exchanged gunfire with law enforcement as he left the building, and retreated inside. RT @NBCNews: BREAKING: Pittsburgh police: Multiple casualties at Tree of Life synagogue in Squirrel Hill pic.twitter.com/Xo5MpEUy6Q Trixy Wh (@trixywh) October 27, 2018 Bowers was later apprehended and hospitalized with multiple gunshot wounds. Eleven people were killed and six others were injured. Four officers were shot during the incident and suffered non-fatal injuries. A criminal complaint said the 11 dead were eight men and three women, the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reported. Authorities did not immediately identify them. Anti-Semitic Statements After Arrest Bowers made anti-Jewish comments after he was apprehended, according to charging documents viewed by The Associated Press. Bowers told an officer while he was being treated for his injuries that he wanted all Jews to die and also that they (Jews) were committing genocide to his people, the affidavit said. The attack took place on the same day as Saturday Shabbat services. Three different congregations were holding services at the Tree of Life synagogue. A U.S. attorney in Pennsylvania filed 29 federal charges against Bowers Saturday night, according to the Post-Gazette. including multiple counts of obstruction of exercise of religious beliefs resulting in bodily injury to a public safety officer. The federal charges include 11 counts of obstruction of exercise of religious beliefs resulting in death; 11 counts of use of a firearm to commit murder during a crime of violence; four counts of obstruction of exercise of religious beliefs resulting in bodily injury to a public safety officer and three counts of use and discharge of a firearm during a crime of violence. The actions of Robert Bowers represent the worst of humanity, said Scott W. Brady, the U.S. attorney for the Western District of Pennsylvania. Please know that justice in this case will be swift and it will be severe. Anti-Trump Bowers also made or shared multiple posts against President Donald Trump. In one, he called Trump a globalist and said that Trump was not winning. In a comment on another, he said: For the record, I did not vote for him. Trump responded in the wake of the massacre. Its a terrible thing whats going on with hate in our country, Trump told the press on Oct. 27. Events in Pittsburgh are far more devastating than originally thought. Spoke with Mayor and Governor to inform them that the Federal Government has been, and will be, with them all the way. I will speak to the media shortly and make further statement at Future Farmers of America. Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) October 27, 2018 Trump also said that shooters in cases involving innocent victims of hate crimes should receive the death penalty. They should pay the ultimate price, he said. The President, from Andrews Air Force Base on the way to Indianapolis, added, If they had protection inside, the results would have been far better. If they had some kind of protection inside the temple, maybe it could have been a very much different situation. They didnt have protection. They had a maniac walk in and they didnt have any protection. He told reporters that the violence has to stop. The Associated Press and Charlotte Cuthbertson from the Epoch Times contributed to this report. Several years ago, a psychiatrist at Bellevue Hospital in New York began to notice a pattern among people seeking treatment: Dozens believed that their lives were being constantly filmed and broadcast, as though they were the stars of their own versions of "The Truman Show." That film, in fact, became the name for this particular, and particularly modern, affliction. The Truman Show Delusion. The Bellevue psychiatrist, Joel Gold, published research about the syndrome with his brother, Ian Gold, seeking to determine how culture and mental illness overlapped. There was no suggestion that the movie itself made people delusional but, rather, that the movie informed the shape of the delusion. It was, if you will, a framework on which the patient's mental illness could be hung. It's not clear that either Cesar Sayoc, who allegedly mailed explosive devices to a number of Democratic politicians and to CNN last week, or Robert D. Bowers, who allegedly murdered 11 people at a synagogue on Saturday, suffered from mental illness. But there's certainly evidence that dominant political rhetoric - including rhetoric promoted by President Donald Trump - may have served as a similar framework for their dangerous, violent actions. Bowers was apparently an active user of the social-networking site Gab, a site created in part to offer a home to those barred from other platforms because of their extreme views. A user identified as Robert Bowers posted a message shortly before the attack at Pittsburgh's Tree of Life synagogue. In the message, the writer took issue with a Jewish refugee organization called the Hebrew Immigrant Aid Society, which helps resettle refugees in the United States. "HIAS likes to bring invaders in that kill our people," the message read. "I can't sit by and watch my people get slaughtered. Screw your optics, I'm going in." There is an idea among anti-Semitic groups that there's a Jewish conspiracy to undercut white populations with nonwhite immigrants. During the torchlight march by white nationalists in Charlottesville, last year, the chanted slogan "Jews will not replace us" seemed to get at that notion. But in the current political dialogue, there's an undercurrent to the idea that prominent Jewish people are supporting dangerous immigrants. Trump has repeatedly sought to focus attention on a group of migrants traveling through Mexico, hinting darkly that the so-called caravan is riddled with criminals and terrorists. It's part and parcel of his overall rhetoric on certain groups of immigrants and refugees. It was explicit in his campaign: Those crossing the U.S.-Mexican border are criminals, by default, and those who are Muslim should be barred entirely. To disparage the migrants, Trump retweeted a video showing people purported to be members of the caravan being handed money, a video that had previously been tweeted by his ally Rep. Matt Gaetz, R-Fla. Gaetz's tweet questioned the origin of the money, wondering if it came from U.S. organizations - or from billionaire George Soros, a frequent target of conservatives for his political spending and of anti-Semites for his religion. Trump has looped Soros into his own conspiracies, too. When Justice Brett Kavanaugh's appointment to the Supreme Court was under consideration, Trump suggested that those protesting his nomination were being paid by the billionaire. Trump has never implied that Soros or other prominent Jewish Americans are funding refugees to come to the United States and replace white Americans. But the president's comments about migration are helping to elevate skepticism and fear about immigrants and refugees in the public perception, especially as they're echoed in the media and among his supporters. On the Fox Business network, hours after Bowers allegedly killed 11 people at that synagogue in Pittsburgh, host Lou Dobbs, long known for his anti-immigration rhetoric, interviewed a guest who insisted that the caravan was getting money indirectly from the "Soros-occupied State Department." One of the last tweets from the Robert Bowers Gab account included a cartoon referring to "ZOG" - Zionist-occupied government. Bowers' anti-Semitism didn't derive from Trump; in fact, he seems to have opposed the president. The political anger of alleged mail-bomber Sayoc, though, overlapped with Trump's rhetoric much more neatly. Consider this quote from Ronald Lowy, who served as legal counsel for Sayoc. "Had no interest in politics, was always at the night clubs, the gyms, wherever he thought he could meet people, impress people," Lowy told The Washington Post about Sayoc. "And along came the presidential campaign of Donald Trump, who welcomed all extremists, all outsiders, all outliers, and he felt that somebody was finally talking to him." Joel Gold, the Bellevue psychiatrist, described the sorts of people who were susceptible to the Truman Show Delusion. "People who choose to be the center of attention, have concerns about social standing, or who may fear being in (the) public eye or seek it out, may be more drawn to identify with this delusion," Gold wrote. "I don't think people are making it up or choosing it." Sayoc's van and social media accounts were peppered with both fringe and mainstream political rhetoric. There were mentions of chemtrails (a conspiracy theory holding that planes spread mind-altering chemicals) and mentions of Republican candidates in Florida's elections. Sayoc embraced run-of-the-mill conspiracy theories about the administration of Barack Obama and more bizarre ones, such as speculating that Soros helped fake the mass shooting at a school in Parkland, Florida, in February. He at one point posted Soros' home address on Twitter; that home was one of the targets to receive a bomb in the mail. Mostly, though, the consistent theme is Trump. Trump appears on Sayoc's van repeatedly. Incorrect assertions from Trump are included among the phrases plastered on the vehicle's windows. Those who were targeted with bombs were those with whom Trump had taken issue: CNN, former intelligence officials, Democratic leaders and politicians, actor Robert DeNiro. Sayoc may have been unstable before Trump, but Trump clearly offered him a political lattice from which to build outward. We noted last week that the bombs being sent to political leaders had drawn the media's attention away from that caravan - a shift that frustrated Trump. (The one network that continued to discuss the caravan over the mail bombs? Fox Business.) Trump was explicit about the reason for his frustration. "Republicans are doing so well in early voting, and at the polls, and now this 'Bomb' stuff happens and the momentum greatly slows - news not talking politics," he complained on Twitter. He'd previously said that the caravan should be a reason for people to vote against Democrats. Suddenly, people wanted to talk about something else, right as the midterms were looming. That's the critical context for Trump. His rhetoric on immigration and refugees may be deeply felt, but he's amplifying those concerns now for the same reason that he did in 2015 and 2016: electoral politics. The caravan is far from the border and winnowing in size, but Trump wants to talk about it because he understands the powerful fear that the idea of people headed to the border can engender. Trump's rhetoric hasn't been only about the danger of immigrants, of course. He has also insisted that the choice between the parties is "jobs" or "mobs" - with Democrats representing the latter in the form of angry protesters. (Some, remember, paid by Soros.) In an audio clip obtained by CNN, Trump, without offering any evidence, warned that a Republican loss in November could lead to violence by the left. A central question about the attempted bombings and the synagogue shooting is: Why now? Is it a coincidence that both of those acts happened at this moment? Or was the bomber, allegedly Sayoc, reacting in part to the assertion that Democrats were being violent? Was the synagogue shooter, allegedly Bowers, reacting to the increased urgency fomented by Trump and his allies about the risk of migrants coming to the United States? Let's say that both the attempted mail bombings and the synagogue shooting were carried out by people who held the precise opinions expressed by Sayoc and by that Gab account. Let's say, further, that the perpetrators of those acts were in fact mentally ill. Again, in the Truman Show Delusion, it's not suggested that the movie made people delusional, but that it gave people a new conduit for their existing delusions. If we extend that idea, one can and should note that mental illness played a role in the attacks but that the framework of the existing political rhetoric may have pointed toward particular targets. But we don't need that overlay of mental illness. The prevalence of this rhetoric means it serves as a framework for a lot of political discussion, not just at the extremes. So we have to note why that rhetoric exists: Because Trump and his allies think that concern about migrants and about Democratic violence will help them win elections, whether or not they think those concerns are valid. President Donald Trump and his Republican allies, having tried to stoke public fears of Central American migrants ahead of the midterm elections, are suddenly facing accusations that they helped foment a rising right-wing extremism that poses a far greater national security threat. Over the past few days, the killings of two African-Americans in a grocery store outside Louisville, a series of mail bombs targeting a dozen high-profile Democrats allegedly sent by a Trump supporter, and a mass shooting at a Pittsburgh synagogue have left the nation on edge. The common thread among them appears to be the targeting of specific groups based on race, religion or political persuasion. Trump has denounced the attacks and called for national unity. At a campaign rally in Illinois Saturday night, Trump said that "the scourge of anti-Semitism cannot be ignored, cannot be tolerated and cannot be allowed to continue." But his critics countered on Saturday that the president and the GOP, in a cynical pursuit of political power, have gone beyond partisan political combat into outright demagoguery of racial minorities, foreigners and prominent Jewish political figures. Jewish Democratic donor George Soros, for instance, has become a major focus of Republican attack ads ahead of the midterms, even after a bomb was found in his mailbox last week. Trump has accused Soros, without evidence, of paying for protesters at his rallies. Such rhetoric and actions have provided tacit approval to fringe elements who are considering violence, Trump's critics said. "The numerous statements he's made, calling himself a 'nationalist,' crowds at his rallies chanting threats against George Soros - it's all connected," said Cecilia Wang, deputy director of the American Civil Liberties Union. White House aides have rejected such accusations. Trump said the mail-bombing suspect - Cesar Sayoc, 56, of Florida - should be prosecuted and punished to the fullest extent of the law, and he called the mass shooting that left at least 11 dead in Pittsburgh a "wicked act of mass murder" by a man who police said made anti-Semitic statements. Since early in his 2016 campaign, when he denounced immigrants from Mexico as criminals and rapists, Trump has employed language that appeals to the nativist impulses of the electorate - to the point that he was endorsed by former Ku Klux Klan leader David Duke. In his closing ad during his presidential run, Trump warned darkly of a triumvirate of prominent Jews - Soros, Goldman Sachs CEO Lloyd Blankfein and Fed Chair Janet Yellen, and suggested his opponent, Democrat Hillary Clinton, was partnering with them in bad faith in a bid to control the global power structure. Last year, Trump drew far-reaching condemnation for suggesting, in the aftermath of a white supremacist rally in Charlottesville, Virginia, during which a counterprotester was killed, that there were "good people on both sides." This past summer, Trump repeated, in a tweet, a white nationalist conspiracy theory, which he appeared to have heard on Fox News, that white farmers were facing mass killings in South Africa. Chants of "lock her up" about Clinton and other prominent Democrats and "build the wall" to keep out immigrants have been a staple of his campaign rallies for years. In recent days, Trump has taken action against the caravan of Central American migrant families who are traveling by foot in Mexico hundreds of miles from the U.S. southern border. The Trump administration authorized sending 1,000 military troops to assist in border security operations, and the White House is weighing a plan to issue a blanket denial for asylum protections, based on national security concerns. The president has suggested, without offering evidence, that criminals and Middle Eastern terrorists are among the migrants. He and other Republicans, including Rep. Matt Gaetz, Fla., floated a conspiracy theory that Soros helped fund the caravan. House Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif., issued a tweet on Tuesday warning Republicans that they are under threat of losing in November because of financial support for Democrats from Soros, environmentalist Tom Steyer and New York businessman Michael Bloomberg, a former Republican who is now supporting Democrats. "We cannot allow Soros, Steyer and Bloomberg to BUY the election!" McCarthy wrote. "Get out and vote Republican November 6th! #MAGA." He deleted the tweet the following morning after authorities said Soros had been targeted in the mail bomb plot. A spokesman said on Wednesday that the tweet was aimed at highlighting the enormous financial influence of the men and did not condone violence. McCarthy's office declined further comment on Saturday. "For the Republican Party to deny their stoking of these kinds of sentiments is not believable," said Simon Rosenberg, the founder of NDN, a liberal think tank. Pointing to studies that have shown a rise of white supremacist-related deadly attacks in the United States, Rosenberg added: "We know that in the United States and Europe right now, there is a rise in right-wing nationalism and political parties are seeing the fuel of their rise be the fear of immigrants and people not like them - classic xenophobia. Trump is mimicking all of the same." McCarthy, who is in line to potentially replace House Speaker Paul Ryan, R-Wis., if Republicans maintain control after the midterms, denounced the "heinous" attack on Tree of Life synagogue on Saturday. He pledged to "keep fighting for a country where every religious believer can sit in safety under his own vine and fig tree." Ryan called the attacks anti-Semitic, an ideology he said must be eradicated, and he vowed that the nation "will not tolerate this bigotry." Yet Ryan's own Super PAC has been accused of airing campaign ads that have targeted Democrats in racially coded language, including one spot that shows doctored images of an African American candidate in Upstate New York rapping. Ryan's aides declined to comment for this story. "The president and leaders in Congress have an opportunity to change the conversation and save lives. They could expel from their base those who seek to win elections by fomenting outrage and fear with racist attacks on immigrants, or anti-Semitic 'globalist' conspiracy theories," said Sen. Chris Murphy, D-Conn., a prominent gun-control advocate. "They could demand their supporters cool down the rhetoric and stop demonizing and dehumanizing journalists or political opponents." Trump has shown no inclination of toning down the rhetoric. At rallies in the past few days, he has aimed his ire on the media, accusing reporters of unfair coverage and "negative attacks that only serve to drive people apart and to undermine healthy debate. Responding to reporters Friday, a day before the synagogue shooting, he said that, if anything, he should "tone it up," and he chose not to cancel a campaign rally in Illinois on Saturday despite the unfolding tragedy in Pittsburgh. Trump said he considered canceling the rally but then "remembered" that the New York Stock Exchange opened the day after 9/11. (That is false. The stock exchange remained closed for six days after the terrorist attacks.) Speaking to reporters earlier Saturday, Trump professed a level of surprise that something like the Pittsburgh shooting would happen in 2018. "You wouldn't think this would be possible in this day and age, but we just don't seem to learn from the past," he said. During a rally in Charlotte, North Carolina, rally on Friday, Trump devoted portions of his remarks to fanning fears over the migrant caravan and illegal immigration, warning without evidence that "the Democrat Party is openly encouraging millions of illegal aliens to break our laws, violate our borders, and bankrupt our country. . . . Democrats' extreme immigration policies will overwhelm your schools, your hospitals, and communities, and strain public resources to the breaking point." He also took delight as he appeared to allude obliquely to plans to issue an emergency executive order to deny asylum to the migrants. "Watch next week what's going to happen - just wait," Trump said, drawing applause. "It'll be exciting. It's going to be great." "This is the central premise of his presidency - to attack and smear immigrants and refugees," Wang said. "All the violence we see is the extreme and radical version of what he is implementing on a policy and legal front as president of the United States." Republican commentator Charlie Sykes, a regular Trump critic, suggested on Saturday that the president's focus is misguided. "So, America," he tweeted, "perhaps the greatest danger we face is not a caravan 1000 miles away. Maybe it's already here." - - - The Washington Post's Paul Kane contributed to this report. 7 hours ago 3 S&P Losers Turned Winners in 2022 Sometimes a bottom must be reached in order for growth to occur. Thats what a handful of S&P 500 companies are hoping as they look ahead to the new year. Its been another memorable record-setting year for the U.S. Read Article An eternal Halloween - A Buddhist view on evil In a childs world, the worst acts of man go largely unseen. But, all adults know that evil is a sad fact of life. We also know that it exists in all times and in all places. CultureAll-About-Buddhism By Jason Jellison Sunday 28 October 2018, 11:00AM Hear no evil, see no evil, speak no evil "If we turn our backs on it, we are ordinary people. If we harmonise with it, we are sages. Pei Xiu Damnable, depraved and downright disgraceful behaviour can be found gracing the pages of any newspaper, not just The Phuket News. In fact, the very notion of evil is something of an irony in and of itself. Evil has often been defined as a lack of human behaviour. Yet, evil is part and parcel of our human condition. If not for the heinous consequences, the entire affair would seem somewhat of an oxymoron. In fact, we often forget just how villainous we really are. Despite thousands of centuries of evolution, the average murder rate for human beings still tends to hover at about six per 100,000 and many of us know someone who has died at the hands of another. Human beings are very creative about how we kill each other. Sometimes we do it for reasons beyond our mere survival. We often kill for pleasure or for justice a notion that is often little more than pleasure cloaked in the garb and ornamentation of arbitrary laws or whims. All of this, of course, raises an interesting question. Its the old and familiar question that comes the way of every preacher of every faith: Why do people do evil things? (And, is there a way to fix it?). This is a question that has perplexed modern scientists a lot in recent years and even though todays amazing technologies have enabled a lot of progress, the medical proof of evil still tends to elude modern practitioners of psychology. Dissecting the brain of a serial killer does not just make for an interesting 19th century morgue scene in a Sherlock Holmes thriller, it is actually something that modern scientists are currently doing in many ways and what theyve found is not entirely convincing: Nothing. Time and time again, medical science has tried to locate evil behaviour or control it and time and time again, it always fails. Of course, ancient Buddhism was confronted by all of the evils that still haunt modern man. After reading through many ancient scrolls, novice Buddhist scholars and monks are often surprised to find that ancient Buddhism probably understood more about evil than modern science does. Nearly 1,000 years ago, there was a famous Korean monk named Bojo Chinul. While he was not Thai, many of his beliefs are consistent with Thai Buddhism and he spent most of his entire life seeking out the nature of evil. It is important to note that there was a Confucianist uprising after Chinuls death, so some of his scrolls were hidden away and subsequently lost. But, fortunately, were still finding some of them. The most recent one was discovered in 1941; tucked away in a museum in Yokohama, Japan. One of his early works was called The Condensation of the Exposition of the Avatamsaka Sutra. You dont need to remember that title and, yes, his work is often as complicated as it sounds but well keep it fairly simple. Bojo Chinul succeeded in identifying the origin of evil and even prescribed a remedy to wipe it out. So, for this Halloween, All About Buddhism is going to republish the core points of his work into modern terms that are easy to understand. He realised, as many of us already know, that men become more evil as life goes on. Genghis Khan, Adolph Hitler, Joseph Stalin and others like them became what they were over many years but, could they have been born that way? Bojo Chinul flatly says no. Much like Thai Buddhism, he did believe that the Karma of our previous life determined what body and general life we were born into today, but he also believed that our minds were entirely pure when we were born a period of mental activity that roughly translates to no-thought. He also recognised that both evil delusion and Buddhist Enlightenment arise from entirely the same place the human mind. Thus, evil behaviour is a result of years of unhealthy intake or, to put it more simply, a contaminated mind. But here, his archaic writings make an intriguing point. In modern times, we tend to think of education as bettering yourself, but Chinul argued exactly the opposite. He argued that the process of life (education), contaminates EVERYONES mind just in different ways. In modern times, our lack of ability to find any consistent physical stimuli for evil very much seems to substantiate his thesis. The cure, he argued, was to return to a state of no-thought, just as you were on the day that you first arrived in this world a time when nothing was good or evil, it just was. He explained that the path to get back to no-thought was a long one. Thai Buddhists do this through years of complicated, peaceful meditation. Our ultimate goal is to get to a completely free state of thought, or no-thought. But, this is not fast nor easy. It starts with a Sudden Awakening followed by years of gradual cultivation. In Thailand, this cultivation or practice is what separates a Novice Monk from an Enlightened Monk. Non-Buddhists can make use of this knowledge by understanding that all Buddhist teachings tend to illustrate that all behaviour, including evil and anger, is the product of what translates as Activated Consciousness. So, if you find yourself living in more than just a bad day living instead in an unhappy, eternal Halloween; you dont need to call the Ghostbusters. You just need to work at deactivating your normal sense of awareness. Thats probably the hardest step to take. There are a lot of easy steps, though, like eschewing the pursuit of profit and replacing it with pursuit of genuine faith. In addition, we have to be aware that our mind, if uncontrolled, is deeply dualistic: It accepts pleasure and rejects pain. Sinister evil thrives on taking perverse pleasure out of perverse pain. Buddhists shut down their dualistic thought process by empathising with anything that is suffering and non-Buddhists could take a page from that by extensively helping the less fortunate. Finally, our world is one of perceptual assumptions and 24-hour cable news. In an eternal Halloween, the trick is that we fall into perceptual assumptions like Im not good enough or man only does wicked things. The treat, however, is in remembering that, at all times, man is only one step away from Divinity. While Divinity might be one giant leap for mankind, it is but one small step for a man. So, ding-dong trick or treat? All About Buddhism is a monthly column in The Phuket News where I take readers on my exotic journey into Thai Buddhism and debunk a number of myths about Buddhism. If you have any specific queries, or ideas for articles, please let us know. Email editor1@classactmedia.co.th, and I will do my best to accommodate your interests. Chalong Hospital set to open next April PHUKET: The long-awaited opening of the Chalong Hospital is set for April, with plans to expand to include 150 inpatient beds within five years. healthconstruction By Tanyaluk Sakoot Sunday 28 October 2018, 11:00AM More than three years in the making, the long-awaited Chalong Hospital is slated to open in April next year. Photo: Tanyaluk Sakoot More than three years in the making, the long-awaited Chalong Hospital is slated to open in April next year. Photo: Tanyaluk Sakoot More than three years in the making, the long-awaited Chalong Hospital is slated to open in April next year. Photo: Tanyaluk Sakoot More than three years in the making, the long-awaited Chalong Hospital is slated to open in April next year. Photo: Tanyaluk Sakoot More than three years in the making, the long-awaited Chalong Hospital is slated to open in April next year. Photo: Tanyaluk Sakoot More than three years in the making, the long-awaited Chalong Hospital is slated to open in April next year. Photo: Tanyaluk Sakoot Dr Chuchart Nijwattana, who has been appointed Director of the still-under-construction Chalong Hospital, explained that the opening for the hospital being scheduled for April is unrelated to the ongoing construction of the Chalong Underpass, which is also planned to be completed by next April. (See story here.) Chalong Hospital will open in April next year in accordance with our plan to alleviate the pressure of major government hospitals being overload with patients. It has nothing to do with the underpass construction. We are moving head in accordance with our own plan, he said. The first priority is to have the Accident & Emergency Centre at the hospital fully operational, Dr Chuchart said. Next will be Outpatient Department, which will also open in April. Then the Inpatient Department with beds for 30 patients on the third floor will be added in June 2019, he added. In order to expedite the hospital opening to treat patients, the medical equipment needed will be added as each section of the hospital opens, Dr Chuchart explained. The obstacle is that we applied for the funds for the medical equipment under the budget for 2019, but we were not able to get approval for it, and so we must apply again under the budget for 2020, he said. We dont have a direct budget of our own yet. Currently all efforts for the Chalong Hospital are coming via support from Vachira Phuket Hospital*, he added. In addition to the medical equipment, we will need a staff of 85, who will be ready and working in each section in the hospital by October 2019, Dr Chuchart said. Further, our plan is to expand the hospital to have 150 inpatient beds within five years, he noted. Dr Chuchart rated the opening of the Chalong Hopsital as vital for people in the southern end of the island needing medical treatment. Especially patients from accidents, he said. Meanwhile, the opening of Chalong Hospital come April will help alleviate the workload on staff at Vachira Hospital in Phuket Town, which earlier this year started refusing admitting non-critical patients unless they have been referred by a medical specialist due to a bed shortage. In response to the policy change, Dr Chuchart told The Phuket News in August that the Chalong Health Centre should be the first port of call for people living in the Chalong area until the adjacent Chalong Hospital is completed early next year. (See story here.) * Vachira Phuket Hospital, in Phuket Town, is the largest government hospital on the island. Officials deny irregularities in artificial coral reef project PHUKET: The Phuket office of the Department of Public Works and Town & Country Planning (DPT) has denied any wrongdoing in the multi-million-baht project to create artificial reefs around Phuket amid a court case that officials are hesitant to explain. tourismmilitaryenvironmentnatural-resourcesmarine By The Phuket News Sunday 28 October 2018, 04:15PM While video recordings of the artificial reef blocks being deployed by at least one party have been banned by court order, the Phuket office of the Public Relations Department released this image to be used in announcing the news. Photo: PR Dept In a statement issued via the Phuket office of the Public Relations Department on Friday (Oct 26), the DPT Phuket office revealed that no videos or other materials documenting the deployment are to be posted online or published elsewhere following an order by the Phuket Provincial Court. The statement recognised that the centre of controversy stemmed from claims posted on social media and noted that the order was in relation to Black Case No. 1306/2018 being heard at the Phuket Provincial Court, dated October 22, 2018. The statement noted that the court has prohibited the defendant from posting an online video, or sharing in Facebook or other media, until the court orders otherwise. However, no other details about the case were given, including what claims were made or why materials showing the deployment of the artificial reefs around Phuket were no longer allowed to be published or published by who. Instead, the statement gave a detailed history of the project according to DPT Phuket office under the title Phuket clarifies the facts of the running the artificial reef construction project to restore the ecosystem for tourism. According to the information presented through social media about the implementation of the coral reefs project to previde relief and revitalise the ecosystems for tourism, that content indicates that the implementation of the project is not conducted properly in accordance with the rules of the project before the application, the statement read. This led to the government being damaged, the statement added. FUNDING DPT Phuket that the artifical reefs project was initially funded in 2009 through the Phuket Provincial Administration Organisation (PPAO, or OrBorJor) as the operator of the project in conjunction with the Department of Marine and Coastal Resources (DMCR). The initial project was rolled out in three stages: - Fiscal Year 2009 (Oct 1, 2008-Sept 30, 2009): 1,310 artificial reef blocks placed at Sirinat National Park; - Fiscal Year 2010 (Oct 1, 2009-Sept 30, 2010): 1,630 blocks placed at Bang Tao Beach and Kamala Beach; and - Fiscal year 2011 (Oct 1, 2010-Sept 30, 2011):: 2,000 blocks placed at Kata Beach and Karon Beach. The project stopped Fiscal Year 2012 to 2015 (Oct 1, 2011-Sept 30, 2015) due to no budget approval, but was re-introduced in Fiscal Year 2016 (Oct 1, 2015, Sept 30, 2016) under Chokchai Dejamorntham, the governor of Phuket at that time. Gov Chockchai commanded the DPT Phuket to install artificial reefs to restore eco-tourism, the statement noted. The project is consistent and responsive to the national strategy for the restoration of marine natural resources and the Department of Marine and Coastal Resources was responsible for determining the location of the where the artificial reefs were to be created, the DPT statement said. The project used the standard artificial coral blocks from the Department of Marine and Coastal Resources, which are 1.5 meters wide, 1.5 meters long, 1.5 meters high, it added. The blocks had a correct central price (agreed price via e-bidding process) and the procurement was done in accordance with the government regulations in all respects, the DPT assured in the statement. ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT The DPT explained that the project did not requirte an Environment Impact Assessment (EIA), as it was one of 36 types of projects that do not require an EIA under Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment (MNRE) regulations. The DPT also argued in its statement that an EIA was not required under MNRE regulations for "the construction or expansion of the site or in the sea under Article 25.1, which specifically relates to sand traps, sand bars and waves to protect against tides, or under Article 25.2, which reuires an EIA be conducted for all forms of sea walls or barriers. And so the project could start immediately It was not a project that required by law to be have EIA conducted, the statement concluded. LATEST INSTALLMENT THE DPT explained that the current project to install artificial reef blocks is supported by government budget totoalling about B80 million, approved by the provincial development plan and group provincial development plan. The budget was approved by the National Legislative Assembly on January 27, 2017 for the Andaman provinces group. The project was offered throug the e-bidding process, with Pattani Mahaphan Construction Partnership selected as lowest bidder, offering to complete the project for B63,890,342. Thus, the Department of Public Works and Town & Country Planning Phuket office hired Pattani Mahaphant Construction Partnership as a contractor for the artificial reefs project to rehabilitate ecosystems for tourism, the statement explained. The agreement was signed on January 1, 2018. The agreement expires on January 26, 2019, it added. The DMCR was again involved in the project, to help draft the scope and details of the work, and to formally seek permission from the Phuket Fishery Office and the Royal Thai Navy Third Area Command, based at Cape Panwa, in order to proceed with the work. Placement of the artificial reef platforms has been in accordance with the opinion of the people, whose feredback was gained through the public relations program and public hearings to hear the opinions of the public living in the area, the stament noted. The Department of Marine and Coastal Resources pre-defined each area and provided the public with a clear coordinated position (of where the artificial reefs are to be installed) in order to contribute to the work and maintenance of artificial reefs in future projects, it added. As well, the contractor must prepare a videotape in the process of placement within the sea, both on board the ship and under the sea, the statement admitted. However, that video evidence, or independent video recordings of the artificial reef blocks being deployed, have been banned by the court. Phuket Opinion: Avoiding the tourism meltdown PHUKET: The announcement this week that GoAir will provide direct flights from 10 major cities in India to Phuket by the end of next year is move that may well change the face of Phukets tourism industry. tourismeconomicsenvironmentnatural-resourcesmarinepollutionopinion By The Phuket News Sunday 28 October 2018, 09:00AM Indian tourists arrive at Phuket International Airport via GoAirs inaugural flight to Phuket on Oct 11. Photo: PR Dept The number of Indian tourists coming to Thailand has been on the rise over the past few years, and this year weighs in as the fifth largest source market for tourists, with 919,130 arrivals from from Jan 1 to Sept 30 this year compared with 811,644 for the same period last year, a growth of 13.24%. That is a far cry from the 6.8 million visitors from China during the same period, up 21.44% year-on-year and still behind Korea, Malaysia and Laos, but Indian arrivals so far this year already outnumber those from Japan (908,059, +5.62% y-o-y) and from Russia (900,712), and are more than double those from Australia (463,164, -1.82%). Yet, as Phuket hoteliers have long reported, the Indians who come to Phuket tend to travel in self-organised groups, and they spend a much welcome factor. However, the postulation by Royal Phuket Marina Chairman Gulu Lalvani that he would not be surprised if tourist arrivals from India to Phuket outnumber Chinese tourists within three years brings a word of caution. Despite the prediction given, the number of Indian arrivals has a long way to go to surpass the Chinese and even if it does have the potential, does Phuket really want that number of new tourists from anywhere considering the stress on the environment major tourism sites are already under? A cursory glance would indicate that Phuket might not even be able to environmentally support that volume of tourism. Worse, with the focus remaining solely on tourism, very little has been done to support development in any other sectors on the island. Phuket is long past agriculture as a mainstay, the fishing and other primary sectors are driven by migrant labour, and the appalling state of the islands infrastructure has rightfully failed to lure any other major investors in service industries. We cant blame investors for not coming. The state of the roads, the poor drainage including the lack of major sewerage systems in high density areas, not to mention the ongoing scheduled electricity blackouts and water shut-offs while workers carry out maintenance or upgrade the existing networks is enough to deter anyone who wants a reliable, functioning operation. The country can get by with Phuket as a tourism only province, but Phuket cant if anything goes horribly wrong. Short of natural disasters, the greatest threat Phuket faces is a tourism meltdown. To that, any moves that help Phuket add at least a second string to its bow are most welcome. Road racers charged with affray, with knives PHUKET: The motorbike riders who ran a red light and slammed into a pickup truck yesterday afternoon have been charged with reckless driving and affray. crimeviolencepolice By Eakkapop Thongtub Sunday 28 October 2018, 11:31AM The pickup truck was hit by both motorbikes as they sped through the red light at the intersection. Photo: Eakkapop Thongtub A police recover one of the knives at the scene. Photo: Eakkapop Thongtub A police recover one of the knives at the scene. Photo: Eakkapop Thongtub A police recover one of the knives at the scene. Photo: Eakkapop Thongtub One of the motorbikes in the incident. Photo: Thalang Police One of the motorbikes in the incident. Photo: Thalang Police The incident occurred at 3:30pm yesterday (Oct 27), when the two motorbikes sped through the Khao Lan intersection on Thepkrasattri Rd in Thalang and slammed into a pickup truck. (See story here.) Despite initial reports, Capt Ekkasak Koanwan of the Thalang Police confirmed that no shooting took place and no guns were involved in the incident. Instead, it the culprits were brandishing knives, he noted. Capt Ekkasak said he arrived at the scene yesterday to find the pickup truck with impact damage to its left side. On the ground beside it was a Phuket-registered blue Honda Wave motorbike with its rider, Surasak Inlaphat, 19, and his passenger Kratisada Philasook, 16, on the ground. Nearby was a black GPX motorbike with one of the shock absorbers puncturing the petrol tank. Its rider, Nattakit Chuaikhaeng, 20, had suffered a broken leg and was soon taken to Phuket Provincial Hospital by Srisoonthorn rescue workers. The driver of the pickup, Suwaree Chaiwet, 58, said he was driving from the Heroines Monument and had stopped at intersection to turn right, Capt Ekkachai said. When the light turned green he proceeded, but the two motorbikes raced through their red light and hit the the pickup and the two motorbike riders started threatening each other with knives, he added. Both Nattakit and Surasak have now been charged with reckless driving, and all three have been charged with fighting in public, Capt Ekkasak confirmed. Capt Ekkasak noted that the altercation flared up after one of the three men misunderstood how one of the others had looked at him. EDMONTONAlbertas finance minister accuses the federal government of negotiating in bad faith as numerous parties try to hammer out a funding arrangement for a proposed 2026 Olympic Winter Games in Calgary. Joe Ceci responded on Saturday to a late Friday statement from a spokeswoman for Sport Minister Kirsty Duncan, which said Ottawa would contribute up to $1.75 billion to support core costs for the event if the Calgary 2026 bid is successful. The statement said Ottawa would match the combined provincial and municipal investments, and the $1.75 billion figure would be based on 2026 dollars. Ceci told reporters at the NDP convention in Edmonton that the provinces pledge of $700 million for the Olympics was based on a federal commitment of $1.75 billion in 2018 dollars, and followed weeks of negotiations with Ottawa and Calgary. He says the commitment wasnt contingent on a 50-50 matching arrangement. Read more: IOC rules out more money for 2026 Olympics in Calgary Calgary one of three cities remaining in bid race to host 2026 Winter Olympics Ceci says his governments $700 million figure is firm because Alberta has other important priorities like hospitals, schools and roads. Yesterday, we found out through the media that the federal government is moving the goalpost in the fourth quarter and negotiating through the media, Ceci said. If they put the goalposts back, were happy to keep talking, but were not going to engage in these kind of bad-faith tactics. Calgary Mayor Naheed Nenshi also appeared to have been caught off guard by the federal governments announcement. We were surprised to see this number reported for a proposed federal contribution to a potential Calgary 2026 Olympics, as negotiations are still underway, Nenshi said in an emailed statement. The city has said it wouldnt declare its share until the Canadian government made its number known. Calgarians will be asked to vote in a plebiscite Nov. 13 on whether they want the games a second time after hosting the 1988 Winter Olympics with Canmore, Alta. The International Olympic Committee has invited Calgary, Stockholm and a joint Italian bid from Milan and Cortina dAmpezzo to be candidates for 2026. The IOC will accept bids in January, followed by the election of the host city in June. Ottawa had earlier said it wouldnt provide more than $1.5 billion under a policy for hosting international sport events, and the statement Friday noted the commitment to match the combined provincial and municipal dollars was in compliance with the hosting policy. The Calgary 2026 bid corporation estimates it would cost $5.2 billion to host the Olympics. The city, province and Canadian government have been asked for a combined public investment of $3 billion. The IOCs executive director of Olympic Games, Christophe Dubi, said Wednesday the organization has committed $925 million US dollars if Calgary wins the bid, which he said equates to $1.2 billion at the current exchange rate. Read more about: CALGARYAs the international Jewish community mourns the massacre at a Pittsburgh synagogue over the weekend, organizations in Alberta say security is top of mind. The Jewish Federation of Edmonton said it has been assured by local and national police services that there isnt an increased security risk for their Jewish community, but said it needs to remain vigilant following the attack. As a result of todays tragedy, the Edmonton Police Services reaction has been immediate, unambiguous and proactive, read a statement from Steven Shafir, president of the Jewish Federation of Edmonton, posted to Facebook on Saturday. They have increased police monitoring and their patrols around Jewish institutions. The Calgary Jewish Federation also said in its own statement that it was grateful for a response from Calgary and Canadian law enforcement that has been quick and unambiguous. Jared Shore, chair of the Calgary Jewish Federations community relations committee, said security measures have been increased as a result of the attack. We know that law enforcement has directed some increased patrols around our institutions and were grateful for it, he said in an interview on Sunday. Theres no reason to think that theres any specific threat here right now, but certainly our communications with law enforcement have long been very positive and theyre very responsive to our concerns at this time. The suspect allegedly opened fire with an AR-15-style assault rifle and at least three handguns inside The Tree of Life Congregation, a synagogue in the Jewish Pittsburgh neighbourhood of Squirrel Hill. He also reportedly shouted anti-Semitic slurs as he did so. Eleven congregants were killed during the attack, U.S. law enforcement officials told reporters, while six other people including four police officers were wounded. One of the ceremonies taking place inside the synagogue at the time was a bris, a ceremony to mark the birth of a child. U.S. law enforcement officials said no children were among the casualties. Despite exchanging gunfire with police, the suspect was taken into custody wounded, but alive. At least one of those killed during the attack had a connection to Canada. Joyce Fienberg, 75, lived in the Oakland neighbourhood of Pittsburgh, according to The Associated Press. But she grew up and was married at the Holy Blossom Temple in Toronto. Senior Rabbi Yael Splansky wrote on her Facebook page that her confirmation class photo still hangs on the wall. The mornings service was full, she wrote on Sunday. The sound of Jews at prayer buoyed me. The faces of these good people strengthened my faith in the future. Even the drilling in the background was music to my ears, because synagogue construction is the perfect response to yesterdays news. U.S. authorities charged Robert D. Bowers, 46, with 29 criminal counts, including using a firearm to commit murder and obstructing the free exercise of religious beliefs known colloquially as a hate crime. In Canada, anti-Semitism continues to be among the most common forms of hatred reported to police. A Statistics Canada report for 2016 suggests that of 460 instances motivated by religion, nearly half 221 were directed at Jewish people. Unfortunately, its something were used to. We remind our community to always be vigilant, but our community is resilient and, unfortunately, educated in this kind of scenario, Shore said. The Jewish community in Canada has worked closely with police forces of all levels for decades, said Bernie Farber, chair of the Canadian Anti-Hate Network. As a past CEO of the Canadian Jewish Congress, he helped organize security arrangements for Jewish institutions across the country. These include not only synagogues, but also Jewish day schools, cemeteries, and community centres. In recent years, he said, theres been a significant increase in anti-Semitism right across the country, particularly in Ontario and Quebec. Had the Pittsburgh shooter lived in Canada, Farber said, he likely wouldnt have been able to get his hands on rifles or handguns as easily. But he said Canada has seen similarly lethal hate attacks before, namely the mass murder of six Muslim congregants at a Quebec City mosque in January 2017. We here in Canada are not immune to this kind of hatred, he said. He noted an incident where Ontario premier Doug Ford posed for a picture with Faith Goldy, a fringe candidate for Torontos recent mayoral race known for her endorsement of white supremacist and anti-Semitic views, at the Ford familys annual public barbecue last summer. Once a contributor to far-right Canadian website The Rebel, Goldy was fired last year after she went to Charlottesville, Va., to cover the United the Right rally. She ended up appearing on a podcast affiliated with The Daily Stormer, a neo-Nazi website. Ford has since denounced hate speech from anyone including Faith Goldy but he did not specifically denounce her. Those kinds of things engage and embolden hate-mongers, Farber said. And we have to encourage our leaders not just to step away from hate-mongers, but to denounce them with ferocity. A variety of organizations across Canada shared their shock and support for the Jewish community in the hours and days following the attack, from police chiefs to the Coalition of Canadian Muslim Organizations. At the NDPs convention in Edmonton on Sunday, Premier Rachel Notley acknowledged the massacre. To Albertas Jewish community, I say this: Albertas government stands with you, Notley said. Anti-Semitism is a dark reality that must be confronted directly. It has no place in a civil society. In Calgary, Mayor Naheed Nenshi said he was horrified by the news. While there is no specific threat to Calgary, we all feel the acute pain of people targeted because of their faith, at prayer, he wrote on Twitter. Our live is with all our Jewish friends and neighbours today and every day. And in Edmonton, Mayor Don Iveson also offered his support for the citys Jewish community and all those who abhor hatred and violence, he said in a post on Twitter. The Calgary Jewish Federation said it was grateful for the support it had received from all three levels of government, as well as other ethnic and religious communities in the city. Though thousands of miles away, we stand shoulder to shoulder with our brothers and sisters at The Tree of Life Congregation, in both sadness and resolve said the Calgary Jewish Federations statement. Our community will remain strong in the face of such hateful acts. With files from Kieran Leavitt, Kristin Rushowy, and The New York Times Brennan Doherty is a work and wealth reporter with StarMetro Calgary. Follow him on Twitter: @bren_doherty Read more about: EDMONTONNDP delegates from across the province gathered again in Edmonton Saturday to vote on some major party policy resolutions and set a path forward as the province gets ready for a contentious 2019 election. On the second day of the convention, the resolutions were wide reaching, covering big-ticket issues like education, health care, Assured Income for the Severely Handicapped (AISH) and the environment. While the resolutions were drawn up with an eye on the partys future, a tribute was paid to a big part of its past, with a farewell to NDP MLA Brian Mason. Rachel Notley took the stage to thank Mason for his public service. Mason is leaving provincial politics and not running in the 2019 election. He leaves behind an expansive political career that began in the 80s when he was a bus driver before being elected to Edmonton city council. In 2000, he moved to provincial politics and was a longtime MLA in Edmonton, also leading the New Democrats from 2004 to 2014 before Notley took over. Notley called Mason a titan and a leader on Saturday before a video of interviews with colleagues and family members of Mason was shown to the cheering crowd. She praised his wit, his ability to boil down complex issues and his headline-grabbing ability. However, Its his incredible intellect, his strategic, his sophisticated and his people-centric approach to politics that has earned him the respect and the admiration of each and every person that sits in that legislature, Notley said. The crowd of about 1,200 was energized by the tribute paid to him. Mason took the stage and pulled no punches in rallying the party for its battle against the United Conservative Party widely recognized as the strongest challenger to Notleys NDP in 2019. After walking out to Raise a Little Hell by Canadian rock band Trooper, Mason said the next election will be a tough one. He said Jason Kenney, leader of the UCP, wants austerity and cuts. He wont blink, said Mason. Have we seen this movie before? Well, its a horror movie, and we dont want to see it again. He harked back to the Progressive Conservative government under Ralph Klein and called the prospect of the UCP taking over Alberta a horror movie titled Ralph Klein, the sequel. He held up climate change, affordable housing, protection in the workplace and child care as issues the NDP government has made progress on. And the party made clear with its resolutions that it wasnt stopping in its progressive mission. After the tribute to Mason, delegates were able to vote on, and pass, 10 of 92 resolutions drawn up for the convention. Read more: Alberta NDP calls for investigation into third-party advertisers support of UCP Alberta to pull out of national climate plan, Premier Rachel Notley vows Delegates voted in favour of a resolution to party policy that asked for expansion to medicare. It asked the province to work with the federal government to expand pharmacare to a single-player national program. The motion also sought to ensure all Canadians have access to dental and optical care. Other big resolutions passed were: an increase to AISH, modernizing the K through Grade 12 curricula specifically stating that the government should stand up to right-wing special interest attacks on curriculum reform expanding access to affordable child care and fighting to end racism against Indigenous Peoples. They also passed a resolution on Gay-Straight Alliances, an issue that has divided the UCP and NDP, and voters on the left and right of the political spectrum. The resolution sought to enforce support for the school groups that seek to ally straight and gay students. It also looked to defend the principles espoused by Bill 24 against any court challenge brought by special-interest groups. Bill 24 strengthened legislation around the school groups making it so schools couldnt tell parents if their children were in a GSA. Bill 24 was opposed by Kenney and the UCP. Ricardo Miranda, NDP MLA for Calgary-Cross and one of the first openly LGBTQ politicians elected to the provincial government, took to the floor in support of the resolution. I ask all of you to support this resolution because it saves lives, he said. The resolution passed unanimously. The convention continues on Sunday with delegates tackling the long list of resolutions remaining. There are 82 left to be voted on. Read more about: HALIFAX Meg Ferguson loves her job, but she isnt quite sure why anyone else would choose to do it at least, not right now. Her passion shows on her face when she walks into the band room at Auburn Drive High School a room with music stands in semicircular rows, acoustic panelling on the walls, and Fergusons desk tucked into a corner. Shes one of about 10,000 public school teachers in Nova Scotia whose profession has recently been under heightened scrutiny. Theyve had a tense relationship with the province since an unprecedented strike in 2016-17, followed by educational reform adopted earlier this year the governments response to lagging test scores. But Ferguson has been at the front of a classroom since well before that. Shes been teaching music in and around Halifax for 23 years, and if her zeal has declined over those two decades, she must have started with a lot of it. I'm usually here at 7:00, band rehearsals start at 8:00, they're done at 9:00, school starts at 9:25, she said, describing a typical day. Lunchtime is usually a bunch of kids in the music room either for extra help or just jamming or playing or hanging out here having their lunch. Lessons continue in the afternoon (shes teaching Sociology and English this year, in addition to music classes), and after the bell she stays for more rehearsals, marking, and preparing for the next day. I usually make myself leave at 7:00 'cause I feel like I need to cap the 12 hours, and then sometimes I take stuff home, she said. Ferguson said shes always put in a lot of hours and the time commitment alone does not necessarily bother her, but the demands of the job have changed in recent years and she worries about teachers being able to keep pace. We're much more aware of the students' needs ... We know better now that the child isn't misbehaving because they're a jerk, it's because they're bored or they have attention problems or they have special needs and they don't understand what's happening, she said. So all of that takes more time to prepare for and do research I need more time to try to figure out how to meet those needs. Ferguson said that the era of chalk and talk the teaching style wherein the teacher writes on a chalkboard, students take notes, and then the class talks about the notes is ending. Its a one-size-fits-all approach, and the new educational philosophy favours more individualized attention. Nova Scotias Department of Education is in the first stages of a five-year plan to implement an inclusive education model that addresses that change. Education Minister Zach Churchill introduced the plan earlier this year, promising to hire more specialized teachers and more support staff. The first phase had a goal of filling 191 positions for the start of the school year; the department hired 190 new staff by the start of October. For some families, the inclusive model has been too little too late, and theyve moved their kids to private school rather than wait for changes to take effect. Ferguson said shes on board with the aims of inclusive education. She recently reworked a chalk and talk lesson into an interactive one, creating a faux archeological dig for her Sociology students. That took her three days in the summer to organize it isnt something she can do for every lesson. She said she gladly leans on the support of resource teachers (who are trained to handle special learning needs) to help with individualized lesson plans, but there are only two at Auburn Drive. The school has close to 50 teachers and about 800 students; those two resource teachers arent always readily available. Paul Wozney, Nova Scotia Teachers Union (NSTU) president, said he expects most teachers across the province are feeling similar pressures. "In terms of impacts that you probably are feeling as a teacher regardless of what you teach in Nova Scotia: workload, the complexity of student needs, the relative lack of resources to support diverse student needs, he said in an interview. Nova Scotia teachers are promised about 10 per cent of their time for marking and preparation, according to their contract, which Wozney said is not enough considering the changing demands. There's no violation of any contract, that's not what the issue is. But you know instead of working to provide people more than the minimum, it's become a race to the bottom. For both Ferguson and Wozney, the classroom challenges that teachers have been recently facing have one particularly glaring consequence: theyre deterring people from the profession. I can't imagine how (young people) would be inspired to be a teacher, become a teacher, let alone stay and teach in this province. And it's sad because it's such an amazing profession, said Ferguson. Wozney said he has real concerns about a teacher shortage. There are new challenges in the classroom, and he worries that the public perception of teachers has suffered ever since the strike two years ago. Students don't want to be teachers in Nova Scotia anymore, he said. Really teachers have been thrown under the bus time and again by this current government and that really is having an impact on young people making decisions about what they want to do with their lives." Enrolment in Bachelor of Education programs doesnt seem to be suffering. Spokespersons from Mount Saint Vincent University and Acadia University both said that enrolment has been on the rise for the past five years, with Acadia reaching capacity for the past two. Still, as students graduate from those programs, theyll be entering the profession at a tumultuous time, according to Wozney. Education Minister Zach Churchill doesnt see the same problem. We've actually hired over 1,300 new positions since 2013 and we have never once had an issue filling those positions, he said in a September interview. That tells me that despite whatever moments of tension can exist between the teachers union and the government and whatever feelings that come to the forefront during those moments of tension that we know are there, I think people know that teaching is a meaningful line of work. Its been a meaningful line of work for Ferguson, and continues to be, but that isnt always enough. I have considered not teaching ... which would break my heart because I love it. Education, which is always at the forefront of public debate in Nova Scotia, has been discussed with added fervour this year following major reforms by the provincial government. This month, StarMetro has looked at some of the new and recurring concerns with the system. Catch up with part 1, part 2, part 3, and part 4. Read more about: PUGWASH, N.S.A Nova Scotia man is facing a slew of charges after allegedly pointing a gun and shooting at a man in the small community of Middleboro, southeast of Pugwash. According to RCMP spokeswoman Jennifer Clarke, a deer hunter in the area heard a popping sound at around 5:30 p.m. Saturday, and when he looked in the direction of the noise he saw a man pointing a handgun and firing shots at him before driving away. Clarke says the hunter did not realize he was on private property at the time the shots were fired at him. The hunter, who was not injured, called 911 and described the truck to police, who later made contact with the suspect by phone. Police say the accused was arrested without incident. While searching his home, police found multiple firearms and ammunition, some of which Clarke says were not properly stored. The 52-year-old man from Wallace will appear in Amherst Provincial Court on Dec. 17 to face charges that include discharging a firearm while being reckless and four counts of careless use of a firearm. Read more about: QUEBECPressure is mounting on Quebecs newly elected premier to attend an upcoming United Nations climate conference to ensure the province stays on the forefront of the global movement pushing for change. Following the Parti Quebecois and Quebec solitaire, the official Opposition Liberals as well as the environmental group Greenpeace have now added their voices to those calling on Francois Legault and his new environment minister, MarieChantal Chasse, to attend the COP24 climate summit taking place from Dec. 3 to 13 in Poland. Legault has thus far been reluctant to commit to attending the summit, even though previous premiers have attended similar meetings. He told the media in a news conference in Quebec City 10 days ago that his agenda is very busy. While the federal government will be responsible for signing any agreements at the summit, the provinces will be responsible for implementing the measures to meet greenhouse gas emission targets. In an interview, the Liberal partys interim leader called on the premier to show his commitment to addressing climate issues by heading up a Quebec delegation comprised of representatives from all political parties as well as civil society and business. Read more: U.S. Exxon lawsuit takes aim at Alberta oilsands over climate risks Conservatives attack carbon price for big polluters as separate deal for special interests B.C. man to spend three days inside Earth in a jar for climate change science Francois Legault needs to show the world that Quebec is serious and that he wants to continue the leadership that weve shown over the past years, Pierre Arcand told The Canadian Press. Arcand said Legaults participation is doubly necessary given what he called the United States indifference to climate issues. At least two of Legaults predecessors, Philippe Couillard and Jean Charest, attended previous climate summits. Greenpeace spokesman Patrick Bonin, for his part, said Quebec has a major role to play in a conference that is addressing urgent issues. Its practically an obligatory passage for a new government that has to work doubly hard because it has come empty-handed to the election campaign on the issue of climate change, Bonin said in an interview. It has a lot of catching up to do at a time when the challenge has never been so big. Bonin said its in the new Coalition Avenir Quebec governments interest to attend, in order to take better advantage of emerging green economies and give the new environment minister a crash course in climate issues. Contacted Friday, Chasses office said the final decision on attendance had not yet been made. On the federal side, Environment Minister Catherine McKenna has said she will attend. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has not yet confirmed his presence. The UN Conference on Climate Change opens at a busy time for the Legault government. The legislature gets underway on Nov. 27 and in principle should be in session until Dec. 7, during which time the new government is expected to present its first bills since winning Octobers election. Read more about: In response to the Pittsburgh synagogue shooting on Saturday, those living in the Greater Toronto Area can expect an increase in police visibility around places of worship, York Regional police said. After a man allegedly shouting anti-Semitic slurs opened fire inside the Tree of Life Congregation in east Pittsburgh, killing 11 people and wounding six, Toronto authorities are taking extra precautions. Law enforcement across Canada will also be increasing patrols in Jewish communities and around Jewish community institutions. Better safe than sorry, said York Regional police duty inspector, Staff Sgt. Andrew Graham. As a result of the events we are increasing our police presence, visibility in all places of worship for the foreseeable future. We have no information that there is any type of threat of any kind, this is a total proactive measure. Graham said the increase wont be limited to just synagogues. York Regional police added they will not be increasing the number of officers on street patrols. Read more: Eleven killed in horrific mass shooting at Pittsburgh synagogue; suspect in custody Trump condemns Pittsburgh synagogue attack as pure evil, says gun control has little to do with it Prime Minister condemns anti-Semitism, offers sympathy following mass shooting at Pittsburgh synagogue While Toronto police said they do not disclose specifics of their security plans, police chief Mark Saunders tweeted that Toronto police have made adjustments to local security following the Pittsburgh shooting. Safety is our No. 1 priority, said Toronto police spokesperson Gary Long. Within the Jewish community, there is a growing advocacy for vigilance and resilience. We remain deeply concerned about the rise of violent anti-Semitism around the globe. The worlds oldest hatred is a scourge and should be of deep concern to all law abiding citizens, Martin Sampson, vice-president communications at the Centre for Israel and Jewish Affairs wrote in a press release to the Star. This event is an horrific tragedy. We encourage our community to ensure they are following the established protocols, and if they see something suspicious, they should contact police immediately. While police say there is no information to indicate any increased security threats to the Jewish community in Canada, a 2016 report by Statistics Canada pointed to the Jewish community as the most targeted religious minority in the country. According to the report, police-reported crimes motivated by hate against the Jewish population rose from 178 incidents in 2015 to 221 incidents in 2016 an alarming increase of 24 per cent. In contrast, the number of crimes targeting the Catholic population fell from 55 to 27 incidents. Similarly, crimes targeting the Muslim population decreased 13 per cent, from 159 incidents in 2015 to 139 incidents in 2016. Based on data from police services that reported characteristics of hate crimes, 43 per cent of police-reported hate crimes in 2016 were violent offences that included assault, uttering threats and criminal harassment. A man in his 20s has been rushed to hospital with life-threatening injuries after an overnight stabbing in Little Italy. Police arrived at College St. and Montrose Ave. at 2:50 a.m., where they found a male victim who had been stabbed. Paramedics say he is in his 20s, and was transported in life-threatening condition. I think he was in pretty bad shape, said Const. David Hopkinson. No suspect information has been released at this time. Police are asking anyone who may have witnessed the incident to come forward. Torontos Hospital for Sick Children and other North American paediatric centres have seen a spike of young patients with polio-like muscle weakness following a viral illness. A childs risk of being diagnosed with acute flaccid myelitis, better known as AFM, is only estimated at one in a million, but health officials caution parents to be vigilant in watching for the symptoms. Its a kind of the acute flaccid paralysis and the weakness comes from inflammation of the spinal cord which sends messages to and from the brain. The long-term effects of AFM are unknown, but some patients will continue to experience muscle weakness and require ongoing care, the Public Health Agency of Canada warned. Doctors arent sure of its causes and there is no vaccine available. According to Sickkids, AFM affects patients under the age of 15 and symptoms include paralysis or weakness of a leg or arm, usually on one side of the body, which typically happens after a viral illness. In 2014, there was a somewhat similar cluster of 25 patients across Canada, who presented with AFM symptoms in the fall, the hospital said in a news release, adding that this years cases, however, dont appear to be closely linked to the same enterovirus, D68. The Public Health Agency said since Jan. 1, there have been a total of 33 cases reported in Canada, including 18 confirmed cases and 15 that are still being investigated. Media reports suggested three of those cases were reported at the London Health Sciences Centres Childrens Hospital in Ontario in September. South of the border, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said authorities have received 62 confirmed cases in 22 states so far this year while 93 other cases are still under investigation. In 2017, the U.S. only had 33 confirmed cases. The Canadian Paediatric Society said parents should seek immediate medical attention if their child has sudden weakness in the arms, legs or face, particularly following cold or flu-like symptoms of an upper respiratory infection or other viral illness. It recommends parents ensure their children are up to date on all vaccinations, wash their hands frequently and stay at home if they show signs of illness. Correction Oct. 29, 2018: This article was edited from a previous version that incorrectly attributed the number of cases of acute flaccid myelitis since Jan. 1 to Health Canada. In fact, the number was from the Public Health Agency of Canada. ARUA, UGANDAU.S. President Donald Trump is vowing to send the military to stop migrants trudging from Central America. Europes leaders are paying African nations to block migrants from crossing the Mediterranean and detaining the ones who make it in filthy, overcrowded camps. But Solomon Osakan has a very different approach in this era of rising xenophobia. From his uncluttered desk in northwest Uganda, he manages one of the largest concentrations of refugees anywhere in the world: more than 400,000 people scattered across his rural district. He explained what he does with them: Refugees are allotted some land enough to build a little house, do a little farming and be self-sufficient, said Osakan, a Ugandan civil servant. Here, he added, the refugees live in settlements, not camps with no barbed wire, and no guards in sight. You are free, and you can come and go as you want, Osakan added. As many nations are securing their borders and turning refugees away, Uganda keeps welcoming them. And they keep coming, fleeing catastrophes from across this part of Africa. In all, Uganda has as many as 1.25 million refugees on its soil, perhaps more, making it one of the most welcoming countries in the world, according to the United Nations. Read more: Trump considering closing southern border to migrants, asylum-seekers Mexicans shower the caravan with kindness and tarps, tortillas and medicine And while Ugandas government has made hosting refugees a core national policy, it works only because of the willingness of rural Ugandans to accept an influx of foreigners on their land and shoulder a big part of the burden. Uganda is not doing this without help. About $200 million in humanitarian aid to the country this year will largely pay to feed and care for the refugees. But they need places to live and small plots to farm, so villages across the nations north have agreed to carve up their communally owned land and share it with the refugees, often for many years at a time. Our population was very few and our community agreed to loan the land, said Charles Azamuke, 27, of his villages decision in 2016 to accept refugees from South Sudan, which has been torn apart by civil war. We are happy to have these people. We call them our brothers. UN officials have pointed to Uganda for its open border policy. While the United States, a much more populous nation, has admitted more than 3 million refugees since 1975, the U.S. government settles them in the country after they have first been thoroughly screened overseas. By contrast, Uganda has essentially opened its borders to refugees, rarely turning anyone away. Some older Ugandans explain that they, too, had been refugees once, forced from their homes during dictatorship and war. And because the government ensures that spending on refugees benefits Ugandans as well, younger residents spoke of how refugees offered them some unexpected opportunities. I was a farmer. I used to dig, Azamuke said. But after learning Arabic from refugees from South Sudan, he got a better job as a translator at a new health clinic that serves the newcomers. Ugandan officials often talk about the spirit of Pan-Africanism that motivates their approach to refugees. President Yoweri Museveni, an autocratic leader who has been in power for 32 years, says Ugandas generosity can be traced to the pre-colonial days of warring kingdoms and succession disputes, when losing factions often fled to a new land. This history of flight and resettlement is embedded in some of the names of local groups around western Uganda, like Batagwenda, which means the ones that could not continue travelling. The government encourages the nation to go along with its policy by directing that 30 per cent of foreign aid destined for refugees be spent in ways that benefit Ugandans nearby. So when money for refugees results in new schools, clinics and wells, Ugandans are more likely to welcome than resent them. For Museveni, hosting refugees has given him relevance and political capital abroad at a time when he would otherwise have little. A former guerrilla fighter who quickly stabilized much of his country, Museveni was once hailed as an example of new African leadership. He was relatively quick to confront the AIDS epidemic, and he invited back Ugandans of Indian and Pakistani descent who had been expelled during the brutal reign of Idi Amin in the 1970s. But his star has fallen considerably. He has clung to power for decades. Security forces have beaten political opponents. Freedom of assembly and expression are severely curtailed. Even so, Ugandas openness toward refugees makes Museveni important to European nations, which are uneasy at the prospect of more than 1 million refugees pulling up stakes and heading for Europe. But Osakan, the administrator who oversees refugee affairs in the countrys extreme northwest, is anxious. There is an Ebola outbreak over the border in the Democratic Republic of Congo. Osakan fears what might happen if or when a refugee turns up in Uganda with the dreaded illness. It would destroy all the harmony between refugees and host communities, he said, explaining that it would probably lead to calls to seal the border. For now, the border is very much open, although the number of refugees arriving has fallen significantly. In one of the newer settlements, many of the refugees came last year, fleeing an attack in a South Sudanese city. But some complained about receiving too little land, about a quarter acre per family, which is less than previous refugees had received. Even if you have skills in carpentry you are not given a chance, said one refugee, Simon Ludoru. He looked over his shoulder, to where a construction crew was building a nursery school. The schoolhouse would teach both local Ugandan and South Sudanese children together, but the workers were almost entirely Ugandan, he said. At the construction site, the general contractor, Sam Omongo, 50, said he had hired refugees for the job. Oh yes, he exclaimed. How many? Not a lot, actually, he acknowledged. I have about three. Omongo called one over. Are you a refugee? Omongo asked the slight man. No, Im from Uganda, he said softly. His name was Amos Chandiga, 28. He lived nearby and owned 6 acres of land, though he worked only 4 of them. He had lent the other two to a pair of refugees. They asked me, and I gave it to them, Chandiga explained. He patted his chest. It comes from here, in my heart. DAHUK, IRAQThe 26-year-old Yazidi mother faces a heartbreaking choice. Her family is preparing to emigrate from Iraq to Australia and start a new life after the suffering the Daesh group wreaked on their small religious minority. She is desperate to go with them, but there is also someone she cant bear to leave behind: Her two-year-old daughter, Maria, fathered by the Daesh fighter who enslaved her. She knows her family will never allow her to bring Maria. They dont even know the girl exists. The only relative who knows is an uncle who took the girl from her mother and put her in an orphanage in Baghdad after they were freed from captivity last year. My heart bursts from my chest every time I think of leaving her. She is a piece of me, but I dont know what to do, she said, speaking to The Associated Press at a camp in northern Iraq for displaced Yazidis. The woman spoke on condition she be identified only as Umm Maria, or mother of Maria, for fear her family and community would find out. Umm Marias torment points to the gaping wounds suffered by Iraqs Yazidi religious minority at the hands of the Daesh group. When the militants overran the Yazidis northern Iraqi heartland of Sinjar in 2014, they inflicted on the community an almost medieval fate. Hundreds of Yazidi men and boys were massacred, tens of thousands fled their homes, and the militants took thousands of women and girls as sex slaves, viewing them as heretics worthy of subjugation and rape. Read more: Daesh gunmen kill 40 U.S.-backed fighters in eastern Syria Daesh frees 6 hostages in exchange with Syrian government Daesh-linked extremists kill another health worker in Nigeria The women were distributed among Daesh fighters in Iraq and Syria and over the following years were traded and sold as chattel. Many women bore children from their captors the numbers of children are not known, but they are no doubt in the hundreds. The Nobel Peace Prize this year put a focus on victims of sexual violence and on the Yazidis in particular, when one of the women abducted by Daesh, Nadia Murad, was named a co-winner of the award. Many, though not all, of the women have returned home, as the extremist groups caliphate in Iraq and Syria has been brought down. While some of them want nothing to do with babies born of rape and slavery, some, like Umm Maria, want to keep them. But Yazidi families most often reject the children. That is a reflection of the deeply entrenched traditions followed by the Yazidi community, seeking to preserve its identity among the mainly Muslim population, many of whom for centuries viewed the ancient faith with suspicion. The Yazidis, who speak a form of Kurdish, keep their community closed off, their rituals little known. They have always rejected mixed marriages and children fathered by non-Yazidis. In this case, the stain is even greater since the fathers were the same Sunni Muslim radicals who sought to wipe out the community. Under Iraqi law, the children are considered Muslims. The community has taken a relatively progressive stance toward the mothers. In Iraqs traditional society, rape can bring stigma on the victim. But the Yazidis spiritual leader, Babashekh Khirto Hadji Ismail, issued an edict in 2015 declaring women enslaved by the militants to be pure, with their faith intact. The declaration allowed the women to be welcomed back into Yazidi society. But not the children. Khidr Domary, a prominent Yazidi activist, acknowledged that the communitys insular traditions need some reform and said the leadership has shown flexibility as it tries to deal with the trauma left by Daesh. He says that in theory mothers can bring the children back to their communities, but they will face intense pressure from family members and neighbours. It is difficult, even for the mother, to bring a child to live in our midst when it is possible that his Daeshi father may have killed hundreds of us with his own hands, including relatives of the mother, he said. Umm Maria was taken captive along with other women in August 2014, when the militants stormed Sinjar, near the Syrian border. She was eventually taken to Syria as the slave of a Daesh fighter, whom she knew only by his alias, Abu Turab. Abu Turab was killed in fighting in 2015. His family sold her for $1,800 (U.S.) to another militant, an Iraqi she identified as Ahmed Mohammed. He took her to Iraqs Mosul, where she lived with his first wife and their children. Soon after she gave birth to Maria, he too was killed in fighting in 2015. She was consigned to a Daesh guest house where wounded Daesh fighters received first aid or took a rest from the front lines and used Yazidi women for sex. As Iraqi security forces assaulted Mosul, the women at the house were moved from one neighbourhood to another to escape bombardment. In the summer of 2017, as the city fell, Umm Maria escaped into government-held territory, though she was injured during the shelling. At the hospital, an uncle persuaded Umm Maria to give them the child until she healed, promising to return Maria to her afterward. Had I known they planned on depositing her in an orphanage, I would have never given her, she said. Umm Maria has seen the child now around 3 years old only once since. Several months ago, she visited her at the Baghdad orphanage, spending two days with Maria. She did not recognize me, but I recognized her, Umm Maria said. How could I not? She is a piece of me. Many Yazidis see it as more essential than ever for the community to protect its identity at a time when it is struggling for survival. The Yazidis were estimated to number about 700,000 before 2014. Since the Daesh onslaught, nearly 15 per cent are believed to have fled the country, mostly to the West. Nearly half of those still in the country live in camps for the displaced, scattered around northern Iraq. About 3,000 Yazidis remain missing or in captivity. Of these, experts believe only a third may still be alive. The Yazidis are also trying to regain their place in a country where the social fabric has been torn apart by IS. Though there were always tensions, Yazidis lived side-by-side with Muslim neighbours in a northern region that is home to many minorities, including Christians and Kurds. Now Yazidis deeply distrust Arab Muslims, accusing them of sympathizing with IS and even sometimes joining the militants in the slaughter and enslavement of Yazidis. The community also says the central government has not done enough to get back Yazidi women. It was largely left to families to put together thousands of dollars to buy back daughters or wives, or pay smugglers to sneak them out. We have become so resentful of Muslims that we now tell our children not to be like Muslims when they are mean to each other, said Abdullah Shirim, a Yazidi businessman. Shirim is credited with rescuing dozens of Yazidi women from captivity through a network of business contacts, smugglers and bands of bounty hunters. The community is wrestling with integrating thousands of Yazidi children affected by the war. Those whose parents are missing or dead are usually taken in by extended family, but if relatives cant afford it, they end up in orphanages. Children snatched by Daesh and raised as Muslims have to be retaught the Yazidi faith. Boys forced to become child soldiers have to be led back from Daeshs virulently violent training. Amid those traumas, there is little sympathy for children fathered by militants. Another Yazidi woman, a 21-year-old who asked to be identified only as Umm Bassam, described how when she left Daesh territory in Syria in August, she contacted her family and asked if she could bring home her 9-month-old son, Bassam, fathered by the Daesh militant who held her. Their reply: We cannot allow a Daeshi baby to live with us. Umm Bassam had been in Daesh captivity for several years. The Daesh fighter who held her an Iraqi took her across the border into Syria in the summer of 2017 as the militants rule crumbled in Iraq. In Syria, she gave birth. She, the Daesh fighter and their child had to flee from town to town as the militants lost ground in Syria. Eventually, the fighter had her smuggled out to Kurdish-held territory, while he fled into the desert along with other militants. In the Syrian Kurdish city of Qamishli, Umm Bassam ended up in a house with other freed Yazidi women, many of them also with children. After her familys rejection, she relented and agreed to leave Bassam with Kurdish authorities. They tried to reassure her, she said, telling her the child would be cared for in an orphanage. They said at least 100 children had been left by Yazidi women. I was hugging him until the moment they took him away from me, she said. They told her, Dont worry, in 10 days, he wont remember you or recognize you. We will make him forget everything. But Umm Bassam remembers every detail. Her son was chubby and fair-skinned, with a beautiful face, she said. He had a mole below his armpit. Back among her community, cut off from her son by borders, traditions and officials, she sees no choice now. She will bury it all. Shell get married, she says. Shell build a new family. Ill make it like I never saw anything. Ill try to forget everything and start a new life. Read more about: PRAGUEDefense Secretary Jim Mattis said he received assurances from Saudi Arabias top diplomat that the kingdom would conduct a full and complete investigation into the slaying of Saudi journalist and dissident Jamal Khashoggi. Mattis met Saudi Foreign Minister Adel al-Jubeir over lunch Saturday at a security conference in Bahrain. Their discussion came after Mattis condemned Khashoggis killing during a speech at the event and warned that such extralegal behaviour by nations risked destabilizing the Middle East. We discussed it, Mattis said, recounting the conversation with Jubeir on Sunday while travelling to the Czech Republic. Their discussion, Mattis said, underscored the need for transparency, a full and complete investigation. He said, We need to know what happened. It was very collaborative, in agreement, Mattis added. The lunchtime discussion came after Jubeir called the global reaction to Khashoggis killing fairly hysterical in response to questions about the murder at the security conference. The top Saudi diplomat suggested people were jumping to conclusions about guilt before Riyadh had finished its investigation. We will know the truth, Jubeir said. We will hold those responsible accountable. And we will put in place mechanisms to prevent it from happening again. Read more: Saudis reject Turkish demand to extradite suspects in Khashoggis death Slain journalist Jamal Khashoggis son leaves Saudi Arabia Saudi Arabia again changes its story on Khashoggi killing Khashoggi, a critic of the Saudi government who had fled the kingdom and taken up residency in the United States, entered the Saudi Consulate in Istanbul on Oct. 2 to retrieve paperwork that he needed to marry his Turkish fiancee. Turkish officials say a hit squad of Saudi agents dispatched from the gulf killed Khashoggi in the consulate and dismembered his body before returning to Saudi soil. Turkey says it has secret recordings of the events, which Turkish officials recently played for CIA Director Gina Haspel. Turkeys well of information about the killing, which has trickled out in news reports, has put pressure on Saudi Arabia reveal what its government knew about what appeared to be an extrajudicial state-sanctioned killing. In particular, the incident has raised questions about whether Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, a target of Khashoggis criticism, knew in advance about the gruesome plot. Riyadhs shifting explanations about what happened which U.S. President Donald Trump described as the worst coverup ever have led to serious doubts in the United States and elsewhere about whether Riyadh can conduct a fulsome investigation about an incident that could implicate its leadership. Asked at a news conference in Prague how a Saudi government investigation could get to the bottom of whether the crown prince was involved in ordering the killing, Mattis emphasized that evidence Turkish authorities have gathered would also be taken into account. Turkey, with the evidence that they have compiled, will ensure that there is more than one review of what is going on here, Mattis said. I am sure the investigation will include the evidence that Turkey has put forward so far. Saudi Arabias government initially denied any knowledge of Khashoggis disappearance, saying he had left the consulate in Istanbul. The kingdom later said the Saudi journalist and contributing columnist for The Washington Posts opinions section died accidentally in a brawl with Saudi agents. Days later, Riyadhs public prosecutor appeared to suggest the killing had been premeditated. As public uproar mounted, Saudi Arabias leadership arrested 18 suspects, fired five top officials and announced a reorganization of the nations intelligence operations. Despite the outcry, Trump has ruled out cutting off arms deals with Saudi Arabia, the biggest importer of weapons from American defence contractors. His administration has made the kingdom a linchpin in its strategy in the Middle East, which includes countering Iran, brokering a peace deal between Israel and the Palestinians, and ending the wars in Yemen and Syria. In response to the killing, Mattis said Saturday, the administration is pursuing twin imperatives of protecting America and holding accountable those responsible for this murder. Read more about: RIO DE JANEIROA 63-year old populist renegade rode a wave of voter rage to Brazils presidency on Sunday, marking South Americas most dramatic shift to the right since the end of the Cold War-era military dictatorships. Jair Bolsonaro, a former army captain, bested leftist Fernando Haddad in Sundays runoff, winning nearly 56 per cent of the vote, according to official results with 92 per cent of the ballots tallied. His win adds Latin Americas largest nation to a growing list of countries from the United States to Hungary to the Philippines where staunch right-wing nationalists have scored victories at the ballot box. Bolsonaro ran a Trump-style campaign that made heavy use of social media, and promised to renegotiate the terms of trade deals, put economics before environmental preservation and bring an iron fist to fighting crime. He demonized opponents and polarized the nation with his history of denigrating women, gays and minorities. What I most want is to follow the will of God, and the Brazilian constitution, Bolsonaro said via Facebook Live after winning the race. We have everything to be a great nation, and if this is the will of God, we will be a great nation. Bolsonaro won a first round of the election earlier this month but failed to avoid a runoff. His challenger, Haddad a one-term mayor of Sao Paulo, Brazils largest city had depicted the election as a fight to preserve democracy. Bolsonaro has been an outspoken defender of Brazils former military dictatorship, lamenting that it did not kill enough dissidents. The election occurred as faith has collapsed in Brazils corruption-stained political class, the economy has floundered and gang killings have surged, leaving the nation feeling rudderless and besieged. Haddad ran largely as a stand-in for Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, the popular former president, whose reelection bid was upended when he landed in jail this year on corruption charges. I voted for Bolsonaro because things cant continue as they are, said Alexandre Maciel, 44, an asset manager at a financial firm, after casting his ballot in Sao Paulo. Hes the only one with the courage to do something different. Dismissed until recently as an unelectable rabble-rouser, Bolsonaro launched his campaign with no significant political allies, a small party machine and a paltry budget. He overcame those challenges with the power of social media, becoming the first presidential candidate in Brazil to bypass the countrys powerful television networks. He spoke directly to voters through angry all-caps tweets and Facebook Live videos. His simplistic get-tough solutions to Brazils deep-rooted problems of crime and corruption played well online, and he developed a movement that some analysts compared to President Donald Trumps in 2016. Millions of devoted backers cheered the plain-talking Bolsonaro for articulating their rage. His left-wing opponents, he shouted, should be locked up. Police should use lethal force against criminals. The Chinese were buying up Brazil. Even as Bolsonaro was sidelined from the campaign in September when he was stabbed in the abdomen at a rally his popularity grew. Bolsonaro cuts a rare figure in Brazilian politics, which was dominated for most of the past decade and a half by the leftist Workers Party. He has been a passionate defender of the dictatorship that ruled the country from 1964 to 1985. He has proclaimed himself a political outsider, despite serving seven terms in congress. For decades, he survived on the fringe, issuing quip after quip denigrating women, gays and people of colour. He once said a female politician was too ugly to rape and suggested that having a dead son was better than a gay son. Last year, he suggested that some descendants of African slaves were fat and lazy. Bolsonaro has moved toward the mainstream in recent months, celebrating Brazils diversity in tweets and pledging, We are going to unite people. But he has convinced supporters that he will upend the status quo. To reduce crime, he has advocated that guns laws be relaxed so civilians could fight fire with fire. To spur the economy, Indigenous lands and the vast Amazon region should be opened up for development, he has argued. It was obvious in this election that someone who could build a credible narrative of being different was going to do well. Bolsonaro understood that, said Oliver Stuenkel, professor of international relations at the Getulio Vargas Foundation in Sao Paulo. He was politically incorrect, a bit weird. But thats one way he has been able to set himself apart from the rest. Bolsonaro has campaigned to fix a specific set of domestic woes corruption, crime, the anemic economy. But some argue that Bolsonaros success thus far might not have been possible were this not the age of Trump. Bolsonaro at times has appeared to mimic the American leader, on whom he has lavished praise. He has promised to make Brazil great and picked a war with the media over fake news. He was trying to look like Trump, said Marcos Nobre, a Sao Paulo-based political strategist. His message to the electorate was, If the U.S. elected a Trump, so can Brazil. Bolsonaro grew up a nerdy kid in a large German Italian family with five siblings in Eldorado, a speck of a town in rural northern Sao Paulo state. At a time when the military was torturing, exiling and killing other members of his generation for opposing its policies, Bolsonaro saw the army as his ticket out. At 18, he was accepted to the armys prep school and later made it to Brazils equivalent of the U.S. Military Academy at West Point. In the army, Bolsonaro developed a reputation for having excessive financial and economic ambition, according to military records of the time. In 1986 he was detained for two weeks after publishing an editorial in the prominent national weekly Veja calling for higher salaries for officers. He wrote what we were all thinking at the time, said retired Gen. Paulo Chagas, who served in the military at the same time as Bolsonaro. It was a difficult economic time for us military men. Bolsonaro left the military in 1988 to launch his political career. As a congressman, he frightened peers with his violent rhetoric, calling in 1999 for the assassination of the elected president at the time, Fernando Henrique Cardoso. Through voting, nothing will change in this country, Bolsonaro said at the time in a television interview. It will only change, unfortunately, on the day a civil war breaks out and does the job that the military regime didnt do. Killing some 30,000, starting with [Cardoso]. Innocent people will die, OK. But in every war, innocents die. Though it surged only over the past two months, the Bolsonaro phenomenon began to take off two years ago, observers say. His popularity built in urban areas, where backers became voracious consumers of his missives on Twitter and WhatsApp. It spread to ranchers suffering invasions of squatters on rural farms. White men and wealthy voters, eager to turn the page after a decade of left-wing rule, rallied to Bolsonaros side. His rise caught many people off guard. A decade ago, Bolsonaro was like a burlesque spectacle, a clown, said Rubens Soares, a longtime journalist at Folha de Sao Paulo, one of Brazils largest news organizations. Journalists would walk past his office as he shouted nonsense. Yet, Soares said, he noticed a fundamental shift last year. Supporters at Bolsonaro rallies were adoring in a way hed never seen before in Brazil. They would carry him through the streets, Soares said. You could tell something was happening. As Bolsonaro soared, his candidacy emboldened extremists who, human rights groups say, have staged dozens of attacks in recent weeks on gay men, lesbians, feminists, leftists, journalists and others. If Bolsonaro wins, some fear more political violence. His own rhetoric is often highly inflammatory. Lets sweep these red thugs off the map of Brazil, Bolsonaro said to cheers at a packed rally on Sao Paulos main thoroughfare earlier this month, referring to his leftist opponents. We are the majority! The real Brazil! Long seen as an economic protectionist, Bolsonaro did an about-face during the campaign, embracing the free market. But he still played to nationalists, vilifying China for buying up Brazil. Twice divorced and now married to his third wife, he nonetheless proclaimed himself a supporter of family values, and his opposition to gay rights and legalizing abortion helped him win over evangelicals, a powerful voter base. But corruption and the Workers Party were his primary targets. Since democracy was restored here in 1985, two presidents have been impeached, one has gone to jail, and Brazils current leader has been indicted on a charge of corruption, a charge he denies. One-third of the lower house is under investigation for corruption, largely tied to a sprawling kickback scheme involving some of the countrys largest companies. Bolsonaros outsider-cleans-house platform resonated with Brazilians. While some Brazilians began to see Bolsonaro as their hero, others seemed to overlook his bombastic statements in a search for meaningful change. If there had been another decent candidate, I wouldnt have voted for him, Jose Colares, 51, a dentist in Sao Paulo, said of Bolsonaro after casting his ballot Sunday for the far-right candidate. Read more about: This past Monday, John Tory won big at the polls. To say it was a resounding victory doesnt do the mayors win justice. He crushed his opponents: he won every ward in the city, capturing a plurality in each and a majority in most. He earned 63.5 per cent of the vote, 301,446 votes more than his closest competitor. He now holds the record as the politician more Canadians have cast a ballot for than any other. Torys achievement would be remarkable anywhere but, given how diverse Toronto is, it stands out as a seminal political achievement. And more than just win at the polls, he earned a massive amount of that most precious of all political resources: political capital. Today, he has a city united behind him. He has a successful, managerial first term under his belt. He has, thanks to Premier Ford, a more streamlined and manageable city council with which to work. He has a commitment to retire in four years. In short, he has a very real opportunity to be a truly transformative leader, a leader whose mayorship will shape the city for decades to come. He has an opportunity to tangibly show just why it is he has committed himself to both public service and public life. More than coincidentally, Toronto finds itself in a moment that sorely requires just that kind of leadership. While many scoff at the insecurities that cause us to chase the dream of being an actual world-class city, its obvious Toronto is in the middle of major change. We are a city on the move, with a swiftly developing tech sector and a booming population. But we also have the problems that come with change as well. Increasing congestion. Decreasing social cohesion. Growing unaffordability. Awkward teenagers, if you will. John Tory has the chance to lead the city as it grows out of its current gangly, uncomfortable phase into an adult. There is no shortage of challenges that face our city. Our public transportation infrastructure pales when compared with cities of our size. We lack many of the cultural hubs that support the development of the technology sector and attract the young professionals who feed that industry. Nightlife regulations and building restrictions seem as if they stem from decades ago and indeed, they do. Our current situation is not one that calls for tinkering around the edges, like allowing drinking in parks during the summer or raccoon-resistant green bins. Rather it calls for a mayor who will spend the political capital he has worked so hard to earn. Former prime minister Brian Mulroney often quoted James MacGregor Burns on the difference between transactional leaders and transformative ones. Burns wrote that transformative leaders respond to fundamental hopes and expectations and may transcend and even seek to reconstruct the political system rather than operate within it. Mulroney would go on to say that transformative leaders spend the political capital they have earned in the great causes of their country. And spend political capital Mulroney did. The Goods and Services Tax (now the HST), NAFTA, the Acid Rain Treaty with the United States and the campaign to end apartheid in South Africa. Four big, bold ideas that were ahead of their time. Four ideas that were not at all popular when first introduced. But four ideas that changed both Canada and the world for the better. Can we imagine what things would be like today if prime minister Mulroney worried more about short-term popularity than long-term achievement? Today, many of those who were Mulroneys fiercest critics at the time have come to see the wisdom of his vision and to admire the courage of his convictions. Mayor Tory has a very special opportunity in front of him. He has earned the opportunity to become a truly transformational leader. He has earned the opportunity to discard the short-term vicissitudes of political calculation in favour of driving real and long-lasting change in a city that desperately needs strong leadership. Lets all, as a city in all our diverse glory, unite behind him and help him do it. Jaime Watt is the executive chairman of Navigator Ltd. and a Conservative strategist. He is a freelance contributor for the Star. Follow him on Twitter: is the executive chairman of Navigator Ltd. and a Conservative strategist. He is a freelance contributor for the Star. Follow him on Twitter: @jaimewatt Read more about: Resist the temptation to give Torontos mayor any more power. The only essential power lacking in the office is one the provincial government will not give independence from the shackles of provincial control that would insulate the city from arbitrary decisions at Queens Park. In other words, Mayor John Tory doesnt need to lord over city council; he needs Premier Doug Fords boots off the citys neck. In the absence of the latter and in the aftermath of Doug Fords vindictive attack on Toronto council, cutting it nearly in half faux reforms that focus on the mayors powers are misplaced. The attention is best concentrated on how to manage the same workload with half the councillors. Torontos practice in normal times has been to consult widely on such matters and arrive at a compromise that straddles those who could care less about government, local democracy, public consultation or civic engagement and those who may be consumed by the ideal. The Doug Ford tornado quick and vicious leaves little time for careful consideration. The new city council will meet in December. Would-be reformers have seized the opportunity to offer free advice. Much of it is good, when directed at the opportunities to replace elected officials with citizens on the myriad of city-owned boards and commissions. But even here, caution is required. Civic appointments to these agencies have been corrupted in the past. They often do not reflect the citys diversity, are populated by the privileged, and become a landing spot for political patronage. While city council is forced into an urgent decision on its committee structure, post Ford tsunami, there is no urgency or need to change the statutory powers of the mayor, vis-a-vis city council. Every four years, the hand-wringing and speculation and handicapping begin as soon as the civic election ends. Did city council shift right or left? Will the mayor be able to control city council and follow through on his or her mandate? Does the mayor need more power in a system that does not have party politics, neither cabinet solidarity nor a mayors veto? City council is always tilted to the political right, but only so slightly. This has not changed, and will not for a long time. Downtown wards and their large population are leftist. Etobicoke is most conservative. Parts of North York and Scarborough are right-leaning. And a large number of wards are middle-of-the road moderates. Its a Toronto thing. On city council, the so-called moderates, properly dubbed the Mushy Middle, always carry the balance of power. But because of their fluctuating principles, they can easily be co-opted bought for the price of a plum political appointment. It is the mayor who controls the appointments even though city council can, theoretically, overturn them. In practice, council approves 99 per cent of the mayors appointments at the first council meeting, including his executive committee, hand-picked deputy mayors and his allies who have nearly all pledged allegiance to the chief magistrate. On the old council there were literally hundreds of positions that councillors filled on standing committees of council, city-run agencies, boards and commissions. Now that city council is half the size the work still needs to be done. There will be no shortage of plum appointments, even if many are farmed out to citizens. Therefore, only a totally inept mayor would be incapable of buying enough loyalty from the majority of councillors so he is guaranteed majority support on issues he cares about. If he cant, that is a clear signal the mayor is a bust, not that he should be propped up by giving him more power. One should anticipate the worst in such arrangements. What happens if the worse possible mayoral candidate somehow gets the most votes and takes the city down an unimaginable path? Current political reality makes such musing wise, not theoretical. Imagine if Rob Ford had been afforded statutory powers to override city council? Imagine if he could have made his councillor brother, the now knife-wielding premier of Ontario, his official henchman unchecked by council vote? Imagine if he could have hired and fired the police chief at will especially if the chief has ordered an investigation into the mayors drug-abusing habits? Imagine such a strong mayor at Toronto city hall in cahoots with a quixotic premier at Queens Park. Together, they might divert hundreds of millions of dollars away from building universities and helping the poor and, instead, throw billions of dollars at subway lines that are not needed. Imagine them scheming to end the citys land transfer tax, robbing the city of $500 million in annual revenue, forcing city hall to sell off government housing, curtail spending in priority neighbourhoods, cut civic and arts grants, deplete environmental initiatives, remove bike lanes and those damned streetcars blocking up our city, and turn over city assets to private sector plundering. Toronto doesnt need a strong mayor political system. The city needs a mayor strong enough to stand up for Toronto against the wave of disastrous policy decisions expected to come from Queens Park. That strength comes from city council, not from subjugating it. Royson James is a former Star reporter who is a current freelance columnist based in Toronto. Follow him on Twitter: @roysonjames Read more about: VANCOUVERMost of the honeybees were still snug in their hives when the pickups rolled quietly past the farmhouse and onto the Delta, B.C. blueberry field. The sun was hiding just below the horizon and the telltale buzz of the bees was subdued. Researchers from Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada and the University of British Columbia had risen well before dawn to catch the bees at home before they set out for a long day of pollinating the delicate white flowers that dotted each bush. This relationship, between the bees and the blueberries, is critical for the berry industry, and growers like beekeepers are keen to find out what might be ailing the bees. Each spring growers pay beekeepers thousands of dollars to bring hives into their fields for a few weeks of pollination. If the bees do their job right, the flowers turn into plump blueberries ripe for the picking. The future of that arrangement was called into question earlier this year by some B.C. beekeepers who worried that weeks in the blueberry fields were making their honeybees sick. Some threatened to stop offering pollination services for blueberries altogether. Though, in the end, many beekeepers did take their bees to the fields, in some cases, it cost the growers a premium. Honeybee health isnt just important for beekeepers and blueberry growers. The tiny buzzers are a significant economic contributor for the province. According to the Ministry of Agriculture, the bees contribute $538 million to B.C.s economy through crop pollination alone not to mention their importance for food security. According to the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization, 75 per cent of global crops that produce fruit or seeds for food rely in part on pollinators. In response to ongoing concern, researchers from Agriculture Canada undertook a new study in partnership with the National Bee Diagnostic Centre, UBC and the British Columbia Honey Producers Association this spring and with financial support from the BC Blueberry Council. They wanted to find out if honeybees really were worse off after blueberry pollination, why that might be, and what beekeepers and growers could do to keep the bees bustling. Over the course of the spring and early summer, the team studied colonies managed by five beekeepers that pollinated blueberries and, as a control, colonies managed by one of those beekeepers that didnt pollinate blueberries. They watched for population shifts, signs of disease and differences in hive-management techniques. Twice during the study period, the team, which was led by Agriculture Canada research scientist Marta Guarna, visited the bee colonies to collect samples of bees, bee brood or babies, pollen, and honey. A third assessment focused on the brood alone. StarMetro joined the team for their second assessment of Julia Commons bee colonies in late May. By that point, the honeybees were already weeks into their blueberry pollination work. Common, Hives for Humanitys chief beekeeper, was particularly concerned about the risks blueberry pollination posed to her bees after she was forced to kill millions of sickly bee babies last year. Today, shes feeling much more optimistic. This year, she said, the bees came out of the blueberries and they did their typical dive, but I was way ahead of the curve. As soon as she moved the beehives from the blueberry fields she gave them extra food and took other steps to help build the colonies back up. She still had losses, but nothing as bad as last year. They then went to do very well on pumpkins and make honey, she said. Its the dive Common mentioned that the researchers were investigating back in May when they arrived to collect their second set of data. They kept their voices low as they stepped into their white bee suits, zipped their screened hoods closed, and pulled on purple lab gloves. Their early morning task, Guarna explained, was to estimate the adult bee population of each colony. Once they start flying, we dont know how many have gone and how many are there, she said, explaining the early hour. It was just past five when the team fanned out, each setting up at a different hive. Not quite in unison, the researchers puffed smoke around the hives to help keep the bees calm and lifted their lids. Then they slid a slim piece of metal between the wooden frames and pulled one free. The researchers used a divided grid to estimate the adult bee population on each frame. They assess what proportion of the frame is covered in bees and call it out as an eighth to the team member tasked with recording the data. Marta, six and seven, frame two, calls out Guarna. She gives two numbers, one for each side of the frame. One by one, the researchers follow suit. Abbi, three and two, frame three, said Abbi Chapman, an undergraduate research assistant from UBC. Jeff, six and six, frame four, said Jeff Pettis, the former head of a U.S. Department of Agriculture bee lab, whos consulting on the project. By the time the sun rose, brimming the trees in a golden light, there was a chorus of chirping birds and buzzing bees behind each number sounded off. And, as the bees grew livelier, the research team moved on to task No. 2. Hive-by-hive they collected adult bees by the jar, honey by the tube and used wooden stir sticks to lever layers of pollen, called bee bread, from cells in the comb. Any bee brood that looked unhealthy was taken too. As Guarna, Higo and their crew wrapped up their field work for the day, the bees were just settling into work, flitting between the flowers. In the months ahead, the samples will be analyzed for chemical contamination and pathogens. Theyll investigate differences in bee management, and whether the colonies provided with extra protein stayed healthier. One goal, said Higo, is to find strategies that both beekeepers who could adjust the way they manage their colonies like Common did this year and growers can implement to help keep pollinators in good health. Much more analysis is needed before the team can issue any conclusive results, but they do have some preliminary findings. On Saturday, Guarna and her research partners presented these at the British Columbia Honey Producers Association annual conference the same day B.C. Minister of Agriculture Lana Popham announced an additional $50,000 in funding for BeeBC, a program that supports community-based initiatives to protect bee health. Early results indicate European Foulbrood-like symptoms were found in both colonies that pollinated blueberries and those that didnt. However, the researchers found the symptoms, which resemble the common bacterial disease EFB and affect bee babies, appeared more prevalent in the colonies that pollinated blueberries, Guarna told StarMetro in an email. This observation indicates that beekeepers concerns merit further investigation both by an in-depth analysis of the field data and the samples collected in this study and by conducting a larger study comparing several sites in and outside blueberries, she said. Further scientific results may be a little ways off, but for Common, theres been a major positive outcome already the collaboration between beekeepers, scientists and blueberry growers all invested in keeping the honeybees healthy. Its very exciting, she said. Read more about: EDWARDSVILLE Southern Illinois University Edwardsvilles emphasis on fostering undergraduate research opportunities and its facultys commitment to living the teacher-scholar model were on full display during the Illinois Pharmacists Associations (IPhA) September meeting. SIUE School of Pharmacy Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences Professor Ronald Worthington, PhD, and two student researchers, Brentsen Wolf, of Belleville, and Gregory Takacs, of Trenton, received statewide acclaim at the IPhA meeting, earning first place for scientific merit for their research entitled, Association of Synonymous Mutation Codon Frequency Changes with Levels of Protein Expression in Breast Cancer Cells. Wolf is a second-year pharmacy student and Takacs is a senior biological sciences major with an emphasis on genetics and cell biology. Takacs is participating in the project through SIUEs unique Undergraduate Research and Creative Activities (URCA) program. Wolf was previously an URCA Assistant. I am thrilled that my students received such acclaim from a professional organization that is normally focused on important clinical research, but in this case honored a basic science research effort, Worthington said. They have been eager participants and have contributed many brilliant insights that were completely original to my thinking on the project. Both Wolf and Takacs have been involved in this research for two years or more, gaining insights into scientific practice, literature and application. The majority of my involvement in this research entailed collecting data, creating figures and spreadsheets, and most importantly, utilizing bioinformatics as a tool to predict synonymous mutation effects in respect to breast cancer, Takacs explained. This research has kindled my desire for science. It is a fantastic feeling to be involved in scientific collaboration, Wolf added. I was highly involved in the biological application of the data and, in particular, helping create bridges between the data and pharmacologic applications. Worthington underscores the growth students experience when being wholly invested in a research project. Our students at SIUE are remarkably talented and driven by their interest in science and larger societal goals of improving medicine and human lives, Worthington explained. Through valuable research opportunities, they become challenged to think in creative ways that move them beyond the dogmatic concepts we professors tend to teach. It is Worthingtons teaching and mentorship that Wolf and Takacs say has prepared them for successful futures. Perhaps the most valuable trait Dr. Worthington brings to the team is that of taking student input seriously and stepping up at all teachable moments, Wolf said. He regards our comments, suggestions and questions highly, and never fails to further our understanding in response to each. We are grateful for this, as we have a much deeper understanding of our research thanks to his behavior. Both Brentsen and I strive to be well-rounded scientists like Dr. Worthington, Takacs added. The major takeaways from this research project are that hard work pays off, research is important for the understanding and growth of complex issues, and research allows you to grow into a more resilient scientist. I hope the students will want to pursue this line of study to develop their careers, or at least teach this to their colleagues and students going forward, so that others will appreciate the importance of our lessons, Worthington concluded. The team was strongly encouraged by IPhA officials to present their research at the annual meeting of the American Pharmacists Association in March 2019 in Seattle, and they have submitted an abstract for presentation. In the first official confirmation, Goa Health Minister Vishwajit Rane said that Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar was suffering from pancreatic cancer and chooses to be with his family, PTI reported. "He has got pancreatic cancer, there is no hiding this fact," Rane told reporters at Aldona in North Goa after inaugurating a state-run medical facility. According to PTI, Rane alleged that the Congress, who has repeatedly sought publicisation of chief minister's health updates, was after Parrikar's life. "There is something called privacy that we need to maintain," he said. Goa Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar was admitted to the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) in September. Parrikar, who has been undergoing treatment for what was then claimed to be a pancreatic ailment, was examined by a team of doctors at the premier hospital. "He is being examined by a team of doctors and will undergo a few tests," the source said. Parrikar, 62, was flown to the national capital owing to his declining health. He had returned from the US in the first week of September, days after which he was admitted to a hospital at Candolim in north Goa. Earlier this year, he had undergone a three-month-long treatment in the US. -Inputs from PTI US federal prosecutors have charged 29 counts of crimes of violence and firearms offenses against the suspect who opened fire in a synagogue in Pittsburgh, killing 11 people and wounding at least six others. The shooting is the deadliest attack on Jews in the history of America. The shooter, identified as 46-year-old Robert Bowers, surrendered after he was injured during an exchange of fire with the police at 'Tree of Life' Congregation Synagogue at Squirell Hill in Pittsburgh. The charges include 11 counts of obstruction of exercise of religious beliefs resulting in death; and 11 counts of use of a firearm to commit murder during a crime of violence. Eleven people were killed and six others, including four policemen, injured. No children were among the fatalities or injured. The crimes of violence are based upon the federal civil rights laws prohibiting hate crimes, US Attorney for the Western District of Pennsylvania Scott W. Brady said. The FBI is investigating this as a hate crime. Before opening fire, Bowers reportedly yelled, All Jews must die! US President Donald Trump, meanwhile, described the mass shooting as an anti-Semitic act, and called for death penalty for such shooters. President Trump ordered that American flags be flown at half-staff at the White House and upon all public buildings and grounds, and all military bases till October 31 as a mark of solemn respect for the victims. Despite his earlier reservations, Trump continued with his days programme and addressed a well-attended election rally in Illinois arguing that one cannot let their schedules or lives change. It's just the way it is. No matter how you look at it, you just can't let them get away with it. Theyre evil, theyre bad, this was an anti-Semitic act which is incredible in this day and age that something like that can happen, but it happened, he told reporters in Murphysboro, Illinois, where is addressed a massive election rally. The US goes to mid-term polls on November 6 wherein people would be electing members of the House of Representatives, one-third of the Senate and several State Governors. The hearts of all Americans are filled with grief following the monstrous killing of Jewish Americans, he said at an election rally in Illinois. This evil, anti-Semitic attack is an assault on all of us. It's an assault on humanity. It will require all of us working together to extract the hateful poison of anti-Semitism from our world, he said. The scourge of anti-Semitism cannot be ignored, cannot be tolerated, and it cannot be allowed to continue. We can't allow it to continue. It must be confronted and condemned everywhere it rears its very ugly head, he said. Trump acknowledged that the country feels terribly after this tragic incident. "This was just a horrible, horrible event," he said. Asserting that hatred and violence on the basis of religion can have no place in society, Attorney General Jeff Sessions said every American has the right to attend their house of worship in safety. Hatred and violence on the basis of religion can have no place in our society, Sessions said. These alleged crimes are reprehensible and utterly repugnant to the values of this nation. Accordingly, the Department of Justice will file hate crimes and other criminal charges against the defendant, including charges that could lead to the death penalty, Sessions said. Former president Barack Obama called his fellow countrymen to fight the rise of anti-Semitism. All of us have to fight the rise of anti-Semitism and hateful rhetoric against those who look, love, or pray differently. We have to stop making it so easy for those who want to harm the innocent to get their hands on a gun. We grieve for the Americans murdered in Pittsburgh. All of us have to fight the rise of anti-Semitism and hateful rhetoric against those who look, love, or pray differently. And we have to stop making it so easy for those who want to harm the innocent to get their hands on a gun. Barack Obama (@BarackObama) October 27, 2018 Trump said that he plans to go to Pittsburgh. I will be going to Pittsburgh. Ive been in touch with the governor, and Ive been in touch with the mayor, he said. Being accused by his political opponents who blame his rhetoric for the current divisive atmosphere in the country, Trump refused to change the tone of his election campaign. I would like to be able to have the tone that I have, because I feel very strongly about it and Id have a much different tone frankly if the press was evenhanded. if the press was fair, I'd have a much different tone all the time, Trump said as he reiterated that his fight against the media will continue. Colombo, Oct 28 (PTI) Sri Lankan President Maithripala Sirisena's decision to appoint his predecessor Mahinda Rajapaksa as prime minister has raised fears about a return to past abusive practices in the island nation, the Human Rights Watch said Sunday. Controversial strongman Rajapaksa staged a dramatic political comeback on Friday, becoming the new Prime Minister after Sirisena sacked premier Ranil Wickremesinghe. The sudden development came amid growing tensions between Sirisena and Wickremesinghe on several policy matters and the President has been critical of the Prime Minister and his policies, especially on economy and security. As per rule, the president may appoint a new prime minister only under certain conditions such as the death of the premier, resignation in writing, or a vote of no confidence in parliament against the government for a listed set of reasons. "Rajapaksa's return to high office without any justice for past crimes raises chilling concerns for human rights in Sri Lanka," Brad Adams, Asia director at the HRW, said. The New York-based watchdog said the current Lankan government's "failure to bring justice to victims of war crimes under the Rajapaksa regime reopens the door for past abusers to return to their terrible practices". Rajapaksa's administration was implicated in egregious violations during the final stages of the brutal civil war in the island nation and in suppression of freedoms of the media. The HRW said military forces under Rajapaksa's authority attacked civilians and executed prisoners during the final months of fighting against the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE). People with suspected links to the LTTE were subjected to arbitrary arrest, torture, sexual violence, extrajudicial killings and enforced disappearances. Journalists and activists critical of the then Rajapaksa government faced harassment, arrest and even physical attack, it said. The LTTE had run a military campaign for a separate Tamil homeland in the northern and eastern provinces of the island nation before its collapse in 2009 after the Sri Lankan Army killed its supreme leader Velupillai Prabhakaran. Since Rajapaksa was sworn in as prime minister, there have been reports that his supporters took over the state media. "The media outlets, rights organisations and victims groups...now fear a return to anxiety and fear...It is critical that governments that helped Sri Lanka's return to a much more rights-respecting government act to ensure those gains are not lost," Adams said. Mangala Samaraweera, a senior member of Wickremasinghe's party and minister of finance and media, has described the recent political developments in the country as "an anti-democratic coup". PTI CORR SCY SCY Three foreigners held for hacking Congress MP Dalwai's email Mumbai, Oct 27 (PTI) Three foreign nationals have been arrested for allegedly hacking the email account of Rajya Sabha member Husain Dalwai and sending emails seeking money in his name to several persons, Mumbai police said Saturday. The Congress MP's secretary had lodged a complaint in this regard on October 13, an official of the Cyber Crime Cell said. Konate Mohamed (31) and Outtara N'Golhaud (32), both from Ivory Coast, and Okpeaifoh Michael (31), a Nigerian, were arrested from Delhi Friday, he said. The accused allegedly obtained the password of Dalwai's email account, and sent emails in his name to several persons in his mailing list stating that he was facing a financial crisis and needed money urgently, the official said. During the probe, police found that the hackers were based in Delhi, said Akbar Pathan, Deputy Commissioner of Police (Cyber Crime). A team of Cyber Cell went to Delhi and tracked down the accused, he said. A laptop, pen drive, mobile phones, ATM cards of various banks and Rs 70,000 in cash -- which some people had sent believing that Dalwai had asked for money -- were seized from the trio, he said. A court in Mumbai on Saturday remanded the accused in police custody till November 2. "We suspect that the accused are involved in some more frauds of this kind," DCP Pathan said, adding that further probe was on. PTI DC KRK KRK New Delhi, Oct 28 (PTI) The Congress Sunday charged the Modi dispensation at the Centre and the Raman Singh government in Chhattisgarh for failing to contain naxal violence, saying the chief minister has forfeited his right to continue in power. No immediate reaction was available from the Prime Minister's Office on the allegations levelled by Congress leader Abhishek Manu Singhvi at a press conference here. Terming demonetisation as a "brain child" of Narendra Modi, Singhvi said the prime minister had claimed that the note ban exercise has effectively neutralised naxal and terror threats. He said the figures available suggest otherwise as more security personnel and civilians were killed in naxal violence after note ban. Raman Singh, he said, too had echoed similar sentiments. "But facts state otherwise," he said. Singhvi claimed that the situation in Jammu and Kashmir had worsened and demonetisation did not help in any way to contain terror strikes. "Security personnel have become fodder to infirm policies of the two governments ... The coward Raman Singh government has forfeited its right to be in power in the state... "People will also reject the Modi dispensation in the next elections," the Congress leader said. He claimed that the various schemes launched by the previous UPA government for naxal-affected and backward districts were discontinued by the present government at the Centre just because they were implemented by a Congress-led dispensation. He said while Home Minister Rajnath Singh can travel to Rajasthan for a political programme and the prime minister could visit Japan, they could not go to Chhattisgarh following the naxal attack in Bijapur district which left four CRPF men dead. Chhattisgarh will go for polls in two phases on November 12 and November 20. PTI NAB NAB ANB ANB New Delhi, Oct 28 (PTI) Japanese Premier Shinzo Abe Sunday said Prime Minister Narendra Modi was one of his most "dependable" friends and together with the Indian leader, he would like to strengthen bilateral cooperation to realise a free and open Indo-Pacific. In a message published in Indian newspapers on the day of the two leaders' summit meeting in Japan, Abe said India was driving the region and the world's prosperity as a global power. Prime Minister Modi was an outstanding leader of his great country, the Japanese premier said. "I have always believed and stated that the relationship between Japan and India is blessed with the largest potential in the world," he said. Japan-India cooperation continued to expand broadly in many fields such as security, investment, information technology, agriculture, health, environment and tourism, Abe noted. "We share a big win-win potential in all areas and Japan remains committed to supporting india's economic growth and Prime Minister Modi's Make in India initiative through high-speed rail, subways and other infrastructure, mobilising Japan's world-leading technologies," he said. The day when Japanese Shinkansen bullet trains start running between Mumbai and Ahmedabad through cooperation will mark a shining symbol of Japan-india friendship in the future, Abe added. "Prime Minister Modi, who is currently visiting Japan since yesterday, is one of my most dependable and valuable friends. On behalf of the entire Japanese government, I have the pleasure of extending him the warmest hospitality," the Japanese leader's message read. "Together with Prime Minister Modi, I would like to further strengthen Japan-India cooperation to realise a free and open Indo-Pacific," Abe said. PTI ASK RC New Delhi, Oct 28 (PTI) India Sunday said it was closely following the political developments in Sri Lanka and hoped that democratic values and constitutional process would be respected in the island nation. In fast paced political developments, Sri Lankan President Maithripala Sirisena suspended Parliament on Saturday, a day after sacking Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe and naming Mahinda Rajapaksa as the new prime minister. "India is closely following the recent political developments in Sri Lanka. As a democracy and a close friendly neighbour, we hope that democratic values and constitutional process will be respected," External Affairs Ministry Spokeperson Raveesh Kumar said. He said India will continue to extend its developmental assistance to the friendly people of Sri Lanka. India has been involved in a number of projects in the island nation. Sirisena on Saturday suspended Parliament till November 16 after Wickremesinghe sought an emergency session to prove his majority. Former president Rajapaksa was sworn in as the country's new PM on Friday. The political turmoil came amid growing tensions between Sirisena and Wickremesinghe on several policy matters. Reacting sharply to his sacking, Wickremesinghe asserted that the swearing-in of Rajapaksa is "illegal and unconstitutional" and he will prove his majority in Parliament. The political developments unfolded after Sirisena's broader political front UPFA announced that it has decided to quit the current unity government with Wickremesinghe's UNP. The unity government was formed in 2015 when Sirisena was elected President with Wickremesinghe's support, ending a nearly decade-long rule by Rajapaksa. Rajapaksa's return to power ends a more than three-year-old coalition government that was formed by Sirisena and Wickremesinghe on a promise to combat corruption and financial irregularities. The unity government was thrown into a crisis after Rajapaksa's new party pulled off a stunning victory in local elections in February seen as a referendum on the ruling alliance. Sri Lanka nearly faced economic sanctions from the West over Rajapakse's military crackdown on the banned Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE). The LTTE sought a separate Tamil homeland in the northern and eastern provinces of the island nation for nearly 30 years before its collapse in 2009 after the Sri Lankan Army killed the outfit's supreme leader Velupillai Prabhakaran. PTI MPB DV DV In considering whether investment trusts are appropriate for your particular financial circumstances and plans, you need to do plenty of homework. First, like all investments and shares, they should only be bought if you plan to invest for the long term. Returns are never guaranteed and the value of your investment can fall as evidenced by recent sharp stock corrections worldwide. But the longer you invest, the more chance you give yourself of making a profit on your money. So unless you are prepared to invest for at least five years, you are better steering clear. In considering whether investment trusts are appropriate for your particular financial circumstances and plans, you need to do plenty of homework Also, if capital security is paramount, trusts will not be for you and you are better keeping your money in a savings account with a bank or building society. If you are happy with putting money away long term, then investment trusts are an option alongside other investments such as company shares and funds. In terms of specific investment trusts, there is a broad range to choose from everything from those that are income-friendly through to trusts investing in the stock markets of some of the world's emerging markets. But they all carry an element of investment risk. A good starting point for newbie investors is to visit the website of the Association of Investment Companies at theaic.co.uk. Its 'find and compare' section provides key information on individual trusts, allowing you to examine investment objectives and where a fund is invested geographically. It also provides details of the trust's dividend history, the charges it takes for running the fund (the higher they are, the less you receive in investment return) and crucially its past performance. You can also access key documents such as a trust's latest monthly factsheet and report and accounts. This will give you an insight into how it is run. In addition, trusts are now required to make available a 'key information document' to wannabe investors. As the name implies, this spells out key details about a trust and potential returns under different market conditions. Although criticised by some (myself included) for being potentially misleading, this document should be scrutinised. Carrying out internet searches on specific investment trusts can also reveal any articles written about them in the financial press. The best way to buy trusts is through an online investment account run by the likes of AJ Bell, Halifax and Hargreaves Lansdown. You will have the option within the account to hold trusts in a pension or Isa (tax efficient) or as part of a general investment portfolio. There will be dealing charges so check before you buy. A good way of starting is to invest small amounts on a monthly basis. You can then monitor the progress of your holdings by simply going online. Victims of vile 'ransomware' computer attacks are being urged to ignore the sick demands or face yet more blackmail threats. Hundreds of readers have contacted The Mail on Sunday in the past few days to share their horror at receiving a twisted demand for money to avoid embarrassing details of their private life being exposed to everyone even though they have done nothing wrong. The vast majority of those targeted have ignored the unpleasant messages as they should but not everyone. Victims of vile 'ransomware' computer attacks are being urged to ignore the sick demands The new web crime, revealed in The Mail on Sunday last week, involves emails from criminals claiming the recipient has been caught watching an adult website and that this act has been captured on their computer camera. To make it appear credible the blackmail threat also includes personal information about the target, such as online passwords and phone numbers. There is then a financial ransom demand 250 or more that must be paid in Bitcoins to stop private details and images being shared with family, friends and work colleagues. Stuart Peck is cyber security strategist at computer consultancy ZeroDayLab. He says 'If an attacker had really managed to compromise your computer they would not want you to know about it. These emails rely on panic and intimidation that threaten to destroy your life. If you pay up the attacker will know you have something to hide.' Once on the criminal's radar, you can then be put on a 'sucker list' where further demands for money will be made and your details sold to other criminals who know you are susceptible to online and phone fraud attacks. For those concerned about being a target of a 'ransomware' attack, Peck has some basic, but effective, advice. He says: 'You can always find a small piece of paper to stick over the camera of your laptop, tablet or possibly even smartphone. This way you can be certain no one is watching you with a view to subjecting you to a ransomware attack.' Threat: How the Mail on Sunday revealed the new computer crime menace last week A key reason why many 'ransomware' targets are stressed by the experience is a nagging fear criminals have indeed hacked into their computer confirmed by their knowledge of passwords and phone numbers. Peck adds: 'Unfortunately such private information can come from public breaches and be picked up for free by criminals. If you have been compromised in the past change passwords immediately.' To find if you have been hacked from such a breach, Peck suggests that you visit haveibeenpwned.com a website set up by Australian security researcher and blogger Troy Hunt who wants to stamp out the crime. Tap in your personal email address and the website will indicate whether any personal information may have been leaked. The most recent high-profile data breach was at British Airways. Last week, the airline confirmed a cyber attack earlier this year had been more extensive than initially indicated, potentially affecting 565,000 passengers rather than the 380,000 it had first suggested. Hackers could have stolen personal and financial details provided by passengers when booking flights. In another major data loss, 50 million Facebook accounts were compromised, giving hackers potential access to user names and passwords. Although it is impossible to protect yourself from a data breach you can be vigilant about any of your personal details landing in the lap of hackers. Hackers try to steal personal details by 'phishing' tricking you into parting with information such as passwords and bank account details. They might pretend to be an organisation such as your bank, favourite internet shopping website, an online payment system such as PayPal or even the taxman. Typically, they state there has been a security breach and that you must not share your private information with anyone but them. They then use the details to empty your bank account. You should also be wary of clicking on an 'unsubscribe' link. Before proceeding, check the email has been sent from the company it claims to be. Click on the 'address' the email was sent from usually a fake sender will have a different name from the company it reports to be, with a foreign suffix rather than more common 'co.uk' or 'com' endings. Clicking on pop-ups claiming to offer you extra security such as anti-virus software should also be avoided. They could be crooks. Much of the headache of fending off cyber criminals can be avoided by installing security software. But never download software offered in a pop-up window as it may be 'malware'. This is the term for malicious software used by criminals looking to plant viruses on someone's computer, enabling them to steal key personal data. Anti-virus software can be downloaded for free from providers such as Avira and Sophos to stop such unwanted pop-ups. Packages from security software firms such as McAfee, Intego, Norton and Bitdefender cost around 30 a year. These should stop viruses getting into your computer though they will not necessarily prevent 'ransomware' threats. The US healthcare sector is under pressure. The biggest market in the world, its 5,000 hospitals spend around $1.3trillion (1trillion) a year on staff, medical supplies, drugs, equipment and the like. Yet Americans have more illnesses and die earlier than many countries with far lower healthcare budgets. The US government is trying to encourage hospitals to be more efficient. Edinburgh-based Craneware helps them do this. The US government is trying to encourage hospitals to be more efficient and Edinburgh-based Craneware helps them do this Founded in 1999 by Keith Nielsen, this Scottish company has created a group of software tools that help American hospitals spend their money more wisely. The group has been phenomenally successful. In 2009, when Midas first recommended the shares, they were 275p. Last week, they closed at 2700p so they have surged nearly tenfold in the past nine years. At the same time, profits have more than tripled, the dividend has surged from 4.7p to 24p and the company has expanded into new hospitals and products. Initially, Craneware focused on one product that ensured US hospitals recorded exactly how long patients stayed on the ward and the treatments they received so that insurance payments were calculated accurately. Since then, Nielsen has added other services, making use of the data that Craneware has amassed over the years to help hospitals treat patients more effectively. Products include a pharmacy application that allows hospitals to work out which drugs offer the best long-term results or a supply chain tool to improve logistics. The company works with a quarter of all US hospitals and is expected to grow substantially by selling more to these customers and acquiring new ones. Brokers expect profits to rise 18 per cent to $25.2million in the year to June 30, 2019 and a dividend of 24.8p has been pencilled in, rising steadily in subsequent years. Craneware shares have climbed so high that, at 2700p, the stock may seem a touch unwieldy. However, a share-split may be on the cards, which would make individual shares seem more accessible. Midas verdict: Craneware helps American hospitals to cut costs and deliver better results for patients. The stock has soared in recent years and shareholders may feel inclined to bank some profits. However, they should keep a good percentage of their holdings. There is plenty more mileage in the stock for new and existing investors and an annual meeting in early November could deliver more upbeat news. Traded on: Aim Ticker: CRW Contact: craneware.com or 0131 550 3100 Link: A firm half-owned by WPP staged last week's Davos in the Desert, snubbed by IMF boss Christine Lagarde, above, with the Saudi leader at last year's event Embattled WPP boss Mark Read came under renewed pressure last night as it emerged that his firm is at the centre of a controversial Saudi Arabian conference. The Mail on Sunday can reveal that last week's Future Investment Initiative, known as 'Davos in the Desert', was organised by a company half-owned by WPP. The annual Riyadh event is organised by Richard Attias and Associates, in which WPP has a 49 per cent stake. However, sources close to WPP have distanced Read from the conference which the company itself chose not to send representatives to and sought to shift the blame on to the previous chief executive, Sir Martin Sorrell. JPMorgan, HSBC, Ford and Siemens were among businesses that pulled out of the Saudi event following the murder of dissident journalist Jamal Khashoggi in the Saudi consulate in Istanbul. FTSE 100-listed WPP last night came in for fierce criticism. Liberal Democrat leader Sir Vince Cable said: 'They are playing a high risk game with their reputation just to earn a quick quid from a regime that is clearly tottering because of its outrageous behaviour.' Asked about the firm's links to the Future Investment Initiative, Read said he was 'monitoring the situation very carefully', adding that WPP is a 'minority investor' in Richard Attias and Associates. A source close to the firm pointed out that WPP first invested in the firm under Sorrell in 2013. 'This is indicative of the disparate nature of WPP's global portfolio of investments built up under Sorrell which Read now has to address,' he said. Read is trying to offload some of these stakes and has raised 704 million by selling off 16 investments. It has been a brutal week for Read who has seen WPP's share price fall 15 per cent after he unveiled disappointing sales figures. Read has criticised the state of the business he inherited, saying WPP had been 'too slow to adapt, become too complicated and have underinvested in core parts of our business'. He added: 'I'm focused on giving WPP the simplified structure to turn around the underperformance of the last two years.' Sorrell quit WPP in April after a mysterious board inquiry into allegations against him. It was later reported he had been accused of paying for a prostitute on company expenses a claim he strongly denies. Patisserie Valerie bosses are set for a grilling this week as they face investors en masse for the first time since the cafe chain plunged into crisis. Shareholders are expected to give their backing to a rescue package proposed by the firm at a meeting on Thursday. But chairman Luke Johnson, who is Patisserie Holdings' largest shareholder with a 37 per cent stake, will face tough questions from fellow investors. Luke Johnson (pictured), who is Patisserie Holdings' largest shareholder with a 37 per cent stake, will face tough questions from fellow investors However, Johnson and chief executive Paul May will be spared questioning from the media, with journalists banned from the summit, which will be held at the London offices of PR firm Maitland. One investor said he had a long list of questions around the 'sorry state of auditing' at the company. Patisserie Valerie shocked the stock market earlier this month when it revealed it had discovered 'significant, and potentially fraudulent, accounting irregularities'. Bosses found the firm had a net debt of 9.8 million, rather than net cash of 28 million as previously reported, and were forced to agree a rescue deal which included 20 million of loans from Johnson and a 15.7 million share sale. Shareholder advisory groups ISS, Glass Lewis and Pirc are all recommending investors to approve the lifeline deal but each has expressed concerns about the business. In a report sent to investors, Pirc said: 'The circumstances are deeply concerning and the company needs to address this issue by implementing safeguards to prevent such a situation occurring again.' Barclays' profits could by hit by a 5 per cent dip in 2020, researchers claimed Banks would face a 4 billion profits slump over the next two years under a no-deal Brexit, analysis reveals. Researchers at Wall Street giant JP Morgan forecast that UK banks will have to pay significant sums to deal with bad debts if the UK leaves the EU without a deal next March. They said pre-tax profits at Lloyds and RBS could fall by 8 per cent and 6 per cent respectively next year, with falls of 18 per cent in 2020. Barclays' profits could grow by 2 per cent in 2019 before a 5 per cent dip in 2020, they claimed. RBS has put aside 100 million for a potential dip. SME champion backs tribunal call Paul Uppal, the Government's first small business champion, has backed our Justice For Our Firms campaign. The Mail on Sunday wants a tribunal system to help firms challenge misbehaving banks without costly legal fees. Uppal said: 'Across the UK SME landscape there is an overarching need to champion the fair treatment of businesses.' The dismal stock market float of Funding Circle descended into farce last night as it emerged staff offloaded shares at the earliest opportunity. The peer-to-peer lender, which connects small businesses in need of loans with thousands of investors, suffered one of the worst debuts in the London Stock Exchange's history when it floated earlier this month with a 1.5 billion valuation. The shares dived 23 per cent in their first week amid a torrid time for new listings on the stock market. The dismal stock market float of Funding Circle descended into farce last night as it emerged staff offloaded shares at the earliest opportunity City sources told The Mail on Sunday that there were a 'flood of orders' to sell Funding Circle's shares on the first day of trading from the company's own staff. Firms usually agree deals with directors and staff to prevent them from dumping shares as soon as a company lists on the stock market, which can result in the share price falling. But while the founders and anyone holding more than 0.25% of the shares agreed not to sell any more shares after the flotation for at least a year, no such restrictions were imposed on the remaining staff. As a result, more than 1,000 workers were free to sell shares soon after the float. Lock-up periods are normally put in place to stop the market being flooded with a large number of shares. They also prevent large sales from employees, which can be seen as a lack of faith in the company's prospects, even if they just want to cash in shares they have been sitting on for years. Another concern about not locking in staff shares is that there is no financial incentive for workers to remain at the company. One source said traders were left 'scratching their heads' when a large number of orders to sell the shares came through on the first day of trading from private investors, who were not yet able to trade the shares. They soon realised the share sales were from staff who were able to cash in on their shares and options. A wave of companies that have floated or which hope to float have suffered amid uncertainty about the market Only institutional investors such as banks or asset managers were able to buy and sell the shares for the first few days. A spokesman said the company made the decision to allow staff to cash in along with other private investors. In true Silicon Valley style, Funding Circle, which was founded in 2010 by a group of former Oxford University students, hands share options to all staff as incentives when they join. The company's prospectus reveals almost 44million worth of share options could be cashed in immediately after the float, based on the initial share price. Funding Circle's co-founder and chief executive Samir Desai called the early share price tumble 'a weird blip'. A wave of companies that have floated or which hope to float have suffered amid uncertainty about the market. Aston Martin floated on the same day as Funding Circle and its shares have slumped. Investors have already taken out bets against James Bond's favourite car firm, even after the early falls. Earlier this month, The Mail on Sunday revealed Carmignac, a French investment giant, placed a 20million short position in Aston Martin, meaning it will profit if the share price stays in reverse. It became the first major investor to bet against the shares. The rocky market conditions have already forced Spanish telecoms giant Telefonica to abandon plans for a 10billion float of O2, its British mobile arm. Vannin Capital, a litigation funder, also pulled its listing, having aimed for a 1 billion valuation initially. At the smaller end of the spectrum, others companies such as online video game seller Green Man Gaming have also been hit by the turbulence and decided to delay their floats. Pimlico Plumbers recorded record sales over the summer in spite of it being one of the hottest in recent memory. The extended heatwave failed to dampen business at the London-based services company and revenues were up 26 per cent on last year's summer to 10 million, making it the busiest in its 39-year history. Owner and founder Charlie Mullins, the self-styled 'millionaire plumber' put the growth in business down to expanding beyond heating and plumbing to home services such as electrics, roofing and building work. Pimlico Plumbers recorded record sales over the summer in spite of it being one of the hottest in recent memory The company has also been on an aggressive recruitment drive and now has a 450-strong workforce and 80 apprentices. Said Mullins: 'I'm very pleased that while the High Street is going through the biggest upheaval it's seen since the Second World War, Pimlico has sidestepped the current economic maelstrom with some of the strongest first quarter results in our history.' The growth continued into September with sales of 3.6 million making it a record month. Vocal Remainer Mullins, who bankrolled Gina Miller's court battle to force a Parliamentary vote on Brexit, warned that his company would not be immune from the effects of leaving the EU but said he was confident about continuing to grow. He said: 'The next couple of years will be extremely testing ... with survival being the major goal for some if the Brexit settlement doesn't allow the domestic economy to thrive.' It has taken more than three months involving numerous phone calls, emails and a lot of worry along the way. But finally, with a huge helping hand from The Mail on Sunday, Gayle Rinkoff has got back a big chunk of the money stolen from her by bank fraudsters. Last week, Gayle, a 45-year-old stylist from North London, was told that 13,780 out of 19,000 stolen had finally been 'recovered' by the bank from where her money had been moved by criminals. The funds, she was informed, would be returned to where they belong her NatWest bank account. Success: Gayle Rinkoff has been refunded 13,780 'I had all but given up hope of recovering any of my losses,' she said. 'Thank you The Mail on Sunday for restoring a little bit of my faith in the world. Without your support, effectively naming and shaming the banks involved, I doubt whether I would have seen my money again. You were the only people who seemed to care. Not even the police were interested.' Since the end of July, The Mail on Sunday has repeatedly asked Royal Bank of Scotland, owner of NatWest, to look into Gayle's case. She was the victim of a sophisticated scam that involved someone ringing her, purporting to be from the bank's fraud department, stating there was 'suspicious activity' on her account. The call was given credence by the fact that the number called from matched the NatWest helpline number on the back of her bank card. The caller then gave Gayle details of new standing orders that had been set up on her account and a series of pending payments. Stating her account had been suspended a comment given credibility when she went online and saw it had she was told she needed to move money to a new 'secure' account. The fraud was complete. In late July, the bank told The Mail on Sunday its 'dedicated scams team' was looking at Gayle's case. Then in September, it said it was chasing the beneficiary bank (Yorkshire) for an update. Rinkoff was the victim of a sophisticated scam that involved someone ringing her, purporting to be from the bank's fraud department, stating there was 'suspicious activity' on her account We then highlighted Gayle's case in the wake of the banking industry announcing new rules designed to curb the rising tide of fraud 500 million in the first half of this year. This seemed to chivvy things along. Although a good outcome in the end, Gayle's experience raises questions about the speed at which the two banks acted. Indeed the banks give different versions of how they dealt with the fraud. While the crime was committed on July 24, Yorkshire says it was not until September 13 that NatWest contacted its 'fraud investigations and recoveries team'. The account was then frozen but 5,220 had already been removed by the fraudsters money now irrecoverable. NatWest insists it contacted Yorkshire in July. Yorkshire says it issued a cheque on September 28 to NatWest for the 13,780 recovered. But NatWest says it was not received until October 15. The cheque then had to clear before the proceeds were paid last week into Gayle's account. Royal Bank of Scotland, on behalf of NatWest, says that as Gayle 'authorised' the 19,000 payment to the fraudsters, it will not be refunding her the 5,220 she has lost. It added: 'We sympathise with Gayle Rinkoff and appreciate it has been a distressing experience for her. 'Customers should never make a payment or divulge full security details at the request of someone over the phone claiming to be from their bank.' The last word goes to Gayle. 'Of course I am overjoyed with the outcome. But at times I felt abandoned by a bank I have had a relationship with for 35 years. Surely the banking industry should be doing more to hunt down these unscrupulous fraudsters who are causing untold misery.' For the past two years, the MoS has waged a 'stop the scammers' campaign. If you have been a victim of a bank fraud email jeff.prestridge@mailonsunday.co.uk. Brookfield Business Partners LP engages in owning and operating business services and industrial operations. It operates though the following segments: Business Services, Infrastructure Services, Industrial Operations, and Corporate and Other. The Business Services segment includes services such as residential mortgage insurance, healthcare, road fuel distribution and marketing, real estate and construction, entertainment, financing, and other businesses. The Infrastructure Services segment consists of services to the nuclear power generation industry and offshore oil production industry: and access, forming, and shoring solutions and specialized services. The Industrial Operations segment deals with automotive batteries, graphite electrode, and other manufacturing; water and wastewater services: natural gas production and well servicing; and a variety of other industrial operations. The Corporate and Other segment comprises cash and liquidity management, and activities related to the management of the partnership's relationship with Brookfield. The company was founded on October 1, 2015 and is headquartered in Hamilton, Bermuda. Read More The following companies are subsidiares of Thermo Fisher Scientific: 236 Perinton Parkway LLC, 27 Forge Parkway LLC, ABR--Affinity BioReagents, ACI Holdings Inc., ARG Services LLC, ASPEX Corporation, Abgene Inc., Abgene Limited, Acoustic Cytometry Systems Inc., AcroMetrix LLC, Acros Organics B.V.B.A., Advanced Biotechnologies Limited, Advanced Scientifics (ASI), Advanced Scientifics Inc., Advanced Scientifics International Inc., Affymetrix Biotech Participacoes Ltda., Affymetrix Biotech Shanghai Ltd, Affymetrix Inc, Affymetrix Japan K.K., Affymetrix Pte Ltd, Affymetrix UK Ltd, Afora S.A.U., Ahura Scientific, Alchematrix Inc., Alchematrix LLC, Alfa Aesar, Alfa Aesar (China) Chemical Co. Ltd., Alfa Aesar (Hong Kong) Limited, Allergon AB, Alphine Mountain Limited, Ambion Inc., Apogent Denmark ApS, Apogent Finance Company, Apogent Holding Company, Apogent Technologies Inc., Apogent Transition Corp., Apogent U.K. Limited, App-Tek International Pty Ltd, Applied Biosystems B.V., Applied Biosystems Finance B.V., Applied Biosystems International Inc., Applied Biosystems LLC, Applied Biosystems Taiwan LLC, Applied Biosystems Trading (Shanghai) Company Ltd., Applied Biosystems de Mexico S. de R.L. de C.V., Applied Scientific Corporation, Avances Cientificos de Mexico S. de R.L. de C.V., Avocado Research Chemicals Limited, B.R.A.H.M.S. Biotech GmbH, B.R.A.H.M.S. GmbH, B.R.A.H.M.S. UK Ltd, BAC BV, BAC IP BV, Barnstead Thermolyne LLC, Beijing Phadia Diagnostics Co Ltd, Bender MedSystems GmbH, BioTrove Corporation, BioTrove International Inc., Bioanalysis Labsystems S.A., Biochemical Sciences LLC, Biolab, BmT GmbH Laborprodukte, Bonsai Tecnologies - Sistemas para Biotecnologia e Industria Unipessoal Lda, Brammer Bio, Bumi-Sans Sendirian Berhad, CAC Limited, CB Diagnostics AB, CB Diagnostics Holding AB, CEPH International Corporation, CHK Holdings Inc., CRS Robotics, CTPS LLC, Capitol Scientific Products Inc., Capitol Vial Inc., Cellomics Inc., CellzDirect Inc., Cenduit GmbH, Cenduit LLC, Cezanne S.A.S., Chase Scientific Glass Inc., Chromacol Limited, Clintrak, Clintrak Clinical Labeling Services LLC, Clintrak Pharmaceutical Services LLC, Cohesive Technologies (UK) Limited, Cohesive Technologies Inc., Columbia Diagnostics Inc., Compendia Bioscience Inc., Comtest Limited, Consolidated Technologies Inc., Consultores Fisher Scientific Chile Ltd, Core Informatics, Core Informatics LLC, Core Informatics UK Ltd., D-finitive Technologies Inc., DCG Systems B.V., DCG Systems C.V., DCG Systems G.K., DCG Systems GmbH, DCG Systems Korea Ltd., DCG Systems LLC, DPI Newco LLC, DSM Pharmaceutical Products Inc., Dharmacon, Diagnostix Ltd., Dionex (China) Analytical Ltd, Dionex (Switzerland) AG, Dionex (UK) Limited, Dionex Austria GmbH, Dionex Benelux B.V., Dionex Brasil Instrumentos Cientificos Ltda, Dionex Canada Ltd., Dionex China Limited, Dionex Corporation, Dionex Denmark A/S, Dionex Holding GmbH, Dionex I LLC, Dionex Pty Ltd., Dionex S.A., Dionex S.p.A., Dionex Singapore Pte Ltd., Dionex Softron GmbH, Dionex Sweden AB, Distribution Solutions International Inc., Doe & Ingalls Investors Inc., Doe & Ingalls Limited, Doe & Ingalls Management LLC, Doe & Ingalls Properties II LLC, Doe & Ingalls Properties LLC, Doe & Ingalls of California Operating LLC, Doe & Ingalls of Florida Operating LLC, Doe & Ingalls of Maryland Operating LLC, Doe & Ingalls of Massachusetts Operating LLC, Doe & Ingalls of North Carolina Operating LLC, Doublecape Holding Limited, Doublecape Limited, Drakeside Real Estate Holding Company LLC, Duke Scientific Corporation, Dynal Biotech Beijing Limited, EGS Gauging Ltd., EGS Gauging Technical Services Company, EP Scientific Products LLC, Ecochem N.V., EnviroEquip Pty Ltd, Epsom Glass Industries Limited, Equibio Limited, Erie Electroverre S.A., Erie Finance Limited, Erie LP Holding LLC, Erie Scientific Company of Puerto Rico, Erie Scientific Hungary Kft, Erie Scientific LLC, Erie U.K. Limited, Erie UK 1 Limited, Erie UK 2 Limited, Erie UK Holding Company, Erie UK Senior Holding Limited, European Laboratory Holdings Limited, Eutech Instruments Europe B.V., Eutech Instruments Pte Ltd., Eutech Instruments Sdn Bhd, Ever Ready Thermometer Co. Inc., FEI Asia Pacific Co. Ltd., FEI Australia Pty Ltd, FEI CPD B.V., FEI Company, FEI Company Japan Ltd., FEI Company of USA (S.E.A.) Pte Ltd., FEI Czech Republic s.r.o., FEI Deutschland GmbH, FEI EFA Inc., FEI EFA International Pte. Ltd., FEI Electron Optics B.V., FEI Electron Optics International B.V., FEI Europe B.V., FEI France SAS, FEI Global Holdings C.V., FEI Hong Kong Company Limited, FEI Houston Inc., FEI Italia Srl, FEI Korea Ltd., FEI Melbourne Pty Ltd., FEI Microscopy Solutions Ltd, FEI Munich GmbH, FEI Norway Holding AS, FEI SAS, FEI Saudi Arabia LLC, FEI Servicos de Nanotecnologia Ltda., FEI Technologies Inc., FEI Technology de Mexico S.A. de C.V., FEI Trading (Shanghai) Co. Ltd., FEI Trondheim AS, FEI UK Ltd., FHP LLC, FRC Holding Inc. 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Ltd., Finesse Solutions AG, Finesse Solutions Inc., Finnzymes Oy, Fisher Alder S. de R.L. de C.V., Fisher Asia Manufacturing Ventures Inc., Fisher Bermuda Holdings Limited, Fisher BioImage ApS, Fisher BioPharma Services (India) Private Limited, Fisher BioSciences Japan G.K., Fisher BioServices Inc., Fisher Bioblock Holding II SNC, Fisher CLP Holding Limited Partnership, Fisher Canada Holding ULC 1, Fisher Canada Holding ULC 2, Fisher Canada Holding ULC 3, Fisher Canada Limited Partnership, Fisher Chimica BVBA, Fisher Clinical Logistics LLC, Fisher Clinical Services (Beijing) Co. Ltd., Fisher Clinical Services (Bristol) LLC, Fisher Clinical Services (Colombia) LLC, Fisher Clinical Services (Korea) Co. Ltd, Fisher Clinical Services (Mexico) LLC, Fisher Clinical Services (Peru) LLC, Fisher Clinical Services (Suzhou) Co. Ltd., Fisher Clinical Services Colombia S.A.S., Fisher Clinical Services GmbH, Fisher Clinical Services Inc., Fisher Clinical Services Japan K.K., Fisher Clinical Services Latin America S.R.L., Fisher Clinical Services Limited Liability Company, Fisher Clinical Services Mexico S. de R.L. de C.V., Fisher Clinical Services Peru S.R.L, Fisher Clinical Services Pte Ltd., Fisher Clinical Services U.K. Limited, Fisher Emergo B.V., Fisher Germany Holdings GmbH, Fisher Hamilton China Inc., Fisher Hamilton Mexico LLC, Fisher Holdings ApS, Fisher Internet Minority Holdings L.L.C., Fisher Laboratory Products Manufacturing (Shanghai) Co. Ltd, Fisher Luxembourg Danish Holdings SARL, Fisher Manufacturing (Malaysia) Sdn Bhd, Fisher Maybridge Holdings Limited, Fisher Mexico S. de R.L. de C.V., Fisher Scientific (Austria) GmbH, Fisher Scientific (Hong Kong) Limited, Fisher Scientific (M) Sdn Bhd, Fisher Scientific (SEA) Pte. Ltd., Fisher Scientific A/S, Fisher Scientific AG, Fisher Scientific Australia Pty Limited, Fisher Scientific Biotech Line ApS, Fisher Scientific Brazil Inc., Fisher Scientific Central America Inc., Fisher Scientific Chile Inc., Fisher Scientific Colombia Inc., Fisher Scientific Company, Fisher Scientific Company L.L.C., Fisher Scientific Costa Rica Sociedad de Responsabilidad Limitada, Fisher Scientific Europe Holdings B.V., Fisher Scientific GTF AB, Fisher Scientific Germany Beteiligungs GmbH, Fisher Scientific GmbH, Fisher Scientific Holding Company LLC, Fisher Scientific Holding HK Limited, Fisher Scientific Holding U.K. Limited, Fisher Scientific Holdings (M) Sdn Bhd, Fisher Scientific Holdings (S) Pte Ltd, Fisher Scientific International LLC, Fisher Scientific Investments (Cayman) Ltd., Fisher Scientific Ireland Investments Unlimited, Fisher Scientific Ireland Limited, Fisher Scientific Japan Ltd., Fisher Scientific Jersey Island Limited, Fisher Scientific Korea Ltd, Fisher Scientific Latin America Inc., Fisher Scientific Luxembourg S.a.r.l., Fisher Scientific Mexicana S. de R.L. de C.V., Fisher Scientific Mexico Inc., Fisher Scientific Middle East and Africa Inc., Fisher Scientific Norway AS, Fisher Scientific Operating Company, Fisher Scientific Oxoid Holdings Ltd., Fisher Scientific Oy, Fisher Scientific Pte. Ltd., Fisher Scientific S.A.S., Fisher Scientific S.L., Fisher Scientific SPRL, Fisher Scientific The Hague I B.V., Fisher Scientific The Hague II B.V., Fisher Scientific The Hague III B.V., Fisher Scientific The Hague IV B.V., Fisher Scientific The Hague V B.V., Fisher Scientific U.K. Limited, Fisher Scientific UK Holding Company 2, Fisher Scientific UK Holding Company Limited, Fisher Scientific Unipessoal Lda., Fisher Scientific Venezuela Inc., Fisher Scientific Worldwide (Shanghai) Co. Ltd., Fisher Scientific Worldwide Holdings I C.V., Fisher Scientific Worldwide Inc., Fisher Scientific de Mexico S.A., Fisher Scientific of the Netherlands B.V., Fisher Scientific spol. S.r.o, Fisher Servicios Clinicos (Chile) LLC, Fisher Servicios Clinicos Chile Ltda, Fisher WWD Holding L.L.C., Fisher Worldwide Distribution SPV, Fisher Worldwide Gene Distribution SPV, Flux Instruments, Fuji Partnership, G & M Procter Limited, G V Instruments Limited, GV Instruments Canada Ltd., GV Instruments Inc, Gatan Inc, General Scientific Company Sdn Bhd (M), Genomed molekularbiologische und diagnostische Produkte GmbH, Gerhard Menzel B.V. & Co. KG, Gold Cattle Standard Testing Labs Inc., Golden West Indemnity Company Limited, Goring Kerr Detection Limited, Greenville Service Company Inc., HENO GmbH i.L., Hangar 215 Inc., Helmet Securities Limited, Henogen, HighChem, HyClone International Trade (Tianjin) Co. Ltd, Hybaid Limited, I.Q. (BIO) Limited, IDnostics AG, ILS Laboratories Scandinavia AB, Inel Inc., Inel SAS, InnaPhase Inc., InnaPhase Limited, IntegenX, Intrinsic BioProbes Inc., Intrinsic Bioprobes Inc., Invitrogen (Shanghai) Investment Co. Ltd., Invitrogen Argentina SA, Invitrogen BioServices India Private Limited, Invitrogen Europe Limited, Invitrogen Finance Corp., Invitrogen Holdings LLC, Invitrogen Holdings Ltd., Invitrogen Hong Kong Limited, Invitrogen IP Holdings Inc., Invitrogen Trading (Shanghai) Co. Ltd., Ion Torrent Systems Inc., Ionalytics Corporation, JSC Thermo Fisher Scientific, Jouan LLC, Jouan Limited, Jouan SA, Kendro Containment & Services Limited, Kendro Laboratory Products Ltd, Kettlebrook Insurance Co. ltd., Keystone Scientific, KonTEM GmbH, Kyle Jordan Investments LLC, LIFE TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION, LTC Tech South Africa PTY Ltd., La-Pha-Pack GmbH, Lab Vision (UK) Limited, Lab Vision Corporation, Lab-Chrom-Pack LLC, Lab-Line Instruments Inc., Labomex MBP S. de R. L. De C.V., Laboratoire Service International - L.S.I, Laboratory Management Systems Inc., Laboratory Specialties Proprietary Ltd., LambTrack Limited, Laser Analytical Systems Inc., Liberty Lane Investment LLC, Liberty Lane Real Estate Holding Company LLC, Life Sciences International (Poland) SP z O.O, Life Sciences International Holdings BV, Life Sciences International LLC, Life Sciences International Limited, Life Technologies AS, Life Technologies Australia PTY Ltd., Life Technologies BPD AB, Life Technologies BPD UK Limited, Life Technologies Brasil Comercio e Industria de Produtos para Biotecnologia Ltda, Life Technologies Chile SpA, Life Technologies Clinical Services Lab Inc., Life Technologies Co. Ltd., Life Technologies Czech Republic s.r.o., Life Technologies DaAn Diagnostic (Guangzhou) Co. Ltd., Life Technologies Europe B.V., Life Technologies Finance Ltd., Life Technologies Finland Oy, Life Technologies GmbH, Life Technologies Holdings PTE Ltd., Life Technologies Inc., Life Technologies International B.V., Life Technologies Japan Ltd., Life Technologies Korea LLC, Life Technologies Limited, Life Technologies Magyarorszag Kft, Life Technologies New Zealand Ltd., Life Technologies Norway Investments US LLC, Life Technologies Polska Sp z.o.o., Life Technologies SA, Life Technologies SAS, Life Technologies s.r.o, Linkage Biosciences Inc., Linkage Biosciences S.a.r.l., Loftus Furnace Company, Lomb Scientific, Lomb Scientific (Aust) Pty Limited, MTI-GlobalStem, Marketbase International Limited, Matrix MicroScience Inc., Matrix MicroScience Ltd., Matrix Technologies Corporation Limited, Matrix Technologies LLC, Maybridge Chemical Company Limited, Maybridge Chemical Holdings Limited, Maybridge Limited, Medical Analysis Systems Inc., Medical Analysis Systems International Inc., Medical Diagnostics Systems Inc., Metavac LLC, Microgenics Corporation, Microgenics Diagnostics Pty Limited, Microgenics GmbH, Microm International GmbH, Microm Laborgerate S.L.U, Molecular BioProducts Inc., Molecular Probes Inc., Molecular Transfer Inc., NAPCO Inc., NERL Diagnostics LLC, NOVODIRECT GmbH Labor- und Industrie- Megerate, Nalge (Europe) Limited, Nalge Nunc International (Monterrey) LLC, Nalge Nunc International Corporation, Nanjing WeiKangLe Trading Industrial Co Ltd, NanoDrop Technologies LLC, National Scientific Company, Navaho Acquisition Corp., Neomarkers Inc., New FS Holdings Inc., NewcoGen PE LLC, Nihon Dynal K.K., Niton Asia Limited, NovaWave Technologies Inc., Nunc A/S, ONIX Systems Inc., OXOID CZ s.r.o., Odyssey Holdings Corporation, Odyssey Luxembourg Holdings S.a r.l., Odyssey Luxembourg IP Holdings 1 S.a r.l., Odyssey Luxembourg IP Holdings 2 S.a r.l., Odyssey Venture Corporation, Omega Data Systems, One Lambda Inc, Onix Holdings Limited, Orme Scientific Limited, Owl Separation Systems LLC, Oxoid (ELY) Limited, Oxoid 2000 Limited, Oxoid AS, Oxoid Australia Pty. Limited, Oxoid Company, Oxoid Deutschland GmbH, Oxoid Holding SAS, Oxoid Holdings Limited, Oxoid Inc., Oxoid International Limited, Oxoid Investments GmbH, Oxoid Limited, Oxoid N.V., Oxoid New Zealand Limited, Oxoid Pension Trustees Limited, Oxoid Senior Holdings Limited, Oxoid UKH LLC, PAX - DSI Acquisition LLC, PE AG, Pacific Rim Far East Industries LLC, Pacific Rim Investment LLC, Panomics L.L.C., Panomics S.R.L., Patheon, Patheon API Inc., Patheon API Manufacturing Inc., Patheon API Services Inc., Patheon Austria GmbH & Co KG, Patheon B.V., Patheon Banner U.S. Holdings Inc., Patheon Biologics (NJ) LLC, Patheon Biologics Australia Pty Ltd, Patheon Biologics B.V., Patheon Biologics LLC, Patheon Calculus Merger LLC, Patheon Cooperatief U.A., Patheon Development Services Inc., Patheon Finance LLC, Patheon France SAS, Patheon Holdings B.V., Patheon Holdings I B.V., Patheon Holdings II B.V., Patheon Holdings SAS, Patheon I B.V., Patheon I Holding GmbH, Patheon Inc., Patheon International AG, Patheon Italia S.p.A., Patheon KK, Patheon Life Science Products International GmbH, Patheon Manufacturing Services LLC, Patheon Pharmaceuticals Inc., Patheon Pharmaceuticals Services Inc., Patheon Puerto Rico Acquisitions Corporation, Patheon Puerto Rico Inc., Patheon Regensburg GmbH, Patheon Softgels B.V., Patheon Softgels Inc., Patheon U.S. Holdings Inc., Patheon U.S. Holdings LLC, Patheon UK Limited, Patheon UK Pension Trustees Limited, Pelican Acquisition Corporation, Perbio Science (Canada) Company, Perbio Science AB, Perbio Science BVBA, Perbio Science France SAS, Perbio Science Inc., Perbio Science International Netherlands B.V., Perbio Science Invest AB, Perbio Science Nederland B.V., Perbio Science Projekt AB, Perbio Science Sweden Holdings AB, Perbio Science Switzerland SA, Perbio Science UK Limited, Phadia AB, Phadia Diagnosticos Ltda, Phadia GmbH, Phadia Holding AB, Phadia International Holdings C.V., Phadia Korea Co. Ltd, Phadia Luxembourg Holdings S.a.r.l., Phadia Malta Holdings Limited, Phadia Oy, Phadia Real Property AB, Phadia Sweden AB, Phadia Taiwan Inc., Phadia US Inc., Phadia s.r.o., Pharmacaps Mexicana SA de CV, Phenom-World B.V., Phenom-World Holding B.V, Phenom-World Innovations B.V., Phinotex, Pierce Biotechnology Inc., Pierce Milwaukee Holding Corp., Pierce Milwaukee Inc., Polychromix, Power Sweden Holdings I AB, Power Sweden Holdings II AB, Power Sweden Holdings III Aktiebolag, Princeton Gamma-Tech Instruments LLC, Princeton Security Technologies, Prionics AG, Prionics Asia Ltd., Prionics Deutschland GmbH, Prionics France SAS, Prionics Italia S.r.l., Prionics Lelystad B.V., Prionics USA Inc., Priority Air Express LLC, Priority Air Express Pte. Ltd., Priority Air Express UK Limited, Priority Air Holdings Corp, Priority Solutions International, Promedica Pty Limited, Proxeon, Proxeon Biosystems ApS, Qiagen, REP GBP I-B Blocker Inc., Raymond A Lamb Limited, Remel Europe Limited, Remel Inc., Richard-Allan Scientific Company, Robbins Scientific LLC, Robocon Labor- und Industrieroboter Gesellschaft m.b.H, Rupprecht and Patashnick, Rupprecht and Patashnick (R&P), Russell pH Limited, S.C.I. du 10 rue Dugay Trouin, SCI Inno 92, STC Bio Manufacturing Inc., Samco Scientific (Monterrey) LLC, Samco Scientific LLC, Saroph Sweden AB, Schantz Road LLC, Seradyn Inc., Shanghai Life Technologies Biotechnology Co. Limited, Shanghai Thermo Fisher (C-I) Trading Co. Ltd, Shanghai Thermo Fisher (S) Trading Co. Ltd, Southern Trials (Pty) Ltd., Specialty (SMI) Inc., Spectra-Physics AB, Spectra-Physics Holdings Limited, Spectra-Physics Holdings USA LLC, Spectronex, Staten Island Cogeneration Corporation, Sterilin Limited, Stokes Bio Ltd., Sweden DIA (Sweden) AB, SwissAnalytic Group GmbH, Systems Manufacturing Corporation, TFLP LLC, TFS Breda B.V., TFS LLC, TFS Singapore HK Limited, TFSL Financing GP LLC, TFSL Senior GP Holdings 2 LLC, TK Partnership, TKA Wasseraufbereitungssysteme, TMOI Inc., TPI Real Estate Holdings LLC, TSP Holdings I LLC, TWX LLC, Technology Design Solutions Pty Ltd, Thermedics Detection de Argentina S.R.L, Thermo Allen Coding Limited, Thermo Asset Management Services Inc., Thermo BioAnalysis LLC, Thermo BioAnalysis Limited, Thermo BioSciences Holdings LLC, Thermo CIDTEC, Thermo CRS Holdings Ltd., Thermo CRS Ltd., Thermo Cambridge Limited, Thermo Cayman Holdings Ltd., Thermo Corporation, Thermo DMA Inc., Thermo Detection de Mexico S. de R.L. de C.V., Thermo Dutch Holdings Limited Partnership, Thermo EGS Gauging LLC, Thermo Eberline Holdings I LLC, Thermo Eberline Holdings II LLC, Thermo Eberline LLC, Thermo Electron (Calgary) Limited, Thermo Electron (Chile) S.p.A., Thermo Electron (Karlsruhe) GmbH, Thermo Electron (Management Services) Limited, Thermo Electron (Proprietary) Limited, Thermo Electron A/S, Thermo Electron Australia Pty Limited, Thermo Electron Export Inc., Thermo Electron Holdings SAS, Thermo Electron Industries, Thermo Electron LED GmbH, Thermo Electron LED S.A.S., Thermo Electron Limited, Thermo Electron Manufacturing Limited, Thermo Electron Metallurgical Services Inc., Thermo Electron North America LLC, Thermo Electron Pension Trust GmbH, Thermo Electron Puerto Rico Inc., Thermo Electron SAS, Thermo Electron Scientific Instruments LLC, Thermo Electron Sweden AB, Thermo Electron Sweden Forvaltning AB, Thermo Electron Weighing & Inspection Limited, Thermo Elemental Limited, Thermo Environmental Instruments LLC, Thermo Fast U.K. Limited, Thermo Finland Holdings LLC, Thermo Finland Holdings MT1 B.V., Thermo Finland Holdings MT2 B.V., Thermo Finnigan LLC, Thermo Finnigan Limited, Thermo Fisher (CN) Luxembourg Holding S.a.r.l., Thermo Fisher (CN) Luxembourg S.a.r.l., Thermo Fisher (CN) Malta Holdings Limited, Thermo Fisher (CN-I) Luxembourg LLC, Thermo Fisher (CN-II) Luxembourg LLC, Thermo Fisher (Cayman) Holdings I Ltd., Thermo Fisher (Cayman) Holdings II Ltd., Thermo Fisher (Finland Holdings 2) LLC, Thermo Fisher (Finland Holdings) Limited Partnership, Thermo Fisher (Gibraltar) II Limited, Thermo Fisher (Gibraltar) Limited, Thermo Fisher (Heysham) Limited, Thermo Fisher (Kandel) GmbH, Thermo Fisher CHK Holding LLC, Thermo Fisher China Business Trust, Thermo Fisher China Business Trust II, Thermo Fisher Costa Rica Sociedad de Responsabilidad Limitada, Thermo Fisher Cyprus Holdings LLC, Thermo Fisher Detection Mexico LLC, Thermo Fisher Diagnostics (Ireland) Limited, Thermo Fisher Diagnostics AB, Thermo Fisher Diagnostics AG, Thermo Fisher Diagnostics AS, Thermo Fisher Diagnostics Aps, Thermo Fisher Diagnostics Austria GmbH, Thermo Fisher Diagnostics B.V., Thermo Fisher Diagnostics GmbH, Thermo Fisher Diagnostics K.K., Thermo Fisher Diagnostics Limited, Thermo Fisher Diagnostics NV, Thermo Fisher Diagnostics S.L.U., Thermo Fisher Diagnostics S.p.A. , Thermo Fisher Diagnostics SAS, Thermo Fisher Diagnostics Sociedade Unipessoal Lda, Thermo Fisher Eurobonds Ltd., Thermo Fisher Financial Services Inc., Thermo Fisher GP LLC, Thermo Fisher German Holdings LLC, Thermo Fisher Germany B.V., Thermo Fisher India Divestco Private Limited, Thermo Fisher India Holding B.V., Thermo Fisher Insurance Holdings Inc., Thermo Fisher Insurance Holdings LLC, Thermo Fisher Investments (Cayman) Ltd., Thermo Fisher Israel Ltd., Thermo Fisher Production et Services SAS, Thermo Fisher Project Cyprus LLC, Thermo Fisher Re Ltd., Thermo Fisher Scientific (Asheville) LLC, Thermo Fisher Scientific (Australia) C.V., Thermo Fisher Scientific (Barbados) Holdings Ltd., Thermo Fisher Scientific (Breda) Holding BV, Thermo Fisher Scientific (Bremen) GmbH, Thermo Fisher Scientific (CN) Limited Partnership, Thermo Fisher Scientific (China) Co. Ltd., Thermo Fisher Scientific (China) Holding Limited, Thermo Fisher Scientific (China-HK) Holding Limited, Thermo Fisher Scientific (DE) Holding S.a.r.l., Thermo Fisher Scientific (Ecublens) SARL, Thermo Fisher Scientific (Finance I) B.V., Thermo Fisher Scientific (Finance I) S.a.r.l., Thermo Fisher Scientific (Finance II) S.a.r.l., Thermo Fisher Scientific (Finance III) LLC, Thermo Fisher Scientific (Finance III) S.a.r.l., Thermo Fisher Scientific (Fuji) LLC, Thermo Fisher Scientific (Guangzhou) Co. Ltd, Thermo Fisher Scientific (Holding II) B.V. & Co. KG, Thermo Fisher Scientific (Hong Kong) Limited, Thermo Fisher Scientific (IVGN) B.V., Thermo Fisher Scientific (IVGN) Limited, Thermo Fisher Scientific (Johannesburg) (Proprietary) Limited, Thermo Fisher Scientific (Mexico City) LLC, Thermo Fisher Scientific (Milwaukee) LLC, Thermo Fisher Scientific (Mississauga) Inc., Thermo Fisher Scientific (Monterrey) S. De R.L. De C.V., Thermo Fisher Scientific (NK) LLC, Thermo Fisher Scientific (PN) Austria Holding GmbH, Thermo Fisher Scientific (PN) UK LLC, Thermo Fisher Scientific (PN) UK Limited Partnership, Thermo Fisher Scientific (PN-I) SRL, Thermo Fisher Scientific (PN-II) SRL, Thermo Fisher Scientific (PN1) UK Ltd, Thermo Fisher Scientific (Panama) B.V., Thermo Fisher Scientific (Panama) Dutch LLC, Thermo Fisher Scientific (Praha) s.r.o., Thermo Fisher Scientific (Real Estate 1) GmbH & Co. KG, Thermo Fisher Scientific (Real Estate 1) S.a.r.l., Thermo Fisher Scientific (Schweiz) AG, Thermo Fisher Scientific (Shanghai) Instruments Co. Ltd., Thermo Fisher Scientific (Shanghai) Management Co. Ltd., Thermo Fisher Scientific (Suzhou) Instruments Co. Ltd, Thermo Fisher Scientific (Thailand) Co. Ltd., Thermo Fisher Scientific AL-1 LLC, Thermo Fisher Scientific AU C.V., Thermo Fisher Scientific AU II Limited, Thermo Fisher Scientific AU LLC, Thermo Fisher Scientific AU Limited, Thermo Fisher Scientific Africa Proprietary Ltd, Thermo Fisher Scientific Aquasensors LLC, Thermo Fisher Scientific Australia Pty Ltd, Thermo Fisher Scientific B.V., Thermo Fisher Scientific B.V.B.A., Thermo Fisher Scientific BHK (I) Limited, Thermo Fisher Scientific BHK (II) Limited, Thermo Fisher Scientific Baltics UAB, Thermo Fisher Scientific Beteiligungsverwaltungs GmbH, Thermo Fisher Scientific Biosciences Corp., Thermo Fisher Scientific Brahms LLC, Thermo Fisher Scientific Brasil Instrumentos de Processo Ltda., Thermo Fisher Scientific Brasil Servicos de Logistica Ltda, Thermo Fisher Scientific C.V., Thermo Fisher Scientific Cayman Investments LLC, Thermo Fisher Scientific Chemicals Inc., Thermo Fisher Scientific China (C-I) LLC, Thermo Fisher Scientific China (S) LLC, Thermo Fisher Scientific China Holdings I B.V., Thermo Fisher Scientific China Holdings II B.V., Thermo Fisher Scientific China Holdings III B.V., Thermo Fisher Scientific China Holdings IV B.V., Thermo Fisher Scientific Chromatography Holdings Aps, Thermo Fisher Scientific Chromatography Holdings S.a r.l., Thermo Fisher Scientific Cyprus I C.V., Thermo Fisher Scientific Cyprus I Ltd, Thermo Fisher Scientific Cyprus II C.V., Thermo Fisher Scientific Cyprus II Ltd, Thermo Fisher Scientific Cyprus III C.V., Thermo Fisher Scientific Cyprus III Ltd, Thermo Fisher Scientific Cyprus IV C.V., Thermo Fisher Scientific Cyprus V C.V., Thermo Fisher Scientific Denmark Senior Holdings ApS, Thermo Fisher Scientific Erie 1 Financing (Barbados) SRL, Thermo Fisher Scientific Erie Financing (Barbados) SRL, Thermo Fisher Scientific Erie Financing S.a r.l, Thermo Fisher Scientific Europe GmbH, Thermo Fisher Scientific FLC B.V., Thermo Fisher Scientific FLC Finance C.V., Thermo Fisher Scientific FLC II B.V., Thermo Fisher Scientific FLC LLC, Thermo Fisher Scientific FSIR Financing (Barbados) SRL, Thermo Fisher Scientific FSIR Financing S.a.r.l, Thermo Fisher Scientific FSUKHCO Financing (Barbados) SRL, Thermo Fisher Scientific Falcon Senior Holdings Inc., Thermo Fisher Scientific Finance Company BV, Thermo Fisher Scientific GENEART GmbH, Thermo Fisher Scientific Germany BV & Co. KG, Thermo Fisher Scientific GmbH, Thermo Fisher Scientific HR Services Mexico S. de R.L. de C.V., Thermo Fisher Scientific Holdings (Cayman) I, Thermo Fisher Scientific Holdings (Cayman) II , Thermo Fisher Scientific Holdings Europe Limited, Thermo Fisher Scientific IT Services GmbH, Thermo Fisher Scientific India Holding LLC, Thermo Fisher Scientific India Pvt Ltd, Thermo Fisher Scientific Investments (Luxembourg) S.a.r.l., Thermo Fisher Scientific Investments (Malta) Limited, Thermo Fisher Scientific Investments (Sweden) LLC, Thermo Fisher Scientific Investments (Sweden) S.a.r.l., Thermo Fisher Scientific Investments Malta (Sweden Financing) Limited, Thermo Fisher Scientific Invitrogen Financing (Barbados) SRL, Thermo Fisher Scientific Japan Holdings I B.V., Thermo Fisher Scientific Japan Holdings II B.V., Thermo Fisher Scientific Japan Holdings III B.V., Thermo Fisher Scientific K.K., Thermo Fisher Scientific Korea Ltd., Thermo Fisher Scientific LSI Financing (Barbados) SRL, Thermo Fisher Scientific Life CV GP Holdings II LLC, Thermo Fisher Scientific Life CV GP Holdings LLC, Thermo Fisher Scientific Life Enterprises C.V., Thermo Fisher Scientific Life Enterprises GP LLC, Thermo Fisher Scientific Life Financing (Barbados) SRL, Thermo Fisher Scientific Life Financing (Cayman), Thermo Fisher Scientific Life Financing C.V., Thermo Fisher Scientific Life Financing Limited, Thermo Fisher Scientific Life Holdings I C.V., Thermo Fisher Scientific Life Holdings II C.V., Thermo Fisher Scientific Life Holdings III C.V., Thermo Fisher Scientific Life Holdings Limited, Thermo Fisher Scientific Life International GP Holdings LLC, Thermo Fisher Scientific Life International Holdings I C.V., Thermo Fisher Scientific Life International Holdings II C.V., Thermo Fisher Scientific Life Investments C.V., Thermo Fisher Scientific Life Investments GP LLC, Thermo Fisher Scientific Life Investments I S.a.r.l., Thermo Fisher Scientific Life Investments II S.a r.l., Thermo Fisher Scientific Life Investments III S.a.r.l., Thermo Fisher Scientific Life Investments IV S.a.r.l, Thermo Fisher Scientific Life Investments Malta Holding I LLC, Thermo Fisher Scientific Life Investments Malta Holding II LLC, Thermo Fisher Scientific Life Investments Malta I Limited, Thermo Fisher Scientific Life Investments Malta II Limited, Thermo Fisher Scientific Life Investments US Financing I LLC, Thermo Fisher Scientific Life Investments US Financing II LLC, Thermo Fisher Scientific Life NL Holdings GP LLC, Thermo Fisher Scientific Life Netherlands Holding C.V., Thermo Fisher Scientific Life Senior GP Holdings II LLC, Thermo Fisher Scientific Life Senior GP Holdings LLC, Thermo Fisher Scientific Life Senior Holdings C.V., Thermo Fisher Scientific Life Senior Holdings II C.V., Thermo Fisher Scientific Life Senior Holdings Inc., Thermo Fisher Scientific Life Switzerland Holdings GP LLC, Thermo Fisher Scientific Life Tech Korea Holdings LLC, Thermo Fisher Scientific Life Technologies Enterprise Holding Limited, Thermo Fisher Scientific Life Technologies Investment I LLC, Thermo Fisher Scientific Life Technologies Investment II LLC, Thermo Fisher Scientific Life Technologies Investment UK I Limited, Thermo Fisher Scientific Life Technologies Investment UK II Limited, Thermo Fisher Scientific Life Technologies Investments Holding LP, Thermo Fisher Scientific Life Technologies Israel Investment I Limited, Thermo Fisher Scientific Life Technologies Israel Investment II Limited, Thermo Fisher Scientific Life Technologies Luxembourg Holding LLC, Thermo Fisher Scientific Luxembourg Enterprise Holdings S.a r.l., Thermo Fisher Scientific Luxembourg German Holdings S.a.r.l., Thermo Fisher Scientific Luxembourg Life Technologies UK Holding S.a r.l, Thermo Fisher Scientific Luxembourg Sweden Holdings I S.a r.l, Thermo Fisher Scientific Luxembourg Sweden Holdings II S.a r.l., Thermo Fisher Scientific Luxembourg Venture Holdings I S.a.r.l., Thermo Fisher Scientific Luxembourg Venture Holdings II S.a.r.l., Thermo Fisher Scientific Malaysia Sdn. Bhd., Thermo Fisher Scientific Malta Holdings LLC, Thermo Fisher Scientific Messtechnik GmbH, Thermo Fisher Scientific Mexico City S. de R.L. de C.V., Thermo Fisher Scientific Middle East Holdings Inc., Thermo Fisher Scientific Milano Srl, Thermo Fisher Scientific NHK Limited, Thermo Fisher Scientific New Zealand Holdings, Thermo Fisher Scientific New Zealand Limited, Thermo Fisher Scientific Norway Holdings AS, Thermo Fisher Scientific Norway US Investments LLC, Thermo Fisher Scientific Odyssey Financing (Barbados) SRL, Thermo Fisher Scientific Odyssey Holdings Limited, Thermo Fisher Scientific Operating Company LLC, Thermo Fisher Scientific Oy, Thermo Fisher Scientific PN2 C.V, Thermo Fisher Scientific PN2 LLC, Thermo Fisher Scientific PRB LLC, Thermo Fisher Scientific PRB Malta Limited, Thermo Fisher Scientific PRB S.a.r.l., Thermo Fisher Scientific Panama I Cayman Ltd, Thermo Fisher Scientific Peru S.R.L., Thermo Fisher Scientific Pte. Ltd., Thermo Fisher Scientific Re Ltd., Thermo Fisher Scientific SL, Thermo Fisher Scientific Senior Financing LLC, Thermo Fisher Scientific Senior Holdings Australia LLC, Thermo Fisher Scientific South Africa Proprietary Ltd, Thermo Fisher Scientific SpA, Thermo Fisher Scientific Spectra LLC, Thermo Fisher Scientific Spectra Malta Limited, Thermo Fisher Scientific Spectra S.a.r.l., Thermo Fisher Scientific Spectra-Physics Holdings Luxembourg I S.a r.l., Thermo Fisher Scientific Spectra-Physics Holdings Luxembourg II S.a r.l., Thermo Fisher Scientific Spectra-Physics Investments Malta Limited, Thermo Fisher Scientific Switzerland Holdings C.V., Thermo Fisher Scientific TR Limited, Thermo Fisher Scientific Taiwan Co. Ltd., Thermo Fisher Scientific Vermogensverwaltungs GmbH, Thermo Fisher Scientific West Palm Holdings LLC, Thermo Fisher Scientific Wissenschaftliche Gerate GmbH, Thermo Fisher Scientific Worldwide Investments (Cayman), Thermo Fisher Scientific eCommerce Solutions LLC , Thermo Fisher Senior Canada Holdings LLC, Thermo Foundation Inc., Thermo Gamma-Metrics Holdings Pty Ltd., Thermo Gamma-Metrics LLC, Thermo Gamma-Metrics Pty Ltd, Thermo Holding European Operations LLC, Thermo Hypersil Ltd, Thermo Hypersil-Keystone LLC, Thermo Informatics Asia Pacific Pty Ltd., Thermo Instrument Controls de Mexico S.A. de C.V., Thermo Kevex X-Ray LLC, Thermo Keytek LLC, Thermo LabSystems Inc., Thermo LabSystems S.A., Thermo Life Science International Trading (Tianjin) Co. Ltd., Thermo Life Sciences AB, Thermo Luxembourg Holding S.a.r.l., Thermo Luxembourg S.a.r.l., Thermo MF Physics LLC, Thermo Measurement Ltd, Thermo Measuretech Canada Inc., Thermo Neslab LLC, Thermo Nicolet Limited, Thermo Onix Limited, Thermo Optek (Australia) Pty Ltd., Thermo Optek Limited, Thermo Optek S.A., Thermo Orion Inc., Thermo Portable Holdings LLC, Thermo Power Corporation, Thermo Process Instruments GP LLC, Thermo Process Instruments L.P., Thermo Projects Limited, Thermo Quest S.A., Thermo Radiometrie Limited, Thermo Ramsey Italia S.r.l., Thermo Ramsey LLC, Thermo Ramsey S.A., Thermo Re Ltd., Thermo Scientific Microbiology Pte Ltd., Thermo Scientific Microbiology Sdn Bhd, Thermo Scientific Portable Analytical Instruments Inc., Thermo Scientific Services Inc., Thermo Securities Corporation, Thermo Sentron Canada Inc., Thermo Sentron Limited, Thermo Shandon Inc., Thermo Shandon Limited, Thermo Suomi Holding B.V., Thermo TLH (UK) Limited, Thermo TLH L.P., Thermo Trace Pty Ltd., Thermo-Fisher Biochemical Product (Beijing) Co. Ltd., ThermoLase LLC, ThermoSpectra Limited, Trek Diagnostic Systems LLC, Trek Diagnostic Systems Ltd., Trek Holding Company II Ltd., Trek Holding Company Ltd., Trex Medical Corporation, USB Corporation, Union Lab Supplies Limited, United Diagnostics Inc., VG Systems Limited, Westover Scientific Inc., ZAO PE Biosystems, eBioscience GmbH, eBioscience Ltd, eBioscience SAS, and picoSpin LLC. There is not enough analysis data for North American Palladium. 4.1 Community Rank Outperform Votes North American Palladium has received 159 outperform votes. (Add your outperform vote.) Underperform Votes North American Palladium has received 99 underperform votes. (Add your underperform vote.) Community Sentiment North American Palladium has received 61.63% outperform votes from our community. MarketBeat's community ratings are surveys of what our community members think about North American Palladium and other stocks. Vote Outperform if you believe PALDF will outperform the S&P 500 over the long term. Vote Underperform if you believe PALDF will underperform the S&P 500 over the long term. You may vote once every thirty days. Previous Next Luxottica Group S.p.A., together with its subsidiaries, provides fashion, luxury, sports, and performance eyewear worldwide. It operates through two segments, Manufacturing and Wholesale Distribution, and Retail Distribution. The Manufacturing and Wholesale Distribution segment engages in the design, manufacture, distribution, and marketing of proprietary and designer lines of prescription frames and sunglasses. This segment offers its products under proprietary brands, such as Ray-Ban, Oakley, Persol, Oliver Peoples, Alain Mikli, Arnette, and Vogue Eyewear; and licensed brands, including Giorgio Armani, Emporio Armani, Armani Exchange, Brooks Brothers, Burberry, Bulgari, Chanel, Coach, Dolce&Gabbana, DKNY, Michael Kors, Paul Smith Spectacles, Prada, Miu Miu, Ralph Lauren, Polo Ralph Lauren, Ralph, Starck Eyes, Tiffany & Co, Tory Burch, Valentino, Versace, and Ferrari. The Retail Distribution segment operates prescription eyewear stores primarily under its retail brands, including LensCrafters, Sunglass Hut, Pearle Vision, OPSM, Laubman & Pank, GMO, David Clulow, Salmoiraghi & Vigano, Ray-Ban, Oakley and Vault, Oliver Peoples, Alain Mikli, Ilori Optical, and Optical Shop of Aspen; and licensed brands, such as Sears Optical and Target Optical. As of December 31, 2017, it operated approximately 9,000 stores. The company was founded in 1961 and is headquartered in Milan, Italy. As of October 1, 2018, Luxottica Group S.p.A. operates as a subsidiary of EssilorLuxottica. Read More The following companies are subsidiares of Mohawk Industries: A&S Energie NV, A&U Energie NV, Aladdin Manufacturing Corporation, Aladdin Manufacturing Of New York LLC, Aladdin Manufacturing of Alabama LLC, Alsace Logistique S.A., Avelgem Green Power CVBA, Avon Pacific Holdings Ltd, B&M NV, BGE Mexico S. de R. L. de C.V., Berghoef GmbH, Berghoef-Hout B.V., Bienes Raices y Materiales del Centro S. de R.L. de C.V., C.F. Marazzi S.A., Canterbury Spinners Ltd, Carpet Foundation Ltd, Cevotrans BV, Ceramus Bahia S/A Produtos Ceramicos, DT Mex Holdings LLC, DTM/CM Holdings LLC, Dal Italia LLC, Dal-Elit LLC, Dal-Tile Chile Comercial Limitada, Dal-Tile Colombia S.A.S., Dal-Tile Distribution Inc., Dal-Tile Group Inc., Dal-Tile I LLC, Dal-Tile Industrias S. de R.L. de C.V., Dal-Tile International Inc., Dal-Tile Mexico Comercial S. de R.L. de C.V., Dal-Tile Mexico S. de R.L. de C.V., Dal-Tile Operaciones Mexico S. De R.L. De C.V., Dal-Tile Peru SRL, Dal-Tile Puerto Rico Inc., Dal-Tile Services Inc., Dal-Tile Shared Services Inc., Dal-Tile Tennessee LLC, Dal-Tile of Canada ULC, Daltile, Daltile, Dekaply NV, Durkan, Dynea NV, Eliane Argentina Sociedad Anonima, Eliane S/A - Revestimentos Ceramicos, Emilceramica India Pvt Ltd., Emilceramica S.r.l, Emilgermany GmbH, Emilgroup Asia Ltd, Explorer S.r.l., F.I.L.S. Investments Unlimited Company, Feltex Carpets Ltd, Feltex Carpets Pty Ltd, Feltex New Zealand Ltd, Fibremakers Australia Pty Ltd, Flooring Foundation Ltd, Flooring Industries Limited S.a r.l., Flooring XL B.V., Floorscape Limited, Godfrey Hirst & Co Pty Ltd, Godfrey Hirst (Singapore) Pte Ltd, Godfrey Hirst Australia Pty Ltd, Godfrey Hirst Group, Godfrey Hirst NZ Ltd, Hytherm (Ireland) Limited, IVC BVBA, IVC Far-East Trading (Shanghai) Co. Ltd., IVC France S.a r.l., IVC GROUP LIMITED, IVC Green Power NV, IVC Group, IVC Group GmbH, IVC Luxembourg S.a r.l., IVC Rus OOO, IVC US Inc., International Flooring Systems S.a r.l., International Vinyl Company - Vostok OOO, KAI Group, KAI Keramica Ltd, KAI Mining EOOD, KERAMA CENTER OOO, Kerama Baltics OOO, Kerama Export OOO, Kerama Marazzi OOO, Kerampromservis (LLC), Khan Asparuh - Transport EOOD, Khan Asparuh AD, Khan Omurtag AD, Koninklijke Peitsman B.V., Kraj Kerama OOO, MG China Trading Ltd., MI Finance SRL, MUD (Holding) Brazil Ltda., Management Co EAD, Marazzi Acquisition S.r.l., Marazzi Deutschland G.m.b.H., Marazzi France Trading S.A.S., Marazzi Group, Marazzi Group F.Z.E., Marazzi Group S.r.l., Marazzi Group Trading (Shanghai) Co. Ltd., Marazzi Iberia S.L.U., Marazzi Japan Co. Ltd., Marazzi Middle East FZ LLC, Marazzi Schweiz S.A.G.L., Marazzi UK Ltd., Mohawk Assurance Services Inc., Mohawk Australia Pty Ltd, Mohawk Canada Corporation, Mohawk Capital Finance S.A., Mohawk Capital Luxembourg SA, Mohawk Carpet Distribution Inc., Mohawk Carpet Foundation Inc., Mohawk Carpet LLC, Mohawk Carpet Transportation Of Georgia LLC, Mohawk Commercial Inc., Mohawk ESV Inc., Mohawk Europe BVBA, Mohawk Factoring II Inc., Mohawk Factoring LLC, Mohawk Finance S.a r.l., Mohawk Foreign Acquisitions S.a r.l., Mohawk Foreign Funding S.a.r.l, Mohawk Foreign Holdings S.a r.l., Mohawk Foreign Investments Inc., Mohawk Global Investments S.a r.l., Mohawk Holdings International B.V., Mohawk Industries Inc., Mohawk International (Europe) S.a r.l., Mohawk International (Hong Kong) Limited, Mohawk International Capital N.V., Mohawk International Financing S.a.r.l, Mohawk International Holdings (DE) LLC, Mohawk International Holdings S.a r.l., Mohawk International Luxembourg S.a r.l., Mohawk International Netherlands B.V., Mohawk International Services BVBA, Mohawk KAI Luxembourg Holding S.a r.l., Mohawk KAI Luxembourg S.a r.l., Mohawk Luxembourg Capital S.A., Mohawk Luxembourg Financing S.a r.l., Mohawk Luxembourg Holdings S.a r.l., Mohawk Luxembourg Investments S.a r.l., Mohawk Luxembourg Pacific S.a r.l., Mohawk Marazzi International BV, Mohawk Marazzi Russia BV, Mohawk New Zealand Limited, Mohawk Operaciones Mexicali S. de R.L. de C.V., Mohawk Operations Luxembourg S.a r.l., Mohawk Pacific Investments S.a r.l., Mohawk Resources LLC, Mohawk Servicing LLC, Mohawk Singapore Private Limited, Mohawk Trading (Shanghai) Co. Ltd, Mohawk Unilin Luxembourg S.a r.l., Mohawk United Finance B.V., Mohawk United International B.V., Mohawk Vinyl Financing S.a r.l., Molber Beheer B.V., Monarch Ceramic Tile Inc., P.F. Onroerend Goed B.V., PF Beheer B.V., Pergo, Pergo (Europe) AB, Pergo Holding BV, Pergo India Pvt Ltd, Polcolorit S.A., Premium Floors Australia Pty Limited, RR Apex LLC, Rata International Pty Ltd, Recubrimientos Interceramica S. de R.L. de C.V., Riverside Textiles Pty Ltd, S.C. KAI Ceramics SRL, Sibir Kerama OOO, SimpleSolutions USA LLC, Soft Step (Australia) Pty Ltd, Spano Group, Spano Invest BVBA, Spano NV, Stroyagromekhzapchast ChaO, Stroytrans OAO Orelstroy, Summit Wool Spinners Ltd, The Flooring Federation Ltd, Tiles Co OOD, Unilin (Malaysia) Sdn. Bhd., Unilin ApS, Unilin Arauco Pisos Ltda., Unilin BVBA, Unilin Beheer BV, Unilin Distribution Ltd., Unilin Distribution Ukraine LLC, Unilin Finland OY, Unilin Flooring India Private Limited, Unilin Flooring SAS, Unilin GmbH, Unilin Holding BVBA, Unilin Insulation BV, Unilin Insulation SAS, Unilin Insulation Sury SAS, Unilin Italia S.R.L., Unilin North America LLC, Unilin Norway AS, Unilin OOO, Unilin Panels SAS, Unilin Poland Sp.Z.o.o., Unilin SAS, Unilin Spain SL, Unilin Swiss GmbH, Unilin s.r.o., World International Inc., Xtratherm, Xtratherm Limited, Xtratherm S.A., and Xtratherm UK Limited. The following companies are subsidiares of Quaker Chemical: AC Products Inc., Applied Surface Concepts Holdings Ltd. , Binol AB, Binol Biosafe OY, Commonwealth Oil Corporation, DA Stuart India Private Limited, DA Stuart Shanghai Co, ECLI Products LLC, EFHCO LLC, Engineered Custom Lubricants, Engineered Custom Lubricants GmbH, Epmar Corporation, G.W. Smith and Sons, GH Holdings Inc., GHG Lubricants Holdings Limited, GHGL London Ltd., GHI Asia Pacific Pte. Ltd., Global Houghton Ltd., Houghton (Shanghai) Specialty Industrial Fluids Co. Ltd, Houghton Argentina S.A., Houghton Asia Pacific Co. Limited, Houghton Australia Pty. Ltd., Houghton Benelux BV, Houghton CZ s.r.o, Houghton Canada Inc., Houghton Denmark AS, Houghton Deutschland GmbH, Houghton Europe BV, Houghton Holdings Limited, Houghton Iberica S.A. , Houghton International, Houghton International Inc., Houghton Italia S.p.A., Houghton Japan Co. Ltd., Houghton Kimya Sanayi AS, Houghton Magyarorszag Kft, Houghton Mexico S.A. de C.V., Houghton Oil (Malaysia) Sdn Bhd., Houghton Polska Sp. Zo.o., Houghton Romania S.R.L., Houghton S.A.S., Houghton Sverige AB, Houghton Taiwan Co. Limited, Houghton Technical Corp., Houghton Ukraine ToV, Houghton do Brazil Ltda., Houghton plc, Internationale Metall Impragnier GmbH, Lubricor Inc, Lubricor Inc., Lubricor Mexicana S.A. de C.V., Lubricor USA Inc., MIH Acquisition Company LLC, MX Systems International Ltd, Maldaner GmbH, NP Coil Dexter Industries, New Houghton Brazil Inc., Norman Hay Engineering Ltd., QH Chemical Limited, QH Europe BV, QH Holdings Limited, QH International Limited, Quaker (Thailand) Ltd., Quaker Australia Holdings Pty. Limited, Quaker Chemical (Australasia) Pty. Limited, Quaker Chemical (China) Co. Ltd., Quaker Chemical B.V., Quaker Chemical CV, Quaker Chemical Canada Holdings Inc., Quaker Chemical Canada Limited, Quaker Chemical Europe B.V., Quaker Chemical Holdings South Africa (Pty) Limited, Quaker Chemical India Private Limited, Quaker Chemical Industria e Comercio Ltda., Quaker Chemical Investment Management (Shanghai) Co. Ltd., Quaker Chemical Limited, Quaker Chemical MEA FZE, Quaker Chemical Operacoes Ltda., Quaker Chemical Participacoes Ltda., Quaker Chemical S.A., Quaker Chemical S.r.l., Quaker Chemical Services EURL, Quaker Chemical South Africa (Pty.) Limited, Quaker China Holdings B.V., Quaker Denmark ApS, Quaker Houghton (Finco) Ltd., Quaker Houghton Holdings Limited, Quaker Houghton Holdings Ltd., Quaker Houghton International LP, Quaker Houghton Ltd., Quaker International Holdings LLC, Quaker Italia S.r.l., Quaker Russia B.V., Quaker Sales Europe BV, Quaker Shanghai Trading Company Limited, Quaker Spain Holding SLU, Quaker Specialty Chemicals (UK) Limited, SB Decking Inc., SIFCO Applied Surface Concepts (UK) Ltd, SIFCO Applied Surface Concepts LLC, SIFCO Concepts Sarl, SIFCO Concepts Sweden, Sterr & Eder Industrieservice GmbH, Summit Lubricants Inc, Summit Lubricants Inc., Surface Technology (Coventry) Ltd, Surface Technology (Dalian) Co Ltd, Surface Technology (East Kilbride) Ltd., Surface Technology (Leeds) Ltd, Surface Technology Aberdeen Ltd, Surface Technology Australia, Surface Technology Holdings Ltd., TecniQuimia Mexicana, Tecniquimia Mexicana S.A. de C.V., Thai Houghton 1993 Co. Ltd., Ultraseal Asia Limited, Ultraseal Chongqing Limited, Ultraseal Germany GmbH, Ultraseal International Group Ltd, Ultraseal Machinery Dongguan Ltd, Ultraseal Shanghai Limited, Ultraseal USA Inc., Unitek Servicios De Asesoria Especializad S.A de C.V., Verkol S.A.U., Verkol SAU, Wallover Enterprises Inc., Wallover Oil Company Incorporated, Wallover Oil Hamilton Inc., and Wuhan Quaker Technology Co. Ltd. Troy Joseph Levinger was a brilliant theoretical nuclear physicist who worked on the Manhattan Project during World War II and spent nearly three decades teaching at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute. But Levinger, who died Thursday at the age of 96, was an even better citizen who spent much of his free time supporting the disenfranchised and traveling the world, his family said Saturday. He was a Quaker and pacifist who volunteered to go to Guatemala three times in the 1990s for Peace Brigades International, a group that sends observers to areas of conflict around the world. "My grandfather influenced me through his example as a scientist who cared deeply about humanist causes," said Josh Levinger, a grandson who lives in the San Francisco Bay area and studied aerospace engineering at MIT. "I know that his early work on what would become the Manhattan Project caused him great consternation." Levinger was born in New York City and raised in Columbus, Ohio. He attended the University of Chicago to study physics. He was a graduate student during the war and worked at the university's secretive Metallurgical Laboratory. The lab produced the first controlled nuclear chain reaction in 1942 as part of the Manhattan Project to develop the atomic bomb. Levinger also met his first wife, Gloria Edwards, at the University at Chicago. They married in 1943. Laurie Levinger, one of the couple's four children, said in a Facebook post that despite his global travels and his support of social justice issues, her dad was a quiet man at heart, which made it difficult to get to know him. "But in these past several months he opened up to all of us, asking questions and listening attentively," Laurie Levinger wrote. "He told stories about his childhood spent looking for arrowheads in Ohio, about his brother Sam who fought in the Spanish Civil War. Sam Levinger died in the war when Joseph Levinger was 15. Levinger also taught at Cornell University at Louisiana State University for several decades before joining the physics department at RPI in 1964. He retired in 1992 and was named a professor emeritus. Sign up for The Knick Get the latest news and some area history with our afternoon newsletter. Levinger took two sabbaticals during his academic career, first in 1957 at the University of Birmingham in England and later in 1972 in Orsay, France at the University of Paris. His wife, Gloria, died when he was in his 60s. When he was 76, Levinger married Hedi McKinley. They traveled extensively as well, even into their 90s. Josh, Levinger's grandson, said he got to travel with his grandfather and Hedi to Vienna two summers ago. The couple were planning a trip to Kenya this summer until Levinger's health declined. "He was a remarkable man," Josh Levinger said. "Kind and thoughtful and intensely curious." The mass shooting at a Pittsburgh synagogue prompted increased security around Capital Region Jewish centers and houses of worship. But it also drew messages of unity and support from several quarters. Judith Avner is president of Albany's Congregation Ohav Shalom and executive director of Jewish Family Service of Northeastern New York. She had been following news reports that the suspected gunman, Robert Bowers, had ranted in social media against HIAS (Hebrew Immigrant Aid Society), an advocacy group that helps welcome and resettle refugees from dozens of countries including Syria and Somalia. Bowers wrote that HIAS "likes to bring in invaders that kill our people" and listed several Shabbats held on behalf of refugees. Bowers is suspected of killing 11 people Saturday morning at the Tree Of Life synagogue in the Pennsylvania city and wounding others, including first responders at the scene. "Last weekend, HIAS had a shabbat for all refugees so I wonder if that was a trigger although it's not really possible to guess what someone who hates that much will do," Avner said. "But the anti-immigrant, anti-refugee rhetoric of the past two or three years has been unsettling. What's different now is, we don't have now is a president who will say, 'This vitriol is wrong. It's un-American.' Some people feel like they have a license to spew venom." Mayor Kathy Sheehan's office said there will be a police presence at all Albany synagogues all weekend. City police spokesman Officer Steve Smith said police will also make "routine property checks on synagogues and Jewish organizations." Congregation Beth Emeth in Albany sent an email out and posted a Facebook message about security, saying: "We are all horrified about the shooting in Pittsburgh. Rabbi Scott Shpeen has been in contact with Mayor Sheehan who has assured us there will be police presence at CBE throughout the Sunday. Our hearts & prayers go out to the Tree of Life Synagogue, the Pittsburgh community & the innocent lives lost. May their memory be a blessing." The synagogue still had events posted for the weekend including Saturday's 5:30 p.m."light nosh for Teddy Bear Shabbat participants" for small children and their families. Gov. Andrew Cuomo also directed State Police to increase patrols around Jewish centers and houses of worship across New York. "We, as a nation, must stand together and stand against the corrosive and destructive forces of hate in all of its forms," he said in a statement. The Tree at Life families, many bringing small children, had gathered in Pittsburgh for joyful reason; a newborn baby's naming ceremony. Authorities said children were not among those killed. Sign up for The Knick Get the latest news and some area history with our afternoon newsletter. Bishop Edward B. Scharfenberger of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Albany condemned "the gruesome attack on families" as a "despicable act of anti-Semitism and of violence against the sanctity of all human life. We pray for our Jewish brothers and sisters as they pick up the pieces of their shattered community...God who created us all reminds us that we belong to each other as members of one human family." Avner praised Albany for rallying beside the Jewish community. And she believes dark times require courage as well as unity. She is troubled by President Donald Trump's anti-refugee rhetoric as well as chants at his rallies demanding that his critics and political rivals be imprisoned. 'It is important for all Americans to condemn violent political rhetoric as un-American," she said. Morning prayers will go on at Congregation Ohav Shalom as usual. Avner said the attack would not destroy Judaism's principles that all Americans can embrace; "welcoming the stranger and repairing the world." "Those efforts are what make us good people on this Earth together," she said. Pittsburgh Armed with an assault rifle and at least three handguns, a man shouting anti-Semitic slurs opened fire in a Pittsburgh synagogue Saturday morning, killing at least 11 people and wounding six others, city officials said. President Donald Trump described the shooting as a "wicked act of mass murder" that was "pure evil." The suspect, identified by law enforcement officials as Robert D. Bowers, 46, surrendered to the police after barricading himself inside a third-floor office of the synagogue, the Tree of Life Congregation in eastern Pittsburgh. Four police officers were among the wounded, authorities said. "It's a very horrific crime scene," said Wendell D. Hissrich, Pittsburgh's public safety director, adding that federal authorities were investigating the mass shooting as a hate crime. "It's one of the worst that I've seen, and I've been on some plane crashes. It's very bad." Saturday's mass shooting came just 10 days before a bitterly fought national midterm election that has divided the country and set Americans on edge, and in a week in which more than a dozen pipe bombs were mailed to critics of Trump. Trump later addressed reporters at Joint Base Andrews in Maryland, saying, "It's a terrible, terrible thing what's going on with hate in our country and frankly all over the world, and something has to be done." "The results are very devastating," he said. It was at least the third mass shooting in a house of worship in three years, and left Americans feeling unmoored in what has been a vitriolic political season. A gunman killed 26 people in a church in Sutherland Springs, Texas, last year and a white supremacist killed nine in a church in 2015 in Charleston, S.C. According to the Anti-Defamation League, Saturday's attack was among the deadliest against the Jewish community in the United States. "I'm afraid to say that we may be at the beginning of what has happened to Europe, the consistent anti-Semitic attacks," said Rabbi Marvin Hier, founder and dean of Simon Wiesenthal Center, who prayed at Trump's inauguration. He spoke in a phone interview from Austria, where he was visiting the Mauthausen concentration camp. "If it is not nipped in the bud," he said, "I am afraid the worst is yet to come." Anti-Semitism appeared to run deep for Bowers. Before it was deleted Saturday morning, a social media account believed to belong to him was filled with anti-Jewish slurs and references to anti-Jewish conspiracy theories. In January, an account under his name was created on Gab, a social network that bills itself as a free speech haven. The app, which grew out of claims of anti-conservative bias by Facebook and Twitter, is a popular gathering place for alt-right activists and white nationalists whose views are unwelcome on other social media platforms. Early members included right-wing provocateur Milo Yiannopoulos and Andrew Anglin, founder of the neo-Nazi Daily Stormer website. Several weeks ago, Bowers' account posted a link to the website of HIAS, a Jewish nonprofit organization, which was planning a shabbat ceremony for refugees in locations around the country. The caption read: "Why hello there HIAS! You like to bring in hostile invaders to dwell among us?" HIAS said in a statement Saturday: "There are no words to express how devastated we are by the events in Pittsburgh this morning." Shortly after Bowers was named the suspect in the shooting, Gab confirmed that the name on the account, which was verified, matched that of the suspect. The company archived the account before taking it offline, and released a statement saying it was cooperating with law enforcement. "Gab unequivocally disavows and condemns all acts of terrorism and violence," the statement read. At Joint Base Andrews, Trump said that if the temple "had some kind of protection" that "it could have been a much different situation." The Tree of Life Congregation dates back to 1864, and was originally in downtown Pittsburgh, said Alvin K. Berkun, a former rabbi at Tree of Life and now rabbi emeritus, who stayed home from services Saturday to tend to his sick wife. It moved to the current site, in the Squirrel Hill neighborhood, in 1952, where it now takes up most of a corner block. Sign up for The Knick Get the latest news and some area history with our afternoon newsletter. "Squirrel Hill is really an amazing safe community," he said. It is the heart of Jewish Pittsburgh with kosher restaurants and bakeries and a Jewish Community Center. "I lived for a while in Israel and I know what security can mean, but the truth is the two safest neighborhoods I know are Squirrel Hill and Jerusalem. I've lived in both." On the high holidays, when the sanctuary comes close to reaching its capacity of 1,450 congregants, there are security officers. But Saturday morning, he said, when there would be 75 people, "everything would have been wide open." In recent years, the congregation size had dwindled and so now three congregations meet on Saturday morning, in three different parts of the synagogue. "It's a very vibrant place on Saturday mornings," he said. Berkun had heard that the gunman had barricaded himself at one point in his old study. Still, threats were something he had never really thought about, not here. His son, also a rabbi, dealt with threats a few years ago at his synagogue, but law enforcement got involved and no one was hurt. His son's synagogue is in Aventura, Fla., the hometown of a man who was arrested Friday for mailing pipe bombs to leading Democrats and Trump critics. In a statement, Gov. Tom Wolf of Pennsylvania said "these senseless acts of violence are not who we are as Americans." "We must all pray and hope for no more loss of life," he said. "But we have been saying 'This one is too many' for far too long. Dangerous weapons are putting our citizens in harm's way." About 26 percent of the Pittsburgh area's Jewish households are in Squirrel Hill, while another 31 percent of Jewish households are largely located in neighborhoods around there, according to a Brandeis University researchers reported in a 2017 study. About 48 percent of Jewish children in greater Pittsburgh live in Squirrel Hill, according to the study, which was carried out on behalf of the Jewish Federation of Greater Pittsburgh. Shortly before 11 a.m., residents near the synagogue could still hear loud pops of gunfire. Authorities told residents to stay inside. Ben Opie, 55, who can see the synagogue from his backyard, said his wife was about to leave the house Saturday morning to do some volunteer work when SWAT officers approached their home and said there was an active shooter in the synagogue. "They chased my wife inside," he said. "They just said get in the house." ALBANY To help stop the flow of poached elephant ivory into the black market of New York, sometimes you have to go to the root of the problem. Five officers from the state Department of Environmental Conservation did just that this month, traveling on their own time and expense to an African wildlife preserve that is home to some of the planet's largest elephants. Some 250 elephants roam the 117-square-mile Tembe Elephant Park in South Africa, where armed park staff have participated in gun battles with poachers who kill the animals for their tusks. Worth tens of thousands of dollars or more, these poached tusks eventually get turned into ivory carvings, some of which finds its way to unscrupulous sellers in New York City as well as other parts of the state. As confiscations of illegal ivory mounted in recent years in a state crackdown on the illegal wildlife trade, DEC Major Scott Florence decided it was time to help at the source of the ivory problem. He headed a five-person crew that traveled to South Africa for ten days to train about 20 wildlife officers from South Africa, as well as the neighboring countries of Swaziland and Mozambique, on forensic crime techniques that will help better track and catch poachers. "Poaching scenes are crime scenes that can tell a story," said DEC Capt. Jesse Paluch. "We have experience on processing evidence from such scenes here that we wanted to share." The DEC group also delivered four forensic evidence kits, that included cameras, fingerprinting equipment, rangefinders, DNA analysis gear, gunshot residue tests, and even tools to take castings of tire tracks and footprints. "Their equipment in the park is pretty basic. They are taking pictures of scenes with a camera flip phone," Paluch said. "None of them had ever taken fingerprints before." DEC Commissioner Basil Seggos praised the effort, saying the state will continue "its vigilant enforcement efforts to stop the killing of animals for art, and this is just one more action that will help to stop illegal ivory sales." Currently, there about 325,000 elephants across Africa, and between 2010 and 2012, an average of 96 of the animals were poached to feed the illegal ivory trade, according to an estimate from The Wildlife Conservation Society. During the Tembe visit, Florence and his team also set up practice poaching scenes using impala carcasses, blood, tracks, and abandoned vehicles, so the local rangers could learn how to use their new equipment to preserve and assemble evidence. That equipment was paid for in part through about $400,000 in "forced donations" collected from individuals caught selling illegal ivory, he added. The funds often are earmarked for wildlife conservation groups such as Wild Tomorrow Fund. In 2014, Gov. Andrew Cuomo signed a law that banned the sale of elephant and mammoth ivory, as well as rhinoceros horns, and increased criminal and civil penalties. Working in the sprawling Tembe preserve to confront armed poachers can be a high-risk affair, with danger and humor sometimes mixing together. One of the local rangers, who came to his sessions always toting his AK-37 semi-automatic assault rifle, recently had a gun battle with three poachers in the bush, killing two of them, said DEC Lt. Karen Przyklek. "Another one of the rangers told us about a poacher who got chased by lions up a tree," added Florence. "One his way up the tree, a lion ripped his pants off, so he was up there without pants when the rangers rescued him." Sign up for The Knick Get the latest news and some area history with our afternoon newsletter. Awareness of lions is key part of working in the massive preserve, especially at night when both lions and poachers tend to be most active, said Florence. "We were told that the first rule is when you come up on lions, do not run," he said. Rangers live in field stations at the preserve for shifts that are 20 days on, 10 days off. The DEC crew spent spent nights in a fenced-in stations where "you could hear the lions outside roaring in the dark," said Florence.. The preserve, which takes a half-day to drive across on field roads, is entirely fenced in. Evidence of poaching often appears as large holes cut into fences, with vehicle tracks leading in. Other DEC members of the training team included Lt. Liza Bobseine and Investigator Edward Piwko. The preserve itself is located in an ecosystem called a "sand forest," which is has trees and shrubs, all rooted in sand, rather than soil, which Paluche said reminded him of the pine barrens on the Albany Pine Bush and Long Island. Florence said his goal is to establish connections between New York and its African wildlife counterparts. And part of that will include a new park vehicle bearing a DEC logo that will be paid for though the "forced donations" made so far by illegal ivory sellers in New York. "This is a chance for law enforcement officers to get together, network and share ideas, and the skills learned and transferred will help us better protect our wildlife in this critical time," said Tembe Conservation Manager Richard Schutte. Florence said that other-not-for-profit groups working with DEC on such efforts include the Wildlife Conservation Society, World Wildlife Fund, and Biologists without Borders. The Tembe preserve can be found online at https://www.facebook.com/TembeElephantPark. Josh Hawley blames Clinton, Holder for encouraging violence | The Kansas City Star An attempt to assassinate at least 14 of President Donald Trump's most prominent critics did not succeed, thank God. But this direct attack on our democracy also failed to move Missouri GOP Senate nominee Josh Hawley to so much as tweak his portrayal of violent political rhetoric and actions in this country as an exclusively Democratic phenomenon. The newspaper seems to blame the Missouri "golden boy" for a recent mail scare. We might talk more about this later but here's a good rule for the Midterms . . . Whenever anybody mentions the Clintons . . . In defense or otherwise . . . Its a pointless bit of political hackery that only serves to "preach to the choir" or rally support among die-hard loyalists who aren't really interested in doing anything but pushing their boring agenda.Today's example from dead-tree media: Kansas City Trade War Downturn??? Kansas City Fed says growth slows as tariff issues weigh on manufacturers Respondents to the Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City's monthly manufacturing survey reported slower growth in October, with tariffs causing supply issues. "While regional factories reported another month of growth, a number of firms engaged in international trade noted negative effects of tariffs on supply chains," said Chad Wilkerson, vice president and economist at the Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City. Newspaper Snuff Coverage Stalk. Murder. Repeat. The serial killer who never got caught | The Kansas City Star A voice cried out in the dark: "Fire!" It was a witness who saw flames eating up the second-floor apartment where Ying Li, a 52-year-old woman, lived. Li herself made not a sound. When Kansas City firefighters rolled into the Northland apartment complex shortly before 6 a.m. Traffic Fatality Report One killed in two vehicle crash on Paseo KANSAS CITY, Mo. - One person was killed in an early morning, two vehicle crash at 45th & Paseo. Police say about 1:00 a.m. Sunday two vehicles were involved in a crash. One person was killed in the crash. Police dispatchers say they don't yet have information on any other injuries. Kansas City Reaction To Historic American Tragedy Metro Jewish community reacts to shooting at Pittsburgh synagogue OVERLAND PARK, Kan. -- Another shooting targeting Jewish people has communities around the country on edge. A man with a gun stormed into a synagogue in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania Saturday morning, shooting, and killing 11 people. Local Biz Reading Editor's picks: Family biz, AdamsGabbert, opportunity zones & more - Kansas City Business Journal Skip that trendy business book on your desk. The new buzzwords and overworked analogies can wait. The first selection on this week's "5 good reads" is a story that has it all - great advice, a long list of things to think about and, most of all, heart. Cowtown Hipster Foodie Alert Trend Alert: Food Halls Are Making Their Way to the Midwest Consider the food hall the grown-up version of the mall food court of your youth. These sprawling spaces allow diners to take their pick from a wide array of fast-casual mini-restaurants serving everything from street tacos, gyros and Japanese dumplings to coffee, cold-pressed juice and craft beer. Classic In Kansas City BWW Review: OF MICE AND MEN at Kansas City Repertory Theatre 'Of Mice and Men' transports us to Steinbeck's world on the Monterey Peninsula of California during the Great Depression prior to World War II. It was (and still is) mainly an agricultural breadbasket area. As the play opens, two of these men approach a ranch in Soledad California. Karlie inspiration today . . .Closer to home, here's some of the links we're checking for Sunday . . .is the song of the day and this is thefor right now . . . Oak Park Mall terror: Father, son witness shooting OVERLAND PARK, Kan. - Jude Tygart didn't mince words about the frightening turn a Halloween-costume shopping trip took Friday at Oak Park Mall. "It was the worst night of my life," said Tygart, 9, who was at the mall with his dad, Daniel, when gun shots rang out. Human interest reporting on this shopping mall melee and maybe a bright side in all of this . . . As the mall crowd panicked, blood was spilled on shopping center floors and TV news crews swarmed . . . What we noticed was people making calls and sending digital shout outs to their families in order to reassure loved ones about their safety . . . Read more: 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) vinaymishra188@gmail.com Sandeep Rana Tribune News Service Chandigarh, October 28 At a time when the UT administration is talking of checking overpricing of food items at cinemas, PVR Centra Mall is allegedly fleecing people by making it mandatory for ticket buyers to take a Pepsi and popcorn coupon. The coupon, which costs Rs 100 for a combo of a small cold drink and popcorn, has to be bought with each movie ticket at the Centra Mall counter. A ticket operator at the mall said they had started the practice about a month ago and it was compulsory to buy coupons only on Friday, Saturday and Sunday. Movie-goers today had heated arguments with the staff who were issuing tickets along with the combo coupon. Some of those who protested the move were, however, asked to wait for five to 10 mintues. They were later given tickets without the coupon. However, most people felt cheated. We are a couple and I asked for tickets for the Andhadhun movie show of 1.25 pm. However, they asked me to pay Rs 580 instead of Rs 380. When I questioned the man at the counter, he claimed that all PVR cinemas had started the scheme and it was mandatory to buy the coupon along with the ticket, said Rajbir Singh, a local resident, while standing in a queue. Is this the way they are trying to turn around the sagging fortunes of this mall? It is nothing less than cheating; we cant even go to another mall as it will spoil our schedule, said Samita, another movie-goer. When Chandigarh Tribune questioned the duty manager of the mall, Saurabh Sharma, on the issue, he was unfazed and said he was not bothered if it was highlighted in the media. Instead, he claimed, It is not mandatory to buy a combo coupon. It is optional. On the other hand, the UT Administration is unaware of the goings-on. Sachin Rana, Additional Deputy Commissioner, said, I am not aware of the issue. ROBINSINGH@TRIBUNE.COM Karam Prakash Tribune News Service Patiala, October 27 Khalsa Aid, an international NGO with the aim to provide humanitarian aid in disaster-torn areas and civil conflict zones around the world, has now decided to expand its operations. It is now plannijng to help the government agencies in rescue operations in the disaster-hit areas. After a review meeting on the Kerala Flood Relief on Saturday, Amarpreet Singh, Asia-Pacific managing director, Khalsa Aid, said, We have decided to expand our work to rescue operations in the case of disasters. On the Kerala flood fury, he said more than 70 volunteers had worked at the ground zero and over 500 tonne of relief material was provided to people of Kerala. Impressed by our flood relief initiative in Kerala, 4,000 people have applied for the volunteership, he claimed. Volunteers are the real face of Khalsa Aid, but it is not possible for every volunteer to work at the ground zero, he said. Sharing their experiences of working in flood-hit Kerala, Gurpreet Singh, a volunteer, said, When we were about to leave Kerala, people were crying which made me realise that humanity is the real virtue. Another volunteer Japneet Singh Deol said: We are overwhelmed by the love the Kerala people have shown us. Bringing the smile to their faces is the best moment for the Khalsa Aid. Amanpreet said Khalsa volunteers had also helped in getting the post-mortem done of the victims of the Amritsar train tragedy. ROBINSINGH@TRIBUNE.COM Sandeep Rana Tribune News Service Chandigarh, October 27 City shopkeepers are witnessing a 25 to 40 per cent fall in sales this festive season, courtesy online shopping. Rush of people in the markets is relatively less, unlike previous years. People visiting markets are mostly buying items from vendors and kiosks while showrooms are seeing less footfall. There is 25-30 per cent decline in the sales of electronic items. There is 28 per cent GST on electronic items, so it too seems to have hit their sale. People do not seem to be interested in buying electronics, said Vijesh Sachdeva, who runs Sachdeva Electronics in Sector 22. Arvinder Singh Bedi, president, Market Welfare Association, Sector 19-C, shared, The market is slow. Sales in every trade, be it jewellery, shoes, garments or clothes, is down by 25-40 per cent as compared to the previous two years. GST is having a negative effect on the sales. Bedi, who runs a textile shop in Sector 19 here besides Delhi and Mumbai, added that the situation was no different in other parts of the country. Vinod Talwar, president of the Jewellers Association of Chandigarh, said, Sales are poor because there is no liquidity. The craze for jewellery among people is not visible this year. The sales are about 50 per cent lesser than what it was during the last two years. Residents said they were not enthused about going for big purchases this festive season. Many were attracted towards online shopping. Baljinder Singh Bittu, chairman of FOSWAC, said, There is no money in the market. Earlier, markets used to see rush for at least a month around Diwali. It has now come down to four to five days near Diwali and Dhanteras. Digital payment up Digital payment has grown like never before in the city markets. About 50 per cent of sales are made through credit/debit cards in stores these days. People are getting 10 to 15 per cent cashback on it. Also, it is safe and transparent for shopkeepers, said Charanjiv Singh, chairman, Chandigarh Beopar Mandal. KP Nayar KP Nayar Senior Journalist INDIA has a serious Syria problem. It is nothing like Russias Syria problem. Or Israels Syria problem. Or for that matter Americas or Saudi Arabias. Indias problem is of its own making. But it has ramifications which go beyond the Levant that are being felt as far away as Francophone Africa and the Lusophone Commonwealth. The solution to the problem lies in Damascus with President Bashar al-Assad. But without a credible solution, New Delhi runs the risk of being on the margins in what has become the strategic epicentre of West Asias evolving geo-strategy. India also runs the risk of losing face in Equatorial Guinea, which the Modi government has been looking at as a new frontier because its oil and gas-fuelled economy has created the highest income per capita in sub-Saharan Africa. The origins of Indias current Syria problem go back to November last year when ambassador Man Mohan Bhanot completed his two-year tenure in Damascus, a hardship posting. Because it is a non-family station, diplomats from all countries try to get out of Syria as soon as their tenure is up. Earlier this year, the Modi government decided to open an embassy in Equatorial Guinea and five months ago proposed Bhanot as its first Ambassador resident in Malabo, the capital. President Teodoro Obiang Nguema Mbasogo approved the nomination, and on August 3 it was announced that Bhanot would leave Damascus. (At the time of writing, he is still stuck in Syria.) The search for a new ambassador began a year and half ago when Bhanot was approaching the end of his posting. But no IFS officer was ready to go there. The vacancy was twice circulated by South Block, the seat of the MEA, but to no avail. Since neither cajoling nor commanding would get any officer to pack his/her bags, South Block opted for an Arabic interpreter to be its next ambassador. It chose a non-IFS officer belonging to MEAs interpreter cadre, who was just about finishing his tenure in Saudi Arabia. When the new name was sent to the Syrian government for agrement (host government agrees to receive the credentials of an ambassador posted to that country and permits him to fulfil diplomatic functions), its ministry of foreign affairs and expatriates was deeply upset. For decades, India had sent some of its finest diplomats to head the Indian Mission, men who have risen to be Foreign Secretaries or those who have later handled tricky diplomatic tasks with aplomb. Notwithstanding the civil war, South Blocks policy brief continues to mention Syrias experience of being secular, nationalist and development-oriented as the rationale for maintaining robust ties. As per sources in Damascus, given the nature of Syrias politics, the ministry brought the proposed envoys nomination to the attention of President Assad, pointing out that posting an interpreter was tantamount to downgrading relations. The ministry recommended that agrement should be refused. Assad values ties with India, which flourished under his late father, Hafez al-Assad, who was a political colossus in the Arab world for three decades from the start of the 1970s. Assad needs India more than India needs him or Syria. So an interpretor cadre officer may eventually take up his post, but the damage is done. Syria was the dominant theme at this years Manama Dialogue in Bahrain (October 26-28), attended by kings, presidents, PMs and top strategic functionaries such as US Defence Secretary James Mattis. Speaker after speaker conceded, especially during closed-door sessions, that the last chapter in the conflict was being written and that Assad would only consolidate his hold on his country. Any shadow over bilateral relations at this critical time will marginalise India from the most important events in West Asia since the Arab Spring. Assad is one head of state India can count on at summits of Islamic or Arab leaders to speak up for Indias policies, be it Kashmir or religious freedom and on secularism which guarantees the rights of Indian Muslims. At the dialogue, a vital forum for policy makers from the Middle East and beyond to find ways to address the regions challenges, there was much talk of readmitting Syria into the Arab League. Though there is no concrete proposal yet, the writing on the wall is clear. Russia and Iran, not acting in concert, have ensured that Assad is there to stay. In which case, India ought to upgrade its ties. The importance of Syria is not just diplomatic in content. Religious tourism to Syria by Indian Shia Muslims represents a little known, yet an enduring strand of people-to-people relations between the two countries. Even in the first year of the Arab Spring, for which figures are available in Damascus, 37,000 Indians, mostly from UP and Andhra Pradesh, visited holy sites in Syria. An end to the civil war will trigger a rush of Indian pilgrims. This requires an efficient Indian embassy to cope with the challenges posed by an increase in religious tourism. Damascus is to many Christians in Kerala what the Vatican is to Catholics all over the world: this chunk of Malayali Christians owe allegiance to the Orthodox Church of Antioch, tracing its origins to apostles Saint Peter and Saint Paul. They use Syriac as their language of liturgy. Syriac is to Syrians what Sanskrit is to Indians. A resumption of religious tourism to the patriarch of this Orthodox Church in Damascus can also be expected once peace returns to Syria which will be sooner than later. South Block, therefore, needs to be proactive and not reactive when the absence of professional diplomats at its embassy creates any crisis it did not prepare for. Sushma Ramachandran Sushma Ramachandran Senior Financial Journalist SOARING global oil prices have created a crisis for the Indian economy. From just about $ 44 per barrel at the end of 2016, crude oil is now ruling at around $78 to 80 per barrel. The phenomenal rise has completely upset the government's fiscal calculations. And the hardening trend has come just a year before the country is due to face the general election, making it a political flashpoint. Passing through higher fuel prices at the retail level has created general unrest over the impact on consumers. At the same time, cutting oil tariffs will be unwise as such a short-term measure will lead to widening of the fiscal deficit. The crisis reminds us that the country needs to make a gradual shift from the focus on crude oil to increasing utilisation of other energy sources like natural gas. Energy mix Currently, the share of natural gas in total energy availability is about 6.5 per cent. The aim is to raise this to 15 per cent by 2030. Simultaneously, a 10 per cent cut in oil imports is planned by 2022. But the share of crude oil in the energy mix has not shown any signs of reducing over the past few years. This is despite various options being considered over the past few decades to reduce the heavy dependence on crude oil. India is already a participant in the proposed Turkmenistan-Afghanistan-Pakistan-India (TAPI) pipeline project meant to utilise natural gas supplies from Central Asia. It has, unfortunately, been proceeding at a snails pace since its groundbreaking in 2015. LNG imports India has also set up LNG (liquefied natural gas) port terminals to handle imports from Qatar, the US, Australia and recently, Russia. But importing LNG by tanker is more expensive than the pipeline route. No wonder then that several proposals have been considered in the past two decades to import gas via pipelines from countries in the nearby West Asia. These include proposals for a deep sea pipeline from Oman to India and also the much-publicised Iran-Pakistan-India overland pipeline project. Neither of these took off due to various reasons, including the strategic aspects of the proposals. Yet another gas pipeline plan from West Asia to India is now being mooted by a private consortium, the South Asia Gas Enterprise (SAGE) in collaboration with global partners. This appears to be even more ambitious than the earlier proposals. It envisages a pipeline network from Iran, the UAE and Qatar and other West Asia countries that would form a gas super-highway. It would be laid on a deep sea route that would become an energy corridor to this country, bypassing the security concerns that hung like a cloud over the IPI pipeline project. The many advantages of such a pipeline include the lower cost of transport as compared to LNG supplies via tankers, ability to enter into long-term contracts for several decades and the consequent possibility of linking gas supplies to greenfield fertilisers or petrochemical projects. The latter need assured feedstock availability before even being set up. It also becomes an addition to the existing bouquet of energy sources for the country. While LNG imports will continue to remain a mainstay in the natural gas sector, some supplies may be available from the TAPI pipeline as well as from domestic output which meets about half of the current demand. The availability from a deep-sea pipeline emanating in West Asia would provide yet another element of energy security for the country. US a roadblock The ambitious proposal, however, will come across serious roadblocks before being given any serious consideration by policymakers in this country. The most critical one is the US angst over India's dealings with Iran in the area of petro-products now that sanctions are back in place. It is possible that the sanctions are only on petroleum and not on natural gas as was the case in the previous round of the US sanctions on Iran. But there is yet no clarity on this issue though some countries which have long term supply contracts like Turkey have maintained they will continue to buy from that country as there is simply no other option. Even in the case of Irans oil exports, the earlier Obama administration had been satisfied with 20 to 30 per cent cut in purchases. The current US administration, however, may take a much harder line. Much will depend on the negotiations on this issue between India and the US. These will also look at the prospects of Indias involvement in the development of a gas field in Iran. The fact is, however, that diversifying the sources of energy is imperative for this country. A deep sea pipeline stretching from West Asia to India is a futuristic proposal right now but will be yet another way of insulating the country from the vagaries of the international oil market. Currently, India is importing over 80 per cent of its crude oil needs and the oil import bill was $ 88 billion in the last fiscal. It will be much higher this year. Increasing the share of natural gas in the energy basket is thus becoming imperative. It must also be pointed out that India's natural gas consumption is one of the lowest in the world at 80 cubic metres per person as compared to 253 cubic metres for Bangladesh and 152 cubic metres for China. Whether this proposal becomes a reality or not, it is high time for an accelerated approach towards ensuring that the Indian economy has access to a wide range of energy sources. This becomes not just an economic necessity but also a strategic imperative for all countries in the current delicate geopolitical environment where conflicts could erupt at any time in any region. monicakchauhan@gmail.com Washington, October 28 Two new suspicious packages targeting Indian-origin Senator Kamala Harris and billionaire political activist Tom Steyer -- both Democrats -- have been recovered even as federal officials arrested a Florida man accused of sending pipe bombs to critics of President Donald Trump. These packages put the total number of devices found in the US by law enforcement officials to 14. None have detonated, but all have pushed officials onto high alert as they worry about additional devices being delivered. Law enforcement authorities on Friday rushed to investigate one package addressed to Harris, the first Indian-American to serve in the Senate, which was discovered by a postal employee in Sacramento. Harris, a potential contender in the 2020 presidential race, has been a vocal critic of Trump like the others who have been targeted earlier this week. Another package was addressed to Steyer, a major Democratic donor, and was found at a post office in Burlingame, the Los Angeles Times reported. "Our office was informed that a suspicious package was addressed to the senator similar to those that have been sent to other elected officials," Harris' spokeswoman Lily Adams said. Sacramento County sheriff's officials said the Harris package contained a legitimate explosive device, similar to those sent earlier in the week to high-profile political targets. The FBI later said its bomb technicians rendered the package safe. Investigators also were examining another package addressed to Steyer, who has previously advocated Trump's impeachment. On Friday, Florida man Cesar Altieri Sayoc was detained in connection with the spate of suspicious, potentially explosive devices sent to prominent critics of Trump earlier this week. Trump said that the suspect would face "swift and certain justice", while urging Americans to "unify" against these "despicable" acts. The arrest came after 12 people received suspicious packages containing suspected explosives in the last few days, including former President Barack Obama and former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton. The other two packages, intercepted on Friday in Florida and New York, were addressed to Democratic Senator Cory Booker and to former National Intelligence Director James Clapper. The discovery of suspicious packages containing suspected explosives began on Monday, when billionaire philanthropist George Soros, a known Democratic donor, received one at his home in the state of New York. The episode comes less than two weeks ahead of the November 6 mid-term congressional elections. IANS laxmi@tribune.com IN a huge relief to the sick, immobilised in their homes in the remote and inaccessible interiors of the Kullu-Manali area, care through drones is on the way for them. The residents are literally cut off during the harsh winter months when heavy snowfall blocks all roads. As of today, patients are airlifted in government-run helicopters in case of emergency. In December, unmanned and remotely piloted aircraft or drones may supplement this aid. Thus, Himachal Pradesh becomes one of the first few states to form a plan of availing itself of the Ministry of Civil Aviations policy for drone flights that comes into effect on December 1. Himachal CM Jai Ram Thakur intends to use drones as vehicles of change in healthcare facilities in the difficult mountain terrain. With aid from TCS and IIT-Roorkee, the government aims to deploy drones to drop medicines and collect blood samples of patients for delivery at health centres. The scope of utility of drones is immense and exciting. Touted to be a more than $1 billion market, their application ranges from photography to agriculture, from infrastructure maintenance to insurance. At the same time, there is little doubt about the need for utmost caution and strict government regulation given the security concerns over opening the skies to the drones. While Drone Regulations 1.0 are equipped with strategies to guard against rogue drones and ensure public safety, the ecosystem in this new phase of aviation calls for constant vigil and scope for evolution of new regulations. The ministry has formulated the Digital Sky Platform which will operate as a traffic regulator in the drone airspace and coordinate with the defence and civilian air traffic controllers. Any drone without a digital permit to fly will simply not be able to takeoff. As commercial drone operations take off, industry demands can clash with government rulings. The challenge will be to not let the venture become a pizza delivery vehicle. laxmi@tribune.com JUST when politics in the Maldives seemed headed for tranquil waters, palace politics in next-door Sri Lanka has entered a turbulent phase. Sri Lankan President Maithripala Sirisena, in a sudden turn of events, sacked his Prime Minister Ranil Wickramasinghe and appointed former President Mahinda Rajapaksa in his place. The problem is Wickramasinghe, a known India backer, is not taking this humiliation lying down and has called for immediate summoning of Parliament which Sirisena has suspended till November 16. Much drama preceded this midnight coup. Both had locked horns over a contract to an Indian company and allegations were made, later denied, about an Indian intelligence agency plotting to assassinate the Sri Lankan President. Domestic politics, sibling love and international politics have combined to produce the political drama in Colombo. Speculation has been high after Srisena declared that he would not seek another term and promised to replace the executive presidency with a Westminister style cabinet. Read together, the PM will become powerful and Sirisena may be out of the contest. But the President could be keen to accommodate his next generation the son sat with the Sri Lankan delegation in the UN General Assembly and accompanied his father to meet PM Modi while the daughter has authored the Presidents biography. Sirisena also appointed his brother as the head of Sri Lanka Telecom a day after being sworn in as President. Rajapaksa also shares Sirisenas sibling love and hunger for power. He along with his clan has been out of office after the 2015 elections. But Rajapaksa is not a spent force in the presidential elections that he lost, Rajapaksa won in 90 electorates as against 70 by Sirisena. His good showing in the 2018 local polls juxtaposed with Sirisenas narrow win in a no-confidence motion meant that their political interests were again aligned. India has suffered a temporary setback with the ouster of Wickramasinghe and the entry of the pro-Beijing Rajapaksa. But the last word has still not been said with Srisena still short of a parliamentary majority. editorial@tribune.com Bijendra Ahlawat Tribune News Service Faridabad, October 28 The Municipal Corporation Faridabad (MCF) has reappointed DR Bhaskar as Chief Engineer after about two and a half months of his transfer to Karnal. The post had remained vacant due to the controversy over his transfer in July this year and the Punjab and Haryana High Court staying it within 10 days. The appointment order issued by the Municipal Commissioner dated October 26, 2018, says, In view of the fact that no officer has been posted to the MCF as Chief Engineer, thereby disrupting the entire working of the engineering branch of the corporation, DR Bhaskar is hereby allowed to work as Chief Engineer (till orders to the contrary are issued by the government in view of the outcome of the court case or otherwise) to avoid contempt proceedings in the Punjab and Haryana High Court against the undersigned. A copy has been forwarded to the Principal Secretary, Urban Local Bodies, Haryana. It states that There are no specific orders from the government to allow Bhaskar to act as Chief Engineer, while on the other hand, Bhaskar (due to non-compliance of the restraint (stay) order of the High Court) has filed a contempt petition before the court, which is fixed for hearing on November 26, against the undersigned. It may be recalled that while the state government had transferred Bhaskar to Karnal on July 26, 2018, he got a stay order from the High Court on August 8 and did not join duty at Karnal. The authorities concerned had posted Raman Sharma, Superintending Engineer, MCF, as officiating Chief Engineer, before he was promoted officially as Chief Engineer and posted at the headquarters in Chandigarh in the third week of August. Though the fear of contempt of court has made the authorities reappoint Bhaskar, this tussle has adversely affected the routine functioning of the MCF for more than two months, said an MCF official. editorial@tribune.com Tribune News Service Karnal, October 28 For the first time after the suspension of her sons Dushyant Chautala and Digvijay Chautala from the INLD, Dabwali MLA Naina Singh Chautala hit out at the detractors within the party and sought peoples support for them. Addressing a gathering during her Hari Chunari Ki Chaupal at Gagsina village, she said a faction within the party was responsible for the suspension of her sons and it would not be able to suppress their voice. Notably, Hisar MP Dushyant and his younger brother Digvijay were served show-cause notices and suspended from the primary membership of the party on October 10 for their alleged anti-party activities. Naina further said that her husband Ajay Chautala had given 40 years of his life to the INLD and when he was in jail, a conspiracy was hatched to expel his sons from the party. Is shouting slogans in favour of someone are anti-party activity. My sons did not commit any indiscipline, but they are working to strengthen the party for the last five years. Some persons are unable to digest their hard work and by issuing show-cause notices, they want to suppress their voice, said Naina. My sons never demanded any post and nor desired to be the CM, she added. Om Prakash Chautala is the head of the family as well as the party and we have always accepted his leadership, she said. Hisar: Interacting with workers in Uklana segment of Hisar on Sunday, Naina said that neither the sentiments of a mother could help a person elevate to the post of chief minister, nor a bunch of people signing the papers while sitting in a room. In a democratic set up, it is the people who have the right to elect their leader and not a bunch of people, she said while making a veiled reference to internal squabble in the INLD. editorial@tribune.com Parveen Arora Tribune News Service Karnal, October 28 Despite a public outcry, the authorities concerned have allegedly failed to check pollution emitting from rice mills in Karnal district. Without any check, the rice mills, which fall under green, orange and red categories of the Haryana State Pollution Control Board (HSPCB) as per their discharge, are contributing a lot to air, soil and water pollution. Local residents blame the authorities concerned for not bothering to check the unsystematic disposal of waste from the mills. Sources in the HSPCB say that the millers have to ensure proper handling, storage and transportation of rice husk, rice husk ash and waste water to check pollution but most of the mills are not following the norms. For every 100 kg of paddy, 20 kg to 23 kg of husk is produced and when 100 kg of husk is burnt in boilers, it generates around 25 kg of ash, say sources. The Tribune visited Kutail and Bastara villages, Bajida road and Taraori and found that the effluent treatment plants (ETPs) of various mills were not working, due to which untreated waste water was being discharged into the open, while collection, storage and disposal management of husk ash was also being handled unscientifically. The residents say environment pollution by the mills is not new. This has been going on for the past several years. We have raised the issue at several platforms, but in vain, says a farmer. The unscientific disposal of husk ash is creating problems for residents of the nearby areas, as it causes eye, respiratory and skin-related diseases. Dr S Singhal, a skin specialist at the local civil hospital, says that the exposure to such pollution causes skin-related diseases such as itching and irritation. People, who already have any kind of skin problem, should avoid going out. Meanwhile, Vinod Goel, state vice-president of the Haryana Rice Millers and Dealers Association, said that the ETPs of all mills should be in the running condition and the millers should avoid dumping ash and waste water in the open. SK Arora, area engineer of HSPCB, said, We have asked the mills to ensure scientific treatment of waste. If any mill is contributing to air or water pollution, I will get it checked. Mills not following norms editorial@tribune.com Tribune News Service Hisar, October 28 Making a scathing attack on the Congress, Union Steel Minister Birender Singh on Sunday said massive corruption during the UPA regime had pushed him into quitting the Congress and joining the BJP about four and a half years ago. Addressing a jan vishwas rally, the Union minister said, A bunch of people from politics and big corporates used to act in tandem to loot public money during the UPA government while top leaders kept their eyes shut to misgovernance and corrupt dealings. A bunch of 2,000 people earned between Rs 500 crore and Rs 20,000 crore during the UPA regime, he alleged. Taking on former Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda, Birender said, Though he is my cousin, I can tell you that he is among the richest politicians today. Farmers were looted of around 80,000 acres agricultural land during his government. The rate for change of land use was Rs 2.5 crore per acre, he alleged. Birender advised Congress leaders embarking on rath yatras and cycle yatras to go to Kedarnath to seek forgiveness for their purported misdeeds. He admitted that Hooda had once told him of having got change of land use approved during the Congress regime. Birender asserted, I want to put on record that I never played middleman. I will give up politics if any allegation against me is proved. He pointed out that politicians, including Hooda and INLD leaders, would come to the electorate again as elections were around the corner. Beware of their promises. They have ill-intentions to unleash loot on land and other resources, he claimed. He said he had come to know that certain politicians were making the rounds of the BJP in an effort to join the party, but they should not be allowed. I will not shy away from a hunger strike if any such politician is inducted into the party, he warned. editorial@tribune.com Kuldeep Chauhan Tribune News Service Shimla, October 28 The state government has terminated the contract for the construction of the 81-km-long Theog-Hatkoti-Rohru highway given to Chadha and Chadha Construction Company. As a result, the work on the project has come to a standstill, drawing the ire of commuters. More than Rs 400 crore has been spent on the project, but 15-20 per cent work on the project is yet to be completed, said insiders. There is no work on the landslide-prone Patti Dhank and Nihari stretch these days which is the best season to speed up the work on this 1,300-m trouble point, said Naresh, a resident from Jubbal. The road was one way and the traffic halted everyday for hours, he said. The government terminated the project and handed it over to the PWD. The Theog-Kharapathhar stretch would be given to the Chief Engineer, PWD south (National Highway), while two stretches between Kharapathar-Hatkoti and Hatkoti-Rohru had been brought under the PWD Rohru and Jubbal. Project Director RK Verma confirmed that the contract had been terminated, adding that the PWD and the NHAI would now start the work. The government has terminated the contract for the second time in 10 years. Commuters from Jubbal-Kotkhai, Rohru, parts of Nerwa, Shillai and Tiuni and Netwar region of Uttarakhand are bearing the brunt of delays, traffic jams and road blockades. PWD officials justified the termination of the contract on the ground that the company had failed to meet its parameters. Earlier, the Congress government had also terminated the contract of a Chinese company. After the change of the government, Chief Whip Narender Bragta, BJP legislator from Jubbal-Kotkhai, raised the issue in the last Vidhan Sabha session and demanded penalty on the contractor for dumping debris in the fields. The road project has turned out to be one of the costliest and delayed projects in the state, running over nine years behind schedule. The Congress government had allocated additional Rs 75 crore from the state fund in 2016 after the World Bank had refused to give more fund. The length of 1300 m roads between Patti Dhank and Nihari and near Kotkhai and Guma is yet to be widened and cleared of debris. The 200 m stretch between Huli and Chaila is yet to be widened and over 10 small bridges are yet to be completed, revealed insiders. editorial@tribune.com Our Correspondent Kathua, October 27 Three armed men allegedly looted Rs 1 crore from a private Delhi-bound truck on the Jammu-Pathankot national highway in Kathua on Saturday. The truck belonged to an industry located at Bari Brahmna in Samba district and was on its way to Delhi. Police sources said the accused travelling in a car intercepted the truck near the Barwal morh around 3 am on Saturday and looted Rs 1 crore kept in the vehicle. The driver and the general manager of the firm, who were carrying the cash for its ally firm in Delhi, lodged a complaint with the police. A police officer said the robbers also threatened the truck driver and the manager of the firm. The Kathua police have registered a case under Sections 341, 382 and 3/25 of the Arms Act and have constituted a team to arrest the robbers. It is suspected that someone was aware of the cash being carried to Delhi and planned the robbery, the police officer said. Nasir Ahmed, Additional Superintendent of Police, Kathua, said the police had started a probe into the incident. No arrest has been made so far, he added. editorial@tribune.com Amir Karim Tantray Tribune News Service Jammu, October 28 Since the death of Border Security Force (BSF) head constable Narinder Singh in a Border Action Team (BAT) attack by Pakistani Rangers last month, the BSF has made life difficult for them on the border. They have forced the Rangers to abandon their Border Outposts (BOPs) and move back as any movement on the International Border (IB) is being targeted by BSF personnel. This has happened after the September 19 BAT attack when Pakistani Rangers fired upon a BSF party patrolling ahead of the fence to damage the Sarkanda growth. On that day, the Rangers first resorted to unprovoked firing and then kidnapped an injured Narinder Singh. Later, when the BSF put pressure on the Rangers, the body of Narinder Singh was recovered from Zero Line. The incident had occurred a day after Union Home Minister Rajnath Singhs visit to the IB in Jammu, which created a furore all over. The BSF has taken the issue seriously and since then, it has been ensured that Pakistani Rangers are not allowed to come near their BOPs. If anyone tries to do so, he is fired upon, a senior BSF officer told The Tribune. He said Narinder Singhs death was avenged within days of the incident by the killing of a few Rangers. We ensure that if we lose one BSF man, four Rangers are killed as revenge. There is a 1:4 ratio and at times, we kill more than that, the officer said. Though these days there is a lull on the IB as no cross-border firing or shelling is happening, the BSF sees a tough period ahead once the harvesting season is over. It has been a habit of Pakistan to start shelling after the harvesting season, especially around Diwali, and we are well aware of this. Any provocation will be dealt strongly, he added. uttara@tribuneindia.com Tribune News Service Srinagar/Anantnag, October 28 A J&K Police sub-inspector was shot by unidentified gunmen in south Kashmir's Pulwama district while a 40-year-old PDP worker was gunned down by militants in Srinagar on Sunday. SI Imtiyaz Ahmed was shot dead in Wahibugh village of Pulwama, a police officer said. Sources said Imtiyaz was in civil clothes and travelling in his car when militants intercepted it. "It looks like that he was first abducted and later shot dead from a point-blank range," sources said. The slain sub-inspector was posted in the intelligence wing of J&K Police in Srinagar. The slain political worker, Mohd. Amin Dar, a resident of Gangbugh, was an associate of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) leader and former minister Syed Altaf Bukhari, officials said. Dar was fired upon by the militants. He was rushed to a hospital where he died, they said. Earlier, a Special Police Officer Mohammad Hafiz Khanday was injured in a suspected militant attack in central Kashmir's Budgam district during the intervening night of Saturday and Sunday. His condition is stated to be stable. It was the second attack on a policeman in less than 18 hours. With PTI inputs editorial@tribune.com Sumit Hakhoo Tribune News Service Jammu, October 28 After eight years, the Jammu Municipal Corporation (JMC) is preparing to host 75 elected councillors in its sprawling meeting hall. The oath ceremony will take place on October 30 at General Zorawar Singh Auditorium where newly elected corporators of the BJP, Congress and Independents will be administered the oath of secrecy by the Divisional Commissioner, Jammu, Sanjeev Verma. The meeting hall, which was constructed after last municipal elections in 2005, is being renovated to conduct regular meetings when the Mayor and Deputy Mayor will be elected. The BJP, with 43 seats, emerged as the single-largest party with an absolute majority in the JMC but it is yet to declare its Mayor and Deputy Mayor. Sources said the party was likely to announce the names after the oath ceremony. The Congress, which was expected to do better in these elections, won just 14 seats. The Independents, with 18 seats, have emerged as a major opposition to the BJP in the municipality. The last session of corporators was held in 2010. For the past eight years, no elected representative has sat in the hall. There have been official meetings but we feel the hustle and bustle will be back when elected members of the civic body come here, said a senior municipal official looking after the renovation works. Around 100 invitation cards for corporators and 700 invitation cards for MLAs and VIPs have been dispatched. People participated in the elections and now its the turn of the elected representatives to fulfil the promises. Our city and civic infrastructure is in a dilapidated condition. Lets hope the situation improves, said Sushil Kumar, a local resident. Till 2000, the city was having an area of 32 sq km. In 2003, the then PDP-Congress government approved the city limits to 117 sq km. Ahead of the 2018 municipal elections, the state extended the boundaries of the city by including four more wards in its ambit. editorial@tribune.com Tribune News Service Jammu, October 28 A meeting of the College Teachers Association was held on Sunday under the chairmanship of its president DS Manhas. The association said most of the assistant and associate professors of government degree colleges had been engaged in election duties in the upcoming panchayat polls due to which it would be difficult to carry on with studies. The syllabus cannot be covered due to absence of teachers. The students are already agitating regarding non-completion of the syllabus due to unavailability of teachers as they were engaged in election duties during the civic polls, an association statement said. The association appealed to the Governor that in the interest of students, the election duties should not be assigned to assistant and associate professors of government degree colleges in the panchayat elections. It said the classes of first, third and six semesters were going on and disturbing college teachers at this time would be a loss to students. As per the choice-based credit system, there are many subjects that a student has to complete, including skill-enhancement, ability-enhancement and generic courses. The colleges in the periphery of the state are having very few teachers and most of them have been engaged in election duty in the panchayat elections, the association added. editorial@tribune.com Tribune News Service Jammu, October 28 To keep its flock together, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) leadership has authorised its legislators to decide on their own regarding the panchayat polls in their respective constituencies. The party was forced to adopt a flexible attitude on the elections as the boycott of civic bodies elections has not gone down well with its workers. Although no official announcement has been made in this regard, legislators were asked to take the decision on the panchayat elections on their own. Notably, the elections will be held on a non-party basis. Sources said a discussion was held in a meeting of party legislators on Saturday afternoon in Srinagar. Although the party leadership is sticking to its official stand of boycotting the panchayat elections, some legislators suggested that giving a free hand to the rivals in the polls would prove to be disastrous for the party in the Assembly and Lok Sabha elections, a source said, adding, it was due to the pressure of some legislators that the leadership has decided not to stop any worker who is willing to contest the panchayat elections. The meeting of party legislators, including MLAs and MLCs, was held in Srinagar on Saturday to discuss the prevailing political situation and outcome of the municipal elections in the state. A senior PDP leader said some legislators cautioned the leaders against adopting a rigid attitude on boycotting the panchayat elections. They argued that the panchayat elections would be held on a non-party basis so there was no reason to debar any party worker from contesting the polls. Notably, a large number of PDP workers had contested the civic bodies elections as Independents across the state. Some senior PDP leaders had fielded their family members in the Jammu region. The sources said the party leadership had asked the candidates, who lost the last Assembly elections in the Valley, to start work in their respective constituencies in connection with the preparations of the Lok Sabha elections in 2019. All legislators and defeated candidates have been directed to reach out to the people and start organising meetings in their respective areas, the sources said, adding that the party had started preparations for the Lok Sabha elections. Effect on general election Sources said a discussion was held in a meeting of party legislators on Saturday afternoon in Srinagar. Although the party leadership is sticking to its official stand of boycotting the panchayat elections, some legislators suggested that giving a free hand to the rivals in the polls would prove to be disastrous for the party in the Assembly and Lok Sabha elections, a source said shriaya.dutta@tribuneindia.com New Delhi, October 28 Actress Yami Gautam, who is gearing up for the release of her forthcoming movie "Uri", says it will be a special film for her career. "It's going to be one of the most special films of my career. The way Aditya Dhar has written and directed it and Vicky (Kaushal) and the entire cast has put in a lot of hard work," Yami told IANS here. She says the film had to be shown to every Indian in the country. "'Uri' is going to be a special film. It is based on a true event which is important not just for me as an actor but as even a citizen... It was something which had to be shown. People should know what it takes to be in those shoes and do what it actually takes to keep us safe the way we are," she added. The film also stars Vicky Kaushal, who will be seen playing the role of an Indian commando who is involved in the 2016 surgical strikes. Based on the surgical strikes of 2016 carried out by the Indian Armed Forces, "Uri" traces the significant event. It also features Kirti Kulhari and Paresh Rawal in lead roles. Produced by RSVP movies, "Uri" will hit the theatres on January 11, 2019. IANS uttara@tribuneindia.com New Delhi, October 28 Prime Minister Narendra Modi Sunday credited Sardar Valabhbhai Patel with uniting India after partition and said it was his timely intervention which helped save Jammu and Kashmir from "aggression". In his monthly 'Mann ki Baat' radio address, he also urged the youth to participate in large numbers in the 'run for unity' being organised on October 31 to mark the birth anniversary of Patel. Modi said: "If we are able to see a united India now, it was entirely on account of the sagacity and strategic wisdom of Sardar Patel". He said this year, October 31 will be special as the statue of unity will be dedicated to the nation as a "true tribute" to Sardar Patel. Built on the banks of the Narmada river in Gujarat, the structure is twice the height of the Statue of Liberty in the US. "This is the world's tallest statue. Every Indian will now be proud to see the world's tallest statue here on Indian soil. Sardar Patel, a true son of the soil will adorn our skies too," he said. Modi will be dedicating the statue on coming Wednesday. He hoped that the statue will become a new tourist destination. In his address, the Prime Minister also paid tributes to late Prime Minister Indira Gandhi on her death anniversary, which is also on October 31. "October 31 also is the death anniversary of our former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi. Our respectful tributes to Indira ji too," he said. The Prime Minister pointed out that Infantry Day is observed every year on October 27 as the first Indian soldiers had set their foot in Jammu and Kashmir to take on intruders from Pakistan. Quoting late Field Marshal SHF J Manekshaw, he said Patel was "irked" at the delay in initiating military action to evict the aggressors. He said, in an interview Manekshaw had recalled that as a colonel then he was part of a meeting where Patel was irked on the delay in sending troops to Kashmir. "During the proceedings, Sardar Patel gave him (Manekshaw) a characteristic glance and reiterated that there should be no delay in our Army operation and that a solution should be sought swiftly. And immediately after that, our troops flew to Kashmir.we've seen how our Army was successful," Modi said. He recalled that in January, 1947 the Time magazine had profiled Patel and described him as a person who possessed the capability to unite the country and "heal wounds". Mahatma Gandhi, the prime minister said, considered Patel as the only one capable of finding a lasting solution to the vexed issue of the states and asked him to act. "Sardar Patel formulated solutions one by one, weaving the warp and weft of unity on the axis of a single thread. He ensured the merger of all princely states with the Dominion of India. Whether Junagadh, Hyderabad, Travancore, or for that matter the princely states of Rajasthan, if we are able to see a united India now, it was entirely on account of the sagacity and strategic wisdom of Sardar Patel," Modi said. PTI editorial@tribune.com Thiruvananthapuram, October 28 Over 3,345 protesters who prevented women from entering the Sabarimala temple have been arrested since October 26, while 517 cases have been registered across Kerala, authorities said today. Sabarimala tantri family member and activist Rahul Easwar was arrested in the morning, taking the total number of arrests to 3,346. He has been taken to Kochi. Easwar was arrested after a complaint that he had made provocative remarks on the issue in Kochi last week. Meanwhile, in the last 12 hours, over 500 arrests were recorded in Pathanamthitta district where the Lord Ayyappa shrine is located as well as Thiruvananthapuram, Kozhikode and Ernakulam. So far only 122 are in remand, while others have been released on bail. However, police chief Loknath Behra has directed that no arrest should be made of those people who protested by singing hymns and prayers. These arrests have been made for defying the September 28 Supreme Court order that overturned a ban on women of menstrual age from entering the hilltop temple where celibate deity Lord Ayyappa is worshipped. Defending the arrests, state CPI(M) secretary K Balakrishnan said this was normal police action when the rule of law is breached. IANS Provocative: Maya Lucknow: BSP president Mayawati on Sunday said the Supreme Court should take cognisance of Amit Shahs irresponsible and provocative statement. In a statement here, the Bahujan Samaj Party supremo said that Shahs remarks showed the democracy of the country is in danger. PTI Cong slams Shah New Delhi: The Congress has criticised BJP president Amit Shah for his remarks on the Supreme Courts Sabarimala temple verdict, saying the ruling partys goal was to first weaken and then finish institutions. Spokesperson Abhishek Manu Singhvi said Shahs remarks insult the intelligence of the institution and the electorate. With the BJP and the RSS leading protests against the Supreme Court order to open the Sabarimala shrine to women of all age, BJP president Shah on Saturday said courts should desist from pronouncing verdicts which cannot be implemented. PTI editorial@tribune.com Vibha Sharma Tribune News Service New Delhi, October 28 Ahead of the Supreme Court hearing on Monday, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath made a pitch for the Ram Mandir, asking the top court to pronounce its judgment in the case as it had on the matter of the Sabarimala temple, his party the BJP attacked Congress leader Shashi Tharoor for his purported anti-Hindu remarks (which Tharoor claimed were out of context) and pledged all support to Ayyappa devotees in Kerala. Learning from past experiences not just of Vajpayee but also the Narsimha Rao era, the BJP appears to have decided that pitch for development and good governance alone will not win it 2019 and it needs to follow emotive issues to return back to power. The strategy is based on past experiences, not just of the previous BJP-led government under Atal Bihari Vajpayee and his India Shining campaign but also the tenure of Congress Prime Minister PV Narsimha Rao. A senior leader, on the promise of not being named, cited the example of Rao and the Congress failing to return despite economic reforms during his tenure. It was the BJP which gained from the Ayodhya controversy when the country voted next. But the same BJP failed to capture the imagination of the people with the India Shining campaign in 2004, making it the most talked about failed political strategies in Indias political history, he said. The BJP lost not just because of India shining campaign, its lopsided focus on urban growth story and neglect of distress and backwardness in rural areas. but also because of lack of emotive issue like Ram Mandir and issues related to faith like Sabrimala, he added The Congress believes Narendra Modis acche din will meet the same fate as India Shining , which brought it to power in 2004. And despite the official bravado, the BJP appears to be concerned about things going wrong. A three-judge Bench headed by the Chief Justice of India will take up the politically sensitive Ram Janmabhoomi-Babri Masjid land dispute on Monday. Describing the Ram Temple issue as a matter of faith for the people of India, Yogi was quoted as saying: If Supreme Court can give judgment in the Sabarimala case, it should also give its order in Ram temple case. I request the court to do so. Furore over Tharoor Scorpion barb gspannu7@gmail.com Rajkot, October 28 Congress MLA Parsotam Sabariya was on Sunday arrested for allegedly demanding and accepting a bribe from persons accused in an irrigation scam in Morbi district, over 60 kilometres from here, a senior official said. Dhrangadhra MLA Sabariya was arrested by Morbi A Division police for allegedly accepting money through a middleman from some accused in the irrigation scam in return for not raising the issue in the assembly and with the state government, said Morbi Superintendent of Police Karanraj Vaghela. An executive engineer in the Irrigation department, CD Kanani, and three other officials were earlier arrested in connection with a scam pertaining to construction and repair of check dams, digging of ponds and repair and restoration of percolation tanks etc in villages in Morbi district. MLA Parsotam Sabariya had demanded Rs 40 lakh for not raising the issue in the assembly or before the government. He had settled for Rs 35 lakh, out of which Rs 10 lakh was given to him through a middleman. Another Rs 25 lakh was given to the middleman in the form of a cheque, Vaghela said. Inspector RJ Chaudhary of Morbi A Division police station said that Kanani and others had allegedly offered money to the MLA through a middleman. Chaudhary said the alleged middleman, identified as Bharat Vakil, was also arrested Sunday and based on the latters statement, Sabariya was arrested. According to police, 334 minor irrigation projects worth Rs 20.3 crore were approved by the Gujarat government in villages in Morbi district for previous and current financial years. Projects worth Rs 10 crore were completed and the probe underway is in connection with the implementation of these projects by village-level co-operative societies, police said. According to police, 27 such village-level societies are under the scanner after it was revealed that the works had either not been carried out or were of poor quality. Morbi SP Vaghela said that the state government, after receiving complaints, had launched an investigation into the irrigation projects which revealed irregularities and mismanagement of Rs 1.12 crore in 51 such projects. PTI monicakchauhan@gmail.com Smita Sharma Tribune News Service New Delhi, October 28 Two days after sudden late-night political developments saw former President Mahinda Rajapaksa sworn in as the new Prime Minister of Srilanka, India has reacted officially for the first time. In dramatic developments on Friday night President Sirisena pulled out of the first national unity government in the island nation, sacked Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe and installed Rajapaksa instead after a discreet swearing-in ceremony. New Delhi, which had so far maintained a silence on the matter, on Sunday said it is watching the developments closely. "India is closely following the recent political developments in Sri Lanka, said Minstry of External Affairs (MEA) spokesperson Raveesh Kumar. As a democracy and a close friendly neighbour, we hope that democratic values and the constitutional process will be respected. We will continue to extend our developmental assistance to the friendly people of Sri Lanka, he added. Indias statement resonate the sentiments echoed by, the US, the UK and European Union earlier that have urged political parties in Sri Lanka to follow the constitution and refrain from violence. Ranil Wickremesinghe who was in Delhi last week and held formal discussions with Narendra Modi, has contested his ouster calling it illegal and claiming majority in Parliament. The warring factions are citing the same constitutional clause to argue their claim. On Saturday, Sirisena through an extraordinary gazette suspended Parliament till November 16 instead of opting for an immediate confidence vote on the floor of the House. Meanwhile, Rajapaksa was endorsed officially foremost by the Chinese Ambassador to Colombo who met him within hours and congratulated him on behalf of his leadership and government. Incidentally, Rajapaksa was in Delhi in September to deliver a keynote address on India-Sri Lanka relations at an event organised by Virat Hindustan Sangam and Dr Subramanian Swamy in New Delhi. Rajapaksa had met with Modi then for one-on-one discussion. New Delhi chose to observe the internal dynamics play out following recent developments instead of reacting to return as Prime Minister of Rajapaksa, who had blamed India and RAW for his election defeat in 2015. Media reports had suggested of the growing division between Sirisena and Wickremesinghe with a major showdown between the two leaders at a Cabinet meeting earlier this month. The statement issued in Sinhala by Wickresminghe after his meeting with Modi and taking pot-shots indirectly at Sirisenas leadership also led to further damage between the coalition partners. amansharma@tribunemail.com Smita Sharma Tribune News Service New Delhi, October 28 Two days after sudden late night political developments saw former President Mahinda Rajapaksa sworn in as the new Prime Minister of Sri Lanka, India has reacted officially for the first time. In dramatic developments on Friday night, President Sirisena pulled out of the first national unity government in the island nation, sacked Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe and installed Rajapaksa instead after a discreet swearing in ceremony. New Delhi which had so far maintained a silence on the matter today said it is watching developments 'closely'. "India is closely following the recent political developments in Sri Lanka," said Minstry of External Affairs (MEA) spokesperson Raveesh Kumar. Ranil Wickremesinghe who was in Delhi last week and held talks with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, has contested his ouster calling it illegal and claims majority in Parliament. Meanwhile on Saturday, Sirisena through an extraordinary gazette suspended parliament till November 16 instead of opting for an immediate confidence vote while the mood remains tense on Colombo streets. Rajapaksa was endorsed officially foremost by the Chinese Ambassador to Colombo who met him within hours and congratulated him on behalf of his leadership. Incidentally, Rajapaksa was in Delhi in September to deliver a keynote address on India-Sri Lanka relations at an event organised by Virat Hindustan Sangam and Subramanian Swamy. Rajapaksa had met with Modi then for one-on-one discussions. New Delhi chose to observe internal dynamics play out following recent developments instead of immediately reacting to return as PM of Rajapaksa, who had blamed India and RAW for his election defeat in 2015. "As a democracy and a close friendly neighbour, we hope that democratic values and the constitutional process will be respected. We will continue to extend our developmental assistance to the friendly people of Sri Lanka," added Raveesh Kumar today. India's statement resonates sentiments echoed by US, UK and European Union. In last few weeks mistrust deepened between Sirisena and Wickremesinghe with a major showdown between the two reported at a cabinet meeting this month. The statement issued in Sinhala by Wickresminghe after his meeting with Modi taking potshots indirectly at Sirisena's leadership led to irreparable damage between the coalition partners. Sirisena had alleged of a RAW plot to assassinate him, but categorical denials were issued by his government subsequently and he even spoke to Modi on phone to clarify the matter. Today in a media statement, Rajapaksa added, "Today, our country is in a state of uncertainty. Details of a plot to assassinate the President and and the former Defence Secretary have come to light. Those involved in this conspiracy are being exposed by their own actions." editorial@tribune.com Ali Ahmed Tribune News Service New Delhi, October 28 The mortal remains of former Delhi Chief Minister Madan Lal Khurana, who passed away after a prolonged illness last evening, were consigned to flames at Nigam Bodh Ghat this afternoon. Khurana, 82, died around 11 pm at his residence at Kirti Nagar in West Delhi. He is survived by his wife, a son and two daughters. His son, Harish Khurana is active in Delhi politics. His second son had died last month. The mortal remains were kept at Delhi BJP office before being taken to the national BJP office at Deen Dayal Upadhyay Marg near ITO. According to Khuranas last wish, his family donated his eyes to Dadichi Sansthan, said Harish. Khurana served as Chief Minister from 1993 to 1996 and was appointed the Governor of Rajasthan in 2004. He was executive councillor from 1977-1980, two-term Metropolitan Councillor in Municipal Corporation of Delhi and Member of Parliament twice. He was also president of the Delhi BJP and national vice-president of the BJP. A family member said Khurana was suffering from a chest infection and fever for the past few days. He had suffered a brain haemorrhage about five years ago and had been ailing since then. President Ram Nath Kovind, Vice-President M Venkaiah Naidu and Prime Minister Narendra Modi were among those who expressed grief. He distinguished himself as a hardworking and people-friendly administrator, both in the Delhi Government and Centre, Modi tweeted. Party veteran leader LK Advani and Union Minister Sushma Swaraj paid tributes to the leader. Lt Governor Anil Baijal and Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal also expressed grief over Khuranas death. Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath and his Cabinet colleagues too extended their condolences. editorial@tribune.com Yamanashi (Japan), October 28 Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his Japanese counterpart Shinzo Abe held informal talks at a picturesque resort near Mount Fuji and visited a factory of industrial robot manufacturer on Sunday as they spent about eight hours together on the first day of a two-day summit. Modi, who arrived in Japan on Saturday evening to attend the 13th India-Japan annual summit, has said the partnership between the two countries has been fundamentally transformed and it has been strengthened as a special strategic and global partnership. The summit seeks to review the progress in ties and deepen strategic dimension of the bilateral relationship. Modi was affectionately received by Abe on his arrival at the Hotel Mount Fuji in the scenic Yamanashi prefecture, west of Tokyo. Delighted to meet PM @AbeShinzo in the picturesque prefecture of Yamanashi, Modi tweeted. Abe hosted a luncheon for Modi at the scenic resort by Mount Fuji. They visited the FANUC industrial facility, which specialises in automation. Taking our cooperation to modern and advanced technologies. PM @narendramodi and PM @AbeShinzo visited the FANUC Corporation, one of the largest makers of industrial robots in the world in #Yamanashi, and toured the robotics and automation facilities, Ministry of External Affairs spokesman Raveesh Kumar tweeted. Both leaders observed several illustrations of the working of industrial robots. At the motor assembly facility, they witnessed the assembling of a motor by a robot in 40 seconds, officials added. FANUC contributes to the manufacturing industry in Japan and other countries, including India, by promoting automation and efficiency in manufacturing. Later in the evening, Abe in a special gesture hosted Modi at his personal villa near Lake Kawaguchi in Yamanashi for a private dinner. It is the first time that Abe has invited a foreign political leader to his holiday home in the village of Narusawa in the prefecture. After the dinner, the two leaders left for Tokyo by train. Yamanashi, 110 km from Tokyo, is surrounded by several mountains, including Mount Fuji countrys tallest peak at 3,776 metres. They will hold a formal summit on Monday in Tokyo, during which strengthening bilateral security and economic cooperation is expected to be high on the agenda. Ahead of his departure from New Delhi, Modi described India and Japan as a winning combination and said the island nation was New Delhis most trusted partner in its economic and technological modernisation. The India-Japan partnership has been fundamentally transformed and it has been strengthened as a special strategic and global partnership. There are no negatives but only opportunities in this relationship which are waiting to be seized, Modi said. India is also hoping to have integration between Modis Ayushman Bharat scheme and the Japanese programme Asia Health and Wellbeing Initiative. PTI Traditional gifts gspannu7@gmail.com Yamanashi (Japan), October 28 Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his Japanese counterpart Shinzo Abe on Sunday rode an express train to travel to Tokyo after spending eight hours together in the scenic Yamanashi prefecture where they held informal talks and visited a factory of industrial manufacturer. Modi, who arrived in Japan last evening to attend the 13th India-Japan annual summit, was accorded a warm welcome on his arrival and the first day of his visit was characterised by special gestures and warmth. After spending 8 hours together in Yamanashi, PM Narendra Modi and Japanese PM Shinzo Abe depart for Tokyo by Express Train Kaiji, Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Raveesh Kumar tweeted. The bullet train between Ahmedabad and Mumbai will run a total length of 508 kilometres, of which 21 kilometres will be covered in the tunnel under sea. The cost of the total train project is Rs 1.10 trillion, and Japan is giving a loan of Rs 88,000 crores for the same at a minimal interest of 0.1 per cent, which has to be repaid over 50 years. In a message on the day of the two leaders summit meeting, Abe said India was driving the region and the worlds prosperity as a global power. The day when Japanese Shinkansen bullet trains start running between Mumbai and Ahmedabad through cooperation will mark a shining symbol of Japan-India friendship in the future, Abe said. Japan is Indias partner in railway modernisation, including Mumbai Ahmedabad High Speed Railway, he said. The two-day summit beginning Sunday will seek to review the progress in ties and deepen strategic dimension of the bilateral relationship. Modi was affectionately received by Abe on his arrival at the Hotel Mount Fuji in Yamanashi prefecture, west of Tokyo. After luncheon, both prime ministers visited the FANUC industrial facility, which specialises in automation. PM Shinzo Abe and I visited the FANUC Corporation, which has pioneered the usage and application of technology, particularly in robotics, Modi tweeted. Later in the evening, Abe in a special gesture hosted Modi at his personal villa near Lake Kawaguchi in Yamanashi for a private dinner. It was the first time Abe had invited a foreign political leader to his holiday home in the village of Narusawa in the prefecture. Tete-a-tete in front of a fireplace. Japanese PM Shinzo Abe hosted PM Narendra Modi at his personal villa near Lake Kawaguchi in Yamanashi. PM Modi is the first foreign leader to be invited to the villa, Kumar said in a tweet. Modi will also address the Indian community function in Tokyo and will attend a series of business events and address the business forum. PTI editorial@tribune.com London, October 27 Pakistan remains a breeding ground and supporter of global terrorism and is responsible for three times the terror risk to humanity that Syria poses, says a study. The report titled Humanity at Risk Global Terror Threat Indicant (GTTI) was published by Oxford University and Strategic Foresight Group (SFG). According to the GTTI, while the Afghan Taliban and the Lashkar-e-Taibba pose the maximum threat to international security, Pakistan is placed on top of the list of countries with the highest number of terrorist bases and safe havens. If we look at the most dangerous terrorist groups, based on hard facts and statistics, we find that Pakistan hosts or aids majority of them. Also, there are a significant number of groups based in Afghanistan, which operate with the support of Pakistan, the report says. The report, which has been prepared to discuss the challenges for the next decade, presents an analytical framework and tool to enable policy makers to look into the future. The rise of competitive extremism of all shades, misuse of weapons of mass destruction and economic disruptions can undermine human progress or even survival in the period from now until 2030. They are all interlinked with terrorism, it said. The SFG, which analysed 200 groups involved in terror acts, said the factor influencing the future of terror groups would be the support they get from states, intelligence agencies and criminal networks. Agencies editorial@tribune.com Vibha Sharma Tribune News Service New Delhi, October 28 As India readies for an engineering marvel 182-metre tall Statue of Unity after various environmental and political controversies, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday said it would be a proud moment for everyone to see a true son of the soil Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel adorn our skies. Crediting Patel with uniting a fragmented India after Partition, he said it was his timely intervention that helped save Jammu and Kashmir from aggression. In his monthly radio programme Mann ki Baat, Modi urged the youth to participate in large numbers in the run for unity on Patels birth anniversary October 31. If we are able to see a united India now, it was entirely on account of the sagacity and strategic wisdom of Sardar Patel. The Statue of Unity will be a true tribute to him, he said. Located on the banks of the Narmada in Gujarat, it is built at a cost of over Rs 2,300 crore and will be dedicated to the nation on Wednesday. Modi hoped the statue would become a new tourist destination. The BJP is all set to make it a grand event with Gujarat Chief Minister Vijay Rupani sending invites to all Chief Ministers. The statue has been built on a river island Sadhu Bet with a 250-metre long bridge providing it the connectivity. Its construction faced criticism from several quarters, including environmentalists, locals and politicians. Besides the cost, the statue was criticism over bronze panels being cast at a foundry in China and Chinese workers on the site. The Congress accused the BJP of playing politics over Sardar. When money was allocated for the statue in the Budget, the Opposition also accused the government of ignoring priorities like farmers distress, women safety, education etc. There were reports of locals opposing land acquisition for tourism infrastructure development around the statue. For the BJP, the built-up is its way of undoing the injustice to Sardar Patel by the Nehru-Gandhi family, one of the founding fathers of the Republic, and is now a part of its ongoing political narrative. Quoting late Field Marshal SHF J Manekshaw, he said Patel was irked at the delay in initiating military action to evict the aggressors. In an interview, Manekshaw had recalled that as a Colonel then he was part of a meeting where Patel was irked on the delay in sending troops to Kashmir, he said. Mahatma Gandhi, he said, considered Patel as the only one capable of finding a lasting solution to the vexed issue of the states and asked him to act. Modi also paid tributes to late PM Indira Gandhi on her death anniversary which also falls on October 31. monicakchauhan@gmail.com New Delhi/Yamanashi, October 28 Japanese Premier Shinzo Abe on Sunday said Prime Minister Narendra Modi was one of his most dependable friends and together with the Indian leader, he would like to strengthen bilateral cooperation to realise a free and open Indo-Pacific. In a message published in Indian newspapers on the day of the two leaders summit meeting in Japan, Abe said India was driving the region and the worlds prosperity as a global power. Prime Minister Modi was an outstanding leader of his great country, the Japanese premier said. (Read: Modi, Abe take express train to travel to Tokyo) I have always believed and stated that the relationship between Japan and India is blessed with the largest potential in the world, he said. Japan-India cooperation continued to expand broadly in many fields such as security, investment, information technology, agriculture, health, environment and tourism, Abe noted. We share a big win-win potential in all areas and Japan remains committed to supporting indias economic growth and Prime Minister Modis Make in India initiative through high-speed rail, subways and other infrastructure, mobilising Japans world-leading technologies, he said. The day when Japanese Shinkansen bullet trains start running between Mumbai and Ahmedabad through cooperation will mark a shining symbol of Japan-india friendship in the future, Abe added. Prime Minister Modi, who is currently visiting Japan since yesterday, is one of my most dependable and valuable friends. On behalf of the entire Japanese government, I have the pleasure of extending him the warmest hospitality, the Japanese leaders message read. Together with Prime Minister Modi, I would like to further strengthen Japan-India cooperation to realise a free and open Indo-Pacific, Abe said. Meanwhile, Modi today met his Japanese counterpart Abe in Yamanashi. Prime Ministers @narendramodi and @AbeShinzo meet at Yamanashi. They would be holding talks through the day on deepening India-Japan ties, Prime Minister Modi's office tweeted. I thank Japan's Indian community for their warm welcome. We are proud of the accomplishments of the Indian diaspora. pic.twitter.com/N51w7nPJpo Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) October 27, 2018 Modi, who arrived here last evening to attend the 13th India-Japan annual summit, has said that his meeting with Abe will add new vigour to the strong friendship between the two countries. The two-day summit beginning on Sunday will seek to review the progress in ties and deepen strategic dimension of the bilateral relationship. Abe will host a luncheon for Modi at a scenic resort by Mt. Fuji. After luncheon, they would visit a factory of industrial robot manufacturer Fanuc Corp before moving on to the Japanese premier's vacation home nearby. Abe will host Modi at his holiday home in the picturesque Yamanashi prefecture, west of Tokyo, for a private dinner Sunday following which both the leaders will travel to Tokyo by train. Yamanashi, at a distance of around 110 kilometres from Tokyo, is surrounded by several mountains including Mount Fuji - the country's tallest peak at around 3,776 metres. The two leaders will hold a formal summit on Monday in Tokyo, during which strengthening bilateral security and economic cooperation is expected to be high on the agenda. PTI gspannu7@gmail.com Jaipur, October 28 Rajasthan Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje on Sunday announced that she will contest the upcoming assembly election in the state from the Jhalrapatan constituency in Jhalawar district. I have a 30-year-old connection with the people of Jhalawar. The people here have showered love and affection. I have done whatever I could do for Jhalawar and Baran districts, she said. Raje has been elected thrice from the Jhalrapatan seat in 2003, 2008 and 2013. She said although her focus would be to win all the 200 assembly seats in the Rajasthan Assembly, special attention would be on 100 seats. Raje exuded confidence that the BJP would form a majority government in the state once again. She said BJP workers have created a situation that Congresss PM-face Rahul Gandhi is forced to hold assembly-level public meetings. In the 2008 assembly election, the BJP was eight seats away from making government in the state. The BJP had won 78 seats despite tough circumstances. Also, four seats were won by the JD(U) and the BJP dissidents. The Congress had won 96 seats, the chief minister said. Of the eight seats, six seats were from Jhalawar and Baran districts. People of Jhalawar-Baran would not make any mistake this time and saffron would bloom in the state again, she added. Rajasthan will go to the polls on December 7. PTI gspannu7@gmail.com Thiruvananthapuram, October 28 A controversy has erupted over BJP president Amit Shah landing in the yet to be opened Kannur airport, with a Kerala minister slamming him on Sunday for threatening to oust the LDF government despite it allowing him to arrive there as part of states tradition of hospitality. State Finance Minister TM Thomas Isaac tweeted that though the state had shown the tradition of hospitality by permitting Shah to land in the airport, which had not been formally inaugurated, the BJP leader had threatened to oust the left-ruled Kerala government. The official inauguration of the Kannur airport, the fourth in the state, is scheduled to be held on December 9. But, by arriving in a special flight there yesterday to inaugurate the BJPs new district committee office, Shah has unofficially become the first passenger to land in the airport at Mattanur in Kannur. Isaac said Shahs empty threats were out of frustration as the saffron party is yet to get more members in the state assembly. Former Union Minister O Rajagopal is the lone MLA of the BJP in the house. Amit Shah permitted to land in Kannur airport which is yet to be opened. That is our tradition of hospitality. But he is threatening to oust Kerala government. Such empty threats do not frighten us. Try to win few seats in Assembly. Your frustration is understandable, Isaac tweeted. Hundreds of party workers had gathered on Saturday at the airport to welcome Shah who was in Kerala on a days visit. After inaugurating the party office located at Thalikkavu, he had made a scathing attack on the CPI(M)-led LDF government in the state over the Sabarimala womens entry issue and pledged BJPs support for it. Main opposition Congress took on the LDF government for allowing the BJP chief to use the airport. Kerala Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC) president, Mullappally Ramachandran alleged that Shah landed at the airport following an understanding between him and Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan. At a time when the Kannur airport is scheduled to be inaugurated on December 9, it was specially opened for Amit Shah. Usually, it is done so during emergency situations, he said in a statement. Amit Shah had arrived in Kannur Saturday on a days visit to Kerala to attend a party function in that city and the 90th Mahasamadhi observance of saint social reformer Sree Narayana Guru at Varkala near Thiruvananthapuram. Later, in a hard-hitting speech, Shah had warned Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan that he would have to pay a heavy price if the (attack on Ayyappa devotees) continues, as BJP workers would not hesitate to pull down the government. PTI gspannu7@gmail.com Surat (Gujarat), October 28 A scrap collector has been arrested for allegedly trying to sexually assault an eight-year-old girl in the parking area of a residential building in Surat in Gujarat, the police said on Sunday. The accused Amrutbhai Devipujak has been caught on CCTV cameras taking the girl to the parking area of the residential apartment in Athwalines locality on Thursday. The footage also shows him leaving the spot in a hurry, as someone from the apartment was walking down the staircase at that time, an official said. The accused was arrested Saturday night after an FIR was lodged, said Athwalines police station inspector S B Bharwad. Devipujak was arrested last night on the basis of CCTV camera grabs in which he is seen taking the 8-year-old girl to the parking area of the apartment. It seems the accused could not harm the girl and had to leave in hurry, after noticing that someone was walking down the staircase, he said. Devipujak has been booked under Sections 363 (Punishment for kidnapping) and 354 (Assault with an intention to outrage modesty of a woman) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) and various sections of POCSO (Protection of Children from Sexual Offences) Act, Bharwad added. PTI editorial@tribune.com Tribune News Service New Delhi, October 28 US President Donald Trump has turned down Indias invite to be the Chief Guest at Republic Day celebrations on 26th January 2019. Sources confirmed to The Tribune that the US administration expressed its regret not to accept the invitation in early August when Foreign Secretary Vijay Gokhale was in Washington DC ahead of the 2+2 inaugural dialogue held between Foreign and Defence Ministers in Delhi. It is understood that when Modi travelled to the US in June last year, a generic invitation for Trump to visit India at a convenient early date was extended. Later, during telephonic conversation between the two leaders and Hyderabad visit of Trumps daughter Ivanka, India suggested Republic Day as a possible window for Trump to travel to India. However, so far no official comment has been made by the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) or Prime Ministers Office on issue of invitation extended to Trump, first reported by an Indian national daily in July. Subsequently on August 2, White House spokesperson Sarah Sanders, responding to a specific question on the R-Day invite, said: An invitation has been extended but I do not believe that a final decision has been made. While Prime Minister Modi within months of riding to power surprised all, including critics, with an invitation to Barack Obama to be Chief Guest in 2015 at the R-Day celebrations, a second invitation to the White House within four years raised several eyebrows domestically. monicakchauhan@gmail.com Smita Sharma Tribune News Service New Delhi, October 28 US President Donald Trump has turned down India's invitation to be Chief Guest at Republic Day celebrations on January 26 next year. Highly-placed sources confirmed to The Tribune that US administration expressed regret to accept the invitation in early August when Foreign Secretary Vijay Gokhale was in DC ahead of the 2+2 inaugural dialogue held between Foreign and Defence Ministers in Delhi. It is understood that when Prime Minister Narendra Modi travelled to DC last year in June, a generic invitation for Trump to visit India at a convenient early date was extended. Later during telephonic conversation between the two leaders and Hyderabad visit of Trump's daughter Ivanka, India suggested Republic Day as a possible window for Trump to travel to India. However, so far no official comment has been made by Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) or Prime Minister's Office on issue of invitation extended to Trump, first reported by an indian national daily in July this year. Subsequently on August 2, White House spokesperson Sarah Sanders responding to a specific question on the R-Day invite said, "An invitation has been extended but I do not believe that a final decision has been made." While PM Narendra Modi within months of riding to power surprised all, including critics with an invitation extended to Barack Obama to be Chief Guest in 2015 at the R-Day celebrations, a second invitation to the White House within four years raised several eyebrows domestically . Sources argue that with mid-term elections in November in US looking unpredictable and annual State of the Union (SOTU) address to Congress slated around R-Day made it difficult for Trump to accept the invitation. However, Obama who became the first US president to attend the Republic Day parade as Chief Guest, rescheduled the SOTU which is normally delivered in the last week of January or first week of February, to travel to India. Trump's no is being projected by large sections as a snub at a time when India has gone ahead and inked an S-400 missile agreement with Russia and continues importing oil from Iran despite threat of sanctions. Meanwhile, sources say that a final decision has not been taken yet about who will be the Chief Guest now on Rajpath next year. But South Africa is being considered as a likely option given 150th year of Mahatma Gandhi's Birth anniversary. India is celebrating it across missions worldwide through global rendition of 'Vaishnava Janato' by foreign artists and the government has unveiled a two-year commemoration plan to mark the special occasion. monicakchauhan@gmail.com New Delhi, October 28 Former Chhattisgarh chief minister Ajit Jogi has said though he will fight the Congress tooth and nail in the upcoming state Assembly polls, he will not speak against the Gandhi family, with whom he shared warm relations during his long tenure in the grand old party. The real contest in next month's state Assembly polls would be between his party, the Janta Congress Chhattisgarh(J), which has formed an alliance with the Mayawati-led Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP), and the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), Jogi told PTI. "I have left the Congress and will campaign against the party in the Assembly election, but will not speak against the Gandhi family, which has always loved me," he said. Jogi was the first chief minister of Chhattisgarh after the state was carved out of Madhya Pradesh. He was then with the Congress. Jogi left the Congress in 2016 and floated his own party. Asked about the allegations against United Progressive Alliance (UPA) chairperson Sonia Gandhi's son-in-law Robert Vadra, the veteran leader said, "I will not speak anything against any member of the Gandhi family even during elections. I have shared warm relations with the family for decades." The four members of the Jogi family belong to three political parties. While Jogi and his son are in the JCC(J), Jogi's wife and daughter-in-law are in the Congress and the BSP respectively. Hitting out at the Congress, Jogi said it was a spent force, which was nowhere in the contest in Chhattisgarh. The Congress neither has any face nor any organisation in the state. It has no leader and has become useless," he said, while asserting that the fight in the upcoming polls was between his party and the BJP. It is a one-on-one contest between the JCC(J)-BSP alliance and the ruling BJP and we will definitely win the election, Jogi said. He maintained that he was the chief ministerial face of the alliance, but added that he had still not decided whether to contest the Assembly polls or not. We are fighting the Congress and the BJP tooth and nail and our alliance will severely harm the poll prospects of both parties, Jogi said. The former chief minister belongs to the Satnami sect, which has a decent presence in the state. The Chhattisgarh Assembly polls will be held in two phases -- on November 12 and 20 -- and the results will be announced on December 11. The BJP has been in power in the state since 2003. PTI amansharma@tribunemail.com Anirudh Gupta Ferozepur, October 28 Two Pakistani nationals were nabbed by the BSF jawans near Border Out Post DT Mal in Ferozepur sector on Sunday evening. Those apprehended have been identified as Siraj Ahmed (31), son of Shaukat Hayat, a resident of Mansur village, and Mumtaj Khan (38), son of Iqbal Khan. As per information, at around 6.30 pm BSF jawans deputed near border pillar number 194/M in DT Mal area observed some suspicious movement. Later, the BSF troops spotted two Pakistani nationals approaching towards the Indian territory who were apprehended at distance of around 300 metre from the international border. As per sources, both belong to 30 Baloch Battalion of Pakistan army. The BSF jawans recovered Rs 3,660 in Pakistani currency from Mumtaj besides one mobile and a Pakistani SIM. Two Pakistani army personnel ID cards, four photographs, one smartphone, one keypad phone and Rs 1,040 were recovered from Siraj Ahmed. The BSF officials are investigating the purpose behind their venturing into the Indian territory. editorial@tribune.com Tribune News Service Amritsar, October 27 Leaders of the SAD and BJP took part in the bhog ceremony of akhand path organised in the memory of the victims of the train tragedy at a gurdwara near Joda Phatak here on Saturday. Akali Dal president Sukhbir Badal, his wife Union Minister Harsimrat Kaur Badal, party spokesperson Dr Daljit Singh Cheema and BJP state president Shwait Malik were present. They demanded that the event organisers should be told to pay a compensation of Rs 1 crore to each family. They also sought government jobs and a probe committee under a sitting judge of the High Court. The Akali Dal president in his address said the train tragedy was not an accident, but a mass killing. Rubbishing the charge of politicising the train mishap, he said if demanding justice for the victims was politics then he would continue doing this politics. Taking a pot shot at Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh, he said the state was mourning the mass deaths and the CM was travelling abroad. Bikram Singh Majithia, general secretary, SAD, demanded registration of cases against Local Bodies Minister Navjot Singh Sidhu, his wife Dr Navjot Kaur Sidhu and Saurav Mithu Madan. Sidhu flays FIR demand Local Bodies Minister Navjot Singh Sidhu has rubbished the demand of SAD leaders Sukhbir Badal and Bikram Majitha for registering cases against him and his wife with regard to the train tragedy. He questioned whether any case was registered against UP CM Yogi Adityanath after over 300 children died in government hospitals and a bridge collapsed in Varanasi. Similarly, many women were killed when late Jayalalithaa was distributing sarees. However, no case was registered against her, he said. TNS amansharma@tribunemail.com Kuljit Bains It is 10 days since the Amritsar train tragedy shook us out of our stupor of daily routine and forced us to introspect on the precariousness of life - a phenomenon that follows every time we witness death. Initial shock and horror soon turned into anger. Over the week, it de-escalated to anxiety. By now, our collective conscience is already preparing to put it behind us, and move on. And that is the real tragedy. For all our demonstration of horror, all of us know, and subconsciously accept, that nothing is going to change. That sounds cynical, but there are just so many repeated disasters across the country and state that it is hard to be less negative. Whether it was the death of infants in a fire in a Patiala paediatric ward, children killed in school bus accidents, factory fires, or roof collapses, the experiences only seem to make us more accepting of reckless conduct than questioning. Every time, the focus is on the instant case, largely because the institutions responsible, including the government, are insincere in their concern. What needs attention is the thousands of 'near misses' that pass unnoticed every day - the disasters that did not happen, and were saved by sheer chance despite there being all the ingredients of a tragedy. Amritsar must not have been the only unsafe Dasehra event organised on October 19. But there has been no introspection on that in any other city. Perhaps only the aviation industry has the practice of analysing what they call "air misses". The gruesomeness and complete meaninglessness of a train cutting through a mass of people made everyone apply their mind to the reasons and hold one or the other entity responsible. Many held the victims themselves responsible the most. The 'stupidity' of standing on rail tracks has been pointed at. That is true, too, but blaming the individuals is perhaps unfair. We as a people have culturally not been brought up to be conscious of safety. Whether it is wearing seat-belts or helmets, or providing basic safety equipment to workers constructing expensive buildings, only the fear of law forces us to observe the rules. It is also well known that in a crowd, the way individual minds work changes. This is where the law and order machinery has to step in, and did not in Amritsar. The fear of God helps to keep many believers within bounds of morality. But that works only to the extent of personal life, not the behaviour of people as a mass. In modern-day societies, with all their challenges of population and safety hazards, it is the governments that have to play the guardian, if not god. Laws and rules are observed not because they have to be observed, but only because, and when, they are enforced. The stage for the Joda Phatak tragedy was set up each of those years Dasehra was observed at Dhobi Ghat, only chance saved people's lives. And no government agency took note. While multiple authorities need to be held responsible, crowd control on the spot falls most in the purview of the police. More so in Amritsar, which is a police commissionerate. A stick-wielding policeman is perhaps the most powerful public official. The benefits of a stick swung in fairness and in time cannot be overstated. Perhaps the training of our policemen lacks in making them conscious of the fact that they are responsible not only for manifest law and order issues, but also have to proactively look out for the safety and well-being of the public. While the authorities may quibble over whom to blame, and the politicians do their chest-beating, people see it all as a failure of the 'sarkar', that god of the earthly affairs. No amount of condolences, compensation and expression of earnest concern on behalf of the government, thus, can be accepted until we see an immediate change in the way our markets, traffic, and public events are organised and conducted. As time helps us get over the shock of the tragedy, it is the moment to make the anger transmute into a more rational assessment of what happened and how to prevent it in future. Else, we don't have the right to mourn. editorial@tribune.com Tribune News Service Barnala, October 28 Farmers of Dhilwan and other villages, led by the BKU Sidhpur, kept the Tapa-Pakho Kanchiya road blocked for many hours on Sunday to protest the sale of paddy from other districts in their area. They alleged that trucks loaded with paddy from four districts Amritsar, Tarn Taran, Moga and Ferozepur were openly entering in their areas and unloading paddy in rice mills, which led to the rejection of their crop. Rice millers were openly purchasing paddy from other districts and rejecting our crop without giving any valid reasons. We kept the road blocked for many hours and stopped many trucks loaded with paddy from other districts, said Roop Singh Dhilwan, district president of BKU Sidhpur. Farmers also raised slogans against the authorities, who they alleged had failed to check the smuggling of paddy to their area. Today, the administration has assured that after Monday, no paddy would arrive from other districts in our area. We have now lifted the blockade, but we will take to the streets again if the authorities fail to fulfil their promise, said Dhilwan. When contacted, Food and Civil Supply Officer Harpreet Singh, who met the protesting farmers, said they had assured farmers that there would be no sale of paddy from other districts in their area. editorial@tribune.com Ravi Dhaliwal Tribune News Service Gurdaspur, October 28 The state Education Department has established libraries in all 3,665 high and senior secondary schools across the state, but failed to allocate specific periods for students willing to go and read books there. This has been going on for the last three decades. The Education Department mandarins claim that students are allowed to visit libraries in adjustment periods. However, school principals claim that they have no such instructions. An adjustment period is when a teacher of a particular subject is absent and some other teacher is asked to substitute. In the absence of students, librarians are asked to do menial jobs such as supervising preparation of mid-day meals, going to banks and doing clerical work in the principals office. Krishan Kumar, Education Secretary, said timetables were too cramped for giving space to library periods. Moreover, students have to study nine subjects, which leave them with little time to do anything else. Even then we are looking into this aspect, he said. Sources, however, say that this can be easily rectified as the timetables are prepared by principals under the guidelines formulated by the State Council of Educational Research and Training (SCERT), a body which falls under the ambit of the Education Secretary. To complicate matters, the department had a post of Deputy Director (Books) in Chandigarh. His job was to ensure rationalisation of grants received from time to time from the state and Central governments to be given to libraries. However, about 20 years ago, the post was abolished. Academicians say this is a worrying trend. A library is a delivery room for birth of ideas, a place where history comes to life. It is totally illogical on the part of the Education Department not to have allocated library periods. Officials should rectify this anomaly as soon as possible if the culture of reading books has to survive. Google can bring you a million answers but a librarian will bring you the right one, said academician Dr Satinder Singh. Interestingly, the department held a one-day orientation workshop for librarians at Mohali on October 25. Libraries have lost their utility. On the one hand, there are no specific periods and, on the other, students are at the mercy of their teachers if at all they have to visit the library. During recess, librarians are not present as they are assigned other work. I fail to understand the initiative of holding workshops and seminars if students have no access to libraries, said Sandeep Kumar Salhotra, general secretary, Punjab Schools Librarians Association. editorial@tribune.com Tribune News Service Anandpur Sahib, October 28 Even as Shiromani Akali Dal president Sukhbir Singh Badal, facing rebellion from the senior party leadership, has offered to step down in case the party demanded so, senior party leader and SAD spokesman Daljit Singh Cheema ruled out any such move. Interacting with mediapersons here today, Cheema said, Sukhbir is the backbone of the SAD, hence there is no question of seeking his resignation. Sukhbir is facing rebellion from senior SAD leaders, including Ranjit Singh Brahmpura, former MP Ratan Singh Ajnala and Sukhdev Singh Dhindsa. Cheema said, The SADs progress under the leadership of Sukhbir is unprecedented. It was because of him that the Akalis won two consecutive Assembly elections, along with winning the elections to the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) and Delhi Sikh Gurdwara Management Committee (DSGMC). The party would be run by Sukbir in future also, said the former state Education Minister. Recently, senior Akali leaders Sukhdev Singh Dhindsa and Ranjit Singh Brahmpura resigned from party positions. These developments against the backdrop of the release of Justice Ranjit Singh (retd) Commission report, indicting the then SAD-BJP coalition government for sacrilege cases in the state, stoked the fear of revolt in the party. editorial@tribune.com Tribune News Service Amritsar, October 28 A team of the Cabinet led by Health Minister Brahm Mohindra on Sunday visited hospitals here to enquire about persons injured in the train tragedy on Dasehra. It gave cheques for Rs 50,000 each to 38 injured persons. Ministers Navjot Singh Sidhu, Sukhbinder Singh Sarkaria and Sadhu Singh Dharamsot accompanied Brahm Mohindra. Expressing satisfaction at the prompt delivery of treatment to victims, Brahm Mohindra announced Rs10 lakh to the Civil Hospital and Guru Nanak Dev Hospital here from his discretionary fund. The money will be spent on purchasing machines. Brahm Mohindra praised doctors and paramedical staff, who worked round the clock and attended to the victims. Our endeavour is to ensure that all victims get free treatment and their families are rehabilitated, he said. He was happy at the Municipal Corporation announcing jobs to family members of the victims. The novel step will provide livelihood to affected families, he added. editorial@tribune.com Perneet Singh & Parvesh Sharma Tribune News Service Mansa/Sangrur, October 28 With paddy production recording a decline of 10 to 15 per cent owing to untimely rains, small and marginal farmers are staring at misery, clueless as to how they will repay debts. Farmers owning less than 5 acres of land and those cultivating land on lease are torn between meeting the needs of their families and repaying outstanding debts, that just keep mounting. What has hit them hard is the fact that land lease rates have gone up while the yield has dipped. Gurcharan Singh of Khokhar Kalan village in Mansa owns 2 acres of land. He tilled another 2 acres on lease at Rs 50,000 per acre. However, the drop in yield has left him in dire straits. I had thought I would at least partially repay a Rs 3-lakh debt. Now I cant even think of paying the interest. Gulab Singh too owns 2 acres and had taken 3 more acres on lease at Rs 55,000 per acre. He owes Rs 4 lakh to a bank and has already received a notice. Jagroop Singh of Ramanand village puts his crop loss at 8 quintals per acre. I have learnt the arhtiyas have begun imposing cuts on paddy with high moisture. This will further hit my earnings. I dont know how I will make ends meet. Four days ago, Kulbir Singh (28), a debt-ridden farmer from Mansa, had committed suicide by consuming poison, disheartened at the fall in the paddy yield. Expecting a good harvest, he had intended to partially pay off his debt. The farmers are worried that the state government has so far not announced any relief. I will not be able to send my son to Australia and get my daughter married without taking loan, rues Kulwinder Singh. He owns 5 acres of land and had taken 3 acres on lease at Rs 55,000 per acre. Farmer Jagtar Singh says from 29-31 quintals per acre last year, the paddy yield had slipped to to 24-26 quintals this season. I had taken a loan from a commission agent to sponsor my sons studies. Now, my debt will mount further, he says. The BKU (Ekta Ugrahan) state president, Joginder Singh Ugrahan, claims lease rates have touched Rs 70,000 per acre. Small farmers are staring at huge losses.Their debts are bound to multiply. But the government has not announced any help so far. The Centre hiked the MSP for paddy. But with input costs going up simultaneously, the farmers have actually gained nothing, he says. Lt-Gen KJ Singh (retd) Lt-Gen KJ Singh (retd) BLAISE MATUIDI, the French midfielder of African origin, always brings back memories of another Matuidi from my peacekeeping days in Angola. As part of a United Nations Peacekeeping Mission in 1991, I was deployed at Cuito Cuanavale, where some fierce battles were fought between the government troops backed by Russia and Cuba and the rebels supported by America and South Africa. The UN had deployed us in small multinational teams of five members, not as Blue Helmets but Blue Berets. We were totally unarmed with the UN flag and insignia being our only protection. Every team had one Portuguese speaker. Ours was an Argentinean marine officer named Alvarez. He spoke Portuguese reluctantly as he considered it to be a crude imitation of his mother tongue, Spanish. Being Alvarezs roommate, I was forced to learn Portuguese. It is here that I met Gen Bula Matuidi, who knew some words of English. Part of the rebel forces, General Matuidi had a soft spot for Goa. He had served in the Portuguese army during the Goa operations in 1961 and fondly remembered his tenure in the coastal state. Thanks to this connection, we became friends. After my initial tenure, I got transferred to Luanda, the capital city, as Regional Chief Operations Officer. A civil war broke out in Angola after the bitterly disputed elections and rebels took control in Caxito, the neighbouring provincial capital. The UN had deployed some international aid workers there, who were facing some health problems and we were given the task of rescuing them. In the complex web of UN logistics, we had MI-17, chartered helicopters piloted by Russians and operated by Skylink, a Canadian company. The pilots didnt speak Portuguese and knew very few words of English. On November 10, 1992, at 1455 hours, a white UN helicopter 637-05 was descending to land at a school playground in Caxito. It was a coordinated mission with information provided to the rebels liaison office in Luanda. Suddenly, we heard ominous sounds of machine gun burst, splintering of glass and saw one of the pilots being hit in the arm. I was standing between the pilots, indicating to them the landing area. I shouted: Luanda! Return Luanda! The pilots, who were Afghanistan war veterans, held their nerve despite the undercarriage suffering graze impact of a rocket. The reserve pilot pulled the chopper out of fire, miraculously limping back to Luanda. An enquiry by the rebel HQ confirmed that the lookout detachment had indeed fired machine gun bursts and two rockets with one making grazing contact with the undercarriage. The rebels expressed helplessness and said that, as an underground guerrilla group, they didnt have control over all the elements. We now had to plan another mission. However, our problem was that two colleagues from the earlier mission had dropped out and nobody wanted to volunteer. Being chief of operations, I hardly had any choice. We hit upon a brainwave. I had spotted Gen Bula Matuidi at the rebel HQ at Luanda. We insisted that Bula accompanied us and the fact was announced on rebel radio, Cocker Nacao, for one week before our scheduled visit. On November 17, we made our way to Caxito with Bula standing between the pilots. Luckily, a Swedish Red Cross civilian had agreed to accompany us in what was being hyped as suicidal foray. Thanks to better coordination and Bula, as anchor, the mission was uneventful and successful. We could rescue some of the sick workers, including two brave women, restoring faith in the UN system and some trust with the rebels. sanjiv@tribunemail.com Pithoragarh, October 28 The Indian Air Force (IAF) is planning to set up a firing range at Khalia Top, a popular tourist spot close to the India-China border, near Munsiyari. It would be the first major strategic infrastructure project to come up on the Indian side close to the border after the India-China 1962 war, officials associated with the proposal said. The IAF needs a firing range in this area because of security reasons and Khalia Top near Munsiyari town fits the bill with its perfect altitude, Air Marshal Devender Singh Rawat said. Located at a height of 12,500 feet which was the standard parameter set for firing ranges, Khalia Top is ideal site for the project, he said. Rawat, along with a team of IAF officers, had visited the spot recently to get the feedback of locals on the proposal. The aerial distance between Khalia Top and the India-China border is 41 km. Khalia Top, a meadow around 7 km from Munsiyari town, is the main attraction for tourists visiting the town. However, locals have opposed the proposed project as they feel an IAF firing range will destroy the popular tourist spot and render hundreds of local youths jobless besides harming the Himalayan flora and fauna. The locals, who met Rawat, said Khalia Top was the only tourist attraction in Munsiyari town that attracted more than 50,000 persons every year. Khalia Top is not just a tourist attraction, but home to more than 20 rare Himalayan animal and bird species, Ram Darmashaktu, a resident of Munsiyari town, said. The locals also told the IAF team that the tourism industry in Munsiyari was providing employment to over 3,000 persons from 41 nearby villages. The IAF officer, however, maintained that the project will not be harmful to the ecology as target practice with low-intensity dummy bombs, weighing only 3 kg, will be carried out at the range for only two months (October-November) during the year. Smoke emanating from these dummy bombs dissipates within seconds and would cause no harm to the ecology, the IAF team said. Only low-intensity dummy bombs are dropped during practice at such ranges that make noise like crackers and their smoke stays only up to five seconds. This practice of the Air Force will take place only during the months of October and November, Air Marshal Rawat said. SDM, Munsiyari, KN Goswami said the IAFs proposal and the opposition of locals was being forwarded to the state government for clearance. PTI Will render local youths jobless monicakchauhan@gmail.com Pittsburgh, October 28 A gunman yelling, "All Jews must die," stormed a Pittsburgh synagogue during Saturday services, killing 11 worshippers and wounding six other people including four police officers, before he was arrested. Robert Bowers, 46, of Pittsburgh, was arrested after a shootout with a SWAT team. Federal prosecutors charged him with 29 criminal counts, including violence and firearms offenses, and violating US civil rights laws. "The actions of Robert Bowers represent the worst of humanity. We are dedicating the entire resources of my office to this federal hate crime investigation and prosecution," US attorney for western Pennsylvania Scott Brady told reporters. Earlier, US Attorney General Jeff Sessions said federal prosecutors could seek the death penalty. FBI special agent Bob Jones said the Federal Bureau of Investigation, which is leading the probe, said the crime scene was the worst he had seen in 22 years with the FBI. He said he believed Bowers was acting alone, adding: "We have no knowledge that he was known to law enforcement before today." KDKA television cited police sources as saying Bowers walked into the building and yelled "All Jews must die." Bowers had made many anti-Semitic posts online, including one early on Saturday. In another, he slammed US President Donald Trump for doing nothing to stop an "infestation" of the United States by Jews. Jones said Bowers was armed with an assault rifle and three handguns. He said authorities believed the suspect entered the synagogue, murdered the worshippers and was leaving when he encountered a uniformed police officer. The pair exchanged gunfire, Jones said, and Bowers reentered the building before a SWAT team arrived. After a shootout, he surrendered. Bowers was taken to a hospital where he was listed in fair condition with multiple gunshot wounds. Victims taken to area hospitals included a 61-year-old woman, a 70-year-old man, and a 55-year-old officer. No children were killed, authorities said. Three police officers were shot and one was injured by shrapnel, authorities said. Two of the six people injured were in critical condition. Raging against 'invaders' A social media post by Bowers on Saturday morning said a Jewish refugee organization, the Hebrew Immigrant Aid Society, "likes to bring invaders in that kill our people. I can't sit by and watch my people get slaughtered. Screw your optics, I'm going in." The comment was posted on Gab, a Philadelphia, Pennsylvania-based social networking service created as an alternative to Twitter. In a statement, Gab.com confirmed the profile belonged to Bowers and also said it had suspended the account and contacted the FBI about it. The mass shooting prompted security alerts at houses of worship around the country. It follows a spate of pipe bombs found mailed in recent days to prominent political figures, mostly Democrats including former President Barack Obama. The Tree of Life synagogue in the city's Squirrel Hill neighborhood, a heavily Jewish area, was holding a Shabbat religious service at the time of the shooting. Police are normally only present at the synagogue for security on high holidays, Michael Eisenberg, former president of the synagogue, told KDKA. "On a day like today, the door is open, it's a religious service, you can walk in and out," he said. Around the time, three congregations amounting to about 100 people would have been using the building, Eisenberg said. Shortly after reports of the shooting emerged, Trump said in a tweet he was watching what he described as a "devastating" situation. Trump told reporters later that the killings might have been prevented if there had been an armed guard in the building. "If they had some kind of a protection inside the temple maybe it could have been a much more different situation, they didn't," he said when asked if there was any link to U.S. gun laws. He also called the shooting a wicked act of pure evil, and called on Americans to rise above hate. He said he would visit Pittsburgh, but did not say when. In the city on Saturday night, mourners held a candlelit vigil for the victims under light rain. The Islamic Center Of Pittsburgh offered its deepest sympathy and condolences, and called on its community to donate blood. The Anti-Defamation League and Jewish Council for Public Affairs described it as the deadliest attack on the Jewish community in the history of the United States. On April 13, 2014, a pair of shootings occurred at a Jewish Community Center and a Jewish retirement community, both located in Overland Park, Kansas. A total of three people were killed in the shootings. In 2015, a white supremacist murdered nine African Americans during a prayer service in Charleston, South Carolina. In 2012, a neo-Nazi gunman with white supremacist ties walked into a Sikh gurdwara - or house of worship - in Oak Creek, Wisconsin, and murdered six Sikh Americans. Reuters editorial@tribune.com Paris, October 28 The British poet and writer Rudyard Kipling, an ardent supporter of his countrys entry into World War I, did everything he could to make sure his only son would join the fight. Yet just a few weeks after John Kipling touched French soil on the day of his 18th birthday, he was reported missing during the devastating Battle of Loos on September 27, 1915. His father and mother Carrie would spend the next several years desperately searching for him, hoping against all odds that he might have survived. It was not until 1919 that Kipling publicly acknowledged his son was probably dead, one of the 1.1 million soldiers lost by the British Empire in the war. The author of The Jungle Book, the first Briton to be awarded the Nobel Prize for Literature, fiercely defended the war as a patriotic duty for all able-bodied men. He threw himself into the governments propaganda efforts, and is believed to have popularised the slur Hun in reference to the German foe. But John, who hoped to enlist in the Royal Navy, was rejected because of poor eyesight. As his wife said: How could their son not go to war when all the other sons were? said David A Richards, who has published a bibliography of the authors work and letters. It was only thanks to his fathers connections as one of the countrys most popular writers that he finally got a commission in the Irish Guards, and shipped out to France in August 1915. Shortly afterwards came the Battle of Loos, which proved a disaster for Britain as waves of soldiers were cut down by German machine guns or choked on their own poison gas being blown back into their lines. An estimated 15,000 British soldiers were killed and 35,000 wounded in a matter of days. It was Johns first combat experience, and he disappeared after going over the top, leaving the trenches to attack enemy lines. Hoping he might just be wounded or captured, Kipling spent months tracking down members of his regiment to try to learn where John was last seen. He even managed to have leaflets dropped over enemy lines asking for news of his son. He begged the War Office not to declare the boy dead, only missing, to spare his wifes feelings, Richards said. Kipling would return repeatedly to the French battlefields hoping to learn his sons fate until his death in 1936. But it was only in 1992 that Johns grave was finally identified thanks to archival research, at St Marys cemetery in Haisnes, near the battlefield where he disappeared. His name has since replaced the inscription Known unto God, a phrase suggested by Kipling himself to the Imperial War Graves Commission, which he joined after his sons disappearance. After the war, Kiplings writing took on a generally more serious tone, including several stories about soldiers suffering from what we would now call post-traumatic stress disorder, according to Mike Kipling, one of the authors descendants and chairman of the Kipling Society. In 1916, he would write the haunting lines of My Boy Jack: Have you news of my boy... What comfort can I find? Whether a sign of his own regrets or criticism of those responsible for the carnage, Kipling would later write in his Epitaphs of the War: If any question why we died, Tell them, because our fathers lied. AFP monicakchauhan@gmail.com Paris, October 28 The British poet and writer Rudyard Kipling, an ardent supporter of his country's entry into World War I, did everything he could to make sure his only son would join the fight. Yet just a few weeks after John Kipling touched French soil on the day of his 18th birthday, he was reported missing during the devastating Battle of Loos on September 27, 1915. His father and mother Carrie would spend the next several years desperately searching for him, hoping against all odds that he might have survived. It was not until 1919 that Kipling publicly acknowledged his son was probably dead, one of the 1.1 million soldiers lost by the British Empire in the war. The author of "The Jungle Book", the first Briton to be awarded the Nobel Prize for literature, fiercely defended the war as a patriotic duty for all able-bodied men. He threw himself into the government's propaganda efforts, and is believed to have popularised the slur "Hun" in reference to the German foe. But John, who hoped to enlist in the Royal Navy, was rejected because of poor eyesight. "As his wife said: How could their son not go to war when all the other sons were?" said David A. Richards, who has published a bibliography of the author's work and letters. It was only thanks to his father's connections as one of the country's most popular writers that he finally got a commission in the Irish Guards, and shipped out to France in August 1915. Shortly afterwards came the Battle of Loos, which proved a disaster for Britain as waves of soldiers were cut down by German machine guns or choked on their own poison gas being blown back into their lines. An estimated 15,000 British soldiers were killed and 35,000 wounded in a matter of days. It was John's first combat experience, and he disappeared after "going over the top", leaving the trenches to attack enemy lines. "A telegram from the War Office to say John is 'missing'", reads an entry in Carrie's diary from October 2, 1915. From that day on, Kipling moved heaven and earth to find out what happened to his son. Hoping he might just be wounded or captured, Kipling spent months tracking down members of his regiment to try to learn where John was last seen. He even managed to have leaflets dropped over enemy lines asking for news of his son. He begged the War Office not to declare the boy dead, only missing, to spare his wife's feelings," Richards said. Kipling would return repeatedly to the French battlefields hoping to learn his son's fate until his death in 1936. But it was only in 1992 that John's grave was finally identified thanks to archival research, at St Mary's cemetery in Haisnes, near the battlefield where he disappeared. His name has since replaced the inscription "Known unto God", a phrase suggested by Kipling himself to the Imperial War Graves Commission, which he joined after his son's disappearance. "After the war, Kipling's writing took on a generally more serious tone, including several stories about soldiers suffering from what we would now call post-traumatic stress disorder," according to Mike Kipling, one of the author's descendants and chairman of the Kipling Society. In 1916, he would write the haunting lines of "My Boy Jack": "Have you news of my boy... What comfort can I find?" Whether a sign of his own regrets or criticism of those responsible for the carnage, Kipling would later write in his "Epitaphs of the War": "If any question why we died, Tell them, because our fathers lied." AFP monicakchauhan@gmail.com Islamabad, October 28 A former Pakistani judge, Sikandar Hayat, was on Saturday found to have over 2,200 cars registered in his name. Hayat's legal counsel, Mian Zafar, however, told the Pakistan Supreme Court that his client owned just one car, reported the Dawn. Hayats lawyer said a few days ago, the former judge had received a challan (fine) for a car that he didnt own. After the Punjab Excise and Taxation Department was informed about the same, it surfaced that Hayat was the registered owner of as many as 2,224 vehicles. The apex court has directed the secretary and the director of the Punjab excise department to file a report in the matter. The court has sought the report within a week. ANI shriaya.dutta@tribuneindia.com Istanbul, October 28 The leaders of Turkey, Russia, France and Germany on Saturday called for a political solution to Syrias devastating seven-year civil war and a lasting ceasefire in the last major rebel-held bastion of Idlib. A joint statement adopted at the end of a major summit in Istanbul said the countries were committed to working together in order to create conditions for peace and stability in Syria. It also stressed the importance of a lasting ceasefire in Idlib, while hailing progress following a deal last month between Syrian-regime supporter Russia and rebel-backer Turkey to create a buffer zone around the northwestern province. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan spoke for several hours with Russias Vladimir Putin, Frances Emmanuel Macron and German Chancellor Angela Merkel about the Syrian conflict, in which more than 360,000 people have been killed since 2011. Their statement, read by Erdogan, called for a committee to be established to draft Syrias post-war constitution before the end of the year, paving the way for free and fair elections in the war-torn country. It also said there was the need to ensure humanitarian organisations rapid, safe and unhindered access throughout Syria and immediate humanitarian assistance to reach all people in need. The talks came after a week of escalating violence in Idlib culminated in Syrian regime artillery fire killing seven civilians on Friday, the highest death toll there since the fragile ceasefire began last month. Following the joint news conference in Istanbul, the leaders spoke separately, with Macron urging Russia to pressure the regime of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad to bring about a stable and lasting ceasefire in Idlib. We rely on Russia to exercise very clear pressure on the regime which depends on it for survival, he said. However Putin warned that if radicals were to launch armed provocations from the Idlib zone, Russia reserves the right to give active assistance to the Syrian government in liquidating this source of terrorist threat. Merkel, meanwhile, said the leaders have the duty to prevent another humanitarian disaster. The challenge is to end two wars: The war against terror and the war of the regime against large parts of its own population, she said. A solution cannot happen through military means but only through political negotiations under the leadership of the United Nations. A rival United Nations plan for a committee to write the constitution ran aground this week, with UN special envoy Staffan de Mistura, who attended the summit, saying Damascus rejected the UN having a role in the selection process. The summit also addressed the plight of the millions displaced by the grinding conflict, saying that conditions needed to be created throughout the country for the safe and voluntary return of refugees. However whether or not those forced to flee the country would be allowed to vote in a future election was left for the separate press conferences. We must advance with the political process at the end of which there must be free elections open to all Syriansincluding those in the diaspora, Merkel said. Erdogan, a vocal opponent of Assad, agreed, saying that Syrians inside and outside the country must decide the presidents fate. Aid groups have warned that a Syrian government military offensive in Idlib, home to three million people, could spark one of the worst humanitarian disasters of the seven-year war. With an assault by government troops seeming imminent, Moscow and Ankara agreed on September 17 to create a 15-20 kilometre-wide demilitarised zone ringing Idlib as Turkey sought to avoid an attack leading to a further influx of people across its border. On Friday, Syrias UN envoy Bashar Jaafari maintained that the buffer zone is temporary and that Idlib would eventually revert to government control. Turkey and Russia have held several talks with Iran on the Syrian conflict in efforts that have often been greeted with suspicion in the West, but Saturdays summit was the first to include the EUs two most significant national leaders. Syrias opposition, which has previously described Russias military intervention in 2015 as an occupation, on Friday said it welcomed dialogue with Moscow. However US Defence Secretary Jim Mattis told a security conference in Bahrain that Russia was no replacement for the United States. Russias presence in the region cannot replace the longstanding, enduring, and transparent US commitment to the Middle East, Mattis said. AFP ROBINSINGH@TRIBUNE.COM Istanbul, October 28 The leaders of Turkey, Russia, France and Germany on Saturday called for a political solution to Syrias devastating seven-year civil war and a lasting ceasefire in the last major rebel-held bastion of Idlib. A joint statement adopted at the end of a major summit in Istanbul said the countries were committed to working together in order to create conditions for peace and stability in Syria. It also stressed the importance of a lasting ceasefire in Idlib, while hailing progress following a deal last month between Syrian-regime supporter Russia and rebel-backer Turkey to create a buffer zone around the northwestern province. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan spoke for hours with Russias Vladimir Putin, Frances Emmanuel Macron and German Chancellor Angela Merkel about the Syrian conflict, in which more than 3.5 lakh persons have been killed since 2011. Their statement, read by Erdogan, called for a committee to be established to draft Syrias post-war constitution before the end of the year, paving the way for free and fair elections in the war-torn country. AFP pardeepdhull@gmail.com Washington, October 28 A heavily-armed white man, spewing anti-Semitic threats, stormed a prominent synagogue and massacred 11 worshippers in the US city of Pittsburgh, in the deadliest attack on Jews in the history of America. The shooter, identified as 46-year-old Robert Bowers, armed with an assault rifle and three handguns, surrendered after he was injured during an exchange of fire with the police at 'Tree of Life' Congregation Synagogue at Squirell Hill in Pittsburgh, where a large number of people had gathered for a baby naming ceremony. Pittsburgh Public Safety Director Wendell Hissrich said that 11 people were killed and six others injured including four policemen. He added that there were no children among fatalities or injured. Bowers was in fair condition Saturday evening with multiple gunshot wounds, officials said. It is believed he was shot by police. Tree of Life is located in Pittsburgh's Squirrel Hill neighbourhood, which is known as the heart of the local Jewish community. Bowers, whose social media account reflected his hatred against the Jews, was charged with 29 counts of federal crimes of violence and firearms offenses, federal prosecutors said. The charges include 11 counts of obstruction of exercise of religious beliefs resulting in death; and 11 counts of use of a firearm to commit murder during a crime of violence. Bowers frequently wrote on the social network Gab, where he made a specific threat against Jews hours before allegedly conducting Saturday's attack. In the post, Bowers said that the Hebrew Immigrant Aid Society, a humanitarian aid nonprofit group that provides assistance to refugees, brought immigrants to the United States to do violence against others. "Screw your optics, I'm going in," he wrote. The FBI is investigating this as a "hate crime". Before opening fire, Bowers reportedly yelled: "All Jews must die!" Bowers frequently posted about the "migrant caravan," a group of several thousand refugees walking to the US-Mexico border from Honduras to seek asylum. Preventing refugees in the caravan from entering the US has been a major talking point among both right-wing commentators and President Trump, who has spoken about it in recent pre-midterm election stump speeches. FBI Pittsburgh Special Agent in Charge Bob Jones said the investigation was in its early stages and there was no knowledge if the shooter was known to the law enforcement till this date. "Gunman targeted (people) because of their faith. At this time, we believe that he was acting alone," he said. Describing the mass shooting as an "anti-Semitic act", President Donald Trump called for death penalty for such shooters. "This wicked act of mass murder is pure evil, hard to believe, and frankly something that is unimaginable. Our nation and the world are shocked and stunned by the grief. This was an anti-semitic act," he said. President Trump ordered that American flags be flown at half-staff at the White House and upon all public buildings and grounds, and all military bases till October 31 as a mark of "solemn respect" for the victims. Despite his earlier reservations, Trump continued with his days programme and addressed a well-attended election rally in Illinois arguing that one cannot let their schedules or lives change. "It's just the way it is. No matter how you look at it, you just can't let them get away with it. They're evil, they're bad, this was an anti-Semitic act which is incredible in this day and age that something like that can happen, but it happened," he told reporters in Murphysboro, Illinois, where is addressed a massive election rally. The US goes to mid-term polls on November 6 wherein people would be electing members of the House of Representatives, one-third of the Senate and several State Governors. Trump acknowledged that the country feels terribly after this tragic incident. "This was just a horrible, horrible event," he said. Trump said that he plans to go to Pittsburgh. "I will be going to Pittsburgh. I've been in touch with the governor, and I've been in touch with the mayor," he said. Asserting that hatred and violence on the basis of religion can have no place in society, Attorney General Jeff Sessions said every American has the right to attend their house of worship in safety. "Hatred and violence on the basis of religion can have no place in our society," Sessions said. "These alleged crimes are reprehensible and utterly repugnant to the values of this nation. Accordingly, the Department of Justice will file hate crimes and other criminal charges against the defendant, including charges that could lead to the death penalty," Sessions said. Former president Barack Obama called his fellow countrymen to fight the rise of anti-Semitism. "All of us have to fight the rise of anti-Semitism and hateful rhetoric against those who look, love, or pray differently. We have to stop making it so easy for those who want to harm the innocent to get their hands on a gun." Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said: "I was heartbroken and appalled by the murderous attack on a Pittsburgh synagogue". Extra police officers have been deployed at synagogues and Jewish centres across the US after the attack. The attack at the synagogue is the latest incident of mass shooting in America. PTI ROBINSINGH@TRIBUNE.COM Singapore: Nearly 7,000 people gathered in Northern Indonesia on Sunday to witness the inauguration of 'Little India Gate', the first-of-its-kind structure in the country which recognises the contribution of the Indian community in the development of Medan city. Kampung Madras area is one of the city's significant ethnic enclaves comprising a large population of people of Indian descent whose ancestors had settled down in Medan in the mid-19th century. PTI Istanbul unveils worlds biggest airport Istanbul: Recep Tayyip Erdogan has held plenty of grand opening ceremonies in his 15 years at Turkey's helm. On Monday he will unveil one of his prized jewels - Istanbul New Airport - a mega project that has been dogged by concerns about labour rights, environmental issues and Turkey's weakening economy. Erdogan is opening what he claims will eventually become the world's largest air transport hub on the 95th anniversary of Turkey's establishment as a republic. Its a symbolic launch, as only limited flights will begin days later and a full move wont take place until the end of the year. ap Archaeologists find Bronze Age ruins in China Beijing: A team of archaeologists said on Sunday that they have unearthed Bronze Age ruins, including the remains of ancient houses and ash pits along with animal bones, bronze ware and stone tools in China's Jilin province. The finds were discovered on a sand dune near Dajinshan village in Shuangliao city, according to the School of Archaeology of Jilin University. Fang Qi, the archaeologist who headed the excavation, said researchers speculate that the ruins might serve as evidence of a living and fishing place for ancient people near the Eastern Liaohe river based on large quantities of unearthed life utensils, animal bones, fishbones, mussels and shellfish. IANS monicakchauhan@gmail.com Wellington, October 28 Britain's Prince Harry and wife Meghan arrived in New Zealand on Sunday for the final leg of their Pacific tour, their first international royal tour since marrying in May. The royal couple, who have already visited Australia, Fiji and Tonga, were received in the nation's capital Wellington by Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern. The globally-popular Ardern marked her first year as the country's leader earlier this week, having formed government through a coalition deal that followed an inconclusive election. In June, Ardern became only the second world leader, after Pakistans Benazir Bhutto in 1990, to give birth while in office. Harry and Meghan are expecting their first child next year. The royal couple flew from Australia on Sunday after closing the Invictus Games in Sydney last night and were accompanied by several Invictus Games athletes from New Zealand. The Invictus Games are an international paralympic-style competition for military personnel wounded in action that was founded by Harry. Meghan wore a brown checkered coat and a simple black dress, while Harry was in a dark grey suit. Both had remembrance poppy pins on their chests. On Sunday evening, the couple will attend a reception celebrating the 125th anniversary of women's suffrage. New Zealand became the first country in the world where women could vote in parliamentary elections in 1893. Reuters pardeepdhull@gmail.com Colombo, October 28 The political crises in Sri Lanka took an ugly turn on Sunday when bodyguards of Petroleum Minister Arjuna Ranatunga, a loyalist of Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe, fired live rounds at the supporters of the new premier Mahinda Rajapaksa, leaving one person dead. One person succumbed to his injuries and two others were hospitalised in the shooting incident and a security personnel was arrested at the Ceylon Petroleum Corporation (CPC) premises in Dematagoda following a tense situation on Sunday, police said. The incident took place when the cricketer-turned-politician visited the CPC office, with several Ceylon Petroleum Corporation workers objecting to his presence at the office. When Ranatunga entered the building the supporters of the new prime minister Rajapaksa took exception to him visiting the office and shouted slogans. When they were not allowed to move out, shots were fired which injured three persons. Unconfirmed reports said that two of Ranatunga's security personnel have been arrested. Ranatunga is a supporter of Wickremesinghe who was sacked by Sirisena. Wickremesinghe holds his sacking was illegal and unconstitutional. Sri Lanka is facing a political crisis after President Sirisena sacked prime minister Wickremesinghe on Friday, and appointed former strongman Rajapaksa as the new prime minister. A new caretaker government is expected to be sworn in on Monday. Sirisena also suspended parliament till November 16 after Wickremesinghe sought an emergency session to prove his majority. His office also announced that with Wickremesinghe's sacking the Cabinet stands dissolved. Earlier in the day, Sri Lankan Parliaments Speaker Karu Jayasuriya recognised Ranil Wickremesinghe as the countrys Prime Minister in a major relief to the embattled UNP leader, who was sacked as the Premier by President Maithripala Sirisena. In a letter to Sirisena, Jayasuriya questioned Sirisenas decision to suspend the House till November 16, saying it will have serious and undesirable consequences on the country. PTI Is mask wearing more important than purchasing testing kits for Covid-19? Proper mask wearing prevents you from transmitting or receiving infection. The testing kits tell you if you are asymptomatic but carrying the virus. Wearing your mask properly prevents you from spreading it. A Covid-19 testing kit cannot do this. I am of the view that while it is nice to know if you are a carrier how many times do you have to self-test? Thanks for all your replies, they are very helpful! Will talk to my parents properly and get back to you in more detail but for now.. We agree, we are thinking to do a few more days in Tasmania, spending at least a week or 9 days there seems better. We probably won't get a campervan in Cairns as we agree it might not be so enjoyable if it is very humid (and we are from the UK so no we are not used to tropical weather!). Potentially rent a car for a few days to do PD/Daintree - do you think this is still worth doing at that time of the year? We don't mind rain too much but if the weather isn't going to be great we are also happy to scrap Cairns and go somewhere completely different that will have better weather and more to do - if you have any recommendations? Then say we do Cairns and surrounds (does surrounds include Magnetic Island?), we then fly to Brisbane and do Fraser island/Noosa. My mum visited in September and we did 3 days doing the GOR in a camper and we loved it, so we want to take my dad there too. We might just go as far as Apollo Bay as we loved Lorne, Anglesea and Apollo Bay and felt we didn't get enough time there as we went all the way to Peterborough when we went. So would prefer to stop maybe in Lorne and Apollo Bay for the nights, so we can enjoy these stops and not rush. We have no set order for these trips, but from your advice we will look to do GOR first and then Tas until ~27th (if we can book car/accom), and then do Cairns --> Brisbane (fraser island etc.) for the rest (or something else if we decide against Cairns). We don't want to be in Sydney for NYE, and we are happy to miss it out completely if we don't have time (I have been and my dad will be working there for 4 days before coming to Melbourne). Also, as we haven't booked anything, we welcome any advice on anywhere you think is better to go to at this time of the year! We think we want to go to Tasmania and a few days on GOR, but the QLD section we are open to changing. I am going to discuss with my rents tomorrow morning more thoroughly but thanks again for all the great advice. Re: how to get to NY and then to Toronto by bus 1. Re: how to get to NY and then to Toronto by bus Have you looked at your other bus options out of Northampton? That will dictate how you get to NYC. From NYC to Toronto, you have other options besides Greyhound such as Trailways and Megabus. What have you read that makes you think it is a risk? Being late is inconvenient for sure but would it deter you from making the trip? Have you looked into taking the train (Amtrak)? Hello -- Need help planning our trip to CR about 6 nights, 7 days. Family of four with two college age daughters. We don't like sitting in car for hours travelling. We like to spend some time going around each day and then relaxing in the evening. Not much into water stuff, but like hiking, zip lining etc. Air fare cheaper to Liberia so plan to fly in and out of Liberia. Here are my questions -- Looking at Guanacaste region as it is closer to Liberia airport -- Rincon de la Vieja National Park (3 nights), Barra Honda National Park (day trip?) and the pacific beaches (2 nights). Would we be missing out if we dont do the more popular Arenal/La Fortuna/Monteverde route? Would we able to do the type of activities we like? Any other suggestions on routing? Is it better to rent a car vs. do other transportation options due to our group of 4> May be more economical to rent vs. pay/person? Thanks in advance! Hi! I have always find the community here incredibly useful and I was hoping I could hear some thoughts, since I am going a bit mental by now trying to make choices. 3 weeks, 20 nights in Japan 11 May: flight 3 days: Tokyo Nikko (day trip) Matsumoto + Kiso Valley (Narai) Kamikochi + hiking return car, train to Kanazawa Kanazawa, kenroku-en train to Toyama hiking Kyoto Kyoto + Arashimaya Osaka Kobe + Himeji Nara Koya-san travel to Yakushima Yakushima + snorkel Yakushima + hiking Tanegashima Travel + Tokyo (capsule hotel) 1 st June: flight back to Dublin That is the itinerary I came up with, I know there is so much I am missing, but I have been trying to guess, I took away Mt Fuji because I have the impression the most important part is seeing from afar and we already have plenty of hiking, if we should add it, a day will need to be taken from something else. I am not sure about the JR Pass since to go to Yakushima Ill be taking a flight and I dont many JR options there and some of the Japanese alps bits (or Koya-san) seem to have better non JR link, maybe we could get it for a week or two? The Kiso Valley (Narai) and Kamikochi are also 2 stops I am not sure of as they seem tricky to reach without a car so we will need either to rent one or to waste time getting lost in buses (we speak no Japanese whatsoever, I will try to learn some, but it wont be enough). Kyoto seems best as a base because we have some friends living there but seems a bit farther for the Himeji, Nara and Koyasan trips. I assume no one has gone to Tanegashima and can tell me if the space center is worth the hassle or the island has much else otherwise (was thinking of a day trip). Any ideas or tips would be welcome! I am also thinking of staying at a ryokan (not sure where) and some airbnb to try to balance the budget, but I don't think I see the appeal of the Onsen, as much as everyone seems to love them! We want to have a wide idea of Japan, we are a lot into nature, food and culture, although I would rather experience a bit of everything than see a lot of the same. Thanks a lot! :) PS. I am just sad is just 3 weeks and won't have time for Hokkaido or Okinawa, but I guess you need to hard make choices :( :( :( PS2. Flights are booked so that is the only thing that can't be changed. -:- Message from Tripadvisor staff -:- This topic has been closed to new posts due to inactivity. We hope you'll join the conversation by posting to an open topic or starting a new one. To review the Tripadvisor Forums Posting Guidelines, please follow this link: http://www.tripadvisor.com/pages/forums_posting_guidelines.html We remove posts that do not follow our posting guidelines, and we reserve the right to remove any post for any reason. San Jose to Manuel Antonio/Quepos area is quite easy by bus. See the terminal info here: . Directo buses are better. You will end up at the bus terminal in the town of Quepos. Lots of accommodations there are located between Quepos and Manuel Antonio park. As long as you are not staying too far from the main Rd., it should be easy to get to Quepos or to the park and a public beach outside he park by a local bus, which goes a few times an HR. We used that local bus in that area and paid in colones. We also found that tour prices in that area included hotel pick up and drop of. Remember that the park is closed on Mondays. For transportation options to S. Caribbean, see . Buses to Puerto Viejo, Cahuita, etc. start from a different bus terminal in San Jose city, called Transp. Mepe. See the bus schedule on the above site. Note that the main Hwy to get there has been undergoing long-term construction, which might extend the typical transfer times. If arriving to your destination after dark, especially with luggage, you might need to rely on your hotel owner's advance recommendations re the best way to get to them from the bus terminal - e.g., a taxi. We also used prepaid shared shuttle vans - e.g., from Interbus, PleasureRideCR, there is also Caribeshuttle. You can use Caribeshuttle for getting to Tortuguero, for ex. Shuttles cost more than buses, but in some cases, convenience might be worth the price difference. They are hotel to hotel. We booked them on line or by phoning their CR #. - Kalonzo said it was difficult for a leader cheating on his wife to be faithful in public office - He said the unfaithfulness in marriage had watered down the value of integrity in male politicians - He attributed his success in politics to his faithfulness to his wife Pauline - The former vice president said leaders who were cheating on their wives were untruthful and still compromised integrity despite saying they were staunch church goers Wiper party leader Kalonzo Musyoka has blamed lack of integrity in Kenya's leadership circles to unfaithful and polygamous male politicians. The former vice president said it would be difficult for a man who was unfaithful to his wife to be faithful to the electorate if elected in public office that is why there was a lot of corruption and theft of taxpayers' resources. Send 'NEWS' to 40227 to receive all the important breaking news as it happens READ ALSO: DPP authorises prosecution of Lugari MP Ayub Savula and two wives over KSh 122 million theft Wiper leader Kalonzo Musyoka and his wife Pauline Kalonzo. The former vice president blamed leaders who were unfaithful in their marriages for lack of integrity in the political sphere. Photo: Nation. Source: UGC READ ALSO: Homa Bay Senator Kajwang' wants Uhuru to hand over power to Raila, Gideon Moi in 2022 Speaking in Taita Taveta during the homecoming of Wundanyi MP Danson Mwashako in Taita Taveta on Saturday, October 27, the Wiper leader said he managed to retain his Mwingi North parliamentary seat because he stuck to his wife Pauline. He advised Mwashako who was elected via his party to avoid polygamous or adulterous thoughts if he wanted to establish his political career. "Young male politicians should marry only one wife and stick with them in all seasons. They should never look to the left or right. My faithfulness and good relations with my wife made me morally appeal to my Mwingi constituents and was elected five consecutive times," he said. Kalonzo Musyoka and wife Pauline. The Wiper party leader said it was difficult for a leader to be unfaithful to his wife and be faithful to the electorate. Photo: UGC Source: UGC READ ALSO: Governor Ngilu opens first ever county-owned state of the art textile company in Kitui The National Super Alliance co-principal acknowledged Kenyan leadership was largely lacking in integrity, a situation he attributed to unfaithful male politicians who went after many women, abdicating their key responsibilities. "The problem of Kenya's leadership can be drawn back to adulterous and polygamous leaders. It is sad that some of these leaders profess Christian faith but after leaving the pulpit, they go and engage in extra-marital affairs. This devalues integrity in leaders," Kalonzo explained. Kalonzo who was on a mission to popularise his party in the Coastal region reiterated his commitment to work with President Uhuru Kenyatta and Deputy President William Ruto in the spirit of Opposition leader Raila Odinga's handshake with the Jubilee leadership. 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. Governor Okoth Obado Release Terms and Conditions - On Tuko TV Source: Tuko.co.ke - Obado maintained a low profile at the church service during the first visit - On Friday, he had thanked the courts and called for unity after being released from custody - The pre-trial conference of murder case facing him has been scheduled for February 14, 2019 Besieged Migori Governor Okoth Obado made his first public appearance on Saturday, October 27, one day after he was released from Industrial Area Remand prison where he had spent more than 30 days. Obado attended a religious service at Upper Hill Seventh Day Adventist Church in Migori town where he turned up unannounced and left in a huff shortly after prayers. Send 'NEWS' to 40227 to receive all the important breaking news as it happens. READ ALSO: Details on why Justice Jessie Lessit granted governor Okoth Obado bail Obado attended a religious service at Upper Hill Seventh Day Adventist Church in Migori town where he turned up unannounced and left in a huff shortly after prayers. Photo: Erick Oti Journalist Source: Facebook READ ALSO: EACC freezes Obado's and wife's accounts over corruption EACC freezes Obado's and wife's accounts over corruption In a short speech, the county boss requested the congregants to remember him in prayer adding that he had really missed church for the one month he was in custody. "I have missed the church since we came from the camp meeting but I thank God for granting us peace and life up to this time. I request you to put me on your prayers during this hard times," he said. READ ALSO: Governor Obado arrives in court to face murder charges after spending 3 days in remand On Friday, October 26, Obado from his Nairobi home, issued a statement thanking the courts for granting him freedom. Obado has been charged with the murder of 26-year-old Rongo University student Sharon Otieno who was gruesomely murdered and dumped in a thicket in Oyugis on Monday, September 3. Obado has been charged with the murder of 26-year-old Rongo University student Sharon Otieno who was gruesomely murdered and dumped in a thicket in Oyugis in September. Photo: Erick Oti Journalist Source: Facebook He denied the charges together with his co-accused Michael Oyamo and Caspal Obiero. Oyamo and Obiero, were, however, denied freedom and returned to remand at the Industrial Area Prison where they will remain until a pre-trial conference scheduled for February 14, 2019. READ ALSO: No Governor Okoth Obado, no sex - Female supporters In compliance with bail terms, Obado did not mention any thing concerning the murder case that has since put him under ridicule from a section of the public. While delivering her ruling at the Milimani Law Courts on Wednesday, October 24, Justice Jessie Lessit warned Obado from going anywhere close to Homa Bay, which is the county where the deceased hailed from. "The accused shall not go anywhere within 20km of Homa Bay County boundary and the court has the liberty to cancel your bail at any time, she ruled. 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. Okoth Obado Supporters Celebrate His Release | Tuko TV. Source: Tuko Kenya The bible strongly condemns homosexuality in any shape or form. A man is not allowed to lie with a fellow man like he would with a woman. Going by this, most churches frown upon gay guys and self proclaimed lesbians and often block them from even accessing any church resources. Send 'NEWS' to 40227 to receive all the important breaking news as it happens READ ALSO: 16 super controversial photos of Kenyan gay man who claims to only date rich men READ ALSO: Controversial author Binyavanga Wainaina to wed gay Nigerian fiance early 2019 JCC Ministry is on the spot for welcoming popular CNN journalist Richard Quest who is openly and proudly gay. In a Twitter rant, Kenyans came full force to call out Reverend Kathy Kiuna and her husband for allowing the reporter to take the stage at their church. READ ALSO: Im gay, HIV positive and extremely happy -Binyavanga According to most netizens, if clerics are willing to let in anyone to the holy house of worship, then the likes of Vera Sidika, Binyavanga and a whole lot of socialites should be allowed to mix with worshippers. What still puzzles some timid, liberal beings is how people who claim to be clean and free of sin sit back and act like their lives are not marred by controversy and some sort of immorality. JCC has been accused time and again of modernising christianity and being too liberal when it comes to worship. Some Kenyans argued thieves and killers have been given the chance to stand at the pulpit so Quest was just a drop of water in the sea. Jilted worshippers stated in their whole life they have never been given the chance to address the multitude but Quest, a gay visitor was given 30 minutes to address worshippers. "Hope you told him unrepentant gays are headed to the lake of fire for all eternity and that he should repent," a netizen by the name Koimet said. Other internet users could not help but wonder if the journalist went to church back home. In an interesting twist, iron fisted Kenya Films and Classification Board (KFCB) boss Ezekiel Mutua actually sided with Quest and the Kiuna's. According to him, the journalist's orientation had nothing to do with his visit to Kenya. He went to capture the resilience and growth of the Kiunas. Ezekiel further stated the journalist was at the right place at the right time and people should just let the man be. "If Quest's main mission was to highlight life changing ventures and innovations in Kenya, then today he was in the right place. Reverend Kathy and Bishop Kiuna are the true exemplification of the Kenyan spirit of self-belief, resilience, hard work and faith. They have conquered many odds to be who they are today. Like or hate them, the Kiunas have influenced millions. No one can deny the fact that the Kiunas have given hope to many youths. Theirs is the true story of audacity of hope. Quest may be gay, but he is a top notch journalist who can sense newsworthy stories with unique angles," Ezekiel shared. Here are some of Kenyans' reactions: 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. THE SAD LIFE OF DEDAN KIMATHI'S FORGOTTEN FAMILY| Tuko TV: Source: Kenya Breaking News Today We often ignore or brush away simple joys such as hearing our hearts beat and running around like there is nothing to hold us back. Baby Faith Wangechi was born with two holes in her heart and her distraught mother learnt in the most heartwrenching way. Send 'NEWS' to 40227 to receive all the important breaking news as it happens READ ALSO: Section of Kenyans call out JCC ministry for inviting Richard Quest to church despite being gay READ ALSO: Kenyans attack Bahati for letting grandpa live in dilapidated house while he enjoys life in Nairobi In a report by Citizen TV, Faith became dangerously dehydrated at only four-months-old after developing diarrhoea. When she was taken to the hospital, doctors discovered a murmur in the baby's heart suggesting something somewhere was wrong. READ ALSO: Form Four student dies while dancing in exam warm up party "While at Kenyatta National Hospital, doctors listened to her heartbeat and discovered she had a murmur. I was then told she had two holes in her heart. I went to Mater hospital and was asked to go seek treatment in India," Mary Waringa, Faith's mother said. After hearing her plight, Kenyans all over social media decided to come together in a bid to send Faith to India for her urgently needed treatment. Scrolling through Facebook, TUKO.co.ke noticed a lot of people had began sending cash to the provided paybill number as they called upon each other to help treat the sweet baby girl. Some sent as little as KSh 100 but that was the sweetest sign of support, love and kindness. Most ladies and parents stated it pained them to see a fellow parent suffer without the required means to give their child a better life. Some sent as little as KSh 100 but that was the sweetest sign of support, love and kindness. Photo: CitizenTV Source: UGC 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. THE SAD LIFE OF DEDAN KIMATHI'S FORGOTTEN FAMILY| Tuko TV: Source: Tuko.co.ke Wiper Party leader Kalonzo Musyoka is in mourning after the loss of his father Peter Musyoka Mairu, TUKO.co.ke has learnt. The late 94-year-old Mairu passed away on the night of Saturday, October 27, at the Nairobi Hospital where he was receiving treatment. Send 'NEWS' to 40227 to receive all the important breaking news as it happens Kalonzo Musyoka lost his father on Saturday, October 27 Source: UGC READ ALSO: It is all systems go for Nairobi - US direct flights A number of close allies to Kalonzo issued condolence messages including Bungoma Senator Moses Wetangula. READ ALSO: Uhuru Kenyatta's nephew steps out with TV girl months after allegedly ditching Anne Kiguta It is with deep shock and sadness that I have learnt the passing of the late Musyoka Mairu, father to former vice president Kalonzo Musyoka. The late will be remembered for his iconic advise and relentless efforts on his quest to have a just society, Wetangula said in a statement. READ ALSO: Form Four student dies while dancing in exam warm up party Amani National Congress party leader Musalia Mudavadi also sent a glowing message of condolence in support of Kalonzo who has lost his parents in a span of four years after his mother passed on in 2014. "My brother and colleague Kalonzo Musyoka, my sincere condolences upon the passing on of your dear father Mzee Peter Musyoka Mairu. My thoughts and prayers are with you and your entire family as you walk this difficult path, Mudavadi said on Twitter. President Uhuru Kenyatta and ODM party leader Raila Odinga also joined other leaders in passing their messages of condolences as Raila reiterated he "shared in the grief" of the former deputy president. READ ALSO: Form Four student dies while dancing in exam warm up party "Pole sana my brother following the passing on of your father Mzee Peter Musyoka Mairu. We share in your grief. May God grant comfort to your family at this trying moment," Raila tweeted. Do you have a hot story or scandal you would like us to publish, please reach us through news@tuko.co.ke or WhatsApp: 0732482690 and Telegram: Tuko news THE SAD LIFE OF DEDAN KIMATHI'S FORGOTTEN FAMILY| Tuko TV: Source: Tuko Breaking News Ships of other countries can take part in joint naval exercises in the Sea of Azov when Ukraine legislatively delimits its borders there. A military expert lists four steps that Kyiv needs to take to prevent further Russian aggression and ensure the security of the Sea of Azov, as it should introduce more radical measures without waiting for Europe's respective sanctions against Russia. "First of all, we need to immediately withdraw from the 2003 agreement. This is measure number one. The second one is to legislatively delimit our border in the Sea of Azov," First Deputy Chairman of the Union of Officers of Ukraine Yevhen Lupakov said, the Ukrainian news outlet Obozrevatel reported. An announcement of military drills of Ukraine's missile and artillery troops in the Ukrainian zone of responsibility should become step number three, he said. Read alsoEP Resolution of on Sea of Azov: Self-serving intentions or another "deep concern" "As soon as these legislative measures are taken, then the sea will no longer be common and every side will have its part. And then NATO ships should be invited for joint exercises in the Sea of Azov. That's all. There will be no problems then," the expert assured. So far, Lupakov says, as long as the Sea of Azov is common, warships that do not belong to Ukraine or the Russian Federation are not allowed there. "And when we have our own sea, ships of other countries can take part in joint naval exercises," he added. The Ukrainian president and prime minister addressed the nation on Liberation Day. Ukraine marks the 74th anniversary of liberation from German Nazi troops on October 28. "There have been 74 years since the expulsion of the Nazi invaders from Ukraine. This date will forever remain in the memory of all the people, because there is no family in Ukraine that would not lose their relatives during the Nazi invasion and occupation," Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko wrote on Facebook on October 28. Read alsoRFE/RL: Crimean Tatar accused of restoring 'Nazism' for antiwar poem In his words, "at the cost of incredible efforts, at the cost of millions of lives, we managed to stop the aggressor every part of our land is abundantly covered by our defenders' blood." "Eternal respect and honor to those who sacrificed their lives for the future of new generations, the free future of Ukraine and the entire European continent," Poroshenko added. Ukrainian Prime Minister Volodymyr Groysman also congratulated Ukrainians on Liberation Day. He says the Nazi occupation of Ukraine during the Second World War is one of the most tragic pages of the country's history. "Mass persecution by nationality, the extermination of Jews, executions of the Ukrainian intelligentsia, widespread treatment of Ukrainians as second-class citizens happened when one totalitarian regime in Ukraine was replaced by another one in 1941 for which the very existence of the Ukrainian nation was out of the question," the government's press service quoted Groysman as saying. "At the cost of extraordinary, inhuman efforts, the Ukrainians were able to survive in such conditions and free their land from such 'liberators' [German Nazi troops claimed to be 'liberators' of Ukraine from the Soviet regime]. This victory was achieved at the cost of millions of lives and destroyed destinies. During the war, virtually every family in Ukraine lost their members. Therefore, the contribution of the Ukrainian people to the victory over Nazism is invaluable," the prime minister said. "We will never forget about this and will always remember those who sacrificed their lives defending their land from the invaders. I express my gratitude to all the liberators of Ukraine from the Nazi invaders for their courage and heroism! I'm joining a minute's silence to commemorate all those who fell in the struggle against Nazism," he added. One member of Ukraine's Joint Forces was killed in action on that day. Russia's hybrid military forces used banned weapons, namely 120mm mortars, in five out of fifteen attacks they mounted on the Ukrainian army in Donbas, eastern Ukraine, on Saturday, October 27. "In the past day, the enemy shelled our positions near the town of Svitlodarsk, and close to the villages of Krymske, Luhanske, Pisky, Opytne, Pavlopil, Hnutove, Vodiane, and Lebedynske," the press center of Ukraine's Joint Forces Operation said in an update on Facebook as of 07:00 Kyiv time on October 28, 2018. Russia's occupation forces used grenade launchers, large-caliber machine guns and small arms. Read alsoOSCE spots trucks with Russian license plates near Makiyivka in occupied Donbas They resorted to 120mm mortars to shell the position of Ukraine's Joint Forces near Luhanske, while 82mm mortars were used to attack Ukrainian positions near Svitlodarsk, Pisky and Vodiane. The latter came under mortar fire twice in the past day. In addition to mortars, the enemy used grenade launchers of various systems, large-caliber machine guns and small arms near Luhanske and Pisky. The Russian-led forces were most active in Donetsk region near the Sea of Azov. The Ukrainian troops managed to suppress the enemy firepower. One member of Ukraine's Joint Forces was killed in action, the update said. According to Ukrainian intelligence data, two enemy troops were eliminated, another two were wounded. Since Sunday midnight, the enemy has opened fire once, the incident was reported near the town of Avdiyivka. No heavy weapons have been used. No Ukrainian casualties have been reported. The drone went missing on October 27. The OSCE Special Monitoring Mission to Ukraine on October 27 lost its long-range unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV), which was monitoring the movement of a convoy of trucks in the Russian-occupied area in the east of Ukraine. "At 01:18 on October 27, while flying over an area near Kalynove (non-government-controlled, 72km east of Donetsk), an SMM long-range unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) spotted a surface-to-air missile system (9K33 Osa) and a fuel truck east of Nyzhnokrynske (non-government-controlled, 66km east of Donetsk). The UAV was immediately re-directed north towards Saurivka (non-government-controlled, 72km east of Donetsk). At 01:36, the UAV spotted a convoy of seven trucks on a dirt road near the border with the Russian Federation where there are no border crossing facilities, driving in a south-westerly direction towards Manych (non-government-controlled, 76km east of Donetsk). The UAV was then re-directed south towards Nyzhnokrynske in order to continue observing the convoy. At 01:53 the SMM lost all communications with the UAV while it was flying at an altitude of about 7.000ft over an area south-east of Nyzhnokrynske," the OSCE SMM said in its spot report for October 27. Read alsoAnother enemy drone downed by Ukraine's Joint Forces near Lysychansk in Donbas "For about 35 minutes before communications were lost, the UAV had experienced signal interference, assessed as jamming, at intervals in areas near Saurivka and Nyzhnokrynske. The UAV did not return to its ground control station near Stepanivka (government-controlled, 54km north of Donetsk) and is considered lost," it said. As UNIAN reported earlier, OSCE SMM monitors spotted a convoy of trucks with Russian license plates near the town of Makiyivka in Russian-occupied Donbas, eastern Ukraine. The New START Treaty, which limits strategic nuclear weapons, was signed in 2010 and is due to expire in 2021. Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov has said Moscow was drafting responses to a list of questions recently presented by the United States concerning a key Cold War-era arms control treaty. Lavrov made the comments on October 28, days after President Donald Trump announced that the United States would withdraw from the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces (INF) Treaty, repeating longstanding U.S. accusations that Moscow had violated the agreement, Radio Free Europe / Radio Liberty (RFE/RL) reported. The 1987 accord prohibits the United States and Russia from possessing, producing, or deploying ground-launched cruise and ballistic missiles with a range of between 500 and 5,000 kilometers. Read alsoDonald Trump invites Vladimir Putin to Washington - media "Just a week ago, a couple of days before they announced their intention to withdraw from the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty, the Americans via their embassy in Moscow sent the Russian Foreign Ministry an extensive list of questions which are a concern to them," Lavrov said in an interview aired on Russian television. "It is better to come to terms with Russia on an equal basis and it is not necessary to be friends," the Russian minister also said. "We are not forcing a friendship." U.S. threats to withdraw from the INF Treaty came amid persistent tension between the West and Moscow over issues including Russia's seizure of Crimea in March 2014, its role in wars in Syria and eastern Ukraine, its alleged election meddling in the United States and Europe, and the poisoning of a Russian double agent and his daughter in Britain in March. Trump said on October 22 that he was pulling out of the 1987 treaty because Russia has been violating it since at least 2014 and because it does not apply to China, which has been developing the kind of short and intermediate-range missiles eliminated by Russia and the United States under the treaty. START Under Threat? In the wake of U.S. threats to withdraw from the INF Treaty, Lavrov said that the "fate of the New START Treaty is unclear." The New START Treaty limits strategic nuclear weapons. It was signed in 2010 and is due to expire in 2021, although the two sides could agree to extend it for another five years. Russian President Vladimir Putin has warned that Washington's withdrawal from the INF Treaty could lead to a new "arms race." Meanwhile, European members of NATO have urged Washington to try to bring Russia back into compliance with the nuclear arms control agreement rather than quitting it, diplomats say. Speaking on October 28, U.S. Defense Secretary Jim Mattis said the United States was in consultation with its European allies on the INF Treaty. When asked whether he could rule out placing intermediate-range missiles on the ground if Washington left the INF Treaty, Mattis told reporters travelling with him to Prague, "I never rule things out like that, I also don't rule it in." "There are a number of ways for us to respond [to the alleged Russian violation], it does not have to be symmetric and it'll be in close consultation with allies," he also said. Zurabishvili and Vashadze lead a field of 25 candidates for president. The French-born ruling party candidate in ex-Soviet Georgia's presidential election said on Sunday she was "cautiously pleased" after exit polls painted contradictory pictures of the outcome of the vote. An exit poll commissioned by the Georgian Dream ruling party showed its candidate Salome Zurabishvili, a former French career diplomat who served as Georgia's foreign minister from 2004-2005, winning in a single round, Reuters said. But another poll, commissioned by independent television station Rustavi-2, suggested she was neck in neck with her closest challenger, Grigol Vashadze, another former foreign minister who is backed by an opposition coalition. That poll predicted that no candidate would win more than 50 percent of the vote and the two would face a run-off. "Let's wait for an official results ... I'm cautiously pleased," Zurabishvili, who aims to become the first female leader of an ex-Soviet state apart from the Baltics, told reporters. Zurabishvili, 66, was born to Georgian emigre parents in France and served as French ambassador to Georgia before becoming Georgia's foreign minister. Supporters say she would bring international stature to the presidency; opponents criticize her for statements that appeared to blame Georgia for war with Russia in 2008, remarks about minorities that some saw as xenophobic, and unsteady command of the Georgian language, which she speaks with an accent. Read alsoRussian military presence in Abkhazia, South Ossetia violates international law EU Zurabishvili was invited into Georgian politics by former president Mikheil Saakashvili, who gave her Georgian citizenship to head his foreign ministry but sacked her after a year. She then set up her own opposition party, which she led until 2010 before temporarily quitting politics and returning to France. She was elected to Georgia's parliament in 2016 with the backing of Georgian Dream, a party controlled by Bidzina Ivanishvili, the country's richest man, whose critics say he rules it from behind the scenes. Constitutional changes have weakened the power of the presidency, putting most authority in the office of prime minister. But the post is still seen as important for the image abroad of a country strongly oriented towards the West and fearful of Russia, which invaded a decade ago and backs separatists in two breakaway regions. Sunday's election was the last in which the president will be selected by popular vote; after that, presidents will be picked by an electoral college of 300 lawmakers and regional officials. The country of 3.7 million people is Washington's strategic ally in the Caucasus region between the Black Sea and Caspian Sea, and hopes eventually to join the EU and NATO. Pipelines carrying Caspian oil and gas to Europe run across its territory. Zurabishvili and Vashadze lead a field of 25 candidates for president. (@rukhshanmir) The first Science, Technology and Innovation Park of Pakistan will become functional by December 5, this year at PCSIR Lahore which will help industrial sector to switch over to knowledge based economy with a multi-dimensional chain of value addition. FAISALABAD, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 27th Oct, 2018 ) :The first Science, Technology and Innovation Park of Pakistan will become functional by December 5, this year at PCSIR Lahore which will help industrial sector to switch over to knowledge based economy with a multi-dimensional chain of value addition. This was stated by Chairman Pakistan Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (PCSIR), Dr Shahzad Alam while addressing a meeting in Faisalabad Chamber of Commerce and Industry (FCCI), on Saturday. He said that another proposal was under consideration to set up a dedicated Science and Technology Park for Textile in Faisalabad. He said that a comprehensive system called echo system provide back up support to the industrial growth of any country. "It provides innovative ideas in addition to upgrade technology and value addition in existing as well as new industrial units", he added. The PCSIR chairman said that Prime Minister Imran Khan had been briefed about the project which would be funded through our own financial resources. "We have started work on it which is expected to be completed within 56 days", he said. He said the idea of Science and Technology Park had been taken from Chinese model, which had entirely changed the face of Chinese economy and it had been transformed into a new, dynamic and vibrant economy of the world. He said that now China had given vision 2050 which aimed to make China as a global leader of innovation. About Science, Technology and Innovation Park, he said that initially 15 to 20 industries would be provided space and facilities in the park while, in later phase, more industries could also be accommodated in it. He said that PCSIR had a globally accredited lab which had facility to conduct 472 sophisticated tests. Similarly, 2000 students also avail our facilities to complete their PhDs, he added. Earlier, in his address of welcome, FCCI president Syed Zia Alamdar Hussain said that Pakistan lacked research which was an imperative to compete with the global rivals. He said that Pakistan was an agriculture country and we could resolve our most economic issues by improving this sector and adding value in it. Later, FCCI president presented FCCI shield to Dr. Shahzad Alam Chairman PCSIR. (@ChaudhryMAli88) DUBAI, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News / WAM - 28th Oct, 2018) Dubai Financial Market, DFM, and the Malaysian Stock Exchange, Bursa Malaysia, have explored areas of cooperation and knowledge sharing, in light of DFMs status as the first Sharia-compliant exchange globally since 2007 and its active role in the Islamic capital markets sector. The discussion took place during the visit of Dr. Aznan Hasan, member of Sharia board of Bursa Malaysia and member of the Higher Sharia Authority for financial and banking activities at the UAE Central Bank. Zafar Abedeen, Senior Officer-Research and Sharia Support at Dar Al-Sharia also joined the discussions. The delegates met with Hassan Al Serkal, Chief Operating Officer and Head of Operations Division of DFM as well as Asma Lootah, Head of Internal Control and Compliance Department of DFM who explained milestones of DFMs journey as the leading Islamic financial market globally. Dr. Aznan Hasan expressed Bursa Malaysias interest to learn from DFMs successful experience. He also praised the leaderships vision to develop the Islamic economy sector as part of the Dubai, the Capital of Islamic Economy initiative. The discussions also included the transformation steps, the preparation of Sharia-compliant listed companies, and the calculation of the non-compliant income amongst other relevant topics. Essa Kazim, Chairman of DFM, said, "DFM is always looking to strengthen the relationship with various stock markets, capital markets experts as well as Islamic Economy and Sharia scholars across the world. We deeply belief in the importance of collaboration to promote the growth of this sector. The Fatwa and Sharia area is of special importance to us considering DFMs status as the first Sharia-compliant exchange globally since 2007 and its active role in strengthening the leading position of Dubai, the capital of Islamic economy globally. The DFM has launched numerous initiatives to promote the sector including the classification of Sharia-compliant listed companies as well as the DFM Sharia standards such as the standards on issuing, acquiring and trading of shares and Sukuk. Accordingly, we are pleased to transfer such vast experiences to counterparty institutions." (@FahadShabbir) DUBAI, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News / WAM - 28th Oct, 2018) Dubai Mercantile Exchange, DME, has welcomed the latest middle East oil producer to switch its crude oil pricing formula to include the DME Oman benchmark. Commenting on the announcement, Raid Al-Salami, Head of DME, said, "We are honoured that Bahrain has decided to incorporate DME Oman into its pricing formula. This marks the latest step in the evolution of the DME Oman crude oil benchmark for regional producers and customers across Asia. It also represents an important recognition of the contract as the most efficient and transparent price discovery mechanism for regional crude oil heading East of Suez. " The Bahrain Petroleum Company informed customers of the pricing formula switch for Arab Medium crude sales to Asia, which comes into effect for October 2018 loading cargoes. Bahrain is the fourth National Oil Company to implement DME Oman in its pricing formula. The DME Oman crude oil benchmark is currently used to establish the price of crude oil produced in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, the Sultanate of Oman, and the Emirate of Dubai. ABU DHABI, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News / WAM - 28th Oct, 2018) Cooperation and integration of roles between the Federal National Council, FNC, and the UAE Government reflects the wise leaderships directives in unifying efforts to promote society and achieve the aspirations of the UAE people, Dr. Abdul Rahman bin Mohammad bin Nasser Al Owais, Minister of Health and Prevention and Minister of State for Federal National Council Affairs, asserted. At the opening of the fourth Session of the 16th Legislative Chapter of the Federal National Council, Al Owais said that holding this session as the UAE celebrates the Year of Zayed is an occasion to celebrate the immortal achievements of the countrys Founding Father the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, who always sought to empower the Council. Sheikh Zayed believed in the FNCs pivotal role in the UAEs political life, as well as in the ability of all FNC members to contribute positively to the service of their country and their people, he added. The Minister said that the parliamentary process has received unlimited support from the UAE leadership, which, in turn, established the values of political participation and engagement. There have been a number of significant milestones that have also contributed to actively engaging citizens, most notable of which was the Political Empowerment Programme announced by President His Highness Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, in 2005, and on the occasion of the UAEs 34th National Day. Al Owais expressed his utmost gratitude and appreciation to President His Highness Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, the Vice President, Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai, His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces, and Their Highnesses, Supreme Council Members and the Rulers of the Emirates, for their continued support for parliamentary practices in the UAE. He also thanked Dr. Amal Abdullah Al Qubaisi, Speaker of Federal National Council, Ahmed bin Shabib Al Dhaheri, FNC Secretary-General, and all Council members for their efforts to convey the aspirations of citizens and discuss the issues that matter most to them. Al Owais went on to thank Ministers and members of the Government who had been dedicated to attending the Councils meetings during the previous sessions. He applauded the outstanding cooperation between the FNC, which discussed issues of concern for citizens, and the UAE Government, which addressed national matters with the utmost transparency, accuracy, and objectivity. The UAE Government is committed to identifying citizens issues and developing appropriate plans to address them, he asserted, adding that this is reflected in the dedication and transparency on the part of Ministers who answer all FNC members questions, clearly demonstrating their understanding of the role of the Council in enhancing the overall performance of the Government. Al Owais went on to laud the vital role played by the Ministry of State for Federal National Council Affairs in enhancing coordination and complementarity between the legislative and executive branches of Government, underlining the Ministrys keenness to devise new mechanisms and tools to facilitate communication and coordination between the UAE Government and the Federal National Council in order to empower the people of the UAE to excel in all international forums. ABU DHABI, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News / WAM - 28th Oct, 2018) Dr. Sultan bin Ahmad Sultan Al Jaber, Minister of State, and Chairman of the National Media Council (NMC) on Sunday met with members of NMCs Youth Media Council where he delivered one clear message, "The youth of the UAE are the countrys future". During the session, which was held to review the Youth Media Councils achievements since it was formed seven months ago, Dr. Sultan Al Jaber reiterated that the wise leadership of the UAE has always placed a focus on youth, emphasising their pivotal role in contributing to the achievement of the UAE's current and future goals and its aspirations in progress and leadership. The Minister noted that the leadership always focused on youth and their pivotal role in contributing to the achievement of the UAE's current and future goals for progress and leadership, and achieving UAE 2021, which aims to make the UAE one of the most advanced countries in the world by its Golden Jubilee, which he said requires the active contribution of the youth and the harnessing of their skills, energy and enthusiasm. Inspired by the thought of leadership and the embodiment of its guidance, he pointed out that NMC has always placed the development of youth capacity as one of its top priorities, noting the importance of the Youth Media Council in delivering on NMCs strategy for developing and promoting the local media sector to enable it to keep pace with the rapid changes being witnessed in the global media sector. Dr. Al Jaber stressed the importance of developing distinctive local content that meets the needs of all segments of society, especially children and adolescents, and which reflects the national values, principles and ideals inspired by the legacy of the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan and the Founding Fathers. He also reiterated the importance of countering extremism and terrorism, pointing to the fundamental role played by the media in particular social media - in confronting such phenomena that are alien to the values of UAE society. Also, during the meeting, the Minister listened to a presentation from members of the Youth Media Council. Commenting on their confidence and professionalism, he praised the Councils achievements since it was established in March this years, pointing out that these successes confirm young peoples awareness of the roles required of them in the future. The NMC Chairman stated that the future programmes of the Youth Media Council should have an impact not only on the media sector, but on society in general. He noted that proliferation of youth councils operating across sectors in the country is one of the main drivers shaping the future of the state, with their formation a responsibility that the leadership has taken to give youth an essential voice in the countrys development. At the close of the meeting, Dr. Al Jaber vowed the continuation of NMCs support of the Youth Media Council in all its initiatives and future projects, assuring them of his full confidence in their ability to undertake their responsibilities with great success. BEIJING, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 28th Oct, 2018 ) :Chinese President, Xi Jinping will visit pavilion being set up by Pakistan at the China International Import Expo (CIIE) which is scheduled to be held in Shanghai from November 5 to 10. "Pakistan, a country of honor, is setting up its pavilion to display its products and it is hoped that President Xi Jinping will visit our pavilion," Pakistan Ambassador to China, Masood Khalid told APP here on Sunday. He said that Pakistan would exhibit its main products and highlight the development process and achievements in science and technology, information technology and other areas besides projecting the government's priorities. Ambassador Khalid said that Pakistani companies and entrepreneurs would introduce their market potential and exhibit products at the expo and play an important role to further enhance economic cooperation with Chinese companies and the business community. Pointing out other factors of the expo beneficial for Pakistan, he said, the business groups and companies from the US, Europe and other parts of the world would also be participating and exhibiting their products. The expo would see the participation of more than 2,800 companies from 130 countries and regions, and 160,000 buyers from over 80,000 Chinese and foreign companies. "Our businessmen and traders will have an opportunity to interact with only their Chinese counterpart but also introduce themselves to the business community of other countries as well," he added. According to experts, the expo would create more opportunities for extensive and in-depth trade cooperation between Pakistan and China. A look at China's market reveals that it was the world's biggest destination for agricultural products including grains, cotton, sugar, meat, and milk and Pakistan produces almost all of these in abundance. Connecting the agro potential of Pakistan with China's opening up measures, the expo would help in exploring new trade avenues. One-third of Pakistan's total agricultural export was rice. Just a few years back, China was the second largest buyer of Pakistan's non-basmati type rice but the continuously evolving arrangements have changed the scenario. Nonetheless, traders and governments from both countries had recently shown a willingness to resume their high-volume trade. After a positive response from the Chinese side to Pakistan's request for preferential treatment during the Free Trade Agreement (FTA) discussions, it was expected that the commodity's export to China would increase. Pakistan was the world's fourth largest producer of cotton and had Asia's third largest spinning capacity. Several factors, including the higher competitiveness of products and the U.S. Dollar's surge against the local Currency, boosted its textile exports to around nine percent in the last financial year. Fruits also formed a strong part of Pakistan's export base. Most prominent among these was a citrus variant known as kinnow which hit a record high export figures of 370,000 tons in the 2017-18season. Experts believed that Pakistan had an immediate capacity of exporting 50 to 80 thousand tons of kinnow to China in the next three years. Mangoes, revered as the king of fruits in Pakistan, were another of its major exports. Shipping starts in the month of May but was mostly headed to Europe. This year's increased queries from Chinese buyers, however, would lead to an expanded share in China. (@ChaudhryMAli88) Police have arrested 24 alleged drug-traffickers and recovered narcotics and illegal weapons from them, a police spokesman said on Saturday. SARGODHA, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 27th Oct, 2018 ) :Police have arrested 24 alleged drug-traffickers and recovered narcotics and illegal weapons from them, a police spokesman said on Saturday. He said that during the ongoing campaign against drug-pushers and criminals, police teams conducted raids and arrested 24 accused, recovered 3,182-gram hashish, 93 bottles of liquor, five Pistols of 30-bore and four guns of 12-bore from them. The arrested accused were identified as Kashif, Ahmed Nawaz, Saqlain Khuda Yaar, Iqbal, Asmat, Intezar, Younas Amjad, Hussain, Faisal, Mazhar, Mehboob, Asif, Rashad, Munir, Ulfat, Farooq, Usman and others. (@ChaudhryMAli88) MIRPUR (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 28th Oct, 2018 ) : Oct. 28 (APP):AJK Prime Minister Raja Farooq Haider Khan Sunday called upon the national political leadership, the political parties and the media to focus on promoting the Kashmir cause by evolving a consensus, unanimous and strong stance. Talking to media persons, he said Maqbool Bhat, Ashfaq Majeed Wani, Afzal Guru and Burhan Wani were the bright stars of the Kashmir liberation struggle. The Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) prime minister underscored the need of evolving an effective strategy on Kashmir taking the Hurriyat leadership into confidence. India, he said, was misleading the world that Kashmir was an issue between India and Pakistan, altogether ignoring Kashmiris who were the fundamental party of the conflict, which was also an unfinished agenda of the United Nations. Farooq Haider said the first dialogue on the Kahmir issue was held between Pakistan's first Prime Minister Liaquat Ali Khan and his Indian counterpart Pandit Nehru. Z A Bhutto and his Indian counterpart also held talks on Kashmir and since then there had been countless rounds of dialogue at foreign ministers and foreign secretaries level between the two countries, which could not yield any meaningful result so far mainly because of Indian intransigence. "Every Kashmiri knows well about the worst ever atrocities, let loose by Indian forces in the held valley. There is an atmosphere of terror in the IoK (Indian occupied Kashmir). Armless Kashmiri daughters and sons combat the guns of occupation forces merely by stones. They have already rendered unmatched sacrifices of men and material. Their educational institutions have been destroyed by military, women raped and gang-raped, and children and elderly being martyred but these cruelties cannot not cool down the Kashmiris' passion for freedom," he said. To a question, Farooq Haider said India was not allowing fact finding missions, human rights organizations or media teams into the valley. "India used chemical weapons in Kashmir and did not spare even pregnant women," he said adding that the youth were subjected to third degree violence after stripping them nude. He said India introduced pellet guns in a bid to terrorize Kashmiris. It turned thousand of youths blind with the use of pellet guns but it further emboldened the Kashmiris who were now ready to do or die, he added. Farooq Haider said Modi was a murderer of Kashmiris whose thinking and policies were just like Israel. Describing the situation of the held valley, he said an environment of fear prevailed there. The puppet administration had no courage to hold any official programme in open air for fear of attack of freedom fighters. "There is no concept of free media in IoK. Indian electronic media is on payroll of Indian forces and it carries forward their policies," he said. He said Kashmiris did not get justice from the Indian judiciary which was biased. Citing the example of Afzal Guru, he said the Indian court admitted that nothing could be proved against Guru but even then he was hanged. Farooq Haider said a strong and stable Pakistan was imperative for Kashmir liberation struggle. He said his helicopter was intentionally attacked by Indian forces at the Line of Control. (@FahadShabbir) LAHORE, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 28th Oct, 2018 ) :The last date for Anti-Measles vaccination campaign, started on October 15 in Punjab, had been extended till October 29 (Monday) which was scheduled to be ended on October 27. The parents who did not get vaccinated their children so far, should fulfill their responsibility and get advantage of free opportunity provided by the government for vaccinating their children against measles. This was stated by Director General Health Services Punjab, Dr. Munir Ahmad, here on Sunday. He said that skilled teams of Health Department, trained with the technical support of UNICEF and WHO, along with social mobilizer were present in each locality/union council in their kit camps to vaccinate the children. Dr. Munir further said the district administrations and Chief Executive Officers Health and other monitoring teams consisting on our international development partners were in the field to keep an eye on the performance of the field staff. The DG Health said that religious scholars, eminent personalities, members of the civil society were appreciating the step taken by the government to prevent the children from the lethal disease. He said that during the campaign, support and cooperation of elected public representatives had also been taken at local level. Dr. Munir disclosed that the provincial government was spending Rs five billions on this campaign. The last date of the campaign was October 27, however, in the public interest and for ensuring vaccination of each and every child, the campaign was extended upto October 29, the DG Health added. (@ChaudhryMAli88) KARACHI, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 27th Oct, 2018 ) :Black Day was observed on Saturday throughout Larkana, Kambar-Shahdadkot, Shikarpur, Jacobabad and Kandhkot-Kashmore districts of Larkana division on Saturday against India's illegitimate occupation of Kashmir. Rallies and seminars were held in Larkana division to draw attention of the world community towards the Kashmir dispute. In Larkana city, a rally was taken out from Government Pilot Higher Secondary school Larkana by the education Department in collaboration with Civil Society and NGOs to express solidarity with the Kashmiri people, led by Assistant Commissioner Larkana Muhammad Iqbal Tunio, District Officer Education Larkana. People from all walks of life, including teachers, students and social workers, participated in the rally. The participants were carrying banners and placards and raising slogans for the liberation of occupied Kashmir. They condemned the Indian atrocities in held Kashmir. (@rukhshanmir) QUETTA, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 28th Oct, 2018 ) :Chief Minister Balochistan Mir Jam Kamal Khan Saturday directed the department concerned to ensure provision of food, clean water, medicines and other facilities to drought affected people of Chaghi district. Mir Jam Kamal Khan also instructed the district administration to prepare complete details of the affected families in the district, saying that in light of the data, measures would be initiated for rehabilitation of the affectees, said press release here. Earlier, on special directives of Chief Minister Balochsitan, Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA) has provided relief goods including food, medicines and other edible goods to the affected people. Federal Minister for Education and Professional Training Shafqat Mahmood on Saturday said that the government was working on plan regarding adaptive reuse of some of the heritage buildings. LAHORE, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 27th Oct, 2018 ) :Federal Minister for education and Professional Training Shafqat Mahmood on Saturday said that the government was working on plan regarding adaptive reuse of some of the heritage buildings. He stated this while addressing a function of "Visegrad 4 Architectural Foundation (V4AF) + Architects Regional Council Asia (ARCASIA) Roundtable on Heritage-Conservation Old Towns and Cities" here at National College of Arts (NCA). He said that efforts were being made to carry out audit of each and every heritage besides making its catalogue. Once audit of built heritage was done,it would be easy to determine that in which areas talent could be utilized to preserve the heritage, he said. The minister said, "on behalf of the people of Lahore, i welcome all the delegates and added that we have heritage of ancient Indus Valley civilization like Mohenjo-daro and Harappan civilization". He said that many areas in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Northern areas represent Buddhist Gandhara civilization. Shafat Mahmood said "Lahore city is reflective of heritage and it has some colonial built heritage as well". He said "we have challenges but heritage needs to be conserved". The Minister said it has been decided to open heritage for people besides generating revenue through it, he added. One can see that a large number of people visited governor houses when they were opened for public. He said Lahore governor house would be transformed in such a way that guided sort of tours could be made possible there. Earlier, Yousuf Ghouri said, "it is a 3rd heritage conference and Lahore is a perfect place to hold heritage conference." He said he was sure that our guests would experience Lahore in its true spirit. ARCASIA president Jahangir Khan Sherpao said that all the delegates would share ideas on roundtable that how heritage related matters could further be improved. He hoped that at the end of roundtable sitting we would come up with a possible Lahore deceleration. Institute of Architects Pakistan (IAP) President Ali Zafar Qazi said that the government was taking sincere steps for a best way forward and efforts were being made on housing and heritage related matters. V4AF president Dr Erno Kalman also spoke on the occasion. RAWALPINDI, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 28th Oct, 2018 ) :Federal Minister for National Health Services, Regulations and Coordination Amir Mehmood Kiani Sunday said that PTI govt under the dynamic leadership of Prime Minister Imran Khan was taking revolutionary steps for promoting health sector. He expressed these views during a visit to Darbar Mohra Sharif Khybane Sir Syed here. The Minister said that PTI government brought a considerable change in health sector adding that four new hospitals were being established in Islamabad to lessen the load on available hospitals. He said that state of art nursing institute would be built at the cost of Rs 10 billion. He said that under the programme, special cards would be issued to families for insurance which would be activated as soon as they were issued. Criticizing the opposition, he said that it is not a real opposition and that most political leaders have united to save their financial interests. The Minister termed Prime Minister Imran Khan's visit to Saudi Arabia fruitful adding that it would help to sustain the dwindling economy of the country. He said that now the country is on the right track of progress and prosperity. (@FahadShabbir) ISLAMABAD, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 28th Oct, 2018 ) :Pakistan High Commissioner in Canada Tariq Azim Khan has urged the international community, particularly human rights bodies, to fulfill their commitments towards the people of Indian occupied Kashmir (IoK) under the United Nations Security Council resolutions. He was addressing an event at the High Commission of Pakistan to observe Kashmir Black Day in support of the struggle of the people of Indian Occupied Jammu and Kashmir. The event was largely attended by members of Pakistani Canadians community, a message received here Sunday said. He also called upon the International community to constitute a Commission of Inquiry to analyze human rights situation in the Indian Occupied Kashmir. Tariq Azim underlined the importance of the documented report of the United Nations Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights about the atrocities in the Indian occupied Kashmir. He said that it was not possible to crush the spirit of Kashmiris, who were struggling for their right to self-determination. He informed the audience that the situation in IoK had deteriorated not only from a human rights perspective but also with regards to freedom of information and restrictions placed on the local media as the state had been closed for media, international observers, doctors and paramedic staff. Earlier, the Kashmiri and Pakistani Canadian community observed Kashmir Black Day by holding a peaceful demonstration in front of the Canadian Parliament to condemn Indian atrocities against the innocent Kashmiri people. The demonstrators held placards and banners highlighting sufferings of the Kashmiris at the hands of Indian armed forces in the IoK. They chanted slogans against human rights violations in the valley to draw the attention of the international community towards the gross human rights violations and use of pallet guns against innocent civilians. They reminded the international community to fulfill the commitments made by the United Nations Security Council for granting the right of self-determination to Kashmiris. The protestors urged the Canadian legislators and the government to take up the issue of human rights violations with the Indian government and for constituting a Commission of Inquiry to analyze the human rights situation in Indian Occupied Jammu & Kashmir. (@rukhshanmir) ISLAMABAD, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 28th Oct, 2018 ) :Pakistan Sunday formally signed participation contract with the EXPO-2020 authorities at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Abu Dhabi. The contract was signed by Ambassador of Pakistan to UAE Moazzam Ahmed Khan, in his capacity as Commissioner General, EXPO-2020 and Sultan Al Shamsi, Assistant Minister, Ministry of Foreign Affairs & International Cooperation, a message received here on Sunday said. The signing ceremony was witnessed by Reem Al Hashimy, Minister of State for International Cooperation and Director General, EXPO-2020 and Advisor to Prime Minister on Commerce, Textile, Industry & Production and Investment Abdul Razak Dawood. The contract signing formally started activities for construction of Pakistan Pavilion in EXPO-2020 which would be built on a large sized plot in the Opportunity District. The pavilion would be based on the 'Emerging Pakistan' theme, having representation from all provinces. Speaking on the occasion, Advisor to Prime Minister on Commerce, Textile, Industry & Production and Investment Abdul Razak Dawood said Pakistan attached great importance to its relations with UAE and that looked forward to making its participation most meaningful in line with the EXPO theme of 'Connecting Minds, Creating the Future'. He said the EXPO-2020 was not only a UAE specific event but was an exposition of the whole region. "We have already started the Design phase of the Pakistan Pavilion reflecting the true potentials of Pakistan. The Prime Minister has constituted a high level steering committee having representation from private and public sector stakeholders for effective participation," he added. The advisor noted that the last month's visit of Prime Minister Imran Khan and his meeting with Sheikh Muhammad Bin Zayed Al Nahyan set the bilateral relation on a new course. Both sides agreed to transform this special relationship into strategic partnership between the two countries. As a follow-up of the understanding reached between the leadership, a 15-member delegation headed by Sultan Bin Ahmad Sultan Al Jabar, Minister of State and CEO of Abu Dhabi National Oil Company visited Pakistan to explore the ways and means to enhance cooperation between the two countries in economic development, infrastructure, energy, agriculture and petrochemicals sectors. (@FahadShabbir) Police busted a gang of kidnappers and recovered four minor children besides ransom money, rickshaw, motorbike, mobile phones from their possession. RAWALPINDI, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 27th Oct, 2018 ) :Police busted a gang of kidnappers and recovered four minor children besides ransom money, rickshaw, motorbike, mobile phones from their possession. City Police Officer (CPO) Ahsan Abbas disclosed in a press conference held at Police Line here on Saturday. Speaking on the occasion, CPO said that for the last two months three cases of kidnapped for ransom was reported in Pirwadhi area. The residents of the area were frightened due to increasing crime in the area. A committee was constituted in the supervision of Superintendent of Police (SP) Rawal Asim Jasra while SHO Pirwadhi was given the task to trace the kidnappers. Police using scientific method traced the kidnappers through mobile data. Acting on the information, a heavy contingent of police carried out a raid and arrested four member gang including gang leader identified as Muhammad Ajmal, Muhammad Kamran, Shah Mir and Ali Shah. CPO revealed that the kidnappers used various techniques specially distributing sweats among children and then kidnapped the children. It is the prime duty of the parents to keep an eye on theirchildren to avoid such situation, CPO maintained. (@FahadShabbir) Pakistan Railways (PR) Minister Sheikh Rashid Ahmed Saturday said that railways earned Rs 1.1 billion more revenue in the freight sector during last two months, compared with the same period of the previous year. LAHORE, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 27th Oct, 2018 ) :Pakistan Railways (PR) Minister Sheikh Rashid Ahmed Saturday said that railways earned Rs 1.1 billion more revenue in the freight sector during last two months, compared with the same period of the previous year. Addressing a press conference at PR Headquarters here, he said that the department would earn a revenue of Rs 10 billion due to untiring efforts of its officers and employees. The minister said that President Dr Arif Alvi would inaugurate Dhabeji Express, running from Karachi to Dhabegi on October 31, whereas Prime Minister Imran Khan would inaugurate Hyderabad Express, running from Karachi to Hyderabad, soon after having a visit to China. The PR would also start Rehman Baba and Sindh Express trains, he added. He asked the administration of Karachi Stock Exchange (KSX) and others who were using the land owned by Pakistan Railways worth billion of rupees, to immediately vacate it. Sheikh Rashid said that WiFi facility had been installed at all divisional stations, whereas cameras and PR police had also been deputed at warehouses in order to protect PR's stock and assets, he added. He said that they wanted to launch the containers doorstep service within next three weeks to bring further improvement in freight sector, while in this regard task force for freight trains had been directed to achieve set targets, he added. The minister said that tracking devices on modern system would be installed at all locomotives of railways to estimate the fuel consumption and its report would also be uploaded at internet for people, he added. Sheikh Rashid said that Prime Minister Imran Khan's visit to China would be of great importance which would also be proved very fruitful for Pakistan Railways as China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) was linked with the PR. The country's economy could not flourish without Railway, he said and added that "when rail will run, economy will move ahead". To a question, the minister said that the previous government spent Rs 400-500 million at Narowal station, the hometown of Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz leader Ahsan Iqbal, contrary to the fact that the station was not giving any mentionable earning to the PR. To another query, he said that six trains had been launched during last two months, whereas six more would be launched soon, he added. PR Secretary and Chairman Javed Anwar and other senior officers were also present on the occasion. (@rukhshanmir) MULTAN, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 28th Oct, 2018 ) ::Punjab government has earmarked funds of Rs 2.23 billion for 17 mega health projects in South Punjab including Nishtar Hospital phase-II in the current budget. According to DPR officials, funds have been released for ongoing health projects in Multan, DG Khan and Bahawalpur divisions while seven new projects would also be completed with the funds earmarked in the current budget. The official sources said that Nishtar Hospital phase-II would be started soon and funds of Rs 140 millions have been fixed for land acquisition. The latest linear accelerator machine for cancer would be installed at Nishtar Hospital while extension of CPEIC project would be started soon and funds of Rs 150 million have been allocated for this project. Upgradation of bone marrow and thalassaemia centres at Victoria Hospital Bahawalpur would be upgraded with funds of Rs 103 million, the sources added. Funds of Rs 620 million have been fixed for provision of latest medical equipments at Children Hospital and upgradation of DG Khan district headquarters hospital. The extension project of Tayyip Erdogan hospital would be completed with funds of Rs 400 million. The funds of Rs 20 million have been allocated for Kidney centre Multan to ensure maximum facilities for the citizens. Facility of hostel for the students of Quaid-e-Azam medical college Bahawalpur would be constructed with funds of Rs 50million. ISLAMABAD, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 28th Oct, 2018 ) :Unknown gunmen shot at and injured a Special Police Officer (SPO) in Budgam district on Saturday night. Reports said that the gunmen fired upon the SPO at Chrawni village near Charari Sharief. According to Kashmir Media Service (KMS),in the incident, the SPO, who is posted at SDPO office, Charari Sharief,suffered serious bullet wounds in his leg and was shifted to the nearby hospital where from he was referred to Srinagar hospitalfor specialized treatment," the reports added. Geneva, (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 29th Oct, 2018 ) :Twelve crew members of a Swiss ship seized off Nigeria last month have been freed, Swiss judicial officials said Sunday. Negotiations between the owner Massoel Shipping and the kidnappers led to the release of seven Filipinos, a Bosnian, a Croatian, a Romanian, a Slovenian and a Ukrainian, all of whom were then flown to Switzerland, ATS news agency and the Basel prosecutor's office said. The ship, MV Glarus, and its cargo of wheat are still in the hands of pirates who attacked on September 22 and destroyed most of its communications equipment. It was not known whether a ransom was paid for the crew's release. The ship had been transporting wheat from Lagos to Port Harcourt, in southern Nigeria, when it was hijacked off Nigeria's Bonny Island. German-language newspaper Blick reported that the pirates belonged to the Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (MEND), which says it wants the region's population to receive a bigger share of the country's oil and gas revenues. The Gulf of Guinea has become the world's piracy hotspot, meanwhile. The International Maritime Bureau said in late July that there were six kidnappings of crews around the world in the first half of 2018. All were in the Gulf of \Guinea . Of 16 incidents in which ships came under gunfire in 2017, seven were in the waters which stretch 5,700 kilometres (3,541 miles) from Senegal to Angola. Pirates that prowl off the coasts of Benin, Nigeria, and Togo are well armed and generally hold ships long enough to loot their cargoes after cowing crews with violence. Libreville, (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 29th Oct, 2018 ) :The Anonymous hackers collective on Sunday claimed it hacked into more than 70 Gabon government websites, as part of what it called a campaign against dictatorships. Government sites including the ministries of communications and the civil service were inaccessible on Sunday, as were the websites of at least 30 other institutions. The presidency website continued to function as normal. "Huge surprise attack against the government of Gabon today," read a message on a Twitter account close to the Anonymous group. "More than 70 government sites (attacked). All their servers and mail systems are offline. The dictators should have been expecting us," the tweet continued. Gabon's agency for digital infrastructure, ANINF, said the administration had been hit by a denial of service (DOS) attack. The agency said 60 of 102 websites "were taken offline for a few hours", though AFP was still unable to connect to them at 1800 local time (1700 GMT). ANINF added that it might take judicial action against anyone found to be involved in the attack. Hackers from the loose-knit Anonymous collective have taken aim at a string of high-profile targets around the world in recent years. The group originated in 2003, adopting the Guy Fawkes mask as its symbol. The mask is a stylised portrayal of an oversized smile, rosy cheeks and a wide moustache upturned at both ends. Voting in Gabon ended Saturday in the second round of legislative elections with the party of President Ali Bongo, whose family has ruled the country for nearly 50 years, coasting towards victory. This was the first time the Anonymous group has claimed responsibility for action in a central African nation. In August Anonymous hackers claimed responsibility for bringing down government websites in Spain, in protest at Madrid's efforts to block Catalonia's separatist drive. (@ChaudhryMAli88) MOSCOW (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 28th October, 2018) Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said on Sunday that he had asked US National Security Adviser John Bolton to speed up the US response to Russia's proposal to resume the strategic dialogue between the two countries at the level of deputy foreign ministers. Bolton met with the Russian leadership in Moscow earlier this week. "I recall [Russia's] proposal to resume the strategic dialogue at the level of deputy foreign ministers ... My deputy Sergey Ryabkov sent this proposal to new US Under Secretary for Arms Control Andrea Thompson in June. Since June, she has not been able to indicate which day or days would be convenient for her to hold consultations. I asked Bolton to speed up the response," Lavrov said in the "Moscow. Kremlin. Putin" program on the Rossiya 1 tv channel. "It was noted at the meeting in the Kremlin that Russia and the United States recognized the [strategic stability] dialogue to be very relevant, which was confirmed by Bolton's visit," the foreign minister added. MOSCOW (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 28th October, 2018) Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said US national security adviser John Bolton smiled at the suggestion of US influence on Macedonia to change its name. Bolton visited Russia this week for talks with senior officials. Lavrov told the "Moscow. Kremlin. Putin" show on the Rossiya 1 tv channel he had brought up Macedonia after Bolton mentioned Russia's alleged influence campaign in the United States. "I told him we were accused of meddling not only in the US, but also in Spain, in Brexit and now also in anything that happens in Western Balkans ... We said we kept silent on Macedonia's referendum, while its capital of Skopje was visited by NATO chief Stoltenberg, defense minister Mattis, German chancellor Merkel . .. who publicly and bluntly demanded that Macedonians vote for their future and say 'yes' in a referendum on their membership of the EU and NATO by 'only' changing their country's name," Lavrov said. The referendum flopped and the Macedonian parliament voted to start amending the constitution, with the "remaining nine votes admittedly obtained through bribes and promises not to start criminal persecution ... The US ambassador was in the Macedonian parliament all that time and he did not just stay there ... That's what I said to Bolton, but he only smiled and said it was not an easy country," Lavrov concluded. (@FahadShabbir) Badagry, Nigeria, (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 28th Oct, 2018 ) :Nigeria's southwestern border with Benin is notoriously chaotic. Travellers and traders battle corrupt officials, hawkers and buzzing moto-taxis just to get to the other side. But a new crossing point has sprung up near the well-worn dirt tracks and roadside markets that the West African bloc ECOWAS hopes will make the movement of people and trade a lot easier. President Muhammadu Buhari flew in by helicopter to cut the ribbon at the Seme-Krake Joint Border Post this week with his Beninese counterpart Patrice Talon. The well-guarded 17-hectare (42-acre) site conforms to international standards and has been built for an estimated 18.3 million Euros ($21 million). State-of-the-art scanners to detect illicit goods and a weighbridge have been installed. Customs, immigration and other officials will no longer have to work out of makeshift offices in battered shipping containers and huts. The president of the ECOWAS Commission, Jean-Claude Kassi-Brou, said as well as boosting trade and helping travellers, the border post will help cut smuggling, fraud and corruption. (@FahadShabbir) MOSCOW (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 28th October, 2018) Russian Deputy Prime MinisterYury Borisov will depart to Cuba on Sunday with a working visit, during which he is set to take part in the session of the Russian-Cuban Intergovernmental Commission for Trade, Economic, Scientific and Technological Cooperation. Borisov first will take part in the opening ceremony of the assembly plant of the Russia GAZ Group commercial carmaker and then attend the 2018 Havana International Fair (FIHAV), where he will open the Russian exposition jointly with Cuban Deputy Chairman of Council of Ministers Ricardo Cabricas. The Russian deputy prime minister will then hold a one-on-one meeting with Cabricas and take part in the session of the bilateral commission. (@ChaudhryMAli88) ANKARA, (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 28th Oct, 2018 ) :The seventh trilateral meeting between the foreign ministers of Turkey, Azerbaijan, and Georgia will be held in Istanbul on Monday, the Turkish Foreign Ministry said Sunday. "During the meeting, the progress in trilateral cooperation and recent regional and global developments are expected to be discussed," the ministry said in a statement. The last trilateral meeting of foreign ministers was held in Baku, Azerbaijan in 2017. The trilateral meeting mechanism contributes to regional stability, peace, and prosperity. Tech charges to the fore at internet expo ( chinadaily.com.cn ) Updated: 2018-10-26 Exhibitors at the fourth China (Guangdong) International Internet Plus Exposition held in Foshan in South China's Guangdong province, have displayed a variety of new technologies and products designed to make waves in the digital industry. The latest 5G mobile network has not been put into use yet, but China Mobile, the world's largest mobile carrier by subscribers, has allowed visitors to the expo to control robots using the technology. The time delay between control inputs and the robots' movements has been shortened from 10 to two milliseconds with the use of 5G, which is almost the equivalent of real-time operation. The Foshan branch of China Mobile is also showcasing its latest industrial augmented reality technologies via the 5G network, which enables users to interact with visualized digital designs of various objects. China Unicom, another Chinese mobile operator, is holding classes featuring AR and the use of 5G to create and display holographic images. China's premier search engine Baidu is also attending the four-day show and has brought with it DuerOS - a world-leading artificial intelligence technology, as well as its products that feature virtual reality. Led by Britain's Prince Michael of Kent, the UK Pavilion at the expo showcases a future world in an era of intelligent technology which includes facial recognition, design simulation, health monitoring and smart cities. "I am here now to support a new wave of British innovators in the fast-moving technology sector, who have created much of the technology we take for granted today," said Prince Michael at the event. "What Chinese investors value in their work with British companies, is their ability to innovate value-enhancing solutions to complex technological issues." Several CeBIT European exhibitors such as the German Chambers of Commerce Abroad have brought their latest product solutions for smart city operations, blockchain, big data processing and online video language transfer to the show. It has also attracted many domestic industrial leaders such as DJI Technology and Huawei Technology, according to the organizer. The expo opens to the public on Saturday. 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 person with disabilities learns information technology (Photo: VNA) Tran Hoang Yen, a disabled person and owner of Hoang Tam sewing facility, said: I plan to sell my products online on e-commerce websites such as Shopee and Tiki. She was confident selling online would help develop her business steadily. In the past her facility had orders from many large companies, but they had been dependent on personal contacts, and so they dried up and she had to start from scratch, she said. She said e-commerce is different and would help resolve this particular problem. She now exports her products to Japan and Norway. Another woman with disability said she has been selling cosmetics made from natural materials through Facebook and her own website for the last two years. These websites enable more people to know about her products, she added. Other delegates said businesses should use IT to effectively manage their customer relations using data bases. An attendee from Victoria University in Australia said e-commerce businesses should upload information about their products with attractive photos or videos. They should also be able to resolve customerscomplaints cleverly in order not to lose them, he said. Nguyen Thanh Tung of the HCM City Disability Research and Capacity Development Centre said his centre has collaborated with many partners to develop mobile applications to assist people with disabilities. The centre would roll out an app to provide legal assistance to disabled people next month, he revealed. French President Emmanuel Macron said the sale of weapons to Riyadh "has nothing to do with Mr (Jamal) Khashoggi," the murdered Saudi journalist. (Photo: AFP/Bertrand GUAY) French President Emmanuel Macron and German Chancellor Angela Merkel moved to quash a rare dispute between the close European allies after Macron implied on Friday that Berlin was engaging in "pure demagoguery" by halting arms sales to Riyadh. On the sidelines of a Syria summit in Istanbul, the two leaders had a "relaxed exchange", the Elysee palace said, and agreed not to announce their next positions on the issue without first coordinating "at the European level". Macron had previously insisted there was no moral link to be made between Khashoggi's death at the beginning of this month and Saudi Arabia's purchase of French-made weapons. "What is the link between arms sales and Mr. Khashoggi?" he said, calling it "pure demagoguery to call for a halt" to exports over the killing. The remark was interpreted as a rare veiled criticism of Merkel after the chancellor announced a freeze on arms sales to Riyadh over the dissident's murder inside the Saudi consulate in Istanbul. Macron said that sales of weapons to Riyadh -- France's second biggest customer after India -- have "nothing to do with Mr Khashoggi. One shouldn't mix everything up". Macron also said that if Saudi Arabia is to be sanctioned, "we must do so across the board". "In that case, we should stop selling cars," he told reporters -- another possible dig at Germany, a massive auto exporter. Last month Germany approved 416 million euros ($470 million) worth of arms exports to Riyadh for 2018, however on Merkel said Friday that "we need to clarify the background of this horrible crime and until that, we will not supply weapons to Saudi Arabia". Khashoggi's killing has tainted the image of Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, who has positioned himself as a Saudi reformer, and tested ties between Washington and Riyadh as Western powers demand answers over his death. Prince Mohammed, the kingdom's de facto ruler, has denounced the "repulsive" murder, denying any involvement. The Hoa Xa fibre factory in Nam Dinh province (Photo: VNA) The two sides will cooperate with multiple players in the sector to promote better river basin governance and contribute to water quality improvement and sustainable energy use. The project will be implemented from 2018 to 2020 with a vision to transform the textile-apparel sector in Vietnam through engaging the industry and influencing environmental governance in order to bring social, economic, and conservation benefits to the country. VITAS Chairman Vu Duc Giang said the main focus of the project is to improve water and energy efficiency within the sector, thus reducing its impact on the environment. The project will also work with textile-apparel manufacturers to encourage them to be more active river stewards, practice sustainable energy planning and discuss collective actions to achieve sustainable investment and development in the industry. One important target of the project is influencing Vietnamese textile investors to implement more sustainable practices, he added. Marc Goichot from WWF-Greater Mekong said: For WWF, greening the textile sector in Vietnam is also a means to achieve our wider goal of addressing river governance and energy sustainability, which are top global environmental concerns. He added that in the long run, the WWF wants to see factories, industrial parks and other factors come together to take more proactive collective actions to address risks and impact beyond their factory fences and more responsibly manage shared resource uses across-sectors. Key stakeholders in the project include international brands with suppliers in Vietnam, factories around the country, in particular in the Mekong and Dong Nai river deltas in areas around Ho Chi Minh City, financial institutions, development partners and other relevant initiatives. Other partners include the China National Textile and Apparel Council and the Lancang-Mekong Cooperation. Paulo Sotero, Director of the Brazil Institute at The Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars, and James Roberts, Research Fellow for Economic Freedom and Growth at the Heritage Foundation, preview Brazils upcoming presidential runoff with host Carol. They discuss the internal and external factors that are likely to propel populist firebrand Jair Bolsonaro to victory. While the drama of the disappearance and death of Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi at the Saudi consulate in Istanbul played out this month, Turkey made a surprise move and freed, on Oct. 12, American pastor Andrew Brunson, who had been convicted of terrorism-related charges and spent about two years in a Turkish prison before being released. In a recent interview with VOA, conducted since his release, Brunson said there are still several Americans in Turkish custody. He said Turkey views Turkish-American citizens differently from those who hold only American citizenship. The main difference between my case and theirs is Im an American citizen but they are dual citizens. They are American and Turkish, and they come from Turkish background. And so, the American government looks at this all the same, Brunson told VOA. But the Turkish government looks at dual citizens, a citizen who is also a citizen of Turkey. They say, you are Turk and so the United States should not be intervening or interfering in anyway in this case because you are a Turkish citizen, Brunson added. WATCH: VOA Turkish Interview: Pastor Andrew Brunson There is no official number of U.S citizens imprisoned in Turkey. But Brunson said U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo assured him during a meeting at the State Department recently that the U.S. government is determined to continue to work for the release of other U.S. citizens. Last week, during a visit to Turkey to discuss the disappearance of Khashoggi with Turkish authorities, Pompeo again brought up the issue of the detention of U.S. citizens in Turkey. The secretary also discussed with Foreign Minister (Mevlut) Cavusoglu the continued wrongful detention of Dr. Serkan Golge and other U.S. citizens as well as locally employed staff from U.S. Mission Turkey, Heather Nauert, spokesperson for the U.S. State Department, said in a statement released last week. Brunsons case Brunson became a high-profile case in U.S.-Turkey relations and led to a deterioration of relations between the two NATO allies that were already suffering thanks to a host of issues, including Turkeys crackdown on dissidents and Washingtons relations with Syrian Kurds, who are fighting against the Islamic State but whom Turkey views as a wing of the outlawed Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK). Turkey accused Brunson of aiding the PKK, which the U.S. and EU have designated as a terrorist organization, and also accused him of helping U.S.-based Turkish cleric Fethullah Gulen, whom Turkey has accused of being behind the 2016 failed coup attempt in the country. Brunson and the U.S. denied those charges against the American pastor. U.S. imposed sanctions on Turkeys ministries of interior and justice as part efforts to put pressure on the country to release Brunson. After Brunsons release, attention shifted to other U.S. citizens and locally hired consular staff in Turkey who have been detained on similar charges and are still imprisoned. More pressure Some experts like Howard Eissenstat, a nonresident fellow at the Project on Middle East Democracy, a Washington-based organization, believe that more pressure might be needed on Turkey. The priority was on Brunson, but my expectation is that unless there is further movement on [the detentions of] U.S. citizens and the consular staff, my suspicion is that there is still a good chance that further sanctions will be forthcoming in 2019, Eissenstat, who is also a professor at St. Lawrence University, told VOA. But Nate Schenkkan, director of special research at Freedom House, believes that Brunsons case was an isolated issue that Turkey wanted to use as leverage. This was a policy of taking hostages in an attempt to gain leverage over allied countries, actually, Schenkkan told VOA. I think in actuality the process clearly backfired with Brunson but not only has it been a very shortsighted policy, it hasnt produced the effects that Turkeys government hoped it would. In fact, what it has really done is outrage not only politicians but also the publics in allied countries, he added. Deal? Some analysts also charge that Turkey has used Brunsons release strategically to take advantage of Khashoggis case, which dealt a blow to U.S.-Saudi relations and provided an opportunity for Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan to emerge as a powerful figure in the region against Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. There were also speculations that the U.S. might have secured the release of Brunson in exchange for a deal to gain custody of Gulen. U.S. President Donald Trump, however, dismissed those speculations and said Brunsons release had nothing to do with Khashoggis case. He said no deal of any kind was made with Turkey. Trump said it was the result of pressure on Turkey. The timing is a strict coincidence, the president told reporters during a meeting with Brunson in the Oval Office shortly after his release. The only deal, if you could call it a deal, is a psychological one. We feel much different about Turkey today than we did yesterday, Trump added at the time. Stick approach Some analysts also warn the U.S. may be enticed by the results of pressure on Turkey and allow that approach to shape U.S.-Turkey relations going forward. There is a real potentially sort of dangerous dynamic taking shape here whereby the U.S. sees that the stick approach worked, a pressure campaign worked, Max Hoffman, a Turkey expert at the Center for American Progress, told VOA. They saw the pressure got their guy [Brunson] out of prison and they will be tempted to go back to that approach, Hoffman added. Brunson was among tens of thousands of people Erdogan detained on similar terror charges during the state of emergency he declared following the failed coup. Many foreigners, including American citizens, were among those arrested. VOAs Turkish service contributed to this report. Brazilians on Sunday were weighing their hunger for radical change against fears that the presidential front-runner could threaten democracy as they cast ballots in the culmination of a bitter campaign that split many families and was frequently marred by violence. Far-right congressman Jair Bolsonaro has won over many voters by painting a picture of a Brazil at war with criminals, corrupt politicians and leftist ideas that he says could turn the country into Venezuela and promises to change the tide with force and clean governance. Recent polls showed Bolsonaro with an 8 to 10 point lead over his rival, leftist candidate Fernando Haddad of the Workers Party. Several key endorsements late Saturday gave Haddads camp hope that they could still pull out a victory. I am confident we can win, said Haddad after voting at a school. There are many democratic voices that could have been silent and have spoken in our favor. Supporters gathered in front and sang, We can dream. Bolsonaro, meanwhile, made no comments to reporters when he voted at a military compound in Rio de Janeiro. In a highly unusual moment, the chief justice of the Supreme Court, Jose Dias Toffoli, read out part of the Constitution to reporters after he voted. The future president must respect institutions, must respect democracy, the rule of law, the judiciary branch, the national Congress and the legislative branch, Toffoli said in remarks many took to be a rebuke of Bolsonaro and his more extreme positions. On Saturday, a popular former Supreme Court justice, Joaquim Barbosa, tweeted support for Haddad, saying Bolsonaros candidacy scared him. Likewise, former Attorney General Rodrigo Janot, one of the biggest crusaders against corruption in Haddads Workers Party in recent years, endorsed Haddad for similar reasons. One of the most important endorsements, particularly for young people, came from Youtuber Felipe Neto, whose channel has nearly 27 million followers. Neto said he was troubled by Bolsonaros comments a week ago that red leftists would be run out of Brazil. In 16 years of the (Workers Party), I have been robbed, but never threatened, Neto said by Twitter. Bolsonaro, a former army captain with a lackluster record in Congress over 27 years, rose in prominence amid disgust with Brazils political system after a massive corruption scandal and a prolonged recession. In particular, many Brazilians are furious with the Workers Party for its role in the graft scheme, known as Carwash and Haddad has struggled to build momentum with his promises of a return to the boom times by investing in health and education and reducing poverty. If you have three crises happening at the same time economic, political and moral, ethical in a way I think you create a scenario which is perfect for outsiders and authoritarian, fringe candidates, said Oliver Stuenkel, an associate professor of international relations at the Fundacao Getulio Vargas university in Sao Paulo. Its not unlikely that well see an erosion of Brazils democracy. Were already seeing it now. Many in Brazil and beyond have expressed concerns about a rollback of civil rights and a weakening of institutions in what remains a young democracy, especially since Bolsonaro has waxed nostalgic for Brazils 1964-1985 military dictatorship and said he would name military men to his Cabinet. More than a dozen U.S. Democratic congressmen have written a letter urging Secretary of State Mike Pompeo to make clear that American aid to and cooperation with Brazil is contingent on the upholding of basic human rights and democratic values by its leaders. The past few years in Brazil have been exceptionally turbulent. In 2016, then-President Dilma Rousseff of the Workers Party was impeached and removed from office on charges that many on the left felt were politically motivated. The economy suffered a two-year-long recession and is only beginning to emerge, with growth stagnant and unemployment high. And scores of politicians and executives have been jailed in the Carwash corruption investigation that uncovered a multi-billion-dollar scheme to trade public contracts and official favors for bribes and kickbacks. That instability unleashed extreme anger with the political class but also revealed deep divisions in Brazilian society, and this campaign was the most polarized in decades. There were numerous reports of politically motivated violence, especially directed at gay people, whom Bolsonaro has disparaged. Bolsonaro himself was stabbed and almost died at a campaign event in early September. Im not crazy about Bolsonaro. But he is our way to keep the Workers Party out of office, said Rafaela Rosa, a 32-year-old teacher, after voting Sunday in Sao Paulo. We have had enough corruption and now we need to clean up. Many observers predicted that a newcomer would emerge to harness that anti-establishment anger. Instead, support coalesced around Bolsonaro, who both is and isnt an outsider: He has served for nearly three decades in Congress, but he has often been at the margins of that institution and he painted himself as just the strong man Brazil needed to dismantle a failing system. Bolstering his rebel image is his reputation for offensive statements and sometimes extreme views, including insulting women, gays and blacks. Bolsonaros campaign first gained traction with his promises to go after violent crime in a country that leads the world in homicides and where many Brazilians live in daily fear of muggings or burglaries. But his vows to loosen gun laws and give police a freer hand to use force against suspects have also raised concerns that a Bolsonaro presidency could lead to a bloody crackdown and an erosion of civil rights. The campaign gained momentum by winning over much of the business community with promises of enacting market-friendly reforms that would reduce the size of the Brazilian state, including cutting ministries and privatizing state companies. Haddad has taken the opposite tack, promising to double-down on investment in education, health and social programs, arguing that the gains Brazil made in reducing poverty during the boom years have eroded and the poorest are suffering. I still have hope Haddad can turn this around, said Mario Victor Santos, 58, former ombudsman for the newspaper Folha de S. Paulo, which Bolsonaro has repeatedly claimed spread fake news about him. And if Haddad doesnt (win), we have given evidence that the resistance to a Bolsonaro administration will be very stiff. Hundreds of people, most of them youths, Saturday marched and sang in the streets of Cameroons economic capital city, Douala, calling for Cameroon President Paul Biya to step down immediately. Bosco Etoundi, a 23-year-old university graduate, says protesters believe Maurice Kamto, of the Cameroon Renaissance Movement political party, who ran against Paul Biya in Cameroons Oct. 7 presidential election actually won. Kamto was declared runner-up, with 14 percent of the votes. Etoundi says he wants Kamto to immediately take power because he is tired of having a president who does not provide for residents needs. Etoundi says young people make up more than 70 percent of Cameroons population, but Biya has never involved the younger generation in decision-making. He says that after students complete their studies, they remain jobless because Biya is not creating jobs. He says a change is needed. Protesters arrested Cameroon police reported the arrests of more than two dozen protesters Saturday. Witnesses say some protesters were beaten and dragged through the mud. However, Kamtos Cameroon Renaissance Movement said 42 people, including some of its party officials, have been arrested and are being detained. Among those arrested is Michele Ndoki, a lawyer who defended Kamto at the constitutional council, where they alleged massive fraud and ballot-stuffing in favor of Biyas ruling Cameroon Peoples Democratic Movement (CPDM) party. The constitutional council rejected Kamtos petition and Kamto, who had earlier claimed victory, announced what he called a national resistance program in regard to Biyas inauguration ceremony in December, although no date has yet been chosen. Ivaha Diboua, governor of the littoral region of Cameroon where Douala is located, says he will never tolerate any disorder in his administrative area and anyone who creates disorder will face police action. Diboua says Cameroon respects peoples freedoms, but that no one should abuse the freedom by denigrating, insulting and stigmatizing others claiming that they felt cheated. Besides Douala, minor protests were reported in the cities of Yaounde and Bafoussam but were quickly contained by police. 36 years of Biya Biya, who has been in power for 36 years, was declared the winner of the Oct. 7 presidential poll, winning 71 percent of the vote. His runner-up, Kamto, who won 14 percent of the vote, has rejected the results. In 2008, Biya removed term limits from the constitution, allowing him to serve indefinitely. He is now the second-oldest president in sub-Saharan Africa. When his new term is finished, he will be 93 years old. Kamtos MRC party has vowed to continue with the protests until Biya steps down. In a statement Saturday, Kamto called for police to release those who have been arrested, stating that they were simply expressing their discontent at the election. China plans to provide an unspecified financial "grant" to Pakistan while the United Arab Emirates is actively considering Islamabad's request for a fiscal relief package of up to $6 billion to help the country deal with a looming balance-of-payments crisis, Chinese and Pakistani officials say. News of the anticipated financial aid came days after Prime Minister Imran Khan secured more than $6 billion in immediate financial support from Pakistan's close ally, Saudi Arabia, during an official visit to Riyadh. Pakistan urgently needs foreign currency to shore up its depleting reserves of less than $8 billion, which is barely enough for servicing its debt and paying import bills. Khan's nascent government, which took office two months ago and has inherited a debt-ridden national economy, estimates the country urgently needs about $12 billion to fulfill domestic and external liabilities. Khan is to travel to Beijing Nov. 2-5 on his first official visit to the country, where he is scheduled to meet President Xi Jinping and his Chinese counterpart. Chinese diplomats in Islamabad have announced ahead of Khan's visit that it will result in "good news" in terms of securing financial assistance for Pakistan. "During the visit of the prime minister, we will provide, hopefully, a grant to the Pakistani government. Please look forward to the outcome of this visit. There will be more good news to follow," said Deputy Chinese Ambassador Lijian Zhao, when asked whether Beijing would provide Khan financial assistance similar to the package the Saudis have pledged. He declined to speculate on the size of the grant. Under the Saudi deal, Riyadh will deposit $3 billion in the coming days with the central State Bank of Pakistan for one year, as balance-of-payments support. Additionally, Saudi Arabia will export oil to Islamabad worth more than $3 billion on a deferred-payment basis over the next three years. Khan's government has rejected reports of any conditions attached to the Saudi aid package. Federal Minister Haroon Sharif, chairman of the Board of Investment, said Saturday that the Pakistani government had formally submitted a financial request to a visiting UAE delegation similar to what Saudis have pledged. The Gulf state, he noted, is one of the biggest oil suppliers to Pakistan. The minister told local Dunya TV the UAE delegation positively noted the Pakistani request and has promised to return with possible options in the next few days. "It is expected to be a good package. I am unable to share the figures, but I think it would more or less be similar to the one Saudi Arabia has announced [for Pakistan]," said Sharif, who accompanied Khan during his visit to Saudi Arabia and will be part of the Pakistani delegation traveling to China. IMF bailout plan In addition to pushing friendly countries to provide fiscal relief, Khan's government has also turned to the International Monetary Fund to seek a bailout package. Formal talks are scheduled to begin in Islamabad on Nov. 7. Pakistan has taken advantage of repeated IMF bailouts in the past several decades. Analysts say the Saudi financial package and expected aid from both China and the UAE will most likely boost Pakistan's negotiating position and may mean the country will require a smaller IMF arrangement. During Khan's visit to Beijing, officials said the two countries would sign "many agreements" to boost trade and investment ties and launch the second phase of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), which is the flagship of Xi's global Road and Belt Initiative. The two sides will sign a framework for launching industrial cooperation under CPEC and increasing Pakistani exports to China. CPEC, Khan's visit to China The United States has persistently expressed concerns about the Chinese infrastructure and connectivity initiative, saying they are burdening partner nations like Pakistan with debt. The U.S. also criticized a lack of transparency about the terms of contracts under the infrastructure initiative and consequent effects on the economy, said Henry Ensher, acting deputy assistant secretary of state. He acknowledged in a speech in Washington this month the importance of China-led initiative. "But that role ought to be done, ought to be played in accordance with usual rules about the transparency and accountability so that people in countries that cooperate with China can see clearly what they are signing up for," Ensher said. U.S. officials have already cautioned the IMF about entering into an arrangement with Pakistan, citing CPEC loans as a main factor for the country's debt crisis and suspecting the IMF money would be used to pay back China. Islamabad and Beijing have vehemently rejected Washington's assertions as "misplaced" and "irrelevant." Both countries acknowledge Chinese loans under CPEC are just over 6 percent of Pakistan's total domestic and external debts of about $95 billion. Since launching CPEC in 2013, China has invested $19 billion in Pakistan, building or upgrading its transportation network and power plants and putting into operation the key Arabian Sea port of Gwadar. The mega-project is expected to bring more than $62 billion to Pakistan in Chinese investment by 2030, ultimately linking Gwadar to the landlocked western Chinese region of Xinjiang and giving Beijing the shortest secure access to international markets. "We are building these projects totally based on mutual consultation and also mutual sharing. Definitely, there is no private interest or unilateral interest from the Chinese side. We believe all the projects are mutually beneficial," Yao Jing, Beijing's ambassador to Islamabad, told reporters at the sprawling Chinese Embassy on Friday. Although it has not yet been determined whether the suspect in custody in the mailing of explosive devices to critics of President Donald Trump will be charged with terrorism, at least one analyst asserts that this weeks spate of mail bombs can be labeled as such for several reasons. Randall Rogan, an expert on terrorism and hostage negotiation and a professor of communications at Wake Forest University in Winston-Salem, N.C., laid out his logic: "I would define these acts as domestic terrorism terrorism being defined as acts of violence or threat of violence against non-combatants for political reasons, with political being used very broadly to be inclusive of religious, social and other ideological purposes, and this is domestic in nature." Rogan admitted, though, "The definition of terrorism is vague, with no truly universally accepted definition." The Patriot Act, passed in 2001 after the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks, defines domestic terrorism as activities on U.S. soil that "involve acts dangerous to human life" and "appear to be intended to intimidate or coerce a civilian population; to influence the policy of a government by intimidation or coercion; or to affect the conduct of a government by mass destruction, assassination or kidnapping." Previous mail attacks Attacks through the U.S. mail are anything but new. The U.S. Postal Service has long been used to send suspicious packages to high-ranking U.S. officials. William Clyde Allen, a U.S. Navy veteran, was charged this week on seven counts for sending letters containing ricin, a highly toxic substance, to Trump and other high-ranking U.S. officials. Officials confirmed the letters were mailed earlier in October. In March 2018, two people were killed when explosive packages arrived at their residences in Austin, Texas. Mark Anthony Conditt, 23, who blew himself up when police closed in on him, was identified as the Texas bomber. In 2013, Shannon Guess Richardson, a Texas actress, sent ricin-laced letters to then-President Barack Obama and then-New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg. She was sentenced to 18 years in prison. The sentence was on charges of attempting to use biological weapons. That same year, James Everett Dutschke mailed similar letters to Obama and other U.S. officials. He was later sentenced to 25 years in prison. (Ricin is a naturally occurring toxin found in castor beans. If inhaled, ingested or injected in a refined form, ricin can kill a person within 48 hours of exposure. According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, there is no antidote for ricin.) One of the the most prominent mail attacks occurred in 2001, days after the 9/11 terror attacks. Several letters containing anthrax bacterial spores were mailed to offices of news organizations and U.S. lawmakers. The attacks killed five people and injured 17 others. Bruce Edwards Ivins, a former government scientist, committed suicide in 2008 while the FBI was investigating his involvement in the case. Following his death, the FBI announced that Ivins was the only suspect in the anthrax attacks, also known as Amerithrax from its FBI investigation case name. And the infamous Ted Kaczynski, known as the Unabomber, prompted the longest FBI investigation ever before his capture in 1996, but only after killing three people and injuring another 23. The anarchist went after those involved with technology and was regarded as a domestic terrorist, but he was found guilty of other charges. Domestic terrorism None of the individuals involved in those cases was convicted of terrorism, while terror charges have been brought against people affiliated with known international terrorist organizations. The Patriot Act primarily grants the Justice Department the authority to investigate an individual or a group affiliated with a group that the State Department has listed as a foreign terrorist organization. According to federal law, in order to be charged with terrorism, a person must be suspected of acting on behalf of one of those listed groups. Some analysts, like David Sterman of the Washington-based think tank New America, believe the issue of domestic terrorism is debatable, and it is viewed as a sensitive matter. "There are laws that deal with domestic terrorism-related acts, but the reason we don't have a specific law on domestic terrorism is mainly political sensitivity in this country," Sterman said. "The difference between hate crimes and terrorist acts has always been a controversy in the U.S." Other experts say current federal laws pertaining to acts of political violence are adequate. "Our current laws dealing with political violence are sufficient in terms of giving long sentences to the perpetrators," said Karen Greenberg, director of Center on National Security at Fordham Law, a nonpartisan research group. "I don't think we need a new law that could add more to the sensitivity. The Obama administration had some interest in creating a federal charge for domestic terrorism, but again it didn't get anywhere because of the political climate," Greenberg said. In September 2017, Trump signed into law a congressional joint resolution that condemned the violence in Charlottesville, Va., where a speeding car slammed into counterprotesters, killing one person and injuring 19 others. The resolution called the incident a domestic terrorist attack. Mexico City dedicated its Day of the Dead parade Saturday to migrants, just as thousands of Central Americans were trekking from the countrys southern border toward the United States under pressure from U.S. President Donald Trump to disband. In an a twist on the traditional dancing skeletons and marigold-adorned altars making their way down the capitals main thoroughfare, the parade also referenced Mexicans who emigrated as well as foreigners who settled in the capital. The parade ... is dedicated to migrants, who in their transit to other countries have lost their lives, and who in their passing through the country have contributed to a true Refuge City, the Mexico City government said on Twitter. In one segment, gray metallic panels representing the Mexico side of the U.S. border wall were stenciled with the phrase, There are also dreams on this side. Other presentations honored exiled Spaniards, Argentineans and Jews, Mexico Citys culture ministry said. The event ahead of Nov. 1 and 2, when Mexicans observe Day of the Dead in town squares, homes and cemeteries, coincided by chance with the journey of a migrant caravan traveling into Mexico, many fleeing violence and poverty in Honduras and Guatemala. Some plan to seek asylum in Mexico. Others intend to reach the United States, angering Trump who has threatened to close the border and cut aid to Central American nations. The caravan arrived in the southern state of Oaxaca on Saturday and may reach Mexico City as soon as next Friday. City officials will make four shelters available to house the group, according to local media. Their arrival may prompt tension, said Johan Rivera, 36, a parade spectator. Its delicate. ... There are lots of things to think through and analyze, he said. The parade, which included dancers portraying Monarch butterflies, famous for their long migratory routes, ended at a massive altar decorated with skeleton figures that local officials dedicated to migrants who have died. Mexico has always, traditionally, been a country of crossings, said Mariana Villalobos, 33, at the parade. It has a long tradition in accommodating migrants as well as refugees. And the current political situation... shows this is something very much alive. The Roman Catholic church, the main religious body in Cameroon has issued conflicting comments on the conduct of the October 7 presidential election in which incumbent Paul Biya was declared the winner. Church bells ring at Our Lady of Victories Cathedral in Yaounde, inviting Catholics to a mass to be said by metropolitan Archbishop Jean Mbarga. Mbarga says the special mass is to pray for peace in Cameroon and salute the victory of President Paul Biya in Cameroon's October 7 presidential election. He says people should congratulate Paul Biya for his victory especially as electoral disputes were handled in a transparent manner by the constitutional council. He says everyone should recognize Biya as the president elect, start preparing for the next election and thank God for the peace that was observed during the presidential poll. The archbishop's declaration that the election was transparent sharply contradicts the position of the episcopal conference of Cameroon Roman Catholic bishops of which Mbarga is a member. Samuel Kleda, archbishop of Douala and president of the episcopal conference had criticized the election saying that the large turnout announced by the elections management body ELECAM along Cameroon's northern border with Nigeria, was particularly suspicious. Kleda said that the fighting in the English-speaking Northwest and Southwest regions and the Boko Haram insurgency along Cameroon's northern border with Nigeria had displaced large numbers of people and they could not vote. Kleda says he is surprised at claims that the ruling party candidate Paul Biya scored overwhelming victories in many parts of Cameroon including the English-speaking northwest and southwest regions where they themselves said they were unable to go to campaign because of galloping insecurity. He says petitions filed by opposition party candidates that the election were marred by massive fraud and did not even take place in several regions ought to have been taken seriously by the government because Cameroon's unity is threatened. Cameroon's Roman Catholic bishops have been divided before, even though it has never been as public as it is now. When the separatist movement in the Anglophone regions became violent, Kleda condemned the government troops for brutality, while some bishops, including Mbarga, said it was legitimate defense. An estimated 35 percent of Cameroon's 24 million people are of the Roman Catholic faith. On Oct. 22 incumbent Paul Biya was declared the winner with 71 percent of the vote, with his main challenger, Maurice Kamto, only receiving 14 percent. Several opposition candidates accused Biyas ruling Cameroon Peoples Democratic Movement (CPDM) party of massive electoral fraud to keep the 85-year-old leader in office for another seven years. Biya is Africas longest serving president, having entered office in 1982. A synagogue shooting in Pittsburgh on Saturday, which left 11 people dead, is likely the deadliest such attack in US history, an American civil rights group said. Here is a list of major attacks on synagogues around the world over recent years, and of attacks on other places of Jewish community life. Tunisia On April 11, 2002, 21 people died in a suicide attack on the Ghriba synagogue, on the island of Djerba, in the south of the country. Among the dead were 14 Germans, five Tunisians and two French citizens. A tank truck driven by a Tunisian and filled with inflammable gas blew up outside the synagogue, which is the oldest place of Jewish worship in Africa. The attack was claimed by al-Qaida. Turkey On Nov. 15, 2003, vehicles filled with explosives were used against two synagogues in Istanbul, Neve Shalom and Beth Israel, killing 30 and injuring 300. Five days later, the British consulate and an HSBC building came under attack. A Turkish cell of al-Qaida claimed responsibility for the four attacks, which claimed a total of 63 lives. Israel On Nov. 18, 2014, an attack by two Palestinians against a synagogue in western Jerusalem claimed five: three Israeli-Americans, one Israeli-Briton and a Druze policeman. The Har Nof neighborhood, where the attack took place, is considered to be a bastion of the ultra-orthodox Shas party. The attack was the first against a Jewish place of worship in Jerusalem. Both attackers were shot dead by police. Denmark On Feb. 14, 2015, a Danish citizen of Palestinian origin, having pledged allegiance to the Islamic State, opened fire on a cultural center in Copenhagen, which was hosting a freedom of speech conference, and killed a filmmaker. Later that night, he also killed a 37-year-old Jewish man who was standing guard outside a synagogue where a bar mitzvah was being held. The attacker was then killed in a shootout with police. Not just synagogues In addition to synagogues, many other places of Jewish community life have been attacked over the years. In France, on March 19, 2012, a 23-year-old French-Algerian Islamist killed three children and a teacher in a Jewish school in the southwest of the country. In the U.S., on April 13, 2014, a white supremacist known for his anti-Semitic views attacked a Jewish community center and retirement home in Kansas, killing three people, none of whom were actually Jewish. In Belgium, on May 24, 2014, a man opened fire in the lobby of the Jewish Museum in Brussels, killing four. The alleged killer, French-Algerian Mehdi Nemmouche, was arrested in France in June of this year and extradited to Belgium for trial. In France, on Jan. 9, 2015, four Jews were killed during a hostage-taking in a Jewish supermarket in Paris by a Jihadist. Pearls, diamonds and history one of the most beautiful and historic jewelry collections will go to auction in November when Marie Antoinette's jewels will be sold at Sotheby's in Geneva. But for now, the breathtaking royal jewels are on display in New York. VOA's Evgeny Maslov looked at a collection that hasn't been seen in public for more than 200 years. Anna Rice narrates his story. U.S. Homeland Security chief Kirstjen Nielsen had a blunt message Sunday to a migrant caravan slowing moving north through Mexico toward the United States: "Do not come." She told Fox News, "There's a right and legal way to enter this country," by filing U.S. asylum claims while they are in Mexico. "This is about the rule of law." Nielsen said, "We have a crisis on the border," with U.S. officials apprehending 1,500 to 1,700 migrants a day as they cross into the United States. She offered her assessment as Defense Secretary Jim Mattis told reporters traveling with him on a trip to Prague that Pentagon officials are working out details on the the deployment of several hundred troops to the southern U.S. border. On Friday, the Pentagon approved a request by the Department of Homeland Security to send the troops to the U.S.-Mexico border in what is described as a support role. A statement said personnel will support the border patrol with planning assistance, medical teams and the construction of temporary housing, along with other support duties. They will join more than 2,000 members of the National Guard already deployed to the area who are providing support for border patrol agents. Meanwhile, the Trump administration is reported to be considering a new executive order aimed at blocking asylum seekers and immigrants from crossing the U.S.-Mexico border. News reports quoting unnamed administration officials say authorities are weighing a range of administrative and legal actions on grounds of national security to restrict the ability of migrants to seek asylum. Although no decision has reportedly been made yet, immigration attorneys told VOA the move would be quickly challenged in court. The caravan of migrants from Honduras and Guatemala, making its way north on foot, is still hundreds of kilometers away from the closest U.S. border. The U.N. refugee agency is urging Washington to allow people fleeing persecution and violence, including those who are traveling with the Central American caravan, to request asylum on U.S. territory. Our position globally is that the individuals who are fleeing persecution and violence need to be given access to territory and protection including refugee status and determination procedure," UNHCR spokesman Andrej Mahecic told VOA. "And, if the people who are fleeing persecution and violence enter Mexico, they need to be provided access to the Mexican asylum system and those entering the United States need to be provided access to the American asylum system. Most of those traveling north are from Honduras. There has been no evidence to back up President Donald Trump's claim last week that "Middle Easterners" are also with the group. Lisa Schlein and Aline Barros contributed to this report. U.S. Defense Secretary Jim Mattis says he met with Saudi Foreign Minister Adel al-Jubeir Saturday at the Manama Dialogue security conference in Bahrain where the secretary stressed the need for a transparent investigation into the murder of Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi earlier this month at Riyadh's consulate in Turkey Mattis told the security conference that the "murder of Jamal Khashoggi in a diplomatic facility must concern us all... "Failure of any nation to adhere to international norms and the rule of law undermines regional stability at a time when it is needed most." The defense secretary said Secretary of State Mike Pompeo has already revoked some Saudi visas and "will be taking additional measures" against the responsible people. Meanwhile, Saudi Arabia's attorney general is scheduled to arrive in Turkey Sunday, according to an Associated Press report. Saud al-Mojeb is expected to meet with the Turkish investigators who are looking into the murder of Khashoggi. CNN is reporting that Salah bin Jamal Khashoggi, son of the slain journalist slain, has arrived in the United States. The dual U.S.-Saudi citizen had been banned from traveling by the Saudi government until earlier this week. The restriction on his passport was lifted following a photographed handshake with the Saudi Crown Prince and King Salman on Tuesday. . The State Department said Secretary of State Pompeo was "pleased" at the lifting of the travel restriction. Pompeo had urged the Saudis to allow Salah Khashoggi to leave the country. Saudi Foreign Minister Jubeir said Saturday that the media coverage about the Khashoggi case has become "hysterical." He acknowledged that Saudi Arabia had made some mistakes, but promised the country will conduct a transparent probe into the killing. Meanwhile, Turkish state-run news says Turkey has asked for extradition of the 18 men arrested in Saudi Arabia in connection with the killing. Saudi Foreign Minister Jubeir, however, dashed that hope Saturday when he said, "On the issue of extradition, the individuals are Saudi nationals. They are detained in Saudi Arabia and the investigation is in Saudi Arabia, and they will be prosecuted in Saudi Arabia." Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan urged Saudi Arabia Friday to disclose the location of Khashoggi's body and the identity of the "local cooperator" who allegedly disposed of the body after Khashoggi was killed in the Saudi consulate. Speaking to provincial members of his AK Party in parliament, Erdogan said Ankara has more evidence related to the journalist's murder, but he did not give any details. He also said Saudi Arabia's chief prosecutor will visit Istanbul Sunday and will meet with Turkish officials as part of the investigation into Khashoggi's murder. And Khashoggi's Turkish fiancee, Hatice Cengiz, told Turkish broadcaster Haberturk that although her fiance had been worried about visiting the consulate in Istanbul, he did not think he would be arrested or harmed in Turkey. "He thought Turkey is a safe country and if he would be held or interrogated, this issue would be swiftly solved," Cengiz said. She called on those responsible for his murder to be brought to justice. Saudi Arabia acknowledged in a statement Thursday that Khashoggi's killing appeared to have been premeditated, on the basis of evidence supplied by Turkey. What was left unclear was who premeditated the killing. The Saudi statement said, "The public prosecution continues its investigation with suspects... to complete the course of justice." The Saudis fired five officials linked to the killing and have arrested 18 suspects. International critics, including U.S. President Donald Trump, have said that the country's de facto ruler, Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, bears ultimate responsibility for the killing. The U.N. Human Rights Office welcomes the establishment of the Special Criminal Court in the Central African Republic, calling it a milestone in the fight against impunity. Over the past six years, war between the mainly Muslim Seleka rebels and Christian anti-Balaka has killed thousands. It has displaced about one quarter of Central African Republic's population of 4.6 million both internally and as refugees. Violence and gross human rights violations are rampant throughout the country. The U.N. human rights office sees the establishment of the Special Criminal Court as a huge step toward ending decades of recurring violence and abuse in the country. Spokeswoman, Ravina Shamdasani, told VOA it is hoped prosecutions by the court will help break the cycle of impunity, which has plunged the country into one conflict after another. "The establishment of this court, which its mandate is also to ensure that its proceedings are carried out in a very public way, which should send a message to the perpetrators of human rights violations in the Central African Republic that this will no longer be tolerated. In addition, the International Criminal Court is also engaged on the Central African Republic. So, both courts will be working concurrently," she said. This so-called hybrid court is composed of 13 judges from the CAR and 12 international judges. It will investigate and prosecute serious crimes, in particular the crime of genocide, crimes against humanity, and war crimes committed in the country since January 1, 2003. The pattern of granting blanket amnesties throughout its history has allowed impunity to thrive in CAR at the expense of the rule of law. The United Nations says the court aims to support a durable reconciliation process and bring justice to the victims. It says these actions might finally succeed in bringing peace and stability to the country. The mayor of New York City, home to the world's largest concentration of Jews outside Israel, said there is only one way to deal with hate confront it head on. Mayor Bill de Blasio joined city religious leaders outside the Temple Emanu-El in Manhattan Sunday to condemn the massacre of 11 Jews inside a Pittsburgh synagogue. "This gathering sends a message. New York City will never succumb to hate. We will never allow ourselves to be divided," the mayor said. He assured the city's large Jewish population that police will protect synagogues and Jewish community centers. "We will not let anyone harm you." De Blasio was joined Sunday by Jewish, Muslim, and Christian clergymen, including Cardinal Timothy Dolan. The cardinal said the fact that the Pittsburgh shooting victims were Jews a people who have "suffered for centuries" adds to the horror. "The respect for the inherent dignity of every human being and the sacredness of human life, we must never, ever question," the cardinal said. New York Governor Andrew Cuomo has ordered flags in the state to fly at half-staff all week. Pope Francis has strongly condemned the attack on a synagogue in Pittsburgh after celebrating the closing mass of the Synod of Bishops on Youth in Saint Peter's Basilica. After reciting the Angelus prayer in Saint Peter's Square on Sunday, Pope Francis led prayers for Pittsburgh, the day after what he describedas the "terrible" massacre inside a synagogue during Sabbath services in which 11 people were killed and six others injured. The pope expressed what he called his closeness to the city of Pittsburgh, and in particular to the Jewish community stricken yesterday by a terrible attack on the synagogue. He said everyone is in reality wounded by this inhumane act of violence and asked God to help put out the hotbeds of hate that flare up in society and to help strengthen a sense of humanity, respect for life, moral and civil values." Earlier, several thousand people, including hundreds of priests, nuns, and young people took part in the final ceremony of a month-long synod titled "Young People, Faith and Discernment of Vocation". In his homily, Pope Francis asked young people to forgive adults if they have not listened to youth or opened their hearts. The pope also said young people could not wash their hands of the problems of their neighbors, but should "dirty" them if they really want to imitate Jesus. Pope Francis attended every session of the synod, which were held on a daily basis during October. A 60-page final document was issued at the end of the synod late Saturday and will be used by Pope Francis in writing his Apostolic Exhortation. Women played an active role in this synod and although they did not vote the final text called on women to have greater recognition and say in the Church's decision-making processes. But the document stopped short of making a common apology for decades of clerical sexual abuse and cover-ups. Sri Lankan President Maithripala Sirisena says he fired the prime minister because there was a plot to assassinate him. The president addressed the nation Sunday night, defending his decision to fire Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe, disband the government, and suspend parliament. He said an informant told police that a Cabinet minister was part of the plot to kill him. Sirisena did not reveal the name of the minister, but said he had no choice but to fire Wickremesinghe. Sirisena named former president and strongman Mahinda Rajapakse as the new prime minister and appointed him to form a new government. Rajapakse crushed the decades-long Tamil Tiger uprising in Sir Lanka when he was in power, but he has refused to acknowledge abuses committed during the bloody civil war. Parliamentary Speaker Karu Jayasuriya said in a letter to the president Sunday he continues to recognize ousted Wickremesinghe and that he "still held the confidence of majority of Parliament." Members of Wickremesinghe's government said Friday's move amounted to a coup. Meanwhile, one person was killed and two wounded when security guards opened fire on Rajapakse supporters who tried to stop the now ousted petroleum minister from entering his office. U.S. State Department spokeswoman Heather Nauert issued a statement Sunday urging all sides to refrain from violence and calling on Sirisena to immediately reconvene parliament. Authorities investigating the mass shooting at a Pittsburgh synagogue that left 11 people dead are calling the mayhem a "hate crime," saying Sunday the suspected gunman shouted anti-Semitic threats as he opened fire. Charging documents said the suspect, Robert Gregory Bowers, armed with an AR-15 assault rifle and three handguns, wanted all Jews to die and that Jews "were committing genocide to his people," an apparent reference to his belief that a Jewish refugee agency assisting foreign nationals entering the U.S. endangered non-Jews in America. In a message he apparently posted online just minutes before the attack, Bowers, 46, said that the refugee agency, the Hebrew Immigrant Aid Society, "likes to bring invaders in that kill our people. I can't wait while my people are getting slaughtered... I'm going in." Scott Brady, the U.S. attorney in western Pennsylvania, told a news conference, "We are treating it as a hate crime." Officials said eight men and three women killed, ranging in age from 54 to 97, and six were wounded, including four police officers, before Bowers was tracked down, shot and apprehended. Bowers was hospitalized in fair condition with multiple gunshot wounds, authorities said. He was charged with 11 counts of criminal homicide, six counts of aggravated assault and 13 counts of ethnic intimidation. The FBI said Bowers was not previously known to law enforcement, but apparently had posted a string of anti-Semitic threats online, particularly on the Gab.com website, where conspiracy theories are common. On top of Bowers's page, one quote said, "jews are the children of satan," according to screenshots of the now-suspended account released by the SITE Intelligence Group, which tracks extremist views. Police had responded to emergency calls about 9:45 a.m. Saturday morning as regular religious services were being held by three congregations at the the Tree of Life Synagogue. Witnesses said that Bowers, as he entered the synagogue, shouted, "All these Jews must die! Authorities said they found victims at three locations inside the synagogue, located in Pittsburgh's Squirrel Hill neighborhood. The local medical examiner, Dr. Karl Williams, said, "Lots of shots were fired, there were casings everywhere." The Anti-Defamation League, which has tracked hatred and violence against Jews since the 1970s, said the mayhem is "likely the deadliest attack on the Jewish community in the history of the United States. "We are devastated," said the group's head, Jonathan Greenblatt. "Our hearts break for the victims, their families, and the entire Jewish community." The White House has ordered all U.S. flags on government property to be flown at half-staff through Wednesday "as a mark of solemn respect for the victims of the terrible act of violence." World leaders denounced the attack, deploring it as an affront to humanity. U.S. President Donald Trump told a political rally late Saturday, "This evil anti-Semitic attack is an assault on all of us. We must stand with our Jewish brothers and sisters to defeat anti-Semitism and vanquish the forces of hate." On Twitter, Trump said, "All of America is in mourning over the mass murder of Jewish Americans at the Tree of Life Synagogue in Pittsburgh. We pray for those who perished and their loved ones, and our hearts go out to the brave police officers who sustained serious injuries. This evil Anti-Semitic attack is an assault on humanity. It will take all of us working together to extract the poison of Anti-Semitism from our world. We must unite to conquer hate." Former U.S. President Barack Obama said, "We grieve for the Americans murdered in Pittsburgh. All of us have to fight the rise of anti-Semitism and hateful rhetoric against those who look, love, or pray differently. And we have to stop making it so easy for those who want to harm the innocent to get their hands on a gun." Pope Francis at the Vatican called the massacre an "inhuman act of violence." He prayed "to help us to extinguish the flames of hatred that develop in our societies." In Israel, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said, "It is hard to overstate the horror of the murder of Jews who congregate on the Sabbath and who were murdered only because they were Jews. On my behalf, on behalf of the government of Israel and the nation of Israel I convey our heartfelt condolences to the families that have lost dear ones. We all pray for the speedy recovery of the wounded." German Chancellor Angela Merkel called the assault an act of "blind anti-Semitic hatred," while United Nations Secretary General Antonio Guterres called for a united world effort "to roll back the forces of racism, anti-Semitism, Islamophobia and other forms of racism." A battle is brewing between the Trump administration and some of the president's biggest supporters in Congress who are concerned that sanctions to be reimposed on Iran early next month won't be tough enough. As President Donald Trump prepares to reimpose a second batch of Iran sanctions that had been eased under the 2015 nuclear deal, conservative lawmakers and outside advisers have become worried that the administration may break a promise to exert "maximum pressure" on Iran. They are angered by suggestions that measures to be announced Nov. 5 won't include a provision cutting Iran off from a key component of the global financial system. The self-described Iran hawks are concerned enough that they have drafted legislation that would require the administration to demand that Iran be suspended from the international bank transfer system known as SWIFT. "The president asked for maximum pressure, not semi-maximum pressure," said Richard Goldberg, a former aide to a Republican senator and senior adviser to the Foundation for the Defense of Democracies, a group that supports punishing Iran with sanctions. "Maximum pressure includes disconnecting Iranian banks from SWIFT." Trump pledged Thursday to do whatever it takes to pressure Iran to halt what he refers to as its "malign conduct," such as nuclear and missile development and support for terrorism and groups that destabilize the Middle East. "On Nov. 5th, all U.S. sanctions against Iran lifted by the nuclear deal will be back in full force," he told a gathering at the White House to commemorate the 35th anniversary of the 1983 attack on the Marine Corps barracks in Beirut, Lebanon, which is blamed on Iranian-backed extremists. "And they will be followed up with even more sanctions to address the full range of Iran's malign conduct. We will not allow the world's leading sponsor of terror to develop the world's deadliest weapons. Will not happen." Energy, banking sectors The Nov. 5 sanctions cover Iran's banking and energy sectors and will reinstate penalties for countries and companies in Europe, Asia and elsewhere that do not halt Iranian oil imports. They could also include measures to force Iran out of SWIFT. Despite Trump's tough stance, the hawks are worried about recent comments from Treasury Secretary Stephen Mnuchin and his staff that suggest Iran will be able to stay connected to SWIFT. They are also concerned the administration will back down on its stated zero-tolerance policy for Iranian oil purchases by granting waivers to certain countries and companies that do not fully stop buying it. Iran deal supporters, like the other parties to the agreement, argue that pushing Iran out of SWIFT, the Belgium-based Society for Worldwide Interbank Financial Telecommunication, will lead to the creation of alternate mechanisms that could supplant it as the leading global institution for financial institutions to send and receive information about banking transactions. They also say expulsion will make it harder for Iran to conduct transactions, such as humanitarian purchases, that will still be allowed after Nov. 5. Allowing Iran to remain in SWIFT would make it easier for Tehran to import humanitarian goods like medicine permitted under U.S. sanctions and "would help the United States make clear that its critique of Iran is directed at the regime, not the people of Iran," said Elizabeth Rosenberg, a former Treasury official now with the Center for a New American Security. She added, though, that disconnection would be a "fast track" to isolation. The debate underscores the challenges the administration faces as it tries to isolate Iran without the full backing of other world powers who remain supportive of the nuclear deal. Although the hawks had been pleased by Trump's decision to withdraw from the nuclear deal in May and cheered the August reimposition of an initial set of sanctions, they are now seething that Treasury may opt to use existing safeguards to isolate Iran instead of hitting SWIFT members with sanctions if they don't disconnect Tehran. Treasury coy Treasury has been coy about its intentions, saying only that Mnuchin and the agency have led "an intense economic pressure campaign against Iran as part of this administration's comprehensive strategy to address the totality of Iran's malign and destabilizing activity, with much more to come." "Treasury has made it very clear that we will continue to cut off bad Iranian actors, including designated banks, from accessing the international financial system in a number of different ways," it said. "We will also take action against those attempting to conduct prohibited transactions with sanctioned Iranian entities regardless of the mechanisms used." That less-than-categorical position has rallied the hawks around the legislation prepared by Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, that would require the administration to impose sanctions on SWIFT members, including some U.S. banks, should it not suspend Iran on its own. Federal law currently gives the administration authority to act against Iran's central bank and other banks covered by terrorism and money-laundering sanctions. Cruz's legislation, however, would authorize the administration to hit all of Iran's banks with sanctions and require it to act against SWIFT if it connects any Iranian bank under sanctions to its system, according to a copy seen by the AP. In August, Cruz led a group of 16 GOP senators, including Trump allies Tom Cotton of Arkansas, Marco Rubio of Florida, Thom Tillis of North Carolina and John Barrasso of Wyoming, in demanding action against SWIFT if Iran is not suspended. Congressional aides say they believe support for his proposed legislation will be strong. "The administration's maximum pressure campaign will not succeed if the Islamic Republic remains connected to SWIFT," the senators told Mnuchin. The U.N. High Commissioner for Human Rights, Michelle Bachelet, is demanding the government of Burundi apologize for its inflammatory, personal attacks against members of the Independent Commission of Inquiry, impugning their credibility. On Wednesday, Burundi Ambassador Albert Shingiro verbally attacked and threatened to prosecute members of the Independent Commission of Inquiry at a meeting of the General Assemblys Third Committee in New York. Among other statements, he compared Doudou Diene, chair of the commission, to a participant in the slave trade. Bachelet called those remarks reprehensible and disgraceful. She demanded a retraction and apology from the government of Burundi. Her spokeswoman, Ravina Shamdasani, told VOA that Burundi is one of the 47 members of the U.N. Human Rights Council, a position that comes with enhanced responsibilities. This is a member state of the United Nations and of the Human Rights Council attacking the members of the Commission of Inquiry set up and appointed by the Human Rights Council and attacking them with threats of legal prosecution, as well as personally attacking them, using very inflammatory language, referring to the slave trade, Shamdasani said. This is clearly unacceptable. The Commission of Inquiry on Burundi was established in September 2016. The three-member commission has issued several reports documenting widespread human rights violations in the country, including some that may constitute crimes against humanity. The government has never cooperated with the commission or granted it access to the country. It has rejected the reports as being politically biased and based on campaigns of disinformation. Shamdasani says the Human Rights Office stands by the facts in the reports. She calls on Burundi to examine the reports and to consider the serious allegations of violations contained within. The U.N. refugee agency is urging nations to allow people fleeing persecution and violence, including those who are traveling with the Central American caravan, to request asylum on their territory. U.S. President Donald Trump has vowed to prevent a caravan of thousands of immigrants from Honduras, Guatemala and El Salvador from entering the United States. He is sending hundreds of troops to the border in what is described as a support role. The U.N. refugee agency will not weigh in on whether it is legal for a country to close its borders to refugees and asylum-seekers. But it says international law clearly states any person whose life may be in danger has the right to seek asylum and benefit from international protection. UNHCR spokesman Andrej Mahecic told VOA his agency has alerted countries along the caravan's route that it is likely to include people in real danger. "Our position globally is that the individuals who are fleeing persecution and violence need to be given access to territory and protection including refugee status and determination procedure. And, if the people who are fleeing persecution and violence enter Mexico, they need to be provided access to the Mexican asylum system and those entering the United States need to be provided access to the American asylum system," he said. Mahecic said the UNHCR is very concerned about the developing humanitarian situation along the migratory route. He said there are kidnapping and security risks in the areas where the caravan may be venturing. He said it is urgent to stabilize the situation, to provide proper reception and to improve basic conditions for people on the move. In regard to people seeking asylum, he says their international protection needs must be properly assessed before any decision is taken on their return or deportation. The Mexican Ministry of the Interior reports more than 1,740 asylum claims have been registered in Tapachula in the state of Chiapas. Join moderator Michael Warren of the Weekly Standard and Tracy Wilkinson of the Los Angeles Times for a discussion on the week's top stories, including recent bomb threats against media and political personalities. This show was recorded before the police arrested a suspect in Florida, after the discovery of a 12th pipe bomb. Tune in for this and more on this week's edition of Issues in the News. Turkey is continuing to heap pressure on Saudi Arabia over the killing earlier this month of journalist Jamal Khashoggi at the Saudi consulate in Istanbul, as further details of the alleged murder continue to emerge. Analysts say this is the Turkish move to discredit the crown prince. The man arrested and charged with mailing at least 13 packages containing explosive devices to critics of President Donald Trump is expected to make his first court appearance Monday, according to several media reports citing law enforcement officials. The Associated Press cited a law enforcement official who said Cesar Sayoc, 56, of Aventura, Fla., would make an initial court appearance in Florida before facing charges in federal court in New York, where five of the devices were recovered. The official was not authorized to discuss the prosecution and therefore spoke on condition of anonymity. Sayoc, a man with a decades-long criminal record, faces five charges in connection with the mail bomb campaign, including the illegal mailing of explosive devices and threatening government officials. Attorney General Jeff Sessions told reporters Friday that Sayoc faced up to 48 years in prison if found guilty. The crude pipe bombs were addressed in recent days to former President Barack Obama, former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, a former U.S. attorney general, two Democratic members of Congress, and former Central Intelligence Agency Director John Brennan. FBI Director Christopher Wray, speaking at the same news conference as Sessions, said 13 IEDs were sent in the packages, and each mailing included 6 inches of PVC pipe, a small clock and potentially explosive material. "These are not hoax devices," Wray said, noting that none of the bombs exploded. Authorities told AP that the devices were not rigged to explode when the packages were opened, but they said they were not sure whether that was because the devices were poorly made or were not intended to harm. Wray added that authorities thought other bombs might still be found. Wray said a fingerprint found on one of the packages led investigators to Sayoc. He said possible DNA evidence was found on another package. Sayoc was previously known to law enforcement officials and has been arrested nearly a dozen times in Florida, including a 2002 arrest for making a bomb threat. His first arrest in the state was at age 29 for larceny. Other charges against him have included grand theft, fraud and illegal possession of steroids. Sayoc's arrest Friday in Plantation, Fla., about 30 miles north of Miami, ended a nearly weeklong stretch of terror in which at least one bomb was found each day. Van taken Officers also hauled away Sayoc's white van its windows plastered with pro-Trump stickers, American flags and images of Democratic figures with red cross hairs over their faces. His arrest came just hours after the FBI intercepted two suspicious packages, one addressed to Democratic Sen. Cory Booker, the other to former National Intelligence Director James Clapper. And even as Sayoc was being detained, officials with Democratic Sen. Kamala Harris of California said investigators were looking at a package sent to her office. Clapper said Friday on CNN that he was not surprised he was targeted and that the incidents were "serious." Trump, speaking at a White House event Friday, vowed that those responsible for mailing suspicious packages would be prosecuted to the "fullest extent of the law." "We must never allow political violence to take root in America," Trump told the Young Black Leadership Summit at the White House. Later Friday, Trump told a political rally in Charlotte, N.C., that the media were to blame for polarizing the country. "We have seen an effort by the media in recent hours to use the sinister actions of one individual to score political points against me and the Republican Party." He said the media's "constant unfair coverage, deep hostility and negative attacks" only served to "drive people apart." In a tweet earlier Friday, Trump referred to the investigation as "this bomb' stuff," which he blamed for taking focus away from the upcoming midterm elections. The URL has been copied to your clipboard The code has been copied to your clipboard. Authorities have arrested a 59-year-old man in connection with the mail bombs sent to celebrities, prominent news outlets, and Democratic politicians. The suspect has a long criminal record, as VOA's Bill Gallo reports. A man yelling "all Jews must die" burst into a Pittsburgh synagogue during Sabbath services Saturday, shooting indiscriminately and killing congregants in the latest mass shooting in the United States. Eleven people were killed and six were injured, city officials said. The Federal Bureau of Investigation took the lead in the investigation, "as this falls under a hate crime, Pittsburgh Public Safety Director Wendell Hissrich told reporters. He described the shootings inside the Tree of Life Synagogue as "one of the worst crimes I've ever seen." Media reports identified the suspect in custody as Robert Bowers, 46, from just south of Pittsburgh. He was taken to a hospital for treatment of undisclosed injuries, authorities said. Social media posts apparently made by Bowers indicated hatred of Jews. One message stated: "I can't wait while my people are getting slaughtered ... I'm going in." President Donald Trump said anti-Semitism must be confronted and condemned. "Our minds cannot comprehend the cruel hate and the twisted malice that could cause a person to unleash such terrible violence during a baby-naming ceremony this was a baby-naming ceremony at a sacred house of worship on the holy day of Sabbath," Trump told the National FFA Organization, formerly the Future Farmers of America, at its national convention in Indiana. Earlier, before boarding Air Force One at Joint Base Andrews, Md., he called for quicker executions of those facing capital punishment for such killings. "When people do this, they should get the penalty," he said. "They should very much bring the death penalty into vogue." If the synagogue "had an armed guard inside, they might have been able to stop him immediately," Trump added. "They had a maniac walk in and they didn't have any protection." Asked whether all houses of worship in America now need armed guards, Trump responded "it's certainly an option" in a "world with a lot of problems." Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Wolf issued a statement calling the shooting "an absolute tragedy." He said he had spoken with local leaders and would provide resources to help law enforcement and first responders with the crisis. "These senseless acts of violence are not who we are as Americans," he said. "I was heartbroken and appalled by the murderous attack on a Pittsburgh synagogue today," said Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who graduated from high school in Pennsylvania. Several Sabbath services and a circumcision ceremony for an infant, attended by dozens of worshipers on three levels of the building, were underway in the predominately Jewish neighborhood of Squirrel Hill at 9:30 a.m. local time when the first shots were fired, congregants said. Tree of Life traces its roots to the beginning of organized Judaism in Pittsburgh in the mid-1860s and has occupied its current building since 1946. VOAs Marissa Melton contributed to this report. Rome to close all schools in city due to expected storm Rome's mayor Virginia Raggi has ordered the closure of all schools in the capital on Monday 29 October due to a code orange storm warning. The closure will affect all city schools, including kindergartens. The Lazio region, including the capital, is due to be hit by strong winds, storms and heavy rain, according to civil protection authorities. In the grand scheme of things, this is not an important problem. Its not even an important immigration problem. The caravan now numbers less than 4,000, which is a tiny fraction of the hundreds of thousands of people who enter the United States legally and overstay their visas every year. But I dont want to argue any further about the caravan, because thats the point: Like drugs in the Philippines or refugees in Italy, this is an event being used to create fear, anger, division a distraction. If you are talking about the caravan, you arent talking about U.S. companies suffering from the presidents trade war, or the U.S. government deficit, which is up 17 percent from last year, or the presidents utter failure to provide the health insurance for everybody he promised during the campaign. Mark has said this, that we have been slow to really understand the ways in which Facebook might be used for bad things. Weve been really focused on the good things, said Naomi Gleit, one of Facebooks longest-serving employees and now vice president for social good. Its possible that we could have done more sooner, and we havent been as fast as we needed to be, but were really focused on it now. The incident occurred just before 4 a.m. near Route 410 in the Hyattsville area when the driver of a silver Pontiac Grand Am lost control of the vehicle and struck a jersey wall. A woman driving by the crash stopped to assist the driver, and moments after she had exited her vehicle, she was struck by an Infiniti G37, police said. That technicality is a major reason the council has delayed final action on the bill. The proposed legislation requires home-sharing hosts to get a license from the city, and Jeffrey DeWitt, the citys chief financial officer, told the council that as many as 90 percent of short-term renters will be unable to acquire a license because the practice would be considered illegal under the current law. That would effectively destroy the citys short-term rental market and cost the city more than $96 million over the next four years in lost tax revenue that is now collected from home-sharing rentals. Saturdays deadly attack took place against the backdrop of a particularly toxic era in American political and social life. Many Americans believe that the increase in anti-Semitism, xenophobia and racism over the past two years has been stoked by the rhetoric of some of the nations top leaders, particularly President Trump, whose ongoing rallies are marked by denunciations of immigrants and the deriding of globalists, which is viewed as a code word for Jews. Most recently, he has declared himself a nationalist, thrilling some of his followers who identify themselves as white nationalists. I dont think its in the interest of patients or the industry not to be given specifics when a recall or a hold is issued, said Mackie Barch, chair of the Maryland Wholesale Medical Cannabis Trade Association, of which ForwardGro is a member. Im just at a loss for why were not getting more clarity from the state. 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 Most of Stewarts digital ads have been on Facebook and YouTube, with vitriolic attacks against Kaine in the hope of turning out more conservative Republicans. The Stewart campaign has been trying to reach voters in Southwest Virginia and, to a lesser extent, the Eastern Shore. Stewart has kept up a steady stream of Twitter and Facebook posts that characterize Kaine as weak and ineffective. Everyone is aware of all of these occurrences and unfortunate things that have been happening in this country, Saul said. Jews certainly understand. My congregation was already heavily involved in social justice and I think we see this as more fuel to help other people who are in this same situation, including systematic violence against people of color and immigrants. Probably the most difficult part of the message is that the water upwelling along the Washington coast is actually 30 to 50 years old, and its been circulating at depths, said Bill Dewey, the companys senior director of public affairs. So even if the world stops burning fossil fuels today, our fate is already sealed for the next 30 to 50 years. The ocean is going to continue to get more acidic because of what is already absorbed and in the pipeline. The lack of equipment mirrors a lack of physician training and sensitivity to the issue, experts said. To get at this frustration, or even the perceptions that lead to it, we need to think more broadly: How do we equip our health-care providers? Morris said. There is implicit bias, and they dont realize they may or may not be treating patients with disabilities differently. But it doesnt work that way. The ADL reports a 57 percent rise in anti-Semitic incidents in 2017. Other groups Trump targets African Americans, Latinos, Muslims have long experienced this and worse; a man in Kentucky last week allegedly tried to enter a black church before killing two black people at a supermarket. It is the new normal, though, for Jewish journalists and public figures to endure routine threats, for unabashed anti-Semitism to flourish in social media and now for Jews to fear for their safety in quiet places like Pittsburgh, where I lived and worshiped for three years. Ive said this to the president before: I think that the president needs to be more clear in his rhetoric and doesnt need to be as caustic in his rhetoric, Lankford said on CBSs Face the Nation. Thats the way he chooses to be able to communicate things, and I dont think its always helpful. For the Republican Party to deny their stoking of these kinds of sentiments is not believable, said Simon Rosenberg, the founder of NDN, a liberal think tank. Pointing to studies that have shown a rise of white-supremacist-related deadly attacks in the United States, Rosenberg added: We know that in the United States and Europe right now, there is a rise in right-wing nationalism, and political parties are seeing the fuel of their rise be the fear of immigrants and people not like them classic xenophobia. Trump is mimicking all of the same. Dunagan grows beans, squash and avocados on his 300-acre farm, while Chaffin has been growing tomatoes for 36 years in this region 40 miles south of Miami. They are both proud Trump supporters, but they do not mind Curbelos periodic clashes with the president over how Trump talks about immigrants or the policy of separating migrant children from their parents at the border. Callum, 27, remembers when he first met a pink-shirted navigator. Early last year, he was rushed to the hospital after being stabbed nine times. It was his 17th visit to emergency room in just over a year. His back is a canvass of scars. (Like others interviewed for this article, he spoke to The Washington Post on the condition that only his first name would be used, so that future employers wont immediately associate him with his past.) Still, the CDU seemed to have avoided a worst-case scenario in Hesse: the potential humiliation of losing control of the state, as left-leaning parties appeared to have fallen short of the backing needed to form a government on their own. That means the CDU will almost certainly remain in charge, with the Greens and the centrist Free Democrats as likely coalition partners. Pablo Casado, the leader of the opposition Peoples Party, has voiced anti-migrant positions, although not with the same vitriol as in Italy and elsewhere. There cant be papers for everyone, nor is it sustainable for a welfare state to absorb the millions of Africans who want to come to Europe, he said in July. And we have to say it, even if it is politically incorrect. Turkey, with the evidence that they have compiled, will ensure that there is more than one review of what is going on here, Mattis said. I am sure the investigation will include the evidence that Turkey has put forward so far. During his consultations with allies, Mattis said, he reiterated his position that the status quo with Russia violating the treaty and the United States abiding by it was unsustainable and wouldnt last. He asked the other 28 nations in the alliance to offer suggestions about what the United States could do other than pull out of the treaty. Although recent caravans of Central Americans have drawn heightened attention from U.S. politicians, migrating is a daily reality for many Salvadorans. More than 50,000 migrants from the country were apprehended when trying to cross into the United States in 2017, according to U.S. Customs and Border Patrol. Bolsonaro grew up a nerdy kid in a German Italian family with five siblings in Eldorado, a speck of a town in rural northern Sao Paulo state. At a time when the military was torturing, exiling and killing other members of his generation for opposing its policies, he saw the army as his ticket out. At 18, he was accepted to the armys prep school and later made it to Brazils equivalent of the U.S. Military Academy at West Point. This is not new territory for Trump, who closed his 2016 campaign with an advertisement that featured the faces of prominent American Jews such as Soros, Lloyd Blankfein and Janet L. Yellen as examples of special interests hostile to the American working class. But in recent weeks, those associations have become more commonplace. Trump has blamed a migrant caravan in Mexico as the work of Soros; Sen. Charles E. Grassley (R-Iowa) likewise said in an interview that he considered protesters at the Kavanaugh confirmation hearings to be paid agents of the New York-based philanthropist. Anderson: Digital disruption has brought its challenges but the great thing is that demand for engaging video and audio content is insatiable. We are a premium video content brand, thats our bread and butter, so we are embracing change and are very well placed to grow. Miller: The biggest opportunity for News Corp is in being the provider of original, local journalism, with local voices for local audiences. Trust in journalism and traditional mastheads has increased against a backdrop of digital disinformation. Loading Hywood: The greatest opportunity for us was delivered through the media law reform which enabled the proposed merger with Nine. Delany: The biggest threat is the way traditional media has been disrupted by new companies offering content directly to consumers online. Our biggest opportunity is that we have an unbeatable suite of extraordinary content to take on the digital disrupters. OConnor: The increasing connectivity in cars and homes and advancements in voice activation technology provide an opportunity for us to re-imagine the customer experience of radio and create more value through new forms of digital interaction with listeners. Dykzeul: The biggest threat, I believe, is the threat of time or in truth, the lack of it. Consuming information and content will become an even bigger challenge particularly for companies that produce engaging content in real-time. Bauer Australia boss Paul Dykzeul. Penn: We have seen unparalleled growth in video streaming which shows no sign of slowing. The availability of content anytime, anywhere across a growing number of international and local platforms is a clear benefit for our customers. Changing rivalries Media companies are getting closer to each other, whether that be mergers or sharing production and back-end costs. Are traditional rivalries dead? Hywood: The economic stresses the industry has faced has delivered cooperation at the back end, but competition around journalism and content is as hot as ever. Marks: Of course we still compete but there is also recognition that the world has changed and where there is opportunities to build mutually beneficial relationships where it makes strategic sense we will do so. Fairfax Media chief executive Greg Hywood (left) with Nine chief executive Hugh Marks. Credit:Louie Douvis Anderson: Scale has become incredibly important and this might have something to do with the gargantuan size of [tech giants] and the eye watering amount of money they can pour into content and technology. We are in a very competitive industry but ... where it makes sense to collaborate and find better ways to operate and promote our industry then we will always be up for a conversation. Lorson: Australian media organisations are experiencing profound structural shifts brought on by technology advancements, international competition and rapidly shifting viewing behaviours. The focus has shifted from short-term market share wins to industry-wide initiatives to "protect the species. Loading Blackley: Traditional media companies arent competing on distribution channels, they are competing on content and sales, so it makes sense for us consolidate back office functions and save money. Dykzeul: I believe that if ever there was a time where media companies should and must work together it is now. Davis: While efficiencies and synergies drive a lot of the decision making, rivalry and healthy competition particularly in the ever accelerating news and content cycle will be needed to maintain quality journalism and combat the era of fake news. Regulating digital disruption Facebook and Google are currently at the heart of an Australian Competition and Consumer Commission's inquiry. Given how fast disruption and innovation has moved, is there any point for regulators in trying to keep up? Cathy O'Connor Credit:Photo: Louise Kennerley OConnor: The faster the pace of disruption, the more important it becomes that regulators ensure a level playing field for the Australian media against multinational tech giants. This does not exist now and the faster the disruption, the more unfair it becomes. Davis: We have an unbalanced media sector and the need for authorities to create an even playing field has never been more critical. Miller: While innovation and disruption will continue to transform businesses, anti-competitive conduct requires regulatory attention and News Corp globally continues to detail the various anti-competitive practices of the digital platforms and how these harm content creation. Penn: There is absolutely a need for regulators to keep up in what is a rapidly growing, rapidly changing and incredibly important area. It is fast moving but at the end of the day legislation has to be there to make sure consumers are never disadvantaged. We need to be thinking about appropriate regulation for emerging audio products such as smart speakers and in-car audio software, and we need to be thinking about it now. Grant Blackley Worner: We have argued that, given the market power of Google and Facebook, a levy or collective licensing regime needs to be developed to ensure professional content producers are being appropriately remunerated for the monetisation of their content by digital platforms. Sneesby: In many cases the priority needs to be on carefully removing local regulation that potentially restricts local operators as opposed to creating new regulation. Blackley: We need to be thinking about appropriate regulation for emerging audio products such as smart speakers and in-car audio software, and we need to be thinking about it now. Burke: It is absolutely vital that regulators and legislation keep up given the emergence of colossal foreign competitors in our marketplace. This is crucial to protect Australian companies who employ our people. The best of the best Name two pieces of content, technology or product (one from your organisation, one from a rival) that you admire, and why. Hywood: Our newspapers and digital sites remain a daily miracle. The Americans is a choice binge. Marks: The launch of 9Galaxy, our TV automation buying platform, has been a game changer for Nine. A rivals content? Id have to say Sevens horse racing coverage. Its world class. Miller: The Australians recent podcast series The Teachers Pet is a stunning example of original, unique content that attracted extraordinary audience numbers. The AFRs Rich List, modelled on The Sunday Times Rich List in the UK, was a terrific franchise. Sneesby: UberEats isnt a rival, but Im both obsessed and fascinated by the way all this food just turns up at your door. Its really fun to watch an episode of Get Shorty (my current Stan favourite). There are no official figures about melatonin usage because its mostly not on the pharmaceutical benefits scheme, though its tightly regulated in Australia by the Therapeutic Goods Association. But doctors, pharmacists and the wholesalers who supply them are reporting a growing trend. And after a post on social media, Fairfax Media was inundated with stories from parents. A few had tried it and found it didn't work, but most were raving about how it had transformed their lives for the better. Professor Harriet Hiscock, a paediatrician at the Royal Childrens Hospital Melbourne, said she had seen increased usage of melatonin for children. Its growing in popularity across both primary-school age and teenage children and theres some use of it in preschool children as well, Professor Hiscock said. The cats well and truly out of the bag - parents are good at talking [with each other]. Marina Holt, education and training manager at PCCA, a wholesaler that supplies compounding pharmacists, said sales of melatonin were continuing to grow. "Theres increased acceptance of it, she said. Dr Maree Barnes, the immediate past president at the Australasian Sleep Association, said adults were increasingly wary of using traditional sleeping pills and having discovered a natural alternative in melatonin were now realising it could help children too. Ive been doing this for more than 25 years and weve certainly seen a significant increase in that time in the use of melatonin, and the use in children is a recent thing, Dr Barnes said. Its because we didnt [previously] know if it was safe in children. Professor Hiscock said there was a growing body of evidence to support melatonin. Its probably pretty safe, Professor Hiscock said. The studies with the longest evidence are 14 months to two years so its not particularly long-term. In paediatrics theres always the feeling you should avoid medication if you possibly can. In 70 per cent of children behavioural strategies work, and you dont need melatonin. However, Professor Hiscock added getting enough sleep was incredibly important for a childs health, mental health, immunity and growth, though the exact amount needed varied among individuals. If a child is happy and functioning well, they dont need more sleep, Professor Hiscock said. If theyre grumpy, moody or upset there can be lots of causes but they may need more sleep. Andrew Harb, general manager at wholesaler Medisca, said melatonin was a godsend for the whole family. One study done with children with autism showed children taking melatonin were getting to sleep half an hour earlier than those taking a placebo and this was measurably reducing stress for their parents. Loading How melatonin works Melatonin is the natural hormone released by the pineal gland that regulates your circadian rhythm - your natural body clock that determines sleepiness and wakefulness in a 24-hour cycle. Its why we start feeling tired in the evening and wake up in the morning, Dr Barnes said. Its not actually a sedative, it doesnt bomb you out, [the supplement] just augments that naturally occurring hormone. There are many reasons why someone might find it hard to switch off their mind and fall asleep but melatonin is particularly popular for adults and children on the autism spectrum disorder, or with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, epilepsy, Williams syndrome and anxiety disorders. While melatonin is sold over the counter in some countries, in Australia you need a prescription. The only melatonin products sold over the counter in Australia are homeopathic and don't contain the active ingredient. Most melatonin is rapid release, so it should be taken shortly before bedtime. As it is not a sedative, the effect will wear off if you take the medicine but then decide to watch more TV, for example. There is one branded product sold by pharmacists: Circadin, a 2mg tabletdesigned for adults. It's a slow-release product, which means it should be taken an hour before bedtime and it can help with night waking. What if all a man needed to do to snare a cushy retirement is contribute $45 extra to superannuation a week or a woman, an albeit far more painful, $140? I believe a big part of the disengagement many Aussies feel with their super is the uncertainty over how much will ultimately be enough. The touted lump sums are often stupidly high and unattainable so people go all ostrich attitude. Of course, theres also justified unease about the access rules lets leave them alone for a while to restore some faith, hey, Scott Morrison/Bill Shorten (delete as applicable)? People can be intimidated by the prospect of saving for retirement. Credit:Shutterstock My less intimidating and importantly weekly savings suggestions are based on some robust data and realistic assumptions. Federal Indigenous Affairs Minister Nigel Scullion has now doubled down on his description of the WA government as racist, accusing it of only using federal funding to build houses for white people in Perth. The mythical $90 million that Peter Tinley continually refers to does not contain a single dollar for a single new house or a single refurbishment. This is all smoke and mirrors designed to trick Aboriginal people, he said. The state Labor government has echoed the former state Liberal government's promise not to close peoples communities down and force them out, but says there is now a $440 million hole in the budget and this has removed the departments ability to commit to new builds. Minister Tinley was in Canberra for meetings on Tuesday, but did not meet with Minister Scullion. And Prime Minister Morrison has indicated he will not respond to Premier Mark McGowans plea for him to intervene in the stalemate. His office deferred to Minister Scullions, saying he remained the minister responsible and that the WA government was refusing to engage in good faith negotiations including putting forward a fair funding offer. The ball is very clearly in Peter Tinley, Mark McGowan and Ben Wyatts court and in fact Minister Scullion would welcome the opportunity to progress this important issue with any member of the WA government, a spokesman said. 'Discrimination against Aboriginal people' Shelter WA has gritted its teeth and waded in to contest the Prime Ministers comments that the 10-year agreement was for a couple of years and that remote housing was a state responsibility. Shelter WA chief executive Michelle Mackenzie said he was wrong on several levels. She said the Commonwealth had funded social housing in the states continuously for decades. Ms Mackenzie said these histories amounted to the Commonwealth accepting responsibility for social housing. She said continuing to fund mainstream social housing but discontinuing the remote funding agreement amounted to discrimination against Aboriginal people. There are two kinds of subsidy at play, one for builds in towns, and one for rentals [Rent Assistance], but none of this addresses the housing needs of people in remote communities, Ms Mackenzie said Aboriginal people on remote communities have every right to a place to call home, with all the educational and health outcomes, and opportunities, that housing brings to individuals, families and community well-being. Shelter WA calls on the Commonwealth and state governments to have meaningful negotiations. Minister Scullion said just because the federal government had historically supported states with public housing, and would continue to, did not change the fact that housing was a state responsibility under the constitution. He said the 2018 national agreement on social housing and homelessness did not exclude remote communities. In fact, he said the WA government failing to invest any of that funding into remote communities was an example of the WA governments racist approach. The WA Labor Government has failed to invest a single cent from the NHHA into remote communities instead building houses for white people in Perth, he said. Not just WA whingeing Most of the 5500 houses needed over the next decade are in WA, the NT and Queensland. The Commonwealth and NT governments struck a deal in which each paid $550 million for remote housing over five years the Commonwealth has different obligations to the territories. Queensland, which has similar needs to WA, is also in a political stalemate with the Commonwealth and there has been no agreement. South Australia, whose remote housing needs are smaller in scale and less complex, is believed to be nearing an agreement. 'Devastating logic' to retreat University of Notre Dame political anthropologist Professor Patrick Sullivan has traced the history of Commonwealth withdrawal from Aboriginal development all the way back to 2005, when John Howard abolished ATSIC. The takeover of ATSIC functions by mainstream agencies provided the Commonwealth retreat from Aboriginal development with its devastating logic, he wrote in an essay. The Commonwealth doesnt generally provide public housing; in Aboriginal communities it had. It doesnt provide water, electricity, sewerage; in Aboriginal communities it had. It doesnt do local roads; it doesnt do primary healthcare; and its mainstream agencies were not equipped to take over these responsibilities ... here was the opportunity, indeed the clear path of rational public administration, to repatriate Aboriginal development to the states. In 2006, WA signed an agreement with the Commonwealth that it would assume responsibility for delivering services to Indigenous communities, while the Commonwealth would continue to fund the housing. This commitment was reinforced in the 10-year national funding partnership from 2008-2018, with the expectation that it would help Close the Gap, but the states never foresaw the final blow that the agreement would not be renewed. Shelter WA chief executive Michelle Mackenzie. It has also been suggested that Minister Scullion didnt foresee it himself. National Shelter executive Adrian Pisarski said Minister Scullion had been comprehensively rolled by cabinet. Last year in June I attended a meeting convened by the congress in Adelaide where a whole bunch of Aboriginal housing people came together, and Scullion virtually guaranteed a new agreement with all of QLD, WA and South Australia, but somewhere between then and when the national agreement ended, cabinet made a decision that they would only support something in the NT, he said. SA had a much lower need ... there is a lot less money involved. They keep saying theyre prepared to negotiate an outcome with WA and Queensland, but they never have. In QLD the state will still be putting money into those communities but its not being matched. WAs own budget hasnt travelled that well the past couple of years; theyve got no money to spend. But Minister Scullion has said the agreement was only designed as a one-off and it was the fault of the previous Labor government, which couldnt do the maths that there was still a shortfall of housing. The fact is had the WA government simply matched the Commonwealths investment into remote housing over the past decade then we would not be in this position, he said. Hopeful 'homelands movement' created communities just 33 years ago These communities locations, and dependence on social housing, are a direct result of recent history and policy. In 1972 the government officially abandoned assimilation policy, which had forced Aboriginal people to live like white people, and dictated that many had to live on pastoral stations and missions. The government replaced this policy with self-determination, which acknowledged people's right to retain their racial identity and traditional lifestyle if they chose. But, as Professor Sullivan has written, the withdrawal of Aboriginal people from missions and pastoral stations had its own unforeseen consequences. Remote-area Aboriginal groups were now segregated in refugee camps on the edge of towns. Centres such as Fitzroy Crossing and Halls Creek swelled from populations of a few hundred to several thousand almost overnight. The poverty of these shanty settlements fostered alcohol addiction, violence, malnutrition and ill-health. In 1985, after WA land rights legislation failed, the Commonwealth stepped in with cash and an alternative plan called the Aboriginal Communities Development Programme, Professor Sullivan wrote. The Commonwealth and state committed $5 million each over five years to create the communities on Aboriginal homelands: they funded housing, roads, water bores, diesel plants, sewage treatment ponds, community stores and offices for the homelands movement. It was a way of recognising the national passion for land rights and Aboriginal traditional culture in a way that least alienated the states highly conservative electorate, Professor Sullivan wrote. These officials forged the bilateral agreement the Commonwealth has now walked away from. A sunset in Tjuntjuntjara, one of WA's most remote communities, more than six hours' drive from Kalgoorlie. Credit:Red Empire Media. And a social movement was born ... strong leaders emerged and, backed by their own organisations, took the opportunity of the ACDP homeland settlements scheme to return to traditional lands and cut the cycle of addiction and violence affecting their lives in the towns. Outstations developed rapidly from bough shelters and tent flies into recognisable villages. They ticked over, mostly peaceably, for 30 years, supported by federal housing and municipal services grants, the Aboriginal work for the dole scheme CDEP and, in some cases ... community-owned social enterprises, including building and trucking companies, community stores, and art centres. 'Serious design and safety issues in WA' The communities remain a world away from Perth and WA regional towns. Babies are born at a higher rate, and new housing is needed more frequently. The Tjuntjuntjara housing was part of a massive $23 million works program that aimed to greatly improve living standards for locals who had experienced hardship due to water shortages and limited infrastructure. Credit:Red Empire Media. But it costs far more to build and maintain homes where communications are unreliable, long wet seasons restrict access, and travel costs are high. And the needs and challenges of each community are different. You get a lot less for a million dollars than you would in Perth. Rachael Green, Department of Communities assistant director general for regional and remote service delivery, gave the examples of Warralong and Tjuntjuntjara. Warralong is a 90-minute drive from Port Hedland on good roads. Houses are constructed to a standard remote, robust specification. Cost to demolish 10 homes and construct 11 new ones recently was $4.7 million. A home in the remote Kimberley. Credit:Remote Housing Review. By contrast, Tjuntjuntjara is more than 600 kilometres from the nearest major centre, Kalgoorlie, via poor roads. Houses there were constructed from a special design for multi-generational families. Construction of 10 four-bedroom homes, refurbishment of another 12, water reticulation and power extensions recently cost almost $11 million in 2017. Even with the Commonwealth funding during the 10-year life of the national agreement, WA fell 16 per cent short of build targets, building 841 houses, not the intended 1012. One intervention program found only six per cent of remote homes visited across Australia had a working kitchen, 37 per cent a functioning shower, and 60 per cent a functioning toilet. Only 10 per cent were considered electrically safe. And there is no reason to suppose WA performed better; the review specifically mentioned serious design and safety issues in WA. Either the cost of delivery is significantly higher ... or WA has not used the funding or contributed its own funding to deliver housing outcomes for its citizens as efficiently, it found. You might assume that the issues are because people trash their homes, but this isnt true; a 2012 review found that in 91 per cent of cases, problems were not caused by damage but by lack of maintenance, poor specifications or faulty workmanship. Overcrowding meant fittings were being overused and false economies in toilets and showers meant a terrible burden of failing housing amenity. The conditions meant tension and violence could escalate quickly and that people and children living in such conditions struggled at work and at school. Lack of access to toilets and showers means high rates of infectious diseases: trachoma, tuberculosis and leprosy are all present in WAs famous and beautiful Kimberley. Mary lives in a remote community ... in a three-bedroom house that is currently accommodating 20 of her relatives. She is a single mother of two, and is the head tenant, responsible for paying the rent and ensuring good upkeep of the property, but has both a cultural obligation and a humanitarian need to welcome extended family members into her home. The shortage of accommodation in the community means that her extended family would be homeless unless they found space to stay in her home. After a day at work, she comes home to find the weekly food shop purchased for her children has been consumed by relatives. The number of people in the house with different bedtimes and sleeping habits means her children find it very difficult to sleep and often arent rested or alert enough to study effectively at school the next day. And if her uncle Charlie falls over on his walking frame and dents the wall again, because he is trying to work around the people in the overcrowded living room, she will have to pay the bill to fix it. Case study from national review People a resource, not a burden The 1000 or so communities across the top of WA do not have to be a burden, according to Shelter WA. The Commonwealth talks about north Australian infrastructure they are largely talking about roads and airports, Ms Mackenzie said. We also think remote housing should be viewed as infrastructure. Its not 20 houses here and 20 there, its a major economic and employment driver. The national review agreed, finding that as a major infrastructure project, the 5500 homes needed across northern Australia held strong potential for generating local employment. Use of local labour for maintenance and tenancy management, and up-skilling local workforces to perform at least the non-trade jobs could also support managing the costs. Vatican City: A monthlong meeting of Catholic bishops marked by demands for women's rights has ended with delegates saying women's place at the church's decision-making table was a "duty of justice" and that the church as a whole must recognise the urgency of "inescapable change." Pope Francis arrives for his weekly general audience, in St Peter's Square. Credit:AP Pope Francis had called the summit of church leaders to debate ways to better minister to young people. But the synod was quickly taken over by debate about issues that are particularly dear to the young: the clergy sex abuse scandal, respect for gays, and women's rights. The issue of women was particularly acute given only seven nuns were invited to participate in the synod alongside 267 cardinals, bishops and priests. None of the women had the right to vote on the final document. AP Last week I had a meeting in Mexico with GM. It was my third visit so I thought it was time to see a couple of the Mayan ruins. We stayed at Paradisus, a Melia Resort in Playa del Carmen. While the beach is nice, it can't compare to ours but the resort was nice if too big. Thankfully I had a couple friends staying in town and they trek there about once a year so they know the place extremely well and they took me around for a couple evenings. The city of Playa del Carmen I would guess is about the size of New Providence and their 5th Street, a portion of which is shown in the image above, simply blows Bay Street away. The variety of shops and restaurants is impressive to say the least. But what I could not stop thinking (and saying) was how clean and free of litter the main drag is. Even the outskirts were litter free - a lesson we badly need to learn. So three cheers for Playa del Carmen. But it reinforced that maybe we are not as good we think we are. The 11th annual Stand Up for Homes with Hope will star comedian Nate Bargatze, known for his many appearances on The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon, Conan, and the Netflix special The Stand Ups. The event will take place on Nov. 3 at the Regina A. Quick Center for the Arts in Fairfield. We are very excited to have Nate Bargatze at this years Stand Up, said Jeff Wieser, president and CEO of Homes with Hope. Stand Up is our signature annual fundraising event and Nates fresh, friendly, edgy humor is going to be fun for all. In previous years, Stand Up has featured talents such as Hasan Minhaj, Martin Short and Paula Poundstone. $75 ticket holders can anjoy a glass of wine at 8 p.m. in the Quick Center lobby before the 8:30 p.m. curtain. $150 and $200 ticket holders can celebrate under the tent at 6:30 p.m. with cocktails, hors d'oeuvres and live music. To purchase tickets, visit bit.ly/2yheUt2. Sunday Brunch & Storytelling this weekend On Sunday, Oct. 28, the community is invited to the CronArt Gallery, at 31 Church Lane in Bedford Square, for Sunday Brunch & Storytelling: Westport CT The Evolution Of An Art Community from 11 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. CronArtUSA will welcome Westport icons Miggs Burroughs, Michael Friedman, Elizabeth Devoll, Roe Halper and Bob Weingarten to share stories focusing on their own personal experiences and contributions to the evolution of Westport becoming a leading Connecticut Arts Community. The event is free, but will require an RSVP. with limited reserved seats available. Complimentary refreshments and light brunch fare will be offered. For questions, contact Douglas Wieser at Douglas@cronartusa.com. To RSVP, email Hello@cronartusa.com with your name, contact information, and the number attending. Resident honored by womens business group Westport business owner Dina Upton, president and founder of Westport-based The Bites Company LLC, was recognized by the Womens Business Development Council during its annual gala luncheon at the Greenwich Hyatt Regency. The Womens Business Development Council was founded in 1997 to provide the training, education and borrowing power necessary to empower women to successfully launch and grow their own businesses. Thirteen successful women-owned companies and the women who run them, including Upton, were chosen to receive the Women Rising Award in recognition of their entrepreneurial excellence, business success, innovation, community impact and leadership abilities. Upton launched The Bites Company when, There was a huge movement around ethnic specialty foods at the time, she said. I did my research and found that the only kind of biscotti on the market were the hard, traditional log-shaped cookies. I thought, why not make them smaller and crispy instead of dense? The end product round, artisanal biscotti bites that melt in your mouth was unlike anything being sold. Last year alone, Upton sold more than 200,000 bags (more than 8 million cookies) of biscotti bites on her website, in specialty stores, and in grocery stores along the East Coast including Stop & Shop, Wegmans, Whole Foods and Big Y. She has also found considerable success on Amazon. Its about getting the Government to wake up or there wont be any farming families Wexford IFA to attend protest march in Dublin Winnipeg's Jewish community is heartened by the outpouring of support from religious leaders and others across the city, in the wake of Saturday's fatal shooting in a Pittsburgh synagogue. Hey there, time traveller! This article was published 28/10/2018 (1117 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current. A Pittsburgh Steelers logo with one of the hypocycloids changed to a Star of David is on a banner at Heinz Field for an NFL football game between the Pittsburgh Steelers and the Cleveland Browns, Sunday, Oct. 28, 2018, in Pittsburgh. The Steelers added the logo in respect for the victims of a deadly shooting in a Pittsburgh synagogue on Saturday. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar) Winnipeg's Jewish community is heartened by the outpouring of support from religious leaders and others across the city, in the wake of Saturday's fatal shooting in a Pittsburgh synagogue. In Roman Catholic churches, a special prayer was held in all liturgies across the city Sunday for the victims and families of the Pittsburgh shooting. "We stand with our Jewish brothers and sisters as God begs us all back to our common humanity as sons and daughters of God," wrote Rev. Robert Polz, representing the Roman Catholic Church. "We condemn all forms of anti-Semitism and violence." Indigenous elder Stan Fontaine told Jewish counterparts that Indigenous people stand in solidarity with Jewish people at this tragic time. JOHN WOODS / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS FILES Shaarey Zedek Synagogue will hold a vigil to honour those who were slain at a Pittsburgh synagogue Saturday. The vigil, which is open to everyone, will take place Tuesday at 7 p.m. "No one should be the recipient of that kind of racism and hatred in today's world," Fontaine wrote in an email. "May God give the Jewish people more strength." The local Muslim community also opened its hearts to Jewish people. "Our Jewish relatives have our support and prayers in this time of grief and trauma," said Shahina Siddiqui, Islamic Social Services Association executive director. "Canadian Muslims stand with firm resolve against anti-Semitism, religious bigotry, xenophobia and hate." A lone gunman shouting "All Jews must die" killed 11 people inside the Pittsburgh synagogue and wounded at least six other people. Winnipeg's Jewish community is holding a vigil on Tuesday at 7 p.m. at the Congregation Shaarey Zedek on Wellington Crescent, which is open to everyone. Similar vigils will be held by Jewish federations across the country. Police officers walk outside the Tree of Life Synagogue in the aftermath of a deadly shooting yesterday in Pittsburgh, early Sunday, Oct. 28, 2018. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke) Laurel Malkin, president of the Jewish Federation of Winnipeg, said local Jews have been overwhelmed with the support from fellow Manitobans. "People don't care what religion you are. Everyone is obviously horrified by the thought of being in a house of worship and someone launching such an attack," she said. The incident in Pittsburgh shows such an event could happen anywhere and to any faith, Malkin said. Many people have been to the Jewish community in Pittsburgh or have connections there, she said. "I was at brunch this morning and a woman said her niece married at that synagogue (Tree of Life Congregation)," she said. "It's a very Jewish neighbourhood in Pittsburgh and closely connected. People know each other, like in Winnipeg where we're all connected," she said. Malkin said Jews feel safe in Winnipeg but the federation did get in touch with the Winnipeg police following the Pittsburgh shooting. Malkin didn't want the full contents of that discussion known but said police informed her they would be doing extra drive-bys of Jewish centres. "They are so supportive of the Jewish community," she said. "We have good relations with the police and they have always been there for us." She said Jews will be careful. "We are vigilant as a Jewish community but we also have to live our lives," she said. "It's not going to stop us from going to our synagogue. It's not going to stop us from being Canadian Jews. We will continue doing what we've always done. You can't be afraid." Rabbi Shmuly Altein at the Jewish Learning Centre said the community is in shock. "It's a wake-up call, and community organization are reviewing our security protocol," he said. Rabbi Altein said there has been a resurgence of anti-Semitism generally. bill.redekop@freepress.mb.ca Hey there, time traveller! This article was published 28/10/2018 (1118 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current. Theres plastic in the poop. A team of scientists say they have found tiny plastic particles in human stools from a global sampling and every sample tested positive. "This is the first study of its kind, and confirms what we have long suspected, that plastics ultimately reach the human gut," said lead researcher Philipp Schwabl, a physician scientist at the Medical University of Vienna. The small study, conducted by the University of Vienna with Environment Agency Austria, was presented Monday at the annual United European Gastroenterology conference. "Of particular concern is what this means to us, and especially patients with gastrointestinal diseases," Schwabl said. "While the highest plastic concentrations in animal studies have been found in the gut, the smallest microplastic particles are capable of entering the bloodstream, lymphatic system, and may even reach the liver. Now that we have first evidence for microplastics inside humans, we need further research to understand what this means for human health." To conduct the study, researchers monitored the stools of a group of eight participants from Finland, Italy, Japan, the Netherlands, Poland, Russia, the United Kingdom and Austria. They detected particles of polypropylene (PP), polyethylene-terephthalate (PET) and others. In all, nine types of plastic were found in the stool samples. The researchers found an average of 20 microplastic particles per 10 grams of stool. Though the study was limited, the research suggests plastics could be widespread throughout the human food chain. Microplastics are defined as tiny particles, less than five millimetres. The particles come from a variety of products, as well as from plastics that break down in the environment and find their way into waterways. The scientists said microplastics may affect human health, starting in the gastrointestinal tract, and could affect the immune response in the gut, either through an accumulation of the plastics or by transmitting toxins contained in them. The researchers could not identify precisely where the plastics came from. Each study participant kept a food diary in the week leading up to his or her stool sampling. The diaries showed they were exposed to plastics in various ways: by eating food that had been wrapped in plastic or by drinking from plastic bottles. None were vegetarians. Six had eaten fish. "This study is brilliant and ingenious," chemist and microplastics expert Shari Mason of the State University of New York at Fredonia told NPR. Mason was not involved in the study, but she said the scientists confirmed "what so many of us suspected were ingesting these plastics." Plastics are increasingly viewed as a global problem. The researchers said plastics production is growing each year, and that two to five per cent of all plastics produced end up in the oceans, where they are eaten by sea animals with potential to enter the human food chain. Microplastics have been detected in tuna, lobster and shrimp. Earlier this year, a team of scientists working with Orb, a non-profit journalism organization, found that a single bottle of water can contain dozens or even thousands of tiny plastic particles. Tests on more than 250 bottles showed almost all had contamination from microplastic particles that included PP, PET and nylon. A few bottles showed no presence of plastics. In all, scientists working with the publication found plastic in 93 per cent of the samples. Philadelphia Inquirer The Center for Media and Democracy filed suit last month against Wisconsin Attorney General Brad Schimel and the Department of Justice for refusing to disclose public records related to his high-profile legal war against the Affordable Care Act. In February, Schimel and Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton filed a lawsuit, joined by 18 other members of the Republican Attorneys General Association, designed to do what Congress couldnt: kill the Affordable Care Act, also known as Obamacare. The suit seeks to strike down the laws mandatory coverage for preexisting conditions, the ACAs most popular provision. Scott Walker supported filing the suit, even though he claims also to support providing affordable coverage for preexisting conditions. Walker punted during Friday's gubernatorial debate when asked specifically how Wisconsin would provide such coverage if the ACA is dismantled. Schimel's Democratic opponent Josh Kaul said he will drop the suit if he's elected on Nov. 6. If successful, Walker and Schimels suit against the ACA could result in 17 million people losing their health insurance. Just as they did before the ACA became law, insurance companies would reject applicants with preexisting conditions or jack up their rates. Pull Quote Koch Industries has pumped close to half a million dollars to the Republican Attorneys General Association over the last year. RAGA, in turn, has donated $44,000 of that money to Schimels reelection campaign. Koch industries also has provided $10,000 directly to Schimel, along with untold sums to dark money groups that have run ads sliming his Democratic opponent Josh Kaul. Congress attempted to repeal and replace the ACA in 2017, but ultimately could not muster the votes in the Senate. The Republican Attorneys General Association's legal effort to abolish the Obama administration's law, also known as Obamacare, aims to succeed through the courts at what GOP elected officials failed to accomplish in Congress. With the Supreme Court's striking shift to the right under Donald Trump, it appears likely that suit to abolish the ACA's mandate for preexisting coverage ultimately will prevail. The Center for Media and Democracy submitted an open records request on Aug. 3 for internal records and communications from the offices of Attorney General Schimel and the Solicitor General regarding the ACA. CMD limited the request to records between Jan. 1 and Aug. 3. On Aug. 20, the DOJ identified 1,940 relevant emails, but denied CMDs request outright by claiming it would be excessively burdensome to review and redact them. Schimels case against the Affordable Care Act is of significant public interest. Why he would deny the public information about this controversial suit, which may ultimately be decided by the U.S. Supreme Court, is unknown. But the citizens of the state deserve answers, said CMD executive director Arn Pearson. Wisconsins Open Records Law has a strong presumption of public access, said Pines Bach attorney Christa Westerberg, who is representing CMD. The Departments denial is a burden on the publics right to know on a matter of obvious public concern. Two of RAGAs top donors, the billionaire Koch brothers, have spent hundreds of millions on the ACA repeal effort since the law was enacted. Koch Industries has contributed close to half a million to RAGA over the last year and a half and $10,000 directly to Schimels reelection campaign. RAGA, in turn, has pumped $44,000 into Schimels campaign. It is puzzling that Attorney General Brad Schimel, the man who created Wisconsins Office of Open Government, would deny a reasonable records request that clearly meets the criteria of Wisconsins Open Records law, said David Armiak, a researcher with CMD. Schimel has been heavily criticized for using Wisconsin taxpayers' money to join dozens of lawsuits that have little or no connection to Wisconsin and are chiefly designed to further Republican causes. Read the complaint here. See analysis of Schimel's record here. See also: Letter from dozens of former Assistant Attorneys General opposes Brad Schimels bid for reelection as Attorney General Mallinckrodt plc (NYSE:MNK) posted its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday, August, 4th. The company reported $1.89 earnings per share for the quarter, beating the Zacks' consensus estimate of $1.34 by $0.55. The business had revenue of $700.90 million for the quarter, compared to analysts' expectations of $630.19 million. Mallinckrodt had a negative net margin of 89.94% and a positive trailing twelve-month return on equity of 34.26%. The business's revenue was down 14.9% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter in the previous year, the business posted $2.53 earnings per share. View Mallinckrodt's earnings history. Magna International Inc. designs, engineers, and manufactures components, assemblies, systems, subsystems, and modules for original equipment manufacturers of vehicles and light trucks worldwide. The company operates through four segments: Body Exteriors & Structures, Power & Vision, Seating Systems, and Complete Vehicles. Its Body Exteriors & Structures segment provides body and chassis systems, as well as engineering and testing services; exterior systems, including fascia and trims, front end modules, front integration panels, liftgate modules, active aerodynamics, engineered glass, running boards, truck bed access products, and side doors; and roof systems, such as modular and textile folding roofs, and hard and soft tops. The company's Power & Vision segment offers dedicated hybrid, dual and e-clutch, and manual transmissions; engine drive plates and accessories; AWD/4WD products, rear drive modules, and hybrid and battery electric drive systems; transmission, engine, and driveline components; advanced driver assistance systems, camera systems, ultrasonic sensors, and electronic controllers; interior and exterior mirrors, actuators, door handles, overhead consoles, and camera monitoring systems; head, tail, and fog lamps; signal and other lighting products; and latching systems, door modules, window systems, power closure systems, hinges and wire forming, and handle assemblies. Its Seating Systems segment provides seat structures, mechanism and hardware solutions, and foam and trim products. The company's Complete Vehicles segment offers vehicle manufacturing and engineering services. It also designs, engineers, and manufactures tooling products. Magna International Inc. was founded in 1957 and is headquartered in Aurora, Canada. Read More The following companies are subsidiares of Global Payments: ACTIVE Network - Communities and Sports, Active Network (HK) Limited, Active Network IPICO (CA) Inc., Active Network IPICO (US) Inc., Active Network IPICO Holdings (US) LLC, Active Network IPICO Holdings (US) LLC, Active Network IPICO Innovation Inc., Active Networks LLC, AdvancedMD, Athlaction Intermediate LLC, Athlaction Topco LLC, AuctionPay, Comercia Global Payments Entidad de Pago S.L., DEBITEK INC, Digital Dining LLC, Dinerware LLC, DolEx Europe S.L., Educational Computer Systems Inc., Ematters Australia Pty Ltd., Equifax Credit Services LLC, Ezi Holdings Pty. 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Inc., Modular Data Inc., NDC Holdings (UK) Ltd., NDPS Holdings Inc., PCAmerica LLC, Pay and Shop Limited, PayPros LLC, Payment Processing, Payroll 1 Inc., Realex Payments, SICOM Systems, Sabrir Invest S.L., Sentral Education, Spolecnost pro informacni database a.s., Storman Holdings Pty Ltd., Storman Software Inc., Storman Software Limited, Storman Software Ltd., Storman Software Pty Ltd., TeamPages Inc., The Active Network (Asia) Pte. Ltd, The Active Network (Aus-NZ) Pty. Ltd., The Active Network (EU) Ltd., The Active Network Ltd., The Active Network Ltd. (Chengdu), The Active Network Ltd. (Xian), Total System Services, TouchNet Information Systems Inc., UCS Terminal Joint Stock Company, United Card Service Joint Stock Company, VEPF III AIV VI-C Corp., VEPF IV AIV VII-C Corp., VFF I AIV IV-C Corp., Web Active Corporation Pty Ltd., Xenial, Xpient LLC, eWAY, eWay Europe Limited, eWay Payments Asia Pte Ltd., eWay Payments Inc., eWay Payments New Zealand Limited, eWay Payments North America Inc., and eWay Payments Pty Ltd.. ERFURT, Germany, October 28, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- The German President presented the DBU's German Environmental Prize today in Erfurt German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier thankedA "thousands of people"A in Germany for ensuring thatA "mainstream society has truly become aware"A of both the environment and environmental protection. At the award ceremony for the German Environmental Foundation's (DBU) German Environmental PrizeA thatA was held today in Erfurt, he emphasized the fact that environmental issues and climate protection affectA allA of us, and thatA "every one of us can make a difference."A However, we can only combat an issue of this magnitudeA "if we view the environment and climate protection in a global context. Environmental issues do not stop at national borders, and neither does environmental protection. The effects of climate change are already apparent around the world, and they are a matter of life and death."A -Steinmeier personally! handed o ver the richest independent environmental prize in Europe toA marine biologist Antje Boetius (Bremerhaven) and an interdisciplinary team of wastewater experts from LeipzigA made up ofA Roland A. MAller, Manfred van Afferden, Mi-Yong Lee and Wolf-Michael Hirschfeld.A A A "It will be fatalA if one of the largest greenhouse gas emitters in the world withdraws."A A In front of an audience of around 1,200 guests, which included the Jordanian Ambassador to Germany, Basheer Zoubi, the Parliamentary State Secretary of the Jordanian Ministry of Water and Irrigation, Ali Subah, Thuringia's Minister of Environment, Anja Siegesmund, and previous DBU award winner and former federal minister, Klaus TApfer, Steinmeier, referring to the US, warned that it will be "fatal if one of the largest greenhouse gas emitters in the world withdraws and even goes as far as to call these multilateral partnerships into question." Even though the road to global solutions can be bumpy and we will continue to experience further setbacks, we need to "work together across all governmental and non-governmental levels in order to create a larger working alliance." President Steinmeier: "We are able to and will continue to make progress when! all of u s who still believe in multilateral solutions work together - and there are a lot of us around the world, even in the US!" Steinmeier callsA onA Germany to fulfil its international obligationsA A The effects of climate change have not merely been calculated or predicted for the distant future. We can already see them for ourselves today: melting glaciers, greater damage from more frequent storms, and shifts in the distribution of vegetation are all tangible signs, and this year, after a record-breaking summer, the topics of water and drought have become "kitchen table issues in Germany as well." We need to work together and act swiftly, Steinmeier warned: "And, of course, we in Germany need to fulfil the international obligations that we have entered into. I feel confident that we can do it! And others are counting on us, with our strong national economy, to continue to take a leading role the way that we did when it came to the introduction of renewable energies and environmentally friendly technology." Conflicts over the climate and environmental protection, such as the recent events surrounding H! ambach Fo rest, are becoming increasingly rancorous. But in order for us to solve the countless, urgent problems that we are facing, all societal actors need to be involved so that we can continue to find a balance between ecological, societal, economical and industrial interests. It is encouraging that that the UN's 2030 Agenda has already resulted in tremendous progress on an international level. The international community is able to agree on shared goals - also when it comes to climate protection. Like any multilateral agreement, the 2015 Paris Agreement was not perfect, but it has served as the basis for all further cooperation - "and it must continue to do so in the future." "Climate change and water scarcity are forcing more and more people to flee."A A A Water is essential to our survival, and therefore protecting our water supply is also of central importance. In many parts of the world, more than two billion people do not have access to clean water, making survival a daily struggle. Steinmeier: "Increasingly, we are seeing regions go from receiving very little rain to no rain at all. Climate change and water scarcity are forcing more and more people to flee." For that reason, Steinmeier said, he is unsure if the Northwest Passage becoming more navigable is necessarily good news, but it is certainly proof that large-scale climate change will significantly change the conditions in the Polar Sea, and if the polar ice disappears, this would not only result in an increase in sea levels, and would not only endanger many coastal regions, but would also threaten the existence of entire island communities. Furthermore, if the polar ice melts completely, it could permanently destroy the balance of the earth's climate. "You are also giving people hope, and that is extremely important."A A For this reason, he was pleased to present the German Environmental Prize to scientists who are working to protect the world's fresh water supplies and oceans. Professor Boetius, for example, leaves no doubt as to how advanced climate change has already become, and on the urgency to act. But, despite this, her message is not pessimistic; rather, her optimism has the power to inspire others. For her, the hole in the ozone layer, which has evidently slowly begun to close back up now that the problem has been identified and the international community has introduced corrective measures, is an example that allows us to have hope in the rationality and accountability of our fellow man. The work of the Leipzig-based team of wastewater experts is making a significant contribution towards helping Jordan - one of the most arid countries in the world - move closer to the United Nations' goal of clean water for all, e! ven thoug h the country has opened its doors to more than 650,000 Syrian war refugees, and has unofficially taken on closer to twice that number. According to Steinmeier, the fact that Jordan continues to welcome these refugees is an act of generosity that "cannot be overstated." For Jordan, protecting their valuable water supply is a matter of life and death. With their decentralised, flexible wastewater management systems, they have introduced a paradigm shift with the aim of nearly doubling the amount of treated wastewater in the country by 2025. About the prize winners, Steinmeier said: "They are not only achieving breakthroughs, but are also demonstrating solutions and alternatives, ways in which we can improve our future! And that is incredibly important in this age of crises, upheaval and uncertainty. They are showing us that climate change is not simply a foregone conclusion, but rather that we can do something! about it and work to change our future." Jury praises the prize winners'A dedicationA A A A A A A As a member of this year's jury for the German Environmental Prize, which provides recommendations on the basis of which the DBU Board of Trustees selects the year's prize winners, Heidi Foth (Director of the Institute for Environmental Toxicology at the Faculty of Medicine of Martin Luther University Halle) and Bettina Lorenz (co-founder of the initiative "Zukunft selber machen - Junge Nachhaltigkeitsideen e.V." and DBU scholarship recipient) discussed the achievements of the 2018 prize recipients. Foth praised Boetius for being able to take a relatively complex field of research and disseminate it into the wider society. Boetius makes it clear that by breaking down methane gas, deep-sea microbes act as a sort of protective shield for us. Foth went on to say that Professor Boetius' presentation was truly eye-opening for her: "We have a lot of work to do together." About the prize winners from Leipzig, Bettina Lorenz said that they were not only able to provide the technological services required to develop wastewater treatment systems, but also install these systems in a region that is unusual for such a technology-oriented group. To succeed at all the levels required in order to implement this type of project is "incredibly impressive". Boetius: Vanishing sea ice, climate change, environmental pollution and plastic waste isA "dramatic".A A In films that were shown during the ceremony and in discussions with the moderator, Judith Rakers, the prize winners once again made their positions clear. Antje Boetius said that the deep sea is one of the largest inhabited environments on the planet, and yet we have only researched a fraction of a per cent of it. She emphasized the importance of the microorganisms on the ocean floor that trap harmful methane gas, preventing it from escaping into the atmosphere. Boetius: "Without them, we would essentially live on a completely different planet." When it comes to the global emissions of equally harmful carbon dioxide (CO 2 ), Boetius warned that we must act quickly: "While we sit here thinking about what we should do, if we really need to cut our CO 2 A emissions, everything is already changing." Boetius used the words "dramatic" and "scary" to describe not only the rapid disappearance of the ! polar ice and the speed at which the climate is changing, but also the significant quantity of pollutants and plastic waste that are ending up both on the ocean floor and the ocean surface. For her, "it's all or nothing, right now." We need to take the knowledge acquired by observing the deep sea and our climate and earth models and "bring it directly to our society in order to determine how we need to prepare ourselves for the future." Boetius: "This is absolutely essential!" "We can make a tangible difference in terms of conserving resources and promoting wastewater treatment."A A A Roland A. MAller, a member of the Leipzig-based team that received this year's prize, pointed out the fact that approximately 90 per cent of wastewater around the world is discharged into the environment either untreated or poorly treated. For that reason, it must be our goal to significantly increase the amount of clean, treated water available "for future generations." Local solutions are particularly environmentally friendly because the waste water is treated and stays in the community where it was created, and where it can be reused, explained Mi-Yong Lee. When it came to the wastewater project in Jordan and building a wastewater research and demonstration centre near the border to Israel, it was important to raise awareness among the local population through direct contact so that they could develop a personal connection the solutions bei! ng introd uced, said Wolf-Michael Hirschfeld. This type of process can "help stabilise the situation and improve communication between the countries," added Manfred van Afferden. MAller, summarising: "Naturally, as researchers we can't save the world; but I think that our work has demonstrated concrete ways in which we can help to conserve resources and promote wastewater treatment." IPTC-compliant photos are available for publication free of charge atA http://www.dbu.de Contact Franz-Georg Elpers - Press Officer - Kerstin Heemann Julie Milch Gesa Wannick DBU Contact An der Bornau 2 49090 OsnabrAck GermanyA Phone:A +49(0)541-9633521 Fax:A +49(0)541-9633198 presse@dbu.de http://www.dbu.de 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 There is not enough analysis data for Detour Gold. 4.9 Community Rank Outperform Votes Detour Gold has received 749 outperform votes. (Add your outperform vote.) Underperform Votes Detour Gold has received 271 underperform votes. (Add your underperform vote.) Community Sentiment Detour Gold has received 73.43% outperform votes from our community. MarketBeat's community ratings are surveys of what our community members think about Detour Gold and other stocks. Vote Outperform if you believe DGC will outperform the S&P 500 over the long term. Vote Underperform if you believe DGC will underperform the S&P 500 over the long term. You may vote once every thirty days. Previous Next iShares Russell 1000 Growth ETF's stock was trading at $158.09 on March 11th, 2020 when Coronavirus (COVID-19) reached pandemic status according to the World Health Organization. Since then, IWF stock has increased by 96.1% and is now trading at $310.02. View which stocks have been most impacted by COVID-19. Invesco Aerospace & Defense ETF's stock was trading at $56.09 on March 11th, 2020 when COVID-19 (Coronavirus) reached pandemic status according to the World Health Organization. Since then, PPA shares have increased by 29.5% and is now trading at $72.63. View which stocks have been most impacted by COVID-19. The following companies are subsidiares of Prudential Financial: 210-220 E. 22nd Street SSGA Owner LLC, AIG Edison, AIG Star, AREF Cayman Co Ltd., AREF GP II Pte. Ltd., AREF GP Ltd., ASPF II - Feeder Fund GmbH, ASPF II - Verwaltungs - GmbH & Co. KG, ASPF II Management GmbH, ASPF III (Scots) L.P., ASSURANCE, AST Investment Services Inc., Adlerwerke CB Investment LLC, Administradora de Fondos de Pensiones Habitat S.A., Administradora de Inversiones Previsionales SpA, Aoba Life Insurance Company, Asia Property Fund III GP S.a.r.l., Assurance IQ LLC, Assurance Intelligence LLC, BSC CP LP, Braeloch Holdings Inc., Braeloch Successor Corporation, Brazilian Capital Fund GP Limited, Broad Street Global Advisors LLC, Broome Street Holdings LLC, CB German Retail LLC, CLIS Co. Ltd., COLICO INC., Campus Drive LLC, Capital Agricultural Property Services Inc., Chadwick Boulevard Investment Holdings Co. LLC, Cibecue LLC, Coconino LLC, Colico II Inc., Columbus Drive Partners L.P., Commerce Street Holdings LLC, Commerce Street Investments LLC, Coolidge LLC, Coral Reef GP, Coral Reef L.P., Coral Reef Unit Trust, Cottage Street Investments LLC, Cottage Street Orbit Acquisition LLC, DHFL PRAMERICA LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY LIMITED, DICKENS AVENUE HOLDINGS VI LLC, DICKENS AVENUE PARTNERS VI (Ireland) L.P., DICKENS AVENUE PARTNERS VI (US) L.P., Don Cesar Investor LLC, Dryden Arizona Reinsurance Term Company, Dryden Finance II LLC, EVP II GP S.a r.l., EVP II Sweden Resi I GP S.a r.l., Edison Place Senior Note LLC, Essex LLC, EuroCore GP S.a r.l., European Value Partners GP S.a.r.l., Everbright PGIM Fund Management Co. Ltd., Flagstaff LLC, GA 1600 Commons LLC, GA 333 Hennepin Investor LLC, GA BV LLC, GA Bay Area GP LLC, GA Bay Area Investor LLC, GA Belden LLC, GA CLARENDON LLC, GA Cal Crossings LLC, GA Collins LLC, GA E. 22nd Street Apartments Holdings LLC, GA East 86 Street LLC, GA JHCII LLC, GA MENLO PARK INVESTOR LLC, GA Manor at Harbour Island LLC, GA Metro LLC, GA Mission LLC, GA TRITON INVESTOR LLC, GA W Paces LLC, GA/MDI 333 Hennepin Associates LLC, GIBRALTAR BSN HOLDINGS SDN BHD, GIBRALTAR INDIA SOLUTIONS LLP, Gateway Holdings II LLC, Gateway Holdings LLC, German Retail Income CP LP, Gibraltar BSN Life Berhad, Gibraltar International Insurance Services Company Inc., Gibraltar International Service LLC, Gibraltar Reinsurance Company Ltd., Gibraltar Universal Life Reinsurance Company, Glenealy International Limited, Global Portfolio Strategies Inc., Gold GP Limited, Gold II L.P., Gold L.P., Graham Resources Inc., Graham Royalty Ltd., Green Tree GP, Green Tree L.P., Greenlee LLC, Halsey Street Investments LLC, Hirakata LLC, IVP Fund GP LLC, Impact Investments Bridges UK S.a.r.l, Inter-Atlantic G Fund L.P., Inversiones Previsionales Chile SpA, Inversiones Previsionales Dos SpA, Ironbound Fund LLC, Jennison Associates LLC, Kyarra S.a r.l., Kyoei Annuity Home Co. Ltd., LINEUP LLC, Lake Street Partners IV L.P., MC GA COLLINS HOLDINGS LLC, MC GA COLLINS REALTY LLC, MC Insurance Agency Services LLC, Manor at Harbour Island LLC, Marble Canyon LLC, Maricopa LLC, Market Street Holdings IV LLC, Morenci LLC, Mulberry Street Holdings LLC, Mulberry Street Investment L.P., Mulberry Street Partners LLC, Mullin TBG Insurance Agency Services LLC, MullinTBG Insurance Agency Services, National Family Assurance Group LLC, New Savanna, Orchard Street Acres Inc., PAI Bay Farm LLC, PAI Bayrock Groves LLC, PAI Belvidere Farms LLC, PAI Big Cypress Farm LLC, PAI Corcoran 640 Ranch LLC, PAI DeKalb Farm LLC, PAI Delano 1500 Ranches LLC, PAI Flicker Orchard LLC, PAI Good Hope Farm LLC, PAI Hawk Creek Ranch LLC, PAI Hills Valley Ranches LLC, PAI Holly Hill Groves LLC, PAI Hunt Farm LLC, PAI Jackson Bayou Farm LLC, PAI Lake Placid Groves LLC, PAI Wallula Gap Vineyard LLC, PCP V Cayman AIV GP L.P., PEREF II Co-Invest 1 GP S.a r.l., PEREF II GP S.a r.l., PEREF II PV S.r.l, PFI EM-Tech Fund I LLC, PG Business Service Co. Ltd, PG Collection Service Co. Ltd., PGA Asian Retail Limited, PGA European Limited, PGI Co. Ltd, PGIM (Australia) Pty Ltd, PGIM (Hong Kong) Ltd., PGIM (Scots) Limited, PGIM (Shanghai) Company Ltd., PGIM (Singapore) Pte. Ltd., PGIM AVP IV GP S.a r.l., PGIM Advisory (Shanghai) Co. Ltd., PGIM Agricultural Investments GP LLC, PGIM Agricultural Investors LP, PGIM Broad Market High Yield Bond Fund L.P., PGIM Broad Market High Yield Bond Partners LLC, PGIM Capital Partners Management (Feeder) VI LLC, PGIM Capital Partners Management Fund VI L.P., PGIM European Financing Limited, PGIM European Services Limited, PGIM Financial Limited, PGIM Fixed Income Alternatives Fund II L.P., PGIM Fixed Income Alternatives Fund L.P., PGIM Fixed Income Alternatives GP LLC, PGIM Fixed Income Alternatives II GP LLC, PGIM Foreign Investments Inc., PGIM Holding Company LLC, PGIM INDIA ASSET MANAGEMENT PRIVATE LIMITED, PGIM INDIA TRUSTEES PRIVATE LIMITED, PGIM Inc., PGIM International Financing Inc., PGIM Investments LLC, PGIM Japan Co. Ltd., PGIM Korea Inc., PGIM LTIF Berlin GP S.a r.l., PGIM LTIF Berlin MLP S.ar.l., PGIM LTIF GP S.a.r.l., PGIM Limited, PGIM Loan Originator Manager Limited, PGIM M Campus GP S.a r.l., PGIM Management Partner Limited, PGIM MetaProp Investor LP LLC, PGIM Netherlands B.V., PGIM Overseas Investment Fund Management (Shanghai) Company Ltd, PGIM Private Capital (Ireland) Limited, PGIM Private Capital Limited, PGIM Private Placement Investors Inc., PGIM Private Placement Investors L.P., PGIM REF EUROPE SCSp, PGIM REF Europe GP S.a r.l., PGIM REF Europe Member LLC, PGIM REF Intermediary Services Inc., PGIM Real Estate (Japan) Ltd., PGIM Real Estate (UK) Limited, PGIM Real Estate CD S.a.r.l., PGIM Real Estate Capital VII GP S.a r.l., PGIM Real Estate Carry & Co-Invest GP LLC, PGIM Real Estate Carry & Co-Invest GP S.a r.l., PGIM Real Estate Carry & Co-Invest L.P., PGIM Real Estate Carry & Co-Invest SCSp, PGIM Real Estate Co-Invest Holdings LLC, PGIM Real Estate Debt GmbH, PGIM Real Estate Finance Holding Company, PGIM Real Estate Finance LLC, PGIM Real Estate France SAS, PGIM Real Estate Germany AG, PGIM Real Estate Global Debt GP LLC, PGIM Real Estate Inmuebles S. de R.L. de C.V, PGIM Real Estate Italy S.r.l., PGIM Real Estate Loan Services Inc., PGIM Real Estate Luxembourg S.A., PGIM Real Estate MVP Administradora IV S. de R.L. de C.V., PGIM Real Estate MVP Administradora V S. de R.L. de C.V., PGIM Real Estate MVP Inmuebles IV S. de R.L. de C.V., PGIM Real Estate MVP Inmuebles V S. de R.L. de C.V., PGIM Real Estate Management Luxembourg S.a.r.l., PGIM Real Estate Mexico S.C., PGIM Real Estate S. de R.L. de C.V., PGIM Real Estate U.S. Debt Fund GP LLC, PGIM Senior Loan Opportunities Management (Feeder) I LLC, PGIM Senior Loan Opportunities Management Fund I L.P., PGIM Strategic Financing LLC, PGIM Strategic Investments Inc., PGIM USPF VI Manager LLC, PGIM Warehouse Inc., PGLH of Delaware Inc., PIFM Holdco LLC, PIIC Limited, PIISC Holdings (UK) Limited, PIM KF Blocker Holdings LLC, PIM KF Blocker V Holdings LLC, PIM USPF V Manager LLC, PLA Administradora Industrial SRL, PLA Administradora LLC, PLA Administradora S. de R.L. de C.V., PLA Asesoria Profesional II S. de R.L. de C.V., PLA Asesoria Profesional S.de R.L. de C.V., PLA Co-Investor LLC, PLA Mexico Industrial Manager I LLC, PLA Mexico Industrial Manager II LLC, PLA Mexico Residential Manager I LLC, PLA Residential Fund III Aggregating Manager LLC, PLA Residential Fund III Limited Manager LLC, PLA Residential Fund III Manager LLC, PLA Residential Fund IV Aggregating Manager LLC, PLA Residential Fund IV Manager LLC, PLA Retail Fund I Blue LP, PLA Retail Fund I LP, PLA Retail Fund I Manager LLC, PLA Retail Fund I Red LP, PLA Retail Fund II Aggregating Manager LLC, PLA Retail Fund II LLC, PLA Retail Fund II LP, PLA Retail Fund II Manager LLC, PLA Retail Fund II U.S. Carry/Co-Invest LP, PLA Services Manager Mexico LLC, PLAI Limited, PMCF Holdings LLC, PMCF Properties LLC, PPPF General Partner LLP, PR GA SCP Apartments LLC, PRAMERICA PRECAP VI GP (SCOTS FEEDER) LLP, PRAMERICA PRECAP VI GP LLP, PRECO ACCOUNT III LLC, PRECO ACCOUNT PARTNERSHIP III LP, PRECO Account IV LLC, PRECO Account Partnership IV LP, PRECO III GP LLP, PREFG Hanwha Manager LLC, PREI Acquisition I Inc., PREI Acquisition II Inc., PREI Acquisition LLC, PREI HYDG LLC, PREI International Inc., PRIAC Property Acquisitions LLC, PRICOA Management Partner Limited, PRISA Fund Manager LLC, PRISA II Fund Manager LLC, PRISA II Pooled Manager LLC, PRISA III Fund GP LLC, PRISA III Fund PIM LLC, PRREF II Fund Manager LLC, PRU 3XSquare LLC, PRUCO LLC, PRUDENTIAL CAPITAL ENERGY PARTNERS MANAGEMENT (FEEDER) LLC, PRUDENTIAL MORTGAGE SKP MEMBER LLC, PRUDENTIAL MORTGAGE SKP REIT LLC, PRUDENTIAL MORTGAGE SKP VENTURE 2 LLC, PRUDENTIAL MORTGAGE SKP VENTURE LLC, PT PFI Mega Life Insurance, Passaic Fund LLC, Pine Tree GP, Pine Tree L.P., Platinum GP Limited, Platinum II L.P., Platinum L.P., Pramerica (Hong Kong) Holdings Limited, Pramerica (Luxembourg) CP GP S.a.r.l., Pramerica (Scots) CP GP LLP, Pramerica Business Consulting (Shanghai) Company Limited, Pramerica EVP CP LP, Pramerica Financial Asia Headquarters Pte. Ltd., Pramerica Financial Asia Limited, Pramerica Fixed Income Funds Management Limited, Pramerica Fosun Life Insurance Co. Ltd., Pramerica General Partner LLP, Pramerica Holdings Ltd, Pramerica Insurance Agency (China) Company Ltd., Pramerica PRECAP I GP LLP, Pramerica PRECAP II GP LLP, Pramerica PRECAP III GP LLP, Pramerica PRECAP IV GP LLP, Pramerica Pan European Real Estate (Scots) LP, Pramerica Property Partners Fund (Scotland) Limited Partnership, Pramerica Real Estate Capital I (Scotland) Limited Partnership, Pramerica Real Estate Capital I GP (Scots Feeder) LLP, Pramerica Real Estate Capital II (Scots) Limited Partnership, Pramerica Real Estate Capital III (Scots) Limited Partnership, Pramerica Real Estate Capital IV (Scots) Limited Partnership, Pramerica Real Estate Capital IV GP (Scots Feeder) LLP, Pramerica Real Estate Capital IV GP Limited, Pramerica Real Estate Capital V (Netherlands) GP LLP, Pramerica Real Estate Capital V (Scots) Limited Partnership, Pramerica Real Estate Capital VI (Scots) Limited Partnership, Pramerica SGR S.p.A, Pramerica Systems Ireland Limited, Preco III (Scotland) Limited Partnership, Pru 101 Wood LLC, Pru Alpha Partners I LLC, Pru Fixed Income Emerging Markets Partners I LLC, PruVen Capital Partners Fund I L.P., Pruco Assignment Corporation, Pruco Life Insurance Company, Pruco Life Insurance Company of New Jersey, Pruco Securities LLC, Prudential 900 Aviation Boulevard LLC, Prudential Affordable Mortgage Company LLC, Prudential Agricultural Property Holding Company LLC, Prudential Annuities Distributors Inc., Prudential Annuities Holding Company Inc., Prudential Annuities Inc., Prudential Annuities Information Services & Technology Corporation, Prudential Annuities Life Assurance Corporation, Prudential Arizona Reinsurance Captive Company, Prudential Arizona Reinsurance Term Company, Prudential Arizona Reinsurance Universal Company, Prudential Bank & Trust FSB, Prudential Capital Energy Opportunity Fund L.P., Prudential Capital Energy Partners L.P., Prudential Capital Energy Partners Management Fund L.P., Prudential Capital Partners Management Fund IV L.P., Prudential Capital and Investment Services LLC, Prudential Chile II SpA, Prudential Chile SpA, Prudential Commercial Property Holding Company LLC, Prudential Customer Solutions LLC, Prudential Equity Group LLC, Prudential Financial Securities Investment Trust Enterprise, Prudential Fixed Income Global Liquidity Relative Value Partners LLC, Prudential Fixed Income U.S. Relative Value Partners LLC, Prudential Funding LLC, Prudential General Services of Japan Y.K., Prudential Gibraltar Agency Co. Ltd., Prudential Global Funding LLC, Prudential Holdings of Japan Inc., Prudential Huntoon Paige Associates LLC, Prudential IBH Holdco Inc., Prudential Impact Investments Mortgage Loans LLC, Prudential Impact Investments Private Debt LLC, Prudential Impact Investments Private Equity LLC, Prudential Industrial Properties LLC, Prudential Insurance Agency LLC, Prudential International Insurance Holdings Ltd., Prudential International Insurance Service Company L.L.C., Prudential International Investments Advisers LLC, Prudential International Investments Company LLC, Prudential International Investments LLC, Prudential Investment Management Services LLC, Prudential Japan Holdings LLC, Prudential Legacy Insurance Company of New Jersey, Prudential Life Insurance Company of Taiwan Inc., Prudential Mortgage Asset Holdings 1 Japan Investment Business Limited Partnership, Prudential Mortgage Asset Holdings 2 Japan Investment Business Limited Partnership, Prudential Mortgage Capital Asset Holding Company LLC, Prudential Mortgage Capital Funding LLC, Prudential Mortgage Capital Holdings LLC, Prudential Multifamily Mortgage LLC, Prudential Mutual Fund Services LLC, Prudential Newark Realty LLC, Prudential QOZ Investment Fund 1 LLC, Prudential Realty Securities Inc., Prudential Retirement Financial Services Holding LLC, Prudential Retirement Holdings LLC, Prudential Retirement Insurance and Annuity Company, Prudential Securities Secured Financing Corporation, Prudential Securities Structured Assets Inc., Prudential Seguros Mexico S.A. de C.V., Prudential Seguros S.A., Prudential Servicios S. de R.L. de C.V., Prudential Structured Settlement Company, Prudential Systems Japan Limited, Prudential Term Reinsurance Company, Prudential Trust Co. Ltd., Prudential Trust Company, Prudential Universal Reinsurance Company, Prudential Workplace Solutions Group Services LLC, Prudential do Brasil Seguros de Vida S.A., Prudential do Brasil Vida em Grupo S.A., Prudential/TMW Real Estate Group LLC, Pruservicos Participacoes Ltda., QMA JP EM All Cap Equity Partners LLC, QMA LLC, QMA Wadhwani LLP, Quartzsite LLC, Residential Services Corporation of America LLC, Rio CP LP, Rock European Real Estate Holdings S.ar.l., Rock Global Real Estate LLC, Rock Kensington Limited, Rock Marty GP S.a r.l., Rock Oxford S.a r.l., Rock UK Real Estate Holdings S.ar.l., Rock UK Real Estate II S.a.r.l., Rockstone Co. Ltd., Rosado Grande LLC, Ross Avenue Energy Fund Holdings LLC, Ross Avenue Minerals 2012 LLC, SCP Apartments LLC, SENIOR HOUSING PARTNERS VI GP LLC, SENIOR HOUSING PARTNERSHIP FUND VI GP LLC, SHP IV Carried Interest LP, SHP V Carried Interest L.P., SMP Holdings Inc., SVIIT Holdings Inc., Sanei Collection Service Co. Ltd. (Kabushiki Kaisha Sanei Shuuno Service), Senior Housing Partners IV L.L.C., Senior Housing Partners V LLC, Senior Housing Partnership Fund IV L.L.C., Senior Housing Partnership Fund V LLC, Sterling Private Placement Management LLP, Stetson Street Partners L.P., Strand Investments Limited, TBG Insurance Services Corporation, TENSATOR HOLDINGS LTD, TF Proveedora S.C., TMW ASPF I Verwaltungs GmbH & Co. KG, TMW ASPF Management GmbH, TMW Management LLC, TMW Real Estate Group LLC, TMW Realty Advisors LLC, TMW USPF Verwaltungs GmbH, TRGOAG Company Inc., The Gibraltar Life Insurance Co. Ltd., The Keynes Dynamic Beta Strategy (US) Fund GP LLC, The Prudential Assigned Settlement Services Corp., The Prudential Brazilian Capital Fund LP, The Prudential Gibraltar Financial Life Insurance Co. Ltd., The Prudential Home Mortgage Company Inc., The Prudential Insurance Company of America, The Prudential Life Insurance Company Ltd., The Prudential Real Estate Financial Services of America Inc., The WMF Group, Thurloe Commercial Guernsey Limited, Times Square Center Associates, USPF V - Verwaltungs - GmbH & Co. KG, USPF V Carry LLC, USPF V Co-Invest LLC, USPF V Investment LP, United States Property Fund VI GP S.a r.l., Vailsburg Fund LLC, Vantage Casualty Insurance Company, Wabash Avenue Holdings V LLC, Wabash Avenue Partners V L.P., Wadhwani Capital Limited, Waveland Avenue Holdings I LLC, Waveland Avenue Partners I (Ireland) L.P., Waveland Avenue Partners I (US) L.P., Wellness Services Ecossistema De Bem Estar Ltda., Wellness Services SRL, Yamato Life, and Yavapai LLC. The following companies are subsidiares of Masco: A&J Gummers, Airex 3 LLC, Arrow Fastener, BEHR PAINTS IT! INC., BSI Holdings, Behr (Beijing) Paint Company Limited, Behr Paint (Beijing) Commercial Co. Ltd., Behr Process, Behr Process Canada Ltd., Behr Process Corporation, Behr Process Paints (India) Private Limited, Behr Sales LLC, BrassCraft Manufacturing Company, Brasstech Inc., Bristan, Bristan Group Limited, Cambrian Windows, ColorAxis Inc., Davenport Insulation Group, Delta Faucet (China) Co. Ltd., Delta Faucet Company, Delta Faucet Company India Private Limited, Delta Faucet Company Mexico S. de R.L. de C.V., Delta Faucet Company of Tennessee, Diversified Cabinet Distributors Inc., Duraflex, Duraflex Limited, Erickson Framing, Glass Idromassaggio, Guy Evans Inc., Hans Grohe Pte. Ltd., Hansgrohe, Hansgrohe A.B., Hansgrohe A/S, Hansgrohe AG, Hansgrohe Armature Sanayi ve Ticaret Limited Sirketi, Hansgrohe B.V., Hansgrohe Brasil Metals Santitarios Ltda., Hansgrohe CS s.r.o., Hansgrohe Deutschland Vertriebs GmbH, Hansgrohe Handelsges.mbH, Hansgrohe Inc., Hansgrohe India Private Ltd., Hansgrohe International GmbH, Hansgrohe Japan K.K, Hansgrohe Kft., Hansgrohe Ltd., Hansgrohe N.V., Hansgrohe Pty Ltd, Hansgrohe S. de R. L. de C. V., Hansgrohe S. a r.l., Hansgrohe S.A., Hansgrohe S.A.U., Hansgrohe SA (Pty) Ltd., Hansgrohe SE, Hansgrohe Sanitary Products (Shanghai) Co. Ltd., Hansgrohe Sanitary Products W.L.L., Hansgrohe Sp. z.o.o., Hansgrohe Wasselonne S.A., Hansgrohe d.o.o., Hansgrohe ooo, Hansgrohe s.r.l., Hot Spring Spa Australasia Pty Ltd, Hot Spring Spas New Zealand Limited, Huppe B.V., Huppe Belgium S.A., Huppe GmbH, Huppe Insaat Sanayi ve Ticaret A.S., Huppe S. a r.l., Huppe S.L., Huppe Spolka z.o.o., Huppe s.r.o., IDI Group inc, Inrecon, Jet Acquisition LLC, Kichler Lighting LLC, L.D. Kichler Lighting Services (Shanghai) Co. Ltd., Landex of Wisconsin Inc., Liberty Hardware Asia Co. Ltd., Liberty Hardware Mfg. Corp., Liberty Hardware Retail & Design Services LLC, Masco Beteiligungsgesellschaft mbH, Masco Building Products Corp., Masco Cabinetry Hong Kong Limited, Masco Canada Limited, Masco Capital Corporation, Masco Chile Limitada, Masco Corporation Limited, Masco Corporation of Indiana, Masco Europe Inc., Masco Europe S. a r.l., Masco Europe SCS, Masco Framing Corp., Masco Germany Holding GmbH, Masco HD Support Services LLC, Masco Home Products Private Limited, Masco Home Products S.a r.l., Masco Retail Sales Support Inc., Masco Singapore Pte. Ltd., Masco WM Support Services LLC, Mascomex S.A. de C.V., Masterchem Industries, Masterchem Industries LLC, Mercury Plastics LLC, Milgard Manufacturing, Mill's Pride, Mirolin Industries Corp., My Service Center Inc., NCFII Holdings Inc., Newport Brass, Oz Acquisition LLC, Peerless Sales Corporation, SCE Unlimited, Service Partners, Shanghai Hansgrohe International Trading Co. Ltd., SmarTap, SmarTap A.Y. Ltd., Tapicerias Pacifico SA de CV, Tempered Products Inc., Texwood Industries, The Faucet-Queens, The GMU Group, The L.D. Kichler Co., Tvilum, Vapor Technologies Inc., Vapor Technologies Shenzhen Co. Ltd., Watkins Distribution UK Limited, Watkins Europe BVBA, Watkins Manufacturing Corporation, and Wellness Marketing Corporation. Murray International Trust PLC is a closed ended equity mutual fund launched and managed by Aberdeen Fund Managers Limited. It is co-managed by Aberdeen Asset Managers Limited. The fund invests in public equity markets across the globe. It seeks to invest in stocks of companies operating across diversified sectors. The fund invests in stocks of companies across all market capitalizations. It employs fundamental analysis with a top-down stock selection approach, focusing on such factors as value, performance, and macroeconomic and monetary factors to create its portfolio. The fund benchmarks the performance of its portfolio against a composite index comprised of 40% FTSE World UK Index and 60% FTSE World ex UK Index. Murray International Trust PLC was formed on December 18, 1907 and is domiciled in the United Kingdom. Read More The following companies are subsidiares of NOV: AG Holding UK, APL France SAS, APL Management Pte Ltd, APL Norway AS, APL do Brasil Ltda., ASEP Group Holding B.V., ASEP Otomotiv Sanayi Ticaret Ltd., Ackerman Holdings C.V., Ackerman Holdings GP LLC, Ackerman International Holland B.V., Advanced Production and Loading, Advanced Wirecloth, Aggregate Plant Products Co., American Pipe and Construction International, Ameron B.V., Ameron Holdings Pte. Ltd., Ameron International, Ameron International Corporation, Ameron Pole Products LLC, Ameron Polyplaster Industria E Comercio de Tubos Ltda., Ameron Singapore Holding, Ameron Singapore Poly Holdings Pte. Ltd., Ameron Trading Holdings Pte. Ltd., Andergauge Limited, Andergauge Redback, Andergauge USA, Arabian Rig Manufacturing Company, Axiom Process Limited, Belco Manufacturing Company, Big Red Tubulars Limited, Bondstrand Ltd., Bowen Downhole Inc., Bowen Downhole LLC, Brandt Interests, Brandt Oilfield Services (M) Sdn. Bhd., C.M.A. Canavera S.R.L., CJSC Fidmash, CJSC Novmash, CSI Inspection, Camco Drilling Group Limited, Chemineer, Coil Services Middle East LLC, Containment Solutions, Containment Solutions Services, Couoperatie Intelliserv Holding U.A., Couoperatie NOV NL U.A., Danco AS, Denali Incorporated, Denali Management, Devin International, Dreco Canada L.P., Dreco DHT, Dreco Eastern Europe ULC, Dreco Energy Services ULC, Dreco International Holdings ULC, Dreco LLC, E.C. Motors, Elmar Far East Pty Ltd, Enerflow Industries, Enerpro de Mexico, Environmental Procedures LLC, Ershigs, Fabricated Plastics Acquisitions Limited, Fabricated Plastics Limited, Fiber Glass Systems, Fiber Glass Systems (Qingdao) Composite Piping Co., Fiber Glass Systems Holdings, Fiber Glass Systems Oman L.L.C., Fiber Glass Trading (Shanghai) Co. Ltd., Fiberspar, Fiberspar Australia Pty. Ltd., Fiberspar Corporation, Fiberspar Linepipe Canada Ltd., Fibra Ingenieria y Construccion S.A., FidService, Fjords Processing (Shanghai) Co., Fjords Processing 1 AS, Fjords Processing AS, Fjords Processing Australia Pty Ltd, Fjords Processing France SAS, Fjords Processing Korea Co. Ltd., Fjords Processing Limited, Fjords Processing UK Ltd., Fryma S.a.r.l., GOT German Oil Tools GmbH, GP USA Holding LLC, GPEX, German Oil Tools (Middle East) FZE, Grant Prideco (Jiangsu) Drilling Products Co., Grant Prideco (Singapore) Pte Ltd, Grant Prideco AB TCA Holding LLC, Grant Prideco European Holding, Grant Prideco Holding, Grant Prideco III C. V., Grant Prideco Inc., Grant Prideco Jersey Limited, Grant Prideco L.P., Grant Prideco Mauritius Limited, Grant Prideco Netherlands B.V., Grant Prideco PC Composites Holdings, Grant Prideco S. de R.L. de C.V., Grant Prideco USA, Grant Prideco de Venezuela, Greystone Technologies Pty. Ltd., GustoMSC B.V., GustoMSC U.S., Hebei Huayouyiji Tuboscope Coating Co., Hitec AS, Hydralift AmClyde, Hydralift France SAS, Hydralift Holdings UK Limited, Inspecciones y Pruebas No Destructivas, IntelliServ Norway AS, Intelliserv, Intelliserv GP Holdings LLC, Intelliserv International Holding, Intelliserv LLC, Interval LLC, JiangYin Tuboscope Tubular Development Co., Merpro Group Limited, Merpro Products Limited, Merpro Tortek Limited, Midsund Bruk AS, Mono Group Pension Trustees Limited, Mono Pumps New Zealand Company, Monoflo NOV S.A.I.C., Moyno Inc., Moyno de Mexico S.A. de C.V., NKT Flexibles I/S, NOV (Asia), NOV (Barbados) Holding SRL, NOV (Barbados) SRL, NOV (Caymans), NOV (Malaysia) Sdn. Bhd., NOV - Oil Services Angola LDA., NOV APL Limited, NOV ASEP Elmar Mexico, NOV Africa Pty Ltd, NOV Australia Pty Ltd, NOV Azerbaijan LLC, NOV Brandt Europe France, NOV Brandt Oilfield Services Middle East LLC, NOV CV1 GP LLC, NOV CV2 GP LLC, NOV Completion Tools AS, NOV Completion Tools LLC, NOV Completion and Production Solutions Korea Ltd., NOV DH de Mexico S. de R.L. de C.V., NOV DHT Canada Holding ULC, NOV Denmark Cooperatief U.A., NOV Downhole Argentina, NOV Downhole Bolivia S.R.L., NOV Downhole Colombia, NOV Downhole Comercializacao de Equipamentos para Petroleo Ltda., NOV Downhole Congo, NOV Downhole Eurasia Limited, NOV Downhole Europe B.V., NOV Downhole Germany GmbH, NOV Downhole Italia S.R.L., NOV Downhole Kazakhstan, NOV Downhole Malaysia Sdn. Bhd., NOV Downhole Pty Ltd, NOV Downhole Thailand, NOV Dreco GP LLC, NOV EU Acquisition SNC, NOV Elmar (Middle East) Limited, NOV Elmar NL B.V., NOV Elmar Pte. Ltd., NOV Enerflow ULC, NOV Eurasia Holding LLC, NOV European Holding LLC, NOV Expatriate Services, NOV FGS Malaysia Sdn Bhd, NOV FGS Singapore (Pte.) Ltd, NOV Fiber Glass Systems Fabricacao De Tubos E Conexoes Ltda, NOV Flexibles Equipamentos E Servicos Ltda., NOV Flexibles Holding ApS, NOV Floating Production AS, NOV Fluid Control B.V., NOV GEO GP LLC, NOV GEO LP1 C.V., NOV GEO LP2 C.V., NOV GP Holding L.P., NOV GP1 Holding LLC, NOV Gabon SARL, NOV Germany Holding GmbH, NOV Ghana Limited, NOV Grant Prideco Drilling Equipment Manufacturing LLC, NOV Grant Prideco Drilling Products Middle East FZE, NOV Grant Prideco L.L.C., NOV Holding Danmark ApS, NOV Holding Germany GmbH & Co KG, NOV Holding Germany Management GmbH, NOV Holdings B.V., NOV Hydra Rig Pte. Ltd, NOV India Private Limited, NOV Intelliserv UK Limited, NOV International Holdings C.V., NOV International Holdings GP LLC, NOV Intervention & Stimulation Equipment US LLC, NOV Intervention and Stimulation Equipment Aftermarket Comercio de Equipamentos e Servicos Ltda., NOV Kenya Limited, NOV Kostroma LLC, NOV Kuwait Light & Heavy Equipment Repairing & Maintenance Co., NOV LP (Trading), NOV MSI Pipe Protection Technologies Inc., NOV MSI Pipe Protection Technologies Mexico, NOV Mexico Holding LLC, NOV Middle East FZCO, NOV Mission Products UK Limited, NOV Mozambique Limitada, NOV NL Mexico Holding B.V., NOV Netherlands Finance Holding C.V., NOV Netherlands Finance Holding LLC, NOV North America I/P, NOV Oil & Gas Services Egypt (S.A.E), NOV Oil & Gas Services Uganda Limited, NOV Oil and Gas Services Ghana Limited, NOV Oil and Gas Services Namibia (Proprietary) Limited, NOV Oil and Gas Services Nigeria Limited, NOV Oil and Gas Services South Africa (Pty) Limited, NOV Oilfield Services Tanzania Limited, NOV Oilfield Services Vostok LLC, NOV Oilfield Solutions Ltd., NOV Park II B.V., NOV Process & Flow Technologies AS, NOV Process & Flow Technologies Malaysia Sdn. Bhd., NOV Process & Flow Technologies Pte. Ltd., NOV Process & Flow Technologies UK Limited, NOV Process & Flow Technologies US, NOV Rig Solutions Pte. Ltd., NOV Romania, NOV Saudi Arabia Co. Ltd., NOV Saudi Arabia Trading Co., NOV Services Ltd., NOV Servicios de Personal Mexico, NOV Subsea Products AS, NOV TV2 LLC, NOV TVI LLC, NOV Tanajib Kuwait for Services and Maintenance of Oil Rigs Refineries and Petrochemicals, NOV Tuboscope Italia S.R.L., NOV Tuboscope Middle East LLC, NOV Tuboscope NL B.V., NOV Tubulars and Connectors Ltd., NOV UK (Angola Acquisitions) Limited, NOV UK Finance Limited, NOV UK Holdings Limited, NOV UK Korea LP, NOV Wellbore Technologies Norway LLC, NOV Wellbore Technologies do Brasil Equipamentos E Servicos Ltda., NOV Wellsite Services Germany GmbH, NOV Worldwide C.V., NOV-BLM SAS, NOVM Holding LLC, NOW Downhole Tools, NOW International LLC, NOW Nova Scotia Holdings LLC, NOW Oilfield Services, NQL Holland B.V., National Oilwell (U.K.) Limited, National Oilwell Algerie, National Oilwell DHT, National Oilwell Middle East Company, National Oilwell Services de Mexico, National Oilwell Varco (Beijing) Investment Management Co. Ltd., National Oilwell Varco (Thailand) Ltd., National Oilwell Varco Algeria, National Oilwell Varco Almansoori Services, National Oilwell Varco Bahrain WLL, National Oilwell Varco Belgium SA, National Oilwell Varco Denmark I/S, National Oilwell Varco Egypt LLC, National Oilwell Varco Eurasia, National Oilwell Varco Guatemala, National Oilwell Varco Guyana Inc., National Oilwell Varco Hungary Limited Liability Company, National Oilwell Varco Korea Co., National Oilwell Varco MSW S.A., National Oilwell Varco Mexico, National Oilwell Varco Muscat L.L.C., National Oilwell Varco Norway AS, National Oilwell Varco Peru S.R.L., National Oilwell Varco Petroleum Equipment (Shanghai) Co., National Oilwell Varco Poland Sp.z.o.o., National Oilwell Varco Pte. Ltd., National Oilwell Varco Rig Equipment Trading (Shanghai) Co., National Oilwell Varco Romania S.R.L., National Oilwell Varco Solutions, National Oilwell Varco UK Limited, National Oilwell Varco Ukraine LLC, National Oilwell Varco de Bolivia S.R.L., National Oilwell Varco de Chile - Servicios Limitada, National Oilwell Varco do Brasil Ltda., National Oilwell de Venezuela, National-Oilwell Pte. Ltd., National-Oilwell Pty. Ltd., PT Fjords Processing Indonesia, PT H-Tech Oilfield Equipment, PT NOV Oilfield Services, PT National Oilwell Varco, PT PROFAB INDONESIA, Pesaka Inspection Services SDN.BHD., Pipex Limited, Pipex PX Limited, Pipex Structural Composites Limited, Pridecomex Holding S. de R.L. de C.V., Pridecomex TA Industries, Procon Engineering Ltd., Profab Engineering Pte. Ltd., Profab Services Pte Ltd, Quality Tubing FSC, R&M C.V., R&M Canada Cooperatief U.A., R&M Energy Systems Australia Pty Ltd., R&M Energy Systems de Argentina S.A., R&M Energy Systems de Venezuela, R&M Environmental Strategies, R&M Singapore Holding LLC, R&M UK Holding LLC, RE.MAC.UT. S.r.l., RHI Holding LLC, ReedHycalog, ReedHycalog International Holding, ReedHycalog LLC, ReedHycalog UK Limited, Robannic Overseas Finance A.V.V., Robbins & Myers, Robbins & Myers (Suzhou) Process Equipment Company Limited, Robbins & Myers B.V., Robbins & Myers Foundation, Robbins & Myers GP LLC, Robbins & Myers Holdings, Robbins & Myers Holdings UK Limited, Robbins & Myers Inc, Robbins & Myers Italia S.R.L., Robbins & Myers N.V., Rodic S.A. de C.V., Romaco S.a.r.l., STAR Sudamtex Tubulares S.A., STBH2O TUNISIE, STSA, Screen Manufacturing Company Unlimited, Seabox AS, Slip Clutch Systems Limited, Smart Drilling GmbH, Soil Recovery A/S, South Seas Inspection, Subseaflex Holding ApS, T-3 Energy Preferred Industries Mexico, T-3 Energy Services, T-3 Energy Services Cayman, T-3 Energy Services Cayman Holdings, T-3 Energy Services India Private Limited, T-3 Energy Services Mexico, T-3 Investment Corporation IV, T-3 Mexican Holdings, TVI Holdings, Telluride Insurance Limited, Tianjin Grant TPCO Drilling Tools Company Limited, Tube-Kote, Tubo-FGS, Tuboscope & Co. LLC, Tuboscope (Holding U.S.) LLC, Tuboscope Brandt de Venezuela, Tuboscope Machining Services AS, Tuboscope Norge AS, Tuboscope Pipeline Services Inc., Tuboscope Services, Tuboscope Vetco (Deutschland) GmbH, Tuboscope Vetco (France) SAS, Tuboscope Vetco (Oesterreich) GmbH, Tuboscope Vetco Canada ULC, Tuboscope Vetco Capital Limited, Tuboscope Vetco Moscow CJSC, Tuboscope Vetco de Argentina S.A., Tubular Coatings Solutions Ltd., Tucom Composites Polyester Sanayi Ticaret Ltd., Varco BJ B.V., Varco CIS, Varco Canada ULC, Varco I/P, Varco International de Venezuela, Varco L.P., Varco US Holdings LLC, Vetco Coating GmbH, Vetco Enterprise GmbH, Vetco Saudi Arabia Ltd., Visible Assets, Wilson International, Woolley, XL Systems, XL Systems Antilles, XL Systems Europe B.V., XL Systems International, voestalpine Middle East Free Zone Establishment, voestalpine Tubulars Corporation, voestalpine Tubulars GmbH, and voestalpine Tubulars GmbH & Co KG. John Hancock Multifactor Mid Cap ETF's stock was trading at $31.37 on March 11th, 2020 when Coronavirus reached pandemic status according to the World Health Organization (WHO). Since then, JHMM stock has increased by 78.0% and is now trading at $55.84. View which stocks have been most impacted by COVID-19. The following companies are subsidiares of CVS Health: @Credentials Inc., ACS ACQCO CORP., ADMINCO Inc., AE Fourteen Incorporated, AHP Holdings Inc., AMC - Tennessee LLC, APS Acquisition LLC, ASCO HealthCare LLC, ASI Wings LLC, AUSHC Holdings Inc., Accendo Insurance Company, Accordant Health Services L.L.C., Active Health Management Inc., Administrative Enterprises Inc., AdvancePCS SpecialtyRx LLC, AdvanceRx.com L.L.C., Advanced Care Scripts Inc., Aetna, Aetna (Beijing) Enterprise Management Services Co. Ltd., Aetna (Shanghai) Enterprise Services Co. Ltd., Aetna ACO Holdings Inc., Aetna Asset Advisors LLC, Aetna Behavioral Health LLC, Aetna Better Health Inc., Aetna Better Health Inc., Aetna Better Health of California Inc., Aetna Better Health of Florida Inc., Aetna Better Health of Kansas Inc., Aetna Better Health of Michigan Inc., Aetna Better Health of Missouri LLC, Aetna Better Health of Nevada Inc., Aetna Better Health of North Carolina Inc., Aetna Better Health of Oklahoma Inc., Aetna Better Health of Texas Inc., Aetna Better Health of Washington Inc., Aetna Capital Management LLC, Aetna Card Solutions LLC, Aetna Corporate Services LLC, Aetna Dental Inc., Aetna Dental of California Inc., Aetna Financial Holdings LLC, Aetna Florida Inc., Aetna Global Benefits (Asia Pacific) Limited, Aetna Global Benefits (Bahamas) Limited, Aetna Global Benefits (Bermuda) Limited, Aetna Global Benefits (Europe) Limited, Aetna Global Benefits (Middle East) LLC, Aetna Global Benefits (Singapore) PTE. LTD., Aetna Global Benefits (UK) Limited, Aetna Global Benefits Limited (DIFC UAE), Aetna Global Holdings Limited, Aetna Health Holdings LLC, Aetna Health Inc., Aetna Health Insurance (Thailand) Public Company Limited, Aetna Health Insurance Company, Aetna Health Insurance Company of Europe DAC, Aetna Health Management LLC, Aetna Health and Life Insurance Company, Aetna Health of California Inc., Aetna Health of Iowa Inc., Aetna Health of Michigan Inc., Aetna Health of Ohio Inc., Aetna Health of Utah Inc., Aetna HealthAssurance Pennsylvania Inc., Aetna Holdco (UK) Limited, Aetna Holdings (Thailand) Limited, Aetna Inc., Aetna Insurance (Hong Kong) Limite, Aetna Insurance (Singapore) Pte. Ltd., Aetna Insurance Company Limited, Aetna Integrated Informatics Inc., Aetna International Inc., Aetna Ireland Inc., Aetna Korea Ltd., Aetna Life & Casualty (Bermuda) Ltd., Aetna Life Assignment Company, Aetna Life Insurance Company, Aetna Medicaid Administrators LLC, Aetna Multi-Strategy 1099 Fund LLC, Aetna Network Services LLC, Aetna Partners Diversified Fund LLC, Aetna Pharmacy Management Services LLC, Aetna Resources LLC, Aetna Risk Assurance Company of Connecticut Inc., Aetna Rx Home Delivery LLC, Aetna Services (Thailand) Limited, Aetna Specialty Pharmacy LLC, Aetna Student Health Agency Inc., Aetna Ventures LLC, Aetna Workers Comp Access LLC, Alabama CVS Pharmacy L.L.C., Alaska CVS Pharmacy L.L.C., Allina Health and Aetna Insurance Company, Allina Health and Aetna Insurance Holding Company LLC, American Continental Insurance Company, American Drug Stores Delaware L.L.C., American Health Holding Inc., Arbor Drugs, Arizona CVS Stores L.L.C., Arkansas CVS Pharmacy L.L.C., Badger Acquisition LLC, Badger Acquisition of Kentucky LLC, Badger Acquisition of Minnesota LLC, Badger Acquisition of Ohio LLC, Banner Health and Aetna Health Insurance Company, Banner Health and Aetna Health Insurance Holding Company LLC, Banner Health and Aetna Health Plan Inc., Beauty Holdings L.L.C., Best Care LTC Acquisition Company LLC, Busse CVS L.L.C., CCI Foreign S.a R.L. (R.C.S. Luxembourg), CCRx Holdings LLC, CCRx of North Carolina LLC, CHP Acquisition LLC, CP Acquisition LLC, CVS 2948 Henderson L.L.C., CVS 3268 Gilbert L.L.C., CVS 3745 Peoria L.L.C., CVS AL Distribution L.L.C., CVS AOC Corporation, CVS AOC Services L.L.C., CVS Albany L.L.C., CVS Bellmore Avenue L.L.C., CVS Care Concierge LLC, CVS Caremark Advanced Technology Pharmacy L.L.C., CVS Caremark Indemnity Ltd., CVS Caremark Part D Services L.L.C., CVS Caremark TN SUTA LLC, CVS Foreign Inc., CVS Gilbert 3272 L.L.C., CVS Health Solutions LLC, CVS Indiana L.L.C., CVS International L.L.C., CVS Kidney Care Advanced Technologies LLC, CVS Kidney Care Health Services LLC, CVS Kidney Care Home Dialysis LLC, CVS Kidney Care LLC, CVS Manchester NH L.L.C., CVS Media Exchange LLC, CVS Michigan L.L.C., CVS Orlando FL Distribution L.L.C., CVS PA Distribution L.L.C., CVS PR Center Inc., CVS Pharmacy Inc., CVS RS Arizona L.L.C., CVS Rx Services Inc., CVS SC Distribution L.L.C., CVS State Capital L.L.C., CVS TN Distribution L.L.C., CVS Transportation L.L.C., CVS Vero FL Distribution L.L.C., Campos Medical Pharmacy LLC, Canal Place LLC, Care Pharmaceutical Services LP, CareCenter Pharmacy L.L.C., Carefree Insurance Services Inc., Caremark Arizona Mail Pharmacy LLC, Caremark Arizona Specialty Pharmacy L.L.C., Caremark California Specialty Pharmacy L.L.C., Caremark Florida Mail Pharmacy LLC, Caremark Florida Specialty Pharmacy LLC, Caremark Hawaii Mail Pharmacy L.L.C., Caremark Hawaii Specialty Pharmacy LLC, Caremark IPA L.L.C., Caremark Illinois Mail Pharmacy LLC, Caremark Illinois Specialty Pharmacy LLC, Caremark Irving Resource Center LLC, Caremark Kansas Specialty Pharmacy LLC, Caremark L.L.C., Caremark Logistics LLC, Caremark Louisiana Specialty Pharmacy LLC, Caremark Maryland Specialty Pharmacy LLC, Caremark Massachusetts Specialty Pharmacy L.L.C., Caremark Michigan Specialty Pharmacy LLC, Caremark Minnesota Specialty Pharmacy LLC, Caremark New Jersey Specialty Pharmacy LLC, Caremark North Carolina Specialty Pharmacy LLC, Caremark Ohio Specialty Pharmacy L.L.C., Caremark Pennsylvania Specialty Pharmacy LLC, Caremark PhC L.L.C., Caremark Puerto Rico L.L.C., Caremark Puerto Rico Specialty Pharmacy L.L.C., Caremark Redlands Pharmacy L.L.C., Caremark Repack LLC, Caremark Rx L.L.C., Caremark Tennessee Specialty Pharmacy LLC, Caremark Texas Mail Pharmacy LLC, Caremark Texas Specialty Pharmacy LLC, Caremark Ulysses Holding Corp., Caremark Washington Specialty Pharmacy LLC, CaremarkPCS Alabama Mail Pharmacy LLC, CaremarkPCS Health L.L.C., CaremarkPCS L.L.C., Central Rx Services LLC, Claims Administration Corp., Cofinity Inc., Compscript LLC, Connecticut CVS Pharmacy L.L.C., Continental Life Insurance Company of Brentwood Tennessee, Continuing Care Rx LLC, Coram Alternate Site Services Inc., Coram Clinical Trials Inc., Coram Healthcare Corporation of Alabama, Coram Healthcare Corporation of Florida, Coram Healthcare Corporation of Greater D.C., Coram Healthcare Corporation of Greater New York, Coram Healthcare Corporation of Indiana, Coram Healthcare Corporation of Massachusetts, Coram Healthcare Corporation of Mississippi, Coram Healthcare Corporation of Nevada, Coram Healthcare Corporation of North Texas, Coram Healthcare Corporation of Northern California, Coram Healthcare Corporation of Southern California, Coram Healthcare Corporation of Southern Florida, Coram Healthcare Corporation of Utah, Coram LLC, Coram Rx LLC, Coram Specialty Infusion, Coram Specialty Infusion Services L.L.C., Coventry Consumer Advantage Inc., Coventry Health Care National Accounts Inc., Coventry Health Care National Network Inc., Coventry Health Care Workers Compensation Inc., Coventry Health Care of Illinois Inc., Coventry Health Care of Kansas Inc., Coventry Health Care of Missouri Inc., Coventry Health Care of Nebraska Inc., Coventry Health Care of Virginia Inc., Coventry Health Care of West Virginia Inc., Coventry Health Plan of Florida Inc., Coventry Health and Life Insurance Company, Coventry HealthCare Management Corporation, Coventry Prescription Management Services Inc., Coventry Rehabilitation Services Inc., Coventry Transplant Network Inc., D & R Pharmaceutical Services LLC, D.A.W. LLC, Delaware CVS Pharmacy L.L.C., Delaware Physicians Care Incorporated, Digital eHealth LLC, District of Columbia CVS Pharmacy L.L.C., E.T.B. INC., Echo Merger Sub Inc., Eckerd Corporation of Florida Inc., Employee Assistance Services LLC, Enloe Drugs LLC, Enterprise Patient Safety Organization LLC, EntrustRX, Evergreen Pharmaceutical LLC, Evergreen Pharmaceutical of California Inc., Express Pharmacy Services of PA L.L.C., FOCUS HealthCare Management Inc., First Health Group Corp., First Health Life & Health Insurance Company, First Script Network Services Inc., Florida Health Plan Administrators LLC, Garfield Beach CVS L.L.C., Generation Health L.L.C., Geneva Woods Health Services LLC, Geneva Woods LTC Pharmacy LLC, Geneva Woods Management LLC, Geneva Woods Pharmacy Alaska LLC, Geneva Woods Pharmacy LLC, Geneva Woods Pharmacy Washington LLC, Geneva Woods Pharmacy Wyoming LLC, Geneva Woods Retail Pharmacy LLC, Georgia CVS Pharmacy L.L.C., German Dobson CVS L.L.C., Goodhealth Worldwide (Asia) Limited, Goodhealth Worldwide (Global) Limited, Goodyear CVS L.L.C., Grand St. Paul CVS L.L.C., Grandview Pharmacy LLC, Group Dental Service Inc., Group Dental Service of Maryland Inc., Health Care Management Co. Ltd., Health Data & Management Solutions Inc., Health Re Inc., Health and Human Resource Center Inc., HealthAssuance Pennsylvania Inc., Healthagen LLC, Highland Park CVS L.L.C., Holiday CVS L.L.C., Home Care Pharmacy LLC, Home Pharmacy Services LLC, Hook-SupeRx L.L.C., Horizon Behavioral Services LLC, Idaho CVS Pharmacy L.L.C., IlliniCare Health, Indian Health Organisation Private Limited, Innovation Health Holdings LLC, Innovation Health Insurance Company, Innovation Health Plan Inc., Interlock Pharmacy Systems LLC, Iowa CVS Pharmacy L.L.C., JHC Acquisition LLC, Kansas CVS Pharmacy L.L.C., Kentucky CVS Pharmacy L.L.C., LCPS Acquisition LLC, Langsam Health Services LLC, Lo-Med Prescription Services LLC, Lobos Acquisition LLC, Longs Drug Stores, Longs Drug Stores California L.L.C., Louisiana CVS Pharmacy L.L.C., MHHP Acquisition Company LLC, MHNet Life and Health Insurance Company, MHNet Specialty Services LLC, MHNet of Florida Inc., Managed Care Coordinators Inc., Managed Healthcare LLC, Martin Health Services LLC, Maryland CVS Pharmacy L.L.C., Med World Acquisition Corp., Medical Arts Health Care LLC, Medical Examinations of New York P.C., Melville Realty Company Inc., MemberHealth LLC, Mental Health Associates Inc., Mental Health Network of New York IPA Inc., Meritain Health Inc., Merwin Long Term Care LLC, MetraComp Inc., Minor Health Enterprise Co Ltd., MinuteClinic, MinuteClinic Diagnostic of Alabama L.L.C., MinuteClinic Diagnostic of Arizona LLC, MinuteClinic Diagnostic of Florida LLC, MinuteClinic Diagnostic of Georgia LLC, MinuteClinic Diagnostic of Hawaii L.L.C., MinuteClinic Diagnostic of Illinois LLC, MinuteClinic Diagnostic of Kentucky L.L.C., MinuteClinic Diagnostic of Louisiana L.L.C., MinuteClinic Diagnostic of Maine L.L.C., MinuteClinic Diagnostic of Maryland LLC, MinuteClinic Diagnostic of Massachusetts LLC, MinuteClinic Diagnostic of Nebraska L.L.C., MinuteClinic Diagnostic of New Hampshire L.L.C., MinuteClinic Diagnostic of New Mexico L.L.C., MinuteClinic Diagnostic of Ohio LLC, MinuteClinic Diagnostic of Oklahoma LLC, MinuteClinic Diagnostic of Oregon LLC, MinuteClinic Diagnostic of Pennsylvania LLC, MinuteClinic Diagnostic of Rhode Island LLC, MinuteClinic Diagnostic of South Carolina L.L.C., MinuteClinic Diagnostic of Texas LLC, MinuteClinic Diagnostic of Utah L.L.C., MinuteClinic Diagnostic of Virginia LLC, MinuteClinic Diagnostic of Washington LLC, MinuteClinic Diagnostic of Wisconsin L.L.C., MinuteClinic L.L.C., MinuteClinic Online Diagnostic Services LLC, MinuteClinic Physician Practice of Texas, MinuteClinic Telehealth Services LLC, Mississippi CVS Pharmacy L.L.C., Missouri CVS Pharmacy L.L.C., Montana CVS Pharmacy L.L.C., NCS Healthcare LLC, NCS Healthcare of Illinois LLC, NCS Healthcare of Iowa LLC, NCS Healthcare of Kansas LLC, NCS Healthcare of Kentucky Inc. (Oh, NCS Healthcare of Montana LLC, NCS Healthcare of New Mexico LLC, NCS Healthcare of Ohio LLC, NCS Healthcare of South Carolina LLC, NCS Healthcare of Tennessee LLC, NCS Healthcare of Wisconsin LLC, NIV Acquisition LLC, Navarro Discount Pharmacy, Nebraska CVS Pharmacy L.L.C., NeighborCare Holdings Inc., NeighborCare Inc., NeighborCare Pharmacy Services Inc., NeighborCare Services Corporation, NeighborCare of Indiana LLC, NeighborCare of Virginia LLC, New Jersey CVS Pharmacy L.L.C., Niagara Re Inc., North Carolina CVS Pharmacy L.L.C., North Shore Pharmacy Services LLC, NovoLogix LLC, OCR Services LLC, Ocean Acquisition Sub L.L.C., Ohio CVS Stores L.L.C., Oklahoma CVS Pharmacy L.L.C., Omnicare, Omnicare Holding Company, Omnicare Inc., Omnicare Indiana Partnership Holding Company LLC, Omnicare Pharmacies of Pennsylvania East LLC, Omnicare Pharmacies of Pennsylvania West LLC, Omnicare Pharmacies of the Great Plains Holding LLC, Omnicare Pharmacy and Supply Services LLC, Omnicare Pharmacy of Tennessee LLC, Omnicare Pharmacy of the Midwest LLC, Omnicare Property Management LLC, Omnicare of Nebraska LLC, Omnicare of Nevada LLC, Omnicare of New York LLC, Oregon CVS Pharmacy L.L.C., PE Holdings LLC, PHPSNE Parent Corporation, PP Acquisition Company LLC, PRN Pharmaceutical Services LP, PT Aetna Management Consulting, Pamplona Saude e Beleza LTDA, Part D Holding Company L.L.C., PayFlex Holdings Inc., PayFlex Systems USA Inc., Pennsylvania CVS Pharmacy L.L.C., Performax Inc., Pharmacy Associates of Glenn Falls LLC, Pharmacy Consultants LLC, Phoenix Data Solutions LLC, Precision Benefit Services Inc., Prime Net Inc., ProCare Pharmacy Direct L.L.C., ProCare Pharmacy L.L.C., Prodigy Health Group Inc., Professional Risk Management Inc., Pt. Aetna Global Benefits Indonesia, Puerto Rico CVS Pharmacy L.L.C., Red Oak Sourcing LLC, Resources for Living LLC, Rhode Island CVS Pharmacy L.L.C., Roeschens Healthcare LLC, RxAmerica, Schaller Anderson Medical Administrators Incorporated, Scrip World LLC, Sheffield Avenue CVS L.L.C., Shore Pharmaceutical Providers LLC, Silverscript Insurance Company, Soma Intimates, South Carolina CVS Pharmacy L.L.C., South Wabash CVS L.L.C., Specialized Pharmacy Services LLC, Spinnaker Bidco Limited, Spinnaker Topco Limited, Stadtlander Drug Company, Stadtlander Pharmacy, Sterling Healthcare Services LLC, Superior Care Pharmacy LLC, Sutter Health and Aetna Administrative Services LLC, Sutter Health and Aetna Insurance Company, Sutter Health and Aetna Insurance Holding Company LLC, T2 Medical Inc., TCPI Acquisition LLC, TargetPharmacy, Tennessee CVS Pharmacy L.L.C., Texas Health + Aetna Health Insurance Company, Texas Health + Aetna Health Insurance Holding Company LLC, Texas Health + Aetna Health Plan Inc., The Vasquez Group Inc., Thomas Phoenix CVS L.L.C., Three Forks Apothecary LLC, U.S Healthcare Holdings LLC, U.S. Healthcare Properties Inc., UAC Holding Inc., UC Acquisition LLC, UNI-Care Health Services of Maine LLC, Universal American - Medicare Part D Business, Utah CVS Pharmacy L.L.C., VAPS Acquisition Company LLC, Value Health Care Services LLC, Vermont CVS Pharmacy L.L.C., Virginia CVS Pharmacy L.L.C., Virtual Home Healthcare L.L.C., Warm Springs Road CVS L.L.C., Washington CVS Pharmacy L.L.C., Washington Lamb CVS L.L.C., Weber Medical Systems LLC, Wellpartner LLC, West Virginia CVS Pharmacy L.L.C., Westhaven Services Co LLC, Williamson Drug Company LLC, Wisconsin CVS Pharmacy L.L.C., Woodward Detroit CVS L.L.C., Work and Family Benefits Inc., ZS Acquisition Company LLC, Zinc Health Services LLC, Zinc Health Ventures LLC, bSwift LLC, and iTriage LLC. The following companies are subsidiares of Ingersoll Rand: 211 E. Russell Road LLC, Air-Relief, Belliss & Morcom Brasil, Belliss and Morcom, Boardwalk Enterprises, Charm Merger Sub Inc., CompAir, CompAir (Hankook) Korea Co. Ltd., CompAir Acquisition (No. 2) Ltd., CompAir Acquisition Ltd., CompAir BroomWade Ltd., CompAir Canada, CompAir Finance Ltd., CompAir GmbH, CompAir Holdings Limited, CompAir Holman Ltd, CompAir International Trading (Shanghai) Co Ltd, CompAir Korea Ltd, CompAir South Africa (SA) (Pty) Ltd., CompAir UK Ltd, CompAir USA, Consolidated Distribution Holdings Ltd., DV Systems Inc., Emco Wheaton, Emco Wheaton GmbH Branch, Emco Wheaton Gmbh, Emco Wheaton UK, Emco Wheaton USA Inc, Enza Air Propriety Limited (South Africa), GD Aria Holdings #2 Limited, GD Aria Holdings Limited, GD Aria Investments Limited, GD First UK Ltd, GD German Holdings GmbH, GD German Holdings I Gmbh, GD German Holdings II GmbH, GD German Investments GmbH, GD Global Holdings, GD Global Holdings II, GD Global Holdings UK II Ltd., GD Global Ventures I B.V., GD Global Ventures II B.V., GD Global Ventures III B.V., GD Industrial Products Malaysia SDN. BHD., GD Investment KY, GD UK Finance Ltd., Gardner Denver (Thailand) Co. Ltd., Gardner Denver Austria GmbH, Gardner Denver Bad Neustadt Real Estate GmbH & Co KG, Gardner Denver Belgium NV, Gardner Denver Brasil Industria E Comercio de Maquinas Ltda., Gardner Denver CZ + SK sro, Gardner Denver Canada Corp, Gardner Denver Cyprus Investments II Ltd., Gardner Denver Cyprus Investments II Ltd. - US Branch, Gardner Denver Cyprus Investments Ltd., Gardner Denver Cyprus Investments Ltd. - US Branch, Gardner Denver Deutschland GmbH, Gardner Denver Engineered Products India Private Limited, Gardner Denver FZE, Gardner Denver Finance II LLC, Gardner Denver Finance Inc & Co KG, Gardner Denver France SA, Gardner Denver France SAS, Gardner Denver Group Services Ltd, Gardner Denver Group Svcs Ltd, Gardner Denver Hoffman, Gardner Denver Holdings, Gardner Denver Holdings Limited, Gardner Denver Hong Kong Investments Limited, Gardner Denver Hong Kong Ltd, Gardner Denver Iberica, Gardner Denver Industries Ltd., Gardner Denver Industries Pty Ltd., Gardner Denver Industries Pty Ltd. Branch, Gardner Denver International, Gardner Denver International Ltd., Gardner Denver Intl Ltd Middle East Regional Rep Office, Gardner Denver Investments, Gardner Denver Italy Holdings S.r.L., Gardner Denver Japan, Gardner Denver Kirchhain Real Estate GmbH & Co KG, Gardner Denver Korea, Gardner Denver Korea Ltd, Gardner Denver Ltd, Gardner Denver Ltd South Africa, Gardner Denver Ltd., Gardner Denver Ltd. Branch (Ireland), Gardner Denver Machinery (Shanghai) Co, Gardner Denver Machinery (Shanghai) Co., Gardner Denver Nash Brasil Industria E Comercio De Bombas Ltda, Gardner Denver Nash Deutschland GmbH, Gardner Denver Nash LLC, Gardner Denver Nash Machinery Ltd, Gardner Denver Nash Machinery Ltd., Gardner Denver Nederland BV, Gardner Denver Nederland Investments B.V., Gardner Denver Oberdorfer Pumps, Gardner Denver Oy, Gardner Denver Petroleum Pumps, Gardner Denver Polska Sp z.o.o., Gardner Denver Pte Ltd., Gardner Denver S.r.l., Gardner Denver Schopfheim GmbH, Gardner Denver Schopfheim Real Estate GmbH & Co KG, Gardner Denver Schweiz AG, Gardner Denver Slovakia, Gardner Denver SudAmerica S.r.l., Gardner Denver Sweden AB, Gardner Denver Taiwan Ltd., Gardner Denver Thomas, Gardner Denver Thomas GmbH, Gardner Denver Thomas Pneumatic Systems (Wuxi) Co., Gardner Denver Thomas Real Estate GmbH & Co KG, Gardner Denver UK, Gardner Denver Water Jetting Systems, Garo Dott. Ing. Roberto Gabbioneta S.r.l., Hamworthy Belliss & Morcom, ILMVAC (UK) Ltd., ILS Innovative Labor Systeme, ILS Inovative Laborsysteme GmbH, Indonesia Foreign Trade Representative Office, LeROI, LeRoi International Inc, MP Pumps Inc., Mako Compressors, Nash, Nash Elmo, Oina VV, Oina VV Aktiebolag, Robuschi, Rotary Compression Technologies, Runtech Systems, Runtech Systems (Shanghai) Co. Ltd., Runtech Systems Inc., Runtech Systems OY, Shanghai CompAir Compressors Co Ltd, Shanghai Compressors & Blowers Ltd., Syltone, TCM Investments, TIWR Real Estate GmbH & Co. KG, TODO AB, Tamrotor Marine Compressors AS, Thomas Industries, Thomas Industries Inc., Tri-Continent Scientific, Welch Vacuum Equipment (Shanghai) Co. Ltd., Zinsser Analytic, Zinsser Analytik GmbH, and Zinsser NA. The following companies are subsidiares of Ecolab: AO Ecolab, Abednego Environmental Services, Abednego Environmental Services LLC, Abednego Mexico Holdings LLC, Abednego de Mexico S. de R.L. de C.V., Alcide Corp., Anios America S.A., Anios Diffusion SAS, Anios Manufacturing SAS, Bioquell, Bioquell Asia Pacific Pte. Ltd., Bioquell Global Logistics (Ireland) Ltd., Bioquell Holding SAS, Bioquell Inc., Bioquell Limited, Bioquell SAS, Bioquell Technology (Shenzhen) Ltd., Bioquell Technology Canada Ltd., Bioquell UK Limited, Bioxyquell Limited, CALGON EUROPE LIMITED, CALGON LLC, CID LINES HOLDING NV, CID LINES INVEST NV, CID LINES NV, CID Lines, CID Lines Beijing Animal Hygiene Co Ltd., CID Lines France Sarl, CID Lines Iberica SL, CID Lines LLC, CID Lines Mexico S.A. DE C.V., CID Lines R&D NV, CID Lines Sp. z o. o., CORPAK MedSystems, Cascade Water Services, Champion Technologies, Chamtech L.L.C., Chemlawn, Chemstaff Inc., Chemstar Corporation, Cirlam BVBA, Copal Holding NV, Copal Invest NV, DERYPOL SA, DMD, E&M Bio-Chemicals LLC, ECOLAB NL 10 B.V., ECOLAB PEST FRANCE SAS, Ecolab (Antigua) Ltd., Ecolab (Aruba) N.V., Ecolab (Barbados) Limited, Ecolab (China) Investment Co. Ltd, Ecolab (Fiji) Pty Limited, Ecolab (GZ) Chemicals Limited, Ecolab (Guam) LLC, Ecolab (Proprietary) Limited, Ecolab (Schweiz) GmbH, Ecolab (St. Lucia) Limited, Ecolab (Taicang) Technology Co. Ltd., Ecolab (Trinidad and Tobago) Unlimited, Ecolab (U.K.) Holdings Limited, Ecolab A.E.B.E., Ecolab AB, Ecolab AP Holdings LLC, Ecolab AT 2 GmbH, Ecolab AU2 Pty Ltd, Ecolab Acquisition LLC, Ecolab ApS, Ecolab Argentina S.R.L., Ecolab Asia Pacific Pte. Ltd., Ecolab B.V., Ecolab B.V.B.A./S.P.R.L., Ecolab Bahrain S.P.C., Ecolab CDN 2 Co., Ecolab CDN 4 ULC, Ecolab CH 1 GmbH, Ecolab CH 2 GmbH, Ecolab CH 3 GmbH, Ecolab CH 5 GmbH, Ecolab CH 6 GmbH, Ecolab Chemicals Limited, Ecolab Co., Ecolab Colombia S. A., Ecolab DE 1 GmbH, Ecolab Deutschland GmbH, Ecolab EOOD, Ecolab East Africa (Kenya) Limited, Ecolab East Africa (Tanzania) Limited, Ecolab East Africa (Uganda) Limited, Ecolab Ecuador Cia. Ltda., Ecolab Engineering GmbH, Ecolab Europe GmbH, Ecolab Export GmbH, Ecolab FR 1 SAS, Ecolab FR 4 SAS, Ecolab Finance Company Designated Activity Company, Ecolab Food Safety & Hygiene Solutions Private Limited, Ecolab G.K., Ecolab Global Business Services LLC, Ecolab GmbH, Ecolab Gulf FZE, Ecolab HK 1 Limited, Ecolab HK 2 Limited, Ecolab Hispano-Portuguesa S.L., Ecolab Holding Italy S.r.l., Ecolab Holdings (Europe) LLC, Ecolab Holdings Inc., Ecolab Holdings Mexico S. de R. L. de C. V., Ecolab Hygiene Kft., Ecolab Hygiene d.o.o., Ecolab Israel Holdings LLC, Ecolab JVZ Limited, Ecolab Korea Ltd., Ecolab LLC, Ecolab LUX & Co Holdings S.C.A., Ecolab LUX 1 Sarl, Ecolab LUX 2 Sarl, Ecolab LUX 4 Sarl, Ecolab LUX 7 Sarl, Ecolab LUX Sarl, Ecolab Limited, Ecolab Ltd., Ecolab Lux 10 Sarl, Ecolab Lux 12 Sarl, Ecolab Lux 13 Sarl, Ecolab Lux 14 Sarl, Ecolab Lux 15 Sarl, Ecolab Lux 9 S.a.r.l., Ecolab Lux Partner LLC, Ecolab MT Holdings LLC, Ecolab MT Limited, Ecolab Malta 1 Limited, Ecolab Malta 2 Limited, Ecolab Malta GPS, Ecolab Manufacturing IE Limited, Ecolab Manufacturing Inc., Ecolab Manufacturing UK Limited, Ecolab Maroc Societe a Responsabilite Limitee, Ecolab NL 11 B.V., Ecolab NL 15 BV, Ecolab NL 16 B.V., Ecolab NL 23 B.V., Ecolab NL 3 BV, Ecolab NL 4 BV, Ecolab Name Holding Limited, Ecolab New Zealand, Ecolab Peru Holdings S.R.L., Ecolab Pest Deutschland GmbH, Ecolab Philippines Inc., Ecolab Production Belgium B.V.B.A., Ecolab Production France SAS, Ecolab Production Italy Srl, Ecolab Production LLC, Ecolab Production Netherlands B.V., Ecolab Production Poland sp. z o.o., Ecolab Pte. Ltd., Ecolab Pty Ltd., Ecolab Quimica Ltda., Ecolab S. de R.L. de C.V., Ecolab S.A., Ecolab S.A. de C.V., Ecolab SAS, Ecolab SIA, Ecolab SNC, Ecolab SRL, Ecolab Sdn Bhd, Ecolab Services Argentina S.R.L., Ecolab Services Poland Sp. z o o, Ecolab Sociedad Anonima, Ecolab Sp. z o o, Ecolab Spain Services S.L.U., Ecolab Temizleme Sistemleri Limited Sirketi, Ecolab U.S. 2 Inc., Ecolab U.S. 6 LLC, Ecolab U.S. 7 LLC, Ecolab US 1 GP, Ecolab USA Inc., Ecolab Viet Nam Company Limited, Ecolab Water Holding LImited, Ecolab a.s., Ecolab d.o.o., Ecolab s.r.l., Ecolab s.r.o., Ecolab y Compania Colectiva de Responsabilidad Limitada, Ecolab-Importacao E. Exportacao Limitada, Ecolabone B.V., Ecolabtwo B.V., Endoclear Equipamentos Medicos Hospitalares Ltda., Enviroflo Engineering Limited, Food Protection Services, GCS Service, Gallay Medical & Scientific Pty Ltd, Gallay Medical & Scientific Pty Ltd., GallayTrac Pty. Ltd., Georgia-Pacific - Paper Chemicals Business, Gibson Chemical Industries, Green Harbour Mainland Holdings Ltd, Guangzhou Green Harbour Environmental Operation Ltd., HYDROSAN LIMITED, Henkel-Ecolab, Hicopla SL, Holchem Laboratories, Huntington Laboratories, Hydenet SAS, INDUSTRIAL) UNIPESSOAL LDA, INTERNATIONAL WATER CONSULTANT B.V., Immobiliare R.E.O.P.A. SRL, Instrunet Hospital SLU, Jianghai Environmental Protection Co., Jianghai Environmental Protection Co. Ltd., KATAYAMA NALCO INC., Kay BVBA, Kay Chemical Company, LHS (UK) Limited, Laboratoires Anios, Laboratoires Anios-Distribution SAS, Les Produits Chimiques ERPAC Inc., Lobster Ink, Lobster Ink Africa (Pty.) Ltd., Lobster International S.A., London & General Packaging Ltd, MALAYSIA SDN. BHD, MANUFACTURING S.R.L., MOBOTEC AB LLC, Master Chemicals OOO, Meratech Rus Group LLC, Microtek Dominicana S.A., Microtek Italy S.R.L., Microtek Medical B.V., Microtek Medical Europe Limited, Microtek Medical Holdings, Microtek Medical Holdings Inc., Microtek Medical Inc., Microtek Medical Malta Holding Limited, Microtek Medical Malta Limited, Midland Research Laboratories, Midland Research Laboratories UK Limited, NALCO (SHANGHAI) TRADING CO. LTD., NALCO AB, NALCO ACQUISITION ONE, NALCO ACQUISITION TWO LIMITED, NALCO AFRICA (PTY.) LTD., NALCO ASIA HOLDING COMPANY PTE. LTD., NALCO BELGIUM BVBA, NALCO CHINA HOLDINGS LLC, NALCO COMPANY OOO, NALCO DANMARK APS, NALCO DE MEXICO S. de R. L. de C.V., NALCO DELAWARE COMPANY, NALCO DEUTSCHLAND GMBH, NALCO DEUTSCHLAND MANUFACTURING GMBH UND CO. KG, NALCO DUTCH HOLDINGS B.V., NALCO EGYPT LTD., NALCO EGYPT TRADING, NALCO ESPANOLA MANUFACTURING S.L.U., NALCO ESPANOLA S.L., NALCO EUROPE B.V., NALCO FINLAND MANUFACTURING OY, NALCO FINLAND OY, NALCO FRANCE, NALCO FRANCE SNC, NALCO GLOBAL HOLDINGS B.V., NALCO GLOBAL HOLDINGS LLC, NALCO HOLDING B.V., NALCO HOLDING COMPANY, NALCO HOLDINGS G.m.b.H., NALCO HOLDINGS UK LIMITED, NALCO HONG KONG LIMITED, NALCO INDUSTRIAL OUTSOURCING COMPANY, NALCO INDUSTRIAL SERVICES, NALCO INDUSTRIAL SERVICES (NANJING) CO. LTD., NALCO INDUSTRIAL SERVICES (SUZHOU) CO. LTD., NALCO INDUSTRIAL SERVICES (THAILAND) CO. LTD., NALCO INDUSTRIAL SERVICES CHILE LIMITADA, NALCO INTERNATIONAL HOLDINGS B.V., NALCO INTERNATIONAL HOLDINGS LLC, NALCO INVESTMENTS U.K. LIMITED, NALCO ISRAEL INDUSTRIAL SERVICES LTD, NALCO ITALIANA, NALCO ITALIANA HOLDINGS S.R.L., NALCO ITALIANA SrL, NALCO KOREA LIMITED, NALCO LIMITED, NALCO LUXEMBOURG HOLDINGS SARL, NALCO MANUFACTURING BETEILIGUNGS GMBH, NALCO MANUFACTURING LTD., NALCO NETHERLANDS B.V., NALCO NORTH AFRICA LIMITED, NALCO OSTERREICH Ges m.b.H., NALCO OVERSEAS HOLDING B.V., NALCO PAKISTAN (PRIVATE) LIMITED, NALCO PHILIPPINES INC., NALCO PORTUGUESA (QUIMICA, NALCO PWS INC., NALCO SAUDI CO. LTD., NALCO TAIWAN CO. LTD., NALCO TWO INC., NALCO U.S. HOLDINGS LLC, NALCO UNIVERSAL HOLDINGS BV, NALCO WORLDWIDE HOLDINGS LLC, NALCO ZAO, NALFLOC LIMITED, NALTECH INC., NANOSPECIALTIES LLC, NLC PROCESS AND WATER SERVICES SARL, Nalco (BN) SDN BHD, Nalco (China) Environmental Solution Co. Ltd., Nalco Anadolu Kimya Sanayi ve Ticaret Limited Sirketi, Nalco Canada ULC, Nalco Company LLC, Nalco Contract Operations LLC, Nalco Grundbesitz GmbH & Co. KG, Nalco Gulf Response Corp., Nalco Japan G.K., Nalco Libya, Nalco Middle East FZE, Nalco Polska Sp. z o. o., Nalco Production LLC, Nalco Real Estate GmbH, Nalco Schweiz GmbH, Nalco US 1 LLC, Nalco Wastewater Contract Operations Inc., Nalco Water India Limited, Nalco Water Pretreatment Solutions LLC, Nalco Worldwide Holdings S.a.r.l./B.V., Nigiko, Nuova Farmec S.r.l., Oksa Kimya Sanayi A.S., Oy Ecolab AB, PT Ecolab International Indonesia, PT Ecolab Technologies and Services, Purate business - AkzoNobel, Quantum Technical Services LLC, Quimicas Ecolab S.A. de C.V., Quimiproductos S.A. de C.V, RP Adam Ltd, Research Fumigation Co., Royal Pest Solutions, Shield Holdings Limited, Shield Medicare Limited, Shield Salvage Associates Limited, Soluscope International Trading (Shanghai) Co. Ltd., Soluscope SAS, Swisher Hygiene, Technical Textile Services Limited, Techtex Holdings Limited, Terminix, Ultrafab, Wabasha Leasing LLC, and vanBaerle Hygiene AG. The following companies are subsidiares of Sysco: 2234829 Alberta ULC, 2234842 Alberta ULC, A. M. Briggs Inc., A.M. Briggs, Almacen Fiscal Frionet Caldera S.A., Almacen Fiscal Frionet Limon S.A., Appert's Foodservice, Arnotts (Fruit) Limited, Asian Foods, Bahamas Food Holdings Limited, Bahamas Food Services Limited, Brake Bros, Brake Bros Foodservice Ireland Limited, Brake Bros. Foodservice Limited, Brake Bros. Holding I Limited, Brake Bros. Ltd., Brakes Foodservice NI Limited, Buchy Food Service, Buckhead Beef Co., Buckhead Meat & Seafood of Houston Inc., Buckhead Meat Company, Buckhead Meat Midwest Inc., Buckhead Meat of Dallas Inc., Buckhead Meat of Denver Inc., Buckhead Meat of San Antonio LP, Buzztable Inc., CAKE Corporation, Central Seafood Co., Christys Wine & Spirits Limited, Clafra Aktiebolag, Colorado Boxed Beef Co - Specialty meat-cutting division, Corporacion Frionet Sociedad Anonima, Crossgar Foodservice, Crossgar Foodservice Limited, Crown I Enterprises Inc., Cucina Acquisitions (UK) Limited, Cucina Finance (UK) Limited, Cucina French Holdings Limited, Cucina Fresh Finance Limited, Cucina Fresh Investments Limited, Cucina Lux Investments Limited, Curleys Quality Foods Limited (Third Party), Davigel Belgilux S.A., Davigel Espana S.A., Desert Meats & Provisions, Distagro, Doerle Food Service, Doughtie's Foods Inc., Dust Bowl City LLC, Eko Fagel Fisk o mittemellan AB, Enclave Insurance Company, Enclave Parkway Association Inc., Enclave Properties LLC, European Imports, European Imports Inc., Figg Inc., Freedman Meats, Freedman Meats Inc., Freedman-KB Inc., Fresh Direct (UK) Limited, Fresh Direct Group Limited, Fresh Direct Limited, Fresh Holdings Limited, FreshPoint, FreshPoint Arizona Inc., FreshPoint Atlanta Inc., FreshPoint California Inc., FreshPoint Central California Inc., FreshPoint Central Florida Inc., FreshPoint Connecticut LLC, FreshPoint Dallas Inc., FreshPoint Denver Inc., FreshPoint Hawaii LLC, FreshPoint Inc., FreshPoint Las Vegas Inc., FreshPoint North Carolina Inc., FreshPoint North Florida Inc., FreshPoint Oklahoma City LLC, FreshPoint Pompano Real Estate LLC, FreshPoint Puerto Rico LLC, FreshPoint San Francisco Inc., FreshPoint South Florida Inc., FreshPoint South Texas Inc., FreshPoint Southern California Inc., FreshPoint Tomato LLC, FreshPoint Vancouver Ltd., Freshfayre Limited, Fruktservice i Helsingborg AB, GHS Classic Drinks Limited, Gilchrist & Soames Inc., Gilchrist & Soames UK Limited, Guest Packaging LLC, Guest Supply, Guest Supply Asia Limited, Guest Supply Singapore Pte. Ltd., International Food Group, Isakssons Frukt & Gront AB, J & M Wholesale Meats, J. Kings Food Service Professionals, J. Kings Food Service Professionals Inc., Kent Frozen Foods, Les Ateliers Du Gout, Liquid Assets Limited, M&J Seafood Holdings Limited, M&J Seafood Limited, Manchester Mills LLC, Mayca Autoservicio S.A., Mayca Distribuidores S.A., Menigo Foodservice AB, Mitshim Etatu Supply LP, Newport Meat Company, Newport Meat Northern California Inc., Newport Meat Pacific Northwest Inc., Newport Meat Southern California Inc., Newport Meat of Nevada Inc., North Star Holding Corporation, North Star Seafood, North Star Seafood Acquisition Corporation, North Star Seafood LLC, PFS de Mexico S.A. de C.V., Palisades Ranch Inc., Pallas Foods, Pallas Foods Farm Fresh Unlimited Company, Pallas Foods Unlimited Company, Pauleys Produce Limited, Promotora del Servicios S.A. de C.V., Restaurangakdemien AB, Restaurant of Tomorrow Inc., Rohan Viandes Elaboration SAS, SMS Bermuda Holdings, SMS GPC International Limited, SMS GPC International Resources Limited, SMS Global Holdings S.a.r.l., SMS International Resources Ireland Unlimited Company, SMS Lux Holdings LLC, SOTF LLC, SYY Netherlands C.V., SYY Panama S. de R.L., Serca Foodservice, Servicestyckarna I Johannes AB, Servicios Ameriserve S.A. de C.V., Shenzhen Guest Supply Trading Co. Limited, Societe Civile Immobiliere (SCI) Bianchi Montegut, Societe Civile Immobiliere (SCI) De Boiseau, Societe Civile Immobiliere (SCI) De Garcelles, Societe Civile Immobiliere (SCI) J.D. Lanjouan, Societe Civile Immobiliere (SCI) Le Dauphin, Specialty Meat Holdings LLC, Stockflag Limited, Stockholms Fiskauktion AB, Supplies on the Fly, Sysco Albany LLC, Sysco Asian Foods Inc., Sysco Atlanta LLC, Sysco Autoservicio S.A., Sysco Baltimore LLC, Sysco Baraboo LLC, Sysco Bermuda Partners L.P., Sysco Boston LLC, Sysco Canada Holdings S.a.r.l., Sysco Canada Inc., Sysco Central Alabama LLC, Sysco Central California Inc., Sysco Central Florida Inc., Sysco Central Illinois Inc., Sysco Central Pennsylvania LLC, Sysco Charlotte LLC, Sysco Chicago Inc., Sysco Cincinnati LLC, Sysco Cleveland Inc., Sysco Columbia LLC, Sysco Connecticut LLC, Sysco Corporation, Sysco Corporation Director's Deferred Compensation Plan Trust, Sysco Corporation Employee's 401(k) Plan Trust, Sysco Corporation Executive Deferred Compensation Plan Trust, Sysco Corporation Good Government Committee Inc., Sysco Corporation Retirement Trust, Sysco Corporation Supplemental Executive Retirement Trust, Sysco Corporation Supplemental Unemployment Benefits Plan Trust, Sysco Detroit LLC, Sysco Disaster Relief Foundation Inc., Sysco EI VI S. s.r.l., Sysco EU II S.a.r.l., Sysco EU III S.a.r.l., Sysco EU IV Capital Unlimited Company, Sysco EU IV S. s.r.l.., Sysco EU V S. s.r.l., Sysco Eastern Maryland LLC, Sysco Eastern Wisconsin LLC, Sysco Foundation Inc., Sysco France Holding SAS, Sysco France SAS, Sysco George Town II LLC, Sysco George Town Limited S. s.r.l.., Sysco Global Finance LLC, Sysco Global Finance LLP, Sysco Global Holdings B.V., Sysco Global Resources LLC, Sysco Global Services LLC, Sysco Grand Cayman Company, Sysco Grand Cayman II Company, Sysco Grand Cayman III Company, Sysco Grand Rapids LLC, Sysco Guernsey Limited, Sysco Guest Supply Canada Inc., Sysco Guest Supply Europe Goods Wholesalers LLC, Sysco Guest Supply Europe Limited, Sysco Guest Supply LLC, Sysco Gulf Coast LLC, Sysco Hampton Roads Inc., Sysco Hawaii Inc., Sysco Holdings II LLC, Sysco Holdings LLC, Sysco Indianapolis LLC, Sysco International Food Group Inc., Sysco International Inc., Sysco Iowa Inc., Sysco Jackson LLC, Sysco Jacksonville Inc., Sysco Kansas City Inc., Sysco Knoxville LLC, Sysco Labs Europe Limited, Sysco Labs Pvt. Ltd., Sysco Leasing LLC, Sysco Lincoln Inc., Sysco Lincoln Transportation Company Inc., Sysco Long Island LLC, Sysco Los Angeles Inc., Sysco Louisville Inc., Sysco Memphis LLC, Sysco Merchandising and Supply Chain Services Canada Inc., Sysco Merchandising and Supply Chain Services Inc., Sysco Metro New York LLC, Sysco Minnesota Inc., Sysco Montana Inc., Sysco Nashville LLC, Sysco Netherlands Partners LLC, Sysco North Central Florida Inc., Sysco North Dakota Inc., Sysco Northern New England Inc., Sysco Philadelphia LLC, Sysco Pittsburgh LLC, Sysco Portland Inc., Sysco Raleigh LLC, Sysco Resources Services LLC, Sysco Riverside Inc., Sysco Sacramento Inc., Sysco San Diego Inc., Sysco San Francisco Inc., Sysco Seattle Inc., Sysco South Florida Inc., Sysco Southeast Florida LLC, Sysco Spain Holdings SLU, Sysco Spokane Inc., Sysco St. Louis LLC, Sysco Syracuse LLC, Sysco Technologies Cayman Ltd., Sysco Technologies LLC, Sysco UK Holdings Limited, Sysco UK Limited, Sysco UK Partners LLP, Sysco USA I Inc., Sysco USA II LLC, Sysco USA III LLC, Sysco Ventura Inc., Sysco Ventures Inc., Sysco Virginia LLC, Sysco West Coast Florida Inc., Sysco Western Minnesota Inc., The SYGMA Network Inc., Upsys, Victua SAS, Walker Foods Inc., Waugh Foods, and Wild Harvest Limited. The following companies are subsidiares of 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. Avient Corp. engages in the business of thermoplastic compounds. It specializes in polymer materials, services, and solutions with operations in specialty polymer formulations, color and additive systems, plastic sheet and packaging solutions and polymer distribution. The firm is also involved in the development and manufacturing of performance enhancing additives, liquid colorants, fluoropolymers and silicone colorants. It operates through the following segments: Color, Additives and Inks; Specialty Engineered Materials; and Distribution. The Color, Additives and Inks segment provides custom color and additive concentrates in solid and liquid form for thermoplastics, dispersions for thermosets, speciality inks, plasticols, and vinyl slush molding solutions. The Specialty Engineered Materials segment makes polymer formulations, services, and solutions for designers, assemblers, and processors of thermoplastic materials. The Distribution segment distributes engineering and commodity grade resins, including PolyOne-produced solutions, principally to the North American, Central American, and Asian markets. The firm's products include polymer distribution, screen printing inks, and thermoplastic elastomers. Its services include IQ design and color services. The company was founded on August 31, 2000 and is headquartered in Avon Lake, OH. Read More Xcel Energy, Inc. operates as a holding company, which engages in the generation, purchase, transmission, distribution and sale of electricity. It operates through the following three segments: Regulated Electric Utility, Regulated Natural Gas Utility and All Others. The Regulated Electric Utility segment generates, transmits and distributes electricity primarily in portions of generates, transmits and distributes electricity in Minnesota, Wisconsin, Michigan, North Dakota, South Dakota, Colorado, Texas and New Mexico. In addition, this segment includes sales for resale and provides wholesale transmission service to various entities in the United States. It also includes commodity trading operations. The Regulated Natural Gas Utility segment transports, stores, and distributes natural gas primarily in portions of Minnesota, Wisconsin, North Dakota, Michigan and Colorado. The All Others segment engages in steam, appliance repair services, nonutility real estate activities, processing solid waste into refuse-derived fuel and investments in rental housing projects that qualify for low-income housing tax credits. The company was founded in 1909 and is headquartered in Minneapolis, MN. Read More MOHAWK, NY The village of Mohawk is showing their support for a young mother suffering from a rare form of cancer. Sarah Gauthier-Shaut was diagnosed with Metastatic Squamous Cell Carcinoma back in April. Her treatment requires her to travel back and forth to the Rochester-Buffalo area. On Saturday, family, friends, and complete strangers got together at the Mohawk American Legion for a benefit that will help Sarah and her family. There was plenty of food, music, and a Chinese auction with over 400 items donated by the community. Anne Storm, Sarahs mom, says theyre overwhelmed by all the support. The community support has been beyond what we expected. Thats whats so great about living in a small community. There have been many faces that we do not know or recognize. Some are from Remington Arms, some are from Walmart. There are just lots of people we dont know and have never met in our life here to help us out. ALBANY, N.Y. (AP) - In New York state political news, there's still time for another debate in the governor's race, though Gov. Andrew Cuomo may not participate. The Democratic incumbent is the only one of five candidates not to agree to the League of Women Voters' debate, scheduled for Thursday in Albany. Cuomo is far ahead in the polls and doesn't need the exposure as much as his rivals. Cuomo could show up; he only agreed to last week's debate with Republican challenger Marc Molinaro with about 24 hours' notice. Advocates for upstate New York are demanding a second debate, saying the first was too focused on New York City. Meanwhile, Cuomo's re-election bid got a boost from actor and activist Alyssa Milano, who recorded an ad criticizing Molinaro's voting record on women. (Copyright 2018 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.) LAFAYETTE, Ind. (WLFI) -- The Salvation Army gave out hundreds of coats at today's Coats for Kids event. The organization has been collecting winter clothing items for weeks leading up to the distribution day on Oct. 27. Community members were able to take enough clothing to make up one complete head to toe outfit. One outfit per family member. Salvation Army Lieutenants Rachel and Aaron Johnson said donations are important. From the community members who donated clothing to the volunteers who gave their time, the couple is happy with the event's turn out. Every coat donated, every glove donated, every minute volunteered makes our whole community our partner in doing the most good, which is what we aim to do, said Lieutenant Rachel. The couple said they're grateful for the community stepping up to support others in a time of need. If you have six kids, you can't afford to buy six coats and six pants and six of everything and the community has come together and made this happen. It'll be cool to know at the end, how many people have been helped during the winter season. said Lieutenant Aaron. Coats that were not taken at the event will be free to pick up at the Salvation Army on Union Street. That location will be refilling the rack until all coats are gone. Corey Dumas, chef and owner of Lil and Genes Family Restaurant, in Manville, left, stands in the dining room with his mother Patsy, holding a picture of Lil Dumas, founder with her husband Gene of the restaurant, and Coreys sister, Melanie Mendall, also of Manville, a longtime waitress at the popular restaurant. Corey has announced he is closing the restaurant on Dec. 23. Success! An email has been sent to with a link to confirm list signup. Jeanne Michon, of Cumberland, center, was awarded the Vocational Service Award by the Woonsocket Rotary at the clubs meeting on Wednesday. She is joined by, from left, her husband, Robert Michon, her daughter Aubrey, Rotary Club president Rena Dimuccio and Denise Bourget, who nominated her for the award. Leaders of Turkey, Russia, Germany and France on Saturday expressed their determination to end bloodshed in war-torn Syria at the earliest. Following a Syria summit in Istanbul, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan along with Russian President Vladimir Putin, German Chancellor Angela Merkel and French President Emmanuel Macron held a joint news conference calling on the international community to work hand in hand for a sustainable solution in Syria. "We have discussed a political solution in line with Syrian people's legitimate demands which moves to reach stability in the country," Erdogan told reporters. "Our aim is to reach a complete cease-fire to halt bloodshed," he said, adding that the four nations agreed to increase cooperation among themselves and at the international level on the issue. The leaders also called for the completion of the constitution committee's process for establishing a Syrian constitution by the end of this year that would pave the way for an inclusive and fair election in the country which has borne the brunt of a devastating civil war since 2011. - Fate of Assad On the future of Bashar al-Assad in Syria, the Turkish leader reiterated Ankara's stance underlining that his fate should be decided by Syrian people rather than some "individuals". Stating the summit was "productive" and "sincere", Erdogan said they had agreed that humanitarian aid should continue in order to alleviate suffering of the Syrian people. Syrian civilians and neighboring countries -- particularly Turkey, Lebanon and Jordan -- had to shoulder the burden of distress arising from crisis in Syria for a long time, according to Erdogan. Turkey is the top refugee host in the world welcoming around 3.5 million Syrians since the beginning of the Syrian civil war. Erdogan said the main reason why the Syrian conflict became a global menace is "because the international community did not respond adequately". - International community should 'end indifference' However, he said that many countries realized severity of the situation when the crises affected them, referring to the massive refugee influx to European states. He also urged the international community to "end indifference" regarding the conflict, calling for international support to increase efforts to find political solution as well as to improve situation on ground in Syria. Referring to the Astana peace process -- brokered by Turkey Russia and Iran -- which ensures cease-fire and a de-escalation zone in Idlib, Erdogan added that participation of France and Germany in the Astana process would develop the synergy for Syria solution. He said that Iran, as one of the guarantor countries of the Astana process, would be briefed over the decisions taken in the Istanbul summit. "Astana peace process for Syrian conflict sets an example to international community," he added. Ankara is determined to continue efforts to find solution to Syrian issue on Astana platform as well as some other wider platforms in the international arena "like today's summit in Istanbul," he went on to assert. "We agreed to increase cooperation among the four countries and at the international level" regarding the Syria peace negotiation, Erdogan noted. - Counter-terror operation in east of Euphrates On Turkeys effort to eliminate terrorists along its borders in northern Syria, Erdogan repeated Ankaras determination for a possible counter-terror operation in east of the Euphrates River. We will continue to eliminate threats to national security in the east of Euphrates as well as in its west in Syria, he said, referring to Turkey's cross-border operations in Syria since 2016 -- Operation Euphrates Shield and Operation Olive Branch -- meant to rid border areas of terrorist groups such as the PKK/PYD/YPG and Daesh. - Kashoggi case On the sideline of the Syria summit, Erdogan also held bilateral meetings with his three counterparts where he discussed the killing of Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi along with other issues. He provided necessary information to Putin, Macron and Merkel regarding the investigation of the murder of Washington Post columnist who went missing on Oct. 2 after entering the Saudi Consulate in Istanbul. After weeks of denial, Saudi authorities admitted last week that the journalist was killed inside the consulate. On the day of Khashoggis disappearance, 15 other Saudis, including several officials, arrived in Istanbul on two planes and visited the consulate while he was still inside, according to Turkish police sources. Saudi Authorities said they arrested 18 suspects in the case amid calls from Ankara that they should be extradited to Turkey for trial. Erdogan said that Turkey was carrying out investigations urging Saudi Arabia to reveal the perpetrators of the attack. The German chancellor vowed to take "necessary measures" regarding the case, while France's Macron called for sanctions as a reaction. Eleven people were killed and six injured after a gunman opened fire Saturday during the morning service at the Tree of Life Synagogue in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Two of those injured are in critical condition, and one was undergoing his second surgery Saturday afternoon as doctors attempted to save his life. The names of the victims have not yet been released; authorities have said that they are all adults. The horrific attack is the deadliest against the Jewish community in US history. It is an expression of the profound political crisis in the United States and a consequence of the Trump administrations promotion of extreme-right-wing and fascistic sentiments. It follows the mailing of more than a dozen pipe bombs to prominent Trump administration critics last week. The Pittsburgh shooter, who has been identified as Robert Bowers, a 48-year-old white male, walked into Tree of Life Synagogue with an AR-15 semi-automatic and three handguns shortly before 10 a.m., yelling, All Jews must die as he began shooting. Pittsburgh police arrived shortly afterwards. Two of the first officers on the scene were shot as they attempted to arrest the shooter, who was exiting the building at the time. Two other police officers were shot after Bowers retreated back into the synagogue, where he was finally shot and arrested. Three services were taking place at the synagogue at the time of the shooting, including a naming service for newborn baby girl. About 100 people were in the building. The Tree of Life Synagogue is located in the predominantly Jewish neighborhood of Squirrel Hill. Federal prosecutors charged Bowers with 29 counts of violence and firearms offenses later on Saturday. US Attorney General Jeff Sessions issued a statement declaring that the Department of Justice would file hate crimes and other criminal charges against the defendant, including charges that could lead to the death penalty. President Trump called the attack an expression of evil, while repeating the remarks he made after the Parkland, Florida school shooting earlier this year, calling for armed police in the schools. He said that if the synagogue had an armed guard the consequences would not have been as deadly. Bowers was a regular user of Gab, a social network used by white supremacists and anti-Semites. A look at his social media pages show that he espoused a more extreme version of the anti-immigrant, racist and nationalist views put forward by Trump, and regarded Trump as not a real nationalist because he had appointed Jews to his White House staff. He also claimed not to have voted for Trumphe was registered to vote without party affiliation. But Bowers was fully in support of Trumps persecution of immigrants. In one social media posting, he claimed that Jews were helping transport members of the migrant caravans. He applauded the change in language in which opponents of the caravan referred to the migrants as invaders rather than illegals. After noting this new languagefor which Trump is mainly responsiblehe wrote, I like this. Trump has ordered US troops to the Mexico border, while demonizing immigrants as would-be murderers and rapists of Americans, not as victims fleeing poverty and oppressionfor which US imperialism is mainly responsiblein their home countries. Last week, Trump claimed that billionaire George Soros, who is Jewish, was funding the caravan, parroting a standard anti-Semitic trope. A posting by Bowers just five minutes before the shooting said, HIAS [Hebrew Immigrant Aid Society] likes to bring invaders in that kill out people. I cant sit by and watch my people get slaughtered. Screw your optics, Im going in. The Tree of Life Synagogue had partnered with HIAS, which has helped to resettle refugees from Latin America and Syria in the Pittsburgh area. On Friday, Bowers made reference to a list of congregations across America that held Shabbat services for refugees, posted on the HIAS website. Bowers wrote: Why hello there HIAS! You like to bring in hostile invaders to dwell among us? We appreciate the list of friends you have provided. The Tree of Life Synagogue was one of the synagogues listed on the HIAS site. In the past month, Bowers has posted dozens of comments attacking Jews, Blacks and immigrants. Many of his posts suggested that Jews were undermining the Trump administration. He criticized Trumps Make American Great Again slogan as phony, writing, There is no #MAGA as long as there is a k--e infestation. This this the second time this week that a fascist has taken action in synch with Trumps ultra-right rhetoric. A Florida man, Cesar Sayoc, has been arrested for sending over a dozen pipe bombs through the mail to prominent Democrats and critics of the Trump administration. Unlike Bowers, Sayoc was an overt Trump supporter who attended Trump rallies and posted photographs of himself wearing a MAGA hat. The Pittsburgh massacre is part of a rising number of anti-Semitic attacks in the United States and internationally. In the US, the Anti-Defamation League reported 1,986 cases of harassment, vandalism or physical assault against Jews and Jewish institutions last year, an increase of nearly 60 percent. They also found that hate speech on the internet is way up this year. In Europe, far-right, fascistic and anti-Semitic parties are gaining political influence, particularly in countries like Hungary, Poland, Italy and Germany, where the Alternative for Germany became the first fascistic party to enter the Bundestag since the defeat of the Nazis in World War II. The Democratic Party is downplaying the connections of Bowers and the man arrested as the mail bomber, Cesar Sayoc, to the specifically racist and anti-immigrant policy of the Trump administration. Instead they have simply said that disagreements have to be handled in a civil manner, as if the cruelty of imprisoning children in sweltering concentration camps in Texas is a subject for debate. Pennsylvania Democratic Governor Tom Wolf made no mention of Bowers support for the Trump administration at a Saturday afternoon press conference, describing the attack as a senseless act of violence rather than one motivated by far-right or fascist political views. Pittsburgh Democratic Congressman Mike Doyle, speaking at a vigil held Saturday evening, also made no mention of Trump and instead cited the shooting as another example of why there needs to be gun control. Special counsel Robert Mueller's scrutiny of Roger Stone includes investigating whether Stone had backchannels to WikiLeaks during the 2016 election beyond the New York radio host and political activist whom Stone claims was his primary go-between, according to people familiar with the matter. Investigators' queries to people connected to Stone, a longtime ally of President Donald Trump, suggest Mueller's team is skeptical of Stone's explanation that Randy Credico was his main intermediary, according to people familiar with interviews conducted by investigators. The scrutiny also includes probing Stone's relationship with right-wing journalist and conspiracy theorist Jerome Corsi about whether he also acted as a go-between with Stone and WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange, a source said. 2016 Presidential election Continents and regions Donald Trump Eastern Europe Elections (by type) Elections and campaigns Europe Government and public administration Investigations Jerome Corsi Julian Assange Misc people Non-profit and NGO organizations Political candidates Political Figures - US Politics Randy Credico Robert Mueller Roger Stone Russia Russia meddling investigation US Federal elections US Presidential elections WikiLeaks Digital security Technology The Washington Post and Wall Street Journal previously reported about Mueller's interest in Corsi's possible interactions with WikiLeaks. Additionally, investigators are looking into whether Stone shared information that he believed was from WikiLeaks with members of Trump's presidential campaign, according to a source familiar with the probe. Investigators have been provided recordings of Stone claiming he talked to Trump regularly early in the 2016 presidential campaign, CNN has learned. Later, after various document dumps from WikiLeaks, Stone claimed in separate communications he should receive credit for coordinating with the group, the source said. The queries about whether Stone may have shared information with the Trump campaign are a strong indication that Mueller's team is still actively investigating the possibility that someone close to Trump engaged in collusion with the Russians. "We have said over and over again that he shared nothing with the campaign because he had nothing to share," said Grant Smith, an attorney for Stone. "He received nothing from anybody. At what point does this old record get worn out from being played over and over again?" "I never discussed WikiLeaks stuff with Trump and would never have said I should get credit for coordinating with WikiLeaks since I did no such thing," Stone said. A spokesman for the special counsel declined to comment. A lawyer for the President declined to comment. In an interview with the Associated Press last year, Trump denied that he knew about WikiLeaks before the shadowy website started releasing hacked Democratic emails during the 2016 presidential campaign. The President said, "When WikiLeaks came out ... never heard of WikiLeaks, never heard of it. When WikiLeaks came out, all I was just saying is, 'Well, look at all this information here, this is pretty good stuff.'" Stone's associates questioned on contacts While Stone said he has not been contacted by Mueller's team, many of his associates have been called in for interviews or testimony before the grand jury. Witnesses said the main focus of their interviews has been Stone's contact with WikiLeaks and Assange. Some of them are still actively cooperating with Mueller's team and have handed over troves of communications involving Stone, according to sources familiar with the matter. A key area of inquiry is whether Stone actually received information from WikiLeaks and who helped facilitate that information-sharing. Investigators' questions to Corsi about his communications with WikiLeaks and Stone indicate they are trying to determine whether Stone had other go-betweens with WikiLeaks. Corsi has participated in hours of interviews with Mueller's team and testified before the grand jury, according to sources familiar with the situation. Corsi's lawyer declined to comment. At one point, Corsi appeared to provide cover for one of Stone's most inflammatory tweets: His summer 2016 claim that "it will soon (be) the Podesta's time in the barrel." It was later seen as an indication Stone may have had advance warning that then-Clinton campaign chairman John Podesta's hacked emails would soon be public. In March 2017, Corsi -- who was then the Washington bureau chief for InfoWars -- wrote, "Having reviewed my records, I am now confident that I am the source behind Stone's tweet." In his article, Corsi claimed his own research inspired Stone's Twitter missive. Stone has since said he was referring to the business dealings of both John Podesta and his brother, DC lobbyist Tony Podesta. Stone has suggested that the special counsel may be interested in Corsi's own relationship with Trump rather than Corsi's interactions with Stone. But a person familiar with the situation said investigators were mainly interested in Corsi's interactions with Stone and whether he acted as Stone's backchannel. Stone told CNN, "Corsi told me he was never in communication with WikiLeaks or Assange, I believe him and know of no evidence to the contrary." Corsi's own attorney denied to CNN back in September that his client was in touch with Assange, WikiLeaks or Guciffer 2.0, US intelligence has determined that the online persona Guccifer 2.0 was a front for Russian intelligence and Russian officers who hacked Democrats and passed the stolen material on to WikiLeaks during the campaign. Stone's own words fuel questions Stone has been under scrutiny for his contact with Guccifer 2.0 and comments he made in 2016 that appeared to suggest he had advance knowledge of material from WikiLeaks before it was released. "I actually have communicated with Assange," Stone said in a speech in Florida on August 8, 2016. "I believe the next tranche of his documents pertain to the Clinton Foundation but there's no telling what the October surprise may be." The Atlantic reported Stone and WikiLeaks exchanged direct messages on Twitter, but both have denied that they were in direct contact about the release of Clinton emails. Stone told CNN that "although my claims were dramatized for effect before a partisan audience, they were not fabricated and I clarified in a dozen interviews that my 'communication' with Assange had been through a third party." He added, "I had no advance knowledge of the source or content of the material WikiLeaks would ultimately release." Meanwhile, Stone's claim that he used Credico as that third party has been met with inconsistencies as well as denials from Credico. The radio host, who is open about his friendship with Assange, has denied funneling information back-and-forth to Assange on Stone's behalf. "I am a decoy, the patsy to divert attention," Credico told CNN. "Or he just didn't have one (an intermediary) and his ego was too big to admit that." Stone also suggested to reporters and associates that he had other links to WikiLeaks. A source familiar with the matter said Credico told the grand jury that Stone mentioned having another link to WikiLeaks. "I did tell Credico I had an additional source who also told me the material was coming and that the revelations would address the Clinton Foundation," Stone told CNN. When he appeared before the House Intelligence Committee last year, Stone testified that he had no direct contact with Assange during the election and instead relied on a go-between. In a letter following his committee appearance, Stone's lawyer identified his intermediary as Credico. "Mr. Stone noticed Credico had traveled to London on at least two occasions and conducted two landmark interviews with Julian Assange on WBAI," Stone's lawyer wrote, referring to the New York progressive radio station where Credico worked. But Stone's timeline doesn't align with public events. Stone claims that Credico's interviews with Assange inspired Stone to use Credico as a backchannel, according to the letter from Stone's attorney. But Credico didn't interview Assange until August 25, 2016, weeks after Stone started touting an intermediary. Stone now says that he knew Credico had ties to WikiLeaks even before the Assange interview. As first reported by CNN, in multiple radio interviews between Credico and Stone -- now in the special counsel's possession -- Credico also asked Stone about the backchannel and expressed doubt that any such backchannel exists. In yet another discrepancy, the letter from Stone's lawyer to the House committee also insists that Stone had only ever asked Credico to confirm information that Assange had shared publicly in media interviews or via social media. But on September 18, 2016, Stone asked Credico to ferret out other information from Assange that Stone believed would be damaging to Hillary Clinton. "Please ask Assange for any State or HRC e-mail from August 10 to August 30...," a portion of the email from Stone to Credico says about Clinton emails from 2011. "My testimony before the House Intelligence Committee was entirely truthful and there is no credible evidence to the contrary," Stone told CNN, maintaining that Credico was his primary backchannel and that he has associates who will corroborate his account. "From the beginning, I wanted to protect the identity of Credico, because I knew that his support for Julian Assange and the journalistic independence of WikiLeaks would not be popular in the progressive left circles where he made a living," Stone said. "I turned over Randy Credico's name to the House Intelligence Committee only reluctantly." Stone's lawyer said there were "no inconsistencies in what we sent to the House." While Stone has proclaimed his innocence, he has said he believes Mueller's team could bring charges against him to try to force him to cooperate against Trump. Prosecutors may also be confronted with the possibility that Stone, a braggadocios self-proclaimed "dirty trickster," did not actually have access to a legitimate backchannel providing him information from WikiLeaks. "He may have had somebody, I don't know," said Credico. "Who can tell with this guy?" UPDATE: This story has been updated to add more detail about previous reporting from the Washington Post and Wall Street Journal. CORRECTION: This story has been corrected to reflect when Trump did his interview with the Associated Press. BROOKHAVEN, Miss. (AP) A man who spent nearly two years stuck in a southwest Mississippi jail awaiting mental health treatment has now been sent to a state hospital after prosecutors agreed to drop criminal charges. The Daily Leader reports charges were dropped Monday in Lincoln County against Randy Hugh Smith, 43, and he was committed in a civil proceeding by a chancery judge to the Mississippi State Hospital at Whitfield. That was after 667 days in the Lincoln County Jail. "This is the best result - the state hospital is where he needed to be," said public defender Lesa Baker. "Mental health treatment is what he needed, and what we were seeking for him." Smith is one of a number of inmates statewide who have spent long stretches in county jails awaiting treatment at the overstretched 15-bed unit at Whitfield for prisoners. As of September, Smith was No. 14 on the statewide waiting list of 84 patients. The unit evaluates whether prisoners are fit to stand trial, and then tried to restore those who are mentally ill to competency so they can be tried. Arrested Christmas Day 2016, Smith had been charged with a felony of harassing calls to 911 for trying to use ambulances for rides into Brookhaven from his camper miles away. He'd been convicted of the crime three times previously. The Department of Mental Health doesn't accept people facing felony charges for civil commitment. Baker said state hospital director James Chastain told her that Smith seemed more in need of treatment than competency restoration. "He's basically already served his sentence, even if he's found guilty," Baker said. "So we took the chancery court route. I explained to Randy that this would get him treatment quicker, and he did not contest it." District Attorney Dee Bates and Lincoln County Sheriff Steve Rushing also agreed that dropping the charges was the best plan. "It was the best thing for Randy, and the best thing for Lincoln County," Bates said. "We're not going to find guilt or innocence on Randy. If we continued on the path we were on, it could have been six or eight more months of him sitting in the Lincoln County Jail, and that isn't good for anybody." PONTOTOC COUNTY, Miss. (WTVA) - Adrian Golden now sits in the Pontotoc County jail, after being extradited back to North Mississippi on Saturday. Authorities say he is charged with attempted murder. He was a fugitive when he was captured earlier this month by U.S. Marshals in Texarkana, Arkansas. Calhoun County authorities say Golden had been on the run since June 2017, when they say he tried to take the life of his estranged wife. Kimberly Sisk spoke to WTVA about how she suffered a gunshot wound to the back and head after she filed for divorce from Golden. The suspect is set to make his court appearance on Monday. n late October 26, the Sri Lankan polity was thrown into crisis when in the aftermath of the United Peoples Freedom Alliance (UPFA) -- one of the parties within the governing United National Front Government -- withdrawing from the governing coalition, President Maithripala Sirisena unexpectedly appointed the de facto leader of the Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP), former President Mahinda Rajapaksa as Prime Minister. Accepting the premiership Rajapaksa claimed he was doing so in the interests of the country. The new premier supporters emphasised that when Rajapaksa was voted out of office in the aftermath of the 2015 presidential election, he accepted his defeat and left his residence at Temple Trees by early morning, thus ensuring a peaceful transfer of power. They called on the earlier Premier Ranil Wickremesinghe to do the same and warned that failure to do so would force them to bring their supporters to Temple Trees and force him out. Simultaneously, President Sirisena issued notice of dismissal on Premier Wickremesinghe demanding he stepped down from office with immediate effect. He also issued gazette notifications proroguing parliament until November 16. Mr. Wickremesinghe rejected the presidential directive. He stressed that under the 19th Amendment to the Constitution, the President had no power to remove him from the post of Prime Minister. He emphasized he remained Prime Minister and would continue to act so until such time as his government maintained its majority in parliament. Mr. Wickremesinghes colleagues and supporters warned that the other members of the ruling coalition stood behind the earlier Prime Ministers decision and called on supporters to gather at Temple Trees in a show of strength. This situation brings to mind events which occurred in then Belgian Congo in 1961 -- Congo, one of the worlds mineral rich countries -- where then President Mobutu and his Prime Minister Patrice Lumumba, were at loggerheads with one-another. The turmoil saw foreign intervention in the affairs of the Congo, the entry of foreign troops, the murder of Premier Lumumba, coups and counter coups which left nearly 100,000 dead. Worse was to follow, on the one hand, various regions of the original Congo broke away from the mother country. While the other Congo became the focal point of cold war adversaries -- the Soviet Union which backed the Premier and the US which backed the President. Over 100,000 died in the ensuing power struggle between the cold war powers and their local client rulers. Today a fairly similar situation exists in this country. The rivalry between India and China has put this country squarely into the middle of their power games. China has invested heavily in this country and we are heavily indebted to them. Already theharbour at Magampura has been leased to a Chinese entity, while the airport at Mattala -- derogatively described as the emptiest airport in the world -- is under discussion for leasing to an Indian entity. To make matters worse the Colombo Port which was to be developed in collaboration with the Indians under an agreement signed between the Indian Government and the Government of Sri Lanka is being opposed by the President, who also accused the Indian intelligence agency -- Research and Analysis Wing (RAW) -- of planning to assassinate him. The US is concerned over the growing Chinese power in the Pacific and Indian Ocean region. In fact US Vice President has referred to the Mahagmpura port as a Chinese naval base. The people of this country have been through two Janatha Vimukthi Perumana (JVP)-inspired bloody uprisings in 1971 and again in 1989. The country is just recovering from the bloodbath brought on by the terrorist outfit the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) who were attempting to divide the country and left the nations economy in shambles. The people do not deserve this new political crisis brought on by politicians, which in the end, is nothing more than a power struggle, more aptly spelled out in the Sinhala idiom balalobithwaya. Already the US and a number of countries have expressed concern at the expanding political crisis. The UK has warned its citizens of visiting the island -- a body blow to our tourism industry. The last thing we need is to become entangled in international power struggles. Sadly, our politicians have been seen to put self before country, we would like to remind them of the lines in Sir Walter Scotts Lay of the last Minstrel. Breathes there the man, with soul so dead, Who never to himself hath said, This is my own, my native land! WORLAND Washakie Countys ice jam flood mitigation proposal is one of 10 pilot projects selected in the northern region for study. Washakie County Homeland Security and Emergency Management Director Jeff Schweighart said the funding for the project was approved through the Water Infrastructure Act of 2018, recently signed by President Donald Trump. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has selected two sites on the Missouri River watershed system Miles City, Montana, and Worland, Wyoming. Schweighart said too often, due to population requirements, projects that are selected are in the northeast region. Following the ice jam flood in 2017, city and county officials have been working toward finding short-term and long-term solutions. The short-term solution was removal of the sandbar north of the Big Horn Avenue/US 20 bridge in the fall of 2017. The long-term solution has been for a feasibility study on mitigation projects. Both the short- and long-term solutions began following the 2017 flood event. Immediately following the event, city and county officials met with Wyoming Homeland Security Director Guy Cameron on a teleconference call with Army Corps of Engineers in the planning division in Omaha, Nebraska. The immediate plan for the removal of the sandbar was launched at the meeting. In October 2017, 16,000 cubic yards of sediment was removed from the Big Horn River just north of the U.S. 20 bridge. Washakie County Commission Chairman Terry Wolf testified before a U.S. Senate committee regarding the ice jam flooding. The hearings by the Environmental and Public Works Committee, chaired by Sen. John Barrasso, were for the Water Infrastructure Act. Following the hearings, Schweighart began work with the Army Corps of Engineers on submitting a project for a feasibility study to look at long-term mitigation solutions. We solicited approval to be one of the 10 pilot study areas for ice jam mitigation proposals. It was approved pending funding, Schweighart said. That funding was granted Oct. 19, 2018, by the Army Corps of Engineers. This is like winning the lottery, to be one of the 10 pilot study areas, Schweighart said. Mitigation is the proactive actions completed to detour a future risk or hazard, in this case it is the ice jam build up and the following flooding. Mitigation is an ongoing commitment to realize an effective long-term success, he said. With funding approved, the next step is for the Army Corps of Engineers to select a project manager. Schweighart said he expects that to happen within the next week or two. Then a team of technical staff will be onsite at the Big Horn River, which he hopes will happen within the next month. A kick-off meeting with county and city officials will then be scheduled, likely in early 2019, Schweighart said. While the funding has been approved, Schweighart said it is a 50-50 project. He said he hopes that mitigation work that has already been completed, including removal of the sediment bar, can be considered as part of the match. The feasibility study will look at economics, including cost of mitigation efforts already completed and what proposed projects may cost. It potentially could also look at flood plain management, hydrology, sediment sources and agency permitting protocols. The kick-off meeting will determine the scope of the study. The meeting, combined with the onsite visit, will help determine the cost of the study, Schweighart said. Schweighart said potential outcomes of the study could include: Use of jetties to clean out sandbar formation by the Big Horn Rivers natural hydrology and energy to detour future mechanical removal in island buildup. Survey study of sediment source that could call for reservoir maintenance, cleaning out fill or breached dam repairs on 15 Mile Creek tributaries. Possible replacement of the loss of the electronic gauge that was taken out of serviced July 1 due to lack of funding. The gauge provided river levels at the bridge. Schweighart said in the interim he is working on providing a physical gauge to be able to monitor the river for the spring and summer 2019. Long-term proposal could include a federally-approved berm on the northeast of the embankment of the river as a protection measure, similar to what the Town of Greybull has in place. Schweighart said the study could also reveal something that has not yet been considered, or reveal something else that may be a contributing factor in cause and effect of dealing with the ice jam flooding. Funding for construction of any of the mitigation projects following the study would be a 65-35 match, Schweighart said. What makes this project more promising is the great private landowners to work with, and effective collaboration of city and county and other agencies including the Washakie County Conservation District and Natural Resources Conservation Agency, and the competent local contractors we have as was proved on the sandbar removal project, he said. Its a very unique opportunity for our community for both near and long-term prevention and protection measures for floodplain management, he said. Addressing the nation a short while ago, President Maithripala Sirisena said that appointing Mahinda Rajapaksa as the Prime Minister was totally in accordance with the Constitution. Mr. Ranil Wickremesinghe and the UNP complain that the establishment of a new government and appointment of Mr. Mahinda Rajapaksa as Prime Minister was contradictory to the provisions of the Constitution of Sri Lanka. I categorically state that the appointments were made totally in accordance with the Constitution and the advice of legal experts. No constitutional violation was done when appointments were made and removal was enacted. With all respect, I completely reject the charge that what was done was a violation of the Constitution, he said. Full statement as follows, I have decided to address the nation today in the context of the recent political developments in the country, I thought it was essential to clarify the path we have to take in the future and to describe the reasons and the background, why the current political change was necessary. Today, we are at the dawn of another year. On January 08, 2015, it was with so many expectations what nearly six million and two hundred thousand (6.25 million) people of my country chose me as your first servant and the leader of this nation. I wish to pledge that I will always fulfil the expectations and honour the trust and faith you have placed on me, even at the cost of my life. Politicians like us who are committed to serve the people, should always look at what is right for the people and will usher prosperity to the nation, instead of ones political affiliations. I believe that you remember the circumstances under which I became the common candidate in 2014 and the dangers I had to face in consequence.It was a risk and a challenge that no politician in the history of the country wanted to accept. I faced this challenge despite the dangers to me and my family. I hope you will believe that the decision I took on 26th of October 2018, is a decision that is far more challenging and risky than the decision I took in November 21, 2014. I must state with respect, honour, and humility that I took both those decisions for the sake of the people and the country. However, Hon. Ranil Wickremesinghes political conduct was unbecoming of civilized politics and belittled the victory achieved risking my life in 2015. I believe that Mr. Wickremesinghe and his group of closest friends, who belonged to a privileged class and did not understand the pulse of the people conducted themselves as if shaping the future of the country was a fun game they played. I feel that Hon Wickremesinghe grossly violated the very principles of good governance we pledged to uphold. I am sure you remember that on the evening of January 09th, 2015, moments after taking oaths as President, I appointed Mr Wickremesinghe as the Prime Minister of Sri Lanka although he had only 47 members in the Parliament. However, I am sure you know that Mr Wickremesinghe destroyed the concept and the noble expectations of good governance by his actions during the last few years. Corruption and fraud spread widely in the country. Thereby, he destroyed the pure and noble expectations of the 49 political parties, organisations, trade unions, and civil society groups including the UNP, who signed an agreement in support of the common candidate. I hope you remember a statement I made recently at a Senanayake commemoration event. The political visions of great leaders such as D.S. Senanayake, Dudley Senanayake, J.R. Jayewardene, and Ranasinghe Premadasa made the UNP a mighty political party, enriched with indigenous thinking, our cultural heritage. They stood for the national identity and territorial integrity of the country. They were committed to protect everything what could be called ours. It is my sincere hope that the present leadership of the UNP be blessed with the wisdom of those great leaders to embrace a vision with noble objectives that can take our country to the new world. Once in the government, Mr. Wickremesinghe arrogantly and stubbornly avoided collective decisions, and tended to take individual decisions. This behaviour led to many conflicts. Due to his lack of collective decision making through discussion, our country had to face harsh consequences when he used to take decisions with a group of his very close associates. I must state that, there was also a policy conflict between Hon. Ranil Wickremesinghe and me, during the last three and half years. Apart from a policy differences, I noted that there were also differences of culture between Mr. Wickremesinghe and me. I believe that all those differences in policy, culture, personality and conduct aggravated this political and economic crisis. When many senior leaders were around, I have suggested to him to work together and work collectively. I suggested to him that we should take our decisions after proper discussion to achieve the goals of good governance. However, he ignored the aspirations of over six million and two hundred thousand people. I am very worried about that. I accepted the leadership of this country to ensure creative governance upholding the principles of good governance and that is free of corruption or fraud. I always tried to bring in past experiences to understand present challenges and build a better tomorrow that in terms of our noble expectations. I committed myself to them fully. However, I had to take a few steps back many times. As you have seen, I had to speak somewhat aggressively from time to time during the last three years. On such occasions, you may have blamed me, called me immature, or getting too aggressive. However, it is my conscience that best knows how much patience and tolerance I have practiced in the internal discussions and at Cabinet meetings. I made all those sacrifices for the sake of the people of Sri Lanka. However, you know how those noble expectations of the people who espoused the concept of good governance were betrayed even before three months elapsed since we were elected. The robbery of the Central Bank dragged our country into a deep crisis. As you know, we had not heard about such a big fraud of public finances in the history of Sri Lanka. The Central Bank robbery was an abortion of the pledge of good governance we had given to the people to eliminate corruption and fraud. I remember that there came a lot of resistance and protests from people, opposition parties, political groups, civil society and responsible people in the society, when the Central Bank robbery was committed. That led to a lot of tensions within the government. At that time, Mr Wickremesinghe behaved very impatiently and restlessly. When I decided to visit the Central Bank and meet the staff of the Bank, I remember, he suddenly came to my residence and asked me the Central Bank belongs to me, why do you want to go there? At that moment, I told him, It is true that it has been gazetted under your purview, but as the President of the country, I have the right to visit that place. And I told him that I was planning to go to the Bank in a while anyway. Mr. Wirckremesinghe left immediately. When I got there, Mr. Arjun Mahendran, who has been sent on leave pending investigation, came to welcome me with a bunch of beetle leaves. I was surprised to see how he had got there all of a sudden. I saw how disturbed, restless and panicking they were. This shameless robbery led to a serious economic crisis and a political crisis. Then, I appointed a commission to investigate into the Central Bank issue in response to peoples demand. When the Commission was carrying on the investigations independently, leaders of the UNP started pointing fingers at me. They asked why I appointed this commission. They considered this move was a disgrace to the UNP. But I assured them that the appointment of the Commission was necessary to clear those who are not involved and to bring to book those who were culprits. As you know, this robbery has dragged our country into deep economic crisis, from which it is difficult come out. I believe that the result of the Local Government elections that was held last February was a warning by the people to correct the course of this government. At that moment, I called the Mr Wickremesinghe and other leaders of UNP and explained People have taught us a lesson about the way we have governed, and we must correct ourselves now. And I told Mr Wickremesinghe You have acquired my powers to do what you did, and I silently gave you that power in gratitude as you took leadership to bring me to power. As a result of my gratefulness, which is a noble human quality, the country had to suffer very bad consequences. That was because I allowed him to conduct freely, sometime even acquiring my powers. I do not wish to go into a detailed account of the negative consequences of his tenure. I wish to explain those consequences to you from time to time. I would now like to explain the most proximate and powerful reason that made me appoint the former President Mahinda Rajapaksa as Prime Minister and remove Hon. Ranil Wickremesinghe from the post of Prime Minister. My political life is now spans over 51 years. Recently, a person called Namal Kumara came before the media and disclosed about a plot to assassinate me and Mr Gotabhaya Rajapaksa. I handed over the task of investigations to Criminal Investigations Department. However, Inspector General of Police did not assign the investigations to CID. Instead it was given to another division. Then I realized that there was an issue of trust about the investigations. Within 48 hours of the disclosure made to the media by the person called Namal Kumara and investigations could be commenced on the plot, Inspector General of Police made a statement stating that there was a doubt about the voices in the tape recording provided by that person. I would like to raise the question, with respect, is it suitable for a Police chief to behave in such a shameless manner and express doubts about the recording, without seeking any technical expert advice on the tape recording, when there was a revelation that a plot was hatched to assassinate the President of the country? The reports provided by the CID and other investigating authorities including the Intelligence Bureau showed that this is a very serious matter. In this plot, there is a wide range of information which has not been disclosed to the public. There is also an involvement of a Cabinet Minister in this plot to assassinate me. Furthermore, there has been tremendous pressure on investigations. There were instances of some responsible officers of the Attorney Generals Department evading the investigation duties. Under these political problems, economic troubles and the strong plot to assassinate me, the only alternative open to me was to invite former President Mahinda Rajapaksa and appoint him as prime Minister to form a new government. I extend an open invitation to all 225 honourable Members of parliament to join the new government. I do this with the pure intention of taking the country out of the present political crisis and economic problems. Now, the political crisis has been somewhat declined. I appeal to everybody to extend fullest cooperation to the new government formed by me with Mr. Mahinda Rajapaksa as Prime minister to strengthen democratic governance, freedom of the people, human rights and fundamental rights and media freedom and take our Motherland towards prosperity and make a better and decent society. While referring to past bitter experiences, I wish to reiterate here that Mr Ranil wickremesinghe must take the responsibility to bring Mr. Arjuna Mahendran to Sri Lanka and produce him before courts. That is because, as everybody knows, Mr. Arjuna Mahendran is a very close friend of Mr. Ranil Wickremesinghe. Local industries of the country were weakened in the last few years and for them to recover, the blessings from the government alone are not enough. In the last few years, the economic policy kept the trust merely on foreign investments and that weakened our local industries. On one side, the there were these weaknesses of the economic policy. At the same time, I ask you to examine what has happened to the amendments presented last week to the Commission I appointed to probe Bribery or corruption to bring to book those who are guilty of Central Bank Bond robbery. All those legal experts, Attorney-Generals Department, the members of the Commission on Bribery or Corruption and those who made investigations informed me earlier this year that it would take at least 15 years to punish the perpetrators of Central Bank Bond robbery under the existing laws in the country. Legal experts explained that more than 15 years will take to prosecute and punish the guilty and recover the money stolen by them. The Commission on Bribery or Corruption and Attorney-Generals Department recommended to make some amendments to the Commission Act, so that the guilty persons could be sentenced within one year and recover the huge amount of money they had stolen. Accordingly, we have drafted the amendments to the Act at the Presidential Secretariat and sent to the Parliament six months ago. However, the amendment was not submitted for five months. It got buried in the Office of the Leader of House. I made serious inquiries into this. I asked the officials of the Commission on Bribery or Corruption. I asked the officers in the Attorney-Generals Department. Finally, the Amendment Bill to Act on Commission on Bribery or Corruption was presented to Parliament. I am sad to say that the Parliament postponed the approval of the Amendments Act indefinitely. Why was it deferred? For whose benefit? Due to pressure from whom? This will result in the country losing a large sum of money that belongs to the people. It would take 15 to 20 years to mete out punishment to the guilty persons. That is why the Amendments Act was postponed indefinitely. You must have seen in media about the monetary deal of EAP company. That company was given to a foreigner. That deal was done fraudulently without calling for tenders. There will be a thorough investigation on this in near future. Many valuable assets were given to foreigners without tenders. Construction awards were also given without tenders. The emergency cabinet papers were presented to award such tenders and massive construction awards were given despite objections at the cabinet. One such example is the Kandy Highway project. Another is the Land Ordinance Special Act, which was presented to Cabinet last week. Then there was the paper on establishing a Land Bank. I lodged strong protests and postponed those cabinet papers. Majority of Cabinet Ministers were against these proposals. If the last weeks Land Ordinance Special Act was passed by the Cabinet and then by the Parliament, all the lands of our Motherland could be bought outright by foreigners without any difficulty. All the agricultural settlements established by honourable leaders like D S Senanayake, Bandaranaike and Gamini Dissanayake will be destroyed. This bill presented under the political and economic vision of Mr. Ranil Wickremesinghe to adversely affect the land rights of the country must be totally blocked by us. I must also tell you that the committee set up by Mr Ranil Wickremesinghe to manage economy was totally fraudulent. The decisions taken by that committee were fraudulent. It was a major challenge to abolish it. As an alternative to that committee, I have established the National Economic Council. Mr Ranil Wickremesinghe has taken everything possible to weaken that Commission. The monthly emoluments for the economic expert, who was appointed the head the Commission was paid by an international monetary institution respected by all of us. On Mr. Wickremesinghes advise, that payment was stopped. Mr. Wickremesinghe took steps to prevent the Commission from functioning. I clearly state that this crisis situation has emerged due to Mr. Wickremesinghes stubborn decisions. Because of all these issues, the only alternative I was left with was to establish a new government with Mr. Mahinda Rajapaksa as Prime Minister. Mr. Ranil Wickremesinghe and the UNP complain that the establishment of a new government and appointment of Mr. Mahinda Rajapaksa as Prime Minister was contradictory to the provisions of the Constitution of Sri Lanka. I categorically state that the appointments were made totally in accordance with the Constitution and the on advice of legal experts. No constitutional violation was done when appointments were made and removal was enacted. With all respect, I completely reject the charge that what was done was a violation of the Constitution. I wish to thank the people of the country, public officials, Police, security forces, Army, Navy and Air Force and others for the support extended to me by strengthening law and order, strengthening democratic structure and facilitating the day-to-day needs of the people. While concluding the speech, I appeal to UNPers who made a broad commitment to make me President to jointly commit ourselves to achieve that beautiful vision for our Motherland. I am confident that if a leader with a vision, who values what is local, who understands the common mans feelings, values the vision and policies of Senanayakes, Jayewardene and Premadasa becomes the leader of your UNP in the future, we will be able to achieve those noble objectives. Finally, I appeal to the Mahasangha, other religious leaders, politicians, all the publc servants, and all the citizens to give your blessings and support to the political decision I have taken on behalf of the country and the people to end the economic crisis and political turbulence and build a prosperous economy and a decent, spiritual, enlightened society. From the Academy Awards to the young adult TV networks, the last five years have seen an explosion of lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender stories across all manner of film and television projects. Its an embarrassment of riches completely unimaginable 30 years ago, when NewFest: New Yorks LGBT Film Festival was founded in 1988 by two friends energized by The Second National March on Washington for Lesbian and Gay Rights in 1987 and the specter of the AIDS crisis. Thirty years later, the festival boasts sponsors from HBO to Stoli to Twitter, and has plastered Times Square with billboards advertising genres such as bisexual glam-rock opera, trans-Filipino fairytale, and queer Muslim thriller. The 30th annual festival includes programming such as Trans and Non-Binary Shorts, the New York premiere of banned Kenyan lesbian film Rafiki, and a 20th anniversary screening of High Art, with filmmaker Lisa Cholodenko and Patricia Clarkson in attendance. In honor of NewFests 30th anniversary, IndieWire spoke to every executive director in the festivals history about the early challenges, how to represent a diverse community in a single film program, and the value an LGBTQ film festival offers an increasingly queer world. How did it all begin? Robert Kushner (2015-present): NewFest was started in 1988. Basically, at the height of the AIDS crisis. You know, when images of the LGBTQ community were not very visible in media or otherwise. There werent as many people making films about the queer community. And it was important for the community to gather together, and to unify at that time. Susan Horowitz (Co-founder, E.D., 1988-1991): 1987 was the second March on Washington, and a lot of people went back to their hometowns and started looking at how to build safe spaces In 88, I met with John Lowy, who founded the festival with me It was really clear to me that, if we werent telling our stories and letting other people define us, we were gonna be in a great deal of trouble for a lot longer. It was so urgent then, the death toll from HIV was just terrifying and the commentary from politicians was similar to lock them up and quarantine, and we knew that we had to fight back with our voices. We didnt have much else. Back then, it really did feel like life and death. Story continues Read More:Steven Yeun Deserves an Oscar Nomination for Burning, His First Major Role Since The Walking Dead Where did the name NewFest come from? Kushner: There was a film festival prior. I think it started out as the Gay Film Festival, and then maybe the Gay and Lesbian Film Festival. But there was a gap and it had stopped NewFest was called NewFest because of those previous festivals, and they didnt want to put any gay or lesbian in titles, so they just called NewFest. The official name is The New Festival. Very clever, right? Horowitz: The earlier festival wasnt happening any longer. It was about two and half, three years since the festival happened and our understanding was that the founder wasnt able to do it, so [Lowy] proposed that there was a need for that kind of a festival, the New Festival. What did representation mean back then? Chiqui Cartagena (Co-Chair of Board, 1993): It was the only place where we would see ourselves represented in a positive aspect. It was the only place where our narratives could be heard, our challenges and our opportunities. And so it was the only place we could be visible. Otherwise, the gay community was very invisible still, even in New York City. So visibility was a big deal, visibility and making sure the community felt represented, all aspects, from bears to dykes to lipstick lesbians and all in between. Basil Tsiokos (E.D., 2000-2007): When I started, it was often very rare to see any LGBT characters in the mainstream in any kind of meaningful way. So a huge part of our mission was to bring those images to our audience. By the time I left, that had significantly changed. Read More:Dakota Johnson: Suspiria Is the Landmark Moment of Her Career, But the Actress Is Just Getting Started in Hollywood Funding then Horowitz: I was kind of a ruthless executive director, because I felt that if we were going to survive, we needed to survive financially. So I would fight with the programmers about what got a Saturday night 7 to 9 pm slot versus another time I was pretty tyrannical back then, because I knew that if we didnt survive the first year that it would be a setback. Terry Lawler, (Co-Chair of Board, 1992): It was really hard to find sponsors in the early days, because they didnt necessarily want to reach out to the gay community or be identified with the gay community. Cartagena: The year I was co-chair was the first time Absolut Vodka, which had been investing money in the gay community at large, ever supported our festival with, I think it was a $10,000 sponsorship check, which was huge. In fact, we got them to design an Absolut film ad. It was the first time Absolut came in with a major sponsorship of a gay and lesbian film festival. That was a really big deal. and funding now. Kushner: HBO is our presenting sponsor and we have grants with New York City, New York State, New York City Department of Cultural Affairs, and New York State Council of the Arts. This year and over the last few years, we have enormous billboards. I think it was 10 or 13 billboards in Times Square. Huge, digital billboards running for three weeks, and were on taxi tops, and in taxi TV, in elevators around the city. How do you ensure programming represents everyone in the community? Tsiokos: Back then, when attending festivals, youre a detective, trying to figure out what films might have some level of LGBTQ content. It was often very easy to find gay male content. It was very more challenging to find lesbian content. It was even more challenging to find good transgender and, forget about bisexual, that was almost impossible at times to find good bisexual content. And by good, I mean any. Cartagena: A lot of these non-profit boards tend to be run by white people because they have more time and more money. I thought the NewFest definitely did a good job of having black and Latino and Asian people of color on the board, for sure. And definitely in the programming. Whenever there was an interesting Asian film or black film, we were just salivating to have it out. So I think it was representative. Tsiokos: We really struggled to be like, This cant just be a festival for white gay men. But that was always the challenge, to try to find a diversity of voices that represented not just one kind of representation of queerness. Kushner: Theres still more an audience for gay, white male films, but we make sure we have a balance in what we program. Read More:A Star Is Born: How Bradley Cooper Edited Lady Gaga Performances of Shallow and Ill Never Love Again With more LGBTQ stories in mainstream film and TV, are LGBTQ festivals still necessary? Tsiokos: Its something that every gay festival has to sort of assess and reassess every few years I still think festivals at their core are about being a social event. Being an event where you are able to bring together a group of people to watch things communally. To share in stories. To debate them. To be angry at them. To be provoked by them. To be happy because of them. Lesli Klainberg (E.D., 2009-2011): Historically, queer film festivals have always been community builders. There were many, many years that if you were a queer filmmaker you felt that maybe your films could only be screened at these festivals. The change in our culture, and the change in film culture, and the industry is massive. Until we see ourselves represented in mainstream media and culture, we will always have a need to see ourselves at these queer film festivals, where were just better represented. Even though Netflix and all these streaming services and all these broadcasters include queer content, we all know that its not the same as it would be if James Bond was gay. Cartagena: I think the most important aspect of the festival is that community aspect. I met my partner in life there, and weve been together 19 years and its a great story to tell. How did you meet? We met at NewFest, the gay and lesbian film festival. Horowitz: Even though you have Netflix and you have every way to stream a film, you dont have that community coming together sharing the experiences that a festival brings It stays true to this day, if were the story teller were going to move the issues forward in a way that no one else can, so Im glad that the festival has maintained a presence on the planet for 30 more years. I hope it goes another 30. NewFest runs October 24-30 in New York City. Find the schedule and film program here. Related stories 'Love, Simon' Director Greg Berlanti Almost Quit 'Dawsons Creek' Job Early in Career Over Banned Gay Kiss 7 LGBT Filmmakers Who Are Having a Great Year 'Susanne Bartsch: On Top' Review: Behind the Gay Nightlife Queen Who 'Picked Up Where Warhol Left Off' President Donald Trump might as well install a revolving door in the front of the White House, so frequent have been the firings and resignations in his administration. They have been so numerous, the New York Times characterized the turnover as unprecedented. Now even more administration officials are rumored to be leaving after the midterm elections, Politico reported. Among those who have announced they are leaving or who may leave after the midterms are: Ambassador to the United Nations Nikki Haley Attorney General Jeff Sessions Defense Secretary Jim Mattis Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross Homeland Security Secretary Kirstjen Nielsen They would join the many administration officials who have left in the two years since Trump was inaugurated. That list includes, a secretary of State, an Environmental Protection Agency administrator, a secretary of Health and Human Services, a secretary of Veterans Affairs, and a chief of staff. Two of Trumps early Cabinet secretaries, CIA Director Mike Pompeo and former DHS Secretary John Kelly, also shifted jobs internally, with Pompeo becoming secretary of State and Kelly taking over as White House chief of staff, Politico wrote. MSNBC host Rachel Maddow has been keeping track of the departures from the administration, but they became so numerous she ran out of room on her jumbo screen to list them all. Of course, we must remember that it was Trump who promised nothing but the very best people in his White House. There are those that are saying its one of the finest group of people ever assembled as a candidate as a Cabinet. This is a tremendous amount of talent, the president said at a Cabinet meeting on October 17, 2017. Now, five of those tremendously talented individuals are rumored to be on the way out, almost exactly a year later. Algiers (AFP) - Algeria's frail President Abdelaziz Bouteflika, in power since 1999, will stand for a fifth term at elections next year, the head of his party said Sunday. National Liberation Front chief Djamel Ould Abbes said Bouteflika, who suffered a stroke in 2013, would be the party's candidate at the vote set for April 2019, state news agency APS reported. "Bouteflika... is the candidate of the FLN for the presidential election," Ould Abbes was quoted as saying at a meeting with lawmakers from the party. "His candidacy has been demanded by all the FLN cadres and activists across the country," he said. The FLN central committee will meet soon to formalise the candidacy, Ould Abbes' chief of staff Nadir Boulegroune told AFP. Bouteflika, 81, has yet to announce his candidacy officially. The veteran leader has been weak since suffering the 2013 stroke, which diminished his mobility and forced him to work from his residence in Zeralda, west of the capital Algiers. He has since travelled abroad several times to undergo medical treatment in France and Switzerland. The president only makes rare public appearances, during which he is usually seen sitting in a wheelchair. Rumours often swirl in Algeria about the state of the president's health. But ahead of next year's presidential poll, Bouteflika's camp has for months been preparing the ground for him to claim a fresh term. A driving licence picture of Robert Bowers - AFP Gunman kills 11 at Pittsburgh synagogue He yelled "All Jews must die" Suspect, named Robert Bowers, charged with hate crimes Donald Trump condemns 'evil anti-Semitic attack' Shooting the 'deadliest anti-Semitic attack in recent US history' A gunman shouting "all Jews must die" burst into a Pittsburgh synagogue during a circumcision ceremony on Saturday, shooting dead 11 people. Robert Bowers, 46, wielding an arsenal that included a semi-automatic rifle and three handguns, also left six others wounded, including four police officers, during the 20 minute attack. The shooting happened at the Tree of Life Congregation in a leafy suburb in the heart of its Jewish community in Pennsylvania. About 100 people were in the synagogue at the time. It was not known if the baby being circumcised, during a ceremony known as a bris, was harmed. Bowers, who was in fair condition at a hospital after being shot several times by police, was charged late on Saturday with 29 federal counts, including hate crimes and weapons offences. A driving licence picture of Robert Bowers Credit: AFP The suspect, who had no apparent criminal record, had left a trail of vile white supremacist comments and anti-Semitic abuse on social media, including sharing posts denying the Holocaust. An hour before the attack he wrote on the Gab social media forum that Jewish "invaders" were "killing our people". He wrote: "I can't sit by and watch my people get slaughtered. Screw your optics, Im going in. Police officers describing the scene over a scanner said the gunman gave himself up after being injured. All these Jews have to die, he said again as he crawled towards them. The Tree of Life Congregation Synagogue in Pittsburgh President Donald Trump was quick to insist that tougher gun laws would have made little difference but the latest attack will also fuel fears that religious and race hate is on the rise during a fraught period of divisive politics. Mr Trump said he would travel to Pittsburgh in the wake of the shooting. Story continues "This evil anti-Semitic attack is an assault on all of us," Mr Trump told supporters at an election rally in Illinois where he began by addressing the attack at length - drawing loud cheers as he vowed to fully enforce the death penalty for such crimes. "We must stand with our Jewish brothers and sisters to defeat anti-Semitism and vanquish the forces of hate." ...This evil Anti-Semitic attack is an assault on humanity. It will take all of us working together to extract the poison of Anti-Semitism from our world. We must unite to conquer hate. Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) October 27, 2018 His daughter Ivanka, a convert to Judaism, declared: "America is stronger than the acts of a depraved bigot and anti-Semite." Stephen Weiss, who was in a service at the synagogue at the time, described how members of the congregation fled and hid in the basement. It sounded like a loud crash in the hallway, he said, describing rapid gunfire that sounded like an automatic weapon. Mr Weiss told the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette that when he got to the basement he found other members of the congregation also hiding there. Residents talk to the media near the site of a mass shooting at the Tree of Life Synagogue Credit: Getty Officers said the gunman was armed with an AR-15 rifle and a Glock handgun. Wendell Hissrich, the public safety director for Pittsburgh, said detectives were sifting the site for evidence. Its a very horrific crime scene. Its one of the worst Ive seen and Ive been on plane crashes, he told a news conference. A user with the name Bowers was active on Gab, a social media platform popular with free speech advocates and white supremacists. The user shared memes spread by Holocaust deniers, questioning the Jewish death toll in Nazi Germany, and criticised Mr Trump for failing to tackle an infestation of Jews. Gab deactivated the account soon after the shooting. The cover photo for his account featured a neo-Nazi symbol, and his recent posts included a photo of a fiery oven like those used in Nazi concentration camps used to cremate Jews during World War II. The tree-lined residential neighbourhood of Squirrel Hill, about 10 minutes from downtown Pittsburgh, is the hub of the citys Jewish community. Its imposing concrete facade is punctuated by rows of swirling, modern stained-glass windows illustrating the story of creation, the acceptance of God's law, the life cycle and how human-beings should care for the earth and one another, according to its website. Three Jewish congregations meet there and all three were holding services on Saturday morning between 9:45am and noon, with about 100 people in the building. A class usually held on the third floor had been cancelled, the synagogue said. Michael Eisenberg, former president of the synagogue, told KDKA that police were normally only present at the synagogue for security on high holidays. "On a day like today, the door is open, its a religious service, you can walk in and out," he said, adding that there had been no threats reported. The attack comes after months of warnings by Jewish groups that anti-Semitic attacks were on the increase at a time of heightened racial and religious intolerance. The Anti-Defamation League (ADL) reported earlier this year that anti-Semitic incidents surged more than 50% in 2017, to almost 2000 cases, the biggest increase since they began collecting data. Jonathan Greenblatt, chief executive of the ADL, said: We are devastated. Jews targeted on Shabbat morning at synagogue, a holy place of worship, is unconscionable. Our hearts break for the victims, their families, and the entire Jewish community." The ADL said it believes the Pittsburgh shooting to be the deadliest such attack in US history. Mr Trump said earlier he was monitoring events as the unfolded. He later told reporters that the problem was not gun laws but that the outcome would have been different if the synagogue had armed guards. They didn't have any protection, he said as he left Washington for a campaign event. Jewish sites have been targets of several shooting in recent years A neo-Nazi gunman shot dead three people at a Jewish Community Centre and a retirement community in Kansas City in 2014. A SWAT team leaving the scene Credit: Getty A police officer was killed at the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum in Washington, DC in 2009. In 1994, a white supremacist fired 10 shots into the Temple Beth Israel in Eugene, Oregon, although no one was hurt. Benjamin Netanyahu, the Israeli prime minister, said on Saturday he was heartbroken. The entire people of Israel grieve with the families of the dead. We stand together with the Jewish community of Pittsburgh, we stand together with the American people in the face of this horrendous anti-Semitic brutality and we all pray for the speedy recovery of the wounded, he said. People hold candles outside the Tree of Life Synagogue after a shooting there left 11 people dead in the Squirrel Hill neighbourhood of Pittsburgh Credit: AFP Thousands of people, some holding candles, gathered for a vigil in the Squirrel Hill neighbourhood on Saturday night in honour of the victims, whose names were not immediately released. A chant of "vote, vote, vote" broke out during the emotional gathering. Some attendees blamed the shooting on the nation's political climate, and said they took little solace in the planned visit by Trump. 10:35PM Donald Trump calls shooting 'pure evil' Mr Trump condemning the synagogue shooting, saying "there must be no tolerance for anti-Semitism in America." He was speaking at a Future Farmers of America convention in Indianapolis. Mr Trump called the attack a "wicked act of mass murder" that "is pure evil, hard to believe and frankly something that is unimaginable." President Donald Trump embraces Rabbi Benjamin Sendrow at the 91st annual Future Farmers of America Convention in Indianapolis Credit: AP He says the nation and the word are "shocked and stunned" by grief and is calling on the country to come together. Mr Trump has at times been accused by critics of failing to adequately condemn hate, such as when he blamed "both sides" for the violence at a Charlottesville white supremacist rally. He says that anti-Semitism "must be confronted anywhere and everywhere it appears" 9:22PM Death toll rise to 11 A city official says 11 people were killed, and six injured. FBI agent Bob Jones says it is believed the gunman was acting alone, and he was not previously known to police. 8:23PM Gunman had history of anti-Semitic social media posts An archive of Bower's posts since he joined the Gab social media site in January appeared to show an angry, anti-Semitic man who shared messages such as: "Daily Reminder: Diversity means chasing down the last white person." About a month ago he posted pictures showing what appeared to the results of his target practice at a shooting range, and a collection of three handguns that he called his "glock family." Bowers, who is a registered voter with "no affiliation" in Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, took aim in one post at US President Donald Trump, accusing him of being a "globalist" who did nothing to stop the "infestation" of the United States by Jews. "For the record, I did not vote for him nor have I owned, worn or even touched a MAGA hat," he wrote. 7:41PM Donald Trump says a 'lot of people' were killed Mr Trump says "a lot of people" were killed in the shooting and it "looks definitely like it's an anti-Semitic crime." Mr Trump, speaking at an airport in Indianapolis, saidthat what "happened today is a horrible, horrible thing." He said the FBI is now involved and there were "a lot of people killed" and "a lot of people very badly wounded." He also says the crime scene is one of the worst many professionals have seen. 7:37PM Gunman opened fire during a baby naming ceremony People had gathered for the ceremony. It is not known if the gunman knew it was taking place. It was also not clear if the baby was harmed. 5:55PM Donald Trump calls for shooter to face death penalty Mr Trump called for the death penalty. He said: "I think one thing we should do is we would stiffen up our laws with guns with the death penalty. "When people do this they should get the death penalty." Events in Pittsburgh are far more devastating than originally thought. Spoke with Mayor and Governor to inform them that the Federal Government has been, and will be, with them all the way. I will speak to the media shortly and make further statement at Future Farmers of America. Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) October 27, 2018 5:47PM Donald Trump says it's certainly an option for synagogues and churches to have armed guards The president has been speaking about the shooting while he is at Andrews Air Force Base. He said it was certainly an option for synagogues, and churches, to have armed guards Mr Trump called the shooting "devastating". He added: "It's a 'terrible thing what's going on with hate in our country." 5:35PM Around 100 people were in the synagogue Michael Eisenberg, former President of the Tree of Life, told KDKA there would have been about 100 people in the building at the time of the shooting. He said: "At 9:45 there were three simultaneous congregations services that were being held. "In the main part of the building, The Tree of Life has a service that has about 40 people in it. "Just below that there is a basement area where New Life congregation would have been having their Shabbat service. There would have been 30-40 people. "Just adjacent to Tree of Lights service area, a congregation was in the rabbi study room and they would have had approximately 15 people in there." 5:02PM Survivor tells how congregation hid in basement Stephen Weiss, who was in a service at the synagogue at the time, told the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette: "It sounded like a loud crash in the hallway." He described rapid gunfire that sounded like an automatic weapon. Mr Weiss said he ran to the basement and found other members of the congregation also hiding there. He said services are held between 9.45am and noon. 4:44PM Police at the scene #BreakingNews Reports of an active shooter in a synagogue in Squirrel Hill. Huge police presence pic.twitter.com/vodOAuEBsu Lori Houy (@WPXI_Lori) October 27, 2018 4:43PM Synagogue is at heart of Pittsburgh's Jewish community The shooting happened int he tree-lined residential neighborhood of Squirrel Hill, about 10 minutes from downtown Pittsburgh. The area is the hub of Pittsburgh's Jewish community. 4:41PM Three police officers shot A police official has confirmed three officers were shot. The official also confirmed that the suspect is in custody. 4:25PM Local media reporting suspect is injured and in custody KDKA, the local TV network, says police have the suspect. Police have not confirmed Suspect injured but in custody. Officer hit in 3rd floor has controlled bleeding arm injury. Will be ok. Ross Guidotti (@RossGuidotti) October 27, 2018 Suspect surrenders with pistol in his waist band and one strapped to his ankle. Swat operators grabbed Weapons removed and made safe Ross Guidotti (@RossGuidotti) October 27, 2018 4:23PM SWAT teams at the scene SWAT teams are at the synagogue #BREAKING: At least 7 people killed by active shooter at Pittsburgh synagogue https://t.co/uvTmF5tkuepic.twitter.com/pbqaysePPc The Hill (@thehill) October 27, 2018 4:18PM Donald Trump says he is watching events unfold The president said on Twitter: Watching the events unfolding in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Watching the events unfolding in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Law enforcement on the scene. People in Squirrel Hill area should remain sheltered. Looks like multiple fatalities. Beware of active shooter. God Bless All! Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) October 27, 2018 "Law enforcement on the scene. People in Squirrel Hill area should remain sheltered. Looks like multiple fatalities. Beware of active shooter. God Bless All!" 4:10PM Police tell residents to stay inside The synagogue is at the junction of Wilkins and Shady Avenues in Pittsburgh. Local residents have been told by police to stay in their homes. 4:09PM Local reporter says at least seven dead KDKAs Andy Sheehan reports that at least seven people have been confirmed dead. Police have not confirmed that. Newly appointed Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa visited the Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic in Kandy this morning and obtained blessings. Pix by J.A.L Jayasinghe Oxygen A Virginia contractor has been convicted of raping and murdering a college administrator, leaving her dead in her bathtub, after she complained about the companys work on her deck. A jury found Thomas Clark guilty of first-degree murder, rape and abduction of 53-year-old Suzanne Fairman after deliberating Wednesday for an hour and 20 minutes, according to local station WTVR. There is a huge amount of relief, Fairmans son, Scott, said after the verdict. I know these last two-and-a-half years Griffin, Ga. Life happens, Stacey Abrams instructs a small but boisterous crowd in a sun-drenched park south of Atlanta. She says: Your car breaks down. Your child gets sick. Could happen on Election Day. So, vote early. Today. In her campaign to be the first Democrat elected Georgias governor since 1998, and Americas first African-American female governor, she, even more than most Democrats, is depending on low-propensity voters, prodding to the polls many who have rarely voted in midterm elections. Chatting on her campaign bus, she exudes Yale Law School and the University of Texass Lyndon B. Johnson School of Public Affairs, fluent about issues and droll about her mothers reaction to my trajectory of downward economic mobility when she left the practice of law to enter politics, rising to be minority leader of the state house of representatives. In front of a crowd, she is the thinking persons Dr. Phil, telling the story of one of her five siblings (the others include a U.S. district judge and an evolutionary biologist), her bipolar brother, who, when he left prison, left health care behind. Abrams was raised in Mississippi, and she and her family moved to Atlanta when her parents decided to train for the Methodist ministry. When she was invited to a reception at the governors mansion for high-school valedictorians, the guard at the gate tried to turn away her and her parents because, having arrived by bus, they seemed misplaced. Her father, she tells her listeners, told the guard where he would spend eternity if he did not improve his decision-making skills. She adds that her family resided in the least affluent neighborhood of an affluent school district in order to have access to a good school. Her crowd laughs when she says, You should not have to have a degree in cartography to get a good education in Georgia. Story continues Georgia is one of 17 states that rejected Medicaid expansion under Obamacare. This, she says, costs the state $8 million a day and threatens rural hospitals, eight of which have closed and 21 of which are threatened. So she fishes for votes on Christian radio stations that have mostly white rural audiences. While Abrams, 44, is toiling to create her base, her Republican opponent, Brian Kemp, is stroking the erogenous zones of his base with what Abrams calls traditional tropes. Kemp, 54, boasts that he is politically incorrect, which is the politically correct thing for Republicans to say. Throwing caution to the wind, he has announced, I say Merry Christmas.' In one primary ad he brandished a shotgun that he says no ones taking away (who wants to confiscate shotguns). Later in the ad, his prop was a Ford pickup for use in case I need to round up criminal illegals and take them home myself. In another ad he pointed a shotgun at a teenage boy interested in one of Kemps daughters. He wants you to know he is tough as nails, although most who actually are feel no need for such public display. As secretary of state, Kemp is the umpire of elections under Georgias exact match law, which can block a voters registration if even a missing initial differs from the persons other public records. Some Republicans make a mountain out of not even a molehill of evidence of voter fraud: Orchestrating fraud on a scale necessary to turn most elections would be a hugely inefficient investment of time and energy. Some Democrats are comparably overheated about voter suppression, which they detect in every measure aimed at election integrity. But because substantial voter fraud is a fiction, measures such as exact match do seem designed to sow confusion in order to discourage voters. It has delayed the registration of more than 50,000 Georgians disproportionately African Americans who, with proper identification, can still vote on November 6. Democratic turnout in the primary was up 40 percent over 2010, the last competitive gubernatorial contest. Georgia, the eighth-most-populous state, is 32 percent black (the third highest percentage, behind Mississippi and Louisiana), 10 percent Hispanic, and 4 percent Asian. It has the second-lowest percentage of whites east of the Mississippi (after Maryland). Donald Trump won Georgia by only 5 points (3 fewer than Mitt Romney in 2012) and carried 23 of his 30 states by more. Abrams and Kemp are in a statistical dead heat. In Georgia. In late October. So she probably already has given national Democrats a tantalizing sense of 2020 possibilities, particularly if she is governor. 2018, Washington Post Writers Group Rio de Janeiro (AFP) - Far-right President-elect Jair Bolsonaro promised in his victory speech Sunday to "change Brazil's destiny," after campaigning on a hardline law-and-order platform. The former army captain, 63, campaigned under the slogan "Brazil above all, God above everyone." Here is a glance at his key policy proposals: - Economy - - Reduce public debt by 20 percent through a raft of privatizations and the sale of state properties. - Create a parallel private pension system. - Reduce the number of ministries: "The country will work better with fewer ministries." His chief economic advisor, respected liberal economist Paulo Guedes, would lead an Economy super-ministry with responsibility for finance, planning and trade. - Redistribute the "tax burden so that those who pay a lot pay less and those who evade and hide pay more." - Security - - Loosen gun laws. "Guns are tools that can be used to kill or to save lives. It depends who's using them." - Lower the age of criminal responsibility to 16. - Classify squatting on or seizing private real estate as "terrorism." - Corruption - - "We want a decent, different government from all those that have plunged us into an ethical, moral and budgetary crisis." - Diplomacy - - "We are going to stop hailing murderous dictatorships" -- said in reference to Venezuela -- "and denigrating great democracies like the United States, Italy and Israel." - Education - - "School programs and teaching methods need to change. There needs to be more mathematics, more sciences and Portuguese. Without indoctrination or early sexualization." - Abortion - - His platform doesn't mention it, but he has promised to veto any move to ease Brazil's restrictive abortion laws. In the country, terminating pregnancies is permitted only in cases of rape, where the mother's health is in danger, or severe brain malformation in the fetus. Story continues - LGBTI - - His program makes no mention of LGBTI (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and Intersexual) rights. Several of his statements were openly homophobic. - During the campaign he tried to soften his tone. In his final campaign speech on Facebook, he said: "We went a free Brazil, without prejudice: white or black, homo or hetero.... Who knows, maybe I'm gay. If I were, what would be the problem?" - Environment - - Reflecting his backing from the powerful agro-industry lobby in Congress, Bolsonaro plans to merge the Agriculture and Environment ministries, and his manifesto makes no mention of deforestation or global warming. "Let's be clear: the future ministry will come from the productive sector," he said recently. The man arrested on suspicion of mailing at least a dozen suspicious packages to Democrats criticized by Donald Trump is a big fan of the president, with a long criminal history. Cesar Sayoc, 56, was taken into custody by federal authorities on Friday in Plantation, Florida, according to multiple press accounts. Law enforcement also took possession of a van covered in stickers supporting Trump and criticizing Democratic officials. A 2015 mug shot of mail bomb suspect Cesar Sayoc. (Photo: HuffPost) Sayoc is a registered Republican and called himself a promoter and booking agent. He was also an amateur bodybuilder and worked as a stripper, according to The Associated Press. He was once sentenced to probation for a bomb threat, the AP reported. According to The New York Times, Sayoc threatened a power company customer representative in a dispute over a utility bill. He said the bombing would be worse than 9/11 and that he planned to blow the agents head off, according to records released by the Miami-Dade state attorneys office, the Times reported. Sayoc appeared to be living for years in his van, which was parked in a lot outside a strip mall in Aventura, Florida, and was showering at a nearby beach or at a local fitness center, according to the AP. The van was plastered with pro-Trump slogans, photos of the president and at least one sticker saying, CNN sucks. Some of Sayocs social media posts appeared to suggest he was a member of Floridas Seminole tribe. Relative Lenny Altieri told the Times that Sayocs mother was from Brooklyn and his father was from the Philippines. He was raised by his grandparents, Altieri told the Times. He was arrested numerous times, including for felony grand theft in the third degree in November 2013; he pleaded guilty the next year. He was found guilty of a misdemeanor retail theft charge that stemmed from a May 2015 incident, along with multiple traffic violations. Sayoc declared bankruptcy in 2012, when he had $21,109 in liabilities. The filing indicated he lived with his mother, owned an 11-year-old Chevy Tahoe with 285,000 miles on it, had collected unemployment and was working as a store manager. His attorneys office was flooded with phone calls after his name emerged. Story continues A Twitter account made in 2016 that appears to belong to the suspect has more than 1,000 images, many dedicated to baseless conspiracy theories. A spam of posts from this year all claim that Parkland, Florida, school shooting survivor David Hogg was a protester paid by billionaire George Soros. Another post claims Rep. Maxine Waters (D-Calif.) took money from the Russians and is a poverty pimp. And in a July post, he claims that Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz (D-Fla.) is known for ripping off the elderly. Soros, Waters and Wasserman Schultz were all targets of suspicious packages this week. Other intended recipients of the packages included former President Barack Obama, former Vice President Joe Biden, Hillary Clinton, Robert De Niro, former Attorney General Eric Holder, Sen. Cory Booker (D-N.J.) and former CIA Director John Brennan. A van used by Sayoc, covered in stickers supporting President Donald Trump and criticizing Democratic officials. (Photo: K. White) A Tampa resident who said he encountered Sayoc in a hotel parking lot in Miami last May told HuffPost that the suspect was quirky given the stickers on his van but didnt seem violent during their hourlong conversation. He wasnt talking violent or anything like that but basically talked about fake news, Obama, Hillary Clinton, stuff like that. He said his family didnt agree with him, that he only associated with other Trump supporters, said the man, who asked to be identified only by his first name, Korey. When Korey, a 40-year-old black Trump supporter, saw the van on TV Friday morning, he immediately identified it as Sayocs. Korey said he couldnt believe the regular Republican he had spoken to was the bomb suspect. It was crazy, man. He never said nothing verbally hateful. He didnt say, I want to kill Obama. He railed against him but never threatened, Korey said. Korey said he was one of those who initially believed the bombs being sent to top Democrats were a false flag operation perpetrated by the left, as Trump implied Friday morning. I was thinking it too. I thought it was someone doing this to send a message to scare people. Maybe a Democrat, he said. Finding out that this guy did it it was kinda like, I can see him doing it, just due to how much support or how passionate he was about the news media and Hillary Clinton. I put two and two together, and now Im like, wow, he really was crazy. This is a developing story and will be updated. Love HuffPost? Become a founding member of HuffPost Plus today. This article originally appeared on HuffPost. FORT LAUDERDALE The man accused of mailing bombs to two former presidents and a building full of journalists wanted to go back to the Hitler days and to become a leader in the white supremacist movement, his former boss said. Cesar Sayoc, 56, was taken into custody Friday in a Plantation, Florida, parking lot after federal authorities traced the packages sent to political rivals of President Donald Trump back to Sayoc. From January 2017 to 2018, Sayoc worked as a pizza deliveryman for New River Pizza & Fresh Kitchen. For that job, he cruised around in a van decked out with stickers that let no light through the windows and featured photos of Trump and pictures of Democrats with crosshairs on their heads, among other disturbing images. He is accused of sending pipe bombs to former presidents Bill Clinton and Barack Obama, other Democratic leaders, and to CNNs New York City office. Debra Gureghian is the general manager of the pizza joint, which nestled between a liquor store and a funeral home. She said that as a lesbian, she was often a target of ridicule from Sayoc. Debra Guregehian is the general manager at the pizza spot where Cesar Sayoc made deliveries. She said he often talked about going back to the Hitler days. pic.twitter.com/0O3jR7RPwp Sebastian Murdock (@SebastianMurdoc) October 27, 2018 Im very proud of who I am, but he told me I was an abomination, Gods mistake, Gureghian told HuffPost on Saturday. And I should be on an island with Rachel Maddow and Ellen DeGeneres and Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton and he would nuke the island. He said I was an abomination, that I was gonna burn in hell. Asked why she never simply fired Sayoc, Gureghian said her business wasnt in a financial position to pick and choose. This wasnt like Mortons Steakhouse or Carrabbas where I could fire somebody like that, she said. I didnt own the business. I would have liked nothing more than to fire him, because there was many days I went in the bathroom and cried. Seriously, thats how bad it was. Story continues She and fellow general manager Teresa Palmer described Sayoc as a loner who never had friends visit or call, and who often stood silent with his arms folded until he was summoned to deliver a pizza. And despite his being mixed-race, Palmer said Sayoc thought of himself as a white man. He believed he was a white man living against everybody else, Palmer told HuffPost. More than that, Sayoc allegedly believed every other race should be exterminated. He talked about being an American Indian, but said he wanted to go back to the Hitler days, Gureghian said. He loved that regime, he loved that white supremacy. He wanted to be a foot solider, and would say that if we had that kind of mentality today, everybody would toe the line, everybody would fall into place. Cesar Sayoc wanted to be a leader in the white supremacist movement, his former boss tells me. pic.twitter.com/nWKoSMur70 Sebastian Murdock (@SebastianMurdoc) October 27, 2018 Though Sayoc claimed to be affiliated with Seminoles, the tribe denied any connection with him, the Miami Herald reported. Gureghian recalled a conversation with Sayoc in which he allegedly said he would eradicate the Jews if he had the power to, along with lesbians, black people and Hispanic people. Its basically the white supremacists, the white foot soldiers that he wants to follow and lead, she said. He wanted to be a leader. Sometimes the two got along, she said. He dressed nice enough, was articulate, and got the job done without much fuss. And thats what hed say to me: I really like you Debra as a general manager, but as a person I hate your guts and hope you burn in hell, she recalled. So I get a great pat on the back and a kick in the stomach in the same breath. Once, when it was raining out, Sayoc offered Gureghian a ride home. In his van she noticed the dirty clothes, fast food wrappers and vitamin pill bottles strewn all about. Then there were the dolls with severed heads. Inside Cesar Sayocs van: Dirty clothes, McDonalds bags, vitamin pills and headless dolls. pic.twitter.com/Gpbflsewmc Sebastian Murdock (@SebastianMurdoc) October 27, 2018 There were unopened bottles of alcohol, open bottles of alcohol. Dolls with their heads cut off, Barbie and Ken. He had said he was doing it for his nieces and nephews or something, he was fixing them. She said she remembered planning a possible escape from his van if it came to it. All I thought was, Holy shit, is there a way out of here? Am I able to open the door? How do I tuck and roll? How do you tuck and roll if youre going 45? Because at any given moment he could have snapped. Sayoc mainly worked the night shift, which allowed his eyesore of a van to be less noticeable. Palmer and Gureghian said they made him park it around the corner when he came in for work so no one would see. But on Nov. 1, 2017, an employee at a cruise ship repair business snapped a photo of Sayocs van after the suspect delivered pizza one day. Love HuffPost? Become a founding member of HuffPost Plus today. A photo taken by the husband of freelance journalist Lesley Abravanel, who spotted the van in November 2017 and took notice of it's particularly pro-Trump, anti-Democrat decoration. (Photo: Lesley Abravanel ) I said what the F is all this about? the employee, who asked not to be named, told HuffPost. I took a picture and sent it to my wife because she always deals with those crazy MAGA people. His wife is freelance journalist Lesley Abravanel, who posted the photo on her Twitter page at the time. Once news of the van hit on Friday, Abravanel and her husband recalled it right away. We see rabid Trump supporters all the time, and we see crazy folk in Florida on a daily basis, but you dont think the nut case driving in the van is going to attempt to assassinate presidents, politicians and outspoken critics of the current president, Abravanel told HuffPost. Its sickening. This country is a mess. Gureghian said Sayoc loved his van, and would meticulously cut out pictures from magazines to add to his collection. He was very, very proud of every single one of those stickers, taking time to put them exactly how they should line up together, Gureghian said. The cruise ship repair employee said his work never ordered from that pizza place again, partly because of Sayocs disturbing delivery vehicle. Also the food had gone down in quality, he added. Related... At Least 1 Trump Supporter Still Thinks Obama, Clintons Sent Bombs To Themselves A Week Of American Hate: Bombs Mailed, Black People Executed, Jews Slaughtered Eric Trump Says Harsh Political Rhetoric 'Might' Be Linked To Violence This article originally appeared on HuffPost. Rio de Janeiro (AFP) - Former army captain Jair Bolsonaro was elected president of Brazil on Sunday, promising a fundamental change in direction for the giant Latin American country, the latest to take a turn to the far-right. Despite repulsing many with his open support of the torture used by Brazil's former military regime, as well as remarks deemed misogynist, racist and homophobic, Bolsonaro managed to tap voters' deep anger with corruption, crime and economic malaise. Official results gave the controversial president-elect 55.13 percent of the vote in the run-off election, to 44.87 for leftist opponent Fernando Haddad, with 99.99 percent of the ballots counted. Bolsonaro, 63, will take office on January 1. "We will change Brazil's destiny together," he said in his victory speech -- broadcast live from his home on Facebook, the platform he has used to campaign since an attacker stabbed him in the stomach at a rally on September 6. Sitting next to his wife and wearing a dark blazer, the longtime congressman delivered his speech in a stern voice. He pledged to govern "following the Bible and the constitution," and said: "We cannot continue flirting with socialism, communism, populism and the extremism of the left." But he promised to defend "the constitution, democracy and freedom," fending off opponents' warnings he would try to veer toward authoritarianism after openly expressing his admiration for Brazil's brutal military dictatorship (1964-1985). Thousands of supporters flooded the streets outside his home in Rio de Janeiro, waving Brazilian flags and lighting up the sky with fireworks. "All these people here are outraged, upset about corruption and crime, and we are with Bolsonaro. The people have spoken. For the first time I feel represented," said Andre Luiz Lobo, 38, a businessman who -- not incidentally, given the accusations of racism against his candidate -- is black. Story continues The White House said US President Donald Trump had called Bolsonaro to congratulate him. "Both expressed a strong commitment to work side-by-side to improve the lives of the people of the United States and Brazil, and as regional leaders, of the Americas," White House spokeswoman Sarah Sanders said. Dubbed the "Tropical Trump" by some, Bolsonaro publicly admires the American leader. - Vow to fight - On the other side, the reaction was despair -- and a defiant vow to resist. Haddad, a former Sao Paulo mayor, said he would fight to "defend the freedoms of those 45 million people" who voted for him, after Bolsonaro vowed late in the campaign to "cleanse" Brazil of leftist "reds." Aides said Haddad, 55, had not called Bolsonaro to congratulate him. "Fascists!" shouted tearful supporters at the headquarters of Haddad's Workers' Party in Sao Paulo. "I'm surprised Brazilians would vote for hate, for guns," said Flavia Castelhanos, 31, after wiping away her tears, wearing a pin that said "Not him" -- opponents' rallying cry against Bolsonaro. Political analysts and activists reacted in grim tones. "This is a dark day for Brazil. Brazilian democracy is now in complete crisis," said Mark Weisbrot of the Center for Economic and Policy Research in Washington. The environmental group Amazon Watch warned victory for Bolsonaro -- who has vowed not to let conservation programs interfere with agro-industry -- "spells disaster for the Brazilian Amazon." - Rejection vote - Bolsonaro has offended many in Brazil and beyond with his vitriolic rhetoric. He once told a lawmaker he opposed that she "wasn't worth raping"; he has said he would rather see his sons die than come out as gay; and he commented after visiting one black community that they "do nothing -- they're so useless I doubt they can procreate." But an even larger portion of voters rejected Haddad and the tarnished legacy of the Workers' Party, which had won the past four presidential elections. The polls came on the heels of Brazil's worst-ever recession, a staggering multi-billion-dollar corruption scandal and a year of record-setting violent crime. Haddad stood as a surrogate for the popular -- but imprisoned -- ex-president Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, who led Brazil through the boom years of 2003 to 2010, before both the country and his left-wing political project went bust. The highly divisive Lula, who stands accused of masterminding the massive pilfering of state oil company Petrobras, was barred from running because he is serving a 12-year sentence for bribery. Center-right President Michel Temer, who is set to leave office as the most unpopular leader in Brazil's modern democracy, congratulated Bolsonaro and said the transition process would start Monday. Rio de Janeiro (AFP) - Jair Bolsonaro and Fernando Haddad, the night-and-day candidates for Brazil's presidential runoff election Sunday, have picked running mates as radically different as they are. Bolsonaro, a far-right ex-army captain known for heaping praise on Brazil's former military regime (1964-1985), has perhaps unsurprisingly tapped a retired general as his vice presidential pick. Haddad, a leftist academic, has meanwhile chosen a young communist and self-described "feminist and revolutionary." Here is a quick introduction to Hamilton Mourao, 65, and Manuela d'Avila, 37. - The general - Like front-runner Bolsonaro, who is known for his overtly misogynistic, racist and homophobic rhetoric, Mourao has a history of making controversial remarks. He has called the colonel who ran the military regime's torture chambers a "hero," and said the army may need to once again "impose a solution" in Brazil. Mourao was not Bolsonaro's first choice, but several bigger names turned him down. However, a month after joining the campaign, Mourao found himself thrust to the front line after an attacker stabbed Bolsonaro in the stomach at a rally on September 6. The attack forced Bolsonaro off the campaign trail, leaving Mourao to fill the gap. His statements have sometimes landed him in hot water with Bolsonaro's advisers -- something that would seem hard to do on this campaign. They had to rein him in when he suggested ending Brazilians' Christmas bonuses. The son of a general who played a key role in the 1964 military coup, Mourao was born in the southern city of Porto Alegre to a family with indigenous roots. That has not stopped him from making racist remarks about indigenous people and blacks, once saying Brazil suffered from its heritage of "Indian laziness and black craftiness." And last month, he caused an uproar when he said children raised by single mothers tended to join drug gangs. Story continues Mourao has made it clear he does not plan to be an ornamental VP. "I see myself as a highly qualified adviser to the president, a man who will be close to him in the Planalto Palace," he said Friday. - The feminist - D'Avila is running with the blessing of the man whose absence has shaped the campaign: popular but controversial ex-president Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, who is serving a 12-year jail term for corruption. On April 7, the day Lula handed himself in to start his sentence, the Workers' Party founder wrapped an arm around D'Avila at an emotional rally with supporters, calling her the "pretty young" face of the Brazilian left's future. D'Avila, a state lawmaker from the Communist Party of Brazil, does not usually like comments about her appearance. But she did not take umbrage this time. Lula "sees me as a woman who believes in politics and is part of a generation that is going to change it," she said later. She flirted with making a presidential run herself. But ultimately she waited. When Lula's own presidential comeback attempt failed in the courts, she teamed up with Haddad, who had been the former president's VP pick and stepped in to replace him. Smart and outspoken, D'Avila was elected at 23 to the city council of Porto Alegre -- she and Mourao share the same home town. Two years later, she won a seat in Congress. She served from 2007 to 2015, winning a second term with the most votes of anyone in the chamber. Returning home to serve in her state legislature in 2015, she sharply defended herself from critics when she was photographed breastfeeding her baby daughter on the assembly floor. "What about this picture draws people's attention? Women in a place of power, children in places of power. Politics is masculine and full of machismo, there's no space for women," she said. Douala (AFP) - Cameroon authorities have released around 50 opposition supporters detained in Douala, but also arrested others on Sunday in Yaounde, their party said. "They were freed," a member of Maurice Kamto's party, Movement for the Rebirth of Cameroon (MRC) told AFP in reference to those arrested Saturday during an unauthorised march called to protest the results of a presidential election on October 7. Kamto placed second in the poll with 14.23 percent of the vote behind President Paul Biya, who has ruled Cameroon for 35 years and was credited with 71.28 percent. One of those arrested on Saturday was taken to hospital after he "fell from a police vehicle", a relative said. Meanwhile, other MRC supporters were arrested Sunday in the capital Yaounde, Kamto spokesman Olivier Bibou-Nissack said. "Several peaceful supporters arrested on the plaza of the Notre Dame of Yaounde cathedral this morning," he wrote on social media. Opposition figure Michele Ndoki was among those detained the day before. She is one of Kamto's lawyers who protested before the Constitutional Council against "massive and systematic fraud" during the election. On Friday, government minister Paul Atanga Nji warned that "any attempts to disturb the public order will be met with the greatest firmness. "With the proclamation of the results, the process has ended," Nji said, before adding that "public demonstrations must now take place in conditions set by law." Protest permit requests are often rejected, however. Ruth Gomez had been calling home to her mother in Honduras every evening, but it was a bittersweet experience. It was good to let her know she was safe, but it was painful too, to speak to her and especially to her four-year-old son and seven-year-old daughter. Earlier this month, Ms Gomez and two of her brothers heard about the migrant caravan on television and decided on the spot to join. Now, they were preparing to spend the night in a small park overlooking the town of Pijijiapan, where they had put a white flag that fluttered in the cooling breeze and was inscribed with the words May peace and God be with us. There are no opportunities for us in Honduras, she said, wiping away tears as she talked of the decision to leave her children and showing a photograph of them. I do not think it will be easy to cross [the US border], but also not impossible. The testimony of Ms Gomez, which mirrors that of so many migrants making this journey, stands in contrast to a belief held by some in the US that the 10,000 people who set off from countries such as Honduras, El Salvador and Guatemala, had nothing to lose. In truth, thousands are leaving behind parents, spouses and children. But they are calculating that the pain and danger is worth the chance of a better life. All three countries suffer from poverty and devastating violence, much of it connected to gangs and the illicit, deadly trade that feeds the US market for illegal drugs. El Salvador and Honduras frequently top the list of nations outside of a war zone with the highest murder rate per capita. Ms Gomez said her childrens father was no longer on the scene. This made her more determined to be able to provide for her son Dorian and daughter Alejandra. She had worked in Tegucigalpa, doing bar work and other jobs, but it was not enough to raise a family. When it was suggested to her she was being brave by embarking on a journey of more than 2,000 miles, she said: I feel I am not brave because I left the children behind. Story continues She added: Our education system is not good. And if the children need to go a doctor, I cannot take them. She said she told her children she was leaving she did not know for how long and believed her daughter understood. She said her mother Daisy supported her decision and was looking after them. While the caravan, making its way slowly northwards under blistering sun and in exhausting humidity, contains people from many countries, the majority appear to be from Honduras, which has an average GDP per capita of a little under $2,500. Jose Hernandez came from the northern coastal city of La Ceiba. He too had left behind three children, two of whom were being cared for by his ex-wife, and a son his mother was looking after. He said he had worked in construction and as a carpenter but daily wages for such jobs ranged from $8-13 (6.25-10.15). Jose Hernandez on the road to the US (Andrew Buncombe) We have no work. Everything is broken, he said, sitting with friends outside a convenience store in Pijijiapan, as they hoped to grab a ride. He said he had friends in Houston who entered the US legally, which he wanted to do. Those who could not enter legally had to resort to coyotes or people smugglers, who charged between $3,000-$4,500. How could somebody in Honduras afford such an amount? You sell everything you have your phone, your house, everything. Because the idea is you will be able to replace it when you get to the other side. He added: Sometimes, you can pay half in advance and then half when you get there In the case of Trump [threatening to shut the border], I have a lot of faith in God. I hope that hes going to say Here is your opportunity. In a large warehouse on the outskirts of the city where the migrants were spending the night, a 45-year-old woman from Honduras called Wilma Benetiz said she had left behind all but one of her seven children, a nine-year-old girl called Roxany. The oldest of her children were looking after the younger ones while she tried to enter the US. I am a single mother, she said. I cannot find any work. Sitting next to her was Maria Suyapa, 36, who had joined the caravan with a nephew. She said she had fallen foul of money lenders in the city of San Marcos de Colon when she tried to build a house, and ended up owing them $10,000. There was no way she could make that kind of money in Honduras. I dont have a visa but I have to get to the US to pay off this debt. On Sunday, the Associated Press said the caravan had reached the city of Tapanatepec, where organisers urged them to rest, following an incident late on Saturday night when a man was beaten while trying to distribute food, and it was wrongly rumoured he had tried to grab hold of a child to protect himself. Municipal security chief Raul Medina Melendez said some in the crowd grew upset when a man with a megaphone urged them to line up and wait their turn for sandwiches and water. The migrants have been getting up as early as possible, some at 1am, but almost all before dawn, in order to walk as far as possible before the sun rises. When the sun gets really hot between the hours of 11am-2pm, they cover their heads with towels or hats, or shades made from strips of cardboard boxes. Ms Gomez, the woman resting on the hillside, said the worst part of the journey had been the three days they spent at the border between Guatemala and Mexico, waiting to cross. The best part had been the reaction the migrants received from ordinary Mexicans, whom themselves live in a a poor region of the country. People had provided food and water, and allowed them to bathe in their homes, she said. I want to work, she said, when asked what was inspiring her to get up every morning and spend 12 hours walking or trying to hitch a ride. I want to be able to provide for my two children that I had to leave in Honduras. Additional reporting Hans-Maximo Musielik he United States (US) and European Union (EU) have issued statements requesting the Government to act according to the constitution. However, Ranil Wickremesinghe continues to pursue his claim as the Prime Minister and that his removal was unconstitutional. Both the removal and the new appointment are published in the Government Gazette. Articles (sections/Art) herein are as amended by the 19th Amendment to the Constitution. There are two possible arguments establishing the correctness and the constitutionality of the act of the President in appointing Mahinda Rajapaksa as the Prime Minister. Argument 1 The President is the Head of the State, Head of the Executive and of the Government, and the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces (Art.30). He gets executive power directly from the people at the Presidential Election. Peoples Sovereign power of franchise is exercised at the election of the President (Art.4) Sovereignty of the people is inalienable (Art.3). The People entrust executive power to the President with the expectation that he would use such powers for their benefit: This is a fundamental duty and the responsibility of the President. The Constitution vests in the president the authority to decide the best manner in which such powers are to be executed through the machinery of the Government. Therefore, the constitution confers sole authority on the President (the head of Government) to decide as to the composition of the Cabinet of Ministers. The Cabinet of Ministers is charged with the direction and control of the Government (Art. 42(1). The cabinet is collectively responsible and answerable to Parliament (Art. 42(2). The President is a member and also the Head of the Cabinet (Art. 42(3). In order to empower the President with the maximum liberty and authority, the constitution vests in him the discretion to decide the Prime-Minister. Article 42(4) provides as follows: The President shall appoint as Prime Minister the Member of Parliament, who, in the Presidents opinion, is most likely to command the confidence of Parliament The opinion of the President cannot be questioned or tested. He is expected to evaluate the prevailing condition and decide the person in the best interest of the people and the country. The President is expected to take into consideration all the circumstances and information at his hand in formulating his opinion. He who has apparent authority to Command parliament may not be the same person who can command the confidence of Parliament. In the present scenario, Ranil Wickremesinghe claims that Parliamentary majority is still with him. He does it by taking a physical count of the number of parliamentarians of his party. He assumes that he has the commanding authority over his party members of parliament. On the other hand the President may have evaluated the confidence of the members on different grounds. He can consider other sources of information such as intelligence reports to do a practical evaluation. In other words the constitution expects the President to apply as an objective test in formulating his opinion. Finally the President seems to have held the opinion that Mahinda Rajapake (MR) commands the confidence of Parliament. The correctness of Presidents opinion can be witnessed with the increasing number of UNP members declaring their willingness to support MR. Confidence in the constitution is based on the free will of the members. Such confidence reflected in Article 42(4) is different from the number of party parliamentarians on whom an artificial force a leader of a party may employ. The best precedent is the appointment of RW (himself) in January 2015, when UNP was still having only few seats in the Parliament. Ranil was appointed even without officially removing the incumbent Prime Minister, D. M. Jayaratne. Ranil accepted the portfolio without any allegation of any procedural unconstitutionality. Thereafter the new cabinet was appointed. Today he faces the same situation as Jayaratne did in 2015. Therefore RW is stopped from criticizing the same procedure as unconstitutional, from which he benefitted in 2015. Logically there cannot be two members in the parliament who can command the confidence of Parliament simultaneously. Therefore, with the appointment of MR as the Prime Minister, the removal of RW happens automatically. Principles of interpretation of laws provide that whenever any law gives powers to appoint, it includes the powers to remove also. This principle is embodied into section 14(f) of the Interpretation Ordinance of Sri Lanka. Therefore it is clear that the President has lawfully appointed MR as the Prime Minister in terms of Article 42(4) of the Constitution read with section 14(f) of the Interpretation Ordinance. When the Prime Minister ceases to hold office by removal or otherwise, the Cabinet of Ministers shall become dissolved by operation of Article 48. However, there is a crucial discrepancy between the Sinhala and English texts of the Constitutions. The word removal is stated only in the Sinhala text. When there is an inconsistency between two texts, the law directs to consider the Sinhala version as prevailing over the English text. The act of removal of PM can only be done by the President. Such removal is constitutionally recognized in Articles 47 and 48 (Sinhala text). Therefore with the publication of the Gazette removing RW from the office of Prime Minister, the Cabinet also became dissolved by operation of Article 48. Therefore there is no cabinet of ministers functioning under the premiership of RW from October 26, 2018. Argument 2 Ranil Wickremesinghe seems to be relying on Article 46(2) of the constitution, which reads as follows; The Prime Minister shall continue to hold office throughout the period during which the Cabinet of Ministers continues to function under the provisions of the Constitution unless he- (a) Resigns his office by a writing under his hand addressed to the President; or (b) Ceases to be a Member of Parliament. It is argued prima facie-that this Article leaves no room here to remove the Prime Minister. Even if Article 46(2) was treated in isolation, still it is subject to the condition throughout the period during which the Cabinet of Ministers continues to function... It means once the cabinet was dissolved(for whatever reason) the Prime Minister too would cease to hold office by operation of law. Until October 26, 2018, Sri Lanka was governed by a (purported) National Government, which was created with the passing of the following resolution of the Parliament on September 3, 2015. Whereas the UNP, which obtained the highest number of seats in Parliament has formed a National Government, Parliament determines in terms of Article 46(4) of the Constitution of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka that the number of Ministers in the Cabinet of Ministers shall not exceed 48 and the number of Ministers who are not Cabinet Ministers and the number of Deputy Ministers shall not exceed 45. National Government means a Government formed by the recognized political party or the independent group which obtains the highest number of seats in Parliament together with the other recognized political parties or the independent groups (Art. 46(5). The previous cabinet exceeded the limit of 30 under the authority of the Parliament obtained under the aforesaid resolution passed in terms of Article 46(4) of the Constitution. The largest constituent party joined UNP to form the national government was SLFP, which again is a constituent of UPFA. On October 26, 2018, the UPFA withdrew from the national government. As a result the Parliamentary sanction granted under Article 46(4) to the UNP to maintain a cabinet of ministers above the limit of 30 also came to an end. In such circumstances, the cabinet of Ministers ceased to have constitutional authority to function from October 26, 2018. Accordingly in terms of Article 46(2), Ranil Wickremesinghe, Prime Minister (of the National Government) discontinued to hold office from that date. Therefore in the absence of a Prime Minister and a Cabinet of Ministers the President had no legal obstacle to appoint Mahinda Rajapaksa as the next Prime Minister of Sri Lanka. Appointment of Cabinet of Ministers As the present portfolios are structured to meet the requirements of a National Government, they have to be redefined in compliance with Article 43(1) to meet conditions of a non-National Government. In doing so, the President has to consult the Prime Minister. President appoints ministers on the advice of the PM (Art 43(2). The President will not incline to consult or get advice from Ranil as his recognition as PM is now ended. President has already issued official advice to the state officials confirming the dissolution of the previous cabinet of ministers. Therefore, the appointment of Mahinda Rajapaksa as the new Prime Minister is both lawful and consistent with the constitution. On the other hand there is no legal basis in the claims of Ranil Wickremesinghe. The sun rises over the South African bush as scientists laden with backpacks climb a hillside. They get down to work, carving into two immense blocks of stone that have concealed the secrets of an ancestor of modern-day crocodiles for some 200 million years. Jonah Choiniere and his team from Johannesburg's Witwatersrand University had tracked the reptile from another age for three years. The search brought them to a stretch of farmland in the central town of Rosendal, where they are surrounded by cattle and impalas. "In 2015, one of my students just saw a few (fossilised) bones coming out," said Choiniere, his shirt sticking to sweat from the morning's hike. "We started to excavate it and we brought it back to the lab and it turned out to be a hip of a species we've never seen before," said the palaeontologist, who is originally from the United States. The delicate excavation process at the site is grindingly slow and continues today. Before being extracted, the stone surrounding a fossil is carefully enveloped in a protective layer of plaster. After five hours of drying time, the stone is chiselled free, lifted by three strong people, and then transported by road nearly 300 kilometres (185 miles) to Johannesburg into the expert hands of Wilfred Bilankulu. "My job is to make the fossils visible," said the former fine arts student. "I'm taking off the jacket that has been put in place around the fossil, and after I prepare them using dental tools." - Rare specimen - The herculean task will take between eight and 12 months. A similar amount of time will be needed to meticulously examine, compare and describe the find. Choiniere expected a bountiful haul even before he had the discovery in hand. "This is a pretty good harvest for us. We didn't know what to expect when we came into this quarry... I can say it's much better than what we were expecting, very promising," he said. Story continues Given the bones already uncovered, Choiniere's research student Rick Tolchard can barely hide his excitement. He knows he is in the presence of a rare specimen, the improbable forefather of the crocodile family which today stalks African waterways. "Two hundred and fifty to 200 million years ago, these animals were the dominant land carnivores and they were found all over the world... (but) in South Africa we don't have a record of them," he said. "Some of them were, I imagine, sort of like a crocodile crossed with a lion, a very large quadrupedal, legs under the body, with these massive big jaws -- a very intimidating animal. "The one here would have stood on his hind legs, it would have looked more like a theropod dinosaur, almost like a raptor." In recent years, South Africa has become a top destination for dinosaur hunters. Just an hour's drive from the Rosendal farm, Choiniere's team has already unearthed fossils belonging to a newly discovered type of dinosaur that roamed the earth 200 million years ago. - 'Giant thunderclap at dawn' - Measuring four metres (13 feet) to the shoulder and weighing 12 tonnes -- twice the weight of a modern elephant -- the giant herbivore known in the local Sesotho language as Ledumahadi mafube ("a giant thunderclap at dawn") shook up the family tree of extinct monsters. Choiniere said it could well be "the first of the true giants". The beast is a forerunner of the 60-tonne sauropods familiar from Steven Spielberg's blockbuster "Jurassic Park" series. Experts say the southern tip of Africa is an ideal place to study the transition between the Triassic and Jurassic periods, when mass extinction events shaped the evolution of the planet. "One of the reasons is that about 66 percent of the surface of South Africa has fossils on it -- there are a lot of fossil-bearing areas," Choiniere said. "We don't get much rainfall, especially in the interior, so we have areas that erode rapidly -- and that erosion exposes fossils." "It's phenomenal, it's really great," said palaeontology masters candidate Cebisa Mdekazi, a young student flying the flag for the next generation of South African palaeontologists. "It also instills pride for your country -- you have all those amazing things in our country, and we can show the world." Her professor, Choiniere, is far from finished with South Africa. "Every time we go out into the field and we dig something up, there's a pretty good chance that it might be something new," Mdekazi said. "It's dinosaur country, and there's no way we'll ever finish the work in my lifetime." Elizabeth Warren has been criticized for claiming Native American heritage. To what extent should things that happened over three decades ago matter to the fitness of candidates for high office? Elizabeth Warrens partisan critics are showing a good dose of hypocrisy in answering that question. This is the same crowd who, in supporting Brett Kavanaughs Supreme Court appointment, were quick to ignore decades-old allegations of sexual misconduct when he was in high school and college. At the same time, they just cant seem to let go of Elizabeth Warrens far less serious ancient history of deciding to list herself in a law faculty directory as having Native American heritage. Even as the Senate decided to confirm Kavanaugh for the Supreme Court, Elizabeth Warren struggles with continued controversy over honestly identifying herself as of Native American descent based on what she had been repeatedly told by her parents and grandparents growing up. There is no evidence that she received special treatment in any hiring decisions based on this affiliation. On the contrary, scores of her colleagues have stated that she was recruited for faculty jobs based on her emerging reputation as a standout teacher and writer. She was viewed as a Caucasian in fact one schools admissions committee went to pains to explain why the school was hiring Warren instead of a minority candidate. As one who grew up in southeast Kansas near Warrens native Oklahoma, my grandmother and father also claimed Cherokee blood. A good number of the families whose ancestors came from that area did. I may have even checked the Native American box when my law school asked about my racial or ethnic heritage, as schools did during that time under federal civil rights regulations. If I did like Warren I simply would have been answering a question honestly based on what my family had told me not to qualify for a preference. One decision led to a string of attacks Senator Warrens fateful decision has become the catalyst for a barrage of hateful, personal Pocahontas attacks, invoking offensive caricatures of Native Americans as palm-to-mouth whooping savages. Our President has led the stampede, going so far as to challenge Senator Warren to take a DNA test. She took the test and guess what, her DNA does shows Native American ancestry, though too far distant to satisfy her detractors. They are now suggesting that the DNA test proves she is playing the identity card. Story continues In fact, she has never tried to use Native American roots for political or professional advantage. This whole inane issue flared up in 2012 when her Senate opponent started using it against her. She has been defending herself against it ever since. If Warren has made a mistake, it is in wasting time trying to silence the nudniks who are having too much fun playing their contemporary version of cowboys and Indians. Far more important than the DNA test, is the video which the Warren campaign released in conjunction with the test results. This compelling video tells the story of what it was like for Warren growing up in a struggling working-class family in Americas heartland. It includes testimonials from her family members as well as glowing reviews from the many distinguished scholars she worked with over the years who attested to her academic excellence. Warren bootstrapped herself from Oklahomas public schools to teach at the most elite educational institutions in the world. In stark contrast to the privileged backgrounds of many of her critics whose rich families and ancestors most surely gave them preferences not enjoyed by the rest of us, the video shows a Senator and potential presidential candidate who can truly sympathize with our struggling middle class because she is authentically one of them. People can agree or disagree with Elizabeth Warrens policies. But no one should think for a New York minute that she somehow succeeded because of a minority preference. East coast elites may refuse to think that someone from a working family in a flyover state could make it to the Harvard Law faculty without special help, but in that, they are showing their own coastal bias. The only leg up Elizabeth Warrens ancestry gave her was a genetic proclivity to hard work and whip-smart thinking. In the true American tradition, she got to where she is all on her own. Sheila Bair is the former Chair of the FDIC and has held senior appointments in both Republican and Democrat Administrations. She currently serves as a board member or advisor to a several companies and is a founding board member of the Volcker Alliance, a nonprofit established to rebuild trust in government. Read more: Vulnerability in Americas lower income brackets poses a risk to the economy China thinks long-term on financial stability so should we Former FDIC chair: Why we shouldnt ban bitcoin Sheila Bair: Trump is going after the Bill of Rights Former FDIC chair: The Fed needs to get serious about its own digital currency Moscow (AFP) - Dozens of demonstrators were arrested during protests in Moscow and Saint Petersburg on Sunday, calling for the release of 10 young Russians jailed for extremism and an "attempted coup d'etat". In Saint Petersburg, Russia's second-largest city, an AFP journalist saw 20 protesters arrested during the non-authorised demonstration which brought dozens of people into the city centre. According to independent monitor OVD-Info, 18 people were arrested in Moscow and 40 in Saint Petersburg during Sunday's protests. Some of those held were holding placards with messages saying, "Kremlin: give back your hostages" and accusing the FSB security service of fabricating the case against the 10 youths. "I came here to support those arrested because they should be allowed to walk free. If we just stay on the internet nothing will change," 20-tear-old protester Ekaterina Annenkova told AFP in Saint Petersburg. In Moscow some 200 people rallied in front of the FSB headquarters in Lubianka Square where several people were arrested. "I would never have believed that such a thing could happen to me and my child. And that means it could happen to anybody," said Julia Pavlikova, the mother of a girl charged in the case. "One morning they knocked on the door and took away my child," she said. In March, the 10 youths were arrested and accused of an "attempted coup d'etat" and the creation of an "extremist organisation" because of online conversations on the messaging app Telegram. According to their lawyers, the FSB itself was involved in setting up the online group, whose stated goal was to "return Russia to its former greatness". The case has become a symbol of the increasing crackdown on internet users, often teenagers, and the posting of "extremist" material, even those who just share or 'like' messages deemed offensive. Similar protests also took place in other Russian cities, notably in Rostov in the south, according to OVD-Info. In August two of the accused, aged 17 and 19 at the time of their arrest, were released from prison and placed under house arrest for health reasons. Paris (AFP) - The Eiffel Tower will go dark at midnight on Sunday "to honour victims of the anti-Semitic attack" in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, Paris Paris Mayor Anne Hidalgo said on Twitter. "I express my support for the Jewish community and all of Pittsburgh's inhabitants," she added. The rampage on Saturday took the lives of 11 people at the Tree of Life synagogue in Pittsburgh's predominantly Jewish Squirrel Hill neighbourhood. Robert Bowers, 46, has been charged in the shooting. The lights on the iconic Paris landmark, one of the world's best-known and most-visited monuments, has been switched off several times in the past following terror attacks around the world. Criminal complaint against Cesar Altieri Sayoc offers inside look at speedy search for person behind suspicious packages A white van seized during an investigation into a series of parcel bombs is towed into FBI headquarters in Miramar, Florida. Photograph: Joe Skipper/Reuters A single fingerprint left on a package posted to a Democratic congresswoman was the key to a speedy end to the manhunt for the pipe bomber terrorizing the United States. The criminal complaint outlining charges against Cesar Altieri Sayoc, an avowed Trump supporter, reveals how the FBI lab in Quantico, Virginia, linked a fingerprint on the package sent to Maxine Waters to him. Investigators were also able to use traces of DNA on two devices to connect Sayoc to the 13 pipe bombs sent to various politicians and public figures who had been critical of Trump. Sayoc, who was arrested in southern Florida earlier on Friday, left some DNA on a piece of the improvised explosive device (IED) inside the package that had been sent to Waters on 24 October as well as on a piece of the IED inside the package sent to Barack Obama on 23 October. FBI technicians were able to make a DNA association to Sayoc with what investigators found in the Waters and Obama package from a sample on file with the Florida department of law enforcement, the complaint states. While the FBI was not able to identify any other possible matches to him from the other packages, the complaint said they are largely identical with respect to size and shape. In addition, approximately six self-adhesive American flag postage stamps are located on the top right corner of each of the Packages, the return address for each of the Packages is the same, and the sender and target-recipient address labels on each of the Packages are substantially similar in terms of color, size, and font. Five of the packages were posted through the US Postal Services Opa-Locka mail processing center between 18 and 20 October, which is in the county where Sayoc lived. Investigators also tracked down a social media account under the name Cesar Altieri which contained matching misspellings. According to the complaint, each package had a return sender of Debbie Wasserman Shultz (sic), from a specific address in Florida. Its unclear if the address listed is of an actual office of Schultz, a congresswoman and former head of the Democratic National Committee. In addition to misspelling Schultz, each package misspelled Florida as Florids. None of the identifying information was handwritten it was all typed in black ink on white paper. The packages themselves were simplistic in appearance: plain tan- manila envelopes lined in bubble wrap. The IEDs were all similar in design and construction as well, consisting of six inches of PVC pipe, a small clock, a battery, wiring, and energetic material. Some of the packages included photographs of the targeted recipients with a red X over their faces, including those to Barack Obama and the Democratic mega-donor George Soros. Miami (AFP) - Yraida Guanipa did time for drug-related offenses and was released more than 10 years ago, but she still is not eligible to vote in the US midterm elections on November 6. She is not alone: in Florida, there are 1.5 million people who cannot vote -- more than 10 percent of its adult population -- because the Sunshine State strips felons of their voting rights. "It makes us feel like we are not citizens. Like we are another class of people, an inferior group that cannot speak," said Guanipa, who is 56. Technically, the restriction dates back to the post-Civil War period. Thwarted by the US Congress, which forced states to grant full civic rights to former slaves, Florida lawmakers opted to bar felons from voting -- a disproportionate number of whom were freed blacks. At that time, "lawmakers -- especially in the South -- implemented a slew of criminal laws designed to target black citizens," according to Erin Kelley, a voting rights and elections expert at the Brennan Center for Justice at the New York University School of Law. The controversial clause in Florida's state constitution, which today affects blacks and Latinos in particular, is on the ballot in November. Amendment 4 would automatically restore voting rights to felons who have completed their sentences, paid restitution and fulfilled their parole or probation -- except those convicted of murder or sex crimes. - Slow process - Guanipa got out of prison in 2007 after serving nearly 12 years for her drug conviction. "I started to see what this country is really all about and the things that we have to change," said Guanipa, who was born in Venezuela and is a nationalized US citizen. She spoke with AFP at the YG Institute in Miami, an organization she founded to help other ex-cons transition to life outside prison. Currently, felons must wait a minimum of five years after completing their sentences to apply for restoration of their voting rights. Story continues Defenders of the status quo like Richard Harrison, of the Florida Rights Coalition, says the new amendment fails to take into consideration the harm done to victims, the felon's post-release conduct and other factors. But critics say the current process -- and a review by a clemency board -- is slow and arbitrary. Some ex-cons say the process can take decades. "In my case, I could be dead before I could vote again," said Guanipa. - Why it matters - Nationwide, six million people cannot vote because of their criminal records. Florida, a swing state that also plays a key role in national elections, has the largest number of those. If Amendment 4 is passed, which polls suggest is likely, 1.5 million more Floridians will be granted the right to vote in 2020 -- date of the next presidential election. But which party would benefit the most? "The common assumption is that a large portion of these disenfranchised felons would lean Democratic," said Susan MacManus, a political analyst at the University of Southern Florida. But Gregory Koger, a professor of political science at the University of Miami, told AFP the implications were less clear-cut -- noting that those with a high school degree or less tend to vote Republican. "They would have to register to vote and then actually turn out to vote. It is not clear how many would do so," Koger told AFP. - 'Completely unfair and un-American' - Earlier this year, a federal judge said the clemency board's system of restoring voting rights was unconstitutional, as its decisions were arbitrary, and ordered the board to set specific criteria. That case is now under appeal. Guanipa is one of the plaintiffs. "It remains the worst voting rights crisis in America," said Jon Sherman, an attorney with the Fair Elections Center, which is representing the plaintiffs. "There is no level of disenfranchisement or voter suppression anywhere close to the level at which Florida disenfranchises people with felony convictions for years and decades of their life, even after they've done everything that the criminal justice system requires of them," he said. "And it's completely unfair and un-American and unconstitutional." Critics say the current Florida system is purposefully racist. Today, more than one in every five African Americans in Florida (21 percent) cannot vote, according to the Sentencing Project. Experts say no such studies have been carried out for Latinos. But they cite a 2003 investigation carried out in 10 states by Latino legal defense group MALDEF that concluded that Hispanics are disenfranchised at a higher rate than the general population. "The law was passed to deny blacks the right to vote. We Latinos were not here," said Guanipa. "But when we got here, they said, 'OK, let's take it away from them, too.'" (Reuters) - Epic Games, the creator of video game sensation "Fortnite", said on Friday it received $1.25 billion in funding from investors, including KKR & Co Inc, Iconiq Capital and Smash Ventures. "Fortnite," a sort of hybrid of "The Hunger Games" and "Minecraft," drops 100 people onto an island to fight each other for survival. The tactical tournament game, whose first version was released in 2017, has been called an industry "game-changer" by analysts as it signed up tens of millions of users for its last-player-standing "Battle Royale" format. Epic Games is valued at almost $15 billion as part of the new investment round, the Wall Street Journal reported on Friday, citing people familiar with the matter. The company declined to comment on its valuation or any plans to go public when contacted by Reuters. Epic, which counts Tencent, Walt Disney Co and Endeavor among its minority shareholders, was estimated to be worth $4.5 billion by Jefferies analyst Tim O'Shea in May. Rival video game makers Activision Blizzard, the creator of "Call of Duty," and "Grand Theft Auto" owner Take-Two Interactive lost billions of dollars in market value earlier this year as investors took note of Fortnite's ability to wring cash from players. (Reporting by Vibhuti Sharma in Bengaluru; Editing by James Emmanuel and Arun Koyyur) A now-deleted account in the name of alleged Pittsburgh shooter Robert Gowers on Gab The social network on which the alleged Pittsburgh shooter spewed vile antisemitic conspiracy theories is finding itself at the centre of unwelcome scrutiny. Robert Bowers, accused of killing 11 Jewish people at the Tree of Life synagogue, was a paying pro member of Gab and posted on his profile before the attack. After accusing a Jewish charity of bringing in invaders that kill our people, the 46-year-old allegedly wrote: I cant sit by and watch my people get slaughtered. Screw your optics, Im going in. Inspection of the Gab account in his name showed months of antisemitic and racist posts that had been allowed to remain online. The firm deleted the profile hours after the attack and vowed to help law enforcement, but service companies have started pulling support. PayPal swiftly banned Gab from its platform, as did the payment processing site Stripe, while cloud hosting company Joyent said it would suspend the site from Monday meaning it could be down for weeks. Chief technical officer Ekrem Buyukkaya also announced his resignation as chief technical officer on Sunday, citing relentless attacks from the American press. For anyone monitoring Gab since it was founded by a Donald Trump supporter in August 2016, the question is not why this backlash is happening but why it took so long. The firm describes itself as a network aiming to empower free speech and expression, but it was started explicitly as a response to the suspension of far-right accounts on Facebook and Twitter. Earning the nickname Twitter for racists because of its similarity to the social network, Gab has become a haven for extremists kicked off mainstream sites. It plays host to right-wing fanatics of all variations, from white supremacists to neo-Nazis, Islamophobes, white genocide conspiracy theorists, ethno-nationalists and incels. The majority of Gabs users operate individually or post to informal groups dedicated to various interests, including Ban Islam, The Donald and alt-right conspiracy theory QAnon. Story continues It is also the home of organised extremist groups, including Britain First and Generation Identity, which have been removed from other platforms. The account said to belong to Mr Bowers is just one of many centred on antisemitic ideology and Holocaust denial. With a profile description reading Jews are the children of satan, posts included conspiracy theories about Hungarian-American philanthropist George Soros and insults directed at Donald Trump. Peppered with racial slurs, he accused the US president, whose daughter converted to Judaism before marrying Jared Kushner, of ignoring a Jewish infestation. In the days leading up to the shooting, the account in Mr Bowers name started posting about the caravan of Central American migrants currently journeying towards the US. A series of reposts included claims that Jewish people were responsible for the caravan, which was alleged to contain huge mobs of illiterate brutal murderers, as well as the European refugee crisis. Jewish groups using their trucks to transport invaders to our border? one post shared on the profile asked. A shared video showed the group named in Mr Bowers last message travelling to the US southern border and calling for humanitarian aid for migrants and asylum seekers. Another repost, from 11 days before the synagogue attack, called on white people to stand up now and stop all immigration and multiculturalism. Patrik Hermansson, a researcher at counter-extremism group Hope Not Hate, said Mr Bowers appeared to have engaged with conspiratorial antisemitic groups on the platform for months. His Gab profile also reveals something of his radicalisation path, he added, citing a February 2018 post where the user stated he was watching eye-opening videos. Profile banners over the last months have included the number 1488 a symbol referencing the white supremacist phrase 14 words, with 88 code for HH, meaning Heil Hitler. Another showed a close-up of a shooting range target, while posts claimed to show Mr Bowers stockpile of guns. On 21 June 2018, a post read: Lord, make me fast and accurate. Let my aim be true and my hand faster than those who would seek to destroy me. Grant me victory over my foes and those that wish to do harm to me and mine. Let not my last thought be If only I had my gun and Lord if today is truly the day that You call me home, let me die in a pile of brass. Robert Bowers has been charged with killing 11 people at the Tree of Life Synagogue (AFP) After allegedly carrying out the synagogue massacre, Mr Bowers is said to have voiced the theories that appeared on his Gab account to police officers. A charging document states that he told them that he wanted all Jews to die and also that they were committing genocide to his people. The account in Mr Bowers name shared neo-Nazi content from numerous users who remain online, although a small number of profiles appear to have been deleted since the attack. It interacted with a group called GabStapo, which describes itself as aware of the deadly threat Jews pose to our very existence and is still active with more than 800 members. One called Mr Bowers a brave fallen comrade and praised his alleged actions above and beyond the call of duty. While failing to condemn him outright, other neo-Nazis suggested the massacre would hinder efforts to win over the wider population with the nationalist socialist message, and said it provided a propaganda bonanza for the Jews. One self-declared moderate antisemite disavowed Mr Bowers alleged actions but only because he was said not to practice real antisemitism. The same user had called for the removal of every n***** from the European continent shortly before. Gab, which allows paying pro members to become verified, monetise their posts and broadcast live videos, has previously fought battles with Apple, Twitter, Google Play and Microsoft Azure after they refused to host its content. An example of accounts whose posts were shared by the alleged Pittsburgh shooter but remain online Supporters have defended the network, claiming it is being unfairly punished when other mass murderers and terrorists have had accounts on Twitter and Facebook. But while those social networks proactively take down extremist content and have increasingly robust reporting processes, on Gab there is no option to flag racist and antisemitic posts if they do not directly threaten violence. A statement from the company said it unequivocally disavows and condemns all acts of terrorism and violence and was saddened and disgusted by the news of violence in Pittsburgh. But founder and CEO Andrew Torba has so far been unapologetic and claimed our community are all under attack. The Trump supporter said he would never give up on defending free speech for all people and vowed find a way to keep Gab online. God is on our side. Never forget that. God is on Gab. Pray. Never give up hope. Keep fighting for freedom, Mr Torba wrote, appealing directly to Mr Trump for his support. I helped get him elected, he claimed. In 2016 across all of my accounts I had billions of impressions supporting and defending him and America. Whether the president answers his call or not, Gab could ultimately profit from the horror in Pittsburgh. As Mr Torba noted: We have probably the most traffic we have ever had. The Independent contacted Gab but did not receive a reply at the time of publication. Tbilisi (AFP) - Presidential elections in Georgia, seen as a crucial test for the increasingly unpopular ruling party, have gone to a run-off, preliminary results showed on Monday. With tallies from nearly all precincts counted, ruling-party backed candidate, ex-French ambassador Salome Zurabishvili, narrowly led with 38.66 percent of the vote, compared with 37.7 percent for opposition leader Grigol Vashadze, the central election commission said. A candidate needs to win 50 percent plus one vote to be elected in the first round, so a run-off will be held by December 1, the commission said. Official turnout was nearly 47 percent at 2000 local time (1600 GMT) on Sunday, when the polls closed, the commission added. The presidential campaign saw the ruling party and the opposition cross arms in a prelude to their decisive stand-off during parliamentary polls scheduled for 2020. If elected, Vashadze has promised to mount a campaign for a snap parliamentary vote. - Rival diplomats - Zurabishvili, a stylish 66-year-old independent MP, is the daughter of refugees who fled Georgia in 1921 for Paris after the country's annexation by the Red Army. Her career in France's foreign service culminated in a posting to Tbilisi. Then president Mikheil Saakashvili appointed her foreign minister -- with the approval of France's president at the time Jacques Chirac. But Zurabishvili quickly made enemies among the parliamentary majority, with MPs and some senior diplomats publicly accusing her of arrogance and impulsiveness. She was sacked after a year in the job, though thousands took to the streets of the capital to protest her dismissal. She then joined the opposition and became one of Saakashvili's fiercest critics. Her main rival Vashadze -- backed by exiled Saakashvili's United National Movement (UNM) and 10 other groups -- has been boosted by growing popular discontent over the government's failure to tackle poverty. He is a respected career diplomat who served in the Soviet foreign ministry where he helped craft the Soviet-US treaty on the reduction and limitation of strategic weapons. He was Saakashvili's foreign minister from 2008-2012. Story continues Vashadze, 60, is married to the celebrated prima ballerina Nina Ananiashvili. - Last direct ballot - Both candidates have promised to lead Georgia closer to full membership in the European Union and NATO. The tiny Black Sea nation has knocked on NATO's doors for more than a decade but the bloc has not yet put Tbilisi on a path to formal membership, despite a pledge in 2008 that it would at some point be admitted. During a fraught campaign, Vashadze criticised the "informal oligarch rule" of Bidzina Ivanishvili, Georgian Dream's billionaire leader. Georgia's richest man, Ivanishvili stepped down as premier in 2013 after just a year in office, but he is widely believed to still be the country's de facto ruler. On the campaign trail, Zurabishvili and Georgian Dream slammed the UNM for alleged human rights abuses during its previous term in power. The vote is to be Georgia's last direct presidential poll as it transitions to a parliamentary regime. The new head of state will be a largely ceremonial figure, and their successor is to be elected in 2024 by a 300-member electoral college. More than 3.5 million people were eligible to vote in the election, which was monitored by international observers from the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe. BERLIN (Reuters) - Germany's center-left Social Democrats (SPD), hurt in a regional election in Hesse on Sunday, are planning a new roadmap for their national government with conservative Chancellor Angela Merkel, party leader Andrea Nahles said. The SPD will then use the roadmap to measure the progress of the coalition, in which it is junior partner to Merkel's conservative alliance, at a mid-term review next year - half-way through the parliamentary term. "We could then gauge the implementation of this roadmap at the agreed mid-term review, when we would be able to clearly see if this government is the right place for us," Nahles told reporters. (Writing by Paul Carrel; Editing by Joseph Nasr) here were three dramatic announcements on the evening of Friday October 26, 2018 from the Presidential Secretariat, which occurred in the following order: (a) the announcement of the withdrawal of the UPFA from the government; (b) the swearing-in of Mahinda Rajapaksa before President Maithripala Sirisena as the Prime Minister; and (c) the announcement that the President has informed Ranil Wickremesinghe in writing that he has been removed from the office of Prime Minister under Article 42(4). Even if the legality of the procedure and the clarity and meaning of the relevant constitutional provisions can be debated, the fact that the event was planned in complete secrecy, with no consultation of Parliament or giving the serving Prime Minister and Cabinet the courtesy of even a short prior intimation before the course of action was made public, that it was suddenly carried out on a Friday evening, and that it has taken the country by total surprise, points to some extremely questionable motives. "The crisis will be prolonged if Rajapaksa cannot swiftly demonstrate his command of Parliament, but the strategy he and Sirisena have followed tonight shows that they have chosen to seize the political initiative and momentum by the element of surprise" Indeed, the whole set of circumstances suggest not the way a change of government ought to occur in a democracy, but the sharp practices associated with a constitutional coup, which is likely to lead to a constitutional crisis. It is a constitutional coup because the serving Prime Minister has not legally ceased to function in office before a new Prime Minister has been appointed. And it will lead to an unprecedented constitutional crisis because there are now two competing Prime Ministers and their parties jostling for power, authority, and legitimacy at the very heart of the state. Until one of these persons Mahinda Rajapaksa or Ranil Wickremesinghe can demonstrate that he has the confidence of Parliament through the support of a majority of MPs, and force the President to accept the will of Parliament, the crisis will not be resolved. Only time will tell what long-term damage this does to Sri Lankas constitutional fabric. After the 19th Amendment, which was enacted in 2015, the Prime Minister can only cease to hold office by death, resignation, by ceasing to be a Member of Parliament, or if the government as a whole has lost the confidence of Parliament by a defeat on the throne speech, the budget, or a vote of no-confidence (Articles 46(2) and 48). Since the Constitution after the 19th Amendment specifies these ways in which the Prime Minister ceases to hold office, and has impliedly removed the previous power of the President to remove the Prime Minister at will, it follows that there are no other ways in which this can happen. In particular, the President can only appoint another Prime Minister where the serving Prime Minister has lost office in any one of these ways. "Indeed, the whole set of circumstances suggest not the way a change of government ought to occur in a democracy, but the sharp practices associated with a constitutional coup, which is likely to lead to a constitutional crisis" It is clear that the serving Prime Minister has not ceased to hold office in any one of these ways. Rather, the President has purportedly removed the Prime Minister from office by acting under the provisions of Article 42(4), which states that the President shall appoint as Prime Minister the Member of Parliament, who, in the Presidents opinion, is most likely to command the confidence of Parliament. The President seems to have taken these words rather too literally than is constitutionally permissible. When this provision speaks of the Presidents opinion, it contemplates not the subjective and personal opinion of the President as to which MP is best suited to be Prime Minister, but an objective and constitutional view formed by reference to who can command the confidence of Parliament. This is usually, although not always, the leader of the largest party represented in Parliament. President removed the Premier from office under article 42(4) PMs removal would lead to a constitutional crisis Both Ranil and MR have to prove their majority in parliament According to 19A, the PM can only cease to hold office by death, resignation or by ceasing to be an MP It is not clear why MS, MR didnt choose to take the constitutional path to remove Wickremesinghe Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe survived a vote of no-confidence by a substantial majority earlier in the year. No other canvassing of Parliaments confidence has occurred since then, or before the purported appointment of Rajapaksa to night, and therefore the President can neither constitutionally remove a Prime Minister who has not lost the confidence of Parliament nor appoint another in his place. It must also be stated that Article 42(2) speaks only of the appointment of the Prime Minister by the President and says nothing about the removal of the Prime Minister by the President. While the power of dismissal could be assumed as inherent to the power of appointment in the constitution prior to 2015, the 19th Amendment has changed this by now providing expressly for the specific ways in which the Prime Minister can be removed (under the previously noted Articles 46(2) and 48). That these procedures have not been followed render the purported presidential acts tonight illegal and unconstitutional. "The 19th Amendment specifies these ways in which the Prime Minister ceases to hold office, and has impliedly removed the previous power of the President to remove the Prime Minister at will " If the parliamentary numbers have changed since Wickremesinghes no-confidence vote in April in favour of a majority now supportive of Rajapaksa by, among other things, the withdrawal of the UPFA from the national government presumably the basis for tonights presidential acts then it is also not clear why Sirisena and Rajapaksa did not choose to take the constitutional path to removing Wickremesinghe by defeating him in Parliament first. The crisis will be prolonged if Rajapaksa cannot swiftly demonstrate his command of Parliament, but the strategy he and Sirisena have followed tonight shows that they have chosen to seize the political initiative and momentum by the element of surprise, with the probable intention of consolidating their hold on the state machinery and in particular the police and armed forces over the weekend, before conforming to constitutional and parliamentary niceties. They would also quite correctly have concluded that technical illegalities would not effectively be justifiable, because it is unlikely in the extreme that the Sri Lankan courts would risk a venture into such a high-stakes political game. This kind of behaviour of course is entirely normal in Rajapaksa, and to his credit, he has never pretended to be anything other than a banana republic presidential populist. But Sirisena was elected in 2015 exactly to instantiate changes to curtail this dubious and destructive strain in Sri Lankan politics. His descent from the heroic standard-bearer of high idealism to a despised villain of the lowest form of low politics has been truly Miltonian. Miami (AFP) - The series of pipe bombs and suspicious packages sent to critics of Donald Trump, including Democratic former president Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton, is not the first time the mail has been used as a weapon in the United States. The following is a look at other high-profile mail attacks: - 2018: Texas package bombs - In March, a series of package bombs were left on doorsteps in the Texas state capital Austin. Two people were killed, including a 17-year-old boy, and several others were injured. Initially, investigators feared the assailant was motivated by race, as the two people killed were black. The exact motive was never elucidated. The suspect, Mark Anthony Conditt, 23, blew himself up in his car on March 21, 2018. He left behind a recorded confession on his mobile phone in which he expressed no regret and described himself as a "psychopath." - 2001: Anthrax panic - In the wake of the September 11, 2001 attacks, America was sent reeling again by a series of attacks using letters laced with anthrax, which left five people dead and 17 others sick. Letters were delivered through the US mail to lawmakers in Washington and to news outlets in Florida and New York over a period of a few weeks. A massive manhunt ensued, but no one was ever convicted. Bruce Ivins, a 62-year-old microbiologist and bioweapons expert, committed suicide via drug overdose in 2008 as prosecutors were preparing to charge him in the attacks. Investigators later declared he likely was solely responsible for the attacks. - 1978-1995: 'Unabomber' - Notorious "Unabomber" Ted Kaczynski was behind a 17-year mail bomb spree that left three people dead and wounded 23 others. The onetime mathematics professor conducted his crimes from an isolated cabin in the Montana woods, where he lived without running water or electricity. Kaczynski, who hoped to mount a revolution against modern technology, initially targeted universities and airlines. Story continues Between 1978 and 1995, he sent 16 mail bombs that earned him the nickname "Unabomber," derived from the acronym used by the Federal Bureau of Investigation to identify him. His brother eventually tipped off investigators to his location, when he recognized the writing style used in the Unabomber's anti-technology manifesto published at the FBI's urging in 1995. Kaczynski was captured in April 1996 and handed multiple life sentences without parole in 1998 -- a plea deal that helped him avoid the death penalty. He is incarcerated at a federal "supermax" prison in Colorado, sometimes called the "Alcatraz of the Rockies." - 1989: Attacks in the US south - In December 1989, a white federal judge, Robert Vance, was assassinated at his home in the southern state of Alabama when he opened a package containing a pipe bomb. His wife was wounded. Two days later, a black civil rights attorney, Robert Robinson, was killed in Georgia the same way. Other package bombs were found in the Atlanta headquarters of the federal appeals court on which Vance served, and at a Georgia office of the NAACP. Walter Moody, who bore a grudge against the judicial system after his prior conviction for possessing explosives, was arrested for the bombings in 1990. He was sentenced to death in 1997 and was executed in April 2018. Touba (Senegal) (AFP) - Hundreds of thousands of men, women and children converged on Senegal's holy city of Touba on Sunday for the Grand Magal, a traditional annual march and biggest celebration of the Mouride Brotherhood, a Sufi Islamic order. The pilgrims came from around the country, braving the heat and enormous traffic jams, headed for the Great Mosque of Touba and mausoleums in the central Senegalese city, with some estimates putting the number as high as three million. The weekend celebration marks the life and teachings of Amadou Bamba, the brotherhood's founder who died in 1927, with readings of his poems and prayers by his tomb. Some 90 percent of people in Senegal, known for its religious tolerance, are Muslims. For the most part, they adhere to one of the several Sufi Islam currents represented in the country. This year, the Grand Magal also has a political dimension, with candidates for February's presidential election making an appearance. President Macky Sall stopped by on Thursday and Friday, inaugurated a military police barracks, and asked Mouride leader Serigne Mountakha Mbacke for "prayers for his re-election", according to local media. On Sunday, seated in the great esplanade outside the mosque with its seven minarets, the faithful recited verses of the Koran and read from the works of Bamba who, like his sons, is considered a saint. "The Magal is a day of glory, of feasting... to rehabilitate Islamic values," said Mouride official Youssouf Diop. More than 2,000 police were deployed to deal with any trouble, or terror threat, as well as to deter the pickpockets who also converge annually on Touba. Senegal's second largest city, for the Magal. San Salvador (AFP) - A group of around 300 migrants left the El Salvador capital on foot on Sunday heading for the border with Guatemala in the hope of eventually realizing the "American dream" and reaching the United States. The group, made up mostly of men, has been inspired by the much larger Honduran caravan already in Mexico and striving to reach the US. "We're a little more than 300 people, but as we walk we hope more compatriots will join us," Hernan Quinteros, a 48-year-old retired army sergeant, told AFP. The new caravan ignored warnings from El Salvador's government on Friday not to put their lives in danger. It's more than two weeks since a caravan of Honduran migrants set off in search of a better life, passing through Guatemala and now into Mexico, with its numbers swelling up to 7,000 according to UN estimates. US President Donald Trump has threatened to deploy the military to halt them at the border with Mexico. But while Quinteros, who took part in El Salvador's 1980-92 civil war, said it was "painful" to leave his three children behind, he said the United States is "the country of opportunities." "A young person spends a year hoping to find work that never arrives and that's why I'm going after the American dream," said 24-year-old Pablo Figueroa. Figueroa lives off the tips he earns singing in restaurants but says he wants to find permanent employment that would allow him to "build a project for life." Among the few women in the group is 38-year-old single mother Lorena Cruz, who left behind children aged 16, 12 and 10. "The caravan is presenting an opportunity for me (to emigrate)," said Cruz, who confessed that it would cost a lot to pay people smugglers to get her into the US. As it left San Salvador, the group was accompanied by police who would "guarantee safety" all the way to the Guatemala border, one officer told AFP. Around 2.5 million Salvadorans live in the US and last year sent home more than $5 billion in remittances, making up almost 16 percent of the Central American country's gross domestic product. JERUSALEM (Reuters) - Israel's cabinet stood for a moment's silence on Sunday to honor 11 worshippers killed in a Pittsburgh synagogue shooting and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu commended U.S. President Donald Trump for his stance against anti-Semitism. "The entire nation of Israel mourns with the families of the murdered in the horrendous massacre at the Tree of Life Synagogue in Pittsburgh," Netanyahu said at the start of the weekly cabinet session. Saturday's shooting "is the biggest anti-Semitic crime" in the annals of the United States, he said, calling on the world to unite in the fight against anti-Semitism everywhere. "It is hard to overstate the horror of the murder of Jews who congregate on the Sabbath and who were murdered only because they were Jews," Netanyahu added. A gunman yelling, "All Jews must die," stormed the Tree of Life synagogue during Jewish sabbath services, killing 11 worshippers and wounding six others, including four police officers, before he was arrested. "On my behalf, on behalf of the government of Israel and the nation of Israel I convey our heartfelt condolences to the families that have lost dear ones. We all pray for the speedy recovery of the wounded," Netanyahu said. In an open letter to the Jewish community of Pittsburgh, the Israeli prime minister voiced his "appreciation to President Trump for unequivocally condemning this heinous crime and for pledging to fight those who seek to destroy the Jewish people". The Western-backed Palestinian Authority's foreign ministry issued a statement describing the shooting as an "act of terrorism that targeted a synagogue ... in which American Jews and policemen were killed." It added: "We condemn the targeting of places of worship by terrorists motivated by odious, fascist beliefs based on the supremacy of the white race." (Additional reporting by Ali Sawafta and Nidal al-Mughrabi; Writing by Ori Lewis; Editing by Jeffrey Heller and Matthew Mpoke Bigg) Washington (AFP) - The shooter in Saturday's deadly shooting at a Pittsburgh synagogue, identified by officials as local resident Robert Bowers, is to face federal charges that carry the death penalty. Here is what is known so far about the suspect, who reportedly yelled "All Jews must die!" as he launched his attack, killing 11 people and wounding six more. The suspect is in "fair condition" with multiple gunshot wounds, and is being treated at Allegheny General Hospital, according to Pittsburgh's public safety director. Bowers, reportedly 46 years old, appears to have no past criminal record, and a Federal Bureau of Investigation official said he was not previously known to law enforcement. Bob Jones, special agent in charge of the FBI's Pittsburgh office, said law enforcement authorities believe he was acting alone but had not identified his full motive. Bowers has a license to carry a firearm and has made at least six firearm purchases since 1996, CNN reported, quoting a law enforcement official. Authorities said Bowers was armed with an assault rifle and at least three handguns when he burst into the Tree of Life synagogue. The Department of Justice said it will file hate crime and other criminal charges against Bowers, who could face the death penalty. Bowers appears to be the author of a recent rash of violently anti-Semitic posts on social media, notably on the Gab.com social networking website, where conspiracy theories -- like a discredited report linking Hillary Clinton to pedophiles -- are common. - 'I'm going in' - A quote atop the Bowers page said "jews are the children of satan," according to screenshots of the now-suspended account released by the SITE Intelligence Group, which monitors extremist movements. Bowers posted on Gab just hours before the shooting: "HIAS likes to bring invaders in that kill our people. I can't sit by and watch my people get slaughtered. Screw your optics, I'm going in." Story continues HIAS is the acronym for the Hebrew Immigrant Aid Society with offices in New York and Maryland. And another missive posted 17 days before Saturday's attack accused HIAS of bringing "in hostile invaders to dwell among us" -- and appeared to threaten one of the organization's projects. "We appreciate the list of friends you have provided," the poster wrote, while linking to an event page for a "National Refugee Shabbat." HIAS called the attack a "horrifying tragedy," saying "this loss is our loss." In another post reported by The New York Times Bowers said he did not care for President Donald Trump, because he "is a globalist, not a nationalist." Using a slur for Jews, he said, "There is no #MAGA, as long as there is a k--- infestation." MAGA refers to Trump's Make America Great Again slogan. Gab, a popular site with white nationalists and members of the so-called alt-right, released a statement saying it had "zero tolerance" for violence or terrorism and was "saddened and disgusted by the news" from Pittsburgh. Gab said in a post that after learning of the attack, it had matched the name of the alleged shooter to the holder of its account. It then took down the Bowers account and immediately contacted the FBI, adding, "We will do everything in our power to work with law enforcement to see that justice is served." Washington (AFP) - A synagogue shooting in Pittsburgh on Saturday, which left 11 people dead, is "likely the deadliest" such attack in US history, an American civil rights group said. Here is a list of major attacks on synagogues across the world over recent years, and of attacks on other places of Jewish community life. - Tunisia - On April 11, 2002, 21 people died in a suicide attack on the Ghriba synagogue, on the island of Djerba, in the south of the country. Among the dead were 14 Germans, five Tunisians and two French citizens. A tank truck driven by a Tunisian and filled with inflammable gas blew up outside the synagogue, which is the oldest place of Jewish worship in Africa. The attack was claimed by Al-Qaeda. - Turkey - On November 15, 2003, vehicles filled with explosives were used against two synagogues in Istanbul, Neve Shalom and Beth Israel, killing 30 and injuring 300. Five days later, the British consulate and an HSBC building came under attack. A Turkish cell of Al-Qaeda claimed responsility for the four attacks which claimed a total of 63 lives. - Israel - On November 18, 2014, an attack by two Palestinians against a synagogue in western Jerusalem claimed five dead: three Israeli-Americans, one Israeli-Briton and a Druze policeman. The Har Nof neighbourhood, where the attack took place, is considered to be a bastion of the ultra-orthodox Shas party. The attack was the first ever against a Jewish place of worship in Jerusalem. Both attackers were shot dead by police. - Denmark - On February 14, 2015, a Danish citizen of Palestinian origin, having pledged allegiance to the Islamic State, opened fire on a cultural centre in Copenhagen which was hosting a freedom of speech conference, and killed a film-maker. Later that night, he also killed a 37-year old Jewish man who was standing guard outside a synagogue where a bar mitzvah was being held. The attacker was then killed in a shootout with police. - Not just synagogues - Story continues In addition to synagogues, many other places of Jewish community life have been attacked over the years. In France on March 19, 2012, a 23-year old French-Algerian Islamist killed three children and a teacher in a Jewish school in the southwest of the country. In the US, on April 13, 2014, a white supremacist known for his anti-Semitic views attacked a Jewish community centre and retirement home in Kansas, killing three people, none of whom were actually Jewish. In Belgium on May 24, 2014, a man opened fire in the lobby of the Jewish Museum in Brussels, killing four. The alleged killer, French-Algerian Mehdi Nemmouche, was arrested in France in June of this and extradited to Belgium for trial. In France, on January 9, 2015, four Jews were killed during a hostage-taking in a Jewish supermarket in Paris by a Jihadist. PRAGUE (Reuters) - U.S. Defense Secretary Jim Mattis said on Sunday the gunman who stormed a Pittsburgh synagogue and killed 11 worshippers was a coward and the "poorest excuse for a man you could ever come up with." "If there is one person responsible, this individual, I won't even call him a man, he was (the) poorest excuse for a man you could ever come up with, who would use a weapon in a house of worship on unarmed innocent people," Mattis told a group of reporters traveling with him to Prague. "This is a coward and he is not a man by any definition that we use in the Department of Defense," Mattis said. Robert Bowers, 46, of Pittsburgh, was taken into custody after a shootout with a SWAT team on Saturday. Federal prosecutors charged him with 29 criminal counts including violence and firearms offences, and violating U.S. civil rights laws. "That is tough, on the neighborhood, on the members of that synagogue, on all of us who believe in freedom of religion, it is one of our most fundamental rights that our country was founded on," Mattis said. Earlier, U.S. Attorney General Jeff Sessions said federal prosecutors could seek the death penalty. Bowers had made many anti-Semitic posts online, including one early on Saturday. In another, he slammed U.S. President Donald Trump for doing nothing to stop an "infestation" of the United States by Jews. Mattis was also asked about a decision to send U.S. troops to the border with Mexico. He said preparations were being made to send the troops and some construction material was already moving. U.S. President Trump has hammered away at the issue of illegal immigration two weeks ahead of congressional elections. Taking aim at a caravan of Central American migrants, Trump wrote on Twitter on Thursday he was "bringing out the military for this National Emergency. They will be stopped!" (Reporting by Idrees Ali; editing by David Evans) On the eleventh day of her royal tour with Prince Harry, Meghan Markle was treated to song. And not just any song: while on a visit to Tongas Tupou College in Nukualofa, a boys choir serenaded the Duchess of Sussex with a spritely tune meant to help ward off against mosquitoes. (Tonga is one of many nations globally affected by the Zika virus, which is carried by mosquitoes and potentially damaging to unborn children.) While Markle has sat through numerous performances since embarking on the 16-day tour of Australia, Fiji, Tonga and New Zealand, this one was the first that saw her moved to tears of joy and laughter. As the group of boys put on their show, complete with mosquito-like buzzing noises and group choreography, Markle was spotted laughing and sharing in the moment with Prince Harry, seated next to her. The pair were at the school to dedicate two forest reserves to the Queens Commonwealth Canopy, an environmental conservation initiative. Earlier, they attended a royal banquet where Harry also delivered a message from his grandmother the Queen, who had visited Tonga herself on royal tours and become friendly with their monarchy. Our two families have enjoyed a deep and warm friendship over many years, and I hope that our close relationship continues with the next generation, he read on behalf of Queen Elizabeth. Looks like Tonga is coming through with its warm support of Markle, Harry and their future child. NUKU'ALOFA, TONGA - OCTOBER 26: Meghan, Duchess of Sussex visits Tupou College on October 26, 2018 in Nuku'alofa, Tonga. The Duke and Duchess of Sussex are on their official 16-day Autumn tour visiting cities in Australia, Fiji, Tonga and New Zealand. (Photo by Karwai Tang/WireImage) NUKU'ALOFA, TONGA - OCTOBER 26: Meghan, Duchess of Sussex visits Tupou College on October 26, 2018 in Nuku'alofa, Tonga. The Duke and Duchess of Sussex are on their official 16-day Autumn tour visiting cities in Australia, Fiji, Tonga and New Zealand. (Photo by Karwai Tang/WireImage) The government would pursue stern action against anyone obstructing Ranil Wickremesinghe from functioning as the Prime Minister, Mr. Wickremesinghe's Chief of Staff Sagala Ratnayaka said. In a statement, he said the Prime Minister's position was rightfully Mr. Wickremesinghes. "We are the constitutionally appointed government of Sri Lanka, with a clear majority in Parliament. Any person, be it a politician or a state official, trying to obstruct us will be severely dealt with when the current crisis is over," he said. He said the legitimate Prime Minister should be allowed to function in his job. Meanwhile, he said the UNP MPs were discussing an impeachment motion against President Maithripala Sirisena and a No-Confidence Motion against former President Mahinda Rajapaksa. "What they did amounted to a blatant attempt to snatch the Prime Minister's post through the back door," he said. Mr. Ratnayaka also added that the move was illegal and against all Parliamentary norms and traditions. Video by Damith Republicans claimed Democrat Scott Wallace was one of the nation's worst congressional candidates. But he's on the verge of winning in a suburban district. (Photo: ASSOCIATED PRESS) DOYLESTOWN, Pa. Democrats are on the verge of winning back control of the House of Representatives because of suburbs like this one. The sheer number of competitive Republican-held seats in suburban areas, from Orange County, California, to Loudoun County, Virginia, makes it likely, although not certain, that Democrats will win the 23 seats they need to take control of the House in January 2019. So now the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee and other outside Democratic groups are increasingly investing in areas where President Donald Trumps political standing is stronger. These districts, from Arkansas to Michigan, will make or break a Democratic wave and could lead to Democrats winning 35 seats or more. Recent polling shows Democrat Scott Wallace a wealthy philanthropist whom Republicans once mocked as the worst candidate in the country pulling into the lead in Pennsylvanias 1st district. About half of the residents in Doylestown have a college degree, and the boroughs median income is $73,000 about $14,000 a year higher than the national average. Theres a Panera Bread in town, and a Whole Foods just 18 miles away. Its the seat of Bucks County, which saw Democrats sweep into power at the local level last year after decades of GOP control. Increasingly confident in Wallaces chances and those of others like him, Democrats are expanding into redder districts like the 10th District, 113 miles to the west, where George Scott, an Army veteran and Lutheran minister, is challenging House Freedom Caucus member Scott Perry (R) in a district with more rural areas and working-class voters. Republicans, in turn, have begun to air ads in Trump-leaning districts, including the 10th. Democrats have beat Republican outside groups to the airwaves in the vast majority of races, and our ability to win the early air-war forced Republicans to abandon vulnerable incumbents and expand the map into new districts where they never wanted to spend, DCCC spokesman Tyler Law said, noting the campaign committee has spent at least some cash in 77 districts across the country. Our strategy has paved multiple paths to the majority. Story continues Republicans insist the expanding field isnt a sign of Democratic strength, but rather a sign the suburban districts arent enough to give Democrats the House majority. Theyre hoping that something materializes. They dont know what their path is to the majority, said a Republican working on House races who asked for anonymity to discuss party strategy. Theyre trying to spread as many seeds as possible. But they dont know if any of these flowers are going to bloom. It could be a very tough winter. A Suburban War GOP Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick really wants you to know he's a member of the Problem Solvers' Caucus. (Photo: ASSOCIATED PRESS) In the 1st District, Wallace faces Republican Brian Fitzpatrick, a former FBI agent who won a seat in Congress previously held by his brother in 2016. But Fitzpatrick doesnt want voters to focus on his party affiliation. In a 90-minute debate Friday, he mentioned belonging to the Problem Solvers Caucus, an oft-mocked group of moderate members, 11 times, once referring to it as the only thing thats going to save this country. That message fits with Fitzpatricks overall strategy, which includes winning endorsements from liberal-leaning groups and emphasizing his vote against the Republican plan to repeal Obamacare. In fact, the word Republican never appears on his campaigns website, but endorsements from gun control groups and unions do. (His campaign didnt respond to an interview request.) Wallace dismisses Fitzpatricks moderation as a fig leaf, repeatedly noting the incumbent votes with President Trump more than 80 percent of the time and voted for House Speaker Paul Ryan on the floor. He can talk about his Problem Solvers Caucus until hes blue in the face, Wallace said in an interview. Paul Ryan made sure all those bills were buried at the bottom of the ocean. This essential dynamic, pitting Republicans in close suburban districts trying to localize their races against Democrats trying to nationalize them, is seen in races across the House map. In Virginias 10th District, the National Republican Congressional Committee is running ads attacking Democrat Jennifer Wexton over high tolls on local highways. Republicans in the Minnesota suburbs are claiming theyll battle President Trump to protect the environment. In Florida, GOP Rep. Carlos Curbelo is highlighting his work on climate change. Democrats in all the districts are countering by tying their opponents to Trump and an unpopular national GOP agenda. Both parties say the race here is tight, a change of tune for Republicans who once insisted Wallace would be a pushover. Although Wallace was born in the district, he spent decades living in South Africa, and his family foundation had supported a host of left-wing causes over the years. NRCC Chairman Scott Stivers labeled him the worst candidate in the country. For months, Republican super PACs hammered him as an anti-Semite and a supporter of cop killers, and a super PAC with ties to Paul Ryan has organized a field operation thats made more than 1 million vote contacts in the district. (A recent ad was more of a bread-and-butter attack on Wallace as a supporter of House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi and higher taxes.) Wallace is holding on because of his own personal wealth hes spent more than $8 million of his own money on the race, according to Federal Election Commission filings and the intense dislike of national Republicans in the district. The notion of having a check on the Trump-Ryan agenda is a big motivator, he said. Two recent polls show Wallace with a small lead. Much of that dislike comes from voters like Allison Glickman, the co-founder of Orange Wave, a local group that supports gun control. Glickman had helped lead the local chapter of Moms Demand Action, a national gun control group funded by former New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg. But local leaders dissolved the Bucks County chapter of the organization after the national group endorsed Fitzpatricks re-election. Theyre losing grassroots supporters, Glickman said. But she admitted she was worried about the national organization convincing voters Fitzpatrick was a gun safety supporter. It muddies the waters, she said. Reaching To The Middle George Scott, a veteran and minister, is the Democratic candidate in Pennsylvania's 10th Congressional District. (Photo: ASSOCIATED PRESS) Further west, Scott, the Democrat whos running against Republican Rep. Scott Perry, has turned a Dunkin Donuts in Hershey into a makeshift campaign office, with staffers handing walkbooks to volunteers who are streaming in and out of the restaurant. Scott is an underdog in the district, and the only reason he has a chance at all is because Pennsylvanias state Supreme Court threw out a Republican gerrymander of the states congressional maps earlier this year, turning Perrys ruby-red district to more of a pinkish purple. Hes now hoping voters here, in a district that includes the cities of Harrisburg and York, plus surrounding suburbs and rural areas, will prefer his brand of Democratic politics to Perrys membership in the hard-line House Freedom Caucus. That means some of the major issues Wallace is focused on gun control, climate change are less central to Scotts pitch. (In fact, Perry has made an issue out of an ad Scott aired during the primary where he burned a semi-automatic rifle.) The Democrats top issue? Making politics polite again. Its expressed in different forms, but I hear that everywhere I go, regardless of location, regardless of party, people recognize that the political climate has broken down, he said in an interview here. They understand its dangerous, and its got to change. He combines that with a heavy emphasis on his biography and a bit of economic populism, arguing the working class voters in his district arent being helped much by economic progress, not in the way the top 1 percent in gated communities are. Love HuffPost? Become a founding member of HuffPost Plus today. National Democrats are increasingly spending money in districts like this one, rural areas that were friendlier to Trump. Besides Scotts district, the DCCC and House Majority PAC a super PAC run by allies of Pelosi have put money into districts in rural areas of Wisconsin, Arkansas and Michigan in recent weeks. Although Democrats here are focused on health care like their suburban counterparts, some of the other forces powering a Democratic revival namely, the presence of college-educated women arent as powerful. A New York Times/Siena College poll conducted this week confirmed a tight race, with Perry polling at 45 percent to Scotts 43 percent. The race has seen less spending, but With Honor a super PAC that backs veterans in both parties is supporting Scott, and America First Action, a super PAC supporting allies of President Trump, is helping Perry. Their message is pretty simple. Its no surprise Nancy Pelosis allies are supporting George Scott, a male narrator says in the 30-second ad. Hes a liberal, thats for sure. Brian Nutt, a spokesman for Perry, said they were confident the incumbent would survive his opponents misleading negative attacks. He said Scott had tried to change his rhetoric from a liberal in the primary to a conservative in the general. Voters in this district will not be fooled by his blatant pandering to just get elected, he said. They want to vote for someone who stands for something. This article originally appeared on HuffPost. Washington (AFP) - A gunman opened fire at a synagogue in the US city of Pittsburgh on Saturday, reportedly killing at least four people and injuring an unknown number before he was taken into custody. The local CBS affiliate reported that eight people were confirmed dead, while Fox put the death toll at four. A police spokesman addressing reporters at the scene confirmed "multiple casualties" and said three officers where shot before the shooter was taken into custody. The condition of the officers was not immediately clear. Police were still clearing the building, the official said. Pittsburgh's Public Safety department, which includes the police, earlier tweeted that an active shooter was in the area near the synagogue, urging residents to stay away. The Tree of Life congregation is located in the area cited by police, and the incident occurred on the Jewish Sabbath. Television pictures showed a police SWAT team and ambulances in the area. "There are multiple casualties," the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette quoted Police Commander Jason Lando as saying. US President Donald Trump tweeted that people "in Squirrel Hill area should remain sheltered. Looks like multiple fatalities." He added: "Beware of active shooter. God Bless All." It is the latest shooting incident in the United States, where gunmen regularly cause mass casualties and firearms are linked to more than 30,000 deaths annually. Seoul (AFP) - The director of the North Korean hospital that treated Otto Warmbier, the US student who died after being held in the country, rejected fresh allegations that he was tortured in custody. The 22-year-old was jailed in the North for more than a year and was released in a comatose state in 2017 but died shortly after returning home. The exact cause of his death remains unknown but a recent US media report claimed there was new evidence that he was beaten by the regime. The director of the Pyongyang Friendship Hospital -- which treated Warmbier -- slammed the claims as a "total distortion of the truth" in a statement carried by the North's official KCNA news agency late Saturday. "The American doctors who came to the DPRK to help Warmbier's repatriation acknowledged that his health indicators were all normal and submitted a letter of assurance to our hospital," it said, using North Korea's official acronym. "Now the question is: what is the ulterior motive of those American doctors trying to make a different story at this point in time with regard to the cause of Warmbier's death," the statement added. The KCNA statement came hours after the Voice of America carried a report on a lawsuit filed by Warmbier's parents accusing the North Korean regime of torturing and murdering their son. The report cited Warmbier's former dentists saying there was evidence of trauma to his teeth and a neurologist who treated him after his return from detention and said the student suffered "extensive" brain damage. North Korea has denied torturing Warmbier and claims he contracted botulism in detention. Warmbier was arrested for stealing a propaganda poster from his hotel during a trip to North Korea and sentenced to 15 years of hard labour. After lengthy negotiations between Washington and Pyongyang, he was released last year but died in less than a week. US President Donald Trump accused Pyongyang of brutally abusing the student but later praised the North's leader Kim Jong Un as "very honourable" following a historic summit in Singapore in June. Rights groups have criticised the rapid diplomatic thaw on the peninsula, saying it has overshadowed widespread human rights abuses rampant in North Korea. The Kim family has ruled the impoverished, nuclear-armed nation with a pervasive personality cult and stands accused of a litany of state-sanctioned rights abuses including torture, rape, execution and brutal crackdowns on dissent. The apparent Twitter account of Cesar Sayoc, the man suspected of sending at least 13 pipe bombs to intended victims including former President Obama, former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, and former Vice President Joe Biden, was rife with threats, graphic images, and other warning signs. The account, @hardrock2016, has since been taken down by Twitter. While Twitter didnt confirm the account belonged to Cesar Sayoc, its rhetoric, biography, and other details match what is known about the suspect, including images from decals covering the windows of a van that reportedly belonged to him. A Twitter spokesperson declined to comment on Sayoc or the account, citing an ongoing law-enforcement investigation, but the company confirmed that the account Fortune identified was permanently suspended for violating Twitter rules. The account was opened April 2016 and primarily tweeted out political memes. Then on July 8, 2018, it began replying to posts made by prominent accounts such as TMZ, and began tweeting threatening and horrific images at a number of celebrities, politicians, and people on July 13. Its tweets included pictures of decapitated animals, images of crocodiles with severed human limbs, screen grabs of TV news reports about missing people in Florida, and tarot cards showing the word death. One targeted person, Rochelle Ritchie, who has worked as a media commentator and Democratic Party strategist, reported the account to Twitter on Oct. 11. She posted the response after Sayoc emerged as a suspect: Twitter had told her that there was no violation. Hey @Twitter remember when I reported the guy who was making threats towards me after my appearance on @FoxNews and you guys sent back a bs response about how you didnt find it that serious. Well guess what its the guy who has been sending #bombs to high profile politicians!!!! pic.twitter.com/xBY8FMbqnq R O C H E L L E (@RochelleRitchie) October 26, 2018 Sayoc was taken into custody the morning of Oct. 26. The Twitter account was suspended hours later. Story continues The Twitter account sent threatening messages to a wide array of public figures including Biden, billionaire philanthropist George Soros (tweeting, you will vanish), actor and director Ron Howard, actor Jim Carrey, MIT Media Lab founder Nicholas Negroponte and Portland, Ore. Mayor Ted Wheeler. The Twitter account also attacked Sarah Jeong, a journalist now on staff as a technology writer at the New York Times opinion section. Jeong became a right-wing media target this summer after being hired by the Times and some of her older tweets were criticized. The account also raged about Debbie Wasserman Schultz, a House member from Florida and former head of the Democratic National Committee. Her office was used as the return address on the packages sent around the country to intended victims including Obama, Clinton, former CIA John Brennan, and others. Posts by the account misspelled Wasserman Schultzs name, an error that also appeared on at least one of the mail bombs. However, the Twitter typos were not consistent with lettering on the envelopes. The accounts tweets also frequently invoked a tribal nation, noting to Ron Howard, We Unconquered Seminole Tribe are going answer your threats pathetic scum. The Seminole Tribe said that Sayoc had no affiliation with the tribe, according to the Miami Times. Pittsburgh Mayor Bill Peduto (D) on Sunday dismissed President Donald Trumps suggestion of adding armed guards to houses of worship in the wake of the deadly mass shooting at the Tree of Life synagogue a day earlier. Peduto, during an interview with NBCs Meet the Press, instead urged Congress to pass stricter gun laws to prevent similar attacks in the future. I dont think that the answer to this problem is solved by having our synagogues, mosques and churches filled with armed guards or our schools filled with armed guards, Peduto said. We should try to stop irrational behavior from happening at the forefront. WATCH: Chuck asks Pittsburgh Mayor @billpeduto what he needs from President Trump after the shooting at the Tree of Life Synagogue. #MTP Peduto: "I don't think that the answer to this problem is solved by having our synagogues, mosques and churches filled with armed guards." pic.twitter.com/sExD5DVZ7l Meet the Press (@MeetThePress) October 28, 2018 Hours after a gunman opened fire at the synagogue Saturday, killing at least 11 people, Trump told reporters that gun control had little to do with the attack. If there was an armed guard inside the temple, they would have been able to stop him, the president claimed. Trump has repeatedly called for arming more people in response to mass shootings. After the Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School massacre in Parkland, Florida, on Feb. 14, Trump suggested giving concealed guns to adept teachers. But Peduto on Sunday threw cold water on Trumps call for more guns in response to mass shootings. We shouldnt be trying to find ways to minimize the dangers that occur from irrational behavior, he continued. We should be working to eliminate irrational behavior and the empowerment of people who would seek to cause this type of carnage from continuing. Story continues He continued: I think the approach that we need to be looking at is how we take the guns which is the common denominator of every mass shooting in America out of the hands of those that are looking to express hatred through murder. Pittsburgh Mayor Bill Peduto: "I think the approach that we need to be looking at is how we take the guns -- which is the common denominator of every mass shooting in America -- out of the hands of those that are looking to express hatred through murder." #CNNSOTU pic.twitter.com/2avlb9Wosu State of the Union (@CNNSotu) October 28, 2018 Pittsburgh City Council members Corey OConnor and Erika Strassburger echoed Pedutos comments during an appearance Sunday on ABCs This Week. Thats not the community we want we dont want people having armed guards in every door you walk into, OConnor said. Thats not the type of community that we want to live in. Strassburger added, Where do we stop with arming our entire society and feeling as if we cant be safe anywhere? I just dont see that as the answer. Pittsburgh City Council member Erika Strassburger on President Trump suggesting having armed guards in places of worship: "Where do we stop with arming our entire society and feeling as if we can't be safe anywhere? I just don't see that as the answer" https://t.co/CwiPyJymV4 pic.twitter.com/UZDtzsyPiR This Week (@ThisWeekABC) October 28, 2018 Love HuffPost? Become a founding member of HuffPost Plus today. This article originally appeared on HuffPost. Authorities in Pittsburgh have released the identities of the 11 people shot dead in a synagogue aged from 54 to 97 as the Trump administration sought to fend off accusations that the presidents rhetoric was dividing people, rather than bringing them together. Officials said they believed the suspected shooter, Robert Bowers, 46, who has been indicted with dozens of charges including 11 counts of murder, was working alone when he allegedly entered the Tree of Life synagogue on Saturday morning, armed with three hand guns and a semi-automatic rifle. Eight men and three women were killed in the deadliest ever attack on the Jewish community in the US, before police officers shot the suspect and took him into custody. The FBI said they were treating the 20-minute incident as a hate crime, while Mayor Bill Peduto called it the darkest day of Pittsburghs history. We should be working to eliminate irrational behaviour and the empowerment of people who would seek to cause this type of carnage from continuing, he said. But less than two weeks before the midterm elections, and with the country already on edge after more than a dozen suspected pipe bombs were sent to senior Democrats and critics of Mr Trump, the president was accused of failing to try and unite the nation at such an unsettling time. Rather, he was charged with making things worse. Following Saturday mornings shooting at the synagogue, Mr Trump condemned the act of violence as an antisemitic act and pure evil. There must be no tolerance for antisemitism in America or for any form of religious or racial hatred or prejudice, he added. Critics said the presidents language, frequently aggressive and mocking of people who disagreed with him, was helping to create an environment in which such acts were more likely. This presidents modus operandi is to divide us, Democratic congressman Adam Schiff told CNN. Its not enough that a day on a tragedy he says the right words, if every other day of the year hes saying things to bring us into conflict with one another. Story continues Supporters of the president, who on Friday had denied his words or actions had inspired accused mail bomber Cesar Sayoc, were quick to dismiss any link between Mr Trumps language and the gun attack in Pittsburgh, whose alleged perpetrator reportedly wrote disparaging comments about the president on social media and said he was a globalist, not a nationalist. The word globalist is often used as a slur by antisemites. Kirstjen Nielsen, the secretary of homeland security, told Fox News the president has made it extraordinarily clear that we will never allow political violence to take root in this country. Meanwhile, the vice president Mike Pence rejected the notion that confrontational rhetoric by Mr Trump other leaders had created a spike in political violence. People on both sides of the aisle use strong language about our political differences, but I just dont think you can connect it to threats or acts of violence, he told NBC. In Pittsburgh, officials revealed several new details about the attack said to have been carried out by Mr Bowers, saying he was armed with three hand guns and a semi-automatic rifle. Victims were found in three different locations inside the synagogue in the Squirrel Hill area of the city. In addition to the 11 fatalities, six other people were injured, including four police officers. Dr Karl Williams, the chief medical examiner of Allegheny County, which includes the Pennsylvania city of Pittsburgh, revealed that the victims included a husband and wife, and two brothers. He said four rabbis from the synagogue had been working with his team, as they informed the victims families before they were named publicly. Mr Williams named the victims as Joyce Fienberg, 75, Richard Gottfried, 65, Rose Mallinger, 97, Jerry Rabinowitz, 66, Cecil Rosenthal, 59, David Rosenthal, 54, Bernice Simon, 84, Sylvan Simon, 87, Daniel Stein, 71, Melvin Wax, 88, and 69-year-old Irving Younger. All lived close to the synagogue. During a press conference on Sunday morning, FBI agent Robert Jones praised the police officers who responded to the incident and engaged in a shoot out to stop the gunman, who was shot and injured and taken into custody. Had he made it out of that facility, there is a strong possibility that additional violence would have occurred, he said. When pressed on that issue, Mr Jones said there was no evidence that the alleged shooter planned to attack another location, but that there would have likely been more shooting as he left the synagogue, had he been able to. The US attorney for the western district of Pennsylvania Scott Brady said there was no indication yet why the gunman had selected that particular facility. It was also not clear which of the three congregations that were using the synagogue for services on Saturday was the intended target if indeed any specific group was. While officials said they were still investigating the specific motivations for the attack, charge sheets made public on Sunday alleged Mr Bower expressed hatred of Jews during the rampage and told officers afterwards that Jews were committing genocide and he wanted them all to die. Mr Williams, the medical examiner, said: Lots of shots were fired. There were casings everywhere. The authorities said they found victims at three different locations in the building. Mr Bowers was found by police on the third floor. Mayor Bill Peduto called it the darkest day of Pittsburghs history. Asked if it was time for politicians in the US to finally do something to better regulate access to firearms, Mr Peduto said: Were dealing with irrational behaviour. There is no way that you can rationalise a person walking into a synagogue during services and taking the lives of 11 people. We shouldnt be trying to find ways to minimise the dangers that occur from irrational behaviour. We should be working to eliminate irrational behaviour and the empowerment of people who would seek to cause this type of carnage from continuing. Mr Brady, the prosecutor, explained why the incident was being handled as a hate crime rather than domestic terrorism. The distinction between a hate crime and domestic terrorism is a hate crime is where an individual is animated by a hatred or certain animus towards a person of a certain ethnicity or religious faith, he said. It becomes domestic terrorism where theres an ideology that that person is then also trying to propagate through violence. We continue to see where that line is. But for now, at this place in our investigation, were treating it as a hate crime and charging it as such. The rabbi of a Pittsburgh synagogue where 11 people were killed by a gunman Saturday criticized weak gun control and politicians inaction just months ago in a message to his congregation about the Parkland, Florida, school shooting. We deserve better, wrote Rabbi Jeffrey Myers. Where are our leaders? he asked in a chillingly prescient blog post July 19 on the website of the Tree of Life Or LSimcha Congregation. Seventeen students and staff members were killed in a mass shooting in February at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida. Myers was likely in the chapel of the Tree of Life, former rabbi Chuck Diamond told Pittsburghs KDKA-TV, when suspected shooter Robert Bowers opened fire in the synagogue. Myers condition has not yet been revealed by authorities. In his blog post, Myers decried the continuing cycle of bad news in America and do-nothing politicians. The push by the students from Parkland, Florida, to enact safer schools? Now that schools are closed for the summer, apparently school safety is not important, as shooters are finding other valuable sites, he wrote. Despite continuous calls for sensible gun control and mental health care, our elected leaders in Washington knew that it would fade away in time, Myers added. Unless there is a dramatic turnaround in the midterm elections, I fear that that the status quo will remain unchanged, and school shootings will resume. He noted: I shouldnt have to include in my daily morning prayers that God should watch over my wife and daughter, both teachers, and keep them safe. Where are our leaders? Myers characterized politicians typical response to violence as: Tragic event Thoughts and Prayers Call to Action by our Elected Leaders Hang Wringing Next News Event. President Donald Trump said Saturday that the attack on the synagogue had little to do with gun control. Police say Bowers, who posted viciously anti-Semitic messages on a social media site, was armed with an assault rifle and a number of handguns. Story continues Trump said the synagogue would have been better protected with an armed guard. This is a case where if they had an armed guard inside ... they would have been able to stop them, he said. Four police officers were injured in the shooting. Related Coverage Pittsburgh Synagogue Shooting Suspect Charged With 29 Counts Pittsburgh Synagogue Shooting Suspect Robert Bowers Has Long Trail Of Anti-Semitism Trump Suggests Armed Guard Could Have Stopped Pittsburgh Synagogue Shooting Love HuffPost? Become a founding member of HuffPost Plus today. This article originally appeared on HuffPost. Eight men and three women, ranging in age from 97 to 54, were killed at a crowded Pittsburgh synagogue when a gunman opened fire on the congregation during Saturday services, officials announced. Allegheny County medical examiner Karl Williams named the victims at a news conference Sunday: Joyce Fienberg, 75 Fienberg, a mother of two sons, leaves behind several grandchildren, reported The Associated Press. Before she retired in 2008, she was a longtime researcher at the University of Pittsburghs Learning Research and Development Center. Joyce was a magnificent, generous, caring, and profoundly thoughtful human being, Dr. Gaea Leinhardt, Fienbergs former research partner, told the AP. She was the gentlest of people, according to Dodie Roskies, one of her best friends. Richard Gottfried, 65 Gottfried, a dentist was remembered by many for his devotion to his wider community. He spent years performing dental work on people who were uninsured at the Squirrel Hill Health Center. He was very devoted to community and to service, said Susan Kalson, the centers chief executive. He loved working with our patients, underserved patients, including a lot of refugees and immigrants. Rose Mallinger, 97 Mallinger was a mainstay at the synagogue for decades. She was a synagogue-goer, and not everybody is. Shes gone to the synagogue for a lifetime, no matter how many people are there, Chuck Diamond, a former rabbi at the synagogue, told The Washington Post. Jerry Rabinowitz, 66 Rabinowitz was a doctor, cat lover and the kindest person you could dream of meeting, his friend, Anna Boswell-Levy, said in a Facebook post. He was such a good and caring man, added Lisa Wesson-Richardson, one of his employees at UPMC Shadyside, where he was a family practitioner. This is such huge loss to his family, his staff and his patients! The UPMC family, in particular UPMC Shadyside, cannot even begin to express the sadness and grief we feel over the loss, the hospital said in a statement. Story continues Several people recalled the role Rabinowitz played in saving the lives of loved ones. Former patient Michael Kerr, who Rabinowitz treated for HIV until 2004, said he would be remembered in the community for keeping us alive the longest. He was never seen without a bowtie, which his nephew Avishal Ostrin said he wore to make people smile: Brothers Cecil Rosenthal, 59, and David Rosenthal, 54 Tree of Life was an integral part of these brothers lives, friends said. They lived apart, but were inseparable and both sought care for their developmental disabilities from the same organization, Achieva. You can feel what is good in the world when you talk to them, because they only talk to you about good things, Jeffrey Solomon, a fellow Tree of Life congregant, told The New York Times. To say that everyone in the Pittsburgh Jewish community knows them is not even a remote exaggeration. They were both active participants in so much of life. Their sister, Diane Rosenthal, praised her brothers and their fellow congregants as the ones who kept this community going, who made things happen. They probably even greeted the suspect on the morning of the shooting, she added. Husband and wife Sylvan Simon, 86, and Bernice Simon, 84 They held hands and they always smiled, and he would open the door for her, all those things that you want from another person, recalled Heather Graham, the couples neighbor. They were really generous and nice to everybody. Graham used to shovel snow for the Simons, and in return Bernice Simon would bake cranberry orange bread for Graham and write a thank-you note. Daniel Stein, 71 Stein, a retired plumbing salesman and substitute teacher, as well as a husband, father of two and grandfather of one, attended Shabbat services every Saturday morning, his nephew, Steven Halle, told WPXI News on Saturday. Everybody loved him, there wasnt one person that didnt like him in the community, Halle said. Melvin Wax, 88 Wax, a retired accountant, was such a kind, kind person, Myron Snider, chairman of the congregations cemetery committee, told the AP. When my daughters were younger, they would go to him, and he would help them with their federal income tax every year. Never charged them, Snider said. He was so active within the synagogue that a friend jokingly described his role to The New York Times as everything but the cantor. Irving Younger, 69 Youngers two greatest loves were his faith and his family, according to his next-door neighbor Tina Prizner. The former small business owner and baseball coach attended services every day, volunteering as an usher. He was the most wonderful dad and grandpa, Prizner added. He talked about his daughter and his grandson, always, and he never had an unkind word to say about anybody. A young boy holds a sign in the Squirrel Hill section of Pittsburgh during a memorial vigil for the victims of the shooting at the Tree of Life Synagogue where a shooter killed 11 people and wounded six, including four police officers, on Saturday. (Photo: ASSOCIATED PRESS) Williams said that the victims families had been notified and are in shock and grieving. Their bodies are undergoing autopsies, and authorities are doing everything in our power that honors both civil and religious law, he said. It could take up to a week to finish processing the crime scene, given that bodies were found in three different locations, Williams said. There are shell casings everywhere, he said. The suspect, 46-year-old Robert Bowers, reportedly yelled, All Jews must die, before carrying out the attack, according to police sources. Federal prosecutors filed 29 charges against him on Saturday evening, 22 of which could result in him being sentenced to death. Bowers brought three Glock handguns and an AR-15 assault-style rifle into the synagogue, all of which he used in the massacre, Williams said. Hes expected to make his first court appearance on Monday. A Torah study and Shabbat services were scheduled at the synagogue on Saturday. During the shooting, a bris a Jewish circumcision ceremony for an infant boy was reportedly taking place at the synagogue. Six people, including four police officers, were injured. One officer has been released from hospitalization and officials said a second was to be released sometime on Sunday. The Anti-Defamation League called the shooting likely the deadliest attack on the Jewish community in the history of the United States. Hayley Miller contributed reporting. This article has been updated with additional details on victims. CORRECTION: A previous version of this story misstated the name of the Anti-Defamation League as the American Defense League. Related... Pittsburgh Synagogue Shooting Suspect Charged With 29 Counts Pittsburgh Synagogue Shooting Suspect Robert Bowers Has Long Trail Of Anti-Semitism A Week Of American Hate: Bombs Mailed, Black People Executed, Jews Slaughtered Also on HuffPost Love HuffPost? Become a founding member of HuffPost Plus today. This article originally appeared on HuffPost. As President Donald Trump goes, so goes the Republican Party. Thats what a new NPR/PBS Newshour/Marist poll released Friday is positing. According to the data, two-thirds of American voters polled say Trump is a factor in how they will vote in the 2018 midterm elections. While 23 percent of those respondents say the president is at least a minor factor for them come November, a whopping 44 percent say he is a major factor. This differs pretty significantly from a 2014 poll that found only 47 percent of voters said they considered then-President Barack Obama to be either a major or minor factor in their voting for that years midterms. The poll surveyed 935 adults, 738 of them registered voters, via landline and cell phone from Oct. 21 to 23. The polling occurred prior to the news that mail bombs were sent to CNN and various high-profile Trump critics, including Bill and Hillary Clinton, Barack and Michelle Obama, left-leaning billionaire George Soros, former Vice President Joe Biden and actor Robert De Niro. A suspect, 56-year-old Cesar Sayoc, is in custody and reportedly a big Trump fan but the presidents response to the bomb scare was minimal. He piggy-backed off Vice President Mike Pences tweet condemning the acts, simply adding that he wholeheartedly agreed. On Thursday, Trump blamed a very big part of the problem on the media. Mainstream Media must clean up its act, FAST! the president tweeted. A very big part of the Anger we see today in our society is caused by the purposely false and inaccurate reporting of the Mainstream Media that I refer to as Fake News. It has gotten so bad and hateful that it is beyond description. Mainstream Media must clean up its act, FAST! Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) October 25, 2018 Lee Miringoff, director for the Marist Institute for Public Opinion, said Trump is front and center in this election. The presidents approval rating sits at 39 percent, according to Marist. Story continues This is definitively a national election, said Miringoff. With a referendum on Trump. Also on HuffPost Love HuffPost? Become a founding member of HuffPost Plus today. This article originally appeared on HuffPost. President Donald Trump said the results would have been far better if the Pittsburgh synagogue where a gunman killed multiple people had an armed guard. In his first remarks after the shooting, the President also said the United States needs to stiffen up death penalty laws. In response to a question about whether the shooting Saturday at the Tree of Life Synagogue should spark questions of increased gun control, Trump said: If they had protection inside, the results would have been far better. If they had some kind of protection within the temple it could have been a much better situation. They didnt. It was a point he repeated several times in his remarks to reporters at Joint Base Andrews a few hours after the shooting. Trump was en route to an event in Indianapolis Saturday. He later added: This is a case where if they had an armed guard inside they may have been able to stop him immediately, maybe there would have been nobody killed, except for him maybe. Trump has advocated for arming teachers and increasing the number of armed officers in schools in response to calls for tougher gun control measures following school shootings in Florida and Texas. Michael Eisenberg, the past president of the Tree of Life Synagogue, told KDKA-TV that the synagogue has never had threats or security concerns. Like most other religious places, we have an open door, he said On Saturday, Trump also said that the United States should make it easier to execute people who commit crimes like the shooting at the synagogue. I think one thing we should do is to stiffen up our laws in terms of the death penalty. I think they should stiffen up laws and i think they should very much stiffen up the laws, he said. Pennsylvania has the death penalty. And the death penalty is still an option in federal crimes. Police in Pittsburgh said Friday that the FBI was taking over the investigation because it appears to be a possible hate crime. Trump also said that its difficult for him as President to see violence of the kind that happened in Pittsburgh. Its a terrible terrible thing whats going on with hate in our country frankly and all over the world, and something has to be done, he said. Trump promised a major statement at the event where he is speaking Saturday night in Indiana. eather would be stormy and rainy in the next few days to come, said a forecast last Saturday. It would not be much different in the political arena as well. Opening up more and better space in promoting the Crown Prince began with a Constitutional Coup on Friday last week in the night, that seeks to oust, sitting PM Wickremesinghe and his government. Whole world was caught unawares when the de facto leader of the Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP), more popularly known as the Pohottuwa party, Mahinda Rajapaksa, was sworn in as PM, by President Sirisena. The path to power is thus widened for Namal Rajapaksa, this time with more grooming and better positioning in all probability. Yet in a way, it wasnt surprising either. Sirisena played Judas almost four years ago, and he played it once again. No change of principles here. The process began with a letter signed by Minister Mahinda Amaraweera as General Secretary of UPFA, informing the PM, the UPFA would no longer be a partner of the present government. This was in fact to say, the yahapalana government is no more a National government, and that PM Wickremesinghe will thus have no majority on his own. Yet the MoU for a National unity government was signed between the UNP and the SLFP and not between the UNP and the UPFA. But the political factor that goes beyond the technicalities and legal interpretation is that, once the UPFA withdraws, SLFP a constituent party that contested under the UPFA goes along with it and out of the National Unity Government. With that it is assumed, PM Wickremesinghe is restricted to 106 votes in parliament including the 12 MPs from SLMC and Rishad Bathiudeens ACMC, which is not the majority in the 225 member parliament. For Ranil to prove he has a controlling majority, he would now have to depend on the TNA, while the JVP has already said, they would not support either side in this Constitutional conflict. TNA itself is in a dilemma. Though Sampanthan and Sumanthiran blindly believed Ranil Wickremesinghe led government would deliver on the promise for a new Constitution with more devolved power than under the 13th Amendment, especially the Northern and Vanni Tamil people live with much disappointment and growing frustration with this government, as they were with the MR government. Thus, with Wigneswaran, now tipped to lead a new political party in the North with a campaign on Tamil peoples unsolved issues, how many TNA MPs would now vote with this government to save Ranil is very much a riddle. All that counted, President Sirisena went ahead with the deal that was worked out over dinner at S.B. Dissanayakes residence, early this month. Mahinda Rajapaksa was sworn in as PM under clause 42(4) that says,The President shall appoint as Prime Minister the Member of Parliament, who, in the Presidents opinion, is most likely to command the confidence of Parliament.Most democratic and civil rights campaigners forget, that this very same clause was used on January 9, 2015 to swear in Wickremesinghe, then Leader of the Opposition as PM with only 43 MPs behind him and while D.M. Jayaratne was still the PM with a majority in parliament. "For Ranil Wickremesinghe to prove he has a controlling majority, he would now have to depend on the TNA, while the JVP has already said, they would not support either side in this Constitutional conflict" It is now known that in January 2015, PM Jayaratne was coerced and manipulated to provide a back dated resignation letter to fit in with Clause 46(2)(a) of the Constitution, while this time, President Sirisena removes Ranil Wickremesinghe with a single sentence using the same Clause 42(4) that has to be read along with Clause 46(2)(a) to have Constitutional meaning proper. It wasnt done that way then in January 2015 and it wasnt done now. And in both occasions, it remains a Constitutional coup in changing political power without the consent of the people and by using the Constitution the wrong way that violates the sovereignty of the people. In these Constitutional Coups it is always pre-decided to get back to the Constitution thereafter with a majority negotiated and manipulated in parliament to be in line with Clause 42(4). In January 2015, this blatant violation of the Constitution was applauded and accepted by the Colombo civil society leaders while the Sinhala Buddhist majority was left numb and helpless. Now in October 2018, the lower layers of the Sinhala Buddhist society light crackers and enjoy kiribath, while the Colombocivil society leaders remain dismayed and helpless. In both instances, the sovereignty of the people wasnt even thought of as non negotiable. There is yet a political factor that makes October 2018 different to that of January 2015. In January 2015, the Constitutional Coup was played out with the euphoria in Colombo over ousting President Rajapaksa, whose rule was painted black in a single stroke. That violation of the Constitution was applauded and accepted by the urban middle-class as a step towards furthering democracy. In October 2018, the Constitutional Coup is still in play endorsed by the Sinhala Buddhist majority and with the Colombo middle-class, though frustrated and betrayed by this Unity government, still prefer the Wickremesinghe-government to any led by Rajapaksa. Unfortunately for the UNP this urban middle class remains passive and would not intervene as a political force to save the UNP government. This October Constitutional coup is thus played out within the parliament, for which the parliament now remains prorogued. It is certainly a time buying factor to increase numbers. It cannot be now turned around with international pressure as the UNP leadership wants to. Every hour Rajapaksa is consolidating himself as PM though outside Temple Trees. He probably had India and Modi neutralized with his most recent trip to New Delhi. He was greeted as PM and wished by the Chinese Ambassador in Colombo. Statements made so far by other important Western countries that the UNP banks on, have only asked for peace and to adhere to the constitutional process. Sadly, they mean very little to a PM who banks on the Sinhala Buddhist majority. In short, with the UNP not pinning faith on their own supporters to challenge this Constitutional Coup and the urban middle class stay grumbling in their comfort zones, while Rajapaksa fiercely usurps power within a seemingly constitutional process, the final result is almost there at our doorsteps. He is with 95 MPs that he campaigned and brought to parliament in August 2015. Whatever is being said about Muslim and plantation sector representations in parliament, with Rajapaksa consolidating himself, they can and will change positions. This parliament is not one with firm loyalties. We have politicians who have not only jumped over fences, but have crept through fences. Politicians who have crossed over to be Ministers in every government since 1994. Politicians the people vote to parliament every time they cross over. This certainly would leave us with a Constitutional coup that would be endorsed in parliament with a manipulated majority that in essence is a violation of peoples sovereignty, the people do not perceive as such. The promise therefore would be to give the people their sovereign right to elect a new government, perhaps early next year. That would be applauded too in this society. The Queen's last corgi has died - ending Her Majestys close association with the breed dating back eight decades. Whisper, a 12-year-old corgi, had become a loyal companion to the royals after the Queen adopted him in 2016 following the death of his owner - a former Sandringham gamekeeper. Her Majesty had become fond of the dog, who would follow her from room to room at Buckingham Palace, according to the Daily Mail. But it is understood Whisper died on Saturday, of meaning the Queen no longer owns any corgis. In April, it was revealed that Willow, a 14th-generation descendant of the Queens first dog Susan, was put down having suffered from a cancer-related illness. It is understood The Queen did not want Willow, who was almost 15, to suffer any further. Insiders said at the time she was hit extremely hard by the loss of Willow, who had become her most devoted companion. Whisper had filled the void over the past few months, but now the last remaining corgi has passed away. In 2015, the Queen decided to stop breeding Pembroke Welsh corgis over fears she might trip over and hurt herself. It was also reported that she didnt want to leave any behind when she dies. Corgis have played a massive role in Her Majesty's life Credit: Rex Features/Shutterstock The Queen still has Vulcan and Candy, two dorgis - corgi-dachshund crosses, but Willow was the only dog left with a link to the Queen's original family of royal corgis. As a teenager, The Queen fell in love with her father's dog Dookie, a Pembrokeshire corgi, and wanted one of her own. She was subsequently given Susan and during her reign she has owned more than 30 corgis, many of them direct descendants of her first dog. Susan was so loved that she accompanied Her Majesty and The Duke of Edinburgh on on their honeymoon. Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip (left) with one of their corgis at Windsor Castle pictured in 1959 and Her Majesty walking her dogs in 1980 (right) Credit: PA/Getty Her descendant Willow appeared in the 2012 James Bond sketch which the Queen recorded with Daniel Craig for the London Olympics opening ceremony. The dog and two other corgis, Monty and Holly, greeted the secret agent, played by Daniel Craig, as he arrived at the palace to accept a mission from the Queen. Story continues The dogs ran down the stairs, performed tummy rolls and then stood as a helicopter took off for the Olympic stadium, carrying Bond and a stunt double of the Queen. Monty, who was 13, died a couple of months later and Holly was put down in October 2016 after suffering from an illness. Yet during her time looking after them, she has had more than 30 corgis stemming from Susans puppies Sugar and Honey, who were born in 1949. Queen Elizabeth II pictured walking her dogs in 1973 with a corgi leading the way and another ushering from behind Credit: Alpha Press The Duke of Sussex revealed last year how his then fiancee the Duchess of Sussex had managed to charm the Queen's dogs. The prince said in his engagement interview: "And the corgis took to you straightaway. I've spent the last 33 years being barked at - this one walks in, absolutely nothing." Describing the moment, the duchess said: "Just laying on my feet during tea, it was very sweet." Queen Elizabeth II's long-standing love of corgis The Queen is synonymous with her love of corgis. The snappy little dogs had a penchant for nipping servants' ankles, but the Queen has always been devoted to them. She has owned more than 30 of the breed, as well as dorgis, black Labradors and cocker spaniels. Her first corgi, Susan, was given to her as an 18th birthday present by her parents in 1944. The Queen had fallen in love with her father's dog Dookie, a Pembrokeshire corgi, and wanted one of her own. Susan became the founder of the Queen's royal dog dynasty, and was even taken on honeymoon by Princess Elizabeth. But Susan was not always well-behaved. She bit a royal clockwinder on the ankle and was also rather partial to going for servants' legs. A corgi passes between two rugby players in 2007 when The Queen greeted internationals Credit: Tim Graham Picture Library/Getty Her grandson, Whisky, apparently tore the seat out of a Guards officer's trousers. The Queen has looked after her own dogs as much as possible. She now has Whisper - a corgi she adopted after the death of its owner, a Sandringham gamekeeper - and two dorgis, Vulcan and Candy. During weekends at Windsor, the corgis went too and lived in her private apartments. She fed them herself, whenever her busy schedule permitted. She mixed their feed with a spoon and fork, from ingredients brought on a tray by a footman. She also enjoyed walking her corgis and they knew when it was time for their exercise. If the Queen came in wearing a tiara, they laid glumly on the carpet; if she was in a headscarf, they knew it was time for walkies. The Duke of York said his mother's love of her corgis has helped to keep her fit. "She is just amazing at her age and she walks a long way, the dogs keep her active," Andrew said. Corgis are liable to bite people's legs because their forebears rounded up sheep by snapping at their feet. One footman at the Palace found a novel way of getting his own back. He spiked the dogs' food and water with whisky and gin, then watched in amusement as the tipsy animals staggered around. But he was discovered and demoted. At one stage, the Queen was forced to call in a dog psychiatrist when her corgis kept setting upon each other. The worst incident was when Ranger, who belonged to the Queen Mother, killed the Queen's dorgi Chipper in 1989. Two years later the Queen was bitten on the left hand while trying to break up a fight between six of her corgis and two of the Queen Mother's at Windsor. She needed three stitches and her chauffeur needed a tetanus jab. Canine psychiatrist Roger Mugford prescribed an ear-piercing rape alarm which the Queen used to break up the dog fights. He also sent the leader of the pack, Apollo, to live with the Princess Royal. But sometimes it was the corgis who found themselves under attack. In 2003, as the royals were gathering for Christmas at Sandringham in Norfolk, one suffered a tragic fate. Queen Elizabeth II and the Duke of Edinburgh during their traditional summer break at Balmoral Castle. The royal couple are seen with 'Tinker', a cross between a corgi and long haired dachshund Credit: PA Pharos - then one of the Queen's oldest corgis - was savaged by another dog and had to be put down. The Queen was devastated at the death of one of her favourite pets. Dottie, an English bull terrier owned by the Princess Royal, was blamed. The year before, Anne had been fined 500 when the same dog attacked two children in Windsor Great Park. But some days later, an announcement from the Palace revealed it was a case of mistaken identity. The real killer of Pharos was Florence, another of Anne's dogs. Pharos was buried in the Sandringham grounds, joining Susan and some of the other corgis with gravestones there. Daniel Craig and Queen Elizabeth II with her corgis Credit: Videograb In 2012, the Queen's remaining corgis had a starring role in the James Bond sketch the Queen recorded for the London Olympics opening ceremony. Monty, Willow and Holly greeted the secret agent, played by Daniel Craig, as he arrived at the Palace to accept a mission from the Queen. Monty, who was 13, died a couple of months later. Holly was put down in October 2016 after suffering from an illness, leaving Willow as the Queen's final corgi descended from Susan. Pittsburgh (AFP) - In the months leading up to Saturday's massacre at a Pittsburgh synagogue, Robert Bowers used a little-known social network to spew hatred toward Jews, calling them the "Children of Satan" as he showed off his "family" of firearms. The 46-year-old faces the death penalty after allegedly unleashing his guns on worshippers at the Tree of Life synagogue, killing 11 in the deadliest anti-Semitic attack in recent US history. His online postings on Gab, a social network that bills itself as a champion of free speech, paint a picture of a white supremacist obsessed with far-right conspiracy theories about Jews, singling out a Jewish non-profit that provides aid to refugees as a target in a chilling message posted hours before his attack. "HIAS likes to bring invaders in that kill our people. I can't sit by and watch my people get slaughtered. Screw your optics, I'm going in," he wrote. HIAS is the acronym for the Hebrew Immigrant Aid Society. His account has since been suspended but screenshots have been widely circulated by SITE, a US-based extremism monitor, as well as by other media outlets. Other posts on the network referred to the caravan of Central American migrants making its way to the US as "invaders," while he also accused Jews of being responsible for Muslim migration into the United States, writing: "Open you Eyes! It's the filthy EVIL jews Bringing the Filthy EVIL Muslims into the Country!!" But while both migrants and Muslims have been frequent targets of Donald Trump, Bowers was no fan of the US president, whom he derisively dismissed as a "globalist" and not a "nationalist." Using a slur for Jews, he said, "There is no #MAGA, as long as there is a k--- infestation." MAGA refers to Trump's campaign slogan, Make America Great Again. In another post before the shooting, he said he had not voted for Trump. Story continues Bowers has been charged with 29 federal crimes and has made statements in custody "evincing an animus towards people of the Jewish faith," according to a criminal complaint filed Saturday night. "They're committing genocide to my people. I just want to kill Jews," he told a law enforcement officer, the complaint added. - Gun obsessed - Bowers lived in a low-income apartment complex in the Baldwin Borough suburb of Pittsburgh, less than half an hour's drive south of the Tree of Life synagogue. The building was raided by authorities Saturday night, forcing other residents to evacuate amid fears Bower's unit may be rigged with explosives. Chris Hall, a 28-year-old neighbor told AFP he felt "awful," adding: "I didn't know that type of caliber of person could be living right next door without any clue of what any motive he would have, and who could do something like this." According to former neighbors from when Bowers lived at a previous address, he had worked as a trucker, kept to himself, and would sometimes stay at home for days at a stretch. Linda Lohr, a retired paralegal, told the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette she was shocked, saying that although he was quiet, he was also the kind of neighbor who would call to let her know if she left the garage door open. Bowers has no known criminal record, according to the paper, but had on occasion had "contacts" with local police over non-criminal issues. He was given a traffic citation in 2015 for operating a vehicle without registration plates, and was subject to a debt claim by Colonial Credit Corporation for $2,065 in 2005. Licensed to carry firearms, he had bought at least six guns since 1996, according to an official CNN spoke with. He also professed his love for his "family" of Glock pistols in a post on Gab, where he outlined their technical characteristics. Three Glocks were recovered from Bowers after his attack, as well as an AR-15 semi-automatic rifle favored in other recent mass shootings in the US. Bowers remained hospitalized Sunday, after suffering multiple injuries during a shootout with police. Officials said he had been operated on, and was in a stable condition. "I'm in shock. I can't believe that happened," said Terry Choate, a retired government contractor who told the Post-Gazette he knew Bowers for nearly the suspect's entire life. "I can't believe he did that. I'd like to know what set him off." UNITED NATIONS (AP) Russia lost a vote Friday that would have allowed the U.N. General Assembly to consider a resolution supporting a landmark missile treaty and opposing U.S. President Donald Trump's decision to withdraw from it. The vote to put a Russian resolution backing the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty on the agenda of the Assembly's disarmament committee was 31 countries in favor, 55 against and 54 abstaining. Senior Russian arms control official Andrei Belousov said he didn't understand the result, noting that most countries that abstained "are active supporters of nuclear disarmament" and a significant number of those who voted against the procedural measure are in favor of preserving the INF treaty. Russia "tried to send a serious signal to U.S. political circles about the danger of the course chosen by the current (U.S.) administration," he said. "We thought that such an initiative would be supported by all sensible forces." Robert Wood, the U.S. ambassador to the Conference on Disarmament, called the Russian proposal a "very politicized resolution" that was not submitted by the deadline to be considered by the disarmament committee. Russia presented the draft to the Assembly's disarmament committee Thursday but the U.S. protested that it was after the Oct. 18 deadline for submitting resolutions. Russia argued that Trump's announcement came after the deadline, Russian Mission spokesman Fedor Strzhizhovskiy said. He said the committee chair reported Friday that he was unable to find consensus on a way forward and Russia then called for a vote. A U.N. diplomat, speaking on condition of anonymity because consultations were private, said European Union and NATO countries voted against having the disarmament committee consider the resolution and asked others to abstain in order to prevent further escalation, and promote U.S.-Russian negotiations to find a solution. Story continues The United States accuses Russia of violating the 1987 INF treaty, which eliminates all ground-launched cruise and ballistic missiles with a range of 500-5,500 kilometers (300-3,400 miles). In 2017, White House national security officials said Russia had deployed a cruise missile in violation of the treaty. Earlier, the Obama administration accused the Russians of violating the pact by developing and testing a prohibited cruise missile. Russia has repeatedly denied that it has violated the treaty and has accused the United States of not being in compliance. Wood repeated the U.S. accusations on Friday, telling the disarmament committee after the vote that for 5 1/2 years the United States has tried to engage Russia on the issue of treaty violations. He said Moscow only recently admitted producing a ground-launched missile but maintained it didn't violate the range limits. "We presented them with information to the contrary, but they continued to deny being in noncompliance with the treaty," Wood said. "But instead of responding to our engagement, we received denials and ridiculous accusations that it is the U.S. that is violating the treaty." Belousov, the deputy director of the Foreign Ministry's Department of Nonproliferation and Arms Control, countered that "we have been making complaints about this since 2000" to the United States but "they run from us." He said that at a recent meeting the U.S. declared that Russia was preparing for war. "Yes, Russia is preparing for a war. I confirm it. Yes, we are preparing to defend our homeland, our territorial integrity, our principles, our people," Belousov said. "The Russian Federations is preparing for war, and the United States of America is preparing for a war. ... That is the fact." He said the disarmament committee missed an opportunity, but Russia will work with countries supporting its position to convince the United States "to take a constructive position, continue the dialogue" within the INF framework "and refrain from building up its nuclear potential." Belousov said Russia will go directly to the General Assembly and, possibly, if there is "a negative development of events and the U.S. withdrawal from the treaty, to the Security Council" where both Russia and the U.S. have veto power on resolutions. A constitutional crisis gripping Sri Lanka since the president's shock dismissal of Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe erupted into violence Sunday, with a man shot dead and two others injured in Colombo. Police said bodyguards for a Sri Lankan cabinet minister allied to Wickremesinghe opened fire inside a government ministry as a mob loyal to President Maithripala Sirisena besieged the minister's office. Three people were injured but a 34-year-old man died shortly after. It was the first fatality since Sirisena sacked Wickremesinghe on Friday and installed a former strongman as prime minister, triggering political chaos in the Indian Ocean nation. Wickremesinghe has refused to vacate the prime minister's official residence, barricading himself inside as over 1,000 supporters, including chanting Buddhist monks, rallied outside. The 69-year-old says his sacking is illegal, and wants an emergency session of parliament held to prove he still commands a majority. Sirisena shut parliament for nearly three weeks to forestall any challenge to his appointment of Mahinda Rajapakse, a former president accused of wartime abuses. Rajapakse sought blessings at a prominent Buddhist temple Sunday as he jostled to consolidate his claim to the prime ministership. But Wickremesinghe got a boost as Sri Lanka's parliamentary speaker refused to endorse his sacking. Speaker Karu Jayasuriya backed Wickremesinghe's request to retain his privileges and security until another candidate could prove a majority in parliament, saying it was "democratic and fair". He also warned the president that shuttering parliament risked "serious and undesirable consequences for the country". Opposition leader Rajavarothiam Sampanthan urged Jayasuriya to summon parliament immediately. "I hereby call upon yourself to uphold the rule of law by summoning parliament... to perform its legitimate functions," said Sampanthan, who represents Sri Lanka's minority Tamil community. Story continues Officials loyal to Rajapakse said police will now seek a court order to evict Wickremesinghe from the residence, threatening to escalate the standoff. Soldiers had been stationed near the residence, although Wickremesinghe's security and official cars were withdrawn Saturday. Tensions were high across Colombo, with police leave cancelled amid warnings street violence could break out if the president did not immediately summon parliament to end the impasse. "Don't try to create a civil war in this country," party legislator Karunarathna Paranawithana told reporters at the prime minister's residence. Regional neighbours and Western nations have urged all sides to exercise restraint and respect the constitution. - Shooting - But violence broke out inside the petroleum ministry as police guarding Minister Arjuna Ranatunga fired on a mob surrounded his office. Witnesses saw Ranatunga, 54, also a former World Cup winning cricket captain, rushed from the scene in a tactical helmet and body armour by police commandos. In his first televised address to the nation since the crisis began, Sirisena said Sunday he sacked Wickremesinghe over personal and political disputes. "Apart from our ideological differences, we also had serious cultural differences," Sirisena said, referring to Wickremesinghe's liberal background and his own rural conservative upbringing. He said he had no choice but to appoint Rajapakse, and urged parliament to support him. Loyalists of Rajapakse -- whose controversial decade-long rule was marked by grave allegations of rights abuses, the crushing of the Tamil Tiger uprising, and growing authoritarianism -- were appointed Sunday to run the country's two state-run television channels and a newspaper. Plans to appoint some cabinet members had been delayed until Monday, aides said. Rajapakse is yet to make a formal statement since being elevated to the new post. The strongman is seen as being closer to China than Wickremesinghe, who had sought to re-establish stronger ties with traditional ally and regional power India. New Delhi said it was "closely following" events in Colombo. The United States and European Union ambassadors have called on the Sri Lankan rivals to follow the constitution and avoid violence. - 'Constitutional coup' - Privately-run newspapers on Sunday described Sirisena's move as a "constitutional coup". However, Rajapakse loyalist and former foreign minister G. L. Peiris said there was nothing illegal about Wickremesinghe's dismissal. The falling-out between Wickremesinghe and Sirisena has come to a head since the president this year backed a no-confidence motion against the man he had handpicked to lead the government. The two allied against Rajapakse in the 2015 election, but their relationship steadily soured. Sirisena initially said he would be a one-term president but has since indicated he will seek re-election next year -- pitting himself against Wickremesinghe who also has presidential ambitions. This is the second time that a president has ousted Wickremesinghe from office. In 2004, the then head of state sacked him and called snap elections. After winning the premiership in August 2015, Wickremesinghe amended the constitution to remove the president's power to sack prime ministers to prevent a repeat of his earlier ouster. Prague (AFP) - Saudi Arabia has promised a "full" investigation into the killing of journalist Jamal Khashoggi, US Defence Secretary Jim Mattis said Sunday following talks with Saudi Foreign Minister Adel al-Jubeir in Bahrain. "We discussed it... the need of transparency, full and complete investigation. Full agreement from FM Jubeir, no reservations at all," Mattis told reporters following the talks, during which he warned the Saudi kingdom that the murder attributed to the Saudi authorities risked destabilising the region. "No reservations at all. He (Jubeir) said we need to know what happened and it was very collaborative, in agreement," the Pentagon chief told reporters on a flight from Manama to Prague where he will mark the centenary of Czechoslovakia. Speaking later on Sunday at a joint press conference in Prague with Czech Prime Minister Andrej Babis, Mattis gave a nod to Turkey's probe into the murder. "Certainly Turkey with the evidence that they have compiled will ensure that there is more than one review of what is going on there and I am certain the investigation will include the evidence that Turkey has put forward so far," Mattis said. Saudi journalist Khashoggi, 59, who had criticised the kingdom's powerful Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, had lived in self-imposed exile in the United States since 2017. He was murdered after entering his country's Istanbul consulate on October 2 to obtain paperwork to marry his Turkish fiancee. Gruesome reports have alleged that the Washington Post columnist was killed and dismembered by a team sent from Saudi Arabia to silence him. After weeks of denials, Riyadh has sought to draw a line under the crisis with an investigation. - 'Premeditated' - Prince Mohammed, heir to the oil-rich nation's throne, publicly denounced the murder as "repulsive", while the Saudi prosecutor acknowledged for the first time this week that based on the evidence of a Turkish investigation the killing had been "premeditated". Story continues But Riyadh on Saturday dismissed Ankara's calls to extradite 18 Saudis being held over Khashoggi's murder, as Washington warned the crisis risked destabilising the Middle East. Addressing a forum in Manama on Saturday, Mattis warned that "the murder of Jamal Khashoggi in a diplomatic facility must concern us all greatly". "Failure of any nation to adhere to international norms and the rule of law undermines regional stability at a time when it is needed most," he stressed. The murder, which has tarnished the image of Crown Prince Mohammed, has sparked a wave of international criticism and affected Washington's relations with the kingdom. The United States relies heavily on Saudi Arabia to counter Iran's influence in the region and to defend the security of Israel. Mattis did not have a formal bilateral meeting with Jubeir on the sidelines of the Manama forum, where he met with several Arab and European leaders. The two men spoke at a dinner gathering all the ministers. Before opening fire on a synagogue full of people in Pittsburgh on Saturday, killing 11 and injuring six others, including four police officers, suspected gunman Robert Bowers reportedly yelled, All Jews must die! The 48-year-old Bowers, who was taken into police custody after the shooting at the Tree of Life Congregation synagogue, is believed to have acted alone in what the Anti-Defamation League (ADL) said is likely the deadliest attack on the Jewish community in the history of the United States. It is simply unconscionable for Jews to be targeted during worship on a Sabbath morning, and unthinkable that it would happen in the United States of America in this day and age, ADL CEO Jonathan Greenblatt said in a statement Saturday. Unfortunately, this violent attack the deadliest anti-Semitic attack in the United States since 2014 occurs at time when ADL has reported a historic increase in both anti-Semitic incidents and anti-Semitic online harassment. A man is escorted out of the Tree of Life Congregation synagogue by police following a shooting at the Pittsburgh synagogue, Oct. 27, 2018. (Photo: Alexandra Wimley/Pittsburgh Post-Gazette via AP) The earlier incident referenced by Greenblatt was the 2014 shooting , by a former Ku Klux Klan grand dragon and neo-Nazi, at two Jewish community centers outside Kansas City that left three people dead. Since then, organizations like the ADL and others observed a dramatic rise in anti-Semitism in the United States. In its annual Audit of Anti-Semitic Incidents , the ADL reported nearly 2,000 cases of harassment, vandalism and physical assault targeting Jews in 2017 57 percent more than the year before. It was the largest single-year increase since the organization first began tracking such data in 1979, and it marked the highest number of anti-Semitic incidents on record since 1994. In particular, anti-Semitic incidents in schools and college campuses nearly doubled in 2017 for the second year in a row, contributing in part to the overall spike last year. Some of the incidents in the ADL report came from the left, in the form of references, accusations and conspiracy theories directed against Jews over purported support for Israel. Story continues Toppled and damaged headstones rest on the ground at Mount Carmel Cemetery in Philadelphia, Feb. 27, 2017. The Anti-Defamation League found an increase in cases of anti-Semitic intimidation and vandalism in 2016, evidence that anti-Jewish bias intensified during the election. (Photo: Jacqueline Larma/AP) Without a doubt, weve seen an increase in anti-Semitic incidents, said Adam Hertzman, director of marketing for the Jewish Federation of Greater Pittsburgh. Hertzman told Yahoo News on Saturday that in general, Pittsburgh has been one of the safest cities, in terms of the Jewish community, in the United States, but the city has not been exempt from this national trend. Two years ago, he said, the Jewish Federation hired a Jewish Community security director in response to the rise in such incidents, which has included the dissemination of neo-Nazi literature and imagery, such as swastikas. Largely it has not been incidents of violence, he said, adding that that is one of the reasons were more shocked at this situation, referring to Saturdays shooting. In another recent study published on Friday, the researchers with the ADL found a significant increase in online attacks targeting Jewish politicians, journalists and others in the lead-up to next months midterm elections. The report found that both robot and human-run accounts were responsible for anti-Semitic tweets, leading researchers to conclude, Both anonymity and automation have been used in online propaganda offensives against the Jewish community during the 2018 midterms. Bowers appears to have participated in his trend. Among other social media networks, the suspect in Saturdays shooting was active on Gab, a site popular among white supremacists, neo-Nazis and other far-right extremists. Robert Bowerss Pennsylvania drivers license photo. (Photo: PA Dept. of Transportation) Bowerss account was quickly deactivated shortly after his name was made public, but a link to his archived profile offers a glimpse at the kind of anti-Semitic rhetoric he posted, beginning with the line jews are the children of satan in his user bio. Two of his most recent posts, including one apparently posted this morning, refer to HIAS, the Hebrew Immigrant Aid Society, a nonprofit that provides humanitarian aid to refugees in the U.S. According to a statement published on Medium , Gab administrators said they had suspended Bowerss profile once they were alerted to a verified account matching the name of the suspected shooter, first backing up the user data on Bowerss account and then alerting the FBI to its existence. We are ready and willing to work with law enforcement to see to it that justice is served, they wrote, adding, Gab unequivocally disavows and condemns all acts of terrorism and violence. The statement attempts to dispel negative perceptions of the Gab community, insisting that the social networks mission is very simple: to defend free expression and individual liberty online for all people. But Bowerss views are common on Gab. Many of the anti-Semitic posts found in Bowerss archived feed had been reposted from the accounts of other Gab users. White supremacists march with tiki torches through the University of Virginia campus in Charlottesville, Aug. 11, 2017. (Photo: Zach D. Roberts/NurPhoto via Getty Images) The ADL study on anti-Semitism leading up to the 2018 midterms also suggested a link between the rise in such attacks and the election of President Trump. Prior to the 2016 election, anti-Semitic harassment and attacks were rare and unexpected, even for Jewish Americans who were prominently situated in the public eye, states the report. Following his election, anti-Semitism has become normalized and harassment is a daily occurrence. One of the most frequently attacked individuals is George Soros, the billionaire philanthropist who was among the targets of pipe bombs sent to prominent Democrats and members of the media earlier this week. A Florida man who identifies as a Trump supporter was arrested Friday in connection with the attempted bombings. Bowers, judging from his postings, was not a fan of Trump, whom he evidently considered insufficiently tough on foreigners, writing, Trump is a globalist, not a nationalist. There is no #MAGA as long as there is a kike infestation. Trumps daughter Ivanka and her husband, Jared Kushner, are observant Jews. First responders stand outside the Tree of Life synagogue in Pittsburgh, where a shooter opened fire on Oct. 27, 2018. (Photo: Gene J. Puskar/AP) Following initial reports of Saturdays shooting, Heidi Beirich, director of the Southern Poverty Law Centers Intelligence Project, speculated to Yahoo News about what the gunman whose identity was unknown at that point might have in common with Cesar Altieri Sayoc , the suspect arrested Friday in the attempted mail bombings. Once again, weve seen people who are motivated by extremist ideas and ideologies willing to be engaged in violence, said Beirich. We have way too much domestic terrorism emerging from white supremacists and far-right extremists, she continued, adding that while thats been going on for a long time, it doesnt help when Trump stokes these things. Trump has faced criticism for his response to the mailings of the pipe bombs, which were sent to high-profile critics of the president and frequent subjects of his own attacks. After initially suggesting that Saturdays deadly events could have been avoided if they had some kind of a protection inside the temple, Trump later struck a more sympathetic tone at the annual Future Farmers of America convention in Indianapolis, where he condemned the shootings as pure evil and referred to them as an anti-Semitic act. You wouldnt think this would be possible in this day and age, but we just dont seem to learn from the past, he said, before launching into another denunciation of globalists. Read more from Yahoo News: s an UNPer born and bred Im as proud to be an UNPer now as I was way back when in my youth. One might ask why? It is because the party has always been for every citizen in this country, irrespective of race or creed. It has never been a racist party. It has always unwaveringly stood for democracy, freedom, justice and the rule of law. The UNP in the Senanayake era always had someone from a minority community as Chairman. At that stage, it was the late DR M.C.M. Khaleel. Although this was changed later, Ranil Wickremesinghe has later appointed Kabir Hashim as Chairman of the UNP. The late D. S. Senanayake, was before my time, but in reading about him, and also about my great-grandfather, the late Charles Henry de Soysa, who was one of the first members of the Ceylon National Congress, from which stemmed the UNP, I have gained immeasurable knowledge about the Father of the Nation and what he stood for. Presentations on screen are always shown at UNP events at Sirikotha at which all past leaders of the party are honoured, by displaying their words and deeds for the present generation to learn about them and their vast contributions to the country. I am also aware that two of the late DSs closest advisors were the late D.R. Wijewardene and the late C.L Wickremesinghe, both grandfathers of Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe, the present leader of the UNP. I knew the late Dudley Senanayake well, worked under his leadership before my marriage and later with my late husband, Chandra Karunaratne, to whom he was a mentor and who was one of his closest supporters. We stood by the late Dudley through the crises he faced from both within the party and outside it. He will always be my favourite politician, who made me become a Director of the Board of the Dudley Senanayake Foundation. We have a memorial oration for him annually, with the partnership of the Friedrich Naumann Stiftung. Last year the distinguished orator was Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe who kindly gave us the use of the Banquet Hall at Temple Trees for the event. He stressed on the incomparable contribution to the development and progress of the country by Dudley Senanayake and his father before him. As one who knew the late Dudleys thoughts on politics, I know that he too would have been proud of the party and the present path it treads through both stormy and calm waters. There were indeed charges of corruption at that time too, against Ministers. Like the Senanayakes, DS and Dudley, the UNP today headed by Ranil Wickremesinghe, also steadfastly believes that each one should be honoured according to his/her own worth, not categorized, penalized or suspected because of race or creed. Our Leaders both then and now, have always spoken the truth, never made false promises, walked the straight path. Both the late Dudley then and Ranil now were and are used to winning and losing and treating those two imposters just the same. The UNP headed by the Senanayakes and at the present moment, have ensured that the country was ruled democratically and according to the rule of law, whenever in power. This has been always been a characteristic of the UNP and it has not veered away from this course, whatever the circumstances may have been. The party has never failed in respecting the right of every individual to fair and just treatment. The UNP today, believes as it did then, that the greatest feats of man have been the achievements of a free and unfettered mind. The UNP has always believed that economic freedom can only be built on the foundation of political freedom which we have now achieved to a certain extent. As well as being a UNP supporter all my life, I have been closely associated with the party as my late husband was an MP, a Deputy Minister, and a member of the working committee from the time of the late Dudley till he died in 1997. "Blunt misrepresentation of facts and abuse of truth used time and again will not deter the UNP in its journey forward under the present Leader who has groomed an excellent second string which no other party possesses. Something the late Dudley said remains forever in the recesses of my mind." I was also a member of the working committee for a few years till 2016. The party I have always supported through thick and thin, through defeat and victory has never changed from the ideals, values and principles of its founders. Times have changed but not the party. It is wrong to compare cabinets now with those of the late DS and the late JR. These were solely UNP governments which were won with vast majorities. The many problems existing today were nonexistent then. We did not have a long drawn out war. The county was not plunged into debt by the extravagances of a former dictatorial regime and nor had it made enemies of countries in the democratic world in those days. Im sure former President Chandrika Kumaratunga would say that the SLFP isnt the same party as that begun by her late father. We did not have a situation when power was misused to the extent it was during the last regime with state power being used to abduct, to kill, to intimidate. There are ways of tackling problems that have to change with the evolving of different situations through the passage of time, but the values and ideals remain the same. Blunt misrepresentation of facts and abuse of truth used time and again will not deter the UNP in its journey forward under the present Leader who has groomed an excellent second string which no other party possesses. Something the late Dudley said remains forever in the recesses of my mind. That he prays and hopes for the day when every citizen of this country can state with pride; This is my own, my native land. I know that the present leader of the UNP feels the same way too. I have always been and will remain an UNPer till I die, because it is the only party that I believe can take this country forward with pride to new beginnings, sticking to the ideals that the founders instilled, stood for and believed in. Donald Trump has tweeted the "'Bomb' stuff" has slowed "momentum greatly" for Republicans in the 2018 midterm elections taking place less than two weeks away. His tweet comes just hours after the 11th and 12th suspicious packages containing explosive devices were found this week, one near the offices of CNN addressed to former Director of National Intelligence James Clapper and the other in south Florida, addressed to Democratic Senator Cory Booker of New Jersey. Mr Trump wrote the news was "not talking politics. Very unfortunate, what is going on" and then encouraged "Republicans, go out and vote!" in the 6 November election just minutes before federal authorities announced they have arrested a suspect in the investigation. The president has been on a feverish pace of campaigning for Republican candidates across the country, even holding a "Make America Great Again" rally in Wisconsin the same day seven of the packages containing explosives were found. The news comes after a string of packages containing explosives and one with white powder were found or intercepted, addressed to Bill and Hillary Clinton, Barack and Michelle Obama, former CIA Director John Brennan via CNN, House Democrat Maxine Waters, former US Attorney General Eric Holder, and former Vice President Joe Biden. Mr Biden and Ms Waters both received two separate packages. It began with a package containing an explosive device sent to billionaire George Soros, who has contributed millions of dollars to Democrats. Though investigators have not confirmed it as being a connection to the packages, all of the intended recipients and the news network have been frequent targets and vocal critics of the president. Critics have said Mr Trump's constant negative attacks on Ms Clinton, Mr Obama, Ms Waters, and CNN have contributed to the packages being sent, however his tweets appear to continue to blame the media for the attacks. Story continues Mr Trump had said Wednesday after the first seven packages had been found that he considered them "egregious acts" of "domestic terrorism." He promised the "full weight" of the federal government was being put behind the investigation to bring the perpetrator to justice. However, later that day at a rally, Mr Trump joined in on the infamous "lock her up" chant regarding Ms Clinton. He has repeatedly called for her to be further investigated and jailed for a variety of matters, but mostly her use of a private email server for official emails while she was Secretary of State. Just one day later the president tweeted: "A very big part of the Anger we see today in our society is caused by the purposely false and inaccurate reporting of the Mainstream Media that I refer to as Fake News". It has gotten so bad and hateful that it is beyond description. Mainstream Media must clean up its act, FAST! he wrote. Mr Trump tweeted again in the middle of the night: Funny how lowly rated CNN, and others, can criticize me at will...yet when I criticize them they go wild and scream, its just not Presidential! Funny how lowly rated CNN, and others, can criticize me at will, even blaming me for the current spate of Bombs and ridiculously comparing this to September 11th and the Oklahoma City bombing, yet when I criticize them they go wild and scream, its just not Presidential! Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) October 26, 2018 To echo [Mr] Brennans comments...this is not going to silence the administrations critics, Mr Clapper told CNN this morning. I think anyone who has...publicly been a critic of President Trump needs to take precautions...but at the same time we cant get too overwhelmed about it, too overwrought is the right word, the former intelligence chief said. He said he wished the president had named the targets of the bombs in his initial statement and skipped the political rally the president held that same evening in Wisconsin because he thinks Mr Trump bears some responsibility for the acts. The investigation continues as a suspect has been arrested in Florida. The suspect has a criminal history with ties to New York. WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. President Donald Trump suggested on Friday that Twitter Inc was biased against him and accused the social media company of deleting many of his followers and making it harder for users to follow him, without providing evidence. It was the latest salvo by Trump against social media and technology companies such as Twitter, Facebook Inc and Alphabet Inc's Google for what he has described as "silencing" conservative views on their services. "Twitter has removed many people from my account and, more importantly, they have seemingly done something that makes it much harder to join - they have stifled growth to a point where it is obvious to all. A few weeks ago it was a Rocket Ship, now it is a Blimp! Total Bias?" Trump tweeted. Any reduction is likely the result of Twitter's recent moves to remove millions of suspicious accounts after it and other social media services were used in misinformation campaigns attempting to influence voters in the 2016 U.S. presidential race and other elections. "Many prominent accounts have seen follower counts drop, but the result is higher confidence that the followers they have are real, engaged people, Twitter spokesman Brandon Borrman said on Friday. Trump lost 204,000, or 0.4 percent, of his 53.4 million followers in July when Twitter started its purge of suspicious accounts, according to social media data firm Keyhole. Last week Twitter gave details of some 10 million tweets it had deleted in the belief they were the work of Russian and Iranian government-backed influence operations. The account purge has benefited Twitter financially, as advertisers will pay more to connect with authentic users than automated accounts. The company smashed Wall Street's profit forecasts on Thursday, and said its "health" initiative to cull fake accounts will allow it to grow revenue faster over a sustained period. Shares in Twitter posted their biggest one-day gain in a year on Thursday. They rose another 2.7 percent on Friday. Earlier this week, Trump's re-election campaign manager Brad Parscale in an opinion piece that tech companies such as Facebook and Google have become incubators of "far-left liberal ideologies" that are doing "everything they can to eradicate conservative ideas and their proponents from the internet." Parscale served as Trump's digital director for his successful 2016 White House bid, which made significant use of social media. Despite his attacks, Trump remains an avid user of Twitter, which has allowed him to communicate directly with people and bypass traditional media outlets. Trump's re-election team, however, is planning to circumvent such platforms for his 2020 bid, news website Politico reported this week, citing four officials involved in the campaign. (Reporting by Susan Heavey and Tim Ahmann; Additional reporting by Chuck Mikolajczak; Writing by Meredith Mazzilli; Editing by Chizu Nomiyama and Bill Rigby) Washington (AFP) - As he stepped off Air Force One headed to the latest of his raucous, near-daily election rallies, Donald Trump vowed he would "absolutely" strike a different tone following the bloodshed in Pittsburgh. Eleven members of the Pennsylvania city's Jewish community had just been killed during morning Sabbath services, in the worst anti-Semitic attack in recent American history. But in the same breath, the president also defended his usual tone -- always provocative, often outrageous, brutally aggressive at times -- as the only way to fight the media's "lack of honesty" towards him. The scene, Saturday at sunset at Murphysboro airport in Illinois, summed up the president's deeply ambivalent response to a week that has shaken the country -- first with a spree of mail bombs sent to leading Democrats by a Trump fan, then with a deadly anti-Semitic attack. Striking a presidential tone, and jabbing at his opponents. Calling for unity, and lashing out. Teleprompter-Trump and Twitter-Trump. Wednesday at the White House, as news broke of package after suspicious package being addressed to his political foes, Trump called for unity and delivered a resolute message: "Acts or threats of political violence have no place in the United States." Two days later, the image of a unifying president rising above the fray began to crack as he complained bitterly on Twitter that the mail bomb spree was harming his Republican Party's "momentum" ahead of the November midterms, and appeared to cast doubt on the seriousness of the threat. In Indianapolis on Saturday, addressing a group of young farming students just as the first horrific details were starting to emerge from Pittsburgh, Trump sought to rise to the occasion once again. "The hate-filled poison of anti-Semitism must be condemned and confronted everywhere and anywhere it appears," vowed the president, plainly moved by the tragedy, his posture solemn and statesmanlike. Story continues And in a flash, he was back to campaign mode. Minutes after announcing he had decided to go ahead after all with an evening rally despite the shooting, he cracked a joke about his hair being the cause of his hesitation. "I was standing under the wing of Air Force One doing a news conference early this morning," he told the gathering. "And the wind was blowing, and the rain. I said, maybe I should cancel this arrangement because I have a bad hair day." Before long, he was right back at attacking his potential rivals for the White House in 2020. Taking aim at a favorite target -- Elizabeth Warren, the Democratic senator who claims distant Native American ancestry -- he delivered the now well-worn punchline: "Turned out that I had more Indian blood in me than she has." "We can't resist," he quipped, as the crowd lapped it up. "Can we resist?" - 'The irony' - Later that evening Trump announced he would be heading soon to Pittsburgh, in line with a long tradition of US presidents traveling to meet the families of mass shooting victims -- as Barack Obama did in Newtown in December 2012 or Orlando in June 2016. But as he stood before a sea of banners in Murphysboro, Illinois -- urging him to "Finish the Wall" and "Make America Safe Again" -- he was back in full swing, be it with a slightly subdued tone. Clad in his trademark red necktie, the 45th US president hit out hard at his critics on the right -- "foolish and very stupid people" -- and egged on the crowd to boo Nancy Pelosi, congressional leader of the opposition Democrats. A few days ago, David Axelrod, former advisor to Barack Obama, quoted Trump's own words back at him: "In these times we have to unify, we have to come together." "True enough," Axelrod replied to the president on Twitter. "But the irony of those words, amid the hale of incendiary rhetoric he has offered on a daily basis, is truly stunning." Echoing that sentiment, Jonathan Greenblatt, director of the Anti-Defamation League, a civil rights group that combats anti-Semitism in the United States -- said he was encouraged by the president's words after Pittsburgh. "But it isn't what you say after the tragedy that only matters. It's the environment that you create with your rhetoric," he added. On Friday in the grounds of the White House, a journalist asked Trump whether he planned -- as a symbolic gesture -- to call his predecessor Obama, or any of the other Democratic figures targeted by the rash of mail bombs. His answer -- delivered with visible irritation: "I think we'll probably pass." President Donald Trump on Saturday encouraged a revival of the death penalty while condemning the deadly mass shooting at a Pittsburgh synagogue allegedly carried out by an anti-Semitic gunman. When you have crimes like this, whether its one, or another one on another group, we have to bring back the death penalty, Trump said, speaking at a rally in Murphysboro, Illinois. They have to pay the ultimate price, he added. They cant do this. They cant do this to our country. We must draw a line in the sand and say, Never again. The president called for stronger death penalty laws earlier Saturday before another speech at the Future Farmers of America Convention in Indiana. When people do this, they should get the death penalty, Trump said. Anybody that does a thing like this to innocent people that are in temple or in church weve had so many incidents with churches they should be suffering the ultimate price. ...This evil Anti-Semitic attack is an assault on humanity. It will take all of us working together to extract the poison of Anti-Semitism from our world. We must unite to conquer hate. Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) October 27, 2018 Suspected gunman Robert Bowers, 46, is accused of opening fire inside of the crowded Tree of Life synagogue in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, on Saturday morning, killing at least 11 people and injuring six others. Officials said Bowers announced his presence to the congregation by shouting, All Jews must die, before the attack. Bowers, who reportedly had an assault rifle and at least three handguns, was later arrested on the third floor of the building after exchanging fire with police. The shooting is considered one of the deadliest attacks on Jewish people in recent U.S. history. Trump strongly condemned anti-Semitism early in his speech during Saturdays rally, calling the shooting a monstrous killing of Jewish Americans. Story continues This evil anti-Semitic attack is an assault on all of us. Its an assault on humanity, Trump said. It will require all of us working together to extract the hateful poison of anti-Semitism from our world. Saturdays deadly mass shooting follows the arrest of Cesar Sayoc, 56, a Trump supporter who is suspected of mailing out explosive devices to people Trump opposes. Sayocs alleged targets included prominent Democrats such as the Clintons, the Obamas, Democrats in Congress, and CNNs New York headquarters. Speaking at a North Carolina rally on Thursday, Trump blamed the medias negative coverage of him for the heightened political tension in the U.S. The president also urged Democrats and the media to be more civil, ignoring his most recent rallies, in which he encouraged violence against journalists and promoted fear-mongering against immigrants. Trump supported the death penalty long before his political career. In 1989, the real estate mogul took out full-page newspaper ads urging lawmakers to bring back the death penalty in response to a group known as the Central Park Five who were wrongly convicted of attacking a female jogger. While Trump called for the ultimate punishment for Saturdays suspected gunman, the question of whether the death penalty deters people from committing murder is still up for debate. At least 20 states have either abolished or overturned the death penalty, according to the nonprofit Death Penalty Information Center. Earlier this month Washington states Supreme Court declared capital punishment unconstitutional. A 2012 scientific review, partially funded by the Justice Department, said there was not enough research that proves the death penalty affects homicide rates and deters the crime. Related Coverage Pittsburgh Synagogue Shooting Suspect Charged With 29 Counts Pittsburgh Synagogue Shooting Suspect Robert Bowers Has Long Trail Of Anti-Semitism Pipe Bomb Suspect's Van Covered With Pro-Trump Messages Critics Of President Trump Continue To Be Targeted With Pipe Bomb Packages Donald Trump Criticizes Media Just Hours After Pipe Bomb Scare Love HuffPost? Become a founding member of HuffPost Plus today. This article originally appeared on HuffPost. Istanbul (AFP) - Turkey's military on Sunday fired artillery shells at a Kurdish militia in Syria that is backed by the United States but deemed a terrorist group by Ankara, the state-run Anadolu news agency reported. The shelling targeted YPG positions on the eastern bank of the Euphrates River in northern Syria, Anadolu said. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has repeatedly threatened to launch a new offensive in Syria east of the Euphrates, and on Friday said he was giving the YPG a "final warning". Anadolu reported that the strikes, which hit a hill near the Zur Maghar village across the Euphrates from the city of Jarablus in the Aleppo province, were in response to fire from the area. The shelling comes a day after Erdogan hosted a summit in Istanbul on the Syrian conflict with the leaders of Russia, France and Germany. The YPG, which holds swathes of northern and northeastern Syria, forms the backbone of the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), the Kurdish-Arab alliance that has received extensive American support in the fight against the Islamic State group in the war-torn country. However Ankara is bitterly opposed to the YPG, regarding it as an extension of the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK), which has waged a deadly insurgency in Turkey since 1984. The PKK is designated as a terror group by Turkey and its Western allies. Washington's support of the YPG remains a major point of contention between the US and Turkey, and a large-scale offensive east of the Euphrates could aggravate already tense relations between the NATO allies. Turkey has also repeatedly threatened an attack on the YPG-controlled Syrian city of Manbij, where US troops are deployed. To ease tensions, Washington and Ankara agreed to have troops conduct coordinated patrols around the city, and such a patrol went ahead on Sunday, Turkish armed forces said. Earlier this year, Turkey launched operation "Olive Branch" in Syria west of the Euphrates, successfully ousting YPG forces from their enclave in Afrin. Ankara has long opposed the YPG controlling a continuous stretch of territory on its border up to Iraq, fearing the creation of an autonomous region or even independent entity that could embolden Turkey's own Kurds. By Nelson Renteria and Delphine Schrank SONSONATE, El Salvador/TAPANATEPEC, Mexico (Reuters) - A new group of migrants bound for the United States set off from El Salvador on Sunday, following thousands of other Central Americans fleeing poverty and violence who have taken similar journeys in recent weeks. The group of more than 300 Salvadorans left the capital San Salvador on Sunday. A larger group of mostly Hondurans, estimated to number at least 3,500, who left their country in mid-October and are now in southern Mexico, has become a key issue in U.S. congressional elections. A third group have been moving through Guatemala, at one point numbering more than 1,000 people before beginning to fragment. Hundreds of that group broke through a Guatemala border gate in Tecun Uman, and on Sunday afternoon were on the bridge into Mexico. U.S. President Donald Trump and his fellow Republicans have sought to make immigration a major issue ahead of Nov. 6 elections, in which the party is battling to keep control of Congress. Homeland Security Secretary Kirstjen Nielsen on "Fox News Sunday" said Trump was determined to use every authority he had to stop immigrants from crossing the border illegally. "We have a crisis at the border right now ... This caravan is one iteration of that but frankly we essentially see caravans every day with these numbers," she said. "I think what the president is making clear is every possible action, authority, executive program, is on the table to consider, to ensure that it is clear that there is a right and legal way to come to this country and no other ways will be tolerated." Trump has threatened to shut down the border with Mexico and last week said he would send troops. On Friday, Defense Secretary Jim Mattis authorized the use of troops and other military resources at the U.S.-Mexico border. By Sunday afternoon, dozens of the Salvadorans had arrived at the border with Guatemala and were having their documents checked, having walked and hitched rides in pickups and on buses from the capital. They organized using social networks like Facebook and WhatsApp over the last couple of weeks, inspired by the larger group in Mexico. Salvadoran police traveled with the group, who carried backpacks and water bottles and protected themselves from the hot sun with hats. Several migrants, gathered by the capital's 'Savior of the World' statue before leaving, said they were headed to the United States. El Salvador's left-wing government said it had solidarity with the migrants and respected their right to mobilize, but urged them not to risk their lives on the way. In Mexico, the original group of Hondurans, exhausted by constant travel in blistering heat, spent Sunday resting up in the town of Tapanatepec, Oaxaca, planning to head north at 3am on Monday. "It's far ... the farthest yet," said Honduran Bayron Baca, 26, pulling open a map that Red Cross volunteers had given him in a medical tent. Dozens took dips in a nearby river to refresh from the trek, which has covered an average 30 miles (48 km) a day. An estimated 2,300 children were traveling with the migrant caravan, UNICEF said in a statement, adding that they needed protection and access to essential services like healthcare, clean water and sanitation. Eduardo Grajales, a Red Cross volunteer in Arriaga, Mexico, attending to migrants on Friday night, said the worst case his colleagues had seen that day was of a baby so badly sunburned from the tropical heat, he had to be hospitalized. (Reporting by Nelson Renteria and Delphine Schrank, additional reporting by Carlos Rawlins and Doina Chiacu; Writing by Christine Murray; Editing by Andrea Ricci and Rosalba O'Brien) Vice president Mike Pence said President Donald Trump bears no responsibility for the recent string of mail bombs delivered to his Democratic critics on Friday. On Friday, federal authorities arrested 56-year-old Cesar Sayoc in connection with explosives sent to prominent Democrats and CNN. Many of the packages were addressed to high-ranking Obama Administration officials, including former President Barack Obama, former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, former CIA Director John Brennan and former Attorney General Eric Holder. Authorities did not comment on Sayocs motives, but his social media accounts appear to show he shared right-wing conspiracy theories and was an avid Trump supporter. Pence told ABC White House Correspondent Tara Palmeri that Sayocs political leanings do not implicate Trump. Look, the reality is the people responsible are the people responsible, he said. And what the President and I stand for, and I think every American stands for, is that threats or acts of political violence from anyone, anywhere, for any reason should not be allowed. Palmeri asked if the Presidents past use of violent rhetoric towards reporters and news outlets could be part of the problem; only last week at a Montana rally Trump praised Republican congressional candidate Greg Gianforte for body slamming a reporter. Well, I mean, clearly the President was joking in Montana, Pence responded. And I think the President and I both are frustrated from time to time with the fact that many in the media focus on the negative and dont tell the whole story of whats happening all across this country. Pence told Palmeri that Trump is within his rights to call on the media to be more balanced while still believing in a free and independent press. I think most Americans understand this President, they understand his heart, Pence said. I really do believe that people understand that those who engage in threats are acts of violence are the people that are responsible for it. Dubai (AFP) - The murder of Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi has triggered a diplomatic and public relations crisis for Saudi Arabia, but little may change for the victims of the Yemen war. On Wednesday, at least 24 civilians were killed in strikes on Yemen's Hodeida province, the Red Sea district at the heart of a fight between a regional military alliance led by Saudi Arabia and Yemen's Iran-backed Huthi rebels. Among the locations hit was a facility where labourers were packing vegetables, the United Nations said. But the bombings went largely unnoticed by statesmen around the world. Saudi Arabia and its allies are mired in the conflict in Yemen, which has struggled to garner international attention even as 14 million of its citizens face imminent famine. In September alone, the country was hit by at least 154 air raids, according to the Yemen Data Project. Children have been killed in air strikes, while blockades and corruption leave entire cities unable to find food and clean water. Saudi Arabia is now under nearly unprecedented scrutiny following the murder this month of Khashoggi, the former royal court insider-turned-critic who wrote a column for the Washington Post. But analysts say it is unlikely the Khashoggi killing will turn the spotlight on Saudi Arabia's broader policies -- leaving Yemenis fighting to survive war, famine and a failed economy that may prove as fatal as the violence. - Killing, maiming children - "Saudi Arabia has been called out on the murder of Jamal Khashoggi more than they have been over the past years of the Yemen war," said Farea al-Muslimi, associate fellow at Chatham House. "For a government, it's an easy public relations play -- even if you yourself have been involved for years in Yemen," Muslimi said. Under the order of Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman -- now heir to the Saudi throne, then his country's defence minister -- Saudi Arabia led a regional coalition into Yemen in 2015 to aid the government in its fight against the Huthis. Story continues While both sides stand accused of acts that could amount to war crimes, Riyadh and its allies have been blacklisted by the UN for the killing and maiming of children. The Saudi-led alliance also controls Yemen's airspace and has imposed a blockade, fluctuating in severity, on the country's ports, a measure they say is aimed at curbing the smuggling of Iranian arms to the Huthis. But it is unlikely the crown prince -- whose country is also the world's top donor to Yemen -- will be called out for his role in the war there, analysts say. "Jamal's murder is a clear-cut scenario... Western states had no immediate role in this," Muslimi told AFP. "Yemen, however, is complex. There's no black and white. It requires thinking." Since the Saudi-led coalition intervened in the conflict, nearly 10,000 civilians have been killed, according to the World Health Organization. Other rights groups estimate the toll could be as high as 50,000. - Each victim 'worthy' - Europe and the United States supply over 98 per cent of weapons imported by Saudi Arabia, according to the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute. While Germany last week said it had suspended its arms sales to Saudi Arabia over the Khashoggi murder, French President Emmanuel Macron initially dismissed the idea as populist. Macron later said he backed a "coordinated European position" on potential sanctions. Washington has likewise refused to let go of Saudi Arabia as a trade partner which had, according to President Donald Trump, bought "$110 billion" in arms from the United States. In August, reports emerged that US firm Lockheed Martin had manufactured the laser-guided Mk 82 bomb that hit a bus in rebel-held northern Yemen, killing 40 children. Under Trump's predecessor Barack Obama the US military expanded its operations in Yemen, home to Al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula. And since Saudi Arabia and its allies intervened in Yemen in 2015, US armed forces have provided aerial targeting assistance, intelligence sharing, and mid-flight aerial refuelling to the Saudi-led coalition. Khashoggi's role writing for one of the US' most high-profile newspapers gave his murder global prominence. But rights groups fear those trapped in a war in which Saudi Arabia plays a central role will remain relegated to the margins. "Each victim of an unlawful Saudi coalition strike in Yemen is as worthy of concern as a Washington Post columnist," said Kristine Beckerle, Yemen researcher for Human Rights Watch. "A groom and his wedding party. A child locked in jail. Villagers digging a well. Crowds shopping at a market. All killed or wounded in bombings by the Saudi-led coalition," she said. "None of these apparent war crimes in Yemen were able to provoke the type of international outrage that the murder of Khashoggi has these past few weeks." The arbitrary removal of a sitting Prime Minister in an unconstitutional manner will plunge the nation into a state of instability, fear and chaos, the Diocese of Colombo of the Church of Ceylon said. Issuing a statement over the current political developments, the church said it was of the view that there are no provisions in the present Constitution to remove a sitting Prime Minister, as the 19th amendment has reduced the Presidents executive powers and transferred such powers to the Prime Minister in Parliament. The Democratic frame work enshrined in our Constitution should not be abused for political expediency. We urge the instruments of the State, Religious Institutions and all peace-loving people of our country to join hands to uphold Democratic values and peace with justice for all, as well as the rule of law for the greater common good of the people of our country, and the preservation of Democratic institutions so that all communities that call Sri Lanka home may live without fear and intimidation. We further call upon the Police and Tri Forces to act impartially and with restraint in the enforcing of law and order, the statement said. La Salle High School students pick pears Oct. 4 at the annual Pick-a-thon at Kearny Orchards. The fruit was donated to Northwest Harvest. The suspect in Saturday's mass shooting at a Pittsburgh synagogue is a 46-year-old local man named Robert Bowers who posted virulent anti-Semitic messages on social media filled with slurs and conspiracy theories. Follow Ynetnews on Facebook STRONG> and Twitter Two hours before the gunman burst into the synagogue and opened fire during a Shabbat religious service, Bowers posted on chat site Gab.com about the Hebrew Immigrant Aid Society (HIAS), a non-profit that helps Jewish refugees relocate to the United States. The organization says it is guided by Jewish values and history. "HIAS likes to bring invaders in that kill our people. I can't sit by and watch my people get slaughtered. Screw your optics, I'm going in," wrote Bowers, a described as a white male, heavy set, with a beard. HIAS President and CEO Mark Hetfield said he wasn't aware of the shooter's "obsession with HIAS until this morning." The gunman also reportedly shouted anti-Semitic phrases during the shooting, which left 11 people dead and five wounded, including four police officers. The suspect, a Pittsburgh resident, was shot and in fair condition at a hospital, authorities said. Gab.com said in a statement that when it learned of the shooting suspect's profile on its site, it took "swift and proactive" action to contact law enforcement immediately. Gab, which promotes itself as a free-speech alternative to the more heavily policed Twitter, said it backed up the user data and suspended the account, then told the Federal Bureau of Investigation about the data held by the company. "Gab unequivocally disavows and condemns all acts of terrorism and violence," the company's statement said. Robert Bowers Bower has an active firearms license and has made at least six known gun purchases since 1996, a law enforcement official familiar with the investigation told CNN. He did not have a criminal record and was not known to police, law enforcement officials said on Saturday. An archive of Bower's posts since he joined the site in January appeared to show an angry, anti-Semitic man who shared messages such as: "Daily Reminder: Diversity means chasing down the last white person." About a month ago he posted pictures showing what appeared to the results of his target practice at a shooting range, and a collection of three handguns that he called his "glock family." Police said the suspect had three handguns and an assault-style rife at the shooting. It's unclear whether they were the same handguns as the ones in the photo. Bowers, who is a registered voter with "no affiliation" in Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, took aim in one post at US President Donald Trump, accusing him of being a "globalist" who did nothing to stop the "infestation" of the United States by Jews. "For the record, I did not vote for him nor have I owned, worn or even touched a MAGA hat," he wrote. MAGA is an acronym for Make America Great Again that is frequently used by Trump. A battle is brewing between the Trump administration and some of the president's biggest supporters in Congress who are concerned that sanctions to be re-imposed on Iran early next month won't be tough enough. Follow Ynetnews on Facebook STRONG> and Twitter As President Donald Trump prepares to re-impose a second batch of Iran sanctions that had been eased under the 2015 nuclear deal , conservative lawmakers and outside advisers have become worried that the administration may break a promise to exert "maximum pressure" on Iran. They are angered by suggestions that measures to be announced November 5 won't include a provision cutting Iran off from a key component of the global financial system. The self-described Iran hawks are concerned enough that they have drafted legislation that would require the administration to demand that Iran be suspended from the international bank transfer system known as SWIFT. US President Donald Trump (Photo: AFP) "The president asked for maximum pressure, not semi-maximum pressure," said Richard Goldberg, a former aide to a Republican senator and senior adviser to the Foundation for the Defense of Democracies, a group that supports punishing Iran with sanctions. "Maximum pressure includes disconnecting Iranian banks from SWIFT." Trump pledged Thursday to do whatever it takes to pressure Iran to halt what he refers to as its "malign conduct" such as nuclear and missile development and support for terrorism and groups that destabilize the Middle East. "On November 5th, all US sanctions against Iran lifted by the nuclear deal will be back in full force," he told a gathering at the White House to commemorate the 35th anniversary of the 1983 attack on the Marine Corps barracks in Beirut, Lebanon, which is blamed on Iranian-backed extremists. "And they will be followed up with even more sanctions to address the full range of Iran's malign conduct. We will not allow the world's leading sponsor of terror to develop the world's deadliest weapons. Will not happen." The November 5 sanctions cover Iran's banking and energy sectors and will reinstate penalties for countries and companies in Europe, Asia and elsewhere that do not halt Iranian oil imports. They could also include measures to force Iran out of SWIFT. Despite Trump's tough stance, the hawks are worried about recent comments from Treasury Secretary Stephen Mnuchin and his staff that suggest Iran will be able to stay connected to SWIFT. They are also concerned the administration will back down on its stated zero-tolerance policy for Iranian oil purchases by granting waivers to certain countries and companies that do not fully stop buying it. Iranian President Rouhani (Photo: AP) Allowing Iran to remain in SWIFT would make it easier for Tehran to import humanitarian goods like medicine permitted under US sanctions and "would help the United States make clear that its critique of Iran is directed at the regime, not the people of Iran," said Elizabeth Rosenberg, a former Treasury official now with the Center for a New American Security. She added, though, that disconnection would be a "fast track" to isolation. The debate underscores the challenges the administration faces as it tries to isolate Iran without the full backing of other world powers who remain supportive of the nuclear deal. Although the hawks had been pleased by Trump's decision to withdraw from the nuclear deal in May and cheered the August re-imposition of an initial set of sanctions, they are now seething that Treasury may opt to use existing safeguards to isolate Iran instead of hitting SWIFT members with sanctions if they don't disconnect Tehran. Treasury Secretary Stephen Mnuchin (Photo: Ohad Zwigenberg) Treasury has been coy about its intentions, saying only that Mnuchin and the agency have led "an intense economic pressure campaign against Iran as part of this administration's comprehensive strategy to address the totality of Iran's malign and destabilizing activity, with much more to come." "Treasury has made it very clear that we will continue to cut off bad Iranian actors, including designated banks, from accessing the international financial system in a number of different ways," it said. "We will also take action against those attempting to conduct prohibited transactions with sanctioned Iranian entities regardless of the mechanisms used." That less-than-categorical position has rallied the hawks around the legislation prepared by Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, that would require the administration to impose sanctions on SWIFT members, including some US banks, should it not suspend Iran on its own. Federal law currently gives the administration authority to act against Iran's central bank and other banks covered by terrorism and money laundering sanctions. Cruz's legislation, however, would authorize the administration to hit all of Iran's banks with sanctions and require it to act against SWIFT if it connects any Iranian bank under sanctions to its system, according to a copy seen by the AP. In August, Cruz led a group of 16 GOP senators, including Trump Republican allies Tom Cotton of Arkansas, Marco Rubio of Florida, Thom Tillis of North Carolina and John Barrasso of Wyoming, in demanding action against SWIFT if Iran is not suspended. Congressional aides say they believe support for his proposed legislation will be strong. "The administration's maximum pressure campaign will not succeed if the Islamic Republic remains connected to SWIFT," the senators told Mnuchin. The Palestinian Islamic Jihad, which was behind the escalation in the Gaza Strip over the weekend, normally works in coordination with Hamas. As the second biggest and strongest military organization in Gaza, it feels responsibility towards the strip's residents and serves as a silent partner to the Hamas regime. Ideologically and religiously speaking, the Palestinian Islamic Jihad is not much different to Hamas, which is another reason for the good, close cooperation between the two factions. Follow Ynetnews on Facebook STRONG> and Twitter The main difference between Islamic Jihad and Hamas nowadays is mostly their relationship with Iran. Hamas receives financial support and technological aid from the Islamic Republic, despite the fact it is a Sunni organization and despite the "bad blood" between Hamas and the Ayatollah regime over the Syrian civil war. Meanwhile Islamic Jihad, which is also Sunni, has subjugated itself almost completely to Iran. Like Hezbollah, Islamic Jihad receives not just money and weapons from Tehran, but also orders. This must also be why it initiated the escalation over the weekend. Gaza rockets launched and intercepted by Iron Dome (Photo: Reuters) A senior security official shared that assessment, noting the organization's new leadershipwhich now sits in Damascusis far more extreme than that of Ramadan Shalah, and is more devoutly serving the Iranians. And so the Gazan Islamic Jihad is trying to create a new equation according to which it would respond with rocket fire to Palestinians deaths in the riots on the strip's border. "We won't allow for a new equation of this type, and we won't let Islamic Jihad launch rockets at Israel without us responding with a heavy military blow. We also won't allow Islamic Jihad to do as it pleases with the silent consent of Hamas," the senior security official said. So what happened this weekend to make Islamic Jihad break away from the restraint imposed by Hamas under Egyptian pressure, with the hope of improving the living conditions of the Gaza residents? The main cause was the reports on Friday that the Egyptians have finally reached understandings with Hamas to restore calm in Gaza, more or less under the same parameters put in place after the 2014 Operation Protective Edge. IAF bombs in Gaza Another explanation lies in Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's trip to Oman and the diplomatic talks he had there with Sultan Qaboos. Several days before Netanyahu, Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas visited Oman, with Sultan Qaboos initiating this indirect dialogue between Netanyahu and Abbas and doing a great service to the American administration. The Iranians, who saw and heard the reports from Gaza and Oman, are worried the arrangement in the strip would allow the Americans to make a bigger move to present their plan to end the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. They don't want this to happen and are doing all they can to disrupt such a move. Tehran is also trying to put pressure on the Americans to prevent US President Trump from re-imposing a second wave of sanctions on November 6, targeting the export and sale of oil. In other words, the Iranians are trying to pressure the Americans by sabotaging their interests concerning Israel, to spare themselves the harsh sanctions. It is therefore rather clear why Islamic Jihad would act against the interest of Hamas, which wants to bring the negotiations with the Egyptians to a successful end, by escalating the situation in the service of its masters in Tehran. Rocket lands in Netiv HaAsara (Photo: Netiv HaAsara security ) The Islamic Jihad leadership also has its own reasons. All of the Palestinian factions in Gaza, and mostly Hamas and Islamic Jihad, want not only an arrangement that would lead to a truce and ease the humanitarian distress of the strip's residents, but also a victory they can claim. They want to have an arrangement on their terms, which they could present as a military triumph of the "resistance" over Israel. The Gaza factions don't want to admit that the "March of Return" campaign, which led to more than 200 Palestinian fatalities and thousands of others wounded, was a complete failure. They want to show the Palestinian blood spilled on the border was not in vain, and so they need that psychological victory. Therefore, with the arrangement closer than ever, Islamic Jihad seeks to have the final say with the final shot, thus proving the "March of Return" campaign and the arson terrorism forced Israel to accept the terms of the agreement mediated by the Egyptians. Islamic Jihad can afford to fire that final rockets barrage because it knows Israel has made a strategic decision not to launch a wide-scale ground operation and take over the strip. And so Islamic Jihadand Hamasare willing to suffer serious damage to their military facilities, for the sake of that psychological victory. That way, they don't lose face in Gaza in case a ceasefire is reached, and their patrons in Tehran are pleased. Destruction of Hamas headquarters in Gaza after IAF attack (Photo: AFP) Israel accepts this pattern, which has cemented itself since August: the Egyptians negotiate with Hamas and Islamic Jihad. The two organizations promise restraint but continue with the March of Return riots and the incendiary balloons. From time to time, when there are difficulties in the negotiations with the Egyptians, Hamas, Islamic Jihad or the errant factions escalate with rocketswhile the Hamas political leadership looks the other wayfollowing which the talks with Egyptians resume with Israel giving Egypt as much leeway as necessary to reach a stable arrangement. Iron Dome intercepts rockets over Sderot (Photo: Maor Shem Tov) Israel's security headsprimarily Prime Minister Netanyahu, Defense Minister Lieberman and IDF Chief Eisenkothave decided that in any case it's best to let the Egyptians exhaust their influence on Hamas. And as long as the negotiations continue, Israel can settle for measured responses to the rioting on the border, the incendiary balloons, and the rockets. The Iron Dome gives the security heads the feelings that we could tolerate an erosion of the Gaza border residents' sense of security, so long as we don't have to launch a large-scale war in the strip that would cost us in lives and economic damage and end exactly as Operation Protective Edge and its predecessors had ended. This cold and cruel calculation is what causes the fire from the strip, the ongoing erosion of the Gaza border residents' sense of security, the worsening humanitarian distress of the Palestinians in the strip and the rocket fire. Destruction of Hamas headquarters in Gaza after IAF attack (Photo: AP) Israel accepts this situation, inter alia, because it wants the close cooperation with Egypt to continue and because its security heads realize there is no point in a large military campaign in the strip right now without the decision to take over Gaza and hold it for over a year in order to establish a different regime there. After all, it's not even guaranteed that we could find a different and better regime that would stop the rocket fire. Israel therefore uses these rounds of escalations to systematically destroy considerable parts of Hamas's quality military capabilitiesboth to make an example out of them, but also because when the IDF does go to war, large parts of Hamas's military assets (mostly its tunnels, naval commandos and special aerial measures) will be out of commission and won't harm us. Despite the IDFs decision to remove all restrictions placed on the Gaza border region following an escalation of hostilities over the weekend , the residents of the communities adjacent to the strip announced Sunday they will not send their children to school in an act of protest against the continuing violence. Follow Ynetnews on Facebook STRONG> and Twitter The protest, which was organized Saturday evening through social media, is the residents way of expressing their frustration over the government's inaction on not only the recent rocket attacks but the incendiary kites and balloons phenomenon as wellwhich has been terrorizing the region for the past seven months. Demonstration organized by Gaza border region locals (Photo: Darom Adom) The social media campaign was followed by a live meeting initiated by the residents of the Sha'ar HaNegev and Hof Ashkelon Regional Councils, and was also attended by the Eshkol Regional Council locals. Gaza border region locals' protest (: ) X During the discussions held at the meeting it was decided that the boycott of the schools is only the first in line of a series of steps the border communities intend to take in case the terror activity aimed against them does not cease. (Photo: Darom Adom) Meirav Cohen from Kibbutz Ein HaShlosha said in an interview with Ynet that the protest does not have political undertones and stems out of sheer frustration. "There is no political body behind us, we organized this on our own. It is an authentic protest that was created out of pain and frustration over the security situationwhich has become intolerable. (Photo: Darom Adom) We expect all the communities in the Gaza border region to join us because it is the only way to stop another round of escalation from occuring," she vented. In addition, dozens of Sderot residents demonstrated at the entrance to the city on Saturday night and called on the Israeli government to restore quiet in the region. The residents blocked the entrance to the city, held banners and shouted slogans against the government. The recordings of radio conversations published Sunday between police officers, who arrived at the scene of the Tree of Life Synagogue shooting, reveal the officers could not get near the scene of the attack and assist the victims for a significant amount of time, due to being pinned down by AK-47 fire. Follow Ynetnews on Facebook STRONG> and Twitter Hold the perimeter were under fire, were under fire. Hes got an automatic weapon, hes firing at us from the synagogue were taking on AK-47 fire, Officer 1 can be heard shouting on the radio to his colleagues. Recordings of radio conversations between police officers X The dispatch then proceeds to request all available units to immediately assist the officers at the scene, to which one officer replies: I need city and county SWAT, city and county SWAT. Were pinned down by gunfire, hes firing from out of the front of the building with an automatic weapon we cant get any closer, Officer 3 can be heard saying in despair. Scene of the shooting (Photo: Orly Azoulay) On Saturday evening, thousands of people in Pittsburgh jammed an intersection amid a light rain for a vigil for the victims of a shooting at the synagogue earlier that day. The gathering included prayers and singing of Hebrew songs in memory of those killed and wounded. Many wept and embraced, and had stayed at the site of the vigil for hours after it was over. Vigils for shooting victims (: ) X Following the shooting, thousands of people from all over the United StatesJews and non-Jewsposted condolences and messages of support via various social media networks, as well as condemnation of what has been described as the worst anti-Semitic attack in the US history. In the cities of Washington and New York, people gathered outside to express their sadness and solidarity with the victims. While at Union Square in Manhattan many came out to express their dismay by singing peace songs in Hebrew, lighting candles and praying. Vigil for victims of shooting (Photo: AP) Gila Franklin Siegel, a senior member of the Jewish community in Washington, described the attack as every Jews nightmare. "It's the nightmare of every Jewto be attacked in a synagogue on a Saturday morning, when you are there praying with your family," she bemoaned. Vigil in Washington (Photo: AFP) President Donald Trump has ordered flags at federal buildings throughout the United States to be flown at half-staff in "solemn respect" for the shooting victims at the Tree of Life synagogue. Trump issued the proclamation late Saturday, shortly after returning to Washington from speaking at the Future Farmers of America convention in Indianapolis and a campaign rally in Murphysboro, Illinois. Tel Aviv following the attack (Photo: Reuters) Throughout the day, he expressed sorrow, called for justice and bemoaned hate, getting regular updates on the shooting, but said cancelling his campaign appearance would make "sick, demented people important." In a pair of tweets, Trump said, "All of America is in mourning over the mass murder of Jewish Americans at the Tree of Life Synagogue in Pittsburgh. We pray for those who perished and their loved ones, and our hearts go out to the brave police officers who sustained serious injuries." "This evil Anti-Semitic attack is an assault on humanity. It will take all of us working together to extract the poison of Anti-Semitism from our world. We must unite to conquer hate," he stressed via his social media account. In addition, the president told a crowd at a political rally in Murphysboro that "the evil anti-Semitic attack is an assault on all of us." He said: "This was an anti-Semitic attack at its worst." In the proclamation, Trump called for the flags to be lowered until October 31. Earlier on Saturday he told reporters he would travel to Pittsburgh, but offered no details. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Sunday during the Cabinet meeting that Israel will not accept an ultimatum from Hamas. We will continue to act solely in accordance with our interests," he stressed. The Palestinian Foreign Ministry issued Sunday a statement condemning the Tree of Life Synagogue shooting, during which 11 people were killed. The ministry also condemned the "damage done to the holy places by terrorists with a fascist ideology based on the supremacy of the white race. The Cabinet stood for a moment's silence on Sunday to honour the victims of a synagogue shooting that killed at least 11 worshippers in Pittsburgh. "The entire nation of Israel mourns with the families of the murdered in the horrendous massacre at the Tree of Life Synagogue in Pittsburgh," Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said at the start of the weekly Cabinet session. Saturday's shooting "is the biggest anti-Semitic crime" in the annals of the United States, he said, calling on the world to unite in the fight against anti-Semitism everywhere. The Palestinian Islamic Jihad released a video on Sunday morning of the rocket it launched at Israel over the weekend, while a fallen rocket was found at a school in the Shaar Hanegev Regional Council. Follow Ynetnews on Facebook STRONG> and Twitter A police bomb squad was called to the school to neutralize and dispose of the rocket, while students were evacuated from some of the classrooms. Some 40 rockets were launched at Sderot and several towns near the Gaza border on Friday night and Saturday morning, with Iron Dome intercepting 17 of them. Seven people suffered from shock and six suffered minor injuries when running for shelter. Seven of those hurt were taken to the hospital. Islamic Jihad launches rockets at Israel X The IAF struck dozens of terror sites across the Gaza Strip in response to the rockets attack. One of the targets destroyed was a building that served as Hamas' general security headquarters in Gaza's al-Daraj neighborhood. On Saturday morning, IAF aircraft bombed eight Islamic Jihad targets in response to early morning rockets. The targets included three military sites, including sites for the manufacture of weapons in the northern Gaza Strip and a factory in the south to manufacture equipment used in tunnel construction. No one was hurt in the attacks in Gaza. Rocket found at Shaar Hanegev school (: ) X In the wake of the flare-up over the weekend and reports Hamas has set an ultimatum to Israel, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stressed on Sunday morning that "At no stage will Israel accept any ultimatum from Hamas. Israel will continue to act in accordance with Israeli interests and for Israel's security alone." Despite the IDFs decision to remove all restrictions placed on the Gaza border region following the escalation over the weekend, the residents of the communities adjacent to the strip have decided not send their children to school in an act of protest against the continuing violence. Meirav Cohen from Kibbutz Ein HaShlosha said in an interview with Ynet that the protest does not have political undertones and stems out of sheer frustration. "We can't continue living in this war of attrition. We can't keep waiting for disaster to strike. It's important to remember there are citizens here with equal rights to all other citizens. We're not second-class, we're not invisible. We deserve to be treated properly. This is no way to live," she said. The residents plan additional protest moves, including blocking roads and the Kerem Shalom border crossing. Housing and Construction Minister Yoav Galant, a former IDF general who is also a member of the Security Cabinet, explained Sunday why Israel has not gone to war in Gaza after the barrage of rockets fired by Islamic Jihad. Follow Ynetnews on Facebook STRONG> and Twitter "War is the last resort," Galant told Ynet in an interview. "But I think we will eventually get to an extended campaign against Hamas and the Gaza Strip." Galant stressed that while he doesn't trivialize the suffering of Israelis living under the constant threat of rockets near the Gaza border, "alongside that, when a country goes to war, it should do it at the right time and under the best conditions." Yoav Galant (Photo: Marc Israel Sellem) Zionist Union leader Avi Gabbay, meanwhile, criticized the government. "When the citizens of the State of Israel are under fire on Friday night, it's intolerable. We mustn't agree to that and we mustn't accept anything like that. We're in this situation because our government did not define where it wants to go. The government is run like a ship manned by drunkardsmoving left, right, right, left. They simply have no strategy," he said in an interview with Ynet. Avi Gabbay (Photo: Avi Mualem) Gabbay's solution was "for the prime minister to call the IDF chief and discuss a plan on how to bring the Palestinian Authority back into Gaza... we see that in Judea and Samaria, the Palestinian Authority maintains the security, relatively... how do you do this? With diplomatic and economic steps." Mahmoud Abbas, he said, "is not my cup of tea. But he's saying 'Guys, let me control Gaza, including military control. I'm ready.' He's using this against us to get us there. Our interest is for the Palestinian Authority to control Gazanot Hamas and not Islamic Jihad." Head of the Israeli information organization Shuva Global, Shay Attias, addressed Saturday the Tree of Life Synagogue shooting in Pittsburgh , saying "It's a breaking point that redefines the relationship between Jews and the rest of US citizens." Follow Ynetnews on Facebook STRONG> and Twitter At the time of the attack, in which 11 people were killed, Shuva was at the Beit HaEmunah synagogue, only 800 meters away from the Tree of Life Synagogue. "I stood on a podium and I was about to speak to an audience of 150 people of the community, when suddenly we started receiving text messages informing us about the shooting and the casualties at the Tree of Life Synagogue, he said in an interview with Ynet. Shay Attias (Photo: Shuva Gloval) "Initially we feared that there was a second shooter and that he was on his way to our synagogue. The faces of those present said everythingpanic and helplessness was written all over them. "We locked ourselves in the interior rooms of the building, and it took the police more than two hours to get to us. Only then we knew there was no second shooter and could go back to our homes, he explained. "The people were in total shock," Attias said. "They did not know what to do, they were not ready, not prepared, it was a sense of total helplessness. Attias added that "being a Jew in the United States in general, and in Pennsylvania in particular, is based on a belief that such an eventwhere a shooter enters a synagogue and attacks worshipersis something that can take place in Europe and even in Israel, but not in the United States." You could say that after this incident, America has changed its face, Attias emphasized. Scene of the shooting after the attack (Photo: AFP) Attias has a deep connection to the Jewish community of Pittsburghs Squirrel Hill neighborhoodwhere the attack took placebecause thats where his wife Alina hails from. Between the years of 2009-2013, Attias served as head of the Department of Public Affairs and Diaspora Affairs at the Prime Minister's Office, and later founded the information organization that deals with Israel's advocacy and the connection of Jewish communities abroad to Israel. Attias is currently on a coast to coast tour of the US, during which he has met with countless Jewish communities, as well as Christians who support Israel. "I arrived in Pennsylvania last week in order to receive an award from the House of Representatives. It was a special event recognizing those who contributed to American society, and thanks to the initiative of Dave Zimmerman, a Jew who serves in the House of Representatives, for the first time ever this award was given to an Israeli, he stated. Attias was asked about the relationship between the local government and the Jewish community in Pittsburgh. "The local governments commitment to Israel, and to the US Jewish community in general, is absolute, without any doubt. Ive been acquainted with Congressman Zimmerman for a long time and I know that hes working to help Israel day and night. "The Jewish community, especially the Reform and Conservative movements, initially were wary of (US President Donald) Trump, but after his recognition of Jerusalem as Israels capital, the attitude toward him became more sympathetic. Nevertheless, some community leaders fear that among Trump's supporters there are those who have extreme nationalistic views, which could give rise to anti-Semitic voices, Attias opined. Squirrel Hill is considered to be the historic center of Pittsburgh Jewry, and today it has the highest percentage of Jews (26 percent of all Jewish households) in the city, and is the largest center for Jews who seek community affiliation. In 2017, a major study conducted by the Brandeis University analyzing the Pittsburgh Jewry, found that 67 percent of the Jews who participated in the study said they were somewhat concerned about anti-Semitism, while 18 percent said they were very concerned. One participant in the study described how a motorist once stopped him on his way to the synagogue, called him "a stupid Jew, spat on him, and told him to go back to Squirrel Hill. The researchers stressed that there has been a wave of bomb threats (which all turned out to be false) and vandalism aimed against Jewish institutions in the United States. Shay Attias (Photo: Shuva Global) Attias said that up until now the community was mostly worried about the threat of Muslim immigrants arriving in Pittsburgh. "The community was concerned about the Muslim immigrants, the number of which keeps growing. In front of my hotel there is a private house with a large sign that says We accept everyone whos a guest in the United States, and the sign is divided into three parts written in three different languages: English, Spanish and Arabic. However, our fears were never materialized. "In recent years, I've visited countless Jewish communities in Europe, and the security there is similar to that of an airport. In Pennsylvania, like in other places in the US, the feeling was that something like this cannot happen. "On Friday, I went to eat at a Jewish restaurant in Squirrel Hill, it's really the Brooklyn of Pittsburgh. There were a lot of people wearing skull caps, lots of Jewish businesses, and everything was calm. But now there is tremendous concern, Attias asserted. Regarding the question of Aliya, Attias said that it is an issue he has been dealing with since his time at the Prime Ministers Office, and he does not have a definitive answer. "The Israeli government has decided that not all Jews should immigrate from the United States to Israel, and a bridge must be maintained between us and them. It seems to me that after the latest attack, the Israeli government will have to intervene in the matter of security of American Jewish communities. "My wife says enough is enough and we have to go back home to Israel as soon as possible, for the sake of our two little girls," Attias concluded. PITTSBURGH - The suspect in the mass shooting at a Pittsburgh synagogue expressed hatred of Jews during the rampage and told officers afterward that Jews were committing genocide and he wanted them all to die, according to charging documents made public Sunday. Follow Ynetnews on Facebook STRONG> and Twitter Robert Gregory Bowers killed eight men and three women inside the Tree of Life Synagogue on Saturday during worship services before a tactical police team tracked him down and shot him, police said in an affidavit, which contained some unreported details on the shooting and the police response. Officials released the names of all 11 victims during a news conference SundayJoyce Feinberg, 75; Richard Gottfried, 65; Rose Mallinger, 97 who was a holocaust survivor; Jerry Rabinowitz, 66; Cecil Rosenthal, 59; David Rosenthal, 54; Bernice Simon, 84; Sylvan Simon, 86; Daniel Stein, 71; Melvin Wax, 88; and Irving Younger, 69. The victims included a pair of brothers and a husband and wife. Mayor Bill Peduto called it the "darkest day of Pittsburgh's history." Calls began coming in to 911 from the synagogue just before 10 am Saturday, reporting "they were being attacked," court documents said. Bowers, 46, shot one of the first two officers to respond in the hand, and the other was wounded by "shrapnel and broken glass." A tactical team found Bowers on the third floor, where he shot two officers multiple times, the affidavit said. One officer was described as critically wounded; the document did not describe the other officer's condition. Two other people in the synagogue, a man and a woman, were wounded by Bowers and were in stable condition, the document said. Bowers, who was armed with an AR-15 rifle and three handguns, told an officer while he was being treated for his injuries "that he wanted all Jews to die and also that they (Jews) were committing genocide to his people," the affidavit said. Bowers was charged late Saturday with 11 state counts of criminal homicide, six counts of aggravated assault and 13 counts of ethnic intimidation in what the leader of the Anti-Defamation League called the deadliest attack on Jews in US history. Bowers was also charged Saturday in a 29-count federal criminal complaint that included charges of obstructing the free exercise of religious beliefsa federal hate crimeand using a firearm to commit murder. US Attorney General Jeff Sessions said the charges "could lead to the death penalty." It wasn't clear whether Bowers had an attorney to speak on his behalf. The nation's latest mass shooting drew condemnation and expressions of sympathy from politicians and religious leaders of all stripes. With the midterm election just over a week away, it also reignited a longstanding and bitter debate over guns. Pope Francis led prayers for Pittsburgh on Sunday in St. Peter's Square. "In reality, all of us are wounded by this inhuman act of violence," he said. He prayed for God "to help us to extinguish the flames of hatred that develop in our societies, reinforcing the sense of humanity, respect for life and civil and moral values." German Chancellor Angela Merkel's spokesman quoted Merkel on Twitter as offering her condolences and saying that "all of us must confront anti-Semitism with determinationeverywhere." German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier wrote in a condolence message to President Donald Trump that "this abhorrent crime reminds us all to do what is in our power to advocate against hatred and violence, against anti-Semitism and exclusion, and to counter with determination those who incite them." Trump on Saturday said the outcome might have been different if the synagogue "had some kind of protection" from an armed guard, while Pennsylvania's Democratic Gov. Tom Wolf, up for re-election, noted that once again "dangerous weapons are putting our citizens in harm's way." Calling the shooting an "evil anti-Semitic attack," Trump ordered flags at federal buildings throughout the US to be flown at half-staff in respect for the victims. He said he planned to travel to Pittsburgh, but offered no details. In the city, thousands gathered for a vigil Saturday night. Some blamed the slaughter on the nation's political climate. "When you spew hate speech, people act on it. Very simple. And this is the result. A lot of people dead. Senselessly," said Stephen Cohen, co-president of New Light Congregation, which rents space at Tree of Life. Little was known about Bowers, who had no apparent criminal record but who is believed to have expressed virulently anti-Semitic views on social media. Authorities said it appears he acted alone. Worshippers "were brutally murdered by a gunman targeting them simply because of their faith," Bob Jones, head of the FBI's Pittsburgh office, said Saturday, though he cautioned the shooter's full motive was not yet known. Scott Brady, the chief federal prosecutor in western Pennsylvania, pledged that "justice in this case will be swift and it will be severe." The gunman targeted a building that housed three separate congregations, all of which were conducting Shabbat services when the attack began just before 10 am in the tree-lined residential neighborhood of Squirrel Hill, about 10 minutes from downtown Pittsburgh and the hub of Pittsburgh's Jewish community. During the week, anyone who wanted to get inside Tree of Life synagogue had to ring the doorbell and be granted entry by staff because the front door was kept locked. Not so on Saturdaythe Jewish holy day of restwhen the building was open for worship. The synagogue door was unlocked on Shabbat "because people are coming for services, and the bell would be ringing constantly. So they do not lock the door, and anybody can just walk in," said Marilyn Honigsberg, administrative assistant for New Light. "And that's what this man did." Michael Eisenberg, the immediate past president of the Tree of Life, said synagogue officials had not gotten any threats that he knew of before the shooting. But security was a concern, he said, and the synagogue had started working to improve it. Dozens of residents from Gaza border communities protested in Tel Aviv on Sunday evening against the current wave of rockets launched from Gaza over the weekend, and "Israels lack of reaction." Follow Ynetnews on Facebook STRONG> and Twitter The protesters blocked major roads and sounded the Code Red siren in the Tel Aviv streets. Gaza Border residents protesting in Tel Aviv. (: ) X The rallys organizers said that, the Gaza border region residents are under continuous attack and the moves are not called by the Israeli government, but by terror groups in the Gaza Strip. Despite the IDFs decision to remove all restrictions placed on the Gaza border region following an escalation of hostilities over the weekend, the residents of the communities adjacent to the strip announced Sunday they will not send their children to school in an act of protest against the continuing violence. During the rally protesters called brothers, wake up, the south in on fire, and Tel Aviv wake up, our blood is being spilled. Gaza border communities protesting in Tel Aviv. (Photo: Motti Kimchi) Tomorrow the protesters are planning to block the Kerem Shalom crossing and not allow the fuel supply trucks to enter the strip. Miri Asulin from Sderot, described the weekends events: My sons and I were walking through a 500 meter long area that has no shelter access, and then rockets were fired and the Iron Dome started intercepting them above our heads. My older son protected his youngest brother with his body. Were tired of being sitting ducks, weve been suffering from anxiety for 17 years, Asulin added. We have the best soldiers in the world, they have to destroy the terror organizations. Gaza border residents staging a Code Red siren in Tel Aviv. (P: Motti Kimchi) Shira Masami from Sderot explained that the residents demand security. We are enraged that after an entire Shabbat of rocket attacks, day and night, nothing is being done. We dont want to raise children under rocket attacks. Meirav Cohen from Kibbutz Ein HaShlosha said in an interview with Ynet that the protest does not have political purposes and stems out of sheer frustration. "There is no political body behind us, we organized this on our own. It is an authentic protest that was created out of pain and frustration over the security situationwhich has become intolerable. We expect all the communities in the Gaza border region to join us because it is the only way to stop another round of escalation from occuring," she vented. In addition, dozens of Sderot residents demonstrated at the entrance to the city on Saturday night and called on the Israeli government to restore quiet in the region. The residents blocked the entrance to the city, held banners and shouted slogans against the government. Iron Dome interceptions. (Photo: Reuters) Israeli Air Force aircraft struck dozens of terror sites across the Gaza Strip early Saturday in response to some 39 rockets launched into Israel from Gaza, in the heaviest exchange of fire since August. Despite recent reports that Egypt has forged understandings between Israel and Hamas, 18 Code Red rocket alert sirens sounded on Friday night and Saturday morning in Gaza border communities. Out of the 39 rockets launched into Israel, the Iron Dome missile defense system intercepted 17. Two rockets landed inside the Gaza Strip and the rest landed in open areas in Israel. This was the heaviest barrage of rockets since early August, when 150 rockets were fired in two days. The IAF struck 80 targets of terror sites across the Gaza Strip in response. One of the targets destroyed was a building that served as Hamas' general security headquarters in Gaza's al-Daraj neighborhood. US military officials have voiced their concerns that the "aggressive military campaign" Israel is waging in Syria against Iran-backed militia groups might cause the Islamic republic to attack American targets in Syria and Iraq in retaliation, as reported by The Wall Street Journal. Follow Ynetnews on Facebook STRONG> and Twitter After Israel had attacked more than 200 times in Syria within the last 18 months, the Pentagon spokesman Navy Cmdr. Sean Robertson asserted Israel is operating on its own when asked about the matter. File photo: strike in Syria "However, we support Israel's right to self-defense against immediate threats. If any action on the battlefield was to jeopardize American troops, the commanders would take the necessary steps. "US forces are always prepared to defend themselves," Robertson stated. The White House spokeswomen Sarah Sanders said that "Iran and Hezbollah cannot be allowed to build a weapons arsenal, which would pose a threat to the region, on the Israeli border." According to the newspaper, the US has conveyed its concerns over the matter to Israel, but did not elaborate by which means. Moreover, the US military officials said they do not think the issue would influence the close political ties between Israel and the US. It was also reported that US military officials are worried that Teheran will carry out a counterattack against American soldiers, especially in Iraq, where more than 5,000 US troops are stationed, since it believes Israel received its intelligence from Washington, enabling it to launch its strikes in Syria. Recent attacks by Shiite militias against US forces in Iraq have reinforced the Pentagon's concerns. The US State Department evacuated last month its consulate in the city of Basra in southern Iraq after it was attacked by Iran-backed forces. Nicholas Heras from the Center for New American Security in Washington said that the chances of an Iranian attack against American troops in Syria are high. "It's worrisome. Iran will always see the US as the one contributing to these attacks," Heras said in reference to Israeli strikes in Syria. In August, US National Security Adviser John Bolton told Reuters during his visit to Israel that Russian President Vladimir Putin, who met Trump in Helsinki on July 16, had told the United States that Moscow could not compel the Iranians to leave Syria. Addressing the strikes in Syria attributed to Israel, Bolton said "every time Iran has transferred weapons to Syria over the past few monthsIsrael launched an attack there. "We think Israel is acting out of self-defense, as we did when we struck in Syria twice after Assad had used chemical weapons. "But we're very concerned as we look at the military situation and we want to be unmistakably clear to Assad that we expect there will be no use of chemical weapons," he added. "If the Syrian regime uses chemical weapons again, we would retaliate firmly," the US national security adviser concluded. In the fall of 1979, two Israelis carrying foreign passports arrived on a flight to Muscat, the capital of Oman. One of them was Reuven Merhav, a senior Mossad official dealing with matters concerning the Middle East, who will later become the director general of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The other was a member of the IDF's General Staff, Maj. Gen. Menachem (Mendy) Maron. After landing, the two were transferred to a luxurious villa in Muscat and from there flown on a royal jet to meet with Sultan Qaboos at an encampment outside the capital. They were amused by the fact the bathroom on the plane, including the toilet itself, was made of gold. Follow Ynetnews on Facebook STRONG> and Twitter The discussions lasted into the night, following which the guests went on a covert visit to a tiny Omani enclave called Ras Musandam, which is at the edge of the Musandam Peninsula, which essentially controls the Strait of Hormuzthe global oil gateway. The Sultan Qaboos Grand Mosque in Oman. (Photo: Shutterstock) "The importance of that meeting was in its very existence," Merhav recounted on Saturday. "These are direct ties, though covert, with an important Arab country at a highly important strategic location." This meeting was one of many held since the early 1970s between senior Israeli officials and officials in Oman. The ties with Oman opened the door to important covert ties with other countries in the gulf, primarily the United Arab Emirates and Qatar. The public visit and the royal reception Prime Minister Netanyahu received over the weekend is the result of four months' work, led by the Mossad. It's safe to assume Mossad Director Yossi Cohen visited Muscat to finalize the details of that visit. Netanyahu's visit to Oman. (Photo: AP) Some of the Israeli officials involved in the covert ties with Oman could not help but wonder why is the sultan suddenly willing to have such a public and broadly covered visit now? The answer to that will not be found in Jerusalem. Qaboos wants to show a different side of his country to the West: a more liberal and tolerant side. Netanyahu's visit was scheduled before the Khashoggi assassination, but that terrible event definitely served the sultan's needs in showing the world that Oman is different. Israel's possible gain from this visit is threefold: Primarily, Oman can serve as a channel to many countriesincluding Iran, Qatar and Syriaand is seen by all as an honest broker. Through Oman, Israel could establish covert ties with any player in the region. This, of course, is conditional upon the agreement of that player, but under Qaboos' sponsorship, things are a lot simpler. A senior Israeli official even said that he doesn't "rule out the use of Oman to open a secret channel with Iran and Syria." Secondly, the hope is that other countries would take courage from this visit and also expose their own covert ties with Israel. Finally, for Netanyahu, exposing the ties with Oman is another layer in his Middle Eastern strategy, which includes creating covert alliancesand public ones whenever possiblewith moderate Sunni nations and movements, in an effort to prevent Iran's spread throughout the region, as well as undermine Tehran's regional power, all the while proving that Israel can normalize its ties with Arab nations even without solving the Palestinian issue. There is no doubt Netanyahu's public trip to Muscat is an important diplomatic achievement, but it's doubtful it could lead to normalization with many other Arab countries. It would be far more convenient and safe for the rulers of most of these countries to have close ties with Israel, but quietly, for fear of enraging their citizenry. Three Palestinians were killed Sunday during an IDF airstrike near Khan Yunis after they were identified placing a suspicious object, believed to be an explosive device, on the border fence. Follow Ynetnews on Facebook STRONG> and Twitter The Palestinians were spotted by a Gaza division observation post while they were crawling in the dark towards the security fence with the suspicious object. Bodies of Palestinians taken to Gaza hospital After being pronounced dead, the Palestinians' bodies were transferred to a hospital in the strip. The IDF launched an investigation into the incident. The Security Cabinetwhich convened two weeks ago following a rocket attack launched from Gaza on a Be'er Sheva home and in the sea off the shores of a city in central Israelinstructed the IDF to gradually exacerbate its retaliatory actions to violence along the security fence and to demonstrate a zero-tolerance approach. Gaza border riots (Photo: EPA) On Friday, Four Palestinians in their 20s were shot dead during the weekly Hamas-led Gaza border riots, despite earlier report by the The Al-Hayat newspaper, according to which Israel and Hamas managed to reach understandings regarding a long-term ceasefire arrangement, which would see the lifting of the Gaza blockade in exchange for complete cessation of border violence. IDF Spokesperson's Unit said that some 16,000 demonstrators attended Friday's riots, hurling Molotov cocktails, hand grenades and stones at the security forces, and burning tires. In response to some 39 rockets launched into Israel from Gaza overnight Friday, Israeli Air Force (IAF) aircraft struck some 87 targets across Gaza early Saturday, in the heaviest exchange of fire since August. After hours of fire exchanges, a spokesman for the Islamic Jihad said that understandings had been reached for a ceasefire with Israel with the help of Egyptian mediation. Expert Interviews with Kevin Turner. 29/10/2018 Considerable focus has been directed to the impact on property prices of too many foreign buyers. This concern went into overdrive when it was announced that New Zealand would follow in Australias example and put heavy restrictions on foreign buyers. Just how serious are they and what impact is it likely to have on the market there? We discuss that with Bindi Norwell from The Institute in New Zealand. Listen to the interview now: Transcript: Kevin: Well theres certainly a lot of interest always on foreign investment. No matter which country you live in it seems to be a hot topic in terms of whether or not it actually drives up prices. I was interested to note recently, weve reported about it in the show about the changes in legislation in New Zealand in the market there endeavouring to restrict foreign buyer activity. Joining me to talk about this the CEO for the Real Estate Institute of New Zealand, Bindi Norwell. Bindi, thank you very much for your time. Bindi Norwell: Thank you. Good to be here. Kevin: Yeah, could you just briefly tell us or outline for us the bounds of the new legislation thats been introduced into the market there with regard to foreign investment in residential property? Bindi Norwell: Sure so at a higher level, it means that anyone thats a foreigner at the moment will not be able to purchase a property in New Zealand unless theyre a resident or paying tax in the country and it will be implemented from the 22nd of October this year. Anyone going forward will not be able to purchase a property. Kevin: So very similar in a lot of ways to whats happened in Australia. Was the Institute or any other industry body consulted by the government there prior to these restrictions coming in? Bindi Norwell: Absolutely I mean they went through significant consultation with the industry. I think it went through three readings and we submitted on the consultation. I guess what we thought that its probably not going to have very much impact on affordability in New Zealand because the amount of properties that are bought by foreign buyers is so low. Its around 2.8% across the country. We thought that actually its probably not the right thing to do for New Zealand but they have implemented it now. When they did go out to consultation, they got feedback on a number of issues and its good to see that they listened to that consultation. Bindi Norwell: Originally, foreign investors wouldnt be able to purchase new built and so they thought that this might impede the housing markets in New Zealand. They changed that strategy and so foreign buyers can actually purchase new builds and new developments going forward. Kevin: Yeah, it seems to be wherever its introduced they always tout it as helping out to make properties more affordable. Its really just a political stance almost appealing to voters saying well we are doing something about affordability when in a fact what you just pointed out there is it has very little effect on affordability. Bindi Norwell: Thats right and I said its such a low amount of properties that are bought from foreign buyers and this huge amount of work that goes into this legislation and actually going forward now trying to identify foreign buyers as well. I think that yeah, I mean it definitely has an impact on the amount of work but not really an impact on affordability. Kevin: Is the investment predominantly in Auckland? I mean thats what we hear out of New Zealand is that all the focus seems to be on Auckland. Is that the case with foreign buyers? Bindi Norwell: A significant portion of houses that are bought of that 2.8% are in Auckland but theyre also in places like Queenstown thats very appealing to foreign buyers as well. I guess it is spread across the country but primarily in Auckland and places like Queenstown. Kevin: Youre the peak body in New Zealand. What are you hearing amongst your colleagues industry professionals about the likely impact of these restrictions? Bindi Norwell: Well I think that people are feeling like its not going to have significant impact on affordability. I think the industry at the moment, the real estate industry is trying to now prepare for the implications of it and really understanding how do we actually in a practical level make sure that were complying with the law. I guess this is for the key focus now of the industry. We know now this is in place so now weve got to help prepare the industry to try, and to comply with that new legislation. Kevin: Who will be held responsibility if the declarations arent done correctly? I mean are the real estate agents going to be the ones who will need to be the policemen on this? Bindi Norwell: Well I mean I guess its quite complex. At the end of the day, its up to the individual that is actually going to purchase the property to demonstrate and specify where theyre from that theyre a foreign buyer or theyre from New Zealand tax or New Zealand resident. The onus is really up to the individual to prove it and the legal entity that theyre working will have to go through a level of due diligence. So far, I guess real estate agents will have a role to play as well to make sure they know who theyre dealing with but the actual legislation really hits on the individual person and the legal ingenue. Kevin: Its simply a matter of a declaration form that needs to be signed by the buyer to say that theyre not a foreign buyer. Is that correct and in the absence of that in Australia there are special penalties in the absence of the form being presented its assumed that they are a foreign buyer. Is that right? Bindi Norwell: Yes so everyone thats going to purchase a house will need to fill out a declaration thats the way we understand. We met with the OIO this week actually to talk about this process. The people will need to fill in that declaration. Theyll need to sign it and obviously prove it with their legal professions as well when they get to the actual sale transaction so yes everyone will do that part of the process. Kevin: Yeah Bindi great insight there. Thank you so much. I understand youve come out of a meeting. We appreciate you giving us your time today. Thank you very much. Bindi Norwell: No problem. Thanks. Okay. Real Estate Talk the only place where you hear all Australasias leading property experts. ................................................................................................................................................... Arizona News Tucson, Arizona - Attorney General Mark Brnovich announced a State Grand Jury indicted Patrick Michael Winkler in a sexual exploitation of children case. The indictment includes ten counts of Sexual Exploitation of a Minor, four counts of Luring a Minor for Sexual Exploitation, three counts of Unlawful Age Misrepresentation, and one count of Failure to Register as a Sex Offender. The indictment alleges Winkler possessed videos and still images of child pornography on his cellphone during the time period of November 2017 through March of 2018. Investigators say during the same time period, Winkler, through the use of the cell phone application Whisper, attempted to lure minors for sexual exploitation during electronic chats and knowingly misrepresented his age during the chats for the purpose of committing a sexual offense. Additionally, the indictment alleges Winkler, a registered sex offender, failed to comply with sex offender registration requirements. This matter was investigated by the Tucson Police Department. Assistant Attorneys General Jared Kreamer-Hope and Rachel Heintz are prosecuting the case. All defendants are presumed innocent until convicted in a court of law. Below is the booking photograph for Winkler. 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. There is not enough analysis data for Botswana Diamonds. 4.1 Community Rank Outperform Votes Botswana Diamonds has received 231 outperform votes. (Add your outperform vote.) Underperform Votes Botswana Diamonds has received 140 underperform votes. (Add your underperform vote.) Community Sentiment Botswana Diamonds has received 62.26% outperform votes from our community. MarketBeat's community ratings are surveys of what our community members think about Botswana Diamonds and other stocks. Vote Outperform if you believe BOD will outperform the S&P 500 over the long term. Vote Underperform if you believe BOD will underperform the S&P 500 over the long term. You may vote once every thirty days. Previous Next There is not enough analysis data for DP Poland. 4.5 Community Rank Outperform Votes DP Poland has received 147 outperform votes. (Add your outperform vote.) Underperform Votes DP Poland has received 72 underperform votes. (Add your underperform vote.) Community Sentiment DP Poland has received 67.12% outperform votes from our community. MarketBeat's community ratings are surveys of what our community members think about DP Poland and other stocks. Vote Outperform if you believe DPP will outperform the S&P 500 over the long term. Vote Underperform if you believe DPP will underperform the S&P 500 over the long term. You may vote once every thirty days. Previous Next The Minister-designate for Information, Kojo Oppong Nkrumah has conceded that he was a card-bearing member of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) when he moderated the presidential elections debate of 2012. Member of Parliament (MP) and Minister-designate for Information, Kojo Oppong Nkrumah has revealed that when he was on Joy FM as a presenter, he was a member of the New Patriotic Party (NPP). Oppong Nkrumah's job at Joy FM got him the nod to moderate the presidential elections debate of 2012 that was organised by the Institute of Economic Affairs (IEA). Though he was a card bearing member of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) when he co-moderated the 2012 debate, the MP said he was not intimidated or biased. READ ALSO: Give me a chance like Tiwa Savage gave Wizkid - Kalybos begs Ahuofe Patri Kojo Oppong Nkrumah flanked by his mother and wife. Photo credit: Myjoyonline.com Source: UGC Responding to a question from the Odododiodio MP, Nii Lantey Vanderpuye during his vetting, he said he exhibited the necessary professionalism when he moderated the debate. Mr. Oppong-Nkrumah had garnered acclaim for his work in journalism before entering the political arena and becoming the MP for Ofoase-Ayirebi. It is his credentials as a journalist that he pointed to as evidence of his neutrality. Earlier, YEN.com.gh published a story about the beautiful wife of Kojo Oppong Nkrumah. Akua Oppong Nkrumah has previously been sheltered from her husband's political limelight. READ ALSO: Caroline Sampson narrates her 2018 story of four surgeries If approved, Kojo Oppong Nkrumah will replace substantively, Dr Mustapha Hamid as the minister in-charge of Information. Ghana News Today: Chaotic Riot by KNUST Students / Poisonous Tilapia on Ghanaian Markets |Yen.com.gh Do you have a story to share with us? Inbox us on our Facebook page and we could feature your story. Source: Yen News - President Akufo-Addo said Ghana will not stop borrowing because even America borrows - He said the country needs to borrow as much as possible to create more projects as assets to pay back the loans - Akufo-Addos said Ghana will continue to borrow money and use it properly Ghanaians would not see the Akufo-Addo government reducing the public debt anytime soon because the president has said Ghana will not stop borrowing Akufo-Addo, before being sworn in as president in 2017, spoke extensively of cutting down Ghanas borrowing rate and also debt when elected president. This was his mantra on every campaign trail leading to his Ghana beyond aid agenda, after he became president. READ ALSO: Bernard Avle is the best Ghanaian journalist for the year 2017 However, the president has said his government will keep borrowing money to put up projects he described as assets to pay back those loans, according to a Citnewsroom report sighted by YEN.com.gh. He reportedly added that every country borrows money for projects and Ghana would not be an exception. We will borrow money; everybody borrows money. The United States of America is one of the biggest debtors in the world. So borrowing money is not necessarily a betrayal of the concept of independence. The key for us in borrowing money is that we borrow money to create assets that will allow us to pay the money back. That is the keyIf we borrow the money and use it properly it is an asset for us in expanding our economy and infrastructure, Akufo-Addo was quoted as saying. READ ALSO: I found love after a powerful one-night stand Pascaline Edwards The president was speaking at an entrepreneurship forum in Nigeria on Thursday, October 25, 2018, organised by the Tony Elumelo Foundation. His remark was in response to a question from one of the participants who queried him on why he goes for loans from China despite trumpeting the Ghana Beyond Aid mantra. Borrowing money is not aid. What President Xi Jinping offered is a $60 billion fund which African countries can access, not as aid but as loans. If you can produce a project that the Chinese think is worth supporting, you can have access to that money, but you have to pay it back, President Akufo-Addo also said. READ ALSO: Nigerian lady reportedly caught pants down with ex-boyfriend in hotel on wedding eve President Nana Akufo-Addo and his Vice President, Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, while in opposition, criticized the erstwhile Mahama government for what they called excessive borrowing. But it seems the Akufo-Addo government is also on the same track as the former president. Meanwhile, Ghanas total debt has hit GHS159.4bn, according to a report by the Bank of Ghana. READ ALSO: Reckless driver runs over and kills newly-wed police officer Ghana News Today: Chaotic Riot by KNUST Students / Poisonous Tilapia on Ghanaian Markets |Yen.com.gh READ ALSO: Real ages of Yaw Dabo, Don Little, other popular Ghanaian diminutive actors Have national and human interest issues to discuss? Know someone who is extremely talented and needs recognition? Your stories and photos are always welcome. Get interactive via our Facebook page Source: Yen - Food prices may increase between 5% and 10% before the year 2018 comes to an end - This was revealed by Esoko Ghana, a group of commodity analysts - The reasons for the price hike have been revealed as increases in fuel prices and the Bagre Dam disaster A report by commodity analysts, Esoko Ghana, has revealed that prices of food items may increase between 5% and 10% before the end of the year 2018. The reason for the price hike has been linked to the rising cost of fuel, as well the Bagre Dam spillage in Burkina Faso. YEN.com.gh understands that the spillage caused floods and destroyed farms in some parts of the north. Source: Supplied Source: UGC READ ALSO: Bernard Avle of Citi FM wins the 2017 Journalist of the Year award A content analyst at Esoko Ghana, Francis Danso Adjei, has cautioned Ghanaians to brace themselves for price increases for the same quantity of items. From our initial assessment we dont see prices coming down. If anything at all, we see prices of food going up between 5 to 10 percent by end of the year, he said. Meanwhile, the General Agriculture Workers Union(GAWU) has also expressed similar stance due to the level of damage caused to farms in the north of the country. The General Secretary of GAWU, Edward Kareweh, said generally there has been an increase in food prices as compared to 2017. He added that it is important to put in measures to cushion consumers, particularly the poor in society. Kareweh further noted that that it is important to develop a system that will help in the storage of food to prevent price hike anytime there is a shortage in supply. READ ALSO: We won't stop borrowing even if USA borrows - Akufo-Addo declares Ghana News Today: Musical Performances at the Glo Concert: Davido, Stonebwoy and Sarkodie Yen.com.gh Do you have a hot story or scandal you would like us to publish on YEN.com.gh? Please contact us on Facebook or Instagram now! Source: Yen - A police inspector, Friday Ogbeifun, has been arrested after his lover lost her life - She passed away in a hotel and Inspector Ogbeifun subsequently reported himself to the police - Investigations are underway to determine the exact cause of her death Information available to YEN.com.gh shows that a Nigerian policeman, Inspector Friday Ogbeifun, has been arrested after his lover died in a hotel. The incident occurred at an unnamed hotel in Igando, Lagos State, Nigeria and investigations are ongoing. Inspector Ogbeifun and his lover, identified as Esther, reportedly checked into a hotel on Dele Toye Street, Igando, on Monday October 22, 2018, around 8 pm. READ ALSO: Bernard Avle of Citi FM wins the 2017 Journalist of the Year award Esther, a mother of five, slumped and was rushed to the Igando General Hospital, where she was confirmed dead on arrival. According to reports, the deceased was a widow whose husband died about two years ago, and her corpse has been taken to the Mainland Hospital mortuary, Yaba, for autopsy. Inspector Ogbeifun consequently reported himself at the Igando Police Station from where he was transferred to the State Criminal Investigation and Intelligence Department. The state police Public Relations Officer, CSP Chike Oti, confirmed the widows death, adding that the autopsy report was being awaited to ascertain the cause of death. READ ALSO: We won't stop borrowing; even USA borrows - Akufo-Addo Yenkasa: Ghallywood - Popular Ghanaian Actors Share Thoughts About Ghallywood Future | #Yencomgh Use the comments section below to share your views on this story. Do you have a story to share or you have information for us? Get featured on YEN.com.gh. Message us on Facebook or Instagram Source: Yen - A popular radio and TV host, Caroline Sampson, said she has regretted voting for the NPP government - She said Akufo-Addo has failed woefully in delivering his campaign promises and would rate the presidents performance at 2 out of 100 - Caroline further said she is willing to campaign for the NDC in the next election Popular radio, TV and event host, Caroline Sampson, has said she has regretted ever voting for the NPP government in the 2016 elections. The eloquent female presenter added that she would rate President Akufo-Addo and his governments performance at 2 out 100, indicating how poor the president is performing in her estimation. I am mad, I am just so mad, 2/100," Caroline responded to the question of how she will rate the Akuffo-Addo led government in an interview with Zionfelix.com. READ ALSO: We wont stop borrowing, even US borrows Akufo-Addo The radio and TV presenter stated that expectations were very high when Ghanaians handed the baton of leadership Akuffo-Addo after they booted out former President Mahamas government. However, the president and his government have not met these expectations after they made a lot of promises to the people of Ghana. We have not seen anything. I regret voting the NPP because of all the promises they made which have totally failed to see the light of day, Caroling lamented. READ ALSO: I found love after a powerful one-night stand Pascaline Edwards Revealing why she voted for Akufo-Addo, the TV and radio show host said it was because she felt the former president Mahama was not ready to continue as president since he became a president because of the death of late John Mills. I voted Mahama out because I felt he was not ready. I felt he need to go and prepare and come back stronger, Caroline explained. READ ALSO: Efia Odo causes confusion on social media with a new video She further urged the current NPP government to do away with the we need time pronouncements and do more as they have raised expectations of many Ghanaians so high. She went on further to state that she will be willing to campaign for particular the NDC in the next election if they offer her a great deal. This November, Caroline Sampson, also a mother of three will mark 13 years on Radio and TV. She has worked with Citi FM, YFM, just to mention a few. READ ALSO: Bernard Avle is the best Ghanaian journalist for the year 2017 Ghana News Today: Chaotic Riot by KNUST Students / Poisonous Tilapia on Ghanaian Markets |Yen.com.gh Have national and human interest issues to discuss? Know someone who is extremely talented and needs recognition? Your stories and photos are always welcome. Get interactive via our Facebook page Source: Yen - A former driver to Former President Rawlings, Braimah Issaka, has disclosed that former first lady, Nana Konadu Agyemang Rawlings, was powerless during her husband's military regime - According to Issaka, Konadu used to sell T-shirts to help feed the family A former military driver of Former President Rawlings, Braimah Issaka, has dispelled claims that the former first lady, Nana Konadu Agyemang Rawlings, was influential during the revolutionary days. Speaking on Kofi TV, Issaka disclosed that Konadu used to sell T-shirts to support the family. According to him, she may be powerful and influential now, but during the early days, we didnt see that. Konadu used to print T-shirts for us to sell at 37. Source: Ghanawish Radio Source: UGC READ ALSO: Policeman in serious trouble after lover dies in a hotel What power did she have at the time? She only used to print T-shirts and it was from the same money she used to eat, he stated. He went on to say that Konadu had no real power, and she was even barred from entering the Peoples National Defense Council (PNDC) headquarters at that time. Issaka added that Rawlings, on the contrary, could stay at Burma Camp for a week before returning home. She was totally powerless, she couldnt order soldiers about, she couldnt say, go and do this operation for me, so she only probably had power over her husband. That one is between them, but talking about power to change things or influence policies in Ghana at the time, it was never the case," he claimed. Former President Jerry John Rawlings assumed office as Head of State following a military coup in 1979, which toppled the government of Dr. Hilla Limann. He then won elections in the year 1992 as president, and subsequently handed over to Former President Kufuor in the year 2000. READ ALSO: Bernard Avle of Citi FM wins the 2017 Journalist of the Year award Ghana News Today: Musical Performances at the Glo Concert: Davido, Stonebwoy and Sarkodie Yen.com.gh YEN is building a platform where Ghanaians can share local news and own experiences with each other. Witnessing an incident? Want to tell about a local problem? Know someone who is extremely talented and needs recognition? Your stories and photos are always welcome. Send us a message via Instagram or on YENs official Facebook page. Source: Yen Newspaper We live in country where women do not feel free to express their feelings to men that they like. A Ghanaian lady Our society deems women who express love to men as cheap and unworthy, so Ghanaian women have learnt to bottle up their feelings for men they like. Sometimes, they are lucky that the guy also likes them and expresses that to them. On some occasions, however, many women lose out on love because they can not express their feelings to men they like. Despite this challenge, Ghanaian women have come up with ingenious ways of letting guys they like know without saying so explicitly. Trust Ghanaian women to always find their way around problems. Here are seven things a guy will hear if a Ghanaian lady likes him: 1. " I don't want your girls to break my head." They want to know if you have a girlfriend. 2. "Abi you dawg me" They want to hear from you more. READ ALSO: 10 men you will surely meet at every Ghanaian wedding ceremony 3. "You just forgot about me" They miss you. 4. "Have you eaten?" They care about you. 5. "When are you taking me out?" They like you a lot. 6. "You are so annoying" They want you to continue what you are doing. 7. When am I seeing you? They want to be with you. READ ALSO: Eight lies Ghanaian men tell if they like a lady How else do ladies communicate that they like a guy? Share your views with us in the comments section below. Do you have hot news or a scandal? Send it to us on Facebook now! READ ALSO: 12 photos that explain why most pastors will go to hell Source: Yen.com.gh BRUSSELS, 17 October 2018 (EC) Today the European Commission and Breakthrough Energy have signed a Memorandum of Understanding to establish Breakthrough Energy Europe (BEE) a joint investment fund to help innovative European companies develop and bring radically new clean energy technologies to the market. With this initiative, the Commission takes action to continue leading in the fight against climate change and to deliver on the Paris Agreement giving a strong signal to capital markets and investors that the global transition to a modern and clean economy is here to stay.President Jean-Claude Juncker said: Europe must continue to take the lead in tackling climate change head on, at home and across the world. We must push for the modernisation of Europes economy and industry in order to meet the ambitious targets put in place to protect our planet. Pooling public and private investment in new, innovative clean energy technology is key to enabling long-term solutions to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. If Europe is to have a future that can guarantee the well-being of all its citizens, it will need to be climate-friendly and sustainable.Maros Sefcovic, Vice-President of the Commission for the Energy Union, said: The scale and speed of what is needed to reach our climate goals require innovative thinking and bold action. Not only is this new public-private investment vehicle being set up in record time, it will also serve as an example of us joining forces to accelerate breakthrough innovation in Europe.Carlos Moedas, Commissioner for Research, Science and Innovation, added: We are delivering on our commitment to stimulate public-private cooperation in financing clean energy innovation. The 100 million fund will target EU innovators and companies with the potential to achieve significant and lasting reductions in greenhouse gas emissions.Bill Gates, Chairman of Breakthrough Energy Ventures, said: We need new technologies to avoid the worst impacts of climate change. Europe has demonstrated valuable leadership by making impressive investments in R&D. The scientists and entrepreneurs who are developing innovations to address climate change need capital to build companies that can deliver those innovations to the global market. Breakthrough Energy Europe is designed to provide that capital.Breakthrough Energy Europe links public funding with long-term risk capital so that clean energy research and innovation can be brought to market faster and more efficiently. With a capitalisation of 100 million, the fund will focus on reducing greenhouse gas emissions and promoting energy efficiency in the areas of electricity, transport, agriculture, manufacturing, and buildings. It isa pilot project that can serve as a model for similar initiatives in other thematic areas.Breakthrough Energy Europe is expected to be operational in 2019. Half of the equity will come from Breakthrough Energy and the other half from InnovFin risk-sharing financial instruments funded through Horizon 2020, the EUs current research and innovation programme. Background As our planet increasingly faces the unpredictable consequences of climate change and resource depletion, urgent action is needed to adapt to a more sustainable model. The EU, which played a decisive role in building the coalition of ambition making the adoption of the Paris Agreement possible in December 2015, is a global leader on climate action. The Commission has already brought forward all legislative proposals to deliver on the EUs commitment to reduce emissions in the European Union by at least 40% by 2030. Beyond updating and strengthening its energy and climate legislation, the EU is developing enabling measures that will stimulate investment, create jobs, empower and modernise industries. The Commission is currently working on the long-term strategy for the reduction of greenhouse gases. The proposal will be published in November 2018, ahead of the COP24 in Katowice, Poland.In the margins of the COP21 climate conference in Paris, global leaders launched Mission Innovation, an international partnership to accelerate clean energy innovation and provide a long-term global response to climate challenge.By joining Mission Innovation, 23 countries and the European Commission (on behalf of the EU) pledged to double their clean energy research and innovation funding to about $30 billion per year by 2021.On the same occasion, a group of investors from ten countries announced their intention to drive innovation from laboratories to the market by investing long-term capital at unprecedented levels in early-stage technology development in Mission Innovation participating countries, thereby creating the Breakthrough Energy Coalition.In December 2017, during the One Planet Summit in Paris, Breakthrough Energy announced the piloting of public-private partnerships with five Mission Innovation members, including the European Commission. For More Information Press release: International ministerial meeting demonstrates role of Mission Innovation in accelerating clean energy revolutionPress Release: Mission Innovation Launches New Initiatives at the One Planet Summit Aimed at Promoting Public-Private CollaborationBill Gates: 4 signs of progress on climate changeAction Plan on Sustainable finance Contact By Dana Nuccitelli 22 October 2018 (The Guardian) When queried about the most recent IPCC report, Republican lawmakers delivered a consistent, false message that climate scientists are still debating whether humans are responsible. The previous IPCC report was quite clear on this, attributing 100% of the global warming since 1950 to human activities. As Nasa atmospheric scientist Kate Marvel recently put it, We are more sure that greenhouse gas is causing climate change than we are that smoking causes cancer.Donald Trump articulated the incorrect Republican position in an interview on 60 Minutes: We have scientists that disagree with [human-caused global warming] Youd have to show me the [mainstream] scientists because they have a very big political agenda To paraphrase, I know scientists. I have the best scientists. And of course Trump thinks he has a natural instinct for science which, as astrophysicist Katie Mack noted, is not a thing. [] Americans badly underestimate the expert climate consensus Numerous papers have shown that over 90% of climate science experts agree that humans are the main cause of global warming since 1950, and when considering peer-reviewed papers, the consensus exceeds 97 percent. [] Weather to finally dry out for harvest With the weather drying out from now until Monday, we should be seeing average rainfall and a return to the dry summer we are used to for the rest of the year. Pinch of Salt: So much to be thankful for Bob Bell says Renault remains on track to race to podium finishes in 2019. The French team has made progress this year, and signed up Red Bull's Mexico GP pole sitter Daniel Ricciardo for 2019. "Everyone has highlighted our progress on the track," technical boss Bell told Ouest-France. "We wanted to be fourth, we are, but we have to be careful. Over the last races, our car was not fast enough and though we have progressed, we are still quite far from the top three." Bell says Renault wanted to make better progress in 2018 relative to the top teams Mercedes, Ferrari and Red Bull. "Modern F1 is very much aero, engine and tyre management. We did a lot of work on aero and perhaps not enough on the engine compared to the others. "There's no magic formula. It's very hard to make progress," he said. However, Bell insists that Renault is sticking with the longer term plan. "We're looking more two or three years ahead," he said. "We are working hard on the 2019 car, and also on the 2020 and 2021 cars. And I am very satisfied with our progress. "If you look at our facilities, our technologies, the way we work -- all of these details are starting to work very well," Bell explained. "We're just not seeing all of it on the track yet. "But I think that next year we will be able to fight for the podium and get closer to the top teams." (GMM) As a young man Pastor John Olusola Ojo looked forward to having a home, with a woman by his side and children all around him, living together forever as a happy family. Though from a humble background, the young Olusola Ojo soon came across a young lady by name Olabisi whom he fell in love with. She has a funny and cheerful character that charmed the young man. The lady too, though from a more comfortable background found love in the eyes of Olusola Ojo, thus starting a relationship that would continue for almost half a decade now. However, there was an obstacle. Olabisis uncle who was the bread-winner of the family had a different idea for a personal reason. He would rather want his niece to marry his colleague at the Nigeria Railway Corporation, a senior railway driver to marry Olabisi, but she would have none of that. Her heart was already with Olusola Ojo and she was ready to stick to him, despite his poor background, whatever the situation. For refusing to toe his line, Olabisi was often victimised by her uncle but that did not dissuade her. In fact at a point in time she was taken to far away Kafanchan in Kaduna State so that she could forget Olusola Ojo. Undaunted, she soon found her way back to him, to assure him of her undying love. Today all that have become history as 46 years later the then young Olusola, now a pastor in his 80s, decided to have the traditional wedding he could not have back then. The traditional wedding was fixed for Tuesday, 12th September, 2018 and it had all the trappings of a young couple about to wed. Any invitee not in the full know of the characters involved must have expressed deep surprise at the two, wondering why a grandmother should take the place of a young bride in a traditional wedding, not knowing that the grandma herself was the bride and the octogenarian the groom. As of the wedding day, 84-year-old Pastor Ojo and 70-year-old Iya Ojo as she is fondly called have been together for about 46 years as statutory husband and wife. In response to curiousity from people who wondered why it took so long to decide to pay his wifes dowry, Pa Ojo took up the story. According to him it was not his intention to delay paying the dowry but the delay was caused by his in-laws. It was not because of disrespect of any form to my in-laws or the Yoruba tradition, neither was it due to my financial background but due to the position of my wifes uncle who was the bread-winner of the family at that time, he sated. Pastor Ojo who is the founder of Christ Apostolic Church (CAC) Odi-Ajaye Zone, Nigeria and Overseas, noted that he had wanted to do the right thing as other young suitors do but his prospective in-laws then would not allow their daughter to marry him because they had other ideas. Going into further details, Pastor Ojo, the only surviving child of his mother narrated that having fallen in love with the funny character of young Olabisi, he did not waste time to propose to her and Olabisi agreed but her uncle was the obstacle. On many occasions, her uncle will beat her into coma so that she could denounce me. Because of Bisis determination to marry me, she would not change her mind even when her uncle took her to Kafanchan in the northern part of Nigeria, with the belief that distance will remove my love from her heart. One day, after serial persecutions, Bisi returned to me and assured me that even if I had married five wives, she is ready to become the sixth. When all persuasions to make my in-laws accept their daughters bride price from me failed, the General Superintendent of the Christ Apostolic Church, Nigeria, advised us to go by statutory marriage through which we were certified as husband and wife in 1972. Few years into our marriage, my in-laws had a change of heart; since then we have maintained a good rapport, he said. Underscoring the change of heart by his in-laws, Pastor Ojo said that at a point in time his father-in-law was sick and brought to their home where he stayed till he was healthy enough to return to his house. After years of marriage the in-laws were so satisfied with the way things have turned out with the Ojos that nobody remembered to ask him to pay their daughters dowry. In fact, the relationship with all my in-laws had been so cordial such that nobody was asking for bride price anymore but because of my belief as a Christian, bride price is a must in Gods view; so I must pay it, at least if it is just to show how much I value my dear wife Olabisi. Today I give all glory to God for sparing my life to see today. I have to tell you that my mother gave birth to four children before me. Three died within a short period. My mother decided to have one more child. I was about six months old in her womb when the fourth child died. I was born at a Revival ground during a crusade organised by the Late Apostle Ayo Babalola and Evangelist Babajide at Oke-Oye, Ilesha. In fact, according to the secrets revealed to me, part of the plan was to have me killed before I was born in the twelfth month at a weeklong revival programme by Apostle Babajide. I will forever be grateful to my mothers elder brother, Chief Judge Abioye Olufayo, the Aro of Ilare-Ijesha. He fought vigorously to an extent that the people of Ilare till date still believe he is my biological father as much as he did to save my mother from that untimely and painful death. But in spite of all his efforts, my mother could not survive with her sixth child inside her, he recalled. The bride while recalling the good old days when the whole story began, said she was determined to marry Pastor Ojo because of his poor background. I knew I could take care of him, I concluded so because my parents were financially buoyant my mother was a produce buyer while my father was a commercial farmer. But to my people, he was poor beyond redemption, they called him one-man-one-jacket. It took much pacification before I was allowed to marry him, Iya Ojo said. Reflecting on their marital life, she said: I thank God for his mercy on both of us, our children inclusive for whom we have become today. I have to thank Him especially for His special kindness to me. Up till this moment, I have never had any cause to regret that I married my husband. Most especially, I am grateful to God that I am also among those women who were married traditionally; appreciating me before my people by paying my dowry. I am indeed happy that it happened to me, she enthused. Atlectico Madrid stay provisional at the top of the Spanish LaLiga table pending the outcome of El-classico tommorrow after beating Real Sociedad by two goals to nil. The match which was played at the home of Atlectico Madrid, Wanda Metropolitano stadium, was keenly contested by the two teams until Diego Godin broke the deadlock in the first half and the home team began to defend in their numbers. Atletico Madrid who are the only team from the top five European leagues yet to concede a goal in the first half of games this season then doubled their lead through Filipe Luis in the 90th minute. The leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra(IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu, yesterday spoke to his followers live from Jerusalem. The IPOB leader, who suddenly disappeared after an alleged attack on his residence by the military , September last year, sparked a lot of controversies when he reappeared recently. Kanu, whose followers accused the Nigerian government and military of killing, in the Operation Python Dance, when he first appeared in a video, said he would be in Nigeria, soon and would be coming with hell. However, in a broadcast yesterday, Oct. 27th, the IPOB leader had the following to say. See below: When I was released from prison, on two occasions, I was approached and told that the president wants me to put in writing, what my requests are asides from outright independence.. I told them, that I want them to open Igweocha sea port, Port Harcourt. I ask them to open Calabar seaport and warri Seaport, I did this in writing and gave it to them, I told them to dredge River Niger, allow direct international flight to Europe and USA from Enugu, Igweocha and Clalabra airport. To have respect for the rule of law by releasing Dasuki and El-Zakzaky, to set up an international commission of inquiry to investigate the mass murder of IPOB family members at Onitcha, Nkpor, Aba, Enugu, Igweocha, Umahia and Asaba, I ask them to remove those extortion centers they called roadblocks across the South East and South South I told them also that I want region with its 100 percent resource control, complete deregulation of power sector and setting up of proper reconstruction, rehabilitation and reintegration commission for Biafra. I put it in writing. He collected it, left and I never heard from them again. That is why we must boycott the election, that is why IPOB must do everything within its power to ensure that there is total lock down of the entire Biafra land come the presidential election next year. Can anybody tell me why Dasuki is still in prison, why IPOB Family Members that went out to felicitate with Donald Trump is still in detention? Tell me why a judge will say release El-Zakzaky and he is still in detention, can somebody please explain that to me, and you claim you are running a democracy, shame on those of you that want to vote, shame on this very democracy. The Kaduna state government has relaxed the curfew imposed in some parts of the state, following the murder of a traditional ruler by kidnappers. The government of the State revealed that there will be free movement from 6am to 5pm in Kaduna metropolis and environs, from Monday, 29 October 2018. This means that schools, banks and markets are expected to reopen. It also noted that the state government has requested the prompt restoration of normal airline and train services to Kaduna. See statement here Vanguard Amember of Ekiti State House of Assembly, Hon. Michael Adedeji, who was attacked along Ado-Akure Road on Friday , is responding to treatment in hospital. The Nation The Enugu state chairman of the All Progressives Congress ( APC), Dr. Ben Nwoye, escaped death by whiskers in the early hours of Saturday, as heavily armed suspected assassins invaded his Enugu residence.According to Nwoye, the hoodlums, who gained entrance into the compound at about 2:15 am, shot one of the police officers attached to him, Mr. Gerald Eke, on the head, and took away his official riffle. ThisDay It has emerged that the immediate pushback by South-east leaders against the choice of their kinsman, Mr. Peter Obi, as running mate to the presidential candidate of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in next years election, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, was due to an alleged multiplicity of persons promised the Guardian Not minding the discordant tunes being played by the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) and scheming regarding which geopolitical zone would produce the president in 2023, mainstream Ndigbo appear unperturbed. They insist they would decide their fate. The Sun The Igbo presidency project has continued to generate heated debates, leading to disagreements among the Igbo even among the leaders of Ohanaeze Ndigbo Daily Times The National Democratic Front (NDF) has described the recent dust being raised on the President Muhammadu Buharis Certificate saga as unnecessary and a needless campaign of calumny by the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to divert attention from the issues affecting the country. Daily Trust Governor powerless against Tinubu-backed commissioners, aides Once addressed by his colleagues as Nigerias Governor-General, Akinwunmi Ambode, the Lagos State Governor, has however been enmeshed in political battle of his life that not only cost him a returned ticket for second term in office but currently threatens to sweep him out of office before May 29 Leadership The Youth Wing of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) yesterday unveiled strategic plans to ensure a door-to-door campaign to foster the emergence of Alhaji Atiku Abubakar in the 2019 general election. The youth under the umbrella of PDP Youth Alliance held a cordinators summit in Abuja yesterday. The youths were drawn from the 36 states Tribune SOME elders of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Ogun West have warned the state governor, Senator Ibikunle Amosun, over unguarded comments on the persons of the Vice President, Professor Yemi Osinbajo; the former governors of Ogun and Lagos States, Chief Olusegun Osoba and Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the National Chairman of the party, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole, over happenings in the state chapter of the party. Opinion Policies Editorials are longer opinion pieces that are written by a group of community members recruited across campus who address relevant issues on a local, national and international level. Editorials are research-based. The purpose of the Editorial Board is to promote discussion concerning relevant issues in the community while advising on possible solutions. 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How to Apply on International Committee of Red Cross ICRC Job Advertisement Apply as per details in job advertisement. In some cases, you may apply online at vacancies after registering at https://www.jobz.pk online. Note: Beware of Fraudulent Recruiting Activities. If the employer asks you to pay money for any purpose including processing to shortlisting, do not pay at all and report us using our contact us form. Apply as per instuctions & dates mentioned in official job ad. Govt jobs cannot be applied online here. Error & omissions excepted. Only Collins has been arrested so far but Reed sells his votes to fracking interests Buffalo News, which normally always endorses incumbents regardless of party, The most conservative congressional district in New York (NY-27) isn't one the DCCC thought was winnable. So they ignored it, allowing a progressive who backs Medicare-for-All, Nate McMurray, to win the primary. The Trumpist maniac Chris Collins was arrested, arraigned and released on bail, first saying he had withdrawn from seeking reelection and then deciding the would have a better chance at a plea bargain if he was a sitting member of Congress. So... Collins is running again and suddenly McMurray-- even in an R+11 district that Trump won 60-35%-- is looking like a contender. Even the DCCC, albeit reluctantly-- wound up endorsing a staunch progressive. He's been outraging Collins, while Collins hides out and avoids the media-- and his constituents. Yesterday, the, which normally always endorses incumbents regardless of party, endorsed McMurray "McMurray," wrote the editors, "may be aiming high, but he is not without notable accomplishments. They include development of the West River Parkway Trail and the arrival of cashless tolls on Grand Island. And while its a big leap from town supervisor to Congress, McMurray, a Democrat running in the states most Republican district, has pledged to find core common values with other members and to reflect voters concerns. By itself, Collins indictment renders him unsuitable. But even before the indictment, his reckless mingling of his private business with his public duties was troubling. And his push to eliminate New Yorkers deduction for state and local taxes was baffling and outrageous. He was so wed to ideological mumbo jumbo that he chose to hurt his constituents and all of New York. This may be one of the hottest congressional races but the decision should be easy. McMurray is the better choice." There's another western New York district the DCCC thought unwinnable, NY-23, the district that Trump won 54.5-39.7% and stretches across the Southern Tier from the exurbs west of Binghampton to Ithaca and the Finger Lakes region, through Emira, Corning, Hornell, Olean, and Jamestown all the way to Lake Erie. The PVI is R+6 and the incumbent is Republican Tom Reed, who tries to portray himself as a "moderate" though his voting record is that of a pure Trump rubber-stamp . In the 2016 primaries, Hillary lost every county; this was pure Bernie country, making it even more unpalatable to the DCCC. Tracy Mitrano narrowly won her primary and didn't seem to be making any noise, at least not nationally, until the last couple of weeks when she started gaining on Reed. As of the September 30 FEC reporting deadline, Reed had raised $3,219,777 to Mitrano's $1,037,942, not too much of a disparity for a Democrat to win in an anti-red wave cycle. Although No Labels spent $144,162 bolstering Reed, there has been no other significant outside money spent in the race so far. If Mitrano wins, it will be one of those, "who could have guessed?" results. The only public poll shows Reed beating Mitrano 49-47%, though FiveThirtyEight has decided she only has a 1 in 6 chance of winning (17.3%). Buffalo News is less certain. The paper endorsed Reed but reports that he's News reporter Sandra Tan, "suggest the eight-year Republican incumbent has a more serious fight on his hands from Democratic challenger Tracy Mitrano, who counts on support from Democratic and unaffiliated voters to unseat him. The Cook Political Report has added the Reed-Mitrano race to its list of competitive races, changing its position from 'solid' Republican to 'likely' Republican. 'It can't be ignored that Democrat Tracy Mitrano, former Director of IT Policy at Cornell University, raised $855,000 in the third quarter and is on air attacking Reed for voting for a $1.9 trillion tax giveaway for the wealthy,' wrote David Wasserman of the Cook Political Report." Closer to the ground, theis less certain. The paper endorsed Reed but reports that he's less of a sure thing than was once thought. "Recent signs," wrotereporter Sandra Tan, "suggest the eight-year Republican incumbent has a more serious fight on his hands from Democratic challenger Tracy Mitrano, who counts on support from Democratic and unaffiliated voters to unseat him. Thehas added the Reed-Mitrano race to its list of competitive races, changing its position from 'solid' Republican to 'likely' Republican. 'It can't be ignored that Democrat Tracy Mitrano, former Director of IT Policy at Cornell University, raised $855,000 in the third quarter and is on air attacking Reed for voting for a $1.9 trillion tax giveaway for the wealthy,' wrote David Wasserman of the." Shenandoah, IA (51601) Today Windy and becoming cloudy during the afternoon. High 52F. Winds S at 20 to 30 mph. Higher wind gusts possible.. Tonight Cloudy skies early, followed by partial clearing. Low around 35F. Winds S at 10 to 20 mph. Housing Finance Bank (HFB) has appointed Michael Mugabi as the Acting Managing Director after Mathias Katamba tendered in his resignation letter, hoping to join DFCU Bank early next year. The announcement was made in a press release by David Geoffrey Opio-Okello, Chairman Board of Directors who disclosed Katambas departure saying: The Board of Directors of Housing Finance Bank has appointed Michael K. Mugabi as the Acting Managing Director effective 25th October 2018. Housing Finance appreciates the services and contributions of the outgoing Managing Director, Mathias Katamba and wish him well in future endeavours. However, in a bid to restore investor confidence after Katambas departure, Opio-Okello reaffirmed the Board and Management commitment to providing efficient, innovative customer-centric financial services to its customers. Stories Continues after ad Katamba joined HFB in 2014 and now, leaves it as the 12th largest bank in Uganda by assets. Eagle Online days ago reported of Katambas departure which would see him join DFCU Bank as its new MD as the current MD Juma Kisaame plans to exit in December 2018. Leaked documents showing Kisaames bank statements from Bank of Africa that showed he had over USD40 million on in his account, caused commotion within DFCU Bank. That was not also helped by DFCU Bank board which declined to hand the position of MD to William Sekabembe who declined to join Kenya Commercial Bank (KCB) Uganda as Managing Director with the hope that he would replace Kisaame. By August 2017, the two largest shareholders in HFB, the Uganda government and NSSF Uganda, had each contributed US$8.2 million in fresh capital to boost the banks ability to provide mortgages. Actress Kim Hye-soo, second from left, other cast members and director Choi Kook-hee, center, of the upcoming film "Default," pose during a recent press conference at a CGV in southern Seoul. / Courtesy of CJ ENM Financial Supervisory Service (FSS) IT & Fintech Strategy Department Senior Director General Chun Kil-soo speaks during an interview with The Korea Times at the FSS' headquarters in Seoul, Oct. 24. / Korea Times photo by Choi Won-suk By Jhoo Dong-chan Fierce competition is ongoing among firms in the nation's rising fintech industry. Not only are financial firms starting to apply related technologies to attract more customers but also IT firms and startups are tapping into the financial market utilizing their knowhow. Online auction website and shopping mall Interpark has continuously expressed its interest in establishing an internet-only bank. Kiwoom Securities is also considered to be a nonfinancial capital company because its largest shareholder is IT firm Daou Technology with a 47.7 percent stake. Utilizing Daou's IT knowhow, the latecomer brokerage house managed to attract a great number of young customers via its convenient online and app service platform. "Their success depends highly on convenience," Financial Supervisory Service (FSS) IT & Fintech Strategy Department Senior Director General Chun Kil-soo said during an interview with The Korea Times. "It is our role to support their innovations in fintech to provide more convenient services for customers. However, it is difficult for firms to fully abide by existing regulations when introducing such innovative financial services. I believe it's the FSS' role to accommodate their innovation efforts within the legal boundaries." In a bid to help their compliance procedure, the FSS has recently set up an advisory taskforce under its IT & Fintech Strategy Department exclusively for IT and small financial firms. "Major commercial banks have an exclusive legal team for compliance, but small financial firms and IT companies that launch new fintech services are experiencing difficulties in complying with financial regulations," Chun said. "Fintech is not limited to IT but can be applied to various financial sectors such as insurance and securities. In order to counter various industry needs in fintech, the FSS has also held an in-house fintech strategy conference where FSS officials from each department participate." Innovative regulatory system As a part of its efforts to help firms' compliance, the FSS is also developing its own version of fintech regulation and supervisory systems _ regtech and suptech. "Regtech is a compound word between regulation and technology while suptech is between supervisory and technology," Chun said. "They are still developing projects. Utilizing big data and artificial intelligence, both technologies are expected to help firms understand financial regulations and supervisory guidelines through a real-time notification system." The FSS is also working closely with foreign financial authorities to share each country's experience in fintech. Chun said the cooperation includes various case studies. "I understand a number of people now pay online with QR code in Korea. The system was first widely used in China as we had learned a number of Chinese people paid with QR code at places like restaurants and grocery stores," he said. "It is not that convenient using QR code when paying at local stores in Korea, but the system was localized here as an online payment method. It is very important to recognize each market's characteristics when adopting a new technology." He emphasized convenience is the most important factor for a firm's success in the nation's fintech market, citing the example of Kakao Bank and Toss. "Kakao Bank's success reflects a simple fact: convenience is the most decisive factor for financial customers in fintech," he said. "A common customer uses not many financial services. Highlighting most widely used services, such as wire transfer, Kakao Bank offers a more convenient banking platform compared to existing banking systems offered by other commercial banks." Utilizing Kakaotalk, the nation's most widely used messenger app, it bypasses inconvenient verification processes such as official online certificate. Toss also boasts a convenient wire transfer system as users only need to submit the beneficiary's mobile phone number. Chun added, however, that the PC banking system is still inconvenient compared to the mobile environment. "Customers are still required to download a number of security programs when banking on a PC. It is not very convenient," he said. "Korean customers do not like to wait when wire transferring their money. They want immediate response. For that reason, financial security burdens not only financial firms but also customers in a PC environment in Korea. Unlike a smartphone environment, which can now utilize various certification systems such as fingerprint and facial recognition, PCs still have a limited number of certification methods. Financial authorities and firms are working together to improve this." Korea Development Bank Chairman Lee Dong-gull / Yonhap By Lee Kyung-min LINE Financial Asia CEO Hwang In-joon, fourth from left, and PT Bank KEB Hana Indonesia CEO Lee Hwa-soo show a signed agreement on a share subscription between the two entities at the group's headquarters in Seoul, Oct. 26. Third from left is Hana Financial Group CEO Kim Jung-tai. Courtesy of KEB Hana Bank By Jung Da-min, Park Si-soo Men's magazine Maxim Korea recently came under fire for putting a sexual twist on its about the life-saving procedure of cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR). Critics have lambasted the video, saying it "crossed the line." A Twitter message critical of the video has been retweeted over 17,000 times with the criticism spreading to other social networking websites. The 2 minutes 24 seconds clip shows two bikini-clad women demonstrating CPR with captions explaining the key steps to be taken in an emergency. The clip was posted on Aug. 1 in the lead-up to the summer vacation season. And it became an issue recently. Criticism dominates online comments, but not everyone has been critical of the video. "Maxim Korea, from the beginning, is a magazine aimed at meeting the needs of men," one twitter user said. "Whether one watches the video or not is up to that person." By Yi Whan-woo North Korean Vice Foreign Minister Sin Hong-chol arrived in Moscow, Saturday, to meet Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Igor Morgulov this week, according to the Russian foreign ministry, Sunday. Sin's trip comes after several Russian diplomats hinted at North Korean leader Kim Jong-un's visit to Moscow in line with Russian President Vladimir Putin's invitation. And speculation is rampant that Sin, who handles Pyongyang-Moscow relations, may begin talks with Morgulov for the first summit between their leaders. Kim and Putin have not yet met. The Russian foreign ministry said Sin and Morgulov have met routinely to discuss bilateral issues. It did not give details on the agenda to be discussed this week. Sin also kept mum when asked whether he will prepare for Kim's Russia visit, after arriving at Sheremetyevo International Airport in Moscow, Saturday. "It's possible Sin and Morgulov will talk about Kim's travel to Russia in addition to other issues they have discussed routinely," a diplomatic source said. In May, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov visited Pyongyang and delivered Putin's invitation to Kim to visit Russia. The North Korean leader, however, has not confirmed whether to accept the invitation. Valentina Matviyenko, speaker of the Federation Council of the Russian Federal Assembly, said Kim may travel to Moscow within this year, after meeting him in Pyongyang in September. Matviyenko was there as Putin's envoy for North Korea's celebration of the country's 70th founding anniversary. Some diplomatic sources also said Kim may go to Russia by the end of this year. They pointed out the United States is likely to delay its next summit between Kim and U.S. President Donald Trump to early next year from December. Morgulov previously said Pyongyang and Moscow have been coordinating schedules for a possible Kim-Putin summit. Ethnic communities serve as conduit for refugee migration By Kang Hyun-kyung SONGDO Over the past decade, the expat population in South Korea has grown fast, surpassing 2 million last year and making up 4 percent of the population. The demographic change has come amid South Korea wrestling with population decline woes, implying the ratio of the foreign-born population will go up further in the foreseeable future. In an era of creative economy, diversity has been praised as a source of new ideas and innovative thinking. Amid the positive outlook of diversity, however, some significant implications of the gradual demographic changes were understated diversity occasionally serves as a conduit for refugee migration. Like other racially diverse countries, Malaysian activist Brian Lariche says, his country has benefitted from the thriving ethnic minority communities as migrant workers are helping the Southeast Asian country's tourism sector relieve labor shortages. However, he said ethnic minorities also have become a source of the influx of asylum seekers. Brian Lariche, head of community development for the nonprofit group Make It Right Movement based in Malaysia's Selangor, talks with The Korea Times at G-Tower in Songdo International Business District near the port city of Incheon on Thursday. / Korea Times Lariche, head of community development of the non-profit group Make It Right Movement based in Malaysia's Selangor, says some ethnic minorities, particularly those from war-torn countries such as Yemen and Somalia, bring their friends and relatives in need to Malaysia and provide shelter for them. "There is sort of an underground system that helps the asylum seekers find jobs illegally or get support from their community," Lariche said in a Korea Times interview on Thursday at G-Tower in the Songdo International Business District near the port city of Incheon. "Ethnic minorities help their countrymen and women to come to and live in Malaysia. The Yemeni community, for example, helps other Yemenis come to Malaysia and find a place to live there as illegal immigrants." Asylum seekers fly to Malaysia with tourist visas and then seek asylum there. Malaysia is not a signatory of the 1951 Refugee Convention or the 1967 protocol. Therefore, even though the UNHCR recognizes the asylum seekers there as genuine refugees, they cannot get jobs or stay there permanently. They have to leave Malaysia once their tourist visas expire. About 180,000 asylum seekers are currently in Malaysia. Noting this is an official figure, Lariche says the actual number of asylum seekers in his country is higher than that. Unlike other Southeast Asian countries that shelter mostly asylum seekers from other parts of Asia, asylum seekers in Malaysia are ethnically diverse. People from Myanmar take the lion's share with 140,000, which includes 77,000 Rohingyas, followed by Pakistanis (21,000). Some of them came from war-torn countries in the Middle East. Approximately 3,000 Yemenis and another 3,000 Somalis and Syrians are also seeking asylum in the Southeast Asian country. According to Lariche, his country's Muslim-dominating demographics appear to have played a part to attract Muslim asylum seekers from outside the country. "About 60 percent of our people are Muslims, so they welcome Muslims, although they are from other countries. Compared to other migrants, Muslims are well-received by Malaysians." The refugee migration in Malaysia has affected South Korea. Earlier this year, over 500 Yemeni asylum seekers arrived on the southern scenic island of Jeju directly from Kuala Lumpur. The influx of Yemenis _ albeit its scale is much smaller than Europe has experienced since 2014 _ has emerged as a policy challenge to the Korean immigration service as it has no prior experience of asylum seekers' arrivals en masse to its territory. After scrutinizing their applications, the immigration authorities allowed around 360 Yemenis to stay legally in Korea for one year, although they failed to obtain refugee status. During their stay, they can move to other cities and are allowed to have jobs. South Korea's experience of the Yemeni migration indicates asylum seekers are no longer just a Western issue. Previously, Europe and the United States were popular destinations for asylum seekers. But these countries tightened controls of their borders recently and those who seek asylum find it tougher to enter these regions. German Chancellor Angela Merkel and her ruling coalition have been suffering the consequences of the open-door policy to shelter refugees following the influx of 1.8 million of asylum seekers to Europe since 2014. Merkel's decision to shelter over 1 million refugees has caused public uproar, particularly from the far right, and her ruling coalition was crushed in the recent Bavarian state election. Refugees turn eyes to Asia Amid tightened border control in Europe and the United States, asylum seekers have begun to turn their eyes to newer countries. Countries such as Malaysia and South Korea have emerged as attractive destinations for asylum seekers. Lariche said countries with high income and safe and livable conditions will become target destinations for asylum seekers. South Korea is a signatory of the refugee convention. The screening process is strict, but once asylum seekers obtain refugee status, they can stay in the country legally and even have jobs. Lariche said refugee migration is not something that can be stopped. So he said countries would be better off if they find "realistic" solutions, rather than making efforts to stop refugee migration. Facing an influx of asylum seekers, he said Malaysia is looking at signing the refugee convention and he believes his country could sign it as soon as next year. If Malaysia becomes a signatory of the convention, asylum seekers there will be able to obtain legal status to stay and have jobs in the country. "I think we should view asylum seekers as potential migrant workers," he said. If the proper regulatory and policy framework is in place, he said, the host country and refugees can reach a mutually beneficial solution. His remarks indicate refugees can help the host country relieve labor shortages in certain sectors. Artemy Izmestiev, first from left on the big screen, speaks as he moderates the United Nations symposium on vulnerable groups at Songdo's G-Tower on Thursday. From left are Izemestiev, Solomon Islands under secretary of development planning and aid coordination Lynn Rowena Sidi, Brian Lariche from Malaysia, National Planning Commission of Nepal infrastructure and production joint secretary Biju Kumar Shrestha, Korea NGO Council for Overseas Development Cooperation head Jo Dae-shik, International Longevity Center of Singapore director Susana Concordo Harding and Kang Ye-eun, winner of the 2018 UNPOG Speech Contest and a student at Korea's Hankuk Academy of Foreign Studies. / Korea Times Police conduct sobriety tests at the Seoul tollgate of the Gyeongbu Express Way in Seongnam, Gyeonggi Province, Oct. 23. / Yonhap By Jung Hae-myoung People driving under the influence of alcohol will have their licenses revoked when caught for a second time as opposed to the present third time the National Police Agency (NPA) said Sunday. The crackdown will involve heavier jail terms. The NPA announced the planned new laws amid growing calls, especially after an accident in Busan in September when a drunk driver hit a soldier on leave, leaving him brain dead. At present, drunk drivers are subject to a "three-strikes-and-out" policy under which their licenses are revoked when caught for a third time. The tougher measures follow criticism that the present law is largely ineffective in preventing habitual drunk driving. Drunk drivers caught on an express-way will receive no second chance at all. The maximum blood alcohol level will also be reduced from 0.05 percent to 0.03 percent. Habitual drunk drivers will also have their cars confiscated. At present, when a person with a drunk-driving history causes a death in a drunk-driving accident, his or her car is confiscated. Under the new regime, the car will be confiscated even if the person has not killed anyone but has caused serious injury. Police hope to apply the tougher laws by the end of this year, but passage of the revisions may take some time. According to NPA statistics, 205,187 people were caught for drunk driving in 2017. Of these, 44.7 percent were second offenders or worse. In 2017 alone, 439 people were killed and 33,364 were injured in drunk-driving accidents. However, only 72 percent of the offenders had their licenses revoked or received only suspended jail terms, leading to criticism that Korea is too lenient toward drunk driving. In the United States, death due to drunk driving can be punished by up to 16 years in jail, and in Canada, 15 years. "Drunk driving is a serious offense that can destroy the life not only of an individual but the entire household," an NPA official said. "People should not think 'only one glass of alcohol will be fine.'" On Sept. 25, Yoon Chang-ho, 22, was hit by a BMW driven by a man with a blood alcohol concentration of 0.134 percent. Yoon was deemed brain dead after flying 15 meters and landing on concrete. In October, Yoon's friends posted a petition on the Cheong Wa Dae website urging stricter punishment for drunk driving. The petition received 402,793 signatures. President Moon Jae-in also stressed the need for strong punishment, saying "Drunk driving is not an accident, it could be an act of murder or destroy a person's entire life." Bang Chan-young, president of KIMEP University / Courtesy of KIMEP University Fundamental understanding of NK regime necessary By Kim Bo-eun A step-by-step process for North Korea's denuclearization has been discussed for the past months since June when North Korean leader Kim Jong-un and U.S. President Donald Trump agreed at their historic summit to work toward the goal of complete denuclearization. However, the process was stalled for months over what seemed to be differences over who would make the first move Pyongyang taking a denuclearization step or Washington providing an incentive first. Expectations abounded for progress after the third inter-Korean summit in Pyongyang last month, where North Korea stated it would permanently shut down its Tongchang-ri missile testing site in the presence of international experts and do the same for its key Yongbyon nuclear testing site if the U.S. took corresponding measures. Over a month has passed, however, and North Korea has yet to respond to U.S. invitations for working-level talks over the matter. The countries still appear at odds over what would be equivalent measures Pyongyang is believed to be seeking sanctions relief in addition to a declaration ending the 1950-53 Korean War, while Washington is calling for additional denuclearization steps. Amid these circumstances, a North Korea expert said a piecemeal approach to the North's denuclearization will not succeed. "North Korea has not only nuclear weapons but also a chemical arsenal and offensive weapons, such as intercontinental missile systems. Each and every piece of their offensive weapons should be first revealed by the North Korean government, then inspected and progressively dismantled, and then such dismantlement should be independently verified," said Bang Chan-young, president of the Kazakhstan-based KIMEP University. Bang is an economist who taught at the University of California, Los Angeles, and the University of San Francisco. Bang was invited to advise the Kazakhstan president on economic policy, and led reforms of the country's economic system. He has also provided economic policy advice for North Korea. "We have seen that many months have passed since the Punggye-ri demolition and we still don't have verification in place for this. At this pace, how long would it take to reach an extensive complete, verifiable, irreversible dismantlement (CVID) of all North Korean weapons?" he said. "Even if we achieved this, how would the sole disarmament solve the issue of the aggressive nature of North Korea? This is not a feasible approach." Understanding of NK regime necessary Approaches like the Sunshine Policy failed because they were based on appeasement, rather than a coherent vision and a solid understanding of what the North Korean system is and how it works, Bang said. "It is essential to understand that while nuclear weapons play an integral role in the North Korean regime's survival, they are not the end themselves but the means to an end," the scholar said. He said North Korea exchanging its nuclear weapons program for security guarantees and economic modernization would offer reassurance for the Kim regime, but added the trade-off should take into account the dual nature of Pyongyang's nuclear arsenal. This is that the weapons program serves not only as a deterrent against real or imagined threats from the U.S. but also as a source of legitimacy for the regime, without which Kim would lose his revered status as monolithic leader. "Any policy put forward by the U.S. must offer the regime an exit strategy which would provide a new source of legitimacy, both domestically and internationally," he said. "The U.S. has previously failed to introduce a coherent policy because they lacked understanding of the dual purpose of the nuclear weapons program. Therefore, their approach must be fundamentally altered in order to achieve denuclearization and permanent peace simultaneously." Inter-Korean economic cooperation North Korea has yet to make progress on denuclearization, but has been calling for sanctions to be lifted, and the South Korean government recently joined in on the calls. While the stance of the U.S. and EU is that sanctions cannot be lifted until denuclearization is complete, talks are ongoing between the Koreas on economic cooperation, including projects to connect railways between the South and North. However, Bang pointed out that economic cooperation in the true sense will not be viable under North Korea's current economic system. "Their traditional socialist economy has grown dysfunctional and has a distorted allocation of resources. Modernization is simply not possible under a system in which the grueling labor of the mass population is exploited to the benefit of the elite. As it stands today, and as it has remained for more than 70 years, the North Korean system is extractive, not productive," he said. "As long as their economy operates under such exploitative conditions, South Korean economic cooperation will always be one-sided, as a dysfunctional socialist system cannot coexist peacefully with a prosperous, democratic market economy." Bang said the North needs to introduce market-oriented reforms and open up, for mutually beneficial development projects to become a viable option. "Many point to the fact that North Korea has natural resources, but regardless of its abundance of raw materials and untapped potential, the government is ill-equipped to capitalize on them. The current state of deficient infrastructure within North Korea would make sustained and high economic growth impossible," he said. Working out the process "A step-by-step approach to denuclearization is not a tangible option for the U.S or North Korea, as both are running out of time and the idea of progress by gestures and reciprocation is time-consuming," Bang said. He said this approach is also ineffective because it doesn't address the needs of either party, who have very different interests the U.S. is negotiating with the sole objective of complete denuclearization whereas North Korea is negotiating for its survival, which must come without nuclear armament and needs to be guaranteed by economic assistance. "Any future meeting between the two parties needs be supported by substantial groundwork a solid background of concrete proposals that address the interests and necessities of all stakeholders. I think we are past the time for symbolic gestures and declarations of intentions," Bang said. Lim Jong-hun, a key figure in a judiciary power abuse scandal, enters the Seoul Central District Court to attend the court review of his arrest warrant, Friday. The court issued the warrant early Saturday morning. / Korea Times photo by Ko Young-kwon By Lee Suh-yoon The arrest of former National Court Administration (NCA) deputy head Lim Jong-hun on Saturday revived a sluggish investigation into judicial power abuse allegations under former Chief Justice Yang Sung-tae. Lim, 59, a right-hand man of Yang, is the first former executive court official to be arrested in relation to the scandal. He is accused of helping Yang use politically sensitive trials as bargaining chips with the Park Geun-hye administration to lobby Cheong Wa Dae to establish a second appeals court. Lim is suspected of having delivered the NCA's opinion on specific cases through written statements or phone calls to influence the verdicts. Prosecutors believe Lim took part in delaying the verdict of a case brought to court by Korean victims of Japan's wartime slavery. The case has been delayed for the past five years, allegedly to toe the Ministry of Foreign Affairs' line for its diplomatic stance with Japan at the time. Lim is also charged with interfering in 14 other cases, including one on former National Intelligence Service (NIS) chief Won Sei-hoon's illegal online meddling in election campaigns. The detention took most by surprise as Seoul Central District Court just last month rejected an arrest warrant for another senior court official linked to the scandal. It also blocked nine out of 10 search warrants submitted by the prosecution over the past four months, drawing criticism that judges were protecting colleagues and blocking fair investigation into the scandal. Lim's arrest illustrates the political pressures the court administration is facing. Last week, the ruling Democratic Party of Korea and three minor opposition parties proposed setting up an independent judicial panel that could "fairly" handle the scandal. Some, however, say the court's approval of the warrant may be a temporary tactic to make a scapegoat of Lim. But even so, Lim's arrest will tighten the noose around other key figures linked to the scandal. Prosecutors called him for questioning Sunday, interrogating him about how deeply higher-ranking court officials, especially Yang, were involved. They plan to summon those figures soon after questioning Lim. Lim has called the arrest "politically motivated," saying his actions were inappropriate but not criminal. Countries around the world including Uganda on Thursday agreed to the Declaration of Astana, vowing to strengthen their primary health care systems as an essential step toward achieving universal health coverage. The Declaration of Astana reaffirms the historic 1978 Declaration of Alma-Ata, the first time world leaders committed to primary health care. Today, instead of health for all, we have health for some, said Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, Director-General of the World Health Organization (WHO). We all have a solemn responsibility to ensure that todays declaration on primary health care enables every person, everywhere to exercise their fundamental right to health. While the 1978 Declaration of Alma-Ata laid a foundation for primary health care, progress over the past four decades has been uneven. At least half the worlds population lacks access to essential health services including care for noncommunicable and communicable diseases, maternal and child health, mental health, and sexual and reproductive health. Stories Continues after ad Although the world is a healthier place for children today than ever before, close to 6 million children die every year before their fifth birthday mostly from preventable causes, and more than 150 million are stunted, said Henrietta Fore, UNICEF Executive Director. We as a global community can change that, by bringing quality health services close to those who need them. Thats what primary health care is about. The Declaration of Astana comes amid a growing global movement for greater investment in primary health care to achieve universal health coverage. Health resources have been overwhelmingly focused on single disease interventions rather than strong, comprehensive health systems a gap highlighted by several health emergencies in recent years. Adoption of the Declaration at this global conference in Astana will set new directions for the development of primary health care as a basis of health care systems, said Yelzhan Birtanov, Minister of Health of the Republic of Kazakhstan. The new Declaration reflects obligations of countries, people, communities, health care systems and partners to achieve healthier lives through sustainable primary health care. UNICEF and WHO will help governments and civil society to act on the Declaration of Astana and encourage them to back the movement. UNICEF and WHO will also support countries in reviewing the implementation of this Declaration, in cooperation with other partners. By Lee Min-hyung The historic Pyongyang Declaration, adopted by the leaders from the two Koreas last month, will take legal effect, Monday, providing a basis for Seoul to speed up a series of inter-Korean reconciliatory projects. South Korean President Moon Jae-in signed the declaration with the North's Kim Jong-un during their three-day summit in Pyongyang. The declaration includes a string of agreements outlining inter-Korean economic and humanitarian reconciliation and military tension-easing steps. Last week, President Moon ratified the declaration despite a fierce backlash from conservative parties. On Monday, the declaration will be published in an official gazette and be effective from the time of its publication. But the government's ongoing drive is facing a backlash from political circles, with opposition parties stepping up their criticism on Moon for pushing for what they call a "unilateral and dogmatic" decision. "It is highly inappropriate for Cheong Wa Dae to be in a rush to proclaim the inter-Korean declaration without ratification from the National Assembly," Yoon Young-seok, a senior spokesman for the main opposition Liberty Korea Party (LKP), said Sunday. He denounced the President for coming to an agreement with Kim Jong-un over economic partnerships, as the possible lifting of sanctions imposed on the North should come only when the regime's young leader signs a document over its detailed steps on how to scrap its nuclear weapons. "We urge the President to withdraw the ratification of the declaration by taking into account that the complete denuclearization of the North is not an overnight thing," Yoon said. The dogmatic state management by the Moon administration poses a serious threat to national security and the economy, he said. The opposition parties here have blamed the presidential house for carrying out what they view as "pro-North Korea" policy drives without careful consideration of the regime's unpredictable nature. Under the declaration, the Koreas agreed to stop any military provocations against each other and put an end to the decades-long hostility on the Korean Peninsula. They also reached a consensus to kick off a groundbreaking ceremony for inter-Korean railway reconnection no later than the end of this year, as part of a key measure to boost the economic partnership between both sides. "The relaxation of sanctions on the North and the economic collaboration should be carried out on the basis of the strong defense alliance between Seoul and Washington and cooperation from the international society," Yoon said. By Lee Min-hyung Most Korean tourists stranded in Saipan after Super Typhoon Yutu will return home by Monday, according to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Sunday. The government mobilized commercial and military aircraft to bring back the travelers. About 600 of 1,600 stranded tourists returned home Sunday, and the rest would be brought back Monday, the ministry said. "A group of 600 Korean tourists returned home Sunday, and the number is the combination of 302 passengers who took a flight from Saipan to Incheon International Airport, and those who reached Guam after a military aircraft flew them there from the storm-hit island," a ministry official said. Last week, the Koreans were trapped on the island in the aftermath of Typhoon Yutu. On Saturday, the government dispatched the Air Force's C-130 Hercules military transport aircraft to airlift 161 of them to nearby Guam. As of Sunday morning, Saipan International Airport has reopened with limited service after it was closed on Thursday. The airport was shut down to commercial airlines due to the damage from the typhoon, but aircrafts for humanitarian purposes have been allowed to enter the airport from Friday. The foreign ministry said it will continue making efforts to swiftly send home the stranded Korean nationals in close cooperation with the defense and land ministries and private airliners. For the smooth rescue operation, the ministry keeps contacting local authorities to ask for more Korean aircrafts to land at the Saipan airport, according to the ministry. The government was supposed to send five aircrafts to Saipan on Sunday to rescue stranded tourists there, but only one of them was allowed to enter the airport after the Saipan authority shifted the management policy of the airport. The Saipan authority made the decision in consideration of the possible congestion at the airport, as other countries are also on a rescue mission by sending aircrafts to save their nationals stranded there. On Monday, the government plans to send the four other jets to Saipan and rescue all the remaining Korean tourists there. The Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport and the foreign ministry here said they are doing their best to expand travel routes to Saipan by continuously contacting diplomatic channels. The deadly typhoon has weakened as it heads west. Yutu is making its way to Southeast Asia. President Moon Jae-in goes trekking to Mount Bukak behind Cheong Wa Dae with his staff and the Cheong Wa Dae press corps, Sunday. / Yonhap By Yi Whan-woo President Moon Jae-in said Sunday he is willing to show North Korean leader Kim Jong-un around Mount Halla, if Kim visits South Korea within this year. The President also said he will ensure the peace process will not fail and will work closely with both North Korea and the United States. His remark came as he trekked Mount Bugak behind Cheong Wa Da with his staff and Cheong Wa Dae press corps. Moon said he has always wanted to go hiking with the journalists after taking office in May 2017 but had not had a chance because of the rapidly changing political situation on the Korean Peninsula. "There's a Korean saying, 'from Mount Paektu to Mount Halla,' and I can show Chairman Kim around Mount Halla if he wishes," the President said of what he wants to show the North Korean leader. Moon's comment was believed to be in response to his joint visit with Kim to Mount Paektu when he visited the North in September for their third summit. The two mountains are the tallest in their respective countries. And Kim's possible visit to Mount Halla will be meaningful to facilitate cross-border reconciliation, according to presidential officials. Moon, however, said, not everything has been determined regarding Kim's visit, which the South plans to do by the end of this year. "I don't know for how long Kim will stay here. And we have to work accordingly only when his schedule is confirmed," the President said. "I received the warmest hospitality when I visited the North, and I am concerned about where I should take him when he comes." While the two Koreas have been stepping up cooperation, the U.S. has been apparently displeased with the South for not keeping inter-Korean relations in lockstep with denuclearization progress. Against this backdrop, the President said, "We should work closely with North Korea on one hand and the U.S. on the other hand." He added there is much work to be done for the ongoing peace process not to fail. The President said he should pay attention to the economy as much as he does to diplomacy. His signature "income-led economic growth" policy led to criticism over the hike in minimum wage and financial burden on small- and medium-sized enterprises. He still vowed to pursue his policy, claiming it is important to innovate the economy and implement fair business practices. The President said support from the National Assembly will be key for economic reform efforts, including approval of the 2018 state budget. Mount Bukak was formerly not open to the public for security reasons. And Moon has sought to fully open it, since taking office. Meanwhile, Moon plans to host a three-way meeting among the ruling and opposition parties and Cabinet members on Nov. 5. A possible topic to be discussed at the meeting is the controversial ratification of the Pyongyang Declaration jointly announced by Moon and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un during their summit in September as well as the separate inter-Korean military agreement reached at the summit. The Ministry of Government Legislation said the agreements do not need a parliamentary approval. But the ratification, which was made during a Cabinet meeting hosted by Moon, Oct. 23, triggered a backlash from main opposition Liberty Korea Party (LKP). Political sources say the LKP may not cooperate with the Moon government and not help approve the 2018 state budget. South Korea exhumed the remains of two soldiers in the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) during its demining operation this week, the South's defence ministry said on Thursday. South Korea has dug up the remains of two soldiers it believes were killed during the Korean war. The country's defense ministry says the exhumations happened in the 'Demilitarized Zone' - or DMZ - during a demining operation. Separating North and South Korea, the barrier is one of the world's most heavily fortified frontiers. The conflict between the two sides ran from 1950 - 1953. It's thought the bodies of more than 10,000 soldiers are still in the zone, including UN fighters. The team also unearthed a military identification tag typical of a South Korean soldier. The two Koreas have been removing mines in the DMZ to make it safe before a joint project to exhume war remains next year. It's part of a military agreement signed by both sides after the third inter-Korean summit in Pyongyang last month. Isolated North Korea and democratic South Korea are still technically at war. That's because the 1950s conflict ended in a truce - not a peace treaty. But South Korean President Moon Jae-in is now keen to formally end the war by the end of 2018. But Washington has linked this to progress on denuclearization. As part of the thaw in relations, the two Koreas are also working together to pull out some guard posts on their border, withdraw firearms and share information on surveillance. (Reuters) No age limit / Yonhap Korean street demonstrations By Jacco Zwetsloot Park Chang-kwoun By Park Chang-kwoun The number of people affected by natural disasters doubled, from 102 million in 2015 to 204 million in 2016, while the total damage also increased significantly. Natural disasters, including earthquakes, tsunamis, volcanic eruptions, pandemic diseases and social disasters like Japan's 2011 nuclear plant accident, hit the Asia-Pacific region frequently. Considering the region is on the Ring of Fire that has a high possibility of earthquakes, that the impact of climate change is significant and that the population of cities is rapidly rising as a result of economic growth, disaster threats to the region are further increased. It is in this sense that disasters can trigger complex emergency situations due to many factors. Strengthening a system of regional defense cooperation to cope with large-scale disasters and complex situations, with prompt responses to minimize losses, will help restore situations effectively. Republic of Korea's HADR policies and increased role of the military The significance the military's role in humanitarian assistance and disaster relief (HADR) management has been increasing. The military possesses lots of high-tech equipment, well-trained human resources and maintains an emergency response system that can promptly accomplish various tasks including disaster responses. It also has the strength of being able to perform more demanding missions that are difficult for civilians, such as those in a disputed territory. Because of these merits, the demand for the active role of the military in HADR missions is immensely high, and the military is placing more emphasis on HADR missions as well as conventional security missions. The ROK has not been immune to the threats of disasters, including typhoons, heavy rain, earthquakes, wildfires, pandemic diseases and oil spills. Therefore, the ROK has developed a national disaster management system and maintained close civil-military cooperation. The Ministry of National Defense, the Joint Chiefs of Staff and each service have established the Disaster Countermeasures Center and coordinate closely with the government, while also setting up the 1:1 disaster cooperation arrangement with regional governments. Furthermore, the military is participating in government-wide training exercises for managing large-scale disasters and it has actually played a crucial role in responding to domestic disasters. The ROK intends to expand its role and contribution to overseas disaster missions, in line with its growing status in the international arena. The Moon Jae-in administration has set a national security strategy that Korea should play an active role in contributing to regional and global peace promotion. Accordingly, the ROK government puts more importance on providing support for international HADR missions, as well as responding to the conventional threats it has confronted. The ROK has set up relevant laws and took a "whole-of-government" approach to ensure effective support and necessary cooperation for international HADR missions. When a request for emergency assistance is made, a national-level public-private joint committee convenes and promptly decides on the matters. The primary role of the Korean military in international HADR missions includes transporting personnel and goods required for emergency relief and providing army supplies if necessary. Although its role related to overseas missions is still regarded as limited, the ROK military's role in future missions is expected to expand further. The ROK military is already actively participating in HADR missions in the field of international peacekeeping operations. The ROK is always ready to send experts, medical staff and relevant supplies to overseas emergency relief missions. For example, its emergency relief agencies are ready to leave the country within 24 hours from the moment that a decision is made and to arrive at the site within 72 hours to perform the mission. The ROK Air Force and Navy have accumulated appropriate assets to carry out international HADR missions effectively. The Air Force has C-130 and CN-235 aircraft that can transport personnel and supplies promptly within Asia. The Navy also has large transport ships, such as the LST (Landing Ship Tank.) The ROK's military has actively accomplished international HADR missions. Since the dispatch of C-130 aircraft and two LSTs to transport relief supplies and equipment for the recovery mission after the 2004 tsunami in Southeast Asia, the Korean military has participated in international HADR missions 12 times. As a recent example, last month five C-130s transported 23 tons of relief supplies and rescue teams to the Laos dam accident. In April 2016, two C-130s transported relief supplies to the earthquake disaster in Kumamoto, Japan. In 2013, nine C-130s and four LSTs delivered humanitarian aid to the Haiyan typhoon disaster in the Philippines. In particular, when an earthquake struck Haiti in January 2010, Korean troops were dispatched the following month and carried out disaster relief and recovery activities for about three years. Korean military disaster relief in the Philippines in November 2013 after a powerful typhoon also should not be overlooked. Defense cooperation for HADR missions Regional and international defense cooperation for HADR missions is becoming increasingly important and is expected to protect millions of lives. Nonetheless, military participation in HADR missions on an international level should give equal consideration to its strengths and weaknesses. Accordingly, the role of the military in HADR and its strengths in accomplishing missions should be utilized with caution. The possible fields of defense cooperation include education and training, joint exercises and workshops, civil-military cooperation, expert exchanges, capacity building and information and lesson sharing. The ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF) held disaster relief exercises every two years from 2009 to 2015 to prepare for potential large-scale disasters, and the ROK co-hosted it with Thailand in 2013. The ADMM-Plus has held joint disaster relief exercises every three years since 2013. Moreover, HADR exercises were conducted during Cobra Gold 2018. At regional security and defense cooperation meetings, related cooperation measures are discussed and neighboring countries are actively supporting and cooperating in the event of regional disasters. Nevertheless, it is indispensable to encourage the discussion of the following issues to promote defense cooperation for HADR missions. First and foremost is to shed a light on the military's role and contribution to HADR missions. There are many areas in disaster responses where the military can perform better than civilians. Secondly, it is necessary for each country to develop appropriate capacities and institutions to carry out international HADR missions. Building up necessary capacities will enable countries to cope with sudden disaster relief situations effectively. Especially, the expertise and skills of the military when conducting HADR missions should be addressed. By Mahmood Elahi This refers to the interesting article: "Koreans take back their country. Americans will too," by Stephen Costello, published in The Korea Times on Oct. 13. Democracy was invented by the ancient Athenians who believed that aristocrats and oligarchs did not have any divine right to rule and ordinary people must have a say in governing as it touches their own lives. So they invented a system of government involving ordinary people and called Demokratia government by the people. Democracy of the government by the people is a brilliant idea and like all brilliant ideas, it has some apparent contradictions the most seductive one of which is majority rule. But this is not democracy, simply rule by the majority. When the Athenians allowed the majority to rule, the poor majority imposed heavy taxes on the rich minority who conspired to bring down democracy. After several bouts of civil war, the Athenians took practical steps to stem any tyranny of the majority and make democracy work for all. Central to this was the Athens Council, composed of 500 people chosen through a lottery, to represent a cross section of society. All social classes were represented equally. The Athens Council had the power to override any decision that ignored the legitimate concerns of any minority. The idea of checks and balances was born. It also countered any demagogue from gaining power by appealing to the prejudices of the people. Today, the United States is facing a similar situation. With the Republican Party controlling all branches of government, the checks and balances inherent in the separation of power have all but disappeared. Now the Republican majorities in both the Senate and the House of Representatives combined with Republican President Donald Trump and Republican-appointed Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh have set the stage for a complete tyranny of the majority, depriving the Democratic minority any significant voice in government. The highly controversial Republican approval of Supreme Court Judge Brett Kavanaugh is a case in point. Kavanaugh was accused by California clinical psychologist Christine Blasey Ford of sexually assaulting her 30 years ago. Kavanaugh denied the allegation. Most Republicans believe the Democrats fabricated the claim to undermine his approval for partisan reasons. Most Democrats believed Ford's allegations and saw in the Republican approval of Kavanaugh a clear case of extreme partisanship over principle. Kavanaugh was approved by 50 to 48 votes along party lines with only one Democrat siding with the Republicans. This leads to the issue of the independence of the judiciary. Supreme Court judges, appointed for life, are not supposed to be beholden to any political party, which might seriously undermine their independence as custodians of the law. So, why are the Republicans and Democrats allowed to appoint Supreme Court justices on their ideological affiliations and not purely on their competence? Kavanaugh is known for his unabashed conservatism. To stem any overt partisanship and tyranny of the majority, Supreme Court judges should be appointed by a bipartisan committee on a consensus basis. While the United States does not have a nonpartisan citizen's body like the Athens Council, a bipartisan committee, composed of equal numbers of Republicans and Democrats, can rise above partisan interests and appoint Supreme Court Judges who can adjudicate cases on their merits, without pandering to any partisan or ideological bias. Generals and admirals are appointed on the basis of their professionalism and not on their ideological affiliation with the governing party. The same criteria should be followed while appointing the Supreme Court justices. However, politicians will only act when the public at large are united behind any call for change. People in South Korea stood up against corruption in high places and brought down two presidents. It was possible also because the South Korean judges did not pander to any partisan or ideological bias. Now the Americans are rallying for change and an end to political corruption in the name of partisanship. They are determined to put an end to the Republican tyranny of the majority by electing Democrats in the Senate and the House of Representatives in the coming mid-term elections. It will provide checks and balances to President Trump's autocratic rule. Stephen Costello is absolutely right when he says: "In both Korea and the U.S., we are way past the normal, within-the-boundaries left vs. right policy debates. Today's battles have fundamentally put the modern, democratic, public interest up against backward-looking, divisive power groups who are using myths to manipulate voters." Mahmood Elahi (omega51@sympatico.ca) is a freelance writer in Ottawa. By Andrew Hammond As the two-year anniversary of Donald Trump's presidential election approaches, key Asia-Pacific and Europe nations are coming closer together. On Oct. 19, the EU-Asia summit finished with more than 50 heads of state and government, including Chinese Premier Li Keqiang and EU chiefs Donald Tusk and Jean-Claude Juncker, in attendance. Both sides have strong common political and economic interests, and the summit saw Brussels showcasing a major new initiative, shadowing China's Belt and Road project, to improve connectivity with Asia-Pacific. The "EU Strategy on Connecting Europe and Asia" is a foreign policy plan to enhance transport, energy and digital links which may help make a significant dent in the $26 trillion infrastructure gap cited by the Asian Development Bank. While there is a clear economic element to this initiative, politics is key too. Not only are some of Donald Trump's key foreign policies pushing the two continents closer. Also Brussels wants to develop a European-centric alternative to China's massive Belt and Road project, asserted as the biggest initiative of its kind in history with a trillion-dollar price tag. The new EU plan aims to try to bring together sometimes diverse, and competing, European member state interests toward Asia-Pacific. Of course, Europe already has multiple common interests across the vast region to its east which include enhancing regional stability and security in theaters such as the Korean Peninsula; and increasing regional cooperation through multilateral fora such as the ASEAN Regional Forum. Going forward, the strategic rationale for greater bilateral political, economic, financial, social and cultural connectivity is clear for both Europe and Asia-Pacific. These land masses, collectively, account for around 70 percent of the world's population and over 60 percent of global GDP. Moreover, Asia-Pacific accounts for over one third of EU export markets, and around half of the goods and services imported by Europe come from Asia-Pacific. While the new European connectivity plan is, resourcing wise, a pale shadow of China's 1 trillion-dollar Belt and Road, it has the potential nonetheless to make a significant difference going forward. This is because the bilateral relationship increasingly relies on effective, functioning and sustainable connectivity, in other words on the physical and non-physical infrastructure through which goods, services, ideas and people can flow unhindered. And here it is no coincidence that key European and Asian leaders want a smooth and frictionless "rules-based order," not least in the sphere of international trade and economics where both continents are facing into disruptive spats against the United States. Both sides therefore stressed again their support for a multilateral system with the World Trade Organization at its core, and their opposition to U.S. trade protectionism asserting that such unilateral actions risk potentially pushing the global economy into recession. Another vital area of shared interest is global warming and sustainable development. One key reason why this is so important in the bilateral dialogue is that, collectively, the EU and China alone account for around one third of global greenhouse emissions which grows significantly larger when the rest of Asia-Pacific is added into the picture. Especially after this month's hard-hitting U.N. report on the growing risks of global warming, strong, bold climate leadership by Asia-Pacific and Europe is therefore especially important to preserve the integrity of the Paris accord following Trump's decision to pull the United States out of it. An overriding reason why EU-Asia-Pacific discussions on global warming are generally so cooperative is that, fundamentally, both sides share a vision of a prosperous, energy-secure future in a stable climate. With appropriation vision, both sets of leaders recognize that there is a massive "win-win" opportunity on the horizon from accelerating the transition to a low carbon future. And bilateral collaboration in this area looks set to only deepen going forward. The scale of China's and wider Asia-Pacific's planned investment in the green economy is staggering, a fact that the EU is increasingly recognizing. Here, Asia-Pacific countries are proving open to learn from Europe's extensive experience. Especially having pioneered the EU Emissions Climate Trading System, the world's first major carbon market, Europe has clear strengths in this area that Asia-Pacific could harness. And there are thus substantial commercial opportunities for EU-based technology and science firms which are leaders on much of this clean technology agenda. Yet, this collaboration may increasingly not just be one-way traffic. Indeed, some Asia-Pacific countries, especially China, are becoming very large investors in renewable energy, and it is increasingly possible that technology transfer will be a two-way process. Cooperation could build low carbon industries in a range of sectors, and also align Europe more closely to many of the world's fastest growing economies. Taken overall, both European and Asia-Pacific leaders are increasingly recognizing that they have much to potentially gain from a deeper partnership. With Trump challenging the rules-based order, now is thus the time for both parties to intensify cooperation to bolster economic growth and political ties to deepen their global partnership into the 2020s on issues from climate change to international trade. Andrew Hammond (andrewkorea@outlook.com) is an associate at LSE IDEAS at the London School of Economics. Koreans let down by incompetence, fixation with NK President Moon Jae-in's job approval rating is down to the 50 percent range amid a protracted economic slump. According to a Gallup poll released on Oct. 26, 58 percent gave a positive assessment of the President, a 4 percent drop from the previous week. Another survey by Realmeter showed that 59.3 percent approved of his performance. This is a noticeable decline from earlier this year when his job approval rating was well over 70 percent after the June local elections where his Democratic Party of Korea (DPK) enjoyed an overwhelming victory. The ratings reflect increasingly negative public sentiment toward the Moon administration mainly due to economic incompetence that is overshadowing some of the so-called diplomatic achievements. The President just returned from a lengthy European tour starting in France earlier this month. Cheong Wa Dae trumpeted the tour as highly useful for gaining Europe's support for peace on the Korean Peninsula. But it was scorned by much of the Korean public after European leaders flatly turned down Moon's plea to reduce sanctions on North Korea. Amid a damning job crisis, some critics thought the trip was ill-timed. It was unwise for the President to be absent for such an extended period while so many people were suffering from unemployment and financial difficulties. In September, Korea's jobless rate hit 3.6 percent, up 0.3 percentage points from 2017. This is the highest September jobless figure since 2005. The number of unemployed people reached 1.02 million last month, up 92,000 from 2017. Despite the grave situation, the government has done little to address the issue, only coming up with half-baked measures such as expanding temporary positions in the public sector. Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Kim Dong-yeon recently said 59,000 temporary jobs would be added by the end of the year and taxes on refined fuel products would be reduced by 15 percent for the next six months as part of measures to invigorate the economy. Much of the Korean public is not at all convinced these will make much difference. On top of the glaring economic incompetence, another problem with Moon is his fixation on North Korea. There are a lot of things Moon has done right regarding North Korea, but he is also being criticized for rushing to reduce sanctions on Pyongyang and obsessing over North Korean leader Kim Jong-un's visit to Seoul within the year. Many South Koreans would like to see a North Korean leader reciprocating our leader's visit. But most people still first want to see real changes from Pyongyang toward denuclearization. Moon's rush for improving inter-Korean ties is also out of step with the U.S., stoking fears of cracks in the Korea-U.S. alliance. Moon's recent ratification of inter-Korean agreements such as the Pyongyang joint Declaration, the outcome of the latest inter-Korean summit in September, and the inter-Korean military accord were also heavily criticized by opposition parties as premature. Moon's popularity will wane significantly if he keeps up his unilateral ways on diplomacy with North Korea. The Speaker of Parliament, Rebecca Kadaga, on Thursday launched the Digital Literacy Programme to give the youth in rural areas computer skills. At the Launch, Kadaga called on the youth to maximize the benefits of the initiative saying that it will enable young people in the informal sector to take computer lessons while they work. The Speaker launched the initiative at the African Square in Kampala. Stories Continues after ad The people for whom the programme is targeted are busy. They are hustling and trying to make a living. They neither have the time nor the money to attend classes, said Kadaga. The digital literacy programme is an initiative of Craft Silicon Foundation, a non-profit organisation working towards empowering youth, children and communities through free ICT education and services. This is in partnership with Finance Trust Bank, a local financial institution. The Speaker called on the youth to take advantage of the initiative so as to improve their livelihoods, and to also increase their opportunities of getting better jobs. ICT helps one to work from anywhere. I ask you to study computer since you now have the opportunity. The good news is that in Uganda today, we have very many smart phones, said Kadaga. The Chief Executive Officer Craft Silicon Foundation, Priyah Budhabhatti, said the programme was started following a discovery that a big percentage of youth in rural areas are computer illiterate. She said ICT has become a part of todays lifestyle, and hence the need to bridge the digital divide, irrespective of gender and background. It is going to put all of us at the same level so that we can all participate in ICT related jobs, business and government jobs, said Budhabhatti. She added that the programme is in line with the rapid technological changes in Uganda, including the shift from analogue to digital broadcasting, transition from satellite to fiber optics, connectivity and adoption of E-commerce technologies. She however called for support from government to enable the programme succeed, saying that it has registered successes in Kenya. Over the last eight years, we have educated 10,500 students from the less privileged areas who cannot afford college fees and a bus fare in Kenya. In Uganda our agenda is not different, said Budhabhatti. The Managing Director, Finance Trust Bank, Annet Nakawunde Mulindwa said that the programme will prepare and empower young people to reach their full potential as productive members of the society. We are certain that it will give youth the tools they need to distinguish themselves in the competitive global economy, said Nakawunde. A series of horrendous murder cases involving family members and lovers has gained media attention lately, underlining the grave dangers some women in this country face even in their own homes. The Deungchon-dong stabbing is a case in point. A man in his late 40s was arrested last week as a homicide suspect in the death of his ex-wife. He reportedly stabbed her multiple times in the parking lot of an apartment building. According to news reports, he physically assaulted the deceased and their three daughters for 20 years and continued to harass them even after their divorce. In another case, a man in his early 30s killed his ex-girlfriend and her family in their home before committing suicide. Last year alone, 85 women were killed by either their husbands or boyfriends. Regarding the Deungchon-dong case, it is also shocking that the daughters of the man pleaded for their own father's execution on Cheong Wa Dae's online petition site. They said their father was "a heinous criminal who must forever be isolated from society" and that he deserved the death penalty to prevent future victims. They feared they will become his target if he is released from prison. He reportedly boasted to them that he could get out in six months even after killing their mother given his record of depression. The deceased moved six times in the last four years and got a restraining order, but this was not enough to keep her ex-husband away. There is only a small fine if one defies the order. It is time to fix the loopholes in the relevant laws and enforce stronger punishment for people who commit domestic violence. A boat in the East Sea circa 1930 By Robert Neff Korea was once described as the most haunted place on the planet. George Heber Jones, a missionary in the late 19th century, wrote: "In Korean belief, earth, air, and sea are peopled by demons. They haunt every umbrageous tree, shady ravine, spring and mountain crest. "On green hill slopes, in peaceful agricultural valleys, in grassy dells, on wooded uplands, by lake and stream, by road and river, in north, south, east, and west they abound, making malignant sport out of human destinies. "They are on every roof, ceiling, oven and beam. They fill the chimney, shed, the living room, the kitchen - they are on every shelf and jar. In thousands they waylay the traveler as he leaves his home, beside him, behind him, dancing in front of him, whirring over his head, crying out upon him from air, earth, and water. They are numbered by thousands of billions, and it has been well said that their ubiquity is an unholy travesty of Divine Omnipresence." These ghosts, according to Jones, demanded a "continual series of acts of propitiation" and omissions were dealt "with merciless severity," which kept the Korean population under a "yoke of bondage [of fear] from birth to death." Stones of Gangwon Province circa 1930-1940 These demons and ghosts that he spoke of were often associated with abandoned homes and the desolate wilderness but there were also vengeful spirits that dwelt in the sea. Gangwon-do is rather infamous for its Haerang ( also known as ) the spirits of drowned maidens who, even in death, bore a strong grudge against the living. They were especially feared by fishermen. Sometimes they merely scared the fish away but other times they lashed out pushing or causing fishermen to fall into the water and drown. They also lured fishing boats onto reefs or guided them out to sea, never to be seen again. When a young woman drowned, steps were taken to ensure that she did not become a ghost. The corpse was dressed in a man's clothing and buried facing down. The grave was surrounded by thistles and briars so that she could not leave its confines. But the spirits of the drowned were tenacious and they demanded respect and remembrance. Offerings were frequently made near the site of the drowning and shrines set up in hopes of appeasing the lost soul. Stones of Gangwon Province circa 1930-1940 These shrines were often decorated with wooden phalluses. Was it perhaps an appeasement: an offer of something that she had been denied by an early death? Was it a form of masculine oppression a symbol of male strength? Perhaps the most famous example of these maiden ghosts was at Sinnam about 20 kilometers to the south of Samcheok. In the 16th century, this area was very dependent on the sea and had a large number of fishermen. According to the legend, one day, a young maiden was out gathering seaweed along the shore when she was noticed by a young fisherman. He was smitten with her beauty and thought to curry her favor by offering her a ride in his boat to a large rock a short distance in the sea that was known to have lots of seaweed around it. She could, he explain, gather the seaweed while he was fishing and in the evening he would come back and retrieve her. The girl readily agreed. Unfortunately, several hours later, the weather changed and the choppy conditions of the water prevented the young fisherman from going back to retrieve her. The weather worsened and the waves grew higher and, despite her efforts, the girl was washed away and drowned. Squid hanging up to dry in a Gangwon village circa 1930-1940 Shortly afterwards, evil and misfortune plagued the village and the fishermen. The once abundant fish disappeared and fishermen and their boats began to disappear even in calm weather. The villagers built a shrine and made offerings but nothing seemed to appease her spirit. One day, a young fisherman, feeling the call of nature, stood up and relieved his bladder over the side of his boat. Suddenly there were fish everywhere. The villagers believed that the sight of the young man's genitalia had pleased her and so they decorated her shrine with wooden phalluses. Although their lives were cut short and most of their names are forgotten, the drowned maidens of the sea are still remembered in annual festivals held at Sinnam and kept content by the large number of stone and wooden phalluses displayed at Haesindang Park. A boat in Gangwon Province circa 1930-1940. Cherie Yang, a Special Ambassador to the nonprofit NGO Teach North Korean Refugees (TNKR), was born in Hye Ryeng, North Korea. Through her employment at a resort near her hometown, she realized that the North Korean regime had been lying to its people. She fled North Korea in search for freedom, departing in a dramatic escape. Whereas more than 30,000 North Korean refugees have escaped to South Korea in the last two decades, Cherie is one of only about 200 North Korean refugees to immigrate directly to the United States since President George W. Bush signed the North Korean Human Rights Act of 2004. One year ago, on October 28, 2017 at a TEDx Talk in London, she shared her harrowing journey in search of freedom. She granted permission to "Voices from the North" to print the text of her speech. She first delivered this speech in February 2017 when she won TNKR's 5th English Speech Contest. When You Can't Live and You Can't Leave: Why I Escaped North Korea By Cherie Yang Imagine getting a dream job, but realizing it is a nightmare. You could quit, right? Most people give two weeks' notice or they just stop showing up for work. In my case, I couldn't quit. That's because I was born in North Korea. I tried to quit, and had 400 soldiers and police chasing me. North Korea is the worst country in the world. One writer said, "A system where you can't live, but you can't leave is the definition of hell." That is North Korea. The soldiers and police were chasing me because I knew their secret. They were looking everywhere for me, checking every possible relative, friend, and connection. I had been working at a government villa, which I thought was the opportunity of a lifetime. I was selected to work as a server in a government officer's villa. The officer was the mayor of my hometown. Women from all over North Korea wished to have this type of job because it is considered to be honorable to serve the Kim regime in this way. I was elated to have been chosen for such an esteemed duty, until I found out the real truth inside the villa. When I first arrived at the mayor's villa, I remember being extremely surprised. The facilities in this villa were so lavish. They were beyond anything I could have ever imagined. During the famine of the 1990s, when anywhere from 500,000 to 2 million people starved to death, we had been told that everyone, including our Dear Leader, was sacrificing for the good of the nation. We believed the propaganda that Our Dear Leader and government officers were working all day to provide us a better life. The minute I stepped inside that villa, I realized that the government had been lying to us. While so many North Koreans were suffering, starving and dying, North Korean government officers were living a lavish lifestyle. In North Korea, asking questions about the Kim regime would be madness. My experience at the villa made me begin to question my loyalty to the regime. It was my duty to serve the government officers their meals. I had to stand outside the door, still as a statue. When they needed something they would call me, and I had to bring it immediately. Day by day, my body and mental health suffered, and I felt so lonely knowing that no one there cared. With every passing day, I missed my family, relatives, and friends more and more. I felt like I was in a prison. I couldn't live as I wanted, but I couldn't leave. I knew their secret. I knew about their extravagant lifestyle and their many lies. What I had thought was an opportunity of a lifetime was the exact opposite. I felt trapped. I couldn't leave the villa. It was -hell. I decided to do the unthinkable, and escape back to my family. I started to plan carefully. Leaving the villa was going to be very difficult because there was only one door in and out of the complex, and the armed security were standing guard. So, in order to escape the villa, climbing over the eight-foot wall was my only option. One day, I noticed some rocks scattered near the wall. For 15 days, I put my dangerous plan into action: gathering the rocks together around 2 to 3 a.m. On the 15thh night, I was able to climb over the wall using the stack of rocks. After escaping, I spent two hours walking down the mountain to my best friend's house. Soon after arriving, she informed me that 400 soldiers and police officers were hunting me down, questioning anybody connected to me, entering their homes unannounced. They wanted to find me. I went into hiding. It was a miserable time -- I was sick, scared, I couldn't see my family or let them know I was alive. I couldn't live, but I couldn't leave. That was the moment I realized I HAD to leave North Korea. That was the moment that I chose to embrace the madness of leaving my homeland. So, I crossed the freezing Truman River in the fall of 2002. A year later, my parents and my sister also fled. We spent three years living in China, which was extremely dangerous and unstable for North Korean refugees. While in China, I saw a documentary about North Korean refugees who were fleeing from China to Laos. One group had an older man with an injured leg. He could not walk quickly enough over the mountains, and they were in danger of being caught by the police. The injured man told the group to leave him, to save themselves. And so, they left the man behind so they could make it to safety and freedom. I thought this would never happen to my family and me. But, it did. In search of freedom in South Korea, my parents left China first. The journey from China to South Korea is very dangerous. Therefore, my parents thought that my sister and I would follow upon their safe arrival. When they departed, my father left us with these words, "I will come back to take you to Korea soon." But he never came back for us. We didn't know that those would be the last words he would say to us. Halfway through their arduous journey in the mountains to reach Thailand, my dad got sick. Sadly, he died in Laos. He was buried along the Mekong River. I lost the greatest mentor in my life and the father who loved me so much. While my sister and I were waiting in China for my parents to return, I saw a news story about some North Korean refugees. This was one of MANY instances of the media informing and inspiring me about the outside world. But this particular news story was about North Korean refugees immigrating to the United States. This gave me an idea. I thought that we would go to Thailand to meet our parents, and then I would go to the U.S. embassy and ask to immigrate there. So, that is what my sister and I did. All North Koreans risk their lives to escape to freedom. My sister and I were no exception to this danger. We each carried a razor. We planned on using those razors to commit suicide, by cutting our wrists in case we were captured. We were NOT going back to North Korea. In 2007, five years after leaving North Korea, my mom, sister, and I went to the U.S. as refugees. At last, we were free. I still can't forget the feeling when I first arrived in the US. It was the first time since I left the villa that I could sleep peacefully. My nightmares of being caught finally ended. I didn't really know what freedom meant until I finally felt it. In North Korea I was a prisoner, an object, a commodity, ripped from my family for the government to use as it pleased. Although now I am free, millions of others have not met freedom. When I was in North Korea, I thought I had a dream job, but it turned out to be hell. I will never forget the fear that I had realizing that 400 soldiers and police officers were chasing me. "A system where you can't live, but you can't leave is the definition of hell." I grew up in this system, and was determined to escape. Yet, I am one of the lucky few. I wasn't only seeking survival. I wanted to LIVE as a human being. Now, I am a free woman, able to live as I wish. Casey Lartigue Jr., co-founder of the Teach North Korean Refugees Global Education Center along with Eunkoo Lee, 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. By James M. Dorsey The death of Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi is proving to be a blessing in disguise for cash-strapped Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan. Khan's blessing is also likely to offer Saudi Arabia geopolitical advantage. On the principle of all good things are three, Khan struck gold on his second visit to the kingdom since coming to office in August. Khan was rewarded for attending Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman's showcase investors conference in Riyadh, dubbed Davos in the Desert, that was being shunned by numerous CEOs of Western financial institutions, tech entrepreneurs and media moguls as well as senior Western government officials because of the Khashoggi affair. In talks with King Salman and the crown prince, Saudi Arabia promised to deposit $3 billion in Pakistan's central bank as balance of payments support and to defer up to $3 billion in payments for oil imports for a year. Saudi Arabia declined Khan's request for financial aid during his first visit to the kingdom in September but was willing to consider investing billions of dollars in a refinery in the Chinese-operated Arabian Sea port of Gwadar as well as in mining but was reluctant to acquiesce to Pakistani requests for financial relief. Saudi Arabia's subsequent agreement to provide finance is likely to help Khan reduce the size of the $8-12 billion bailout he is negotiating with the International Monetary Fund (IMF). Speaking in an interview before leaving for Riyadh, Khan said he was attending the conference despite the "shocking" killing of Khashoggi because "unless we get loans from friendly countries or the IMF, we actually won't have in another two or three months enough foreign exchange to service our debts or to pay for our imports. So we're desperate at the moment." Pakistan's foreign reserves dropped this month to $8.1 billion, a four-year low and barely enough to cover sovereign debt payments due through the end of the year. The current account deficit has swelled to about $18 billion. Potential Saudi investment in the Reko Diq copper and gold mine as well as a refinery in Gwadar, both close to Pakistan's border with Iran would give it a further foothold in the troubled province of Balochistan. Gwadar is a mere 70 kilometers down the coast from the Indian-backed Iranian port of Chabahar. Pakistani militants reported last year that funds from the kingdom were flowing into the coffers of ultra-conservative anti-Shiite, anti-Iranian Sunni Muslim madrasas or religious seminars in the region. It was unclear whether the funds originated with the Saudi government or Saudi nationals of Baloch descent and members of the two million-strong Pakistani Diaspora in the kingdom. It was equally unclear how Saudi Arabia expected to capitalize on its rewarding of Khan in its competition with Iran for Pakistan's favors. Ensuring that Pakistan, home to the world's largest Shiite minority, does not snuggle up too much to Iran has become even more crucial for Saudi Arabia as it seeks in the wake of Khashoggi's death to enhance its indispensability to U.S. President Donald J. Trump's effort to isolate and cripple Iran economically, if not to engineer a change of regime in Tehran. Trump sees Saudi Arabia as central to his strategy aimed at forcing the Islamic republic to halt its support for proxies in Yemen and Lebanon, withdraw its forces from Syria, and permanently dismantle its nuclear and ballistic missiles programs. Saudi financial support means that Khan may find it more difficult to shield Pakistan from being sucked into the U.S.-Saudi effort. Insurgents last week kidnapped 14 Iranian security personnel, reportedly including Revolutionary Guards on the Iranian side of the border with Pakistan. Pakistan pledged to help liberate the abductees who are believed to have been taken across the border into Balochistan, long a militant and Baloch nationalist hotbed. "Members of terrorist groups that are guided and supported by foreign forces carried this out through deceiving and bribing infiltrators," the Guards said in a statement that appeared to blame Saudi Arabia and the United States without mentioning them by name. The incident is likely to heighten Chinese concerns that in a worst-case scenario, Saudi investment rather than boosting economic activity and helping Gwadar get out of the starting blocks, could ensnare it too in one of the Middle East's most debilitating conflicts. China is further concerned that there would be a set of third-party eyes monitoring activity if and when it decides to use Gwadar not only for commercial purposes but also as a naval facility. Saudi investment could further thwart potential Chinese plans to link the ports of Gwadar and Chabahar, a prospect that Pakistani and Iranian officials have in the past not excluded. With Saudi financial aid, that may no longer be an option that Khan can entertain. Khan will have to take that into account when he travels to Beijing next week in a bid to secure Chinese financial support and convince Beijing to fast forward focusing the China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), a $45-billion-plus infrastructure and energy generation-driven Belt and Road crown jewel, on issues such as job creation, manufacturing and agriculture. Khan appeared to anticipate in his interview with Middle East Eye on the eve of his participation in the Riyadh investment conference that he would have reduced leeway by blaming the United States for increased tensions with Iran and hinting that Pakistan did not want to be drawn into conflict with the Islamic republic. Said Khan: "The U.S.-Iran situation is disturbing for all of us in the Muslim world ... The last thing the Muslim world wants is another conflict. The worrying part is that the Trump administration is moving toward some sort of conflict with Iran." Dr. James M. Dorsey (jmdorsey@questfze.com) is a senior fellow at the S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies, co-director of the University of Wurzburg's Institute for Fan Culture, and co-host of the New Books in Middle Eastern Studies podcast. Hyundai Merchant Marine CEO Yoo Chang-keun speaks during a meeting with employees at company headquarters in Jongno-gu, Seoul, Friday. During the meeting, Yoo announced the company will reach $10 billion in sales by 2022 by using a 1 trillion won ($875.3 million) aid package it received recently from the government. / Courtesy of Hyundai Merchant Marine From left are SK Telecom CEO Park Jung-ho, KT Chairman Hwang Chang-gyu and LG Uplus CEO Ha Hyun-hwoi Worsening bottom line makes it harder firms to invest in 5G By Baek Byung-yeul SK Telecom, KT and LG Uplus are going into a belt-tightening mode, while at the same time they are set to invest trillions of won in fifth-generation (5G) infrastructure, as they have faced worsening profitability due to the government's push to cut mobile charges. Despite the worsening bottom line, the companies are set to spend billions of dollars to purchase fifth-generation (5G) equipment and lay down the necessary communication infrastructure, which will further aggravate their financial soundness. According to data from the Ministry of Science and ICT, the three mobile carriers are planning to invest a total 7.47 trillion won ($6.56 billion) in 5G infrastructure from 2019 to 2023. Korea has set its goal to commercialize the super-fast network service by next March, but the telecom firms said their worsened profitability has made it hard for them to invest more in the 5G network. Given they invested about 20 trillion won in the fourth-generation (4G) LTE network service over eight years, the investment seems way smaller. An industry official familiar with the matter said the performance deterioration of mobile carriers has led them to passive investment. "To make the 5G network service possible by March next year, telecom firms are required to increase investment in capital expenditure by 1.5 to 2 times," the official said. In response to the government's pressure for mobile fee cuts, the telecom firms already increase the ceiling of discounts given to 25 percent, up 5 percent from the previous discount rate. They also implemented extra plans to cut mobile bills for low-income families and senior citizens. The belt-tightening efforts are likely to begin from reducing marketing expenditure. An LG Uplus official said the company is considering cutting its marketing expenses in financing the 5G network service. SK Telecom and KT are reportedly mulling over this as well. In 2017, the three telecom firms spent 7.95 trillion won, 2.28 times their operating profit of 3.49 trillion won, according to data from the Ministry of Science and ICT. By company, SK Telecom spent 3.12 trillion won, KT 2.68 trillion won, and LG Uplus 2.15 trillion won. Due to the reduced mobile fees, telecom firms are expected to report a sluggish performance in the third quarter, according to securities firms. In the July-September period, SK Telecom is expected to post sales of 4.1 trillion won and an operating profit of around 300 billion won, both down about 7 percent and 20 percent year-on-year. KT is expected to log 5.7 trillion won in sales and 330 billion won in operating profit, down 0.6 percent and 11 percent year-on-year. LG Uplus is likely to retain a similar performance compared with last year's third quarter with 3.03 trillion won in sales and 200 billion won, operating profit. An analyst attributed the worsened performance is mainly due to the government's policy to cut mobile fees. "The 25 percent discount affected the performance of mobile firms bigger than was estimated," said Choi Nam-gon, an analyst at Yuanta Securities. "Also, the discount program for low-income families led to the performance deterioration of the firms." Industry analysts pointed out the government needs to enhance its investment in 5G. KT Chairman Hwang Chang-gyu urged the government and telecom firms to work closely in preparation for the upcoming 5G during a National Assembly audit, Oct. 10. Speaking of choosing its partner firms for 5G network equipments, Hwang said KT would announce its picks within this week. "We will make the announcement soon and it will be possible within a week," Hwang told reporters in Boston on Oct. 25. Hwang visited the U.S. city to deliver a special speech at Harvard Business School. Asked whether it would use equipment from China's Huawei Technologies, which has been embroiled in controversy over security issues in the U.S. and Australia, Hwang said, "The final decision will be made based on the strict standards provided by the government." SK Telecom has already excluded Huawei from its proffered bidder list while LG Uplus said it would adopt equipment from the Chinese firm. Hwang added that KT would launch the 5G service in March as scheduled. Sri Lanka's newly appointed Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa, left, speaks next to President Maithripala Sirisena, center, during their party members' meeting in Colombo, Sri Lanka October 27, 2018. Reuters Sri Lankan President Maithripala Sirisena suspended parliament Saturday to forestall a challenge against his surprise ouster of the prime minister, deepening a sudden swell of political turmoil in the island nation. Police cancelled all leave as tensions heightened in Colombo a day after the president dismissed Ranil Wickremesinghe and replaced him with controversial former strongman leader Mahinda Rajapakse. Parliamentary officials said the president had suspended parliament until November 16. Wickremesinghe had earlier demanded an emergency session to prove he still commanded a majority. Wickremesinghe continued to occupy Temple Trees, the official residence of the prime minister, and insisted in a letter to Sirisena that he was still in office. "Get this controversy out of the way," Wickremesinghe told reporters in a press conference at the residence. "Reconvene parliament immediately so that I can prove my majority." Parliamentary sources said Speaker Karu Jayasuriya would now have to decide if he recognised Rajapakse or Wickremesinghe as the prime minister. The falling out between the two former allies has come to a rapid head since Sirisena earlier this year backed a no-confidence motion against the man he had handpicked to lead the government. Sirisena initially said he would be a one-term president but later indicated he will seek re-election next year, pitting himself against Wickremesinghe who also has presidential ambitions. China's ambassador to Colombo, Cheng Xueyuan, met separately with Rajapakse and Wickremesinghe on Saturday, officials said. Details of those talks were not immediately available. Regional power India was also "closely watching" developments in Colombo, official sources in New Delhi told AFP. Rajapakse is seen as being closer to China than Wickremesinghe, who had sought to re-establish stronger ties with traditional ally India. Separately, Colombo-based Western diplomats meet with Wickremesinghe at Temple Trees residence for a briefing about the sacking. Before the meet, the United States urged all sides to abide by Sri Lanka's constitution and refrain from violence. European ambassadors in Colombo issued a similar message on Saturday. Overnight, Rajapakse loyalists stormed two state-owned television networks which they regard as loyal to Wickremesinghe's outgoing government and forced them off the air. They resumed broadcasting Saturday and were supporting Rajapakse. There were reports of sporadic attacks against supporters of Wickremesinghe's United National Party in several parts of the country after Rajapakse was sworn in late Friday. The streets of the capital remained calm Saturday but security was tightened around Rajapakse's residence and the state television station. Sirisena had withdrawn Wickremesinghe's security detail and vehicles, said finance minister Mangala Samaraweera. Wickremesinghe, 69, who trained as a lawyer and regarded a champion of free market reforms, insisted that he can be removed only by parliament. His party has the largest number of seats, but the president's United People's Freedom Alliance walked out of the governing coalition shortly before Wickremesinghe was sacked. This is the second time that a president has ousted Wickremesinghe from office. In 2004, the then president sacked him and called snap elections. After winning the premiership a third time in August 2015, Wickremesinghe amended the constitution to remove the head of state's power to sack prime ministers to prevent a repeat of his earlier ouster. However, Sirisena proceeded on Friday despite the insistence of many political observers that he lacked the power to remove the premier. Political commentator Victor Ivan said Sirisena's action was a blatant violation of the constitution. "This is a capture of power through a conspiracy," Ivan said. However, Rajapakse loyalist and former foreign minister G. L. Peiris said they believed there was nothing illegal about sacking Wickremesinghe and challenged him to prove his majority on November 16. Since his rushed swearing in, Rajapakse has yet to announce any official moves although several of his supporters said they expect a new cabinet to be formed on Sunday and talks were underway. Rajapakse, 72, is a controversial figure at home and abroad but has pushed for a return to frontline politics since he lost the presidential election to Sirisena in 2015. His decade in power saw Colombo crush a decades-long Tamil Tiger uprising.Rights groups say tens of thousands of Tamil civilians were killed in the final stages of the campaign, but Rajapakse has refused to acknowledge any abuses in the civil war. He also leaned heavily on China for political support and took loans to build infrastructure which the new government described as white elephants. His reliance on Beijing angered India, who Rajapakse blamed for his defeat in the last presidential polls. After Sirisena became president, Sri Lanka has moved to reconcile with India, the United States and other Western powers. It promised the UN it would investigate allegations of rights abuses during the civil war but has been criticised for a lack of progress in the years since. (AFP) Women under the umbrella of Uganda Womens Network (UWONET) have pleaded with the Speaker of Parliament Rebecca Kadaga to plead on their behalf so that Ireland does not withdraw from funding the Gender Based Violence (GBV) programmes in Uganda. The government of Ireland funds GBV activities through Irish Aid but the funding comes to an end next month. Ms.Rita Aciro, the Executive Director of UWONET said that the programme has improved social tolerance among communities on GBV, adding that because of the programme, communities have broken silence on GBV. Stories Continues after ad As a result of the programme and other stakeholders actions, the recent Uganda Health Demographic Survey indicates that violence against women has reduced from 56 percent to 28 percent, Aciro said during a meeting with Kadaga at her Chambers at Parliament. She said that through the project, UWONET established and was managing two shelters for women and children in Kamuli and Namutumba, and one advisory centre in Mayuge. Aciro, who led a delegation of women activists including MPs under the Uganda Women Parliamentary Association, told Kadaga that there are no clear signs of how the shelters will be used in the event that that the support ends. Our people will lose a lot if this support ends. We believe that due to the good work, if you put in a good word and support to the Ambassador of Ireland, there is a possibility of additional funding especially for the advisory centre and for the shelter related work, she said. She also asked the Speaker to lobby for increased government support towards GBV activities, especially shelters which she said are run by civil society. She also urged Parliament to ensure that Civil Society benefits from the World Bank loan for GBV. We are looking forward to Parliament approving the World Bank funding because Kamuli has been identified as one of the beneficiary districts, she said. Kadaga promised to discuss possibilities of additional funding from the government of Ireland, with the new Ambassador of Ireland. She also revealed that she held discussions with the World Bank in regard to funding of GBV projects. It is fortunate that I held a meeting with World Bank officials this morning and GBV funding was among the issues discussed. I will make sure that UWONET is among the beneficiaries of the GBV loan, said Kadaga. She encouraged UWONET to engage government to support civil society activities, rather than relying on development partners. I was able to do this with the campaign against female genital mutilation and it was successful. We cannot rely on development partners alone, she said. Other activities for which UWONET requires Parliaments intervention are; fast tracking of the Marriage and Divorce Bill and the Sexual Offences Bill, and engaging government to ensure affordability and accessibility of services at the new Womens Specialized Hospital in Mulago by women in rural areas. On Saturday night, the ornate Spanish Gothic interior of the Theatre at Ace Hotel was bathed in blood-red light as vampires in flowing back capes whisked through the lobby sipping cocktails and taking selfies. In masks, top hats and plastic fangs (as well as plenty of black street clothes), a sizeable crowd turned out at the Ace to attend a screening of Danish director Carl Theodor Dreyers 1932 horror classic Vampyr, followed by a Halloween party. Presented by Los Angeles Opera as part of its Off Grand series, the film was accompanied by a live performance of new music by British composer Joby Talbot. In a nod to the evenings campy Halloween vibe, L.A. Opera artist in residence Matthew Aucoin wore a floor-length black cape to conduct the scores world premiere. Concert screenings of classic black-and-white horror films accompanied by live orchestral music are fast becoming a Halloween tradition. Like annual December performances of The Nutcracker or The Messiah, they are reliable crowd pleasers for companies like L.A. Opera, which in recent years has presented the 1931 Bela Lugosi film Dracula (with live music composed and performed by Philip Glass with the Kronos Quartet), the 1922 film Nosferatu (with a new score by Aucoin) and the 1946 classic La Belle et la Bete (more Glass), all at the Ace. The Los Angeles Philharmonic, which for years has performed music from classic soundtracks as the films play at the Hollywood Bowl and Walt Disney Concert Hall, is presenting Nosferatu on Halloween night with live organ music by Clark Wilson, who in past years has played to Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde and The Cat and the Canary. Advertisement Talbot was a smart choice to continue this tradition and expand the repertoire. An innately theatrical, cinematic composer, he has written for the stage, concert hall and screen (The Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy, Closed Circuit). When I saw the world premiere of his first opera, Everest, at the Dallas Opera in 2015, I felt as though I were devouring a riveting blockbuster in a movie theater. Dreyers Vampyr is surreal and dreamlike. The protagonist, Alan Gray, seems to float in and out of eerie scenarios and his own physical body. For this production, the movies efficient German dialogue was extracted from Wolfgang Zellers original score. The result is a superbly well-blended mash-up of new music and original dialogue and sound effects. Talbots score also effectively blends the old and new, striking a balance between nostalgic, romantic motifs and unmistakably modern material. The score calls for a 15-piece chamber orchestra and relies on driving percussion, expressive harp playing and mesmerizing bass clarinet and muted trumpet melodies to infuse wordless scenes with dramatic intensity. To give voice to inexplicably levitating skulls and disembodied shadows, Talbot smartly incorporates a mezzo-soprano (Taylor Raven) into this sound world. Her warm ahhhhs were occasionally overpowered by the orchestra, but they also worked like an instrument, rounding out the ensembles timbre. Taking a bow at the end of the show, Talbot also appeared in a cape, adopting the fashion trend of the night. I wish world premiere and Halloween party went together more often, Aucoin tweeted Saturday night. It appears a sizable number of caped and fanged Angelenos agree. Vampyr Where: The Theatre at Ace Hotel, 933 S. Broadway, Los Angeles When: 8 p.m. Oct. 31 Tickets: $19-$89 Info: laopera.org In less than five years, Jacob Jonas The Company has vaulted from an Instagram-famous entity to the 2018-2019 dance company-in-residence of the Wallis Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts. To celebrate its residency and L.A. origins, the company known for blending breakdance and ballet showcased an ambitious program of world premieres from Wednesday to Saturday at the Beverly Hills performing arts venue. Fridays performance began with Jonas Transfer, an architecturally beautiful if myopic view of interpersonal relationships. In the piece, Jonas partner and co-founder of JJTC, Jill Wilson, is a muse and object of manipulation for four male dancers. Jacob Kujo Lyons sculpts her like Pygmalion perfecting his ideal woman, Mike Tyus drags her across the floor and Jonas himself lifts her as if she were a piece of furniture. Ultimately, Wilson is the dances redeeming quality, uncannily finding the inner strength to push away would-be suitors, contort herself into magnificent geometries or dash like quicksilver into the openings of Lamonte Goodes arms. Advertisement Transfer may hover in an uncomfortable register, but its sculptural beauty cannot be denied. Meanwhile, Unknown Territories by Jonas mentor Donald Byrd showed the intense side of Jonas choreographic roots. BEVERLY HILLS, CA. OCT. 23, 2018. Transfer by Jacob Jonas; (l-r) Jacob ?Kujo? Lyons, Jill Wilson. Jacob Jonas The Company returns to The Wallis as the 18/19 Season Company-in-Residence. (Lawrence K. Ho) Dancers slice through the air, jabbing their elbows and stomping their feet, eyeing each other with suspicion as a heart-pounding mix by Avi Belleli beats on. The dancers seem to thwart danger by exploding into territorial displays of dance fierce duets and trios where they struggle for primacy. Yet Unknown Territories is most powerful in its vulnerable moments when Emma Rosenzweig-Bock rests her head against her hand like a mother in deep mourning or Jonas tenderly cradles Wilsons head against his chest. When wisps of human connection appear they are gorgeous. The Jacob Jonas company moves into more playful territory in the second half of its program. Wilson, donning a winged black and tan leotard, transforms into the mythic sprite of human infatuation in Omar Roman de Jesus Cupido, a fluid and cheeky jaunt through loves charms and travails that Wilson, Lorrin Brubaker and Rosenzweig-Bock execute gamely. Make a Toast even invites audience members to come up on stage and pay tribute to someone who has affected their lives. Accompanied by Jonas pre-choreographed solos for five company members, the participatory work turned not only into a spontaneous celebration of the audience, but also of Los Angeles on Friday night a local philosophy student praised her friend for overcoming great adversity, a middle-aged woman wearing a Dodgers T-shirt spoke lovingly of her departed grandmother, and one man even paid tribute to The Times late food critic Jonathan Gold. A cynic might roll eyes at this impromptu open mic, but in the Wallis intimate Lovelace Studio Theater it created a warm sense of community, much like Jonas has done in L.A.s dance world through his #CamerasandDancers Instagram meet-ups. For Crash, in particular, Jonas who cut his teeth breakdancing on the Venice Boardwalk and counts the ocean as a muse has absorbed his L.A. influences and mixed them to astounding effect. At the pieces genesis, a single man rolls on the floor like a castaway just washed ashore. Gradually, more dancers join him, creating a marvelous human wave limbs rise and fall, middles undulate like seaweed, backs bend into the crescent shape of breaking waves. Eventually, the ensemble of seven floods the entire stage with their sinuous movement spiking their human swells with jumps reminiscent of flying fish breaking the oceans surface. The Pacifics intensity is certainly present, but a confident calm resonates throughout, aided by the soothing voice of West Ghanaian instrumentalist Okaidja Afroso. As Crashs final duet culminates with a breathtaking crawl of two dancers toward a fading light, a sense of the sublime washes over the audience. Few choreographers could recreate a sunset on stage, yet Jonas has managed the impossible. A judge has ruled that the man accused of killing two Palm Springs police officers during an ambush-style attack is mentally fit to be executed if found guilty. In his ruling on Friday, Riverside County Superior Court Judge Anthony R. Villalobos rejected a motion filed by defense attorneys to strike the death penalty for John Hernandez Felix, 28, asserting he was too intellectually disabled to face capital punishment. Felix faces two counts of murder with the special circumstances of multiple murders, murder of a police officer in the line of duty and lying in wait. Authorities say that during the Oct. 8, 2016, slayings, Felix used an assault rifle with an extended magazine to fire on Officers Lesley Zerebny, 27, and Jose Gil Vega, 63, through a metal security gate. Advertisement The officers had responded just after noon that day to a disturbance at Felixs home. The officers were wearing ballistic vests at the time of the attack, officials said. Felix, who was wearing body armor during the confrontation, was arrested after a lengthy standoff. Louis.Sahagun@latimes.com @LouisSahagun A former Catholic priest who was convicted of sexually abusing minors is the subject of a lawsuit filed by two brothers who say he molested them in the early 1990s while he ministered at a church in Riverside. Carlos Rene Rodriguez was able to abuse the then 7- and 12-year-old boys because the Catholic Church protected the priest and allowed him to continue serving in the church despite knowing his troubled history, according to the lawsuit filed in Los Angeles County Superior Court on Thursday. Rodriguez, 62, pleaded guilty in 2004 and was sentenced to eight years in prison for molesting two brothers in Santa Paula a decade earlier. He was released after four years. He now lives in Bakersfield, according to the Megans Law website that lists the whereabouts of registered sex offenders. The lawsuit accuses the Archdiocese of Los Angeles of allowing Rodriguez to continue to minister to families despite admitting to a church official that he molested a boy in 1987. Church officials from the Los Angeles Archdiocese and San Bernardino Diocese failed to keep him away from children, according to the suit. Advertisement The accusations are particularly alarming because the Diocese of San Bernardino, which is also named in the lawsuit, recently released a list of priests accused of sexual assault that did not include Rodriguez, said attorney Anthony DeMarco, who is representing the two brothers in the lawsuit and settled similar cases by two alleged victims of Rodriguez in 2015. The plaintiffs continue to suffer from mental and emotional distress and are seeking compensatory damages. Did the San Bernardino Diocese, when they were creating their list, actually do a thorough job to determine what pedophile priests had ministered in their diocese? he said. Theres no diligence being done and therefore, any priest with a problem can come in contact with families with children. Its scary and it needs to stop. The San Bernardino Diocese said it has no record of Rodriguez. We can find no one by that name in our files, said John Andrews, spokesman for the Diocese of San Bernardino. We also have no record of anyone coming forward to the diocese to make an allegation of sexual abuse of a minor by a Father Carlos Rene Rodriguez. For those reasons, [Father] Rodriguezs name was not included on our list of priests with credible allegations of sexual abuse of a minor in our diocese [from 1978 to present]. We simply have never received any information from victims or from police on this allegation that would allow us to investigate whether or not it is credible. The Archdiocese of Los Angeles said it would not comment on the lawsuit because it had not yet officially been served. But spokeswoman Itzel Magana said that Rodriguezs last assignment in the archdiocese was in 1990 and that he was removed from the priesthood in May 1998. When the archdiocese learned in 2016 that Rodriguez was ministering at an unaffiliated church as Father Carlos Ramirez, Magana said church officials informed law enforcement and sent alerts to all parishes informing them that the man was not authorized to act as a Roman Catholic priest. Magana also noted that the archdiocese has had a protocol for responding to reports of abuse since 2002. The Archdiocese of Los Angeles reaffirms our commitment to the healing of victim-survivors of abuse and protection against abuse and misconduct, she said. The Congregation of the Mission Western Province, which is also named in the lawsuit, did not immediately respond to a request for comment. The plaintiffs in the current lawsuit filed their case after one of the men saw a 2016 news segment about Rodriguez ministering at a local parish. The news segment prompted the man to discuss the abuse for the first time with his brother, who revealed he was also molested by Rodriguez, the lawsuit said. The two men are accusing Rodriguez of molesting them several times in their homes and at Our Lady of Guadalupe Shrine in Riverside, where Rodriguez ministered in the early 90s, DeMarco said. The lawsuit did not elaborate on the brothers accusations, but states that the men suppressed the memory of their molestation for decades, which caused them psychological harm and led to drinking problems. DeMarco said the lawsuit underscores the churchs lack of due diligence in screening Rodriguez, given his well-documented past. How hard would it be to create a policy [requiring] that before any priest can minister at any parish, there has to be some level of background check? he said. Carlos Rodriguez is a danger to children and the only way for him not to be is for him to be behind bars. When Rodriguez was ordained as a priest in the Congregation of the Mission in 1986, several of his fellow priests grew concerned with his behavior toward minors because he often spent time with them alone in his residence, according to the lawsuit. But their concerns were never reported to law enforcement, the lawsuit states. While at St. Vincent De Paul Catholic Church in South Los Angeles in 1987, Rodriguez took two boys on a trip to the Grand Canyon, and upon their return, he admitted to a church official that he abused at least one of the boys, the lawsuit alleges. Church officials urged the boys parents not to file a police report, the lawsuit states. But when officials learned that a police report would be filed, Rodriguez was sent to a treatment facility for abusive priests in Maryland before he could be interviewed by investigators, according to the lawsuit. The Congregation of the Mission notified the Archdiocese of Los Angeles about Rodriguezs treatment after the abuse allegations and the two organizations worked together to place him in the archdioceses Office of Family Life in Santa Barbara when he returned to California in 1988, the lawsuit alleges. There he ministered to Spanish-speaking immigrant families in Ventura, Los Angeles, San Bernardino and Riverside counties. Carlos Rene Rodriguez in 1986, when he was ordained as a priest. (Law office of Anthony M. DeMarco) During this time, several pastors raised concerns about Rodriguezs violating conditions placed on him restricting his close contact with children, according to the lawsuit. He was placed on a temporary leave of absence but the church did not remove him from the priesthood, the lawsuit states. Despite his leave of absence, Rodriguez continued to minister in the communities for the Office of Family Life, including Our Lady of Guadalupe Shrine in Riverside, which was attended by the family of the plaintiffs, according to the lawsuit. At this time, the church took no action to inform the parishes or the families that Rodriguez no longer had permission to minister. It was not until 1996, when the Catholic Church learned that Rodriguez had taken residence with a Santa Barbara family with five children, that it began the process of removing him from the priesthood, the lawsuit states. He was removed two years later. alejandra.reyesvelarde@latimes.com Twitter: @r_valejandra After word spread about the mass shooting at a Pittsburgh synagogue Saturday morning, Rabbi Sarah Bassin of Beverly Hills quickly changed her planned sermon. Eleven people were killed and six injured in the shooting at the Tree of Life Synagogue in Pittsburghs Squirrel Hill neighborhood, the hub of the Jewish community, police said. Four police officers were among the wounded. The suspected gunman was arrested at the scene and identified as Robert Bowers, 46, authorities said. He has a history of making anti-Semitic and anti-immigrant social media posts. Bassin found a July blog post written by Tree of Life Rabbi Jeffrey Myers about gun violence, titled We deserve better. In the post, Myers lamented that tragic events lead to thoughts and prayers by elected officials but little else before the nations collective conscience moves on. Advertisement Unless there is a dramatic turnaround in the mid-term elections, I fear that that the status quo will remain unchanged, and school shootings will resume, he said. Bassin read the post to her congregation at Temple Emanuel. Its an innate cycle of these mass shootings they are devastating and soul killing each time, and then they fade from memory, she said after Saturdays service. I cant imagine that he thought it would actually come to his community. Temple Emanuel senior Rabbi Jonathan Aaron sent an email to congregants saying that Beverly Hills police had increased patrols in the neighborhood, just as Los Angeles police and sheriffs departments also stepped up patrols around places of worship throughout the region. Our synagogue is being watched closely, and we have taken measures to bolster our security, he said. We are on high alert in the synagogue and are prepared to protect ourselves from anyone that would do us harm. Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti tweeted a similar message of caution, saying he had reached out to Jewish community leaders. We mourn with #TreeOfLife community today, he said. Atty. Gen. Jeff Sessions said federal prosecutors are investigating the killings as a hate crime and could seek the death penalty against the suspected shooter. The gunman, who was armed with an assault rifle and three handguns, yelled, All Jews must die! as he walked into the synagogue, police told local television reporters. The shooting, which began shortly before 10 a.m. Eastern time, was likely the deadliest attack on the Jewish community in the history of the United States, according to the Anti-Defamation League, which has monitored anti-Semitism in the U.S. for more than a century. Amanda Susskind, Los Angeles regional director of the Anti-Defamation League, said anti-Semitic incidents were up by 57% nationwide in 2016-17. Susskind recalled the 1999 shooting at a Jewish Community Center in Granada Hills by a self-professed white supremacist. Armed with a 9-millimeter semiautomatic pistol, Buford O. Furrow Jr. shot and wounded five people including three children ages 5 and 6 before he left the center and killed a mail carrier in Chatsworth. Furrow is serving a life sentence. Fortunately, Susskind said, there have been no similar incidences in the Los Angeles area since. Speaking to reporters on Saturday, President Trump suggested that if the Pittsburgh synagogue had armed security, maybe it could have been a very much different situation. Susskind said security can be helpful but isnt the only way to protect places of worship from harm. Frankly, if someone is coming in with guns blazing, its hard to say whether that would make a difference, she said. Synagogues struggle with balancing wanting to be open to the community and protecting congregants. Its a tough, conflicting thing. In Pico-Robertson, one of L.A.s prominent Jewish communities, Stefani Sherwin, 69, said she was devastated to learn about the mass shooting in Pittsburgh, especially after the spate of suspicious, potentially explosive devices sent in recent days to prominent critics or political rivals of Trump. The targets included former President Obama and former Secretary of State and Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton. At some point I believe we get desensitized to it, Sherwin said. I dont cry about it anymore its almost expected. Even so, Sherwin, who grew up in Pico-Robertson and now lives in the Pacific Palisades, said she feels scared about the increase in xenophobia that shes noticed since Trump took office. I dont think I look Jewish, so maybe that serves me, she said. But I think the Jewish community is always looking over their shoulders. Bassin, of Temple Emanuel, said she hopes to see an increased focus within the Jewish community on gun reform that can outlast the news cycle. We all know that thoughts and prayers alone are insufficient, she said. The Interfaith Solidarity Network, a group of L.A.-area interfaith leaders, issued a statement Saturday calling on faith leaders across the country to step up efforts of unity and tolerance. The ISN condemns the shooting as a xenophobic act of violence stemming from ongoing national divisive rhetoric and policies, and stands in solidarity with the victims of this heinous and racist act, the organization said. The ISN plans to hold an Interfaith Solidarity March on Sunday from 2 to 5 p.m. The milelong walk will begin at Temple Aliyah, 6025 Valley Circle Blvd., in Woodland Hills. andrea.castillo@latimes.com Twitter: @andreamcastillo This blog may be a labor of love for me, but it takes a lot of effort, time and money. For over 14 years and 30,000 articles I have been providing accurate, original news that would have remained unnoticed. I've written hundreds of scoops and sometimes my reporting ends up making a real difference. I appreciate any donations you can give to keep this blog going. In the past, when homeless people left their personal belongings in the aisles of the Addison Public Library, security guards might have asked them to leave. But that was before the library hired a social worker someone who viewed the problem from another angle. We started looking at patrons in a different way, that maybe some of the behavioral issues we were having at the library were stemming from other needs we could address, said Mary Medjo Me Zengue, director of the Addison library. Public libraries have long been a refuge, not just for readers but also for people with nowhere else to go during the day people who sometimes sleep in chairs, use the bathroom sinks to wash themselves or inject themselves with drugs in bathroom stalls. Sometimes they have been kicked out. At best theyve been left alone. Advertisement But now a growing number of libraries across the nation are facing the issue head-on, hiring social workers to help connect people with housing, healthcare and food. The Chicago Public Library has a social worker who splits time between two of its Uptown branches, paid for by local hospital system Amita Health. Amita plans to hire social workers for more Chicago library branches in coming months. Amita also pays for a social worker at the Evanston Public Library. Amita funds the social workers through donations from employees and money set aside for community programs. Not-for-profit hospitals must show theyre spending money to help their communities to justify their tax-exempt status, and the hospital system saw a need for treatment of behavioral and mental health, said Cody McSellers-McCray, Amitas regional director of community health. Placing social workers in libraries has caught on in other cities around the country as well, including Denver, New York City and Washington, D.C. Chicago licensed clinical social worker Justine Janis, who leads a monthly call for library social workers around the nation, estimates that more than 30 libraries now have full-time social workers. The San Francisco Public Library is said to have been the first in the nation to add a full-time social worker, Leah Esguerra, back in 2009. Since then, Esguerra said she has helped more than 120 people find permanent housing and made contact with patrons about 7,000 times. Esguerra also oversees a team of formerly homeless people who now work in the library, providing peer counseling and outreach to patrons. The people who are struggling are already here at the library, making it an ideal place to reach out to them, Esguerra said. She says every library could use a social worker, even those that dont face homelessness in the same way that San Francisco and the Chicago area do. When shes at the Bezazian branch in Chicago, social worker Janis often sits at a small table near the large front windows. The 29-year-old also walks around the library chatting with people, getting to know them. We want to respect peoples privacy but also let people know were available, Janis said. This is new for Chicagoans. For years, weve had people coming in we cant fully help, explained Mark Kaplan, branch manager at the Bezazian branch. Were not behavioral health professionals. On a recent chilly weekday afternoon, the library brimmed with young children, students and men slouched over tables, resting. One middle-age man motioned Janis over to his table, quietly asking her where he might find a shelter for the night. She spent the next half-hour explaining options to him, learning more about his difficulties and giving him handouts detailing assistance programs. As they spoke, an anxious-looking, middle-age woman in a gray hoodie stood behind them, waiting for her turn to consult Janis. They were among the dozens of people Janis said she has helped since starting at the Chicago Public Library in September. She held a similar job at the Evanston Public Library. Among the people she assisted in Evanston were an elderly homeless couple whod been visiting the library for years. A social service agency had reached out to the couple in the past, but they didnt want to leave the library, which they considered their safe space, Janis said. She got to know them, and in time, connected them with an agency that found housing for the couple. She also worked with an immigrant who was too proud to reach out when his finger swelled with infection. Janis said she helped him see a doctor and sign up for Medicaid. And she helped 71-year-old Shelia Wideman flee a rodent-infested home for a better apartment in Evanston. Wideman said she sometimes has trouble understanding things, but Janis worked with her to find housing and set up doctors appointments. I really didnt know about her at first, but I needed help, Wideman said. She was just a wonderful person to work with, even to talk with. Sometimes just talking to patrons, providing emotional support and letting them know they arent alone, can help, Janis said. Many traditional library patrons those who go to the library to read or study also seem to support the program. I see a lot of homeless people coming in all the time, said Ashle Anderson, a graduate student at National Louis University who studied at Bezazian on a recent day. If theres a social worker available, they can maybe talk to people if they need substantial help. At the Addison library, the social worker also helps many teenagers and Spanish-speaking families. The library is across the street from a junior high, so teens and pre-teens often flood into the library after school. Its not realistic to tell a 12-year-old kid whos been in school all day and sitting next to six of his friends, You have to be quiet, Medjo Me Zengue said. Theyre just not capable of that. In the past, security guards might have booted noisy kids from the premises, she said. But one of the librarys previous social workers had a better idea. She suggested establishing social zones within the library where kids could talk to one another at reasonable volumes, away from quiet areas for adults. Another suggestion was restorative justice with kids who still misbehaved. Now, instead of being asked to leave the library, a disruptive teen might instead be asked to apologize to patrons he or she disturbed or be asked to work in the library for an afternoon. To make up for boorish behavior, the teen might hand out snacks to other kids or spread mulch outside the building. Were keeping them here but letting them know what the rules are and finding a reasonable balance, Medjo Me Zengue said. Schencker writes for the Chicago Tribune. The last memory Charles McDaniel had of his father was as a 3-year-old boy living on an U.S. Army base in Tokyo in 1950. His dad, coming home from work, picked him up and playfully swung him around in the air. For decades, that was pretty much all there was. Sometimes, he would look in the mirror and see a faint resemblance though he thought his younger brother, Larry, inherited more of their dads features. For the record: An earlier version of this article misstated the age of Charles McDaniel Sr. at his death and the name of the battle in which he is believed to have died. He was 32 years old when he died, apparently killed in the Battle of Unsan. Charles McDaniel thought about this Saturday morning as he stood and saluted before the flag-draped casket that held his fathers remains. The now-71-year-old mans hand trembled slightly as a cold wind kicked up and a stiffened flag flew at the grave site. He thought about his mother, sitting next to him. He thought about how it had taken 68 years for his dad to return to the United States. Master Sgt. Charles McDaniel Sr. had gone off to serve as a medic during the Korean War and disappeared in November 1950. He was presumed dead by the Army. But there had been no body returned. There had been no funeral. And Gladys McDaniel, his wife, didnt speak much about him to Charles or Larry in the subsequent years. Advertisement Over the decades, the sons gleaned slivers of information about their dad: He was a good man. He was a great father who often held them when they were babies. He chose to be a medic because he wanted to help people in need. I think it was hard on her, Larry McDaniel said. Though I wish I had asked more questions about him. Charles McDaniel ended up following in his dads footsteps, becoming a medic and a chaplain in the Army. He began looking into his fathers records in recent years, but they didnt reveal a lot. He had served in World War II through five campaigns in Europe. He left the Army in 1945 and became a truck driver for the coal mines. He reenlisted as the Korean War began to ramp up. He was 32 when he is believed to have died during the Battle of Unsan. In July, Charles received a call from the Army. He was told that, when North Korea turned over 55 boxes of remains in June as part of an agreement between its leader, Kim Jong Un, and President Trump, there was a piece of a dog tag. It was his dads. Charles McDaniel was stunned. He wept and began to wonder if his father might finally be coming home. Then he got another call. Through DNA testing and an X-ray match of a collarbone coupled with the location where the remains had been found and the dog tag, scientists with the Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency were certain. It was my father, Charles said. Material evidence, or non-organic remains, is laid out on trays in the Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency Identification lab at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam. (Kent Nishimura / Los Angeles Times) The deceased veterans remains had been brought to Hawaii in June, where government scientists sorted and studied them in labs behind large glass windows. Trays are laid out and numbered, and the painstaking process of identification is conducted daily. There are bones, along with nonorganic items such as canteens, boot covers, blankets and pieces of military equipment John Byrd, director of analysis for the Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency, said there is a lot of work to do. There are more than 82,000 Americans missing from World War II, the Korean War, the Vietnam War and other conflicts. World War II accounts for the bulk of the missing, totaling 72,000. Over the years, getting remains from North Korea hasnt been easy, and sometimes they were delivered to the United States mingled with misidentified remains. Officials with the accounting agency said the remains in the 55 boxes came with more specific information including a lot of boxes coming from a village in the area of the Chosin Reservoir. The turnover of the materials in June was sizable. In the early 1990s the largest provided in any given year was 33 boxes; between 1990 and 1994, the United States received a total of 208 boxes. Byrd said that dental records are the gold standard for identification, but that DNA has become an important tool as well. And Defense POW/MIA Director Kelly McKeague said the recent discovery that collarbones are unique identifiers similar to a fingerprint has helped provide more identifications. On average, the agency does around 200 identifications per year. Its a powerful moment that means a lot to the families, McKeague said. It is a commitment that we will never leave one behind. When Charles McDaniel Sr. had been identified, his remains were carefully placed in a standard issue green Army blanket a tradition that dates to World War I. As a man folded the blanket over the remains, they were taken on a gurney covered with an American flag for the final journey home. Ben Soria, center, lead evidence coordinator at the Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency, wraps remains of a recently identified Korean War soldier in a blanket. (Marco Garcia / For The Times) Lt. Col. Michael Daake, who serves with the Indiana National Guard, was assigned to be the casualty assistance officer for the McDaniel family. He was with the family when the remains arrived in Indiana on a commercial airline flight last week. He said it was emotional, but also satisfying to be able to help bring the family together again. It is an honor to do this for them, Daake said. Im glad to be a part of it. Charles McDaniel said the news of his fathers return provided more than just closure for him. He said as the news spread about the identification, he began hearing from family members from all over the country. I have talked with three cousins I had never communicated with before. My father had two brothers, and one was a career soldier like my father wouldve been, and he had three children, but I never met any of them, McDaniel said. My dad has brought us together. Before the funeral service started Saturday morning at the Community Church of Greenwood, McDaniel stood in front of the casket at the altar. He said he arrived early, before anyone else, to have a private moment with his dad. It was a prayer, he said. McDaniel said he had never been able to address his dad directly because there had never been a grave to visit. He said it was starting to sink in that his father was going to be within a 10-minute drive from his home. I would go to the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier in Arlington and talk to him there, he said. That was my dads grave. As a few hundred people began to arrive at the church, McDaniel stood before the casket and greeted them. He shook hands with some. Hugged others. There were introductions to people hed never met and reminders of people he hadnt seen in years. He lightly patted the casket and then stood at the lectern. He told the story of his father. How he married Gladys Watts in 1943 after joining the Army three years earlier. How he got a Bronze Star in World War II, reenlisted with the Army in 1948 and got transferred to Tokyo. McDaniel said he served with the 3rd Battalion, 8th Calvary Regiment, 1st Cavalry Division in the Korean War. McDaniel said his father was listed as missing in action in 1950 after the Battle of Unsan. On that night, Nov. 2, 1950, my father disappeared from history, McDaniel said. We didnt know what had happened to him. Lt. Col. Kevin T. Black presents the flag to Gladys McDaniel, whose husband went missing in action in Korea in 1950. (Marcus Yam / Los Angeles Times) The dog tags changed everything, he said. He choked up as he held his fathers dog tags in a plastic bag and then pulled out his own. He put on his own dog tags over his dress blues noting the breach in protocol and said they represented an identity of someone willing to die for others. My father gave his life for me. He gave his life for you, McDaniel said. He gave his life for his buddies. He gave his life for this nation. He gave his life for South Korea. At the cemetery, the honor guard presented flags to McDaniel, his brother and their mother, who gently stroked the flag with her hand, and his fathers sister, Wilma Jean Gutshall. Charles McDaniel said he thought about his mom losing her husband. He thought about missing his dad. He said he thought about how he had followed in his fathers footsteps by joining the Army and serving as a medic. As a bugler played taps and the honor guard fired its volleys, he stood up in front of the casket his face reflected in its silvery top. david.montero@latimes.com | Twitter: @davemontero We knew it could happen here any here, anywhere when we learned that nine people were killed three years ago in the historic Mother Emanuel AME Church in Charleston, S.C. We knew it could happen here any here, anywhere when we learned that six were killed in the Islamic Cultural Centre of Quebec City last year. Now we know it can happen here, and that here is anywhere. Here, this weekend, is Squirrel Hill, home of a dozen synagogues. For more than a century and a half, it not only is the spiritual center of Pittsburgh Judaism but also a vital landmark in the history of Jews in America, along with New Yorks Lower East Side and Bostons Blue Hill Avenue, one of the vital centers of Jewish identity since the beginning of the Industrial Revolution. A sign at the entrance to the Squirrel Hill neighborhood near the Tree of Life synagogue after a mass shooting in Pittsburgh. (Vincent Pugliese / EPA-Shutterstock) Advertisement And here amid the kosher grocery and the kosher restaurant and the kosher-style deli, and where the knotted fringes of tzitzit are familiar features at the corners of the garments of the Orthodox who walk through the area just before sundown Friday evenings it didnt require social media for the news of the shooting at the Tree of Life to spread. The news was in the air, along with the shock and the sadness, the grief and the gruesome details, the worst of which were confirmed within hours. You could hear it in the sirens that broke the stillness of the morning and shattered the serenity of the Saturday routines at the cleaners, at the shoe store, at the hotcake house. No need, of course, in a place like this to identify the name of the cleaners, the shoe store, the hotcake house. Everyone knows them, just as they know the names of almost everyone along Forbes Avenue at any time of the day. And precisely because everyone knows everyone around here the one immutable Squirrel Hill truth that is at once irritating and comforting what was on the street as noon approached Saturday was the dread that dared not speak its name. Dread that someone you knew was in morning prayers. Dread that the police officers who sped to the scene truly there were scores of them, almost as if it were a police funeral, for it was clear that soon there could be one were in danger. Dread, too, that our country, our city, our neighborhood, our lives have come to this, and that this has come home. Before long the whole tragic scene was on television, and there was David Johnson, the WPXI-TV anchor, on the sidewalk. He lives here, mere blocks away. On the screen, too, was Ken Rice, the KDKA-TV anchor. He and his wife, Lauren, took their pre-marriage lessons just down the street. Then there also was the downtown businessman, a Squirrel Hill resident since he was 3 days old everyone knows his name, too, though he wont permit it to be used in the paper who was in the Five Points Bakery, hard by the synagogue. He was there to buy a morning muffin for his wife. But the line was too long so he headed back home, down Wilkins Avenue and toward Fifth, and this is what he saw: There were four, maybe six officers, and they rushed into the synagogue with guns. Then I saw the officers start to fire and back out, and I saw what looked like gunfire from the synagogue. And I saw an officer holding his arm being escorted out. And the next thing I knew there were cops all over the place. And the very next thing he did was call the executive editor of the Post-Gazette, because he knew I lived only three blocks away from the synagogue and he knew this was news, of the worst but most important kind. And soon Rabbi James A. Gibson of Temple Sinai, the Reform synagogue that is nearly a neighbor of Tree of Life, was on the phone. Were stunned that the peace of Shabbat was destroyed by murderous intent and act, he said, the words spilling forth in a Niagara of disbelief unusual for a man of devout belief. We cannot comprehend what happened. Its a tragedy for us all, and especially for those who are victims. This was, to be sure, a 21st century event. Gunfire in a house of worship. Text messages flying at the speed of bullets. (Mine came from Saskatchewan and Alberta and Ontario; from a nephew at Yeshiva University in New York and brothers and my sister from Bostons North Shore; and from neighbors the next street over.) And of course: confusion, and then clarity, over how many dead, how many wounded. And confusion, but no clarity, about what this means, and whether the toxic political and cultural environment caused this, or merely reflected it. But one thing had clarity. At a time of peril, in a period of media disruption, people turned to the much-maligned mainstream press to find out what happened, when they needed the news most, when it counted the most, when it didnt matter whether you voted for Donald J. Trump or Hillary Rodham Clinton or what your definition of nationalism was. Changes in demographics, increased intermarriage, and the growth of the suburbs have diluted the Jewish identity of Squirrel Hill somewhat, but it remains true, as Steven R. Weisman author of The Chosen Wars, the most recent history of Judaism in America put it in a phone conversation only hours after the shooting, that the fabric of American Judaism is woven into Squirrel Hill. Because this was our neighborhood, caught in the crossfire of the strains of the global village, and for once sadly, so very sadly the hurt was ours, and the victims were ours, and the need to heal is ours. For now it has happened here, and though we are the it-can-happen anywhere for millions across this wounded nation, we now know what it means when anywhere is right here. And in our grief shared across all faiths we might reflect on the passage from Proverbs that lent its name to this place of tragedy, a reference to the metaphor describing Judaisms most sacred text, the Torah, as a tree of life, or, in transliterated Hebrew, Etz hayyim: It is a tree of life to all who hold fast to it; its ways are ways of pleasantness, and all it paths are peace. -- David Shribman is executive editor of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette and a resident of the Squirrel Hill neighborhood in Pittsburgh. This article is reprinted by permission of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. They were brothers Cecil and David Rosenthal. And a married couple Sylvan and Bernice Simon. The youngest, David Rosenthal, was 54. The oldest, Rose Mallinger, was 97. They were among the 11 victims of a mass shooting in Pittsburgh whose bodies were found across three floors in the Tree of Life Synagogue, where three separate congregations were holding services at the time of Saturdays attack, federal authorities said Sunday. The county medical examiner described finding ammunition casings everywhere. The suspect, Robert Bowers, 46, of Pittsburgh, was arrested and charged late Saturday on 29 counts, including murder with a firearm, and several hate crime charges such as obstructing the exercise of religious beliefs resulting in death. Advertisement Bob Jones, FBI special agent in charge, said Sunday that the suspect remains under guard at a hospital. (Matt Rourke / Associated Press) The murder charges are punishable by death. The other charges are related to injuring officers. Bowers, who was shot and underwent surgery, remained in stable condition and under guard at a hospital, FBI Special Agent in Charge Bob Jones told reporters at a news conference Sunday. This is an awful, awful period for our Jewish community and especially for the families that have been affected, said Jeffrey Finkelstein, CEO of the Jewish Federation of Greater Pittsburgh. Its real once you hear the names. Police say that about 9:50 a.m. Saturday, Bowers opened fire on Sabbath services at the synagogue in Pittsburghs historically Jewish Squirrel Hill neighborhood, killing 11 people and wounding six. Four officers were among the injured, and three remain in the hospital. Tree of Life Rabbi Jeffrey Myers said Bowers entered three minutes after the service began, killing seven of the 12 people in attendance before moving on to other parts of the building. Myers said he lay in bed Saturday night, staring at the ceiling and wondering, God, why us? My holy place has been defiled, he said. During the attack and subsequent firefight with officers, Bowers repeatedly stated his desire to kill Jewish people and made comments about genocide, including: Theyre committing genocide to my people. I just want to kill Jews, according to the Justice Departments charging document. The Anti-Defamation League, which has monitored anti-Semitism in the U.S. for more than a century, said Sunday that the mass shooting was the deadliest anti-Semitic attack in U.S. history. Jones said authorities do not yet know why Bowers targeted the Tree of Life Synagogue or where and how Bowers obtained the AR-15 and three Glock .357 handguns used in the attack. Police barricades continued to block the streets surrounding the synagogue Sunday. Law enforcement is checking with neighbors for video surveillance of Bowers and the scene before the attack, Jones said. Officers from multiple cities have traveled to Pittsburgh, Jones said, and law enforcement may need up to a week to fully examine and process the crime scene. This was a large, complex crime scene, and much work remains to be done, Jones said. Members of the FBI continue to investigate the Tree of Life Synagogue in Pittsburgh on Sunday. (Brendan Smialowski / AFP/Getty Images) Authorities searched Bowers apartment Saturday and his vehicle Sunday, Jones said, but he would not comment on what was found. The apartment is in Baldwin Borough, 12 miles from the synagogue. Bowers is scheduled to appear before a federal judge Monday afternoon. We will spare no effort or resource in ensuring that the defendant is held fully accountable for his unspeakable and hateful crimes, U.S. Atty. Scott Brady said. Dr. Karl Williams, chief medical examiner for Allegheny County, said three rabbis have worked with his staff to ensure the bodies are handled properly, but he could not say if the examinations would be completed so that they could be released for the timely burial required by Jewish custom. Bowers had a history of posting anti-Semitic and anti-immigrant statements on social media, including one moments before the first 911 calls were made Saturday. His posts specifically mention a Jewish-founded nonprofit that helps resettle refugees from around the world and works with Dor Hadash, one of the three congregations that meet in the synagogue. Dor Hadash member Jerry Rabinowitz, 66, was helping set up for the mornings services when he was killed. Another member, Dan Leger, was wounded. Michael Thompson, 58, of Squirrel Hill is a member of the Dor Hadash congregation. He wasnt at services Saturday but could hear the commotion from his home down the street. We just went outside sirens and we were trying to figure out what was going on, he said. It was crazy, the sirens, and it was still going on. He paused his recount with a gasp. The one who is in the hospital is the one who reads the name of the dead, he said, before apologizing and walking a few feet away. Its been a hard couple of days. President Trump has ordered flags on federal buildings to be flown at half-staff through Wednesday in solemn respect for the victims. At a rally Saturday, he condemned the shootings as pure evil and questioned how such a thing can happen in 2018. Trump told reporters Saturday that if there was an armed guard inside the temple, they would have been able to stop him. Pittsburgh Mayor Bill Peduto called the attack one of the worst moments that we have experienced and pushed back on the presidents comments that an armed guard would have made a difference. Were dealing with irrational behavior; there is no way that you can rationalize a person walking into a synagogue during services and taking the lives of 11 people, Peduto said. We shouldnt be trying to find ways to minimize the dangers that occur from irrational behavior. We should be working to eliminate irrational behavior and the empowerment of people who would seek to cause this type of carnage from continuing. The approach that we need to be looking at is how we take the guns, which is the common denominator of every mass shooting in America, out of the hands of those that are looking to express hatred through murder. At an interfaith vigil attended by thousands in Pittsburgh on Sunday night, Myers urged American politicians to change their rhetoric. Ladies and gentlemen, it has to start with you as our leaders, Myers said to the dozen or so politicians who attended. My words are not intended as political fodder. If it comes from you, Americans will listen. At the vigil, city and religious leaders stressed that Pittsburghers would take care of their own. Wasi Mohamed, who leads the Islamic Center of Pittsburgh, said his members had already raised $70,000 for the victims families and even promised to stand guard outside synagogues if requested. Outside, rain poured over the thousands more sharing umbrellas and straining to hear the sound system. Melissa Casey, 39, of Pittsburgh sat in the rain for two hours, periodically passing her umbrella so parents could shield their small children. Theres something about being there, being present, she said through tears. I want them to know were here. This is Pittsburgh. Authorities released the following names of the shooting victims: Joyce Fienberg, 75, of the Oakland neighborhood of Pittsburgh Richard Gottfried, 65, of Ross Township, Pa. Rose Mallinger, 97, of the Squirrel Hill neighborhood of Pittsburgh Jerry Rabinowitz, 66, of Edgewood Borough, Pa. Cecil Rosenthal, 59, of Squirrel Hill David Rosenthal, 54, (brother of Cecil), of Squirrel Hill Bernice Simon, 84, of Wilkinsburg, Pa. Sylvan Simon, 86, (husband of Bernice), of Wilkinsburg Daniel Stein, 71, of Squirrel Hill Melvin Wax, 88, of Squirrel Hill Irving Younger, 69, of the Mount Washington neighborhood of Pittsburgh The latest from Washington More stories from Sarah D. Wire sarah.wire@latimes.com Follow @sarahdwire on Twitter UPDATES: 7:05 p.m.: This article was updated with additional reaction and details, including comments at a vigil. 10:40 a.m.: This article has been updated with additional details of the investigation. This article was originally posted at 8:40 a.m. The Jews gunned down in the Tree of Life Synagogue died for a cause. Whether they knew it or not, whether they supported the cause or not, they died defending the right of desperate people to find safe shelter. Anti-Semitism, which is ancient, always appears dressed in the latest fashions. During the Spanish Inquisition, Jew haters latched onto the idea that Jews and Muslims were subverting the true faith. During the Russian pogroms, the haters decreed that Jews were dangerous socialists. During Josef Stalins purges, Jews were targeted as unrepentant capitalists. After World War I, when Germans searched for the reason for their defeat, Adolf Hitler provided one: the Jews. This plague is very protean and very durable and very volatile, the late Christopher Hitchens said in a lecture he delivered at UCLA in 2010. It appears in all ages and in practically all societies. Advertisement Just as you think its been eradicated, up it pops again, Hitchens went on. Its exploded with or without the existence of the state of Israel, with or without Zionism, with or without finance capitalism, for which Jews were blamed, and with or without communism, for which, amazingly, Jews were simultaneously blamed and, of course, in parts of the Arab world and elsewhere, with or without any Jews at all. Whether they knew it or not, whether they supported the cause or not, they died defending the right of desperate people to find safe shelter. Now it has come to Pittsburgh, where an anti-Semite decided that Jews were behind what he believed to be the latest disaster befalling his people. Who is paying these refugees to come to his country? The Jews. Who is accommodating the refugees who finally make it here? The Jews. Although the problem the Jews are accused of causing changes with the times, the solution stays remarkably constant: kill them. The question, then, is not why there is anti-Semitism. It seems, as Hitchens said, to be a feature, not a bug, of Western civilization. The question is what sets off the anti-Semites. In the case of the Pittsburgh terrorist, the early facts seem to point to his fear of Mexicans and Central Americans seeking refuge in the United States. Its not impossible to figure out what stoked that fear. President Trump and right-leaning news outlets have zeroed in on the march of asylum seekers from Honduras and El Salvador as if it were taking place on the Washington Mall rather than 1,000 miles away. Trump is sending armed troops to protect our borders from these 7,000 or so souls, who are approaching at the blitzkrieg pace of 2 mph. Youd think the destitute asylum-seekers were Santa Annas army, and America the Alamo. The Pittsburgh terrorist was a Jew hater in search of a reason. I, for one, am very proud of the reason some Jews gave him. He ranted about the Hebrew Immigrant Aid Society, an organization devoted to helping refugees of all faiths find their feet in a new country, as if it were Al Qaeda. The group dates back to before the turn of the 20th century, and it has a motto grounded in biblical precepts: Welcome the stranger. Protect the refugee. For several years now, HIAS has organized a National Refugee Shabbat, encouraging Jews to gather and raise awareness about the global refugee crisis. Some 300 gatherings took place this month, in 33 states and in Canada. The Pittsburgh terrorist forgive me for not mentioning his name, but does he deserve even infamy? somehow became inflamed by this act of justice and kindness. But not all Jews are advocating on behalf of refugees. Those who work under Trump, or support him wholeheartedly, are trying to block the very pathways that enabled their own ancestors to come to America. The architect of Trumps draconian and cruel anti-refugee policy, Stephen Miller, is the Jewish great-grandson of indigent refugees. When Millers great-grandfather Nison Miller first applied for naturalization, in Detroit in 1932, the authorities gave a one-word reason for denying him: Ignorance. The terrorist may have known about the Jews supporting Trump, or not. Irrationality is a defining aspect of anti-Semitism. Ignorance is another. Enter the Fray: First takes on the news of the minute from L.A. Times Opinion In the UCLA lecture, Hitchens asked a provocative question: Can anti-Semitism ever be considered flattering? His answer was yes, and he cited as an example the Catholic anti-Semites of late 19th century France. They coined the term intellectual to deride those who came to the defense of Capt. Albert Dreyfus, a French Jewish army officer who was wrongly accused of treason. Let me say I hope that word intellectual never loses its association with those wonderful things, Hitchens said. In the aftermath of the Tree of Life massacre, I find much comfort in Hitchens words. The very things that anti-Semites attack can help us define what we stand for, what matters to us. The gunman seized upon Jewish aid for refugees because American Jews have a long history of supporting immigrants and refugees, their own as well as the oppressed and downtrodden from all over the world. The Bible enjoins us not to forget that we were once strangers, and many of us, the majority, have not forgotten. Now it is our task to continue the fight, so that the tree of life may flourish. Rob Eshman is the former publisher and editor-in-chief of the Jewish Journal. Follow the Opinion section on Twitter @latimesopinion or Facebook Richard Spencer, leading light of Americas alt-right, said in an interview last year that he was red-pilled by reading the philosopher Friedrich Nietzsche. The reference is to The Matrix; in the film, popping the red pill allows you to perceive reality. Scales fall from your eyes. Spencers recalibration threw up white nationalism, anti-feminism, racial and cultural purity. But Nietzsche repeatedly wrote against all of the above. He insisted hed rather be a good European than a good German, calling Deutschland, Deutschland uber alles (Germany, Germany above all) the death of German philosophy. His numerous close friendships with early feminists included Meta von Salis, the first woman in Switzerland to gain a PhD. One of his last letters proposes all anti-Semites should be shot. So how did Nietzsche come too be commonly perceived as a racist, misogynistic nationalist? Two reasons. One: His proto-Nazi sister took charge of the legacy after his death. Two: He had a terrific talent for coining catchy phrases like the Ubermensch and the blond beast. Read his blond beast passages, however, and youll discover theres nothing racial in the phrase at all. Its just his shorthand for our common ancestor, the lion-maned hunter who roamed the jungles of prehistory. The Ubermensch, likewise, is not a biological concept. He is the person capable of overcoming the existential crisis induced by Darwinian science. God is dead but the Ubermensch needs no religious purpose to find meaning in life. He finds affirmation in life itself: Whatever doesnt kill him makes him stronger. Advertisement The irony of Nietzsches appropriation by the extreme right then as now is that his central interest never lay in political theory. Spencer, who leads a white nationalist/separatist group, is the latest in a long line misappropriating Nietzsche for his own ends. It began in the 1890s, when Nietzsches sister Elisabeth took over his literary estate. Unlike her brother, Elisabeth was an unswerving racist, nationalist and anti-Semite. The siblings clashed politically starting in 1880, when Elisabeth petitioned Otto von Bismarck, chancellor of the German Empire, against Germanys Jews. Later she trekked off to Paraguay to establish a racially pure colony unsullied by Semitic blood. Nietzsche was disgusted. Unsurprisingly the colony went broke. Elisabeth went home in 1893 to find her brother famous Europe-wide, but insane. He lived seven more years, helpless in her care as she collected his unpublished papers, formed the Nietzsche Archive in Weimar and set about perverting his philosophy. Presenting him as the mystic prophet of her own convictions, Elisabeth cut and pasted his writings and letters. She censored; she forged; she suppressed; she even published an entire book in his name, The Will to Power. Nietzsche died in 1900. Elisabeth lived until 1935, controlling access to the archive and putting out new publications. The archive became a hub for the nascent National Socialist (Nazi) Party as Elisabeth appointed its ideologues to editorial and administrative posts. Alfred Baeumler who would later supervise production of textbooks presenting theories of race and blood as fact, support the Nazification of the universities, and oversee the Berlin book burning prepared Nietzsches texts for new editions. Martin Heidegger was a member of the Nazi Party when he joined Baeumler as editor in the archive. Together, they took the extraordinary view that Nietzsches previously published works hardly counted; his real philosophy resided in the other papers and literary fragments already manipulated by Elisabeth, that they would further distort. The philosopher Oswald Spengler used Nietzsche to support his own belief in social Darwinism: the corruption of the theory of evolution through adaptation and natural selection into German racial supremacy, justifying eugenics and, eventually, the Final Solution. The catchy terms Ubermensch, master morality and blond beast were gifts to men such as Spengler. His Ubermensch was portrayed as the racially superior Aryan and the blond beast as the triumphant jackbooted storm trooper. In 1932, Elisabeth finally met her hero. Adolf Hitler showed up when she staged a play by Benito Mussolini. He presented her with a huge bunch of roses. In return, she gave him a copy of her 1880 petition against Jews and her late brothers walking stick. They became friends for life. Theres no evidence Hitler studied Nietzsche. Leni Riefenstahl, who directed the movie of the 1934 Nuremburg Rally, The Triumph of the Will, recounts in her memoir asking Hitler about it. No, I cant really do much with Nietzsche, he answered. He is not my guide. Even among the Nazis in the archive, some realized the absurdity of their work. One propagandist, Ernst Krieck, remarked that apart from the fact that Nietzsche was not a socialist, not a nationalist and opposed to racism, he could have been a leading National Socialist thinker. Elisabeth spent much of her last year of life in bed, having Mein Kampf read aloud to her. At her funeral she was hailed as mother of the nation. Hitler, now chancellor of Germany, sat in the front row, looking sad. The irony of Nietzsches appropriation by the extreme right then as now is that his central interest never lay in political theory. He was chiefly interested in mankinds spiritual evolution. Enter the Fray: First takes on the news of the minute from L.A. Times Opinion Nietzsche was at school when Darwin published his theory of evolution, dynamiting the foundations of 2,000 years of Christian belief and culture and setting off a tsunami of nihilism and pessimism. This is what Nietzsche is referring to when he states that God is dead. In that context, has life lost its meaning? What does it mean to be unchained from a central metaphysical purpose? The tug of war between Darwin and divine purpose continued throughout Nietzsches lifetime. Fossils! Geology! Scientific truth was the new wonder and seemed to offer a new certainty. Nietzsche spoiled the party by pointing out that scientific truth has the uncomfortable habit of shifting with every new discovery. It can offer no substitute for religious certainty, or tell us how we should behave. In an uncertain world, said Nietzsche, we must think through the principles we want to live by. Such questions about individual conscience are ones we are still asking today. Part of Nietzsches enduring appeal lies in his unwillingness to provide a ready-made answer to the existential questions. We are meant to find answers for ourselves. This is the true accomplishment of the Ubermensch. We might reject science as faith. We might reject religious faith but still create moral values. God may be dead but life has not lost its meaning. It is tragic for Nietzsche that in the 1930s the need he identified to overcome our existential despair in the wake of the death of God became blatantly distorted into the need to overcome others. And its tragic that it is happening again today. Sue Prideaux is the author of I Am Dynamite! A Life of Nietzsche. Follow the Opinion section on Twitter @latimesopinionand Facebook To the editor: The L.A. Times calming editorial on the e-bike and e-scooter controversy is well stated. But too little was said as to why two-wheel transportation is of the moment for Los Angeles. Cities that rank high in bicycle friendliness also tend to rank just as high in quality-of-life surveys. A look at the top-rated cities in the Copenhagen Bicycle-friendly Cities Index 2017 supports this correlation. No question, bikes and scooters enhance people transport. In addition, a robust biking culture is good for business, good for the environment and good for health. Bikes and scooters electric or otherwise make sense for cities. Still, enforcement of laws for e-bike and e-scooter transportation is reasonable and proper, but using legal means to banish these devices from our city is like throwing out the baby with the bath water. Advertisement William Solberg, Los Angeles .. To the editor: The phenomenon of e-scooters created another scourge not yet exposed by the media. E-scooter companies are recruiting people to become their battery chargers. Most of these chargers are renters who do not bother to wait for their landlords consent for this activity. More troublesome is the fact that the e-scooter companies do not require recruits to present written consent from his or her landlord as a pre-condition. Bird requires a renter to secure the authorization of the landlord for such activity, but it does not pre-condition the contractual relationship on the written consent from the landlord. It is only a matter of time until another class-action lawsuit will be filed against the e- scooter companies, this time by landlords. Nitza Ben-Yehuda, Beverly Hills Follow the Opinion section on Twitter @latimesopinion and Facebook To the editor: We completely agree with Aaron Paleys take on the changes to the ALOUD program at the Los Angeles Central Library. We have been ALOUD patrons for many years, attending several talks annually and thoroughly appreciating the experience. The quality and diversity of the programming overseen by Louise Steinman and Maureen Moore have been top-notch, making the Central Library an even more important community resource than it was on its own. The abrupt and thus far unexplained firing of Steinman and Moore by the Library Foundation has shaken our faith in the foundation and in the mission of the library. If in fact there was a good reason to change ALOUD program leadership, the public deserves to know what it was. The fact that no cogent rationale has been provided will inevitably lead loyal patrons such as us to suspect that it was a rash and foolish decision not based on problems with the ALOUD program or with the job performance of Steinman and Moore. Advertisement George and Christina Legg, Rolling Hills Estates .. To the editor: Thanks to Paley for articulating the anguish that so many of us in L.A.s literary community are feeling in the wake of the Library Foundations horrendous, inexplicable treatment of ALOUD founder and curator Louise Steinman and her understudy, Maureen Moore. I earned the equivalent of a masters degree by attending ALOUD programming over many years. It provided opportunities to hear from and chat with thought-changers among us and from afar. The last program I attended with my nearly-blind husband was Steinman interviewing a blind author. The memory of this inspiring conversation, which gave my husband so much hope, will sustain me while I wait for the Library Foundation leadership to figure out the error of their ways and how theyre going to make amends. Mary Fitzpatrick, Pasadena .. To the editor: This has happened before to two highly respected cultural programs in Los Angeles. Gary Essert, the late founding director of the Los Angeles International Film Exposition, was unceremoniously fired. The festival never recovered. Similarly, David Sefton agreed to leave UCLA Live, a performing arts series that brought wonderful groups from all over the world to our fair city. Both these episodes damaged the cultural life of a city that desperately needs and deserves it. We shouldnt let this happen again. Peter Bonerz, 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 Last weeks arrests of four members of a Huntington Beach-based white supremacist group raised questions about whether Surf City has indeed overcome the racist episodes of its past, as city leaders suggest, or continues, as critics contend, to incubate extremism. Officials pointed to the low number of arrests for hate crimes and argued that the countys fourth-largest city is increasingly diverse and welcoming. But Latinos living in historically blue collar areas and civil rights watchdogs said racism persists not so obviously on Main Street like it once did but in online forums and at provocative beachfront protests. How does a community shake a myth? posited Mayor Mike Posey, adding that suggestions that Huntington Beach is some kind of epicenter for white supremacists are laughable. Huntington Beach is (a) blended, diverse culture where everyone is welcome. Not so fast, argued Los Angeles Times columnist Gustavo Arellano, who covered hate groups extensively while editing OC Weekly. If Huntington Beach proclaimed war against neo-Nazis, I sure as hell never heard of it, Arellano said. New arrests pick at old wounds Memories of old racial tensions resurfaced last week when the FBI arrested Huntington Beach resident Robert Rundo on suspicion of conspiring to violate the federal riots statute. Rundo is a key member of the Rise Above Movement, an alt-right street-fighting gang. A protestor is pulled by the Make America Great Again March crowd at Bolsa Chica State Beach in Huntington Beach in March 2017. The march was in support of President Donald Trump. (Raul Roa / Staff Photographer) In March 2017, RAM participated at a Make America Great Again rally at Bolsa Chica State Beach, where members attacked counter-protesters and two journalists, according to the FBI. The federal criminal complaint charges the four RAM members of traveling to political rallies across California to engage in a series of violent attacks and conspiring to violate riot statutes. The affidavit alleges that the men used the internet to organize their activities, coordinate combat training and celebrate their acts of violence in order to recruit members for future events. Although Huntington Beach has a history of racially-charged incidents involving skinheads and others, city officials argued that H.B. has moved forward, even if outsiders dont know it. We unfairly get labeled with that every time something comes up again, said Police Chief Robert Handy, who has said that hes made diversity a priority in his department. The 80s and 90s were different In the mid-1980s, Huntington Beach gained a reputation for drawing both local and out-of-town white supremacists. The pier and downtown area became gathering spots for young people with shaved heads, swastika tattoos and steel-toed boots. In 1994, 19-year-old Jonathan Russell Kennedy fatally shot 44-year-old African American Vernon Windell Flournoy outside a McDonalds restaurant. A week after his arrest, Kennedy was charged with the attempted murder of two Latino men in a shooting that occurred just weeks prior. The gunman pleaded guilty to both the murder and attempted murder charges with hate crime enhancements. A 17-year-old was also charged with Flournoys murder and tried as an adult. In 1996, Erik R. Anderson, 22, of Huntington Beach stabbed a 20-year-old Native American, George Mondragon, 27 times at the beach. Anderson was convicted of attempted murder and given a life sentence. These two hate crimes prompted city officials to take action. The city created the Human Relations Task Force to promote and celebrate cultural diversity through tolerance and education. Police report hate speech and other issues to the group. Handy credits these and other efforts with improving relationships. Rundos arrest, Handy said, isnt reflective of our community, which has come an awful long way. He said his officers log about two hate crimes a year. However, one expert argued that racist groups still persist. We have a problem with denying the problem of hate groups in our country, Chapman University sociology professor Peter Simi said. Thats our default mode. Though Huntington has improved, Simi said there is a substantial problem across Orange County and Southern California. Simi explained people wouldnt recognize neo-Nazis or white supremacists walking down Main Street; they now look like everyone else. If you examine Huntington Beach in social media, my sense [is] it would be more than you might expect, he said. Arellano cited a hate crime incident in the last decade where four white supremacists entered a home in the Hispanic Oak View neighborhood and tried to murder a Latino man. Oscar Rodriguez, who lives in the neighborhood, doesnt hear racist remarks yelled on the streets, but agreed they are being said over the internet. He called on politicians to do something about it. If public officials arent outright denouncing hate incidents, then the culture is going to stick around, he said. If this isnt a priority to them, its going to keep going on. SB 54 challenge angered many Latinos Rodriguez also expressed concern with the City Councils court-upheld decision to ignore the states sanctuary city law protecting immigrants. Demonstrators protest Senate Bill 54, a California sanctuary law, during a Huntington Beach City Council meeting in April. (File Photo) Senate Bill 54 in many cases prohibits state and local police agencies from notifying federal officials about the impending release of immigrants in custody who may be deported. Huntington Beach rejected enforcement of the bill, using its city charter to beat a state challenge in court. Rodriguez called the action an excuse to get away with using the city charter. But City Attorney Michael Gates doesnt see it that way. We will continue to hold Sacramento accountable for unconstitutional state law overreaches, he told the Daily Pilot last month. California has the nations largest racist skinhead population, according to the Anti-Defamation League, an organization tracking anti-Semitic incidents since 1979. RAM, the organization affiliated with Rundo, is estimated to have 50 members, several of whom have violent criminal histories. Rundo previously served prison time for a gang-related felony in New York, according to court records. And Matthew Branstetter of Huntington Beach, also an ex-con, has been known to train with RAM,, according to the nonprofit investigative news agency ProPublica. Branstetter is a known member of Hammerskin Nation, which the ADL classifies on its website as the most violent and best-organized neo-Nazi skinhead group in the United States. In 2011, Branstetter was convicted of aggravated assault with a hate crime enhancement and sentenced to three years in state prison after beating a 23-year-old Jewish man in Coto de Caza, court records show. Joanna Mendelson, a senior ADL researcher, said groups like RAM romanticize themselves as soldiers on the front line, helping defend a victimized white population. Statistics reflecting hate crimes in Huntington Beach were not immediately available, but the number of hate crimes rose in Orange County for the third year in a row, according to an annual report by the Orange County Human Relations Commission. Anti-Semitic incidents went up 60% nationwide and 27% in California, according to the ADL. There are bad actors that may have ties to Huntington Beach, but it is no different than other cities in Southern California, Mendelson said. We have to change the stereotype. One elected official said that the city is far better than it once was but agreed theres still work to do. Once you get a bad reputation, its a long road to improving that reputation, said Councilwoman Jill Hardy, who teaches at Marina High School. Im optimistic weve worked on it. It doesnt mean we cant do more to improve the situation and our reputation, but I have seen some positive movements when Im with high school students. Priscella.Vega@latimes.com Twitter: @vegapriscella Hello, my name is John Cherwa and welcome back to our horse racing newsletter as we get one day closer to the Breeders Cup. Its time to take a look at another Breeders Cup race. This time, well catch up with the horses in Fridays big race, the Juvenile. Now, its kind of a strange Juvenile in that the presumptive best horse, Instagrand, is not going to run. And Roadster, at one point considered Bob Bafferts best, has been sent away for some maturity. Now, Game Winner is there for Baffert and hes undefeated in three starts. So, lets look at the 15 horses, of which only 14 will run. Calling a horse race is a very difficult, seat-of-your-pants job. And you know I have a fondness to our California callers. Between Michael Wrona , Trevor Denman and up-and-coming Matt Dinerman , we have three of the best. While watching the sixth race at Santa Anita on Saturday, Wrona came up with this in deep stretch. Sheer Flattery in front. They say flattery will get you nowhere, but Sheer Flattery will get you to the window to collect. Doesnt seem like much, but try coming up with that on the fly. Because Sheer Flattery wasnt the favorite, Im guessing Michael didnt have that in his pocket. Way to keep it lively and interesting. Running fourth entering the stretch, Toinette rallied on the outside to easily win the Grade 3 $100,000 Autumn Miss for 3-year-old fillies going one mile on the turf. It was her second graded stakes win. She also won the Grade 3 Edgewood at Churchill Downs in May. She looked much the best as she passed Ms Bad Behavior and Streak of Luck down the stretch to win by 2 lengths. Toinette paid $6.80, $3.60 and $2.80. Ms Bad Behavior was second and Streak of Luck was third. I was concerned about the 14-horse field and I thought she was very well ridden, said winning trainer Neil Drysdale . We had a fast pace and that did set it up a bit. This is a very nice filly. Theres a little star power in Sundays lower-level stakes, the $75,000 Comma to the Top, which goes off as the eighth race on the nine-race card. First post is 12:30 p.m. There are four turf races. The Comma is a mile on the dirt for horses 3 and up. Battle of Midway, winner of the Breeders Cup Mile and third in the last years Kentucky Derby is the 8-5 favorite. Battle of Midway was retired to stud early this year, but wasnt great at getting mares in foal so he was returned to the track. As a 3-year-old he won five of 10 races. Hollendorfer is the trainer and Prat will ride. Tatters to Riches is the 9-5 second choice. He has won three of four including the Shared Belief by 3 lengths at Del Mar this year. Jeff Mullins trains and Tyler Baze will ride. Sophomore gelding from the Richard Baltas stable finished strongly at 5 furlongs when making his turf debut last time out and should relish the 6 1/2 furlong hill distance. There is plenty of pace in front of him and he should come rolling late to run down these Cal-bred allowance/optional claimers. Despite a sixth-place finish in his debut, this gelding earned a strong 80 Trackmaster speed figure vs. a much tougher field. After a sluggish start, he kept to his task while competing vs. third-place finisher One Ruthless Eagle, who ran second in a Golden State Million Futurity trial last week. With a drop into the maiden $8,000 ranks, I expect this freshman to pick up a debut victory in handy style. Always looking to add more subscribers to this newsletter. Cant beat the price. If you like it, tell someone. If you dont like it, then youre probably not reading this. Either way, send to a friend and just have them click here and sign up . Remember, its free, and all we need is your email, nothing more. Santa Anita Charts Results for Saturday, October 27. Copyright 2018 by Equibase Company. Reproduction prohibited. Santa Anita, Santa Anita Park, Arcadia, California. 18th day of a 22-day meet. Clear & Firm FIRST RACE. About 6 Furlongs Turf. Purse: $40,000. Claiming. 3 year olds. Claiming Prices $50,000-$45,000. Time 21.88 43.93 1:06.41 1:12.35 Pgm Horse Wt PP St Str Fin Jockey $1 3 More Honor 122 3 4 1hd 1hd 11 1hd Pereira 4.00 2 Artie B Good 117 2 6 5hd 64 41 21 Espinoza 2.20 7 Raven Creek 122 7 2 31 31 2hd 3 T Baze 4.00 6 Zestful 122 6 5 67 5hd 64 41 Bejarano 6.60 5 Italiano 122 5 3 2 2 31 5hd Gutierrez 6.10 1 Goodwillambassador 120 1 1 4 4 5hd 61 Franco 5.70 4 Neighborhood Bully 120 4 7 7 7 7 7 Van Dyke 16.10 3 MORE HONOR 10.00 4.40 2.80 2 ARTIE B GOOD 3.40 2.60 7 RAVEN CREEK 3.00 $1 EXACTA (3-2) $13.10 10-CENT SUPERFECTA (3-2-7-6) $23.22 $1 SUPER HIGH FIVE (3-2-7-6-5) $428.40 50-CENT TRIFECTA (3-2-7) $30.10 WinnerMore Honor Dbb.g.3 by More Than Ready out of Jeanne's Honor, by Honour and Glory. Bred by Sienna Farms LLC (KY). Trainer: Mark Glatt. Owner: Red Baron's Barn LLC and Glatt, Mark. Mutuel Pool $198,450 Exacta Pool $112,496 Superfecta Pool $39,133 Super High Five Pool $1,686 Trifecta Pool $62,883. Scratchednone. MORE HONOR had good early speed and dueled inside, inched away in midstretch, edged clear under left handed urging and held gamely. ARTIE B GOOD stalked between horses to the stretch, came out some in the drive and finished willingly to just miss. RAVEN CREEK prompted the pace three deep to the stretch, could not quite match the top pair in the final furlong but held third. ZESTFUL broke in a bit, was in a good position stalking the pace three deep to the stretch and was outfinished for the show. ITALIANO forced in some just after the start, dueled between horses, fought back between foes leaving the hill and into the stretch and was outfinished for a minor award. GOODWILLAMBASSADOR saved ground stalking the pace throughout and could not offer the necessary late kick. NEIGHBORHOOD BULLY squeezed back just after the start, settled off the rail, angled in some midway on the hill, came out into the stretch and lacked the needed rally. Rail on hill at zero. SECOND RACE. 6 Furlongs. Purse: $21,000. Claiming. 3 year olds and up. Claiming Prices $16,000-$14,000. Time 22.15 45.30 1:10.51 1:17.20 Pgm Horse Wt PP St Str Fin Jockey $1 1 Twirling Tiger 125 1 6 6 41 12 11 T Baze 3.40 3 Spokane Eagle 125 3 2 1hd 21 22 27 Pereira 1.70 2 Smuggler Union 125 2 1 51 1hd 32 32 Vergara, Jr. 4.00 5 Will Tell 125 5 3 3hd 5hd 55 41 Franco 10.60 4 Michael Mundo 115 4 5 2hd 3hd 41 510 Fuentes 13.90 6 Gringo Star 122 6 4 4 6 6 6 Conner 3.10 1 TWIRLING TIGER 8.80 4.00 2.40 3 SPOKANE EAGLE 3.20 2.40 2 SMUGGLER UNION 3.40 $2 DAILY DOUBLE (3-1) $41.00 $1 EXACTA (1-3) $9.30 10-CENT SUPERFECTA (1-3-2-5) $11.93 50-CENT TRIFECTA (1-3-2) $15.65 WinnerTwirling Tiger B.g.5 by Twirling Candy out of Rare Cat, by Tabasco Cat. Bred by Lavin Bloodstock, Bernie Sams &William S. Farish, Jr. (KY). Trainer: Jack Carava. Owner: Paymaster Racing LLC. Mutuel Pool $194,321 Daily Double Pool $39,481 Exacta Pool $85,019 Superfecta Pool $28,393 Trifecta Pool $49,247. ClaimedTwirling Tiger by Thomas Hinds, III. Trainer: Charles Treece. ClaimedSpokane Eagle by Sperry, Ross and Dina. Trainer: Jack Carava. Scratchednone. TWIRLING TIGER broke a bit slowly, stalked inside, bid along the rail into the stretch to gain the lead, kicked clear under urging and held. SPOKANE EAGLE had good early speed a bit off the rail, dueled between horses then outside a rival on the turn, was fanned four wide into the stretch and was clearly second best. SMUGGLER UNION pressed the pace inside then dueled along the rail on the turn, drifted out into the stretch and held third. WILL TELL dueled four wide between horses on the backstretch, chased off the rail on the turn, came three wide into the stretch and weakened. MICHAEL MUNDO had good early speed and dueled three deep between horses, dropped back outside a rival on the turn, came out four wide into the stretch and also weakened. GRINGO STAR prompted the pace five wide to the turn, dropped back outside on the bend, came four wide into the stretch and gave way. THIRD RACE. About 6 Furlongs Turf. Purse: $60,000. Allowance Optional Claiming. 3 year olds and up. Claiming Price $75,000. Time 21.71 42.98 1:05.16 1:11.19 Pgm Horse Wt PP St Str Fin Jockey $1 3 Law Abidin Citizen 122 3 1 22 22 22 1ns Pereira 1.10 4 Cistron 122 4 2 11 1 1 21 T Baze 9.10 1 Ann Arbor Eddie 122 1 4 3hd 31 32 3 Gutierrez 3.20 2 Restrainedvengence 119 2 5 5 41 4 41 Roman 9.80 5 Blackjackcat 125 5 3 4 5 5 5 Stevens 2.30 3 LAW ABIDIN CITIZEN 4.20 3.00 2.10 4 CISTRON 5.80 2.60 1 ANN ARBOR EDDIE 2.40 $2 DAILY DOUBLE (1-3) $19.00 $1 EXACTA (3-4) $9.50 50-CENT TRIFECTA (3-4-1) $16.50 WinnerLaw Abidin Citizen Dbb.g.4 by Twirling Candy out of Honest Answer, by Tale of the Cat. Bred by Hill 'n' Dale Equine Holdings, Inc (KY). Trainer: Mark Glatt. Owner: Agnew, Dan J., Schneider, Gerry and Xitco, John V.. Mutuel Pool $225,352 Daily Double Pool $17,723 Exacta Pool $98,623 Trifecta Pool $71,925. Scratchednone. 50-Cent Pick Three (3-1-3) paid $29.10. Pick Three Pool $47,640. LAW ABIDIN CITIZEN stalked a bit off the rail, bid outside the runner-up into the stretch, battled alongside that one through the drive and gamely prevailed late under urging. CISTRON sent along to the early lead, set the pace a bit off the rail then inside and gamely fought back along the fence through a long drive. ANN ARBOR EDDIE saved ground stalking the pace, came out into the stretch and held third. RESTRAINEDVENGENCE pulled his way between horses then chased a bit off the rail leaving the hill, came three deep into the stretch and was edged for the show. BLACKJACKCAT stalked three deep then angled to the inside leaving the hill and lacked the needed late kick along the fence. Rail on hill at zero. FOURTH RACE. 5 Furlongs. Purse: $30,000. Maiden Claiming. 2 year olds. Claiming Prices $50,000-$40,000. Time 21.94 46.31 59.18 1:06.13 Pgm Horse Wt PP St 3/8 Str Fin Jockey $1 8 Mad Mike 122 7 2 34 32 13 14 Pedroza 1.10 6 Handsome John 120 5 4 5hd 51 41 2hd Roman 6.40 9 Indi Luck 122 8 7 61 41 21 31 Fuentes 9.00 7 Tank Team 122 6 8 71 72 3hd 47 Bejarano 13.80 3 Hammurabi's Law 122 3 1 4hd 6 61 5nk Flores 42.20 5 Bull Fighter 122 4 3 8 8 8 61 Delgadillo 11.40 1 Ultra Lucky 122 1 6 1hd 1hd 51 75 Maldonado 34.20 2 Brix 122 2 5 2hd 2hd 73 8 T Baze 2.40 8 MAD MIKE 4.20 3.00 2.20 6 HANDSOME JOHN 4.60 3.60 9 INDI LUCK 4.20 $2 DAILY DOUBLE (3-8) $9.80 $1 EXACTA (8-6) $10.30 10-CENT SUPERFECTA (8-6-9-7) $20.41 $1 SUPER HIGH FIVE (8-6-9-7-3) $896.30 50-CENT TRIFECTA (8-6-9) $23.00 $2 CONSOLATION DOUBLE (3-4) $5.00 WinnerMad Mike Ch.g.2 by Ministers Wild Cat out of Open Mic, by Unbridled's Song. Bred by Tommy Town Thoroughbreds, LLC (CA). Trainer: Michael Machowsky. Owner: Tommy Town Thoroughbreds LLC. Mutuel Pool $237,616 Daily Double Pool $26,507 Exacta Pool $134,581 Superfecta Pool $66,782 Super High Five Pool $3,523 Trifecta Pool $95,563. ClaimedMad Mike by Englekirk, Robert, Lewis, Craig A. and Warren, Benjamin. Trainer: Craig Lewis. ClaimedBrix by Slam Dunk Racing. Trainer: Richard Baltas. ScratchedMulzoff. 50-Cent Pick Three (1-3-8) paid $16.95. Pick Three Pool $21,643. 50-Cent Consolation Pick Three (1-3-4) paid $6.50. MAD MIKE dueled three deep, took the lead leaving the turn, inched clear and angled in entering the stretch, kicked away and drifted in some in the lane but won clear under urging. HANDSOME JOHN chased between horses then outside a rival on the turn, split foes again leaving the turn, came three wide into the stretch, also drifted in and edged a rival late for the ;place. INDI LUCK chased outside then three deep, continued off the rail on the turn and three wide into the stretch, drifted to the inside sharply in midstretch and held third. TANK TEAM broke a bit slowly, settled off the rail then inside, came out on the turn and four wide into the stretch, also drifted in and bested the others. HAMMURABI'S LAW stalked a bit off the rail then inside on the backstretch and turn, came out for room in midstretch and weakened. BULL FIGHTER settled off the inside, came a bit wide into the stretch and lacked a rally. ULTRA LUCKY had good early speed and dueled inside, fought back on the turn and weakened in the drive. BRIX bobbled just after the start, had speed between horses to duel for the lead, dropped back in the stretch and gave way. FIFTH RACE. 1 Mile Turf. Purse: $50,000. Maiden Special Weight. 3 year olds and up. Time 22.25 46.15 1:10.83 1:22.89 1:34.67 Pgm Horse Wt PP St Str Fin Jockey $1 10 The Hunted 120 10 9 71 71 2hd 12 15 Cruz 7.80 8 Ostini 118 8 6 31 2hd 41 21 22 Figueroa 16.00 6 Captain Buzzkill 115 6 8 94 86 6hd 6 3 Espinoza 11.50 5 Reckless Gravity 123 5 2 62 5hd 51 51 41 Franco 17.80 9 Single Me Out 120 9 10 10 9 910 912 5nk Elliott 47.40 7 R Matineigh Idol 115 7 7 1hd 1 1hd 3hd 61 Payeras 10.60 2 Hit the Seam 120 2 1 2hd 31 3hd 41 7 Gutierrez 3.10 3 Zipper Mischief 120 3 4 5hd 61 82 72 81 Stevens 10.80 1 Red Envelope 120 1 3 41 41 71 8 921 Van Dyke 1.20 4 Dynamic Duo 120 4 5 81 10 10 10 10 Flores 143.80 10 THE HUNTED 17.60 10.40 7.00 8 OSTINI 11.40 6.00 6 CAPTAIN BUZZKILL 5.60 $2 DAILY DOUBLE (8-10) $52.80 $1 EXACTA (10-8) $115.00 10-CENT SUPERFECTA (10-8-6-5) $466.48 50-CENT TRIFECTA (10-8-6) $338.40 $1 X-5 SUPER HIGH FIVE (10-8-6-5-9) Carryover $3,154 WinnerThe Hunted Ch.g.3 by Unusual Heat out of Lethal Hunter, by Jade Hunter. Bred by M. Auerbach, L.L.C. (CA). Trainer: Richard Baltas. Owner: M. Auerbach LLC, Ciaglia Racing LLC and Little Red Feather Racing. Mutuel Pool $327,728 Daily Double Pool $30,902 Exacta Pool $209,955 Superfecta Pool $117,018 Trifecta Pool $158,897 X-5 Super High Five Pool $4,132. Scratchednone. 50-Cent Pick Three (3-8-10) paid $43.15. Pick Three Pool $72,998. 50-Cent Consolation Pick Three (3-4-10) paid $16.80. 50-Cent Pick Four (1-3-4/8-10) 482 tickets with 4 correct paid $237.30. Pick Four Pool $149,836. 50-Cent Pick Five (3-1-3-4/8-10) 364 tickets with 5 correct paid $1,092.25. Pick Five Pool $461,991. THE HUNTED wide early, angled in and settled a bit off the rail, moved up five wide on the second turn then bid four wide to gain the lead into the stretch and drew clear under urging while drifting in. OSTINI had speed four wide into the first turn then pressed the pace three deep, battled three wide between foes leaving the second turn and into the stretch, also drifted in and bested the others. CAPTAIN BUZZKILL settled outside a rival then a bit off the rail, swung out four wide into the stretch and edged a foe for third. RECKLESS GRAVITY between horses early, chased outside a rival, advanced four wide on the second turn then three deep into the stretch and was edged for the show. SINGLE ME OUT angled in and settled inside, went around a rival on the backstretch, came three deep into the stretch and lacked the needed rally. R MATINEIGH IDOL had speed three deep then set a pressured pace between horses, fought back leaving the second turn and weakened in the stretch. HIT THE SEAM between horses into the first turn, pressed the pace inside, dueled along the rail leaving the second turn and also weakened. ZIPPER MISCHIEF angled in and chased inside, came out into the stretch and could not offer the necessary response. RED ENVELOPE pulled along the inside and steadied into the first turn, saved ground stalking the pace and weakened in the drive. DYNAMIC DUO also pulled while between horses and steadied early, angled in and tugged inside, dropped back into and on the second turn, gave way and was eased in the stretch. SIXTH RACE. 7 Furlongs. Purse: $36,000. Starter Allowance. 3 year olds and up. Claiming Price $50,000. Time 22.33 45.19 1:10.13 1:23.32 Pgm Horse Wt PP St Str Fin Jockey $1 5 Sheer Flattery 120 4 1 51 32 11 12 Figueroa 2.60 1 El Asesino 115 1 5 2hd 4hd 46 22 Espinoza 4.90 8 Dreams of Valor 125 6 2 1 1hd 21 3 Maldonado 5.90 7 Jimmy Chila 122 5 3 31 2hd 31 43 Bejarano 1.90 2 Super Duper Cooper 123 2 6 6 6 6 52 Prat 6.40 3 Saratoga Morning 120 3 4 4hd 53 5hd 6 Franco 6.70 5 SHEER FLATTERY 7.20 4.00 2.80 1 EL ASESINO 6.00 4.20 8 DREAMS OF VALOR 4.60 $2 DAILY DOUBLE (10-5) $83.40 $1 EXACTA (5-1) $20.20 10-CENT SUPERFECTA (5-1-8-7) $27.58 50-CENT TRIFECTA (5-1-8) $60.75 $2 CONSOLATION DOUBLE (10-6) $20.40 WinnerSheer Flattery Ch.c.4 by Flatter out of Venus Rosewater, by Grand Slam. Bred by Amy Boulton (KY). Trainer: Doug F. O'Neill. Owner: R3 Racing LLC, Tucker, Terri and Westside Racing Stable. Mutuel Pool $266,145 Daily Double Pool $23,955 Exacta Pool $110,639 Superfecta Pool $25,707 Trifecta Pool $54,568. ScratchedCaray, Giant Influence. 50-Cent Pick Three (8-10-5) paid $54.15. Pick Three Pool $58,627. 50-Cent Consolation Pick Three (8-10-6) paid $14.30. SHEER FLATTERY bobbled at the start, stalked outside, bid three deep into and on the turn to gain the lead into the stretch, inched away in midstretch and won clear under urging. EL ASESINO pressed the pace inside then stalked along the rail into and on the turn, came out into the stretch, angled back in and came back for the place. DREAMS OF VALOR angled in and dueled between horses then inside on the turn, came a bit off t he rail in the stretch and held third. JIMMY CHILA pressed the pace three deep then dueled between horses on the turn and into the stretch and was outfinished for the show. SUPER DUPER COOPER saved ground chasing the pace, came out into the stretch and lacked a rally. SARATOGA MORNING between horses early, chased a bit off the rail, found the inside into the stretch and weakened. SEVENTH RACE. 7 Furlongs. Purse: $51,000. Allowance Optional Claiming. Fillies and Mares. 3 year olds and up. Claiming Price $40,000. Time 21.78 44.50 1:09.97 1:23.36 Pgm Horse Wt PP St Str Fin Jockey $1 7 Hot Autumn 120 7 2 1hd 21 12 17 T Baze 9.00 2 Sheza Chattykat 121 2 8 2 1hd 24 21 Bejarano 3.00 4 Zusha 120 4 4 5hd 72 5 31 Van Dyke 2.10 5 Time for Ebby 125 5 5 8 8 61 4 Franco 7.90 6 Conquest Flatterme 118 6 6 6 3hd 31 53 Espinoza 5.40 3 Late 'n Left 125 3 3 41 6 41 61 Maldonado 20.80 8 Cute Knows Cute 113 8 1 31 41 8 7 Figueroa 4.60 1 Kindred 123 1 7 7 5hd 7 8 Gutierrez 37.80 7 HOT AUTUMN 20.00 8.00 4.60 2 SHEZA CHATTYKAT 4.80 2.80 4 ZUSHA 2.60 $2 DAILY DOUBLE (5-7) $77.80 $1 EXACTA (7-2) $52.40 10-CENT SUPERFECTA (7-2-4-5) $105.77 $1 SUPER HIGH FIVE (7-2-4-5-6) $2,879.00 50-CENT TRIFECTA (7-2-4) $88.85 WinnerHot Autumn Dbb.f.3 by Tiz Wonderful out of Shesoprovocative, by Orientate. Bred by H & E Ranch (CA). Trainer: Ian Kruljac. Owner: Clarke M. Cooper Family Trust and Kruljac, Ian S.. Mutuel Pool $275,655 Daily Double Pool $27,660 Exacta Pool $136,558 Superfecta Pool $67,915 Super High Five Pool $7,185 Trifecta Pool $97,092. ClaimedLate 'n Left by Mathilde Powell. Trainer: Leonard Powell. Scratchednone. 50-Cent Pick Three (10-5-7) paid $143.95. Pick Three Pool $55,481. 50-Cent Consolation Pick Three (10-6-7) paid $49.75. HOT AUTUMN had speed off the rail then dueled between horses, battled outside the runner-up leaving the backstretch and on the turn, took the advantage in upper stretch and drew clear under urging. SHEZA CHATTYKAT broke a bit slowly, moved up between horses then dueled inside, fought back into the stretch and held second. ZUSHA chased between horses then off the rail on the turn, came four wide into the stretch and picked up the show. TIME FOR EBBY between rivals early, settled off the rail, went outside on the turn and five wide into the stretch and lacked the needed rally. CONQUEST FLATTERME stalked outside then four wide early on the turn, continued off the rail into the stretch and weakened. LATE 'N LEFT angled in and saved ground stalking the pace, came a bit off the rail on the stretch and also weakened. CUTE KNOWS CUTE pressed the pace three deep then stalked outside, dropped back three wide on the turn and also weakened. KINDRED stalked inside then between foes into and on the turn, continued alongside a rival into the stretch and had little left for the drive. EIGHTH RACE. 1 Mile Turf. Purse: $31,000. Claiming. 3 year olds and up. Claiming Price $35,000. Time 22.94 46.80 1:10.58 1:22.36 1:33.96 Pgm Horse Wt PP St Str Fin Jockey $1 9 Acker 125 9 8 21 22 21 22 11 Bejarano 3.90 5 Impression 125 5 1 11 11 11 1hd 22 Pedroza 2.70 3 Incredible Luck 120 3 3 3 31 3 31 31 Payeras 7.00 2 Uber Star 125 2 10 93 95 5hd 51 4hd Franco 6.80 8 Cats Blame 120 8 4 5hd 4 6 61 5nk Espinoza 5.90 7 Iron Alex 125 7 6 71 61 42 41 61 Maldonado 23.90 1 Buckstopper Kit 122 1 9 10 10 10 81 72 Stevens 4.50 6 Zippy Groom 122 6 5 41 5hd 71 72 82 Roman 29.60 10 Upper Room 125 10 7 83 82 82 94 913 T Baze 18.30 4 So Be It 125 4 2 6 7hd 9 10 10 Blanc 80.20 9 ACKER 9.80 5.00 3.20 5 IMPRESSION 4.60 4.00 3 INCREDIBLE LUCK 5.00 $2 DAILY DOUBLE (7-9) $86.60 $1 EXACTA (9-5) $20.00 10-CENT SUPERFECTA (9-5-3-2) $88.72 $1 SUPER HIGH FIVE (9-5-3-2-8) $1,718.30 50-CENT TRIFECTA (9-5-3) $86.70 WinnerAcker B.g.4 by Include out of A. P. Few, by A.P. Indy. Bred by Wertheimer et Frere (KY). Trainer: Peter Miller. Owner: Altamira Racing Stable, Silver Ranch Stable and Wachtel Stable. Mutuel Pool $337,486 Daily Double Pool $27,066 Exacta Pool $177,343 Superfecta Pool $82,946 Super High Five Pool $2,253 Trifecta Pool $118,956. Scratchednone. 50-Cent Pick Three (5-7-9) paid $66.85. Pick Three Pool $57,443. ACKER angled in and stalked off the rail, bid outside the runner-up in the stretch to gain the lead under urging a sixteenth out and inched away late. IMPRESSION sped to the early lead, set the pace inside, fought back along the rail in the stretch, could not match the winner late but bested the others. INCREDIBLE LUCK pulled along the inside then saved ground stalking the pace, came out in upper stretch and held third. UBER STAR broke a bit slowly, settled inside then just off the rail, came out on the second turn and four wide into the stretch and improved position. CATS BLAME chased three deep then outside a rival leaving the second turn and into the stretch and lacked the needed rally. IRON ALEX chased between horses then a bit off the rail, split rivals again into the second turn, continued outside a foe on that turn and could not offer the necessary late kick. BUCKSTOPPER KIT a step slow to begin, came out early then angled in and saved ground off the pace, went outside a rival leaving the second turn, came out some in the stretch and lacked the needed rally. ZIPPY GROOM stalked a bit off the rail then inside on the second turn and weakened in the drive. UPPER ROOM chased three deep then outside a rival, went three wide again on the backstretch, split horses into the second turn, continued a bit off the rail on that turn and lacked a further response. SO BE IT saved ground stalking the pace, dropped back on the second turn and weakened. NINTH RACE. 5 Furlongs. Purse: $50,000. Maiden Special Weight. Fillies. 2 year olds. Time 21.66 45.16 57.94 1:04.44 Pgm Horse Wt PP St 3/8 Str Fin Jockey $1 9 Madame Vestal 122 9 1 5hd 52 22 13 Franco 7.40 11 Slewgoodtobetrue 122 11 6 61 61 51 2 Prat 5.60 5 Honeyfromthesouth 122 5 2 22 24 12 32 Talamo 0.40 7 Miss Alegria 122 7 3 45 42 4hd 44 Delgadillo 66.20 8 Grateful Praise 122 8 11 93 82 88 52 Roman 50.20 6 Twirling Diamond 122 6 5 31 31 63 6 Pedroza 24.40 3 Reachreachreach 117 3 7 7hd 71 7hd 71 Figueroa 49.00 1 Posit 122 1 4 1hd 1hd 32 82 Gutierrez 14.20 10 Fabulous Star 122 10 10 11 11 92 911 T Baze 23.60 4 Lady Kim 117 4 9 8 95 104 102 Espinoza 69.70 2 Autumn Isabella 122 2 8 101 101 11 11 Linares 80.90 9 MADAME VESTAL 16.80 6.20 2.80 11 SLEWGOODTOBETRUE 6.20 3.00 5 HONEYFROMTHESOUTH 2.10 $2 DAILY DOUBLE (9-9) $79.60 $1 EXACTA (9-11) $35.60 10-CENT SUPERFECTA (9-11-5-7) $176.45 50-CENT TRIFECTA (9-11-5) $39.20 $1 X-5 SUPER HIGH FIVE (9-11-5-7-8) Carryover $3,342 WinnerMadame Vestal Dbb.f.2 by Into Mischief out of Classic West, by Gone West. Bred by Dunwoody Farm (KY). Trainer: J. Eric Kruljac. Owner: Kruljac, J. Eric, Lewkowitz, Frank, Lawless, Tom M. and Sondereker, John. Mutuel Pool $262,862 Daily Double Pool $42,108 Exacta Pool $141,917 Superfecta Pool $87,332 Trifecta Pool $108,072 X-5 Super High Five Pool $4,379. Scratchednone. 50-Cent Pick Three (7-9-9) paid $144.35. Pick Three Pool $58,642. MADAME VESTAL chased outside then off the rail, angled to the inside leaving the turn, came out in upper stretch, rallied under some urging to the lead a sixteenth out and won clear. SLEWGOODTOBETRUE settled outside then three deep chasing the pace, angled in some on the turn, came out in midstretch and just got the place. HONEYFROMTHESOUTH had good early speed and dueled outside a rival, took the lead into the stretch, kicked clear, could not match the winner in the final sixteenth and was caught late for second. MISS ALEGRIA stalked off the rail, came four wide into the stretch and lacked the needed rally. GRATEFUL PRAISE broke a bit slowly, settled off the rail then outside, came out into the stretch and could not summon the necessary response. TWIRLING DIAMOND stalked off the inside, came a bit wide into the stretch and weakened. REACHREACHREACH saved ground chasing the pace, came out into the stretch and did not rally. POSIT had good early speed and dueled inside, fought back on the turn and into the stretch and weakened in the final furlong. FABULOUS STAR broke a bit slowly, settled off the rail then angled in a bit off the fence and was not a threat. LADY KIM chased between horses then inside on the turn, continued a bit off the rail into the stretch and gave way. AUTUMN ISABELLA between horses early, dropped back along the inside and saved ground thereafter to no avail. TENTH RACE. 1 Mile Turf. Purse: $100,000. 'Autumn Miss Stakes'. Fillies. 3 year olds. Time 22.24 45.65 1:09.23 1:21.29 1:33.11 Pgm Horse Wt PP St Str Fin Jockey $1 5 Toinette 124 5 4 81 6 42 33 12 Prat 2.40 4 Ms Bad Behavior 122 4 1 1 1 11 11 2 Bejarano 1.80 9 Streak of Luck 120 9 2 4 43 32 2 33 Smith 7.60 7 K P Pergoliscious 120 7 3 122 121 11 81 41 T Baze 56.70 1 Pulpit Rider 122 1 10 7hd 8 6hd 6hd 51 Conner 19.10 13 Flammetta 120 13 6 14 14 14 101 6ns Stevens 23.30 2 So Hi Society 120 2 11 91 91 71 7hd 7hd Pereira 166.80 14 Hey Negrita 120 14 7 31 2hd 2hd 41 81 Cruz 15.70 10 Movie Moment 120 10 13 132 133 13 134 91 Franco 90.60 8 West Palm Beach 120 8 8 10hd 111 10hd 9 10 Blanc 26.50 3 Streetwithnoname 122 3 5 61 71 5hd 51 111 Talamo 87.10 6 Tesora 122 6 14 11hd 10 121 12hd 122 Van Dyke 6.60 12 Spring Lily 120 12 12 52 5hd 8hd 11hd 134 Gutierrez 54.30 11 Rayya 120 11 9 21 31 9 14 14 Roman 23.50 5 TOINETTE 6.80 3.60 2.80 4 MS BAD BEHAVIOR 3.20 2.40 9 STREAK OF LUCK 3.60 $2 DAILY DOUBLE (9-5) $58.80 $1 EXACTA (5-4) $8.10 10-CENT SUPERFECTA (5-4-9-7) $60.18 $1 SUPER HIGH FIVE (5-4-9-7-1) $7,802.10 50-CENT TRIFECTA (5-4-9) $19.90 WinnerToinette Dbb.f.3 by Scat Daddy out of I Bet Toni Knows, by Sunriver. Bred by J D Stuart, P C Bance & A REnterprises, Inc. (KY). Trainer: Neil D. Drysdale. Owner: Baca, Ken, Hawkins, Lisa, Hawkins, Nicholas, Hudson, Joseph and Hudson, Lynne. Mutuel Pool $488,497 Daily Double Pool $44,266 Exacta Pool $286,108 Superfecta Pool $143,721 Super High Five Pool $5,843 Trifecta Pool $196,494. Scratchednone. 50-Cent Pick Three (9-9-5) paid $41.60. Pick Three Pool $53,936. TOINETTE chased three deep then outside a rival, moved up outside on the second turn and four wide into the stretch, rallied under left handed urging to the front in deep stretch and won clear. MS BAD BEHAVIOR dueled inside, inched away leaving the second turn, held on well to deep stretch then could not match the winner but saved the place. STREAK OF LUCK angled in and saved ground stalking the pace, came out into the stretch and was edged for second. K P PERGOLISCIOUS (IRE) chased between horses then a bit off the rail, angled out on the second turn, came out five wide into the stretch and bested the others. PULPIT RIDER settled inside chasing the pace, went between horses on the second turn and four wide into the stretch and lacked the needed rally. FLAMMETTA unhurried and angled in early, saved ground off the pace, came out on the second turn and four wide into the stretch and had a mild late bid. SO HI SOCIETY (IRE) chased between horses then outside a rival, came out leaving the second turn and four wide into the stretch and lacked the needed rally. HEY NEGRITA angled in and stalked outside, bid three deep leaving the backstretch then outside the runner-up, fell back some nearing the stretch, drifted in and weakened. MOVIE MOMENT angled in and settled a bit off the rail, came out on the second turn and three deep into the stretch and could not summon the needed late kick. WEST PALM BEACH (IRE) fanned out into the first turn, chased three deep, went up four wide on the second turn and three wide into the stretch and did not rally. STREETWITHNONAME angled in and saved ground chasing the pace, continued inside on the second turn and in the stretch and weakened. TESORA a bit slow to begin, pulled and drifted out into the first turn then angled in and saved ground off the pace, steadied off heels leaving the second turn, came out some in the drive and lacked the needed response. SPRING LILY three deep early, chased outside a rival, went between foes on the second turn, angled to the inside into the stretch and weakened. RAYYA angled in and dueled outside the runner-up then between horses leaving the backstretch, dropped back on the second turn and had little left for the stretch. ELEVENTH RACE. 6 Furlongs. Purse: $18,000. Claiming. 3 year olds and up. Claiming Price $8,000. Time 21.61 44.94 57.49 1:10.94 Pgm Horse Wt PP St Str Fin Jockey $1 4 Ketos 116 3 7 41 2hd 13 12 Fuentes 4.50 10 Louden's Gray 123 9 5 7 72 6 21 Pedroza 6.50 7 Tomasino 123 6 2 5hd 51 4hd 3 Pereira 9.70 9 Braddock 118 8 6 9 9 8 41 Figueroa 4.20 6 I'll Wrap It Up 123 5 8 8 81 9 5hd Fuentes 6.80 8 St. Reno 123 7 3 3hd 41 3hd 61 T Baze 2.90 5 Towards the Light 123 4 4 64 62 72 71 Elliott 39.60 3 Baby Bear's Soup 123 2 9 2hd 1hd 2hd 84 Delgadillo 9.70 2 Bitte 118 1 1 11 3 51 9 Espinoza 10.10 4 KETOS 11.00 6.20 4.00 10 LOUDEN'S GRAY 7.60 5.20 7 TOMASINO 5.40 $2 DAILY DOUBLE (5-4) $33.40 $1 EXACTA (4-10) $40.10 10-CENT SUPERFECTA (4-10-7-9) $104.49 $1 SUPER HIGH FIVE (4-10-7-9-6) Carryover $2,392 50-CENT TRIFECTA (4-10-7) $152.55 $2 CONSOLATION DOUBLE (5-11) $5.80 WinnerKetos B.g.6 by Stormy Atlantic out of Charismatic Lady, by End Sweep. Bred by William B. Harrigan (KY). Trainer: Paul G. Aguirre. Owner: George J. Kerr. Mutuel Pool $252,482 Daily Double Pool $116,882 Exacta Pool $114,094 Superfecta Pool $52,198 Super High Five Pool $3,134 Trifecta Pool $70,718. ScratchedLambo Luxx, Reverend Al. 50-Cent Pick Three (9-5-4) paid $82.50. Pick Three Pool $112,874. 50-Cent Consolation Pick Three (9-5-11) paid $12.95. 50-Cent Pick Four (9-9-5-4) 1169 tickets with 4 correct paid $411.40. Pick Four Pool $630,078. 50-Cent Pick Five (7-9-9-5-4) 82 tickets with 5 correct paid $4,165.60. Pick Five Pool $447,565. 20-Cent Pick Six Jackpot (5-7-9-9-5-4) 41 tickets with 6 correct paid $5,442.88. Pick Six Jackpot Pool $413,271. Pick Six Jackpot Carryover $912,155. KETOS stalked between horses then bid three deep between rivals on the turn, took the lead into the stretch, kicked clear under urging and proved best. LOUDEN'S GRAY settled three deep then a bit off the rail on the turn, came three wide into the stretch, drifted in through the final furlong and was second best. TOMASINO chased outside then off the rail, came four wide into the stretch and edged a rival for the show. BRADDOCK settled between horses then outside a rival, came out into the stretch, split horses in deep stretch and was edged for third. I'LL WRAP IT UP bobbled slightly at the start, settled inside, came out into the stretch, angled in off heels past midstretch and lacked the needed rally. ST. RENO stalked outside, bid four wide on the turn and into the stretch and weakened in the final furlong. TOWARDS THE LIGHT chased off the rail then inside leaving the backstretch and on the turn, came out some in the stretch and could not offer the necessary response. BABY BEAR'S SOUP stalked inside, bid between horses on the turn and into the stretch and weakened. BITTE sped to the early lead, set the pace inside, dueled along the rail on the turn and weakened in the drive. Brazil on Sunday became the latest country to shift toward far-right populism, electing as president a bombastic former army captain who has insulted women and racial minorities, praised the countrys former military dictatorship and defended the use of torture. Jair Bolsonaro garnered 55% of the vote compared with 45% for his competitor, Fernando Haddad, election officials said. The triumph marks a substantial change for Latin Americas largest democracy, which has been dominated for years by Haddads left-leaning and scandal-plagued Workers Party. Bolsonaros blunt, provocative manner earned him comparisons to President Trump and deeply divided Brazilians who are anxious about rising crime, high unemployment and a series of wide-ranging corruption investigations that have touched dozens of politicians and have particularly stained the Workers Party. Thank God we got rid of the Workers Party! said Andre Prado, a 44-year-old attorney who was celebrating in the streets of Sao Paulo. Now we have a real leader for our country, one who wont take advantage of us and pocket whats ours. Advertisement In a victory speech Sunday night, Bolsonaro emphasized the same nationalistic and anti-corruption message that helped fuel his unexpected rise, vowing to create a decent government committed exclusively to our country and our people. A large crowd gathered outside his apartment in Rio de Janeiro, chanting his name, singing the national anthem and setting off loud bursts of fireworks. In Sao Paulo and at least one other city, Bolsonaro and Haddad supporters clashed in the streets, with police using pepper spray to disperse the crowds. Many voters said they were drawn to Bolsonaros strong style, particularly his vows to be tough on crime and loosen gun laws to make it easier for Brazilians to carry firearms. Gislaine Freitas, a 54-year-old nurse who voted for Bolsonaro in Sao Paulos main business district, said she had been the victim of an armed robbery. If criminals have access to guns, she said, why shouldnt I be able to carry one too? Freitas said she likes Bolsonaro because he represents a clean break with the countrys recent leaders. Bolsonaro is the only one who can change this country now, she said. If we dont do something to stop the Workers Party, well end up like Venezuela. But Bolsonaros victory stirred deep fears among some that he could return Brazil to the violence of the military dictatorship that ruled the country from 1964 to 1985. Fernando Haddad, left, after voting in Sao Paulo. Right, Jair Bolsonaro greets supporters after voting in Rio de Janeiro on Oct. 28. (Sebastiao Moreira / EPA/Shutterstock; Antonio Lacerda / EPA/Shutterstock) Bolsonaro, a long-serving member of Congress, has praised leaders of the dictatorship as heroes, and has said the countrys biggest mistake during that era was not killing 30,000 more people. He has said he would rather have a dead son than one who was gay, and that a congresswoman didnt deserve to be raped by him because she was very ugly. He has insulted Afro-Brazilians and plans to boost the economy by expanding agribusiness on the land of indigenous Brazilians. Pedro Azevedo, a 33-year-old social worker who is gay and black, said he worries about his safety under a Bolsonaro presidency. I never feel 100% safe ... but if Bolsonaro wins itll only get worse, said Azevedo, who voted for Haddad. People feel empowered to be violent when they see a leader who condones it, he said. Imagine what itll be like if they can legally carry guns too. Mark Weisbrot of the Washington-based think tank Center for Economic and Policy Research said Bolsonaros victory thrusts Brazils democracy into crisis. Bolsonaro has vowed to expand Brazils Supreme Court, stacking it with his supporters, and has threatened to expel from the country or even exterminate political opponents. This is a dark day for Brazil, Weisbrot said. The international community must help preserve Brazils democratic institutions and stand up for the rights of its citizens by letting Bolsonaro know that there will be consequences if he follows through on his dangerous and hateful rhetoric. Some political analysts and journalists have blamed a recent wave of political violence on Bolsonaros divisive speech. There were at least 71 politically motivated violent attacks between Sept. 30 and Oct. 10, according to the Brazilian investigative journalism organization Publica. Of those attacks, 50 were attributed to supporters of Bolsonaro. Bolsonaro has also been a victim of violence. During a campaign rally in September, he was stabbed by a man who told police that God instructed him to do it. The man has been charged under Brazils National Security Law with carrying out a politically motivated assault. The attack was the latest twist in the countrys most turbulent election campaign in memory. A few months ago, the Workers Party appeared set to reclaim the presidency, which it lost in 2016 when Dilma Rousseff was impeached on charges of manipulating the federal budget to try to conceal the countrys financial woes. Former President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, who left office in 2010 with approval ratings near 90%, ran again this year, despite the fact that he is serving a 12-year prison sentence for his involvement in the billion-dollar Car Wash corruption scandal involving Brazils state-run oil company. Polls in late August showed Lula as the clear front-runner, with 39% of the vote. Many Brazilians associate him with the countrys surging economic growth during the late 2000s before a crippling recession hit in 2014. But Lula was declared ineligible because of a law that bars people convicted of crimes from running for election for eight years after they are released, and he abandoned his campaign in September. The Workers Party replaced him with Haddad. Relatively unknown outside Sao Paulo, where he served as mayor, Haddad did not inspire the same level of enthusiasm as Lula. Haddad also failed to connect with voters in the same way as Bolsonaro, who has shunned news conferences in favor of Facebook Live videos and messages on the chat program WhatsApp. Several entrepreneurs who have been bankrolling Bolsonaros campaign were accused of bombarding users on WhatsApp with hundreds of millions of messages containing false claims about Haddad, part of a wave of disinformation that has been rampant during the election. Brazils electoral court banned some posts from social media and some campaign videos from airing on television, accusing them of spreading lies. The vitriolic campaign turned some voters off to the electoral process altogether. A poll taken shortly before the election found many people planned to cast blank votes in protest. That was what 47-year-old banker Laura Carvalho did. Carvalho said she voted for Bolsonaro during the first round of voting, held three weeks ago, in which Bolsonaro fell short of the 50% needed to win outright and avoid a runoff election, but then had second thoughts. I have friends who are gay and black, and I worry about them because of all the people who have been attacked since the last vote, she said. But voting for Haddad doesnt seem right either, she said. Hes just another Workers Party puppet there to represent Lula. Brazils economy cant handle more corruption. Trump called Bolsonaro to congratulate him, according to White House Press Secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders. Both expressed a strong commitment to work side by side to improve the lives of the people of the United States and Brazil, and as regional leaders, of the Americas, she said. Special correspondent Langlois reported from Sao Paulo and Times staff writer Linthicum from Mexico City. Special correspondent Langlois reported from Sao Paulo and Times staff writer Linthicum from Mexico City. kate.linthicum@latimes.com Twitter: @katelinthicum UPDATES: 7:40 p.m.: This article was updated with election officials announcing Jair Bolsonaro as the winner of the presidential race and additional reaction. 4:00 p.m.: This article was updated with preliminary election results indicating Jair Bolsonaro apparently held an insurmountable lead in Brazils presidential election. This article was originally published at 11:35 a.m. Hong Kong-based Asia Premier International Ltd. established a facility in Cagayan Special Economic Zone and Freeport in Sta. Ana, Cagayan which is emerging as a hub for financial technology companies. Asia Premier is the seventh fintech company to register with Cagayan Economic Zone Authority, according to chief operating officer Amando Jimenez. It certainly was not easy getting a license to operate an offshore virtual currency exchange. We had to go through very rigorous pre-screening requirements and probity check. The voluminous pages we needed to submit reached from floor to ceiling, said Jimenez, referring to Cezas stringent probity and integrity check to prevent scams from happening within the economic zone. We are now more than ready to connect with the Ceza platform thru the Ceza fintech hub at Bonifacio Global City in Taguig City, Jimenez said. Jimenez said Asia Premier was honored to be a registered locator at the booming CSEZFP. The license from Ceza enables Asia Premier to run its blockchain operations in the Philippines to serve overseas markets. Jimenez said the companys offshore virtual currency exchange license would allow our partners in the global blockchain industry and NiuEx Exchange, our platform, to undertake crypto to crypto transactions. We look forward to a bullish market and a successful partnership with all our participants. Ceza administrator and chief executive Raul Lambino handed on Oct. 26 to Asia Premier the offshore virtual currency exchange provisional principal license. Some 70 fintech companies have applied with Ceza to become pioneers in the countrys fintech industry as of July 2018.Of that number, we have issued 17 provisional principal licenses to companies that would spearhead the disruption of financial processes. Asia Premier International Limited is one of them, Lambino said. Ceza manages the Cagayan Special Economic Zone and Freeport which provides a safe haven for the blockchain and cryptocurrency companies. The potential of these financial technologies to enhance transfer and verification processes, and how trust in the financial industry is being shifted to the digital space, has captured the attention of governments, financial institutions and regulators, Lambino said. Lambino revealed plans for the creation of a code of conduct for the crypto company locators or the so-called self-regulatory organizations at Ceza, saying it is necessary part of a broader strategy to improve the effectiveness of regulation and market strategy. SROs, being comprised of members engaged in the industry, are able to provide key insights, critical research and updates on national and international business standards that Ceza will utilize to effectively and efficiently regulate the industries and licensees under its jurisdiction, he said. Ceza deputy administrator Raymundo Roquero said the ecozone would continue its plan to establish a blockchain university inside the economic zone, which would be important to train blockchain programmers, coders and designers, as demand for these jobs were expected to grow in the future. House Deputy Speaker and Rep. Munir Arbison of Sulu is asking the Court of Appeals to cite a judge from a lower court, along with three police officers, in contempt for ordering his arrest. The congressman filed a petition with the CA, and Branch 4 Judge Grace Alasco; Philippine National Polices Criminal Investigation and Detection Group director Roel Obusan in Region 9; Supt. Richard Vercelez, and Sulu director Supt. Pablo Labra II for disregard, disobedience and made mockery of the writs and processes of the appellate court over the repeated issuance of an arrest warrant. Alasco could not ignore the CAs order for her to cease and desist from implementing her Sept. 4 order, Arbison said. He said he was prompted to file a contempt of court petition following attempts by the CIDG to execute warrants issued against him by Alasco even if the CA had issued a temporary restraining order.The cases against him were filed two decades ago, he said, adding many of the complainants were already dead or had migrated to Malaysia. On Oct. 3, the CAs Special 23rd Division issued the TRO ordering the Regional Trial Court, 9th Judicial Region, Branch 4, Parang, Sulu, the agents and persons acting in its behalf, to cease and desist from implementing the order dated 04 September 2018. Rio N. Araja The Librarian of Congress and the U.S. Copyright Office have granted American consumers and gadget repair shops greater freedom to fix their smartphones and other popular electronics in what "right-to-repair" advocates are calling a major victory. In a new ruling that will take effect Sunday, the Librarian of Congress has carved out exemptions that allow people to legally circumvent digital "locks" on devices they own, such as voice assistants, tablets, smartphones and vehicles, to repair them. Motherboard earlier reported on the ruling. By Hamza Shaban https://www.washingtonpost.com/technology/2018/10/26/right-repair-advocates-claim-major-victory-new-smartphone-copyright-exemption/?utm_term=.7b4c6ad2e74c Iran and Iraq have decided to promote their commuication services given to millions of pilgrims who travel to holy cities of Iraq during the Arbaeen religious rituals. AhlulBayt News Agency (ABNA): Iran and Iraq have decided to promote their commuication services given to millions of pilgrims who travel to holy cities of Iraq during the Arbaeen religious rituals. Iran's Minister of Information and Communications Technology (ICT) Mohammad-Javad Azari Jahromi and head of Iraqi Commissioners, Communication and Media Commission (CMC) Ali Naser Al-Khwildi discussed the issue in their meeting in Najaf, Iraq on Saturday. Both sides underlined maintaining technical cooperation for presenting the best communication services and facilities during Arbaeen rituals. Iranian minister and Iraqi official also discussed deepening cooperation in communication and technology fields. Iran ICT Ministry is ready for establishing cooperation to exchange experiences in communication and technology fields and also in offering communication services to Arbaeen pilgrims. . Despite the efforts made by Iranian and Iraqi officials, the considerations and conditions of some private companies in Iraq have prevented giving services to pilgrims and millions of pilgrims face disconnection in the Internet and phone calls in crowded areas of Iraq especially in Karbala and Najaf. Arbaeen mourning ceremony is one of the largest religious gatherings in the world. It marks the 40th day after the martyrdom anniversary of the grandson of Prophet Mohammad (PBUH), Imam Hussein (AS), the third Imam of the Shia Muslims. Every year millions of Iranian Shia Muslims and Muslims from other countries travel to the holy cities of Iraq to make Arbaeen pilgrimage. This year Arbaeen falls on October 30. /257 Iraqs Hashd al-Shaabi paramilitary forces have amassed on the countrys border with Syria after a massive Daesh attack on the other side of the border. AhlulBayt News Agency (ABNA): Iraqs Hashd al-Shaabi paramilitary forces have amassed on the countrys border with Syria after a massive Daesh attack on the other side of the border. A Hashd al-Sha'abi commander in Iraq's western Anbar Province said he had sent reinforcements to the border after the Friday attack, Russia's RT Arabic television reported. The Takfiri terror group published a statement on the Telegram messaging application, saying it had attacked two villages in Syria's eastern Dayr al-Zawr Province late Friday. The attacks reportedly killed at least 60 members of the US-backed Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) militants, and wounded more than 100 others. Daesh has said it had also captured some SDF-controlled areas in Syria over the past two days. Hashd al-Sha'abi commander Qassem Moslih said the SDF retreat in the face of Daesh inroads had created a void on the Syrian side of the border. Iraqi authorities are wary of infiltration by terrorist groups based in Syria, especially at a time when millions of pilgrims are on the move across the country to mark Arba'een in the holy city of Karbala. On Saturday, the Hashd al-Sha'abi said it had downed 15 drones over Karbala for security reasons, using jamming systems which are stationed around the city. The group asked reporters to refrain from flying unmanned aircraft during Arbaeen rituals and coordinate such flights with related authorities. Millions of Muslims are heading to Karbala for Arbaeen, the anniversary of the 40th day following the martyrdom of the third Shia Imam, Imam Hussein and his companions. Cities, towns and villages all over Iraq empty out during a 20-day period as their people take to the roads in an elaborately organized and well protected mass movement not seen anywhere else in the world. Estimates vary of the total attending, reaching as high as 17 million. Traveling from as far as Iran, Pakistan, Azerbaijan, Bahrain, Lebanon, Kuwait, Europe and America, they will descend on Karbala on Tuesday. Pilgrims walk in long columns stretching back unbroken for as much as 50 miles and sleep and eat in tents erected by supporters beside the road. The event has gained traction in recent years following the fall of the former Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein and become an overwhelmingly powerful manifestation of belief and solidarity among Muslims. The message of this march to the worlds people is unity among Muslims and harmony in fighting oppression, chief of Irans Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) Maj. Gen. Mohammad Ali Jafari said Saturday. He made the remarks as he visited one of the border crossings used by Iranians to travel to Iraq for the ceremonies. Around two million Iranian pilgrims are taking part in the march this year, said head of Arbaeen Headquarters Hossein Zolfaqari whose office coordinates the event. The Arba'een rally is the largest annual gathering of people anywhere on earth and the journey, mostly on foot, is a sign of devotion to the ideals of Imam Hussein. The Imam and his 72 companions were martyred in an unequal battle with the massive army of the tyrant of the time more than a dozen centuries ago. The Battle of Karbala resonates strongly with the Muslim faithful due to the sacrifices made in order to keep Islam and the tradition of Prophet Muhammad (Peace be upon Him) alive. /257 Education Montgomery County Community College will present the spring installment of the interview/talk show program Issues and Insights April 20 from 12:30 to 2 p.m. in Science Center room 214, 340 DeKalb Pike, Blue Bell. The programs will be simulcast to the Colleges West Campus in South Hall room 216, 101 College Drive, Pottstown. Dr. Kolsky will offer a humorous presentation, Carrots, Sticks and Politics: A State of the Nation and the World Message. In this speech, he will provide his interpretation of domestic and international politics and then welcome questions from the audience for discussion. Issues and Insights, is free and open to the public. For information, contact Dr. Thomas Kolsky, professor of political science, at 215-641-6380 or tkolsky@mc3.edu. Montgomery County Community Colleges STEM Scholars Program will host a STEM Jam! open house April 25 from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. in the Advanced Technology Center at the Colleges Central Campus, 340 DeKalb Pike, Blue Bell. The drop-in event is designed for students interested in learning more about careers in science, technology, engineering and mathematics. Activities will include STEM program information and career advising, STEM speakers throughout the day from industry and academia, micro-helicopter and robotics competitive obstacle courses and demonstrations and static models of STEM student and faculty work. For more information about STEM Jam! or STEM programs at MCCC, contact William Brownlowe at wbrownlowe@mc3.edu or 215-641-6644, or Robin Zuhlke at 215-619-7440 or rzuhlke@mc3.edu. Temple Ambler, located at 580 Meetinghouse Road, presents the following events: International Club Global Bazaar April 15 from 5 to 8 p.m. The Ambler Campus International Club invites all students, faculty, staff and the community to celebrate a multitude of diverse cultures, which will be showcased at the organizations Global Bazaar. This family friendly event will highlight cultural traditions and celebrations in Asia, Europe, the Middle East, South American, North America and Africa through music, entertainment, food and informative displays developed and presented by students at the Ambler Campus. Young visitors will be provided with passports, which they may get stamped at each country they visit. Prizes will be awarded to world travelers who talk to cultural representatives, answer questions about the countries theyve visited and take part in fun-filled activities designed to help them learn about the rich diversity of cultures found throughout the world. Refreshments will be served. The event is free. For more information, call 267-468-8108 or e-mail tuc36466@temple.edu. EarthFest 2011 April 29 from 9:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. More than 75 exhibitors, including the Philadelphia Zoo, The Franklin Institute, the Academy of Natural Sciences, the Elmwood Park Zoo and the Insectarium, will take part in EarthFest 2011. School students of all ages are invited to attend and develop displays of their own. EarthFest partner the Pennsylvania Horticultural Society also offers its Kids Grow Expo, featuring the Junior Flower Show, as part of the event. For more information, call 267-468-8108 or e-mail duffyj@temple.edu. Annual Spring Plant Sale May 7 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. The plant sale an Ambler Campus tradition dating back to the early 1900s will feature woody plants and perennials in portable sizes, hardy trees, shrubs, and vines, native plants that are attractive to wildlife, herbs, and hanging baskets. There will also be numerous special plants for sale to highlight Amblers special anniversary year. Garden books and garden tools will also be available for sale. Students, staff, and volunteers from the Department of Landscape Architecture and Horticulture and the Ambler Arboretum Advisory Committee will be available to answer questions. All proceeds from the Spring Plant Sale will support the Ambler Arboretum Fund and the Pi Alpha Xi National Honor Society. Information: 267-468-8001 or judy.shatz@temple.edu. Learn more at www.ambler.temple.edu/anniversary. June Homecoming/Louise Bush-Brown Garden Dedication June 5 from 12:30 to 2 p.m. (June Homecoming), Bright Hall Lounge; 2 p.m. (Garden Dedication), Ambler Campus Formal Perennial Gardens. Tickets June Homecoming: Participant $18 per person; Sustainer $25 per person; Benefactor $40 per person. The 2011 June Homecoming, sponsored by the School of Environmental Design Alumni Association, will include the Alumni Association annual meeting and luncheon. June Homecoming will be followed by the formal dedication of Temple University Amblers Formal Perennial Gardens as the Louise Bush-Brown Formal Gardens. During this 100th anniversary of the campus, Temple University Ambler and the Ambler Arboretum of the Temple University is honoring Louise Bush-Browns many contributions to the history of the campus by formally dedicating the gardens in her honor. During the program, campus Executive William Parshall will welcome guests, Ambler Arboretum Director Jenny Rose Carey will speak about the Bush-Browns and the history of the garden, and an official ribbon cutting will be held for the Louise Bush-Brown Formal Garden. Following the ribbon cutting, guests are invited to take a tour of the gardens, which will wend their way to the Campus Greenhouse for the School of Environmental Designs annual Plant Auction. Information (Garden Dedication): 267-468-8001 or judy.shatz@temple.edu. Information (June Homecoming): 215-482-0722. Learn more at www.ambler.temple.edu/anniversary. Northview Garden Tour and Fundraiser for the Ambler Arboretum June 12 from noon to 5 p.m. Call for reservations. Tickets: $15 per person or $20 at the door. In addition to the gardens of the Ambler Arboretum of Temple University, Arboretum Director Jenny Rose Carey has a garden oasis all her own right in Ambler Northview. Visitors will have the opportunity to take self-guided tours throughout the many gardens, where garden experts will be available to answer questions about the various designs. The Ambler Keystone Chapter of the Womans National Farm and Garden Association will also provide tea and refreshments. All proceeds from the tours will support the Ambler Arboretum of Temple University. Information or to register: 267-468-8001 or judy.shatz@temple.edu. Learn more at www.ambler.temple.edu/anniversary. The Senior Adult Activities Center of Montgomery County, 536 George Street, Norristown, will hold the following events: SAAC Adult Day Care, an alternative to Nursing Home Care is available for information call 610-275-1960 Volunteers are needed for Meals on Wheels Program (call the number above) SAACs Fifth Avenue Boutique opens Monday through Friday from 10 a.m.-1:30 p.m. Exercise with Theresa will be held every Monday, Wednesday and Friday at 1 p.m. Dance class is held every Monday at 10 a.m. Tai Chi is held every Monday at 10 a.m. Yoga is held every Tuesday at 10:30 a.m. Line Dancing is held every Thursday at 10:30 a.m. Dancing with Joan is held every Wednesday at 10:30 a.m. Sculpture Class is held Wednesdays from 2 to 3:30 p.m. Why Should I Learn Spanish? will be held Wednesdays at 10:30 a.m. Generations On-Line computer classes for seniors will be held Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. 4 p.m. computers are available during those hours. Health Living will be held every Tuesday at 1 p.m. Boomer U will hold the following events. Boomer U is located at 45 Forest Avenue, Ambler. Registration & payment is required for all events: 215-619-8863. Pilates Class is held Wednesdays and Fridays at 9:30 a.m. First class is free; please bring a mat. For information call 610-291-5376. Blue Bell School of Dance, 921 Penllyn Blue Bell Pike, Blue Bell, hosts Argentine Tango Classes and a Milonga dance party every Friday evening. Lessons start at 8:30 p.m. followed by dancing at 9:30 p.m. Andrew Conway, master Argentine Tango dancer, instructor and performer and his partner Linda Chase will instruct. All levels welcome and no partner is needed. Refreshments will be served. Fee is $12 per person and includes lesson and dancing. Information: 215-634-1101 or www.amoretango.com. The Montgomery Hospital Medical Center will offer the following classes: Childbirth Education Class- all parents are invited to participate, including those who are delivering at other hospitals. For more information on maternity services or classes, call 610-270-2020. CPR and First Aid Courses are offered for beginners to experiences health care providers. Call 610-270-2313. The Ambler SAAC (Senior Adult Activities Center), located at 45 Forest Ave in Ambler will hold the following events: Tai Chi every Monday and Thursday at 11 a.m. Yoga is every Tuesday at 1 p.m. and Friday at 10:30 a.m. Strength and balance training every Wednesday at 10 a.m. Armchair Aerobics is held every Monday at 10 a.m. Gourmet Weight Wise every Thursday at 12:30. Fitness Center and Pool Room open daily 8 a.m.-4 p.m. The Diabetes Education Center will offer day and evening classes each month. Health insurance pays for diabetes education classes. Preregistration is required. Call 610-270-2301. For Kids & Families The Ambler Kiwanis Club will host its annual Easter Egg Hunt April 26 at 10 a.m. in Ambler Borough Park, located just off of the intersection of Hendricks Street and Valley Brook Road. Members of the Wissahickon Key Club will assist Kiwanians in hiding thousands of wrapped chocolate eggs in a designated area of the park. Also hidden will be plastic colored eggs, which are redeemed for prizes. Elementary school children are separated by age. Upper Dublin Parks & Recreation will hold its 21st annual Storybook Egg-Stravaganza April 15 fom 6 to 7:30 p.m. at the Upper Dublin Township Building. Toddlers and preschoolers love this annual event where photo opportunities with favorite friends abound! Treasures are collected from UDP&Rs assortment of lifesize cutouts of favorite cartoon characters from Disney, Sesame Street, Nickelodeon and other well-known animation. Children can have their picture taken with Bugsy OHare; bring your own camera. And dont forget a basket for goodies! $7 for UD residents; $12 for non-residents. Pre-register at 215-643-1600 ext. 3443. Splash Week is a free week-long program that teaches children and families basic swimming skills and water safety practices. All YMCA branches will host multiple classes each day from April 11 to 15. For more information, contact the Ambler Area YMCA at 215-628-9950. Healthy Kids Day is April 16 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. The day is filled with fun, engaging and artistic activities that cultivate healthy living as part of the YMCAs larger efforts to help more kids and families become physically active. All activities are free and open to the community. For more information, contact the Ambler YMCA at 215-628-9950. No reservation is required. The Ambler Area YMCA has added several new programs for area youngsters. Classes are held late afternoons or evenings on various weekdays. For more information, visit philaymca.org or call 215-628-9950. Basic Beading: Ages: 10+. Wednesdays 7 to 7:45 p.m. This class will teach you the fundamentals of wiring and stringing along with how color can be used to create unique and vibrant beadwork design. You will create various jewelry including earrings, bracelets, charm pendants and much more! Supplies will be provided. Bringing your own jewelry pliers or tools would be a plus. Messin with the Masters: Ages: 8-12. Thursdays 7 to 7:45 p.m. Learn about some of the worlds greatest artists. You will be inspired to create your own Starry Night with oil pastels and tempera paints, a tissue paper painted Monet garden, a Picasso head using scraps of paper, a Georgia OKeeffe clay flower bowl and a Rousseau jungle collage. Super Scientist: Ages: 5-7. Mondays 4:30 to 5:15 p.m. Well be concocting chemistry experiments such as making slime, mixing potions and having fun with magnet magic. Your budding little scientist will enhance his/her creative thinking and motor skills and to top it off will learn that science can be serious fun. Wacky Junk Art: Ages: 8-12. Thursdays 6 to 6:45 p.m. Why throw it away! Instead join us to make household junk into aliens from outer space, wacky specs, crazy hats, body masks or a recycled train. Globe Trotters: Ages: 4-6. Tuesdays 4:30 to 5:15 p.m. Youre never too young to start thinking globally. Each week, we explore a new country through crafts, games, music, stories and even some taste-testing. A perfect introduction to our great big world! Crazy about Crafts: Ages: 5-7, Thursdays 4:30 to 5:15 p.m. Let your childs creative juices flow with our fun arts and crafts projects each week. Fine motor skills and creative thinking skills will be enhanced with this crafty class. Come out and join the Ambler Area YMCAs Teen and Junior Leaders Club. Participants are given the freedom to plan community service projects year round and truly make a difference in the lives of people in need. Those in Teen and Junior Leaders also attend leadership retreats all along the East Coast three times a year and meet other leaders who are doing the same great work in their respective areas. Dont miss out on this inspiring opportunity. Teen Leaders, ages 13-17, meet every Wednesday from 6 to 7:30 p.m. Junior Leaders, ages 10-12, will begin in the spring and will meet every Monday. For more information, contact Mike Miles, Teen Director, 215- 628-9950 x 1540 or mmiles@philaymca.org. Did you know that the new Ambler Area YMCA holds childrens birthday parties at its site for members and non members as well. The Ambler Y does all the work from start to finish and birthday parties include a personalized cake, ice cream, beverage and paper products. Parties are held on Saturday and Sunday afternoons and include two party hosts to lead activities, set-up, clean-up and assist with serving. You can have a Splash Party for children ages six to 12 in the new zero depth entry pool with water slide and spray fountains. Up to 25 children have exclusive use of the pool area with 30 minutes in the party room. Sports Parties are offered for kids ages four to 12 with age appropriate activities and games, and sports such as floor hockey, soccer, basketball or dodge ball. Children ages three to five years of age will enjoy parties in the Family Active Center with use of the Moon Bounce and organized activities, such as parachute play and songs. For information, 215-628-9950 ext. 1583. Community Events at the Ambler Y: -YAchievers YMCA Achievers is a developmentally based, extracurricular, educational and team mentoring program designed to help students in grades five through 12 prepare for fulfilled livelihoods in college and beyond. Participation is free and all students in this program receive a free YMCA membership. Registration for the 2009 program begins now. You do not need to be a YMCA member to utilize these special services. Call 215-628-9950 to register. Greater Norristown Art Leagues Childrens Weeklong Summer Art Camps will be held at 800 West Germantown Pike in East Norriton, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Monday through Friday throughout the summer. The cost per session is $125 per student for ages 6 and up. Jo Ann Cooksey Bono teaches an introduction to basic drawing skills and techniques from 10 a.m. until the lunch break each day. In the afternoon sessions, Mary Vogel Lozinak involves the students in hands on projects such as collage, papermaking, T-shirt printing, 3D design and sculpy clay. Fridays Graduation Day includes an art show, awards ceremony and reception for parents, siblings, grandparents and friends. All supplies are included. Students provide their own lunch. A refrigerator is available and the building is air-conditioned. This is the 15th year to run this successful program. Both instructors are professional artists with State Police and Child Abuse Clearances. To register, call Jo Ann at 610-279-1008, or register on-line at www.gnal.org. Health Dresher Physical Therapy is hosting an interactive seminar discussing its Golf Assessment Progam April 30 from 10 a.m. to noon at Dresher Physical Therapy, 1075 Virginia Drive, Suite 200, Fort Washington. Physical therapist Chris Miller, certified through the Titleist Performance Institute, will discuss why your body may be the most important piece of golf equipment you invest in and how this can drastically improve your game. $10 in advance; $15 at the door. Call 215-619-4545 to reserve your spot. The Chestnut Hill Center for Enrichment, Center on the Hill and Chestnut Hill Hospital will host a Senior Health and Resource Fair April 14 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Chestnut Hill Presbyterian Church, 8855 Germantown Ave. The event is free. For more information, call 215-248-0180 or e-mail chseniors@cavtel.net. The Ambler Senior Adult Activities Center is hosting Help Yourself to Health, a new six-week workshop for older adults with ongoing health conditions such as arthritis, diabetes, high blood pressure, anxiety, heart disease and others. The free workshop will take place at the Ambler Senior Adult Activities Center, 45 Forest Ave. on six Thursdays, May 12 through June 16 from 9:30 a.m. to noon. Although there is no charge to participate, registration is required. To register, call 215-619-8863. The Ambler Senior Adult Activities Center is sponsoring an eight-week program called A Matter of Balance: Managing Concerns About Falls. Presented by the Montgomery County Health Department, this workshop will be held on Tuesdays, May 3 to June 21 from 10 a.m. to noon at the Ambler Center, 45 Forest Ave. If you pre-register by April 27, the fee is only $5! Registration at the first class is $10. (Checks should be payable to SAAC and will benefit our Meals on Wheels program that serves homebound seniors.) A workbook will be provided and refreshments will be served. Call 215-619-8863 to register or for more information. Fort Washington Wellness Center classes are ongoing. There are several offered during lunch or right after work, for your convenience: Boot Camp from noon to 1 p.m. on Monday; Zumba is MWF from 11 a.m. to noon and Friday at 4 p.m.; there are 25 cycling classes; Ashtanga and Vinyasana Yoga and Pilates; and a group Womens Strength Training class M-F from 10 to 11 a.m. Questions, call Cathy DeMarco at 215-641-1245. Following the success of other local area programs, Impact Sports and Upper Dublin Parks and Recreation are delighted to team up again to offer a spring program for the 2011 season! Upper Dublin area children ages 3-5 years old can attend a Sports Program featuring their favorite sports games; soccer, rugby, hockey, track and field, basketball, and more. The program will start on April 27 and run through June 1. Cost for the program is $85 for the six weeks. The classes will be running 12- 1 p.m.; 1- 2 p.m.; 2- 3 p.m. For more info or to register, call Upper Dublin Township on 215 643 1600 or visit their website a http://www.upperdublin.net. Spring Aquatic Programs UDHS Pool: -Summer is just around the corner Community Aquatic Programs at the UDHS Pool can help get you into shape! Programs begin in March; preregistration is required. Shallow Water Aerobics Two 5-week programs, Wednesday nights, 8-8:45 p.m., $40R/$50NR. Adult Swim Instructions Two 5-week programs, Wednesday nights, 7-8 p.m., $50R/$60NR -Open Rec Swims are fun for the whole family! Come out on Fridays from 7-9 p.m. or Saturdays from 1-4 p.m. and enjoy use of the pool and diving area. Fridays are offered through June 17; Saturdays are offered March 12-May 21. -Join a growing group of adult lap swimmers and water walkers. Lanes are set aside evenings and weekends for use; lanes are shared. Monday Thursday from 7:30-9:30 p.m.; Fridays from 7-9 p.m. and Saturdays (March 12-May 21) from 1-4 p.m. -Private Swimming & Diving Lessons for ages 3-adult are offered at the UDHS Pool through a partnership with the Upper Dublin Aquatic Club (UDAC). Visit the UDAC website for more information, www.udac.us, and click the link to UDHS Private Lessons. -Looking for local programs for US Masters Swimming (adults) or Water Polo (all ages)? UDAC and UDSD are working together to develop programs that will be offered at the UDHS Pool. Add your name to Interest Lists by emailing slohoefer@upperdublin.net. emails will be sent about clinics and program start dates. Questions about Community Aquatic Programs at the UDHS Pool, group use of the pool or pool rental? Contact Susan Lohoefer, Facility & Community Affairs Manager at slohoefer@upperdublin.net or call 215-643-8800 x8994. SilverSneakers Fitness Program. The Healthyways SilverSneakers Fitness Program is a result-oriented program that enables older adults to take charge of their health. The program is an innovative blend of physical activity, healthy lifestyle and socially oriented programing. Members of the program are eligible for a free YMCA membership, with use of the pool and exercise equipment, along with customized classes designed for older adults who want to improve their strength, flexibility, balance and endurance. If you are a subscriber to Independence Blue Cross (Personal Choice 65 PPO) or Keystone 65 HMO, Bravo Health, or Health Options Programs (HOP), call the Ambler Area YMCA, 215-628-9950 or Hatboro Area YMCA, 215-674-4545. You can also visit www.silversneakers.com. Zumba Fitness offers Zumba dance/fitness classes at Academy of Dance and Music/BBAD Studio located at 1524 DeKalb Pike in Blue Bell (behind Sherwin Williams). Classes are offered three times a week: Tuesdays at 6 p.m., Thursdays at 6:30 p.m. and Saturdays at 8 a.m. For a free trial pass for your first class, email us at info@danceandmusic.biz or call 610-277-2557. For more info, visit our site at www.academyofdanceandmusic.org. Chestnut Hill Health Systems presents the following Health Education Programs: FITNESS CLASSES Golden Yoga: A Breathing, Stretching and Relaxation Class. Fridays, 2:30-3:30 p.m. Lea Auditorium, Chestnut Hill Hospital, 8835 Germantown Ave. Registration for four classes at a time required. Golden Yoga is Classical Yoga, adapted by the SKY Foundation, to accommodate those who have difficulty getting up and down from the floor. The program includes postures, breathing, relaxation and meditation techniques, all performed while sitting in a chair and standing. Registration required. Call 215-247-3029. Cost: $20 for 4 classes per month. Tai Chi: Tuesdays & Thursdays, 8:30 9:30 a.m. Springfield Residence, 8601 Stenton Ave. Classes, for the novice or beginner/intermediate student, are designed to improve balance, power, posture, coordination, flexibility and mental focus. Slow, gentle movements are modified to most everyones abilities. For more information or to sign up for a free introductory class, call 215-882-2804. Cost: $8 per class/paid monthly. SUPPORT GROUPS Weight Loss Surgery Support Group: Fourth Wednesday of the month, 7-8 p.m. Williams Conference Room, Chestnut Hill Hospital, 8835 Germantown Ave., Philadelphia. Join us for a monthly get-together where well share information for those interested in weight loss surgery, learn from guest speakers discussing current news on issues including lifestyle modification, nutrition and exercise and provide ongoing support for those who have completed surgery. Registration required. Call 215-753-2000. Breast Cancer Networking Group: Fourth Tuesday of the month 5:30 7 p.m. Williams Conference Room, Chestnut Hill Hospital, 8835 Germantown Ave., Philadelphia. A free, confidential support group for women living with a diagnosis of breast cancer designed to provide a forum for sharing information, feelings and concerns associated with breast cancer. Facilitated by Tish Wakefield, LCSW, Oncology Social Worker. Registration required. To register or for more information, call 215-248-8047. New Moms Support Groups Tuesdays 10:30 a.m. 12 p.m.; contact Jeanine ORourke, MSW or 2:30 4 p.m.; contact Susan Schack, Ph.D Volunteer Conference Room, Chestnut Hill Hospital, 8835 Germantown Ave. The Center for Postpartum Depression at Chestnut Hill Hospital is pleased to offer two new support groups to support new moms. Both groups will be run by experienced mental health professionals who really get it when it comes to new motherhood and juggling relationships, extended family, work/family balance and self-care. If you are experiencing new mom challenges that often heighten anxiety and involve hormonally driven depression, join us for an informative and supportive forum to connect with other moms. Infants are welcome. $30 per session (flexible based on need). Registration is required. Call Dr. Schack, 646-265-2484, or Ms. ORourke, 215-206-2931. Man to Man Prostate Cancer Support Group Third Thursday of the month 8-9 a.m. Williams Conference Room, Chestnut Hill Hospital, 8835 Germantown Ave. A networking group for men diagnosed with prostate cancer designed to provide education, support and encouragement. Spouses and partners welcome. Harry M. Baer, MD, Chief, Urology Division, will host Ask the Doctor. Registration required. Call 215-248-8325. Contact the Senior Center by phone 215-248-0180 or email (chseniors@cavtel.net) with your questions about these programs or any of our on-going activities and classes. Holy Redeemer HomeCare and Hospice seeks compassionate and emotionally mature volunteers to provide support to local hospice patients and their families in Bucks, Montgomery and Philadelphia counties. Volunteers may also assist with pet therapy and administrative work within the hospice department and are requested to have daytime availability. Hospice patient care volunteers visit with patients in their homes or nursing facilities once a week for two to three hours. They provide emotional support and companionship to patients and family members, assist with errands or provide respite for caregivers. Bereavement volunteers support the families of hospice patients following the loss of a loved one, while administrative volunteers assist with typing, mailings and/or filing. Hospice care workers provide a great service to families and loved ones of hospice patients. Many volunteers also report a great deal of personal satisfaction as a result of their services. Patient care and bereavement volunteers complete an application and attend an 18-hour volunteer training program that covers the medical, psychological and spiritual aspects of hospice volunteering. Day and evening training programs are offered. To sign up for volunteer opportunities in Pennsylvania, contact Holy Redeemer Volunteer Coordinator Jean Francis at 215-698-3737 or email jfrancis@holyredeemer.com. Librarytalk Upper Dublin Public Library, 805 Loch Alsh Avenue, Ft. Washington, 215-628-8744 www.upperdublinlibrary.org APRIL CHILDRENS PROGRAMS: Storytimes: Please register in the library. o Wee Ones: 0 to 23 months Thursdays and Fridays 10:30 to 10:50 a.m. o Tiny Tots: age 2. Wednesdays 10:30 to 10:50 a.m. and Fridays 11 to 11:20 a.m. o Jr. Book Lovers: ages 3 to 6. Tuesdays 10:30 to 11 a.m. o Bedtime Storytimes: 7 to 7:30 p.m. April 20 and 27. Wear your jammies, bring your teddy & hear Miss Barbara read bedtime stories! For ages 3 to 6. APRIL TEEN PROGRAMS: North Hills Library Teens April 28 from 4 to 6 p.m. Movie Matinee APRIL UDPL ADULT PROGRAMS: NEW! ESL Conversation Group. Tuesdays from 7 to 8 p.m. Interested in practicing your English in a safe and caring environment? Come to our conversation group and improve your skills! Please register with Kay Klocko at 215-628-8744 or kklocko@mclinc.org. One-on-One Computer Mentoring. Get personalized assistance from experienced computer volunteers! Sign-up for a one-hour session. Limit one session per month. Please register contact info above. Book Groups Please register with Kay Klocko 215-628-8744. o Daytimers: April 21 at 1:30 p.m. Tired of book groups where you all read the same book? Read any fiction or non-fiction book on this months theme: Explorers. Please register. Meetings: Annual Meeting of the Friends of UDPL: April 14 at 1 p.m. Board of Directors: April 20 at 7 p.m. Blue Bell Library www.wvpl.org Upcoming Events: The Wissahickon Valley Public Library, 650 Skippack Pike (Route 73) in Blue Bell, is diagonally across from the Blue Bell Inn. Call 215-643-1320 or visit their website at www.wvpl.org. For children and teens at Blue Bell: * Story times with guitar music by Miss Michelle, the singing librarian. * Mondays at 10:30 a.m. for all ages. * Wednesdays at 4:30 p.m. for all ages. * Fridays at 10:30 a.m. for all ages. * Family Movies, new releases, second Saturdays of the month at 1:30 p.m. * May 14 Despicable Me * June 11 Alpha and Omega * Special Events * April watch for date of spring/Easter events * April 14 at 4:30 p.m. Junior Lego Club for children ages 3 through 5. Parents and caregivers need to stay with children. * April 14 at 7 p.m. Jeopardy for ages 11 to 18. Test your book and library knowledge for prizes. Sign up to be a contestant. No sign up to be in the audience. Snacks provided. * April 16 at 1 p.m. Adult Mystery Book Group discussing The Beekeepers Apprentice by Laurie King. * April 16 at 1:30 p.m. Childrens event for One Book, Every Young Child celebration. Story and craft for book Whose Shoes? * April 19 at 7 p.m. and April 26 at 1:30 p.m.- Adult book group discusses The Professor and the Madman by Simon Winchester. Group led by Adam Button. * April 30 through May 3 Friends book sale with about 10,000 items for sale for children, teens and adults. * May sign up for Science in the Summer * June sign up for Enrichment Programs for Elementary-Age children * June sign up for Summer Reading, all ages For adults at Blue Bell: * Daytime Book Discussion Group fourth Tuesday, Jan April at 1:30 p.m. * April 26 The Professor and the Madman by Simon Winchester * Night-time Book Discussion Group third Tuesday of each month at 7 p.m. o April 19 The Professor and the Madman by Simon Winchester * Art Series with Dr. Sheldon Weintraub, docent at The Barnes and speaker at local colleges o April 27 at 2 p.m. The Art of Looking at Art-Is She Nude or Is She Naked? *Mystery Book Discussion Group, third Saturday of the month at 1 p.m.; new mystery theme each month; www.wvpl.org/programs * Yoga on Mondays at 1:30 p.m. $20 for eight classes; $5 per drop-in class. * Tai Chi on Mondays at 3 p.m. with Dr. Kurt Findeisen. $20 for eight classes; $5 per drop in class. * Philadelphia Museum of Art presents class on their Marc Chagall exhibit, April 13 at 2 p.m. * Giant Book Sale, April 29 May 3 o Starts with almost 10,000 items for children and adults! o Held during library hours. o Preview for members of the Friends of the Library, April 28 at 7 p.m. o Join the Friends and attend the preview sale. Modest fee to join. * Blooms at Blue Bell Gardening Series o May 11 at 1 p.m. Summer Bulbs by PA Horticultural Society * Knitting group Mondays and Wednesdays at 10 a.m. Work on your project or observe and learn. The groups continue year-round in the community room. * Socrates Cafe discussion group every Monday at 7 p.m. You pick the topic to discuss each week. No sign-up, nothing to read. * Bridge every Friday at 12:30 p.m. New players welcome. * Mah Jong every Wednesday at 1 p.m. New players welcome. *Chess every Wednesday at 7p.m. for adults and teens 14 and older. * Movie Matinee showing recent releases every Thursday at 2 p.m. April 14: Maos Last Dancer; April 21: Welcome to the Rileys; April 28: Conviction; May 5: Inception; May 12: Inside Job; May 19 The Kings Speech; May 26 The Fighter; June 2 Rabbit Hole; June 9 Black Swan; June 16 127 Hours * Ongoing like-new, year-round book sale for adults & children during library hours * Library opening at 10 a.m. Monday through Saturday! Ambler Library, a branch of the Wissahickon Valley Public Library, 209 Race St., 215-646-1072. www.wvpl.org. All the following events occur at the Ambler Library. * Story times with guitar music by Miss Michelle, the singing librarian. * Tuesdays at 10:30 a.m. for all ages. * Thursdays at 4:30 p.m. for all ages. * For adults: * Beading Group meets the first and third Monday of every month at 1 p.m. Work on your own projects or come to watch and learn. * Free Family History Lookup with Connie Briggs. Email Connie for an appointment at the Ambler Library. conniebriggs@comcast.net * Special Events: * April 14 at 1:30 p.m. Book Group discusses Skeletons at the Feast by Chris Bohjalian. * April 19 at 7 p.m. Travel to Paris with world traveler Harry Balin. Tea and scones at 6:30 p.m. * April 21 at 7 p.m. Art with Sara for children in fourth through seventh grades. *May 2 at 6:30 p.m. Discuss the movie Lone Star with Temple Professor Lisa Hawkins. Watch the movie ahead of time. *May 10 Robert Capucci discusses Art into Fashion. Tea and scones served at 6:30 p.m. Program at 7 p.m. *May 12 at 1:30p.m. Book Group discusses The Imperfectionists by Tom Rachman. *May 17 Tour the gardens of Devon and Southwest England with Lois McMullen. Tea and Scones at 6:30 p.m. Program at 7 p.m. *June 13 at 6:30 p.m. Discuss the movie Blade Runner with Temple Professor Lisa Hawkins. Watch the movie ahead of time. Meetings and Lectures The Unisys Blue Bell Retiree Group will meet in the Church on the Mall in the Plymouth Meeting Mall April 14 at 1:30 p.m. Kathy Sacket Young, director/trainer with the North Penn YMCA, will speak on Keeping Fit in Retirement. For more information, contact Membership Committee Chairperson Jerry Feldscher at 610-275-3538 or President Al Rollin at 215-368-4833. The next FWBA meeting will be April 28 at the Hilton Garden Inn Fort Washington. Networking begins at 11:30 a.m.; meeting from noon to 1 p.m. Leon Singletary, Principal, First Contact HR and FWBA Executive Board, will present: Social Media: How to Use It To Get More Business. Lunch is provided courtesy of the Hilton Garden Inn Fort Washington. Members are welcome to bring a guest. An RSVP is requested by return email or 215-628-0313. Big Brothers Big Sisters Southeastern PA is hosting a information sessions over the next few weeks on how to become a Big Brother. The information sessions will take place: April 16 at noon, April 19 at 8 a.m. and April 28 at 6 p.m. All sessions will be held at the groups Norristown Office,t 530 DeKalb St., Norristown. For more information, call 610-277-2200. The North Penn Chapter of the Institute of Management Accountants (IMA) normally meets on the third Tuesday of each month from now until May. Meetings are held at the William Penn Inn on Route 202 and Sumneytown Pike, Upper Gwynedd, PA. Social hour starts at 5:30 p.m., dinner is served at 6:30 p.m., and the technical program begins at 7 p.m. Cost with reservation is $28 for members. Members without reservations and guests pay $30. Students with reservations pay $15. Reservations may be made by noon on the Monday preceding the meeting by phoning 215-371-1854 or emailing the reservation to northpennima@yahoo.com northpennima@yahoo.com. Information about the North Penn Chapter is available at http://northpenn.imanet.org/. LeTip, a professional organization of men and women who are dedicated to the highest standards of competence and service meets every Tuesday at Cedar Brook Country Club, 180 Penllyn Pike, Blue Bell at 7 a.m. -meeting officially starts at 7:16 a.m. and ends at 8:31 a.m. Our purpose is the exchange of business tips, leads, and referrals. Each business category is represented by one member and conflicts of interest are disallowed. Guests are welcome to visit any of our breakfast meetings. Every third Thursday of month, Sunrise Assisted Living of Blue Bell (795 Penllyn Pike, Blue Bell, PA 19422, 215-619-2777) serves as a satellite site to 148th Legislative district PA congressman Mike Gerber from 10 a.m. to noon. Stop by for help needed with things such as disability placards and license plates, vehicle registration, utilities issues, birth/death certificates,property tax/rent rebates, etc. Notary services arranged by appointment. The Eastern Montgomery County Chamber of Commerce is an action-oriented organization dedicated to promoting its members and the economic health of eastern Montgomery county. The Chamber is committed to serving as a catalyst by uniting business, community agencies, government and education to make our county a great place to live and work. For information, call 215-887-5122 or visit www.emccc.org. Do you have a fear of public speaking? Blue Bell Toastmasters Club can help. We meet from 7 to 9 p.m., on the second and fourth Tuesday at the Marriott Courtyard, located on Route 202, directly across from the Montgomeryville Mall. Learn how to improve communication and leadership skills in a friendly and supportive environment. Guests are welcome. Admission fee: $5. For more info, visit www.bbtoast.org. The PennSuburban Chamber of Commerce will hold the following meetings (for reservations to any of the following, email info@PennSuburban.org) -Breakfast News Network, 7:30-8:45 a.m. at Normandy Farm Hotel (1401 Morris Road, Blue Bell, PA 19422) $15 members, includes full buffet breakfast. Join us for a networking program at Normandy Farm Hotel every Thursday morning for breakfast, business news, informative speakers, and plenty of networking. The cost includes a full breakfast buffet. Copies of the business cards will be made available to those who would like them. The BNI, Fort Washington Chapter meets every Monday at The Hilton Garden Inn, 520 Pennsylvania Ave., Fort Washington for a networking meeting. Meetings are from 11:30 a.m. until 1 p.m. Visitors are welcome. The only cost to attend is the cost of your meal. For information or a reservation to attend, please call Luanne Cram at 215-947-7784, or visit our Internet site at: http://www.BNIDVR.Com and click on the menu item Find a Chapter. For the past seven years, people have enjoyed participating in WVWAs Adopt-a-Tree program. Individuals can support the Association in its reforestation efforts by purchasing native trees to be planted. Supporters can plant their adopted tree or have WVWA volunteers will plant it. Trees cost $30 each. If you would like to volunteer or purchase a tree(s), please contact: Bob Adams at Bob@wvwa.org or call: 215-646-8866 for more information. Check www.WVWA.org for directions and maps. Sustainable Upper Dublin, http://sustainableupperdublin.org, meets the first Thursday of each month at 6:30 p.m., at the Upper Dublin Township Building, 801 Loch Alsh Avenue, Fort Washington, PA 19034. Please send any questions to suec@sustainableupperdublin.org or call 610-996-6316. To learn more about Sustainable Upper Dublin, view or join the discussion at http://googlegroups.com/group/sustainableupperdublin. Special Events The Mattie N. Dixon Community Cupboard will hold its first nutrition class April 19 at 10 a.m. at the Community Cupboard, 150 N. Main St., Ambler. Lynne Sinclair, a nutritionist from Abington Memorial Hospital specializing in diabetic nutrition, will conduct the class. Topics will include healthy eating, beneficial foods, recipes, making meals with every day foods, and how to use unfamiliar produce. A healthy snack will be provided.The class is is open to all residents in Montgomery County. The Historical Society of Fort Washington presents The History of Conshohocken April 19 at 8 p.m. at the Clifton House, 473 Bethlehem Pike, Fort Washington. Jack Coll will present an illustrated program on the history of the Borough of Conshohocken. Coll is a longtime resident of Conshohocken and a member of the Conshohocken Historical Society. He is co-author with his son, Brian, of the Arcadia Then and Now Series book Conshohocken. He has also done books Conshohocken and West Conshohocken Sports and Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Italian Feast. He has taken many photos for the Conshohocken Record and the Norristown Times Herald. This program is free. Refreshments will be served. For additional information, call 215-646-6065. Taste of the White House Soiree featuring former White House Chef Walter Scheib will take place April 29 at 6 p.m. at Manufacturers Golf & Country Club in Fort Washington to celebrate HealthLinks 10th anniversary and honor its founders, the Eugene Jackson Family. The evening will heat up with a Chef Meet & Greet, followed by a specially selected presidential menu. Gala tickets are $150 per person. Proceeds benefit HealthLink, a free clinic providing compassionate, quality medical and dental care to uninsured, working adults in Bucks and Montgomery counties who fall in between the health care cracks. Go to http://tasteofthewhitehouse.charityhappenings.org to make reservations online or lend support through sponsorship. For event information, call 267-699-0124 or email jmarushak@healthlinkmedical.org. The Wissahickon Valley Watershed Association will hold an open house at the Evans-Mumbower Mill April 17 from 1 to 4 p.m. The Mill is at the corner of Swedesford and Township Line Roads in Upper Gwynedd. The open house is free but donations are welcome. For more information, call 215-646-8866 o email info@wvwa.org. The Eastern Montgomery County Chamber of Commerce will host Breakfast With Your County Commissioners and State Representatives April 21 from 8 to 9:30 a.m. at the Holiday Inn Fort Washington, 432 W. Pennasylvania Ave. Commissioners: James R. Matthews (Chairman), Joseph M. Hoeffel (Vice Chair), State Representatives: Todd Stephens (District 151) and Josh Shapiro (District 153). Register onlineat www.emccc.org. $10 for EMCCC member; $20 for non-members. Upper Dublins Districtwide Allied Art Show will be held April 27 from 5:30 to 9 p.m. in the Upper Dublin High School Athletic Complex. The Rev. Alfred Muli, chaplain at Fort Washington Estates, will be the featured speaker at the Kiwanis sponsored breakfast observing the National Day of Prayer May 5 at 7 a.m. at the William Penn Inn. The breakfast is open to the public ($15). Reservations can be made by calling 215-646-4356 or by emailing georgesaurman@Juno.com. The Upper Dublin Shade Tree Commission invites people to participate in its spring bare root planting events, sponsored in part by Upper Dublin Parks & Recreation and Friends of Robbins Park. On April 9, zix trees will be planted at the Evelyn B. Wright Park & Community Pool, 401 Logan Ave., North Hills, at 9 a.m., followed by the planting of 10 trees at Sheeleigh Park, Loch Alsh Avenue and Douglas Street, Ambler, at 10:15 a.m. On April 29, students from Upper Dublin High School will join the Pennsylvania Horticultural Society to plant 16 trees in Robbins Park, Butler Pike and Meetinghouse Road, Ambler, to help launch the societys Million Trees campaign. This event will occur in conjunction with Temple Amblers EarthFest. Experienced tree-tenders are sought to assist the students. For more information,contact Ron Ayres at 215-653-0421 or 215-483-4348. The Friends of the Wissahickon and the Wissahickon Valley Watershed Association are teaming up once again to clean the Wissahickon Creek from top to bottom April 30 from 9 a.m. to noon. This spring marks the 41st anniversary of Wissahickon Valley Watershed Associations annual Creek Clean Up, and the second year that FOW has teamed up with WVWA. Volunteers of all ages will clean the creek, the surrounding trails and the many tributaries of the Wissahickon Creek. Armed with bags, volunteers will be assigned to sections of the creek. Following the clean up, all volunteers are invited to WVWAs Talkin Trash picnic in Fort Washington State Park, with food provided by Whole Foods Market of North Wales. The pavilion is located on Mill Road in Flourtown. To help out in Montgomery County, all volunteers must be pre-assigned a section of the Wissahickon Creek to clean. Please contact Bob Adams, WVWA director of stewardship, at 215-646-8866 ext. 14 or bob@wvwa.org. To work with the Friends of the Wissahickon in Philadelphia, meet at the pavilion along Forbidden Drive, a short distance south of the intersection of Forbidden Drive and Northwestern Avenue. Limited parking is available along Northwestern Avenue and other nearby streets. Volunteers are encouraged to bike or carpool to the event. To participate, register at www.fow.org. Contact Kevin Groves with questions at 215-247-0417 ext. 105 or groves@fow.org. Montgomery County Community Colleges International Club invites the community to the second annual International Festival April 20 from 5 to 9 p.m. at the Central Campus, 340 DeKalb Pike, Blue Bell. The rain date is April 26. The International Club will transform the outside quad area into multicultural celebration with various performances by dancers, singers and musicians. Artists will share their artwork at various display tables. Activities include games, raffles, Easter egg decorating and henna tattoos. Students will have samples of international cuisine at tables representing different countries and will serve food from various local ethnic restaurants. Throughout the evening, volunteers will accept donations and will raffle gift baskets and prizes to raise funds for Habitat for Humanity. Donations of food, international clothes and prizes are needed. Volunteers, including artists and performers, are welcome. For more information or to sponsor an activity, contact Gillian Nel, International Club president, at gnel9277@students.mc3.edu or 267-974-0163. The Arts and Humanities Division at Montgomery County Community College is partnering with the Philadelphia Writers Conference to host Memoirs Matter: How Life Stories (Including Yours) Can Transform Your Relationship to Literature April 23 from 1 to 3 p.m. in Advanced Technology Center room 101, 340 DeKalb Pike, Blue Bell. The event is free and open to the public. In the first part of this two-hour seminar, professor and author Robert Waxler will explain how writing his two memoirs affected his life as well as his relationship to literature. In the second part, blogger and workshop leader Jerry Waxler will present a sequence of steps to help writers find their own story. For information, contact Dana Resente at dresente@mc3.edu. The Maple Glen Garden Club will hold its fourth annual Plant Sale on May 7 from 8 to 11 a.m. Perennials, shrubs, vegetables and native plants grown by the club members will be sold. The club uses the plant sale proceeds to fund community projects, a college scholarship and community plantings. The sale will be held in the 500 block of Coach Road, Horsham, as part of a neighborhood garage sale. Plants will be sold at bargain prices. For more information, email MapleGlenGardenClub@gmail.com. The Relay for Life Craft Show is looking for local crafters to participate in show, which will be May 21 from 11:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. on the Wissahickon High School track, 521 Houston Road, Ambler. There is a $10 entry fee, and 20 percent of sales are donated to the American Cancer Society. Participants will receive a 6-foot table under a tent. For information, contact Joanne at joannescoles@comcast.net or Mindy at mcamsilver@comcast.net. Spring House Estates is hosting its annual book fair on April 18 from 4 to 7 p.m. and April 9 from 8:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Included will be hardback and paperback used books. Spring House Estates is located at 728 Norristown Road, Lower Gwynedd. The PennSuburban Chamber of Commerce will present the Penn Suburban/Hatfield Joint Business Card Exchange April 20 from 5 to 7 p.m. at Univest Bank Lansdale Area Financial Service Center, 120 Forty Foot Road, Hatfield. The event is free. To make reservations, visit PennSuburban.org/Events. Join Univest National Bank and Trust Co. for a spring-inspired Business Card Exchange at its newest office in the Hatfield Pointe Shopping Center. Come out and meet members of Univests executive management team while enjoying fine food and beverages. 13th Annual Community Reading Day Kick-off Breakfast Get Together April 26 from 8 to 9:30 a.m. at the North Wales Area Library, 233 Swartley St., North Wales. The event is free. To make reservations, visit PennSuburban.org/Events. For more information, contact the chamber office at 215-362-9200 or info@pennsuburban.org. Join presenting sponsor Verizon, chamber staff and fellow members for the Community Reading Day volunteer get together. The Community Reading Day program allows volunteers to read a designated book to second-grade students throughout 38 area public and private schools and present the book as a gift to each class. Even if you are not a volunteer, you are cordially invited to stop by to network, enjoy coffee and pastries. Ambler Mennonite Church is hosting a Spring Craft Show and Flea Market May 21 from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Rain date will be May 28. The community is invited to shop the great craft booths, find some gifts and deals, as well as enjoy home baked goods and tasty lunch specials. Childrens activities are planned. All vendors are encouraged to contact the church at 215-643-4876 or AmblerMennonite@verizon.net. Advertising, signage, customer parking and a shuttle to auxiliary parking at nearby lots for vendors will be provided. 10 foot by 10 foot spaces can be rented for $5 each and tables for an additional $5 each. All proceeds from space and table rentals go toward school kits for children around the world. The church is located at the corner of East Mt. Pleasant Avenue and North Spring Garden Street, Ambler. The Wissahickon Valley Watershed Association presents The Life & Times of Aquatic Insects in the Wissahickon Creek April 16 from 1 to 3 p.m. Join WVWA for a hands-on program. RSVP required: www.wvwa.org or 215-646-8866. WVWA member fee: $5 per person / $15 per family. Non-WVWA member fee: $10 per person / $20 per family. The photography exhibition Natures Palette by photo-artist Judy Miller will run March 18 to May 19 at the Art in the Storefront gallery, 41 E. Butler Pike, Ambler. JPRN Networking For People in Transition & People Who Can Help Them Unemployment remains high. JPRN, the Jarrettown Professional Relationship Network can help. Are you trying to network your way to a new job? Do you have expertise or contacts that can help people in transition? Is your company or organization looking for people in the area? This is a free outreach program to support those seeking work, involve people with contacts and networking know how, and involve local companies. Meetings held monthly at Jarrettown United Methodist Church, Limekiln Pike. Pennsylvanias Low-Income Home Energy Assistance (LIHEAP) grant program is now open for the 2010-11 heating season. Grants are based on income, family size, type of heating fuel and region. Additional information, such as specific income limits, and applications for LIHEAP grants are available online via the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania Access to Social Services (COMPASS) website at www.compass.state.pa.us. Applications are available at most public officals district offices, county assistance offices, local utility companies and community service agencies, such as Area Agencies on Aging or community action agencies. Begin your holiday shopping at Upper Dublin Parks & Recreation! Entertainment books for 2011, Philadelphia North, are now on sale at $30 each. Regal/United Artists movie tickets are on sale for just $7.50 each, and tickets to the Adventure Aquarium, Baltimore Aquarium, and the Philadelphia Zoo are also available. Discounted ski vouchers to area mountains will be arriving in December; call 215-643-1600 x3443 for more information. Upper Dublin Parks & Recreation office hours are Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. RSVP of Montgomery County and the Wissahickon Valley Public Library have partnered again to offer the public their popular free mock interview sessions. The mock interviews are conducted by RSVP volunteers who are retired professionals, some of whom were in hiring positions themselves. Packets of information which include a sample employment application and interviewing tips with mock interview questions are available at the library to pick up prior to a scheduled mock interview or will be sent via email once the interview is scheduled. To schedule your interview, please contact Janis Glusman at RSVP 610-834-1040, ext. 16. The library is also offering a free resume review service. Bring in your current resume and the professional reference staff will assist you with hints and tips on capturing your work history accurately. Registration for Upper Dublin Parks & Recreation summer playgrounds, Camp B.I.G. and Small Folks, X-Zone, and sports camps has began. Register online at www.upperdublin.net/store, or at the UDP&R office, 801 Loch Alsh Avenue, Fort Washington. Call 215-643-1600 x3443 for more information. Upper Dublin Parks & Recreation and Danielles Espresso Cafe presents Mornings at Mondaug Bark Park April 16 and May 21 from 8:30 to 10:30 a.m. Meet fellow dog lovers. These events include complimentary coffee, treats for people and pups and raffles/giveaways. Upper Dublins Annual Spring Flea Market will be held June 4 from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. Reserve a table, or come and shop. Tables are $15 for UD residents, $20 for non-residents. This successful event occurs rain or shine. Refreshments available. Call 215-643-1600 ext. 3443 to register for a table. Regal movie tickets available for purchase at Upper Dublin Township Parks & Recreation. Reduced rate: $7.50 per ticket. Some restrictions apply. Call 215-643-1600 x3443. Whitpain Township Parks & Recreation movie tickets $7.50 Regal Cinemas, United Artist & Edwards Cinemas on sale throughout the year Monday Friday from 9 a.m. 4 p.m. Whitpain Township Parks & Recreation Camp Sign-ups for Stony Creek Day Camp Stony Creek Tracers and Park n Tots. Register on-line at www.whitpaintownship.org OrCome to Township Building with check or Visa MasterCard Monday Friday from 9 a.m. 4 p.m. For additional information call 610.277-2400 ext. 374 Upper Dublin Parks & Recreation offers exciting new programs for the fall: -Returning favorites include UK Elite Petite Soccer, Tiny Dancers, Kiddie Tennis, Fun-nastics, Messy Playtime, Little Chefs, and more. Babysitters Training will be offered in November and December. Continuing Adult Fitness Classes include Cardio Circuit, Core & More, Yoga, Boxing, and Adult G.Y.M. For more information call 215-643-1600 x3443. Register for programs online at www.upperdublin.net/store. Music and Theater The community is invited to a Cantors Concert April 16 at 8 p.m. Congregation Beth Or, 239 Welsh Road, Maple Glen. Listen and hum-along to the Yiddish, pop tunes and classical music performed by Congregation Beth Ors own Cantor David Green and his special guest, Cantor Irvin Bell, from Temple Beth Israel in Deerfield Beach, Fla. The cantors will be accompanied by Mark Sobol and his Klezmer musicians. Tickets are $18 in advance and $25 at the door. RSVP with payment to Barb Murtha, 239 Welsh Road, Maple Glen, PA 19002, or call 215-646-5806 ext. 220. Gwynedd Friends Coffeehouse will host the Jameson Sisters May 14. Doors open at 7:30 pm, performance at 8:00 pm. Gwynedd Friends Coffeehouse is located at the corner of Rte. 202 & Sumneytown Pike, Gwynedd. $5 suggested donation. Light refreshment available at a modest cost. For further information, call 215-393-9576 or visit gwyneddmeeting.org/coffeehouse.html. Celebrate patriotism through song with Gwynedd-Mercy Colleges choir, the Voices of Gwynedd, as it presents Hear America Singing April 15 at 8 p.m. The choir will perform song selections from all over the country, including Georgia on My Mind, New York State of Mind, and a medley including Philadelphia Freedom and Allentown. The performance will end with When the Saints Go Marching In to acknowledge the choirs upcoming tour in New Orleans. Hear America Singing will take place in the Julia Ball Auditorium, located in St. Bernard Hall. Parking is available in lots A, C and D. Admission is free. The Choristers will present Anton Dvoraks Stabat Mater April 16 at 7:30 p.m. at Upper Dublin Lutheran Church in Ambler. The choir will be accompanied by a 41-piece orchestra. Tickets are $20 for adults, $15 for senior citizens, $10 for students and children are free. Tickets will be sold in advance or at the door. For more information, call 215-542-7871 or visit TheChoristers.org Religious News The Staircase Gallery at Or Hadash: A Reconstructionist Congregation in Fort Washington will feature the work of Emily Ennuat-Lustine. The artist will be showing paintings and graphics inspired by her own personal spiritual journey and quest for meaning. Some of the works to be shown have been inspired by Biblical Psalms and writings. Her work has been shown at Abington Art Center, Cheltenham Arts Center and Old City Gallery of Jewish Art among others. The exhibition is open Friday evenings starting Feb. 18 after Shabbat services. Gallery hours are: Mondays through Thursdays 10-4:30, Fridays 10-3 and following Shabbat Services and Sundays 10-1. The synagogue is located at 190 Camp Hill Road in Fort Washington. For additional information contact the synagogue office at 215-283-0276. Reunions St. Matthews High School Conshohocken Class of 1961 is looking for classmates. For details, contact Greg Marincola at 215-646-2239, 215-740-1296 or gregcola@comcast.net. Olney High School Class of 1971 is Lloking for classmates for a 40th reunion Oct. 28. For details, contact Judy at ohsclassof71@yahoo.com or 215-870-7572. Abington High School Class of 1961 is seeking classmates for a 50-year reunion to be held Oct. 14-15, 2011.Visit the website, www.abington61.com, for details or call 215-947-1779. Overbrook High School class of January 1956 is having a 55 year reunion on May 22, 2011 at the Bala Golf Club in Philadelphia. For information please contact overbrookreunion56@comcast.net Germantown High School Class Of January 1961 is looking for classmates for 50th year reunion to take place in May of 2011. Please contact: 215-362-9148, 856-577-0659 or samdelcomo@comcast.net The June 1961 class of Germantown High School is holding their 50th reunion on May 15, which will be a brunch. For further details please contact Linda Dorfman Alten at lindaalten@yahoo.com or call 215-441-8411. Support New Life Presbyterian Church in Dresher, will host GriefShare, a special seminar and support group which will run on Monday evenings from 7 to 9 p.m., from March 7 through June 6. At each meeting there will be a DVD about the grief process, discussion and reference to a grief workbook. Preregistration is required to secure a place in the group and to purchase a GriefShare notebook (for a one-time fee of $15). The notebook goes along with the 13-week schedule covering such topics as: living with grief, the effects of grief, and stuck in grief. For more information or to register, call: Sandy Elder at 215-884-5149. PUPS (People Understanding Parkinsons) A self-help group for those adjusting to a new diagnosis or dealing with the early stages of Parkinsons Disease. Meets fourth Tuesday of the month from 1 to 2:30 p.m., at Abington Health Center, Schilling Campus, Willowood Building, 2510 Maryland Road, Suite 251, Willow Grove. For more information or to RSVP, contact Lorna at 215-542-2931. The North Penn Visiting Nurse Associations Meals on Wheels program is looking for volunteers to pack or deliver meals to the elderly and infirmed. Meals are packed and delivered mornings, Monday through Friday. You can volunteer for as many days per week or month as you would like. Packaging meals requires approximately 2-1/2 hours of your time each day and involves making sandwiches, packaging food into individual serving containers and packing coolers with the meals. Delivering meals requires approximately 1-1/2 hours of your time each day and involves loading coolers into your car and delivering a route of approximately 10 to 15 stops. The Meals on Wheels program is also in need of emergency, winter-weather volunteers to pack and deliver meals in bad weather. North Penn VNA is located at 51 Medical Campus Drive in Lansdale and delivers meals in the Lansdale, North Wales and Blue Bell areas. For more information or to volunteer, please call Bridget, North Penn VNA Meals on Wheels coordinator at 215-855-8296. Elkins Park Area CHADD (Children and Adults with Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder) meets the first Tuesday of every month, 7- 8:30 p.m., at Einstein at Elkins Park Hospital in Elkins Park. For information on CHADD or ADHD, please see our website www.chadd.net/249 or call Claire Noyes at: 215-779-6656. Center for Loss and Bereavement, 3847 Skippack Pike, Skippack (610-222-4110) www.bereavementcenter.org Offers professional counseling for individuals, couples, children and families dealing with issues of loss and bereavement. Six-week adult support groups: Newly forming young adult grief support group every other Wednesday, 7 8:15 p.m. (free of charge); Monthly loss of child support second Mondays, 7-8:15 p.m.; Six-week young loss of spouse/partner Thursdays, 10-11:15 a.m.; Other groups scheduled as interest is shown for suicide loss support, adult loss of parent, motherless daughters, adult loss of sibling, coping with chronic illness and disability and mens loss of spouse. Nellos Corner Family Bereavement program offers peer grief support groups for ages 4 through teen and their caregivers Every other Tuesday or Wednesday (free of charge) Local chapter of Parents of Murdered Children also meets at the Center. Registration required. Call for further information. CHADD is a national organization for children & adults with Attention-Deficit/ Hyperactivity Disorder, providing education, advocacy and support for individuals and their families with AD/HD. Einstein at Elkins Park Hospital, 60 Township Line Road, Elkins Park, PA 19027, will host children & adults with Attention-Deficit/ Hyperactivity Disorder on the First Tuesday of each month 7 8:30 p.m. Free, no childcare provided. The Jewish Federation of Greater Philadelphias Kehillah of Old York Road is sponsoring a free Caregiver Support Group for individuals who care for an elderly person with cognitive and/or physical impairments. The group meets at SarahCare Adult Day Care Center, 101 Washington Lane, Suite G-6, Jenkintown, Pa., on the first Wednesday of each month. Patty Rich, Veterans Day program at Pennridge North Middle School thanks those who served Pennsylvania Horticulture Societys Harvest program ends season with almost 19,000 pounds of produce donated and $30K raised to fight food insecurity Due to security reasons, Iraq Popular Mobilization Forces (PMF) downed 15 drones over Karbala on Saturday night. AhlulBayt News Agency (ABNA): Due to security reasons, Iraq Popular Mobilization Forces (PMF) downed 15 drones over Karbala on Saturday night. Al-Abbas Brigades, which is part of PMF, in a statement warned all users of drones including reporters in Karbala to prevent using the UAVs during Arbaeen rituals. The radio jamming systems installed in most of the areas surrounding Karbala will cause interference in drones' flight and make them crash, the statement reads. The Brigade also urged users of drones to make the responsible officials informed if it is necessary to fly the drone. Tens of thousands of security, police and PMF forces are carrying out security plans to safeguard millions of Arbaeen pilgrims. Arbaeen mourning ceremony is one of the largest religious gatherings in the world. It marks the 40th day after the martyrdom anniversary of the grandson of Prophet Mohammad (PBUH), Imam Hussein (AS), the third Imam of the Shia Muslims. Every year millions of Iranian Shia Muslims and Muslims from other countries travel to the holy cities of Iraq to make Arbaeen pilgrimage. This year Arbaeen falls on October 30. /257 The two sides should continue technical discussions to define the framework and issues need to be negotiated, thereby creating favourable conditions for the later negotiation process, he said. Highlighting the importance of Wards role in the Vietnam-UK strategic partnership, PM Phuc said he expected the British ambassador will help double the bilateral trade turnover during his tenure. Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc (R) and UK Ambassador to Vietnam Gareth Ward (Photo: VNA) According to the government leader, bilateral trade exceeded USD6 billion last year, up 11 percent from 2016. The UK has invested USD3.71 billion in Vietnam, ranking 15th out of 129 countries and territories investing in the country. PM Nguyen Xuan Phuc said that in celebration of the 45th founding anniversary of diplomatic relations, Deputy PM and Foreign Minister Pham Binh Minh paid an official visit to the UK and he himself met with his British counterpart Theresa May on the sideline of the 12th Asia-Europe Meeting (ASEM) Summit in Belgium earlier this month. The PM also voiced his hope that the UK will help Vietnam access capital from the Commonwealth Fund, particularly for improving the business climate, coping with climate change, and developing infrastructure projects. For his part, the UK ambassador said Vietnams improvements in the business climate have impressed British enterprises. He pledged to make efforts throughout his tenure to boost bilateral trade as well as collaboration in other sectors such as education-training, culture, health, and defence. Affirming his support for free trade, Ward said the UK backs the EU-Vietnam Free Trade Agreement (EVFTA) and will help accelerate its early signing and ratification. Regarding the East Sea issue, the diplomat affirmed that he supports the supremacy of law, as well as freedom, security and safety of navigation and overflight./. By PTI NEW DELHI: Hyundai Motor India has topped the after-sales customer satisfaction survey among mass market brands, according to global market research firm JD Power. Hyundai, the country's second largest car seller, scored the highest 912 points in after-sales customer satisfaction survey, the JD Power 2018 India Customer Service Index (Mass Market) Study said. The South Korean firm had topped the rankings in the mass market category for India last year as well. Tata Motors was ranked second with a score of 874 points followed by Mahindra & Mahindra at the third position with a score of 865. Ford with a score of 829 points was placed fourth followed by Toyota at fifth with 827 points. Car market leader Maruti Suzuki India stood at the eight position with a score of 804. The study, now in its 22nd year, measures new-vehicle owner satisfaction with the after-sales service process by examining dealership performance. The study measures overall satisfaction in five factors service quality, vehicle pick-up, service advisor, service facility and service initiation. The latest study is based on evaluations from 9,045 new vehicle owners who purchased vehicle between March 2015 and August 2017. The study was fielded from March through August 2018. The study also found that customers who are 30 years and younger expect a higher quality service experience when their vehicle is being serviced. This is significant as the automotive industry in India is continuing to experience an influx of younger customers, with 28 per cent of customers who visit dealerships for service aged 30 years or younger, the study noted. "India's population is expected to be among the youngest in the world by 2020. This shift in demographics will likely further attract more customers in this age group to dealerships, so it is imperative to understand the needs of this set of customers in terms of convenience, speed and transparency," JD Power Regional Director Kaustav Roy said. Dealers will then be in a better position to meet the expectations of this demographic by providing a superior service experience and, in turn, enhancing customer loyalty, he added. SV Krishna Chaitanya By Express News Service CHENNAI : Forty-year-old P Kadrivan, a fourth generation traditional fisherman from Andikuppam, depends on Pulicat lake for his livelihood. Every afternoon, he takes his motorised boat and goes fishing in the backwaters and returns next day, in the morning with the catch. On a good day, he makes `1,000, but off-late his earnings have plummeted considerably. The reason: Pulicat bar mouth, which facilitates constant inflow of sea water during high tide aiding fisheries production, is now choked. Kadrivan said prawn and mullet fish are the major species found in the lake, but their numbers have drastically fallen. This is peak fishing season and ideally we should hit a jackpot. But because the bar mouth is closed, we are returning empty handed, he said. His anguish is shared by close to 30,000 fishermen living in 52 hamlets located around the Pulicat lake. When Express visited the bar mouth, taking a one-hour boat ride from Andikuppam village, the fishing vessels were struggling to venture into the sea. Many had to physically tow the boats. Silt was deposited to such an extent that water depth had reduced to under one metre and the lake bed was clearly visible. We are able at least tow the boat because its high tide. During low tide, the mouth will be completely closed, Munuswamy, another fishermen. Two types of fishermen operate in the area. While majority are backwater fishermen, who just fish within the Pulicat lake, and there are others who go into the sea. For both, an open bar mouth is crucial. To solve this recurring problem, the state fisheries department has come-up with an easy solution to permanently stabilise the Pulicat bar mouth - constructing two training walls on either side of the mouth, which will create an opening of about 300 metres. It also proposes to dredge the mouth to a depth of 3 metres, facilitating free flow of fishing vessels into sea. Though the project has been welcomed by fishermen, environmental experts say the government is meddling with nature and this would lead to massive seawater ingression, resulting in ecological degradation of Pulicat lake. No doubt the biodiversity in this ecosystem has changed quantitatively and qualitatively in the recent years, due to natural processes like reduction in depth and shrinkage of Pulicat lake. The anthropogenic influences like overexploitation of resources and land use changes have influenced the lake ecosystem. However, laying groynes or training walls is not advisable, rather the government can help the fishermen with periodical dredging, said ecologist D Narasimhan of Madras Christian College, who did a research on Pulicat. A senior scientist with Central Marine Research Institute (CMRI) said the governments intentions may be noble, but it should not risk overdoing things that may tomorrow cause irreparable damage to a fragile Pulicat ecosystem. However, G Velan, assistant director of fisheries, Ponneri, said the project was conceived after detailed topographical and mathematical survey carried out by Department of Ocean Engineering, IIT-Madras. IIT-Madras officials along with fisheries department officials visited the coastal stretch and investigated the site conditions. A stakeholder meeting was also held to understand the requirements of fishermen community. Construction of training walls will give access to fishermen in all seasons of the year, he said in the Form 1 submitted to Union Environment Ministry. Defending the project, SA Sannasiraj, head, Department of Ocean Engineering, IIT-Madras, told Express that Pulicat is a unique ecosystem. Its bar mouth keeps oscillating from north to south and vice versa during the course of seasons. At present, for almost eight months in a year, fishermen are complaining of bar mouth closure. So, we want to keep a portion of bar mouth open round the year for fishing vessels to move, without impacting the natural sand drift movement, he said. No Centre nod The proposal came up for deliberation before Expert Appraisal Committee (EAC) for projects related to Coastal Regulation Zone held on October 15. But the committee decided to drop the proposal on environmental grounds. The committee said: The project in all likelihood may alter the entire flow regime of the Pulicat lake and the ecological consequence of opening the mouth, leading to massive sea water ingression, may change the entire regime of the lake. Since capital dredging is involved, the project entails environmental clearance under EIA Notification, 2006, in addition to CRZ Clearance and therefore the CRZ Committee has no jurisdiction, it said. The Committee further noted that Pulicat lake is a national as well as internationally important wetland (identified as an Important Bird Area by Bombay Natural History Society and BirdLife International), hosting large congregations of birds and any unscientific interventions like opening of the mouth may have severe impact on the lagoons ecology. In the absence of a detailed marine EIA study the proposal is premature for consideration either by the state or the ministry. The Committee finally agreed that the project proponent may approach the concerned sector with upfront details, requisite documents and procedural requirements under the provisions of the EIA Notification, 2006. Accordingly, the proposal has been dropped for now. By Express News Service BENGALURU: Actor Sruthi Hariharan, who has levelled allegations of sexual harassment against actor Arjun Sarja, has filed a police complaint against him at the Cubbon Park Police Station here on Saturday. The police have registered an FIR and have booked Arjun Sarja under Sections 354 (assault or use of criminal force to woman with intent to outrage her modesty), 354 (A) (sexual harassment), 506 (criminal intimidation) and 509 (gesture insulting modesty of woman). Sruthis complaint comes on the heels of failure of talks at the Karnataka Film Chamber of Commerce, the defamation case against her, and alleged threat messages from Sarjas aide. She claims that she silently suffered as she was an upcoming artiste and Arjun Sarja was a very senior actor. Actor Sruthi Hariharan at the Cubbon Park Police Station in Bengaluru on Saturday | Shriram B N In her five-page complaint, Sruthi has mentioned incidents starting from November 2015 till July 2016. Speaking to The New Sunday Express, DCP (Central) D Devaraj said, Sruthi has given us a complaint explaining what she went through when she was shooting for the film Vismaya. We have taken note of all that she has said and have booked charges against Arjun Sarja. We have also begun fair investigations without any delay. The police have sent notices to Sruthis staff Boregowda and Kiran, associate directors Bharat Neelakanta and Monica to appear before them to record their statements. After this, the police will summon Arjun Sarja to the police station for his statement, explained the officer. Explaining her ordeal, Sruthi, in her complaint, says that the first time she was harassed was in November 2015, around 7.30 am while shooting for the film Vismaya in a bungalow near Presidency College in Hebbal. She played the wife of Ranjith Kalidas (played by Sarja). As per the script,there was a romantic scene wherein we need to hug after a brief dialogue. After the scene was over there was rehearsal as desired by the director. During the rehearsal, Arjun Sarja amorously started cuddling and touching my hips and further brought it to the thigh. I took exception that he behaved inappropriately. Sruthi says that Sarja didnt stop there and he allegedly continued to hold her tightly and pulled her close to him moving his hands behind my back asking the director whether we can improvise like this in the scene.Sruthi says she left the shoot and informed the director about the incident and rushed to the caravan. However, the complaint says, she was consoled by her staff Boregowda and Kiran. She got back to shooting expecting the scene to be different but Sarja allegedly didnt stop. In another scene, Sruthi, in her complaint, says, It was a scene where we were lying on the bed together. He pulled my hand forcing me to come very close to him, hug him. I pushed his hand, finished the scene and came out of the set. The complaint says she was petrified by the incident and cried uncontrollably and later informed associate directors Bharat Neelakanta and Monica regarding the same and refused to do rehearsals. Meanwhile, in December 2015, the complaint says that Sarja made advances involving unwelcome and explicit sexual overtures by asking her to join him at a private place. At a hospital in Devanahalli where we were shooting, he came to me and demanded sexual favours by calling me to a private place. In the same month he stopped my car near Devanahalli traffic signal and asked me to come to his resort. When I asked him the reason, he said to have a pleasant time. I have been asking but repeatedly you are denying. Today I have full time and there is no one in my room he said. I was emotionally upset and cried, the complaint states. Also, on July 18 in 2016, the complaint states that she was waiting alone in a hotel lobby when Sarja came from behind, pressed her back hard and said: Why are you waiting alone in the lobby, why dont you accompany me to my room. I am alone too, we could have some fun. Alleging that the actor has not only passed sexually coloured remarks, she says that he had threatened to ruin her career if she told about the incidents to anyone. Be careful. I will ruin your career if you tell anyone. I will pull you to various places and make your life miserable, is what Sarja told her, according to the complaint. By Express News Service CHENNAI : Following the release of the teaser of A R Murugadoss upcoming film, Sarkar, the team was charged with plagiarism allegations. Writer and assistant director Varun Rajendran lodged a complaint with the South Indian Film Writers Association claiming that the film is similar to his script, Sengol, which was registered with the body in 2007. On Friday, social media was abuzz with a copy of the associations judgement stating that both the scripts of Sengol and Sarkar were indeed one and the same. We reached out to the President of the association, veteran writer-director K Bhagyaraj, to confirm this. I do not know how the copy came out in the open, but yes, it is indeed true. Plagiarism charges are a serious matter of concern for us and we did our due diligence on this. Here, the committees heard the essence of the story and we felt Sarkar was exactly the same as Sengol. While the latter was registered in 2007, the former was registered under the name Pachai in 2017, said Bhagyaraj. Asked what decision was taken following investigations, he said, We asked Murugadoss if he can provide Varun a writing credit, but he didnt accept it. He said his inspiration for the script was Sivaji Ganesans real life election campaigning back in the day. So we offered him an alternate solution. We asked him to add, Inspired by original events and adapted to screen by AR Murugadoss to the start of the film and give an additional inspiration credit to Varun. But the director didnt accept that either. In light of these developments, we wrote the leaked letter to Varun that we tried our best but couldnt do anything more, and expressed our regrets on the same. While in Switzerland, Mr. Nguyen Xuan Thang, who is Chairman of the CPVCCs Theoretical Council and Director of the Ho Chi Minh National Academy of Politics, had a working session with Mauro Moruzzi, Head of International Cooperation at the State Secretariat for Education, Research and Innovation. He and Moruzzi exchanged views on modern challenges, especially those in the digital age to education and human resource training. The delegation of the Communist Party of Vietnam (CPV) led by Nguyen Xuan Thang, Secretary of the CPV Central Committee has a working session with Mauro Moruzzi, Head of International Cooperation at the State Secretariat for Education, Research and Innovation (Photo: VNA) He also met with Raphael Naegeli, head of the Asia and Pacific Division under the Federal Department of Foreign Affairs, to discuss bilateral ties and Switzerland-ASEAN relations. The Swiss official spoke highly of Vietnams economic development over the years and noted that the two nations have bolstered cooperation in technical assistance. Switzerland is looking to enhance economic cooperation with Vietnam in the coming time, Naegeli stated, adding that Swiss firms want to increase investment in the Southeast Asian country. He underlined that the Swiss and Vietnamese governments play a significant role in creating a legal corridor which facilitates long term operations of businesses. At the working session with Andreas Ladner, Director of the Swiss Graduate School of Public Administration, University of Lausanne, the two sides discussed prospects for cooperation in training and research on leadership and management. Secretary of the CPVCC Nguyen Xuan Thang (R) meets with Andre Simonazzi, Vice Chancellor and spokesman for the Swiss Federal Council (Photo: VNA) Mr. Nguyen Xuan Thang also met with Andre Simonazzi, Vice Chancellor and spokesman for the Swiss Federal Council, and Christian Levrat, President of the Social Democratic Party of Switzerland. The official also met with staff of the Embassy of Vietnam in Switzerland and overseas Vietnamese in the country./. G Parthasarathy By Why is China spending an astounding $8 trillion to build roads, bridges, dams, power plants, industrial parks and ports across virtually the whole world? Its Silk Road Economic Belt includes infrastructure corridors across 60 countries, extending from China to Western Russia, across Central Asia. Its Maritime Silk Road extends across the South China Sea and Indian Ocean, through Gwadar in Balochistan, to the shores of North Africa. The answer is relatively simple. Over the past four decades, China has built infrastructure, including dams, roads and power plants within its own borders, at a pace, unparalleled in world history. This process is now completed and China has been left with unemployed workers and idle machinery. What better way to utilise these than express readiness to build infrastructure across the world, in an ostensibly altruistic manner. After getting started in its effort and convincing the world of its altruism, China is finding that its true objectives are getting exposed, faster than it bargained for. Every Chinese project has two faces. The first is the huge publicity given to the project itself and references to Chinese aid. This is where rhetoric and reality about Chinese generosity diverge. There is a relatively small amount of financing on soft terms, with even a small grant element thrown in. But the bulk of the financing is on near-commercial terms, with strict schedules for interest payment. There have also been references to Chinese payoffs to influential members of ruling elites abroad. Recipient countries soon find they are unable to meet repayment obligations and are forced to hand over ownership of the project, as equity of the Chinese donors. Sri Lanka handed over control of the Hambantota Port to China, after its inability to repay $1 billion of Chinese aid, because hardly any cargo ship visited the port. It is facing the same problem in a nearby airport, built with such aid. India is trying to help Sri Lanka resolve the problem. But the debt-ridden country seems to still hanker for Chinese aid. Bangladesh seems to have been circumspect in responding to offers of Chinese aid. Myanmar soon found that it would get into a debt trap, if it were not circumspect. It has rejected a Chinese offer to build a 6,000 MW hydro-electric project at a cost of $6 billion and drastically reduced the costs of a Special Economic Zone near the Kyaukpyu Port, built by China. Its Bay of Bengal ASEAN neighbour, Malaysia, has rejected Chinese offers of assistance for infrastructure development, amounting to $21 billion. We may soon learn to what extent former Maldivian President Abdulla Yameen has mortgaged some of his islands to China, in appreciation of assistance. The biggest surprise has been the decision of the Imran Khan Government to cut down the size of the much-touted $62 billion China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC). This became inevitable, after Khans financial aides found that the debt burden of the project would be unbearable. Moreover, the IMF and the Americans warned that they could bail out Pakistan only after carefully assessing its debt burden to China. Pakistan is learning that there are no free lunches in international affairs, even from an all-weather friend. G Parthasarathy Former diplomat dadpartha@gmail.com Ravi Shankar By Information is power. Power corrupts and absolute information corrupts absolutely. The internecine war in the CBI, Indias most credible agency, has publicly exposed an ongoing shadow war. Never before have power struggles at the top become a public spat like CBI director Alok Verma vs No. 2 Rakesh Asthana. Never before has CBI raided its own premises or filed such an FIRa serious breach of an agencys secrecy code. Tracking the history of Indian agencies shows in a nutshell that intelligence gathering was nationally consolidated by the British to monitor anti-Centre movements, causing Centre-State turf wars with political overtones. The Sepoy Mutiny setbacks convinced the British that functions of Central Special Branch and provincial agencies should be cohesive, leading to the formation of Central Department of Criminal Intelligence (DCI). In 1872, at the height of the Indian Wahhabi revival, a religious convict assassinated Viceroy Mayo in Andaman jail. This prompted the colonial government to create a detective police for political purposes. A Special Branch was set up in Punjab in 1876 as an experiment that followed in other states. The Government started monitoring public opinion; vide a classified dispatch (No. 11, d. March, 25th, 1887), the collection of secret and political intelligence in India began after the birth of the Indian National Congress. On December 23, 1887, a national Special Branch was constituted with an annual budget of Rs 46,800. Post the 1912 Delhi bomb attack, London sent men from Scotland Yard to catch the culprits. Sir Edward Henry, Commissioner, Metropolitan Police, observed local investigators were better than English detectives. In 1935, when Indian home ministers of the provinces took charge of local intelligence, the colonial government in Delhi was wary of information leaking to revolutionaries. Provincial governments frequently complained that Centre was using DCI to spy on them. This turbulent past shows Indian intelligence was politicised to monitor the activities of opponents. After Independence, the CBI has been accused of being a caged parrot used by subsequent Central governments to spy on Opposition states and leaders and also conduct intimidating raids and arrests. The trend reached its peak during the Emergency, and has never really subsided since then. However, it is a dismal first when the powers-that-be in the CBI fight publicly. The Prime Minister has stepped in. But it is likely hostilities would continue at subterranean levels until only one man is left standing. If Mr Narendra Modis intervention does succeed, it could trigger an overhaul of equations leaving the onus of impartial responsibility on the agency itself. Perhaps, then, the parrot will be free of the cage at last. Ravi Shankar ravi@newindianexpress.com Anand Neelakantan By The hill shrine of Sabarimala in Kerala is witnessing a tug of war between the self-proclaimed protectors of Lord Ayyappa and the self-obsessed, publicity seeking pseudo liberals who are treating the shrine as a place to conquer. Mischievous media is adding fuel to fire by sensationalising every moment. A clueless state government, which has the Constitutional obligation to follow Supreme Court orders, is fighting a perception battle and is losing it, thanks to its own loose-tongued leaders mouthing inanities. A desperate political party is trying to fish in the troubled waters, while the Opposition doesnt know which side to take. TV studios are erupting with pitched battles of upholding traditions versus upholding Constitutional sanctity. The mob so far has prevented the implementation of the court order using intimidation. In this melee, a curious statement went unnoticed in the national media. The Tantrithe liturgical head of the shrinehas threatened to close the shrine if any woman dares to enter the temple premises. Whether the Tantri or the chief priest has the rights to close the temple is a question that gives rise to various other questions regarding the management of temples in general. Though there are temples run by individuals or private trusts, most temples are under the respective state Devaswom or Devasthan boards. A pitched propaganda has been unleashed recently that governments meddle with only Hindu temples and claims such as the collections of Hindu temples are used to subsidise religious practices of other religions are flung with abandon. This allegation is not true as most of the mosques are controlled by state wakf boards which in turn are controlled by the Central Wakf Council. Wakf board is equivalent to Devasthan boards of various states. In fact, there is no Central Devasthan board and all states do not have Devasthan or Devaswom boards. The Justice Shashvat Committee in its report on Muslims in India in 2011 had found that the Wakf properties constitute a land bank worth Rs 1.2 lakh crore and could have generated an annual income of Rs 12,000 crore, but was yielding only Rs 163 crore. The committee found that there was a severe shortage of senior Muslim government officers to manage Wakf affairs. It also points to the general lower socio-economic status of Muslims. The state Wakf boards or Devaswom boards are statutory bodies and must account for each paisa that comes to them. They come under the purview of vigilance and RTI. What would happen if the government decides to hand over the temples to devotees for managing them? The first issue will be who all could be classified as devotees? Could everyone bearing a Hindu name be a devotee? How would the temple administration committee be formed? If it is a village temple, the villagers could select the committee, but how about the major temples such as Tirupati or Sabarimala? Who all could vote for the committee members? Should it be pan-India voting or should it be pan-world voting? Often, when this question is asked, the people who vociferously argue for freeing the temples would say that the temples should revert to original owners. So, who are the original owners of the temples? Many temples have been owned by various dynasties, including the British. So, who should the temple and its property be handed over to? Should it be to the priests of the respective temple? In many temples, priesthood is hereditary. This is an anomaly in a democratic country. Why should not any Hindu, irrespective of the caste, be appointed the Tantri, if he or she has enough knowledge of the rituals and customs? Why should it be the privilege of a chosen few? There is an SC order of December 16, 2015, that says there should not be any discrimination based on caste while appointing priests. But one can be assured that such rulings would remain a utopian dream for a long time. This privilege should have been abolished along with the abolishment of Privy Purse for princes. The kings gave away their hereditary kingdoms and joined the Indian Union. Some kings did that voluntarily and some needed coercion. It seems striking down hereditary priesthood is more difficult than integrating recalcitrant kingdoms such as Hyderabad, Junagadh or Travancore to the Union of India. It shows how much caste privilege is etched in the Indian psyche. What is required perhaps is not handing over the temples to devotees but to democratise the temple administration. The Devasthan board can be formed state-wise and should have members elected by Hindu voters through an election. The system of Hindu legislators appointing members of Dewasom board is faulty. Each temple can have boards such as local panchayats, district panchayats, etc and at the apex, there could be state-wise Hindu assembly for temple affairs. All hereditary rights should cease and all appointments should follow the rules of public appointments. The only restriction on eligibility of members could be that they should be Hindus as this is for the temple board. Similar rules should be made applicable for Wakf boards and churches, where respective community members would elect the administrators of their faith democratically. This religious parliament can choose which customs to keep and what to reform, within the boundaries of our Constitution. This would set the pace and direction in which a religion wants to reform. This is far better than allowing a lethal minority among the faithful to arm-twist the silent majority using violence in the streets so that the pelf and privileges of some can be protected. Anand Neelakantan Author, columnist, speaker mail@asura.co.in By PTI NEW DELHI: A group of Dawoodi Bohra Muslim community members today told the Supreme Court that the courts should not decide the constitutionality of a centuries-old religious practice of female circumcision through the public interest litigation (PIL) route. The group said female circumcision is practised by a few sects of Islam including the Dawoodi Bohra community and the validity of this be examined, if at all, by a larger Constitution bench. A bench headed Chief Justice Dipak Misra, hearing a PIL filed by a Delhi-based lawyer challenging the practice of female genital mutilation (FGM) of minor girls of the Dawoodi Bohra Muslim community, was told by senior advocate A M Singhvi that the validity of a religious practice cannot be examined in a PIL jurisdiction. "The object of female circumcision (FC) and male circumcision (MC) is a religious practice in Islam and they are related to purity aspect," Singhvi, appearing for over 70,000 Dawoodi Bohra Muslim women, told the bench which also comprised justices A M Khanwilkar and D Y Chandrachud. He said though male circumcision (MC) is followed by all sects of Islam, the FC is being observed by few sects including the Dawoodi Bohra community and the validity of this be examined, if at all, by a larger Constitution bench. He said that if the government would have brought a legislation banning the FC then it could have been challenged on the grounds of violation of Article 14 (right to equality), but this recourse, would not be available to the community if the court decides to examine the validity of the practice. He also referred to the apex court's judgement on right to privacy and said that the PIL petitioner has been entering into private area of the community. Singhvi said that no affected Bohra Muslim woman has come to the court challenging the practice and to allege that it has harmed her emotionally and physically. The advancing of arguments remained inconclusive and would resume on August 30. Earlier, the apex court had said that the female genital mutilation (FGM) of minor girls of the community leaves a "permanent emotional and mental scar" on them and the practice may be held as violative of dignity of women as prescribed in the Constitution. The apex court had also said that the fact that the FGM is being practised from tenth century is not "sufficient" to hold that this formed part of the "essential religious practice", which cannot be scrutinised by court. Attorney General K K Venugopal, appearing for the Centre, had reiterated the government's stand that it was opposing the practice and said that this has been banned in many countries like the US, the UK, Australia and around 27 African nations. The practice causes irreparable harm to girl children and has many health repercussions, the top law officer said and referred to Article 25 to highlight the point that a religious practice can be stopped if it was against "public order, morality and health". The bench was hearing the PIL filed by Delhi-based lawyer Sunita Tiwari against the practice in the community. Tiwari, in her plea, sought a direction to the Centre and the states to "impose a complete ban on the inhuman practice" of 'khatna' or "female genital mutilation" throughout the country. Female genital mutilation is performed "illegally upon girls (between five years and before she attains puberty)" and is against the "UN Convention on the Rights of the Child, UN Universal Declaration of Human Rights of which is India is a signatory", the plea said, adding the practice caused "permanent disfiguration to the body of a girl child". PTI SJK ABA MNL RKS SJK RT RT 08282103 NNNN Fayaz Wani By Express News Service SRINAGAR: Jammu and Kashmir Governor, Satya Pal Malik Saturday ordered foreclosure of the contract with Anil Ambani's Reliance General Insurance Company (RGIC) for implementing the Group Mediclaim Health Insurance Policy for the state government employees and pensioners and directed Anti Corruption Bureau (ACB) to conduct thorough probe and fix the responsibility. The decision follows the Governor's decision to scrap the contract with RGIC. He had cancelled the contract saying it was 'full of fraud' and its implementation was erroneous. "The tenders were opened secretly on a holiday to suit a particular company," he had said. The State government had launched the group mediclaim health insurance policy for its 3.5 lakh employees, pensioners and accredited journalists from October 1 this year.The health mediclaim was made mandatory for its employees and pensioners by the State government.An official spokesman said today that ever since sanction was accorded to implementation of the insurance scheme by the government, doubts were expressed in various quarters, including a cross-section of society and media, about credibility of the process. "This has cast a shadow on the entire process followed in the finalization of the scheme," he said adding the allegations flying around have not stopped but are pouring in the media about the selection of the Insurance Company, more so the selection of the intermediary (Broker). He said as Governor's administration is mandated to provide good, transparent, fair and employee-friendly governance, it was felt that it would be difficult to proceed ahead with implementation of the scheme. "Taking a well-informed view on all aspects and the concerns about the process involved, the government is of the opinion that in interest of the government and for enhanced transparency, it would be judicious not to proceed further in the contract with the insurance firm," he said adding therefore, a decision has been taken to foreclose the contract.The spokesman said the matter has been handed to Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) for examining the entire process to ascertain whether it was conducted in a transparent and fair manner. The government has ordered Director, ACB to personally look into the matter rather than entrusting it to someone else. "Action will be taken on the findings of the ACB," added the spokesman.Sources said the probe has been ordered after reports that State's Finance Department had made an advance payment of Rs 60 crore to RGIC without approval of the Governor or Chief Secretary.After cancellation of contract with RGIC, the government employees have demanded immediate return of their premium with interest.The annual premium for employees was Rs 22,229 and for pensioners was Rs 8777. Ejaz Kaiser By Express News Service RAIPUR: At least four jawans of the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) were killed in an attack by Naxals in Chhattisgarhs strife-torn Bijapur district, about 350 km south of Raipur, on Saturday. The troopers were out on regular area-domination and road-opening operations when the Naxalites triggered a powerful improvised explosive device (IED), targeting the bunker vehicle of the CRPFs 168th battalion. Four jawans were killed on the spot, Bastar range Inspector General of Police Vivekanand Sinha said, describing the attack at Basaguda. After the blast, the rebels opened fire, which was swiftly retaliated. Ramananda Sengupta By Express News Service NEW DELHI: ARMY Chief General Bipin Rawat on Saturday equated stone-pelters in Kashmir with terrorists, and once again warned Pakistan over the futility of cross-border terrorism. The remarks came after Rajendra Singh, a 22-year-old jawan, died in Srinagar on Friday after sustaining severe head injuries while battling a stonepelting mob in Anantnag on Thursday. If they (stonepelters) can kill people with such acts, are they not becoming like terrorists? he asked during an interaction with journalists at an event to mark Infantry Day, which marks the sacrifices made by Indian Armys infantry against Pakistani raiders in Jammu and Kashmir in 1947, and their constant courage and service to the nation. I want to tell them (stonepelters) that no one will benefit from stone-pelting, he said, adding that the Army had lodged an FIR against the stonepelters, and that stern action must be taken against them. In yet another stark warning to Pakistan, the Army chief said: We are capable of finishing any infiltrators who reach our side. However, if Pakistan continues to support infiltration, we can use other kind of action too, he said, without elaborating. Despite knowing it would never succeed, Pakistan continued fuel trouble in Jammu and Kashmir. The idea was to keep the Indian Army embroiled in this proxy war that they have lost, to avenge its defeat at the hands of India in the 1971 war and the liberation of East Pakistan, which became Bangladesh, he said. The Indian Army and state are strong enough to ensure that Jammu and Kashmir remains a part of India, he said. By UNI LUCKNOW: BJP will be holding a three-day crucial meeting here from Monday to set up minister-party office bearer team to visit the 80 Lok Sabha constituency to assess the party's situation . The meeting will be chaired by state BJP president Dr Mahendra Nath Pandey and state party General Secretary ( Organisation ) Sunil Bansal, and to be attended by all the state Ministers and the party's Executive Committee members. Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath could also attend the meet. The meeting will fix the names of the minister and the party officials, who would go to all the 80 Lok Sabha constituencies for holding a meeting to assess the party's present status and the performance of the sitting BJP MP. READ| Rajasthan assembly elections: BJP banks on Congress infighting to salvage pride The team would be holding the meeting for three days from November 2. The meeting will be held on Monday evening at the state party headquarters. State party general secretary Vijay Bahadur Pathak said here on Sunday that the meeting has been called in view of selecting a team of minister and state party office bearer, who will hold meeting in the Lok Sabha constituencies. The team, which will cover all the 80 Lok Sabha seats would report back to the state party leadership before Diwali festival. They will also give details about the local party workers feedback along with the performance of the BJP MP. There are 44 ministers excluding the CM and 2 deputy CM in the state and all of them would be engaged in the team along with the state office bearers. Meanwhile, there is a speculation that around 40 per cent of the 69 sitting BJP MP could be denied ticket this time. By PTI BIHAR SHARIF: A college teacher was shot dead by two bike-borne miscreants in Bihar Sharif, the district headquarters town of Nalanda, on Sunday morning, police said. The incident happened when the teacher was on a morning stroll, the police said. The deceased has been identified as Arvind Kumar (58). He was a professor at Pairu Mahto Somari College in Bihar Sharif, the Deputy Inspector General (DIG) of Central Range, Patna, Rajesh Kumar, said. Kumar was a resident of Jalalpur area in Bihar Sharif town and was shot at by two bike-borne miscreants near Milkipar while he (Kumar) was on a morning walk, Kumar said adding, the miscreants managed to escape from the spot. The injured professor was rushed to Bihar Sharif Sadar hospital but he died on the way to the hospital, Rajesh Kumar said. An investigation has been initiated, he said, adding that he also met the deceased's family. A special investigation team (SIT), headed by Superintendent of Police (SP) of Nalanda district, Satya Prakash Mishra, has been constituted to probe the matter, the DIG said. The matter is being investigated from all angles, DIG said, adding, land dispute could also be one of the factors behind the killing. A dog squad and a forensic team were called from Patna to collect samples from the spot, the DIG said. By PTI JAIPUR: Aam Aadmi Party national convenor Arvind Kejriwal on Sunday targeted Prime Minister Narendra Modi over alleged corruption in the multi-crore Rafale jet deal with France, saying he should not fear a CBI probe if he is honest. Referring to the Union government's mid-night decision to send CBI chief Alok Verma on indefinite leave last week, Kejriwal claimed Verma was "suspended" as Modi feared he was to register an FIR in connection with the deal and launch an investigation. "It is a Rs 36,000-crore fighter aircraft scam. An honest CBI chief was removed at 3 am as he wanted to lodge FIR against the prime minister the next morning. The prime minister should not be afraid of a CBI probe, if he is honest," Kejriwal said at a public meeting in Jaipur in poll-bound Rajasthan. His supporters chanted that Modi is a "thief". Verma was sent on leave after a feud erupted between him and his deputy, Special Director Rakesh Asthana, with the government saying the decision was taken to protect institutional integrity of the agency. The government has also repeatedly denied allegations of corruption in the Rafale deal. Referring to himself, Kejriwal said the people of New Delhi can proudly say that their chief minister is honest. Can they say the prime minister is "honest", he asked the crowd. "The CBI conducted raid at my residence. I cooperated with the sleuths, offered them tea and sweets. All they found were four mufflers. People of the New Delhi can proudly say their chief minister is honest," he said. Kejriwal asked the people whether they have got quality education, better healthcare, free water and cheaper electricity under the rule of the BJP or the Congress, whom they have voted to power in Rajasthan alternately in recent elections. Making a case for his AAP, he suggested to the people that they should vote for the party, like the people of Delhi have done, and dislodge both BJP and Congress from governance in Rajasthan. "We do not vote to make any party win, but to defeat the other. BJP and Congress had done a setting in New Delhi to loot people but the people threw both the national parties out of power and it can happen in Rajasthan as well," Kejriwal said. He claimed the AAP government in Delhi has done what the two national parties could not do in 70 years. The success rate of Delhi government-run schools was 10 per cent better than private schools, people get free medicines, treatment, water under government schemes and cheaper electricity, he said. Talking about farm distress, he criticised Centre's crop loan insurance scheme, saying it was meant to benefit insurance firms and not farmers. "Crop insurance scheme is a scheme to loot farmers. Premium amount is directly deducted from their bank accounts, and when it comes to raising claims farmers have to run from pillar to post," he alleged, seeking an end to the central government scheme. The party, which will be contesting the assembly election, scheduled on December 7, for the first time in the state, on Sunday also released its draft manifesto and sought suggestions from people. Kejriwal said people decide the fate of democracy and AAP would work for betterment of all sections of society. By Express News Service BHOPAL: After touring Bhopal, Vindhya, Jabalpur and Gwalior-Chambal regions in the past weeks, Congress national president Rahul Gandhi is set to embark on a two-day tour of the all-important Malwa-Nimar region from Monday. Beginning from Indore, Rahul will also travel to Dhar, Jhabua, Ujjain and Khargone districts of the region. This will be his second visit to the Malwa-Nimar region within four months, as he had visited Mandsaur in June to mark the first anniversary of the police firing on farmers in 2017. It was in Mandsaur that Rahul announced for the first time to waive off agricultural loans within 10 days of the party coming to power in Madhya Pradesh. Housing the maximum 66 seats, the Malwa-Nimar region, with Indore as its nucleus, is considered the ruling BJP's fortress. The ruling party won 56 out of the 66 Assembly seats here in 2013, while the Congress managed just nine. The Congress needs to resurrect itself in this region for bolstering its prospects to wrest power on its own in Madhya Pradesh after 15 years. Rahul will also travel to tribal-dominated Jhabua, Dhar and Khargone districts. He will embark on a road-show in Indore, which assumes significance as it is the biggest and most populated city of the state. Eight out of the nine Assembly seats in Indore district are with the BJP. Also, since 1989, the Indore Lok Sabha constituency is represented by BJP's Sumitra Mahajan, who is the also Lok Sabha Speaker. Rahul is likely to meet industrialists and business community in the economic capital of MP. Also, eight out of the 29 Lok Sabha seats in MP are situated in the Malwa-Nimar region. Only Ratlam-Jhabua is held by the Congress, which too was won in the by-election. During the trip, Rahul, who has been on a temple visiting spree, will offer prayers at the Mahakal temple in Ujjain, which houses one of the 12 Jyotirlingas. He will reach Mhow town in Indore district, the birthplace of BR Ambedkar, where he will pay tributes to the father of the Indian Constitution. While the Congress is making all efforts to make Rahul's visit memorable, the RSS and the ruling BJP are also keeping a close watch on the tour, as this region is known to be the most powerful base of the Sangh in the entire state. The BJP which had swept the region, both in the 2013 assembly polls as well as the 2014 polls is not in as comfortable position as in 2013, particularly owing to resentment among the farmers, particularly among the powerful Patidar community which is a major force in this region and also the upper caste anti-SC/ST Atrocities Act movement which has a powerful base in Ujjain district and neighbourhood. Siddhanta Mishra By NEW DELHI: A Transparency International India report indicates an alarming rise in the number of RTI requests being rejected by various arms of the government. The report, based on data from the latest annual report of the Central Information Commission (CIC), says the Ministry of Finance has rejected the most RTIs 27,833, or 18.41 per cent of the total 1,51,186 applications received. This is followed by the Ministry of Communication and IT, which rejected 2,826 of the 1,03,508 requests it received, and the Ministry of Railways, rejecting 814 of the 99,255 RTIs filed in 2016-17. Ironically, the Arvind Kejriwal-led Delhi has climbed up that chart, from 9th in 2014-15, when it came to power, to third the next year and fourth in 2016-17. Kejriwal and his party had based their campaign on using the RTI to expose political corruption. According to the latest data, 433 of the 87,828 requests filed across various sections of the Delhi government were rejected. The Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas rejected 1806 of the 1,88,99 RTI applications received. The PMO, which rejected 1306 of the 1,27,87 requests, ranks 13th. Most governments have been reluctant to RTI, but what is unfortunate under the current regime at the Centre is that the message that is being given from the top that the PMs mark sheet should not be shared. This sends a wrong signal. Other parties have not been any better. But the party which started with an RTI movement is today not willing to answer the questions, said Yogendra Yadav, founder of Swaraj Abhiyan party and psephologist. By PTI NEW DELHI: Tourists from Ottawa, St.Petersburg, Munich and five other foreign cities will now have easy entry into India with the e-visa biometric enrolment facilities being available in the Indian mission there, officials said Sunday. With the addition of the eight cities, the biometric enrollment procedure under the integrated online visa system has been implemented in 152 missions out of 178 missions abroad. The e-visa biometric enrolment software has been operationalised in eight Indian missions -- Ottawa (Canada ), St. Petersburg and Vladivostok (Russia), Munich (Germany), Brussels (Belgium), Oslo (Norway), Budapest (Hungary) and Zagreb (Croatia), a home ministry official said. Tourists with e-visa can now provide their biometric details in these Indian missions instead of on arrival in India, thus making their entry in the country hassle-free. This system facilitates easy sharing and monitoring of visa data on real time basis across various immigration offices, the official said. The e-visa scheme has been implemented by foreigners division of the home ministry with a view to improve the efficiency and transparency of various services being provided to foreign nationals The e-visa facility is now available for nationals of 163 countries for entry into India through 25 international airports and five sea ports, another official said. Under the e-visa scheme, an applicant, when an online application is submitted, receives an e-mail authorising him or her to travel to India after it has been approved The tourist can travel with a printout of this authorisation. On arrival, the visitor has to present the authorisation to the immigration authorities who would then allow the entry into the country The e-visa scheme also covers business and medical categories, apart from tourism. Visitors on e-Visa could stay in India for two months The window for application under e-Visa scheme has been increased from 30 days to 120 days and duration of stay on e-Visa has been increased from 30 days to 60 days with double entry on e-tourist and e-business visa and triple entry on e-medical visa. By PTI NEW DELHI: US President Donald Trump is unlikely to accept India's invitation to be the chief guest at the Republic Day celebrations, sources said Sunday. The US is understood to have conveyed to New Delhi that Trump may not be able to honour the invitation as he will have pressing engagements, including his State of The Union (SOTU) address, around the time India will celebrate its Republic Day. This comes at a time when Indo-US ties have witnessed some strain after India went ahead and sealed a deal with Russia to procure a batch of S-400 air defence missile systems, notwithstanding US threat of punitive action under CAATSA (Countering America's Adversaries Through Sanctions Act). The sources said India has already shortlisted names of two-three heads of states for extending an invitation to be the chief guest at the Republic Day parade. Earlier this year, the US announced sanctions against Russia under CAATSA for its alleged meddling in the American presidential election in 2016. Under CAATSA, the US can punish entities and governments engaged in transaction with the defence or intelligence establishment of Russia. India and the US were in touch with each other over New Delhi's invite to Trump to visit the country. The sources indicated that India was not exclusively looking at Trump's presence at the Republic Day celebrations and that various other options were also being explored. In July, White House Press Secretary Sarah Sanders said that Trump has received an invitation to visit India, but no decision has been taken yet. "I know that the invitation has been extended, but I do not believe that a final decision has been made," Sanders had told reporters Prime Minister Narendra Modi had invited President Trump for a bilateral visit to India during their talks in Washington in June 2017. Every year, India invites world leaders to attend its Republic Day celebrations. In 2015, the then US president Barack Obama had attended it as the chief guest which was his second visit to India as the American president. This year, leaders from 10 ASEAN countries had attended the Republic Day celebrations. In 2016, the then French president Francois Hollande was the chief guest of the parade while Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe was the chief guest at the celebrations in 2014. The heads of state and government who have attended the Republic Day celebrations include Nicolas Sarkozy, Vladimir Putin, Nelson Mandela, John Major, Mohammed Khatami and Jacques Chirac. T J S George By As chief ministers go, K Chandrasekhar Rao (KCR) is in a class of his own. He is known as an effective speaker and he is a good tactician. These were factors in the success of his mission to carve Telangana out of the original Andhra Pradesh. His decision to dissolve the Assembly and go for an early test at the hustings was a smart move from his point of view. He is a man of ability and therefore, if he wins, he can do much good for the country. To do that, however, he must pay attention to at least three areas where a new approach will be essential. The first is the I-Me-Myself style in which he handles his party, the Telangana Rashtra Samiti. He is the boss of course, but flaunting bossdom reduces ones stature. He doesnt really consult anyone in the party. Advancing the election was an example of this. No one knew what he was planning. Without even waiting for an election notification, he announced 105 candidates, to their surprise. Some may interpret this as a strategic masterstroke in that he struck before the Opposition parties had time to realise what was happening. But the cost of such tactics is high. When all decisions are handed down from the Abode of Shiva as it were, discontent is inevitable across the board. Protests did rise this time from a few of his followers. Critics from other parties described him as monarch, autocrat and despot. The second area where KCR would benefit from a new approach is his habit of extending his religious beliefs into the public domain. As chief minister, he boycotted the states administrative headquarters, where the chief ministers office is situated, for reasons of vaastu and improper designs in terms of setbacks and exit points. He built a new vaastu-compliant home-cum-secretariat structure sprawling over one-lakh square feet of living space on a nine-acre estate costing `36 crore. There is nothing wrong in having faith in vaastu or fixing programmes as per astrological rules. But the states treasury cannot be used to foot the expenses when a chief minister desires to fulfil his vow and present gold ornaments to various gods. KCR travelled with his family in helicopters and chartered flights to make his offerings. In Tirumala alone the gold offered was worth `5 crore. He said, of course, that all expenses were met from his personal funds and bank loans. The third area where KCR should have second thoughts is the language he uses. He recently described Rahul Gandhi as the countrys biggest buffoon. He called Chandrababu Naidu a lizard, said that Naidu had a thiefs look and was neechaa neechamaina (meanest of the meanest) chief minister in the country. He said his party would drag Sonia Gandhi to bazaar. And so on and on. Such remarks do get cheap applause from street crowds. But KCR should ponder over the fact that his abuse of Sonia Gandhi met with disapproval from his own rank and file. He is a man who holds a constitutional position. In our constitutional system, even enemies call one another The honourable inside the legislature. By observing basic rules of decency in public discourse, a leader will only enhance his stature. Likewise, abandonment of decency will only diminish him. There is something almost visceral about KCRs hatred of Andhra Pradesh. He was once quoted as saying that he didnt want to be associated with anything that had an Andhra lineage. This is like one of a conjoined twins saying that he doesnt want to touch the other. Not all KCRs oratorical powers and temple offerings can nullify geography. In fact he should be grateful for what he has already got. Nizams Hyderabad comprised a piece of Maharashtra (Marathwada), a piece of Karnataka (still known as Hyderabad Karnataka) and a piece of Teluguland called Telangana. Only Telangana succeeded in becoming a state on its own. A wise leader will rejoice in this and collaborate with the conjoined twin. The Scottish independence movement has been a powerful one for decades. There is a separate Scottish government headed by a First Minister. But when a referendum took place four years ago, 55 per cent of the population voted to remain part of the United Kingdom. Geography prevailed. KCR will become a greater leader if he realises that he has only two optionseither to accept geographical reality and cooperate with his neighbours or prove that Tolstoy was right when he said: The state is a conspiracy. Prabhu Chawla By In ideal statecraft, good religion and good politics complement each other. However, in New Age politics, God is the mascot of vote-catching, not a fisher of souls. The cynical serendipity of politics leads politicians to publicly discover the divine will only during election time. The vehement vocabulary of the ballot bazaar is now dictated, choreographed and publicised to focus on temples, mosques, churches and any vote bank deity that needs to be propitiated in even far-flung villages and small towns of India. Why does the slogan of religion invariably replace promises of good governance every election? The answer lies in the insecurity in the minds and souls of eminently popular and credible leaders about the final outcome of the polls. For example, the ruling party very confidently claims that the 54-month old Narendra Modi government has performed extremely well in various sectors. It has provided stable and strong government, relatively peaceful India, massive structural changes in governance, productive use of technology, and the efficient distribution of subsidies to the deserving. In spite of such achievements, the BJPs current emphasis is less on showcasing the Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas success story and more on bringing highly emotive issues like Ram Mandir, womens Sabarimala entry, and changing names of ancient cities to the forefront and high-profile stopovers at places of worship. There is hardly a politician who hasnt included a holy pit stop on a campaign itinerary. Even Marxist leaders who are supposed to be avowed atheists carry holy urns on their heads during religious ceremonies. Religion is no more the opium of the masses, but for the Marxists. It is the proven weapon to nuke opponents in the name of dharmayudh. Last week, BJPs powerful and highly travelled party chief Amit Shah attended a coordination meeting of RSS and BJP leaders in Lucknow. The construction of Ram Mandir was an important topic of discussion. Shah assured them the Supreme Court would deliver its verdict well in time before the 2019 general elections. Previously, RSS Chief Mohan Bhagwat had called upon the government to enact a law to facilitate the erection of a temple at Ayodhya. It is evident the party expects to reap a rich political harvest in north India only if it restores Ram janmabhoomi to its pre-Babur glory. Its hardcore supporters pander to this perception. They march to the drum roll of nationalismAbolition of Article 370, blitzing the terror camps across the border, and reviving forgotten heroes. The rechristening of Allahabad by restoring its Vedic Age name Prayag Raj, and the optics of repainting the railway station signboard with the new name proves they believe Gods will should be used to sway the peoples will. In south India, where the Congress hold is tenacious and the BJP is trying to grasp the mantle, religiously competitive contortions against the Supreme Court verdict allowing women of menstruating age into Sabarimala Temple have politicised tradition. Both political parties supported the judgment when it was delivered. But they changed their stance in the face of the mass fury of local communities. While the Congress Central leadership adopted a soft posture, local leaders were in the forefront in the agitation. The BJP led from the front by declaring month-long marches against the verdict. The RSS top echelons ensured full support for the mass mobilisation of cadres. Surprisingly, none of the liberal and secular parties spoke up against the court order. Instead, some of their leaders even warned about its threat to local conventions and beliefs. Perhaps they, too, were keeping 2019 in mind. The BJP perceives Sabarimala as a vote magnet, which could compensate likely losses in the north. Most of Amit Shahs political peregrinations in his four years as party president were to the south, particularly Kerala. His ritualistic halt at a religious place each time would be highly publicised in the mediaboth mass and socialwith prominently displayed photos. In the north-east, too, where the BJP has made unexpected inroads into crumbling citadels of the past, Shah has paid his respects to each and every local deity. He has also rarely missed a chance to offer his obeisance at the highly revered Kamakhya Temple in Guwahati. The Hindu pantheon apart, Team Shah-Modi is creating a new saffron hagiography by reviving or appropriating forgotten local heroes to garner additional sectional support. For example, celebrating the 75th anniversary of the formation of the Azad Hind Sena Government by Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose was not only aimed at attracting much-wooed Bengali votes, but also at deregistering the Nehru Parivars claim on the freedom movements inclusive legacy. Modi is the first prime minister since Independence who has visited Red Fort twice in a year to commemorate freedom. In the election-bound states of Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh and Rajasthan, the BJP has unearthed many local icons who were either social reformers or freedom fighters but never made it to the textbooks and political narratives. The BJP sees the temple run as a concurrent facet of its nationalist agenda of invoking ideological commitment to score electoral victories. The BJP Election Yatra led by Modi seeks to discover a hidden India. For the Rahul-led Congress, the newfound pietistic bandwagon is on a roll to rediscover New India. Over the past year, Rahul has criss-crossed the nation and has hardly ever dropped a temple or deity from his travel plans. His party has gone out of its way to project him as a committed Hindu whose faith is even more righteous than that of his opponents. This excessive display of Hindu identity has left senior Congress leaders like Ghulam Nabi Azad feeling unwanted as election campaigners. If the intensity and footprint of RaGas religious pilgrimages are indications of his intent, it is obvious he realises it pays better to adopt a Bharat that is imbedded in scriptural beliefs, conventions and practices rather than the India of his great grandfather Jawaharlal Nehru which embodies Indo-Western political sensibilities with a cosmopolitan touch. Full credit goes to Modi for making fake secularism a liability. Going by past record, swearing by Hinduism is more remunerative in the poll pandals than displaying trophies of development and progress. Prabhu Chawla prabhuchawla@newindianexpress.com Follow him on Twitter @PrabhuChawla By Express News Service VIJAYAWADA: Sending enough signals that he would play a key role at the national level to unite all non-BJP parties to form an alternative, Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu on Saturday made it amply clear that he would not even hesitate to join hands with the Congress to achieve this goal. Chandrababu Naidu, who was in Delhi to highlight before the national media the alleged failures of the Centre on various fronts as well as injustice done to AP, closeted with national party leaders, including Delhi Chief Minister and AAP chief Arvind Kejriwal, BSP leader Mayawati, former JD (U) leader Sharad Yadav and National Conference leader Farooq Abdullah in the day and reportedly got support for his ongoing fight against the Centre and also to unite all non-BJP parties to defeat the saffron party in the 2019 elections. During his media conference, Naidu accused the Centre of targeting AP after the TDP snapped its ties with the NDA and undermining institutions like CBI. He alleged that the BJP was inciting opposition parties in the State against his government. Democracy came under severe threat during the regime of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, he remarked. Speaking on CBI controversy, Naidu said, Rakesh Asthana was the PMs intelligence chief for some time. He (PM) brought him. The Prime Minister has to answer now. He is responsible for Asthana, for this debacle. Even our PM had said that all culprits in political corruption cases will be punished within one year. On the contrary, some people are escaping. Youre supporting tainted parties and victimising those who oppose you, said Naidu. Responding to queries on the Congress being a political rival in Andhra Pradesh, Naidu said that it was not true since the YSR Congress, led by Jagan Mohan Reddy, was the main foe of the TDP in the State. He added that the ruling TRS was the main political rival of the TDP in Telangana. On his role in national politics, Naidu said, I have to play my role to save the nation. Speaking about coalition governments, Naidu said even the minority government led by late PV Narasimha Rao did a lot for the countrys development by taking up reforms. P6 Those coalition governments formed by regional parties at the Centre also made contribution to nation building. But hardly any development was witnessed under a single party government, he observed. Asked whether he would join hands with the Congress, which has ideological differences with the TDP, Naidu said, We are part of Mahakutami (grand alliance) in Telangana. They (Congress) divided Andhra Pradesh but did it with assurances like special category status and AP Reorganisation Act. They damaged the State but gave something on paper. The NDA government is not implementing the Act causing grave injustice to the people of AP. Now, both of us are fighting for the same cause. Parties may have differences within the State. But, from a national perspective, they will come on to a single platform in the interests of the country. LDF (Left) and UDF (Congress) are rivals in Kerala, but they have joined hands at the Centre, he said making the point that political compulsions make strange bedfellows. Buttressing his argument, Naidu said, There is no possibility of forming government at the Centre without the support of a national party. Those coalition governments formed by regional parties at the Centre also made contribution to nation building. But hardly any development was witnessed under a single party government, he observed. Asked whether he would join hands with the Congress, which has ideological differences with the TDP, Naidu said, We are part of Mahakutami (grand alliance) in Telangana. They (Congress) divided Andhra Pradesh but did it with assurances like special category status and AP Reorganisation Act. They damaged the State but gave something on paper. The NDA government is not implementing the Act causing grave injustice to the people of AP. Now, both of us are fighting for the same cause. Parties may have differences within the State. But, from a national perspective, they will come on to a single platform in the interests of the country. LDF (Left) and UDF (Congress) are rivals in Kerala, but they have joined hands at the Centre, he said making the point that political compulsions make strange bedfellows. Buttressing his argument, Naidu said, There is no possibility of forming government at the Centre without the support of a national party. By Express News Service VIJAYAWADA: With elections round the corner, the police have sought CMs itinerary well in advance to provide him foolproof security. The police wanted the details of Chief Ministers programme at least four or five days in advance. Providing security when Naidu visited districts has become somewhat of a challenge to the police department. The police also wanted the Chief Minister to avoid unscheduled programmes, while visiting districts. By Express News Service KOCHI: In a major blow to the National Investigation Agency (NIA), the special court in Kochi on Friday exonerated three persons while convicting one in the sensational Nedumbassery Fake Indian Currency Note (FICN) case. Aftab Bhatki, the henchman of Dawood Ibrahim and an accused in the case, is still absconding. The case relates to the seizure of 1,950 FICNs of Rs 500 from a Malappuram native by Customs officers at the Cochin International Airport (CIAL) in Nedumbassery on January 26, 2013. The notes were suspected to have been printed in Pakistan. The carrier of the fake currency, Abid Chullikulavan - a native of Neelanchery in Malappuram - was the sole accused convicted by the court. The other accused - Mohammed Haneefa of Perinjanam, Thrissur; Abdul Salam alias Podi Salam of Wandoor, Malappuram, and Antony Das of Valparai, Tamil Nadu - were exonerated by the court. Kunjumohammed alias Kunjutty, a native of Manjeri, was turned approver. The first accused is found guilty of offences punishable under section 489B (using as genuine, forged or counterfeit currency-notes or bank-note) and 489C (possession of forged or counterfeit currency-notes or bank-notes) of IPC and is convicted for the said offences. The accused persons are found not guilty of offences under sections 16 and 18 of Unlawful Activities Prevention Act (UAPA) and offences punishable under section 120 B r/w 489 and 489C of IPC and they are acquitted of these offences, ordered NIA Court Judge M Nandakumar. The bail bond executed by Abid stands cancelled and he was remanded to judicial custody in the District Jail in Kakkanad. The sentence against the first accused will be pronounced after hearing the counsels on Saturday. Involvement of Aftab Bhatki During the investigation, it was revealed the fake currency was intercepted based on the information passed by Kunjumohammed to Customs officers. Kunjumohammed was earlier involved in the narcotics case and was lodged in the Central Prison, Arthur Road, Mumbai. During the period, he made acquaintance with Abdullah of Thalangara who gave the mobile number of Aftab Bhatki, a key member of Dawoods organised crime syndicate. Through Abdullah, Kunjumohammed got acquainted with Antony Das and Mohammed Haneefa, and they decided to smuggle fake currency notes. According to NIA, for obtaining counterfeit notes, Antony Das allegedly invested `4 lakh and routed the money to Kunjumohammed who was in West Asia during October 2012. Later, the accused contacted Aftab Bhatki who was in Pakistan and arranged the counterfeits. Kunjumohammed, with the help of Abdul Salam, arranged Abid Chullikulavan to smuggle the fake currency notes to India. A look out notice is pending against Aftab Bhatki suspected to be staying in Pakistan. The highly referred case Kochi: The Nedumbassery Fake Indian Currency Note (FICN) incident is a highly referred case among counterfeit cases in India now. It is in this case that the Kerala High Court held that production or smuggling of high-quality counterfeit Indian currency in India committed prior to the enforcement of the amendment made to Section 15 of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) was not punishable as a terrorist act mentioned under Section 18 of the Act. The Full Bench held the amended provisions of the Act could not be applied to deal with and punish cases relating to the import, circulation, or smuggling of high-quality counterfeit Indian paper currency prior to their enforcement on February 1, 2013. The Kerala High Court judgment will be affecting other counterfeit cases in India registered prior to February 2013 in which UAPA was evoked. The NIA has decided to challenge the High Court verdict in Supreme Court and efforts in this regard are undergoing, sources said. Following the verdict of Kerala High Court, the accused were granted bail. By Express News Service KOCHI: For the past 15 years and eight months, a father has been pursuing the murder case of his daughter hoping to bring the murderer to justice. Finally, his long wait has come to an end after a special team from Ahmedabad nabbed his daughters husband, identified as Tarun Kumar Jinaraj from Bengaluru, on charges of murdering his wife Sajini. All these years, Tarun Kumar had been hiding from the police by assuming a new identity and name as Pravin Bhateley and living a luxurious life in Bengaluru along with his new wife Nisha and two children. It was on February 14, 2003, O K Krishnan, settled in Ahmedabad, received a call from his son-in law Tarun Kumar. He informed Krishnan that something had happened to his daughter Sajini. On reaching the daughters house, Krishnan found that she was strangled to death with her dupatta. Tarun had plotted a robbery scene at the house to give the impression that the crime was committed by a robbery gang. But, in the due course of the probe, the police collected incriminating evidence, pointing fingers at Tarun as the main accused. However, Tarun escaped from the spot by giving a slip to all. He changed his identity to Pravin Bhateley, which he stole from an old friend who lived in Mandsaur, and shifted to Bengaluru to work in Oracle, drawing a hefty salary. We thought that the probe had lost its steam. We have been following it up with the authorities concerned for the last three years. All senior police officers were very supportive. Now we are really happy that the police have arrested him. We hope the court will award him capital punishment for committing the brutal crime, Krishnan told Express. Krishnan and his wife Ramani are Thrissur natives, but have been settled in Ahmedabad for several years. Taruns parents also hailed from Kerala and were settled in Bhopal. Sajini was working in a bank when she got married to Tarun on November 15, 2002. The parents never suspected any issues in their marital life, though there were rumors that Tarun had an affair with another girl. We are thankful to Joint Commissioner of Police A K Sharma, DCP Himanshu Shukla and DCP Deepan Bhadran, a Malayali officer, Krishnan said. It was Deepan Bhadran and his team that successfully traced Tarun to Bengaluru. As per reports, Ahmedabad police had been tracking calls on Taruns mother Annammas phone number for all these days before zeroing in on to the Oracles office in Bengaluru where Tarun was working. By Express News Service KOCHI: The NIA court on Saturday awarded 10 years rigorous imprisonment (RI) to the first accused in the sensational Nedumbassery fake Indian currency note (FICN) case, in which high-quality counterfeit notes from Pakistan were seized while being smuggled to India via the Cochin International Airport Ltd (CIAL) in 2013. The court also slapped a fine of `75,000 on the convict. NIA Court Judge M Nandakumar had exonerated three other accused persons in the case. The case relates to the seizure of 1,950 FICNs, each having a face value of `500, from a Malappuram native by the Customs at the Nedumbassery airport on January 26, 2013. The sole convict in the case, Neelanchery native Abid Chullikulavan - who was the carrier of the fake currency - was awarded 10-year RI and `50,000 for the offence under section 489 B of IPC. The court also awarded him 5 years RI and slapped a fine of `25,000 under section 489 C. The sentences of imprisonment will run concurrently. He was later shifted to Viyyur central jail. The other accused persons - Mohammed Haneefa of Perinjanam, Thrissur; Abdul Salam alias Podi Salam of Wandoor, Malappuram, and Antony Das of Valparai, Tamil Nadu - were exonerated by the court. Kunjumohammed alias Kunjutty, a native of Manjeri, had turned approver in the case. Though the NIA had invoked UAPA charges against the accused, the Kerala High Court lifted them claiming production or smuggling of high-quality FICN in India committed prior to the enforcement of the amendments made to Section 15 of the UAPA was not punishable as a terrorist act mentioned under Section 18 of the Act. Aftab Bhatki, a key member of Dawood Ibrahims organised crime syndicate, is the fifth accused in the case. He is still absconding and the NIA has approached Interpol to track him down. According to the NIA, Antony Das allegedly invested `4 lakh for obtaining the counterfeit notes, and routed the money to Kunjumohammed, who was in West Asia during October 2012. Later, the accused contacted Aftab Bhatki, who was in Pakistan, and arranged the counterfeits. Kunjumohammed, with the help of Abdul Salam, arranged Abid Chullikulavan to smuggle the fake notes to India. Sudarsan Maharana By Express News Service BHUBANESWAR: The electrocution of seven jumbos at Kamalanga in Dhenkanal on Saturday, the biggest-ever elephant tragedy in Odisha, has sparked a blame-game between the Forest and Energy departments. However, the heart-wrenching incident appears to be a clear case of administrative highhandedness and lack of inter-department and intra-department coordination. In spite of a letter from Dhenkanal Divisional Forest Officer (DFO) in November 2017 to take corrective measures to increase the height of the 11 KV wire dangling in Kamalanga region, the Central Electricity Supply Utility of Odisha (CESU) chose to keep mum. The callousness of the Energy department and CESU officials towards preventing electrocution deaths of elephants is evident from the fact that cabling work is yet to start for a stretch of 136 kms of LT lines passing through vulnerable elephant corridor in Dhenkanal. Not only the Energy Department, Forest and Environment department too has its share in the tragedy. Forest and Environment Minister Bijayshree Routray squarely blamed Energy department for the mishap. But, what he failed to point out was the lack coordination among field officials of his own department and no proper mechanism to track the movements of elephants, especially during night. A herd of 13 elephants had strayed into Kamalanga region late night on Friday. However, lack of coordination between forest officials of Angul and Dhenkanal divisions in tracking the movement of the herd and intensifying patrolling are major reasons behind the tragedy. Dhenkanal DFO Sudarshan Patra said the elephant herd which was roaming inside Angul Forest division for the last two to three days entered Dhenkanal division between 12 am and 1 am on Friday and their division had not received any message from Angul division in this regard. He also admitted that there is no proper mechanism to track movement of elephants, particularly during night. We dont have any tracking mechanism during night, Patra said, adding, The field squads are alerted only when locals inform about movement of elephants in their area. Angul DFO V Kartik, however, rejected the claims of Dhenkanal DFO and said their ranger had informed RG Mohanty base camp on Angul-Dhenkanal border about movement of elephants towards Dhenkanal. While the blame-game exposes administrative insensitivity, officials of both the departments seem to be in no mood to learn lessons from incidents occurred in past. A series of jumbo deaths due to unnatural reasons, has turned Odisha into a graveyard of elephants. According to sources, the State has lost close to 175 elephants due to electrocution in 18 years. Statistics also suggest that every year around 11 elephant deaths occur due to electrocution. Though electrocution is mainly caused due to live wires, sagging overhead lines and electrified fences, steps are yet to be taken to address these issues and strengthen elephant tracking and patrolling mechanism. By Express News Service CHENNAI: Holding that a mans extra-marital affairs cannot be a ground for abetting his wife to commit suicide, the Madras High Court has set aside the orders of a lower court awarding three years jail term to him. Extra-marital affair per se, would not come under the ambit of cruelty under Sec. 498-A (Husband or relative of husband of a woman subjecting her to cruelty) IPC. In the absence of a clear proof to establish the allegation of abetment, the husband cannot be subjected to punishment, Justice S Vaidyanathan said. The judge was allowing an appeal from Manickam of Salem challenging the order of local court convicting him for abetting his wifes suicide, recently.To constitute an offence under Sec. 306 (Abetment of suicide) IPC, the prosecution has to establish beyond reasonable doubt that the deceased committed suicide and the accused abetted the same. But, for the alleged extra-marital relationship, nothing has been shown that the accused had provoked, incited or induced the wife to commit suicide. As held by the Supreme Court, extra marital relationship may not in all circumstances invite conviction under Sec. 306 but, it can definitely be a ground for divorce in a matrimonial dispute, the judge said. Similarly, mental cruelty which is engraved in the first limb of Sec. 498-A IPC has nothing to do with the demand of dowry. It is associated with mental cruelty that can drive a woman to commit suicide and it depends upon the conduct of the person concerned. This cruelty varies from person to person, depending upon the intensity and the degree of endurance. Extra-marital relationship, per se, or as such, would not come within the ambit of Sec. 498-A, the judge said. In the instant case, even if the alleged relationship between the accused and his paramour is proved, there is no other acceptable evidence to establish such mental cruelty, which has driven the wife to commit suicide. Due to the alleged affairs of the man, his wife committed suicide by jumping into a well along with her 18-month old daughter on October 23, 2003. Burden of proof To constitute an offence under Sec. 306, the prosecution has to establish that the deceased committed suicide and the accused abetted the same. But, for the alleged extra-marital relation, nothing has been shown that the accused had provoked or induced the wife to commit suicide By Express News Service SALEM: An undercover operation by the officials of the Directorate Medical and Rural Health Service (DMRHS) unearthed a centre, carrying out sex determination scan of foetus, here on Friday night. While the private hospital at Edappadi was sealed, a doctor and a middleman were arrested. Hunt was on for an absconding tout. According to sources, the private health care institution, run by Dr C Kannan (53), had been operating under the name of Aravindhan Hospital for over 10 years. The hospital has a scan centre attached to it. While Kannan used to treat patients for general diseases, child specialists and orthopaedic doctors used to visit the hospital everyday. Meanwhile, officials received complaints regarding sex determination scans being conducted at the hospital. Based on specific inputs, DMRHS officials from Chennai laid a trap and sent a pregnant woman to get the scan done. Joint Director (JD) of Health Department V Sathya told Express that there were complaints of the hospital charging hefty fees to carry out scans clandestinely. As per the plan, a team comprising additional superintendent Rama Prabhakaran, DMRHS superintendent Kamala Kananan, Chennai assistant commissioner of police Thomas, along with officials from government Edapaddi hospital, its dean R Mohan, police inspector Senthil and tahsildar Kesavan secretly monitored the hospital for four days, Sathya said. To nab the doctor red-handed, the pregnant woman from Thirumaligiri near Ilampillai was sent to the hospital. As directed, she requested Dr Kannan to reveal the sex of her foetus. The doctor sought fees for the clandestine service, which the woman agreed to. He carried out the scan and revealed the gender, Sathya added. No sooner had the determination been done than the special squad took over the hospital. Involvement of two agents Chinnaiyan and Hamsa was established. While Chinnaiyan was arrested, police were on the lookout for the woman tout, she informed. Later, Dr Kananan was also handed over to police. By Express News Service HYDERABAD: TRS leader and IT Minister in the caretaker government, KT Rama Rao has accused Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu of turning the temporary AP DGP office in Hyderabad into a virtual headquarters of his to hatch conspiracies with an aim to influence Assembly elections in Telangana. Speaking to reporters at Telangana Bhavan on Saturday, Rama Rao referred to the news of AP intelligence personnel being caught while conducting a survey on Telangana polls in the temple town of Dharmapuri and alleged that the police attached to AP temporary DGP office were in touch with Congress leader A Revanth Reddy and TDP Telangana unit president L Ramana. Immediately after a head constable and two constables were caught by the TRS workers in Dharmapuri, the AP police officials from Hyderabad called up Dharmapuri local police and asked why the AP police were taken into custody. Rama Rao alleged that the AP CM Naidu was trying to win the elections by using money power. TDP Telangana unit president Ramanas close friend Vallabhaneni Anil was recently caught with `50 lakh, Rama Rao pointed out. This is an indication that the AP CM is using his political power to influence the voters in Telangana by distributing money, he said. Uttam is habitual offender Rama Rao also recalled the recent statement by TRS chief and caretaker Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao that Naidu was spending Rs 500 crore in Telangana elections with an understanding with AICC president Rahul Gandhi. Naidu is not even believing local Congress leaders and depending on his own sources while distributing the money, Rama Rao said. Naidu is using the AP police as pawns for his cheap politics. Why AP police are convening meetings here. What work does they have in Telangana? On Opposition parties finding fault with checking of vehicles in Telangana, Rama Rao recalled how `3 crore was burnt in the car of N Uttam Kumar Reddy, who is now the PCC chief, during 2014 elections. Uttam Kumar Reddy is an habitual offender. I request the Election Commission to check each and every vehicle of all the politicians. If the Election Commission fails to take any action, then it is not our responsibility if any untoward incidents happen when AP parties distribute money here, Rama Rao said. READ| Telangana election: Go after Opposition, KT Rama Rao appeals to intellectuals Rama Rao alleged that AP CM is giving advertisements in Telangana newspapers with AP public money. As there is an election code, the TRS government cannot issue advertisements. But, AP CM is giving advertisements. The Election Commission should observe this, Rama Rao said. If grand alliance comes to power it will be musical chair of CMs Hyderabad: TRS leader KT Rama Rao claimed that the people would witness a musical chair of chief ministers if the grand alliance was voted to power in the State. Addressing a meeting at Telangana Bhavan on Saturday, after inducting Telangana Lingayat Samanvaya Samithi State chief Ashok Mustapuri into party, Rama Rao said that there are around 40 CM candidates in the Congress. PCC president N Uttam Kumar Reddy is like sata koti Lingaallo oka bodi lingam, Rama Rao said sarcastically describing the Congress leader in Telugu as one among many aspirants for the chief ministers post. Stating that if the grand alliance came to power, the CM candidate would be decided by the Congress high command through a sealed cover. You decide whether you want a sealed cover CM or K Chandrasekhar Rao, a lion-like CM, Rama Rao said. No cognisable offence by AP police The trio was later handed over to the police when they declared that they would only divulge details in the presence of police. Police said the trio was visiting villages around Dharma-puri allegedly on AP government orders. Jagtial SP Ch Sindhu Sharma told Express that the police are still verifying the facts. A senior police official said a case was not registered as there was no cognisable offence. While TS police remained tight-lipped, AP DGP RP Thakur did not respond. By Express News Service HYDERABAD: Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) Rajat Kumar said that so far Rs 31.41 crore cash and 65,064 litres of liquor worth Rs 1 crore was seized in the State. The CEO said that it was not yet established that the seized cash belonged to any political party or any contesting candidate. Speaking to reporters here on Saturday, Rajat Kumar said that Chief Election Commissioner OP Rawat enquired about the publication of the voters list. Stating that the publication of voters list has already been done, the CEO informed the people can still enrol their names till November 9. By Express News Service HYDERABAD: The Government of Telangana has signed a MoU with representatives of the Estonian government to collaborate in the areas of digital development and related policies. The three-year MoU was signed by Riho Kruuv, Ambassador of Estonia to India and GT Venkateshwar Rao, from the Electronic Service Delivery of Telangana government on Saturday. The MoU is a direct outcome of the meeting between IT Minister KT Rama Rao and Ambassador of Estonia to India on August 30, 2018 where various areas of cooperation between Govt of Telangana and Estonia were identified. Aimed at identifying best digital practices and enabling cross-learning between the two parties, under this MoU, Estonia and the ITE&C Department have agreed to partner each other in areas of e-governance technologies, internet as a basic human right, entrepreneurship, smart cities advisory, e-health, and cybersecurity. Estonia had agreed to advise TS in exploring implementation of X Road Platform in Telangana with appropriate Indian changes, according to a release. Estonia is among the most digitised country in the world and this MoU will give a further boost to our smart governance initiatives, said Rao, Commissioner of the ESD. Sana Shakil By NEW DELHI: The Amritsar train tragedy has exposed how the state failed its citizens, both in life and death. The mortuaries at two hospitals struggled to accommodate the bodies being brought from the accident site. Many bodies were kept outside the hospitals for hours, a situation that could have been avoided if the mortuaries were well-equipped. In June 2017, the Union Ministry of Home Affairs think tank Bureau of Police Research & Development (BPR&D) prepared a detailed manual on Standardisation of equipment and other facilities for post-mortem at District Headquarters. The manual was sent as an advisory to 29 states and seven UTs for upgradation of mortuaries. Bodies of the Amritsar victims were kept at two hospitals. Families had a tough time to get the bodies | PTI The Sunday Standard has learnt that just two states Bihar and Telangana have implemented the advisory. Andaman and Nicobar has started the process for the same. The BPR&D had recommended the concept of open space in mortuaries to handle mass casualties and decomposed bodies. The mortuary are supposed to have wind jet with roofs and walls of fibreglass and come with a system of fly proofing for protection against insects, etc. This, the BPR&D felt, would help in the identification of victims. While making this recommendation, the think tank referred to the 2016 Kanpur train accident in which there were heavy casualties and 150 post-mortems were conducted in the Kanpur Dehat Hospital in two days. Standardisation of equipment to facilitate better collection of evidence was a key recommendation by the Centre as it found that many mortuaries had not procured autopsy instruments since a long time. Describing mortuary as a vital link in the criminal justice system, the BPR&D recommended police-doctor interaction at the time of autopsy, barring the cases of custodial deaths. Though the Criminal Procedure Code does not stipulate so, the BPR&D said this was essential as the doctor may require clarifications on certain aspects such as conditions of the scene of the crime. It also felt that the police may have some queries. The interaction can shape up the investigation in a professional manner without compromising the integrity of evidence, according to the manual. It had also called for reducing the time gap between the post-mortem and its documentation. To ensure there is no manipulation of bio-medical evidence, video-recording and automation of post-mortem procedures were recommended. At present, post-mortem procedures are videographed only in cases of police encounters. The BPR&D called the state of most mortuaries as dismal and depressing, observing that many of them were in a dilapidated condition or were even operating from make-shift structures. Another shocker was that sweepers were found to be dissecting bodies at some hospitals. Directing doctors be immediately tasked for the task, the manual asked the states and UTs to take stringent measures for ensuring hygiene at morgue and autopsy room. It also said mortuaries should provide coffin to the dead and built a waiting room with basic amenities for visitors. Amit Agnihotri By NEW DELHI: Congress chief Rahul Gandhis Project Shakti, an IT-based platform for booth-level teams across the country before the 2019 general elections, will face an acid test in the Assembly polls in Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh and Rajasthan. All the three states are Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-ruled and are crucial to the Congress revival plans ahead of the Lok Sabha polls. Project Shakti started in March after a realisation that the Congress had become a top-heavy organisation and lacked muscle on the ground, which is represented by committed teams of workers at the polling booth level. The absence of booth-teams was identified as a factor for the party ending with just 44 Lok Sabha seats in 2014. Now, sources claim the party enrolled over 5.5 lakh booth workers in Rajasthan, around 2.75 lakh in Madhya Pradesh and over 1.25 lakh in Chhattisgarh.The new system will benefit us 100 per cent, a senior AICC functionary said. Making a comparison with the 2013 Assembly polls, he said the entire burden on having a booth-level network was on the poll candidates. Now, there is an organisational support system in place, irrespective of who gets the ticket. ALSO READ: Rajasthan by-polls: BJP, Congress focus on booth level The best part is these workers are loyal to the party and not to an individual. So, it is easier to roll out local door-to-door campaigns as a central system facilitates quick communication with the booth workers, a party leader said. Pointing to the importance of having booth-level teams, a Congress strategist pointed out that in 2013, the party won just 21 of the 200 seats despite being in power in Rajasthan. This showed we had failed to address organisational issues. We are better prepared this time. To pep-up the booth-workers, Rahul has personally interacted with some of them over the phone, urging them to stay united and committed to the Congress ways of working. This is his way of showing that a new Congress is being created. We suffered due to party infighting and organisational weakness in the past, said a senior MP leader, who has worked in Chhattisgarh. Besides mobilising voters on polling day, these workers were told to comment on potential ticket seekers when party strategists want a second opinion. Though a section of the party believes such feedback may not throw up the best candidates as many locals will have some allegiance to leaders, those involved with the new system claim it will address the organisational gaps in the long run and help them bring in corrections that could potentially act as a game-changer. Sumi Sukanya Dutta By NEW DELHI: Debshree Lokhande, 31, is a confident and strong woman like many of her peers. It is only when she opens up about her fight against Tuberculosis (TB) that an outsider can understand how persistent the disease can be even with the best of medical treatment.You will have to take the medicine for a long, long time-the technician gravely pronounced as he told me I had tuberculosis, Lokhande says, recalling the episode that happened seven years ago in Ahmedabad. I felt bad, uneasy at first. But, was not really prepared for what lay in store for me. My maternal grandmother panicked. She probably had a premonition that the disease will make us pay a very heavy price-physically, mentally and socially. Considered by many as an infectious disease of the past, TB continues to be a major public health concern in India. Worse, its carrier Mycobacterium keeps developing resistance to the drugs used to treat it and is becoming deadlier. India continues to have the maximum TB cases in the world as it accounted for nearly 27 per cent of the about 10 million new patients in the world, as per the WHO 2018 TB report. The numbers are frightening: around 4 lakh of the total 2.8 million patients in India died last year. A majority of them had Multi-Drug Resistant-Tuberculosis (MDR -TB). In 2017, India accounted for 16 per cent of the 4,80,000 new drug-resistant TB cases. The First National Anti-Tuberculosis Drug Resistance Survey, released by the Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare in March, underlined the need to change the strategy to tackle multi-drug-resistant tuberculosis MDR-TB. Narges Mistry, who heads the Foundation for Medical Research in Mumbai, explains that while patients with drug-sensitive TB are prescribed a standard six-month regimen of first-line drugs Rifampicin, Isoniazid, Pyrazinamide, and Ethambutol for two months, followed by Rifampicin and Isoniazid during the next four months, its not that simple in the more complicated cases. Patients with drug resistant-TB have to be given drug-sensitivity screening tests to find out just which combination of first-line and second-line drugs can be used to treat them, she says. In these tests, their MDR bacteria are exposed to drugs in the laboratory to help doctors design or tailor the right combination of drugs that will work for individual patients. Treatment for MDR-TB usually takes 18 to 24 months, and second-line drugs are more expensive, toxic and not easily available. In Lokhandes case, she had to get Bedaquiline, the most effective drug for MDR-TB, from Belgium. While the standard course of TB drugs, four to six different medicines, can cost as little as Rs 1,200, MDR-TB treatment can cost almost Rs 40 lakh to Rs 50 lakh for one year in the private sector, as per a study published by Zarir Udwadia, a renowned TB specialist at Mumbais P D Hinduja Hospital, and some of his colleagues. Additionally, patients have to get sputum cultures regularly during the course of their treatment, which can add another `1 lakh to the bill annually. Treatment for different forms of drug-resistant TB can lead to blindness, deafness, liver and kidney toxicity, rashes and psychosis - some of which Lokhande learnt the hard way. The problem, however, is that drug-resistant TB has aggravated in India through the years as the government kept denying it, both Udwadia and Mistry point out. You dont treat a patient with pneumonia or peritonitis with drugs you know they are resistant to. Yet, thats precisely what we have subjected many of our MDR patients to over the last decade. Its not scientific, its not intuitive, says Udwadia. Government officials did not respond to specific queries on what is the larger strategy to achieve TB elimination, which aims at reducing from 217 cases per 100,000 people in 2015 to 142 cases in 2020 and 44 in 2025. The fact is that Bedaquiline is given in public health systems at just six centres in India and access is too cumbersome for even genuine patients. I dont see the situation changing anytime soon, admitted a senior official attached with the Revised National TB Control Program (RNTCP). Meanwhile, Lokhande is trying to pick up her life after the long, arduous journey, which cost her hearing, and a lung. Her family had to spend about `50 lakh on treatment. My family had to put all their lifes savings, about `25 lakh, to arrange for a cochlear implant to ensure that I get back my hearing. At the end, we were so broke that we had to crowdfund my lumpectomy in 2016 as the TB had severely affected one of my lungs, says Lokhande. The silver lining is that Lokhande, after she came in touch with Dr Udwadia, is TB free. She is trying to piece together her life to live as normal as she can despite physical limitations. Not everyone, though, is as lucky. Financial drain While the standard course of TB drugs can cost as little as Rs 1,200, MDR-TB treatment can cost almost Rs 40-50 lakh for one year in the private sector, as per a study by Dr Zarir Udwadia, renowned TB specialist at P D Hinduja Hospital, Mumbai. Chinese President Xi Jinping, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, shakes hands with military officers as he inspects the Southern Theater Command of the People's Liberation Army, Oct. 25, 2018. (Xinhua/Li Gang) GUANGZHOU, Oct. 26 (Xinhua) -- Chinese President Xi Jinping on Thursday inspected the Southern Theater Command of the People's Liberation Army and stressed advancing capacity-building for commanding. Xi, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, ordered a thorough implementation of the Party's thought on building a strong army in the new era. 2 1 [ Editor: Zhang Zhou ] Siddhanta Mishra By NEW DELHI: With over 46,000 Jhuggi-Jhopri (JJ) clusters housing thousands of people, situated dangerously close to Delhis vast railway network, an Amritsar-like tragedy is waiting to happen. What makes matters worse is the fact that the encroachers, who make up the vote bank of power-hungry politicians, have political patronage that makes it next to impossible for the Indian Railways to demolish these clusters near the tracks. Removing encroachments without the help of the state government is not possible. That willingness to take strong steps is required. Earlier the government said that all the JJ clusters that were made before 2006 would be regularized. Now that timeline has been extended till 2016 which makes it worse said an Indian Railways official. These clusters are not just a threat to the lives of the people residing in them, but also to the railway passengers, as maintenance of tracks is hampered by JJ dwellers using them to defecate.Thanks to lack of political will and the lax attitude of authorities, around 150 acres of Railway land worth several thousand crores has been encroached upon in the national capital. According to a conservative estimate, over two lakh people reside in these units. The maximum number of dwelling units on Railway land have came up in northwest Delhi, where Shakur Basti falls. According to Railway records, around 16,000 dwelling units exist in eight clusters in northwest Delhi and Shakur Basti is one of them. This is the spot where the Railways carried out a demolition drive three years ago, which unfortunately resulted in the death of a seven-year-old girl. Predictably, the issue snowballed into a major political slugfest. With only 100 dwelling units, the New Delhi district has the minimum encroachment on railway land. Around half of the 46,000 units, around 22,000 of them, came up in the Railway Safety Zone, putting everyone at risk, including the residents and rail passengers. As per Railway safety regulations, 15 metres of land on both sides of the track is considered the safety zone for smooth and secure movement of rail traffic. Any structure in this zone poses a serious threat, added the official. Railway officials also say that many times while passing through these congested areas the trains have to slow down, and petty criminals take advantage and steal from passengers and disappear into the JJ clusters. Trespassing continues to be the biggest killer on railway tracks, with nearly 50,000 people being killed in the last three years. Incidentally, Railway Board Chairman Ashwani Lohani blamed trespassing as the reason for the Amritsar accident that took place on the night of Dussehra when the victims were watching the effigies of Ravan burn down. Sumi Sukanya dutta By NEW DELHI: A first-of-its-kind study carried out among first-year medical students in India has found that nearly 40 per cent students regret getting into medicine, mainly due to its lifelong reading. The study found that about 36% students want to become doctors, primarily to make money. Over 82%, students opted to pursue MBBS out of self-interest, while 27% admitted it was due to parents wish/ pressure. The study carried out by researchers at the department of community medicine, Kamineni Institute of Medical Sciences, Narketpally in Telangana was based on the analysis of first-year students of the institute but is representative of medical community across the country. The findings were published in the recent issue of International Journal of Community Medicine and Public Health. Medical profession is one of the most highly rated professions among the students due to the fact that it offers prospects of a financially as well as a socially satisfying career. It was observed that many students in India prefer a career in medicine because of parental pressure, the study noted. These students may not excel in the academics and are at risk of developing stress or suicidal tendency. Though the proportion is small, this issue should not be neglected, it said. Anant Bhan, a researcher in bio-ethics, global health and policy, said studying medicine can be gruelling. Parents and students need to understand what they are getting into. The numbers should push health administrators into design better orientation modules for students and start some innovative support system. Express News Service By BHOPAL: The Congress inability to forge a grand alliance and the dwindling possibility of a potent Third front comprising small but significant political outfits could be a significant lifeline for the Shivraj Singh Chouhan-led BJP government in Madhya Pradesh.While the BJP and Congress are yet to declare their list of candidates for the November 28 polls, smaller parties, including the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP), the Samajwadi Party (SP) and the Gondwana Gantantra Party (GGP) have already started declaring their candidates. Till Friday, the BSP had declared 50 candidates and plans to name the remaining 180 candidates by the end of the month. The SP has already declared 17 candidates, while the GGP has so far declared 26 candidates. The Jai Adivasi Yuva Sangathan (JAYS) plans to go alone and contest on 80 seats (including on 47 seats reserved for STs). The SP leadership is still hopeful of forging a third front with the GGP and the BSP to capitalise the situation in the event of a hung Assembly. But with both other parties preparing to go alone, the possibility of anti-BJP opposition vote splitting could bring cheer to the BJP. In 2013, the BJP secured 165 seats with around 45% votes, the Congress won 58 seats with little over 36% votes, while the BSP ended up with four seats securing 6.29% votes. The SP and two rival factions of the GGP drew a blank. Five years later, a strong undercurrent of anti-incumbency against the BJP and a resurgent Congress, despite no clear-cut wave in its favour, can best be termed as neck to neck race. Had the entire Opposition vote been integrated, the BJP would have been in a real trouble, a senior opposition leader said. According to state BSP president Pradip Ahirwar, the party will contest all 230 seats alone and is eyeing the seat of the king and not the kingmaker in the case of a hung Assembly. A united GGP now hopes to better its 2003 performance. As things stand now, well contest polls alone, which could benefit the BJP and damage the Congress, said GGP spokesperson Ramesh Bakorik. The SP is primarily focusing on garnering 4% votes to win more than five seats. We still hope to cobble a Third front with GGP and BSP. If that happens, the collective vote could well help us win 30-plus seats, where well call the shots in government formation, an SP leader told The Sunday Standard recently. A breakdown in deliberations between JAYS and the Congress for an alliance is also causing concern to the Congress about a possible split of anti-BJP tribal votes in Dhar, Barwani, Khargone, Alirajpur, Jhabua, Burhanpur and Khandwa. Siddhanta Mishra By NEW DELHI: The Delhi BJP, which has not won even one single reserved Assembly seat in the National Capital after 2008, plans a massive outreach programme through its Bhim Mahasangam rally on November 25 at Ram Lila Maidan. The saffron partys SC wing, which is organizing the Mahasangam, claims that lakhs of people will be attending the event. The Mahasangam is aimed at strengthening the partys hold on the sizeable Dalit community in Delhi. ALSO READ: Delhi BJP pledges to work for winning all seven Lok Sabha seats in 2019 In the absence of strong candidates from the BJP in the past, the Arvind Kejriwal-led Aam Aadmi Party managed to wrest away the seats. Learning its lessons, the BJP is determined not to give up those seats that easily.The objective of this public meeting is to spread the message of benefits that can be availed through the public welfare schemes launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modis government. We hope that through the Bhim Mahasangam, we will be able to make our case stronger within the community, especially the youth, said Mohan Lal Gihara, president of BJP SC Morcha. Currently, Delhi has 12 Assembly (total 70) and one Lok Sabha (total seven) seat North West Delhi which are reserved for the SC category. Bawana has got the largest number of SC voters when it comes to Assembly seats. This crucial seat is with the ruling AAP. So, in order to turn that tide and make an impact across all the reserve constituencies, this rally will help us. The meeting will generate enthusiasm for our workers, members and encourage them to actively focus on policies related to the Dalit community launched by the Centre. We have sent invitations to our senior leaders for the event, said a source in the party. Incidentally, the AAP, which drew a blank in the 2014 Lok Sabha elections but won a landslide majority in the Assembly election, has recently formed its SC wing to woo voters from the backward community. Kumar Vikram By NEW DELHI: Abuse of money power and misuse of the media are two of the major concerns that have surfaced, as Telangana inches closer to the December 7 election. Talking to The Sunday Standard, Chief Election Commissioner Om Prakash Rawat said, Abuse of money power and abuse or misuse of the media, are the key challenges, particularly in Telangana. In the 2014 polls, over 154 crore was seized in Andhra Pradesh only. This time also, all political parties have expressed their worries and have told the commission that these two things are their main areas of concern. Rawat agreed that in every election, innovative tactics to woo voters are used during campaigning. Abuse of money will be rampant and therefore the commission is taking effective steps to control and regulate this. Similarly, media ownership has gone into the hands of political parties through different means and they are regularly campaigning for persons who are favoured by their owners. This will be checked, he added. On the controversies surrounding deletion of names from the voters list, the CEC asserted that the poll panel uses latest technology to vet and update the electoral rolls.Earlier, the electoral roll used to be on paper and it was nearly impossible to find anomalies. Thereafter, the Election Commission took the initiative to digitize it. Many things have come out. ALSO READ: Will ensure clean electoral rolls: CEC OP Rawat A lot of voters names were deleted on various accounts. We started many programmes and introduced software to ensure the purification of electoral rolls. It is being done since 2015. In Telangana, many political parties submitted their lists, which we sent to officials for verification. Similarly, in Rajasthan, many civil societies had complained about the rolls and we took steps accordingly. This way, the electoral roll has become clean without any anomalies, Rawat said. The number of voters in Telangana has come down from 2.82 crore in 2014 to 2.73 crore as per the final rolls published this month. The net deletions were about 22 lakh as 12 lakh new voters were added. The EC has said that the removal of names from the list is due to multiple entries of voters and migrated and dead voters. The Congress had approached the Supreme Court over the deletion of a large number of voters names from the rolls. The matter was subsequently referred to Hyderabad High Court. Telangana voter list row In Telangana, the number of voters has come down from 2.82 crore in 2014 to 2.73 crore as per the final rolls published this month. The net deletions were about 22 lakh as 12 lakh new voters were added. The EC has said the removal of names is due to multiple entries of voters, migrated and dead voters. The Election Commission of India fears rampant abuse of money power in the upcoming Assembly polls and is taking effective steps to check that, Chief Election Commissioner O P Rawat asserts in an exclusive interview to Kumar Vikram. Regarding the complaints of fake entries and other issues surrounding the electoral list, Rawat says the EC is banking on digitization and other steps to ensure clean electoral rolls as far as possible. He cited the examples of Telangana and Rajasthan to explain how the EC reached out to political parties and civil society regarding their complaints about voters list. Elections are being held in five states. What are the key challenges in these states, particularly in Telangana? Abuse of money and abuse of media or misuse of media are the key challenges, particularly in Telangana. In the 2014 polls, over 154 crore was seized in Andhra Pradesh alone. This time also, all the political parties have expressed their worries and have told the Commission that these (issues) are their main worries. Abuse of money will be rampant, and, therefore, the Commission takes effective steps to control and regulate this. Similarly, media ownership has gone into the hands of political parties through different means, and they are regularly campaigning for the persons who are favoured by the owners. This will be checked. ALSO READ: Money power and misuse of media key concerns in Telangana What are the challenges in other states? In Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Rajasthan and Mizoram, there are many other challenges. In northern Chhattisgarh, it is money and media or paid news. Drugs from across the border are a matter of concern in Rajasthan which has a long international border. The EC has reviewed these things with the officials concerned to strengthen the mechanism available there to regulate and check (these issues). In Mizoram, voting is generally peaceful. But, Bru tribes had abandoned their homes in 1997. They have not returned to even after a package by the government. But, enrollment has been done, and it is being tackled by the Commission. Similarly, in some parts of Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh, there is the Shaharia tribe. They are primitive people and are the poorest of the poor. Their houses neither have roofs nor doors. Only stones are put as walls. They have hardly any worldly possession. But, their participation will be ensured. Awareness programme is on, and they will come forward to vote. VVPAT awareness programmes have also been held. It will have a good impact. These are the challenges. Our political class is quite innovative, and that is good also because people should be innovative. We have to be aware of all those propensities and remain alert. In many states, politicians and political parties have raised questions about voter lists and about fake and bogus voters. What initiatives have been taken? Earlier, the electoral roll used to be only on paper and it was nearly impossible to find anomalies. Thereafter, the Election Commission took the initiative of its digitization. Many things have come out. A lot of voters were deleted on various accounts. We started many programmes and introduced software to ensure the purification of electoral rolls. It is being done since 2015. In Telangana, many political parties submitted their lists, which we sent to officials for verification. In Rajasthan, many civil society groups complained about rolls and we took steps accordingly. This way, the electoral roll has become clean without any anomalies. What is the status of linking of voter cards with the Aadhaar cards? Will the Commission start it again? The Commission is waiting for the Supreme Court order on this. We are thinking of starting it again after that. There are many benefits of this initiative. First, deduplication will be very easy as Aadhaar is a unique number, and, secondly, identification will be very easy with the help of Aadhaar biometrics. Over 30 crore voter IDs have already been seeded and it will start again. It has come to light that higher denomination electoral bonds have been purchased in a large quantity. Does it serve the purpose of transparency in political funding? What is the opinion of EC on this? The Commission will have to take the call now. Earlier, we had expressed concern regarding transparency and the possibility of shell companies which can buy electoral bonds. The government had said that the scheme was still under preparation and the Commission decided to wait. Now, we have contribution reports through electoral bonds till October 15. Our secretariat is now examining whether the concerns that the EC had earlier raised is addressed or not. Internet penetration is at its peak and the reach of social media has also become wider. Please tell something about the initiatives taken by the Commission to stop misuse of social media during elections. We have already talked to various social media platforms. They assured us of taking steps. Like in the Karnataka elections, we saw the impact and it was very effective. It was a small pilot project. In the upcoming state polls, it will be seen on a large scale. We will interact with them again. And, based upon the results of the polls, we will prepare for the Lok Sabha polls and also the shortcomings will be rectified in due process. I hope that there will not be any issue regarding the use of social media. Google and other social media platforms will look into fake news through fact-checking. They will check facts to stop the spread of fake news. They will flag fake news, advertisements or any adverse material. Will expenditure on social media be counted under the poll expenditure of the candidate? If the publicity will be of a candidate, they (expenses) will come under the candidates expenditure. A media certification team is there to look into the expenditure aspect. Recently, there have been instances of data theft or security breach of database. What steps has the Commission taken to ensure the security of voters database? We have taken many cyber security initiatives, People have been trained. Chief cyber security official were appointed at every places. Even in the headquarters, a full floor is cyber secure to keep the data safe and to stop any breach. What steps has the EC taken so that parties do not raise the issues of EVMs malfunctioning? The EC doesnt have the power to stop anybody. But, we havent left anything to ensure proper functioning of the EVMs and transparency during polling. Comprehensive advertising has been done. Awareness campaign has been conducted accordingly in each poll-going state. Each stakeholder is aware that these machines are completely secured. Moreover, EVMs have already arrived and VVPATs will arrive by November 30 as per the schedule. What are the challenges facing the general elections? How is the EC prepared to handle the polling exercise? We started for the Lok Sabha polls long ago, and preparation is going on as per the schedule. First-level check of EVMs and VVPATs is done in many states. Training (of staff) is also complete in many states. This is the reason the Telangana polls are being held successfully within such a short span of time. By AFP PARIS: The British poet and writer Rudyard Kipling, an ardent supporter of his country's entry into World War I, did everything he could to make sure his only son would join the fight. Yet just a few weeks after John Kipling touched French soil on the day of his 18th birthday, he was reported missing during the devastating Battle of Loos on September 27, 1915. His father and mother Carrie would spend the next several years desperately searching for him, hoping against all odds that he might have survived. It was not until 1919 that Kipling publicly acknowledged his son was probably dead, one of the 1.1 million soldiers lost by the British Empire in the war. The author of 'The Jungle Book', the first Briton to be awarded the Nobel Prize for literature, fiercely defended the war as a patriotic duty for all able-bodied men. He threw himself into the government's propaganda efforts and is believed to have popularised the slur "Hun" in reference to the German foe. But John, who hoped to enlist in the Royal Navy, was rejected because of poor eyesight. "As his wife said: How could their son not go to war when all the other sons were?" said David A Richards, who has published a bibliography of the author's work and letters. It was only thanks to his father's connections as one of the country's most popular writers that he finally got a commission in the Irish Guards, and shipped out to France in August 1915. Shortly afterwards came the Battle of Loos, which proved a disaster for Britain as waves of soldiers were cut down by German machine guns or choked on their own poison gas being blown back into their lines. An estimated 15,000 British soldiers were killed and 35,000 wounded in a matter of days. It was John's first combat experience, and he disappeared after "going over the top", leaving the trenches to attack enemy lines. "A telegram from the War Office to say John is 'missing'", reads an entry in Carrie's diary from October 2, 1915. From that day on, Kipling moved heaven and earth to find out what happened to his son. Hoping he might just be wounded or captured, Kipling spent months tracking down members of his regiment to try to learn where John was last seen. He even managed to have leaflets dropped over enemy lines asking for news of his son. "He begged the War Office not to declare the boy dead, only missing, to spare his wife's feelings," Richards said. Kipling would return repeatedly to the French battlefields hoping to learn his son's fate until his death in 1936. But it was only in 1992 that John's grave was finally identified thanks to archival research, at St Mary's Cemetery in Haines, near the battlefield where he disappeared. His name has since replaced the inscription 'Known unto God', a phrase suggested by Kipling himself to the Imperial War Graves Commission, which he joined after his son's disappearance. "After the war, Kipling's writing took on a generally more serious tone, including several stories about soldiers suffering from what we would now call post-traumatic stress disorder," according to Mike Kipling, one of the author's descendants and chairman of the Kipling Society. In 1916 he would write the haunting lines of 'My Boy Jack': "Have you news of my boy. What comfort can I find?" Whether a sign of his own regrets or criticism of those responsible for the carnage, Kipling would later write in his 'Epitaphs of the War': "If any question why we died, tell them, because our fathers lied." By AFP BEIRUT: The Islamic State group has ousted a US-backed coalition of Kurdish and Arab forces from its holdout in eastern Syria, killing dozens of fighters, a monitoring group said Sunday. A Syrian Democratic Forces commander, asking not to be named, confirmed the SDF retreat from the Hajin pocket near the Iraqi border seven weeks into an offensive. The SDF, who are backed by air strikes of the US-led coalition, launched its campaign to retake the IS holdout on September 10. But they have faced a fierce fightback from the jihadists, including under the cover of sandstorms, the Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights says. "In counterattacks since Friday to Sunday dawn, IS has taken back all positions to which the SDF had advanced inside the Hajin pocket," the monitoring group's chief Rami Abdel Rahman said. The Observatory reported 72 SDF fighters killed, as IS took advantage of the storm that hampered coalition air cover and dispatched suicide bombers as part of their fightback. The SDF commander told AFP that his forces had faced a "strong dust storm" and lacked local knowledge of the terrain. Unlike IS, "our forces don't know the area and can't move around in conditions of zero visibility," he said. "Military reinforcements and heavy weapons have been sent to the front and some units will be replaced by more experienced ones," the commander said. "We will launch a new military campaign as soon as those reinforcements have arrived," he said. More than 300 SDF fighters and around 500 IS jihadists have been killed in the past seven weeks of fighting, the Observatory says. The coalition estimates that 2,000 IS fighters remain in the Hajin area. IS overran large swathes of Syria and neighbouring Iraq in 2014, proclaiming a "caliphate" across land it controlled. But the jihadist group has since lost most of that territory to various offensives in both countries. In Syria, its presence has been reduced to parts of the vast Badia desert also in the east and the Hajin pocket. A total of more than 360,000 people have been killed since Syria's war erupted in 2011 with the brutal repression of anti-government protests. By PTI TOKYO/NEW DELHI: Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe Sunday said he will be a "friend of India for life" as he and Prime Minister Narendra Modi began two days of summit talks to further deepen the Japan-India strategic partnership. ALSO READ | PM Modi gifts handcrafted stone bowl, dhurries to Japanese premier In a message published in Indian newspapers on the day Abe hosted Modi at his holiday home in the picturesque Yamanashi prefecture, west of Tokyo, he recalled that the first Japanese prime minister to visit India was his grandfather Nobusuke Kishi in 1957. "At the time when Japan was not so wealthy, Prime Minister (Jawaharlal) Nehru introduced Prime Minister Kishi in front of thousands of people as the Japanese Prime Minister whom he respects," Abe noted. Following Prime Minister Kishi's visit to India in 1957, yen loans to the country began in 1958. Abe, who was elected prime minister for the first time in 2006, comes from a politically prominent family. "Engraving the history in my heart, I have devoted myself to nurturing this friendship with India," Abe said in his article. He recalled that when he visited India in 2007, he was honoured to deliver a speech in the Parliament of India, the largest democratic country in the world. ALSO READ | PM Modi one of my most dependable friends: Japanese Premier Shinzo Abe He said that he spoke of the "confluence of the two seas" in his speech which would lead to the vision of a free and open Indo-Pacific. When he visited Ahmedabad, Prime Minister Modi's home state, Gujarat, in September last year, the Japanese premier said he received an "overwhelmingly warm welcome" by the people of India. "Immersed in the strong impression and thinking of my grandfather's visit to India, I swore that I would remain a friend of India for life," the 64-year-old leader of the Liberal Democratic Party said in the letter. Prime Minister Modi, who arrived in Tokyo Saturday evening to attend the 13th India-Japan annual summit, has said that his meeting with Abe will add new vigour to the strong friendship between the two countries. The two-day summit beginning Sunday will seek to review the progress in ties and deepen strategic dimension of the bilateral relationship. On his part, Prime Minister Abe said the annual mutual visits by the leaders of Japan and India are an "active driving force" for the advancement of Japan-India bilateral relations. "I am convinced that Prime Minister Modi's visit to Japan this time will also be fruitful as our previous meetings," he said. At the same time, Abe hoped that Prime Minister Modi will enjoy the beautiful autumn in Japan, including the snow-capped Mout Fuji and autumn-tinted leaves, besides experiencing Japanese cutting-edge technology. Describing Prime Minister Modi as "one of my most dependable and valuable friends," Abe said he would be greatly pleased if his guest is impressed the same way as he was in Ahmedabad." Organised by the Vietnam Journalists Association, the organisers selected 11 out of 40 performances in the semi-finals held in the northern, southern and central regions to progress to the final round on Saturday evening. The finalists covered diverse genres, focusing mainly on the theme of praising the Party, beloved Uncle Ho, patriotism, the revolutionary tradition and the heroic history of the nation. The judging panel, which consisted of well-known musicians and artists, voted for the best performances at the finale. Accordingly, first prize belonged to Nguyen Thi Hong Nhung (from Dai Bieu Nhan Dan (he Peoples Representative) Newspaper Journalists Association) with the song Nguoi Ha Noi (Hanoians). Two second prizes went to contestants Nguyen Thi Thuy Trang (Thua Thien - Hue Radio and Television) and Dang Thi Nguyet (Journalists Association of Army Radio and Television Centre). Two third prizes were granted to Nguyen Thi Minh Chau (Journalists Association under the Vietnam Journalists Association) and the team from the Journalists Association of Radio the Voice of Vietnam. The organisers also awarded four consolation prizes, a prize for the best folk song performance and one award for the best performance of a revolutionary song. In addition, the Vietnam Musicians Association also presented its award for the most impressive contestant at the event. By PTI COLOMBO: In a relief to Sri Lanka's embattled leader Ranil Wickremesinghe, Parliament's Speaker refused to endorse his sacking as the prime minister, even as President Maithripala Sirisena on Sunday asserted that the appointment of Mahinda Rajapaksa as his successor was in strict accordance with the Constitution. In a letter to Sirisena, Speaker Karu Jayasuriya backed the ousted prime minister's request to retain his privileges and security until another candidate could prove a majority, saying it was "democratic and fair". He also questioned the president's decision to suspend Parliament till November 16, saying it will have "serious and undesirable" consequences on the country. ALSO READ | Arjuna Ranatunga's guards open fire; one dead, two injured Sirisena on Friday sacked Wickremesinghe and appointed former strongman Rajapaksa as the new prime minister. Next day, he suspended Parliament after Wickremesinghe, who had termed his sacking as illegal and unconstitutional, sought an emergency session to prove his majority. The president also withdrew Wickremesinghe's personal security and vehicles in order to accord them to his 72-year-old successor, who staged a dramatic political comeback. In his first address to the nation after sacking Wickremesinghe, Sirisena said his former ally's political conduct since the victory in 2015 elections was unbecoming. "He appeared to treat Sri Lanka's future as a joy ride for a coterie of people around him who had no sense of the common man's thinking," he said. "He completely destroyed the concept of good governance while corruption and waste became rampant. He was making arrogant, arbitrary decisions making a mockery of collective responsibility. "There was a huge gap in policy agreement between the two of us. I believe the cultural and policy differences between us contributed to this political and economic crisis," Sirisena charged. ALSO READ | Sri Lankan Parliament speaker recognises Ranil Wickremesinghe as PM Meanwhile, newly-appointed premier Rajapaksa on Sunday called for a snap parliamentary election to allow people vote for a new programme to overcome the island nation's economic and political crisis. This was the first public statement by the former strongman since President Sirisena appointed him as the new prime minister after sacking Wickremesinghe. Sirisena also accused the United National Party (UNP) leader of treating very lightly the alleged plot to assassinate him. The president last week accused his unity government partner of Wickremesinghe's UNP of going slow on the investigations after a man named Namal Kumara in mid-September disclosed the alleged plot to assassinate him and former defence minister Gotabhaya Rajapaksa. ALSO READ | Hope democratic values would be respected: India on political turmoil in Sri Lanka "Having taken into consideration all crisis, the political and economic as well as the assassination plot on me, I was only left with one alternative which was to appoint former President Mahinda Rajapaksa as the prime minister," Sirisena said. Rejecting Wickremesinghe's allegation that his sacking was unconstitutional and illegal, he said, "I must make it very clear that the new appointment (of Rajapaksa) was made on expert legal advice in strict accordance with the Constitution." Sirisena's remarks came after the Speaker urged him to restore Wickremesinghe's privileges as the leader of the government who has "obtained a mandate to secure democracy and good governance." Jayasuriya said a prorogation of parliament should be one in consultation with the Speaker. Sirisena's decision to suspend the Parliament until November 16 was seen as a an effort to coerce legislators into supporting Rajapaksa. Wickremesinghe has refused to vacate the prime minister's official residence-cum-office of Temple Trees. The political crisis in the island nation on Sunday triggered violence as one person was killed and two others injured as the bodyguards of Petroleum Minister Arjuna Ranatunga, a Wickremesinghe loyalist, fired live rounds when supporters of Rajapaksa threatened the cabinet member. The political developments, which has thrown the country into a constitutional crisis, unfolded after Sirisena's broader political front United People's Freedom Alliance (UPFA) announced that it has decided to quit the unity government with Wickremesinghe's UNP. Sirisena and Wickremesinghe had joined to form a government of national unity in 2015 to bring in constitutional and governance reforms including a new Constitution to address the long-standing issues of the Tamil minority. Sri Lanka nearly faced economic sanctions from the West over Rajapaksa' brutal military crackdown on the banned LTTE. The LTTE sought a separate Tamil homeland in the northern and eastern provinces of the island nation for nearly 30 years before its collapse in 2009 after the Sri Lankan Army killed its supreme leader Velupillai Prabhakaran. Columnist Tom Kacich is a columnist and the author of Tom's Mailbag at The News-Gazette. His column appears Sundays. His email is tkacich@news-gazette.com, and you can follow him on Twitter (@tkacich). One of Editor & Publishers 10 That Do It Right 2021 Chief Executive Carrie Lam presented honours and awards to 265 recipients at the 2018 Honours & Awards Presentation Ceremony at Government House today. Mrs Lam congratulated all the recipients and expressed her appreciation for their distinguished achievements in their respective fields and contributions to Hong Kong. Justice Robert Tang, Cheung Hok-ming, Robin Chan and Prof Rosie Young received the Grand Bauhinia Medal at the ceremony. Eight people received the Gold Bauhinia Star, 19 were awarded the Silver Bauhinia Star, four the Silver Medal for Bravery, 11 the Distinguished Service Medal for the disciplined services & the Independent Commission Against Corruption, 39 the Bronze Bauhinia Star and nine the Bronze Medal for Bravery. Meanwhile, 43 people were given the Meritorious Service Medal for the disciplined services & the ICAC, 59 the Medal of Honour, 47 the Chief Executive's Commendation for Community Service and 22 the Chief Executive's Commendation for Government/Public Service. The 2018 Honours List was issued on July 1. In his address, Israeli Ambassador Nadav Eshcar emphasised that the relationship between the two countries has been growing rapidly since the establishment of their diplomatic ties 25 years ago. The display of Israels unique and pioneering technologies at the exhibition reflects the similarities between the two sides in the field of innovation and is evidence of a vision for bilateral cooperation in high-tech education, agriculture and science, he said. For his part, Chairman of the Hanoi Peoples Committee, Nguyen Duc Chung, stated that the exhibition will provide the public in Hanoi in particular, and in Vietnam as a whole, a panorama of Israel, especially its vertical rice farming techniques, remote control drip irrigation, and atmospheric water generation technologies. These advanced technologies could be a source of research and application for Vietnam and Hanoi in order to take alternative measures to transform the appearance of urban districts and enhance the possibility of high-tech farming in Vietnams urban areas, Chung added. On the occassion, the Hanoi mayor thanked Israels Watergen company for presenting the city with two atmospheric water generators, which have a capacity of producing 700 litres of water per day. The Israel in the heart of Hanoi exhibition features photos on Israel, a display of vertical rice farming, remote control drip irrigation and atmospheric water generation technologies, and unique arts performances imbued with Israels traditional identities. Chief Executive Carrie Lam today met Xinhua News Agency President Cai Mingzhao at Government House. Mrs Lam welcomed Mr Cai to Hong Kong and briefed him on the citys latest developments. She said Hong Kong is integrating into the overall development of the nation with the support of the Central Peoples Government. Hong Kong is proactively participating in the Belt & Road Initiative and the development of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area, she said, adding the city is leveraging its strengths to meet the countrys needs. The recent commissioning of the Hong Kong Section of the Guangzhou-Shenzhen-Hong Kong Express Rail Link and the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge as well as the upcoming opening of the Liantang/Heung Yuen Wai Boundary Control Point will enhance connectivity between the city and the Mainland enormously, Mrs Lam said. It also lays a solid foundation for the development of the bay area. Mrs Lam said the Xinhua News Agency has a long history and has been responsible for reporting the countrys latest developments. She hopes that the agency would provide Hong Kong people with information about the Mainland, the countries along the Belt & Road and the world. Secretary for Development Michael Wong will travel to Xuzhou, Jiangsu Province on October 29 to attend the 2018 World Cities Day Forum. Mr Wong will join the cultural exchange and welcome dinner on October 30, and attend the opening ceremony and give a keynote speech at the forum on the following day. The forums theme this year is Building Sustainable and Resilient Cities. It is organised by the United Nations Human Settlements Programme, the Ministry of Housing & Urban-Rural Development of the Peoples Republic of China and the Peoples Government of Jiangsu Province. The United Nations has designated every October 31 as World Cities Day to promote co-operation among countries in addressing the challenges of urbanisation as well as contributing to sustainable urban development. Mr Wong will return to Hong Kong on October 31. PRESIDENT Emmerson Mnangagwa has no choice, but to agree to the formation of a transitional authority if Zimbabwe is to emerge out of the chaos engulfing the country, opposition MDC Alliance leader Nelson Chamisa has said. Chamisa reacted angrily to reports that Mnangagwa had effectively ruled out any possibility of talks, let alone the formation of a political structure to superintend the country inclusive of the opposition. Early this week, Chamisa told journalists that Mnangagwa and his Zanu PF party had reneged on a promise to the late former Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai to form an inclusive government following the fall of long-time ruler, former President Robert Mugabe in November last year. But in his address to the Zanu PF central committee on Thursday, Mnangagwa said there were no plans for a Government of National Unity (GNU). Chamisa, however, said Mnangagwa had no choice. Arrogance and pride come before a fall. Zimbabwe is in a polarised and divided position on account of arrogance as well as exclusive partisan politics, said Chamisa, who lost to Mnangagwa by a wafer thin margin in the July 30 presidential elections, but insists he was defrauded of victory. Chamisa said he was not demanding a GNU, but wanted a transitional authority. Nobody wants a GNU. We have said we want a transitional authority because our nation is in transition. It needs a return to legitimacy and an emergency economic rescue package. As far as we are concerned, we do not have a government that has the backing of the people. This (Mnangagwa government) does not have the peoples mandate. It is the product of a contested and illegitimate declaration by the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (Zec), the opposition leader told NewsDay Weekender yesterday. I dont know where Mnangagwa is getting the idea that we want a GNU. We never said we wanted a GNU. It has never been in our thoughts. We have said Zimbabwe needs a transitional authority which is bigger than a GNU. Chamisa said while the Constitutional Court (ConCourt) had thrown out his petition and confirmed Mnangagwa as duly elected President, his legitimacy remained in question. The ConCourt gave its position, but in politics the court of public opinion reigns supreme. The people are the ultimate arbiters in political issues. They have the ultimate authority. The beauty about this is that Mnangagwa has not contested our argument that he did not win the election. He is just arguing that Zec declared him winner, but we have said beyond that declaration, there were issues of legitimacy that he does not have, the opposition leader said. Chamisa argued a transitional authority would unite the country and kick-start the economy on the back of international goodwill. Mnangagwa must eat humble pie and accept that this country is bigger than him. He must respect the people of Zimbabwe and understand that this country will need all forces and faces to unite in order for it to move forward. The economy is always the mirror through which we see the real national situation and you have seen how it is behaving. There is deep seated dislocation, a deficit of leadership, governance, trust and confidence, he said. Some manufacturers of basic commodities are reportedly in panic mode, amid indications they are now desperate to immediately off-load the products they have been allegedly stockpiling in the last few weeks. The move comes as manufacturers seek to maintain a stranglehold on the local market following Governments decision to temporarily suspend Statutory Instrument 122 of 2017 (formerly SI 64 of 2016) last Tuesday to allow supermarkets to restock. A social media-induced shopping spree had seen basic commodities being wiped out of shops as consumers feared for widespread shortages of basic goods. The situation was worsened by sceptical manufacturers who reportedly held on to products, with some reportedly diverting the goods to foreign markets, despite benefiting from Government subsidies, including foreign currency. The suspension of SI 122 of 2017 is understood to have rattled some manufacturers, who were holding the country to ransom, and are now keen to supply their products before imported goods take over supermarket shelves. An official from a cooking oil firm, name withheld, said: We have been producing cooking oil all along but our bosses had said we should not deliver it locally. Some of the cooking oil was being exported to Mozambique despite shortages on the local market. While most formal supermarkets have been struggling to satisfy the local market, the goods have been readily available in informal shops where they are sold in US dollars or bond notes at thrice the formal price. The official from the cooking oil firm went on to say the suspension of SI 122 of 2017 came as a shock to management, hence the hurried decision to start delivering the product to ensure that imported goods do not steal our clients. Basic goods such as cooking oil, bath soap and sugar returned to some supermarket shelves on Wednesday last week. Top retailers such as Pick n Pay, OK Zimbabwe and Food World, are selling cooking oil at an average price of US$3,90. Geisha soap is retailing at US$1,15. However, some retailers are demanding that each customer must first buy goods worth US$10 or US$15 in order to qualify to buy cooking oil. Last week, Confederation of Zimbabwe Retailers (CZR) president Mr Denford Mutashu confirmed that some suppliers are panicking following the suspension of SI 122. Mr Mutashu said the panicky suppliers have immediately made arrangements to resume supplies stopped on October 2nd. Suppliers were holding retailers at ransom by refusing to release products to the market so they could divert it to some black market cartels, and consumers would blame the shortages on retailers, said Mr Mutashu. But now we can buy on our own and ensure there is product availability for consumers. We will always prioritise local products and will only import to augment local supplies to avoid shortages. The situation had gone terrible but we are optimistic this should benefit consumers as well as bring price stability. People cannot get into the festive season without basics. CZR had been lobbying Government to suspend SI 122 to allow retailers to restock. However, Oil Expressers Association of Zimbabwe chairman, Mr Busisa Moyo told The Sunday Mail Business last week that manufacturers were not hiding products, although he conceded that some were engaging in rent-seeking behaviour. This is completely false, (that the shortages are a result of manufacturers holding on to their products). However, there is a lot of rent-seeking behaviour on our cooking oil products by small retailers, hoarders, arbitrageurs and rent-seekers, said Mr Moyo. We have maintained prices thus far but the distortion and fake news onslaught has reached epic proportions. On cooking oil, we have maintained supplies based on what we have been offered by the RBZ (Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe) and await the Afreximbank facility, which will be concluded by month end. Mr Moyo, who is also CEO for cooking oil firm, United Refineries Limited (URL), said following the provision of funds by the RBZ, they were able to produce cooking oil and delivered 35 000 units into Bulawayo last Wednesday. He added that bulk oil was also supplied to customers who fry and make various products. On Thursday, URL delivered a further 20 000 units at its normal prices. Confederation of Zimbabwe Industries (CZI) president Mr Sifelani Jabangwe said some manufacturers could have been holding on to their products to see where the prices would go following a spike in exchange rates. But Mr Jabangwe said supplies would soon pick-up since manufacturers got foreign currency allocations from the RBZ beginning last Monday. Remember the (RBZ) Governor (Dr John Mangudya) was away so we held a meeting with him last week (a fortnight ago) and some producers started getting foreign currency allocations on Monday. The real reason for the shortages has to do with foreign currency. The situation worsened after Government announced fiscal and monetary measures and the market went into swings and moods. Said Mr Jabangwe: Companies are actually behind Government and I can tell you that some are now owing suppliers anything between US$2 million and US$50 million because throughout the year, the RBZ kept saying keep producing, we will pay you. He said the foreign currency challenges appear to be cyclical as the shortages and high prices were also experienced last year in September. Foreign currency levels usually dip at the end of the tobacco selling season. Sunday Mail FDA Gives Thumbs Up to COVID Boosters for All Adults (Newser) The Anti-Defamation League says the shooting at the Tree of Life synagogue in Pittsburgh is thought to be the deadliest attack specifically targeting Jews ever in the USby far. CNN reports the previous attack to have that label occurred in 1985, when Seattle lawyer Charles Goldmark, his wife, and two sons were killed. (The Washington Post notes it "was actually a case of mistaken religious identity," as the family was not Jewish.) The toll in Saturday's shooting stands at 11. The AP reports police on Sunday said the victims were eight men and three women. In an arrest affidavit made public, police say that while treating alleged shooter Robert Gregory Bowers for injuries he sustained after being shot by police, he said Jews were "committing genocide to his people" and that he wanted them all to die. story continues below The AP separately reports on a "vulnerability" the shooter took advantage of: an unlocked door. While the Tree of Life synagogue required guests to ring a bell to gain access during the week, on the Jewish Sabbath the building was open to all guests for Shabbat services. The Post quotes the FBI special agent in charge as saying it was "the most horrific crime scene Ive seen in 22 years." Federal hate crime charges were filed against Bowers on Saturday: 29 charges in all, including 11 counts of using a firearm to commit murder. The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports Pittsburgh police also filed charges on Saturday: 11 counts of criminal homicide, six counts of attempted homicide, six counts of aggravated assault, and 13 counts of ethnic intimidation. (Read what President Trump had to say about the shooting here.) >>> Work starts on Lao NA building, a symbol of Vietnam-Laos special relations At the reception for the visiting delegation, Secretary of the Party Committee and Governor of Vientiane, Vidong Sayasone, briefed the guests on the local socio-economic development and Party building, as well as cooperation with Vietnamese localities that Vientiane has set up relations with, including Hai Duong, Yen Bai, Nghe An and Hai Phong. Comrade Sayasone affirmed that Vientiane will always strive to contribute to the fruitful development of the special solidarity and comprehensive cooperation between Vietnam and Laos. Vietnamese Politburo member Vuong, who is also Permanent member of the Secretariat, congratulated the local Party organisation, administration and residents on their important achievements gained in various areas over the past years. He expressed his belief that under the leadership of the Lao Peoples Revolutionary Party, the Party committee, administration and locals of Vientiane will successfully fulfill all targets set in the resolution released at the Lao Partys 10th Congress and the fifth provincial Party committees congress, making Vientiane more prosperous. Politburo member Vuong also praised the outcomes of cooperation and mutual support between Vientiane and Vietnamese localities, while expressing his hope that Vientiane will continue expanding partnership with Vietnams localities, especially in defence-security, human resource development, Party building, local economic management, trade, tourism, agriculture, modern rural area building, and poverty reduction. Politburo member Tran Quoc Vuong and his entourage on October 9, visiting the staff under the Vietnamese 11th Military Corps, the unit responsible for construction of the Lao National Assemblys new building in the neighbouring country. (Photo: NDO) Earlier, on October 9, Politburo member Vuong and his delegation paid a visit to the Vietnamese 11th Military Corps, the unit responsible for construction of the Lao National Assemblys new building. Encouraging the staff at the site, the Vietnamese senior Party official stated that the project is a gift from the Vietnamese Party, State and people to the Lao Party, State and people. As the corps have been entrusted with the task of constructing the building for the Lao side, Politburo member Vuong urged the 11th Military Corps to concentrate all its capabilities and resources in the construction of works, considering it as a key task to help ensure the constructions progress and quality, as it is among the symbolic works of traditional friendship, special solidarity and comprehensive cooperation between Vietnam and Laos. (Newser) Killed more than 20 years ago, Jody LeCornu will soon rise above Baltimore Countyon a billboard asking people to help find her killer, the Baltimore Sun reports. "I don't know that everybody watches the news or TV so I'm hoping it reaches someone who doesn't know the story," says LeCornu's twin sister, Jennifer Carrieri, who is having the sign posted about a mile from the murder site. The bright-red billboard will show a smiling LeCornu under the words "Find My Killer" and a $32,000 reward offer. For Carrieri, it's yet another push for justice in a murder she feels police have abandoned. LeCornu was shot in her car at a shopping center in Towson, Maryland, at roughly 4am on March 2, 1996. story continues below A bullet in her back, 23-year-old LeCornu drove to a nearby road where a stocky man was seen taking something from her vehicle and driving off in a white BMW. Since then, per Carrieri, it's been frustration: "Over the last several years, more information is coming out," she told WBAL-TV in 2016. "(I've) seen that leads aren't being followed up on. I'm hearing new information. .... I feel like our case is being ignored." Carrieri even sued Baltimore County police for a copy of LeCornu's investigative file and settled the case last year on terms she can't disclose. But she keeps searching, despite the emotional pain. "I don't want her to be forgotten," she says. (A 35-year-old disappearance is getting renewed attention thanks to a podcast.) (Newser) The man Charlottesville police have charged with plowing his car into a group of counterprotesters at a white supremacist rally in August 2017 has been assaulted behind bars, reports the AP. James Alex Fields Jr., who has pleaded not guilty in the death of Heather Heyer, was being attended by staff at the Albemarle-Charlottesville Regional Jail when Timothy Ray Brown Jr. dodged an officer and hit Fields "twice on the left side of his body above his shoulders," per a news release, which adds that "at no time did Inmate Fields have an opportunity to defend himself." A friend of Brown's tells the AP that he was a friend of Heyer, and that both were with her when the car plowed into the crowd. Jay Scott has started a GoFundMe page to raise money for a lawyer for Brown, who faces assault charges. (Read more James Alex Fields Jr. stories.) (Newser) Sensing that Jeff Sessions' days at the Justice Department may be numbered, some of his supporters want the White House to allow for a graceful exit for an attorney general they believe has dutifully carried out the administration's agenda even while enduring the president's fury, the AP reports. It seems unlikely that efforts to soften a possible dismissal after the Nov. 6 midterm election would find sympathy in the White House, where President Trump's rage remains unabated over the attorney general's recusal from the Russia investigation. A hand-picked successor could theoretically oversee the rest of the probe in place of Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein. story continues below But some supporters say they hope that if and when Sessions is replaced, his record as senator and attorney general will be recognized and not overwhelmed by Trump's attacks, or that the administration will at least respect the Justice Department by guaranteeing a smooth transition. A scenario advocated by at least one Sessions ally, former Cincinnati Mayor Ken Blackwell, would allow him to remain on the job until January and be permitted to resign on his own then rather than be fired immediately after the midterms. Blackwell said allies have made their case to administration officials that Sessions has successfully pushed the president's core priorities, including on illegal immigration, and deserves some sort of recognition from the White House that "he has more than a passing grade." Click for the full story, or see what Trump has said about Sessions. (Read more Jeff Sessions stories.) Oman receiving Israeli Prime Minister was with the hope of finding a solution towards the establishment of a Palestinian state, Omans Foreign Minister said. Following the invitation of Sultan Sayyid Qaboos bin Said Al Said, the Sultan of Oman, both the Israeli Prime Minister and the Palestinian President visited Muscat on separate occasions. Yusuf bin Alawi, Omans Minister Responsible for Foreign Affairs, said during Manama Dialogue yesterday that the visits were welcomed with hopes of finding a solution to the conflict. The meeting with Israelis was with the intention to help both parties move forward and establish a Palestinian state. We need to let go of the past and look forward to the future. We do not want to see Palestinians suffer more from this conflict. Let us participate in building a better future for the Palestinians. The statement was made by Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Nguyen Quoc Dung who led a Vietnamese delegation to attend the 16th ASEAN-China Senior Officials Meeting (SOM) on the Implementation of the DOC held in Manila, the Philippines, from October 25-26. Dung said that the escalating militarisation and strategic competition between powers are likely to cause serious and unexpected incidents that threaten peace, security and stability in the region and the world. Sharing the COC negotiation process, the Vietnamese official said that besides common perceptions, the document needs to equalise and take parties interests into account, map out principles and orientations for cooperative activities, and create a framework to maintain dialogue on the East Sea in the time to come. Reviewing the East Sea situation and the implementation of the DOC, many countries showed their concern over the increasing militarisation, unilateral acts and risks of conflicts between the countries armed forces. The SOM emphasised the importance of ensuring peace, stability, security, safety and freedom of aviation and navigation in the East Sea through dialogue and cooperation, the full and effective implementation of the DOC and greater efforts to build a practical and effective COC that conforms with international law, especially the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS). On this occasion, the ASEAN and Chinese senior officials agreed to extend the action plan on the implementation of the DOC during 2016-2021. They also acknowledged the ASEAN-China Joint Working Group (JWG)s efforts to negotiate the COC, urging the JWG to step up exchanges and discussions to achieve effective negotiations in the coming time. Earlier, on October 24-25, the ASEAN-China JWG on the implementation of the DOC convened its 26th session in Manila. A collaborative effort was stressed to rebuild the region adversely affected by ongoing conflicts. Speaking at the plenary session, Dr John Chipman, Director-General and CEO of IISS, said, Maximum efforts are needed for stabilizing Yemen, Libya, Syria and Iraq. An enormous amount of external aid is necessary to rebuild these broken societies. Echoing a similar view, Taro Kono, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Japan, said, It is an honor be back at the Manama Dialogue. This year, I am here to emphasize our support for the reforms and modernization currently underway across the Middle East as I believe, reforms are the basis of the future in the Middle East. Countries in the region are striving to overcome both ongoing challenges including the alleviation of fiscal dependency on oil revenues, the creation of sufficient and decent job opportunities for the growing youth population. These counties have made important progress and paved the way for reform for future generations, where we cant let their efforts fail. The Organising Committee of the Bahrain International Airshow (BIAS) 2018 has announced details of its flying display line-up, with Italian team Frecce Tricolori participating for the first time. The show, held under the patronage of His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa and under the supervision of HH Shaikh Abdullah bin Hamad Al Khalifa, Personal Representative of HM the King and Chairman of the BIAS Organising Committee, is being held at the Sakhir Airbase from November 14-16, 2018. A daily flying display program spread over five hours will include spectacular displays by numerous regional and international flying teams, for both trade show visitors from the 14th-16th, and for the first time this year, extended by an additional day for the public area from 14th- 17th November 2018. Headlining the lineup is Italian team Frecce Tricolori, who is participating in the show for the first time, alongside other renowned teams including the Emirati team Al Fursan, the Russian Knights, the Global Stars Acrobatic team, the Black Falcons Parachute Team, a Paramotor Solo Display, Mark Jeffries Little and Large display, in addition to flying displays by the Royal Bahraini Air Force, the UAE Air Force, and the US Department of Defence. More than 200 tourists from Russia has landed in Bahrain, which also marked the arrival of the first chartered flight to Bahrain from Russia. They were welcomed by Bahrain Tourism and Exhibitions Authority (BTEA) with a traditional live performance, giving them a glimpse of Bahrains long history and hospitality. The flight, operated by travel and tourism company, Coral Travel, arrived on Friday, the Bahrain Tourism and Exhibitions Authority (BTEA) said in a statement. Chief Executive Officer of BTEA, Shaikh Khaled bin Humood Al Khalifa and the Chief Executive Officer of Bahrain Airport Company, Mohammed Al Binfalah were present. The oldest woman in Bolivia, and perhaps the world, turned 118 on Friday, remaining lucid and in good health, authorities in the South American country said. Julia Flores was born in 1900 in a Quechua family in the mining region of Potosi in the countrys south. Known as Mama Julia, Flores celebrated her birthday amongst family, friends and local authorities from Sacaba, where she now lives in the center of Bolivia. In a country where the average life expectancy is 71, Flores is an exception to the rule. If her age was officially recognized, she would be the oldest living person and third oldest of all time, but she hasnt been confirmed by the Guinness Book of Records. Its a day of recognition for us, to celebrate the oldest woman in our country, Juan Carvajal, a public employee in Sacaba told the Los Tiempos de Cochabamba newspaper. For a liberal woman like me, its hard to understand why anyone would vote for a presidential candidate who has been described by international publications as racist, homophobic and sexist (Liberation), a threat to democracy (The Economist), a Trump of the tropics (The Guardian), a xenophobe (Clarin) and a sympathiser with military dictatorships and torturers who has openly expressed fascist ideas (Zeit). Im referring, of course, to Jair Bolsonaro, the current front-runner to become the next president of Brazil. The far-right Bolsonaro is a former army officer who has served seven terms as a federal congressman, during which, according to Le Monde, he was an insignificant politician from Brasilia, better known for his verbal excesses than for his parliamentary activism. Now, according to a recent survey by the polling firm Ibope, 59 per cent of voters plan to support him in the second round of the elections, which will take place on Oct 28. (Fernando Haddad, the candidate of the left-leaning Workers Party, has 41pc of voters behind him.) Bolsonaros ascendancy has deeply polarised Brazilian society. For the past decade, our presidential elections have been the stage for a center-left versus center-right face-off, which at times has provoked some heated debates but now it feels like the house is burning down. More than ever, the election has become a battle over values fairness versus equality, freedom versus authority, justice versus legality in which both sides are appealing to the self-evident nature of their own views. And so in an effort to understand my fellow Brazilians, Ive turned to the work of the psychologist Jonathan Haidt, whose moral foundations theory makes an impressive attempt to connect people with differing political views. Having done so, I can concede that theres something about Bolsonaro that activates deep moral intuitions in his supporters. Many people side with him not for his proposals but because to them, he has become a symbol of everything good. The problem is that these people are responding only to Bolsonaro the symbol not Bolsonaro the man. Bolsonaro speaks of fairness, for example. According to Haidt, fairness is about proportionality; it is the idea that people should get only what they deserve. Bolsonaros supporters are angry about the perceived abuse of social welfare programmes such as Bolsa Familia, which provides financial aid to poor families. They feel aggrieved by the image of people getting money without working. (They also dont support affirmative action.) That s all understandable. And yet if thats the case, why arent Bolsonaros voters more disturbed by the times he himself has violated principles of fairness? For many years, for instance, he received housing assistance from the Congress despite possessing an apartment in Brasilia. When asked about this, he told a newspaper, in vulgar language, that he used the allowance to have sex. What about the fact that in his 26 years as a lawmaker, he secured the passage of only two bills, while at the same time multiplying his assets and those of his family? Bolsonaro and his sons possess have properties valued at $4 million, according to the newspaper Folha de S Paulo. Bolsonaro speaks of patriotism and authority moral foundations that are important to conservatives. His campaign slogan is Brazil above everything and God above everyone. And yet, as a captain in the army in the 1980s, he was punished for disloyalty after writing an article in a magazine publicly complaining about his wages an interesting display of respect for authority. He was later accused and convicted of planning to bomb military barracks as well as a pipeline that supplies water to Rio de Janeiro, also as part of his protest again isplay of respect for authority. He was later accused and convicted of planning to bomb military barracks as well as a pipeline that supplies water to Rio de Janeiro, also as part of his protest against low salaries. (Bolsonaro denies the bomb plan and was acquitted on appeal.) According to military records, Bolsonaros superiors also considered him immature. For a brief time, he was involved in gold mining; his superior, Col. Carlos Pellegrino, said that the captain had ambitions to seek by other means outside the military the opportunity to fulfil his aspirations to be a rich man. So much for all that patriotism. One thing is true, though: Bolsonaro is loyal. The Bolsonaro clan are a tight-knit bunch, many of them working in the same field. Bolsonaro is so supportive of traditional family structures that he has been married three times. His first wife, Rogeria, was a City Council member in Rio de Janeiro for two terms, with the support of her then-husband. His second wife, Ana Cristina, at one point accused him of threatening her, but eventually withdrew her complaint; she was running for Congress, but failed to get elected. Three of his sons are also politicians: Flavio has just been elected to Brazils Senate; Eduardo was re-elected to the congress; and Carlos has been a City Council member in Rio de Janeiro since he was 17. Bolsonaros brother, Renato, tried and failed to be mayor of Miracatu and became a special aide to a City Council member. He was discharged from the job after a TV report revealed that he was getting paid without reporting to work. Many conservative voters appreciate authority because it creates order. They aspire to elect a strong ruler with a firm grip on the country. However, Im not sure Bolsonaro is capable of enforcing his command. One example: He acknowledges that he has only a superficial understanding of economics. When asked questions about taxes or public debt, he relies entirely on the judgment of his economic adviser, Paulo Guedes. In addition, after being stabbed in a recent street rally, he has refused to attend political debates with Haddad, which hasnt made him sound authoritative or self-confident at all. According to Haidt, conservative voters also place particular importance on the value of sanctity (or purity), rejecting ideas of degradation. But Bolsonaro would degrade our nation with his rudeness and ignorance. He has been disrespectful to women, homosexuals, blacks and indigenous people, and has shown an inability to represent our people with class and intelligence. Hes far from being a world leader. When it comes to moral intuitions, Bolsonaro looks poised to fulfil conservative hopes only on the surface: Look closer, and he acts against everything they most cherish. Lets hope Brazilians realise that and quickly. Beauty pageant contestants from across the world have visited Japan's northern island of Hokkaido, which is still reeling from the impact of a major quake last month. Women representing 14 countries and regions in this year's Miss International Beauty Pageant visited Hokkaido on Saturday, at the invitation of Japan External Trade Organization, or JETRO. The tour is designed to help attract overseas visitors to the northern island, which saw a drop in inbound tourism after the quake. In the city of Chitose, the women tried their hand at making Japanese traditional sweets in a confectionery. The contestants posted photos of the sweets they made on social media with comments. They went on to visit a landmark red-brick building in Sapporo City, which used to house the prefectural government office. Miss Guam Diliana Tuncap said she hopes that their activities will help local efforts to recover from the disaster. The Miss International contest will be held on November 9th in Tokyo. The rapprochement between Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and Chinese President Xi Jinping led to some candid exchanges during the two leaders' meetings on Friday, including some strong words of discontent from Xi toward U.S. President Donald Trump's trade pressure. "Congratulations on your re-election as party leader," Xi told Abe as the two sat down for dinner at Beijing's Diaoyutai State Guesthouse on Friday evening. They had already concluded their 80-minute official summit, and the mood was relaxed. Abe's September victory over party rival Shigeru Ishiba not only gave him a third term as president of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party, but also a chance to become Japan's longest-serving prime minister. "You know, the Chinese Communist Party has 90 million members," Xi added. "Is that so?" replied Abe, explaining that the LDP has about 1 million. The friendly exchange would have been unthinkable several years ago, when relations were said to have sunk to their worst since the two countries normalized diplomatic ties in 1972, over tensions over the East China Sea. When the conversation shifted to the Sino-American trade spat, however, Xi's expression turned grim. "I'm against a unipolar system led by the U.S.," he said. Xi expressed deep frustration with Washington's strong-arm tactics in trade negotiations. The free trade system should be respected, he told Abe. * Wu Qian, a spokesman for the Chinese military on October 25 expressed hope for the United States to meet China halfway and promote military-to-military ties as a stabilizer for bilateral relations. * French President Emmanuel Macron told Saudi Arabia's Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman that France would take action against Riyadh if an investigation proves it was behind the killing of journalist Jamal Khashoggi. * Chinese Vice President Wang Qishan wrapped up a fruitful visit to Israel on October 25 with a reaffirmed commitment from both sides to further boosting bilateral innovation cooperation for mutual benefits. * The leaders of Cuba and El Salvador on October 25 pledged to strengthen economic and trade cooperation between the two nations, and they highlighted the friendship ties uniting both countries. * The Kremlin said Thursday ( October 25) it was "alarmed" by a report on possible manipulation of a drone attack against the Russian bases in Syria from a US warplane. * US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo spoke by phone on October 25 with Iraq's new foreign minister on bilateral ties, following the Iraqi parliament's approval of the war-torn country's new prime minister and part of his cabinet, said the US State Department. * Visiting Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi on October 25 reiterated the importance of joint work and rapprochement between Egypt and Sudan. * Western Balkans needs a clear European Union (EU) integration perspective, especially in the light of growing international risks and political instability of the region, Montenegrin President Milo Djukanovic said Thursday. * Targeted support is needed as nearly 2.4 million people across Syria will struggle to get adequate warmth this winter, said the United Nations on October 25. * French President Emmanuel Macron on October 25 discussed the situation in Syria and the summit on the Syrian conflict scheduled in Istanbul at the weekend, with his US counterpart Donald Trump in a phone conversation. * Belgium will purchase 34 US-made F-35 fighter planes, a decision that was welcomed by Washington and will strengthen transatlantic defense ties, said the US State Department on October 25. * Hungary will continue blocking Ukraine's NATO integration because of Kiev's bad treatment to Hungarian ethnic minorities on its territory, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade Peter Szijjarto said in Budapest in a statement on October 25. * The Moroccan navy has rescued 59 sub-Saharan African migrants off the Mediterranean sea, the Moroccan army said on October 25. * Salah bin Jamal Khashoggi, the son of killed Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi, has left Saudi Arabia and arrived in the United States on October 25, reported US media citing anonymous sources. * The Australian government has announced new measures worth AUD7 billion (US$4.9 billion) to drought-proof the nation. * At least 18 people died, dozens went missing and 34 were rescued by Thursday evening in flash floods in Jordan's hot springs area near the Dead Sea as the country witnessed heavy rain. The Buhari Media Organization (BMO) is mocking the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for claiming that former President ... Inside the new airport terminal The Buhari Media Organization (BMO) is mocking the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for claiming that former President Goodluck Jonathan financed the Port Harcourt airport.We wondered how the party could even claimed that the PDP administration financed a project that the Chinese through the China EXIM bank provided a loan of $500 million to cover three other airports in Lagos, Abuja and Kano.The group dismissed claims by PDP on the Port Harcourt airport project as an attempt to water down the achievements of the President Muhammad Buhari administration.The opposition party had not only claimed credit for its completion but said the project was conceptualized and financed by the Jonathan administrationBMO said in a statement by its chairman Niyi Akinsiju and secretary Cassidy Madueke in Abuja that PDPs position was laughable.It is not even a surprise because here is a party that has no qualms about twisting tales to suit its false narratives.This is a project that was only 30% completed at the time President Buhari assumed office in May 2015, it noted.The group also found it amusing that whenever President Buhari completes abandoned projects or those left at low level of completion, the PDP would rush to issue press statements deriding the administrations effort.BMO noted that if it is a ploy to deflect attention then the opposition party has only exposed itself to ridicule.This is because the APC-led administration of President Buhari would continue to complete all projects left at various stages of completionWe are however convinced that the President would not approve the completion of the long-abandoned PDP headquarters project in the Abuja city centreThe group also assured Nigerians that Buhari would not back down on its avowed commitment to complete all ongoing infrastructure projects within the specified time regardless of the musings of opposition figures * President Xi Jinping met with Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe in Beijing Friday, calling on both sides to cherish the good momentum in bilateral ties. * Cuba is set to use the celebrations of Havana's 500th anniversary to relaunch the capital city as a renewed world tourist destination, said Cuban Minister of Tourism Manuel Marrero on Friday. * India and Myanmar have agreed to act against insurgent groups operating on their soil during a two-day delegation-level meeting in Delhi that concluded Friday, October 26. * The US economy grew at an annual rate of 3.5 percent in the third quarter this year, down from 4.2 percent in the previous quarter, the US Commerce Department reported on Friday. * People in Afghanistan's southern province of Kandahar on October 27 started voting for their favorite candidates for parliament, after a week-long delay in the process. About 2,500 candidates contested in the elections to earn seats in the 249 Lower House of parliament. * UN Special Envoy for Syria Staffan de Mistura said Friday (October 26) that Damascus does not recognize the world body's role in forming a constitutional committee tasked to draft a new constitution for the war-torn country. * Tunisian Prime Minister Youssef Chahed discussed strategic priorities with visiting European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker on Friday, to provide new economic climate for investments in Tunisia. The two sided discussed the strategic priorities within the framework of road map 2018-2020, according to Chahed. * Cameroon's Minister of Territorial Administration Paul Atanga Nji said on Friday the government will "not tolerate" any post-electoral disorder in the country. * If the European Union (EU) is expected to progress, consensus among all member countries is needed, while all must have in mind that there's no division into old and new members, as they've all contributed to Europe's "reunion", French President Emmanuel Macron said in Bratislava on Friday. Macron made the remarks at a press conference after talks with his Slovak counterpart Andrej Kiska. * US Attorney General Jeff Sessions said on Friday that package bomb suspect Cesar Sayoc, of Florida, is in the custody of the FBI and has been charged with five federal crimes. * Libya's UN-backed Prime Minister Fayez Serraj and Italian Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte on October 26 discussed arrangements of the upcoming Palermo conference on Libya, according to the Libyan Prime Minister's information office. * The comprehensive strategic partnership between China and the European Union has yielded significant fruits, said Chinese envoy to the EU on Friday, urging both sides to identify opportunities, seize them and make the best of them for a better future of China-EU relations. * Former Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapakse was sworn in as the new prime minister at the Presidential Secretariat in capital Colombo on Friday evening, an official from the government said. * German Chancellor Angela Merkel and Czech Prime Minister Andrej Babis on Friday agreed on the necessity to cooperate with African countries in curbing migration to Europe. * The South Sudan government on Friday moved peace-day celebrations, originally scheduled for October 30, to October 31, citing technical reasons. * Russia's Northern Fleet will receive its first Tor-M2DT air defense missile systems in November, local media reported Friday. * Belarus is ready to help resolve the conflict in Ukraine's east if there is the consent of interested parties. The conflict in Ukraine has to be resolved by the three Slavonic nations (Russia, Ukraine and Belarus), Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko said at the First Forum of Regions of Belarus and Ukraine in Gomel on October 26. * Croatian police announced on Friday that they had intercepted 113 illegal migrants hidden in a truck near Senj on the upper Adriatic coast Thursday (October 25). * Israeli war aircraft carried out on Friday night airstrikes on military facilities that belong to militant groups in the Gaza Strip with no injuries reported, according to security sources in Gaza. * The Consulate General of China in Los Angeles confirmed on Friday there were about 1,500 Chinese tourists trapped in Saipan by Super Typhoon Yutu, which hit the Northern Mariana Islands and caused extensive infrastructure damages. * At least eight people were killed and six others injured on Friday evening in a blast inside a fireworks factory in northern Indian state of Uttar Pradesh, police said. * Ukraine has issued Eurobonds in two tranches worth US$2 billion, local media reported on Friday. According to Interfax-Ukraine news agency, US$750 million of the bonds were placed for five years, and US$1.25 billion were placed for 10 years. * Singapore's Ministry of Manpower announced on Friday that the country's seasonally adjusted overall unemployment rate grew to 2.1 percent in September, comparing to 2 percent in June. * At least six people have been confirmed dead and 12 others injured as a suicide car bomb shocked Maidan Shar, the capital of eastern Wardak province 35 km west of Kabul on October 27, provincial government spokesman Abdul Rahman Mangal said. During the visit, Modi will hold the annual summit talks with his Japanese counterpart Shinzo Abe. Projects like "Mumbai-Ahmedabad high speed rail" and "dedicated freight corridors" reflected the high level and strength of India-Japan economic engagement, said Modi. "Japan is also at the forefront of engaging in our national initiatives, such as 'Make in India', 'Skill India', 'Digital India', 'Start Up India', etc." According to Modi, Japan is India's valued partner and both sides have a special strategic and global partnership. "India-Japan's partnership is of great substance and purpose which rests on the strong pillars of India's 'Act East Policy'," he said. During his visit, Modi will hold talks with Abe and interact with Japanese business leaders. The mechanism will serve as a monetary agreement between Iran and Europe as the two sides discussed the details in a meeting held last week in Brussels, Hemmati was quoted as saying by the state TV. "The channel is to be established based on a common understanding that the Iranian and European businesses are eager to maintain their ties despite the US sanctions," he said. According to Hemmati, the payment channel will facilitate the transactions in the businesses between Iran and Europe. Businessmen can use the channel to transfer money. The Iranian official noted that Iran and Europe want to make the channel operational as soon as possible. Details of the financial mechanism will be released in the near future. After the US withdrawal from the Iranian nuclear deal in May, the remaining parties including the EU have been trying to keep the deal afloat. The EU has stressed that it would set up a legal entity to facilitate legitimate financial transactions with Iran in light of the US withdrawal from the international agreement on Tehran's nuclear program and the re-imposition of sanctions. The legal entity will allow European companies to continue to trade with Iran in accordance with the EU law and could be open to other partners in the world, Federica Mogherini, the EU's foreign and security policy chief, said in September. Chinese President Xi Jinping (R) meets with Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe in Beijing, capital of China, Oct. 26, 2018. (Xinhua/Li Tao) BEIJING, Oct. 26 -- President Xi Jinping met with Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe in Beijing Friday, calling on both sides to cherish the good momentum in bilateral ties. Xi welcomed Abe's official visit to China and spoke highly of his positive efforts in improving and developing China-Japan relations in recent years. "China and Japan, as neighbors with great converging interests, are major world economies and influential countries," Xi said. "The healthy, steady and long-term development of China-Japan ties is in the fundamental interests of the two countries' people, and represents common expectations of the international community." This year marks the 40th anniversary of the signing of the China-Japan Treaty of Peace and Friendship. "The treaty, signed by the elder generation of leaders of both countries, established a general direction of lasting peace, friendship between the two countries in the form of law, and provided solid support for both sides to conduct mutual beneficial cooperation, achieve common development, and properly deal with sensitive historical issues and the Taiwan issue," Xi said. "With concerted efforts by both sides, China-Japan ties are back on track and gaining positive momentum. This is worth cherishing." He called on both countries to "adhere to the various principles affirmed in the four political documents, stick to the general direction of peace and friendship, continue their joint efforts in mutual beneficial cooperation and further develop bilateral ties." "Under the new situations, China and Japan, increasingly interdependent in bilateral areas, also share more common interests and concerns on multilateral occasions," Xi said. "Thorough strategic communication should be carried out, and the two countries' dialogue mechanisms should play a better role via diverse channels at multiple-levels, so that each side can precisely grasp the other's development and strategic intentions." The two sides should effectively implement the consensus that they are partners rather than mutual threats, facilitate positive interactions, and deepen mutual political trust, Xi said. The Chinese president also called for tapping the potential of higher-level cooperation. "As China continues its reform and opens its door even wider to the world, more opportunities have emerged in China's cooperation with countries including Japan," Xi told Abe. "Japan is welcome to participate in China's progress in the new era." He expressed his hope of facilitating people-to-people exchanges between China and Japan, boosting mutual understanding, and encouraging the young to strive for friendship between both countries. "China and Japan should interact more actively in the security area, foster constructive security relations, and pursue the path of peace and development for regional peace and stability," Xi said. He called on the two sides to cooperate ly in the international arena, expand common interests, promote regional economic integration, jointly combat global challenges, safeguard multilateralism and uphold free trade and construct an open world economy. Xi reiterated the importance of keeping promises, noting that China and Japan should "act on the basis of their four political documents and consensus, deal with problems and differences constructively, so as to maintain the political foundation guiding healthy development of bilateral ties." Abe voiced his pleasure at paying an official visit to China at the "important moment" of the 40th anniversary of the signing of the treaty. "It is hoped that through this visit, the two sides will usher in a new era when 'competition is transformed into coordination,'" Abe said. As neighbors, Japan and China should push forward bilateral ties on the basis of the principles set in their four political documents and in the spirit of "cooperating in a mutual-beneficial way and never posing a threat to each other," he said. The two countries should contribute to regional and international peace, as well as free trade, he suggested. Saying Japan welcomes and supports China's efforts in furthering opening-up, Abe expressed Japan's willingness to intensify exchanges with China to lay the social foundation to improve bilateral ties. The Japanese prime minister called on both sides to manage differences properly and make joint efforts to maintain regional stability and prosperity. Calling the Belt and Road Initiative "promising", Abe said Japan was willing to beef up cooperation with China in wide areas, including the exploration of third-party markets. Images Sorry, there are no recent results for popular images. 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. WASHINGTON, Oct. 27 -- At least 11 people were killed and six others were injured after a gunman opened fire Saturday morning inside a synagogue in Pittsburgh, U.S. state of Pennsylvania, a city official said. No children were among the fatalities and the six injured include four police officers but do not include the suspect, Wendell Hissrich, Pittsburgh's public safety director, told a press conference. The initial call to 911 was made around 9:54 a.m. local time and officers were dispatched to the scene within a minute, Hissrich said. The shooting occurred at the Tree of Life Congregation in Pittsburgh's Squirrel Hill neighborhood. Police said the gunman, a heavy-set white male with a beard, surrendered and is in custody. The shooting occurred during a baby-naming ceremony at the synagogue, according to reports. Attorney for Pennsylvania's Western District Scott Brady confirmed the suspect is Robert Bowers, reportedly a 46-year-old man from Pittsburgh. Bowers' social media posts were reportedly rife with anti-Semitic content. Brady said Bowers' actions "represent the worst of humanity" and criminal charges against him could be filed as early as Saturday. Police sources told local CBS affiliate KDKA that the gunman opened fire while yelling "all Jews must die." The suspect was armed with what appeared to be an assault rifle and at least three handguns. Investigators believe the gunman was acting alone but his full motive still isn't known, said Bob Jones, the special agent in charge of the FBI's office in Pittsburgh. Jones said the scene of Saturday's shooting at the synagogue was "the most horrific crime scene" he has seen" in 22 years with the FBI. The shooting will be prosecuted as a hate crime and the FBI will be leading the investigation, Hissrich said earlier in the day. The synagogue is located at the intersection of Wilkins and Shady avenues. The neighborhood of Squirrel Hill, about 10 minutes of drive from downtown Pittsburgh, is the hub of the city's Jewish community. The synagogue offers members a "traditional Conservative service with a modern sense of family" and shabbat service on 9:45 a.m. Saturdays, according to the Tree of Life's website. Between 50 and 60 worshippers would be there on an average Saturday morning, according to a spokesman for the Jewish community in Pittsburgh. U.S. President Donald Trump told a rally in Indianapolis, state of Indiana, on Saturday that "there must be no tolerance for anti-Semitism." "This was an anti-Semitic act," Trump said. "This wicked act of mass murder is pure evil, hard to believe, and, frankly, something that is unimaginable." UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Saturday strongly condemned the shooting at the synagogue in Pittsburgh, said his spokesman. Guterres was shocked at the bloody shooting that killed 11 people. He expressed his deepest condolences to the families of the victims, said Stephane Dujarric, the spokesman, in a statement. "The shooting in Pittsburgh is a painful reminder of continuing anti-Semitism. Jews across the world continue to be attacked for no other reason than their identity. Anti-Semitism is a menace to democratic values and peace, and should have no place in the 21st century," said the statement. President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo on Saturday reiterated the call for a functioning common regional market in the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS). He said a sub-regional market must be considered the fundamental objective for all, as the Region inched towards total integration. President Akufo-Addo made the call when Mr Jean-Claude Brou, the President of the ECOWAS Commission, handed over to him and President Faure Gnassingbe of the Republic of Togo, a Joint Border Post for Noepe-Akanu at Akanu in the Ketu North Municipality of the Volta Region. He said the structural transformation of West African economies would be enhanced by trade liberalisation and praised the European Union (EU) and the ECOWAS Commission's resolve to establish similar common borders across the Sub-Region as "one major effort at conditioning West Africa for prosperity". "Ghana and Togo stand ready to support and promote all efforts aimed at ensuring the success of the management of this Joint Border Post and to strengthen the bonds of cooperation and friendship between the two countries." The President said the success of the project was of high economic interest to the ECOWAS adding; "With hard work, creativity and enterprise, we should create sufficient opportunities to enhance the prosperity of our people". Source: GNA Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video The President of the Republic, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, left Ghana on Saturday, 27th October, 2018, to participate in the conference on the G-20 Compact with Africa, taking place in Berlin, Federal Republic of Germany, between 29th and 31st October. On his way, he made a stopover in Abidjan, Cote dIvoire, to confer with his Ivorian counterpart, President Alassane Ouattara, on bilateral and regional issues. The Compact with Africa (CwA) was initiated in 2017, under the German G20 Presidency, to promote private investment in Africa, including in infrastructure. The 2018 Conference is bringing together reform-minded African countries, international organizations and bilateral partners from G20 and beyond to co-ordinate country-specific reform agendas, support respective policy measures and advertise investment opportunities to private investors. Already, Ghana, under the Compact, has signed a 100 million Euros bilateral Investment and Reform Partnership agreement with Germany to promote private investment in renewable energy and vocational training. Whilst in Germany, and on the sidelines of the conference, President Akufo-Addo will hold bilateral talks with German Chancellor, Angela Merkel, as well as hold meetings with CEOs of German global enterprises, Volkswagen and Siemens, about their proposed investments in Ghana. President Akufo-Addo will, on Wednesday, 31st October, 2018, deliver the keynote speech at the 18th International Economic Forum on Africa of the powerful Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), taking place in Paris, France. The Forum will scrutinise the key topics of growth, employment, migration and development in the wake of Africas historic decision for closer integration. He was accompanied by the Minister for Foreign Affairs, Hon. Shirley Ayorkor Botchway, MP; Minister for Finance, Ken Ofori-Atta, and officials from the Presidency and Foreign Ministry. President Akufo-Addo will return to Ghana on Wednesday, 31st October, 2018, and in his absence the Vice President, Alhaji Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, shall, in accordance with Article 60(8) of the Constitution, act in his stead. Source: Peacefmonline.com Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video General Secretary of the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) Johnson Asiedu Nketia has said Flagbearer hopeful Ekow Spio-Garbrah should stop seeing himself as a special person in the party. According to him, Spio Garbrah should be reminded that hes only a former minister and a member of the NDC and must stop making demands that are beyond him. The serial Flagbearer aspirant has been campaigning for the release of the Kwesi Botchwey Committee report which diagnosed what led to the NDCs humiliating defeat in the 2016, a document the National Executive body has kept under lock and key claiming its not meant for public consumption. In his view, the manner in which contents of the heavily guarded classified report is being handled is problematic, adding that going forward it could have dire consequences for the NDC if the status quo remains. The report is said to make damning revelations on how campaign funds never got to their intended destinations, divisions in the party and how the partys election collation centre broke down during the polls. Spio Garbrah insists the decision to hide the report from members of the party including the partys Council of Elders deprives members the opportunity to know what went wrong in 2016 and for leadership of the party to correct the mistakes we might have made in a lead up to and during the elections. But Johnson Asiedu Nketia aka General Mosquito in an interview stated categorically that contents of the Kwesi Botchwey report will continue to be kept from the public and no amount of pressure will change the decision made by the party National Executives. Hes not a Council of Elders member and hes not their spokesperson, which one of them told him he or she has not seen the Kwesi Botchwey report. The fact that Spio Garbrah has announced himself as an aspiring Presidential candidate and is campaigning does not make him anybody special in NDC. So if hes not a member of a group, hes not part of it. If an audit is conducted in any institution, audited accounts are shared to shareholders, that is different from management report that is given to managers of that institution, that is exclusively for management. Has there ever been an instance where management reports are given to shareholders? that has never happened. Spio Garbrah should get things right. Spio Garbrah is only a former Minister and a member of the party. He should know his status in the NDC and know what sort of demands he can make, Asiedu Nketia added. Source: kasapafmonline.com Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video The Tmall Global satellite. [Provided to China Daily] Alibaba Group has taken a fresh step into space with the launch of what it calls a mini space station and the planned launch of a communication satellite, as the e-commerce giant gears up for its annual shopping festival on Nov 11 and eyes frontier technologies. Dubbed "Candy Tin", the mini space station, which was launched on Thursday from Taiyuan, Shanxi province, has been positioned in orbit and is powered by Commsat Technology Development Co, a Beijing-based small satellite constellation operator. The Tmall Global communication satellite, meanwhile, is scheduled for launch just days ahead of the Nov 11 shopping extravaganza, known as Singles Day. The launches commemorate the 10th such 24-hour e-commerce spending spree, which was first held by Alibaba in 2009, and also mark 10 years since the first Chinese astronaut walked in space, said Jing Jie, president of Alibaba's Tmall shopping site. According to the company, one major purpose of the plan is to enhance customers' user experience during the gala, which clocked up 168.2 billion yuan ($24.2 billion) in sales last year. It said the space technology will better serve the integration of online and offline shopping interactions across the globe. "The satellite collects the blessings of our consumers from different corners of the Earth and launches them together into outer space," said Jing. The satellite will orbit the Earth once every 90 minutes, broadcasting sentimental messages to consumers when the satellite passes over their location, the company said. Users will be able to access the feature via the Taobao app. The company did not disclose the function of the mini space station. Liu Dingding, a veteran industry analyst in Beijing, sees no direct connection between the satellite launch and an immediate improvement in customer experience for the festival season, calling the launch "more of a publicity stunt". Cao Lei, director of the China E-Commerce Research Center, agreed, saying: "The satellite cannot yet exert a substantial influence on the current shopping procedure, from sourcing and purchasing to logistics." But he said the launches are likely to inject fresh vigor into the Singles Day promotion, which this year will prioritize globalization and the interaction of online and offline commerce. Recruiting around 180,000 brands from home and abroad to offer discounts to buyers, Alibaba is using Tmall Global, the dedicated cross-border portal, to offer 3,700 categories of imported goods from 75 countries and regions on its platform. Meanwhile, Alibaba's subsidiary platforms, such as Tmall World, AliExpress and Lazada, will bring the event to hundreds of millions of overseas shoppers. "Global tech powerhouses are elbowing their way into the likes of satellite and quantum computing, which are the launchpads for the next wave of commercial applications," Cao said. Miami police officers Schonton Harris, Kelvin Harris and James Archibald were arrested on drug-related charges Tuesday. (Photos: Miami PD) Three Miami police officers were busted on an array of federal public corruption charges on Tuesday from distributing dozens of kilos of cocaine to protecting drug dealers. Investigators said one officer sold a police uniform and badge to an undercover detective for $1,500, despite being told the official gear would be used by a cartel hit-man. The arrests were announced at a Tuesday afternoon gathering in downtown Miami attended by the U.S. Attorneys Office, the FBI, Miami police brass and Miami Mayor Francis Suarez, the Miami Herald reports. The officers cast away their duties to serve and protect, said U.S. Attorney Ariana Fajardo Orshan, who took charge of the Miami office in August. Arrested were Miami police veterans Schonton Harris and Kelvin Harris and James Archibald, a more recent addition to the City of Miami Police Department. Schonton Harris, who investigators say recruited the other two men, joined the department 20 years ago. A fourth officer who has co-operated with law enforcement and who hasnt been named, is expected to be charged at a later date. BILD am SONNTAG: Mr President, when you think of Germany, what is that comes to your mind first? ANDRZEJ DUDA: Germany is our closest neighbour. A country with a very good economic standing, a high standard of living and a rich society. I am convinced that Germany will be able to face up to the problems that it is confronted with today. Next year marks the 80th anniversary of the Nazi Germany's attack on Poland. This is how World War 2 began. Your grandfather's brother fought against the Nazis in the ranks of the Home Army. He was tortured to death by the Gestapo. Was your family able to forgive the Germans? We are Catholics, as people we do forgive each other. I can say on behalf of my family that there is no hatred towards the German nation in us. I don't know any single person in my family who would feel they have to seek revenge. Would you wish that Poland and Germany commemorate this anniversary together next year as a sign of reconciliation and friendship? We agreed with President Frank-Walter Steinmeier that our countries will jointly commemorate the outbreak of World War 2, caused by the attack on Poland by Germany, allied with the Soviet Union. Preparations have been underway for several months. Initially, we have agreed that large-scale commemorative events will take place in the Polish city of Wielun. It was on this city that the first German bombs fell, causing major casualties among civilian population. Was the question of German reparations for Poland finally resolved? In my opinion, the issue of reparations have not been resolved. In the Polish Parliament, in the Sejm, a group of experts has been entrusted to deal with this subject. Members of Parliament will debate this and decide what to do next. And what is your personal opinion? Our late President, Professor Lech Kaczynski, was in possession of expert opinions according to which the losses suffered by Poland during the war have never been compensated for. These expert opinions concerned mainly the losses sustained by the capital of Poland - Warsaw, which was razed to the ground. The findings of Parliament's expert group to date also confirm that the losses we have suffered have not been redressed. It is, therefore, a question of truth and responsibility. The AfD party, whose chairman, Mr Gauland, underestimates Nazi terror by calling it 'bird's blotch', has its seats in the German Parliament. Another AfD politician, Mr Hocke, demands a "U-turn in the culture of remembrance". What does this mean for Polish-German relations? No honest, righteous German who takes history in earnest should be saying something like that. The responsibility of the Nazi Germany for the outbreak of war, for the Holocaust, for the deaths of almost six million Polish citizens is obvious. The fact that so far no German party has questioned Germany's guilt has enabled a great process of reconciliation between Poland and Germany. The fact that we have such good relations today is due to our reflection about the past and about the warning that history gives us. Poland is the first country against which the EU has initiated infringement proceedings. The accusation is that the Polish government is seeking to curb the independence of the judiciary and removes from office the judges of the Constitutional Tribunal that it dislikes. The European Court of Justice has even decided that 27 judges must be reinstated immediately. Will your country accept this verdict? In the first place, none of the judges of the Polish Constitutional Tribunal has been removed from office. Secondly, strictly speaking, the Court of Justice of the European Union has not yet examined the substance of the case that you are asking about, namely the retirement of the judges of the Supreme Court. Personally, I absolutely do not believe that the currently binding provisions of law curb the rights of judges nor that they contravene legal norms. The retirement age of judges is 65. This is the normal retirement age in Poland. The Polish government carries out legal analyses of the decision taken by the Court of Justice of the EU. Afterwards, we will be able to discuss the next steps to be taken. As a state governed by the rule of law, we implement all decisions lawfully taken and remaining within the limits of the law. The charge is that it is not about the age of the judges, but about their political views. Of course, the objective criterion is age. However, I would like to say quite openly: we need a generational change in the judiciary. Some judges passed sentences back at the times of the communist repressions. As a result of the regulations we have introduced, judges who ruled during the martial law are to retire. It is high time it happened thirty years after the democratic changes in Poland. Poland receives EUR 7 billion a year from the European Union budget, which makes it the largest net recipient of EU funds. At the same time, Warsaw is one of the toughest critics of Brussels? How can one reconcile this? The Poles are content with the membership of the European Union. The European community is for us a synonym for freedom and open borders. We, the Poles, value it very much. After all, for 50 years running, we found ourselves behind the Iron Curtain. However, there are some things that concern us. And here we are not alone in the European Union. That is why we want to repair the Union. All the more so given that such disturbing phenomena as Brexit have already taken place. If the British people were of the opinion that everything is fine with the EU, they would not be in favour of leaving the EU. At the moment, there are mounting disputes between the European Commission and a number of Member States, such as Italy, because the Commission has challenged Italy's budget. Tensions in the Union are increasing, not decreasing. Are you on the side of Italy? As I said, more and more countries are having problems with the European Commission. In this context, it is particularly worrying that European citizens do not believe that the Commission is democratic or that the processes unfolding in it are transparent. Therefore, the European Union should be a community of nation states, in which democratic institutions of the Member States play a decisive role. Do you really want less Europe, not more Europe? I want more democracy in Europe. This means a greater role for democratic institutions at Member States level and at European level. The latter includes not only the European Parliament, but also the European Council, which is made up of democratically elected Heads of State or Government in their respective countries. The dispute over refugee policy in the EU is still ongoing. Chancellor Angela Merkel is in favour of a quota distribution of refugees. Why does Poland resist this? We reject the system of forced distribution of refugees, imposed by the EU. Poland fulfils its obligations as regards the protection of the EU external border. We also have our share in helping refugees. We are and have always been an open country. According to Eurostat, last year Poland issued the largest number of work and permanent residence permits in the whole Union. Does this also apply to Muslims from Syria or Iraq? We do not reproach anyone on account of his of her origin, but this acceptance must not be done against the will of the people. In 2015, several dozen Syrian families were brought to Poland. They were given housing and work, children could attend schools. And what happened? All these families left for Germany. In order to avoid this, we would have to keep them under coercion and close the border with Germany. There can be no consent to this. Open borders are a symbol of freedom and the freedom to choose where to live and work. This is certainly one of the reasons why 750,000 Poles live in Germany. They work primarily as caretakers, housekeepers, or on construction sites. Is it good or bad? The Poles not only work in Germany, but also invest and create jobs. Recently I visited one of the enterprises run by a Polish investor in Germany. However, that being said I would like those who have left for Germany or the United Kingdom to return to us one day. In the case of Poles in the UK, this can happen quickly. The British people do not want EU citizens to be able to choose their place of work freely after Brexit, they just want to ensure the free movement of goods. What is your position on this? Free trade and free movement of labour are inalienable fundamental freedoms and, from the Polish point of view, Europe's greatest treasure. In the Brexit agreement both these rights must be guaranteed. We owe it to our citizens. You continue to warn against the threat posed to Poland and other countries of the eastern part of the EU by Russia. How dangerous is President Putin? Let us draw conclusions from the facts. Over the last 10 years, Russia has twice changed its borders in Europe by force. It attacked Georgia in 2008, and Ukraine in 2014. In both cases, the legal borders of both countries have not been restored to this day. Late President Lech Kaczynski anticipated the development of the situation. In 2008, in Tbilisi, containing the Russian invasion together with the leaders of Central and Eastern European countries, he said, and here I quote: "Today Georgia, tomorrow Ukraine, the day after tomorrow the Baltic States, and then perhaps it is time for my country, Poland. Today, Moscow's imperial ambitions are obvious to everyone. That is why we must strengthen NATO's eastern flank. Is Germany doing enough to protect its eastern NATO partners? The key in NATO is allied solidarity and responsibility and costs that are jointly shared. I welcome the good military cooperation with the Bundeswehr. The German armed forces together with us and the Danes took over the responsibility for the command of the NATO Corps in Szczecin. Together we also strengthen the north-eastern flank of the Alliance. But let us remember that security also means energy security. We also expect solidarity in this respect. Your spouse is a German teacher. You often travelled together in Germany. What, in your opinion, are the typical German features? I like Germany. Driving across your country you can see good order, buildings and courtyards are well maintained. We have a lot in common. Poles and Germans are good neighbours. If you were looking for the Charlestown Democratic Town Committee website and ended up here, try this Got news tips, gossip, suggestions, complaints?E-mail us: progressivecharlestown@gmail.com We strive to avoid errors in our articles. Our correction policy can be found here Welcome Guest! You Are Here: BERLIN, Oct. 27 -- A spokesperson of the Chinese Embassy in Germany has refuted a report by the Sueddeutsche Zeitung over the Taiwan issue, saying it violated the one-China principle and supported the "Taiwan independence" secessionists. The spokesperson said China resolutely opposed the report, which deliberately defied the one-China principle pursued by the German federal government and the international community and provided the "Taiwan independence" secessionists with media access. The influential Sueddeutsche Zeitung on Friday carried a report about an interview with Joseph Wu from Taiwan. The spokesperson said the Taiwan issue is not about the so-called "democracy". It is an issue concerning the national interest of China. If some people try to gain sympathy by cloaking themselves in the image of "international orphan" and to pursue secessionist policies in disguise of human rights, they are destined to fail. The spokesperson said Taiwan is an indispensable part of China and maintaining national unity is the bottom line of all sovereign states including Germany. China's national sovereignty and territorial integrity must not be challenged. The spokesperson said China always supports the national unity of Germany, thereby it hopes Germany to take the same attitude to China. Germany needs to realize that the "Taiwan independence" secessionist activities on its soil would disrupt and harm China-Germany bilateral relations and regional stability. China expects that German people can place themselves in China's position, and better understand Chinese people's pursuit for national unity, the spokesperson concluded. 'As a seasoned politician I know how to talk and understand the opinion and sentiments (of other political leaders).' Archis Mohan reports. IMAGE: April 3, 2018. On his first visit to New Delhi after breaking away from the NDA, Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Nara Chandrababu Naidu touched the stairs before entering Parliament. Naidu's act was reminiscent of what Prime Minister Narendra Damodardas Modi did when he entered Parliament for the first time as a MP in 2014. Photograph: Photograph: Shahbaz Khan/PTI Photo Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Nara Chandrababu Naidu on Saturday, October 27, said power has come to be concentrated in politicians and bureaucrats from one particular state which wasn't healthy for India's democracy, and indicated a national role for himself to bring together Opposition parties to fight the Bharatiya Janata Party in the 2019 Lok Sabha elections. The Andhra CM met several Opposition leaders in New Delhi, but insisted his efforts weren't to secure any "position" post the 2019 Lok Sabha polls, but to save "our great nation". He also indicated that a 1996-1998 United Front government experiment wasn't practical, and a government comprising solely of regional parties wasn't possible without the Congress. "So without a national party one cannot form a government at the Centre. How to form a government? We have to give confidence to the people now. All of us have to join together, those who are interested in (saving) the nation," Naidu said. His Telugu Desam Party walked out of the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance in March on the question of the Centre not granting his state special category status, and later also brought in a no-confidence motion against the Modi government in the Lok Sabha. The TDP has aligned with the Congress and some other parties for the Telangana assembly polls, where voting is scheduled for December 7. Naidu said the Modi government has not fulfilled any of its promises, and people have lost confidence in the PM. He said instead of focusing on development, the Modi government is using the enforcement directorate, the Central Bureau of Investigation and income tax department to "threaten and harass" political rivals and the media. In Delhi, Naidu met Bahujan Samaj Party chief Mayawati, Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal, former BJP leader Yashwant Sinha, National Conference leader Dr Farooq Abdullah and Loktantrik Janata Dal leader Sharad Yadav. Naidu played a key role in the formation of the United Front governments from 1996 to 1998, and was also the Modi-led NDA's convener. Asked how he hoped to convince Mayawati to have seat adjustments or alliance with the Congress, Naidu said: "As a seasoned politician I know how to talk and understand the opinion and sentiments (of other political leaders). Ultimately, we have to move forward, all of us." The Andhra CM said there were inherent contradictions, both of political reality and ideology, where at times two parties are opponents in a state but have to come together at the Centre. But he said Opposition parties needed to join forces as it was a political compulsion and also for the welfare of the nation. Armed with a rifle and three handguns, a white man spewing anti-Semitic threats blasted his way into a prominent synagogue in the United States city of Pittsburgh, killing 11 worshippers and injuring six others, in the deadliest attack on Jews in the history of America. IMAGE: Police officers guard the Tree of Life synagogue following a mass shooting at the place in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, on Saturday. Photograph: John Altdorfer/Reuters The shooter, identified as 46-year-old Robert Bowers, yelled "all Jews must die" as he stormed Saturday the 'Tree of Life' Congregation Synagogue at Squirell Hill in Pittsburgh, where a large number of people had gathered for a baby naming ceremony. He surrendered after he was injured in firing with the police. Pittsburgh Public Safety Director Wendell Hissrich said that 11 people, including three women, were killed and six others injured including four policemen. He added that there were no children among fatalities or injured. Bowers told officers that Jews were "committing genocide" and that he wanted them all to die, according to a document made public on Sunday. "After difficult work by the medical examiner's office, all 11 victims were positively identified and next of kin notifications took place," Robert Jones, the Federal Bureua of Investigation agent in charge of the investigation, said at a press briefing. Tree of Life is located in Pittsburgh's Squirrel Hill neighbourhood, which is known as the heart of the local Jewish community. Bowers, whose social media account reflected his hatred against the Jews, was charged with 29 counts of federal crimes of violence and firearms offenses, federal prosecutors said. The charges include 11 counts of obstruction of exercise of religious beliefs resulting in death; and 11 counts of use of a firearm to commit murder during a crime of violence. Bowers frequently wrote on the social network Gab, where he made a specific threat against Jews hours before allegedly conducting Saturday's attack. In the post, Bowers said that the Hebrew Immigrant Aid Society, a humanitarian aid nonprofit group that provides assistance to refugees, brought immigrants to the United States to do violence against others. "Screw your optics, I'm going in," he wrote. The FBI is investigating this as a "hate crime". Before opening fire, Bowers reportedly yelled, "All Jews must die!" Bowers posted about the "migrant caravan", a group of several thousand refugees walking to the US-Mexico border from Honduras to seek asylum. FBI Pittsburgh Special Agent in Charge Bob Jones said the investigation was in its early stages and there was no knowledge if the shooter was known to the law enforcement till this date. "Gunman targeted (people) because of their faith. At this time, we believe that he was acting alone," he said. Describing the mass shooting as an "anti-semitic act", President Donald Trump called for death penalty for such shooters. "This wicked act of mass murder is pure evil, hard to believe, and frankly something that is unimaginable. Our nation and the world are shocked and stunned by the grief. This was an anti-semitic act," he said. US President Donald Trump ordered that American flags be flown at half-staff at the White House and upon all public buildings and grounds, and all military bases till October 31 as a mark of "solemn respect" for the victims. Despite his earlier reservations, Trump continued with his days programme and addressed a well-attended election rally in Illinois arguing that one cannot let their schedules or lives change. "It's just the way it is. No matter how you look at it, you just can't let them get away with it. They're evil, they're bad, this was an anti-Semitic act which is incredible in this day and age that something like that can happen, but it happened," he told reporters in Murphysboro, Illinois. The US goes to mid-term polls on November 6 wherein people would be electing members of the House of Representatives, one-third of the Senate and several State Governors. Trump said the country felt terribly after this tragic incident. "This was just a horrible, horrible event," he said. He said he planned to go to Pittsburgh. "I will be going to Pittsburgh. I've been in touch with the governor, and I've been in touch with the mayor," he said. Asserting that hatred and violence on the basis of religion can have no place in society, Attorney General Jeff Sessions said every American had the right to attend their house of worship in safety. "Hatred and violence on the basis of religion can have no place in our society. These alleged crimes are reprehensible and utterly repugnant to the values of this nation. Accordingly, the Department of Justice will file hate crimes and other criminal charges against the defendant, including charges that could lead to the death penalty," Sessions said. Former president Barack Obama called his fellow countrymen to fight the rise of anti-Semitism. "All of us have to fight the rise of anti-Semitism and hateful rhetoric against those who look, love, or pray differently. We have to stop making it so easy for those who want to harm the innocent to get their hands on a gun," he said. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said, "I was heartbroken and appalled by the murderous attack on a Pittsburgh synagogue". Pope Francis, who led the prayers for the victims on Sunday in St Peter's Square, described the shooting as an "inhuman act of violence". German Chancellor Angela Merkel denounced the deadly shooting, calling it a "blind anti-Semitic hatred". Extra police officers have been deployed at synagogues and Jewish centres across the US after the attack. Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday was welcomed by his Japanese counterpart Shinzo Abe in the city of Yamanashi. PM Modi, who landed in Tokyo on Saturday, has a packed schedule during his two-day visit to attend the 13th India-Japan summit. Modi said this his 12th meeting with Abe since he first visited Japan as prime minister in September 2014. Here are some of the glimpses of Modi's first day in Japan. 'Tete-a-tete in front of a fireplace,' the ministry of external affairs tweeted as Japanese Premier Shinzo Abe in a special gesture hosted Modi at his personal villa near Lake Kawaguchi in Yamanashi for a private dinner. It is the first time that Abe has invited a foreign political leader to his holiday home in the village of Narusawa in the prefecture. Photograph: @MEAIndia/Twitter Calling Modi one of his most "dependable" friends, Abe said that they would like to strengthen bilateral cooperation to realise a free and open Indo-Pacific. "Prime Minister Modi, who is currently visiting Japan since yesterday, is one of my most dependable and valuable friends. On behalf of the entire Japanese government, I have the pleasure of extending him the warmest hospitality," the Japanese leader's said in a message published in Indian newspapers. Photograph: @MEAIndia/Twitter After spending eight hours together in Yamanashi, Modi and Abe rode an express train to travel to Tokyo, where they will hold a formal summit on Monday. Photograph: Press Information Bureau Japan is helping India to build country's first bullet train between Ahmedabad and Mumbai which will run a total length of 508 kilometres, of which 21 kilometres will be covered in the tunnel under sea. 'The day when Japanese Shinkansen bullet trains start running between Mumbai and Ahmedabad through cooperation will mark a shining symbol of Japan-india friendship in the future,' Abe said in his message. Photograph: Press Information Bureau Earlier in the day, Modi was affectionately received by Abe on his arrival at Hotel Mount Fuji in the picturesque Yamanashi prefecture, around 110 kilometres from Japanese capital, Tokyo. "Delighted to meet PM @AbeShinzo in the picturesque prefecture of Yamanashi," Modi tweeted. Photograph: @MEAIndia/Twitter Modi presented his Japanese counterpart two handcrafted stone bowls, made from rose quartz and yellow quartz stone sourced from Rajasthan, and dhurries woven by master weavers of Uttar Pradesh. A Jodhpuri wooden chest from Rajasthan with traditional work was also presented to Abe, an official said. Photograph: ANI Both the prime ministers visited the FANUC industrial facility, which specialises in automation. "Taking our cooperation to modern and advanced technologies. PM @narendramodi and PM @AbeShinzo visited the FANUC Corporation, one of the largest makers of industrial robots in the world in #Yamanashi, and toured the robotics and automation facilities," MEA spokesperson Raveesh Kumar tweeted. Photograph: Press Information Bureau Modi was briefed on the various robotic and automation capabilities of FANUC. Both the leaders observed several illustrations of the working of industrial robots. At the motor assembly facility, they witnessed the assembling of a motor by a robot in 40 seconds, officials added. FANUC contributes to the manufacturing industry in Japan and other countries, including India, by promoting automation and efficiency in manufacturing. Photograph: @narendramodi/Twitter Ahead of his departure from New Delhi, Modi described India and Japan as a "winning combination" and said the island nation was New Delhi's most trusted partner in its economic and technological modernisation. Photograph: @MEAIndia/Twitter The two leaders will hold a formal summit Monday in Tokyo, during which strengthening bilateral security and economic cooperation is expected to be high on the agenda. Photograph: @MEAIndia/Twitter IMAGE: Congress MP Shashi Tharoor reads an excerpt from his latest book during the 7th edition of Bangalore Literature Festival in Bengaluru. Photograph: PTI Photo Congress leader Shashi Tharoor stoked a fresh controversy on Sunday claiming that an unnamed Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh leader had compared Prime Minister Narendra Modi to "a scorpion sitting on a Shivling" and terming it as an extraordinarily striking metaphor. As his comments at the Bangalore Literature Festival drew condemnation, including from Union minister Ravi Sankar Prasad, the MP tweeted saying the remarks were not made by him and were in the public domain for six years. In a stinging condemnation, Prasad, a senior Bharatiya Janata Party leader, alleged that Tharoor had disrespected Lord Shiva and sought an apology from Congress president Rahul Gandhi. In his speech at the festival, Tharoor said "...There is an extraordinarily striking metaphor expressed by an unnamed RSS source to a journalist which I quote, in which they express their frustration with their inability to curb Mr Modi. "The man says Modi is like a scorpion sitting on a Shivaling. You cannot remove him with a hand and you cannot hit it with a chappal either," he said. Suggesting that it was a very profound understanding of the relationship, the Congress leader said, "Because, if you remove a scorpion with your hand, you will get stung very badly. If you hit Shivaling with a chappal, then you have undermined all the sacred tenets of the faith. This might well be a very interesting clue to the rather complex dynamics that exists "between the Hindutva movement and the Moditva expression...," he added. Prasad hit out at Tharoor for the remarks, which also evoked strong reaction on social media, and asked Gandhi whether he supported his party leader's comments. "The Congress claims to represent the heritage of Mahatma Gandhi, Jawaharlal Nehru and Indira Gandhi. Today, under the presidentship of Rahul Gandhi, it has been reduced to hurling abuses and the worst form of civil discourse," he told reporters in Delhi. He said while he would not like to comment on Tharoor's remarks "against whom a chargesheet has been filed in a murder case", but want to know where Rahul Gandhi, who claims to be a Shiv Bhakt, stands on the issue. "Gandhi claims to be a Shiv Bhakt now he should make it clear whether he supports Tharoor's remarks which are an insult to Lord Shiva. If he does not support the remarks he should apologise to Hindus," Prasad said. "The whole nation is watching ... while Rahul Gandhi who claims himself to be a Shiv Bhakt, one of his small leaders has almost abused the sanctity of Shiv Linga and Lord Mahadev by referring to chappal attack through named sources. Please reply to this very horrific denunciation of Lord Mahadev," he added. WATCH THE VIDEO BELOW As his speech stirred a controversy, Tharoor tweeted, clarifying that the comments were not made by him. "In view of the unseemly demonisation of an out of context remark today involving a scorpion metaphor, my book #TheParadoxicalPrimeMinister cites & footnotes this article please see the last paragraph of this article," he said. "This comment (not by me) has been in the public domain for six years. RSPrasad making an issue of a 6yr old quote shows how little new the BJP has to offer the nation. As for media subserving the BJPs desire for "controversy", when will this profession develop any self-respect?" he asked in another tweet. This is the second time in recent months that Tharoor has landed in controversy over his remarks on the prime minister. Earlier, in August this year, he had spoken about Modi donning "outlandish" Naga and other headgear on his trips but refusing to sport a Muslim skull cap, drawing condemnation from the BJP which had dubbed it as insulting to the people of the North-East. Recently, Tharoor had also kicked up a row with remarks that no "good" Hindu would favour a Ram temple in Ayodhya by demolishing somebody else's place of worship. The BJP reacted strongly, terming his party and its chief Rahul Gandhi "anti-Hindu". BEIJING, Oct. 27 -- The 12th National Women's Congress will open on Oct. 30 in Beijing, the All-China Women's Federation (ACWF) said Saturday. The congress will hear and deliberate a work report by the 11th Executive Council of the ACWF, amend the federation's constitution and elect its new leadership, according to a statement by the ACWF. It will be a grand meeting of women and a major event in their political lives, the statement said. The congress, convening every five years, will conclude on Nov. 2. The Liquor Board has extended alcohol sales hours in retail outlets to 1.00 am, bringing it in line with hotels and night clubs in Samoa. The decision was outlined in a public notice signed by the Secretary of the Board, Leatigaga Tiatia Liaina with the new sales hours going into effect October 25, 2018. According to the notice from the Liquor Board, retail stores, hotels and restaurants can now sell alcohol from 6.00 am to 1.00 am from Monday to Friday. However, on Saturday alcohol can only be sold from 6.00 am to 12.00 am midnight. Stores and restaurants are not permitted to sell on Sundays while hotels can do so but only from 10.00 am to 12.00 am midnight. The notice by the Liquor Board also stated that the new alcohol sales hours will not have any bearing on stores located in villages, where the village councils regulate the sales hours. Last year a report by the Samoa Law Reform Commission linked the increasing number of murders, manslaughters and grievous bodily harm connected to alcohol abuse and led the call for reforms in alcohol sales and consumption. Three quarters (approximately 72%) of all murders, manslaughters and grievous bodily harm offences were committed under the influence of alcohol and/or drugs, stated the report. The report by the Commission was in response to a request from the Attorney General in 2014 to review laws relating to the sale and consumption of alcohol. It was submitted to the Parliament for its deliberations last year. According to the report, the impact of alcohol in Samoa is significant, and it has often been cited as the main contributing factor to serious offending. Most families and communities have been affected directly or indirectly by harm triggered by excessive alcohol consumption. The review was to deal with a number of issues including adequacy of current alcohol licensing system and its enforcement, availability of cheap alcohol, alcohol taxation and pricing, controlling alcohol content in alcohol, age at which alcohol can be purchased, advertising and promotion of alcohol and responsibilities of parents, Village Fono and churches with respect to adolescent drinking, stated the report. The report also stated that there is no current data available on serious offences, where alcohol was a contributing factor, with many members of the judiciary expressing concern that excessive alcohol use and the availability of cheap alcohol was a common contributory factor to many criminal matters before them. BEIJING, Oct. 27 -- Chinese Premier Li Keqiang on Saturday stressed the importance of deepening communication, building consensus and enhancing cooperation to achieve more breakthroughs in the research and technological innovation of life sciences. Li, also a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, made the remarks in a written instruction to the opening ceremony of the 2018 World Life Sciences Conference (WLSC) held in Beijing. Li pointed out that as many countries have looked at life sciences, a subject concerning the health and development of humankind, as a key area in science and technology innovation, it is now facing greater development opportunities than ever before. China has also been strengthening the development of life sciences, and has paid much attention to developing new technologies and industries related to the subject, he said. Li called on attending experts to join hands in responding to challenges such as serious diseases, an aging population, environmental pollution and resource shortages, so as to promote sustainable development in the global economy and society, and improve the wellbeing of the world's people. This year's WLSC, which ends on Monday, focuses on medicine and health, agriculture and food safety, environmental science, biotechnology and economy. Last week, an interesting letter penned by Prime Minister Tuilaepa Dr. Sailele Malielegaoi surfaced. Samoa being a small place, the content of the letter had already been the subject of much discussions among the inside circle of the Government. You see, in this place we call home, even walls have ears; they talk. Trust me. So it was no surprise that the much-talked about letter from Prime Minister Tuilaepa surfaced. Dont ask me how it arrived. It just happened. What was the letter about? Well it was nothing but a good old telling off of senior Government officials, especially the Minister of Agriculture and Fisheries (M.A.F.), Lopaoo Natanielu Mua, and the Chief Executive Officer, Tilafono David Hunter by their leader. With agriculture being at the forefront of the national conversation during the past few weeks, something about it had clearly irked the Prime Minister. So much so he could not help himself. It involved the scheduling of events in relation to Cabinets weekly meeting. So on 16 October 2018, Tuilaepa picked up his pen and wrote the officials in question. To be doubly sure that the message gets across, he copied in all Ministers, Associate Ministers and all heads of Government. Cabinet meets on Wednesday every week, the letter reads. The Cabinet meeting is a matter of priority. It takes precedence over any meeting or service whether its official, personal or church-related. By the way, the letter subsequently also revealed why the Agriculture Show in Upolu, originally scheduled for last Wednesday, was unexpectedly postponed. It did not take place until Thursday. Some people turned up on Wednesday only to find out that it has been cancelled. Yes the official invites said it was going to be held on Wednesday. But this is Samoa and its Tuilaepa country. You can say that he can do whatever he wants, whenever, wherever and he did in this case. The show was delayed. Now getting back to the letter, Prime Minister Tuilaepa said many senior Government officials continue to forget policies, such as the one related to Cabinets weekly meetings. Another policy that he reminded officials about was that Government begins work 9am. Well this is Samoa after all, where island time rules. Maybe Tuilaepa knows many of those public servants are being paid palagi time salaries and working on Samoan time. Which is why the reminder was important. I have noticed that you continue to forget these policies which are important to the Government the same policies we took and oath to fulfill to the best of our abilities, Tuilaepa wrote. To all Cabinet Ministers, government workers, especially the C.E.O.s, you must remember these policies that you continue to forget. If the Minister forgets, the C.E.O. should remind him thats why you were appointed as a C.E.O to remind the Minister. The Cabinet meeting takes priority, which means you have to postpone your shows, your funerals, matai title bestowal ceremonies, church meetings. All those family commitments, church commitments are secondary to the role to which you have taken an oath to serve the 190,000 people of our country. Wow the man has spoken. So watch the funerals, make sure the saofai is on another day. You cant blame Prime Minister Tuilaepa for being upset though, can you? As the leader of the nation, he has to keep his team in line and hes got a ship to steer. Now and then he needs to give them a kick up the backside to remind them why they are there and what they need to do. See the problem with Samoa today is that Prime Minister Tuilaepa most of the time cops the flak for a lot of the negative things happening. Its understandable because he is the one fronting up with answers even though many of them dont make sense when the country needs them. Now with the letter, Prime Minister Tuilaepa gives his final instruction and a warning. For the future, do not make this mistake again, he signed off. Did you get that girls and boys? Classic Tuilaepa. What will this country ever do without him? Have a wonderful week Samoa, God bless! Taro Whiskey. Yes that is now possible. Which is fantastic news for the countrys taro farmers. They can now look forward to another market for their produce thanks to the arrival of the Samoa Whiskey, officially launched last Friday. The project was driven by the Scientific Research Organisation of Samoa (S.R.O.S.) with the full backing of Prime Minister Tuilaepa Dr. Sa'ilele Malielegaois Government. Chief Executive Officer of S.R.O.S., Dr. Seuseu Tauati said taro was selected as the main ingredient to produce the whiskey because of its abundance in Samoa and the spin off effects it would create for the farmers. Samoas largest commercial taro farmer, Peter Tulaga Eliesa said this is a big help for local taro farmers, adding if the local demand is high, he will not export anymore of his produce. I am currently exporting to American Samoa, but if there is a high demand of taro for the purpose of making the Samoa Whiskey, I will put more focus on it, he said. Local taro farmer, Joseph Fidow also praised the new product saying it will only ensure the financial stability of taro farming families. There will be so many markets for our taro farmers locally, there is a need for food supply for our people, the demand from businesses that manufacture and export taro chips overseas. But with the new whiskey that will be a bonus for us farmers, the 50-year-old said. Prime Minister Tuilaepa Dr. Sailele Malielegaoi said it is understood that agriculture producers are at the mercy of fixed prices by the international markets so they will always get less benefits from their exports. Because prices are fixed internationally and to be able to get the full benefit of our exports, we should turn them into secondary products in that way we would be able to avoid the very tough quarantine legislations imposed on us by our importing countries. We have asked S.R.O.S. to be able to produce a small amount of manufactured products hoping for the future that we will have some entrepreneurs with courage and guts to come over and take what we have discovered and then from then onwards they start producing at the scale which would make our taro producers happy, Tuilaepa said. The Audit Office, headed by Controller and Chief Auditor, Fuimaono Camillo Afele, has raised a number of questions about practices within the Samoa Shipping Corporation (S.S.C.). The questions include an end of contract payout to the Corporations Chief Executive Officer, Papali'i Willie Nansen, in 2015. The issue is outlined in the Audit Office Report to Parliament for the year 2015. The report does not say how much the payout was. But the Auditors found the end of contract payout inappropriate and unlawful. This was uncovered as a result of the comprehensive spot check for the period 1 July 2014 31 January 2015 for the S.S.C. According to the report, the payment was made without a signed contract of employment, clearly stipulating terms, conditions and entitlements. This is an inappropriate and unlawful practice given that there was no signed agreement between the contractual employee and the Corporation, the report reads. But the questions dont stop there. The Audit Office highlighted concerns about the practice of cash payments and office daily expenses made out of daily cash collections. This issue was also raised in a previous Audit, says the report. The report outlined a number of issues such as staff donation from the Corporation's funds and why the Corporation is paying for the C.E.O.'s cell phone bills. The Corporation is paying for the C.E.O. cell phone bills, yet he is receiving a telephone allowance of $3,600 annually as per normal C.E.O. benefits for all Government heads, the report reads. Audit could not confirm whether this extra telephone payment is governed under the C.E.O.'s contract as the requested C.E.O.'s contract was not available at the time of the audit. The telephone allowance included as part of the C.E.O. salary package was initially related to the C.E.O. landline home phone. That was how the telephone allowance first came prior to the existence of mobile phones in Samoa. The C.E.O. cell phone in relation to the previous C.E.O.s of S.S.C. has been part of the normal communication costs which now becomes a need for the effective and efficient management of the Corporation operations and its affairs locally and overseas. Another issue is the Manual Policy of the Corporation, the limit for salary advance is $200 however there were salary advances that were more than the limit. Other concerns noted included the attendance books not being properly monitored; attendance and leave records of employees on vessels could not be verified to confirm entitlements being paid due to attendance books not being properly monitored. The Auditors also raised questions about payments for funeral and wedding donations. $2,004 was allocated for a funeral while a wedding was $1,120. These payments were paid from the Corporation's funds instead of funding from Staff Social Fund or personal monies as per normal government procedures. We noted in the payment register a number of cheques totalling $298,336.3 in value for the months of July 2012 - June 2013 (audit period) that was paid to SSC. This is an indication of the amount of cash payments made out of daily collections which were later balanced by writing cheques payable to SSC increasing the risks of lapping and lading. Bulk of the amounts quoted is the weekly food provisions for crew and staff which is about $4,080 per week and the small portion of the quoted amount relates to the normal petty cash items. Canadian sailor, William Earnest Rockliffe, has been hit with a $2,500 fine by the Supreme Court and has two weeks to pay up or get thrown in jail. The Canadian, who had been charged with one possession of marijuana, one charge of importation of prohibited imports and one charge of possession of utensils, appeared before Justice, Leiataualesa Daryl Clarke. Defence counsel Lefau Harry Schuster made an application for his client to be discharged without conviction, but the Court refused to entertain the application. According to the police summary of facts, the defendant arrived at the Matautu Wharf on the yacht Optimist of London. However, on August 10, 2018 the Police received information from the Transnational Crimes Unit, in relation to the yacht and suspicions of carrying prohibited substances. The police did a search of the yacht and found the following: one marijuana bud weighing 0.8 grams inside the fridge, one marijuana hash weighing 1. inside the fridge, three halves of marijuana cigarettes weighing 0.3 grams, and one small plastic bag with a small amount of MDMA (ecstasy) inside the fridge and one hookah steel pipe, one glass pipe water pipe, one silver spoon and small plastic bag all for the purpose of committing an offense against the Narcotics Act 1967. According to Justice Leiataualesa, the defendants guilty plea to the charge number S1389/18 which is importation of prohibited imports shows the defendant importing prohibited items The defendant stated in his affidavit that he uses marijuana recreationally, to ease his body aches and pains, as he does labour work which Justice Leiataualesa indicated he had no medical certificate to prove this. He also took into consideration the fact that the defendant imported prohibited substances as an aggravating factor. One of them included MDMA (ecstasy), albeit it in small and or residual quantity which is a class B narcotic classified as a narcotic posing a high risk of harm under the Narcotics Act 1967. You were also in possession of not one but four utensils for the purpose of committing a crime against the Narcotics Act. The charges to which you have pleaded guilty are serious and it is important that this Court does not condone your actions. To do so would be to encourage others to follow the path that you have taken and it would place the community at risk. It is no secret to any seasoned world traveller that to carry drugs in any quantity small or large across an international border carries with it very serious risks. Justice Leiataualesa also told the defendant that he knew the risks he was taking when he travelled to Samoa with the drugs on board of his vessel and his possession of the utensils. He went on to say that a noncustodial sentence is appropriate for this crime. However, it will serve as a deterrence to you and others from committing this offending bearing in mind also your early guilty plea and the mitigating factors. Rockliffe, you are accordingly convicted and sentence as follows, on the charge of importation of prohibited imports bearing in mind the imprisonment and maximum fine, you are convicted and fine to $2,500 to be paid within 14 days in default three months imprisonment, and on the charges of possession of marijuana and possession of utensils, time remanded in custody. Construction work on the $7.5 million Maliolio Bridge and new access road at Samalaeulu has begun. In September, the Tenders Board awarded the contract for Maliolio River to Ah Liki Construction. The work is funded by the World Bank, who approved grant of $95.09 m to improve Samoas road network. This was confirmed by the L.T.A. Chief Executive Officer., Galumalemana Taatialeoitiiti Tutuvanu-Schwalger in response to questions from the Samoa Observer. Cyclone Evan that struck in December 2012 caused significant damage to the bridge in question. Last month, the L.T.A. issued a statement the evaluation resulted in the panels recommendation to award the contract to Ah Liki Construction; this recommendation has been approved by the Tenders Board and the Cabinet. The current Ford crossing at Samalaeulu prohibits crossing of vehicles during flash flood thus the construction of the bridge is vital to maintain connectivity even during severe bad weather and natural disasters. Ah Liki Construction will be employing people from the village during construction. The bridge is proposed to be located just west of the T-intersection of the Main Road south of Samalaeulu and due to the landform and hydrological characteristics of the river, the concrete bridge has a travelled portion (top surface) proposed to be 30m in length, and will have a 22.0 meters length elevated road extension situated on concrete footings immediately adjacent to it. The design is intended to provide level access to the bridge andelevated road extension from the top portion of the river channel on both sides. The span between bridge abutments is proposed to be 22.0 meters. The eastern abutment will be constructed part way down the slope of the riverbank, while the western abutment is situated on the elevated floodplain above the channel. Theconcrete footings for the elevated road portion will all be located in the floodplain. No changes to the hydrology of the river are proposed, the river channel, floodplain or river banks. Instead, the intention is that the bridge will be designed to fit the topographic and hydrological characteristics of the existing landscape, says the L.T.A statement. Peter Tulaga Eliesa has done it again. For the second time, he has secured the best commercial taro farm award at the 2018 Agriculture and Fisheries Show. He immediately dedicated his win to his mother, Tevaga Palepa Tulaga. The 37-year-old from Vailoa is Samoas largest commercial taro farmer. He leased more than 100 acres of land in Fiaga after encountering challenges with trying to secure assistance from various people. I became a farmer in my 30s through being challenged at wanting to be the best farmer from role models like Vaai Kolone, who was a farmer from Savaii, Peter told the Samoa Observer. The Minister of Samoa Land Corporation, Lautafi Fio Purcell was the only one who believed in me in the beginning when I first started out four years ago, he helped and challenged myself to be better and this why I have come this far. I feel privileged for winning the second time but I cannot forget to thank God for everything because his help I would not have come this far. Peter said he is passionate about his work and its a driving factor for his success. I recently joined a new organisation called Samoa Womens Association of Growers (S.W.A.G.), which targets promotion of women growers and farmers in Samoa. The reason behind me joining was because it is a new group with fresh ideas and mindsets but most importantly it focuses on empowering women through farming, and I want to be an advocate for gender equality in promoting equal rights for both men and women to work together in farming industries but overall I want to help others especially the farmers in Samoa in any way I can. My vision is to bring farming to another level using the youths. I want to empower youths, especially those who are unemployed to make them see the value in our land that not many consider worth exploiting hence why most farmers are the older generations, he said. Peter said taro is Samoas biggest exporter, which is why he is urging Government to invest in it. He said farmers should be given the chance to prove that they can make farming successful in Samoa by meeting the demand for local produce. I only have three workers but including myself it would make four, but because I only have three workers this is why I call my farm The Best Three Farm because there are only three workers who can get the job done. My boys can plant a thousand taros in one day and in other days it goes beyond and we start every day at 6am and finish around 2pm then we do some other stuff. So many people doubt that it is possible, but I have already done my research and that is why I am successful. In farming you have to be smart because if not you will not last in the field of farming, he said. Peter said he still needs more land, and he has already approached Lautafi and the Minister of Agriculture and Fisheries, Lopaoo Natanielu Mua for assistance. San Diego is not exactly a paradise for renters. Nearly six in 10 San Diegans pay one-third or more of their income in rent, making the area the fourth most cost-burdened out of 500 metro areas. Average asking rent here is $1,784 a month, a 25 percent increase from just four years ago. Against this backdrop, Californians are voting Nov. 6 on Proposition 10, an effort to repeal a 1995 law that limits county and city governments ability to slow rent hikes. There is also a local effort to bring rent control to National City, but the statewide vote could have much wider implications for San Diego County. Advertisement Most economists argue that rent control will lead to a reduction in the quality and quantity of housing available. Yet frustration over rising rents seems to be boiling over in California and both sides promote research that they say proves their point. The Union-Tribune is answering the most common questions about Prop 10 and what it means. What is Prop 10 and what does it do? Prop 10 would give cities in San Diego County and across the state the option to enact certain forms of rent control. If approved by voters, the initiative would repeal the 1995 Costa-Hawkins Rental Housing Act that bans cities and counties from capping rent increases on apartments built after 1995, as well as condos and single-family homes. Costa-Hawkins also prohibits municipalities from expanding rent control to include vacancy control. Vacancy control means taking away the right of landlords to increase the rents of vacant units to match market price. Repealing the act would allow for the possibility of vacancy control. If Prop 10 passes, it also means cities, such as San Diego, could decide to limit annual rent increases, or establish another form of making sure rent increases slow down. However, it does not automatically mean rent control will be enacted. It will be up to local lawmakers or voters to approve rent control measures. No one knows yet what rent control laws could look like in Oceanside, Carlsbad or any of the cities that make up the county. Municipalities could just decide to not have any rent control. An example of what may come is the effort in National City, where the citizens-initiated measure looks to cap annual rent increases at 5 percent. Who is for Prop 10? As of late October, $23.7 million had been spent to support Prop 10 among top contributors, while $42.6 million had been spent opposing it, said the California Fair Political Practices Commission. Prop 10 was largely bankrolled by Los Angeles HIV/AIDS activist Michael Weinstein, and the AIDS Healthcare Foundation is largely footing the bill, with $22.7 million contributed. Other top donations in support of Prop 10 are from the California Teachers Association, with $500,000; California Nurses Association, $350,000; East Bay Working Families, $84,393; and the American Federation of State County and Municipal Employees, $60,000. Some of the biggest groups endorsing Prop 10 are the California Labor Federation, California Democratic Party, Housing Federation and the American Civil Liberties Union of California. Who is against Prop 10? Some of the nations largest landlords are helping fund the effort to defeat Prop 10. Money to fight the proposition has come from Blackstone with $5 million; Essex Property Trust, $4.8 million; California Association of Realtors, $4 million; Equity Residential, $3.7 million; and Avalonbay Communities, $3 million. The main contributors against Prop 10 are also some of San Diego Countys biggest landlords. New York-based Blackstone owns at least 1,208 apartments, data from real state tracker CoStar shows; San Mateo-based Essex owned 5,440 units as of second quarter 2018, say company filings; and Irvine-based Equity owned 3,385 apartments at the end of 2017, said company filings. Some of the other groups to oppose Prop 10 are the State Building and Construction Trades Council of California, California Chamber of Commerce, California Apartment Industry Association and the California Farm Bureau Federation. Veterans groups have been a big part of the campaign as the face of several TV advertisements opposing Prop 10. Chris Yates, a retired Marine Corps officer and commander of the American Legions local district, said veterans already struggle with high rates of homelessness and the proposition could have the affect of discouraging badly needed housing. Also, he said many veterans rely on housing as investments and could be hurt by rent control. Whats the basic argument against Prop 10? A lack of housing in California is seen as one of the primary factors in rising costs, and Prop 10 is unlikely to increase supply, say analysts. In San Diego County, there were around 9,580 new housing units constructed last year. Thats down from roughly 15,000 a year in the early 2000s when the regions ever-growing population was less. Without the incentive for rent increases, critics say builders would be less likely to build more housing and more likely to convert to condos. (However, condo litigation law may limit the financial benefit to conversion.) Steven Maviglio, spokesman for No on Prop 10, said that the measure fails to encourage more housing development, which ultimately does not help most struggling renters. Youd be shooting yourself in the foot, he said. To say, Yes, we need more housing and then passing something that will freeze housing construction makes no sense. It makes a bad problem worse. Maviglio said rent control laws like those in San Francisco, where rents are frozen for long-term tenants but can be a struggle for new residents moving to the city, are an example of an unfair model. (Prop 10) hurts the people it is designed to help, he said. Rent control does benefit a select few at the expense of everyone else. Whats the basic argument for Prop 10? Recent studies, like the one from Apartment List, show renters are burdened by their monthly housing costs and the state is unlikely to build enough housing to make a difference in the short-term. Yes on Prop 10 spokeswoman Charly Norton cited a report from the California Department of Housing and Community Development that projects the state will need 1.8 million new housing units to meet projections by 2025, which she said would not make a difference for years even if California achieves those goals. Obviously, its not going to happen immediately, she said. It could take 20 to 30 years before those numbers are reached. The fact of the matter is this crisis is urgent. Norton said California already accounts for 25 percent of the nations homeless population and a quick solution is needed. Every increase in rent, thousands of more people are driven into homelessness, she said. This isnt sustainable. How does rent control work in other cities? San Francisco expanded rent control in 1994 that favors residents who have lived in the city a long time but is a burden on new residents, said research from Stanford University business professors Rebecca Diamond and Tim McQuade. Similar to other cities in California with rent control, San Francisco limits rent increases on older apartments where people have lived for a long time. But, it puts no limit on what landlords of new construction can charge, leaving little recourse for a young person who has been offered a job in San Francisco. The study found tenants who were in rent controlled apartments from 1994 through 2010 saved $2,300 to $6,600 a year. The total number of rent-controlled units in the city in that time period dropped by 25 percent, and all rental housing by 5 percent. One reason researchers said the number of rentals went down: Landlords found different ways to get out of rent control. Some of the more popular methods were converting to condos or tearing down old buildings to build new ones not subject to rent control. In New York City, there is both rent control and rent stabilization laws. Rent control, which only applies to people living in apartments since the 1970s and slows yearly increases, is very limited and makes up about 1 percent of the citys housing supply. Rent stabilization applies to around half of the citys apartments and is determined by the Rent Guidelines Board that sets a maximum allowed rent. It doesnt always work out for renters. A ProPublica investigation found almost 30 percent of the citys 860,000 apartments in 2017 fell under a legal loophole that allows landlords to hike rents overnight when a lease renewal comes up. The way it works is if the legal maximum rent is $2,000 a month for an apartment set by the board, but the landlord was only charging $1,000, they can hike it to the maximum at the renewal of the lease. In Los Angeles, the city froze rents in 1978 for six months. The city followed up with a rent stabilization ordinance that limited rent control increases to about 3 to 8 percent a year for renters who lived in apartments built before 1978. The citys Housing and Community Investment Department says roughly 631,000 apartments fall under its rent stabilization law, which works similar to San Francisco. A 2009 economic study prepared for the City of Los Angeles Housing Department said the rent stabilization program helped a large portion of the low-income population but was too limited to address the overall scarcity of housing. What do studies conclude? Most studies tend to conclude that rent control is ultimately a bad move for the majority of renters but that it helps a minority. However, there are some areas where researchers disagree. A study by University of Southern California professor Manuel Pastor and others suggested there are unseen cost benefits to rent control. The report, published through the universitys Dornsife school, said money saved by renters where there is rent control could transfer to the local economy. Other factors that are harder to quantify were also considered, such as the benefits of being able to stay in one home for a long period of time (especially for children) and the money governments need to spend anyway on low-income housing vouchers. The report cited work by Harvard economist Edward Glaesers 2003 study of New Jersey and California that found cities with rent regulations had 10 percent lower growth in median rents than cities without rent regulations. However, Glaeser has also argued that rent control leads to a misallocation of housing, with people staying in apartments that no longer meet their shifting life stage or preferences, and older renters tend to be the main beneficiaries. The Stanford study suggested a better way to achieve rent control is to offer renters subsidies or tax credits to those who need it. That way, landlords dont have to bear the burden of rent control and will not have the same incentive to turn units into condos or tear down apartments to make new, luxury complexes. What is the history of rent control? Rent control is not a new invention. Rome may have had the first documented case of rent control more than 400 years ago when Pope Paul IV forbid Jews from owning property. They were charged a premium by many Christian landlords, as detailed by John W. Willis in a lengthy 1950 article in the Cornell Law Review. After many back-and-forth policies from the Vatican, Pope Clement VIII in 1604 took pity on the Jews and stopped landlords in the ghetto from increasing the rent. Even landlords back then decried the ability to make a profit and fund repairs to buildings. Other examples include the French parliament in 1652 relieving tenants of the Easter quarters rent following great public disturbances and Portugals king freezing rents after an earthquake in 1755. More modern examples include rent freezes across Europe and the United States during the Great Depression, World War I and World War II. Websites No on Prop 10: https://noprop10.org/ Yes on Prop 10: https://voteyesonprop10.org/ Financial contributions: https://www.fppc.ca.gov/transparency/top-contributors.html Staff writer David Hernandez contributed to this report Listen to the reporters speak about this story on San Diego News Fix Business phillip.molnar@sduniontribune.com (619) 293-1891 Twitter: @phillipmolnar ALSO San Diegos new single-family homes are pricey, modern and in short supply Tijuana condo craze continues in to 2018 Last years housing market broke records CITY COUNCILS CARLSBAD The Carlsbad City Council will meet at 6 p.m. Tuesday in council chambers, 1200 Carlsbad Village Drive, when it will hear a park planning update on the Buena Vista Reservoir site, and direct staff to continue supporting Lennar Homes pursuit of the park project. The council will also consider taking action related to a 2018 League of California Cities Annual Conference Resolution, which calls upon the League to respond to increasing vulnerabilities to local municipal authority, control and revenue. The discussion will explore a ballot measure and/or constitutional amendment that would strengthen local democracy and authority. DEL MAR Advertisement The Del Mar City Council will meet in closed session to discuss property negotiation, litigation and evaluation of the city manager at 3 p.m. Monday in council chambers, 1050 Camino del Mar. In regular session at 4:30 p.m., the council will give final approval to an ordinance amending the Floodway Zone, Floodplain Overlay Zone, and Coastal Bluff Overlay Zone related to the citys plan to address sea level rise. The council will review sending a letter to the 22nd Agricultural District opposing the proposed Good Life Festival focusing on cannabis. A request for analysis of multi-way stop signs at Stratford Court and 10th and 11th Streets will also be considered. SAN MARCOS The city of San Marcos is taking applications for vacancies on its Parks & Recreation Commission, Planning Commission, San Marcos Community Foundation, Traffic Commission, Budget Review Committee, and San Marcos Creek Specific Plan Oversight Committee. Application deadline is 5:30 p.m. Dec. 13. For information and requirements, visit www.san-marcos.net/your-government/commissions-boards-committees. Contact the City Clerks Office at (760) 7441050, ext. 3100 or cityclerk@sanmarcos.net. SCHOOL DISTRICTS SAN DIEGUITO The San Dieguito Union High School District board is scheduled to meet in closed session at 6 p.m. Thursday at the district office, 710 Encinitas Blvd., Encinitas, and in regular session at 6:30 p.m. laura.groch@sduniontribune.com A number of readers were kind enough to write me to sympathize and also share some comments about my column of last week wherein I was lamenting about my flight to visit our daughter in Montana. I had mentioned that a connection we were about to board in Salt Lake City had no working lavatories. It was a flight originally bound for Chicago, but apparently airline officials figured since our flight to Bozeman was shorter, it made sense to trade places with those other passengers. But that plan was evidently too complicated so it appeared the Chicago-bound travelers would have to remain on that flight after all and just hold it in. A reader wrote to tell me I shouldnt be too hard on the airline as his experience suggests they always try to be accommodating, especially under such trying circumstances. Thus, he submitted, as compensation to those unfortunate bathroom-deprived passengers, he was certain the airline would be rewarding them with free beer. Im just happy to report that our trip home was incident free. Happily, the security check was thorough yet tranquil unlike the time I was singled out for what they referred to as a random screening, but what I called a physical. Advertisement At the end of the ordeal, I asked the TSA officer if he found any polyps, but only learned that those occasions are not necessarily the best time for such wisecracking. In truth, Im eternally grateful for the efforts of those officials to keep us safe, so its wise to try to make their jobs as easy as possible. Unlike the time my brother from Brooklyn came for a visit. His birthday was coming up and we labored a bit about what sort of gift he might like. Noting his interest in wines, we wound up buying him a rather unique wine bottle opener. Since his actual birthday wasnt for another week, we proposed he wait to unwrap and open the gift until after he returned home. Two problems arose with that suggestion. The first was the fact that the gift turned out to be part of his carry-on effects, and secondly, the wine opener had a similar shape to a weapon. So, naturally, the alarms went off during the X-ray portion of the security check. Unfortunately, the answers he offered to two questions TSA officers posed were not exactly met with any particular degree of approval. Question No. 1: Whats inside the box? Answer: I dont know. Question No. 2: How did it come into your possession? Answer: Someone gave it to me. Based on that incident and my brothers misfortune, it is my strong recommendation to any traveler subject to an airport security check to a) know what youre carrying, and b) never suggest someone else handed it to you. I had a lot of apologies to make to my brother who finally weathered his ordeal, but only after his gift was untimely revealed, a lengthy explanation offered, a not-so-random-screening endured, and a memorable visit concluded. Contact humor columnist Irv Erdos at IrvErdos@aol.com. CITY COUNCILS CARLSBAD The Carlsbad City Council met in special session Tuesday for a report on its 2018 North Beach lifeguard pilot program. It heard proposals for lifeguard service from California State Parks and OC Lifeguards, but voted to keep its program with city staff. The lifeguards will be part of the citys fire department. The council also heard a staff presentation on revisions to its Growth Management Plan. A closed session followed to discuss litigation. ENCINITAS Advertisement The Encinitas City Council met Wednesday and approved $106,000 for further studies of the Inclusionary Ordinance update. The council also approved the 55-year ground lease agreements and permits with Habitat for Humanity San Diego for two homes to be built at 750 Leucadia Blvd. ESCONDIDO The Escondido City Council met Wednesday and reviewed its annual financial status report for fiscal year 2017/18. The council approved a recommendation to use its $3.029 million surplus to fund department requests totaling $2.029 million and to transfer the remaining $1 million to the Irrevocable Pension Trust. SAN MARCOS The San Marcos City Council met Tuesday and gave final approval to its amended ordinance on animal control. The council approved, 4-1, a yearlong pilot program for permit parking in the Rosemont neighborhood off Twin Oaks Valley Road and Village Drive and including Violet Avenue, Carnation Court and Yarrow Way. The program would require permits to park between 6 a.m. and 6 p.m. weekdays, excluding holidays. Permits would be free during the pilot period. If the program moves forward after the trial period, estimated cost for each permit is $78 and guest permits would be $10. The council also declared upcoming vacancies on various boards and commissions and is taking applications through Dec. 13. SOLANA BEACH The Solana Beach City Council met in closed session Wednesday to discuss litigation. In regular session, the council approved a mixed-use development at the northwest corner of Highway 101 and Dahlia Drive, with modifications. It approved entering a contract for design services for the Marine Safety Center Improvement Project, and heard a presentation on the My Community App that will help the community report city complaints using smartphones or tablets. VISTA The Vista City Council canceled its regularly scheduled meeting for Tuesday. SCHOOL DISTRICTS BONSALL The Bonsall Unified School District met Thursday 10/25 for a public hearing on the composition of potential voting districts as part of the transition to by-district trustee elections. A second hearing will be held at 6 p.m. Nov. 8, and three more are scheduled on the potential district maps before the first by-district trustees are elected in 2020. CARLSBAD The Carlsbad Unified School District board met in closed session Wednesday for the superintendents evaluation. ESCONDIDO The Escondido Union School District board met Thursday to approve a five-year charter renewal for The Classical Academy through 2024. The board then held a study session focusing on special education, including programming requirements, staffing, funding, due process and conflict resolution. FALLBROOK The Fallbrook Union High School District board met in closed session Monday to discuss labor negotiations and litigation. In regular session, the board approved applying for a $3 million Career Technical Education Facilities grant to help with the cost of a CTE STEM Building. The board also approved applying for a $50,000 Neighborhood Reinvestment Program Grant to help the Marine Corps Junior ROTC program. The money would go to buy a 15-passenger van to take cadets/students to academic, drill, fitness and other competitions, educational field trips, and to community service obligations in Fallbrook and throughout the county. OCEANSIDE The Oceanside Unified School District board met in closed session Tuesday and afterward approved the appointment of Dr. Shannon Soto as deputy superintendent, 4-1, effective Nov. 2, and Greg Moon as the districts chief technology officer, 5-0. The district heard a report on state assessment data, and reviewed the Local Community Action Plan goals and actions. Deputy Superintendent Reginald Thompkins resignation was approved effective Nov. 2. laura.groch@sduniontribune.com BEIJING, Oct. 27 -- German auto maker BMW has decided to recall more than 3,900 cars in China due to defects in crankshaft position sensors, according to the Chinese market regulator. BMW China Automotive Trading Ltd. began on Tuesday recalling 3,939 imported vehicles manufactured between April 10 and June 13, according to a statement from the State Administration for Market Regulation. The recall involves BMW 1- to 7-series as well as the MINI Cooper series, the statement said. Wrong output signals sent by the defective sensors might cause the engines to stall, it said. The company will inform related users with registered letters and replace the defective sensors free of charge, it said. Few people can articulate this nations challenging immigration issues as eloquently as California native Juan Felipe Herrera. Hes the U.S. Poet Laureate from 2015-2017 and the only Mexican-American to achieve that position. The son of migrant farmers, he grew up in San Diego and regularly visited Tijuana. With more than 30 books to his credit, he has vividly chronicled indigenous cultures in essays, poems, videos, theater pieces and photos. Herrera and noted Mexican composer Javier Alvarez were commissioned by the San Diego Symphony to write a collaborative piece about immigration, which is seen through the eyes of an imaginary young boy. It will receive its world premiere concerts at Jacobs Music Centers Copley Symphony Hall Thursday, Friday and Sunday. Entitled Brazos de niebla (Arms of Mist), it combines text by Herrera and music by Alvarez. The orchestra will be joined on stage by young soprano Gonzalo Ochoa and four instrumentalists playing five-stringed Mexican vihuelas. Advertisement The Friday concert will be followed by an onstage talk-back session with Herrera and Alvarez. Herrera is also scheduled to address two student assemblies this week at San Diego High School. The repertoire for the Thursday, Friday and Sunday concerts will also feature Tchaikovskys Piano Concerto No. 1 in B-flat minor, Op. 23 and Prokkfievs Symphony No. 7 in C-sharp minor, Op. 131. The orchestra will be conducted by David Danzmayr. Pianist Conrad Tao is the featured soloist. San Diego Symphony Jacobs Masterworks Concerts: 6:30 p.m. Thursday, 8 p.m. Friday and 2 p.m. Sunday. $20-$45 (Thursday), $26-$100 (Friday and Sunday). Jacobs Music Centers Copley Symphony Hall, 700 B St., downtown. (619) 235-0804. sandiegosymphony.org george.varga@sduniontribune.com Twitter @georgevarga When members of the U.S. Armys Female Engagement Team deployed to the Middle East in 2012, they were sent complete with the latest weapons and gear. But what drew the playwright and actor Rebecca Johannsen to those soldiers stories was less their status as a fighting force and more their objective to engage with Afghans hearts and minds. I was just fascinated by the contrast of (the womens) mission, says Johannsen, whose play Women at War has its area premiere next week at California State University San Marcos. They were going into combat and were trained for combat. But their mission was to go in and talk to people, and build relationships. And I was just really fascinated by the question, What happens when you put women in charge of going into a conflict zone, and what are the possibilities that can emerge? Advertisement Those questions are addressed in the form of recollections in Women at War, a work of documentary theater thats based on Johannsens extensive interviews with the soldiers after they returned from the war zone. But the piece, to hear Johannsen describe it, broaches other topics as well including the trauma that the soldiers both witnessed and (in some cases) experienced, and how their time overseas wound up reverberating back home. I really wanted to leave it open to telling whatever story was going to come out in the interviews, says Johannsen, a North County native who first conceived of the idea for the play nearly a decade ago. I didnt want to lead them down any particular path, to fit the narrative I wanted to tell. Oftentimes (the interviews) would lead to really unexpected areas of exploration. It opened up memories for them of events that happened. And we became really close over the course of the process. Stepping up The San Marcos production, which is supported by a grant from the university, is a milestone for Women at War: Its the plays first full production and features a cast of four, all of them students at CSUSM or Palomar College. (It runs Nov. 7-10.) Johannsen previously performed the piece as a solo work at the renowned Edinburgh Fringe Festival; the latest staging includes movement by the Venezuelan-born choreographer Veronica Santiago Moniello, and is co-directed by John Moletress, artistic director of force/collision in Washington, D.C. Rebecca Johannsen performers in an earlier version of Women at War. (Eden Orfanos) The show also represents a homecoming for Johannsen, who became a significant presence in San Diego-area theater during the 2000s before moving to New York. She founded and led Stone Soup Theatre here for close to a decade, putting up productions that included Rent creator Jonathan Larsons early musical tick, tick...BOOM! and Marc Blitzsteins classic political drama The Cradle Will Rock. For Johannsen, who holds a doctorate in theater from the University of California Irvine as well as a masters from San Diego State University, the military was a presence in her life from early on by virtue of both family and location. My sister is former Navy shes disabled, Johannsen says. My brother is former Army reserve. And I grew up outside Camp Pendleton, so I was always surrounded by Marines growing up. When you grow up in San Diego, its just part of the culture. But the seed for Women at War was really planted later, in Johannsens chats with a friend and personal trainer, Rudy Reyes, who was a former Marine and became a prominent presence in both the book Generation Kill (about the 2003 U.S. invasion of Iraq) and its HBO miniseries adaptation. Johannsen had taken a course in documentary theater and was really fascinated by the form the desire to document peoples words, but to put the other layer on theater on top of that. And in talks with Reyes about Generation Kill and the Iraq War, he told me about the women who would come in how the Marine Corps eventually developed the engagement teams. He introduced me to some of the women he was deployed with in Iraq who did the job for the Marine Corps. Then, just as the wheels began to turn for creating the play, life interrupted, as Johannsen was offered a teaching position at a small technical college in New York, which eventually led to teaching posts at Fordham University and New York University and an established life on the East Coast. Eventually, though, Johannsen decided to turn away from academia and dive back into making theater, influenced in part by work she had done as a co-producer of an ambitious documentary-theater project headed by the playwright Erik Ehn on the subject of genocide. All of these plays were based on real events, some of them based on interviews he conducted, Johannsen says. But then (Ehn) pulls it apart and makes it very abstract in the way he tells the stories. I was really fascinated by the way he approaches documentary. (It was) very much breaking apart language it was very movement-heavy, and diving deep into interesting visual imagery that connected all 17 of the plays. Newly inspired, Johannsen reached out to the Women Veterans Alliance, and within 15 minutes of sending an email to them, I got a response from one of my contacts who wound up being the in to the whole unit she was in charge of. She opened up the doors for me to speak to several of the women who were under her command. They were all deployed together as part of the same (Army) unit, which was a fascinating part of the storytelling. It was really interesting to interview women who were all part of the same experience, but saw it from different points of view. And it was the first time the Army had ever assembled a whole unit of women to do this job. They would be parts of other units before that. But this was an experiment to find out what happens if we have a whole unit whose job it is to get sent out on (these) missions. While the bulk of the Women at War is made up of verbatim dialogue, one character performs only through movement shes based on one soldier Johannsen didnt get to meet, but who represents trauma in a specific way, the playwright says. A lot of the language of the body is the language of trauma and the holding back of trauma the desire to not give in to trauma, she says, speaking of how movement figures into the piece. Because theyre all traumatized in different ways. But it wasnt just the women in the Army unit, but also the female Afghans those soldiers met, who are at the core of the story. Thats a very important part of the play what actually happened when they engaged with the people of Afghanistan?, Johannsen says. And in Johannsens interviews, that led to an inevitable question one she says the soldiers kept on asking: Whats going to happen with these women when we leave? Women at War When: 7 p.m. Thursday-Saturday, Nov. 7-10. Where: CSUSM Performance Hall (Arts Building 111), California State University, San Marcos, 333 S. Twin Oaks Valley Road, San Marcos. Tickets: $10 to general public; free to students, faculty/staff and military Online: eventbrite.com/e/women-at-war-tickets-48713617742 jim.hebert@sduniontribune.com Twitter: @jimhebert Five Girl Scouts stood in a circle, passing around a card and silently reading its message: How do you catch a squirrel? These members of Poways Troop 2070 were pretending to be a computer network. Another network, Lemon Groves Troop 5916, had the riddles answer. Troop 5916s Layla Henderson, 9, acted as the router, delivering to the inquiring network the answer: Climb up a tree and act like a nut. Advertisement There were some chuckles from the girls, but this was part of a serious introduction to computer science and online security. This isnt your great-grandmothers Girl Scouts of the USA. The kids green vests and sashes are still adorned with patches celebrating outdoor adventures (I Survived Camp!) and arts and crafts conquests (Tie Dye). But the organization is increasingly focused on preparing girls to live in a rapidly-changing, tech-focused society. Its really important for girls to get learning and leadership experience, especially in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math), said Claire Maunsell, a STEM specialist for the Girl Scouts San Diego. We hope to give them access to many different life skills and acquaint them with work force opportunities. On Saturday, 85 Girl Scouts descended on the University of San Diego for an introductory lesson in computer science. The Shiley-Marcos School of Engineerings Cybersecurity Center hosted these 8-, 9- and 10-year-olds for two hours of training. As part of the new Cyber Scouts program sponsored by Sentek Global, a firm that provides cybersecurity services to the U.S. military, the girls learned about routers, binary coding, firewalls and other techy topics. It was sophisticated stuff, in an adult setting actual college classrooms. You get to be little mini university students, Jodi Waterhouse, director of outreach for the Cybersecurity Center. Wouldnt it be great if you came back later as students here? Although women now make up more than half of all U.S. college students, women earn only about 35 percent of all college degrees awarded in STEM fields. For Layla Henderson and her peers, though, computers are neither strange nor intimidating. How many of you have experience with computers? asked Tim Jordon, a Sentek Global systems engineer and self-professed math nerd, teaching a roomful of Scouts. Every hand went up. Computers are found in our cars, airplanes, power grids, ATM machines everywhere, Jordon said. So it makes sense to understand how these devices work, and how to protect the data they hold. Jordon and other Sentek instructors suggested methods to build effective passwords combining a favorite pets name with a favorite color and a favorite number, for instance, while using both upper- and lower-case letters and adding special characters like ampersands and question marks. Making strong passwords was interesting, said Ellie Wall, 9, of Troop 3829 from Scripps Ranch. How strong was her pre-class password? Not very, she said. At the end of the session, each girl received a Cyber Scout certificate. The gold lettering glittered, but Jordon predicted that flashier rewards will come in the future. I want you all to make a pledge, he said at the start of his class. When you are all tech billionaires, remember the little people who got you here. A survivor of the Pittsburgh synagogue massacre described Sunday how he and other terrorized worshippers concealed themselves in a supply closet as the gunman stepped over the body of a man he had just shot and killed, entered their darkened hiding spot and looked around. I cant say anything, and Im barely breathing, recalled Barry Werber, 76, in an interview with The Associated Press. He didnt see us, thank God. The gunman, Robert Gregory Bowers, opened fire with an AR-15 rifle and other weapons during worship services inside Tree of Life Synagogue, killing eight men and three women before a tactical police team tracked him down and shot him, according to state and federal affidavits made public on Sunday. He expressed hatred of Jews during the rampage and later told police that all these Jews need to die, authorities said. Six people were injured in the attack, including four officers. Advertisement Bowers targeted a building that housed three separate congregations, all of which were conducting Sabbath services when the attack began just before 10 a.m. in the tree-lined residential neighborhood of Squirrel Hill, about 10 minutes from downtown Pittsburgh and the hub of the citys Jewish community. As authorities worked to piece together Bowers background and movements, harrowing accounts from the survivors began to emerge. Speaking at a vigil in Pittsburgh on Sunday night, Tree of Life Rabbi Jeffrey Myers said about a dozen people had gathered in the synagogues main sanctuary when Bowers walked in and began shooting. He said seven of his congregants were killed. My holy place has been defiled, he said. Officials released the names of all 11 of the dead, all of them middle-aged or elderly. The victims included intellectually disabled brothers and a husband and wife. The youngest was 54, and the oldest was 97. The loss is incalculable, said Stephen Cohen, co-president of New Light Congregation, which rents space at Tree of Life. Mayor Bill Peduto called it the darkest day of Pittsburghs history. Meanwhile in Allentown, more than 100 people gathered Sunday evening for a prayer service at Congregation Keneseth Israel on West Chew Street. We are not just here to mourn, said Rabbi Seth Phillips. We are here to remind ourselves about having survived all that we have survived. We will survive Pittsburgh. The congregation recited from several Old Testament Psalms, including Psalm 23: The Lord is my shepherd; I lack nothing. The prayer service also featured music and the lighting of 11 candles to symbolize the victims of the Tree of Life shootings. Across the street a memorial prayer service was scheduled for the Muhlenberg College Hillel Jewish organization, according to its Facebook page. In reality, all of us are wounded by this inhuman act of violence. Pope Francis, who led prayers for Pittsburgh Sunday in St. Peters Square. Meanwhile, Allentown police have been increasing patrols near city synagogues and other Jewish sites, according to Capt. John Hill. He said no active threats had come forth. Bowers shot his victims with an AR-15 the weapon used in many of the nations mass shootings and three handguns, all of which he owned legally and had a license to carry, according to a law enforcement official who wasnt authorized to discuss the ongoing investigation, and who spoke Sunday on condition of anonymity. U.S. Attorney Scott Brady in Pittsburgh said Sunday night that federal prosecutors intend to pursue the death penalty against Bowers. Bowers was a long-haul trucker who worked for himself, Brady said. Little else was known about the suspect, who had no apparent criminal record but who is believed to have expressed virulently anti-Semitic views on social media. It appears Bowers acted alone, authorities said. The victims included Melvin Wax, a retired accountant in his late 80s who was always one of the first to arrive at synagogue and among the last to leave. He and I used to, at the end of services, try to tell a joke or two to each other, said Myron Snider, a fellow member of New Light Congregation. Most of the time they were clean jokes. Most of the time. I wont say all the time. But most of the time. The toll also included professors, dentists and physicians. Cecil Rosenthal, 59, and his younger brother David Rosenthal, 54, were intellectually disabled and lived together in Pittsburghs Squirrel Hill neighborhood, near the synagogue where they were killed. Cecils laugh was infectious. David was so kind and had such a gentle spirit. Together, they looked out for one another. They were inseparable, said Chris Schopf, vice president of residential supports for ACHIEVA, which helped the brothers live independently. Most of all, they were kind, good people with a strong faith and respect for everyone around. Bowers apparently posted an anti-Semitic message on a social media account linked to him just a few minutes before he opened fire during Sabbath services on Saturday morning. After the attack, he told an officer, I just want to kill Jews, according to a federal affidavit . In the basement, a half-dozen members of New Light Congregation were just starting to pray when they heard crashing sounds coming from upstairs, looked out the door and saw a body on the staircase, Werber, the survivor, recalled Sunday in an interview at his home. He said Rabbi Jonathan Perlman closed the door and pushed them into a large supply closet. As gunshots echoed upstairs, Werber called 911 but was afraid to say anything, for fear of making any noise. When the shots subsided, he said, Melvin Wax opened the door, only to be shot and fall back inside. There were three shots, and he falls back into the room where we were, he said. The gunman walks in. Apparently unable to see Werber and the other congregants in the darkness, Bowers walked back out. A day later, Werber called the gunman a maniac and a person who has no control of his baser instincts. I dont know why he thinks the Jews are responsible for all the ills in the world, but hes not the first and he wont be the last. Unfortunately, thats our burden to bear, Werber said. It breaks my heart. The massacre came at a time of increasing anti-Semitism in the U.S. Earlier this year, the Anti-Defamation League reported a nearly 60 percent rise in anti-Semitic incidents in 2017 the largest single-year increase since the ADL began its tracking nearly three decades ago. Perlman, who also spoke at the vigil Sunday night, said New Light lost three congregants. These three men, they cannot be replaced, said Perlman, his voice breaking. But we will not be broken. We will not be ruined. When you spew hate speech, people act on it. Very simple. And this is the result. A lot of people dead. Senselessly. Stephen Cohen, co-president of a group that rents space at Tree of Life, and who blames todays political discourse Bowers was charged with 11 state counts of criminal homicide, six counts of aggravated assault and 13 counts of ethnic intimidation in what the leader of the Anti-Defamation League called the deadliest attack on Jews in U.S. history. He was also charged in a 29-count federal criminal complaint that included counts of obstructing the free exercise of religious beliefs resulting in death a federal hate crime and using a firearm to commit murder. U.S. Attorney General Jeff Sessions said the charges could merit a death sentence. Bowers, who underwent surgery and remained hospitalized, is scheduled to appear in court Monday. It wasnt clear whether he had an attorney to speak on his behalf. A message left with the federal public defenders office in Pittsburgh wasnt immediately returned. Of the six survivors, five remained in the hospital Sunday, and two were listed in critical condition. The nations latest mass shooting drew condemnation and expressions of sympathy from politicians and religious leaders of all stripes. Pope Francis led prayers for Pittsburgh in St. Peters Square. In reality, all of us are wounded by this inhuman act of violence, he said. He prayed for God to help us to extinguish the flames of hatred that develop in our societies, reinforcing the sense of humanity, respect for life and civil and moral values. German Chancellor Angela Merkels spokesman quoted Merkel on Twitter as offering her condolences and saying that all of us must confront anti-Semitism with determination everywhere. Lauer reported from Philadelphia, and Breed reported from Raleigh, North Carolina. Contributing to this report were Associated Press journalists Mark Gillispie, Robert Bumsted and Gene Puskar in Pittsburgh; Eric Tucker, Michael Biesecker and Michael Balsamo in Washington; Marc Levy in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania; Michael Kunzelman in Silver Spring, Maryland; and Michael Rubinkam in northeastern Pennsylvania. INTERFAITH SERVICE What: The Jewish Federation of the Lehigh Valley and Lehigh Valley Jewish Clergy Group are sponsoring an interfaith community vigil to remember the 11 congregants killed at a Pittsburgh synagogue. When: 7 p.m. WednesdayWhere: Jewish Community Center, 722 N. 22nd St. in Allentown.Information: mailbox@jflv.org, or 610-821-5500. October 28, 1923 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. Sunday, October 28, 1923 In 1923 the Navy formally dedicated a training facility in San Diego. Nearly 75 years later the base was closed in 1997, after training more than 1.75 million recruits. Today the former Naval Training Center at Loma Portal has been rebuilt as the mixed-use complex called Liberty Station. Here are the first few paragraphs of the story: $4,000,000 Naval Training Station Dedicated SAN DIEGANS VOICE PRAISE OF SEA BASE Ceremonial at Loma Portal From Invocation to Tree Planting Is Carried Out Without Single Hitch. SAN DIEGOS $4,000,000 naval training station, consecrated to the training of American youths in not only the attributes of citizenship, but of sterling patriotism and undying loyalty to their country, was formally dedicated with inspiring ceremonies yesterday afternoon. The dedicatory exercises, held in one of the most scenic points along the bayshore probably formed the outstanding picturesque spectacle of San Diegos observance of Navy day. CRADLE OF NAVY HERE Mayor John L. Bacon, one of the several speakers, struck the keynote of the days significance to the citizens of San Diego and of the nation in the double observance of Navy day and the anniversary of Theodore Roosevelt when, he declared that when the government erected the training station here it placed a great responsibility upon the citizens of the community. The mayor related how the youths, hailing form all sections of the country, receive their first training in American citizenship at the hands of the able officers of San Diegos superb station, and how this training was reflected in their conduct during their subsequent travels in foreign lands. The mayor, in closing his remarks, referred to the training station as the cradle of the navy. Former Congressman William A. Kettner delivered the dedicatory address. He traced the various phases that led up to the selection of San Diego as the site for naval training and praised the work of the chamber of commerce, William D. Stephens, A. J. Johnson and Franklin Roosevelt in bringing the training station plans to fruition. Captain David Sellers, commandant of the station, said he was proud to accept and publicly ackowledge the honor of being a citizen of San Diego. He cited the fact that it was the citizens of this city that donated the land on which the training station is located. It is particularly gratifying to us that the land came to us in this manner, said Capt. Sellers, as it showed conclusively that we were wanted. Rear Admiral Ashley Robertson, commandant of the 11th naval district declared that the station was credit to the government an one that will make a lasting impression upon the youths who are fortunate to receive their elementary sea training there. When this station is completed, said the admiral, it will be the finest of its kind in the country. He declared that the nations sea fighters are entitled to the best that the government can give them and that he was proud of having these fine types of American boys trained in this fine institution. SWING AND GOULD SPEAK Congressman Phil Swing said that the city of San Diego is proud of the navy and that the government can be proud of the training station. We have just that kind of a navy, that the public will support, said Swing amidst hearty applause from the crowd, Swing elicited further applause when he declared that the people of San Diego never failed the government in any reasonable demand and that they never will. E.B. Gould, president of the chamber of commerce, asserted that the future of San Diego is indissolubly linked with that of the navy. He recalled the traditions of the navy and declared that this was one of the brightest days in the history of San Diego. Following the dedication address of Kettner, the naval training station band played the national anthem, the words being sung by a group of children from the elementary schools. As the band softly played, Miss Maxine Edmonds, high school girl, hauled the Stars and Stripes to the top of the 100-foot steel flagpole. The ensign, 36 feet long and 14 feet in height, snapped in the breeze as it cleared the speakers stand and two chief petty officers, W. E. Dutcher, chief turret captain, and E.R. Bushick, chief boatswains mate, were forced to lend Miss Edmonds a hand. 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. President Donald Trump is trying to make this election about immigration and some San Diego Democrats are taking him up on it. At least three local politicians recently posted on social media a video of Trump claiming San Diego broadly supports his proposed extended border wall, a notion they deride. The clip was dredged up from a May 10 speech by the president in Indiana, making clear this was not a typical case of Trump opponents reflexively responding to his latest fiery statement. Rep. Scott Peters, Assemblyman Todd Gloria and county supervisor candidate Nathan Fletcher have circulated the video on Twitter, saying Trump is wrong about local sentiment and pointing out how the billions he wants to spend on the wall could be put to better use in their view Advertisement They advocate money for an array of alternatives. Theres focus on the border technology to screen border cargo for guns and drugs, and infrastructure to stop cross-border sewage spills and broader issues such as health care, education and mental health programs. Peters and Fletcher have also presented alternative immigration policies and efforts in campaign ads. Peters focuses on resolving the uncertain future for young unauthorized immigrants granted temporary legal status under the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals. Fletcher, a Marine veteran, reminds voters of his role in getting U.S. Army veteran Hector Barajas returned to the United States after he was deported. While Trump demonizes and deports, Im fighting to defend immigrants. . ., Fletcher says. Pro-active though they may be, their campaign tactics suggest that Trump has been successful in turning the political discussion back to immigration in the closing days before the Nov. 6 election. Interestingly, its unlikely immigration will be a pivotal issue in their campaigns. Gloria and Peters have little competition, and immigration has not been a campaign issue for Bonnie Dumanis, the Republican former district attorney running for supervisor in a race where Fletcher is considered the favorite. But its what people have been talking about. Trump has called the caravan of mostly Hondurans traveling through Mexico toward the U.S. a threat and politically motivated, and its having an impact. Peters office has fielded calls from people wanting to know if or why Democrats are funding the caravan a Trump contention with no factual support that Democrats flatly deny. Peters was even asked about that at a recent Rotary Club meeting. The irony is if anyone was helping fund the caravan, youd think it would be the Republicans, who are getting a bit of an October surprise out of it. Trump used illegal immigration as a potent political issue throughout his 2016 campaign and during the first two years of his administration. It shouldnt be a surprise that he would crank up the alarm as the election grows near, and the caravan has provided him a timely reason to do so. Wait til you see what we are doing with our border over the next few weeks, Trump said on Wednesday. Shortly thereafter, it was revealed that Defense Secretary James Mattis planned to send 800 or more troops to the border. On Friday, Homeland Security Secretary Kirstjen Nielsen visited a newly completed section of the border wall in Calexico. The administration also delayed the release of data showing an increase in border apprehensions until closer to the election. While the Department of Homeland Security typically releases Southwest border migration data within the first few days of a new month, it held release of September statistics until the last full week of October, the Union-Tribunes Kate Morrissey reported on Wednesday. Trumps claim that some in the caravan are dangerous criminals echoes his contention months ago about why San Diegans were clamoring for the new wall. Theyre so desperate for their wall because they dont like people running over their front yards and all of the problems, right? Including, by the way, massive amounts of crime, Trump said in Indiana. Hes certainly right that border-area residents do not like illegal border-crossers running through their yards, though the existing border fence here limits where that can happen. But the claim of massive crime by unauthorized immigrants is contradicted by research that shows crime is lower among immigrants in general and unauthorized immigrants than the general population. The border cities of San Diego and El Paso, Texas, are among the safest in the country, according to crime statistics. (The above paragraph has been updated to reflect data about unauthorized immigrants.) As for local support for his proposed wall, there is nothing to back that up. People arent even talking about it much these days. Polls by SurveyUSA showed diminishing interest in the wall in the hotly contested 49th Congressional District that straddles San Diego and Orange counties. In February, 21 percent of voters surveyed viewed it as the most important issue in the coming election. In June, that fell to 12 percent. Two-thirds of California voters are opposed to Trumps proposed wall, according to a poll released last week by the Public Policy Institute of California. Exaggerations and distortions are nothing new from Trump. Still, when he tells some whoppers, its hard not to stand up and take notice. He recently made some wild claims about Californias sanctuary law, which was intended to give some protections to certain unauthorized immigrants. I dont think we like sanctuary cities up here, Trump said in Elko, Nev., on Oct. 20. By the way, a lot of people in California dont want them, either. Theyre rioting now. They want to get out of their sanctuary cities. Theres no question the sanctuary law has inflamed political passions. Still, the policy was favored by 56 percent to 41 percent among California voters in an April UC Berkeley IGS poll. Major cities that have declared themselves sanctuaries, such as San Francisco, continue to support the concept. The city of San Diego has not declared itself a sanctuary city, but the Democratic-controlled City Council voted in May to help defend the state law against an ultimately unsuccessful legal challenge by Trump. That followed an April vote by the Republican San Diego County Board of Supervisors to support the Trump suit. Riots over the sanctuary law never happened, as far as anybody can tell. Politifact researched Trumps statement and gave it the worst rating Pants on Fire on its Truth-O-Meter. As San Diego and Anaheim can attest, the only thing close to a riot in Southern California in recent years occurred when Trump visited in 2016. Tweet of the Week Goes to Josh Greenman (@joshgreenman), opinion editor for the New York Daily News. Cannot believe Democrats want to give all the migrants in the caravan motorized scooters. They were the synagogues most faithful. Two brothers whod walked to services each week since boyhood and now, in their 50s, handed out hugs and hellos at Tree of Lifes front entrance. The local doctor who helped set up Dor Hadashs weekly meetings and led its Torah studies. An 88-year-old retired accountant known to attend New Light Congregations services each Friday, Saturday and Sunday. When the gunman entered on Saturday, his bullets found members of each of the three congregations that shared this space in Pittsburghs Squirrel Hill. The names of those killed, released by authorities Sunday, amount to a roster of the regulars. Those slain were Tree of Lifes beating heart, as much fixtures of this synagogue as the fading pews. Rose Mallinger, 97, was said to have barely missed a service in decades, for years volunteering to prepare breakfast for her fellow congregants. Joyce Fienberg, 75, enthusiastically took turns as the front-door greeter. Irving Younger, 69, sat in the back and handed out prayer books to those sneaking in late. Like most houses of worship, Tree of Life kept open doors, offering shelter from the winds and the rain, refuge from perils and snares of the outside world. Within its walls, members found fellowship and built community. All were free to join: from the weekly faithful to the long-absent family member to the unknown traveler. But on Saturday, it was an an enemy who entered the open door. Police have said Robert Bowers, who has been charged in the shooting, wanted to kill Jews. Social media postings in Bowerss name show he feared the foreign refugees he believed these worshipers would help find safe harbor here. So Bowers grabbed his guns and shouted in anger as he entered Tree of Life, squeezing the trigger he hoped would put out its pulse. By the time the shooting had stopped, 11 of the faithful were dead, slaughtered in the shelter of their sanctuary. Joyce Fienberg, 75 There was a long-standing joke at Gaea Leinhardts University of Pittsburgh research center: If she needed to remember something even small bits of information that I might need someday she could simply mention it to her research assistant, Joyce Fienberg. Without fail, Fienberg would be able to recall it, even years later. She was just a magnificently caring, generous and thoughtful human being, Leinhardt said. She never forgot anyones birthday. She was always available for whatever one might need. Despite Fienbergs title, Leinhardt said their working relationship was much more collegial, like a partnership, and that she considered Fienberg her best friend. They met in 1968 and worked together for at least 25 years meeting almost daily in adjacent offices researching how children and teachers learn. Whenever Fienberg went to observe a classroom, teachers would immediately feel at ease in her presence. She was very intellectual, Leinhardt said. But also people would just always open up to her in a very easy way. She was an ideal observer. Through the years, Leinhardt said she watched in admiration as Fienberg, originally from Canada, created a warm and rich community for herself in Pittsburgh, raising a family and eventually becoming the ideal grandmother. She adored her two sons, Howard and Anthony, and was deeply active in the Tree of Life congregation, especially after the passing of her husband in 2016. Mel Solomon, a fellow congregant and Squirrel Hill resident, remembers Fienberg standing alongside him years ago at the Jewish Community Center as they sent their sons away to summer camp. In recent years, she could be seen greeting people at the synagogue doors. I picture her as someone who was passionate about resuscitating the Tree of Life and bringing it back to a point where it would be sustainable for future generations, membership-wise and financially, Solomon said. She was a people person, always smiling and with a extended hand. When news of the shooting broke Saturday, Leinhardt was in the United Kingdom. She immediately tried calling and emailing Fienberg, knowing she would have likely been at the morning service. I said, Tell me youre OK. Tell me youre OK, Leinhardt said. When her best friend didnt respond after several hours, she said she began fearing the worst. I just cant say how terribly sad I am that this person isnt in the world anymore, Leinhardt said. Richard Gottfried, 65 Like his father and grandfather, Richard Gottfried took his faith seriously, regularly attending Saturday services as a member of the New Light Congregation. But when Gottfried fell in love in the late 1970s, it was with a practicing Catholic. Peg Durachko was a fellow dental student at the University of Pittsburgh. In 1980, the year he graduated, they married. Gottfried and Durachko would go on to build a successful dental practice together, opening in 1984. Even if the couple did not share a faith, they seemed to share a sense of purpose, extending their skills and care to the citys neediest. Both volunteered at Catholic Charities Free Dental Clinic. The pair also counseled soon-to-be married couples at St. Athanasius Parish, a Catholic Church near their home. The couple had just celebrated their 38th wedding anniversary, and had planned to wind down the practice and retire soon. Gottfried, an avid athlete, had finally recovered from a slip on ice last winter, and was looking forward to resuming running. He had participated in the Great Race, whose route winds through Squirrel Hill, 28 times. The couple had just celebrated their 38th wedding anniversary, and had planned to wind down the practice and retire soon. Gottfried, an avid athlete, had finally recovered from a slip on ice last winter, and was looking forward to resuming running. And he was growing closer to his faith, attending services with greater frequency. He died doing what he liked to do most, said Salvin. Rose Mallinger, 97 When Chuck Diamond, a former rabbi at Tree of Life, heard that a gunman had opened fire inside the synagogue, Rose Mallinger was among the first he worried about. The petite 97-year-old he regularly saw walking in the neighborhood or grocery shopping had attended service for decades, almost without fail, and was always among the first to walk in. She was a synagogue-goer, and not everybody is. Shes gone to the synagogue for a lifetime, no matter how many people are there, Diamond said. Diamond, 63, has known Mallinger for years. He said he and Mallingers son went through kindergarten and high school together. I feel a part of me died in that building, he said. When Diamond was rabbi, he had a nickname for Mallinger and another congregant whose name also starts with an R. I used to call Ray and Rose my RR, he said. I think of them, and a smile comes to my face. Lynette Lederman, a former president of Tree of Life, said Mallingers daughter has been taking her to the synagogue every week. The daughter was shot in the arm, Lederman and Diamond said. Years ago, Mallinger used to come to the synagogue with her sister, Sylvia, who later died. The sisters were usually the ones preparing breakfast for the congregants, Lederman said. Jerry Rabinowitz, 66 Jerry Rabinowitz and his wife, Miri, did not have children, so they poured out all of their love and attention on their community, their synagogue and their five cats, said Anna Boswell-Levy, a friend of the couple and a rabbi at a synagogue in Yardley, Pa. Jerry and Miri just did everything for this synagogue. They were essential, they were core, to this community, Boswell-Levy, 42, said. They were kind of like the welcoming committee. Jerry, in particular, was always helping to set up services and lead them. He led Torah studies and organized meetings, Boswell-Levy said. Jerry and his wife were members of the Dor Hadash Congregation, which held services in the same building as Tree of Life. The congregation does not have a rabbi, and community members led services themselves. Jerry, those who knew him said, emerged as among the strongest leaders. At the end of every service, we say Kaddish (the Jewish mourners prayer). Jerry would always insist on saying it for individuals who may not have had anyone to say it for them, said Judy Grumet, a professor of psychology at the University of Pittsburgh who was in the same congregation and met Jerry at medical school 35 years ago. Jerry and his wife are both prominent members of the community. Jerry was a constant and one of those core people, said Wendy Kobee, a solicitor for the city of Pittsburgh. His wife actually taught was the one who taught me how to lead services. . . Youve got a presence, she told me. The couple loved to cook and often hosted dinners at their home. For example, Boswell-Levy said, the couple often organized a dinner party every time she visited. Hes the most hospitable kind of person that would see to your comfort, Boswell-Levy said of Jerry, whom she had known for 12 years and who was much older but treated her like an equal. Jerry had been a doctor in Pittsburgh for decades. He loved his patients, and his patients loved him, those who knew him said. He chose to keep an independent practice, which gave him freedom to spend as much time as needed with his patients. Lately, however, he felt he had been so bogged down with electronic medical records that he had not had enough time to take care of his patients, Boswell-Levy said. He had been looking to retire for some years now, Boswell-Levy said. Beth Chaitlin, 65, said Jerry had been her doctor since the late 1980s. Even when he was busy, Rabinowitz was one of the few doctors who take time to listen, understand and empathize. He even took part in a 150-mile bike ride for multiple sclerosis. He makes you feel like youre the only person in the room, and that he has all the time in the world for you . . . He makes sure he has all the information right, Chaitlin said. Jerry and his wife were soul mates, said those who know them. They still, after many years of marriage, look at each other with the kind of eyes that newlyweds look at each other with, Chaitlin said. Miri declined to be interviewed. There is no sense to this, Chaitlin said. If your husband suffers from a heart attack, thats something you can comprehend. But going to a synagogue and getting shot is not something anyone can understand. Cecil Rosenthal, 59, and David Rosenthal, 54 When people showed up for services at Tree of Life, it was often Cecil Rosenthal who would greet them, offering a warm hello, a smile and sometimes a joke. Cecil was this big man, that just loved to give bear hugs. He was the friendliest person youve ever met, said Gladys Margolis, who taught Sunday school at Tree of Life for 16 years. This photo provided by David DeFelice shows DeFelice, left, and his friend Cecil Rosenthal, who was killed when a gunman opened fire at a Pittsburgh synagogue on Saturday, Oct. 27, 2018. (David DeFelice / AP) Cecil and his brother David were fixtures at the synagogue, attending services nearly every Saturday for much of their lives. They had been going to Tree of Life since they were young boys, said Chuck Diamond, a former rabbi. Diamond, 63, said the brothers grandfather took them to the synagogue when they were children. They would be there every week, every service, every program, Diamond said. The brothers had an intellectual disability and lived together in an adult group home. When the synagogue held special services for adults with disabilities, Cecil and David would serve as the honorary chairs, said Howard Elson, who was president of Tree of Life about 12 years ago. Elson recalled a joke he and Cecil shared. Elson would pass Cecil, and Cecil would point at him and say, Youre in trouble. Im telling the rabbi on you. No, Elson would reply. Youre in trouble. Then the two men would break down in laughter. Anita Kornblit taught Sunday school at Tree of Life for more than 30 years, including to a class of adults with intellectual disabilities. Cecil was an enthusiastic participant and loved the art projects. When he was particularly proud of a piece of work, he would gift it to Kornblit. When Diamond was the rabbi, Cecils job during services was to carry the Torah. He would do so so proudly, Diamond said. ACHIEVA, a social services agency that worked with the two men, said the brothers were a beloved pair. Cecils laugh was infectious. David was so kind and had such a gentle spirit, said Chris Schopf of ACHIEVA. Together, they looked out for one another, Schopf added. They were inseparable. Bernice Simon and Sylvan Simon, 84 and 86 Neighbors of Bernice and Sylvan Simon remember them as a sweet, kind couple. They often saw Sylvan Simon opening the door for his wife. Heather Graham, 39, said she and her boyfriend used to shovel snow for the Simons. They were older, so we wanted to be sure they would be okay and not have to worry about shoveling, Graham said. She said Bernice often baked cranberry orange bread and gave it to them with a thank-you note. On Saturday morning, the Simons waved at Grahams boyfriend as they left for their synagogue. It was the last time their neighbors saw them alive. I dont have words, said Reuben Coleman, 44, another neighbor. Its just senseless. They were good people. The Simon family requested privacy at this time Daniel Stein, 71 When Stephen Halle lost his father, he expected to do the grim work of cleaning out the mans Florida condo alone and moving his mothers things up to Pittsburgh alone. But then, his 71-year-old uncle, Daniel Stein, offered to join him. For days, the two men worked side by side to pack up the condo. It was emblematic, Halle said, of Steins generosity and kindness. This undated photo provided by Barry Werber shows Danny Stein, who was killed when a gunman opened fire at a Pittsburgh synagogue on Saturday, Oct. 27, 2018. (AP) Halle said Stein, who was born and raised in Pittsburgh, was retired but had held a number of jobs, including as a salesman, at grocery stores and as a substitute teacher. Stein was a member of the New Light Congregation, which held services in the same building as Tree of Life. He was heavily involved with the synagogue, having been president and on the board of directors. Most recently, he was president of the Mens Club, said Halle. Steins son Joe posted a photo of his father on Facebook on Sunday. It showed him sitting down in a white shirt and tie he had just come from services holding his grandson Henry. My dad was a simple man and did not require much, said Joe Stein, in accompanying text. In the picture below he was having a great day doing two things he loved very much. He had just finished coming from synagogue, which he loved, and then got to play with his grandson which he loved even more! Anita Kornblit, who taught Sunday school at Tree of Life for more than 30 years, said she saw Klein at a party recently. He was gushing about how thrilled he was to be a new grandfather. He kept talking about his grandson, just how wonderful it was to be a grandparent, Kornblit said. Melvin Wax, 88 Melvin Wax was a veritable fixture at the Tree of Life synagogue as a member of the New Light Congregation, according to his friend and fellow congregant Myron Snider. This undated photo provided by Barry Werber shows Melvin Wax, who was killed when a gunman opened fire at a Pittsburgh synagogue on Saturday, Oct. 27, 2018. (Barry Werber / AP) He went Friday night, Saturday and Sunday, when there were Sunday services, Snider told the Associated Press. If somebody didnt come that was supposed to lead services, he could lead the services and do everything. He knew how to do everything at the synagogue. He was really a very learned person. Snider remembered Wax, a retired accountant, for his thoughtfulness and generosity and for their tradition of trading jokes with each other at the end of each service. He was such a kind, kind person, Snider told the AP. When my daughters were younger, they would go to him, and he would help them with their federal income tax every year. Never charged them. At the Forward Shady Apartments, where Wax lived, there was a table in the lobby Sunday with a photo of Wax and a sign saying Rest in peace, dear friend and lover of democracy. An accompanying note from the management said he lived there for nine years. Neighbors remembered Wax as a quiet, sweet man who would tip his head in a gentlemanly gesture to say goodbye. We would always stop and say hi to each other, said neighbor Ellen Gunnell, 71, who recalled that Wax would walk around the halls with a spring to his step for exercise. He never didnt have a smile on his face, she said. Irving Younger, 69 When the gunman walked inside the Tree of Life, Irving would have been in the hallway, just coming in. Or he would have been sitting in the back, giving prayer books to people as they arrived, said Chuck Diamond, a former rabbi at the synagogue. Diamond, 63, said he was close friends with Younger. They loved to exchange jokes, mostly jokes about Jews making fun of themselves. They shared a love of sports and politics. They talked about the Pittsburgh Pirates and the Pittsburgh Steelers, and they aired their different views on politics. They also taught classes on current events at the local community center. Diamond said he saw Younger in one of those classes just last week. He shared pictures of his newborn grandchild with Diamond. He had two grandchildren in California he adored, Neufeld said. He constantly showed us pictures of the kids and what they were doing. Younger was a Realtor and was president of the neighborhood business association, according to a 1991 article from the Pittsburgh Press. The Pittsburgh man suspected of slaughtering 11 people at a synagogue Saturday appeared to announce his evil intentions online. Screw your optics, Im going in, Robert Bowers is believed to have posted on the social media site Gab just hours before his deadly rampage at the Tree of Life Synagogue in Pittsburghs predominantly Jewish Squirrel Hill neighborhood. An archived version of what appears to be Bowers Gab page shows that he regularly posted and shared offensive and derogatory anti-Semitic memes. Jews are the children of Satan, was written under his profile picture. On Saturday, the 46-year-old railed against the Hebrew Immigrant Aid Society, a nonprofit organization that provides humanitarian aid and assistance to refugees. The group held events in the Pittsburgh area last week. Advertisement HIAS likes to bring invaders in that kill our people, Bowers wrote. I cant sit by and watch my people get slaughtered. Screw your optics, Im going in. The group issued a statement expressing solidarity with the Jewish community in Pittsburgh. There are no words to express how devastated we are by the events in Pittsburgh this morning. This loss is our loss, and our thoughts are with Tree of Life Congregation, our local partner Jewish Family and Community Services (JFCS) of Pittsburgh, the city of Pittsburgh and all those affected by this senseless act of violence, HIAS said in a statement Saturday. As we try to process this horrifying tragedy, we pray that the American Jewish community and the country can find healing. Bowers also posted several rants about how he believed President Trump was being controlled by Jews and.pictures of several handguns, according to an archived version of his old Gab account shared online. The conspiracy-loving anti-Semite criticized Trump for not being a true nationalist. Trump is a globalist, not a nationalist. There is no #MAGA as long as there is a k--e infestation, he posted. Late Saturday night, Gab announced it was being dropped by its hosting service. They have given us until 9 a.m. Monday to find a solution, read the post. Gab will likely be down for weeks because of this. It then expressed concern that other social media venues would follow suit. Expect us to be banned from Twitter and Facebook soon. Dont be surprised. Keep fighting for liberty, friends. We will be, read the post. He regularly reposted neo-Nazi content and openly discussed the infamous QAnon conspiracy theory. #Qanon is here to get patriots that were against martial law in the 90s to be the ones begging for it now to drain muh swamp, he wrote. Bowers social media activity was scoured for clues to possible motives a day after a Trump-loving former stripper was arrested in Florida for allegedly sending more than a dozen explosive devices to Democrats, including Bill and Hillary Clinton, Barack Obama and George Soros. Suspected pipe bomb mailer Cesar Sayoc maintained several Facebook and Twitter feeds full of conspiracy theories and memes. Gab, often accused of being a social media platform for right-wing extremists and the alt-right, condemned the shooting and said they backed up user data from Bowers account before taking it offline and contacting the FBI. Shortly after the attack, Gab was alerted to a user profile of the alleged Tree of Life Synagogue shooter. The account was verified and matched the name of the alleged shooters name, which was mentioned on police scanners, the company said in a statement. This person also had accounts on other social networks. Gab took swift and proactive action to contact law enforcement immediately, they added. Wang Yang, a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), presides over a bi-weekly seminar in Beijing, capital of China, Oct. 26, 2018. (Xinhua/Shen Hong) BEIJING, Oct. 27 -- Chinese national political advisors convened a bi-weekly seminar Friday to discuss issues about population, family planning policies and aging. Population remains a comprehensive, long-term and strategic issue for China, said Wang Yang, chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, who presided over the meeting and made a speech. Efforts are needed to balance the size and structure of the population, and accommodate the development of science and technology, so as to realize a sustainable population in the long run, said Wang, who is also a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee. A total of 15 political advisors and representatives from academia put forward their suggestions, according to a press release published Saturday. They agreed that the country's family planning policies have effectively contained the population growth that was too fast and relieved pressure on the environment and supply of resources. While the population is growing steadily and its structure is optimizing, new problems have occurred when significant changes happened to the general situation of population and people's perception about birth, they noted. They suggested that more resources be allocated to researches on the long-term change of population, and to public services related to birth such as nurseries. They also called for better vocational education to foster a knowledge-based skillful and innovative work force, and more comprehensive healthcare services to take care of senior citizens. The Campbell Soup executive who tweeted a conspiracy theory about George Soros and the migrant caravan is no longer with the company. Last week, Kelly Johnston, who previously served as the vice president of government affairs, tweeted that Soros Open Society Foundations had organized the migrant caravan of thousands of people traveling through Mexico toward the U.S. border. See those vans on the right? What you dont see are the troop carriers and the rail cars taking them north, he wrote in a since-deleted tweet. @OpenSociety planned and is executive this, including where they defecate. And they have an army of American immigration layers waiting at the border. Open Society, the organization founded by Soros that aims to build vibrant and tolerant democracies whose governments are accountable and open to the participation of all people, denied any collaboration with the traveling group. Advertisement Mr. Johnston, neither Mr. Soros nor Open Society is funding this effort. We are surprised to see a @CampbellSoupCo executive spreading false stories, the organization tweeted Tuesday. We do support the historic U.S. commitment to welcoming people fleeing oppression and violence in their homelands. At the time, Campbell Soup disavowed Johnstons comments, saying his opinions are his individual views and do not represent the position of Campbell Soup Company. Now, the company says it has decided to accelerate Johnstons pre-planned departure. Mr. Johnston and the company discussed in August that he would transition out of his role with his departure scheduled for early November, a spokesperson told the Daily News Sunday. In the last few days, the company and Mr. Johnston agreed that under the current circumstances it would be best to accelerate the timing of his departure. Johnstons last day at the company was Thursday. In a letter to Open Society, Keith McLoughlin, Campbells interim president, apologized for Johnstons tweet. Campbell believes in truth and transparency. We expect our leaders to present facts, to deal with objective truths and to exercise impeccable judgment. Unfortunately, our head of Government Affairs, Mr. Kelly Johnson, made comments on his personal Twitter account on Monday evening that speculate about the involvement of the Open Society organizations role in the migrant caravan traveling through Mexico, he wrote in the letter, acquired by The News. Mr. Johnstons remarks do not represent the position of Campbell and are inconsistent with how Campbell approaches public debate. The migrant caravan has been a controversial topic of debate, as conservatives, including the President, have blamed Democrats for its existence. Every time you see a Caravan, or people illegally coming, or attempting to come, into our Country illegally, think of and blame the Democrats for not giving us the votes to change our pathetic Immigration Laws! he tweeted last week. Remember the Midterms! So unfair to those who come in legally. He has also threatened to withhold financial aid from countries whose citizens are attempting to migrate. On Thursday, Homeland Security Secretary Kirstjen Nielsen said DHS has no intention right now to shoot at people trying to cross the border. This is a story about a beautiful Great Dane named Rinka, who died young, shot in the head on a rain-swept moor in England more than 40 years ago. Unlike countless other dogs who have come and gone in that time, Rinka is remembered because of the unusual role she played in history. Her death toppled one of Britains most prominent politicians Jeremy Thorpe, the leader of the countrys Liberal party. The bullet that ended Rinkas life and Thorpes career was not even meant for her. It was supposed to silence a handsome animal-loving young man who went by the name of Norman Scott. He also happened to be Thorpes gay lover at a time when homosexuality was a crime. Portrait of Liberal Party leader Jeremy Thorpe at his home in Limpsfield, Surrey, January 22nd 1967. (Keystone Features / Getty Images) Advertisement Thorpe was 31 and a rising star in Parliament when he first laid eyes on dark-haired, handsome Scott, 19, who was working as a stablehand for one of Thorpes friends. Thorpe gave Scott his card. Not long after their meeting, Scott left his job and landed in a mental hospital. He next showed up, carrying a little terrier named Mrs. Tish, at the House of Commons looking for the stranger he had met at the stable. Thorpe greeted him warmly, listened to his troubles, and invited him to stay at his mothers home. According to Scott, Thorpe, carrying a jar of Vaseline, slipped into his room in the middle of the night and forced himself on the younger man. Thorpe found a flat for his new love, gave him money, bought him clothes, and introduced him to the smart set. Bunnies was Thorpes nickname for his conquest, a term he used in love letters. Within a couple of years, the affair cooled; the two men drifted apart and went their separate ways. Thorpe rose through the political ranks, got married and had a son. Scott continued to unravel, with suicide attempts and a string of failed love affairs and jobs. Late in 1962, Scott visited the police to tell them about his homosexual relations with Thorpe and showed them some of his love letters. They listened but took no action. For six years, Scott bounced around from job to job, in faraway places like Switzerland and Ireland. Then he landed back in England and tried to launch a modeling career. It flopped. Norman Scott became a liability to Thorpe. (Graham Turner / Getty Images) Thorpe, now leader of the Liberal Party, was not happy to see Scott back in town, bothering his family and friends, and threatening to reveal his secret love life. In 1967, homosexuality had been decriminalized. Still, admitting to loving other men was not likely to help a political career. Thorpe started musing with a couple of trusted associates over what to do about Scott. One suggestion was to have someone pose as a reporter who would offer to buy the incriminating love letters. But Thorpe feared that Scott would be a threat as long as he was alive, and there was only one solution. It is no worse than shooting a sick dog, he said. They pondered several methods, such as breaking Scotts neck and poisoning his drinks in a bar and tossing him down a mine shaft. It took several years for a plan to be set in motion. One of Thorpes friends, David Holmes, offered more than 10,000 to a pilot, Andrew Newton, 28, for a professional frightening job, wrote Simon Freeman and Barrie Penrose in their book Rinkagate. Newton befriended Scott, warned that an assassin was coming for him, and offered to drive him to a safe place on Oct. 23, 1975. The plan was that somewhere during the trip, Newton would attack him. It did not go smoothly. For one thing, Newton had no gun. He borrowed a 1910 vintage pistol from a friend. He also didnt count on a second passenger Rinka, Scotts Great Dane, a creature the size of a donkey, recalled Newton, who had a lifelong terror of dogs. They took off together, crammed into a borrowed Ford Escort, across the Exmoor, a wilderness area, on a rainy night. Newton tired during the drive, so Scott offered to take over. When they stopped to change seats, Rinka bounced out of the car, tail wagging. Startled, Newton killed her with one shot. Next, he took aim at Scott, but the creaky old pistol jammed. Newton leaped into the car and roared off, leaving Scott alone in the rain with his dog, weeping on the side of the road. The Mystery of the Dog in the Fog, as one newspaper called the case, got reporters digging, which eventually led Thorpes arrest and trial in May 1979 for conspiracy to murder his one-time lover. Former Liberal Party leader Jeremy Thorpe is protected from the press by a police officer as he leaves the Old Bailey in London in June 1979. (Keystone / Getty Images) Thorpe and three other accused co-conspirators were acquitted, but the scandal was a death sentence for his political career. In the 1980s he developed Parkinsons disease and died in 2014. Scott, now in his late 70s, is reported to be living a quiet life with eight dogs. After Thorpes death, there was a resurgence of interest in the case, including a miniseries starring Hugh Grant as Thorpe, called A Very English Scandal, which was based on a 2016 book by John Preston. Ironically, the production nearly went to the dogs, actor Ben Whishaw, who played Scott, told The Times of London. He said his Great Dane co-stars were beautiful, but very thick and uncooperative, especially the main dog chosen as Rinka. She didnt want to act, Whishaw complained. A federal judge ruled Friday that the Memphis Police Department violated a consent decree between the City of Memphis and the ACLU of Tennessee by spying on political protesters. The Tennessee chapter of the ACLU filed a lawsuit against the Memphis Police Department on Feb. 22, 2017, for keeping a list of people to monitor by social media and other means. The list included members of the Black Lives Matter movement, the mother of Darrius Stewart, a teen killed by Memphis police, and local political organizers. The court imposed sanctions to ensure the citys future compliance with the agreement. Advertisement This important decision ensures that activists in Memphis can continue to fight the good fight without fear of unwarranted police surveillance, ACLU of Tennessee Executive Director Hedy Weinberg said in a statement. The right to free speech is crucial to our ability to speak out against injustice and to hold the government accountable. Especially in this day and age, being able to truly engage in dialogue about important issues without the threat of intimidation is vital to our democracy. The City of Memphis issued a statement responding to the ruling, saying that it is taking steps to make sure it is in compliance with the decree. The Court noted that the violation of the consent decree was not intentional but stems from a shared misunderstanding rather than political favoritism, it said. It also points out that officers have demonstrated their dedication to protecting First Amendment rights. Harry Houdini, the Jewish escape artist who thwarted every attempt to cage him, died not long after being punched in the gut by a college student. Houdinis abdominal muscles were legendary, but the student didnt give him enough time to tense them before delivering a blow that ruptured his appendix. Something like this happened to me on Saturday morning. I grew up in Pittsburghs Squirrel Hill in fact, directly across the street and catty corner to the Tree of Life synagogue. Squirrel Hill is one of Americas leafiest and loveliest Jewish communities. Synagogues and Jewish shops abound in the hilly little Eden. Heavenly corned-beef sandwiches are easy pickings where orthodox, conservative, reformed, and unaffiliated Jews live harmoniously with their non-Jewish neighbors. The Jewish Community Center is a beehive of multi-faith activity. People are nice to each other in Squirrel Hill. For crying out loud, it was literally Mr. Rogers neighborhood. We had a mass murder in Mr. Rogers neighborhood. Advertisement Until today, it seemed inconceivable to me that any American could, at this point, be shocked by a mass murder, even one in their backyard. Those expressing such shock have struck me as willfully self-delusional. Jewish Americans, in particular, are taught pretty much from day one that the veneer of civilization is perilously thin and that It could happen again. Here. In our lifetimes. And so we must be ever vigilant and wary perpetually tensed. I was weaned on such worries. And despite how paranoid they seemed on the corner of Shady and Wilkins, I thought I had internalized them. But I wasnt ready for the blow. I wasnt ready to hear the words Squirrel Hill uttered by the president of the United States or the prime minister of Israel. I wasnt prepared to see a law enforcement officer armed to the teeth standing in front of the house where I grew up memorizing Steelers Super Bowl stats. Or to see a childhood friend interviewed on the news. I was not prepared to wonder how close a connection I would have when the names of the dead were finally released. Now I know what far too many Americans know not that it can happen anywhere, but the visceral truth that it happened in a place I consider home. This isnt knowledge. Its a wound. You dont want to hear me rant and rave about what I think must change to make this the last mass shooting in America. So instead, Ill tell you something else about Harry Houdini: He managed many of his impossible escapes by hiding keys in the back of his throat. Our key is in our throats as well: our words. Words matter. Words matter. Words. Matter. We live in a cesspool of hateful words, and we are drowning in it. Yet we act surprised when hate rears up in our communities. Mr. Rogers, whose son attended my elementary school, always counseled us to look for the helpers in times of crisis. I took his advice Saturday and was brought to tears by the bravery of Pittsburghs first responders. And I swelled with pride when several local rabbis declined a news anchors invitation to offer thoughts and prayers. Instead, they explained that, for Jews, prayer is primarily a personal affair, and that Judaism is first and foremost a religion of action. Unless we see courageous action, the Squirrel Hill massacre will be just another on the list, albeit one with an asterisk for me. You probably have your own. Were a ruptured and bleeding nation in a cage of our own making. I only wish I had the magic key to unlock our hardening hearts. Wont you be my neighbor? A 21-year-old sailor was killed Saturday after he pulled off a California highway to help who he thought was a stranded driver. Curtis Adams, an active duty of the Navy, stopped on the interstate around 2 a.m. Saturday when he and his girlfriend, who was also in the car, saw a motorist standing on the shoulder of the highway, police told the San Diego Union-Tribune. Adams was reportedly shot almost immediately after getting out of his car. The driver fled the scene in his car, but was later stopped and apprehended by police. Advertisement The suspect has not yet been identified, but police said there does not appear to be any personal ties between him and Adams. Adams was taken to the UC San Diego Medical Center, where he later died. The Trump-touting, pizza-delivering strip club DJ accused of sending more than a dozen pipe bombs to prominent Democrats across the country fell out with his own mother over his right-wing vitriol and was barred from her Florida home, a source who knows the family said. The last straw for accused MAGA-bomber Cesar Sayoc Jr. was when he appeared at his mothers condo complex in a Make America Great Hat in 2016, said the source. After that his mother asked security not to let him in to come visit her anymore not because she was scared, but because she didnt want him to tarnish her reputation as an upstanding Democrat in her politically engaged and progressive community. When he came out as a Republican, that was the last straw that broke the camels back, the family contact said. That was it, because one day, he came in a red hat, with Trump, and that was it No, I dont want to see him in my apartment. Advertisement Sayoc, 56, is accused of sending at least 14 explosive devices to prominent Democrats, including former President Barack Obama, former Vice President Joe Biden, and former President Bill Clinton and former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton. Sayoc, who was arrested Friday even as packages were still on their way has been charged with illegal mailing of explosives, threats against former Presidents and certain other persons, assaulting current and former federal officers, interstate transportation of an explosive, and threatening interstate communications. The source said Sayoc would come by to hit his mother up for money, and would occasionally visit the building when delivering pizzas for Dominos. When he wasnt delivering food or allegedly making and mailing bombs, Sayoc was playing tunes at a local strip club. It was there that a surveillance camera caught him reading newspaper clippings just hours before he was arrested. It was unclear what he was reading, but most newspapers were filled with stories about the explosive devices. According to ABC News, Sayoc was shuffling through press clippings at the Ultra Gentlemens Club in West Palm Beach in the early-morning hours before he was arrested around noon Friday in the parking lot of an AutoZone car parts store in Plantation, Fla., about 40 minutes south of the club. A club dancer said Sayoc seemed to be distracted in the hours before his arrest, making several mistakes on the turntable as she was performing. She said she even asked a manager to talk to him about it. When he came in, he just wasnt paying attention, the dancer said. And he was mixing the songs wrong, like you could never tell when a song was ending. He just wasnt paying attention. She said Sayoc never talked politics in the club. No one could believe it, she said of Sayocs arrest. I mean, the whole day was like, crazy. Its one of those things that you just cant fathom. He was apparently living out of his van, which was plastered with pro-Trump stickers and decals denouncing prominent Democrats. Authorities, who found a printer, stamps, paper, an unidentified powder and soldering equipment in the van, said Sayoc was likely living in the van and may have used it to build the bombs. A person was seriously injured in an explosion Saturday night during an apparent cannabis oil extraction operation at a South Bay home, San Diego police said. Police and paramedics were called around 7:30 p.m. to a house on Leider Drive near Green Bay Street, in the community of Egger Highlands, according to San Diego police Officer Sarah Foster. One person was badly burned and had to be taken to a hospital, Foster said. No identifying information was available on the person. Advertisement Twitter: @karenkucher (619) 293-1350 karen.kucher@sduniontribune.com A 22-year-old man was stabbed while sitting in a vehicle in City Heights on Sunday afternoon, San Diego police said. The victim was on Menlo Avenue south of El Cajon Boulevard when the assailant approached and stabbed him through an open window about 12:20 p.m., San Diego police Officer Sarah Foster. The suspect then fled. A good description of the attacker was not provided. The victim was taken to a hospital with injuries that were not considered life-threatening. Its unclear what led to the stabbing. Advertisement Twitter: @LAWinkley (619) 293-1546 lyndsay.winkley@sduniontribune.com Tracing the outlines of a missing Cree woman from Moosonee in northern Ontario through the family she has left behind, Through Black Spruce, a film adaptation of Joseph Boydens best-selling novel, will get its U.S. premiere as part of this years Californias American Indian & Indigenous Film Festival (CAIIFF). After optioning the book in 2012, award-winning actor Tina Keeper performs a dual role in the film: producer and actor, stepping into a supporting role as Lissette Bird, mother of the missing young woman, Suzanne. Known widely for her first major role in the Canadian television drama North of 60, Keeper has built a rich and varied career that includes performance, production, social activism and as a former member of the House of Commons of Canada public service. She was named the 2017 Woman of the Year by ACTRA, Canadas largest union for professional performers. We talked with Keeper about producing Through Black Spruce, her career, and the future of Native and Indigenous film. Advertisement What was it about Through Black Spruce that made you want to explore it as a film? It was set in a part of Canada which is largely left out of the cultural landscape of Canada, and it reflected a haunting story of a Cree family. My late mother was from the region, so I could relate personally to this story and this culture. Was it a challenge to serve as actor and producer? I think sometimes the role of producer can feel a bit like the principal checking in on a classroom, but when Im in the cast, I dont feel alienated from the creative process. Playing Lisette was very sad. I know that for many Indigenous families in remote or isolated communities in Canada, they have little to no response from policing agencies and justice representatives. There is very little access to justice. What were some of the challenges in producing this film? The major challenge was to shoot in Moosonee, Ontario, a region known as Treaty 9 territory of the Moose Cree. The costs of traveling in northern Canada are unbelievable. We shot in Moosonee for three days with a skeleton cast and crew. Some of the joys? Moosonee and Moose Factory on the Moose River and the James Bay of the northern coast was so stunning and beautiful, and the community was so engaging. Our cultural and spiritual advisors, language advisors and story consultants were from there. Do Indigenous films need Indigenous directors? This is one of the most important questions now, as we find ourselves at a tipping point which expressly says opportunity is one of the most critical aspects of success. This is one of the reasons I chose to produce this film to create access, whether it is as a director or writer or producer. That producer Robert Lantos and his company, Serendipity Point Films, and our director Don McKellar agreed to work with me meant that this project would actually get produced and distributed. I am the anchor of this project in my role as a producer and it is as critical as a director or a writer. What is the reality right now for Indigenous filmmakers and actors? I would say we are at the beginning of a very exciting time for Indigenous filmmakers and actors. There is an effort towards screen sovereignty, and it is very empowering. What has happened in this past year with the creation of Canadas Indigenous Screen Office, and through the upcoming Indigenous Languages Act, means we will see more Indigenous film in the next five years than we have over the past 25 years. We have some very prestigious filmmakers in our nations, including documentarian Alanis Obomsawin, producer/writer/director Alethea Arnaquq-Baril and writer/director Zoe Leigh Hopkins. In Canada, we are shaping an industry where Indigenous people and especially women will be at the helm. Where would you like to see Indigenous film in ten years? Indigenous perspectives and aesthetics in film are going to be on a steep trajectory for the next decade. This includes languages and traditional knowledge and narrative forms which weve never seen heard or heard it will be impressive. What has been your most satisfying job or role? I would have to say that the most satisfying role Ive ever had is being a mom. Its that simple. Californias American Indian & Indigenous Film Festival When: Nov. 1-3 Where: Pechanga Theater at Pechanga Resort & Casino Cost: Screenings are $10. The Youth Track program is free but RSVP is necessary at caiiff.com/youth-signup Website: caiiff.com For more information call (760) 750-3535, or email CICSC@CSUSM.EDU temecula@sduniontribune.com SHANGHAI, Oct. 27 -- Twenty foreign companies, among over 1,000 that have submitted pre-registration, have signed contracts to attend the second China International Import Expo (CIIE) scheduled next year, according to the CIIE Bureau. The pre-registration for overseas companies and institutions to attend the second CIIE started on July 1, attracting over 1,000 applications on its official website. According to the bureau, the first batch of 20 companies are from countries like New Zealand, Japan, Australia, covering service trade, apparel, consumer goods, food and agricultural products, medical equipment and health care. Shanghai will host the first CIIE from Nov. 5 to 10, 2018. More than 2,800 companies from over 130 countries and regions signed up for the event. This weekend, left-wing protesters accosted Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell in a Kentucky restaurant, yelling at him that he was a traitor. But not so long ago, it was tea party conservatives who were calling McConnell a traitor to the GOP. They owe him an apology. While President Trump deserves credit for making outstanding judicial nominations, long before Trump declared his candidacy McConnell was laying the groundwork for a conservative transformation of the federal judiciary. It was, he told me in an interview last week, entirely premeditated. In 2013, Democrats had invoked the nuclear option, eliminating the filibuster for all federal judicial appointments except the Supreme Court -- allowing them to pack the federal circuit courts with left-wing Obama appointees by simple majority. After Republicans won back control of the Senate in the 2014 midterms, McConnell put the brakes on the Democratic confirmation juggernaut -- and then blocked President Barack Obamas nomination of Judge Merrick Garland to replace Justice Antonin Scalia, who had died during Obamas final year in office. Result? On Inauguration Day, Trump was presented with a slate of more than 100 judicial vacancies to fill, including a seat on the Supreme Court. Democrats were so blinded by their anger over McConnells tactics that they made an unforced error: When Trump nominated Neil Gorsuch -- a judge of unquestioned qualification and temperament -- to fill Scalias seat, they decided to filibuster him. McConnell could not believe his luck. Some of his Republican colleagues had argued that, once in the majority, they should restore the judicial filibuster Democrats had eliminated -- not extend it to Supreme Court nominations. But the Gorsuch filibuster changed their minds. I argued to my people if this guy cant get 60 votes then nobody a Republican president nominates is going to get 60 votes, McConnell says. Thats what allowed me to get people who were reluctant and complaining about using the nuclear option four years earlier to do it. Advertisement This not only put Gorsuch on the high court but also paved the way for Brett Kavanaughs confirmation. If Democrats had preserved the filibuster, Trumps nominee to replace Justice Anthony Kennedy, the courts swing vote, might not have made it. I asked McConnell whether he could have gotten Republicans to invoke the nuclear option for Kavanaugh. It would have been a lot harder, he says. I think in retrospect you can look back and say that was not a smart play on their part. While the Supreme Court hears only about 80 cases a year, the federal appeals courts have final say on about 60,000 cases. And in just two years, McConnells Republican majority has confirmed 29 circuit court judges, as well as 53 federal district court judges -- a modern record. Today, nearly 1 in 6 circuit court judges have been confirmed by McConnells Senate majority. As former Hillary Clinton adviser Ronald Klain complained, Trumps judicial nominees will be deciding the scope of our civil liberties and the shape of civil rights laws in the year 2050 -- and beyond. Transforming the judiciary is not McConnells only major conservative accomplishment, but he says it will be the most lasting. I love the tax bill, but the 86 tax bill lasted four years before the political wind shifted, he says. But theres not much you can do about a young man or woman whos a strict constructionist who goes on the court at 48 and stays there for 25 years. So, I think its the most important thing were doing, and I hope were going to have the opportunity to do it for two more years. If Republicans retain control of the Senate, he says, were going to fill every vacancy we possibly can with strict constructionists. Does that include another Supreme Court justice, if a vacancy comes up in a presidential election year? The tradition, McConnell explains, is that if a Senate is of a different party than the president and a vacancy occurs in a presidential election year, it doesnt get filled. But what if the president and the Senate are of the same party? Could you imagine ... a majority in the Senate of the same party as the president saying no thank you? I dont think thats likely to happen. So, is the McConnell Rule that when you have the White House and the votes in the Senate, you use them? Yep, he says. Thats the way its going to work. Thats the way its worked for 230 years. The 21st century is still young. But so far, Mitch McConnell is arguably the most consequential conservative leader of the century. And he may not be done yet. The voters will decide in two weeks. Thiessen is on Twitter, @marcthiessen. Will the wall haters take in a few refugees? Im wondering how many of the 10,000 migrants headed this way will be taken in by those who dont want the wall and want open borders? Hopefully, theyll remember we have a large homeless population, not all with addiction and mental problems. Jeanine Bussey San Diego Advertisement We need to help, not hate our neighbors It appears that a refugee crisis is looming as a migrant caravan of thousands will soon arrive at our southern border. What can we do, as a distant neighbor of Honduras, Guatemala and El Salvador, to help address the root problems of violence, poverty and unemployment that motivate thousands to leave their homelands and risk their lives to walk hundreds of miles to our border? Instead of offering additional resources to these countries, our president threatens to withdraw foreign aid if they cannot stop their citizens from fleeing. Clearly, our current administration lacks the empathy, imagination and willingness to help our neighbors to address their serious social and economic issues. The Migrant Caravan of 2018 is bound to be repeated in future years unless the fundamental problems are resolved in these countries. John Stevenson Del Cerro One conspiracy theory deserves another So the Republican conspiracy theorists claim the mail bombs were staged by the Democrats for political purposes. I guess we can therefore conclude the migrant caravan was staged by the republicans for the very same reason. Edward Kitrosser Pacific Beach --> Letters and commentary policy The U-T welcomes and encourages community dialogue on important public matters. Please visit this page for more details on our letters and commentaries policy. You can email letters@sduniontribune.com or leave a comment below. Follow @UTLetters on Twitter and UTOpinion on Facebook. Santa Ana winds will arrive in San Diego County late Tuesday night and last into Wednesday Halloween. But the National Weather Service says it is unlikely that it will issue a special fire weather watch or warning. The offshore winds will be moderate in strength, blowing 15 mph to 20 mph, with gusts to 35 mph and individual gusts to 50 mph in the mountains, forecasters say. The winds will primarily affect the countys inland canyons, valleys and foothills. Theyll reach their peak early Wednesday. Forecasters say high temperatures will reach the mid-to-upper 70s on Halloween at and near the coast, and spike into the 80s inland. Advertisement The relative humidity will drop to 15 percent or lower inland, and to about 23 percent in San Diego low enough to affect peoples sinuses. 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. BEIJING, Oct. 26 -- China is dissatisfied with and opposes groundless accusations by a U.S. senator that it is severely violating the human rights of religious minorities, a Foreign Ministry spokesperson said Friday. In a recent op-ed in Politico Magazine, U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Chuck Grassley accused China of massively violating the human rights of its religious minorities, saying that fighting for religious liberty should be a central part of the U.S.-China relationship. "I'm very surprised and regretful about the senator's ignorance and prejudice toward China, and I'm very dissatisfied with and firmly oppose his groundless accusations," spokesperson Hua Chunying told a routine press briefing. "It is an undeniable fact that the people of all ethnic groups in China enjoy full freedom of religious beliefs in accordance with the law," she added. Hua said religions in China mainly include Buddhism, Taoism, Islam, Catholicism and Christianity, and there are nearly 200 million religious citizens, more than 380,000 people ordained for religious duties and more than 140,000 sites for religious activities registered in accordance with the law. "China's policies regarding religions and ethnic affairs have received support from people of all ethnic groups," she said. The spokesperson also listed a number of issues related to the human rights situation of religious and ethnic minorities in the United States. Citing poll statistics from Gallup and Pew, Hua said 42 percent of U.S. citizens are extremely concerned about ethnic relations in the country, with 58 percent of respondents saying they believe racism is a serious problem and 75 percent of American Muslims saying there is a lot of discriminations against Islam in the country. A quarter of African Americans and one-tenth of Latinos, meanwhile, said they had been harassed based on their race or ethnicity. China hopes that certain Americans can objectively and comprehensively acknowledge their own problems to do with religion and ethnicity, and do more constructive things to promote mutual understanding, trust, friendship and cooperation between the two countries, Hua said. BEIJING, Oct. 26 -- China's top legislature on Friday passed a regulation on the ranking system for firefighting personnel. The regulation was designed to create a more standardized and professional force, increase responsibility, honor and discipline, and better command and manage the country's firefighting rescue team to ensure the team performs its duty in accordance with the law. The regulation was adopted at the closing meeting of a bi-monthly session of the National People's Congress Standing Committee. According to the regulation, firefighting personnel ranking is the basis for how they are treated by the country. It reads, "firefighting personnel who are promoted should be capable of the job, observe discipline and laws, have integrity, and be honest in performing duties." The regulation is part of a plan on transforming China's fire services and armed forestry police to build a national firefighting rescue team. The regulation will enter into effect on Oct. 27.